Dr Colquboun 07i the Argillaceous Ore of Iron. 227 



Besides the names already alluded to, and those more brief- 

 ly referred to in the note, there are many other chemists in 

 France, as Boullanger, Ramus, Clere, who have occupied 

 themselves in the prosecution of the same researches. But it 

 would be inconsistent with the scope of this memoir to enter 

 into any details regarding their merits. 



Of all these distinguished individuals Berthier is unques- 

 tionably the man to whose labours his native country is 

 mainly indebted for the illustration of the nature and proper- 

 ties of the argillaceous carbonate of iron. From the time 

 when the ore was first discovered in France, he saw its vast 

 importance to the nation, and has zealously persevered in dis- 

 seminating a knowledge of it among his countrymen, compel- 

 ling their obstinate prejudices to give way before the •truths 

 suggested by science, and demonstratively confirmed by exten- 

 sive experience. It is a proud result of Berthier's exertions 

 that the French metallurgist now owes more real instruction 

 to him alone, than to all the other chemists and mineralogists 

 who have investigated the same subject. 



We have now given a brief historical sketch of the progress 

 by which the argillaceous carbonate of iron has at length at- 

 tained its proper station in the science of mineralogy, and we 

 have offered a very short notice of those whose names have 

 been most distinguished in bringing the light of science in aid 

 of the manufacturer of iron. It has been necessary to admit 

 that the chemists of Great Britain have borne a very insigni- 

 ficant share in these investigations, although it is undoubtedly 

 in their country that the metallurgic treatment of this ore is 

 practised in greater perfection, and carried to an infinitely 

 greater extent than in all the rest of the world together. But 

 it would be unjust to omit in such a notice the labours of Mr 

 Mushet, a gentleman whose long acquaintance with the details 

 of metallurgy has enabled him to publish a series of memoirs 

 of the highest value to the iron manufacturer.* These me- 

 moirs, which are very numerous, contain a minute discussion 

 of every topic connected with the metallurgic treatment of the 



a hope that France woukl speedily imitate the example of those countries 

 where its metallurgic value was duly appreciated. 



• See the Philosophical Magazine, from vol. ii. to vol. xxxiii. passim. 



