IToWal reyyai kv avQpdmois slalv ek tow spirEipc&v ipirelpcos evpp- 
psvar spire ip ia phv jap iroisl tov aloiva rjpow iropsvsadtu Kara TS'yvpv, 
dirsipla 8s Kara Tirygv. — Plat. Gorg. (Polus.) 
There are many arts among mankind ivhich have keen invented by 
the experienced, through the means of experience : for whilst experience 
causes our age to advance by the principles of art , a want of it leaves 
us dependent on chance. 
Having been honoured with the charge of opening in this 
Institution a course of instruction on Mineralogy and on 
Mining, I deem it desirable in the outset to define the limits of 
these distinct although kindred subjects, and to point out the 
directions in which they dovetail into the other branches of 
applied science as treated by my colleagues. The technical 
character of the education to be imparted here will be the 
beacon which I shall endeavour to keep in view, that I may 
avoid being drifted by the current of thought too far into the 
wide expanse of general considerations, where in connexion 
with those studies so much that is beautiful and useful in ordi- 
nary life has already been acquired, and so much still remains 
to be discovered ; but where in the meanwhile we might wander 
wide of the desired path. This discourse will therefore deal 
almost entirely with matters of practical application ; and a 
number of examples which have been brought under my own 
observation during a few years past will be adduced in support 
of the proposition — that an extended knowledge of mineralogy 
and the processes of mining are essential to those interested or en- 
gaged in mines. 
In the commencement of an inquiry into the infinite variety 
of objects surrounding us in the natural world, presented, it 
would appear, for the purpose of inducing the most attractive 
and holy exercise of our observing and reasoning powers, it is 
obvious that three principal assemblages are to be discrimi- 
a 2 
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