Brill/h Mhieraloglcal Society. 285 



©fFerber, Klaproth, Rarpe, Ja's, and Faujas dc St. Fond, 

 Ihould I'tand the t'oremolt among: thofe who have illuftrated 

 the niincialocical geography of Britain. Induced by ihefe 

 fentimcnts, and confcious thai every acceffion of fads, how- 

 ever fmall, in fo exlenfive and fo little explored a department, 

 was not only of intrinfie value, but might ferve as the founda- 

 tion and commencement of wider inveliigations, the original 

 inend)er.-=, thoiioh few in number, heiitated not to commence 

 a focietv, whofe objects, in tlieir full magnitude, can only be 

 adequately effeoled by length of time and liberal afliftance. 

 They have quietlv employed themfelves for more than three 

 years in the oratuitons analvfis of fpecimens, in the gradual 

 acceffion of members both capable and well difpofed to exert 

 themielves, to the belt of their xibilities, in furthering the in- 

 tentions of the Society ; in arranging corrcfpondencics, and 

 forming various internal regulations, which, unintereftiug as 

 thev mav be to the public, arc elllntial to the profperity of 

 the Society. Having overcome molt of the ditlicidties which 

 at firft prefented, and having received from various quarters 

 unequivocal allurances of cordial cooperation, the Society 

 feels itfelf called upon to make a public official ftatement of 

 its objecls, and to conmnmicate from time to time fuch 

 abffracls of its proceedings as may contribute in any degree 

 to the advancement of fcience or the arts, and convey 10 the 

 correfponding members a brief but faithful record of the la- 

 bours of their affbciates. 



One of the primary objefts is to obtain as much informa- 

 tion as poffible concerning the local or geographical minera- 

 loory of Britain. On this account the Society is ftrcnuouriy 

 c.\ertin<r itfelf to obtain lilis of mines, quarries, and mineral 

 fprinsrs, Irom the diflerent counties, together with fj)ccimens 

 and luch particulars as the proprietors may be willing to com- 

 municate. From many of the corrcl'ponding and ordinary 

 members, the Society expects alio, with conlidencc, to receive 

 accounts, as accurate as circumffances will allow, of the pre- 

 valent rocks and ftrata in varitnis mineral diftricl:s, their ex- 

 tent, direction, and other particulars which may hereafter 

 fcrvc as materials upon which to found a general liiltory of 

 the mineral topotrraphy of the ifland. Among other valuable 

 communications already received for this purpoic, a manu- 

 fcript map of Cornwall dcferves elpccial notice. 



A very fcriuus f)bffacle to mineralogical inquiries is the 

 want of an uniform nomenclature among thole who arc ac- 

 tively engaccd in the working of mines: the faTue lul)flance 

 is not unfrequentlv called by ditrerent names, or the lame 

 Tiaiuo is applied to diff'erenl lubilances even wilJiin the fame 

 4 niineral 



