triple Sulphur et, of Lead , Antimony, and Copper, &c. 4,1 
are consequently very near to each other, there is a rapid and 
detached crystallization, in all parts of the solution, while no 
attraction takes place between the crystals that fall down, except 
that of simple aggregation. I repeat, that no other than simple 
attraction of aggregation takes place between the crystals ; for, 
if the crystalline attraction, which first took place, had conti- 
nued to exert its action, the crystals, instead of joining together 
in a confused and irregular manner, would unite by their ana- 
logous sides, and produce one or several very large crystals; 
which crystals would be either exactly similar to the primitive 
crystals, (of which we see such frequent instances in fiuate of 
lime, and in sulphuret of lead,) or they would have secondary 
planes, produced by a regular decrease, similar to those which 
have been mentioned and described by others, as being formed 
only by the molecules of the primitive crystalline form. These 
decreases can, in this case, only modify the secondary form ; 
in the same way as the decreases produced by the primitive 
molecules, modify the primitive form. This new law, of which 
till now no notice has been taken, will perhaps appear at first 
view to militate against the generally received ideas of crystal- 
lization; its existence, however, cannot be doubted. In fiuate 
of lime, and also in carbonate of lime, are frequently seen irre- 
fragable proofs of it; indeed it appears to me that, far from con- 
tradicting the laws of attraction hitherto observed in nature, it 
agrees perfectly well with them. 
Sometimes, in the great dissolutions of nature, the molecules, 
instead of uniting together by the influence of the crystalline 
attraction of aggregation, are precipitated in a detached but con- 
fused manner. In that case, the action of this mode of attrac- 
tion has entirely ceased, and has given place to that of simple 
mdccciv. G 
