14 PHYSIOGRAPHY. . 257. 



. 257- THE COLLECTIVE DESCRIPTIONS DO NOT 

 DEPEND UPON THE SYSTEMS. 



The collective descriptions are independent of 

 the systems ; they are applicable, therefore, in every 

 system, even though the principles to which it is 

 framed should not agree with those of Natu- 

 ral History. 



The collective description represents the natural-historical 

 species developed in its minutest details. The natural-histo- 

 rical species itself is the basis of every method, or in fact of 

 every science, which refers to the productions of the Mineral 

 Kingdom : it is the object, not the product of classification 

 (. 220. 223.). The collective description is therefore inde- 

 pendent of the system, and may be applied in every one 

 of them, natural or artificial, and drawn up conformably 

 to the principles of Natural History, or to those of any 

 other science. Thus the collective description, by means 

 of its general applicability, is raised to a still higher de- 

 gree of importance, since it becomes the link between Na- 

 tural History and other sciences referring likewise to the 

 productions of the Mineral Kingdom. 



Having completed the collective descriptions, Natural 

 History has fulfilled its duty, and the natural-historical 

 species is now fit to be the subject of farther investigation 

 in other sciences, in all of which it is the general classifiable 

 unity, since it is not only distinguishable with the greatest 

 facility from every one resembling it, but also clearly re- 

 presented to the minutest details by the enumeration of its 

 natural-historical properties. The acquirement of all other 

 kinds of information referring to minerals is foreign to 

 Natural History, although its foundation consists in the 

 correct determination of that science. It is only by di- 

 viding and keeping separate the heterogeneous principles, 

 that it will be possible to produce unity and connexion with- 

 in the store of our knowledge, for by this means we shall 



