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28 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
had acquired a perfect knowledge of Metallurgy : thus he is by no means to be
ranked in the number of those, who, without capacity, solicit places, and have
not the knowledge requisite for filling them. He had obtained this office with-
out soliciting it. He was already well skilled in certain sciences, which alone
would render him very useful in his situation : it was even very easy for him to
acquire the knowledge in which, for this office, he might be deficient, since
Mathematics and Physics, which he had hitherto made his principal studies,
are the basis of the science of mines. But he could not be satisfied with theory
alone without practice : nor was he any better satisfied with the experience
which may be acquired in a chemical laboratory, nor with an acquaintance with
the mines of Sweden only, and with the buildings, machines, and processes
used in working them. He therefore, in 1721, undertook a second journey to
foreign countries, to examine their mines and smelting-works, particularly those
of Saxony and the Hartz. But we ought not to say that he went to examine
their mines only : for of all that could fix the attention of a traveller, there was
nothing that escaped him.
During his stay in the country of Brunswick, the reigning sovereign, Duke
Lewis Rodolph, gave him full liberty to travel in his dominions, and, at his de-
parture, made him a present of his medallion in gold and of another in silver.
In this journey he acquired new stores of knowledge, and enriched science with
the following new works :
—
1. Prodromus Principiorum Rerum Naturalium, sive Novorum Tentaminum, Chemiam
et Physiciam Experimentalem Geometrice Explicandi.
2. Nova Observata et Invenia circa Ferrum et Ignem, prcecipue circa Naturam Ignis
Elementarem: una cum Nova Camini Inventione.
3. Methodus Nova Inveniendi Longitudinis Locorum Terra Marique, Ope Luna*
To this work are appended
—
4. Modus Construendi Receptacula Navalia.
5. Nova Constructio Aggeris Aquatici.
6. Modus Mechanice Explorandi Virtutes Navigiorum.
These works were all printed at Amsterdam in 1721.
7. Miscellanea Observata circa Res Naturales ; prcssertim Mineralia, Ignem, et Montium
Strata.
Three parts of which were printed at Leipsic, and the fourth at Hamburg,
in 1722.t
If we except Linnaeus, who ever knew how to profit so well by a journey of
* These three works have gone through three editions.
t We subjoin a translation of the titles of the above works :
—
1. A Prodromus for Sketch and Specimen} of a work on the Principles of Natural Things,
or New Attempts at explaining the Phenomena of Chemistry and Physics on Geometri-
cal Principles.
2. New Observations and Discoveries res2)ecting Iron and Fire, especially respecting the
Elementary Nature of Fire. With a ncio mode of constructing Chimneys.
3. A new Method offinding the Longitude of Places either on Land or at Sea, by Lunar
Observations.
4. A Mode for constructing Dry Docks for Shipping, in Harbors where there are no Tides.
5. A new Mode of constructing Dykes to exclude Inundations of the Sea or of Rivers.
6. A Mode of ascertaining, by Mechanical means, the qualities of Vessels of different Con-
structions.
7. Miscellaneous Observations on Natural Things, particularly on Minerals, Fire, and
the Strata of Mountains.
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