London: Philosophical Magazine (R. Taylor and Co., printers), 1804.
Collation: 8vo: A8 B4,
12 leaves, pp. 23 [1] (last page blank).
Condition: 230 x 145mm, untrimmed.
Binding: Stab sewn as issued, in fine
condition.
Provenance: McKie.
Price: £250
Offprint, possibly re-set, from the Philosophical
Magazine.
¶ An important critique of Romé de
l’Isle’s system – which Boué characterises as descriptive, as opposed to
Haüy’s philosophical system – recognising that Romé’s selection of
primitive forms was arbitrary. It is quoted twice by Burke (pp. 77 and 154) from
a printing in Nicholson’s Journal (vol. 9, 1804) where it was given the
title ‘Outlines of the Mineralogical Systems of Romé de l’Isle and the
Abbé Haüy: with Observations.’ Here it is introduced by a letter from R.
Clifford who translated it from Buée’s original French. Buée was in England
at this time, having fled Paris after the journée du 10 août (Hoefer).
