129 Reflections on some Mineralogical Systems. 
M. Haiiy having established crystallization as a predo- 
minant principle in his system, ‘there was nothing morg 
natural than to found mineralogical varieties on crystallogra- 
phical varieties. Several persons think it tiresome and 10g 
rigorous, that every small new face should make the mineral 
in T which itis found be considered as a new variety of its 
species. Let us take a familiar exam ple, muriated soda 
(common salt). See pl. 38 of Hatiy’s Treatise. —If the 
angles A, A, &c. of the primitive cube (fig. 145) are trun- 
cated in a manner to produce the faces O, 0, &c. (fig.146); 
the two forms in 143 and 146 are two varieties of muriated 
soda, however small may be O, 0, &c. If O, O, &c. aug- 
ment (fig. 146), P, P, &c. diminish. . Let. this continue 
until that O, O, be as we see p- 9, 147, with the exception 
of a small portion of P, P, &c. which remains, and we shal| 
have an octaedron w hich svill appear truncated j in the angles 
as was lately the cube. Finally, Jet P, P, &c. totally dis- 
appear, and the form will become that of an octaedron, 
Here are two extreme varieties in muriated soda; the ong 
has six faces, the other eight, and an intermediate variety 
which has (648) 14 faces. In what could micrology have 
surpassed all this? The faces O, O, &c. which begin to 
show themselves on the angles of the cube, are the feeble 
indexes of a nascent effort which is about to become im- 
mense. If, in the first moment, the relation of Oto P is 
as an infinitely small to a finite quantity, it will soon be- 
come that of a finite quantity to an infinitely small. Mi- 
crology would stop at intermediate degrees, and scek somg 
relation, perhaps that of equality, perhaps more than one, 
_ between O, and P. Antimicrology would here recognise 
three grand epochs; that where the effect does not yet exist, 
that where it does exist, and that where it ceases to exist ; 
the non-entity which precedes existence, the existence which 
is continued. and the non-entity which succeeds ites At: 18 
the weakness of man which makes him perceive in ex- 
istence a beginning, a middle and an end, which to eternity 
have no existence. Shean a: 
It has been wished to try the effect of ridicule on a sy- 
stem of mineralogy founded on the integral molecule, on 
an infinitely small or an rmperceptible thing. While that 
some sorry jesters circulated in Paris little couplets, which 
were as soon forgotten, on the infinitely small things of the 
» Marguis de Hopital, philosophers by their means dispersed 
over Europe grand results which will never be forgotten. 
Micrology would pass an immense time on particulars 
which are worth nothing; on the colours, for instance, of 
minerals, 
