338 THEORY OF THE SYSTEM. . 228. 



what formerly has been designated by this name in Mine- 

 ralogy. The chemical principles of classification, received 

 in these systems, more particularly exercise their influence 

 in their higher divisions. In general, Mineralogy must 

 not be compared with any science except Zoology and Bo- 

 tany, and it has nothing to fear, if it is found to admit of 

 this comparison. For this will demonstrate that it has ap- 

 plied the general principles of Natural History in conformity 

 with itself to its object, which is its peculiar, but at the same 

 time also its only business. 



. 228. CLASS. 

 The Class is an assemblage of similar orders. 



What the genus is to the species, or the order to the 

 genera, the class is in respect to the orders. Genenim ge- 

 nus est Ordo, ordinum autem genus Classis est. LINN. Phil. 

 Bot. 204. The idea of the class is so comprehensive, that 

 it becomes difficult to judge of its applicability, without 

 the direct inspection of the objects themselves. This in- 

 spection proves, that every one of the three classes of 

 the natural-historical system in Mineralogy does contain 

 orders which are connected by a greater degree of simi- 

 larity, with each other, than with those of other classes. 



The idea of the class likewise depends solely upon natu- 

 ral-historical considerations, and does not admit of any fo- 

 reign principle. It is analogous to the classes in the orga- 

 nic kingdoms, in as far as these are not artificial, or pro- 

 duced by a mere division. These ideas, however, do not 

 allow of any comparison with the classes hitherto used in 

 Mineralogy; which, not being framed according to the 

 principles of Natural History, are partly founded upon 

 hypotheses, and partly on principles which the present 

 state of Chemistry no longer admits. 



The systematical ideas of the species, of the genus, the 

 order, and the class, are all that is necessary for producing 

 what has been called a System of Nature ; and it appears 

 that they possess the same requisites in all the three king- 



