much time to attempt to particularise the minerals contained in this
collection. It appeared to me to contain specimens of almost all the
known species. I could not perceive that it was arranged according
to any particular system. Indeed this observation applies to Sweden
in general: no preference is shown either to the method of Werher
or that of Hauy. The systematic collection of Svedenstierna indeed
is arranged according to the method of Hauy, because it was formed
while he was attending the lectures of that eminent mineralogist. But
he has not adopted the same method for his Swedish minerals.
The collection at Upsala contains many splendid specimens from
Siberia, Norway, and Great Britain. Nor is it poor in Swedish minerals.
Among others, I saw a large and complete crystal of pyrophy-
salite, which I mention because it is uncommon to find the crystals of
this mineral, when of a certain size, in any other state than that of mere
fragments. This crystal was above three inches in length. It was of
the shape in which this mineral most commonly is found, a double foursided
pyramid, truncated at both ends, and the faces of the one pyramid
opposite to the edges of the other. If I recollect right there is
an accurate account of the crystals of pyrophysalite by M. Hauy, published
in the first number of the Transactions of the Natural History
Society of Moscow.
Some mineralogists having conceived that the hyacinths analysed by
Bergman were in reality not hyacinths, but belonging to the mineral
afterwards distinguished by Werner by the name of cinnamon-stone,
I conceived that I had a good opportunity to determine the point. I
requested Professor Afzelius to show me the very specimens which constitute
the hyacinths in Bergman’s collection, and out of which he had
taken the specimens which he had subjected to analysis. As Afzelius
was Bergmans assistant at the time, he knew the whole history of the
analysis, and brought me the very box unaltered in which Bergman’s
hyacinths were contained, and from which he had taken his specimens.
There could be no doubt from their appearance that they were real hyacinths.
They had no resemblance to the cinnamon-stone. I asked
Professor Afzelius if he had determined their specific gravity. He assured
me that it was the same with that of the hyacinth. The errors
in Bergman’s analysis cannot therefore be explained, from the supposition
that the mineral which he examined was really a different species.
It was owing to the imperfection of his method, and the small progress
which analytical chemistry had at that time made. I have no
doubt that many an analysis made in more recent times will be found
inaccurate from the same causes.
I could not find that there was any complete collection of rocks in
the mineral cabinet of Upsala; nor indeed did much attention appear
to be paid to geognosy in that university. I inquired after the geographical
collection of the Swedish minerals which Bergman is said to
have made; but was told by Afzelius that it was very small and of
little value. Indeed after seeing the mineral cabinet belonging to the
College of Mines at Stockholm, I could not expect any new information
on the subject from the collection at Upsala. But I wished to be enabled
to judge of the real extent of Bergman’s mineralogical knowledge.
The specimen which he has given us of the sagacity of his views in his
Treatise on Volcanoes, and his Dissertation on the Mountains of West
Gothland, is certainly very favourable. I likewise inquired after the
models of chemical machines and works which Bergman is said to have
collected. Afzelius showed me a few, I suppose all that ever existed.
They were not collected by Bergman; but presented to him hy Von
Swab.
After satisfying myself with the mineral collection, I visited the
laboratory and lecture room. As no experiments were going on in the
laboratory, and all the apparatus was laid up, it was impossible to judge
of the nature of the apparatus. The room was small but well fitted
up, and any chemical experiment whatever might be conducted in it
without inconvenience. I was struck with the small size of the lecture
room. I should conceive that it would not hold above 40 students.
This affords a striking proof of the small number of persons in Sweden
who interest themselves in the science of chemistry.
There are no less than three brothers of the name of Afzelius at
Upsala; two of them professors and one an assistant professor. They