XIV PREFACE. 



" than a superficial view of it. My only intention 

 " is to forward the scientific progress of Mineralogy, 

 " which is chiefly dependent on the purity of 

 " method necessary in every science ; on the cor- 

 " rectness of principles already demonstrated in the 

 " other departments of Natural History ; and on 

 " the consistency of the different parts of the science 

 " among themselves, objects which I have en- 

 " deavoured to attain. In this condition, Minera- 

 " logy answers every purpose that can be reason- 

 " ably expected from any part of Natural History. 

 " I trust that the results already obtained, however 

 " insufficient they may be, will induce naturalists 

 " to take advantage of the first step towards the 

 " construction of that edifice, of which I have laid 

 " down the plan in the present Treatise." 



Charlotte Square, EDINBURGH, 

 25th March, 1825. 



