336 FORMATION OF PRIMITIVE MOUNTAINS. 



has entirely changed the aspect of this science, and has 

 elicited a new system of mineralogy, in which the natu- 

 ral-chemical combinations are ranked with those which 

 are artificial ; which affords a confirmation to the laws 

 of crystallography, as being the same in both cases. 



It has been objected to the truth of the position, that 

 the laws of natural combinations are the same as those 

 which artificial combinations follow ; that chemistry can 

 decompose minerals ; but that, in the formation of these 

 combinations, natural laws have been in activity, which 

 art would in vain attempt to reproduce : but this objec- 

 tion is groundless. The chemical affinity which acts in 

 artificial combinations is a power of nature, as well as 

 the affinity which regulates the composition of natural 

 combinations : chemical affinity, in general, is a quality 

 of matter. In this objection, modifying circumstances 

 have been confounded with laws. The chemist would 

 very easily refute the objection, if he could compose 

 minerals of their elements, and produce artificial com- 

 binations similar in all their characters to minerals them- 

 selves. From such researches, there would, at the same 

 time, be diffused a new light upon geological investiga- 

 tions. In this manner many phenomena would be repro- 

 duced, which have taken place at the formation of the 

 earth ; geological observations would be repeated by ex- 

 periments, which might be varied at pleasure, for-con- 

 firming these observations ; and the recurrence in nature 

 itself would be sought of those phenomena which have 

 been produced in the laboratory ; inquiries, which are, 

 however, of great importance, because they may be ar- 

 bitrarily disposed and arranged according to the theory 

 in view. 3 



