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OF CHYMICAL iind MIN ER ALOG IC A L NO- 

 MENCLATURE. By RICHARD KIRWAN, Efq; 

 L.L.D. F.R.S. and P.R.I.A. 



J. HE names given to the different fubftances known in com- Read March 

 mon life, whether occurring in nature or produced by art, are ^'^^ ' °°' 

 coeval with languages themfelves, and whether all were merely- 

 conventional or fome of them grounded on fome relation to the 

 thing fignified is now of little importance to inquire, as from 

 long habit both are equally immediately referred to the thing 

 fignified, without any reflexion on the original reafon of their 

 impofition. Thus though the name barometer was originally im- 

 pofed on the inftrument fo called, becaufe the terms that compofe 

 this name Baros and Metron denote its ufe in mcafuring the 

 weight of the atmofphere, yet the name is juft as well under- 

 ftood by thofe who are totally unacquainted with its etymology 

 as by thofe to whom this is perfectly known. The inftrument 

 itfetf and not its u{e is denoted by the name, and equally occurs 



to 



