^6 Dr. WoLLASTON on the elementary Particles 



" crystals) exhibit, and that is the regularity of their figure 



" This I take to proceed from the most simple principle 



" that any kind of form can come from, next the globular ; 



« for 1 think I could make probable, that all these regular 



" figures arise only from three or four several positions or 

 " postures of globular particles, and those the most plain and 

 " obvious, and necessary conjunctions of such figured particles 

 " that are possible— And this I have adoculum demonstrated 

 *' with a company of bullets, so that there was not any regu- 

 " lar figure which I have hitherto met withal of any of those 

 " bodies that I have above named, that I could not with the 

 " composition of bullets or globules imitate almost by shaking 

 ** them together. 



" Thus, for instance, we find that globular bullets will of 

 " themselves, if put on an inclining plain so that they may 

 " run together, naturally run into a triangular order compos- 

 " ing all the variety of figures that can be imagined out of 

 " equilateral triangles, and such you will find upon trial all the 



" surfaces of alum to be composed of 



" — nor does it hold only in superficies, but in solidity also; 

 " for it's obvious that a fourth globule laid upon the third in 

 " this texture composes a regular tetrahedron, which is a very 

 " usual figure of the crystals of alum. And there is no one 

 ** figure into which alum is observed to be crystallized, but 

 " may by this texture of globules be imitated, and by no 

 "other/' 



It does not appear in what manner this most ingenious phi- 

 losopher thought of applying this doctrine to the formation 

 of quartz crystal, of vitriol, of salt-petre, &c. which he names. 

 This remains among the many hints which the peculiar jealousy 



