CHARCOAL

From Agepedia

CHARCOAL. (See Carbon.) To the information contained in the article Carbon, we will only add a fact lately announced in the scientific journals, that, in Picardy, and other provinces of France, where turf is almost exclusively used as fuel, the inhabitants, by means of a cheap apparatus, are able to carbonize it so as to render it equal to the best charcoal. CHARDm, Jean, son of a Protestant jeweller in Paris, and a jeweller himself, was born in 1643. Before he had reached his 22d year, his father sent him to the East Indies, in order to buy diamonds. After a short residence in Surat, Chardin lived six years in Ispahan, where he was less engaged in mercantile business than in profound studies and scientific researches, making use of his connexions at court for collecting the most authentic information of the political and military state of Persia. He collected the most valuable materials relating to antiquities and history. In 1670, he returned to France. Finding, however, that he could hope for no employment on account of his religion, he again left France for Persia, in 1671, taking with him a considerable quantity of jewels, &c. He spent 10 years partly in Persia and partly in India. In 1681, he arrived in London, where, soon after his arrival, Charles II bestowed on him the honor of knighthood. Chaitlm published the first volume of his travels, in London, in 1686. The other volumes were about to follow, when he was appointed minister plenipotentiary of the king of England to the statesgeneral of Holland, and agent of the English East India company to the same. His new duties did not distract him from his favorite employment, so that, in 1711, two editions of his travels appeared. He soon after returned to England, where he died in 1713. The exactness and truth of his statements, and the extent of his knowledge, have been confirmed by all succeeding travellers. The best edition of Chardin's travels is that by Langles, 1811, in 10 vols. 8vo., with an atlas in folio.