CHAPTEE XIV. 



THE MINERAL KINGDOM; OE, KINGDOM OF CHEMICAL 

 FOEMS. 



FROM the terrestrial creation, as a whole, we proceed to a 

 brief consideration of the general sub-creations which it 

 "involves. The first of these is the MINERAL KINGDOM. 



The Mineral Kingdom, in its most enlarged sense, em- 

 braces all physical or terrestrial substances, with their various 

 forms and compounds. Being thus general in its range, it is 

 hence a comparatively indefinite Kingdom ; and it is for this 

 reason, I suppose, that I have experienced more embarrass- 

 ment in reducing it to distinct classifications, than I have in 

 respect to any other system of being or operation ; and, after 

 all, I can only pretend to a comparatively close approximation 

 to correctness in my conclusions. Such an approximation, 

 embracing the most comprehensive serial arrangement of phy- 

 sical substances, is that exhibited in the following table : 



PRIMARY TRINITY. 



1. Primeval gaseous or mundane 

 chaos. 



2. Igneous liquid. 



3. Solidified amorphous. 



SECONDARY TRINITY. 



4. Secondary gaseous or terres- 

 trial atmosphere. 



5. Segregated, embracing rudi- 

 mental crystalline forms, both 

 solid and atmospheric. 



6. Complete material arrange- 



ments and ultimate crystal- 

 line forms. 

 7. Governing imponderables. 

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