Review of CleavdanSPs Mineralogy, 4^. 



has hitherto appeared. The author of this volume has» there- 

 fore, adopted the general plan of Brongniart, the more im- 

 portant parts of whose work are, of course, incorporated with 

 this." 



A happier model could not, in our opinion, be chosen ; and 

 we conceive that Professor Cleaveland is perfectly consistent, 

 and perfectly perspicuous, when, adopting the chemical com- 

 position of minerals as the only proper foundation of arrange- 

 ment, and, of course, rejecting the principle of Mr. Werner, 

 which arranges them upon their external properties, he still 

 adopts his descriptive language as far as it answers his purpose. 

 For to elect a principle of arrangement, and to classify all the 

 members of a system so as to give each its appropriate place, 

 is obviously quite a different thing from describing each mem- 

 ber, after its place in a system is ascertained. In doing the 

 latter, characters may be drawn from any source which affords 

 them. 



In his " Introduction to the Study of Mineralogy," the author 

 has given a view at once copious, cendensed, and perspicuous, 

 of all that is necessary to be learned previously to the study 

 of particular minerals. He begins with definitions and general 

 principles, which are laid down with clearness. 



By way of engaging the attention to the study of this depart- 

 ment of nature, he remarks : 



" From a superficial view of minerals in their natural depo- 

 sitories, at or near the surface of the earth, it would hardly be 

 expected that they could constitute the object of a distinct 

 branch of science. Nothing appears farther removed from 

 the influence of established principles and regular arranger 

 ment, than the mineral kingdom when observed in a cursory 

 manner. But a closer inspection and more comprehensive view 

 of the subject will convince us, that this portion of the works 

 of nature is by no means destitute of the impress of the Deity. 

 Indications of the same wisdom, power, and benevolence, which 

 appear in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, are also clearly 

 dis^cernible in the mineral." 



" It may also be remarked," continues the author, " that 

 several arts and manufactures depend on mineralogy for their 



