Sacieiy fir analyzing Mintrals, isfc. 139 



The principal obftacle that hindered our mineralogical treafures from beino' explored lias, 

 Jn fome mcafure, been happily removed by the advances that have been made in chemical 

 knowledge J and thereis now every reafon to hope that, at no very diftant period, by the gradual 

 removal of other impediments, an accurate knowledge will he obtained of the compofition, 

 nature and properties, not only of fuch minerals as are generally found- in cabinets, but of the 

 various hitherto neglefted ftrata of the different parts of this kingdom. 



There are, no doubt, in many of our mines, other valuable metals and minerals (at prefent 

 imported from abroad) beiidcs thofe they are worked for ; which want of chemical knowledge 

 refpediing the compound ftate of fuch produftions have caufed to be hitherto entirely neglected. 

 Nor indeed could it be expelled that the miner, whofe bufinefs is to produce a given quantity 

 of a known metal in a ihort time, fhould fo far wander from his track as to attempt to 

 examine what he has always been taught to confider as wafte. When he meets with any 

 other fubftance than the one he is in queft of, it excites no attention, and in many inftanoes 

 is turned out of the mine, and fcattered likt rubbifh to> repair the roads. 



To affift in preventing a wafte of the bounties afforded by Providence to this country,. 

 The British Mineralogical Society has been inftituted ; but the landholders and 

 proprietors of mines can alone overcome the obftacles which arife from the prejudices of the 

 miners, by caufing them to produce famples of the various ftrata they pafs through, and by 

 giving them premiums for every new fubftance of which they may be able to produce 

 fpecimens. — The country will be benefited exactly in the proportion that fuch a pradice 

 fliall become general. 



The Britifli IVIineralogical Society will analyfe, /w of expencc, package and carriage 

 excepted, for the proprietors of mines or landed eftates, whatever fubftance they may meet 

 with in fufficient Cjuantity to render a knowledge of the component parts a dcfirable objed. 

 In return, the Society expefts that fingular or curious fpecimens of the mineral productions, 

 which may be met with in working the Britilh mines, will be fent for the improvement of the 

 Society's Cabinet, which will thus in ti ne become a national ornament. 



It muft be obvious, that, in purfuiis of this nature, a Society poffefTes many advantages over 

 an individual ; for, in every cafe w here the component parts of a mineral are very intricate, the 

 knowledge and experience of all the members can be concentrated for the analyfis. 



When the analyfis of any mineral fenf for examinination is completed, the refult, with 

 an account of the methods employed, will be fent to the proprietor of the fpecimen; 

 and if it fliall contain any new fubftance, the probable ufes to which it may be applied will 

 be fujgefted. 



Such is the outline of the Plan of the Society, which, having nothing mercenary in view, 

 encourages its members toexpc£t that their labours for the mineralogical improvement of the 

 Britifh nation will be feconded, not only by thofe who have an immediate intereft in obtaining 

 an accurate knowledge of the nature and properties of the various mineral productions of 

 their eftates, but by every individual who has the profperity of his country at heart. 



Specimens fent for analyfis are requefted to be packed up in fuch a manner as to prevent, as 

 much as poffible, their being rubbed or fretted by the .carriage j as the external ftrucSture and 



character 



