OF FOSSILS. 



their (kill, that they did not hcfitatc to promife 

 thcmfclvcs the miracles of an univerfal medi- 

 cine, and the making of gold, Hence arofc 

 the ridiculous flruggle betwixt the immoderate 

 bondings, through \\hich they were endeavour- 

 ing to difpofc ad van tagcoully of their difcove- 

 ries, and tlie moti i'olicitous attention with 

 which they wiihcd to keep them concealed. 

 What the names they employed could be, 

 when depending on the moil abfurd theories, 

 the (lighted appearances, and mod abilrufc me- 

 taphors, we arc at no lofs to apprehend. To 

 thcfe were added afterwards of hers produced by 

 any fortuitous flight occurrence ; and we per- 

 ceive in fome meafure a language peculiar to 

 the early operations of chemiilry. 



c i.x x x I v . Of reforming the Names of Foffih. 



THE inditution of academies of fcicnce gave 

 rife to the gradual introduction of a founder 

 theory, founded upon more accurate experi- 

 ment, which tended confidcrably to limit the 

 barbarous and mydical ailcclation of fecrcfs; and 

 occalionccl a more rational denomination of new 

 cUfcoveries, though as yet not built upon gene- 

 ral principles. HeJides, the rude and indigedcd 

 mafs c\f antiquity was Hill preferred for the 

 greatcd part, and chiefly for the following rea- 

 fons. 1'rom the reformation of names and 



phrafes 



