gjt Scieinljic Nnut, ySceiunts ef Books^ tsV. 



C. PATRIN has made himfelf known by fevcral memoirs in the Joufiial de Ph^tque, 

 in 1788 and 1791, on the mines of Siberia, which he fpent eight years in examining from 

 the boundariw of Europe to the frontiers of China, and whence he has brought home a 

 colle£ii6n of minerals as valuabFe as it is ample. The object of this tour was to colle£t 

 information concerning the ftru£ture of mourtains in general, the formation of metallic 

 veins, the relation that different mineral fubftances bear to each other, and the hiftory of 

 the terreftrial globe itfelf. It is particularly in this important point of view, that the 

 author has treated of the hiftory of minerals. This too was the obje£l propofed by the 

 illuftrious BufFon ; but that great man wanted the aid of obfervation, which genius cannot 

 fupply ; and what he has faid on the fubjedl is built wholly on fyftems formed ia the 

 clofet, and now conGdercd only as fplendid chimeras. To thcfe different notions of gene- 

 ral theory, the author has added all the particulars that he judged of moft importance re- 

 fpe£ting the properties of the different mineral fubftances, and their ufes in phyfic or the 

 arts : every thing, in fliort, that can render them ferviceable to man. He has carefully 

 added the analyfes made of them by the moft celebrated modern chemifts, which were 

 •Itogether omitted by Buffon j though, indeed, had they not, what he could have giveii 

 would have been of little ufe at prefent, from the amazing fuperiority the chemical ope- 

 rator has attained (ince his time. In this work is an efTay on volcanoes, in which C. P. 

 Advances a new theory of thefc grand phenomena : and one thing (hews, that the author 

 has feen the operations of nature contemplated as they actually are ; his having painted out 

 feveral difcoveries as poffible, which have been really made fince his memoir was read 

 at the Inftitute. 



■SfNC OF THE fllTTH VOLUME. 



