246 



colours. But within it is either of the colour of sil- 

 ver, of brass, or gold. colour, or brown. The other 

 colours are no more than a thin film or sediment, 

 which water variously impregnated, deposits upon 

 the surface; 



There are few copper loads, if any, but have this 

 semi-metal (which is a kind of wild mock-copper) at- 

 tending upon them. Therefore, in searching for copper, 

 it is reckoned a great encouragement to meet withmun- 

 die. The mundic does not intimately incorporate itself 

 with the ore of copper ; for copper in its mineral state 

 being usually of a close consistence, repels the mun- 

 dic, which is therefore easily separated from the ore. 



Cornish waters are infected by mundic, more or 

 lcss,according to the quantity which theypass through, 

 and the disposition of the mundic, either to retain or 

 to communicate the noxious particles of which it con- 

 sists. Arsenic, sulphur, vitriol, and mercury are the 

 constituents of mnndic, vet these pernicious ingredi- 

 ents are so bridled and detained by their mutual action 

 and re-action, and by mixing with other minerals, 

 that the water is not poisonous, (general speaking) 

 even in the mine where it proceeds directly from the 

 mundic. 



Mundic resembles plants, animals, mouldings, carv- 

 ings, and sundry more varieties, too numerous to in- 

 sert. Shall we attribute this to a plastic power super- 

 intending the congress of fossils, and sporting itself 

 with such representations? Or shall we rather say, 

 that the great Power which contrived and made all 

 things, needing no delegate, artfully throws the flex- 

 ile liquid materials of the fossilc kingdom into various 

 figures, to draw the attention of mankind to his 

 works, and thence lead them to the acknowledgment 

 and adoration of an intelligent Being, inexhaustibly 

 wise, gi o I and glorious ? Doubtless these are the 

 works ol that same lover of shape, colour, and uiii* 

 formity that paints the peacock's train, that veins 

 the onyx, that streaks the zebra : it is the same hand 

 whose traces we may discover even among the mean. 



