Di ge 9 
Tue acquifition of this knowledge at home would be con- 
fiderably facilitated, if we were to poflefs mineralogical cabi- 
nets in which various natural combinations of metals, and of 
the other ~produéts of the mineral kingdom were well col- 
lected, and judicioufly arranged. Thefe {pecimens ought to be 
accumulated in fuch abundance as to allow of occafional con- 
fumption in chemical experiments. For although an examina- 
tion of their fenfible qualities may perhaps be generally ade- 
quate to the difcrimination of different bodies, yet it cannot 
be denied that this criterion is both more complex and lefs 
fatisfactory than chemical analyfis. 
AN extenfive cabinet of this kind, enriched with the mine- 
rals both of foreign countries and our own, would be an in- 
_ eftimable national treafure. But as the excellency of fuch a ca- 
binet would depend partly on its furniture, and partly (perhaps 
principally) on their arrangement, I fuggeft two provifions for 
confideration. 
First, that it fhould be required of every travelling ftudent 
of mineralogy receiving a ftipend from the nation, to colle@ 
in thofe countries wherein he fojourns, and to tranfmit to 
Dublin fuch fpecimens as are moft ufeful or rare. 
SeconpLy, that a board of mineralogy fhould be ereéted, 
confifting of the moft eminent charaéter in that fcience as 
prefident, and of fuch others as may be thought worthy of be- 
ing affociated with him. ‘That this board fhould receive a parlia- 
(G2) mentary 
