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ESSAY 
towards a 
SYS T E M 
OF THE 
MINERAL KINGDOM, 
SECTION I. 
pr*^^)iri^HE Mineral Kingdom contains all 
thofe bodies which have been formed 
^ Y & under the furface of our earth, whe- 
C 3 creation, or any other 
' time fince that period •, and which 
are ftill daily produced from their original or pri-* 
mary principles, being deftitute of feed, life, or 
any circulation of fluids 
* The limits between the three acknowledged kingdoms 
of Nature are almoft impoffible to be afcertained 5 whence 
arifes the difficulty of giving any true definition of them % 
and indeed it may be queftioned, whether any fuch definition 
can take place, when we become fo far advanced in know- 
ledge, as to fee clearly the dependence and connexion of all 
natural bodies into one regular Chain or Syflem. 
However, at prefent, it is necelTary that the feveral parts 
of Natural Hiflory fho^uld be treated of feparately ; and as the 
B , wholg 
