On Mining. . J 6.3 



Sketch of the General H'ljhry of Muntig. 

 Conamur tcnucs graiulia ! IIoracf.. 



IT gratifies llie ciirinfitv, and proves fufficiently amufinsr, 

 to trace the otiiiiu and delineate tlie proguls of any thing 

 which occnpiea otir thouglils or engages our attention ; but 

 when fuch an inquiry is conneftcd with any important art or 

 fcience, it furely mull be more worthy the profecution, as 

 beins calcuhited to atTord fome ufeful information as well as 

 agreeable entertainment. Such are the offe*fts that i'eem 

 likely to refult from the liiltory of the rife and progrefs of 

 the art of mining; and it is hoped that the reader may meet 

 at leall with the latter of thefe eftecls in this humble attempt 

 to colleft into a (hort compafs what may perhaps convey 

 fome general idea of the antiquity of the art of working- 

 mines, and its gradual advancement to its prefent digniiicd 

 and important ftution. 



When we confider the many improvements and important 

 difcoveries that have been made in chemiitry within thefe 

 few vears, and compare the increafe of chemical knowledge 

 in tlie prefent age with that of former periods, it may per- 

 haps be thought that we cannot receive any advantages from 

 old authors, and that hiltories of tliis kind fcarcely deferve 

 notice, becaufe they are not abfolulcly neceflary to the know- 

 ledo-e of mining, nor to the juft performance of the feveral 

 operations belonging to it. Yet, ap ncilhing is more intereft- 

 inn; to an artilt than the rile and fate of his art, and nothing 

 more ufeful to him than the labours and experience of his 

 prcdeceHurs, it appears incumbent upon us to receive with 

 acknowlediiment, and (iudv with attention, the works of 

 ihofe wii'e'^and enlightened men in the middle ages who di-r 

 reifted their attention to the improvement of the arts, and, 

 bcino' free from the prejudices of hoftile fefts and attached to 

 the love of truth, contemplated with (leady zeal the opera- 

 tions and productions of nature, and deicribed appearances 

 as they exifted, without any mixture of theory or hypothefis. 



The art of difcovering metals in the mine, and 'rendering 

 tliem lit for ul'e by ciiemicul proced'es, is of the molt remote 

 autiipiitv. Mofes, the oldeli: of all authors, mentions the ufe 

 of brafs and iron, wliich coidd only have arifeu from lome 

 .lequaintance with the mciallurgic art ; and this account is 

 .u)iilirmed t)y the niofi: antient hillorians and labulifts. Dio- 

 dorus Siculus relates that the Egyptians adored Vulcan as % 

 god, and elleenied him the firli inventor of all arts and ope- 

 ratioua relating ty metals; and all the profane authors coin 



M j cide 



