AN INQUIRY, 



ETC. 



INTRODUCTION. 



IN the early stages of society so many and 

 such great difficulties were opposed to the use of 

 all metallic substances, that the discovery and 

 application of them to the purposes of social life 

 must have been slow and gradual. 



The most ancient records of our race, the 

 Sacred Writings, as well as the works of the ear- 

 liest profane authors, have, however, communi- 

 cated such intimations of the knowledge and 

 adaptation of the more precious metals to the 

 use of mankind, as tend to excite curiosity and 

 to attract attention to the subject. 



The general voice of antiquity affirms, that 

 gold, silver, and copper, or brass (ass), were the 

 first metals discovered ; and that they were used 

 partly as ornaments, and partly as instruments 

 of war or of industry; for though, from their 

 softness, they were not the best calculated for 



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