MINERALOGY. $ 



the condition in which they are now found will 

 permit -, for, with regard to fuch bodies as are im- 

 poffible to be analyfed or totally decompounded* 

 no account needs to be given of the principia or 

 primary atoms, which have concurred to their 

 formation ; fmce it may with confidence be af- 

 ferted, that the Creator made only one kind of 

 matter, from which every thing we meet with in 

 this world has been produced. 



Minerals have been defined as bodies that grow 

 by external aggregation of particles ; but this defi- 

 nition, on reflection, will hardly be found fufficient 

 and adequate ; becaufe the circles produced by the 

 annual ftagnation of the lap in the wood of a tree* 

 and the coats or crufts of a ftalactites, are effects 

 nearly refembling one another. Should it be faid 

 that the particles on which the yearly growth of a 

 tree depends, are not carried by the water, and 

 merely depofited between the bark and the parts of 

 the preceding year now become folic!, but that they 

 are juices fecre ted from the interior parts thro' the 

 pores of the tree ; I could likewife mow inftances 

 in the mineral kingdom, that feem plainly to in- 

 dicate lbme proceis has happened fimilar to the 

 formation of the callus in a fractured bone ; al- 

 though this happens only at a. certain age of the 

 rock : and who knows whether this obfervation 

 or procefs does not hold good alfo in the animal 

 and vegetable kingdoms ? But this ftill remains 

 too great a problem in regard to the mineral 

 kingdom •, and we cannot therefore adopt the ex- 

 prefs meaning of the u circulation of any juices," 

 fince we have another refuge left, that is, fbrinkimr 

 or contrattion, and exprejjion or fqueczing, of which 

 more will be faid hereafter. We take more no- 

 tice perhaps of what happens in the animal and 

 vegetable kingdoms', becaufe we are ourfelves 



B 2 fubjece 



