Theophrastus's History of Stones

by Theophrastus

ΘΕΟΦΡΑΣΤΟΥ
ΤΟΥ ΕΡΕΣΙΟΥ
ΠΕΡΙ ΤΩΝ
ΛΙΘΩΝ
ΒΙΒΛΙΟΝ.

 

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THEOPHRASTUS's

HISTORY OF STONES.

With an English Version, and Notes,

Including the Modern History of the Gems described by
that Author; and of many other of the Native Fossils.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,
TWO LETTERS:
I. On the Colours of the Sapphire and Turquoise.
II. Upon the Effects of different Menstruums on Copper.

Both tending to illustrate the Doctrine of the Gems being
coloured by Metalline Particles.

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The SECOND EDITION;

Enlarged by the Addition of a Greek Index of all the
Words in Theophrastus.

ALSO
OBSERVATIONS on the New SWEDISH ACID,
and of the Stone from which it is obtained;

AND WITH
An IDEA of a Natural and Artificial Method of Fossils.

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By Sir JOHN HILL.

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LONDON:

Printed for the AUTHOR, in St. James's-Street:

And sold by L. Davis, in Holborn; Nourse, in the Strand; White, in
Fleet-Street; Cater, in Holborn; Bell, in the Strand; Fletcher,
at Oxford; Woodyer, at Cambridge; and Bell, at Edinburgh.

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M DCC LXXIV.

 

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PREFACE.

 

THE References to Theophrastus, and Quotations from him, fo frequent in the Works of all the later Writers of Fossils, would make one believe, nothing was more universally known, or perfectly understood, than the Treatise before us: But when we enquire into the Truth, we shall find, that though no Author is so often quoted, few are so little understood; or, indeed, have been so little read: Those who are free with his Name, having given themselves little Trouble about his Works, and only taken upon trust from one another, what was originally quoted from him by Pliny. As to that Author, whoever is acquainted with the Works of more antient Writers, must know that however much Praise he may deserve for that Treasure of Knowledge he has collected; yet he is very little to be depended on for the Correctness of his Quotations.

It is no Wonder that the genine Work of this Author, on Fossils, should have been so much neglected to be read; since whoever shall take up the best Editions we have at present, will find enough in every Page to dishearten him from making farther Progress: The numerous Defects, where whole Words, Parts of Words, and even many Words together are wanting; and the many Sentences, either by the Preservation of old Errors, or injudicious Corrections of Editors, rendered perfectly unintelligible, will soon shew, that it is a Work not to be read to any Advantage, without a more than ordinary Attention, a Knowledge of the Subject, and a continual Consultation of others of the Antients,

In such Condition has this Treatise lain; full of excellent Matter, but rendered almost unintelligible: The Author is remarkable for using very few Words; and where it was common to find some of those few wanting, it seemed no easy Task to understand him. On this Occasion, as also in regard to the Errors, so frequent and perplexing, I have been at the Pains of consulting the rest of the Antients; in order to find what it was most likely he should say, by what they have said on the same Occasion: In these Undertakings, Pliny also, where he could be depended on, has been of singular Service; a Passage from him, frequently a literal Translation of this Author, shewing evidently how he had read the Original, who had the Advantage of seeing it, at least before the Rise of many of the Errors that have made it unintelligible to us. This, and examining his Words by, and comparing them with, the Substance he is describing, are the two great Methods I have taken to understand him.

By these Means, and with thee Assistances, I have undertaken to give a new Edition of the Greek Text; in which whatever may be the Service I have done, I promise myself I shall, at least, be liable to no Censure; since tho' I have filled up all the Defects, and amended the Errors, so as to make the Work now plain, intelligible, and easy to be read; I have every where in the Notes mentioned where the Defects were, and what were the Words, that I have ventured to alter.

Thus much for the Greek Text: In regard to the English, as my Intent was to render the Work intelligible to the British Reader, I have not tied myself down to a bare verbal Translation. I have attempted to give, not only his Words, but his Meaning; and in many Places have translated a single Syllable into a whole Sentence, by giving, where that Syllable referred to something said before, a short Recapitulation of the Matter referred to; and by that Means preserving the necessary Connection of Thought; without which, what followed might have appeared obscure.

 

To the present Edition I have added a Greek Index of all Theophrastus's Words, for which I am obliged to Mr. Newberry: As also the Account of a new Acid, from a Stone first produced in Sweden: And some Hints toward new Ways of arranging Fossils, than which nothing in all the History of Nature is more wanted.

Contents (not listed in original)

History of Stones
Appendices:

• Observations on the new-discovered Swedish Acid
• An Idea of an Artificial Arrangement of Fossils, according to unalterable Characters, and superadded Qualities
  
• Two Letters:
  
  • Letter I: On the Colours of the Sapphire and Turquoise
    
  • Letter II: On the Effects of Menstruums on Copper
    

Indices:

• Greek Index of Names of Stones
  
• Index Vocabulorum Fere Omnium
  
• General Index