a thick, black, unctuous substance, obtained chiefly from fir trees, or from coals, by burning them with a close heat. It consists of resin, empyreumatic oil, and acetic acid. When inspissated by boiling it is called pitch. It is prepared in great quantities in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Russia, and North America, and in other countries where the pine and fir abound. Becher the celebrated chemist first proposed to make tar from pit-coal. Manufactory for this purpose were established many years ago in the bishopric of Liege, and in several parts of England. Tar is often extracted in large quantities in the manufacture of coal-gas, from which it is usually separated by condensation. *This substance, which is well known for its economical uses, is properly an empyreumatic oil of turpentine, and has been much used as a medicine both internally and externally. The importations of tar into Great Britain from Russia, Sweden, and the United States in 1828, were 10,107 lasts, free of duty, at a total cost of L88,944.