42 Review of Cleaveland’s Mineralogy. 
existence ; and that improvements and discoveries in the latter 
cannot fail of extending their beneficial effects to the afore- 
mentioned -employments. In fine, the study of mineralogy, 
whether it be viewed as tending to increase individual wealth, 
to improve and multiply arts and manufactures, and thus pro- 
mote the public good; or as affording a pleasant subject for 
scientific research, recommends itself to the attention of the 
citizen and scholar.” 
This intreductory view of the importance and interest of the 
science cannot be charged with the fault of exaggeration, since 
it is most evident that neither civilization, refinement in arts, 
nor comfort, can exist where the properties of mineral sub- 
stances are but imperfectly understood. 
As regards this country, the argument admits of much am- 
plification. The more our mineral treasures are explored, 
the more abundantly do they repay the research; and we 
trust that the period is not far distant, when we shall no longer 
ignorantly tread under our feet minerals of great curiosity and 
value, and import from other countries, at a great expense, 
what we, in many instances, possess abundantly at home.* 
But to return to the plan of the author’s work. Few per- 
sons, unacquainted with the science of mineralogy, would sus- 
pect that mere brute matter could exhibit many strong marks 
capable of discrimination. 
It may, however, be confidently affirmed, that there is no 
mineral which, if carefully studied, may not be distinguished 
by characters sufficiently decisive from every other mineral; 
an account of these characters ought, therefore, to precede 
every system of mineralogy. Professor Cleaveland has, with 
entive propriety, included them under the heads of erystal- 
* A vast region iw the interior of New-York and Pennsylvania is DoW 
fertilized by inexhaustible beds of sulphat of lime, (plaster of Paris,) which, 
till a very few years since, were not even known to exist. 
Near New-Haven, immense beds of green marble were discovered iD 
1811, during a mineralogical excursion: this beautiful material, closely 
resembling the verd antique, is now, on the spot, wrought into tables, fire- 
places, and many other ornamental forms ; and, although the farmers had 
made fences of it for 150 years, no one suspected what it was until the 
stady of mineralogy, in Yale College, brought it to light. 
