1817.) during the Year 18\6. 59 
I, ORYCTOGNOSY. 
This branch of mineralogy, as far at least as the analyses of 
minerals are concerned, owes more to Professor Berzelius during 
the last two or three years than to any one else. But there are 
some improvements applying to mineralogy in general which we 
must first notice before we state the analyses that have made their 
appearance since our last historical sketch. 
1. New Blowpipe. — The new blow-pipe, invented by Mr. 
Brooke, and executed by Mr. Newman, of which a description has 
been given in the Annals, vii. 367, promises to constitute one of 
the greatest improvements which has been hitherto introduced into 
practical mineralogy. I have no doubt that it will speedily come 
into general use, and that it will enable the student of mineralogy 
to determine many important particulars which he has hitherto been 
too often obliged to take upon trust. Dr. Clarke has already shown 
what an important instrument of analysis this blow-pipe may be 
made when a proper mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gases is sub- 
stituted for common air. 
2. Electric Properties of some Minerals.—Haiiy has observed 
that some varieties of electric calamine, or silicated zinc, are con- 
stantly electric at the common temperature of the air, and do not 
require to be heated. This is the only mineral hitherto observed to 
possess that property. But some Spanish tourmalines become 
electric by simple pressure between the hands. Some topazes, 
especially those of Siberia, of a white colour, preserve the electric 
virtue for a very long time after having been heated. (Ann. de 
Chim. et Phys. i. 447.) 
3. Pure chemical mineral System.—Berzelius has published, in 
the fourth volume of Afhandlingar i fysik, kemi och Mineralogi, 
p- 1, printed at Stockholm towards the end of 1815, an elaborate 
paper, entitled, Forsok till ett rent kemiskt mineral System, Essay 
towards a pure chemical System of Mineralogy. In this paper he 
takes a review of some of the most recent mineral systems, namely, 
those of Werner, Haussman, and Haiiy, and points out their de- 
fects and inconsistency with his usual freedom. He then gives us 
his own arrangement of the mineral kingdom, founded upon the 
view which he had already explained in his Attempt to establish a 
pure scientific System of Mineralogy, an English translation of 
which was published in London in 1814. It was my intention to 
have entered in this place into considerable details respecting Ber- 
zelius’s views; and the more so, because I perceive, with regret, 
that his intentions have been misunderstood, and that his opinions 
have been treated, in a cotemporary journal, witha harshness and 
want of respect to which they are by no means entitled. But this 
historical sketch has already extended to such a length, that I can 
do no more than exhibit an imperfect table of his classification. It 
will serve, at least, to give the reader an idea of the principles of 
his classification, 
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