CHAP. V. 



OF STONES. 



I 



T hath been obferved, that the FoiTilift is the fubjecl: of plea- 

 fantry with the witty and the gay, 



Ridmt vicini glebas et faxa moventem. Hor. Epift. 1. 1. 14. 



But this is only done in an hour of joy, and not in the moments 

 of fober thought and reflection. All, but the ftupid and inconfi- 

 derate, admire the nfeful and beautiful productions of nature, 

 and confefs the divine Wifdom to be as confpicuous in the flruc- 

 ture and configuration of minerals and common ilones, as in. the 

 ruby or the opal. Both more particularly ftrike the foiliiift, 

 whofe attention is more immediately engaged than other men's. 

 1 he fubterraneous treafures appear before him in all their lovely 

 variety, and their feveral beautiful orders ; he beholds them 

 with wonder, and confiders them as inconteftible evidences of 

 a Divinity, and irrefragable confutations of atheifm. Every 

 pebbly more, every quarry, as well as every field and grove, is 

 to him as a temple, for praife and adoration. 



Of Free-Jlone, valued for its common ufe, we have a great 

 abundance; both in ftrata and loofe mattes, folid, and lami- 

 nated. 



The whiteft I have feen in ftrata is at Chapel-houCes, by Bemvell- 

 hill, compofed of fine whitifli-brown fand, and numerous filvery 

 fpangles of talc ; is facil and condefcending to the chiflel, and 



hardens 



