INTRODUCTION.

XVII

mineralogy, which intimately unite with thewelfare of the nation, and which must renderthe investigation of individuals at all timesnot only interesting, but valuable. There is anew field for learning, an extensive laboratoryfor philosophy and science, and a world ofchemical and crystalline beauties in thebowels of the earth, which promise new sub-jects of examination for ages yet to come.

I am happy in expressing my acknowledge-ments of most valuable information from theworks of the gentlemen I have named; anddo not hesitate to acknowledge that it is fromthose sources that I have in a great measuresatisfied and informed myself as to the generalsubject of this publication.