OF FOSSILS. 



rope has thought the cultivation and perfection 

 of its peculiar language an objccl highly \vorthy 

 of attention; andihall the fcicnces alone be dif- 

 tinguifhed lor rudcncfs and barbarity ofililc, 

 while they arc daily requiring new names to cx- 

 prcfs new difeovrries cor. flruclccl upon rational 

 principles; ,md which, if they arc not all wifely 

 and methodically ordered, would fomotimcs by 

 their number occafion the dcilruclion of thofo 

 very difcovcries they wore intended to prcferve. 

 In but:my, fuch a reformation lias long taken, 

 place ; and what is there that iliould prevent 

 i*o ialu'ary a plan fruin being extended to the 

 other fcicnccs ? 



Hut nr>t with (landing the obvious nccefllty of 

 reform, as well r.s of foinc fixed ilandard, accord- 

 ing to which all the new names nViuld IK* regu- 

 lated, then: are ilill many diflicultics that op- 

 pole their frc-e introduclioii into the republic of 

 letters. From the very nature of the propofal 

 it is expofed to the influence of particular opi- 

 nions ; ;md every one, pavli.il to his own, and 

 chuiing diilcrent data, it will be imppfiible in 

 the beginning at lcail,to unite, in one common 

 conlent, fcritinicnts fo adveife and contradicto- 

 ry. We arc not however to defpair; for, if t he- 

 voices of all do not combine, perhaps the grea- 

 ter number will, to ftifiie the dr.mour of pcr- 

 filling cavillers. Every reul iVicnd to chcmif- 

 f ry, therefore, fiicuid wifn for a happy illue to 



the 



