1814.] accelerating the Progress of Mineralogy. 127 



It is not, therefore, in the power of all the world to construct 

 a system of mineralogy ; but it is not so difficult to make correc- 

 tions in those systems which exist already. A mind prone to 

 philosophize in excess sometimes discovers faults, when he ought 

 rather to admire the genius of him who has been able to avoid 

 them. The small spots which the searcher after faults pretends 

 to find out, are not so much errors in him whom he accuses, as 

 consequences of his own erroneous manner of seeing. A repu- 

 tation justly deserved by long labours, by profound studies, and 

 difficult researches, is sometimes disagreeable to the man who 

 despairs of ever being able to reach it. He seeks, therefore, to 

 destroy it ; but the factitious means which he is obliged to em- 

 ploy serve rather to produce an effect quite contrary to what he 

 intended. He gives additional force to his adversary, instead of 

 weakening him. His criticism induces us to read over again and 

 study the work, and thus, by understanding more completely, we 

 form a higher opinion of its value. An edifice built upon a solid 

 foundation is not easily destroyed. 



A system of mineralogy is not only necessary for him who 

 commences the study of that science, hut likewise for the ar- 

 rangement of cabinets. Without some system it would be diffi- 

 cult to find in our cabinets such a multiplicity of new substances 

 as have been brought together within these twenty years. 



To make mineralogical collections classed according to the 

 country from which they come, a method still employed in 

 Sweden, can never enable us to learn mineralogy. Such col- 

 lections can never be methodical, because the same substances 

 do not occur in every country; even if they did, such an ar- 

 rangement would occasion perpetual repetitions, and oblige us to 

 have an immense Dumber of specimens. Geographical collec- 

 tions can only be useful along with systematic ones. In order to 

 have them tolerably complete we must confine ourselves to our 

 own country. We see such a collection in the School of Mines 

 of France. The zeal of its directors have formed it ; and the 

 care of its keeper, my friend M. Tonnelier, has given it an 

 order that may enable it to serve as a model for .similar collec- 

 tions in other countries of Europe. The easy access which this 

 estimable philosopher gives to all the friends of the sciences 

 renders tin- collection as useful as it is precious. 



It is happy for the age in which we live that men such as 

 Werner and 1 iaiiy have chosen to occupy themselves with the 

 formation of mineralogical systems. These two celebrated phi- 

 losophers have not constructed their sysiems according to the 

 same principles; but this does not prevent both systems from 

 being employed with BUCCeBS. They may guide us in the study 



of mineralogy. They may facilitate the arrangement of our 



Collections. Thfl use which the student makes of them will 

 ■tsUt the progress of a science difficult in its nature, but 

 which their penetration has been happy enough to facilitate. 



