C 39 ] 
Read Jan. 26 , rpHE public hath of late been a- 
£ greeably entertained with defcrip- 
tions of many curious Foffiis diicovered in different 
parts of this kingdom : but very little hath been of- 
fered with a view to afcertain their origin and forma- 
tion ; a point of much greater importance to a curi- 
ous mind, than the moft accurate defcriptions, or the 
neateft delineations. It may indeed be thought un- 
neceffary at this time, to fay any thing of the origin 
of extraneous Foffiis in general ; all our modern 
naturalifts being fully convinced, that they are the 
exuviae or remains of animals and vegetables, and the 
greater part of them of marine prod udtion. 
But as to their particular origin and formation ; 
in what manner they were produced in the recent, 
and how and with what matter they afterwards be- 
came impregnated in their foffil ftate ; all this is a 
field of natural inquiry, that has been very much neg- 
lected, notwithftanding it is the moft fertile and pro- 
ductive of ufeful and entertaining knowledge. Be- 
ftdes, were we to confident in this view, the recent and 
foffil remains would be found to throw a mutual light 
upon each other, and the naturalift would not be fo 
often at a lofs to clafs every new foffil acquifition, of 
which the recent fpecimen is not to be found, ei'peci- 
ally whenever the foffil has any thing feemingly 
aequivocal in its formation, fo as on a fuperficial im- 
fpedtion to render the matter doubtful, whether the 
body belongs to the animal or vegetable kingdoms, 
or indeed to either of them. One of the fir ft 
note is the Belemnite, which has not until very lately 
been even ranked amongft the marine productions ; 
but 
