42 Review of Cleav eland'' s Mineralogy. 



existence ; and that improvements and discoveries in the latter 

 cannot fail of extending their beneficial effects to the afore- 

 mentioned employments. In fine, the study of mineralogy, 

 whether it be viewed as tending to increase individual wealth, 

 to improve and multiply arts and manufactures, and thus pro- 

 mote the public good ; or as affording a pleasant subject for 

 scientific research, recommends itself to the attention of the 

 citizen and scholar." 



This introductory view of the importance and interest of the 

 science cannot be charged with the fault of exaggeration, since 

 it is most evident that neither civilization, refinement in arts, 

 nor comfort, can exist where the properties of mineral sub- 

 stances are but imperfectly understood. 



As regards this country, the argument admits of much am- 

 plification. The more our mineral treasures are explored, 

 the more abundantly do they repay the research ; and we 

 trust that the period is not far distant, when we shall no longer 

 ignorantly tread under our feet minerals of great curiosity and 

 value, and import from other countries, at a great expense, 

 what we, in many instances, possess abundantly at home.* 



But to return to the plan of the author's work. Few per- 

 sons, unacquainted with the science of mineralogy, would sus- 

 pect that mere brute matter could exhibit many strong marks, 

 capable of discrimination. 



It may, however, be confidently affirmed, that there is no 

 mineral which, if carefully studied, may not be distinguished 

 by characters sufficiently decisive from every other mineral ; 

 an account of these characters ought, therefore, to precede 

 every system of mineralogy. Professor Cleaveland has, with 

 entire propriety, included them under the heads of crystal- 



* A vast region in the interior of New- York and Pennsylvania is now fertilized 

 by inexhaustible beds of sulphat of lime, (plaster of Paris,) which, till a very few . 

 years since, were not even known to exist. 



Near New-Haven immense beds of green marble were discovered in 1811, 

 during a mineralogical excursion : this beautiful material, closely resembling the 

 verd antique, is now> on the spot, wrought into tables, fireplaces, and many other 

 ornamental forms; and although the farmers had made fences of it for 150 yeara, 

 no one suspected what it was till the study «f mineralogy, in Yale College, 

 brought it to light; ' 



