various important subjects in Mineralogy . 291 
are free from every thing hypothetical, that they may not be 
subjected to changes, which are inseparable from such sciences, 
and hence might become prejudicial or form impediments in 
their farther development. This does not apply to Natural 
History ; for when pure, that science does not contain any thing 
hypothetical, hypotheses being only introduced by the intermix- 
ture of other sciences. The natural-historical resemblance it- 
self, the only thing which might be objected to, in reference to 
this subject, is as far from being a hypothesis, as the laws of 
combination or the connection among the regular forms of a spe- 
cies. The hypothetical denominations of other sciences do not 
therefore allow any comparison with the systematic denominations 
of Natural History. 
In Mineralogy the systematic Nomenclature has been treated 
with indifference, or altogether slighted ; nor have minera- 
logists even given themselves the trouble of attempting to com- 
pose such a nomenclature. The reason of this is, that minera- 
logy itself was treated not as a science, but as an aggregate of 
various kinds of information, — a sort of mixture which would ad- 
mit every kind of knowledge to be introduced, and in which no- 
thing could be placed wrong, because in such a disposition there 
could be no order. If we endeavour to give a scientific form to 
this aggregate, which has been but too generally considered as 
a science deserving the name of Mineralogy, it becomes neces- 
sary to effect a complete transformation of the whole, and also 
to construct a systematic nomenclature, which becomes indis- 
pensable, whenever we leave the path of empiricism, as has been 
amply demonstrated by experience in Zoology and Botany. The 
application of a systematic nomenclature, however, is impossible, 
unless Mineralogy possess a scientific form, and it is for the use 
of the science as such alone, that it is intended ; nay, it would 
be pedantic to make use of systematic names where science is not 
the object, and where the names most easily understood are 
those used in the daily intercourse of life, or by the common 
miner. 
But to the student systematic nomenclature is indispensable, 
and of the highest utility ; because it not only keeps in his mind 
a vivid picture of the connection existing between the objects 
named, and thus employs his intellect, but also because it assists 
