of the Pyrites, 57 



more precifely of the nature and original of the mi- 

 neral kingdom, from reafon and experience, we 

 ought not to afcribe to that period all the mineral 

 veins and fibres, we either know or conjecture to 

 exift in the earth; nor ihould we Imagine, that 

 the veins of ore were at the firft formed. 



Doubtlefs, at the very beginning, actual ore 

 has been generated in the deepeft and innermoft 

 bowels of the earth, or has there firft taken its 

 rife : feeingthe fea, that univerfal, powerful, andin- 

 difpenfably necefTary mean of mixtion,compofition, 

 coition and maturation, had at the very firft pene- 

 trated into the depths of the earth ; and thus, both 

 in the molt effectual and proximate manner operated 

 thereon -, as plainly appears by the veins of ore 

 already fought for, and difcovered -, thefe being 

 always found fo much larger, by how much deeper 

 they run, and becoming fmaller as they approach 

 the fur face -, the roots and principal trunks of 

 thefe lad being to be fought for below. And as 

 to roots, trunks and large branches, reafon clear- 

 ly fuggefts, that thefe principal parts ought to 

 be afcribed to the firft creation : and no lefs pro- 

 bable is it that thofe principal veins alfo, that 

 have at any time been funk for and difclofed, 

 tho' not reaching at furtheft to above 600 fathom 

 deep, or even not to half that depth, may reafon - 

 ably be derived from that period. Nay, very 

 fmall veins and feams, efpecially if mooting from 

 larger veins, and thefe again from the largeft of 

 all, may not unjuftly be refered to the fame origin ; 

 yet without denying their continuing to ftretch, 

 and, as it were, (till fhoot out into new fprouts. 



Now, if we find the pyrites, not only an uni- 

 verfal indicant of ores, but alfo at the greateft 

 depths, nay moll properly there, we muft allow 

 it, as we do other ores, and even preferably to them, 

 to be as old as the creation. But fhould any one 



from 



