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is to be decided, which I (hall directlyproceed to, leaving the Vir'gula Divina -tori a to the Close of this Epistle.
Fifthly^ This Braiich of the Art may-be justly tfermed the mechanic Part, whichevery Mind Protestor lies under an. in-dispensable Necessity of being acquaintedwith, before he presumes to undertake theDirection of a Mine; for should he, thatthoroughly und er stands the rising, heading,dipping, &c. of a Vein, with what I havesaid above, be ignorant of the best Methodof working it, whether by sinking, driving,blastings &c.&c. No ! on the contrary,shouldnot he render himself versed jin all the com-mon labouring Part? Certainly, by allMeans,that he may be capable of directing andadapting each different Method to the diffe-rent Circumstances and Nature of the Place?and not be obliged to suffer the ignorantLabourer to go on in his own Way at Ran-dom, who perhaps, indeed, by a roundabout Road, may come at the Ore at last ;but how often are they mislead ? Whatgreat and fruitless Expences have they notoccasioned by their blind and uncertainWay of proceeding ? Nay, how manyWorks have been intirely ruined ? Ahd howrmany Places,‘for a Time, forsaken, whichafterwards have been found to yield greatQuantities of Ore to considerable Profit,though first miffed through the Ignorance
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