on certain Stony and Mdallhic Suhjlances. 141 



the ether conftituent parts of the Hone, has occafioned a 

 greater degree of adhefion between thefe parts, and has ren- 

 dered the fubiiance of the (lone more compact. 



The great quantity of iron in a metallic itate which this 

 (tone contains, added to its greater compaetnefs, makes it 

 capable of receiving a fngtit degree of poiiiJV; whereas it is 

 impoflible to give any polith lo the others. When polifhed, 

 the iron becomes very evident, in the polidied part; appear- 

 ing in the form of fmall fpecks, afmtift clofe to each other, 

 which have the colour and hutre pecutiar to that metal: 

 thefe fpecks are, in general, nearlv of an equal fize. 



The black cruft of this Itone is fimilar to that of the others. 



The fpecific gravity of the (tone is 4281. 



It is eafy to perceive, from the foregoing defcription, that 

 thefe ftones, although thev have not the fmallell analogy with 

 any of the mineral lubitances already known, either of a vol- 

 canic or anv other nature, have a very peculiar and ftriking 

 analogy with each other. This circumttance renders them 

 truly worthy to engage the attention of philofophers, and 

 naturally excites a defire of knowing to what caufes they owe 



their exiftence. 



' I proceed to confider the a Hi (lance to be derived from che- 

 miury, in diftinguifhing thefe ftones from all other known 

 ilibftances, and in eilabmhing the alTertion, that they have 

 fallen on the earth. 



The analyfis made bv the French academicians of the 

 ftone preferred to them by the abbe Bachelav, was, in part, 

 conducted bv the ever to be deplored Lavoifier; but it was 

 performed before that celebrated author had enriched che- 

 miftry with his laft difeoveries, and before he had given birth 

 to the fyftem under which it flourifhes. The refult of this 

 analyfis might well induce the conelufion, that the fubjeel: of 

 it was common pvrttical matter. It was unfortunately made 

 of an aggregate portion of the (lone, and not of each uiftimSfc 

 fubltance, irregularly difleminated through it. The propor- 

 tions obtained were, confequently, as accidental as the ar- 

 rangement of every fubftanee in the mafs. 



The analyfis of M. Barthold, of the (tone of Enfifheim, is 

 fubjeel to the fame objections ; but, after having the advan- 

 tage of the foregoing descriptions, the researches which fol- 

 low cannot be (uppofed altogether liable to a fimilar fatality. 

 [To be continued.] 



XXIV. On 



