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gives a still
stronger example. In the parish of Kilsyth, he tells us, there was found,
in a solid bed of sandstone, the trunk of a tree in an erect position, the
indentations of the bark and marks of the branches being in many parts
of it still obvious. It rose from a bed of coal below the sandstone, and
the roots which reached the coal, as well as the bark for an inch thick
round the trunk, were completely converted into coal, while the centre
consisted of sandstone. This specimen I have myself seen in the
parsonage garden of Kilsyth, and this description is most accurate. Sir
George Mackenzie lately found a specimen precisely similar, in the
face of a sandstone rock in Lothian, and I have seen numerous
specimens of bamboos and reeds in the sandstone quarries of Glasgow,
with the bark converted into coal, and the centre filled with sandstone.
Edward.--But would not this prove that sandstone, also, was derived
from wood?
Mrs. R.--No: it would only prove that the centre had been destroyed
and removed; for the sandstone is not chemically composed of
vegetable substances, but the coal is.
Edward--Still, I cannot conceive by what process the conversion is
effected.
Mrs. R. By a natural process, evidently; being a continuation of that
which converts mosses and marshes into peat. Nay, it is supposed not
to stop at the formation of coal, but, by a continuation of the causes, the
coal becomes jet, and even amber. The eminent chemist, Fourcroy, in
proof of this, mentions a specimen in which one end was wood, little

changed, and the other pure jet; and Chaptal tells us, that at Montpellier
there are dug up whole cart-loads of trees converted into jet, though the
original forms are so perfectly preserved that he could often detect the
species; and, among others, he mentions birch and walnut. What is
even more remarkable, he found a wooden pail and a wooden shovel
converted into pure jet.
Edward. Then I suppose, from all these details, that coal might be
formed artificially, by imitating the natural process.
Mrs. R. Mr. Hatchett made many ingenious and successful experiments
with this design, and Dr. Macculloch has more recently succeeded in
actually making coal. One of the strongest instances of the process, is
the existence of a great quantity of wood only half converted into coal,
at Bovey, near Exeter; this has been much discussed by the geologists;
but there is a bed of coal found at Locle, on the continent, which is said
to have been formed almost within the memory of man, though I have
not yet seen any good account of it.
Altogether, we have been much gratified with these Conversations. As
a hint, en passant, we remind the editor of such an oversight as that at p.
350-1, "Order in which the strata lies in the Paris basin."
* * * * *
THE IDLER.
There were many newspapers in the room, but there was nothing in
them. There was a clock, but it did not seem to go; at least, so he
thought, but after looking at it for a very long time he found it did go,
but it went very slowly. Then he looked at his watch, and that went as
slow as the clock. Then he took up the newspapers again one after the
other very deliberately. He read the sporting intelligence and the
fashionable news. But he did not read very attentively, as he afterwards
discovered. Then he looked at the clock again, and was almost angry at
the imperturbable monotony of its face. Then he took out his
pocket-book to amuse himself by reading his memorandums, but they
were very few, and very unintelligible. Then he rose up from his seat,

and went to the window; and looked at the people in the street; he
thought they looked very stupid, and wondered what they could all find
to do with themselves. He looked at the carriages, and saw none with
coronets, except now and then a hackney-coach. Then he began to pick
his teeth, and that reminded him of eating; and then he rang the bell,
which presently brought a waiter; and he took that opportunity of
drawling out the word "waiter" in such lengthened tone, as if resolved
to make one word last as long as possible.--Rank and Talent.
* * * * *
THE BATTLE OF GIBEON.
VERSES ILLUSTRATIVE OF MARTIN S JOSHUA.
"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments
rolled in blood but this with burning and fuel of fire."--ISAIAH ix. 5.
From Gilgal's camp went forth, at dead of night, The host of Israel:
with the rising sun They stood arrayed against the Amorite, Beneath the
regal heights of Gibeon, Glorious in