2 A SYSTEM OF 
“Ditk circulation of fluids^ are to bef- 
confidqredr as a confequence of what is before fup-, 
. pofed, viz. that, the mineral bodies are formed un- 
der the furface of our earth : and by this pardanlar 
they are diftingii idled from the fubjecls of the ■ 
vegetable kingdom ; with which, however, they 
have fome refemblance, fome foffils being ftill 
produced nearly in the fame manner, at leafl ac- 
cording to our imagination. The clefts, fiffures,. 
and countries in the rocks, and in the ftrata 
of the earth, may be looked upon as anfwering ta 
the tubes 4n vegetables, and the water as the fluid 
common fo therri both. Fire, of whofe nature 
we Hill know fo little, and which we can hardly 
determine, whether it belongs to the earth any far- 
ther than it exifls, and even mufi; exift:, within a 
folar fyftem, may, perhaps, be an auxiliary equal- 
ly neceflTary to all the three kingdoms of nature. 
On the other hand, we know with a kind of 
certainty, that if the mineral kingdom is allowed 
to have exiiled before the other two, and to have 
furnifhed therri with materials for their exiftence, 
k is at the fame time deprived of thofe wonder- 
ful and incomprehenfible qualities of life and ve- 
getation, the properties of the animal and vege- 
table kingdoms. 
• The defcriptions of minerals cannot be extend- 
®d farther, in a Treatife of Mineralogy, than to 
ivhole extent of this knowledge can hardly be expelled from 
cne man, it may perhaps be executed to more advantage 
by different perfons : in the mean time, we mud: be content 
with definitions, if they give tolerable ideas of the fubftances 
defcribed, though they fliould not perfeflly coincide with the 
ilrid rules of logicians. This being premifed, I lhall endea- 
vour in the Text to give fome explanation of my own Effay. 
^ Countries, an Engiifli mine-term for the fides or inclo- 
fuies of a vein or load of ore, c, g,, the country of the load is 
lime-done, kiilas, &c. &c. D. C. 
the 
