CANNEL COAL. 157 
cases where intense heat is requisite, as for the smelt- 
ing of iron ore ; and likewise where acid and bitu- 
minous par tides of coal would be detrimental, as in the 
drying of malt. 
What is usually termed culm is the refuse or dusty 
coal, produced in working the common coals. It con- 
tains much earthy matter, will not kindle in an ordinary 
fire-place, but produces considerable heat and flame in 
a furnace, where a strong current of air is introduced. 
In England it is exempted from the high duty imposed 
on other coals, and is sold at a very low price. It is 
used for burning lime, making salt, and in steam 
engines. 
219. CANNEL COAL is of black colour, with little lustre, 
is not laminar, but breaks in any direction, like pitch, and does 
not stain thejingers. 
This highly inflammable kind of coal is found abun- 
dantly in the neighbourhood of Wigan, in Lancashire, 
where there is an entire stratum of it about four feet in 
thickness. It is also found near Whitehaven, in some 
of the pits at Newcastle, and in some parts of Scotland. 
Doubts have been entertained respecting the name of 
this coal ; but when it is recollected that in Lancashire, 
whence it is chiefly brought, the word candle is usually 
pronounced with the omission of the letter e/, and that, 
in milny instances, the coal is used by the poor as a 
substitute for candles, these will be immediately re- 
moved. In Scotland it has the name of parrot coal. 
No kind of coal takes fire so readily, nor burns with 
so cheerful and brilliant a flame as this : and its not 
soiling the fingers, like pit coal, renders the use of it 
peculiarly pleasant ; but it does not cake, and soon 
burns away. When first kindled,, it crackles and splin- 
ters very much ; and, on this account, would be danger- 
ous, were it not easily prevented from so doing by being 
previously immersed for a little while in water. Cannel 
coal has much the appearance of jet. It admits of be- 
ing turned in a lathe, and takes a good polish ; and 
snuff-boxes and trinkets made of it have in many in- 
