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DES CRIPTION 
O F A 
Mineralogical Pocket Laboratory, &c. 
SECT. I. 
T hat science which teaches ns the proper- 
ties of mineral bodies, and by which we 
learn how to characterize, diftinguifh, and 
•clafs them into a proper order, is called Minera- 
logy. This, like all other fciences, when rightly 
cultivated, and employed to its proper end, (the 
public Good) furnifhes us with many ufeful diC- 
coverie.s, in proportion as it increafcs. 
' SECT. II. 
Mineralogy has been ftudied for feveral ages, 
yet its progrefs has been very (low. 
Some learned men have, indeed, endeavoured to 
bring it into fome fyftematical order : But as the 
pafiion for only colle6ling minerals and foffils has 
ftill predominated over that of diving into the 
nature of the fubje6ls themfelves, they have for 
the molt part met with but very little fuccels. 
Thofe who were mere Colle^ors., being fuperior in 
number to the fcientijical cnes^ or Miner alifts^ and 
T 2 having 
