ON A NATURAL SYSTEM 



$ CXLIII. Slmounf of the Species. 



IF the primitive earths are five in number,, 

 rhen tire preceding paragraphs exhibit the 

 formula? of all thofe fpccics that can poflibly a- 

 rifc from their various combination ; and to 

 which, adding the fise fimple earths, we fliull 

 find the amount to be thus, 5+20+604.120 

 + 120=325, the amount of the whole. 



$ CXLIV. Further Explanation of the Formula. 



I HAVE fo contrived thefe formula? as to make 

 it evident to what genus every combination is to 

 be referred. The firfl letter determines the 

 character of that genus, j- only crxceptcd ; as, 

 though it exceeds in weight, yet its other qua- 

 lities do not always prevail, ($ 89.) 



. If at any time the number of the primitive 

 earths i* diminifhcd, whether by decompoiing 

 them into others more limplc, or by diicovering 

 them to be of a metallic nature, yet the fame 

 formuke may be prcfervcd after making the ne- 

 ceflary correction. 



For example, Suppofc^ were referred to the 

 third clais, the quintuple formulae, (J 142.) 

 would then become quadruple, that ieries being 

 deihoyed entirely where /> begins, and from all 

 the others would it be taken away. In this cafe 



