224 Reflections on some Mineralogical Systems. 
abled to collect a series of phenomena: but the mind more 
occupied with the interest of the manufacture than that of 
science, has generally dwelt less on the explanation of facts 
than on their utility. Some men of learning nevertheless 
have considered chemistry in a philosophical view, and have 
copiously distributed over Europe that multutude of mate- 
rials, accompanied by some theoretical explanations, which 
the French chemists afterwards collected jnto the beautiful 
edifice which so deservedly bears the name of the theory of 
Lavoisier *. . 
In Germany there are less chemical manufactures in ge- 
neral than in England ; nevertheless, pharmacy, which is 
preeminently the chemical art, the chemical art properly 
so called, formerly flourished there to such a degree, that 
it was proverbially said, that the perfection of therapeutics 
consisted in an English physician, a French surgeon, and 
a German apothecary. ‘The analysis of minerals, which is 
nothing but an‘art, has been favqured by the same circum- 
stances which disseminated a knowledge of mineralogy in 
that country. But, in the chemical revolution which has 
taken place within the last 30 years, the Germans are the 
only people who have not furnished one theoretical fact, (for 
I do not so designate the discovery of a metal or an earth,) 
nor an idea to the philosophy of the science. Stahl, 
Scheele, without mentioning Margraaf and others, merited 
and acquired a high reputation. But there is nothing to 
hinder the artist from being sometimes a man of genius, 
or rather the man of genius is sometimes reduced to be an 
artist. 
Germany includes some of the provinces of Europe the 
richest in minerals, and we there find the most ancient 
mines explored. As the government is partly interested in 
their success, it has believed it equally advantageous to disse- 
minate publicly as much knowledge as possible on this snb- 
ject, in order that the advantages which should result might 
be distributed among all persons, and return to itself. En- 
gland bas also very rich provinces ; the mineralogical ma- 
nofactures in this floarishing island have not remained 
behind others. But individuals being much more interested 
in their success than the government; each one has sought 
particular improvements in order to surpass his neighbour, 
and has taken care to conceal his process. France has 
somewhat neglected mineralogical and metallurgical works, 
and canuot be placed in the same rank with respect to the 
* The truth conveyed in this sentence fully compensates for the insignifi- 
gant general compliments previously bestowed —T'Rawns. 
arts 
