ii PREFACE. 



tion of government. There are colleges in 

 which it is regularly taught; it forms a 

 diftinct and honourable profeffion, like that of 

 the foldier, the merchant, or the barrifter ; 

 its fuperior officers form a part of the ad mi- 

 niftration of the ftate. Young ftudents, 

 fraught with the knowledge to be acquired in 

 their own country, are fent abroad to glean 

 all that can be collected from a more diverfi- 

 fied view of nature, or a more improved 

 practice of the arts. This example has been 

 lately followed by the French^ the Ruffians* 

 and even the Spaniards. 



The French have erected a Mineralogical 

 School at PariSr to which a confiderable 

 penfion is annexed. Subterraneous maps of 

 the whole kingdom are now a tracing, and 

 mineralogical voyages are from time to time 

 undertaken at the public expence *. Chy- 

 miftry v the Parent of Mineralogy, is culti- 

 vated by the moft enlightened nations in Eu- 

 rope> and particularly in France with a de- 

 gree of ardour that approaches to enthufiafm j 

 it forms the favourite occupation, and even 

 the moft fafhionable object of attention not 

 only of the middling, but even of fome in 

 the higheft ranks of fociety f. 



la 



* As that of Mr. Jars, &c. 



fr Among thefe we may reckon in RuJJla prince GalUtzen. ; 

 in Germany count Sickengen ; in Italy the counts cte Salucei 



