. 19. INTRODUCTION, 15 



Hence the application of Natural History, to tlie objects 

 of observation, essentially consists in the process of con- 

 necting the natural-historical properties of the natural pro- 

 ductions with their systematic denominations ; or, on the 

 contrary, in that of joining the denominations with the 

 individual or collective descriptions (. 170- The first re- 

 quires the assistance of the System and of the Charac- 

 teristic ; the other can be immediately effected, and does 

 not require the application of a particular proceeding. 



From the manner in which Mineralogy has hitherto been 

 treated, it was impossible to obtain any other but an em- 

 pirical knowledge of Minerals, which consists in the re- 

 collection of having already met with a similar object, to 

 which a certain arbitrary name had been given. 



It is very difficult to attain a correct knowledge of the 

 productions of the Mineral Kingdom, if we confine our- 

 selves to empiricism. Besides, it is a waste of time, and 

 the information thus acquired, is at the best uncertain. 

 The bad consequences of having chosen an unscientific 

 mode of proceeding of this kind, increases with the actual 

 enlargement of our information, in respect to the produc- 

 tions of inorganic Nature. 



. 19. METHOD OF STUDYING THE NATURAL 

 HISTORY OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM. 



The only scientific way of studying Mineralogy 

 is, to proceed according to the principles, and con- 

 formably to the method of the science itself. This 

 requires some practice in several observations, re- 

 lative to certain properties of Minerals ; it presup- 

 poses some acquaintance with the mathematics ; and 

 a little tuition will greatly facilitate its application. 



Every person who intends to acquire solid information 

 in Mineralogy, must endeavour to become conversant 



