STUDY X. Cfî 



mine of iron, from which had been already ex- 

 tracted, in the time of Pliny, an immenfe quantity 

 of that metal, without it's being perceptible, as 

 he tells us, that it was in the fmalleft degree di- 

 minifhed. Metals have, befides, other attractions ; 

 and if I might prefume to deliver my opinion by 

 the way, I confider thefe themfelves as the princi- 

 pal matrices of all foflil bodies, and as the ever 

 active means employed by Nature for repairing- 

 the mountains and the rocks, which the action of 

 the other elements, but, efpecially, the injudicious 

 labours of men, have an inceflant tendency to 

 impair. 



I (hall here remark, on the fubject of mines of 

 gold, that they are placed, as well as thofe of all 

 metals, not only on the mofl elevated part of Con- 

 tinents, but in icy mountains. 



The celebrated gold mines of Peru, and of 

 Chili, are, it is well known, in the Cordeliers. 

 The gold mines of Mexico are fituated in the vi- 

 cinity of Mount St. Martha, which is covered 

 with fnow all the year round. The rivers of Eu- 

 rope, which wafh down particles of gold along 

 their mores, iffue from icy mountains. The Po, 

 in Italy, has it's fource in thofe of Piedmont. But 

 without quitting France, we reckon ten greater or 

 fmaller rivers, which roll along gold-duft, inter- 

 mingled 



