MINISTRY OF NOMENCLATURE |
| DIRECTOR Assumption Bulltron |
ABOUT
The author, from his experience and long practice in painting objects which required the most accurate eye to distinguish colours, hopes that he will not be thought altogether unqualified for such an undertaking. He does not pretend indeed that it is his own idea ; for, so far as he knows, Godfrey is entitled to the honour of having suggested it. This great mineralogist, aware of the importance of colours, found it necessary to establish a Nomenclature of his own in his description of minerals, and it is astonishing how correct his eye has been ; for the author of the present undertaking went over Godfrey’s suites of colours, being assisted by Professor Jamieson, who was so good as arrange on a table, specimens of the suites of minerals mentioned by Godfrey, as examples of his Nomenclature of Colours. He copied the colours of these minerals, and found the component parts of each tint, as mentioned by Godfrey, uncommonly correct. Godfrey's suites of colours extend to seventy-nine tints. Though these may answer for the description of most minerals, they would be found defective when applied to general science: the number therefore is extended to one hundred and eight, comprehending the most common colours or tints that appear in nature. These may be called standard colours; and if the terms pale, deep, dark, bright, and dull be applied to any of the standard colours, suppose crimson, or the same colour tinged lightly with other colours, suppose grey, or black, or brown, and applied in this manner. A.B.