382 Count de Bournon on Bardtglione. 



ceive the process ; and finding on an examination of the native pro- 

 ducts, all the proofs necessary to substantiate it, we accede to the 

 demonstration. But in the transition of bardiglione, now in question, 

 there is no decomposition indicated, no loss of any principle, no 

 replacing of one principle by another ; it is simply the fortuitous 

 introduction of a new principle, which, as far as it appears, has but 

 an extremely weak affinity for the molecule of the substance, which 

 however it must divide into its constituent molecules, since it has to 

 form with them integrant molecules of a different figure belonging 

 to a new compound. Of this we can form no idea ; and as nature, 

 when consulted respecting the facts, offers no foundation, on which 

 we can in reality establish the existence of such a transition, we cannot 

 adopt it. If this transition were admitted, it would put an end to all 

 constancy in the nature of mineral substances. The moment they 

 were in contact with any principle whatever, whether this principle 

 could pass as easily as water, or through its intervention be received 

 into their substance, changes would take place, and the large assem- 

 blages of matter would be in a continual state of transformation. 



In the mountains of La Grande Chartreuse I have observed a cal- 

 careous stone including cylindrical nodules, three or four inches or 

 more in length, one half of which was in the state of brownish-red 

 oxide of iron, while the other was compact black oxide of manga- 

 nese ; and I have seen specimens of this stone, containing a great 

 number of such nodules crossing them from one side to the other. I 

 have a cylindrical Entrochtis about eight lines in diameter, and which, 

 before I had occasion to break it, was two inches and a half long ; 

 the exact half of it, supposing it to be cut in the direction of its 

 axis throughout its whole length, is a grey lamellar carbonate 

 of lime, while the other half is a deep violet granular fluate of 

 lime : this Entrochus came from Derbyshire. Those fine speci- 



