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 DESCRIPTION 



O F A 



Mineralogical Pocket Laboratory, &c. 



SECT. I. 



THAT Science which teaches us the proper- 

 ties of mineral bodies, and by which we 

 learn how to characterize, diftinguifh, and 

 clafs them into a proper order, is called Minera- 

 logy. This, like all other fciences, when rightly- 

 cultivated, and employed to its proper end, (the 

 Public Good) furniihes us with many ufeful di£- 

 ooveries, in proportion as it increafes. 



SECT. II. 



Mineralogy has been ftudied for feveral ages, 

 yet its progress has been very Cow. 



Some learned men have, indeed, endeavoured to 

 bring it into fome fyftematical order : But as the 

 paflion for only collecting minerals and fofliis has 

 ftiil predominated over that of diving into the 

 nature of the fubjects themfelves, they have for 

 the mod part met with but very little fuccels. 

 Thofe who were mere Collectors, being fuperior in 

 number to the fcicntifical ones, or Miner alifts, and 



T 2 having 



