minerals of sovereign efficacy : beds 

 of richest value : and mines, whici. , i a 



meaner aspect, but superior usefuliA.* . itbout the 

 assistance of iron, what wot. In become - ihc- 



chanic skill ? Without Ibis we could scarce either i'sx 

 the inast, or drop the faithful anchor. Ve she; :d 

 scarce have any ornament for polite, or utensil for 

 common life. 



" Here is an inexhaustible fund of combustible ma- 

 terials. These mollify the most stubborn bars. They 

 melt even the jnost stubborn 'flint, and make it more 

 ductile than the softest clay. By this means we are 

 furnished with the most curious and serviceable rnaiia- 

 facture in the world ; which admits into our houses the 

 cheating light, yet excludes the wind and rain : which 

 gives new eyes to decrepit age, and more enlarged view 

 to philosophy ; bringing near what is immensely remote 

 and making visible what is immensely small. 



" Here are quarries stocked with stones, which do no 

 - sparkle like ems, but are more eminently useful. Thes 

 form houses for peace, and fortifications for war. Thes 

 constitute the arches of the bridge, the arms of the mol 

 or quay, which screen our ships from the most tern 

 pestuous seas. These are comparatively soft in th 

 bowels of the earth, but harden when in the open ait 

 Was this remarkable peculiarity reversed, what difficu 

 ties would attend the labours of the mason ? His ma 

 terials could not be extracted from ! L : eir bed, nor fashior 

 ed Without infinite toil. And wen- \\\-i work compleatec 

 it could not Ibng withstand the fury of the elements. 



" Here are various assortments and beds of clay, whic 

 however contemptible in its appearance, is abundant] 

 more beneficial than the rocks of diamond or veins o 

 gold : this is moulded into vessels of any shape anc 

 .size : some so delicately fine, as to suit the table of 

 princess; others so remarkably cheap, that they ministe 



