780 Museum of Economic Geology [No. 118. 



classified and named, according to an established system of classifi- 

 cation and nomenclature, while means ought to be taken to exhibit 

 for each those synonymes by which it is so unhappily burdened. I 

 feel it a matter of considerable difficulty, from the existing state of 

 Mineralogy, both as regards classification and nomenclature, to specify 

 which of the many systems that have, from time to time, been propos- 

 ed, is likely to prove the most useful. In truth, the many anomalies 

 that disfigure even the most highly recommended of our methods of 

 arrangement, and the excessive and bewildering multiplication of 

 synonymes in mineralogical nomenclature, leave us but the power of 

 selecting the least defective of the schemes that have been proposed ; 

 so, that in expressing myself in the present instance in favour of the 

 Natural History system of Professor Mohs, I would add, that I am fully 

 conscious of its deficiencies, and of the anomalous results it not unfre- 

 quently exhibits; but on considertion of its general utility, of its 

 extensive adoption as the system of valuable mineralogical works, and 

 of schools of instruction, I am disposed to prefer it to the rival chemi- 

 cal system of the celebrated Berzelius, the only one that can compete 

 with it. Believing, however, that minerals will never be grouped ac- 

 cording to the system that actually exists in nature, save by a method 

 of classification that, without being rigidly based either upon their 

 external physical properties alone, as in that of Mohs, or on some ar- 

 bitrary relation of their chemical constituents, as in that of Berzelius, 

 takes due cognizance of both classes of characteristics, and forms its 

 orders, genera, and species, in accordance with the natural analogies of 

 these, I regret much that I have never seen Ihe system recently pro- 

 posed by Professor Naumann, of Freyberg, which is based on the pre- 

 ceding mixed principle, and which, in the opinion of Mr. Whewell, 

 himself a Professor of Mineralogy, is the best hitherto published.* 

 Till this system becomes known in India, I would recommend ad- 

 herence to that of Mohs, in the classification and nomenclature of the 

 mineralogical department of the Museum. 



3. While it is essential to the completeness of the Museum that all 



Metallic minerals minerals of established economic ratio should have 



Coals. place in it, their high commercial and social im- 



* History of Inductive Sciences, vol. iii. p. — 



