Williams, John; The Natural History of the Mineral Kingdom, relative to the Strata of Coal, Mineral Veins, and the Prevailing Strata of the Globe… In two volumes / by John Williams ... With an appendix, containing a more extended view of mineralogy and geology. Illustrated with engravings. By James Millar, Creator/Contributor. Edinburgh: Printed for Bell & Bradfute, and W. Laing. 2nd edition, 1810. Large octavo, vol. 1, pp. xii, 562, engraved frontispiece. Vol. 2, pp. 598, engraved frontispiece.
The set is complete and in a 19th century full calf with gilt titles, gilt board edges and the gilt initials of the Cornwall Geological Society on the covers. The bindings are tight with very minor scuffing to boards and corners. The text is clean and bright with only very light toning. In very good condition.
John Williams (1730-1795) was a self-educated Scottish mining engineer, mineral surveyor and geologist. The second edition of this work was completed after William’s death by James Millar (1762-1827) a lecturer in natural history and chemistry in Edinburgh.
When Williams published the first edition of this work in 1789, it was his intention that it become a mineralogy/geology text book and be used as a standard work on the principles of mineralogy and geology. At the time no standard text was available for public schools.
As manager of Gilmerton coal-mines in Midlothian, Williams made use of forty years of experience of mining and mineral surveying and provides factual accounts of his mining and surveying in writing the work. In addition he provides criticism of the theories of both Count Buffon and Dr James Hutton, based primarily upon his view that a belief in erosion and orogeny "in a perpetual succession, forming world after world", led immediately to atheism.
When James Millar produced an edited version of John's book in 1810, he explained that it had originally been "received, and still continues to be regarded, as a most valuable practical treatise on the Natural History” of coal and lead minerals. Millar used the 2nd edition as a platform for his own appendix and provides a detailed view of geological facts that he felt were absent in the first edition. It is also fortunate for historians that he provided a short biography on Williams since details of William’s life are scarce.
William’s 'Mineral Kingdom' begins with coal mining, providing students with details of the difficulties encountered with dykes and faults as well as limestone strata. He describes more suitable sections for study along the Musselburgh coast, Esk rivers, Salisbury Crags,Water of Leith, and River Almond near Cramond Bridge. the subterranean lime quarries at Gilmerton were particularly recommended as “singular and extensive, and their magnificent appearance strikes the imagination with a pleasing awe and astonishment."
Williams attributed the induration of rocks to mineral deposition from solution, as observed when concretions formed in old mines. However, unlike Hutton, he preferred to regard basalts as sedimentary rocks.
In Williams view. the vegetable origin of coal suggested "the greatest part of the antediluvian earth was covered with a tall and luxurious growth of timber". Metallic ores occurred under quite different geological conditions, but Williams still believed the veins were water-deposits. The value of William’s work lies in his description of mineral workings in Scotland.
