The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-12 00:00:00

COALS IN THE NEW WORLD.

The following is a report from the Museum of Prac-
tical Geology, on specimens of coal from Sandy Bay,
Talcahuano Bay, near Concepcion, Chili, and from Van-
couver's Island, brought to England in her Majesty's
steam-frigate Sampson, Captain Henderson, C. 8., re-
cently paid off from the Pacific :
" Museum of Practical Geology, Jan. 30.
" Sir,—With reference to the fossil fuel from Sandy
Bay, Patagonia, Talcahuano Bay, and Colcurra Bay,
Chili, and from Vancouver's Island, forwarded to the
Museum of Practical Geology from the Admiralty for
examination, and brought home by her Majesty's
steamer Sampson, I have the honour herewith to for-
ward a statement of analyses conducted under the su-
perintendence of Dr. Lyon Playfair, from which it re-
sults that the two specimens from Sandy thy come
under the head of that variety of fossil fuels, called
brown coal, or lignite. They are, however, good va-
rieties of that fuel, although containing a large quan•
tity of ash. Lignites, though not so good as real coal
for steam purposes, may yet be often advantageously
employed when the latter is not to be procured.
" The locality of this lignite would appear to render it
particularly worthy of attention, more especially as to its
abundance and easy access.
" The specimens from Talcahuano Bay and Colcurra
Bay, Chili, are of real coals, and, so far as can be in-
terred from the portions sent, would appear to be of that
variety known as cannel or candle coal. That from
Talcahuano Bay is a very fair average coal, that from
Colcurra B iy is equal in evaporative value to good New-
castle coal, judging at least from the analysis.
" The specimen from Vancouver's Island is also one of
a true coal, of the kind found at Newcastle. It, how-
ever, contains much earthy matter. This specimen
may be from the cap, or portions exposed to the wea-
ther, and indeed may be but from one of the several
beds supposed to exist in Vancouver's Iland, which
may not give a fair estimate of the quality of its coals
generally.
" The lignites and coals, of which specimens were sent,
may all be made applicable to steam navigation, espe-
cially the coals, if they can be obtained in sufficient quan-
tity, and with the requisite facility.—l have the honour
to be, Sir, your very obedient servant,
" H. T. DE Li EECHE.
" Captain Hamilton, R.N."

" Museum of Practical Geology, Jan. 30, 1849.
" Sir,—l have now the honour to state the results of
my examination of the coals sent to this Museum for
analysis, and described as Specimens of coal from Sandy
Bay, Straits of Magellan, and Chili, brought by her Ma-
jesty's ship Sampson.'
" SPECIMEN I.—Coal from Sandy Bay, Patagonia.
" This coal is brown, having the appearance of a lig-
nite; it does not soil the fingers. It is easily broken in
any direction, and the interior presents a black mass, in-
terspersed at intervals with light brown specks, which
are due to some resinous matter. In some parts a yellow
resin, probably amber, is found.
Carbon ... ... 62 25

Hydrogen ... ... ... 5.05

Sulphur ... ... ... ... 113
Nitrogen ... ... ... 0.63
Ash ... ... ... ... 13.40
Oxygen ... ... ... ... 17.54

100.00
" This coal burns without swelling, gives a little flame,
and a very pungent smoke, ash grey.
" SPECIMEN IL—Sandy Bay.
" Is perfectly identical in appearance with the for-
mer specimen, and presents the same phenomena on ig-
nition.
Carbon ... ... 59.63
Hydrogen ... ... 5.63
Sulphur 0 96
Nitrogen
... 0.64
Ash 15.64
Oxygen ... 17.45

100.00
" Coal from Talcahuano Bay, near Concepcion, Chili.
" This coal does not soil the fingers, is very hard—
has something of a cenchoidal fracture. The interior is
perfectly and uniformly black, while almost the entire
exterior surface is covered with a grey film, as if the
coal had decayed under the influence of flit* atmosphere.
It burns without swelling, giving considerable smolic and
flame, and yields a greyish ash.
Carbon ...
Hydrogen ...
sulphur ...
Nitrogen ...
Ash ...
Oxygen

... 70.71
... 6 44
... 0.90
... 1.08
... 6.92
... 13.9

100.00
" Coal from Vancouver's Island:
" Resembles much in appearance Newcastle coal; has
a black, glossy surface, it breaks easily, earthy matter
is found running in lines through it. It burns with a
considerable amount of smoke and flame, and leaves a
grey ash.

Carbon
Hydrogen ...
Sulphur ...
Nitrogen ...
Ash ...
Oxygen ...

... 66.93
... 5.32
... 2 20
... 1.02
... 15.82
... 8.71

100.00

" Coal from Colcurra Bay, near Concepcion, Chili.
" Very closely resembles the coal from Talcahuano
Bay, but there is an appearance of decomposition even in
the interior. It burns with considerable smoke and
ilatue, leaving a reddish yellow ash.
Carbon ...
Hydrogen ...
Sulphur ...
Nitrogen ..
Ash
Oxygen ...

... 78,305

... 5,506
... 1,060
... 1,090
... 5,670
.. 8,269

100.000

" You will remark that the specimens from Sandy
Bay are not coals but lignites; that the coals from Chili
resemble the cannel coal of this country, so far as may
be judged from the small specimen sent; and that the
coat from Vancouver's Island resembles ordinary New-
castle coal, except that it contains much more earthy
matter than good coal from the Newcastle field.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your faithful and obedient servant,
" LTON PLAY FAIR.
" Sir Henry T. de la Beche, L.S."

SALE OF THE STOWE LIBRARY.
The sale of this library, after having extended over
twenty-four days, was brought to a close on Saturday,
the catalogue for the day including a very large collec-
tion of books illustrative of the history and antiquities
of Ireland. The following were the receipts of each
day's sale:—

X s. d.
First day
Second day
Third day 360 8 6
Fourth day
Fifth day ... 414 18 0
Sixth day 546 0 0
So'centh day 389 14 0
Eighth day
Ninth day 357 13 0
Tenth day.... .
Eleventh day 390 1 0
Twelfth day ...
Thirteenth day .1,006 17 0
The total amount realised
The important and celebra
will be sold in the course of

SixteenthF r tee nt I
dayi day... 466
371 7 9 s d
Fifteenth day ... 571 4 6
14 66
Seventeenth day. 779 6
Eighteenth day . 252 18 6
Nineteenth day . 490 15 6
Twentieth day... 297 9 6
Twenty-first day 442 16 6
Twenty - second
day ............ 427 14 0
Twenty-third day 14* 11 0
Twenty - fourth
day ............ 519 3 0
was thus 10,3554 7s. 6d.
ted collection of manuscripts
the ensuing month.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS:Tr. J. T. Ing-
ham, of the Northern Circuit, is selected to succeed Mr.
Ballantino, who is about to retire from the magistracy
of the Thames Police-court. Mr. Thomas Brown is
appointed a member of the Legislative Council of the
Gambia,— Observer.