262 



CHAPTER IX. 



ATTEMPTS AT THE REFORM OF MINERALOGICAL 

 SYSTEMS. SEPARATION OF THE CHEMICAL AND 

 NATURAL HISTORY METHODS. 



Sect. 1. Natural History System of Mohs. 



THE chemical principle of classification, if pur- 

 sued at random, as in the cases just spoken of, 

 leads to results at which a philosophical spirit re- 

 volts ; it separates widely substances which are not 

 distinguishable ; joins together bodies the most dis- 

 similar; and in hardly any instance brings any 

 truth into view. The vices of classifications like 

 that of Haiiy, could not long be concealed; but 

 even before time had exposed the weakness of his 

 system, Haiiy himself had pointed out, clearly and 

 without reserve 1 , that a chemical system is only one 

 side of the subject, and supposes, as its counterpart, 

 a science of external characters. In the mean time, 

 the Wernerians were becoming more and more in 

 love with the form which they had given to such a 

 science. Indeed, the expertness which Werner and 

 his scholars acquired in the use of external charac- 

 ters, justified some partiality for them. It is related 

 of him 2 , that, by looking at a piece of iron-ore, and 

 poising it in his hand, he was able to tell, almost 



1 See his Disc. Prel. 2 Frisch. Werner's Lcbcii, p. 7^- 



