Mr, Williams, and his Annotator Dr. Millar. 119 
was printed in Edinburgh, “ with an Appendix containing a 
more extended view of Mineralogy and Geology, by James Millar, 
M.D.F.S.A.S, Lecturer,” &c. It appears from Dr. Millar’s 
preface, that it was his intention at commencing the work, and 
until near 50 pages of it were printed off, ‘to add explanatory 
Notes to the original text of the Author ;’’ but then the plan was 
changed, into that of giving Mr. Williams’s Work without com- 
ment or illustration, merely divided in a more formal manner 
into Chapters, and curtailed of its redundancies ; and the ap- 
pendix, as a separate work ly Dr.Millur, was to be so enlarged, 
as to oceupy all but the first 67 pages of the second volume: 
making in fact, two distinct works “ independent, so that each 
may be perused as a whole,” yet thus tacked together, rather 
too much in the Book-making style*, 
In several careful perusals which I have given this second edi- 
tion of Mr. Williams’s Work, in order to comprehend and trea- 
sure up the rich collection of practical facts which he has men- 
tioned, and the many sagacious hints and suggestions which he 
gives, on the objects of my favourite study and pursuit, I have 
increasingly on every re-perusal, seen reason, to disapprove the 
* In 1802, a Writer in England, Mr. John Mawe, eked out a meagre 
Octavo, entitled “ The Mineralogy of Derbyshire,” by 24 pages, of what 
he calls ‘ An Analysis of Mr. Williams's Work, entitled The Mineral 
Kingdom ;” on the frequent perusal of which “account of Mr, Williams’s 
Book,” I am unable to discover, any other motives or design the Writer 
had therein, beyond those hinted at in the text, and to exult in his own 
assumed superiority, asa technical Mineralogist, (or describer of, and dealer 
in, hand Specimens), and to abuse Mr. Williams, most unmercifully and up- 
justly, on the score wf confusion, and tedious prolixity in his Ideas and 
Writings; in doing which, be has had the audacity to allege, at p. 178, that 
Mr. Williams’s “real facts and observations,” ‘‘are buried in a mass of idle 
declamation!;” again, in p, 184, that ** nothing can exceed the prolixity of 
his declamations,” “ which rarely present one ray of sulid information !!;” 
&c. &c. 
For such conduct as this, towards his Author, it night have been ex- 
pected by impartial and anprejudiced persons, that the Editor of Mr. 
Williams’s 2d Edition, would tlicreia have administered, due castigation to 
Mr. M.: that he would, on no account have oinitted, by notes, on the 6 or 7 
passages (at the most, in Mr.Williams’s copious details) in which Mr. Mawe 
has expressly contradicted any of the facts, stated by Mr. W.to bave vindi- 
cated him (as iu justice he might, on most of them I believe), and to have 
properly explained Mr. W’s excusable mistakes, on the others; such for 
instance, as the mighty fault of sayiny,the granite of Strontian was gray, in- 
stead of red /, &c.: it istoo evident however to me, that this was not done, 
because Mr. M. and Dr. M., both entered on the critical examination of Mr, 
W’s Work, without sufficient real, or practical knowledge, of most of the 
objects on which Mr. W. had expressly written; and having very similar 
feelings and intentions, each to raise their own reputation and sell their 
Books, almost regardless of the injustice thereby done, to the memory of 
Mr, W., or to the cause of scientific truth and improvement, 
LONE 
