Tabular View of Metallic Minerals. 



The object of this compilation is to facihtate the progress of 

 the student in Mineralogy, by affording him the ready m^eans of 

 ascertaining the name, &c. of a given mineral, coming under 

 one or more of the general definitions of the metallic class. 

 The grand divisions, subdivisons, sections, &c. upon which it is 

 founded, are limited by such obvious and striking characters, 

 that they cannot pass unnoticed by him who enjoys the full use 

 of his eyes and his nostrils, provided only he will make the sim- 

 ple but necessary experiments to develop them. 



It is not pretended that there is any thing novel, generally 

 considered, in the work which is about to be offered to the pub- 

 lic ; the details of its arrangement, however, will be found to 

 differ in many respects from any before published on the same 

 subject, and I need not add, that in my own opinion, at least, 

 they differ on the side of improvement; an opinion which it is 

 anxiously hoped the reader will also entertain when the plan 

 and tables shall develop themselves. 



From a work, entitled "A Practical Treatise on the Use of the 

 Blowpipe, by John Griffin,"* I have borrowed the idea of the 

 following arrangement, and have closely followed its author in 

 giving prominence to the characters of volatility, hardness and 

 specific gravity. I have, indeed, endeavored to make the first 

 character more definitive than he has done, with what success, 

 he and other experienced mineralogists must decide, as well as 

 upon the utility of the whole compilation. 



with the mantle of charity. Wishing to see my labors rendered available, and know- 

 ing that my own name would conduce little towards that object, I have associated 

 with both, an agent much more powerful than either; not that I mean to disclaim 

 all interest in the state of the funds of so noble an institution, but only that their 

 increase was in the least degree my motive for writing. This I say to secure me 

 from future misconstruction or misrepresentation, and for the same reason the names 

 of subscribers will be published, together with a debtor and creditor account, drawn 

 up between all parties concerned. 



* This clever little book should be in the hands of every mineralogist who ad- 

 mires conciseness, perspicuity, order, portability and cheapness : its mineralogical 

 classification is after Aikins' System, published in 1815. 



