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with the coQipositio!! aui crysfcalliiie form, specific gi-avity being-fore- 

 most ; fourthly, all the other accidents of hardness, Instre, color, ikc , 

 which, though illusory when employed in drawing the great lines of 

 classification, become i*eliable means of deciding between three or 

 four neighbouring species. 



Such is the scheme which I venture to submit to your examin- 

 ation. I do not suppose it to be perfect in every respect, but to me it 

 seems to avoid that great inconsistency of separating mineralogy from 

 chemistry. 



For me, this is not a mere speculative notion, but an idea which 

 I have alieady begun to carry practically into effect in the course of 

 mineralogy which I have the honor to teach in the nniversity of our 

 city. That idea has inspired me not only in the direction of my per- 

 sonal studies and in my method of teaching, but even in the material 

 dispositions of the new chemical and niineralogical laboratory which 

 will be opened next year to the students of the university, and I hope 

 also to many of you gentlemen who have encouraged me, by your verv 

 flattering attention, to read to the end this dry and voluminous essay. 



