148 Natural Histoiy. 



on the science by this means, yet they left much 

 still to be done. They were followed by Scheele, 

 and Bergman/ who, with great ingenuity, perse- 

 verance, and success, pursued the same course. In 

 the hands of these great philosophers, mineralogy 

 may be said to have first assumed that high rank 

 which it now holds. They not only made large 

 additions to the lists of mineral substances which 

 had been before given, but they also pursued the 

 analysis of these substances to a greater length 

 than their predecessors, ascertained new and more 

 clear distinctions, and gave the whole science a 

 more simple, intelUgible, and dignified aspect. 

 As long as this branch of natural history shall be 

 cultivated, a large share of gratitude and admira- 

 tion will be due from its votaries to Scheele and 

 Bergman. 



Though the refinements of chemical " analysis 

 were carried to a great length by the celebrated 

 mineralogists last mentioned, and entitle them to 

 high honours, yet they were afterwards exceeded 

 by Klaproth, of Berlin, who applied himself to 

 the analysis of minerals with a degree of zeal and 

 perseverance which no difficulties could discou- 

 rage, and with an ingenuity and accuracy which 

 enabled him to penetrate far beyond his predeces- 

 sors. He corrected many errors, and supplied 

 important defects in the analytic method. He in- 

 vented new instruments of great value, and new 

 processes, more easy and expeditious, and of more 

 certain result than those before in use. It is, per- 

 haps, to his labours, as much as to those of any 

 hidividual, that we are indebted for some of the 

 most curious knowledge in mineralogy that we 

 possess. The same course of refined and subtle 

 chemical investigation, by which Klaproth was 



s Sciagraphla Tilineralis, 



