6z STUDIES OF NATURE. 



It would appear as if Nature, by burying the 

 focufes of this rich metal under the mows, had in- 

 tended to fence it with ramparts ftill more inac- 

 fc ceffible than the flinty bofom of the rock, left the 

 undifmayed ardor of human avarice mould, at 

 length, deftroy them entirely. It has become the 

 mod powerful bond of fociety, and the perpetual 

 object of all the labours of a life fo rapidly hurry- 

 ing to a clofe. Alas ! were Nature, at this day, to 

 inflict condign punifhment on this infatiable third 

 in the Nations of Europe, for a metal fo ufelefs, as 

 a real neceflary of human life, me has only to 

 change the territory of fome one of them into gold. 

 Every other Nation would inftantly flock thither, 

 and, in a little time, exterminate it's wretched 

 inhabitants. The Peruvians and Mexicans have 

 had the dreadful experience of this. 



There are metals not fo highly prized, but much 

 more ufeful, the elementary attractions of which 

 might, perhaps, procure us very important accom- 

 modations. 



The peaks of the mountains, and their length- 

 ened crefls, are filled, as we have feen, with iron 

 or copper, intermingled with a vitreous body, of 

 granite, or of natural cryftal, which attracts the 

 rains and the ftormy clouds, like fo many real 



electric 



