. 248. CHARACTERISTIC. 881 



collect in it superfluous marks, which are of no use in the 

 process of distinguishing individuals. 



Thus it appears that the Characteristic presupposes the 

 existence of the system to its full extent, its only object 

 being to distinguish minerals occurring in nature, while 

 that of the Theory of the System is to produce the syste- 

 matic ideas agreeably to the principle of natural-histo- 

 rical resemblance with consistency. Both of them must 

 keep strictly in their peculiar course, and will then become 

 the more useful as departments of the science ; by these 

 properties, the Characteristic will become the link between 

 the systematic ideas and the systematic names and deno- 

 minations, while both the Characteristic and Theory of 

 the System will produce the connexion between the na- 

 tural-historical properties and the same systematic names 

 and denominations. 



. 248. BASE OF A PERFECT CHARACTERISTIC. 



The perfection of the Characteristic depends 

 upon the perfection and accuracy of our natural- 

 historical knowledge of natural productions. 



The truth of this proposition, in regard to the Charac- 

 teristic of both natural and artificial systems, is so very 

 evident, that it would be superfluous to add any explana- 

 tory remarks. But as a consequence of this truth, we may 

 mention, that the most useful, or rather the only means of 

 .bringing the Characteristic nearer perfection, consists in 

 the continued study*, and in the accurate investigation of 

 nature. The more we inquire into the nature of bodies, 

 and the more our knowledge becomes accurate and exten- 

 sive, the more the ideas of the system will advance towards 

 purity and correctness, and afford in proportion a higher 

 degree of facility and certainty to the process of distin- 

 guishing them from one another by means of the Charac- 

 teristic. The want of an accurate knowledge is still per- 



