. 240. NOMENCLATURE. 363 



the species, which is produced by the general description. 

 The characters contain every thing required for a correct 

 distinction within their sphere : the general descriptions 

 contain every thing required to a perfect natural-historical 

 knowledge of the species itself. 



It will not remain unnoticed by those who consider an 

 empirical knowledge of the productions of the Mineral 

 Kingdom as a valuable acquirement, that the methodical 

 way is the only one which leads to this end with the great- 

 est facility ; and, what is still more important, with the 

 greatest exactness and security, while every other attempt 

 must remain fruitless. 



. 240. SYSTEMATIC NOMENCLATURE HOW TO BE 

 JUDGED OF. 



The systematic nomenclature presupposes a sys- 

 tem, to which it refers ; and upon the due conside- 

 ration of this system must necessarily depend a 

 complete judgment of the nomenclature. The sys- 

 tem requires a systematic nomenclature, in order 

 to be applicable to the objects of experience. 



Although the first part of this proposition immediately 

 follows from the very idea of a systematic nomenclature 

 (, 230.), yet it seems necessary to add here a few remarks. 



The reason why as yet there has not existed a systema- 

 tic nomenclature in Mineralogy, was the want of a system, 

 capable of serving as basis to a systematic nomenclature, a 

 system which for that purpose would have required to 

 contain correctly determined species, arranged according 

 to the general principles of Natural History. Several 

 attempts have been made to construct a Latin syste- 

 matic nomenclature ; they have not succeeded, because 

 the systems to which they referred, did not possess the 

 necessary properties. The celebrated ABBE HAUY ac- 

 knowledges indeed the great value of a systematic no. 



