4-2 Thoughts on Configurations and Cryjials. 
as Motion can not be pidhired, I have en¬ 
deavoured to fupply that Defect, by repre- 
fenting, in feveral Parts of the fame Drop, 
the different Stages or Appearances that 
are mod remarkable during the whole Pro¬ 
cess, and by giving a particular Account 
thereof in the Defcription. 
The cryfialine Shoots that prefent about 
the .edges oi the Drop demand our fir ft 
B a animation j and it is advifable from their 
very Beginning to keep the Eye conftantly 
iixt upon them, and to obkrve their Growth. 
In fome Subjects the Configurations pufh 
out from thefe Cryftals into an Infinity of 
regular Branchings ; but in others, and thofe 
efpecial.ly of the mineral Kind, the Cryf¬ 
tals fhoQti.ng from the extreme Edges in¬ 
to the ambient Fluid, preferve themfelves 
feparate arid entire, even through all the 
Changes that happen, and by their Tranf- 
cles of fuch Salts become arranged in certain determined 
Figures, according to their refpeiVve Kinds, by Juxta-pofi- 
tion. Accretion or Appoiition, and not by any Protrusion or 
ihooting forward, in the Manner of the Growth of Plants. 
And therefore though growing, fn noting out, branching, pro¬ 
truding, and fuch like Terms, are frequently made ufe of in 
the Courfe of this Treadle, in order to avoid Circumlocu¬ 
tion,. and to render the Subject more familiar ; the Reader is 
de fired to take Notice and remember, that fuch like Expref- 
hons are not to be under Rood literally in the ftricl Senfe of 
the Words, as fupp’okng anything fimilar to Vegetation ; 
hny more than among People well Ikilled in Aftronomy the 
..Sun is fuppofed actually to move from Eaft to Weft, to rile 
jn a Morning and to go down at Night, though they fre*? 
quent-ly fpeak of its moving fo, cf its rifing, .and its going 
dovyn, in Conformity to common Appearance. 
parpney 
