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TheProjectGutenbergeBook,TheScepticalChymist,byRobertBoyle

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Title:TheScepticalChymist

or Chymico-Physical Doubts & Paradoxes, Touching the Spagyrist's Principles Commonly call'dHypostatical;AstheyarewonttobePropos'dandDefendedbytheGeneralityofAlchymists.Whereuntoispræmis'dPartofanotherDiscourserelatingtothesameSubject.

Author:RobertBoyle

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T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST:

O R

C H Y M I C O - P H Y S I C A L

Doubts&Paradoxes,Touchingthe

SPAGYRIST’SPRINCIPLES

Commonlycall’d

H Y P O S T A T I C A L ,AstheyarewonttobePropos’dand

DefendedbytheGeneralityof

A L C H Y M I S T S .Whereuntoispræmis’dPartofanotherDiscourse

relatingtothesameSubject.

B Y

TheHonourableROBERTBOYLE,Esq;

L O N D O N ,

PrintedbyJ.CadwellforJ.Crooke,andaretobeSoldattheShipinSt.Paul’sChurch-Yard.

MD C L X I .

CONTENTS

APræfaceIntroductoryPhysiologicalConsiderations

TheFirstPartTheSecondPartTheThirdPartTheFourthPartTheFifthPartTheSixthPartTheConclusionPrinter’sNote

Errata

A

P R Æ F A C E

INTRODUCTORY

TothefollowingTreatise.

OgivetheReaderanaccount,WhythefollowingTreatiseissuffer’dtopassabroadsomaim’dand imperfect, Imust informhimthat ’tisnowlongsince, that togratifyaningenious Gentleman, I set down some of the Reasons that kept me from fullyacquiescingeitherinthePeripatetical,orintheChymicalDoctrine,oftheMaterialPrinciplesofmixtBodies.ThisDiscoursesomeyearsafter falling into thehandsofsome Learned men, had the good luck to be so favourably receiv’d, and

advantageouslyspokenofbythem,thathavinghadmorethenordinaryInvitationsgivenmetomakeitpublick,Ithoughtfittoreviewit,thatImightretrenchsomethingsthatseem’dnotsofittobeshewnto every Reader, And substitute some of those other things that occurr’d to me of the trials andobservationsIhadsincemade.Whatbecameofmypapers,IelsewherementioninaPrefacewhereIcomplainofit:ButsinceIwritThat,Ifoundmanysheetsthatbelong’dtothesubjectsIamnowabouttodiscourseof.Whereforeseeing that Ihad then inmyhandsasmuchof the firstDialogueaswasrequisitetostatetheCase,andserveforanIntroductionaswelltotheconferencebetwixtCarneadesandEleutherius,astosomeotherDialogues,whichforcertainreasonsarenotnowherewithpublish’d,I resolv’d to supply, as well as I could, the Contents of a Paper belonging to the second of thefollowingDiscourses, which I could not possibly retrive, though it were the chief of them all. Andhavingoncemoretry’dtheOpinionofFriends,butnotofthesame,aboutthisimperfectwork,Ifounditsuch,thatIwascontentincomplyancewiththeirDesires;thatnotonlyitshouldbepublish’d,butthat it shouldbe publish’das soonas convenientlymight be. I had indeedall along theDialoguesspokenofmyself,asofa thirdPerson;For, theycontainingDiscourseswhichwereamongthe firstTreatisesthatIventur’dlongagotowriteofmattersPhilosophical,Ihadreasontodesire,withthePainter, to laterepone tabulam,andhearwhatmenwould sayof them,before Iown’dmyself tobetheirAuthor.ButbesidesthatnowIfind,’tisnotunknowntomanywhoitisthatwritthem,Iammadeto believe that ’tis not inexpedient, they should be known to come from a Person not altogether astranger toChymicalAffairs.And Imade the lesse scruple to let them come abroad uncompleated,partly, becausemyaffairs andPræ-ingagements to publish divers otherTreatises allow’dme smallhopesofbeingableinagreatwhiletocompleattheseDialogues.Andpartly,becauseIamnotunapttothink,thattheymaycomeabroadseasonablyenough,thoughnotfortheAuthorsreputation,yetforotherpurposes.ForIobserve,thatoflateChymistrybegins,asindeeditdeserves,tobecultivatedbyLearnedMenwhobeforedespis’dit;andtobepretendedtobymanywhonevercultivatedit,thattheymay be thought not to ignore it: Whence it is come to passe, that divers Chymical Notions aboutMattersPhilosophicalare taken forgrantedandemploy’d,andsoadoptedbyveryeminentWritersbothNaturalistsandPhysitians.NowthisIfearmayprovesomewhatprejudicialtotheAdvancement

ofsolidPhilosophy:ForthoughIamagreatLoverofChymicalExperiments,andthoughIhavenomeanesteemofdiversChymicalRemedies,yetIdistinguishthesefromtheirNotionsaboutthecausesofthings,andtheirmannerofGeneration.AndforoughtIcanhithertodiscern,thereareathousandPhænomena in Nature, besides a Multitude of Accidents relating to the humane Body, which willscarcelybeclearly&satisfactorilymadeoutby themthatconfine themselves todeducethings fromSalt,SulphurandMercury,andtheotherNotionspeculiartotheChymists,withouttakingmuchmoreNoticethantheyarewonttodo,oftheMotionsandFigures,ofthesmallPartsofMatter,andtheothermoreCatholickandFruitfulaffectionsofBodies.WhereforeitwillnotperhapsbenowunseasonabletoletourCarneadeswarneMen,nottosubscribetothegrandDoctrineoftheChymiststouchingtheirthreeHypostaticalPrinciples,tilltheyhavealittleexamin’dit,andconsider’d,howtheycanclearitfromhisObjections,diversofwhich’tisliketheymayneverhavethoughton;sinceaChymistscarcewould,andnonebutaChymistcouldproposethem.IhopealsoitwillnotbeunacceptabletoseveralIngeniousPersons,whoareunwillingtodetermineofanyimportantControversie,withoutapreviousconsiderationofwhatmaybesaidonbothsides,andyethavegreaterdesirestounderstandChymicalMatters,thanOpportunitiesoflearningthem,tofindheretogether,besidesseveralExperimentsofmyownpurposelymade to Illustrate theDoctrineof theElements,diversothersscarce tobemetwith,otherwisethenScatter’damongmanyChymicalBooks.AndtoFindtheseAssociatedExperimentssoDeliver’dasthatanOrdinaryReader,ifhebebutAcquaintedwiththeusuallChymicalTermes,mayeasilyenoughUnderstandThem;andevenawaryOnemaysafelyrelyonThem.TheseThingsIadd,becauseaPersonanyThingvers’dintheWritingsofChymistscannotbutDiscernbytheirobscure,Ambiguous,andalmostÆnigmaticalWayofexpressingwhattheypretendtoTeach,thattheyhavenoMind,tobeunderstoodatall,butbytheSonsofArt(astheycallthem)nortobeUnderstoodevenbythesewithoutDifficulty AndHazardous Tryalls. Insomuch that some of Them Scarce ever speak socandidly,aswhen theymakeuseof thatknownChymicalSentence;Ubipalamlocuti fumus, ibinihildiximus.AndastheobscurityofwhatsomeWritersdelivermakesitverydifficulttobeunderstood;sotheUnfaithfulnessoftoomanyothersmakesitunfittobereli’don.Forthoughunwillingly,YetImustfor the truths sake,and theReaders,warnehimnot tobe forward tobelieveChymicalExperimentswhen they are set down only byway of Prescriptions, and not of Relations; that is, unless he thatdeliversthemmentionshisdoingituponhisownparticularknowledge,orupontheRelationofsomecredibleperson,avowing ituponhisownexperience.ForIamtroubled, Imustcomplain, thatevenEminentWriters,bothPhysitiansandPhilosophers,whomIcaneasilyname,ifitberequir’d,haveoflate suffer’d themselves to be so far impos’d upon, as to Publish and Build upon ChymicalExperiments,whichquestionlesstheynevertry’d;foriftheyhad,theywould,aswellasI,havefoundthemnot to be true.And indeed itwere to bewish’d, that now that those begin to quoteChymicalExperimentsthatarenotthemselvesAcquaintedwithChymicalOperations,menwouldLeaveoffthatIndefiniteWayofVouchingtheChymistssaythis,ortheChymistsaffirmethat,andwouldratherforeachExperiment theyalledgename theAuthororAuthors,uponwhosecredit theyrelate it;For,bythismeanstheywouldsecure themselves fromthesuspitionof falshood(towhichtheotherPracticeExposesthem)andtheywouldLeavetheReadertoJudgeofwhatisfitforhimtoBelieveofwhatisDeliver’d,whilsttheyemploynottheirowngreatnamestoCountenancedoubtfullRelations;andtheywillalsodoJusticetotheInventorsorPublishersoftrueExperiments,aswellasupontheObtrudersoffalseones.WhereasbythatgeneralWayofquotingtheChymists,thecandidWriterisDefraudedoftheparticularPraise,andtheImpostorescapesthePersonalDisgracethatisduetohim.

The remaining Part of this Præface must be imploy’d in saying something for Carneades, andsomethingformySelf.

Andfirst,Carneadeshopes thathewillbe thought tohavedisputedcivillyandModestlyenough for

one that was to play the Antagonist and the Sceptick. And if he any where seem to sleight hisAdversariesTenentsandArguments,heiswillingtohaveitlook’duponaswhathewasinduc’dto,notsomuchbyhisOpinionofthem,astheExamplesofThemistiusandPhiloponus,andthecustomofsuchkindofDisputes.

Next,IncasethatsomeofhisArgumentsshallnotbethoughtofthemostCogentsortthatmaybe,hehopesitwillbeconsider’dthatitoughtnottobeExpected,thattheyshouldbeSo.For,hisPartbeingchiefly but to propose Doubts and Scruples, he does enough, if he shews that his AdversariesArgumentsarenotstronglyConcluding,thoughhisownbenotsoneither.Andifthereshouldappearanydisagreementbetwixtthethingshedeliversindiverspassages,hehopesitwillbeconsider’d,thatitisnotnecessarythatallthethingsaSceptickProposes,shouldbeconsonant;sinceitbeinghisworktoSuggestdoubtsagainst theOpinionhequestions, it isallowable forhim topropose twoormoreseverallHypothesesabout thesame thing:And tosay that itmaybeaccounted for thisway,or thatway,or theotherWay, thoughthesewayesbeperhapsinconsistentamongThemselves.Becauseit isenoughforhim, ifeitherof theproposedHypothesesbebutasprobableas thathecallsaquestion.And if he proposesmany that are Each of them probable, he does themore satisfie his doubts, bymakingitappearthemoredifficulttobesure,thatthatwhichtheyalwayesdifferfromisthetrue.Andour Carneadesby holding the Negative, he has this Advantage, that if among all the Instances hebringstoinvalidateall theVulgarDoctrineof thoseheDisputeswith,anyonebeIrrefragable, thataloneissufficienttooverthrowaDoctrinewhichUniversallyassertswhatheopposes.For,itcannotbetrue,thatallBodieswhatsoeverthatarereckon’damongthePerfectlymixtOnes,areCompoundedof such a Determinate Number of such or such Ingredients, in case any one such Body can beproduc’d, that isnot socompounded;andhehopes too, thatAccuratenesswillbe the lessexpectedfrom him, because his undertaking obliges him to maintain such Opinions in Chymistry, and thatchieflybyChymicalArguments,asareContrarytotheveryPrinciplesof theChymists;Fromwhosewritings it is not Therefore like he should receive any intentionall Assistance, except from somePassagesoftheBoldandIngeniousHelmont,withwhomheyetdisagreesinmanythings(whichreducehim to explicate Divers Chymical Phænomena, according to other Notions;) And of whoseRatiocinations, not only some seem very Extravagant, but even the Rest are not wont to be asconsiderable as his Experiments. And though it be True indeed, that some Aristotelians haveoccasionally written against the Chymical Doctrine he Oppugnes, yet since they have done itaccordingtotheirPrinciples,AndsinceourCarneadesmustaswellopposetheirHypothesisasthatoftheSpagyrist,hewasfaintofighthisAdversarieswiththeirownWeapons,ThoseofthePeripatetickbeingImproper,ifnothurtfullforaPersonofhisTenents;besidesthatthoseAristotelians,(atLeast,thosehemetwith,) thathavewrittenagainst theChymists, seem tohavehadso littleExperimentalKnowledge inChymicalMatters, that by their frequentMistakes and unskilfullWay ofOppugning,theyhavetoooftenexpos’dThemselvestotheDerisionoftheirAdversaries,forwritingsoConfidentlyagainstwhattheyappearsolittletounderstand.

AndLastly,Carneadeshopes, he shall doe the Ingenious this Piece of service, that by having ThusdrawntheChymistsDoctrineoutoftheirDarkandSmoakieLaboratories,andbothbroughtitintotheopenlight,andshewntheweaknessoftheirProofs,thathavehithertobeenwonttobebroughtforit,eitherJudiciousMenshallhenceforthbeallowedcalmlyandafterdueinformationtodisbelieveit,orthoseablerChymists, thatarezealous for thereputationof it,willbeoblig’d tospeakplainer thenhithertohasbeendone,andmaintain itbybetterExperimentsandArguments thenThoseCarneadeshath examin’d: so That he hopes, the Curious will oneWay or other Derive either satisfaction orinstructionfromhisendeavours.AndasheisreadytomakegoodtheprofessionhemakesinthecloseofhisDiscourse,hebeingreadytobebetterinform’d,soheexpectseithertobeindeedinform’d,orto

beletalone.ForThoughifanyTrulyknowingChymistsshallThinkfitinacivilandrationalwaytoshewhimanytruthtouchingthematterinDisputeThatheyetdiscernesnot,Carneadeswillnotrefuseeither toadmit,or toownaConviction:yet ifany impertinentPersonshall,either togetHimselfaName,orforwhatotherendsoever,wilfullyorcareleslymistaketheStateoftheControversie,orthesenceofhisArguments,orshallrailinsteadofarguing,ashathbeendoneofLateinPrintbydiversChymists; or lastly, shall write against them in a canting way; I mean, shall express himself inambiguousorobscuretermes,orarguefromexperimentsnotintelligiblyenoughDeliver’d,Carneadesprofesses,Thathevalueshistimesomuch,asnottothinktheansweringsuchTriflesworththelossofit.

AndnowhavingsaidthusmuchforCarneades,IhopetheReaderwillgivemeleavetosaysomethingtooformyself.

And first, if some morose Readers shall find fault with my having made the Interlocutors uponoccasioncomplementwithoneanother,andthatIhavealmostallalongwrittentheseDialoguesinastilemoreFashionablethenThatofmeerscholarsiswonttobe,IhopeIshallbeexcus’dbythemthatshall consider, that to keepadue decorum in theDiscourses, itwas fit that in a bookwrittenbyaGentleman, andwherein onlyGentlemen are introduc’d as speakers, the Language should bemoresmooth, and the Expressions more civil than is usual in the more Scholastick way of writing. Andindeed, Iamnotsorry tohave thisOpportunityofgivinganexamplehow tomanageevenDisputeswithCivility;whenceperhapssomeReaderswillbeassistedtodiscernaDifferencebetwixtBluntnessofspeechandStrengthofreason,andfindthatamanmaybeaChampionforTruth,withoutbeinganEnemytoCivility;andmayconfuteanOpinionwithoutrailingatThemthatholdit;Towhomhethatdesirestoconvinceandnottoprovokethem,mustmakesomeamendsbyhisCivilitytotheirPersons,forhisseveritytotheirmistakes;andmustsayaslittleelseashecan,todispleasethem,whenhesaysthattheyareinanerror.

ButperhapsotherReaderswillbe lessapt to find faultwith theCivilityofmyDisputants, than theChymistswillbe,uponthereadingofsomePassagesofthefollowingDialogue,toaccuseCarneadesofAsperity.But if IhavemademyScepticksometimesspeaksleightinglyof theOpinionsheopposes,Ihope it will not be found that I have done any more, than became the Part he was to act of anOpponent:Especially,ifwhatIhavemadehimsaybecompar’dwithwhatthePrinceoftheRomaneOratorshimselfmakesbothgreatPersonsandFriendssayofoneanothersOpinions,inhisexcellentDialogues,DeNaturaDeorum:AndIshallscarcebesuspectedofPartiality,inthecase,bythemthattakeNoticethatthereisfullasmuch(ifnotfarmore)libertyofsleightingtheirAdversariesTenentstobe met with in the Discourses of those with whom Carneades disputes. Nor needed I make theInterlocutorsspeakotherwise then freely inaDialogue,wherein itwassufficiently intimated, that ImeantnottodeclaremyownOpinionoftheArgumentspropos’d,muchlesseofthewholeControversyitselfotherwisethanasitmaybyanattentiveReaderbeguess’datbysomePassagesofCarneades:(Isay,somePassages,becauseImakenotallthathesays,especiallyintheheatofDisputation,mine,)partlyinthisDiscourse,andpartlyinsomeotherDialoguesbetwixtthesamespeakers(thoughtheytreatnotimmediatelyoftheElements)whichhavelonglaynbyme,andexpecttheEntertainmentthatthesepresentDiscourseswillmeetwith.And indeed theywillmuchmistakeme, that shall concludefromwhatInowpublish,thatIamatDefyancewithChymistry,orwouldmakemyReadersso.IhopetheSpeciminaIhavelatelypublish’dofanattempttoshewtheusefulnessofChymicalExperimentstoContemplative Philosophers, will give those that shall read them other thoughts of me:& I had adesign(butwantedopportunity)topublishwiththesePapersanEssayIhavelyingbyme,thegreaterpartofwhichisApologeticalforonesortofChymists.Andatleast,asforthosethatknowme,Ihope

thepain Ihave taken in the firewillbothconvince them, that Iam far frombeinganEnemy to theChymistsArt,(thoughIamnofriendtomanythatdisgraceitbyprofessingit,)andperswadethemtobelieveme when I declare that I distinguish betwixt those Chymists that are either Cheats, or butLaborants,andthetrueAdepti;Bywhom,couldIenjoytheirConversation,Iwouldbothwillinglyandthankfully be instructed; especially concerning theNatureandGenerationofMetals:Andpossibly,thosethatknowhowlittleIhaveremittedofmyformeraddictednesstomakeChymicalExperiments,will easily believe, that one of the chiefDesignes of this ScepticalDiscoursewas, not somuch todiscreditChymistry,astogiveanoccasionandakindofnecessitytothemoreknowingArtiststolayasidealittleoftheirover-greatReservedness,&eitherexplicateorprovetheChymicalTheorybetterthanordinaryChymistshavedone,orbyenrichinguswithsomeoftheirnoblersecretstoevincethatTheirartisabletomakeamendsevenforthedeficienciesoftheirTheory:AndthusmuchIshallheremakebold toadd, thatwe shallmuchundervalueChymistry, ifwe imagine, that it cannot teachusthingsfarrmoreuseful,notonlytoPhysickbuttoPhilosophy,thanthosethatarehithertoknowntovulgarChymists.AndyetasforinferiourSpagyriststhemselves,theyhavebytheirlaboursdeserv’dsowelloftheCommon-wealthofLearning,thatmethinks’tisPitytheyshouldevermissetheTruthwhichtheyhavesoindustriouslysought.AndthoughIbenoAdmireroftheTheoricalPartoftheirArt,yetmyconjectureswillmuchdeceiveme,ifthePracticalPartbenotmuchmorecultivatedthanhithertoithas been, and do not both employ Philosophy and Philosophers, and help to make men such. Norwould I that have been diverted by other Studies aswell as affairs, be thought to pretend being aprofound Spagyrist, by finding so many faults in the Doctrine wherein the Generality of ChymistsscruplesnottoAcquiesce:Forbesidesthat’tismostcommonlyfareasiertoframeObjectionsagainstanypropos’dHypothesis,thantoproposeanHypothesisnot lyable toObjections(besides this Isay)’tisno suchgreatmatter, ifwhereasBeginners inChymistryare commonlyatonce imbu’dwith theTheoryandOperationsoftheirprofession,IwhohadthegoodFortunetoLearntheOperationsfromilliteratePersons, uponwhose credit Iwas notTempted to take upany opinionabout them, shouldconsider things with lesse prejudice, and consequently with other Eyes than the Generality ofLearners;Andshouldbemoredispos’d toaccommodate thePhænomena thatoccur’d tome tootherNotions than to thoseof theSpagyrists.Andhavingat first entertain’da suspitionThat theVulgarPrinciples were lesse General and comprehensive, or lesse considerately Deduc’d from ChymicalOperations, thanwasbeliev’d; itwasnotuneasie formeboth toTakenoticeof divers Phænomena,overlook’dbyprepossestPersons,thatseem’dnottosuitesowellwiththeHermeticalDoctrine;and,todevisesomeExperiments likely to furnishmewithObjectionsagainst it,notknowntomany, thathaving practis’dChymistry longer perchance then I have yet liv’d,may have farmoreExperience,ThanI,ofparticularprocesses.

To conclude, whether the Notions I have propos’d, and the Experiments I have communicated, beconsiderable,ornot, Iwillingly leaveothers toJudge;andThisonlyIshallsay formySelf,That Ihaveendeavour’d todelivermattersofFact, so faithfully, that Imayaswellassist the lesseskilfulReaderstoexaminetheChymicalHypothesis,asprovoketheSpagyricalPhilosopherstoillustrateit:whichiftheydo,andthateithertheChymicalopinion,orthePeripatetick,oranyotherTheoryoftheElementsdifferingfromthatIammostinclin’dto,shallbeintelligiblyexplicated,anddulyprov’dtome;whatIhavehithertodiscours’dwillnothinderitfrommakingaProselyteofaPersonthatLovesFluctuationofJudgmentlittleenoughtobewillingtobeeas’dofitbyanythingbutError.

P H Y S I O L O G I C A L

C O N S I D E R A T I O N S

Touching

Theexperimentswonttobeemployedto evince either the IV PeripatetickElements, or the III ChymicalPrinciplesofMixtBodies.

PartoftheFirstDialogue.

Perceive that divers of my Friends have thought it very strange to hear me speak soirresolvedly,asIhavebeenwonttodo,concerningthosethingswhichsometaketobetheElements, and others to be the Principles of all mixt Bodies. But I blush not toacknowledge that I much lesse scruple to confess that I Doubt, when I do so, then toprofessthatIKnowwhatIdonot:AndIshouldhavemuchstrongerExpectationsthenIdare yet entertain, to see Philosophy solidly establish’t, if men would more carefully

distinguish those things that they know, from those that they ignore or do but think, and then explicateclearly the things they conceive they understand, acknowledge ingenuouslywhat it is they ignore, andprofess so candidly theirDoubts, that the industryof intelligentpersonsmightbe setonwork tomakefurtherenquiries,andtheeasinessoflessdiscerningMenmightnotbeimpos’don.Butbecauseamoreparticularaccomptwillprobablybeexpectedofmyunsatisfyednessnotonlywith thePeripatetick,butwiththeChymicalDoctrineofthePrimitiveIngredientsofBodies:ItmaypossiblyservetosatisfyothersoftheexcusablenessofmydisatisfactiontoperusetheensuingRelationofwhatpassedawhilesinceatameetingofpersonsofseveralopinions,inaplacethatneednotherebenamed;wherethesubjectwhereofwehavebeenspeaking,wasamplyandvariouslydiscours’dof.

Itwasononeof the fairestdayesof thisSummer that the inquisitiveEleutherius came to inviteme tomakeavisitwithhimtohisfriendCarneades. I readilyconsented to thismotion, tellinghimthat ifhewould but permit me to go first andmake an excuse at a place not far off, where I had at that hourappointedtomeet,butnotaboutabusinesseitherofmoment,or thatcouldnotwelladmitofadelay,Iwouldpresentlywaitonhim,becauseofmyknowingCarneadestobesoconversantwithnatureandwithFurnaces,andsounconfin’d tovulgarOpinions, thathewouldprobablybysomeingeniousParadoxorother,giveourmindesatleastapleasingExercise,andperhapsenrichthemwithsomesolidinstruction.EleutheriusthenfirstgoingwithmetotheplacewheremyApologywastobemade,Iaccompaniedhimto the lodging ofCarneades,wherewhenwewere come,wewere told by the Servants, that hewasretiredwithacoupleofFriends(whosenamestheyalsotoldus)tooneoftheArboursinhisGarden,toenjoyunderitscooleshadesadelightfulprotectionfromtheyettroublesomeheatoftheSun.

EleutheriusbeingperfectlyacquaintedwiththatGardenimmediatelyledmetotheArbour,andrelyingonthe intimate familiarity that had been long cherish’d betwixt him and Carneades; in spight of myReluctancy towhatmight look likean intrusionuponhisprivacy,drawingmeby thehand,heabruptlyenteredtheArbour,wherewefoundCarneades,Philoponus,andThemistius,sittingcloseaboutalittleround Table, on which besides paper, pen, and inke, there lay two or three open Books;Carneadesappeared not at all troubled at this surprise, but rising from theTable, received his Friendwith openlooks and armes, andwelcomingme alsowith hiswonted freedomand civility, invited us to rest ourselves by him, which, as soon as we had exchanged with his two Friends (whowere ours also) thecivilities accustomed on such occasions, we did. And he presently after we had seated our selves,shuttingtheBooksthatlayopen,andturningtouswithasmilingcountenanceseemedreadytobeginsomesuchunconcerningdiscourseasiswonttopassorratherwastethetimeinpromiscuouscompanies.

ButEleutheriusguessingatwhathemeanttodo,preventedhimbytellinghim,IperceiveCarneadesbythe books that you have been now shutting, and much more by the posture wherein I found Persons

qualifi’d to discourse of serious matters; and so accustom’d to do it, that you three were before ourcoming,engag’dinsomePhilosophicalconference,whichIhopeyouwilleitherprosecute,andallowustobepartakersof,inrecompenceofthefreedomewehaveus’dinpresumingtosurpriseyou,orelsegiveus leave to repair the injury we should otherwise do you, by leaving you to the freedom we haveinterrupted,andpunishingourselvesforourboldnessbydeprivingourselvesofthehappinessofyourcompany.With these lastwordsheand I roseup,as ifwemeant tobegone,ButCarneades suddenlylayingholdonhisarme,andstoppinghimbyit,smileinglytoldhim,Wearenotsoforwardtolosegoodcompanyasyouseemtoimagine;especiallysinceyouarepleas’dtodesiretobepresentatwhatweshallsay,aboutsuchaSubjectas thatYoufoundusconsidering.For that,being thenumberof theElements,Principles,orMateriallIngredientsofBodies,isanenquirywhosetruthisofthatImportance,andofthatDifficulty,thatitmayaswelldeserveasrequiretobesearchedintobysuchskilfullIndagatorsofNatureasyourselves.AndthereforewesenttoinvitetheboldandacuteLeucippustolendussomelightbyhisAtomicalParadox,uponwhichweexpected suchpregnanthints, that ’twasnotwithoutagreatdealoftroublethatwehadlatelywordbroughtusthathewasnottobefound;andwehadlikewisebegg’dtheAssistanceofyourpresenceandthoughts,hadnotthemessengerweemploy’dtoLeucippusinform’dus,that as hewas going, he saw you both pass by towards another part of the Town;And this frustratedexpectationofLeucippushiscompany,who toldmebut lastnight thathewouldbeready togivemeameetingwhereIpleas’dtoday,havingverylongsuspendedourconferenceaboutthefreshlymention’dSubject, it was so newly begun when you came in, that we shall scarce need to repeat any thing toacquaintyouwithwhathaspass’dbetwixtusbeforeyourarrival,sothatIcannotbutlookuponitasafortunateAccidentthatyoushouldcomesoseasonably,tobenothearersalone,butwehopeInterlocutorsatourconference.Forweshallnotonlyallowofyourpresenceat it,butdesireyourAssistance in it;whichIaddebothforotherreasons,andbecausethoughtheselearnedGentlemen(sayeshe,turningtohistwo friends) need not fear to discourse before any Auditory, provided it be intelligent enough tounderstand them, yet for my part (continues he with a new smile,) I shall not dare to vent myunpremeditated thoughtsbefore twosuchCriticks,unlessbypromising to takeyour turnesof speaking,Youwillallowmemineofquarrelling,withwhathasbeensaid.Heandhisfriendsaddeddiversthingstoconvinceus that theywerebothdesirous thatweshouldhear them,and resolvedagainstourdoingso,unlessweallowedthemsometimestohearus.Elutheriusafterhavingawhilefruitleslyendeavouredtoobtainleavetobesilentpromis’dhewouldnotbesoalwayes,providedthathewerepermittedaccordingtothefreedomofhisGeniousandPrinciplestosidewithoneoftheminthemanagingofoneArgument,and,ifhesawcause,withhisAntagonist,intheProsecutionofanother,withoutbeingconfin’dtosticktoany one party or Opinion, which was after some debate accorded him. But I conscious to my ownDisability’stoldthemresolutelythatIwasasmuchmorewillingasmorefittobeahearerthenaspeaker,amongsuchknowingPersons,andonsoabstruseaSubject.AndthatthereforeIbeseechedthemwithoutnecessitatingmetoproclaimmyweaknesses,toallowmetolessenthembybeingasilentAuditoroftheirDiscourses:tosuffermetobeatwhichIcouldpresentthemnomotive,savethattheirinstructionswouldmake them in me a more intelligent Admirer. I added, that I desir’d not to be idle whilst they wereimploy’d,butwouldiftheypleas’d,bywritingdowninshorthandwhatshouldbedelivered,preserveDiscoursesthatIknewwouldmerittobelasting.AtfirstCarneadesandhistwofriendsutterlyrejectedthismotion;andallthatmyResolutenesstomakeuseofmyears,nottongue,attheirdebates,coulddo,wastomakethemacquiesceinthePropositionofEleutherius,whothinkinghimselfconcern’d,becausehe brought me thither, to afford me some faint assistance, was content that I should register theirArguments,thatImightbethebetterableaftertheconclusionoftheirconferencetogivethemmysenceupontheSubjectofit,(ThenumberofElementsorPrinciples:)whichhepromis’dIshoulddoattheendofthepresentDebates,iftimewouldpermit,orelseatournextmeeting.Andthisbeingbyhimundertakeninmyname,thoughwithoutmyconsent,thecompanywouldbynomeansreceivemyProtestationagainst

it,butcasting,allatonce,theireyesonCarneades, theydidbythatandtheirunanimoussilence,invitehimtobegin;which(afterashortpause,duringwhichheturn’dhimselftoEleutheriusandme)hedidinthismanner.

Notwithstanding thesubtile reasonings Ihavemetwith in thebooksof thePeripateticks,and theprettyexperiments that havebeen shew’dme in theLaboratoriesofChymists, I amof sodiffident, or dull aNature, as to think that if neither of them can bringmore cogent arguments to evince the truth of theirassertion thenarewont tobebrought; aManmay rationallyenough retain somedoubts concerning theverynumberofthosemateriallIngredientsofmixtbodies,whichsomewouldhaveuscallElements,andothersprinciples.IndeedwhenIconsideredthattheTenentsconcerningtheElementsareasconsiderableamongst the Doctrines of natural Philosophy as the Elements themselves are among the bodies of theUniverse, I expected to find those Opinions solidly establish’d, upon which so many others aresuperstructed.Butwhen I took the pains impartially to examine the bodies themselves that are said toresultfromtheblendedElements,andtotorturethemintoaconfessionof theirconstituentPrinciples,Iwasquicklyinduc’dtothinkthatthenumberoftheElementshasbeencontendedaboutbyPhilosopherswithmoreearnestness thensuccess.Thisunsatisfiednessofminehasbeenmuchwonder’dat,by thesetwoGentlemen(atwhichwordshepointedatThemistiusandPhiloponus)whothoughtheydifferalmostasmuchbetwixtthemselvesaboutthequestionwearetoconsider,asIdofromeitherofthem,yettheyboth agree verywell in this, that there is a determinate number of such ingredients as Iwas just nowspeakingof,andthatwhatthatnumberis,Isaynot,maybe,(forwhatmaynotsuchastheyperswade?)butis wont to be clearly enough demonstrated both by Reason and Experience. This has occasion’d ourpresentConference.ForourDiscourse thisafternoon,having fallen fromonesubject toanother,andatlengthsetl’donthis,theyproffer’dtodemonstratetome,eachofthemthetruthofhisopinion,outofboththeTopicks that Ihave freshlynam’d.Buton the former (thatofReasonstrictly so taken)wedeclin’dinsistingatthepresent,lestweshouldnothavetimeenoughbeforesuppertogothoroughtheReasonsandExperimentstoo.Thelatterofwhichweunanimouslythoughtthemostrequisitetobeseriouslyexamin’d.ImustdesireyouthentotakenoticeGentlemen(continuedCarneades)thatmypresentbusinessdothnotobligemesotodeclaremyownopinionontheSubjectinquestion,astoassertordenythetrutheitherofthePeripatetick,ortheChymicalDoctrineconcerningthenumberoftheElements,butonlytoshewyouthatneitheroftheseDoctrineshathbeensatisfactorilyprovedbytheargumentscommonlyalledgedonitsbehalfe.SothatifIreallydiscern(asperhapsIthinkIdo)thattheremaybeamorerationalaccountthenordinary,givenofoneoftheseopinions,Iamleftfreetodeclaremyselfofit,notwithstandingmypresentengagement,itbeingobvioustoallyourobservation,thatasolidtruthmaybegenerallymaintainedbynoother,thenincompetentArguments.AndtothisDeclarationIhopeitwillbeneedlesstoadd,thatmytaskobligesmenottoanswertheArgumentsthatmaybedrawneitherforThemistiusorPhiloponus’sOpinionfromtheTopickofreason,asopposedtoexperiments;since’tistheseonlythatIamtoexamineandnotalltheseneither,butsuchofthemaloneaseitherofthemshallthinkfittoinsiston,andashavehithertobeenwont to be brought either to prove that ’tis the four Peripatetick Elements, or that ’tis the threeChymicalPrinciplesthatallcompoundedbodiesconsistof.Thesethings(addsCarneades)Ithoughtmyself obliged to premise, partly lest you should do these Gentlemen (pointing at Themistius andPhiloponus,andsmilingonthem)theinjuryofmeasuringtheirpartsbytheargumentstheyarereadytopropose,thelawesofourConferenceconfiningthemtomakeuseofthosethatthevulgarofPhilosophers(forevenofthemthereisavulgar)hasdrawnuptotheirhands;andpartly,thatyoushouldnotcondemnmeofpresumptionfordisputingagainstpersonsoverwhomIcanhopefornoadvantage,thatImustnotderivefromthenature,orrulesofourcontroversy,whereinIhavebutanegativetodefend,andwhereintooIamlikeonseveraloccasionstohavetheAssistanceofoneofmydisagreeingadversariesagainsttheother.

Philoponus andThemistius soon returned this complementwith civilities of the like nature, inwhichEleutheriusperceivingthemengaged,topreventthefurtherlossofthattimeofwhichtheywerenotliketo have very much to spare, he minded them that their present businesse was not to exchangecomplements, but Arguments: and then addressing his speech to Carneades, I esteem it no smallhappinesse(saieshe)thatIamcomeheresoluckilythisEvening.ForIhavebeenlongdisquietedwithDoubts concerning this very subjectwhichyou arenow ready todebate.And since aQuestionof thisimportanceistobenowdiscussedbypersonsthatmaintainsuchvarietyofopinionsconcerningit,andareboth so able to enquire after truth, and so ready to embrace it bywhomsoever and onwhat occasionsoeveritispresentedthem;IcannotbutpromisemyselfthatIshallbeforeweparteitherlosemyDoubtsor the hopes of ever finding them resolved;Eleutherius paused not here; but to prevent their answer,added almost in the same breath; and I am not a little pleased to find that you are resolved on thisoccasiontoinsistratheronExperimentsthenSyllogismes.ForI,andnodoubtYou,havelongobserved,thatthoseDialecticalsubtleties,thattheSchoolmentoooftenemployaboutPhysiologicalMysteries,arewontmuchmore to declare thewit of him that uses them, then increase the knowledge or remove thedoubtsofsoberloversoftruth.Andsuchcaptioussubtletiesdoindeedoftenpuzzleandsometimessilencemen,butrarelysatisfythem.BeinglikethetricksofJugglers,wherebymendoubtnotbuttheyarecheated,thoughoftentimestheycannotdeclarebywhatslightstheyareimposedon.AndthereforeIthinkyouhavedoneverywiselytomakeityourbusinessetoconsiderthePhænomenarelatingtothepresentQuestion,which have been afforded by experiments, especially since it might seem injurious to our senses, bywhosemediationweacquiresomuchoftheknowledgewehaveofthingscorporal,tohaverecoursetofar-fetched and abstracted Ratiocination, to know what are the sensible ingredients of those sensiblethingsthatwedailyseeandhandle,andaresupposedtohavethelibertytountwist(ifImaysospeak)intotheprimitivebodiestheyconsistof.Heannexedthathewishedthereforetheywouldnolongerdelayhisexpectedsatisfaction,iftheyhadnot,ashefearedtheyhad,forgottensomethingpreparatorytotheirdebate;andthatwastolaydownwhatshouldbeallalongunderstoodbythewordPrincipleorElement.Carneadesthank’dhimforhisadmonition,buttoldhimthattheyhadnotbeenunmindfulofsorequisiteathing.ButthatbeingGentlemenandveryfarfromthelitigioushumouroflovingtowrangleaboutwordsortermsornotionsasempty; theyhadbeforehiscomingin,readilyagreedpromiscuouslytousewhenthey pleased, Elements and Principles as terms equivalent: and to understand both by the one and theother,thoseprimitiveandsimpleBodiesofwhichthemixtonesaresaidtobecomposed,andintowhichthey are ultimately resolved. And upon the same account (he added) we agreed to discourse of theopinionstobedebated,aswehavefoundthemmaintainedbytheGeneralityoftheassertorsofthefourElementsof theoneparty,andof those that receive the threePrincipleson theother,without tyingourselves toenquirescrupulouslywhatnotioneitherAristotleorParacelsus,or thisor that Interpreter,orfollowerofeitherofthosegreatpersons,framedofElementsorPrinciples;ourdesignbeingtoexamine,notwhat theseor thosewriters thoughtor taught,butwhatwe find tobe theobviousandmostgeneralopinionof those,whoarewilling tobeaccountedFavourersof thePeripatetickorChymicalDoctrine,concerningthissubject.

Iseenot(saiesEleutherius)whyyoumightnotimmediatelybegintoargue,ifyouwerebutagreedwhichofyour twofriendlyAdversariesshallbefirstheard.Anditbeingquicklyresolv’don thatThemistiusshould first propose theProofs forhisOpinion,because itwas the antienter, and themoregeneral, hemadenotthecompanyexpectlongbeforehethusaddressedhimselftoEleutherius,astothePersonleastinteressedinthedispute.

If you have taken sufficient notice of the late Confessionwhichwasmade byCarneades, and which(though hisCivility dressed it up in complementall Expressions)was exacted of him by his Justice, IsupposeYouwill be easilymade sensible, that I engage in this Controversiewith great and peculiar

Disadvantages, besides those which his Parts and my Personal Disabilities would bring to any othercausetobemaintainedbymeagainsthim.Forhejustlyapprehendingtheforceoftruth,thoughspeakingbynobetteratonguethenmine,hasmadeitthechiefconditionofourDuell,thatIshouldlayasidethebestWeaponsIhave,andthoseIcanbesthandle;WhereasifIwereallowedthefreedom,inpleadingforthe fourElements, to employ theArguments suggested tome byReason to demonstrate them, I shouldalmostaslittledoubtofmakingYouaProselytetothoseunsever’dTeachers,TruthandAristotle,asIdoofyourCandourandyourJudgment.AndIhopeyouwillhoweverconsider,thatthatgreatFavoriteandInterpreterofNature,Aristotle,whowas(ashisOrganumwitnesses)thegreatestMasterofLogickthatever liv’d, disclaim’d the course taken by other petty Philosophers (Antient and Modern) who notattendingtheCoherenceandConsequencesoftheirOpinions,aremoresollicitoustomakeeachparticularOpinionplausibleindependentlyuponthetherest,thentoframethemallso,asnotonlytobeconsistenttogether,buttosupporteachother.ForthatgreatManinhisvastandcomprehensiveIntellect,sofram’deachofhisNotions,thatbeingcuriouslyadaptedintooneSysteme,theyneednoteachofthemanyotherdefencethenthatwhichtheirmutuallCoherencegivesthem:As’tisinanArch,whereeachsinglestone,whichifsever’dfromtherestwouldbeperhapsdefenceless,issufficientlysecur’dbythesolidityandentirenessofthewholeFabrickofwhichitisapart.Howjustlythismaybeapply’dtothepresentcase,IcouldeasilyshewYou,ifIwerepermittedtodeclaretoYou,howharmoniousAristotlesDoctrineoftheElementsiswithhisotherPrinciplesofPhilosophy;andhowrationallyhehasdeduc’dtheirnumberfromthatof thecombinationsof thefourfirstQualitiesfromthekindsofsimpleMotionbelongingtosimplebodies,andfromIknownothowmanyotherPrinciplesandPhænomenaofNature,whichsoconspirewith hisDoctrine of the Elements, that theymutually strengthen and support each other. But since ’tisforbiddenmetoinsistonReflectionsofthiskind,ImustproceedtotellYou,thatthoughtheAssertorsofthefourElementsvalueReasonsohighly,andarefurnish’dwithArgumentsenoughdrawnfromthence,tobe satisfi’d that theremust be four Elements, though noMan had ever yetmade any sensible tryal todiscovertheirNumber,yettheyarenotdestituteofExperiencetosatisfieothersthatarewonttobemoresway’dbytheirsensesthentheirReason.AndIshallproceedtoconsider thetestimonyofExperience,when I shallhave first advertis’dYou, that ifMenwereasperfectly rationalas ’tis tobewish’d theywere, thissensiblewayofProbationwouldbeasneedlessas’tiswonttobeimperfect.Forit ismuchmore high and Philosophical to discover things a priore, then a posteriore. And therefore thePeripatetickshavenot beenvery sollicitous togatherExperiments toprove theirDoctrines, contentingthemselveswithafewonly,tosatisfiethosethatarenotcapableofaNoblerConviction.AndindeedtheyemployExperimentsrathertoillustratethentodemonstratetheirDoctrines,asAstronomersuseSphæresofpastboard, todescend to thecapacitiesof suchasmustbe taughtby their senses, forwantofbeingarriv’d to a clear apprehension of purelyMathematical Notions and Truths. I speak thusEleutherius(addsThemistius)onlytodorighttoReason,andnotoutofDiffidenceoftheExperimentalproofIamtoalledge.ForthoughIshallnamebutone,yetitissuchaoneaswillmakeallotherappearasneedlessasitselfwillbefoundSatisfactory.ForifYoubutconsiderapieceofgreen-WoodburninginaChimney,Youwill readilydiscern in thedisbandedpartsof it the fourElements,ofwhichwe teachItandothermixt bodies to be compos’d. The fire discovers it self in the flame by its own light; the smoke byascendingtothetopofthechimney,andtherereadilyvanishingintoair,likeaRiverlosingitselfintheSea, sufficientlymanifests towhat Element it belongs and gladly returnes. Thewater in its own formboylingandhissingattheendsoftheburningWoodbetrayesitselftomorethenoneofoursenses;andtheashesbytheirweight,theirfiriness,andtheirdryness,putitpastdoubtthattheybelongtotheElementofEarth.IfIspoke(continuesThemistius)tolessknowingPersons,IwouldperhapsmakesomeExcuseforbuildinguponsuchanobviousandeasieAnalysis,but’twouldbe,Ifear,injurious,nottothinksuchanApologyneedless toYou,whoare too judicious either to think it necessary thatExperiments toproveobvioustruthsshouldbefarrfetch’d,ortowonderthatamongsomanymixtBodiesthatarecompounded

ofthefourElements,someofthemshoulduponaslightAnalysismanifestlyexhibitetheIngredientstheyconsistof.EspeciallysinceitisveryagreeabletotheGoodnessofNature,todisclose,eveninsomeofthemostobviousExperimentsthatMenmake,aTruthsoimportant,andsorequisitetobetakennoticeofby them.Besides that ourAnalysis by howmuch themore obviouswemake it, by somuch themoresuittableitwillbetotheNatureofthatDoctrinewhich’tisalledgedtoprove,whichbeingasclearandintelligible to the Understanding as obvious to the sense, tis no marvail the learned part ofMankindshould so long and so generally imbrace it. For this Doctrine is very different from thewhimseys ofChymistsandotherModernInnovators,ofwhoseHypotheseswemayobserve,asNaturalistsdooflessperfectAnimals,thatastheyarehastilyform’d,sotheyarecommonlyshortliv’d.Forsothese,astheyareoftenfram’dinoneweek,areperhapsthoughtfittobelaughedatthenext;andbeingbuiltperchancebutupon twoor threeExperimentsaredestroyedbya thirdor fourth,whereas thedoctrineof the fourElements was fram’d by Aristotle after he had leasurely considered those Theories of formerPhilosophers,whicharenowwithgreatapplauserevived,asdiscoveredbytheselatterages;AndhadsojudiciouslydetectedandsupplyedtheErrorsanddefectsofformerHypothesesconcerningtheElements,thathisDoctrineofthemhasbeeneversincedeservedlyembracedbytheletter’dpartofMankind:AllthePhilosophers thatprecededhimhaving in their severalagescontributed to thecompleatnessof thisDoctrine,asthoseofsucceedingtimeshaveacquiesc’dinit.NorhasanHypothesissodeliberatelyandmaturelyestablishedbeencalledinQuestiontillinthelastCenturyParacelsusandsomefewothersootyEmpiricks,ratherthen(astheyarefaintocallthemselves)Philosophers,havingtheireyesdarken’d,andtheirBrains troubl’dwith the smokeof their ownFurnaces, began to rail at thePeripatetickDoctrine,whichtheyweretooilliteratetounderstand,andtotellthecredulousWorld,thattheycouldseebutthreeIngredientsinmixtBodies;whichtogainthemselvesthereputeofInventors,theyendeavouredtodisguisebycallingthem,insteadofEarth,andFire,andVapour,Salt,Sulphur,andMercury;towhichtheygavethecantingtitleofHypostaticalPrinciples:butwhentheycametodescribethem,theyshewedhowlittletheyunderstoodwhat theymeant by them, by disagreeing asmuch from one another, as from the truth theyagreed inopposing:For theydeliver theirHypotheses asdarklyas theirProcesses; and ’tis almost asimpossible for any soberMan to find theirmeaning, as ’tis for them to find their Elixir. And indeednothinghas spread theirPhilosophy, but their greatBrags andundertakings; notwithstanding allwhich,(sayesThemistius smiling) Iscarceknowany thing theyhaveperformedworthwonderingat, save thatthey have been able to draw Philoponus to their Party, and to engage him to the Defence of anunintelligibleHypothesis,whoknowessowellashedoes,thatPrinciplesoughttobelikeDiamonds,aswellveryclear,asperfectlysolid.

Themistius having after these last words declared by his silence, that he had finished his Discourse,Carneadesaddressinghimself,ashisAdversaryhaddone,toEleutherius, returnedthisAnswerto it, Ihop’dforDemonstration, but I perceiveThemistius hopes to putme offwith aHarangue,wherein hecannothavegivenmeagreaterOpinionofhisParts, thenhehasgivenmeDistrust forhisHypothesis,since for it even a Man of such Learning can bring no better Arguments. The Rhetorical part of hisDiscourse, though itmakenot the least part of it, I shall saynothing to, designing to examineonly theArgumentativepart,andleavingittoPhiloponustoanswerthosepassageswhereineitherParacelsusorChymistsareconcern’d:IshallobservetoYou,thatinwhathehassaidbesides,hemakesithisBusinessto do these two things. The one to propose andmake out an Experiment to demonstrate the commonOpinionaboutthefourElements;Andtheother,toinsinuatediversthingswhichhethinksmayrepairtheweaknessofhisArgument,fromExperience,anduponotherAccountsbringsomecredittotheotherwisedefencelessDoctrinehemaintains.

To begin thenwith hisExperiment of the burningWood, it seems tome to be obnoxious to not a fewconsiderableExceptions.

Andfirst,ifIwouldnowdealrigidlywithmyAdversary,ImightheremakeagreatQuestionoftheveryway of Probation which he and others employ, without the least scruple, to evince, that the Bodiescommonlycall’dmixt, aremadeupofEarth,Air,Water, andFire,which theyarepleas’dalso tocallElements;namelythatuponthesuppos’dAnalysismadebythefire,oftheformersortofConcretes,therearewonttoemergeBodiesresemblingthosewhichtheytakefortheElements.FornottoAnticipateherewhatIforeseeIshallhaveoccasiontoinsiston,whenIcometodiscoursewithPhiloponusconcerningthe right that firehas topass for theproperandUniversal InstrumentofAnalysingmixtBodies,not toAnticipatethat,Isay,ifIweredispos’dtowrangle,Imightalledge,thatbyThemistiushisExperimentitwould appear rather that those he callsElements, aremade of those he callsmixtBodies, thenmix’dBodiesoftheElements.ForinThemistius’sAnalyz’dWood,andinotherBodiesdissipatedandalter’dbythefire,itappears,andheconfesses,thatwhichhetakesforElementaryFireandWater,aremadeoutoftheConcrete;butitappearsnotthattheConcretewasmadeupofFireandWater.NorhaseitherHe,oranyMan,foroughtIknow,ofhisperswasion,yetprov’dthatnothingcanbeobtainedfromaBodybythefirethatwasnotPre-existentinit.

At this unexpected objection, not only Themistius, but the rest of the company appear’d not a littlesurpriz’d;butafterawhilePhiloponusconceivinghisopinion,aswellasthatofAristotle,concern’dinthatObjection,You cannot sure (sayes he toCarneades) propose thisDifficulty; not to call it Cavill,otherwisethenasanExerciseofwit,andnotaslayinganyweightuponit.Forhowcanthatbeseparatedfromathingthatwasnotexistentinit.When,forinstance,aRefinerminglesGoldandLead,andexposingthisMixtureuponaCuppelltotheviolenceofthefire,therebyseparatesitintopureandrefulgentGoldandLead(whichdrivenofftogetherwiththeDrossoftheGoldisthencecall’dLithargyriumAuri)cananymandoubtthatseesthesetwosodifferingsubstancesseparatedfromtheMass,thattheywereexistentinitbeforeitwascommittedtothefire.

I should (repliesCarneades) allow your Argument to prove something, if, as Men see the RefinerscommonlytakebeforehandbothLeadandGoldtomaketheMassyouspeakof,sowedidseeNaturepulldownaparcelloftheElementofFire,thatisfancy’dtobeplac’dIknownothowmanythousandLeaguesoff,contiguoustotheOrboftheMoon,andtoblenditwithaquantityofeachofthethreeotherElements,tocomposeeverymixtBody,uponwhoseResolutiontheFirepresentsuswithFire,andEarth,andtherest.Andletmeadd,Philoponus,thattomakeyourReasoningcogent,itmustbefirstprov’d,thatthefiredo’sonlytaketheElementaryIngredientsasunder,withoutotherwisealteringthem.Forelse’tisobvious,thatBodiesmayaffordsubstanceswhichwerenotpre-existentinthem;asFleshtoolongkeptproducesMagots,andoldCheeseMites,which I supposeyouwillnotaffirm tobe Ingredientsof thoseBodies.Nowthatfiredo’snotalwayesbarelyseparatetheElementaryparts,butsometimesatleastalteralsotheIngredientsofBodies,ifIdidnotexpecterelongabetteroccasiontoproveit,ImightmakeprobableoutofyourveryInstance,whereinthereisnothingElementaryseparatedbythegreatviolenceoftheRefinersfire:theGoldandLeadwhicharethetwoIngredientsseparatedupontheAnalysisbeingconfessedlyyetperfectlymixtBodies,and theLithargebeingLead indeed;butsuchLeadas isdiffering inconsistenceandotherQualities fromwhat itwasbefore.Towhich Imust add that I have sometimes seen, and soquestionlessehaveyoumuchoftener, someparcellsofGlasseadhering to theTestorCuppel, and thisGlassthoughEmergentaswellastheGoldorLithargeuponyourAnalysis,youwillnotIhopeallowtohavebeenathirdIngredientoftheMassoutofwhichthefireproduc’dit.

Both Philoponus and Themistius were about to reply, when Eleutherius apprehending that theProsecutionof thisDisputewould takeup time,whichmightbebetter employ’d, thought fit topreventthembysayingtoCarneades:YoumadeatleasthalfaPromise,whenyoufirstpropos’dthisObjection,

thatyouwouldnot(nowatleast)insistonit,norindeeddoesitseemtobeofabsolutenecessitytoyourcause,thatyoushould.ForthoughyoushouldgrantthatthereareElements,itwouldnotfollowthattheremustbepreciselyfour.AndthereforeIhopeyouwillproceedtoacquaintuswithyourotherandmoreconsiderableObjectionsagainstThemistius’sOpinion,especiallysincethereissogreataDisproportionin Bulke betwixt the Earth, Water and Air, on the one part, and those little parcells of resemblingsubstances, that thefireseparates fromConcreteson theotherpart, that Icanscarce think thatyouareserious,whentolosenoadvantageagainstyourAdversary,youseemtodenyittoberational,toconcludethesegreatsimpleBodiestobetheElements,andnottheProductsofcompoundedones.

Whatyoualledge(repliesCarneades)of theVastnessof theEarthandWater,has longsincemademewillingtoallowthemtobethegreatestandchiefMassesofMattertobemetwithherebelow:ButIthinkIcouldshewYou, ifYouwouldgivemeleave, that thiswillproveonlythat theElements,asYoucallthem, are the chiefBodies thatmake up the neighbouring part of theWorld, but not that they are suchIngredientsaseverymixtBodymustconsistof.ButsinceYouchallengemeofsomethingofaPromise,though it be not an entire one,Yet I shallwillingly perform it.And indeed I intendednotwhen I firstmention’dthisObjection,toinsistonitatpresentagainstThemistius,(asIplainlyintimatedinmywayofproposingit:)beingonlydesiroustoletyousee,thatthoughIdiscern’dmyAdvantages,yetIwaswillingtoforegosomeofthem,ratherthenappeararigidAdversaryofaCausesoweak,thatitmaywithsafetybefavourablydealtwith.ButImusthereprofess,anddesireYoutotakeNoticeofit,thatthoughIpassontoanotherArgument,it isnotbecauseIthinkthisfirstinvalid.ForYouwillfindintheProgressofourDispute,thatIhadsomereasontoquestiontheverywayofProbationimploy’dbothbyPeripateticksandChymists,toevincethebeingandnumberoftheElements.Forthattherearesuch,andthattheyarewonttobeseparatedbytheAnalysismadebyFire,isindeedtakenforgrantedbybothParties,buthasnot(forought I know)been somuchasplausibly attempted tobeprovedby either.Hoping then thatwhenwecometothatpartofourDebate,whereinConsiderationsrelatingtothisMatteraretobetreatedof,youwillrememberwhatIhavenowsaid,andthatIdoratherforawhilesuppose,thenabsolutelygrantthetruthofwhatIhavequestion’d,IwillproceedtoanotherObjection.

AndhereuponEleutheriushavingpromis’dhimnottobeunmindfull,whentimeshouldserve,ofwhathehaddeclar’d.

Iconsiderthen(sayesCarneades)inthenextplace,thattherearediversBodiesoutofwhichThemistiuswillnotproveinhaste, that therecanbesomanyElementsasfourextractedbytheFire.AndIshouldperchancetroublehimifIshouldaskhimwhatPeripatetickcanshewus,(Isaynot,allthefourElements,forthatwouldbetoorigidaQuestion,but)anyoneofthemextractedoutofGoldbyanydegreeofFirewhatsoever.NorisGoldtheonlyBodieinNaturethatwouldpuzzleanAristotelian,that isnomore toanalyzebytheFireintoElementaryBodies,since,foroughtIhaveyetobserv’d,bothSilverandcalcin’dVenetianTalck,andsomeotherConcretes,notnecessaryheretobenam’d,aresofixt,thattoreduceanyof them into fourHeterogeneousSubstanceshashithertoprov’daTaskmuch toohard,notonly for theDisciplesofAristotle,butthoseofVulcan,atleast,whilstthelatterhaveemploy’donlyFiretomaketheAnalysis.

ThenextArgument (continuesCarneades) that I shall urge againstThemistius’s Opinion shall be this,ThatastherearediversBodieswhoseAnalysisbyFirecannotreducethemintosomanyHeterogeneousSubstancesorIngregredientsasfour,sothereareotherswhichmaybereduc’dintomore,astheBlood(anddiversotherparts)ofMenandotherAnimals,whichyieldwhenanalyz’dfivedistinctSubstances,Phlegme,Spirit,Oyle,SaltandEarth,asExperiencehasshewnusindistillingMansBlood,Harts-Horns,and divers otherBodies that belonging to theAnimal-Kingdom aboundwith not uneasily sequestrable

Salt.

T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST:

O R

C H Y M I C O - P H Y S I C A L

Doubts&Paradoxes,Touchingthe

E X P E R I M E N T SWH E R E B Y

V U L G A R S P A G Y R I S T S

ArewonttoEndeavourtoEvincetheir

S A L T ,S U L P H U RA N D

M E R C U R Y ,T O B E

TheTruePrinciplesofThings.

Utinamjamtenerenturomnia,&inopertaacconfessaVeritasesset!NihilexDecretismutaremus.NuncVeritatemcumeisquidocent,quærimus.Sen.

L O N D O N ,

PrintedforJ.Crooke,andaretobesoldattheShipinSt.PaulsChurch-Yard.1661.

T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST.

I

TheFirstPart.

Am(sayesCarneades)sounwillingtodenyEleutheriusanything, that though,before therestof theCompanyIamresolv’dtomakegoodthepartIhaveundertakenofaSceptick;yetIshallreadily,since

youwillhaveitso,layasideforawhilethePersonofanAdversarytothePeripateticksandChymists;andbeforeIacquaintyouwithmyObjectionsagainst theirOpinions,acknowledgetoyouwhatmaybe(whethertrulyornot)tollerablyenoughadded,infavourofacertainnumberofPrinciplesofmixtBodies,tothatgrandandknownArgumentfromtheAnalysisofcompoundBodies,whichImaypossiblyhereafterbeabletoconfute.

AndthatyoumaythemoreeasilyExamine,andthebetterJudgeofwhatIhavetosay,IshallcastitintoaprettynumberofdistinctPropositions,towhichIshallnotpremiseanything;becauseItakeitforgranted,thatyouneednotbeadvertis’d,thatmuchofwhatIamtodeliver,whetherfororagainstadeterminatenumberof Ingredientsofmix’dBodies,maybe indifferentlyapply’d to the fourPeripatetickElements,andthethreeChymicalPrinciples,thoughdiversofmyObjectionswillmorepeculiarlybelongtotheselastnam’d,becausetheChymicalHypothesisseemingtobemuchmorecountenanc’dbyExperiencethentheother, itwillbeexpedient to insistchieflyupon thedisprovingof that;especiallysincemostof theArgumentsthatareimploy’dagainstit,may,byalittlevariation,bemadetoconclude,atleastasstronglyagainstthelessplausible,AristotelianDoctrine.

ToproceedthentomyPropositions,Ishallbeginwiththis.That

It seemsnotabsurd to conceive thatat the firstProductionofmixtBodies, theUniversalMatterwhereof they among other Parts of the Universe consisted, was actually divided into littleParticlesofseveralsizesandshapesvariouslymov’d.

This(sayesCarneades)Isupposeyouwilleasilyenoughallow.ForbesidesthatwhichhappensintheGeneration, Corruption, Nutrition, and wasting of Bodies, that which we discover partly by ourMicroscopesoftheextreamlittlenesseofeventhescarcesensiblepartsofConcretes;andpartlybytheChymical Resolutions ofmixtBodies, and by divers otherOperations of Spagyrical Fires upon them,seemssufficientlytomanifesttheirconsistingofpartsveryminuteandofdifferingFigures.Andthattheredoes also intervene a various localMotion of such smallBodies,will scarce be denied;whetherwechusetogranttheOrigineofConcretionsassign’dbyEpicurus,orthatrelatedbyMoses.Forthefirst,asyouwellknow,supposesnotonlyallmixtBodies,butallotherstobeproduc’dbythevariousandcasualoccursionsofAtomes,moving themselves to and froby an internalPrinciple in the Immenseor ratherInfiniteVacuum.Andas for the inspir’dHistorian,He, informingus that thegreat andWiseAuthorofThingsdidnotimmediatelycreatePlants,Beasts,Birds,&c.butproduc’dthemoutofthoseportionsofthe pre-existent, though created,Matter, that he callsWater and Earth, allows us to conceive, that theconstituent Particleswhereof these newConcreteswere to consist,were variouslymoved in order totheirbeingconnectedintotheBodiestheywere,bytheirvariousCoalitionsandTextures,tocompose.

But(continuesCarneades)presumingthatthefirstPropositionneedsnotbelongerinsistedon,Iwillpassontothesecond,andtellyouthat

NeitherisitimpossiblethatoftheseminuteParticlesdiversofthesmallestandneighbouringones

were here and there associated into minute Masses or Clusters, and did by their CoalitionsconstitutegreatstoreofsuchlittleprimaryConcretionsorMassesaswerenoteasilydissipableintosuchParticlesascompos’dthem.

Towhatmay be deduc’d, in favour of thisAssertion, from theNature of theThing it self, Iwill addsomethingoutofExperience,whichthoughIhavenotknownitusedtosuchapurpose,seemstomemorefairly to make out that there May be Elementary Bodies, then the more questionable Experiments ofPeripateticks and Chymists prove that there Are such. I consider then that Gold will mix and becolliquatednotonlywithSilver,Copper,Tin andLead,butwithAntimony,RegulusMartis andmanyother Minerals, with which it will compose Bodies very differing both from Gold, and the otherIngredientsoftheresultingConcretes.AndthesameGoldwillalsobycommonAquaRegis,and(Ispeakit knowingly) by divers other Menstruums be reduc’d into a seeming Liquor, in so much that theCorpuscles of Gold will, with those of theMenstruum, pass through Cap-Paper, and with them alsocoagulateintoaCrystallineSalt.AndIhavefurthertry’d,thatwithasmallquantityofacertainSalineSubstanceIprepar’d,IcaneasilyenoughsublimeGoldintotheformofredCrystallsofaconsiderablelength; andmany otherwayesmayGold be disguis’d, and help to constitute Bodies of very differingNatures both from It and from one another, and neverthelesse be afterward reduc’d to the self-sameNumerical,Yellow,Fixt,PonderousandMalleableGolditwasbeforeitscommixture.NorisitonlythefixedstofMetals,butthemostfugitive,thatImayemployinfavourofourProposition:forQuicksilverwill with diversMetals compose anAmalgam, with diversMenstruums it seems to be turn’d into aLiquor,withAqua fortiswillbebrought intoeithera redorwhitePowderorprecipitate,withOylofVitriolintoapaleYellowone,withSulphuritwillcomposeablood-redandvolatileCinaber,withsomeSaline Bodies it will ascend in form of a Salt which will be dissoluble in water; with Regulus ofAntimonyandSilverIhaveseenitsublim’dintoakindeofCrystals,withanotherMixtureIreduc’ditintoamalleableBody,intoahardandbrittleSubstancebyanother:Andsometherearewhoaffirm,thatbyproperAdditamentstheycanreduceQuicksilverintoOyl,nayintoGlass,tomentionnomore.Andyetoutofall theseexotickCompounds,wemayrecover theverysamerunningMercury thatwas themainIngredient of them, andwas so disguis’d in them.Now theReason (proceedsCarneades) that I haverepresentedthesethingsconcerningGoldandQuicksilver,is,Thatitmaynotappearabsurdtoconceive,that such little primary Masses or Clusters, as our Proposition mentions, may remain undissipated,notwithstanding their entring into the compositionofvariousConcretions, since theCorpuscleofGoldand Mercury, though they be not primary Concretions of the most minute Particles or matter, butconfessedlymixt Bodies, are able to concurre plentifully to the composition of several very differingBodies,withoutlosingtheirownNatureorTexture,orhavingtheircohæsionviolatedbythedivorceoftheirassociatedpartsorIngredients.

Givemeleavetoadd(sayesEleutherius)onthisoccasion,towhatyounowobserv’d,thatasconfidentlyas some Chymists, and other modern Innovators in Philosophy are wont to object against thePeripateticks,ThatfromthemixtureoftheirfourElementstherecouldarisebutaninconsiderablevarietyofcompoundBodies;yetiftheAristotelianswerebuthalfaswellvers’dintheworksofNatureastheyareintheWritingsoftheirMaster,thepropos’dObjectionwouldnotsocalmlytriumph,asforwantofExperimentstheyarefaintosufferit todo.ForifweassignetotheCorpuscles,whereofeachElementconsists, a peculiar size and shape, it may easily enough bemanifested, That such differingly figur’dCorpusclesmaybemingledinsuchvariousProportions,andmaybeconnectedsomanyseveralwayes,thatanalmostincrediblenumberofvariouslyqualifiedConcretesmaybecompos’dofthem.Especiallysince theCorpusclesofoneElementmaybarely,bybeingassociatedamongthemselves,makeup littleMassesofdifferingsizeandfigurefromtheirconstituentparts:andsincealsotothestrictunionofsuchminuteBodiesthereseemsoftentimesnothingrequisite,besidesthebareContactofagreatpartoftheir

Surfaces.AndhowgreatavarietyofPhænomenathesamematter,withouttheadditionofanyother,andonlyseveralwaysdispos’dorcontexed,isabletoexhibit,maypartlyappearbythemultitudeofdifferingEnginswhichbythecontrivancesofskilfulMechanitians,andthedexterityofexpertWorkmen,maybemadeof Ironalone.But inourpresentcasebeingallow’d todeducecompoundBodies fromfourverydifferentlyqualifiedsortsofmatter,hewhoshallbutconsiderwhatyoufreshlytooknoticeofconcerningthenewConcretesresultingfromthemixtureofincorporatedMinerals,willscarcedoubtbutthatthefourElementsmannag’dbyNaturesSkillmayaffordamultitudeofdifferingCompounds.

I am thus far of yourminde (sayesCarneades) that theAristoteliansmightwith probability deduce amuchgreaternumberofcompoundBodiesfromthemixtureoftheirfourElements,thanaccordingtotheirpresentHypothesis theycan, if insteadofvainlyattempting todeduce thevarietyandpropertiesof allmixtBodies from theCombinations andTemperamentsof the fourElements, as theyare (among them)endowdwiththefourfirstQualities,theyhadendeavouredtodoitbytheBulkandFigureofthesmallestparts of those supposed Elements. For from these more Catholick and Fruitfull Accidents of theElementarymattermayspringagreatvarietyofTextures,uponwhoseAccountamultitudeofcompoundBodiesmayverymuchdiffer fromoneanother.AndwhatInowobserve touching thefourPeripatetickElements,maybealsoapplyed,mutatismutandis,(astheyspeak)totheChymicalPrinciples.But(totakenoticeofthatbytheby)boththeoneandtheother,must,Ifear,callintotheirassistancesomethingthatisnot Elementary, to excite or regulate themotion of the parts of thematter, and dispose them after themannerrequisitetotheConstitutionofparticularConcretes.ForthatotherwisetheyareliketogiveusbutaveryimperfectaccountoftheOrigineofverymanymixtBodies,Itwould,Ithink,benohardmattertoperswadeyou, if itwouldnot spend time, andwerenoDigression, to examine,what theyarewont toalledge of theOrigine of the Textures andQualities ofmixt Bodies, from a certain substantial Form,whoseOriginationtheyleavemoreobscurethanwhatitisassum’dtoexplicate.

ButtoproceedtoanewProposition.

I shall not peremptorily deny, that frommost of suchmixtBodies as partake either ofAnimal orVegetableNature,theremaybytheHelpoftheFire,beactuallyobtain’dadeterminatenumber(whether Three, Four or Five, or fewer or more) of Substances, worthy of differingDenominations.

OftheExperimentsthatinducemetomakethisConcession,IamliketohaveoccasionenoughtomentionseveralintheprosecutionofmyDiscourse.Andtherefore,thatImaynothereafterbeoblig’dtotroubleYou and my self with needless Repetitions, I shall now only desire you to take notice of suchExperiments,whentheyshallbemention’d,andinyourthoughtsreferrethemhither.

TothesethreeConcessionsIhavebutthisFourthtoadd,That

Itmaylikewisebegranted,thatthosedistinctSubstances,whichConcretesgenerallyeitheraffordoraremadeupof,maywithoutverymuchInconveniencebecall’dtheElementsorPrinciplesofthem.

WhenIsaid,withoutverymuchInconvenience, IhadinmyThoughts thatsoberAdmonitionofGalen,Cumdereconstat,deverbisnonestLitigandum.AndthereforealsoIscruplenot tosayElementsorPrinciples,partlybecausetheChymistsarewonttocalltheIngredientsofmixtBodies,Principles,astheAristoteliansnamethemElements;Iwouldhereexcludeneither.And,partly,becauseitseemsdoubtfullwhether the same Ingredients may not be call’d Principles? as not being compounded of any moreprimaryBodies:andElements,inregardthatallmix’dBodiesarecompoundedofthem.ButIthoughtit

requisitetolimitmyConcessionbypremisingthewords,verymuch,tothewordInconvenience,becausethatthoughtheInconvenienceofcallingthedistinctSubstances,mention’dinthePropositionElementsorPrinciples,benotverygreat,yetthatitisanImproprietyofSpeech,andconsequentlyinamatterofthismomentnottobealtogetheroverlook’d,Youwillperhapsthink,aswellasI,bythattimeyoushallhaveheardthefollowingpartofmyDiscourse,bywhichyouwillbestdiscernwhatConstructiontoputupontheformerPropositions,andhowfartheymaybelook’dupon,asthingsthatIconcedeastrue,andhowfarasthingsIonlyrepresentasspeciousenoughtobefittobeconsider’d.

And now Eleutherius (continues Carneades) I must resume the person of a Sceptick, and as such,proposesomepartofwhatmaybeeitherdislik’t,oratleastdoubtedofinthecommonHypothesisoftheChymists:which if Iexaminewitha little themorefreedom,IhopeIneednotdesireyou(aPerson towhomIhavetheHappinesseofbeingsowellknown)tolookuponitassomethingmoresuitabletotheEmploymentwhereto theCompanyhas, for thisMeeting, doom’dme; then either tomyHumourormyCustom.

NowthoughImightpresentyoumanythingsagainsttheVulgarChymicalOpinionofthethreePrinciples,andtheExperimentswonttobealledg’dasDemonstrationsofit,yetthoseIshallatpresentofferyoumaybe conveniently enough comprehended in four Capital Considerations; touching all which I shall onlypremisethisingeneral,ThatsinceitisnotmypresentTasksomuchtoassertanHypothesisofmyown,astogiveanAccountwhereforeIsuspecttheTruthofthatoftheChymists,itoughtnottobeexpectedthatallmyObjections shouldbeof themost cogent sort, since it is reasonenough toDoubtof apropos’dOpinion,thatthereappearsnocogentReasonforit.

To come then to the Objections themselves; I consider in the first place, That notwithstanding whatcommonChymists have prov’d or taught, itmay reasonably enough beDoubted, how far, and inwhatsence,Fireoughttobeesteem’dthegenuineanduniversalInstrumentofanalyzingmixtBodies.

ThisDoubt,youmayremember,wasformerlymention’d,butsotransientlydiscours’dof,thatitwillnowbefittoinsistuponit;Andmanifestthatitwasnotsoinconsideratelypropos’dasourAdversariesthenimagin’d.

But, before I enter any farther into this Disquisition, I cannot but here take notice, that it were to bewish’d,ourChymistshadclearlyinform’duswhatkindeofDivisionofBodiesbyFiremustdeterminethenumberoftheElements:Foritisnothingnearsoeasyasmanyseemtothink,todeterminedistinctlytheEffectsofHeat,asIcouldeasilymanifest,ifIhadleasuretoshewyouhowmuchtheOperationsofFiremaybediversify’dbyCircumstances.ButnotwhollytopassbyamatterofthisImportance,Iwillfirsttakenoticetoyou,thatGuajacum(forInstance)burntwithanopenFireinaChimney,issequestredintoAshesandSoot,whereasthesameWooddistill’dinaRetortdoesyieldfarotherHeterogeneities,(tousetheHelmontianexpression)andisresolv’dintoOyl,Spirit,Vinager,WaterandCharcoal;thelastofwhich to be reduc’d into Ashes, requires the being farther calcin’d then it can be in a close Vessel:BesideshavingkindledAmber,andheldacleanSilverSpoon,orsomeotherConcaveandsmoothVesselover theSmoakof itsFlame, Iobserv’d theSoot intowhich thatFumecondens’d, tobeverydifferingfromanythingthatIhadobserv’dtoproceedfromthesteamofAmberpurposely(forthatisnotusual)distilledperse incloseVessels.Thushaving,forTryalssake,kindledCamphire,andcatchttheSmoakthatcopiouslyascendedoutoftheFlame,itcondens’dintoaBlackandunctuousSoot,whichwouldnothavebeenguess’dbytheSmellorotherProperties tohaveproceededfromCamphire:whereashaving(asIshallotherwheremorefullydeclare)expos’daquantityofthatFugitiveConcretetoagentleheatinacloseGlass-Vessel,itsublim’dupwithoutseemingtohavelostanythingofitswhiteness,oritsNature,bothwhich it retain’d, thoughafterwardsIsoencreased theFireas tobring it toFusion.And,besides

Camphire,therearediversotherBodies(thatIelsewherename)inwhichtheheatincloseVesselsisnotwont tomake any separation ofHeterogeneities, but only a comminution of Parts, those that rise firstbeingHomogenealwiththeothers,thoughsubdividedintosmallerParticles:whenceSublimationshavebeen stiled, The Pestles of the Chymists. But not here to mention what I elsewhere take notice of,concerning commonBrimstone once or twice sublim’d, that expos’d to amoderateFire in Subliming-Pots,itrisesallintodry,andalmosttastless,Flowers;Whereasbeingexpos’dtoanakedFireitaffordsstoreofaSalineandFrettingLiquor:Nottomentionthis,Isay,Iwillfurtherobservetoyou,thatasitisconsiderableintheAnalysisofmixtBodies,whethertheFireactonthemwhentheyareexpos’dtotheopenAir,orshutupincloseVessels,soisthedegreeofFirebywhichtheAnalysis isattemptedofnosmallmoment.ForamildeBalneumwillseverunfermentedBlood(forInstance)but intoPhlegmeandCaputmortuum, the laterwhereof (which I have sometimes had) hard, brittle, and of diversColours,(transparentalmostlikeTortoise-shell)press’dbyagoodFireinaRetortyieldsaSpirit,anOylortwo,andavolatileSalt,besidesaCaputmortuum. Itmaybealsopertinent toourpresentDesigne, to takenoticeofwhathappensinthemakinganddistillingofSope;forbyonedegreeofFiretheSalt,theWaterandtheOylorGrease,whereofthatfactitiousConcreteismadeup,beingboyl’duptogetherareeasilybroughttomingleandincorporateintooneMass;butbyanotherandfurtherdegreeofHeatthesameMassmay be again divided into an oleagenous, an aqueous, a Saline, and an Earthy part. And so wemayobserve that impure Silver and Lead being expos’d together to a moderate Fire, will thereby becolliquatedintooneMass,andmingleperminima,astheyspeak,whereasamuchvehementerFirewilldriveor carryoff thebaserMetals (Imean theLead, and theCopperorotherAlloy) from theSilver,thoughnot,foroughtappears,separatethemfromoneanother.Besides,whenaVegetableaboundinginfixtSalt isanalyz’dbyanakedFire,asonedegreeofHeatwillreduceit intoAshes,(as theChymiststhemselves teachus) so,byonlya furtherdegreeofFire, thoseAshesmaybevitrifiedand turn’d intoGlass.IwillnotstaytoexaminehowfarameereChymistmightonthisoccasiondemand,IfitbelawfulforanAristoteliantomakeAshes,(whichhemistakesformeereEarth)passforanElement,becausebyonedegreeofFireitmaybeproduc’d,whyaChymistmaynotuponthelikePrincipleargue,thatGlassisoneoftheElementsofmanyBodies,becausethatalsomaybeobtain’dfromthem,barelybytheFire?Iwillnot,Isay,losetimetoexaminethis,butobserve,thatbyaMethodofapplyingtheFire,suchsimilarBodiesmaybeobtain’d fromaConcrete,asChymistshavenotbeenable toseparate;eitherbybarelyburningitinanopenFire,orbybarelydistillingitincloseVessels.Fortomeitseemsveryconsiderable,and Iwonder thatmenhave takenso littlenoticeof it, that Ihavenotbyanyof thecommonwayesofDistillationincloseVessels,seenanyseparationmadeofsuchavolatileSaltasisaffordedusbyWood,whenthat is firstbyanopenFiredividedintoAshesandSoot,andthatSoot isafterwardsplac’d inastrongRetort,andcompell’dbyanurgentFiretopartwithitsSpirit,OylandSalt;forthoughIdarenotperemptorilydeny,thatintheLiquorsofGuajacumandotherWoodsdistill’dinRetortsafterthecommonmanner,theremaybeSalineparts,whichbyreasonoftheAnalogymaypretendtothenameofsomekindeofvolatileSalts; yet questionless there is agreat disparitybetwixt suchSalts and thatwhichwehavesometimesobtain’duponthefirstDistillationofSoot(thoughforthemostpartithasnotbeenseparatedfrom the first or second Rectification, and sometimes not till the third) For we could never yet seeseparatedfromWoodsanalyz’donlythevulgarwayinclosevesselsanyvolatileSaltinadryandSalineform, as that of Soot,whichwe have often had veryCrystalline andGeometrically figur’d.And then,whereas theSalinepartsof theSpiritsofGuajacum,&c. appearupondistillation sluggishenough, theSaltofSootseemstobeoneofthemostvolatileBodiesinallNature;andifitbewellmadewillreadilyascendwiththemildeheatofaFurnace,warm’donlybythesingleWieckofaLamp,to thetopof thehighestGlassVesselsthatarecommonlymadeuseofforDistillation:andbesidesallthis,thetasteandsmell of the Salt of Soot are exceeding differing from those of the Spirits ofGuajacum, &c. and theformernotonlysmellsandtastesmuchlesslikeavegetableSalt,thanlikethatofHarts-horn,andother

AnimalConcretes;butindiversotherPropertiesseemsmoreofKinnetotheFamilyofAnimals,thantothat of vegetable Salts, as I may elsewhere (God permitting) have an occasion more particularly todeclare.ImightlikewisebysomeotherExamplesmanifest,ThattheChymists,tohavedealtclearly,oughtto have more explicitly and particularly declar’d by what Degree of Fire, and in what manner ofApplicationofit,theywouldhaveusJudgeaDivisionmadebytheFiretobeatrueAnalysisintotheirPrinciples, and the Productions of it to deserve the name of Elementary Bodies. But it is time that Iproceed tomention the particular Reasons that inclineme toDoubt, whether the Fire be the true anduniversalAnalyzerofmixtBodies;ofwhichReasonswhathasbeenalreadyobjectedmaypassforone.

InthenextplaceIobserve,ThattherearesomemixtBodiesfromwhichithasnotbeenyetmadeappear,thatanydegreeofFirecanseparateeitherSaltorSulphurorMercury,muchlessalltheThree.ThemostobviousInstanceofthisTruthisGold,whichisaBodysofix’d,andwhereintheElementaryIngredients(if it haveany)are so firmlyunited toeachother, thatwe findenot in theoperationswhereinGold isexpos’d to the Fire, howviolent soever, that it does discernably somuch as lose of its fixednesse orweight,sofarisitfrombeingdissipatedintothosePrinciples,whereofoneatleastisacknowledgedtobeFugitiveenough;andsojustlydidtheSpagyricallPoetsomewhereexclaim,

Cunctaadeomirisilliccompagibusharent.

And Imustnotomiton thisoccasion tomention toyou,Eleutherius, thememorableExperiment that IrememberImetwithinGastoClaveus,who,thoughaLawyerbyProfession,seemstohavehadnosmallCuriosity and Experience in Chymical affairs: He relates then, that having put into one small EarthenVesselanOunceof themostpureGold,andintoanotherthelikeweightofpureSilver,heplac’dthemboth in that part of a Glass-house Furnace wherein the Workmen keep their Metal, (as our EnglishArtificerscall theirLiquidGlass)continuallymelted,and thathaving therekeptboth theGoldand theSilver inconstantFusionfor twoMoneths together,heafterwards tookthemoutof theFurnaceandtheVessels, andweighing both of them again, found that the Silver had not lost above a 12th part of itsweight,buttheGoldhadnotofhislostanythingatall.AndthoughourAuthorendeavourstogiveusofthisaScholastickReason,whichIsupposeyouwouldbeaslittlesatisfiedwith,asIwaswhenIreadit;yetforthematterofFact,whichwillserveourpresentturne,heassuresus,thatthoughitbestrange,yetExperienceitselftaughtithimtobemosttrue.

And though there be not perhaps any otherBody to be found so perfectly fix’d asGold, yet there arediversotherssofix’dorcompos’d,atleastofsostrictlyunitedparts,thatIhavenotyetobserv’dtheFiretoseparatefromthemanyoneoftheChymistsPrinciples.IneednottellyouwhatComplaintsthemoreCandid and Judicious of theChymists themselves arewont tomake of thoseBoasters that confidentlypretend, that they have extracted the Salt or Sulphur of Quicksilver, when they have disguis’d it byAdditaments,wherewithitresemblestheConcreteswhoseNamesaregivenit;whereasbyaskilfulandrigidExamen, itmaybeeasilyenoughstriptof itsDisguises,andmade toappearagain in thepristineform of runningMercury. The pretended Salts and Sulphurs being so far from being Elementary partsextracted out of the Bodie ofMercurie, that they are rather (to borrow a terme of the Grammarians)DecompoundBodies,madeupofthewholeMetalandtheMenstruumorotherAdditamentsimploy’dtodisguise it.And as for Silver, I never could see any degree of Firemake it partwith any of its threePrinciples.AndthoughtheExperimentlatelymentionedfromClaveusmaybegetaSuspitionthatSilvermaybedissipatedbyFire,provideditbeextreamlyviolentandverylasting:yetitwillnotnecessarilyfollow, that because the Firewas able at length tomake the Silver lose a little of its weight, it wasthereforeabletodissipateitintoitsPrinciples.ForfirstImightalledgethatIhaveobserv’dlittleGrainsofSilvertoliehidinthesmallCavities(perhapsglas’doverbyavitrifyingheat)inCrucibles,wherein

Silver has been longkept inFusion,whence someGoldsmiths ofmyAcquaintancemake aBenefit bygrindingsuchCruciblestopowder,torecoveroutofthemthelatentparticlesofSilver.AndhenceImightargue,thatperhapsClaveuswasmistaken,andimagin’dthatSilvertohavebeendrivenawaybytheFire,that indeedlayinminutepartshid inhisCrucible, inwhoseporessosmallaquantityashemistofsoponderousaBodiemightverywelllieconceal’d.

ButSecondly,admittingthatsomepartsoftheSilverweredrivenawaybytheviolenceoftheFire,whatproofistherethatitwaseithertheSalt,theSulphur,ortheMercuryoftheMetal,andnotratherapartofithomogeneous towhat remain’d?For besides, that theSilver thatwas left seem’dnot sensibly alter’d,whichprobablywouldhaveappear’d,hadsomuchofanyoneofitsPrinciplesbeenseparatedfromit:WefindeinotherMineralBodiesofa lesspermanentnature thanSilver, that theFiremaydividetheminto suchminute parts, as to be able to carry them awaywith its self, without at all destroying theirNature.ThusweseethatintherefiningofSilver,theLeadthatismix’dwithit(tocarryawaytheCopperorotherignobleMineralthatembasestheSilver)will,ifitbeletalone,intimeevaporateawayupontheTest;but if (as ismostusual amongst those that refinegreatquantitiesofMetals together) theLeadbeblownofffromtheSilverbyBellowes,thatwhichwouldelsehavegoneawayintheFormofunheededsteams,willingreatpartbecollectednotfarfromtheSilver,intheFormofadarkishPowderorCalx,which, because it is blown off from Silver, they call Litharge of Silver. And thusAgricola in diversplacesinformsus,whenCopper,ortheOareofitiscolliquatedbytheviolenceoftheFirewithCadmia,theSparks that in greatmultitudes do fly upwards do, someof them, stick to the vaultedRoofs of theFurnaces,intheformoflittleand(forthemostpart)WhiteBubbles,whichthereforetheGreeks,and,inImitationofthem,ourDrugsterscallPompholix:andothersmoreheavypartlyadheretothesidesoftheFurnace,andpartly(especiallyiftheCoversbenotkeptuponthePots)falltotheGround,andbyreasonoftheirAshyColouraswellasWeightwerecalledbythesameGreeksσποδος,which,Ineednot tellyou,intheirLanguagesignifiesAshes.Imightadd,thatIhavenotfoundthatfromVenetianTalck(IsayVenetian,becauseIhavefoundotherkindsofthatMineralmoreopen)fromtheLapisOssifragus,(whichtheShopscallOstiocolla)fromMuscoviaGlass,frompureandFusibleSand,tomentionnownootherConcretes;thoseofmyAcquaintancethathavetry’dhavebeenablebytheFiretoseparateanyoneoftheHypostaticalPrinciples,whichyouwill the less scruple tobelieve, if youconsider thatGlassmaybemadebythebareColliquationoftheSaltandEarthremainingintheAshesofaburntPlant,andthatyetcommonGlass,oncemade,doessofarresisttheviolenceoftheFire,thatmostChymiststhinkitaBodymore undestroyable thenGold it self. For if the Artificer can so firmly unite such comparative grossParticlesasthoseofEarthandSaltthatmakeupcommonAshes,intoaBodyindissolublebyFire;whymaynotNatureassociate indiversBodies themoreminuteElementaryCorpusclesshehasathand toofirmlytoletthembeseparablebytheFire?AndonthisOccasion,Eleutherius,givemeleavetomentionto you two or three sleight Experiments, which will, I hope, be found more pertinent to our presentDiscourse,thanatfirstperhapstheywillappear.Thefirstis,that,having(forTryalssake)putaquantityof thatFugitiveConcrete,Camphire, intoaGlassVessel,andplac’d it inagentleHeat, I found it (notleavingbehinde,accordingtomyEstimate,notsomuchasoneGrain)tosublimetotheTopoftheVesselintoFlowers:which inWhiteness,Smell,&c. seem’dnot to differ from theCamphire it self.AnotherExperimentisthatofHelmont,whoinseveralplacesaffirms,ThataCoalkeptinaGlassexactlyclos’dwillneverbecalcin’dtoAshes,thoughkeptneversolonginastrongFire.TocountenancewhichIshalltellyouthisTryalofmyown,ThathavingsometimesdistilledsomeWoods,asparticularlyBox,whilstourCaputmortuum remain’d in the Retort, it continued black like Charcoal, though the Retort wereEarthen,andkeptred-hotinavehementFire;butassoonaseveritwasbroughtoutofthecandentVesselintotheopenAir,theburningCoalsdidhastilydegenerateorfallasunder,withouttheAssistanceofanynew Calcination, into pure white Ashes. And to these two I shall add but this obvious and known

Observation,thatcommonSulphur(ifitbepureandfreedfromitsVinager)beingleasurelysublim’dincloseVessels, rises intodryFlowers,whichmaybepresentlymelted intoaBodieof thesameNaturewith that which afforded them. Though if Brimstone be burnt in the open Air it gives, you know, apenetrating Fume, which being caught in a Glass-Bell condenses into that acid Liquor called Oyl ofSulphurperCampanam.TheuseIwouldmakeoftheseExperimentscollatedwithwhatIlatelytoldyououtofAgricolaisthis,ThatevenamongtheBodiesthatarenotfixt,therearediversofsuchaTexture,thatitwillbehardtomakeitappear,howtheFire,asChymistsarewonttoimployit,canresolvethemintoElementarySubstances.ForsomeBodiesbeingofsuchaTexturethattheFirecandrivethemintothecoolerandlesshotpartoftheVesselswhereintheyareincluded,andifneedbe,removethemfromplacetoplace to fly thegreatestheat,moreeasily than it candivorce theirElements (especiallywithout theAssistance of the Air) we see that our Chymists cannot Analyze them in close Vessels, and of othercompoundBodies the open Fire can as little separate the Elements. Forwhat can a naked Fire do toAnalyzeamixtBodie,ifitscomponentPrinciplesbesominute,andsostrictlyunited,thattheCorpusclesofitneedlessheattocarrythemup,thanisrequisitetodividethemintotheirPrinciples.SothatofsomeBodiestheFirecannotincloseVesselsmakeanyAnalysisatall,andotherswillintheopenAirflyawayintheFormsofFlowersorLiquors,beforetheHeatcanproveabletodividethemintotheirPrinciples.Andthismayhold,whetherthevarioussimilarpartsofaConcretebecombin’dbyNatureorbyArt;ForinfactitiousSalArmoniackwefindethecommonandtheUrinousSaltssowellmingled,thatbothintheopen Fire, and in subliming Vessels they rise together as one Salt, which seems in such VesselsirresolublebyFirealone.ForIcanshewyouSalArmoniackwhichaftertheninthSublimationdoesstillretain its compoundedNature.And indeed I scarce know any oneMineral, fromwhich by Fire aloneChymistsarewonttoseveranySubstancesimpleenoughtodeservethenameofanElementorPrinciple.ForthoughoutofnativeCinnabertheydistillQuicksilver,andthoughfrommanyofthoseStonesthattheAncients calledPyrites they sublimeBrimstone, yet both thatQuicksilver and this Sulphur being veryoftenthesamewiththecommonMineralsthataresoldintheShopsunderthosenames,arethemselvestoomuchcompoundedBodiestopassfortheElementsofsuch.Andthusmuch,Eleutherius,fortheSecondArgument that belongs tomyFirstConsideration; the others I shall the lesse insist on, because I havedweltsolonguponthis.

Proceedwe then in the next place to consider,That there are divers Separations to bemade by othermeans,which either cannot at all, or else cannot sowell bemade by the Fire alone.WhenGold andSilveraremeltedintooneMass,itwouldlayagreatObligationuponRefinersandGoldsmithstoteachthemtheArtofseparatingthembytheFire,withoutthetroubleandchargetheyarefaintobeattoseverthem.WhereastheymaybeveryeasilypartedbytheAffusionofSpiritofNitreorAquafortis(whichtheFrenchthereforecallEaudeDepart:)solikewisetheMetallinepartofVitriolwillnotbesoeasilyandconveniently separated from the Saline part even by a violent Fire, as by the Affusion of certainAlkalizateSaltsinaliquidFormupontheSolutionofVitriolmadeincommonwater.FortherebytheacidSaltoftheVitriol,leavingtheCopperithadcorrodedtojoynwiththeaddedSalts,theMetallinepartwillbeprecipitated to thebottomalmost likeMud.And that Imaynotgive Instancesonly inDecompoundBodies,Iwilladdanotuselessoneofanotherkinde.NotonlyChymistshavenotbeenable(foroughtisvulgarlyknown)byFirealonetoseparatetrueSulphurfromAntimony;butthoughyoumayfindeintheirBooksmanyplausibleProcessesofExtractingit,yethethatshallmakeasmanyfruitlesseTryalsasIhavedone to obtain it by,most of themwill, I suppose, be easily perswaded, that the Productions of suchProcessesareAntimonialSulphursratherinNamethanNature.ButthoughAntimonysublim’dbyitsselfisreduc’dbuttoavolatilePowder,orAntimonialFlowers,ofacompoundedNatureliketheMineralthataffordsthem:yetIrememberthatsomeyearsagoIsublim’doutofAntimonyaSulphur,andthatingreaterplentytheneverIsawobtain’dfromthatMineral,byaMethodwhichIshallthereforeacquaintyouwith,

because Chymists seem not to have taken notice of what Importance such Experimentsmay be in theIndagationoftheNature,andespeciallyoftheNumberoftheElements.HavingthenpurposelyforTryalssakedigestedeightOuncesofgoodandwellpowder’dAntimonywithtwelveOuncesofOylofVitriolinawell stoptGlas-Vessel for about six or sevenWeeks; and having caus’d theMass (grown hard andbrittle) to be distill’d in aRetort plac’d inSand,with a strongFire;we found theAntimony to be soopened, or alter’d by theMenstruum wherewith it had been digested, That whereas crudeAntimony,forc’d up by the Fire, arises only in Flowers, our Antimony thus handled afforded us partly in theReceiver, andpartly in theNeck and at theTopof theRetort, about anOunceofSulphur, yellowandbrittle like common Brimstone, and of so Sulphureous a smell, that upon the unluting the Vessels itinfectedtheRoomwithascarcesupportablestink.AndthisSulphur,besidestheColourandSmell,hadtheperfectInflamabilityofcommonBrimstone,andwouldimmediatelykindle(attheFlameofaCandle)andburnblewlikeit.Andthoughitseem’dthatthelongdigestionwhereinourAntimonyandMenstruumweredetain’d,didconducetothebetterunlockingoftheMineral,yetifyouhavenottheleasuretomakesolongaDigestion,youmaybyincorporatingwithpowder’dAntimonyaconvenientQuantityofOylofVitriol,andcommittingthemimmediatelytoDistillation,obtainalittleSulphurlikeuntothecommonone,andmorecombustiblethanperhapsyouwillatfirsttakenoticeof.ForIhaveobserv’d,thatthough(afteritsbeingfirstkindled)theFlamewouldsometimesgoouttoosoonofitsself,ifthesameLumpofSulphurwereheldagaintotheFlameofaCandle,itwouldberekindledandburnaprettywhile,notonlyafterthesecond, but after the third or fourth accension.You, towhom I think I shewedmywayof discoveringsomethingofSulphureousinOylofVitriol,mayperchancesuspect,Eleutherius,eitherthatthisSubstancewas someVenereal Sulphur that lay hid in that Liquor, andwas by this operation only reduc’d into amanifestBody;orelsethatitwasacompoundoftheunctuouspartsoftheAntimony,andtheSalineonesoftheVitriol,inregardthat(asGuntherinformsus)diverslearnedmenwouldhaveSulphurtobenothingbutamixturemadeintheBowelsoftheEarthofVitriolateSpiritsandacertaincombustibleSubstance.ButtheQuantityofSulphurweobtain’dbyDigestionwasmuchtoogreattohavebeenlatentintheOylofVitriol.AndthatVitriolateSpiritsarenotnecessarytotheConstitutionofsuchaSulphurasours,Icouldeasilymanifest,ifIwouldacquaintyouwiththeseveralwayesbywhichIhaveobtain’d,thoughnotinsuchplenty,aSulphurofAntimony,colour’dandcombustiblelikecommonBrimstone.AndthoughIamnotnowmindedtodiscoverthem,yetIshall tellyou,thattosatisfiesomeIngeniousMen,thatdistill’dVitriolateSpiritsarenotnecessarytotheobtainingofsuchaSulphuraswehavebeenconsidering,IdidbythebaredistillationofonlySpiritofNitre,fromitsweightofcrudeAntimonyseparate,inashorttime,ayellowandveryinflamableSulphur,which,foroughtIknow,deservesasmuchthenameofanElement,asanythingthatChymistsarewonttoseparatefromanyMineralbytheFire.IcouldperhapstellyouofotherOperationsuponAntimony,wherebyThatmaybeextractedfromit,whichcannotbeforc’doutofitbytheFire;butIshallreservethemforafitterOpportunity,andonlyannexatpresentthissleight,butnotimpertinent Experiment. That whereas I lately observed to you, that the Urinous and common SaltswhereofSalArmoniackconsists,remain’dunsever’dbytheFireinmanysuccessiveSublimations,theymay be easily separated, and partly without any Fire at all, by pouring upon the Concrete finelypowder’d,aSolutionofSaltofTartar,oroftheSaltofWood-Ashes;foruponyourdiligentlymixingoftheseyouwill findeyourNose invadedwith avery strong smell ofUrine, andperhaps tooyourEyesforc’d to water by the same subtle and piercing Body that produces the stink; both these effectsproceeding fromhence, thatby theAlcalizateSalt, theSeaSalt thatenter’d thecompositionof theSalArmoniack ismortify’dandmademorefixt,and therebyadivorce ismadebetween itand thevolatileUrinousSalt,whichbeingatoncesetatliberty,andputintomotion,beginspresentlytoflyaway,andtooffendtheNostrilsandEyesitmeetswithbytheway.AndiftheoperationoftheseSaltsbeinconvenientGlassespromotedbywarmth,thoughbutbythatofaBath,theascendingSteamsmayeasilybecaughtandreduc’dintoapenetrantSpirit,aboundingwithaSalt,whichIhavesometimesfoundtobeseparableina

CrystallineForm.ImightaddtotheseInstances,thatwhereasSublimate,consisting,asyouknow,ofSalts&Quicksilvercombin’dandcarrieduptogetherbyHeat,maybeSublim’d,Iknownothowoften,byalikedegreeofFire,withoutsufferinganydivorceof thecomponentBodies, theMercurymaybeeasilysever’d from the adheringSalts, if theSublimatebedistill’d fromSalt ofTartar,QuickLime,or suchAlcalizateBodies.ButIwillratherobservetoyou,Eleutherius,whatdiversingeniousmenhavethoughtsomewhatstrange;thatbysuchanAdditamentthatseemsbutonlytopromotetheSeparation,theremaybeeasily obtain’d from a Concrete that by the Fire alone is easily divisible into all the Elements thatVegetablesaresuppos’dtoconsistof,suchasimilarSubstanceasdiffersinmanyrespectsfromthemall,andconsequentlyhasbymanyof themost IntelligentChymistsbeendenied tobecontain’d in themixtBody.ForIknowaway,andhavepractis’dit,wherebycommonTartar,withouttheadditionofanythingthatisnotperfectlyaMineralexceptSalt-petre,maybyoneDistillationinanEarthenRetortbemadetoaffordgoodstoreof realSalt, readilydissoluble inwater,which I found tobeneitheracid,norof thesmellofTartar,andtobealmostasvolatileasSpiritofWineitself,andtobeindeedofsodifferingaNaturefromallthatiswonttobeseparatedbyFirefromTartar,thatdiversLearnedMen,withwhomIdiscours’dofit,couldhardlybebroughttobeleeve,thatsofugitiveaSaltcouldbeaffordedbyTartar,tillIassur’ditthemuponmyownKnowledge.AndifIdidnotthinkyouapttosuspectmetoberathertoobackward than tooforward tocreditoraffirmunlikely things, Icouldconvinceyoubywhat IhaveyetlyingbymeofthatanomalousSalt.

TheFourththingthatIshallalledgetocountenancemyfirstConsiderationis,ThattheFireevenwhenitdivides a Body into Substances of divers Consistences, does not most commonly analyze it intoHypostaticalPrinciples,butonlydisposesitspartsintonewTextures,andtherebyproducesConcretesofanewindeed,butyetofacompoundNature.ThisArgumentitwillberequisiteformetoprosecutesofullyhereafter,thatIhopeyouwillthenconfessthat’tisnotforwantofgoodProofsthatIdesireleavetosuspendmyProofstilltheSeriesofmyDiscourseshallmakeitmoreproperandseasonabletoproposethem.

Itmaybefurtheralledg’donthebehalfofmyFirstConsideration,ThatsomesuchdistinctSubstancesmaybeobtain’dfromsomeConcreteswithoutFire,asdeservenolessthenameofElementary,thanmanythatChymistsextortbytheViolenceoftheFire.

We see that the Inflamable Spirit, or as theChymists esteem it, the Sulphur ofWine,may not only beseparatedfromitbythegentleheatofaBath,butmaybedistill’deitherbythehelpoftheSun-Beams,orevenofaDunghill,beingindeedofsoFugitiveaNature,thatitisnoteasytokeepitfromflyingaway,evenwithouttheApplicationofexternalheat.Ihavelikewiseobserv’dthataVesselfullofUrinebeingplac’d in a Dunghill, the Putrefaction is wont after some weeks so to open the Body, that the partsdisbandingtheSalineSpirit,willwithinnoverylongtime,iftheVesselbenotstopt,flyawayofitself;InsomuchthatfromsuchUrineIhavebeenabletodistilllittleornothingelsethananauseousPhlegme,insteadof theactiveandpiercingSaltandSpirit that itwouldhaveafforded,whenfirstexpos’dto theFire,iftheVesselhadbeencarefullystopt.

AndthisleadsmetoconsiderintheFifthplace,Thatitwillbeveryhardtoprove,thattherecannootherBody or way be given which will as well as the Fire divide Concretes into several homogeneousSubstances,whichmayconsequentlybecall’dtheirElementsorPrinciples,aswellasthoseseparatedorproduc’d by the Fire. For since we have lately seen, that Nature can successefully employ otherInstrumentsthantheFiretoseparatedistinctSubstancesfrommixtBodies,howknowwe,butthatNaturehasmade,orArtmaymake,somesuchSubstanceasmaybeafitInstrumenttoAnalyzemixtBodies,orthat somesuchMethodmaybe foundbyHumane IndustryorLuck,bywhosemeanscompoundBodies

mayberesolv’dintootherSubstances,thansuchastheyarewonttobedividedintobytheFire.AndwhytheProductsofsuchanAnalysismaynotasjustlybecall’dthecomponentPrinciplesoftheBodiesthatafford them, it will not be easy to shew, especially since I shall hereafter make it evident, that theSubstanceswhichChymistsarewonttocalltheSalts,andSulphurs,andMercuriesofBodies,arenotsopureandElementaryas theypresume,andas theirHypothesis requires.And thismay therefore be themorefreelypress’dupontheChymists,becauseneithertheParacelsians,northeHelmontianscanrejectit without apparent Injury to their respective Masters. ForHelmont do’s more than once Inform hisReaders,thatbothParacelsusandHimselfwerePossessorsofthefamousLiquor,Alkahest,whichforitsgreatpowerinresolvingBodiesirresolublebyVulgarFires,hesomewhereseemstocallIgnisGehennæ.To thisLiquorhe ascribes, (and that ingreat part uponhis ownExperience) suchwonders, that ifwesupposethemalltrue,IamsomuchthemoreaFriendtoKnowledgethantoWealth,thatIshouldthinktheAlkahest a nobler and more desireable Secret than the Philosophers Stone it self. Of this UniversalDissolventherelates,ThathavingdigestedwithitforacompetenttimeapieceofOakenCharcoal,itwastherebyreduc’dintoacoupleofnewanddistinctLiquors,discriminatedfromeachotherbytheirColourandSituation,andthatthewholebodyoftheCoalwasreduc’dintothoseLiquors,bothofthemseparablefromhis ImmortalMenstruum,which remain’das fit for suchOperations asbefore.AndhemoreovertellsusindiversplacesofhisWritings, thatbythispowerful,andunweariedAgent,hecoulddissolveMetals,Marchasites,Stones,VegetableandAnimalBodiesofwhatkindesoever,andevenGlassitself(firstreduc’dtopowder,)andinaword,allkindsofmixtBodiesintheWorldintotheirseveralsimilarSubstances,withoutanyResidenceorCaputmortuum.And lastly,wemaygather this further fromhisInformations,ThatthehomogeneousSubstancesobtainablefromcompoundBodiesbyhispiercingLiquor,wereoftentimesdifferent enoughboth as toNumber and as toNature, from those intowhich the sameBodiesarewonttobedividedbycommonFire.OfwhichIshallneedinthisplacetomentionnootherproof,thenthatwhereasweknowthatinourcommonAnalysisofamixtBody,thereremainsaterrestrialandveryfixtSubstance,oftentimesassociatedwithaSaltasfixt;OurAuthortellsus,thatbyhiswayhecouldDistilloverallConcreteswithoutanyCaputmortuum,andconsequentlycouldmakethosepartsoftheConcretevolatile,whichintheVulgarAnalysiswouldhavebeenfixt.SothatifourChymistswillnotreject thesolemnand repeatedTestimonyofaPerson,whocannotbutbeacknowledg’d foroneof thegreatestSpagyrists that theycanboastof, theymustnotdenythat thereis tobefoundinNatureanotherAgentable toAnalyzecompoundBodies lessviolently, andbothmoregenuinelyandmoreuniversallythantheFire.Andformyownpart,thoughIcannotbutsayonthisOccasionwhat(youknow)ourFriendMr.Boyleiswonttosay,whenheisaskthisOpinionofanystrangeExperiment;ThatHethathathseenithathmoreReasontobeleeveit,thanHethathathnot;yetIhavefoundHelmontsofaithfulaWriter,evenindiversofhisimprobableExperiments(IalwayesexceptthatExtravagantTreatiseDeMagneticaVulnerumCuratione,whichsomeofhisFriendsaffirmtohavebeenfirstpublish’dbyhisEnemies)thatIthinkitsomewhatharshtogivehimtheLye,especiallytowhathedeliversuponhisownproperTryal.And Ihaveheard fromverycredibleEye-witnesses some things,andseensomeothersmyself,whicharguesostrongly,thatacirculatedSalt,oraMenstruum(suchasitmaybe)maybybeingabstractedfromcompound Bodies, whether Mineral, Animal, or Vegetable, leave them more unlockt than a waryNaturalistwouldeasilybeleeve,thatIdarenotconfidentlymeasurethePowerofNatureandArtbythatof theMenstruums, andother Instruments thateminentChymists themselvesareasyetwont toEmpolyabout the Analyzing of Bodies; nor Deny that aMenstruum may at least from this or that particularConcreteobtainsomeapparentlysimilarSubstance,differingfromanyobtainablefromthesameBodybyanydegreeormannerofApplicationoftheFire.AndIamthemorebackwardtodenyperemptorily,thattheremaybesuchOpenersofcompoundBodies,becauseamongtheExperimentsthatmakemespeakthuswarily, there wanted not some in which it appear’d not, that one of the Substances not separable bycommonFiresandMenstruumscouldretainanythingoftheSaltbywhichtheseparationwasmade.

Andhere,Eleutherius,(sayesCarneades)IshouldconcludeasmuchofmyDiscourseasbelongstothefirstConsiderationIpropos’d,butthatIforesee,thatwhatIhavedeliveredwillappearliabletotwosuchspeciousObjections,thatIcannotsafelyproceedanyfurthertillIhaveexamin’dthem.

And first, one sort ofOpposerswill be forward to tellme,That theydonot pretendbyFire alone toseparateoutofallcompoundBodiestheirHypostaticalPrinciples;itbeingsufficientthattheFiredividesthemintosuch,thoughafterwardstheyemployotherBodiestocollectthesimilarpartsoftheCompound;as’tisknown,thatthoughtheymakeuseofwatertocollecttheSalinepartsofAshesfromtheTerrestrialwherewiththeyareblended,yetitistheFireonlythatIncineratesBodies,andreducesthefix’dpartofthemintotheSaltandEarth,whereofAshesaremadeup.ThisObjectionisnot,Iconfess,inconsiderable,andImightingreatpartallowofit,withoutgrantingittomakeagainstme,ifIwouldcontentmyselftoanswer, that it is not against those that make it that I have been disputing, but against those VulgarChymists, who themselves believe, and would fain make others do so, That the Fire is not only anuniversal,butanadæquateandsufficientInstrumenttoanalyzemixtBodieswith.ForastotheirPracticeofExtractingthefix’dSaltoutofAshesbytheAffusionofWater,’tisobvioustoalleadge,thattheWaterdoes only assemble together the Salt the Fire had before divided from theEarth: as a Sieve does notfurther break the Corn, but only bring together into two distinct heaps the Flour and the Bran,whoseCorpuscles before lay promiscuously blended together in the Meal. This I say I might alleadge, andtherebyexemptmyselffromtheneedof takinganyfarthernoticeof thepropos’dObjection.Butnot tolose the Rise it may afford me of Illustrating the matter under Consideration, I am content briefly toconsiderit,asfarforthasmypresentDisquisitionmaybeconcern’dinit.

Nottorepeatthenwhathasbeenalreadyanswer’d,Isayfarther,thatthoughIamsocivilanAdversary,that Iwillallow theChymists,after theFirehasdoneall itswork, theuseof fairWater tomake theirExtractionswith,insuchcaseswhereintheWaterdoesnotcooperatewiththeFiretomaketheAnalysis;yetsinceIGrantthisbutuponSuppositionthattheWaterdoesonlywashofftheSalineParticles,whichthe Fire Alone has Before Extricated in the Analyz’d Body, it will not be Reasonable, that thisConcessionshouldExtendtootherLiquorsthatmayAddtowhattheyDissolve,norsomuchastootherCasesthanthoseNewlyMentioned:WhichLimitationIDesireYouwouldbePleas’dtoBearinMindtillIshallAnonhaveOccasiontomakeUseofit.AndThisbeingthusPremis’d,IshallProceedtoObserve,

First,ThatManyoftheInstancesIPropos’dinthePrecedingDiscourseareSuch,thattheObjectionweareConsideringwill not at allReachThem. For Fire can nomorewith theAssistance ofWater thanwithoutitSeparateanyoftheThreePrinciples,eitherfromGold,Silver,Mercury,orsomeOthersoftheConcretesnamedAbove.

HenceWemayInferre,ThatFire isnotanUniversalAnalyzerofallMixtBodies,sinceofMetalsandMinerals,whereinChymistshavemostExercis’dThemselves, thereAppearscarceAnywhichtheyareabletoAnalyzebyFire,Nay,fromwhichtheycanUnquestionablySeparatesomuchasanyOneoftheirHypostaticalPrinciples;WhichmaywellAppearnosmallDisparagementaswelltotheirHypothesisastotheirPretensions.

ItwillalsoremainTrue,notwithstandingtheObjection,ThattheremaybeOtherWayesthanthewontedAnalysis by Fire, to Separate from a Compound Body Substances as Homogeneneous as those thatChymistsScruplenot toReckonamong theirTriaPrima (assomeof them, forBrevitySake,call theirThreePrinciples.)

AnditAppears,ThatbyConvenientAdditamentssuchSubstancesmaybeSeparatedbytheHelpoftheFire,ascouldnotbesobytheFirealone:WitnesstheSulphurofAntimony.

AndLastly,ImustRepresent,ThatsinceitappearstoothattheFireisbutOneoftheInstrumentsthatmustbe Employ’d in the Resolution of Bodies, We may Reasonably Challenge the Liberty of doing TwoThings.ForwheneveranyMenstruumorotherAdditamentisEmploy’d,togetherwiththeFiretoObtaina Sulphur or a Salt from a Body, We may well take the Freedom to Examine, whether or no ThatMenstruum do barelyHelp to Separate the PrincipleObtain’d by It, orwhether there Intervene not aCoalitionof thePartsof theBodyWroughtuponwithThoseof theMenstruum,whereby theProduc’dConcretemaybe Judg’d toResult from theUnionofBoth.And itwillbe fartherAllowable forUs toConsider,howfaranySubstance,SeparatedbytheHelpofsuchAdditaments,OughttopassforoneoftheTriaPrima; sincebyOneWayofHandling the sameMixtBody itmayaccording to theNatureof theAdditaments, and theMethod ofWorking upon it, bemade to Afford differing Substances from thoseObtainablefromitbyotherAdditaments,andanotherMethod,nayand(asmayappearbywhatIFormerlytoldYouaboutTartar)DifferingfromanyoftheSubstancesintowhichaConcreteisDivisiblebytheFirewithoutAdditaments,thoughperhapsthoseAdditamentsdonot,asIngredients,entertheCompositionofthe Obtained Body, but only Diversify the Operation of the Fire upon the Concrete; and though thatConcretebytheFirealonemaybeDividedintoaNumberofDifferingSubstances,asGreatasanyoftheChymists that I havemetwith teach us that of the Elements to be. And having said thusmuch (sayesCarneades)totheObjectionlikelytobePropos’dbysomeChymists,IamnowtoExaminethatwhichIForeseewillbeConfidentlypress’dbyDiversPeripateticks,who,toProveFiretobethetrueAnalyzerofBodies,willPlead,ThatitistheveryDefinitionofHeatgivenbyAristotle,andGenerallyReceived,CongregareHomogenea,&HeterogeneaSegregare,toAssembleThingsofaResembling,andDisjoynthoseofaDifferingNature.TothisIanswer,ThatthisEffectisfarfrombeingsoEssentialtoHeat,as’tisGenerallyImagin’d;foritratherSeems,thattheTrueandGenuinePropertyofHeatis,tosetaMoving,andtherebytoDissociatethepartsofBodies,andSubdividethemintoMinuteParticles,withoutregardtotheir beingHomogeneousorHeterogeneous, as is apparent in theBoylingofWater, theDistillationofQuicksilver,ortheExposingofBodiestotheactionoftheFire,whosePartseitherArenot(atleastinthatDegreeofHeatAppearnot)Dissimilar,whereall that theFirecando, is toDividetheBodyintoveryMinutePartswhichareofthesameNaturewithoneanother,andwiththeirTotum,astheirReductionbyCondensationEvinces.And evenwhen theFire seemsmost soCongregareHomogenea,&SegregareHeterogenea, it Produces that Effect but byAccident; For the Fire does but Dissolve the Cement, orrather Shatter the Frame, or [tructure that kept theHeterogeneous Parts of Bodies together, under oneCommon Form; upon which Dissolution the Component Particles of theMixt, being Freed and set atLiberty,doNaturally,andoftentimeswithoutanyOperationoftheFire,AssociatethemselveseachwithitsLike,orratherdotakethoseplaceswhichtheirSeveralDegreesofGravityandLevity,FixednessorVolatility (either Natural, or Adventitious from the Impression of the Fire) Assigne them. Thus in theDistillation(forInstance)ofMan’sBlood,theFiredo’sFirstbegintoDissolvetheNexusorCementoftheBody;andthentheWater,beingthemostVolatile,andEasytobeExtracted,iseitherbytheIgneousAtomes,ortheAgitationtheyareputintobytheFire,firstcarriedup,tillForsakenbywhatcarrieditup,itsWeightsinksitdownintotheReceiver:butallthiswhiletheotherPrinciplesoftheConcreteRemainUnsever’d,andRequireastrongerDegreeofHeattomakeaSeparationofitsmoreFixtElements;andthereforetheFiremustbeIncreas’dwhichCarriesovertheVolatileSaltandtheSpirit,theybeing,thoughBeleev’dtobeDifferingPrinciples,andthoughReallyofDifferentConsistency,yetofanalmostEqualVolatility.Afterthem,aslessFugitive,comesovertheOyl,andleavesbehindetheEarthandtheAlcali,whichbeingofanEqualFixednesse,theFireSeversthemnot,foralltheDefinitionoftheSchools.AndifintoaRed-hotEarthenorIronRetortyoucasttheMattertobeDistill’d,YoumayObserve,asIhaveoftendone, that thePredominantFirewillCarryupall theVolatileElementsConfusedlyinoneFume,whichwill afterwards take their Places in the Receiver, either according to the Degree of their Gravity, oraccordingtotheExigencyoftheirrespectiveTextures;theSaltAdhering,forthemostpart,totheSides

and Top, and the Phlegme Fastening it self there too in great Drops, the Oyle and Spirit placingthemselvesUnder,orAboveoneanother,accordingas theirPonderousnessmakes themSwimorSink.For ’tisObservable, that thoughOylorLiquidSulphurbeoneof theElementsSeparatedby thisFieryAnalysis, yet theHeatwhichAccidentallyUnites theParticles of theotherVolatilePrinciples, hasnotalwayesthesameOperationonthis,therebeingdiversBodieswhichYieldTwoOyls,whereoftheOnesinkstotheBottomofthatSpiritonwhichtheotherSwims;asIcanshewYouinsomeOylsofthesameDeersBlood,whichareyetbyMe:NayIcanshewyouTwoOylscarefullymadeofthesameParcelofHumaneBlood,whichnotonlyDifferextreamlyinColour,butSwimupononeanotherwithoutMixture,andifbyAgitationConfoundedwillofthemselvesDivorceagain.

AndthattheFiredothoftentimesdivideBodies,upontheaccountthatsomeoftheirPartsaremoreFixt,andsomemoreVolatile,howfarsoevereitherof theseTwomaybe fromapureElementaryNature isObviousenough,ifMenwouldbutheeditintheBurningofWood,whichtheFireDissipatesintoSmoakeandAshes:FornotonlythelatteroftheseisConfessedlymadeupoftwosuchDifferingBodiesasEarthandSalt;buttheFormerbeingcondens’dintothatSootwhichadherestoourChimneys,DiscoversitselftoContainbothSaltandOyl,andSpiritandEarth,(andsomePortionofPhlegmetoo)whichbeing,allalmost,EquallyVolatile to thatDegreeofFirewhichForces themup, (themoreVolatilePartsHelpingperhaps, aswell as theUrgency of the Fire, to carry up themore Fixt ones, as I have often Try’d inDulcify’dColcothar, Sublim’d by Sal Armoniack Blended with it) are carried Up together, but mayafterwardsbeSeparatedbyotherDegreesofFire,whoseorderlyGradationallowestheDisparityoftheirVolatileness toDiscover it self.Besides, ifDifferingBodiesUnited intooneMassbebothsufficientlyFixt,theFirefindingnoPartsVolatileenoughtobeExpell’dorcarriedup,makesnoSeparationatall;asmay appear by a Mixture of Colliquated Silver and Gold, whose Component Metals may be easilySever’dbyAquaFortis,orAquaRegis(accordingtothePredominancyoftheSilverortheGold)butinthe Fire alone, though vehement, the Metals remain unsever’d, the Fire only dividing the Body intosmallerParticles(whoseLittlenessemaybeargu’dfromtheirFluidity)inwhicheitherthelittlenimbleAtomsofFire,oritsbriskandnumberlessstrokesupontheVessels,hinderRestandContinuity,withoutanySequestrationofElementaryPrinciples.Moreover,theFiresometimesdoesnotSeparate,somuchasUnite,BodiesofadifferingNature;providedtheybeofanalmostresemblingFixedness,andhaveintheFigureoftheirPartsanAptnesstoCoalition,asweseeinthemakingofmanyPlaisters,Oyntments,&c.And insuchMetallineMixturesas thatmadebyMelting together twopartsofcleanBrasswithoneofpure Copper, of which some Ingenious Trades-men cast such curious Patterns (for Gold and SilverWorks)asIhavesometimestakengreatPleasuretoLookupon.SometimestheBodiesmingledbytheFireareDifferingenoughas toFixidityandVolatility,andyetaresocombin’dby thefirstOperationof theFire, that itselfdoesscarceafterwardsSeparate them,butonlyPulverize them;whereofanInstance isaffordedusbytheCommonPreparationofMercuriusDulcis,where theSalineParticlesof theVitriol,Sea Salt, and sometimes Nitre, Employ’d to make the Sublimate, do so unite themselves with theMercurial Particlesmade use of, first toMake Sublimate, and then toDulcifie it, that the Saline andMetallinePartsarise together inmanysuccessiveSublimations,as if theyallmadebutoneBody.AndsometimestootheFiredoesnotonlynotSevertheDifferingElementsofaBody,butCombinethemsofirmly,thatNatureherselfdoesveryseldom,ifever,makeUnionslessDissoluble.FortheFiremeetingwithsomeBodiesexceedinglyandalmostequallyFixt,insteadofmakingaSeparation,makesanUnionsostrict,thatitself,alone,isunabletoDissolveit;Aswesee,whenanAlcalizateSaltandtheTerrestrialResidueoftheAshesareIncorporatedwithpureSand,andbyVitrificationmadeonepermanentBody,(ImeanthecourseorgreenishsortofGlass)thatmocksthegreatestViolenceoftheFire,whichthoughabletoMarrytheIngredientsofit,yetisnotabletoDivorcethem.IcanshewyousomepiecesofGlasswhichIsawflowdownfromanEarthenCruciblepurposelyExpos’dforagoodwhile,withSilver init, toa

veryvehementFire.AndsomethatdealmuchintheFusionofMetalsInformeme,that themeltingofagreatpartofaCrucibleintoGlassisnogreatWonderintheirFurnaces.Iremember,IhaveObserv’dtoointheMeltingofgreatQuantitiesofIronoutoftheOar,bytheHelpofstoreofCharcoal(fortheyAffirmthatSea-CoalwillnotyieldaFlamestrongenough)thatbytheprodigiousVehemenceoftheFire,ExcitedbyvastBellows(madetoplaybygreatWheelsturn’daboutbyWater)partoftheMaterialsExpos’dtoitwas,insteadofbeingAnalyz’d,Colliquated,andturn’dintoaDark,SolidandveryPonderousGlass,andthatinsuchQuantity,thatinsomeplacesIhaveseentheveryHigh-wayes,neersuchIron-works,mendedwithHeapsofsuchLumpsofGlasse,insteadofStonesandGravel.AndIhavealsoObserv’d,thatsomekindofFire-stoneitSelf,havingbeenemploy’dinFurnaceswhereinitwasexpos’dtoverystrongandlastingFires,hashadallitsFixtPartssoWroughtonbytheFire,astobePerfectlyVitrifi’d,whichIhavetry’dbyForcingfromitPrettylargePiecesofPerfectandTransparentGlass.AndlestYoumightthink,Eleutherius,thattheQuestion’dDefinitionofHeatmaybeDemonstrated,bytheDefinitionwhichiswontto be given and Acquiesc’d in, of its contrary Quality, Cold, whose property is taught to be tamHomogenea, quam Heterogenea congregare; Give me leave to represent to You, that neither is thisDefinitionunquestionable;fornottoMentiontheExceptions,whichaLogician,assuch,mayTakeatit,IConsider that theUnion ofHeterogeneousBodieswhich is Suppos’d to be theGenuine Production ofCold,isnotPerform’dbyeveryDegreeofCold.ForweseeforInstancethatintheUrineofHealthyMen,whentheLiquorhasbeenSuffer’dawhiletostand,theColdmakesaSeparationoftheThinnerPartfromtheGrosser,whichSubsidestotheBottom,andGrowesOpacousthere;whereasiftheUrinalbeWarme,theseParts readilyMingle again, and thewholeLiquorbecomesTransparent asbefore.Andwhen,byGlaciation,Wood,Straw,Dust,Water,&c.areSuppos’dtobeUnitedintooneLumpofIce,theColddoesnotCause anyRealUnion orAdunation, (if Imay so Speak) of theseBodies, but onlyHardening theAqueousPartsoftheLiquorintoIce,theotherBodiesbeingAccidentallyPresentinthatLiquorarefrozenupinit,butnotReallyUnited.AndaccordinglyifweExposeaHeapofMonyConsistingofGold,SilverandCopperCoynes,oranyotherBodiesofDifferingNatures,whichareDestituteofAqueousMoisture,CapableofCongelation, tonever so intense aCold,we findnot that theseDifferingBodies are at allthereby so much as Compacted, much less United together; and even in Liquors Themselves we findPhænomena which Induce us to Question the Definition which we are examining. If Paracelsus hisAuthorityweretobelook’tuponasaSufficientProofinmattersofthisNature,ImighthereinsistonthatProcess of his, whereby he Teaches that the Essence ofWinemay be Sever’d from the Phlegme andIgnoblePartbytheAssistanceofCongelation:andbecausemuchWeighthasbeenlaiduponthisProcess,notonlybyParacelsians,butotherWriters,someofwhomseemnottohaveperus’ditthemselves,IshallgiveYou theentirePassage in theAuthorsownWords, as I lately found them in the sixthBookofhisArchidoxis, anExtractwhereof Ihaveyet aboutme; and it sounds thus.DeVino sciendumest, fæcemphlegmaque ejus esseMineram,&Vini substantiamesse corpus inquo conservaturEssentia, proutauriinaurolatetEssentia.JuxtaquodPracticamnobisadMemoriamponimus,utnonobliviscamur,adhuncmodum:RecipeVinumvetustissimum&optimumquodhaberepoteris, calore saporequeadplacitum,hocinvasvitreuminfundasuttertiamejuspartemimpleat,&sigilloHermetisocclusuminequinoventremensibusquatuor,&incontinuatocaloreteneaturquinondeficiat.Quoperacto,Hyemecum frigus&gelumaximesæviunt,hispermensemexponaturutcongeletur.Adhuncmodum frigusvinispiritumunacumejussubstantiaprotruditinvinicentrum,acseparataphlegmate:Congelatumabjice,quodverocongelatumnonest, idSpiritumcumsubstantiaesse judicato.Hunc inPelicanumpositum inarenædigestionenonadeocalidaperaliquod tempusmanere finito;PostmodumeximitoviniMagisterium,dequolocutisumus.

ButIdarenotEleu.laymuchWeightuponthisProcess,becauseIhavefoundthatifitwereTrue,itwouldbebutseldomPracticableinthisCountryuponthebestWine:forThoughthispresentWinterhathbeen

ExtraordinaryCold,yet inveryKeenFrostsaccompaniedwithlastingSnowes,IhavenotbeenableinanyMeasuretoFreezeathinVialfullofSack;andevenwithSnowandSaltIcouldFreezelittlemorethentheSurfaceofit;andIsupposeEleu.thattisnoteveryDegreeofColdthatisCapableofCongealingLiquors,whichisabletomakesuchanAnalysis(ifImaysocallit)ofthembySeparatingtheirAqueousandSpirituousParts;forIhavesometimes,thoughnotoften,frozenseverally,Red-wine,UrineandMilk,butcouldnotObservetheexpectedSeparation.AndtheDutch-Menthatwereforc’dtoWinterinthatIcieRegionneertheArtickCircle,call’dNovaZembla,althoughtheyrelate,asweshallseebelow,thattherewasaSeparationofPartsmadeintheirfrozenBeeraboutthemiddleofNovember,yetoftheFreezingoftheirBack inDecember following theygivebut thisAccount:YeaandourSack,which is sohot,wasFrozenveryhard,sothatwhenwewereeveryMantohavehispart,wewereforc’dtomeltit intheFire;whichweshar’deverysecondDay,abouthalfaPinteforaMan,wherewithwewereforc’dtosustainourselves.Inwhichwordstheyimplynot,thattheirBackwasdividedbytheFrostintodifferingSubstances,after suchmanneras theirBeerhadbeen.Allwhichnotwithstanding,Eleu. suppose that itmay be made to appear, that even Cold sometimes may Congregare Homogenea, & HeterogeneaSegregare: and toManifest this Imay tellyou, that Ididonce,purposelycause tobeDecocted in fairWateraPlantaboundingwithSulphureousandSpirituousParts,andhavingexpos’dtheDecoctiontoakeenNorth-WindinaveryFrostyNight,Iobserv’d,thatthemoreAqueousPartsofitwereturn’dbythenextMorningintoIce,towardstheinnermostpartofwhich,themoreAgileandSpirituousparts,asIthenconjectur’d, having Retreated, to shun as much as might be their Environing Enemy, they had therepreserv’dthemselvesunfrozenintheFormofahighcolour’dLiquor, theAqueousandSpirituouspartshavingbeensosleightly(Blendedratherthan)UnitedintheDecoction,thattheywereeasilySeparablebysuchaDegreeofColdaswouldnothavebeenabletohaveDivorc’dthePartsofUrineorWine,whichbyFermentationorDigestionarewont,asTryalhasinform’dme,tobemoreintimatelyassociatedeachwithother.ButIhavealreadyintimated,Eleutherius, thatIshallnotInsistonthisExperiment,notonlybecause,havingmadeitbutonceImaypossiblyhavebeenmistakeninit;butalso(andthatprincipally)becauseofthatmuchmorefullandeminentExperimentoftheSeparativeVirtueofextreamCold,thatwasmade,againsttheirWills,bytheforemention’dDutchmenthatWinter’dinNovaZembla;theRelationofwhoseVoyagebeingaveryscarceBook,itwillnotbeamisstogiveyouthatMemorablepartofitwhichconcernsourpresentTheme,asIcaus’dthePassagetobeextractedoutoftheEnglishedVoyageitself.

“GerarddeVeer,JohnCornelysonandOthers,sentoutofAmsterdam,AnnoDom.1596.beingforc’dbyunseasonableWeathertoWinterinNovaZembla,neerIce-Haven;onthethirteenthofOctober,Threeofus (sayes theRelation)went aboard theShip, and laded aSledwithBeer; butwhenwehad laden it,thinkingtogotoourHousewithit,suddenlytherearosesuchaWinde,andsogreataStormandCold,thatwewereforc’dtogointotheShipagain,becausewewerenotabletostaywithout;andwecouldnotgettheBeerintotheShipagain,butwereforc’dtoletitstandwithoutupontheSled:theFourteenth,aswecameoutof theShip,wefound theBarrelofBeerstandingupon theSled,but itwasfast frozenat theHeads;yetbyreasonofthegreatCold,theBeerthatpurg’doutfrozeashardupontheSideoftheBarrel,asifithadbeenglu’dthereon:andinthatsortwedrewittoourHouse,andsettheBarrelanend,anddrankitup;butfirstwewereforc’dtomelttheBeer,fortherewasscarceanyunfrozenBeerinthebarrel;but in that thickYiest thatwasunfrozen lay theStrengthof theBeer, so that itwas too strong todrinkalone,andthatwhichwasfrozentastedlikeWater;andbeingmeltedweMix’donewiththeother,andsodrankit;butithadneitherStrengthnorTaste.”

AndonthisOccasionIremember,thathavingthelastverySharpWinterpurposelytry’dtoFreeze,amongotherLiquors,someBeermoderatelystrong,inGlassVessels,withSnowandSalt,Iobserv’d,thattherecameoutoftheNeckacertainthickSubstance,which,itseems,wasmuchbetterablethentherestoftheLiquor (that I found turn’d into Ice) to resistaFrost,andwhich,by itsColourandconsistenceseem’d

mafestlyenoughtobeYiest,whereat,Iconfess,Isomewhatmarvail’d,becauseIdidnoteitherdiscerneby theTaste, or findbyEnquiry, that theBeerwas at all tooNew to bevery fit to beDrank. Imightconfirm the Dutchmens Relation, by what happen’d a while since to a neere Friend of mine, whocomplainedtome,thathavingBrew’dsomeBeerorAleforhisowndrinkinginHolland(wherehethendwelt) theKeenness of the late bitterWinter froze theDrink so as to reduce it into Ice, and a smallProportion of a veryStrong andSpirituousLiquor.But Imust not entertain you any longer concerningCold, not onely because youmay think I have but lostmyway into a Themewhich does not directlybelong tomypresentUndertaking;butbecause Ihavealreadyenlarg’dmyself toomuchupon the firstConsiderationIpropos’d,thoughitappearssomuchaParadox,thatitseem’dtoRequirethatIshouldsaymuchtokeepitfrombeingthoughtameereExtravagance;yetsinceIUndertookbuttomakethecommonAssumptionofourChymistsandAristoteliansappearQuestionable,IhopeIhavesoPerform’dthatTask,thatImaynowProceedtomyFollowingConsiderations,andInsistlesseonthemthanIhavedoneontheFirst.

T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST.

T

TheSecondPart.

HeSecondConsiderationIDesiretohaveNoticeTakenof,isThis,Thatit isnotsoSure,asBothChymistsandAristoteliansarewonttoThinkit,thateverySeeminglySimilarorDistinctSubstance

thatisSeparatedfromaBodybytheHelpoftheFire,wasPreexistentinitasaPrincipleorElementofit.

That I may not make this Paradox a Greater then I needsmust, I will First Briefly Explain what thePropositionmeans,beforeIproceedtoArgueforit.

AndIsupposeYouwilleasilyBelieveThatIdonotmeanthatanythingisseparablefromaBodybyFire,thatwasnotMateriallypre-existent in it; for itFarExceeds thepowerofMeerlyNaturallAgents,andConsequentlyoftheFire,toproduceanew,soMuchasoneAtomeofMatter,whichtheycanbutModifieandAlter,notCreate;whichissoObviousaTruth,thatalmostallSectsofPhilosophershaveDeny’dthePowerofproducingMattertoSecondCauses;andtheEpicureansandsomeOthershaveDonetheLike,inReferencetotheirGodsthemselves.

NordoesthePropositionperemptorilyDenybutthatsomeThingsObtain’dbytheFirefromaMixtBody,mayhavebeenmorethenbarelyMateriallypre-existentinit,sincethereareConcretes,whichbeforetheybeExpos’dtotheFireaffordusseveralDocumentsoftheirabounding,somewithSalt,andOtherswithSulphur.For itwill serve thepresentTurn, if it appear thatdiverse thingsObtain’d fromaMixtBodyexpos’d to theFire,werenot its IngredientsBefore: for if thisbemade toappear it,willbeRationallenough to suspect that Chymists may Decieve themselves, and Others, in concluding Resolutely andUniversally,thoseSubstancestobetheElementaryIngredientsofBodiesbarelyseparatedbytheFire,ofwhich it yetmaybeDoubtedWhether therebe suchorNo; at least till someotherArgument then thatdrawnfromtheAnalysisbeBroughttoresolvetheDoubt.

ThatthenwhichIMeanbythePropositionIamExplaining,is,ThatitmaywithoutAbsurditybeDoubtedwhether or no the Differing Substances Obtainable from a Concrete Dissipated by the Fire were soExsistentinitinthatForme(atleastastotheirminuteParts)whereinwefindthemwhentheAnalysisisover, that theFire did onlyDis-joyne andExtricate theCorpuscles of onePrinciple from those of theotherwherewithbeforetheywereBlended.

HavingthusExplain’dmyProposition,Ishallendeavourtodotwothings,toproveit;ThefirstofwhichistoshewthatsuchSubstancesasChymistscallPrinciplesMaybeproduc’dDenovo (as theyspeak.)AndtheotheristomakeitprobablethatbytheFirewemayActuallyobtainfromsomeMixtBodiessuchSubstancesaswerenotintheNewlyExpoundedsence,pre-existentinthem.

Tobegin thenwith theFirstof these, IConsider that if itbeas trueas’tisprobable, thatCompoundedBodiesDifferfromOneAnotherbutintheVariousTexturesResultingfromtheBigness,Shape,Motion,andcontrivanceoftheirsmalparts,ItwillnotbeIrrationalltoconceivethatoneandthesameparcelofthe Universal Matter may by Various Alterations and Contextures be brought to Deserve the Name,somtimesofaSulphureous,andsometimesofaTerrene,orAqueousBody.AndthisIcouldmorelargelyExplicate,butthatourFriendMr.Boylehaspromis’dussomethingaboutQualities,whereintheThemeInowwillinglyResignhim,WillIQuestionnotbeStudiouslyEnquiredinto.WhereforewhatIshallnow

advanceinfavourofwhatIhavelatelyDeliver’dshallbeDeduc’dfromExperimentsmadeDiversYearssince. The first of which would have been much more considerable, but that by some interveningAccidentsIwasNecessitatedtolosethebesttimeoftheyear,foratrialoftheNatureofthatIdesign’d;itbeingabouthemiddleofMaybeforeIwasabletobeginanExperimentwhichshouldhavethenbeentwomonethsold;butsuchasitwas,itwillnotperhapsbeimpertinenttoGiveYouthisNarrativeofit.AtthetimenewlyMention’d, Icaus’dMyGardiner (beingbyUrgentOccasionsHinder’d frombeingpresentmyself)todigoutaconvenientquantityofgoodEarth,anddryitwellinanOven,toweighit,toputitinanEarthenpotalmostlevelwiththeSurfaceoftheground,andtosetinitaselectedseedhehadbeforereceivedfromme,forthatpurpose,ofSquash,whichisanIndiankindofPompion,thatGrowesapace;thisseedIOrderedHimtoWateronlywithRainorSpringWater.Ididnot(whenmyOccasionspermittedme to visit it) without delight behold how fast it Grew, though unseasonably sown; but the HastningWinterHinder’d it from attaining any thing neer its due andWontedmagnitude; (for I found the sameAutumn,inmyGarden,someofthoseplants,byMeasure,asbigaboutasmyMiddle)andmademeorderthehaving it takenUp;Whichabout theMiddleofOctoberwascarefullyDoneby the sameGardiner,whoawhileaftersentmethisaccountofit;IhaveWeighedthePompionwiththeStalkandLeaves,allwhichWeighedthreepoundwantingaquarter;ThenItooktheEarth,bakeditasformerly,andfounditjustasmuchasIdidatFirst,whichmademethinkIhadnotdry’ditSufficiently:thenIputitintotheOventwiceMore,aftertheBreadwasDrawn,andWeighedittheSecondtime,butfounditShrinklittleornothing.

ButtodealCandidlywithYou,Eleutherius,ImustnotconcealfromYoutheEventofanotherExperimentofthisKindmadethispresentSummer,whereintheEarthseemstohavebeenmuchmoreWasted;asmayappearby thefollowingaccount,Latelysentmeby thesameGardiner, in theseWords.TogiveYouanAccountofyourCucumbers,IhaveGain’dtwoIndifferentFairOnes,theWeightofthemistenPoundandaHalfe,theBrancheswiththeRootsWeighedfourPoundswantingtwoOunces;andwhenIhadweighedthemItooktheEarth,andbak’ditinseveralsmallEarthenDishesinanOven;andwhenIhad sodone, I found theEarthwantedaPoundandahalfeofwhat itwas formerly; yet Iwasnotsatisfi’d,doubtingtheEarthwasnotdry:IputitintoanOventheSecondTime,(aftertheBreadwasdrawn)andafterIhadtakenitoutandweighedit,IfoundittobetheSameWeight:SoISupposetherewasnoMoistureleftintheEarth.NeitherdoIthinkthatthePoundandHalfethatwaswantingwasDrawnawaybytheCucumberbutagreatPartofitintheOrderingwasinDust(andthelike)wasted:(the Cucumbers are kept by themselves, lest You should send for them.) But yet in this Tryal,Eleutherius,itappearsthatthoughsomeoftheEarth,orratherthedissolubleSaltharbour’dinit,werewasted, themainBodyof thePlantconsistedofTransmutedWater.AndImightadd, thatayearafter Icaus’d the formerly mentioned Experiment, touching large Pompions, to be reiterated, with so goodsuccess, that ifmymemorydoesnotmuchmis-informme, itdidnotonlymuchsurpassany that Imadebefore,butseem’dstrangelytoconcludewhatIampleadingfor;though(byreasonIhaveunhappilylosttheparticularAccountmyGardinerwritmeupoftheCircumstances)Idarenotinsistuponthem.ThelikeExperimentmaybeasconvenientlytry’dwiththeseedsofanyPlant,whosegrowthishasty,anditssizeBulky.IfTobaccowill inTheseColdClimatesGrowwell inEarthundung’d, itwouldnotbeamisstomakeaTryalwithit;for’tisanannualPlant,thatariseswhereitprospers,sometimesashighasaTallMan;andIhavehadleavesofitinmyGardenneeraFootandaHalfebroad.ButthenexttimeITrythisExperiment,itshallbewithseveralseedsofthesamesort,inthesamepotofEarth,thatsotheeventmaybe the more Conspicuous. But because every Body has not Conveniency of time and place for thisExperimentneither, ImadeinmyChamber,someshorterandmoreExpeditionsTryals. I tookaTopofSpearmint,aboutanInchLong,andputitintoagoodVialfullofSpringwater,soastheupperpartoftheMintwasabovetheneckoftheGlass,andthelowerpartImmers’dintheWater;withinafewDayesthis

MintbegantoshootforthRootsintotheWater,andtodisplayitsLeaves,andaspireupwards;andinashorttimeithadnumerousRootsandLeaves,andtheseverystrongandfragrantoftheOdouroftheMint:buttheHeatofmyChamber,asIsuppose,kill’dthePlantwhenitwasgrowntohaveaprettythickStalk,whichwiththevariousandramifiedRoots,whichitshotintotheWaterasifithadbeenEarth,presentedinitsTransparentFlower-potaSpectaclenotunpleasanttobehold.ThelikeItry’dwithsweetMarjoram,andI found theExperimentsucceedalso, thoughsomewhatmoreslowly,withBalmeandPeniroyal, toname now no other Plants. And one of these Vegetables, cherish’d only byWater, having obtain’d acompetentGrowth, Idid, forTryals sake,cause tobeDistill’d ina smallRetort, and therebyobtain’dsome Phlegme, a little Empyreumaticall Spirit, a smallQuantity of adustOyl, and aCaput mortuum;whichappearingtobeaCoalconcludedittoconsistofSaltandEarth:buttheQuantityofitwassosmallthatIforboretoCalcineit.TheWaterIus’dtonourishthisPlantwasnotshiftednorrenewed;andIchoseSpring-water rather than Rain-water, because the latter is more discernably a kinde of πανσπερμια,which, though it be granted to be freed fromgrosserMixtures, seems yet toContain in it, besides theSteams of several Bodies wandering in the Air, which may be suppos’d to impregnate it, a certainSpirituous Substance,whichmay beExtracted out of it, and is by somemistaken for the Spirit of theWorldCorporify’d,uponwhatGrounds,andwithwhatProbability,Imayelsewhereperchance,butmustnotnow,Discoursetoyou.

But perhaps Imight have sav’d a great part ofmyLabour. For I finde thatHelmont (anAuthormoreconsiderable for his Experiments than many Learned men are pleas’d to think him) having had anOpportunitytoprosecuteanExperimentmuchofthesamenaturewiththoseIhavebeennowspeakingof,forfiveYearstogether,obtain’dattheendofthattimesonotableaQuantityofTransmutedWater,thatIshouldscarceThinkitfittohavehisExperiment,andMineMention’dtogether,wereitnotthattheLengthofTimeRequisitetothismaydeterrtheCuriosityofsome,andexceedtheleasureofOthers;andpartly,thatsoParadoxicalaTruthasthatwhichtheseExperimentsseemtoholdforth,needstobeConfirm’dbymoreWitnesses thenone,especiallysince theExtravaganciesandUntruths tobemetwith inHelmontsTreatiseof theMagnetickCureofWounds,havemadehisTestimoniessuspected inhisotherWritings,thoughastosomeoftheUnlikelymattersofFacthedeliversinthem,ImightsafelyundertaketobehisCompurgator.ButthatExperimentofhiswhichIwasmentioningtoYou,hesayes,wasthis.Hetook200poundofEarthdry’d inanOven,andhavingput it intoanEarthenVesselandmoisten’d itwithRainewaterheplantedinittheTrunkofaWillowtreeoffivepoundWeight;thisheWater’d,asneedrequired,withRainorwithDistill’dWater;and tokeep theNeighbouringEarthfromgetting into theVessell,heemploy’daplateofIrontinn’doverandperforatedwithmanyholes.Fiveyearsbeingefflux’d,hetookouttheTreeandweighedit,and(withcomputingtheleavesthatfellduringfourAutumnes)hefoundittoweigh169pound,andaboutthreeOunces.AndHavingagainDry’dtheEarthitgrewin,hefounditwantofitsFormerWeightof200Pound,aboutacoupleonlyofOunces;sothat164poundoftheRoots,Wood,andBark,whichConstitutedtheTree,seemtohaveSprungfromtheWater.AndthoughitappearsnotthatHelmonthadtheCuriositytomakeanyAnalysisofthisPlant,yetwhatIlatelytoldYouIdidtoOneoftheVegetablesInourish’dwithWateronly,will IsupposekeepYoufromDoubtingthat ifhehadDistill’dthisTree,itwouldhaveaffordedhimthelikeDistinctSubstancesasanotherVegetableofthesamekind.IneednotSubjoynethatIhaditalsoinmythoughtstotryhowExperimentstothesamepurposewiththoseIrelatedtoYouwouldsucceedinotherBodiesthenVegetables,becauseimportunateAvocationshavinghithertohinder’dmefromputtingmyDesigninPractise,IcanyetspeakbutConfecturallyoftheSuccess:butthebestis, thattheExperimentsalreadymadeandmention’dtoyouneednottheAssistanceofnewOnes,toVerifieasmuchasmypresenttaskmakesitconcernmetoprovebyExperimentsofthisNature.

Onewould suspect (sayesEleutherius afterhis long silence)bywhatYouhavebeendiscoursing, thatYou are not far fromHelmonts Opinion about the Origination of Compound Bodies, and perhaps too

dislikenottheArgumentswhichheimployestoproveit.

WhatHelmontianOpinion,andwhatArgumentsdoyoumean(askesCarneades.)

WhatYouhavebeenNewlyDiscoursing(repliesEleutherius)tellsus,thatYoucannotbutknowthatthisboldandAcuteSpagyristscruplesnot toAssert thatallmixtBodiesspringfromoneElement;and thatVegetables,Animals,Marchasites,Stones,Metalls,&c. areMateriallybut simpleWaterdisguis’d intotheseVariousFormes,bytheplastickorFormativeVirtueoftheirseeds.AndasforhisReasonsyoumayfinddiversofthemscatter’dupanddownhiswritings;theconsiderabl’stofwhichseemtobethesethree;TheUltimateReductionofmixtBodiesintoInsipidWater,theVicissitudeofthesupposedElements,andtheproductionofperfectlymixtBodiesoutofsimpleWater.AndfirstheaffirmesthattheSalcirculatusParacelsi, or his Liquor Alkahest, does adequately resolve Plants, Animals, and Mineralls into oneLiquorormore,accordingtotheirseveralinternallDisparitiesofParts(withoutCaputMortuum,ortheDestruction of their seminalVirtues;) and that theAlkahest being abstracted from these Liquors in thesameweight and Virtue wherewith it Dissolv’d them, the Liquorsmay by frequent Cohobations fromchalkeorsomeotheridoneousmatter,beTotallydepriv’doftheirseminalEndowments,andreturnatlasttotheirfirstmatter,InsipidWater;someotherwayesheproposeshereandthere,todivestsomeparticularBodiesof theirborrow’dshapes,andmake themremigrate to their firstSimplicity.ThesecondTopickwhenceHelmontdraweshisArguments,toproveWatertobetheMaterialcauseofMixtBodies,ItoldYouwasthis,thattheothersuppos’dElementsmaybetransmutedintooneanother.ButtheExperimentsbyhimhereandthereproduc’donthisOccasion,aresouneasie tobemadeandtobejudg’dof, thatIshallnot insiston them;not tomention, that if theyweregranted tobe true,his Inference fromthemissomewhat disputable; and therefore I shall pass on to tell You, That as, in his First Argument, ourParadoxical Author endeavours to prove Water the Sole Element of Mixt Bodies, by their UltimateResolution,whenbyhisAlkahest,orsomeotherconqueringAgent,theSeedshavebeenDestroy’d,whichDisguis’dthem,orwhenbytimethoseseedsareWeari’dorExantlatedorunabletoActtheirPartsuponthe Stage of the Universe any Longer: So in His Third Argument he Endeavours to evince the sameConclusion,bytheconstitutionofBodieswhichheassertstobenothingbutWaterSubdu’dbySeminalVirtues.Ofthishegiveshereandthere inhisWritingsseveralInstances,as toPlantsandAnimals;butdivers of them being Difficult either to be try’d or to be Understood, and others of them being notaltogetherUnobnoxious toExceptions, I thinkyouhavesingl’dout thePrincipaland lessQuestionableExperimentwhenyoulatelymention’dthatoftheWillowTree.Andhavingthus,ContinuesEleutherius,toAnsweryourQuestion,givenyouaSummaryAccountofwhatIamConfidentYouknowbetterthenIdo,IshallbeverygladtoreceiveYourSenceofit,ifthegivingitmewillnottoomuchDivertYoufromtheProsecutionofyourDiscourse.

ThatIf(repliesCarneades)wasnotneedlesslyannex’d:forthorowlytoexaminesuchanHypothesisandsuchArgumentswouldrequiresomanyConsiderations,andConsequentlysomuchtime,thatIshouldnotnowhavetheLiesuretoperfectsuchaDigression,andmuchlesstofinishmyPrincipleDiscourse.Yetthusmuch I shall tellYou at present, that you need not fearmy rejecting thisOpinion for itsNovelty;since,howevertheHelmontiansmayincomplementtotheirMasterpretendittobeanewDiscovery,YetthoughtheArgumentsbeforthemostparthis,theOpinionitselfisveryAntient:ForDiogenesLaertiusanddiversotherAuthorsspeakofThales,asthefirstamongtheGræciansthatmadedisquisitionsuponnature.AndofthisThales,IRemember,Tullyinformesus,thathetaughtallthingswereatfirstmadeofWater.AnditseemsbyPlutarchandJustinMartyr,thattheOpinionwasAncienterthenhe:Fortheytellus thatheus’d todefendhisTenetby theTestimonyofHomer.AndaGreekAuthor, (theScholiast ofApollonius)upontheseWords

Εξιλιουεβλαϛησεχθωναυτη,

TheEarthofSlimewasmade,

Affirms(outofZeno) that theChaos,whereofall thingsweremade,was,according toHesiod,Water;which,settlingfirst,becameSlime,andthencondens’dintosolidEarth.AndthesameOpinionabouttheGenerationofSlimeseemstohavebeenentertain’dbyOrpheus,outofwhomoneof theAntientscitesthisTestimony,

Εκτουὑδατοςιλυικατιϛη.

OfWaterSlimewasmade.

It seems also bywhat is delivered inStrabo out of anotherAuthor, concerning the Indians, That theylikewiseheldthatallthingshaddifferingBeginnings,butthatofwhichtheWorldwasmade,wasWater.Andthe likeOpinionhasbeenbysomeof theAntientsascrib’dto thePhœnicians, fromwhomThaleshimselfisconceiv’dtohaveborrow’dit;asprobablytheGreeksdidmuchoftheirTheologie,and,asIam apt to think, of their Philosophy too; since the Devising of the Atomical Hypothesis commonlyascrib’d to Lucippus and his DiscipleDemocritus, is by Learned Men attributed to oneMoschus aPhœnician. And possibly the Opinion is yet antienter than so; For ’tis known that the Phœniciansborrow’dmost of their Learning from theHebrews. And among those that acknowledge the Books ofMoses, many have been inclin’d to thinkWater to have been the Primitive and Universal Matter, byperusing theBeginningofGenesis,where theWaters seem tobemention’d as theMaterialCause, notonly ofSublunaryCompoundedBodies, but of all those thatmakeup theUniverse;whoseComponentPartsdidorderly,asitwere,emergeoutofthatvastAbysse,bytheOperationoftheSpiritofGod,whoissaidtohavebeenmovingHimselfashatchingFemalesdo(astheOriginalםרחפת,MeracephetissaidtoImport,andasitseemstosignifieinoneofthetwootherplaces,whereinaloneIhavemetwithitintheHebrewBible)upontheFaceoftheWaters;whichbeing,asmaybesuppos’d,DivinelyImpregnatedwiththeseedsofallthings,werebythatproductiveIncubationqualify’dtoproducethem.Butyou,Ipresume,ExpectthatIshouldDiscourseofthisMatterlikeaNaturalist,notaPhilologer.WhereforeIshalladd,toCountenanceHelmont’sOpinion,Thatwhereashegivesnot,thatIremember,anyInstanceofanyMineralBody, nor scarce of any Animal, generated of Water, a French Chymist,Monsieur de Rochas, haspresented hisReaders anExperiment,which if itwere punctually such as he has deliver’d it, is veryNotable. He then, Discoursing of the Generation of things according to certain Chymical andMetaphoricalNotions(whichIconfessarenottomeIntelligible)setsdown,amongdiversSpeculationsnotpertinenttoourSubject,thefollowingNarrative,whichIshallrepeattoyouthesenceofinEnglish,withaslittlevariationfromtheLiteralsenceoftheFrenchwords,asmymemorywillenableme.Having(sayeshe)discern’dsuchgreatWondersbytheNaturalOperationofWater,IwouldknowwhatmaybedonewithitbyArtImitatingNature.WhereforeItookWaterwhichIwellknewnottobecompounded,nortobemix’dwithanyotherthingthanthatSpiritofLife(whereofhehadspokenbefore;)andwithaHeat Artificial, Continual and Proportionate, I prepar’d and dispos’d it by the above mention’dGraduationsofCoagulation,Congelation,andFixation,untill itwasturn’dintoEarth,whichEarthproduc’dAnimals,VegetablesandMinerals.ItellnotwhatAnimals,VegetablesandMinerals,forthatisreserv’dforanotherOccasion:buttheAnimalsdidMoveofthemselves,Eat,&c.—andbythetrueAnatomieImadeof them,I foundthat theywerecompos’dofmuchSulphur, littleMercury,andlessSalt.—TheMineralsbegantogrowandencreasebyconvertingintotheirownNatureonepartoftheEarththereuntodispos’d;theyweresolidandheavy.AndbythistrulyDemonstrativeScience,namelyChymistry,Ifoundthattheywerecompos’dofmuchSalt,littleSulphur,andlessMercury.

But(sayesCarneades)IhavesomeSuspitionsconcerningthisstrangeRelation,whichmakemeunwillingtoDeclareanOpinionof it,unless Iwere satisfiedconcerningdiversMaterialCircumstances thatourAuthor has left unmentioned; though as for the Generation of Living Creatures, both Vegetable andSensitive, it needs not seem Incredible, sincewe finde that our commonwater (which indeed is oftenImpregnatedwithVariety of Seminal Principles andRudiments) being long kept in a quiet placewillputrifieandstink,andthenperhapstooproduceMossandlittleWorms,orotherInsects,accordingtothenatureoftheSeedsthatwerelurkinginit.ImustlikewisedesireyoutotakeNotice,thatasHelmontgivesusnoInstanceoftheProductionofMineralsoutofWater,sothemainArgumentthatheemploy’stoprovethattheyandotherBodiesmayberesolv’dintowater,isdrawnfromtheOperationsofhisAlkahest,andconsequentlycannotbesatisfactorilyExamin’dbyYouandMe.

Yetcertainly(sayesEleutherius)Youcannotbuthavesomewhatwonder’daswellasI,toobservehowgreatashareofWatergoestothemakingupofDiversBodies,whoseDisguisespromisenothingneeresomuch.TheDistillationofEeles,thoughityieldedmesomeOyle,andSpirit,andVolatileSalt,besidestheCaputmortuum,yetwereallthesesodisproportionatetothePhlegmthatcamefromthem(andinwhichat first they boyl’d as in a Pot ofWater) that they seem’d to have bin nothing but coagulated Phlegm,whichdoeslikewisestrangelyaboundinVipers,thoughtheyareesteem’dveryhotinOperation,andwillinaConvenientAiresurvivesomedayesthelossoftheirHeadsandHearts,sovigorousistheirVivacity.MansBlouditselfasSpirituous,andasElaborateaLiquoras’tisreputed,doessoaboundinPhlegm,that,theotherDay,DistillingsomeofitonpurposetotrytheExperiment(asIhadformerlydoneinDeersBloud)outofaboutsevenOuncesandahalfofpureBloudwedrewneeresixOuncesofPhlegm,beforeanyofthemoreoperativePrinciplesbegantoarise,andInviteustochangetheReceiver.AndtosatisfiemyselfthatsomeoftheseAnimallPhlegmswerevoidenoughofSpirittodeservethatName,Iwouldnotcontentmyselftotastethemonly,butfruitleslypour’donthemacidLiquors,totryiftheycontain’danyVolatileSaltorSpirit,which(hadtherebeenanythere)wouldprobablyhavediscover’ditselfbymakinganEbullitionwiththeaffusedLiquor.AndnowImentionCorrosiveSpirits,IammindedtoInformeyou,ThatthoughtheyseemtobenothingelsebutFluidSalts,yettheyaboundinWater,asyoumayObserve,ifeitheryouEntangle,andsoFixtheirSalinePart,bymakingthemCorrodesomeidoneousBody,orelseifyou mortifie it with a contrary Salt; as I have very manifestly Observ’d in the making a MedecinesomewhatlikeHelmont’sBalsamusSamech,withDistill’dVinagerinsteadofSpiritofWine,wherewithhepreparesit:ForyouwouldscarceBeleeve(whatIhavelatelyObserv’d)thatofthatacidSpirit,theSaltofTartar,fromwhichitisDistill’d,willbymortifyingandretainingtheacidSaltturnintoworthlessPhlegm neere twenty times its weight, before it be so fully Impregnated as to rob no more Distill’dVinagerofitsSalt.AndthoughSpiritofWineExquisitelyrectify’dseemofallLiquorstobethemostfreefromWater,itbeingsoIgneousthatitwillFlameallawaywithoutleavingtheleastDropbehindeit,yeteven thisFieryLiquor is byHelmont not improbably affirm’d, in casewhat he relates beTrue, to beMaterially Water, under a Sulphureous Disguise: For, according to him, in the making that excellentMedecine,ParacelsushisBalsamusSamech, (which isnothingbutSalTartari dulcify’d byDistillingfrom it Spirit ofWine till the Salt be sufficiently gluttedwith its Sulphur, andsuffer the Liquor to bedrawnoff,asstrongasitwaspour’don)whentheSaltofTartarfromwhichitisDistill’dhathretain’d,ordepriv’ditoftheSulphureouspartsoftheSpiritofWine,therest,whichisincomparablythegreaterpartof theLiquor,will remigrate intoPhlegm. I added thatClause [IncasewhatheRelatesbeTrue]becauseIhavenotasyetsufficientlytry’ditmyself.ButnotonlysomethingofExperimentkeepsmefromthinkingit,asmanyChymistsdo,absurd,(thoughIhave,aswellasthey,invaintry’ditwithordinarySaltofTartar;)butbesidesthatHelmontoftenRelatesit,anddrawsConsequencesfromit;APersonnotedforhisSobernesse andSkill inSpagyrical Preparations, havingbeen askt byme,Whether theExperimentmightnotbemade to succeed, if theSalt andSpiritwereprepar’d according to away suitable tomy

Principles,heaffirm’dtome,thathehadthatwayIpropos’dmadeHelmont’sExperimentsucceedverywell,withoutaddinganythingtotheSaltandSpirit.ButourwayisneithershortnorEasie.

Ihaveindeed(sayesCarneades)sometimeswonder’dtoseehowmuchPhlegmemaybeobtain’dfromBodiesby theFire.Butconcerning thatPhlegmeImayanonhaveOccasion tonotesomething,which Ithereforeshallnotnowanticipate.ButtoreturntotheOpinionofThales,andofHelmont,Iconsider,thatsupposingtheAlkahestcouldreduceallBodiesintowater,yetwhetherthatwater,becauseinsipid,mustbe Elementary, may not groundlesly be doubted; For I remember the Candid and Eloquent PetrusLaurembergiusinhisNotesuponSala’sAphorismesaffirmes,thathesawaninsipidMenstruumthatwasapowerfullDissolvent,and(ifmyMemorydonotmuchmis-informeme)coulddissolveGold.AndthewaterwhichmaybeDrawnfromQuicksilverwithoutAddition,thoughitbealmostTastless,YouwillIbelieve think of a differing Nature from simple Water, especially if you Digest in it AppropriatedMineralls.Towhich I shall addbut this, that thisConsiderationmaybe furtherextended.For I seenoNecessitytoconceivethattheWatermention’dintheBeginningofGenesis,astheUniversalMatter,wassimpleandElementaryWater;sincethoughweshouldSupposeittohavebeenanAgitatedCongeriesorHeapconsistingofagreatVarietyofSeminalPrinciplesandRudiments,andofotherCorpusclesfittobesubdu’dandFashion’dby them, itmightyetbeaBodyFluid likeWater, incase theCorpuscles itwasmadeupof,werebytheirCreatormadesmallenough,andputintosuchanactuallMotionasmightmakethemGlidealongoneanother.Andaswenowsay,theSeaconsistsofWater,notwithstandingtheSaline,Terrestrial,andotherBodiesmingl’dwithit,)suchaLiquormaywellenoughbecalledWater,becausethatwasthegreatestoftheknownBodieswhereuntoitwaslike;Though,thataBodymaybeFluidenoughtoappearaLiquor,andyetcontainCorpusclesofaverydifferingNature,Youwilleasilybelieve,ifYoubutexposeagoodQuantityofVitriolinastrongVesseltoaCompetentFire.ForalthoughitcontainsbothAqueous,Earthy,Saline,Sulphureous,andMetallineCorpuscles,yetthewholeMasswillatfirstbeFluidlikewater,andboylelikeaseethingpot.

Imighteasily(ContinuesCarneades)enlargemyselfonsuchConsiderations,ifIwereNowOblig’dtogiveYoumyJudgmentof theThalesian,andHelmontian,Hypothesis.ButWhetherornoweconcludethat all thingswere at firstGenerated ofWater, ImayDeduce fromwhat I have try’dConcerning theGrowth ofVegetables, nourish’dwithwater, all that I now propos’d tomySelf or need at present toprove,namelythatSalt,Spirit,Earth,andev’nOyl(thoughthatbethoughtofallBodiesthemostoppositeto Water) may be produc’d out of Water; and consequently that a Chymical Principle as well as aPeripatetickElement,may(insomecases)beGeneratedanew,orobtain’dfromsuchaparcelofMatteraswasnotendow’dwiththeformofsuchaprincipleorElementbefore.

Andhavingthus,Eleutherius,Evinc’dthat’tispossiblethatsuchSubstancesasthosethatChymistsarewonttocalltheirTriaPrima,maybeGenerated,anew:ImustnextEndeavourtomakeitProbable,thattheOperationoftheFiredoesActually(sometimes)notonlydivideCompoundedBodiesintosmalParts,but Compound those Parts after a newManner; whence Consequently, for oughtweKnow, theremayEmerge aswell Saline andSulphureous Substances, asBodies of otherTextures.And perhaps itwillassistusinourEnquiryaftertheEffectsoftheOperationsoftheFireuponotherBodies,toConsideralittle, what it does to thoseMixtures which being Productions of the Art ofMan,We best know theCompositionof.Youmaythenbepleas’dtotakeNoticethatthoughSopeismadeupbytheSope-BoylersofOyleorGrease,andSalt,andWaterDiligentlyIncorporatedtogether,yetifYouexposetheMasstheyConstitute toaGraduallFire inaRetort,Youshall thenindeedmakeaSeparation,butnotof thesameSubstancesthatwereUnitedintoSope,butofothersofaDistantandyetnotanElementaryNature,andespecially of an Oyle very sharp and Fætid, and of a very Differing Quality from that which wasEmploy’dtomaketheSope:foifyouMingleinadueProportion,SalArmoniackwithQuick-Lime,and

DistillthembyDegreesofFire,YoushallnotDividetheSalArmoniackfromtheQuick-Lime,thoughtheonebeaVolatile,andtheotheraFix’dSubstance,butthatwhichwillascendwillbeaSpiritmuchmoreFugitive,Penetrant,andstinking,thenSalArmoniack;andtherewillremainwiththeQuick-LimeallorverynearalltheSeaSaltthatconcurr’dtomakeuptheSalArmoniack;concerningwhichSeaSaltIshall,tosatisfieYouhowwellitwasUnitedtotheLime,informeYou,thatIhavebymakingtheFireatlengthveryVehement,caus’dboththeIngredientstomeltintheRetortitselfintooneMassandsuchMassesareapt to Relent in the Moist Air. If it be here Objected, that these Instances are taken from factitiousConcreteswhicharemoreCompoundedthenthosewhichNatureproduces;Ishallreply,thatbesidesthatIhaveMention’dthemasmuchtoIllustratewhatIpropos’d,astoproveit,itwillbeDifficulttoEvincethatNatureherselfdoesnotmakeDecompoundBodies,ImeanmingletogethersuchmixtBodiesasarealreadyCompoundedofElementary, or rather ofmore simple ones.ForVitriol (for Instance) though IhavesometimestakenitoutofMinerallEarths,whereNaturehadwithoutanyassistanceofArtprepar’dit tomyHand, is really, thoughChymistsarepleas’d to reckon itamongSalts,aDecompoundedBodyConsisting(asIshallhaveoccasiontodeclareanon)ofaTerrestriallSubstance,ofaMetal,andalsoofatleastoneSalineBody,ofapeculiarandnotElementaryNature.AndweseealsoinAnimals,thattheirbloodmaybecompos’dofDiversveryDifferingMixtBodies,sincewefinditobserv’dthatdiversSea-FowletastrankoftheFishonwhichtheyordinarilyfeed;andHipocrateshimselfObserves,thataChildmay be purg’d by theMilke of theNurse, if she have takenElaterium; which argues that the purgingCorpuscles of theMedicament Concurr to make up theMilke of the Nurse; and that white Liquor isgenerallybyPhysitianssuppos’dtobebutblanch’dandalter’dBlood.AndIrememberIhaveobserv’d,notfarrfromtheAlps,thatatacertaintimeoftheYeartheButterofthatCountrywasveryOffensivetostrangers,byreasonoftheranktastofacertainHerb,whereontheCowswerethenwontplentifullytofeed.But(proceedsCarneades)togiveyouInstancesofanotherkind,toshewthatthingsmaybeobtain’dby the Fire from a Mixt Body that were not Pre-existent in it, let Me Remind You, that from manyVegetablestheremaywithoutanyAdditionbeObtain’dGlass,aBody,whichIpresumeYouwillnotsaywasPre-existentinit,butproduc’dbytheFire.TowhichIshalladdbutthisoneExamplemore,namelythat by a certainArtificialwayofhandlingQuicksilver,YoumaywithoutAddition separate from it atleasta5th.or4th.partofaclearLiquor,whichwithanOrdinaryPeripatetickwouldpassforWater,andwhichaVulgarChymistwouldnotscrupletocallPhlegme,andwhich,foroughtIhaveyetseenorheard,isnot reducible intoMercuryagain,andConsequently ismore thenaDisguiseof it.Nowbesides thatdiversChymistswillnotallowMercurytohaveanyoratleastanyConsiderableQuantityofeitheroftheIgnobleIngredients,EarthandWater;Besidesthis,Isay,thegreatPonderousnessofQuicksilvermakesitveryunlikelythatitcanhavesomuchWaterinitasmaybethusobtain’dfromit,sinceMercuryweighs12or14timesasmuchaswaterofthesameBulk.NayforafurtherConfirmationofthisArgument,IwilladdthisStrangeRelation,thattwoFriendsofmine,theoneaPhysitian,andtheotheraMathematician,andbothofthemPersonsofunsuspectedCredit,haveSolemnlyassuredme,thataftermanyTryalstheymade, to reduceMercury intoWater, inOrder toaPhilosophicallWork,uponGold (whichyet,by theway, Iknowprov’dUnsuccesfull) theydidoncebydiversCohobations reduceapoundofQuicksilverintoalmostapoundofWater,andthiswithouttheAdditionofanyotherSubstance,butonlybypressingtheMercurybyaSkillfullyManag’dFire inpurposelycontriv’dVessels.Butof theseExperimentsourFriend (sayes Carneades, pointing at the Register of this Dialogue) will perhaps give You a moreParticularAccountthenitisnecessaryformetodo:SincewhatIhavenowsaidmaysufficientlyevince,that theFiremaysometimesaswellalterBodiesasdividethem,andbyitwemayobtainfromaMixtBodywhatwasnotPre-existentinit.AndhowarewesurethatinnootherBodywhatwecallPhlegmeisbarelyseparated,notProduc’dbytheActionoftheFire:SincesomanyotherMixtBodiesareofamuchlessConstant,andmorealterableNature,thenMercury,bymanyTricksitiswonttoputuponChymists,andby theExperimentsI toldYouof,aboutanhoursince,Appears tobe.ButbecauseIshallere long

haveOccasiontoresumeintoConsiderationthePoweroftheFiretoproducenewConcretes,IshallnolongerinsistonthisArgumentatpresent;onlyImustmindYou,thatifYouwillnotdisbelieveHelmontsRelations,Youmust confess that theTria Prima are neither ingenerable nor incorruptible Substances;sincebyhisAlkahestsomeofthemmaybeproduc’dofBodiesthatwerebeforeofanotherDenomination;andbythesamepowerfullMenstruumallofthemmaybereduc’dintoinsipidWater.

HereCarneadeswasabout topasson tohisThirdConsideration,whenEleutherius beingdesirous tohearwhathecouldsaytoclearhissecondGeneralConsiderationfrombeingrepugnanttowhatheseem’dto think the trueTheoryofMistion,preventedhimby tellinghim, Isomewhatwonder,Carneades, thatYou,whoareinsomanyPointsunsatisfiedwiththePeripatetickOpiniontouchingtheElementsandMixtBodies, should also seemaverse to thatNotion touching themanner ofMistion,wherein theChymists(though perhaps without knowing that they do so) agree with most of the Antient Philosophers thatprecededAristotle,andthatforReasonssoconsiderable,thatdiversModernNaturalistsandPhysitians,inotherthingsunfavourableenoughtotheSpagyrists,dointhiscasesidewiththemagainstthecommonOpinion of the Schools. If you should askme (continuesEleutherius)whatReasons Imean? I shouldpartlybytheWritingsofSennertusandotherlearnedMen,andpartlybymyownThoughts,besupply’dwithmore,then’twereatpresentproperformetoInsistlargelyon.AndthereforeIshallmentiononly,andthatbriefly,threeorfour.Ofthese,IshalltaketheFirstfromthestateoftheControversieitself,andthegenuineNotionofMistion,whichthoughmuchintricatedbytheSchoolmen,Itakeinshorttobethis,Aristotle, at least asmany of his Interpreters expound him, and as indeed heTeaches in someplaces,whereheprofessedlyDissentsfromtheAntients,declaresMistiontobesuchamutualPenetration,andperfectUnion of themingl’d Elements, that there is no Portion of themixtBody, howMinute soever,whichdoesnotcontainAll,andEveryoftheFourElements,orinwhich,ifyouplease,alltheElementsarenot.AndIremember,thathereprehendstheMistiontaughtbytheAncients,astoosleightorgross,forthisReason,thatBodiesmixtaccordingtotheirHypothesis,thoughtheyappearsotohumaneEyes,wouldnotappearsuchtotheacuteEyesofaLynx,whoseperfecterSightwoulddiscernetheElements,iftheywere no otherwise mingled, than as his Predecessors would have it, to be but Blended, not United;whereas theAntients, thoughtheydidnotallAgreeaboutwhatkindofBodieswereMixt,yet theydidalmost unanimously hold, that in a compounded Bodie, though the Miscibilia, whether Elements,Principles,orwhatevertheypleas’dtocallthem,wereassociatedinsuchsmallParts,andwithsomuchExactness,thattherewasnosensiblePartoftheMassbutseem’dtobeofthesameNaturewiththerest,andwith thewhole;Yet as to theAtomes, or other Insensible Parcels ofMatter,whereof each of theMiscibilia consisted, they retain’d each of them its own Nature, being but by Apposition or Juxta-PositionunitedwiththerestintooneBodie.SothatalthoughbyvirtueofthiscompositionthemixtBodydidperhapsobtainDiversnewQualities,yetstilltheIngredientsthatCompoundedit,retainingtheirownNature, were by the Destruction of the Compositum separable from each other, the minute Partsdisingag’dfromthoseofadifferingNature,andassociatedwith thoseof theirownsort returningtobeagain,Fire,Earth,orWater,astheywerebeforetheychanc’dtobeIngredientsofthatCompositum.Thismay be explain’d (Continues Eleutherius,) by a piece of Cloath made of white and black thredsinterwoven,whereinthoughthewholepieceappearneitherwhitenorblack,butofaresultingColour,thatis gray, yet eachof thewhite andblack threds that compose it, remainswhat itwas before, aswouldappear if the thredswerepull’dasunder,andsortedeachColourby itself.This(pursuesEleutherius)being,asIunderstandit,theStateoftheControversie,andtheAristoteliansaftertheirMasterCommonlyDefining, thatMistion isMiscibilium alteratorum Unio, that seems to comport much better with theOpinion of the Chymists, then with that of their Adversaries, since according to that as the newlymention’dExampledeclares,thereisbutaJuxta-positionofseparableCorpuscles,retainingeachitsownNature,whereasaccordingtotheAristotelians,whenwhat theyarepleas’dtocallamixtBodyresults

from the Concourse of the Elements, the Miscibilia cannot so properly be said to be Alter’d, asDestroy’d,sincethereisnoPartinthemixtBody,howsmallsoever,thatcanbecall’deitherFir,orAir,orWater,orEarth.

NorindeedcanIwellunderstand,howBodiescanbemingl’dotherwayesthenasIhavedeclar’d,oratleasthowtheycanbemingl’d,asourPeripatetickswouldhaveit.ForwhereasAristotletellsus,thatifaDropofWinebe put into ten thousandMeasures ofWater, theWinebeingOverpower’d by soVast aQuantityofWaterwillbeturn’dintoit,hespeakstomyApprehension,veryimprobably;ForthoughOneshouldaddtothatQuantityofWaterasmanyDropsofWineaswouldaThousandtimesexceeditall,yetbyhisRule thewholeLiquorshouldnotbeaCrama, aMixtureofWineandWater,wherein theWinewouldbePredominant,butWateronly;SincetheWinebeingaddedbutbyaDropatatimewouldstillFallintonothingbutWater,andConsequentlywouldbeturn’dintoit.AndifthiswouldholdinMetalstoo,’twereararesecretforGoldsmiths,andRefiners;ForbymeltingaMassofGold,orSilver,andbybut casting into it Lead or Antimony, Grain after Grain, they might at pleasure, within a reasonableCompassoftime,turnwhatQuantitytheydesire,oftheIgnobleintotheNobleMetalls.AndindeedsinceaPintofwine,andapintofwater,amount toaboutaQuartofLiquor, it seemsmanifest tosense, thattheseBodiesdoenotTotallyPenetrateoneanother,asonewouldhave it;but thateachretains itsownDimensions;andConsequently, that theyarebybeingMingl’donlydividedintominuteBodies, thatdobut touch one anotherwith their Surfaces, as do theGrains, ofWheat, Rye, Barley,&c. in a heap ofseverallsortsofCorn:Andunlesswesay,thataswhenonemeasureofwheat,forInstance,isBlendedwithahundredmeasuresofBarley,therehappensonlyaJuxta-positionandSuperficialContactbetwixttheGrains ofwheat, and asmanyor thereabouts of theGrains ofBarley. Sowhen aDrop ofwine ismingl’d with a great deal of water, there is but an Apposition of so many Vinous Corpuscles to aCorrespondentNumberofAqueousones;UnlessIsaythisbesaid,IseenothowthatAbsurditywillbeavoyded, whereunto the Stoical Notion of mistion (namely by συνχυσις, or Confusion) was Liable,accordingtowhichtheleastBodymaybeco-extendedwiththegreatest:SinceinamixtBodywhereinbefore the ElementswereMingl’d therewas, for Instance, but one pound ofwater to ten thousand ofEarth,yetaccordingtothemtheremustnotbetheleastpartofthatCompound,thatConsistednotaswellofEarth,aswater.ButIinsist,Perhaps,toolong(sayesEleutherius)upontheproofsaffordedmebytheNatureofMistion:WhereforeIwillbutnameTwoorThreeotherArguments;whereofthefirstshallbe,that according toAristotle himself, themotionof amixtBody followes theNature of thePredominantElement,asthosewhereintheEarthprevails,tendtowardstheCentreofheavyBodies.AndsincemanythingsmakeitEvident,thatindiversMixtBodiestheElementaryQualitiesareaswellActive,thoughnotaltogethersomuchsoasintheElementsthemselves,itseemsnotreasonabletodenytheactualExistenceoftheElementsinthoseBodieswhereintheyOperate.

TowhichIshalladdthisConvincingArgument,thatExperiencemanifests,andAristotleConfessesit,thattheMiscibiliamaybeagainseparatedfromamixtBody,asisObviousintheChymicalResolutionsofPlants andAnimalls, which could not be unless they did actually retain their formes in it: For since,accordingtoAristotle,andIthinkaccordingtotruth,thereisbutonecommonMassofallthings,whichhehas been pleas’d to callMateria Prima; And since tis not therefore the Matter but the Forme thatConstitutesandDiscriminatesThings, tosay that theElementsremainnot inaMixtBody,according totheirFormes,butaccordingtotheirMatter,isnottosaythattheyremainthereatall;SincealthoughthosePortionsofMatterwereEarthandwater,&c.before theyconcurr’d,yet theresultingBodybeingonceConstituted,mayaswellbesaidtobesimpleasanyoftheElements,theMatterbeingconfessedlyofthesameNatureinallBodies,andtheElementaryFormesbeingaccordingtothisHypothesisperish’dandabolish’d.

Andlastly,andifwewillConsultChymicalExperiments,weshallfindtheAdvantagesoftheChymicalDoctrine above thePeripatetickTitle little less thenPalpable. For in thatOperation thatRefiners callQuartation,whichtheyemploytopurifieGold,althoughthreepartsofSilverbesoexquisitelymingl’dbyFusionwithafourthPartofGold(whencetheOperationisDenominated)thattheresultingMassacquiresseverallnewQualities,byvirtueoftheComposition,andthatthereisscarceanysensiblepartofitthatisnot Compos’d of both the metalls; Yet if You cast this mixture into Aqua Fortis, the Silver will bedissolv’dintheMenstruum,andtheGoldlikeadarkorblackPowderwillfalltotheBottomofit,andeitherBodymaybeagain reduc’d intosuchaMetalas itwasbefore,whichshews: that it retain’d itsNature,notwithstandingitsbeingmixtperMinimawiththeother:Welikewisesee,thatthoughonepartofpureSilverbemingledwitheightortenParts,ormore,ofLead,yettheFirewillupontheCuppeleasilyandperfectlyseparatethemagain.AndthatwhichIwouldhaveyoupeculiarlyConsideronthisOccasionis,thatnotonlyinChymicallAnatomiesthereisaSeparationmadeoftheElementaryIngredients,butthatsomeMixtBodiesaffordaverymuchgreaterQuantityofthisorthatElementorPrinciplethanofanother;aswe see, thatTurpentine andAmber yieldmuchmoreOyl andSulphur than they doWater,whereasWine,whichisconfess’dtobeaperfectlymixtBodie,yieldsbutalittleInflamableSpirit,orSulphur,andnotmuchmoreEarth; but affords a vast proportion of Phlegmorwater:which could not be, if as thePeripatetickssuppose,every,evenoftheminutestParticles,wereofthesamenaturewiththewhole,andconsequently did contain both Earth and Water, and Aire, and Fire; Wherefore as to what Aristotleprincipally, and almost onlyObjects, that unless hisOpinion be admitted, therewould be no true andperfectMistion,butonelyAggregatesorHeapsofcontiguousCorpuscles,which,thoughtheEyeofMancannotdiscerne,yettheEyeofaLynxmightperceivenottobeofthesameNaturewithoneanotherandwiththeirTotum,astheNatureofMistionrequires,ifhedonotbegtheQuestion,andmakeMistiontoconsist in what other Naturalists deny to be requisite to it, yet He at least objects That as a greatInconveniencewhich I cannot take for such, till hehavebrought asConsiderableArguments as I havepropos’dtoprovethecontrary,toevincethatNaturemakesotherMistionsthansuchasIhaveallowed,whereintheMiscibiliaarereduc’dintominuteParts,andUnitedasfarrassensecandiscerne:whichifYouwillnotgranttobesufficientforatrueMistion,hemusthavethesameQuarrelwithNatureherself,aswithhisAdversaries.

Wherefore (ContinuesEleutherius) I cannot but somewhatmarvail thatCarneades should oppose theDoctrineoftheChymistinaParticular,whereintheydoaswellagreewithhisoldMistress,Nature,asdissentfromhisoldAdversary,Aristotle.

I must not (replies Carneades) engage my self at present to examine thorowly the ControversiesconcerningMistion:Andiftherewerenothirdthing,butthatIwerereduc’dtoembraceabsolutelyandunreservedlyeither theOpinionofAristotle, or thatof thePhilosophers thatwentbeforehim, I shouldlook upon the latter, which the Chymists have adopted, as themore defensible Opinion: But becausediffering in theOpinionsabout theElements frombothParties, I thinkIcan takeamiddleCourse,andDiscourse to you ofMistion after away that does neither perfectly agree, nor perfectly disagreewitheither, as I will not peremptorily define, whether there be not Cases wherein some Phænomena ofMistion seem to favour the Opinion that the Chymists Patrons borrow’d of the Antients, I shall onlyendeavourtoshewYouthattherearesomecaseswhichmaykeeptheDoubt,whichmakesupmysecondGeneralConsiderationfrombeingunreasonable.

I shall then freely acknowledge to You (sayesCarneades) that I am not over well satisfi’d with theDoctrine that is ascribed to Aristotle, concerning Mistion, especially since it teaches that the fourElementsmayagainbeseparatedfromthemixtBody;whereasiftheycontinu’dnotinit,itwouldnotbesomuchaSeparationasaProduction.AndIthinktheAncientPhilosophersthatPrecededAristotle,and

Chymistswhohavesincereceiv’dthesameOpinion,dospeakofthismattermoreintelligibly,ifnotmoreprobably,thenthePeripateticks:butthoughtheyspeakCongruouslyenough,totheirbelieving,thatthereareacertainNumberofPrimogenealBodies,bywhoseConcourseallthosewecallMixtsareGenerated,andwhichintheDestructionofmixtBodiesdobarelypartcompany,andrecedefromoneanother, justsuchas theywerewhentheycametogether;yetI,whomeetwithveryfewOpinions thatIcanentirelyAcquiescein,mustconfesstoYouthatIaminclin’dtodiffernotonlyfromtheAristotelians,butfromtheoldPhilosophersandtheChymists,abouttheNatureofMistion:AndifYouwillgivemeleave,IshallBriefly propose to you my present Notion of it, provided you will look upon it, not so much as anAssertionasanHypothesis; in talkingofwhichIdonotnowpretend toproposeanddebate thewholeDoctrineofMistion,buttoshewthat’tisnotImprobable,thatsometimesmingl’dsubstancesmaybesostrictlyunited,thatitdothnotbytheusuallOperationsoftheFire,bywhichChymistsarewonttosupposethemselves to have made the Analyses of mixt Bodies, sufficiently appear, that in such Bodies theMiscibilia that concurr’d tomake themupdoeachof them retain its ownpeculiarNature: andby theSpagyrists Fires may be more easily extricated and Recover’d, than Alter’d, either by a Change ofTexture in thePartsof thesameIngredient,orbyanAssociationwithsomepartsofanother Ingredientmorestrict thanwas thatof thepartsof thisor thatMiscibileamong themselves.At thesewordsEleu.havingpress’dhimtodowhathepropos’d,andpromis’dtodowhathedesir’d;

I consider then (resumesCarneades) that, not to mention those improper Kinds of mistion, whereinHomogeneousBodiesareJoyn’d,aswhenWaterismingl’dwithwater,ortwoVesselsfullofthesamekindofWinewithoneanother,themistionIamnowtoDiscourseofseems,Generallyspeaking,tobebutanUnionperMinimaofanytwoormoreBodiesofdifferingDenominations;aswhenAshesandSandareColliquatedintoGlassorAntimony,andIronintoRegulusMartis,orWineandWateraremingl’d,andSugarisdissolv’dintheMixture.NowinthisgeneralnotionofMistionitdoesnotappearclearlycomprehended,thattheMiscibiliaorIngredientsdointheirsmallPartssoretaintheirNatureandremaindistinctintheCompound,thattheymaythencebytheFirebeagaintakenasunder:ForthoughIdenynotthatinsomeMistionsofcertainpermanentBodiesthisRecoveryofthesameIngredientsmaybemade,yetI am not convinc’d that it will hold in all or even in most, or that it is necessarily deducible fromChymicallExperiments,andthetrueNotionofMistion.Toexplainthisalittle,Iassume,thatBodiesmaybemingl’d,andthatverydurably,thatarenotElementaryorresolv’dintoElementsorPrinciplesthattheymaybemingl’d;asisevidentintheRegulusofColliquatedAntimony,andIronnewlymention’d;andinGoldCoyne,whichlastssomanyages;whereingenerallytheGoldisalloy’dbythemixtureofaquantity,greateror lesser, (inourMints theyuseabouta12th.part)ofeithersilver,orCopper,orboth.Next, Iconsider, that there being but one Universal matter of things, as ’tis known that the Aristoteliansthemselves acknowledge, who call itMateria Prima (about which nevertheless I like not all theirOpinions,) the Portions of this matter seem to differ from One Another, but in certain Qualities orAccidents, fewer or more; upon whose Account the Corporeal Substance they belong to receives itsDenomination,and is referr’d to thisor thatparticular sortofBodies; so that if it come to lose,orbedepriv’dofthoseQualities,thoughitceasesnottobeabody,yetitceasesfrombeingthatkindofBodyasaPlant,orAnimal;orRed,Green,Sweet,Sowre,orthelike.IconsiderthatitveryoftenhappensthatthesmallpartsofBodiescoheretogetherbutbyimmediateContactandRest;andthathowever,therearefewBodieswhoseminutePartssticksoclosetogether,towhatcausesoevertheirCombinationbeascrib’d,butthatitispossibletomeetwithsomeotherBody,whosesmallPartsmaygetbetweenthem,andsodis-joynthem;ormaybefittedtocoheremorestronglywithsomeofthem,thenthosesomedowiththerest;oratleastmaybecombin’dsocloselywiththem,asthatneithertheFire,northeotherusualInstrumentsofChymicalAnatomieswillseparatethem.Thesethingsbeingpromis’d,Iwillnotperemptorilydeny,butthattheremaybesomeClustersofParticles,whereintheParticlesaresominute,andtheCoherenceso

strict, or both, thatwhenBodies ofDifferingDenominations, and consisting of such durableClusters,happentobemingl’d,thoughtheCompoundBodymadeupofthemmaybeveryDifferingfromeitherofthe Ingredients, yet each of the littleMasses orClustersmay so retain its ownNature, as to be againseparable,suchasitwasbefore.AswhenGoldandSilverbeingmeltedtogetherinaDueProportion(forineveryProportion, theRefinerswill tellYou that theExperimentwillnot succeed)AquaFortis willdissolvetheSilver,andleavetheGolduntoucht;bywhichmeans,asyoulatelynoted,boththeMetallsmayberecover’dfromthemixedMass.But(ContinuesCarneades)thereareotherClusterswhereintheParticles sticknot so close together, but that theymaymeetwithCorpuscles of anotherDenomination,whicharedispos’dtobemorecloselyUnitedwithsomeofthem,thentheywereamongthemselves.Andin suchcase, two thuscombiningCorpuscles losing thatShape,orSize,orMotion,orotherAccident,uponwhoseAccounttheywereendow’dwithsuchaDeterminateQualityorNature,eachofthemreallyceasestobeaCorpuscleofthesameDenominationitwasbefore;andfromtheCoalitionofthesetheremayemergeanewBody,asreallyone,aseitheroftheCorpuscleswasbeforetheyweremingl’d,or,ifyouplease,Confounded:SincethisConcretionisreallyendow’dwithitsownDistinctqualities,andcannomorebytheFire,oranyotherknownwayofAnalysis,bedividedagainintotheCorpusclesthatatfirstconcurr’dtomakeit,thaneitherofthemcouldbythesamemeansbesubdividedintootherParticles.But(sayesEleutherius)tomakethismoreintelligiblebyparticularexamples;IfyoudissolveCopperinAquaFortis,orSpiritofNitre,(forIremembernotwhichIus’d,nordoIthinkitmuchMaterial)YoumaybyCrystalizing the Solution Obtain a goodly Vitriol; which though by Virtue of the Composition it havemanifestlydiverseQualities,nottobemetwithineitheroftheIngredients,yetitseemsthattheNitrousSpirits,oratleastmanyofthem,mayinthisCompoundedMassretaintheirformerNature;forhavingfortryalsakeDistill’dthisVitriollSpirit,therecameoverstoreofRedFumes,whichbythatColour,bytheirpeculiarstinke,andbytheirSourness,manifestedthemselvestobe,NitrousSpirits;andthattheremainingCalxcontinu’dCopper, Isupposeyou’leasilybeleeve.But ifyoudissolveMinium,which isbutLeadPowder’dbytheFire, ingoodSpiritofVinager,andCrystalize theSolution,youshallnotonlyhaveaSaccharine Salt exceedingly differing from both its Ingredients; but the Union of some Parts of theMenstruumwithsomeofthoseoftheMetalissostrict,thattheSpiritofVinagerseemstobe,assuch,destroy’d,sincetheSalineCorpuscleshavequitelostthatacidity,uponwhoseAccounttheLiquorwascall’dSpirit ofVinager; nor can any suchAcidParts aswereput to theMinium beSeparatedby anyknownwayfromtheSaccharumSaturniresultingfromthemboth;fornotonlythereisnoSowrnessatall,butanadmirableSweetnesstobetastedintheConcretion;andnotonlyIfoundnotthatSpiritofWine,which otherwisewill immediately hisswhenmingl’dwith strong Spirit ofVinager, would hiss beingpour’duponSaccharumSaturni,whereinyet theAcidSaltofVinager,did itSurvive,mayseemtobeconcentrated; but upon theDistillationofSaccharumSaturni by itsSelf I found indeed aLiquor veryPenetrant,butnotatallAcid,anddifferingaswellinsmellandotherQualities,asintast,fromtheSpiritof Vinager; which likewise seem’d to have left some of its Parts very firmly united to the CaputMortuum,which though of a LeadenNaturewas in smell, Colour,&c. differing fromMinium; whichbringsintomymind,thatthoughtwoPowders,theoneBlew,andtheotherYellow,mayappearaGreenmixture,withouteitherofthemlosingitsownColour,asagoodMicroscopehassometimesinform’dme;yethavingmingl’dMiniumandSalArmoniack in a requisiteProportion, andexpos’d them in aGlassVesseltotheFire,thewholeMassbecameWhite,andtheRedCorpusclesweredestroy’d;forthoughtheCalcin’dLeadwasseparablefromtheSalt,yetyou’leasilybeleeveitdidnotpartfromitintheFormeofaRedPowder, such aswas theMinium,when itwas put to theSalArmoniack. I leave it also to beconsider’d,whetherinBlood,anddiversotherBodies, itbeprobable, thateachoftheCorpusclesthatconcurrtomakeaCompoundBodydoth,thoughsomeoftheminsomeCasesmay,retainitsownNatureinit,sothatChymstsmayExtricateeachsortofthemfromalltheothers,wherewithitconcurr’dtomakeaBodyofoneDenomination.

IknowtheremaybeaDistinctionbetwixtMatterImmanent,whenthematerialPartsremainandretaintheirownNatureinthethingsmateriated,assomeoftheSchoolmenspeak,(inwhichsenceWood,StonesandLime are thematter of aHouse,) andTransient,which in themateriated thing is so alter’d, as toreceiveanewForme,withoutbeingcapableofre-admittingagaintheOld.InwhichsencetheFriendsofthisDistinctionsay, thatChyle is thematterofBlood,andBlood thatofaHumaneBody,ofallwhoseParts’tispresum’dtobetheAliment.Iknowalsothatitmaybesaid,thatofmaterialPrinciples,somearecommon to allmixtBodies, asAristotles fourElements,or theChymistsTriaPrima; othersPeculiar,whichbelongto thisor thatsortofBodies;asButterandakindofwheymaybesaid tobe theProperPrinciplesofCream:andIdenynot,butthattheseDistinctionsmayinsomeCasesbeofUse;butpartlybywhatIhavesaidalready,andpartlybywhatIamtosay,YoumayeasilyenoughguessinwhatsenceIadmitthem,anddiscernethatinsuchasencetheywilleitherillustratesomeofmyOpinions,oratleastwillnotoverthrowanyofthem.

To prosecute thenwhat Iwas saying before, Iwill add to this purpose, That since theMajor part ofChymistsCredit,what those theycallPhilosophersaffirmeof theirStone, Imayrepresent to them, thatthoughwhenCommonGoldandLeadaremingledTogether,theLeadmaybesever’dalmostun-alter’dfromtheGold;yetifinsteadofGoldaTantillumoftheRedElixirbemingledwiththeSaturn,theirUnionwillbesoindissolubleintheperfectGoldthatwillbeproduc’dbyit,thatthereisnoknown,norperhapsnopossiblewayof separating the diffus’dElixir from the fixedLead, but they bothConstitute amostpermanentBody,whereintheSaturneseemstohavequitelostitsPropertiesthatmadeitbecall’dLead,andtohavebeenrathertransmutedbytheElixir,thenbarelyassociatedtoit.Sothatitseemsnotalwayesnecessary,thattheBodiesthatareputtogetherperminima,shouldeachretainitsownNature;SoaswhentheMassitSelfisdissipatedbytheFire,tobemoredispos’dtore-appearinitsPristineForme,theninanynewone,whichbyastricterassociationofitsPartswiththoseofsomeoftheotherIngredientsoftheCompositum,thenwithoneanother,itmayhaveacquired.

Andifitbeobjected,thatunlesstheHypothesisIopposebeadmitted,insuchCasesasIhaveproposedtherewouldnotbeanUnionbutaDestructionofmingledBodies,whichseemsalloneastosay,thatofsuchBodiesthereisnomistionatall;Ianswer,thatthoughtheSubstancesthataremingl’dremain,onlytheir Accidents are Destroy’d, and though we may with tollerable Congruity call themMiscibilia,becausetheyareDistinctBodiesbeforetheyareputtogether,howeverafterwardstheyaresoConfoundedthatIshouldrathercallthemConcretions,orResultingBodies,thanmixtones;andthough,perhaps,someotherandbetterAccountmaybepropos’d,uponwhichthenameofmistionmayremain;yetifwhatIhavesaidbethoughtReason,IshallnotwrangleaboutWords,thoughIthinkitfittertoalteraTermeofArt,then reject a new Truth, because it suits not with it. If it be also Objected that this Notion of mine,concerningmixtion,thoughitmaybeallow’d,whenBodiesalreadyCompoundedareputtobemingl’d,yet it is not applicable to those mixtions that are immediately made of the Elements, or Principlesthemselves; I Answer in the first place, that I here Consider the Nature of mixtion somewhat moreGenerally, then the Chymists, who yet cannot deny that there are oftentimesMixtures, and those verydurable ones, made of Bodies that are not Elementary. And in the next place, that though it may beprobably pretended that in those Mixtures that are made immediately of the Bodies that are call’dPrinciplesorElements, themingl’d Ingredientsmaybetter retain theirownNature in theCompoundedMass,andbemoreeasilyseparatedfromthence;yet,besidesthatitmaybedoubted,whethertherebeanysuch PrimaryBodies, I see notwhy the reason I alleadg’d, of the destructibility of the Ingredients ofBodiesinGeneral,maynotsometimesbeApplicabletoSaltSulphurorMercury;’tillitbeshewnuponwhataccountwearetobelievethemPriviledged.Andhowever,(ifyoupleasebuttorecalltomind,towhatpurposeI toldyouatFirst, Imeant tospeakofMistionat thisTime)youwillperhapsallowthatwhat I have hithertoDiscoursed about it may not only give some Light to theNature of it in general

(especiallywhenIshallhaveanOpportunitytoDeclaretoyoumythoughtsonthatsubjectmorefully)butmayonsomeOccasionsalsobeServiceabletomeintheInsuingPartofthisDiscourse.

But, to lookbackNowto thatpartofourDiscourse,whence thisExcursionconcerningMistionhassolongdivertedus,thoughwethereDeduc’d,fromthedifferingSubstancesobtainedfromaPlantnourishedonly with Water, and from some other things, that it was not necessary that nature should alwaiescompoundaBodyatfirstofallsuchdifferingbodiesasthefirecouldafterwardsmakeitafford;yetthisis not all that may be collected from those Experiments. For from them there seems also DeduciblesomethingthatSubvertsanotherFoundationoftheChymicalDoctrine.Forsincethat(aswehaveseen)outoffairWateralone,notonlySpirit,butOyle,andSalt,andEarthmaybeProduced;ItwillfollowthatSaltandSulphurarenotPrimogenealBodies,andprinciples,sincetheyareeveryDaymadeoutofplainWater by the Texture which the Seed or Seminal principle of plants puts it into. And this would notperhapsseemsostrange,ifthroughpride,ornegligence,WewerenotWonttoOverlooktheObviousandFamiliarWorkingsofNature;ForifWeconsiderwhatslightQualitiestheyarethatservetodenominateone of theTria Prima,We shall find that Nature do’s frequently enoughwork as great Alterations indiversparcellsofmatter:For tobe readilydissoluble inwater, isenough tomake thebody that is so,passeforaSalt.AndyetIseenotwhyfromanewshuflingandDispositionoftheComponentParticlesofabody,itshouldbemuchharderforNaturetocomposeabodydissolubleinWater,ofaportionofWaterthatwas not so before, then of the Liquid substance of an Egg,whichwill easilymixwithWater, toproducebythebarewarmthofahatchingHen,Membrans,Feathers,Tendons,andotherparts,thatarenotdissoluble inWater as that Liquid Substance was: Nor is the Hardness and Brittleness of Salt moredifficultforNaturetointroduceintosuchayieldingbodyasWater,thenitisforhertomaketheBonesofaChickoutofthetenderSubstanceoftheLiquorsofanEgg.Butinsteadofprosecutingthisconsideration,asIeasilymight,Iwillproceed,assoonasIhavetakennoticeofanobjectionthatliesinmyWay.ForIeasily foresee it will be alledged, that the abovementioned Examples are all taken from Plants, andAnimals, inwhom theMatter is Fashionedby thePlastick power of the seed, or something analogousthereunto.WhereastheFiredo’snotactlikeanyoftheSeminalPrinciples,butdestroyesthemall,whentheycomewithinitsReach.ButtothisIshallneedatpresenttomakebutthiseasyAnswer,Thatwhetherit be a Seminal Principle, or any otherwhich fashions thatMatter after those variousmanners I havementionedtoYou,yet’tisEvident,thateitherbythePlastickprincipleAlone,orthatandHeatTogether,or by someOther cause capable to contex thematter, it is yet possible that themattermay beAnewcontriv’dintosuchBodies.And’tisonlyforthePossibilityofthisthatIamnowcontending.

T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST.

W

TheThirdPart.

HatIhavehithertoDiscours’d,Eleutherius,(sayeshisFriendtoHim)has,Ipresume,shew’nYou,that a Considering Man may very well question the Truth of those very Suppositions which

ChymistsaswellasPeripateticks,withoutproving,takeforgranted;anduponwhichDependstheValidityof the Inferences they draw from their Experiments.Wherefore having dispach’t that, which though aChymistPerhapswillnot,yetIdo,lookuponasthemostImportant,aswellasDifficult,partofmyTask,itwillnowbeSeasonableformetoproceedtotheConsiderationoftheExperimentsthemselves,whereintheyarewontsomuchtoTriumphandGlory.Andthesewill theratherdeserveaseriousExamination,becausethosethatAlledgethemarewonttodoitwithsomuchConfidenceandOstentation,thattheyhavehithertoimpos’duponalmostallPersons,withoutexceptingPhilosophersandPhysitiansthemselves,whohave read theirBooks,orheard them talk.For some learnedMenhavebeencontent rather tobeleevewhattheysoboldlyAffirm,thenbeatthetroubleandcharge,totrywhetherornoitbeTrue.Othersagain,whohaveCuriosityenough toExamine theTruthofwhat isAverr’d,wantSkillandOpportunity todowhat they Desire. And the Generality even of Learned Men, seeing the Chymists (not contentingthemselveswith theSchools toamuse theWorldwithemptywords)ActuallyPerform’ddiversstrangethings, and, among those Resolve Compound Bodies into several Substances not known by formerPhilosopherstobecontain’dinthem:MenIsay,seeingtheseThings,andHearingwithwhatConfidenceChymistsAverrtheSubstancesObtain’dfromCompoundBodiesbytheFiretobetheTrueElements,or,(astheyspeak)HypostaticallPrinciplesofthem,areforwardtothinkitbutJustaswellasModest,thataccordingtotheLogiciansRule,theSkilfullArtistsshouldbeCreditedintheirownArt;EspeciallywhenthosethingswhoseNaturetheysoConfidentlytakeuponthemtoteachothersarenotonlyProductionsoftheirownSkill,butsuchasothersKnownotelsewhattomakeof.

But though (ContinuesCarneades) the Chymists have been able upon some or other of themention’dAcounts,notonlytoDelightbutAmaze,andalmosttobewitchevenLearnedMen;yetsuchasYouandI,whoarenotunpractis’dintheTrade,mustnotsufferourSelvestobeimpos’duponbyhardNames,orboldAssertions; nor to be dazl’d by that Light which should but assist us to discern things themoreclearly.ItisonethingtobeabletohelpNaturetoproducethings,andanotherthingtoUnderstandwelltheNatureofthethingsproduc’d.Aswesee,thatmanyPersonsthatcanbegetChildren,areforallthatasIgnorantoftheNumberandNatureoftheparts,especiallytheinternalones,thatConstituteaChildsBody,astheythatneverwereParents.NordoIDoubt,butyou’lexcuseme,ifasIthanktheChymistsforthethingstheirAnalysis shewsme,soI take theLiberty toconsiderhowmany,andwhat theyare,withoutbeing astonish’d at them; as if,whosoever hathSkill enough to shewmen somenew thing of his ownmaking,hadtheRighttomakethembelievewhatsoeverhepleasestotellthemconcerningit.

WhereforeIwillnowproceedtomyThirdGeneralConsideration,whichis,Thatitdoesnotappear,thatThree ispreciselyandUniversally theNumberof theDistinctSubstancesorElements,whereintomixtBodiesareresolublebytheFire;Imeanthat’tisnotprov’dbyChymists,thatalltheCompoundBodies,whicharegrantedtobeperfectlymixt,areupontheirChymicalAnalysisdivisibleeachofthemintojustThreeDistinctSubstances,neithermorenorless,whicharewonttobelooktuponasElementary,ormayas well be reputed so as those that are so reputed. Which last Clause I subjoyne, to prevent yourObjecting, that some of the Substances I may have occasion to mention by and by, are not perfectlyHomogeneous,norConsequentlyworthyofthenameofPrinciples.ForthatwhichIamnowtoconsider,

is,intohowmanyDifferingSubstances,thatmayplausiblypassfortheElementaryIngredientsofamix’dBody,itmaybeAnalyz’dbytheFire;butwhethereachofthesebeuncompounded,Ireservetoexamine,whenIshallcometothenextGeneralConsideration;whereIhopetoevince,thattheSubstanceswhichtheChymistsnotonlyallow,butasserttobetheComponentPrinciplesoftheBodyresolv’dintothem,arenotwonttobeuncompounded.

Now there are twoKind ofArguments (pursuesCarneades)whichmaybe brought tomakemyThirdProposition seemprobable;one sortof thembeingof amoreSpeculativeNature, and theotherdrawnfromExperience.Tobeginthenwiththefirstofthese.

But as Carneades was going to do as he had said, Eleutherius interrupted him, by saying with asomewhatsmilingcountenance;

IfyouhavenomindIshouldthink,thattheProverb,ThatGoodWitshavebadMemories,isRationalandApplicabletoYou,YoumustnotForgetnowyouareupontheSpeculativeConsiderations,thatmayrelatetotheNumberoftheElements;thatyourSelfdidnotlongsinceDeliverandConcedesomePropositionsinFavouroftheChymicalDoctrine,whichImaywithoutdisparagementtoyouthinkituneasie,evenforCarneadestoanswer.

Ihavenot,replieshe,ForgottheConcessionsyoumean;butIhopetoo,thatyouhavenotforgotneitherwithwhatCautions theyweremade,when I hadnot yet assumed thePerson I amnow sustaining.Buthowever,IshalltocontentYou,sodiscourseofmyThirdgeneralconsideration,astoletYousee,ThatIamnotUnmindfulofthethingsyouwouldhavemeremember.

TotalkthenagainaccordingtosuchprinciplesasIthenmadeuseof,Ishallrepresent,thatifitbegrantedrational to suppose, as I then did, that the Elements consisted at first of certain small and primaryCoalitionsof theminuteParticlesofmatter intoCorpusclesverynumerous,andvery likeeachother, Itwillnotbeabsurdtoconceive,thatsuchprimaryClustersmaybeoffarmoresortsthenthreeorfive;andconsequently, thatwe need not suppose, that in each of the compoundBodieswe are treating of thereshouldbefoundjustthreesortsofsuchprimitiveCoalitions,aswearespeakingof.

AndifaccordingtothisNotionweallowaconsiderablenumberofdifferingElements,Imayadd,thatitseemsverypossible,thattotheconstitutionofonesortofmixtBodiestwokindsofElementaryonesmaysuffice(asIlatelyExemplify’dtoyou,inthatmostdurableConcrete,Glass,)anothersortofMixtsmaybecompos’dofthreeElements,anotheroffour,anotheroffive,andanotherperhapsofmanymore.SothataccordingtothisNotion,therecanbenodeterminatenumberassign’d,asthatoftheElements;ofallsortsofcompoundBodieswhatsoever, itbeingveryprobablethatsomeConcretesconsistoffewer,someofmoreElements.Nay,itdoesnotseemImpossible,accordingtothesePrinciples,butthattheremaybetwosortsofMixts,whereoftheonemaynothaveanyofallthesameElementsastheotherconsistsof;asweoftentimesseetwowords,whereoftheonehasnotanyoneoftheLetterstobemetwithintheother;orasweoftenmeetwithdiverseElectuaries,inwhichnoIngredient(exceptSugar)iscommontoanytwoofthem.IwillnotheredebatewhethertheremaynotbeamultitudeoftheseCorpuscles,whichbyreasonoftheirbeingprimaryandsimple,mightbecalledElementary, ifseveralsortsof themshouldconvene tocompose any Body, which are as yet free, and neither as yet contex’d and entangl’d with primaryCorpusclesofotherkinds,butremainsliabletobesubdu’dandfashion’dbySeminalPrinciples,orthelikepowerfulandTransmutingAgent,bywhomtheymaybesoconnectedamongthemselves,orwiththepartsofoneofthebodies,astomakethecompoundBodies,whoseIngredientstheyare,resolubleintomore,orotherElementsthenthosethatChymistshavehithertotakennoticeof.

ToallwhichImayadd,thatsinceitappears,bywhatIobserv’dtoyouofthepermanencyofGoldandSilver,thatevenCorpusclesthatarenotofanElementarybutcompoundedNature,maybeofsodurableaTexture,astoremainindissolubleintheordinaryAnalysisthatChymistsmakeofBodiesbytheFire;’Tisnot impossible but that, though there were but three Elements, yet there may be a greater number ofBodies,whichthewontedwayesofAnatomywillnotdiscovertobenoElementaryBodies.

But, sayesCarneades, having thus far, in compliance to you, talk’t conjecturally of the number of theElements,’tisnowtimetoconsider,notofhowmanyElementsitispossiblethatNaturemaycompoundmix’dBodies,but(atleastasfarrastheordinaryExperimentsofChymistswillinformeus)ofhowmanyshedothmakethemup.

Isaythen,thatitdoesnotbythesesufficientlyappeartome,thatthereisanyonedeterminatenumberofElementstobeuniformlymetwithinalltheseveralsortsofBodiesallow’dtobeperfectlymixt.

And for themoredistinct proof of thisProposition, I shall in the first placeRepresent,That there arediversBodies,which Icouldneverseebyfiredivided intosomanyas threeElementarysubstances. Iwouldfain(asIsaidlatelytoPhiloponus)seethatfixtandnobleMetalwecallGoldseparatedintoSalt,Sulphur andMercury: and if anymanwill submit to a competent forfeiture in case of failing, I shallwillingly in case of prosperous successe pay both for the Materials and the charges of such anExperiment.’Tisnot,thatafterwhatIhavetry’dmyselfIdareperemptorilydeny,thattheremayoutofGold be extracted a certain substance, which I cannot hinder Chymists from calling its Tincture orSulphur;andwhich leaves theremainingBodydepriv’dof itswontedcolour.NoramIsure, that therecannotbedrawnoutofthesameMetalarealquickandrunningMercury.ButfortheSaltofGold,Inevercouldeither see it, orbe satisfied that therewasever sucha thing separated, in rerumnatura, by therelationofanycredibleeyewitnesse.AndfortheseveralProcessesthatPromisethateffect,thematerialsthat must be wrought upon are somewhat too pretious and costly to be wasted upon so groundlesseadventures,ofwhichnotonlythesuccesseisdoubtful,buttheverypossibilityisnotyetdemonstrated.Yetthatwhichmostdeterresmefromsuchtryalls,isnottheirchargeablenesse,buttheirunsatisfactorinesse,thoughtheyshouldsucceed.FortheExtractionofthisgoldenSaltbeinginChymistsProcessesprescribedto be effected by corrosiveMenstruums, or the Intervention of other Saline Bodies, it will remaindoubtfultoawaryperson,whethertheEmergentSaltbethatoftheGolditself;oroftheSalineBodiesorSpiritsemploy’dtoprepareit;ForthatsuchdisguisesofMetalsdooftenimposeuponArtists,IamsureEleutheriusisnotsomuchastrangertoChymistryastoignore.Iwouldlikewisewillinglyseethethreeprinciples separated from the pure sort of Virgin-Sand, from Osteocolla, from refined Silver, fromQuicksilver, freed from its adventitious Sulphur, from Venetian Talk, which by long detention in anextremeReverberium, I could but divide into smaller Particles, (not the constituent principles,) Nay,which,whenIcausedittobekept,Iknownothowlong,inaGlasse-housefire,cameoutintheFigureit’sLumpshadwhenput in, thoughalter’dtoanalmostAmethystinecolour;andfromdiversotherBodies,whichitwerenowunnecessarytoenumerate.ForthoughIdarenotabsolutelyaffirmeittobeimpossibleto Analyze these Bodies into their Tria Prima; yet because, neither my own Experiments, nor anycompetentTestimonyhathhithertoeithertaughtmehowsuchanAnalysismaybemade,orsatisfy’dme,thatithathbeenso,ImusttaketheLibertytorefrainfrombelievingit,tilltheChymistsproveit,orgiveus intelligible and practicable Processes to performe what they pretend. For whilst they affect thatÆnigmatical obscurity with which they are wont to puzzle the Readers of their divulg’d Processesconcerning theAnalyticall PreparationofGoldorMercury, they leavewarypersonsmuchunsatisfyedwhetherornothedifferingSubstances,theypromisetoproduce,betrulytheHypostaticalPrinciples,oronlysomeintermixturesofthedividedBodieswiththoseemploy’dtoworkuponthem,asisEvidentintheseemingCrystallsofSilver,andthoseofMercury;whichthoughbysomeinconsideratelysupposedto

betheSaltsof thoseMetalls,areplainlybutmixturesof theMetallineBodies,with theSalinepartsofAquafortisorothercorrosiveLiquors;asisevidentbytheirbeingreducibleintoSilverorQuicksilver,astheywerebefore.

I cannot but Confesse (saith Eleutherius) that though Chymists may upon probable grounds affirmthemselvesAbletoobtaintheirTriaPrima,fromAnimalsandVegetables,yetIhaveoftenwondredthatthey should so confidently pretend also to resolve all Metalline and other Mineral bodies into Salt,Sulphur, andMercury. For ’tis a saying almost Proverbial, among those Chymists themselves that areaccounted Philosophers; and our famous Countryman Roger Bacon has particularly adopted it; thatFaciliusestaurumfacerequamdestruere.AndIfear,withYou,thatGoldisnottheonlyMineralfromwhichChymists arewont fruitlessly to attempt the separating of their three Principles. I know indeed(continuesEleutherius)thattheLearnedSennertus,eveninthatbookwherehetakesnotuponhimtoplaythe Advocate for the Chymists, but the Umpier betwixt them and the Peripateticks, expresses himselfroundly, thus; Salem omnibus inesse (mixtis scilicet) & ex iis fieri posse omnibus in resolutionibusChymicisversatisnotissimumest.AndinthenextPage,Quoddesaledixi,saieshe,IdemdeSulphuredicipotest:butbyhisfavourImustseeverygoodproofs,beforeIbelievesuchgeneralAssertions,howboldly soevermade; and he thatwould convinceme of their truth,must first teachme some true andpracticablewayofseparatingSaltandSulphurfromGold,Silver,andthosemanydifferentsortofStones,thataviolentFiredoesnotbringtoLime,buttoFusion;andnotonlyI,formyownpart,neversawanyofthose newly nam’d Bodies so resolved; butHelmont, who was much better vers’d in the ChymicalAnatomizingofBodiestheneitherSennertusorI,hassomewherethisresolutepassage;Scio(saieshe)exarena,silicibus&saxis,nonCalcariis,nunquamSulphurautMercuriumtrahiposse;NayQuercetanushimself, though the grand stickler for the Tria Prima, has this Confession of the Irresolubleness ofDiamonds; Adamas (saith he) omnium factus Lapidum solidissimus ac durissimus ex arctissimavidelicet trium principiorum unione ac Cohærentia, quæ nulla arte separationis in solutionemprincipiorum suorum spiritualium disjungi potest. And indeed, pursuesEleutherius, I was not onlyglad, but somewhat surprized to findyou inclined toAdmit that theremaybe aSulphur and a runningMercury drawn fromGold; for unlesse you do (as your expression seem’d to intimate) take thewordSulphurinaveryloosesence,ImustdoubtwhetherourChymistscanseparateaSulphurfromGold:ForwhenIsawyoumaketheexperimentthatIsupposeinvitedyoutospeakasyoudid,IdidnotjudgethegoldenTincturetobethetrueprincipleofSulphurextractedfromthebody,butanaggregateofsomesuchhighlycolour’dpartsof theGold,asaChymistwouldhavecalledaSulphur incombustible,which inplain English seems to be little better than to call it a Sulphur and no Sulphur. And as forMetallineMercuries,Ihadnotwondredatit,thoughyouhadexpressedmuchmoreseverityinspeakingofthem:ForIrememberthathavingoncemetanoldandfamousArtist,whohadlongbeen(andstillis)ChymisttoagreatMonarch, the reputehehadofaveryhonestman invitedme todesirehimto tellme ingenuouslywhetherorno,amonghismanylabours,hehadeverreallyextractedatrueandrunningMercuryoutofMetalls;towhichquestionhefreelyreplyed,thathehadneverseparatedatrueMercuryfromanyMetal;nor had ever seen it really done by any man else. And though Gold is, of all Metalls, That, whoseMercuryChymistshavemostendeavouredtoextract,andwhichtheydothemostbragtheyhaveextracted;yettheExperiencedAngelusSala,inhisSpagyricalaccountofthesevenTerrestrialPlanets(thatisthesevenmetalls)affordsusthismemorableTestimony,to,ourpresentpurpose;Quanquam(saieshe)&c.experientia tamen (quam stultorumMagistrum vocamus) certe Comprobavit, Mercurium auri adeofixum,maturum,&arctecumreliquisejusdemcorporissubstantiisconjungi,utnullomodoretrogredipossit.Towhichhesubjoynes, thathehimselfhadseenmuchLabourspentuponthatDesign,butcouldneverseeanysuchMercuryproduc’dthereby.AndIeasilybeleevewhatheannexes;thathehadoftenseenDetectedmanytricksandImposturesofCheatingAlchymists.For,themostpartofthosethatare

fondofsuchCharlatans, beingunskilfullorCredulous,orboth, ’tisveryeasie for suchashave someSkill,muchcraft,moreboldness,andnoConscience, to imposeupon them;and therefore, thoughmanyprofess’d Alchymists, and divers Persons of Quality have told me that they have made or seen theMercuryofGold,orofthisorthatotherMetal;yetIhavebeenstillapttofearthateitherthesepersonshavehadaDesigntodeceiveothers;orhavenothadSkillandcircumspectionenoughtokeepthemselvesfrombeingdeceived.

You recall tomymind (sayesCarneades) a certain Experiment I once devis’d, innocently to deceivesomepersons,andletthemandothersseehowlittleistobebuiltupontheaffirmationofthosethatareeitherunskillfullorunwary,whentheytellustheyhaveseenAlchymistsmaketheMercuryofthisorthatMetal;andtomakethisthemoreevident,ImademyExperimentmuchmoreSlight,ShortandSimple,thantheChymistsusuallprocesses toExtractMetallineMercuries;whichOperationsbeingcommonlymoreElaborateandIntricate,andrequiringamuchmorelongertime,givetheAlchymistsagreateropportunityto Cozen, and Consequently are more Obnoxious to the Spectators suspicion. And that wherein Iendeavour’dtomakemyExperimentlookthemorelikeaTrueAnalysis,was,thatInotonlypretendedaswell as others to extract aMercury from theMetal I wrought upon, but likewise to separate a largeproportionofmanifestandinflamableSulphur.Itakethen,ofthefilingsofCopper,aboutaDrachmeortwo, of common sublimate, powder’d, the likeWeight, and Sal Armoniack near about as much as ofSublimate;thesethreebeingwellmingl’dtogetherIputintoasmallVialwithalongneck,or,whichIfindbetter, intoaGlassUrinall,which (having first stopped itwithCotton) toavoid theNoxiousFumes, Iapproach by degrees to a competent Fire of well kindled coals, or (which looks better, but moreendangerstheGlass)totheFlameofacandle;andafterawhilethebottomoftheGlassbeingheldJustupontheKindledCoals,orintheflame,YoumayinaboutaquarterofanHour,orperchanceinhalfethattime,perceiveintheBottomoftheGlasssomerunningMercury;andifthenYoutakeawaytheGlassandbreakit,YoushallfindaParcelofQuicksilver,Perhapsaltogether,andperhapspartofitintheporesoftheSolidMass;Youshallfindtoo, that theremainingLumpbeingheldtotheFlameoftheCandlewillreadilyburnwithagreenishFlame,andafteralittlewhile(perchancepresently)willintheAirAcquireaGreenishBlew,which being theColour that is ascrib’d toCopper,when itsBody is unlocked, ’TiseasietoperswadeMenthatthisistheTrueSulphurofVenus,especiallysincenotonlytheSaltsmaybeSuppos’dpartlytobeFlownaway,andpartlytobeSublim’dtotheupperpartoftheGlass,whoseinside(willCommonly appearWhitenedby them)but theMetal seems to bequiteDestroy’d, theCopper nolongerappearinginaMetallineForme,butalmostinthatofaResinousLump;whereasindeedtheCaseisonly this, That the Saline parts of the Sublimate, together with the Sal Armoniack, being excited andactuatedbytheVehementheat,fallupontheCopper,(whichisaMetaltheycanmoreeasilycorrode,thansilver)whereby the small parts of theMercury being freed from theSalts that kept them asunder, andbeingbytheheattumbledupanddownaftermanyOccursions,theyConveneintoaConspicuousMassofLiquor;andasfortheSalts,someofthemoreVolatileofthemSublimingtotheupperpartoftheGlass,theothersCorrodetheCopper,andunitingthemselveswithitdostrangelyalterandDisguiseitsMetallickForm,andcomposewithitanewkindofConcreteinflamablelikeSulphur;concerningwhichIshallnotnowsayanything,sinceIcanReferrYoutotheDiligentObservationswhichIrememberMr.BoylehasmadeconcerningthisOddekindofVerdigrease.ButContinuesCarneadessmiling,youknowIwasnotcutoutforaMountebank,andthereforeIwillhastentoresumethepersonofaSceptick,andtakeupmydiscoursewhereYoudivertedmefromprosecutingit.

In thenextplace, then, Iconsider, that,as therearesomeBodieswhichyieldnotsomanyas the threePrinciples;sotherearemanyothers,thatintheirResolutionExhibitemoreprinciplesthanthree;andthatthereforetheTernaryNumberisnotthatoftheUniversalandAdequatePrinciplesofBodies.IfyouallowoftheDiscourseIatelymadeYou,touchingtheprimaryAssociationsofthesmallParticlesofmatter,You

willscarcethinkitimprobable,thatofsuchElementaryCorpusclestheremaybemoresortstheneitherthree, or four, or five. And if you will grant, what will scarce be deny’d, that Corpuscles of acompoundedNaturemayinallthewontedExamplesofChymistspassforElementary,Iseenot,whyyoushould think it impossible, that asAquaFortis, orAqua Regis willmake a Separation of colliquatedSilver and Gold, though the Fire cannot; so there may be some Agent found out so subtile and sopowerfull,atleastinrespectofthoseparticularcompoundedCorpuscles,astobeabletoresolvethemintothosemoresimpleones,whereoftheyconsist,andconsequentlyencreasethenumberoftheDistinctSubstances,whereinto themixt Body has been hitherto thought resoluble.And if that be true,which Irecited to you awhile ago out ofHelmont concerning theOperations of theAlkahest, which dividesBodiesintootherDistinctSubstances,bothastonumberandNature,thentheFiredoes;itwillnotalittlecountenancemyConjecture.Butconfiningourselves tosuchwayesofAnalyzingmix’dBodies,asarealreadynotunknowntoChymists,itmaywithoutAbsurditybeQuestion’d,whetherbesidesthosegrosserElementsofBodies,which theycallSaltSulphurandMercury, theremaynotbe IngredientsofamoreSubtileNature,whichbeingextreamlylittle,andnotbeinginthemselvesVisible,mayescapeunheededattheJuncturesoftheDestillatoryVessels,thoughneversocarefullyLuted.Forletmeobservetoyouonething,whichthoughnot takennoticeofbyChymists,maybeanotionofgoodUse indiversCases toaNaturalist,thatwemaywellsuspect,thattheremaybeseverallSortsofBodies,whicharenotImmediateObjectsofanyoneofoursenses;sinceweSee,thatnotonlythoselittleCorpusclesthatissueoutoftheLoadstone,andperformtheWondersforwhichitisjustlyadmired;ButtheEffluviumsofAmber,Jet,andotherElectricallConcretes, thoughby theireffectsupontheparticularBodiesdispos’d toreceive theirAction, they seem to fall under theCognizanceof ourSight, yet do theynot asElectrical immediatelyAffectanyofoursenses,asdothebodies,whetherminuteorgreater,thatweSee,Feel,Taste,&c.But,continuesCarneades,becauseyoumayexpect I should,as theChymistsdo,consideronly thesensibleIngredientsofMixtBodies,letusnowsee,whatExperiencewill,evenastothese,suggesttous.

Itseemsthenquestionableenough,whetherfromGrapesvariouslyorder’dtheremaynotbedrawnmoredistinctSubstancesbythehelpoftheFire,thenfrommostothermixtBodies.FortheGrapesthemselvesbeing dryed into Raysins and distill’d, will (besidesAlcali, Phlegm, and Earth) yield a considerablequantityofanEmpyreumaticalOyle,andaSpiritofaverydifferentnaturefromthatofWine.Also theunfermented Juice ofGrapes affords other distil’d Liquors thenWine doth. The Juice ofGrapes afterfermentation will yield a Spiritus Ardens; which if competently rectifyed will all burn away withoutleaving any thing remaining. The same fermented Juice degenerating into Vinager, yields an acid andcorrodingSpirit.ThesameJuiceturn’dup,armesitselfwithTartar;outofwhichmaybeseparated,asoutofotherBodies,Phlegme,Spirit,Oyle,SaltandEarth:nottomentionwhatSubstancesmaybedrawnfromtheVineitself,probablydifferingfromthosewhichareseparatedfromTartar,whichisabodybyitself, thathas fewresemblers in theWorld.AndIwill furtherconsider thatwhat forcesoeveryouwillallow this instance, to evince that there are someBodies that yieldmore Elements then others, it canscarcebedeny’dbutthattheMajorpartofbodiesthataredivisibleintoElements,yieldmorethenthree.For,besidesthosewhichtheChymistsarepleasedtonameHypostatical,mostbodiescontaintwoothers,Phlegme and Earth, which concurring as well as the rest to the constitution of Mixts, and being asgenerally,ifnotmore,foundintheirAnalysis,IseenosufficientcausewhytheyshouldbeexcludedfromthenumberofElements.Norwill itsuffice toobject,as theParacelsiansarewont todo, that theTriaprimaarethemostusefulElements,andtheEarthandWaterbutworthlesseandunactive;forElementsbeing call’d so in relation to the constituting of mixt Bodies, it should be upon the account of itsIngrediency,notofitsuse,thatanythingshouldbeaffirmedordenyedtobeanElement:andasforthepretended uselessness of Earth andWater, it would be consider’d that usefulnesse, or the want of it,denotes only a Respect or Relation to us; and therefore the presence, or absence of it, alters not the

Intrinsicknatureofthething.ThehurtfulTeethofVipersareforoughtIknowuselesstous,andyetarenottobedeny’dtobepartsoftheirBodies;anditwerehardtoshewofwhatgreaterUsetoUs,thenPhlegmeandEarth, are thoseUndiscern’dStars,whichourNewTelescopes discover toUs, inmanyBlanchedplacesoftheSky;andyetwecannotbutacknowledgethemConstituentandConsiderablygreatpartsoftheUniverse.BesidesthatwhetherornothePhlegmeandEarthbeimmediatelyUseful,butnecessarytoconstitutetheBodywhencetheyareseparated;andconsequently,ifthemixtBodybenotUselesstous,those constituent parts, without which it could not have been That mixt Body, may be said not to beUnusefultoUs:andthoughtheEarthandWaterbenotsoconspicuouslyOperative(afterseparation)astheotherthreemoreactivePrinciples,yetinthiscaseitwillnotbeamisstoremembertheluckyFableofMenemiusAggrippa,ofthedangerousSeditionoftheHandsandLegs,andothermorebusiepartsoftheBody, against the seemingly unactive Stomack. And to this case also we may not unfitly apply thatReasoningofanApostle,toanotherpurpose;IftheEarshallsay,becauseIAmnottheEye,IamnotoftheBody;IsitthereforenotoftheBody?IfthewholeBodywereEye,whereweretheHearing?Ifthewholewereforhearing,wherethesmelling?Inaword,sinceEarthandwaterappear,asclearlyandasgenerally as theotherPrinciplesupon the resolutionofBodies, tobe the Ingredientswhereof they aremadeup;andsince theyareuseful, ifnot immediately tous,or rather toPhysitians, to theBodies theyconstitute,andso though insomewhata remoterway,areserviceable tous; toexclude themoutof thenumberofElements,isnottoimitateNature.

Transcriber’s Note: See the printer’s note for material that the printerinadvertentlyomittedfromthispage.

But,pursuesCarneades, thoughIthinkitEvident,thatEarthandPhlegmearetobereckon’damongtheElementsofmostAnimalandVegetableBodies,yet’tisnotuponthatAccountalone,thatIthinkdiversBodiesresolubleintomoreSubstancesthenthree.FortherearetwoExperiments,thatIhavesometimesmadetoshew,thatatleastsomeMixtsaredivisibleintomoreDistinctSubstancesthenfive.TheoneoftheseExperiments,though’twillbemoreseasonableformetomentionitfullyanon,yetinthemeantime,Ishalltellyouthusmuchofit,ThatoutoftwoDistill’dLiquors,whichpassforElementsoftheBodieswhence they are drawn, I can without Addition make a true Yellow and Inflamable Sulphur,notwithstandingthatthetwoLiquorsremainafterwardsDistinct.OftheotherExperiment,whichperhapswill not be altogether unworthy yourNotice, Imust now give you this particularAccount. I had longobserv’d,thatbytheDestillationofdiversWoods,bothinOrdinary,andsomeunusuallsortsofVessels,theCopiousSpiritthatcameover,hadbesidesastrongtast,tobemetwithintheEmpyreumaticallSpiritsof many other Bodies, an Acidity almost like that of Vinager:Wherefore I suspected, that though thesowrishLiquorDistill’d,forInstance,fromBox-Wood,belooktuponbyChymistsasbarelytheSpiritofit,andthereforeasonesingleElementorPrinciple;yetitdoesreallyconsistoftwoDifferingSubstances,andmaybedivisibleintothem;andconsequently,thatsuchWoodsandotherMixtsasaboundwithsuchaVinager,maybesaidtoconsistofoneElementorPrinciple,morethentheChymistsasyetareAwareof;Whereforebethinkingmyself,howtheseparationof these twoSpiritsmightbemade, IQuicklyfound,that therewereseveralwayesofCompassingit.But thatof themwhichIshallatpresentmention,wasthis,HavingDestill’daQuantityofBox-Woodperse,andslowlyrectify’dthesowrishSpirit,thebettertofreeitbothfromOyleandPhlegme,IcastintothisRectify’dLiquoraconvenientQuantityofPowder’dCoral,expectingthattheAcidpartoftheLiquorwouldCorrodetheCoral,andbeingassociatedwithitwouldbesoretain’dbyit, thattheotherpartoftheLiquor,whichwasnotofanacidNature,norfittofastenupontheCorals,wouldbepermittedtoascendalone.NorwasIdeceiv’dinmyExpectation;ForhavinggentlyabstractedtheLiquorfromtheCoralls,therecameoveraSpiritofaStrongsmell,andofatastverypiercing,butwithoutanysourness;andwhichwasindiversequalitiesmanifestlydifferent,not

onlyfromaSpiritofVinager,butfromsomeSpiritofthesameWood,thatIpurposelykeptbymewithoutdeprivingitofitsacidIngredient.Andtosatisfyyou,thatthesetwoSubstanceswereofaverydifferingNature, Imight informeyouof severalTryals that Imade, butmust not name someof them,because Icannotdosowithoutmakingsomeunseasonablediscoveries.YetthisIshalltellyouatpresent,thatthesowreSpiritofBox,notonlywould,asI justnowrelated,dissolveCorals,whichtheotherwouldnotfasten on, but being pour’d upon Salt of Tartar would immediately boile and hiss, whereas the otherwouldlyequietlyuponit.TheacidSpiritpour’duponMiniummadeaSugarofLead,whichIdidnotfindtheothertodo;somedropsofthispenetrantspiritbeingmingl’dwithsomedropsoftheblewSyrupofVioletsseem’drathertodilutethenotherwisealterthecolour;whereastheAcidSpiritturn’dthesyrupofareddishcolour,andwouldprobablyhavemadeitofaspurearedasAcidSaltsarewonttodo,hadnot itsoperationbeenhinderedby themixtureof theotherSpirit.A fewdropsof thecompoundSpiritbeingShaken into a pretty quantity of the infusionofLignumNephriticum, presently destroyed all theblewish colour,whereas the otherSpiritwould not take it away.To allwhich itmight be added, thathavingfortryalssakepour’dfairwaterupontheCoralsthatremainedinthebottomoftheglasswhereinIhadrectifyedthedoublespirit(ifImaysocallit)thatwasfirstdrawnfromtheBox,IfoundaccordingtomyexpectationthattheAcidSpirithadreallydissolvedtheCorals,andhadcoagulatedwiththem.Forbytheaffusionof fairWater, IObtain’daSolution,which (tonote thatsingularityupon thebye)was red,whencetheWaterbeingevaporated, thereremainedasolubleSubstancemuchliketheOrdinarySaltofCoral,asChymistsarepleas’dtocallthatMagisteryofCorals,whichtheymakebydissolvingthemincommon spirit ofVinager, and abstracting theMenstruumadSiccitatem. I knownotwhether I shouldsubjoine,onthisoccasion,thatthesimplespiritofBox,ifChymistswillhaveitthereforeSalinebecauseithasastrongtast,willfurnishuswithanewkindofSalineBodies,differingfromthosehithertotakennoticeof.ForwhereasofthethreechiefsortsofSalts,theAcid,theAlcalizate,andtheSulphureous,thereisnonethatseemstobefriendswithboththeothertwo,asImay,e’reitbelong,haveoccasiontoshew;IdidnotfindbutthatthesimplespiritofBoxdidagreeverywell(atleastasfarrasIhadoccasiontotryit)bothwiththeAcidandtheotherSalts.ForthoughitwouldlyeveryquietwithsaltofTartar,SpiritofUrine, or other bodies, whose Salts were either of an Alcalizate or fugitive Nature; yet did not theminglingofOyleofVitriolitselfproduceanyhissingorEffervescence,whichyouknowiswonttoensueupontheAffusionofthathighlyAcidLiquoruponeitheroftheBodiesnewlymentioned.

Ithinkmyself,sayesEleutherius,beholdentoyou,forthisExperiment;notonlybecauseIforseeyouwillmakeithelpfultoyouintheEnquiryyouarenowupon,butbecauseitteachesusaMethod,wherebywemay prepare a numerous sort of new spirits, which though more simple then any that are thoughtElementary,aremanifestlyendow’dwithpeculiarandpowerfullqualities,someofwhichmayprobablybeofconsiderableuseinPhysick,aswellalone,asassociatedwithotherthings;asonemayhopefullyguessbytherednessofthatSolutionyoursourSpiritmadeofCorals,andbysomeothercircumstancesofyourNarrative.Andsuppose(pursuesEleutherius)thatyouarenotsoconfin’d,fortheseparationoftheAcidpartsofthesecompoundSpiritsfromtheother,toemployCorals;butthatyoumayaswellmakeuseof anyAlcalizate Salt, or of Pearls, orCrabs eyes, or any otherBody, uponwhich commonSpirit ofVinagerwilleasilywork,and,tospeakinanHelmontianPhrase,Exantlateitself.

Ihavenotyet tryed, sayesCarneades, ofwhat use themention’d liquorsmaybe inPhysick, either asMedicinesorasMenstruums:ButIcouldmentionnow(andmayanothertime)diversofthetryalsthatImadetosatisfymyselfofthedifferenceofthesetwoLiquors.Butthat,asIallowyourthinkingwhatyounewlytoldmeaboutCorals,Ipresumeyouwillallowme,fromwhatIhavesaidalready,todeducethisCorollary; That there are divers compound bodies, which may be resolv’d into four such differingSubstances,asmayaswellmeritthenameofPrinciples,asthosetowhichtheChymistsfreelygiveit.ForsincetheyscruplenottoreckonthatwhichIcallthecompoundSpiritofBox,forthespirit,orasothers

wouldhaveit,theMercuryofthatWood,Iseenot,whytheAcidliquor,andtheother,shouldnoteachofthem, especially that last named, be lookt upon asmoreworthy to be called anElementary Principle;sinceitmustneedsbeofamoresimplenaturethentheLiquor,whichwasfoundtobedivisibleintothat,and theAcidSpirit.And this furtheruse (continuesCarneades)maybemadeofourexperiment tomypresentpurpose,thatitmaygiveusarisetosuspect,thatsinceaLiquorreputedbytheChymiststobe,without dispute, Homogeneous, is by so slight a way divisible into two distinct and more simpleIngredients,somemoreskilfulorhappierExperimenterthenImayfindawayeitherfurthertodivideoneoftheseSpirits,ortoresolvesomeorother,ifnotall,ofthoseotherIngredientsofmixtBodies,thathavehithertopass’damongChymistsfortheirElementsorPrinciples.

T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST.

A

TheFourthPart.

Nd thusmuch (sayesCarneades)may suffice tobe saidof theNumber of theDistinct substancesseparablefrommixtBodiesbytheFire:WhereforeInowproceedtoconsiderthenatureof them,

andshewyou,ThatthoughtheyseemHomogeneousBodies,yethave theynot thepurityandsimplicitythatisrequisitetoElements.AndIshouldimmediatelyproceedtotheproofofmyAssertion,butthattheConfidencewherewithChymists arewont to call each of the Substanceswe speak of by the name ofSulphur orMercury, or the other of the Hypostaticall Principles, and the intollerabln Ambiguity theyallowthemselvesietheirWritingsandExpressions,makesitnecessaryformeinOrdertotheKeepingyoueitherfrommistakingme,orthinkingImistaketheControversie,totakeNoticetoyouandcomplainoftheunreasonableLibertytheygivethemselvesofplayingwithNamesatpleasure.AndindeedifIwereoblig’dinthisDispute,tohavesuchregardtothePhraseologyofeachparticularChymist,asnottoWriteanythingwhichthisorthatAuthormaynotpretend,nottocontradictthisorthatsence,whichhemaygiveasOccasionservestohisAmbiguousExpressions,Ishouldscarceknowhowtodispute,norwhichwaytoturnmyself.ForIfindthatevenEminentWriters,(suchasRaymundLully,Paracelsusandothers)dosoabusethetermestheyemploy,thatastheywillnowandthengivediversthings,onename;sotheywilloftentimes give one thing,manyNames; and some of them (perhaps) such, as domuchmore properlysignifiesomeDistinctBodyofanotherkind;nayeveninTechnicalWordsorTermesofArt,theyrefrainnotfromthisConfoundingLiberty;butwill,asIhaveObserv’d,callthesameSubstance,sometimestheSulphur,andSometimestheMercuryofaBody.AndnowIspeakofMercury,IcannotbuttakeNotice,thattheDescriptionstheygiveusofthatPrincipleorIngredientofmixtBodies,aresointricate,thateventhosethathaveEndeavour’dtoPollishandIllustratetheNotionsoftheChymists,arefaintoconfessthatthey knownotwhat tomake of it, either by IngenuousAcknowledgments, orDescriptions that are notIntelligible.

Imustconfess(sayesEleutherius)Ihave,inthereadingofParacelsusandotherChymicalAuthors,beentroubled to find, that suchhardWords andEquivocalExpressions, asYou justly complainof, doevenwhen they treat of Principles, seem to be studiously affected by those Writers; whether to makethemselvestobeadmir’dbytheirReaders,andtheirArtappearmoreVenerableandMysterious,or,(astheywouldhaveusthink)toconcealfromthemaKnowledgethemselvesjudgeinestimable.

Butwhatever(sayesCarneades)theseMenmaypromisethemselvesfromaCantingwayofdeliveringthePrinciplesofNature,theywillfindtheMajorpartofKnowingMensovain,aswhentheyunderstandnotwhat they read, to conclude, that it is rather theWriters fault then their own. And those that are soambitioustobeadmir’dbytheVulgar,thatratherthengowithouttheAdmirationoftheIgnoranttheywillexposethemselvestothecontemptoftheLearned,thoseshall,bymyconsent,freelyenjoytheirOption.As for theMysticalWriters scrupling to Communicate their Knowledge, theymight less to their ownDisparagement, and to the trouble of their Readers, have conceal’d it by writing no Books, then byWritingbadones.IfThemistiuswerehere,hewouldnotsticktosay,thatChymistswritethusdarkly,notbecause they think theirNotions too precious to be explain’d, but because they fear that if theywereexplain’d,menwoulddiscern, that they are farr frombeingprecious.And indeed, I fear that the chiefReasonwhyChymistshavewrittensoobscurelyoftheirthreePrinciples,maybe,ThatnothavingClearandDistinctNotionsof themthemselves, theycannotwriteotherwise thenConfusedlyofwhat theybutConfusedlyApprehend:Nottosaythatdiversofthem,beingConscioustotheInvalidityoftheirDoctrine,

mightwellenoughdiscernethattheycouldscarcekeepthemselvesfrombeingconfuted,butbykeepingthemselves frombeingclearlyunderstood.But thoughmuchmaybe said toExcuse theChymistswhentheywriteDarkly,andÆnigmatically, about thePreparationof theirElixir, andSome fewothergrandArcana, the divulging of which theymay uponGrounds Plausible enough esteem unfit; yet when theypretendtoteachtheGeneralPrinciplesofNaturalPhilosophers,thisEquivocallWayofWritingisnottobe endur’d. For in such Speculative Enquiries, where the naked Knowledge of the Truth is the thingPrincipally aim’d at, what does he teach me worth thanks that does not, if he can, make his Notionintelligibletome,butbyMysticalTermes,andAmbiguousPhrasesdarkenswhatheshouldclearup;andmakesmeaddtheTroubleofguessingatthesenceofwhatheEquivocallyexpresses,tothatofexaminingtheTruth ofwhat he seems to deliver.And if thematter of thePhilosophersStone, and themanner ofpreparingit,besuchMysteriesastheywouldhavetheWorldbelievethem,theymayWriteIntelligiblyandClearlyof thePrinciplesofmixtBodies inGeneral,withoutDiscoveringwhat theycall theGreatWork. But for my part (Continues Carneades) what my Indignation at this Un-philosophical way ofteaching Principles has now extorted fromme, ismeant chiefly to excusemy self, if I shall hereafteropposeanyParticularOpinionorassertion,thatsomeFollowerofParacelsusoranyEminentArtistmaypretendnot tobehisMasters.For,as I toldyou longsince, IamnotOblig’d toexamineprivatemenswritings,(whichwereaLabourasendlessasunprofitable)beingonlyengag’dtoexaminethoseOpinionsabouttheTriaPrima,whichIfindthoseChymistsIhavemetwithtoagreeinmost:AndIDoubtnotbutmyArgumentsagainsttheirDoctrinewillbeingreatparteasilyenoughapplicableev’ntothoseprivateOpinions,whichtheydonotsodirectlyandexpreslyoppose.Andindeed,thatwhichIamnowenteringuponbeingtheConsiderationofthethingsthemselveswhereintoSpagyrists resolvemixtBodiesbytheFire,IfIcanshewthatthesearenotofanElementaryNature,itwillbenogreatmatterwhatnamestheseor those Chymists have been pleased to give them. And I question not that to a Wise man, andconsequently toEleutherius, itwillbe lesseconsiderable toknow,whatMenHave thoughtofThings,thenwhattheyShouldhavethought.

In the fourth and last place, then, I consider, that as generally as Chymists are wont to appeal toExperience,andasconfidentlyastheyusetoinstancetheseveralsubstancesseparatedbytheFirefromaMixtBody,asasufficientproofoftheirbeingitscomponentElements:YetthosedifferingSubstancesaremanyofthemfarrenoughfromElementarysimplicity,andmaybeyetlook’duponasmixtBodies,mostofthemalsoretaining,somewhatat least, ifnotverymuch,of theNatureof thoseConcreteswhence theywereforc’d.

I am glad (sayesEleutherius) to see the Vanity or Envy of the canting Chymists thus discover’d andchastis’d;and Icouldwish, thatLearnedMenwouldconspire together tomake thesedeludingWriterssensible,thattheymustnolongehopewithImpunitytoabusetheWorld.ForwhilstsuchMenarequietlypermittedtopublishBookswithpromisingTitles,andthereintoAssertwhattheyplease,andcontradictothers,andev’nthemselvesastheyplease,withaslittledangerofbeingconfutedasofbeingunderstood,theyareencourag’dtogetthemselvesaname,atthecostoftheReaders,byfindingthatintelligentMenare wont for the reason newly mention’d, to let their Books and Them alone: And the ignorant andcredulous(ofwhichthenumber isstillmuchgreater thenthatof theother)areforwardtoadmiremostwhat they leastunderstand.But if Judiciousmenskill’d inChymicalaffaires shallonceagree towriteclearlyandplainlyofthem,andtherebykeepmenfrombeingstunn’d,asitwere,orimposduponbydarkoremptyWords;’tis tobehop’dthat thesemenfinding that theycanno longerwrite impertinentlyandabsurdly,withoutbeinglaugh’datfordoingso,willbereduc’deithertowritenothing,orBooksthatmayteachussomething,andnotrobmen,asformerly,ofinvaluableTime;andsoceasingtotroubletheWorldwithRiddlesorImpertinencies,weshalleitherbytheirBooksreceiveanAdvantage,orbytheirsilenceescapeanInconvenience.

Butafterallthisissaid(continuesEleutherius)itmayberepresentedinfavouroftheChymists,that,inoneregardtheLibertytheytakeinusingnames,ifitbeexcusableatanytime,maybemoresowhentheyspeakofthesubstanceswhereintotheirAnalysisresolvesmixtBodies:SinceasParentshavetheRighttonametheirownChildren, ithaseverbeenallow’d to theAuthorsofnewInventions, toImposeNamesuponthem.AndthereforethesubjectswespeakofbeingsotheProductionsoftheChymist’sArt,asnottobeotherwise,butbyit,obtainable;itseemsbutequitabletogivetheArtistsleavetonamethemastheyplease:consideringalsothatnonearesofitandlikelytoteachuswhatthoseBodiesare,astheytowhomweow’dthem.

I told You already (sayesCarneades) that there is great Difference betwixt the being able to makeExperiments,andthebeingable togiveaPhilosophicalAccountof them.AndIwillnotnowadd, thatmanyaMine-diggermaymeet,whilsthefollowshiswork,withaGemmoraMineralwhichheknowesnotwhattomakeof,tillheshewsitaJewelleroraMineralisttobeinform’dwhatitis.ButthatwhichIwouldratherhavehereobserv’d,is,ThattheChymistsIamnowindebatewithhavegivenuptheLibertyYou challeng’d for them, of usingNames at Pleasure, and confin’dThemselves by theirDescriptions,thoughbutsuchas theyare,of theirPrinciples; so thatalthough theymight freelyhavecall’dany thingtheirAnalysispresentsthemwith,eitherSulphur,orMercury,orGas,orBlas,orwhattheypleas’d;yetwhen they have told me that Sulphur (for instance) is a Primogeneal and simple Body, Inflamable,Odorous, &c. they must give me leave to dis-believe them, if they tell me that a Body that is eithercompoundedoruninflamableissuchaSulphur;andtothinktheyplaywithwords,whentheyteachthatGoldandsomeotherMineralsaboundwithanIncombustibleSulphur,whichisasproperanExpression,asaSun-shineNight,orFluidIce.

But before I descend to the Mention of Particulars belonging to my Fourth Consideration, I think itconvenienttopremiseafewGenerals;someofwhichIshallthelessneedtoinsistonatpresent,becauseIhaveTouchedonthemalready.

AndfirstImustinviteyoutotakenoticeofacertainpassageinHelmont;whichthoughIhavenotFoundmuchheededbyhisReaders,HeHimselfmentionsasanotablething,andItaketobeaveryconsiderableone;forwhereastheDistill’doyleofoyle-olive,thoughdrawnperseis(asIhavetry’d)ofaverysharpand fretting Quality, and of an odious tast, He tells us that Simple oyle being only digested withParacelsus’ssalcirculatum,isreduc’dintodissimilarparts,andyieldsasweetOyle,verydifferingfromtheoyledistill’d,fromsalletoyle;asalsothatbythesamewaytheremaybeseparatedfromWineaverysweetandgentleSpirit,partakingofafarotherandnoblerqualitythenthatwhichisimmediatelydrawnbydistillationandcall’dDephlegm’dAquavitæ, fromwhoseAcrimonythisotherspirit isexceedinglyremote,althoughthesalcirculatumthatmakestheseAnatomiesbeseparatedfromtheAnalyz’dBodies,inthesameweightandwiththesamequalitiesithadbefore;whichAffirmationofHelmontifweadmittobe true, we must acknowledge that there may be a very great disparity betwixt bodies of the samedenomination (as several oyles, or several spirits) separable fromcompoundBodies:For, besides thedifferences I shall anon take notice of, betwixt those distill’d Oyles that are commonly known toChymists, it appears by this, that bymeans of theSalCirculatum,Theremay be quite another sort ofOyles obtain’d from the sameBody; andwhoknowes but that theremaybe yet otherAgents found inNature,bywhosehelp theremay,whetherbyTransmutationorotherwise,beobtain’dfromtheBodiesVulgarlycall’dMixt,Oylesorothersubstances,DifferingfromthoseofthesameDenomination,knowneithertoVulgarChymists,oreventoHelmontHimself:butforfearYoushouldtellme,thatthisisbutaconjecturegroundeduponanotherMan’sRelation,whoseTruthwehavenotthemeanstoExperiment,IwillnotInsistuponit;butleavingYoutoConsiderofitatleasure,Ishallproceedtowhatisnext.

Secondly, Then if that be True which was the Opinion of Lucippus, Democritus, and other primeAnatomistsofold,andisinourdayesreviv’dbynomeanPhilosophers;namely,ThatourCulinaryFire,suchasChymistsuse,consistsofswarmesoflittleBodiesswiftlymoving,whichbytheirsmallnessandmotionareabletopermeatethesollidestandCompactestBodies,andevenGlassitSelf;Ifthis(Isay)beTrue,sinceweseethatInflintsandotherConcretes, theFierypart isIncorporatedwiththeGrosser, itwillnotbeIrrationalltoconjecture,thatmultitudesoftheseFieryCorpuscles,gettinginatthePoresoftheGlass,mayassociatethemselveswiththepartsofthemixtBodywhereontheywork,andwiththemConstitute newKinds ofCompoundBodies, according as the Shape, Size, and otherAffections of thePartsoftheDissipatedBodyhappentodisposethem,inReferencetosuchCombinations;ofwhichalsotheremay be the greaterNumber; if it be likewise granted that theCorpuscles of the Fire, though allexceedingminute,andveryswiftlymoved,arenotallofthesamebigness,norFigure.AndifIhadnotWeightierConsiderationstoDiscoursetoyouof,Icouldnametoyou,toCountenancewhatIhavenewlysaid,someparticularExperimentsbywhichIhavebeenDeduc’dtothink, that theParticlesofanopenFireworkinguponsomeBodiesmayreallyAssociatethemselvestherewith,andaddtotheQuantity.ButbecauseIamnotsosure,thatwhentheFireworksuponBodiesincludedinGlasses,itdoesitbyareallTrajectionoftheFieryCorpusclesthemselves,throughtheSubstanceoftheGlass,Iwillproceedtowhatisnexttobemention’d.

Icould(sayesEleutherius)helpyoutosomeProofes,wherebyIthinkitmaybemadeveryprobable,thatwhentheFireactsimmediatelyuponaBody,someofitsCorpusclesmaysticktothoseoftheburntBody,astheyseemtodoinQuicklime,butingreaternumbers,andmorepermanently.ButforfearofretardingYourProgress,IshalldesireyoutodeferrthisEnquirytillanothertime,andproceedasyouintended.

Youmaytheninthenextplace(sayesCarneades)observewithme,thatnotonlytherearesomeBodies,asGold,andSilver,whichdonotbytheusualExamens,madebyFire,Discoverthemselvestobemixt;but if (asYoumayRemember I formerly toldYou) it be aDe-compoundBody that isDissipable intoseveralSubstances,bybeingexpos’dtotheFireitmayberesolv’dintosuchasareneitherElementary,nor such as itwas upon its lastmixtureCompounded of; but into newKinds ofmixts.Of this I havealreadygivenYousomeExamples inSope,SugarofLead,andVitrioll.NowifweshallConsider thattherearesomeBodies,aswellNatural,(asthatIlastnam’d)asFactitious,manifestlyDe-compounded;ThatintheBowellsoftheEarthNaturemay,asweseeshesometimesdoes,makestrangeMixtures;ThatAnimalsarenourish’dwithotherAnimalsandPlants;And,thatthesethemselveshavealmostallofthemtheirNutrimentandGrowth,eitherfromacertainNitrousJuiceHarbour’dinthePoresoftheEarth,orfromtheExcrementsofAnimalls,orfromtheputrify’dBodies,eitheroflivingCreaturesorVegetables,orfromotherSubstancesofaCompoundedNature;If,Isay,weconsiderthis,itmayseemprobable,thattheremaybeamongtheWorksofNature(nottomentionthoseofArt)agreaterNumberofDe-compoundBodies,thenmentakeNoticeof;Andindeed,asIhaveformerlyalsoobserv’d,itdoesnotatallappear,that allMixturesmustbeofElementaryBodies; but it seems farrmoreprobable, that there arediverssortsofcompoundBodies,eveninregardofallorsomeoftheirIngredients,consider’dAntecedentlytotheirMixture. For though some seem to bemade up by the immediate Coalitions of the Elements, orPrinciples themselves, and thereforemaybecall’dPrimaMista, orMistaPrimaria; yet it seems thatmanyotherBodiesaremingl’d(ifImaysospeak)atthesecondhand,theirimmediateIngredientsbeingnotElementary, but theseprimaryMixtsnewly spokenof;And fromdiversof theseSecondary sort ofMixtsmayresult,byafurtherComposition,aThirdsort,andsoonwards.Norisitimprobable,thatsomeBodiesaremadeupofMixtBodies,notallofthesameOrder,butofseveral;as(forInstance)aConcretemayconsistofIngredients,whereoftheonemayhavebeenaprimary,theotheraSecondaryMixtBody;(as Ihave inNativeCinnaber,bymywayofResolving it, foundboth thatCourser thepart that seemsmoreproperly tobeOar,andaCombustibleSulphur,andaRunningMercury:)orperhapswithoutany

Ingredientofthislattersort,itmaybecompos’dofMixtBodies,someofthemofthefirst,andsomeofthethird Kind; And this may perhaps be somewhat Illustrated by reflecting upon what happens in someChymical Preparations of those Medicines which they call their Bezoardicum’s. For first, they takeAntimonyandIron,whichmaybelook’duponasPrimaMista;ofthesetheycompoundaStarryRegulus,andtothis theyaddaccordingtotheirIntention,eitherGold,orSilver,whichmakeswithitanewandfurtherComposition. To this they add Sublimate,which is it self aDe-compound body, (consisting ofcommonQuicksilver,anddiversSaltsUnitedbySublimationintoaCrystallineSubstance)andfromthisSublimate,and theotherMetallineMixtures, theydrawaLiquor,whichmaybeallow’d tobeofayetmoreCompoundedNature.Ifitbetrue,asChymistsaffirmit,thatbythisArtsomeoftheGoldorSilvermingl’dwiththeRegulusmaybecarry’dover theHelmewithitbytheSublimate;as indeedaSkilfullandCandidpersoncomplain’dtomeawhilesince,Thatanexperienc’dFriendofHisandmine,havingbysuchawaybroughtoveragreatDealofGold,inhopetodosomethingfurtherwithit,whichmightbegainfull tohim,hasnotonlymiss’dofhisAim,but isunable torecoverhisVolatiliz’dGoldoutof theAntimonialbutter,wherewithitisstrictlyunited.

Now(ContinuesCarneades)ifaCompoundbodyconsistofIngredientsthatarenotmeerlyElementary;itis not hard to conceive, that the Substances into which the Fire Dissolves it, though seeminglyHomogeneousenough,maybeofaCompoundedNature, thosepartsofeachbody thataremostofKinassociating themselves into a Compound of a new Kind. As when (for example sake) I have caus’dVitriollandSalArmoniack,andSaltPetretobemingl’dandDestill’dtogether,theLiquorthatcameovermanifesteditselfnottobeeitherSpiritofNitre,orofSalArmoniack,orofVitrioll.Fornoneof thesewoulddissolvecrudegold,whichyetmyLiquorwasablereadilytodo;andtherebymanifesteditselftobeanewCompound,consistingatleastofSpiritofNitre,andSalArmoniack,(forthelatterdissolv’dinthe former, will Work on Gold) which nevertheless are not by any known way separable, andconsequently would not pass for aMixt Body, if we our selves did not, to obtain it, put and Distilltogether divers Concretes, whose Distinct Operations were known before hand. And, to add on thisOccasiontheExperimentIlatelypromis’dYou,becauseitisApplicabletoourpresentpurpose,IshallAcquaintYou,thatsuspectingtheCommonOyleofVitriollnottobealtogethersuchasimpleLiquorasChymistspresumeit,Imingl’ditwithanequaloraDoubleQuantity(forItry’dtheExperimentmorethenonce)ofcommonOyleofTurpentine,suchastogetherwiththeotherLiquorIboughtattheDrugsters.Andhavingcarefully(fortheExperimentisNice,andsomewhatdangerous)Distill’dtheMixtureinasmallGlassRetort,Iobtain’daccordingtomyDesire,(besidesthetwoLiquorsIhadputin)aprettyQuantityofacertainsubstance,whichstickingallabouttheNeckoftheRetortDiscover’ditselftobeSulphur,notonlybyaverystrongSulphureoussmell,andbythecolourofBrimstone;butalsobythis,Thatbeingputuponacoal,itwasimmediatelykindl’d,andburn’dlikecommonSulphur.AndofthisSubstanceIhaveyetbymesomelittleParcells,whichYoumaycommandandexaminewhenyouplease.SothatfromthisExperimentImaydeduceeitherone,orbothofthesePropositions,ThatarealSulphurmaybemadebytheConjunction of two suchSubstances asChymists take forElementary,Andwhichdid not either ofthemapartappeartohaveanysuchbodyinit;orthatOyleofVitriollthoughaDistill’dLiquor,andtakenforpartof theSalinePrincipleof theConcrete thatyields it,mayyetbesoCompoundedabodyas tocontain,besidesitsSalinepart,aSulphurlikecommonbrimstone,whichwouldhardlybeitselfasimpleoruncompoundedbody.

Imight(pursuesCarneades)remindYou,thatIformerlyrepresentedit,aspossible,ThatastheremaybemoreElements then five, or six; so theElements of one bodymaybeDifferent from those of another;whence itwould follow, that from theResolutionofDe-compoundbody, theremay resultMixts of analtogethernewkind,bytheCoalitionofElementsthatneverperhapsconven’dbefore.Imight,Isay,mindYouofthis,andadddiversthingstothissecondConsideration;butforfearofwantingtimeIwillingly

pretermitthem,topassontothethird,whichisthis,ThattheFiredoesnotalwayesbarelyresolveortakeasunder,butmayalsoafteranewmannermingleandcompoundtogethertheparts(whetherElementaryornot)oftheBodyDissipatedbyit.

This is so evident, sayes Carneades, in some obvious Examples, that I cannot but wonder at theirSupinessthathavenottakennoticeofit.ForwhenWoodbeingburntinaChimneyisdissipatedbytheFire into Smoke and Ashes, that smoke composes soot, which is so far from being any one of theprinciplesoftheWood,that(asInotedabove)youmaybyafurtherAnalysisseparatefiveorsixdistinctsubstances fromit.Andas for theremainingAshes, theChymists themselves teachus, thatbya furtherdegreeoffiretheymaybeindissolublyunitedintoglass.’Tistrue,thattheAnalysiswhichtheChymistsprincipallybuilduponismade,notintheopenair,butincloseVessels;buthowever,theExampleslatelyproduc’dmayinviteyoushrewdlytosuspect,ThatheatmayaswellcompoundasdissipatethePartsofmixtBodies: and not to tell you, that I have known aVitrificationmade even in close vessels, ImustremindyouthattheFlowersofAntimony,andthoseofSulphur,areverymix’dBodies,thoughtheyascendin close vessells:And that ’twas in stopt glasses that I brought up thewholeBodyofCamphire.Andwhereasitmaybeobjected,thatalltheseExamplesareofBodiesforc’dupinadry,notaFluidforme,asaretheLiquorswonttobeobtain’dbydistillation;Ianswer,Thatbesidesthat’tispossible,thataBodymay be chang’d fromConsistent to Fluid, or from Fluid to Consistent, without being otherwisemuchaltered, as may appear by the Easiness wherewith inWinter, without any Addition or Separation ofVisible Ingredients, thesamesubstancemaybequicklyharden’d intobrittle Ice,and thaw’dagain intoFluidWater; Besides this, I say it would be consider’d, that common Quicksilver it self, which theEminentestChymistsconfesstobeamixtBody,maybeDrivenovertheHelmeinitsPristineformeofQuicksilver, and consequently, in that of a Liquor. And certainly ’tis possible that very compoundedBodiesmayconcurtoConstituteLiquors;Since,nottomentionthatIhavefounditpossible,bythehelpofa certainMenstruum, to distill Gold it self through a Retort, even with aModerate Fire: Let us butconsiderwhathappensinButterofAntimony.Forifthatbecarefullyrectify’d,itmaybereduc’dintoaveryclearLiquor; andyet ifYoucast aquantityof fairwaterupon it, therewill quicklyprecipitate aPonderousandVomitiveCalx,whichmadebeforeaconsiderablepartof theLiquor, andyet is indeed(though some eminent Chymists would have itMercurial) an Antimonial Body carryed over and keptdissolv’dbytheSaltsoftheSublimate,andconsequentlyacompoundedone;asYoumayfindifYouwillhavetheCuriositytoExaminethisWhitepowderbyaskilfulReduction.AndthatYoumaynotthinkthatBodies as compounded as flowers of Brimstone cannot be brought to Concurr to Constitute Distill’dLiquors;And alsoThatYoumay not imaginewithDivers LearnedMen that pretend no small skill inChymistry,thatatleastnomixtBodycanbebroughtovertheHelme,butbycorrosiveSalts,IamreadytoshewYou,whenYouplease,amongotherwayesofbringingoverFlowersofBrimstone(perhapsImightadd even Mineral Sulphurs) some, wherein I employ none but Oleaginous bodies to make VolatileLiquors,inwhichnotonlythecolour,but(whichisamuchsurermark)thesmellandsomeOperationsmanifestthatthereisbroughtoveraSulphurthatmakespartoftheLiquor.

Onethingmorethereis,Eleutherius,sayesCarneades,whichissopertinenttomypresentpurpose,thatthoughIhavetouch’duponitbefore,Icannotbutonthisoccasiontakenoticeofit.Anditisthis,ThattheQualitiesorAccidents,uponwhoseaccountChymistsarewonttocallaportionofMatterbythenameofMercuryorsomeotheroftheirPrinciples,arenotsuchbutthat’tispossibleasGreat(andthereforewhynotthelike?)maybeproduc’dbysuchchangesofTexture,andotherAlterations,astheFiremaymakeinthesmallPartsofaBody.Ihavealreadyprov’d,whenIdiscours’dofthesecondGeneralConsideration,bywhathappenstoplantsnourish’donlywithfairwater,andEggshatch’dintoChickens,thatbychangingthedispositionofthecomponentpartsofaBody,NatureisabletoeffectasgreatChangesinaparcellofMatterreputedsimilar,asthoserequisitetoDenominateoneoftheTriaPrima.AndthoughHelmontdo

somewherewittilycalltheFiretheDestructorandtheArtificialDeathofThings;AndalthoughanotherEminentChymistandPhysitianbepleas’dtobuilduponthis,ThatFirecannevergenerateanythingbutFire;YetYouwill,Idoubtnot,beofanothermind,IfYouconsiderhowmanynewsortsofmixtBodiesChymists themselves have produc’d bymeans of the Fire:And particularly, ifYou consider how thatNobleandPermanentBody,Glass,isnotonlymanifestlyproduc’dbytheviolentactionoftheFire,buthasnever, foroughtweknow,beenproduc’danyotherway.And indeed it seemsbutan inconsiderateAssertionofsomeHelmontians,thateverysortofBodyofaPeculiarDenominationmustbeproduc’dbysomeSeminalpower;asIthinkIcouldevince,ifIthoughtitsonecessary,asitisformetohastentowhatIhavefurthertodiscourse.Norneeditmuchmoveus,thattherearesomewholookuponwhatsoevertheFireisemploy’dtoproduce,notasuponNaturalbutArtificialBodies.Forthereisnotalwaiessuchadifferenceasmanyimaginebetwixttheoneandtheother:Norisitsoeasyastheythink,clearlytoassignethatwhichProperly,Constantly,andSufficiently,Discriminatesthem.ButnottoengagemyselfinsoniceaDisquisition,itmaynowsufficetoobserve,thatathingiscommonlytermedArtificial,whenaparcelofmatter is by theArtificers hand, or Tools, or both, brought to such a shape or Form, as heDesign’dbeforehand in hisMind:Whereas inmany of the Chymical Productions the effectwould be produc’dwhethertheArtificerintendeditorno;andisoftentimesverymuchotherthenheIntendedorLook’tfor;andtheInstrumentsemploy’d,arenotToolsArtificiallyfashion’dandshaped, likethoseofTradesmen,forthisorthatparticularWork;but,forthemostpart,AgentsofNature’sownproviding,andwhosechiefPowersofOperation they receive from theirownNatureorTexture,not theArtificer.And indeed, theFireisaswellaNaturalAgentasSeed:AndtheChymistthatimployesit,doesbutapplyNaturalAgentsandPatients,whobeingthusbroughttogether,andactingaccordingtotheirrespectiveNatures,performetheworkethemselves;asApples,Plums,orotherfruit,arenaturalProductions,thoughtheGardinerbringandfastentogethertheSciensoftheStock,andbothWater,anddoperhapsdiversotherwayesContributetoitsbearingfruit.But,toproceedtowhatIwasgoingtosay,Youmayobservewithme,Eleutherius,that,asItoldYouoncebefore,QualitiessleightenoughmayservetoDenominateaChymicalPrinciple.For,whentheyanatomizeacompoundBodybytheFire,iftheygetaSubstanceinflamable,andthatwillnotminglewithWater,thattheypresentlycallSulphur;whatissapidandDissolubleinWater,thatmustpassforSalt;Whatsoeverisfix’dandindissolubleinWater,thattheynameEarth.AndIwasgoingtoadd,that,whatsoeverVolatilesubstancetheyknownotwhattomakeof,nottosay,whatsoevertheyplease,thattheycallMercury.But that theseQualitiesmayeitherbeproduc’d,otherwise thenbysuchas theycallSeminalAgents,ormaybelongtobodiesofacompoundedNature,maybeshewn,amongotherInstances,in Glass made of ashes, where the exceeding strongly-tasted Alcalizate Salt joyning with the Earthbecomesinsipid,andwithitconstitutesaBody,whichthoughalsodry,fixt,andindissolubleinWater,isyetmanifestlyamixtBody;andmadesobytheFireitself.

AndIremmembertoourpresentpurpose,thatHelmont,amongstotherMedicinesthathecommends,hasashortprocesse,wherein,thoughtheDirectionsforPracticearebutobscurelyintimated;yetIhavesomereason not toDis-believe the Process,without affirming or denying any thing about the vertues of theremedytobemadebyit.Quando(sayeshe)oleumcinnamomi&c.suosalialkalimisceturabsqueomniaqua, triummensiumartificiosaoccultaque circulatione, totum in salemvolatilem commutatum est,vereessentiamsuisimplicisinnobisexprimit,&usqueinprimanostriconstitutivaseseingerit.AnotunlikeProcessehedeliversinanotherplace;fromwhence,ifwesupposehimtosaytrue,Imayargue,thatsincebytheFiretheremaybeproduc’dasubstancethatisaswellSalineandvolatileastheSaltofHartshorn,blood,&c.whichpassforElementary;andsincethatthisVolatileSaltisreallycompoundedofaChymicalOyleandafixtSalt,theonemadeVolatilebytheother,andbothassociatedbythefire,itmaywellbe suspected thatotherSubstances, emergingupon theDissipationofBodiesby theFire,maybenew sorts ofMixts, and consist of Substances of differing natures; and particularly, I have sometimes

suspected, that since the Volatile Salts of Blood, Hartshorn, &c. are figitive and endow’d with anexceedingstrongsmell,eitherthatChymistsdoErroneouslyascribeallodourstosulphurs,orthatsuchSaltsconsistofsomeoylypartswell incorporatedwiththeSalineones.AndthelikeconjectureIhavealsomade concerningSpirit ofVinager,which, though theChymists thinkoneof thePrinciples of thatBody,andthoughbeinganAcidSpirititseemstobemuchlessofkinthenVolatileSaltstosulphurs;yet,not tomention itspiercing smell;which Iknownotwithwhatcongruity theChymistwilldeduce fromSalt,IwondertheyhavenottakennoticeofwhattheirownTyrociniumChymicumteachusconcerningtheDestillationofSaccharumSaturni;outofwhichBeguinus assuresUs, thathedistill’d,besidesaveryfinespirit,nolessethentwoOyles,theoneblood-redandponderous,buttheotherswimminguponthetopoftheSpirit,andofayellowcolour;ofwhichhesayesthathekeptthensomebyhim,toverifywhathedelivers.AndthoughIremembernotthatIhavehadtwodistinctOylesfromSugarofLead,yetthatitwill though distill’dwithout addition yield someOyle, disagrees notwithmyExperience. I know theChymists will be apt to pretend, that these Oyls are but the volatiliz’d sulphur of the lead; and willperhaps argue it fromwhatBeguinus relates, that when the Distillation is ended, you’l find aCaputMortuumextreamlyblack,and(ashespeaks)nulliusmomenti,asiftheBody,oratleastthechiefpartoftheMetal it selfwereby thedistillationcarriedover theHelme.But sinceyouknowaswellas I thatSaccharum Saturni is a kind of Magistery, made only by calcining of Lead per se, dissolving it indistill’dVinager,andcrystalizingthesolution;ifIhadleasuretotellYouhowDifferingathingIdiduponexamination find theCaputMortuum, so sleighted by Beguinus, to be from what he represents it, Ibelieveyouwouldthinktheconjecturepropos’dlessprobablethenoneorotherofthesethree;eitherthatthisOyledidformerlyconcurtoconstitutetheSpiritofVinager,andsothatwhatpassesforaChymicalPrinciplemayyetbe further resoluble intodistinct substances;or that somepartsof theSpirit togetherwith some parts of the Lead may constitute a Chymical Oyle, which therefore though it pass forHomogeneous,maybeaverycompoundedBody:oratleastthatbytheactionoftheDistill’dVinagerandtheSaturnineCalxoneuponanother,partof theLiquormaybesoalter’das tobe transmuted fromanAcidSpirit intoanOyle.And though the truthof eitherof the two former conjectureswouldmake theexampleIhavereflectedonmorepertinenttomypresentargument;yetyou’leasilydiscern,theThirdandlastConjecturecannotbeunserviceabletoconfirmsomeotherpassagesofmydiscourse.

ToreturnthentowhatIwassayingjustbeforeImention’dHelmont’sExperiment,Ishallsubjoyne,ThatChymistsmustconfessalsothatintheperfectlyDephlegm’dspiritofWine,orotherFermentedLiquors,thatwhichtheycalltheSulphuroftheConcreteloses,bytheFermentation,thePropertyofOyle,(whichtheChymistslikewisetaketobethetrueSulphuroftheMixt)ofbeingunminglablewiththeWater.AndifYouwillcreditHelmont,allof thepurestSpiritofWinemaybarelyby thehelpofpureSaltofTartar(whichisbutthefixedSaltofWine)beresolv’dorTransmutedintoscarcehalfanounceofSalt,andasmuchElementaryWaterasamountstotheremainingpartofthemention’dweight.Anditmay(asIthinkIformerlyalsonoted)bedoubted,whetherthatFixtandAlcalizateSalt,whichissounanimouslyagreedontobetheSalinePrincipleofincineratedBodies,benot,as’tisAlcalizate,aProductionoftheFire?ForthoughthetastofTartar,forExample,seemtoarguethatitcontainsaSaltbeforeitbeburn’d,yetthatSaltbeingveryAcidisofaquiteDifferingTastfromtheLixiviateSaltofCalcin’dTartar.Andthoughitbenot trulyObjectedagainst theChymists, that theyobtainallSalts theymake,byreducing theBodytheyworkonintoAsheswithViolentFires,(sinceHartshorn,Amber,Blood,anddiversotherMixtsyieldacopiousSaltbefore theybeburn’d toAshes)yet thisVolatileSaltDiffersmuch,asweshall seeanon,fromtheFixtAlcalizateSaltIspeakof;whichforoughtIrememberisnotproduciblebyanyknownWay,without Incineration. ’Tis not unknown to Chymists, that Quicksilver may be Precipitated, withoutAddition,intoadryPowder,thatremainssoinWater.AndsomeeminentSpagyrists,andevenRaimundLullyhimself,teach,thatmeerlybytheFireQuicksilvermayinconvenientVesselsbereduc’d(atleastin

greatpart)intoathinLiquorlikeWater,andminglablewithit.SothatbythebareActionoftheFire,’tispossible,thatthepartsofamixtBodyshouldbesodispos’dafternewanddifferingmanners,thatitmaybesometimesofoneconsistence,sometimesofanother;AndmayinoneStatebedispos’dtobemingl’dwithWater, and in another not. I could also shew you, thatBodies fromwhich apartChymists cannotobtainanythingthatisCombustible,maybybeingassociatedtogether,andbythehelpoftheFire,affordaninflamableSubstance.Andthatontheotherside,’tispossibleforaBodytobeinflamable,fromwhichit would very much puzzle any ordinary Chymist; and perhaps any other, to separate an inflamablePrinciple or Ingredient.Wherefore, since the Principles ofChymistsmay receive theirDenominationsfromQualities,whichitoftenexceedsnotthepowerofArt,noralwayesthatoftheFiretoproduce;AndsincesuchQualitiesmaybefoundinBodiesthatdiffersomuchinotherQualitiesfromoneanother,thattheyneednotbeallow’dtoagreeinthatpureandsimpleNature,whichPrinciples,tobesoindeed,musthave;itmayjustlybesuspected,thatmanyProductionsoftheFirethatareshew’dusbyChymists,asthePrinciples of theConcrete that afforded them,may be but a newkind ofMixts.And to annex, on thisOccasion, to thesearguments taken from theNatureof the thing,oneof thosewhichLogicians calladHominem, I shall desire You to take Notice, that though Paracelsus Himself, and some that are somistakenastothinkhecouldnotbeso,haveventur’dtoteach,thatnotonlythebodiesherebelow,buttheElementsthemselves,andalltheotherPartsoftheUniverse,arecompos’dofSalt,SulphurandMercury;yet the learnedSennertus, andall themorewaryChymists,have rejected thatconceit, anddomanyofthemconfess,thattheTriaPrimaareeachofthemmadeupofthefourElements;andothersofthemmakeEarthandWaterconcurwithSalt,SulphurandMercury, totheConstitutionofMixtbodies.SothatonesortoftheseSpagyrists,notwithstandingthespeciousTitlestheygivetotheproductionsoftheFire,doineffectgrantwhat I contend for.And,of theother sort Imaywelldemand, towhatKindofBodies thePhlegmeanddeadEarth,tobemetwithinChymicalResolutions,aretobereferr’d?Foreithertheymustsay,withParacelsus,butagainsttheirownConcessionsaswellasagainstExperience,thatthesearealsocompos’doftheTriaPrima,whereoftheycannotseparateanyonefromeitherofthem;orelsetheymustconfessthattwoofthevastestBodiesherebelow,Earth,andWater,areneitherofthemcompos’doftheTriaPrima;andthatconsequentlythosethreearenottheUniversal,andAdequateIngredients,neitherofallSublunaryBodies,norevenofallmixtBodies.

I know that the chief of these Chymists represent, that though theDistinct Substances intowhich theydividemixtbodiesbytheFire,arenotpureandHomogeneous;yetsincethefourElementsintowhichtheAristotelianspretendtoresolvethelikebodiesbythesameAgent,arenotsimpleneither,asthemselvesacknowledge,’tisasallowablefortheChymiststocalltheonePrinciples,asforthePeripatetickstocallthe other Elements; since in both cases the Imposition of the name is grounded only upon thePredominancyof thatElementwhosename isascrib’d to it.Norshall Ideny, that thisArgumentof theChymistsisnoilloneagainsttheAristotelians.ButwhatAnswercanitprovetome,whoyouknowamdisputingagainsttheAristotelianElements,astheChymicallPrinciples,andmustnotlookuponanybodyasatruePrincipleorElement,butasyetcompounded,whichisnotperfectlyHomogeneous,butisfurtherResoluble intoanynumberofDistinctSubstanceshowsmallsoever.Andasfor theChymistscallingabodySalt,orSulphur,orMercury,uponpretencethatthePrincipleofthesamenameispredominantinit,ThatitselfisanAcknowledgmentofwhatIcontendfor;namelythattheseproductionsoftheFire,areyetcompoundedbodies.Andyetwhilstthisisgranted,itisaffirm’d,butnotprov’d,thatthereputedSalt,orSulphur, or Mercury, consists mainly of one body that deserves the name of a principle of the sameDenomination.ForhowdoChymistsmakeitappearthatthereareanysuchprimitiveandsimplebodiesinthosewearespeakingof;since’tisuponthematterconfess’dbytheanswerlatelymade,thatthesearenotsuch?AndiftheypretendbyReasontoevincewhattheyaffirm,whatbecomesoftheirconfidentboasts,that the Chymists (whom they therefore, afterBeguinus, call aPhilosophus orOpifex Sensatus) can

convinceourEyes,bymanifestlyshewinginanymixtbodythosesimplesubstancesheteachesthemtobecompos’dof?Andindeed,fortheChymiststohaverecourseinthiscasetootherproofsthenExperiments,asitistowavethegrandArgumentthathasallthiswhilebeengivenoutforaDemonstrativeOne;soitreleasesme from the obligation to prosecute aDisputewherein I am not engag’d to Examine any butExperimentallproofs.IknowitmayplausiblyEnoughbeRepresented,infavouroftheChymists,thatitbeingevidentthatmuchthegreaterpartofanythingtheycallSalt,orSulphur,orMercury,isreallysuch;itwouldbeveryrigidtodenythoseSubstancesthenamesascribedthem,onlybecauseofsomesleightmixture of anotherBody; since not only thePeripateticks call particular parcels ofmatter Elementary,thoughtheyacknowledgethatElementsarenottobeanywherefoundpure,atleastherebelow;Andsinceespecially there is a manifest Analogie and Resemblance betwixt the bodies obtainable by ChymicalAnatomiesandtheprincipleswhosenamesaregiventhem;Ihave,Isay,consider’dthatthesethingsmayberepresented:ButasforwhatisdrawnfromtheCustomeofthePeripateticks,IhavealreadytoldYou,thatthoughitmaybeemploy’dagainstThem,YetitisnotavailableagainstmewhoallownothingtobeanElement that isnotperfectlyHomogeneous.Andwhereas it is alledg’d, that thePredominantPrincipleoughttogiveanametothesubstancewhereinitabounds;Ianswer,thatthatmightmuchmorereasonablybesaid,ifeitherweortheChymistshadseenNaturetakepureSalt,pureSulphur,andpureMercury,andcompoundofthemeverysortofMixtBodies.But,since’tistoexperiencethattheyappeal,wemustnottake it for granted, that the Distill’d Oyle (for instance) of a plant is mainly compos’d of the pureprinciplecall’dSulphur,tilltheyhavegivenusanocularproof,thatthereisinthatsortofPlantssuchanHomogeneousSulphur.Forasforthespeciousargument,whichisdrawnfromtheResemblancebetwixttheProductionsoftheFire,andtheRespective,eitherAristotelianElements,orChymicalPrinciples,bywhosenamestheyarecall’d;itwillappearmoreplausiblethencogent,ifYouwillbutrecalltomindthestate of the controversie; which is not, whether or no there be obtain’d from mixt Bodies certainsubstances that agree in outward appearance, or in someQualitieswithQuicksilver or Brimstone, orsomesuchobviousorcopiousBody;ButwhetherornoallBodiesconfess’dtobeperfectlymixtwerecompos’dof,andareresolubleintoadeterminatenumberofprimaryunmixtBodies.For,ifyoukeepthestateofthequestioninyourEye,you’leasilydiscernethatthereismuchofwhatshouldbeDemonstrated,leftunprov’dbythoseChymicalExperimentsweareExamining.But(nottorepeatwhatIhavealreadydiscover’d more at large) I shall now take notice, that it will not presently follow, that because aProduction of the Fire has some affinity with some of the greaterMasses of matter here below, thatthereforetheyarebothofthesameNature,anddeservethesameName;fortheChymistsarenotcontent,that flame should be look’t upon as a parcel of theElement of Fire, though it be hot, dry, and active,because itwants someotherQualitiesbelonging to thenatureofElementary fire.Norwill they let thePeripateticks call Ashes, or Quicklime, Earth, notwithstanding the many likenesses between them;becausetheyarenottastlesse,asElementaryEarthoughttobe:Butifyoushouldaskme,whatthenitis,that all the Chymical Anatomies of Bodies do prove, if they prove not that they consist of the threePrinciplesintowhichthefireresolvesthem?Ianswer,thattheirDissectionsmaybegrantedtoprove,thatsomemixtbodies(forinmanyitwillnothold)arebythefire,whentheyareincludedincloseVessels,(forthatConditionalsoisoftenrequisite)dissolubeintoseveralSubstancesdifferinginsomeQualities,butprincipallyinConsistence.Sothatoutofmostofthemmaybeobtain’dafixtsubstancepartlysaline,andpartly insipid, anunctuousLiquor, andanotherLiquorormore thatwithout beingunctuous have amanifest taste.Now ifChymistswill agree tocall thedryandsapidsubstancesalt, theUnctous liquorSulphur,andtheotherMercury,Ishallnotmuchquarrelwiththemforsodoing:Butiftheywilltellmethat Salt, Sulphur, andMercury, are simple and primary bodieswhereof eachmixt bodywas actuallycompounded,andwhichwasreallyinitantecedentlytotheoperationofthefire,theymustgivemeleavetodoubtwhether(whatever theirotherargumentsmaydo) theirExperimentsproveall this.Andif theywillalso tellme that theSubstances theirAnatomiesarewont toafford them,arepureandsimilar, as

Principlesought tobe, theymustgiveme leave tobelievemyownsenses; and theirownconfessions,before their bare Assertions. And that you may not (Eleutherius) think I deal so rigidly with them,becauseIscrupletoTaketheseProductionsoftheFireforsuchastheChymistswouldhavethempassfor,upontheaccountoftheirhavingsomeaffinitywiththem;consideralittlewithme,thatinregardanElementorPrincipleoughttobeperfectlySimilarandHomogeneous,thereisnojustcausewhyIshouldrathergivethebodypropos’dtheNameofthisorthatElementorPrinciple,becauseithasaresemblanceto it in someobviousQuality, rather thendeny it thatnameupon theaccountofdiversotherQualities,wherein thepropos’dBodiesareunlike;and ifyoudobutconsiderwhatsleightandeasilyproduciblequalities they are that suffice, as I have alreadymore then once observ’d, toDenominate a ChymicalPrincipleoranElement,you’lnot,Ihope,thinkmywarinesstobedestituteeitherofExample,orelseofReason.ForweseethattheChymistswillnotallowtheAristoteliansthattheSaltinAshesoughttobecalled Earth, though the Saline and Terrestrial part symbolize in weight, in dryness, in fixness andfusibility,onlybecausetheoneissapidanddissolubleinWater,andtheothernot:Besides,weseethatsapidness and volatility are wont to denominate the Chymists Mercury or Spirit; and yet how manyBodies,thinkyou,mayagreeinthoseQualitieswhichmayyetbeofverydifferingnatures,anddisagreein qualities either more numerous, or more considerable, or both. For not only Spirit of Nitre, AquaFortis,SpiritofSalt,SpiritofOyleofVitriol,SpiritofAllome,SpiritofVinager,andallSalineLiquorsDistill’dfromAnimalBodies,butalltheAcetousSpiritsofWoodsfreedfromtheirVinager;Allthese,Isay,andmanyothersmustbelongtotheChymistsMercury,thoughitappearnotwhysomeofthemshouldmorebecomprehendedunderonedenominationthentheChymistsSulphur,orOyleshouldlikewisebe;for their Distill’d Oyles are also Fluid, Volatile, and Tastable, as well as their Mercury; Nor is itNecessary,thattheirSulphurshouldbeUnctuousorDissolubleinWater,sincetheygenerallyreferrSpiritofWinetoSulphurs,althoughthatSpiritbenotUnctuous,andwillfreelyminglewithWater.SothatbareInflamabilitymustconstitutetheEssenceoftheChymistsSulphur;asuninflamablenessejoynedwithanytasteisenoughtointitleaDistill’dLiquortobetheirMercury.NowsinceIcanfurtherobservetoYou,thatSpiritofNitreandSpiritofHarts-hornebeingpour’dtogetherwillboileandhisseandtosseuponeanother into the air, which the Chymistsmake signes of great Antipathy in the Natures of Bodies (asindeedtheseSpiritsdiffermuchbothinTaste,Smell,andOperations;)SinceIelsewheretellyouofmyhavingmadetwosortsofOyleoutofthesamemansblood,thatwouldnotminglewithoneanother;AndsinceImighttellYouDiversExamplesIhavemetwith,oftheContrarietyofBodieswhichaccordingtotheChymistsmustbehuddl’duptogetherunderoneDenomination;IleaveyoutoJudgewhethersuchamultitude of Substances as may agree in these sleight Qualities, and yet Disagree in Others moreConsiderable, aremoreworthy to be call’d by theName of a Principle (which ought to be pure andhomogeneous,) than to have appellations given them thatmaymake them differ, in name too, from thebodiesfromwhichtheysowildlydifferinNature.Andhencealso,bythebye,youmayperceivethat’tisnotunreasonabletodistrusttheChymistswayofArgumentation,whenbeingunabletoshewusthatsuchaLiquor is (forExample)purely saline, theyprove, that at least salt ismuch thepredominantprinciple,because that the propos’d substance is strongly tasted, and all Tast proceeds from salt;whereas thoseSpirits,suchasspiritofTartar,spiritofHartshorn,andthelike,whicharereckonedtobetheMercuriesoftheBodiesthataffordthem,havemanifestlyastrongandpiercingtast,andsohas(accordingtowhatIformerlynoted) thespiritofBox&c.evenafter theacidLiquor thatconcurr’d tocompose ithasbeenseparatedfromit.Andindeed,ifsapidnessbelongnottothespiritorMercurialPrincipleofVegitablesandAnimals: I scarce know how itwill be discriminated from their phlegm, since by the absence ofInflamabilityitmustbedistinguish’dfromtheirsulphur,whichaffordsmeanotherExample,toprovehowunacurate the Chymical Doctrine is in our present Case; since not only the spirits of Vegitables andAnimals,buttheirOylesareverystronglytasted,ashethatshallbutwethistonguewithChymicalOyleofCinnamon,orofCloves,orevenofTurpentine,mayquicklyfind, tohissmart.AndnotonlyInever

try’danyChymicalOyleswhosetastwasnotverymanifestandstrong;butaskilfulandinquisitivepersonwhomade it his business by elaborate operations to depurateChymicalOyles, and reduce them to anElementarysimplicity,Informesus,thatheneverwasabletomakethematallTastless;whenceImightinferr,thattheproofChymistsconfidentlygiveusofabodiesbeingsaline,issofarfromdemonstratingthePredominancy,thatitdoesnotclearlyEvincesomuchasthepresenceofthesalinePrincipleinit.ButIwillnot (pursuesCarneades) remindyou, that theVolatile salt ofHartshorn,Amber,Blood,&c. areexceeding strongly scented,notwithstanding thatmostChymistsdeduceOdours fromSulphur, and fromthemarguethePredominancyofthatPrincipleintheOdorousbody,becauseImustnotsomuchasaddanynewExamplesoftheincompetencyofthissortofChymicalarguments;sincehavingalreadydetain’dYoubuttoolonginthosegeneralsthatappertaintomyfourthconsideration,’tistimethatIproceedtotheparticularsthemselves,towhichIthoughtfittheyshouldbeprevious:

TheseGenerals (continuesCarneades) being thuspremis’d,wemight thebetter survey theUnlikenessthat an attentive and unprepossess’d observer may take notice of in each sort of Bodies which theChymistsarewonttocallthesaltsorsulphursorMercuriesoftheConcretesthatyieldThem,asiftheyhad all a simplicity, and Identity ofNature:whereas salts if theywere all Elementarywould as littledifferasdotheDropsofpureandsimpleWater.’TisknownthatbothChymistsandPhysitiansascribetothefixtsaltsofcalcin’dBodiesthevertuesoftheirconcretes;andconsequentlyverydifferingOperations.SowefindtheAlkaliofWormwoodmuchcommendedindistempersofthestomach;thatofEyebrightforthosethathaveaweaksight;andthatofGuaiacum(ofwhichagreatQuantityyieldsbutaverylittlesalt)isnotonlymuchcommendedinVenerealDiseases,butisbelievedtohaveapeculiarpurgativevertue,whichyetIhavenothadoccasiontotry.Andthough,Iconfess,Ihavelongthought,thattheseAlkalizatesalts are, for themost part, very neer of kin, and retain very little of the properties of the Concreteswhence theywere separated;Yet beingminded toObservewatchfullywhether I couldmeetwith anyExceptionstothisGeneralObservation,Iobserv’dattheGlasse-house,thatsometimestheMetal(astheWorkmen call it) orMasse of colliquated Ingredients,which byBlowing they fashion intoVessels ofdiversshapes,didsometimesproveofaverydifferingcolour,andasomewhatdifferingTexture, fromwhatwasusuall.AndhavingenquiredwhetherthecauseofsuchAccidentsmightnotbederivedfromthepeculiarNatureofthefixtsaltemploy’dtobringthesandtofusion,IfoundthattheknowingstWorkmenimputed these Mis-adventures to the Ashes, of some certain kind of Wood, as having observ’d theignoblerkindofGlassIlatelymention’dtobefrequentlyproduc’dwhentheyhademploy’dsuchsortsofAsheswhich therefore theyscruple tomakeuseof, if they tooknoticeof thembeforehand. I rememberalso,thatanIndustriousManofmyacquaintancehavingboughtavastquantityofTobaccostalkstomakea fixt Salt with, I had the Curiosity to go see whether that Exotick Plant, which so much abounds involatilesalt,wouldaffordapeculiarkindofAlcali;andIwaspleas’dtofindthatintheLixiviumofit,itwasnotnecessary, as isusual, to evaporate all theLiquor, that theremightbeobtain’daSalineCalx,consistinglikelimequench’dintheAirofaheapoflittleCorpusclesofunregardedshapes;butthefixtsaltshotintofigur’dCrystal,almostasNitreorSal-armoniackandotheruncalcin’dsaltsarewonttodo;AndI further remember that Ihaveobserv’d in thefixtSaltofUrine,broughtbydepuration tobeverywhite,atastnotsounliketothatofcommonsalt,andverydifferingfromthewontedcaustickLixiviatetastofother saltsmadeby Incineration.Butbecause the Instances Ihavealledg’dof theDifferenceofAlcalizate salt are but few, and therefore I am still inclin’d to think, that most Chymists and manyPhysitians do, inconsideratly enough andwithoutWarrant from Experience, ascribe theVertues of theConcretesexpos’dtoCalcination,tothesaltsobtain’dbyit;Ishallrather,toshewtheDisparityofsalts,mentioninthefirstPlacetheapparentDifferencebetwixttheVegetablefixtsaltsandtheAnimalVolatileones:As (forExample)betwixt saltofTartar, andsaltofHartshorn;whereof the former is so fixt that’twillindurethebruntofaviolentFire,andstandinfusionlikeaMetal;whereastheother(besidesthatit

hasadifferingtastandaverydifferingsmell)issofarfrombeingfixt,thatitwillflyawayinagentleheataseasilyasSpiritofWine it self.And to this I shalladd, in thenextplace,Thatevenamong theVolatilesaltsthemselves,thereisaconsiderableDifference,asappearsbythedistinctPropertiesof(forInstance)saltofAmber,saltofUrine,saltofMansSkull,(somuchextoll’dagainstthefallingSicknesse)anddiversotherswhichcannotescapeanordinaryObserver.AndthisDiversityofVolatilesaltsIhaveobserv’dtobesomtimesDiscernableeventotheEye,intheirFigures.ForthesaltofHartshornIhaveobserv’dtoadheretotheReceiverintheformealmostofaParallelipipedon;andoftheVolatilesaltofhumaneblood(longdigestedbeforedistillation,withspiritofWine)IcanshewyoustoreofgrainesofthatFigurewhichGeometricianscallaRhombus;thoughIdarenotundertakethattheFiguresoftheseorotherSalineCrystals (if ImaysocallThem)willbealwaies the same,whateverdegreeofFirehavebeenemploy’dtoforcethemup,orhowhastilysoevertheyhavebeenmadetoconveneinthespiritsorliquors,inthelowerpartofwhichIhaveusuallyobserv’dthemafterawhiletoshoot.Andalthough,asIlately told You, I seldom found any Difference, as to Medical Vertues, in the fixt Salts of DiversVegetables; and accordingly I have suspected that most of these volatile Salts, having so great aResemblanceinsmell,intast,andfugitiveness,differbutlittle,ifatall,intheirMedicinalproperties:AsindeedIhavefoundthemgenerallytoagreeindiversofthem(asintheirbeingsomewhatDiaphoretickand very Deopilative; Yet I rememberHelmont somewhere informes us, that there is this DifferencebetwixtthesalinespiritofUrineandthatofMansblood,thattheformerwillnotcuretheEpilepsy,buttheLatterwill.OftheEfficacyalsooftheSaltofCommonAmberagainstthesameDiseaseinChildren,(forinGrownPersonsitisnotaspecifick)ImayelsewherehaveanOccasiontoEntertainYou.AndwhenIconsiderthattotheobtainingoftheseVolatileSalts(especiallythatofUrine)thereisnotrequisitesuchaDestructiveViolenceoftheFire,asthereistogetthoseSaltsthatmustbemadebyIncineration,Iamthemore invited to conclude, that they may differ from one another, and consequently recede from anElementarySimplicity.And,ifIcouldhereshewYouwhatMr.BoylehasObserv’d,touchingtheVariousChymicallDistinctionsofSalts;Youwouldquicklydiscern,notonlythatChymistsdogivethemselvesastrangeLibertytocallConcretesSalts,thatareaccordingtotheirownRulestobelook’duponasveryCompoundedBodies;but thatamongthoseverySalts thatseemElementary,becauseproduc’dupontheAnatomyoftheBodiesthatyieldthem,thereisnotonlyavisibleDisparity,but,tospeakinthecommonLanguage,amanifestAntipathyorContrariety:AsisevidentintheEbullitionandhissingthatiswonttoensue,when theAcidSpiritofVitrioll, for Instance, ispour’duponpotashes,orSaltofTartar.AndIshallbegleaveofthisGentleman,sayesCarneades,castinghisEyesonme,toletmeobservetoYououtofsomeofhispapers,particularly thosewhereinhetreatsofsomePreparationsofUrine, thatnotonlyoneandthesamebodymayhavetwoSaltsofacontraryNature,asheexemplifiesintheSpiritandAlkaliofNitre;butthatfromthesamebodytheremaywithoutadditionbeobtain’dthreedifferingandVisibleSalts.ForHeRelates,thatheobserv’dinUrine,notonlyaVolatileandCrystallineSalt,andafixtSalt,butlikewiseakindofSalArmoniack,orsuchaSaltaswouldsublimeintheformofasalt,andthereforewas not fixt, and yet was far from being so fugitive as the Volatile salt; from which it seem’d alsootherwisetodiffer.IhaveindeedsuspectedthatthismaybeaSalArmoniackproperlyenoughsocall’d,asCompoundedof theVolatile saltofUrine, and the fixt of the sameLiquor,which, as I noted, is notunlikesea-salt;butthatitselfarguesamanifestDifferencebetwixtthesalts,sincesuchaVolatilesaltisnotwonttoUnitethuswithanordinaryAlcali,buttoflyawayfromitintheHeat.AndonthisoccasionIrememberthat,togivesomeofmyFriendsanOcularproofofthedifferencebetwixtthefixtandVolatilesalt(ofthesameConcrete)Wood,Idevis’dthefollowingExperiment.ItookcommonVenetiansublimate,anddissolv’dasmuchofitasIwellcouldinfairWater:thenItookWoodAshes,andpouringonthemWarmeWater,Dissolv’d theirsalt;andfiltrating theWater,assoonasI foundtheLixivium sufficientlysharpuponthetongue,Ireserv’ditforuse:ThenonpartoftheformersolutionofsublimatedroppingalittleofthisDissolv’dFixtsaltofWood,theLiquorspresentlyturn’dofanOrangeColour;butuponthe

otherpartoftheclearsolutionofsublimateputtingsomeoftheVolatilesaltofWood(whichaboundsinthe spirit of soot) theLiquor immediately turn’dwhite, almost likeMilke, and after awhile let fall awhite sediment, as the other Liquor did a Yellow one. To all this that I have said concerning theDifferenceofsalts,ImightaddwhatIFormerlytoldyou,concerningthesimplespiritofBox,andsuchlikeWoods,whichdiffermuchfromtheothersaltshithertomention’d,andyetwouldbelongtothesalinePrinciple,ifChymistsdidtrulyteachthatallTastsproceedfromit.AndImightalsoannex,whatInotedtoyououtofHelmontconcerningBodies,which,thoughtheyconsistingreatpartofChymicalOyles,doyetappearbutVolatilesalts;Buttoinsistonthesethings,weretorepeat;andthereforeIshallproceed.

ThisDisparity is also highly eminent in the separated sulphurs orChymicalOyles of things. For theycontainsomuchofthescent,andtast,andvertues,oftheBodieswhencetheyweredrawn,thattheyseemtobebuttheMaterialCrasis(ifImaysospeak)oftheirConcretes.ThustheOylesofCinnamon,Cloves,Nutmegsandotherspices,seemtobebuttheUnitedAromatickpartsthatdidennoblethoseBodies.And’tis a known thing, thatOyl ofCinnamon, andoyle ofCloves, (which I have likewiseobserv’d in theOylesofseveralWoods)willsink to theBottomofWater:whereas thoseofNutmegsanddiversotherVegetableswillswimuponit.TheOyle(abusivelycall’dspirit)ofRosesswimsattheTopoftheWaterin the formeofawhitebutter,which I remembernot tohaveobserv’d inanyotherOyledrawn inanyLimbeck;yetthereisaway(notheretobedeclar’d)bywhichIhaveseenitcomeoverintheformeofotherAromatickOyles,totheDelightandWonderofthosethatbeheldit.InOyleofAnniseeds,whichIdrewbothwith, andwithoutFermentation, Iobserv’d thewholeBodyof theOyle in a cooleplace tothickenintotheConsistenceandAppearanceofwhiteButter,whichwiththeleastheatresum’ditsFormerLiquidness. In the Oyl of Olive drawn over in a Retort, I have likewise more then once seen aspontaneousCoagulation in theReceiver:And I have of it byme thusCongeal’d;which is of such astrangelyPenetratingscent,asif’twouldPerforatetheNosesthatapproachit.ThelikepungentOdourIalsoobserv’dintheDistill’dLiquorofcommonsope,whichforc’doverfromMinium,latelyaffordedanoyle of a most admirable Penetrancy; And he must be a great stranger, both to the Writings andpreparations of Chymists, that sees not in the Oyles they distill from Vegetables and Animals, aconsiderable andobviousDifference.Nay I shall venture to add,Eleutherius, (what perhapsyouwillthinkofkintoaParadox)thatdiverstimesoutofthesameAnimalorVegetable,theremaybeextractedOylesofNaturesobviouslydiffering.Towhichpurpose I shallnot insiston theswimmingandsinkingOyles,whichIhavesometimesobserv’dtofloaton,andsubsideunderthespiritofGuajacum,andthatofdivers other Vegetables Distill’d with a strong and lasting Fire; Nor shall I insist on the observationelsewheremention’d,ofthediversandunminglableoylesaffordedusbyHumaneBloodlongfermentedandDigestedwithspiritofWine,becausethesekindofoylesmayseemchieflytodifferinConsistenceandWeight,beingallof themhighcolour’dandadust.ButtheExperimentwhichIdevis’dtomakeoutthisDifferenceoftheoylesofthesameVegetable,adOculum,(astheyspeak)wasthisthatfollowes.ItookapoundofAnnisseeds,andhavinggroslybeatenthem,causedthemtobeputintoaverylargeglassRetortalmostfilledwithfairWater;andplacingthisRetortinasandFurnace,Icaus’daveryGentleheattobeadminister’dduringthefirstday,andagreatpartofthesecond,tilltheWaterwasforthemostpartdrawnoff,andhadbroughtoverwithitatleastmostoftheVolatileandAromatickOyleoftheseeds.Andthen encreasing the Fire, and changing the Receiver, I obtain’d besides an Empyreumatical Spirit, aquantityofadustoyle;whereofalittlefloatedupontheSpirit,andtherestwasmoreheavy,andnoteasilyseparablefromit.Andwhereastheseoyleswereverydark,andsmell’d(asChymistsspeak)sostronglyoftheFire,thattheirOdourdidnotbetrayfromwhatVegetablestheyhadbeenforc’d;theotherAromatickOylewasenrich’dwiththegenuinesmellandtastoftheConcrete;andspontaneouslycoagulatingitselfintowhitebutterdidmanifestselftobethetrueOyleofAnnisseeds;whichConcreteIthereforechosetoemployaboutthisExperiment,thattheDifferenceoftheseOylesmightbemoreconspicuousthenitwould

havebeen,hadIinsteadofitdestill’danotherVegetable.

Ihadalmost forgot to takenotice, that there is another sortofBodies,which thoughnotobtain’d fromConcretesbyDistillation,manyChymistsarewonttocalltheirSulphur;notonlybecausesuchsubstancesare,forthemostpart,highcolour’d(whencetheyarealso,andthatmoreproperly,calledTinctures)asdissolv’d Sulphurs are wont to be; but especially because they are, for themost part, abstracted andseparated from the rest of the Masse by Spirit of Wine: which Liquor those men supposing to beSulphureous,theyconclude,thatwhatitworksupon,andabstracts,mustbeaSulphuralso.Anduponthisaccounttheypresume,thattheycansequesterthesulphurevenofMineralsandMetalls;fromwhich’tisknown that they cannot by Fire alone separate it. To all This I shall answer; That if these sequestredsubstanceswhere indeed the sulphursof theBodieswhence theyaredrawn, therewouldaswellbeagreatDisparitybetwixtChymicalSulphursobtain’dbySpiritofWine,asIhavealreadyshewnthereisbetwixtthoseobtain’dbyDistillationintheformeofOyles:whichwillbeevidentfromhence,thatnottourgethatthemselvesascribedistinctvertuestoMineralTinctures,extollingtheTinctureofGoldagainstsuch and suchDiseases; the Tincture ofAntimony, or of itsGlass, against others; and the Tincture ofEmerauldagainstothers; ’tisplain, that inTincturesdrawnfromVegetables, if thesuperfluousspiritofWinebedistill’doff,itleavesatthebottomthatthickersubstancewhichChymistsusetocalltheExtractof the Vegetable. And that these Extracts are endow’d with very differing Qualities according to theNatureof theParticularBodies thatafforded them(thoughI fear seldomwithsomuchof thespecifickvertuesasiswonttobeimagin’d)isfreelyconfess’dbothbyPhysitiansandChymists.But,Eleutherius,(sayesCarneades)wemayheretakeNoticethattheChymistsdoaswellinthiscase,asinmanyothers,allow themselves a License to abuseWords: For not again to argue from the differing properties ofTinctures,thattheyarenotexactlypureandElementarySulphurs;theywouldeasilyappearnottobesomuch as Sulphur’s, althoughwe should allowChymicalOyles to deserve thatName. For however insomeMineralTincturestheNaturalfixtnessoftheextractedBodydoesnotalwayessufferittobeeasilyfurtherresolubleintodifferingsubstances;YetinverymanyextractsdrawnfromVegetables,itmayveryeasilybemanifestedthatthespiritofWinehasnotsequestredthesulphureousIngredientfromthesalineandMercurial ones; but has dissolv’d (for I take it to be a Solution) the finer Parts of the Concrete(withoutmakinganynicedistinctionof theirbeingperfectlySulphureousornot)andunited itselfwiththemintoakindofMagistery;whichconsequentlymustcontainIngredientsorPartsofseveralsorts.Forweseethatthestonesthatarerichinvitriol,beingoftendrench’dwithrain-Water,theLiquorwillthenextract a fine and transparent substance coagulable into Vitriol; and yet though this Vitriol be readilydissolubleinWater,itisnotatrueElementarySalt,but,asYouknow,abodyresolubleintoverydifferingParts,whereofone(asIshallhaveoccasiontotellYouanon)isyetofaMetalline,andconsequentlynotofanElementaryNature.Youmayconsideralso, thatcommonSulphur isreadilydissoluble inOyleofTurpentine,thoughnotwithstandingitsNameitaboundsaswell,ifnotasmuch,inSaltasintrueSulphur;witnessthegreatquantityofsalineLiquoritaffordsbeingsettoflameawayunderaglasseBell.NayIhave, which perhaps You will think strange, with the same Oyle of Turpentine alone easily enoughdissolv’d crudeAntimony finely powder’d into aBlood-redBalsam,wherewith perhaps considerablethingsmaybeperform’dinSurgery.AndifitwerenowRequisite,IcouldtellYouofsomeotherBodies(suchasPerhapsYouwouldnotsuspect)thatIhavebeenabletoworkuponwithcertainChymicalOyles.ButinsteadofdigressingfurtherIshallmakethisuseoftheExampleIhavenam’d.That’tisnotunlikely,but that Spirit of Wine which by its pungent tast, and by some other Qualities that argue it better(especiallyitsReduciblenesse,accordingtoHelmont,intoAlcali,andWater,)seemstobeaswellofaSalineasofaSulphureousNature,maywellbesuppos’dCapableofDissolvingSubstancesThatarenotmeerlyElementarysulphurs, thoughperhapstheymayaboundwithParts thatareofkinthereunto.ForIfindthatSpiritofWinewilldissolveGummLacca,Benzoine,andtheResinousPartsofJallap,andeven

ofGuaiacum;whencewemaywellsuspect that itmayfromSpices,Herbs,andother lessecompactedVegetables,extractsubstancesthatarenotperfectSulphursbutmixtBodies.AndtoputitpastDispute,there ismanyaVulgarExtractdrawnwithSpiritofWine,whichcommitted toDistillationwill affordsuchdifferingsubstancesaswillLoudlyproclaimittohavebeenaverycompoundedBody.Sothatwemayjustlysuspect,thateveninMineralTincturesitwillnotalwaiesfollow,thatbecausearedsubstanceis drawn from theConcrete by spirit ofWine, that Substance is its true andElementary Sulphur.AndthoughsomeoftheseExtractsmayperhapsbeinflamable;Yetbesidesthatothersarenot,andbesidesthattheirbeingreduc’dtosuchMinutenessofPartsmaymuchfacilitatetheirtakingFire;besidesthis,Isay,WeseethatcommonSulphur,commonOyle,GummLac,andmanyUnctuousandResinousBodies,willflamewell enough, though theybeofverycompoundednatures:NayTravellersofUnsuspectedCreditassureUs, as a known thing, that in someNorthernCountrieswhere Firr trees and Pines abound, thepoorersortofInhabitantsuseLongsplintersofthoseResinousWoodstoburneinsteadofCandles.Andasfor the rednessewont to bemetwith in such solutions, I could easily shew, that ’tis not necessary itshould proceed from theSulphur of theConcrete,Dissolv’d by theSpirit ofWine; if I had leasure tomanifesthowmuchChymistsarewont todelude themselvesandothersby theIgnoranceof thoseothercausesuponwhoseaccountspiritofWineandotherMenstruumsmayacquirearedorsomeotherhighcolour.ButtoreturnetoourChymicalOyles,supposingthattheywereexactlypure;YetIhopetheywouldbe,asthebestspiritofWineis,butthemoreinflamableanddeflagrable.AndthereforesinceanOylecanbebytheFirealoneimmediatelyturn’dintoflame,whichissomethingofaverydifferingNaturefromit:I shallDemandhow thisOyle canbe aPrimogeneal and IncorruptibleBody, asmostChymistswouldhavetheirPrinciples;Sinceitisfurtherresolubleintoflame,whichwhetherornoitbeaportionoftheElementofFire,asanAristotelianwouldconclude,iscertainlysomethingofaverydifferingNaturefromaChymicalOyle, since it burnes, and shines, andmounts swiftly upwards; none ofwhich aChymicalOyledoes,whilstitcontinuessuch.AndifitshouldbeObjected,thattheDissipatedPartsofthisflamingOylemaybecaughtandcollectedagain intoOylorSulphur; I shalldemand,whatChymist appears tohaveeverdone it; andwithoutExaminingwhether itmaynothencebeaswell said that sulphur isbutcompactedFire,asthatFireisbutdiffus’dSulphur,Ishallleaveyoutoconsiderwhetheritmaynothencebe argu’d, that neither Fire nor Sulphur are primitive and indestructible Bodies; and I shall furtherobservethat,at leastitwillhenceappearthataportionofmattermaywithoutbeingCompoundedwithnewIngredients,byhavingtheTextureandMotionofitssmallpartschang’d,beeasily,bythemeansofthe Fire, endow’d with new Qualities, more differing from them it had before, then are those whichsufficetodiscriminatetheChymistsPrinciplesfromoneanother.

WearenexttoConsider,whetherintheAnatomyofmixtBodies,thatwhichChymistscalltheMercurialpartofthembeuncompounded,orno.ButtotellYouTrue,thoughChymistsdoUnanimouslyaffirmthattheirResolutionsdiscoveraPrinciple,whichtheycallMercury,yetIfindthemtogiveofitDescriptionssoDiffering,andsoÆnigmaticall,thatI,whoamnotasham’dtoconfessthatIcannotunderstandwhatisnot sence, must acknowledge to you that I know not what to make of them.Paracelsus himself, andtherefore,asyouwilleasilybelieve,manyofhisFollowers,doessomewherecall thatMercurywhichascendsupontheburningofWood,asthePeripateticksarewonttotakethesamesmokeforAir;andsoseems todefineMercurybyVolatility,or (if ImaycoynesuchaWord)Effumability.But since, in thisExample,bothVolatileSaltandSulphurmakepartofthesmoke,whichdoesindeedconsistalsobothofPhlegmatickandTerreneCorpuscles, thisNotion isnot tobeadmitted;And I find that themore soberChymiststhemselvesdisavowit.Yettoshewyouhowlittleofclearnesswearetoexpectintheaccountsevenof latterSpagyrists, bepleas’d to takenotice, thatBeguinus, even inhisTyrociniumChymicum,writtenfortheInstructionofNovices,whenhecomestotelluswhataremeantbytheTriaPrima,whichfortheirbeingPrinciplesoughttobedefin’dthemoreaccuratelyandplainly,givesusthisDescriptionof

Mercury; Mercurius (sayes he) est liquor ille acidus, permeabilis, penetrabilis, æthereus, acpurissimus, a quo omnis Nutricatio, Sensus, Motus, Vires, Colores, Senectutisque Præproperæretardatio.WhichwordsarenotsomuchaDefinitionofit,asanEncomium:andyetQuercetanusinhisDescription of the samePrinciple adds to these, divers otherEpithets.But both of them, to skip verymany other faults thatmay be foundwith theirMetaphoricallDescriptions, speak incongruously to theChymistsownPrinciples.For ifMercurybeanAcidLiquor, eitherHermeticalPhilosophymust err inascribing all Tasts to Salt, or else Mercury must not be a Principle, but Compounded of a SalineIngredientandsomewhatelse.Libavius,thoughhefindgreatfaultwiththeobscurityofwhattheChymistswrite concerning theirMercurial Principle, does yet but give us such aNegativeDescription of it, asSennertus,howfavourablesoevertotheTriaPrima, isnotsatisfi’dwith.AndthisSennertusHimself,though the Learnedst Champion for the Hypostatical Principles, does almost as frequently as justlycomplain of the unsatisfactoriness of what the Chymists teach concerning their Mercury; and yet hehimself(butwithhiswontedmodesty)SubstitutesinsteadoftheDescriptionofLibavius,another,whichmanyReaders,especiallyiftheybenotPeripateticks,willnotknowwhattomakeof.Forscarcetellingusanymore,thenthatinallbodiesthatwhichisfoundbesidesSaltandSulphur,andtheElements,or,astheycallthem,PhlegmandDeadEarth,isthatSpiritwhichinAristotlesLanguagemaybecall’dουσιαναναλογοντωτωναϛρωνϛοιχαιω.HesayesthatwhichIconfessisnotatallsatisfactorytome,whodonotlovetoseemtoacquiesceinanymansMysticalDoctrines,thatImaybethoughttounderstandthem.

If(sayesEleutherius)Idurstpresumethatthesamethingwouldbethoughtclearbyme,andthosethatarefond of such cloudy Expressions as You justly Tax the Chymists for, I should venture to offer toConsideration,whetherorno,sincetheMercurialPrinciplethatarisesfromDistillationisunanimouslyassertedtobedistinctfromthesaltandSulphurofthesameConcrete,thatmaynotbecall’dtheMercuryofaBody,whichthoughitascendinDistillation,asdothePhlegmeandSulphur,isneitherinsipidliketheformer,norinflamable like the latter.AndthereforeIwouldsubstitute to the toomuchabusedNameofMercury, themoreclearandFamiliarAppellationofSpirit,whichisalsonowverymuchmadeuseofevenbytheChymiststhemselves,ofourtimes,thoughtheyhavenotgivenussoDistinctanExplication,aswerefit,ofwhatmaybecall’dtheSpiritofamixtBody.

I should not perhaps (sayes Carneades) much quarrel with your Notion of Mercury. But as for theChymists,what theycanmean,with congruity to theirownPrinciples, by theMercuryofAnimals andVegetables, ’twill not be so easie to find out; for they ascribe Tasts only to the Saline Principle, andconsequentlywouldbemuchputtoittoshewwhatLiquoritis,intheResolutionofBodies,thatnotbeinginsipid, for that they call Phlegme, neither is inflamable asOyle or Sulphur, nor has any Tast; whichaccordingtothemmustproceedfromaMixture,atleast,ofSalt.AndifweshouldtakeSpiritinthesenceof theWord receiv’d amongModern Chymists and Physitians, for anyDistill’d Liquor that is neitherPhlegme nor oyle, theAppellationwould yet appearAmbiguous enough. For, plainly, thatwhich firstascends in theDistillationofWineandFermentedLiquors, isgenerallyaswellbyChymistsasothersreputed a Spirit. And yet pure Spirit ofWine beingwholly inflamable ought according to them to bereckon’dtotheSulphureous,nottheMercurialPrinciple.AndamongtheotherLiquorsthatgounderthenameofSpirits, therearediverswhichseemtobelongtothefamilyofSalts,suchasaretheSpiritsofNitre,Vitriol,Sea-Saltandothers,andeventheSpiritofHartshorn,being,asIhavetry’d,ingreatpart,ifnot totallyreducible intoSaltandPhlegme,maybesuspected tobebutaVolatileSaltdisguis’dbythePhlegmemingl’dwithitintotheformeofaLiquor.HoweverifthisbeaSpirit,itmanifestlydiffersverymuchfromthatofVinager, theTastof theonebeingAcid,andtheotherSalt,andtheirMixtureincasetheybeverypure,sometimesoccasioninganEffervescencelikethatofthoseLiquorstheChymistscountmostcontrary tooneanother.Andevenamong thoseLiquors that seem tohaveabetter title then thosehitherto mention’d, to the name of Spirits, there appears a sensible Diversity; For spirit of Oak, for

instance,differsfromthatofTartar,andthisfromthatofBox,orofGuaiacum.Andinshort,eventhesespirits aswell as otherDistill’dLiquorsmanifest a greatDisparitybetwixt themselves, either in theirActionsonoursenses,orintheirotheroperations.

And (continuesCarneades) besides thisDisparity that is to bemetwith among thoseLiquors that theModernescallspirits,&takeforsimilarbodies,whatIhaveformerlytoldyouconcerningtheSpiritofBox-woodmayletyouseethatsomeofthoseLiquorsnotonlyhavequalitiesverydifferingfromothers,butmaybefurtherresolvedintosubstancesdifferingfromoneanother.

And since many moderne Chymists and other Naturalists are pleased to take the Mercurial spirit ofBodies for the samePrinciple, underdifferingnames, Imust invite you toobserve,withme, thegreatdifferencethatisconspicuousbetwixtalltheVegetableandAnimalspiritsIhavemention’dandrunningMercury.Ispeaknotofthatwhichiscommonlysoldinshopsthatmanyofthemselveswillconfessetobea mixt Body; but of that which is separated from Metals, which by some Chymists that seem morePhilosophersthentherest,andespeciallybytheabovementionedClaveus,is(fordistinctionsake)calledMercuriusCorporum.NowthisMetallineLiquorbeingoneofthosethreePrinciplesofwhichMineralBodies are bySpagyrists affirmed to be compos’d and to be resoluble into them, themany notoriousDifferencesbetwixt themandtheMercuries,asTheycallThem,ofVegetablesandAnimalswillallowmetoinferr,eitherthatMineralsandtheothertwosortsofMixtBodiesconsistnotofthesameElements,or that those Principles whereinto Minerals are immediately resolved, which Chymists with greatostentationshewusasthetrueprinciples,ofthem,arebutSecundaryPrinciples,orMixtsofapeculiarsort,whichmustbethemselvesreduc’dtoaverydifferingforme,tobeofthesamekindwithVegetableandAnimalLiquors.

Butthisisnotall;foralthoughIformerlytoldYouhowLittleCreditthereistobegiventotheChymicalProcesses commonly to bemetwith, of Extracting theMercuries ofMetals, Yet I will now add, thatsupposing that themore JudiciousofThemdonotuntrulyaffirme that theyhave reallydrawn true andrunningMercuryfromseveralMetals(whichIwishtheyhadcleerlytaughtUshowtodoalso,)yetitmaybestilldoubtedwhethersuchextractedMercuriesdonotaswelldifferfromcommonQuicksilver,andfromoneanother,asfromtheMercuriesofVegetablesandAnimalls.Claveus,inhisApology,speakingofsomeexperimentswherebyMetallineMercuriesmaybefixtintothenoblermetals,adds,thathespakeoftheMercuriesdrawnfrommetals;becausecommonQuicksilverbyreasonofitsexcessivecoldnesseandmoistureisunfitforthatparticularkindofoperation;forwhichthoughafewlinesbeforeheprescribesingeneraltheMercuriesofMetallineBodies,yethechieflycommendsthatdrawnbyartfromsilver.Andelsewhere,inthesameBook,hetellsus,thathehimselftryed,thatbybarecoctionthequicksilverofTinorPewter(argentumvivumexstannoprolicitum)maybyanefficientcause,ashespeaks,beturn’dintopureGold.AndtheExperienc’dAlexandervanSuchten,somewheretellsus,thatbyawayheintimatesmaybemadeaMercuryofCopper,notoftheSilvercolourofotherMercuries,butgreen;towhichIshalladd, that an eminent person, whose name his travells and learned writings havemade famous, latelyassur’dmethathehadmorethenonceseentheMercuryofLead(whichwhateverAuthorspromise,youwillfinditverydifficulttomake,atleastinanyconsiderablequantity)fixtintoperfectGold.Andbeingbymedemandedwhetheror no anyotherMercurywouldnot aswell havebeen changedby the sameOperations,heassuredmeoftheNegative.

AndsinceIamfallenuponthementionoftheMercuriesofmetals,youwillperhapsexpect(Eleutherius!)that I should say something of their two other principles; but must freely confess to you, that whatDisparity theremaybebetween the saltsandsulphursofMetalsandotherMenerals, I amnotmy selfexperiencedenoughintheseparationsandexamensofthem,toventuretodetermine:(forasforthesalts

ofMetals,Iformerlyrepresenteditasathingmuchtobequestion’d,whethertheyhaveanyatall:)AndfortheprocessesofseparationIfindinAuthors,iftheywere(whatmanyofthemarenot)successfullypracticable,asInotedabove,yettheyaretobeperformedbytheassistanceofotherbodies,sohardly,ifuponanytermesatall,separablefromthem,that it isverydifficult togivetheseparatedprinciplesalltheir due, and nomore. But the Sulphur of Antimonywhich is vehemently vomitive, and the stronglyscented Anodyne Sulphur of Vitriol inclines me to think that not only Mineral Sulphurs differ fromVegetableones,butalsofromoneanother, retainingmuchof thenatureof theirConcretes.Thesaltsofmetals,andofsomesortofminerals,YouwilleasilyguessebytheDoubtsIformerlyexpress’d,whethermetalshaveanysaltatall,thatIhavenotbeensohappyasyettosee,perhapsnotforwantofcuriosity.ButifParacelsusdidalwaieswritesoconsentaneouslytohimselfthathisopinionwereconfidentlytobecollectedfromeveryplaceofhiswritingswhereheseemstoexpresseit,Imightsafelytakeuponmetotellyou,thathebothcountenancesingeneralwhatIhavedeliveredinmyFourthmainconsideration,andinparticularwarrantsmetosuspectthattheremaybeadifferenceinmetallineandmineralSalts,aswellaswefinditinthoseofotherbodies.For,Sulphur(sayeshe)aliudinauro,aliudinargento,aliudinferro,aliudinplumbo,stanno,&c.sicaliudinSaphiro,aliudinSmaragdo,aliudinrubino,chrysolito,amethisto,magnete,&c. Itemaliud in lapidibus, silice, salibus, fontibus,&c. nec vero tot sulphuratantum,sed&totidemsalia;salaliudinmetallis,aliudingemmis,aliudinlapidibus,aliudinsalibus,aliudinvitriolo,aliudinalumine:similisetiamMercuriiestratio.AliusinMetallis,aliusinGemmis,&c.ItautunicuiquespecieisuuspeculiarisMercuriussit.Ettamenressaltemtressunt;unaessentiaestsulphur;unaestsal;unaestMercurius.Addoquod&specialiusadhucsinguladividantur;aurumenim non unum, sed multiplex, ut et non unum pyrum, pomum, sed idem multiplex; totidem etiamsulphura auri, salia auri, mercurii auri; idem competit etiam metallis & gemmis; ut quot saphyripræstantiores, lævioris,&c. tot etiam saphyrica sulphura, saphyrica salia, saphyriciMercurii,&c.Idem verum etiam est de turconibus& gemmis aliis universis. Fromwhich passage (Eleutherius) Isupposeyouwill thinkImightwithout rashnessconclude,either thatmyopinion is favouredby thatofParacelsus,orthatParacelsushisopinionwasnotalwaiesthesame.Butbecauseindiversotherplacesofhiswritingsheseemsto talkatadifferingrateof the threePrinciplesandthefourElements, Ishallcontentmyselftoinferrfromthealledg’dpassage,thatifhisdoctrinebenotconsistentwiththatPartofminewhich it is brought to countenance, it is very difficult to knowwhat his opinion concerning salt,sulphurandmercury,was;andthatconsequentlywehadreasonaboutthebeginningofourconferences,todeclinetakinguponus,eithertoexamineoropposeit.

IknownotwhetherIshouldonthisoccasionadd,thatthoseverybodiestheChymistscallPhlegmeandEarth do yet recede from an Elementary simplicity. That common Earth andWater frequently do so,notwithstanding the received contrary opinion, is not deny’d by the more wary of the modernePeripateticks themselves: and certainly, most Earths are much lesse simple bodies then is commonlyimaginedevenbyChymists,whodonotsoconsideratlytoprescribeandemployEarthsPromiscuouslyinthosedistillationsthatrequirethemixtureofsomecaputmortuum,tohindertheflowingtogetherofthematter,andtoretainitsgrosserparts.ForIhavefoundsomeEarthstoyieldbydistillationaLiquorveryfar from being inodorous or insipid; and ’tis a known observation, that most kinds of fat Earth keptcover’dfromtherain,andhindredfromspendingthemselvesintheproductionofvegetables,willintimebecomeimpregnatedwithSalt-Petre.

ButImustrememberthat theWaterandEarthsIoughtheretospeakof,aresuchasareseparatedfrommixtBodiesbythefire;andthereforetorestrainmyDiscoursetosuch,Ishalltellyou,ThatweseethePhlegmeofVitriol(for instance) isaveryeffectualremedieagainstburnes;andIknowaveryFamousandexperienc’dPhysitian,whoseunsuspectedsecret(himselfconfess’dtome)itis,forthediscussingofhard andObstinateTumours. The Phlegme ofVinager, though drawn exceeding leasurly in a digesting

Furnace, I have purposely made tryall of; and sometimes found it able to draw, though slowly, asaccharinesweetnessoutofLead;andas I rememberby longDigestion, Idissolv’dCorpals in it.ThePhlegmeofthesugarofSaturneissaidtohaveverypeculiarproperties.DiversEminentChymiststeach,that itwilldissolvePearls,whichbeingprecipitatedby thespiritof thesameconcreteare thereby(astheysay) rendredvolatile;whichhasbeenconfirmed tome,uponhisownobservation,byapersonofgreatveracity.ThePhlegmeofWine,andindeeddiversotherLiquorsthatareindiscriminatelycondemndtobecastawayasphlegm,areendow’dwithqualitiesthatmakethemdifferbothfrommeerwater,andfrom each other; andwhereas theChymists are pleas’d to call the caputmortuum of what they havedistill’d (after theyhavebyaffusionofwaterdrawnaway its salt) terradamnata,orEarth, itmaybedoubtedwhetherornothoseearthsareallofthemperfectlyalike:anditisscarcetobedoubted,butthattherearesomeofthemwhichremainyetunreduc’dtoanElementarynature.Theashesofwooddepriv’dofallthesalt,andbone-Ashes,orcalcin’dHartshorn,whichRefinerschoosetomakeTestsof,asfreestfromSalt,seemunlike:andhethatshallcompareeitheroftheseinsipidashestoLime,andmuchmoretothecalxofTalk(thoughbytheaffusionofwatertheybeexquisitelydulcify’d)willperhapsseecausetothink them things of a somewhat differing nature. And it is evident in Colcothar that the exactestcalcination, follow’d by an exquisite dulcification, does not alwaies reduce the remaining body intoelementaryearth;forafterthesaltorVitriol(iftheCalcinationhavebeentoofaint)isdrawnoutoftheColcothar,theresidueisnotearth,butamixtbody,richinMedicalvertues(asexperiencehasinform’dme)andwhichAngelusSalaaffirmestobepartlyreducibleintomalleableCopper;whichI judgeveryprobable: for though when I was making Experiments upon Colcothar, I was destitute of a Furnacecapable of giving a heat intenseEnough to bring such aCalx to Fusion; yet having conjectur’d that ifColcotharaboundedwiththatMetal,AquaFortiswouldfinditoutthere,Iputsomedulcifi’dColcotharintothatMenstruum,andfoundtheLiquor,accordingtomyExpectation,presentlyColour’dasHighlyasifithadbeenanOrdinarySolutionofCopper.

T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST.

H

TheFifthPart.

EreCarneades making a pause, I must not deny (sayes his Friend to him) that I think You havesufficiently prov’d that these distinct Substances which Chymists are wont to obtain from Mixt

Bodies,bytheirVulgarDestillation,arenotpureandsimpleenoughtodeserve,inRigourofspeaking,theNameofElements,orPrinciples.ButIsupposeYouhaveheard,thattherearesomeModernSpagyrists,whogiveoutthattheycanbyfurtherandmoreSkilfullPurifications,soreducetheseparatedIngredientsofMixtBodiestoanElementarysimplicity,ThattheOyles(forInstance)extractedfromallMixtsshallasperfectlyresembleoneanother,astheDropsofWaterdo.

Ifyouremember(repliesCarneades)thatattheBeginningofourConferencewithPhiloponus,Ideclar’dtohimbefore the restof theCompany, that Iwouldnotengagemyselfatpresent todoanymore thenexamine the usual proofs alledg’d by Chymists, for the Vulgar doctrine of their three HypostaticalPrinciples;YouwilleasilyperceivethatIamnotoblig’dtomakeanswertowhatyounewlypropos’d;andthatitrathergrants,thendisproveswhatIhavebeencontendingfor:Sincebypretendingtomakesogreat a change in the reputed Principles that Destillation affords the common Spagyrists, ’tis plainlyenoughpresuppos’d, thatbefore suchArtificialDepurationsbemade, theSubstances tobemademoresimplewerenotyetsimpleenoughtobelook’duponasElementary;WhereforeincasetheArtistsyouspeak of could perform what they give out they can, yet I should not need to be asham’d of havingquestion’d the Vulgar Opinion touching the tria Prima. And as to the thing it self, I shall freelyacknowledgetoyou,thatIlovenottobeforwardindeterminingthingstobeimpossible,tillIknowandhave consider’d the means by which they are propos’d to be effected. And therefore I shall notperemptorilydenyeitherthepossibilityofwhattheseArtistspromise,ormyAssenttoanyjustInference;howeverdestructivetomyConjectures,thatmaybedrawnfromtheirperformances.Butgivemeleavetotellyouwithall,thatbecausesuchpromisesarewont(asExperiencehasmorethenonceinform’dme)tobe much more easily made, then made good by Chymists, I must withhold my Beliefe from theirassertions,tilltheirExperimentsexactit;andmustnotbesoeasieastoexpectbeforehand,anunlikelythinguponnostrongerInducementsthenareyetgivenme:BesidesthatIhavenotyetfoundbywhatIhaveheardof theseArtists, that though theypretend tobring the severalSubstances intowhich theFirehasdivided theConcrete, toanexquisite simplicity,Theypretendalso tobeableby theFire todivideallConcretes,Minerals,andothers,intothesamenumberofDistinctSubstances.AndinthemeantimeImustthinkitimprobable,thattheycaneithertrulyseparateasmanydifferingBodiesfromGold(forInstance)orOsteocolla,aswecandofromWine,orVitriol;orthattheMercury(forExample)ofGoldorSaturnwouldbeperfectlyofthesameNaturewiththatofHartshorn;andthatthesulphurofAntimonywouldbebutNumericallydifferentfromtheDistill’dbutteroroyleofRoses.

Butsuppose(sayesEleutherius) thatyou shouldmeetwithChymists,whowould allowyou to take inEarthandWater into thenumberof theprinciplesofMixtBodies;andbeingalsocontent tochangetheAmbiguous Name of Mercury for that more intelligible one of spirit, should consequently make theprinciplesofCompoundBodiestobeFive;wouldyounotthinkitsomethinghardtorejectsoplausibleanOpinion,onlybecausetheFivesubstancesintowhichtheFiredividesmixtBodiesarenotexactlypure,andHomogeneous?Formypart (ContinuesCarneades) I cannotbut think it somewhat strange, incasethisOpinion be not true, that it should fall out so luckily, that so great aVariety ofBodies should beAnalyz’dbytheFireintojustfiveDistinctsubstances;whichsolittledifferingfromtheBodiesthatbear

thosenames,maysoPlausiblybecall’dOyle,Spirit,Salt,Water,andEarth.

TheOpinionYounowpropose(answersCarneades)beinganotherthenthatIwasengag’dtoexamine,itisnot requisite forme toDebate itatpresent;norshouldIhave leisure todo it thorowly.WhereforeIshallonlytellyouinGeneral,thatthoughIthinkthisOpinioninsomerespectsmoredefensiblethenthatoftheVulgarChymists;yetyoumayeasilyenoughlearnfromthepastDiscoursewhatmaybethoughtofit:Sincemanyof theObjectionsmadeagainst theVulgarDoctrineof theChymistsseem,withoutmuchalteration,employableagainst thisHypothesisalso.For,besides that thisDoctrinedoesaswellas theothertakeitforgranted,(whatisnoteasietobeprov’d)thattheFireisthetrueandAdequateAnalyzerofBodies,andthatalltheDistinctsubstancesobtainablefromamixtBodybytheFire,weresopre-existentinit,thattheywerebutextricatedfromeachotherbytheAnalysis;BesidesthatthisOpinion,too,ascribeto theProductionsof theFireanElementarysimplicity,whichIhaveshewnnot tobelongto them;andbesidesthatthisDoctrineislyabletosomeoftheotherDifficulties,wherewithThatoftheTriaPrimaisincumber’d;Besidesallthis,Isay,thisquinarynumberofElements,(ifyoupardontheExpression)oughtatleasttohavebeenrestrain’dtotheGeneralityofAnimalandVegetableBodies,sincenotonlyamongthese there are someBodies (as I formerly argu’d)which, for ought has yet beenmade to appear, doconsist,eitheroffewerormoresimilarsubstancesthenpreciselyFive.ButintheMineralKingdom,thereis scarce one Concrete that has been evinc’d to be adequatly divisible into such five Principles orElements,andneithermorenorless,asthisOpinionwouldhaveeverymixtBodytoconsistof.

And thisvery thing (continuesCarneades)mayserve to takeawayor lessenyourWonder, that just somanyBodiesasfiveshouldbefoundupontheResolutionofConcretes.ForsincewefindnotthatthefirecanmakeanysuchAnalysis(intofiveElements)ofMetalsandotherMineralBodies,whoseTextureismore strong and permanent, it remains that the Five Substances under consideration beObtain’d fromVegetableandAnimalBodies,which(probablybyreasonoftheirlooserContexture)arecapableofbeingDistill’d.AndastosuchBodies,’tisnaturalenough,that,whetherwesupposethatthereare,orarenot,preciselyfiveElements, thereshouldordinarilyoccurr in theDissipatedpartsa fiveFoldDiversityofScheme(ifImaysospeak.)ForifthePartsdonotremainallfix’d,asinGold,Calcin’dTalck,&c.norall ascend, as in theSublimationofBrimstone,Camphire,&c. but after theirDissipationdo associatethemselvesintonewSchemesofMatter;itisverylikely,thattheywillbytheFirebedividedintofix’dandVolatile(Imean,inReferencetothatdegreeofheatbywhichtheyaredestill’d)andthoseVolatilepartswill,forthemostpart,ascendeitherinadryforme,whichChymistsarepleas’dtocall,iftheybeTastless, Flowers; if Sapid, Volatile Salt; or in a Liquid Forme. And this Liquor must be eitherinflamable,andsopassforoyl,ornotinflamable,andyetsubtileandpungent,whichmaybecall’dSpirit;orelsestrengthlessorinsipid,whichmaybenam’dPhlegme,orWater.Andasforthefixtpart,orCaputMortuum,itwillmostcommonlyconsistofCorpuscles,partlySolubleinWater,orSapid,(especiallyifthe Saline parts were not so Volatile, as to fly away before) which make up its fixt salt; and partlyinsoluble and insipid, which therefore seems to challenge the name of Earth. But although upon thisgroundonemighteasilyenoughhaveforetold,thatthedifferingsubstancesobtain’dfromaperfectlymixtBodybytheFirewouldforthemostpartbereducibletothefivenewlymentionedStatesofMatter;yetitwillnotpresentlyfollow,thatthesefiveDistinctsubstancesweresimpleandprimogenealbodies,sopre-existentintheConcretethatthefiredoesbuttakethemasunder.Besidesthatitdoesnotappear,thatallMixtBodies,(witness,Gold,Silver,Mercury,&c.)NaynorperhapsallVegetables,whichmayappearbywhatwesaidaboveofCamphire,Benzoin,&c.areresolublebyFireintojustsuchdifferingSchemesofMatter.NorwilltheExperimentsformerlyalledg’dpermitustolookupontheseseparatedSubstancesasElementary,oruncompounded.NeitherwillitbeasufficientArgumentoftheirbeingBodiesthatdeservetheNameswhichChymistsarepleas’dtogivethem,thattheyhaveanAnalogyinpointofConsistence,oreitherVolatility or Fixtness, or else some other obviousQuality,with the suppos’d Principles,whose

names are ascrib’d to them. For, as I told you above, notwithstanding this Resemblance in some oneQuality,theremaybesuchaDisparityinothers,asmaybemorefittogivethemDifferingAppellations,thentheResemblanceistogivethemoneandthesame.AndindeeditseemsbutsomewhatagrossWayofjudgingoftheNatureofBodies,toconcludewithoutScruple,thatthosemustbeofthesameNaturethatagree in some suchGeneralQuality, as Fluidity,Dryness,Volatility, and the like: since each of thoseQualities,orStatesofMatter,mayComprehendagreatVarietyofBodies,otherwiseofaverydifferingNature;aswemayseeintheCalxesofGold,ofVitriol,andofVenetianTalck,compar’dwithcommonAshes,whichyetareverydry,andfix’dbythevehemenceoftheFire,aswellasthey.Andaswemaylikewisegather fromwhat Ihave formerlyObserv’d, touching theSpiritofBox-Wood,which thoughaVolatile,Sapid,andnotinflamableLiquor,aswellastheSpiritsofHartshorn,ofBloodandothers,(andtherefore has been hitherto call’d, the Spirit, and esteem’d for one of the Principles of theWood thataffordsit;)mayyet,asItoldYou,besubdividedintotwoLiquors,differingfromoneanother,andoneofthematleast,fromtheGeneralityofotherChymicalSpirits.

Butyoumayyourself,ifyouplease,(pursuesCarneades)accommodatetotheHypothesisyoupropos’dwhat other particulars you shall think applicable to it, in the foregoing Discourse. For I think itunseasonableformetomeddlenowanyfurtherwithaControversie,whichsinceitdoesnotnowbelongtome,LeavesmeatLibertytoTakemyOwntimetoDeclaremySelfaboutit.

EleutheriusperceivingthatCarneadeswassomewhatunwillingtospendanymoretimeuponthedebateofthisOpinion,andhavingperhapssomethoughtsoftakinghenceaRisetomakehimDiscourseitmorefullyanothertime,thoughtnotfitasthentomakeanyfurthermentiontohimofthepropos’dopinion,buttoldhim;

IpresumeIneednotmindyou,Carneades,ThatboththePatronsoftheternarynumberofPrinciples,andthosethatwouldhavefiveElements,endeavourtobacktheirexperimentswithaspeciousReasonortwo;and especially someof thoseEmbracersof theOpinion last nam’d (whom Ihave convers’dwith, andfound themLearnedmen)assigne thisReasonof thenecessityof fivedistinctElements; thatotherwisemixtBodies could not be so compounded and temper’d as to obtain a due consistence and competentDuration. For Salt (say they) is theBasis of Solidity; and Permanency in Compound Bodies, withoutwhichtheotherfourElementsmightindeedbevariouslyandlooslyblendedtogether,butwouldremainincompacted;butthatSaltmightbedissolv’dintominuteParts,andconvey’dtotheotherSubstancestobecompactedbyit,andwithit,thereisaNecessityofWater.Andthatthemixturemaynotbetoohardandbrittle, aSulphureousorOylyPrinciplemust intervene tomake themassmore tenacious; to thisaMercurial spiritmust be superadded;which by its activitymay for awhile premeate, and as it wereleaven the whole Mass, and thereby promote the more exquisite mixture and incorporation of theIngredients.Toallwhich(lastly)aportionofEarthmustbeadded,whichby itsdrinesseandporacitymay soak up part of thatwaterwherein the Salt was dissolv’d, and eminently concurrwith the otheringredientstogivethewholebodytherequisiteconsistence.

Iperceive(sayesCarneadessmiling)thatifitbetrue,as’twaslatelyrootedfromtheProverb,ThatgoodWitshavebadMemories,YouhavethatTitle,aswellasabetter,toaplaceamongthegoodWits.Foryouhavealreadymorethenonceforgot, thatIdeclar’dtoyouthatIwouldat thisConferenceExamineonly the Experiments of my Adversaries, not their Speculative Reasons. Yet ’tis not (SubjoynesCarneades)forfearofmedlingwiththeArgumentyouhavepropos’d,thatIdeclinetheexaminingitatpresent.Forifwhenwearemoreatleasure,youshallhaveamindthatwemaySolemnlyconsiderofittogether;Iamconfidentweshallscarcefinditinsoluble.Andinthemeantimewemayobserve,thatsuchawayofArguingmay, it seems, be speciously accommodated to differingHypotheses. For I find that

Beguinus,andotherAssertorsoftheTriaPrima,pretendtomakeoutbysuchaway,therequisitenessoftheirSalt,SulphurandMercury, toconstitutemixtBodies,without takingnoticeofanynecessityofanAdditionofWaterandEarth.

And indeed neither sort of Chymists seem to have duly consider’d how great Variety there is in theTexturesandConsistencesofCompoundBodie;sandhowlittletheconsistenceandDurationofmanyofthemseemtoaccommodateandbeexplicablebythepropos’dNotion.AndnottomentionthosealmostincorruptibleSubstancesobtainablebytheFire,whichIhaveprov’dtobesomewhatcompounded,andwhichtheChymistswillreadilygrantnottobeperfectlymixtBodies:(Nottomentionthese,Isay)IfyouwillbutrecalltomindsomeofthoseExperiments,wherebyIshew’dYouthatoutofcommonWateronlymixtBodies (and even livingones) of verydiffering consistences, and resoluble byFire into asmanyPrinciplesasotherbodiesacknowledg’dtobeperfectlymixt;ifyoudothis,Isay,youwillnot,Isuppose,be averse from beleeving, thatNature by a convenient disposition of theminute parts of a portion ofmattermaycontrivebodiesdurableenough,andofthis,or that,or theotherConsistence,withoutbeingoblig’dtomakeuseofall,muchlessofanyDeterminatequantityofeachofthefiveElements,orofthethree Principles to compound such bodies of. And I have (pursuesCarneades) something wonder’d,Chymistsshouldnotconsider, that thereisscarceanybodyinNaturesopermanentandindissolubleasGlass;whichyetthemselvesteachusmaybemadeofbareAshes,broughttofusionbythemeerViolenceoftheFire;sothat,sinceAshesaregrantedtoconsistbutofpureSaltandsimpleEarth,sequestredfromall theotherPrinciplesorElements, theymustacknowledge,ThatevenArt itselfcanof twoElementsonly,or,ifyouplease,onePrincipleandoneElement,compoundaBodymoredurablethenalmostanyintheWorld.Whichbeingundeniable,howwilltheyprovethatNaturecannotcompoundMixtBodies,andevendurableOnes,underallthefiveElementsormaterialPrinciples.

ButtoinsistanylongeronthisOccasionalDisquisition,TouchingtheirOpinionthatwouldEstablishfiveElements,weretorememberaslittleasYoudidbefore,thattheDebateofthismatterisnopartofmyfirstundertaking;andconsequently, that Ihavealreadyspent timeenough inwhat I lookbackuponbutasadigression,oratbestanExcursion.

And thus, Eleutherius, (sayes Carneades) having at length gone through the four Considerations Ipropos’dtoDiscourseuntoyou,Iholditnotunfit,forfearmyhavinginsistedsolongoneachofthemmayhavemadeyouforgettheirSeries,brieflytorepeatthembytellingyou,that

Since,inthefirstplace,itmayjustlybedoubtedwhetherornotheFirebe,asChymistssupposeit,thegenuineandUniversalResolverofmixtBodies;

Sincewemaydoubt,inthenextplace,whetherornoalltheDistinctSubstancesthatmaybeobtain’dfromamixtbodybytheFirewerepre-existentthereintheformesinwhichtheywereseparatedfromit;

Sincealso, thoughweshouldgrant theSubstancesseparablefrommixtBodiesbythefiretohavebeentheir component Ingredients, yet the Number of such substances does not appear the same in all mixtBodies; someof thembeingResoluble intomore differing substances than three, andOthers not beingResolubleintosomanyasthree.

And Since, Lastly, those very substances that are thus separated are not for the most part pure andElementarybodies,butnewkindsofmixts;

Since,Isay,thesethingsareso,Ihopeyouwillallowmetoinferr,thattheVulgarExperiments(ImightperchancehaveAdded, theArguments too)wont tobeAlledg’dbyChymists toprove, that their threeHypostaticalPrinciplesdoadequatelycomposeallmixtBodies,arenotsodemonstrativeastoreducea

wary Person to acquiesce in their Doctrine, which, till they Explain and prove it better, will by itsperplexing darkness be more apt to puzzle then satisfy considering men, and will to them appearincumbredwithnosmallDifficulties.

And fromwhat has been hitherto deduc’d (continuesCarneades)wemayLearn,what to Judge of thecommonPracticeofthoseChymists,whobecausetheyhavefoundthatDiversecompoundBodies(foritwill not hold in All) can be resolv’d into, or rather can be brought to afford two or three differingSubstances more then the Soot and Ashes, whereinto the naked fire commonly divides them in ourChymnies,cryuptheirownSectfortheInventionofaNewPhilosophy,someofthem,asHelmont,&c.styling themselvesPhilosophersby theFire;and themostpartnotonlyascribing,butas faras in themlies,engrossingtothoseoftheirSecttheTitleofPHILOSOPHERS.

Butalas,hownarrowisthisPhilosophy,thatreachesbuttosomeofthosecompoundBodies,whichwefindbutupon,orinthecrustoroutsideofourterrestrialGlobe,whichisitselfbutapointincomparisonofthevastextendedUniverse,ofwhoseotherandgreaterpartstheDoctrineoftheTriaPrimadoesnotgiveusanAccount!Forwhatdoesitteachus,eitheroftheNatureoftheSun,whichAstronomersaffirmeto be eight-score and odd times bigger then thewholeEarth? or of that of those numerous fixt Starrs,which,foroughtweknow,wouldveryfew,ifanyofthem,appearinferiourinbulkeandbrightnesstotheSun, if they were as neer us as He?What does the knowing that Salt, sulphur andMercury, are thePrinciples of Mixt Bodies, informe us of the Nature of that vast, fluid, andÆtherial Substance, thatseemestomakeuptheinterstellar,andconsequentlymuchthegreatestpartof theWorld?forasfor theopinioncommonlyascrib’dtoParacelsus,asifhewouldhavenotonlythefourPeripatetickElements,buteventheCelestialpartsoftheUniversetoconsistofhisthreePrinciples,sincethemodernChymiststhemselves have not thought so groundless a conceitworth their owning, I shall not think itWorthmyconfuting.

ButIshouldperchanceforgivetheHypothesisIhavebeenallthiswhileexamining,if,thoughitreachesbuttoaverylittlepartoftheWorld,itdidatleastgiveusasatisfactoryaccountofthosethingstowhich’tissaidtoreach.ButIfindnot, thatitgivesusanyotherthenaveryimperfectinformationevenaboutmixtBodiesthemselves:ForhowwilltheknowledgeoftheTriaPrimadiscovertoustheReason,whytheLoadstonedrawesaNeedleanddisposesit torespectthePoles,andyetseldompreciselypointsatthem? how will this Hypothesis teach Us how a Chick is formed in the Egge, or how the SeminalPrinciplesofMint,Pompions,andotherVegitables,thatImention’dtoYouabove,canfashionWaterintoVariousPlants,eachofthemendow’dwithitspeculiaranddeterminateshape,andwithdiversspecifickanddiscriminatingQualities?HowdoesthisHypothesisshewus,howmuchSalt,howmuchSulphur,andhowmuchMercurymustbetakentomakeaChickoraPompion?andifWeknowthat,whatPrincipleisit,thatmanagestheseIngredients,andcontrives(forinstance)suchLiquorsastheWhiteandYelkofanEgge into such a variety of Textures as is requisite to fashion the Bones, Veines, Arteries, Nerves,Tendons,Feathers,Blood,andotherpartsofaChick;andnotonlytofashioneachLimbe,buttoconnectthem altogether, after that manner that is most congruous to the perfection of the Animal which is toConsist of Them? For to say, that some more fine and subtile part of either or all the HypostaticalPrinciplesistheDirectorinallthisbusiness,andtheArchitectofallthisElaboratestructure,istogiveone occasion to demand again, what proportion and way of mixture of the Tria Prima afforded thisArchitectonick Spirit, and what Agent made so skilful and happy a mixture? And the Answer to thisQuestion,iftheChymistswillkeepthemselveswithintheirthreePrinciples,willbelyabletothesameInconvenience, that theAnswer to theformerwas.Andif itwerenot to intrenchupontheTheameofaFriendofoursherepresent,IcouldeasilyprosecutetheImperfectionsoftheVulgarChymistsPhilosophy,and shew you, that by going about to explicate by their three Principles, I say not, all the abstruse

Properties of mixt Bodies, but even such Obvious and more familiar Phænomena as Fluidity andFirmness,TheColoursandFiguresofStones,Minerals,andothercompoundBodies,TheNutritionofeitherPlantsorAnimals,theGravityofGoldorQuicksilvercompar’dwithWineorSpiritofWine;Byattempting,Isay,torenderareasonofthese(toomitathousandothersasdifficulttoaccountfor)fromanyproportionofthethreesimpleIngredients,ChymistswillbemuchmorelikelytodiscreditthemselvesandtheirHypothesis,thensatisfyanintelligentInquirerafterTruth.

But(interposesEleutherus)ThisObjectionseemsnomorethenmaybemadeagainstthefourPeripatetickElements.AndindeedalmostagainstanyotherHypothesis,thatpretendsbyanyDeterminateNumberofMaterialIngredientstorenderareasonofthePhænomenaofNature.AndasfortheuseoftheChymicalDoctrineofthethreePrinciples,Isupposeyouneednotbetoldbyme,thatThegreatChampionofit,TheLearnedSennertus,assignesthisnobleuseoftheTriaPrima,ThatfromThem,as theneerestandmostProper Principles, may be Deduc’d and Demonstrated the Properties which are inMixt Bodies, andwhichcannotbeProximately(asTheyspeak)deduc’dfromtheElements.AndThis,sayeshe,ischieflyApparent, when we Inquire into the Properties and Faculties of Medecines. And I know (continuesEleutherius)ThatthePersonYouhaveassum’d,ofanOpponentoftheHermetickDoctrine,willnotsofarprevaileagainstyourNativeandwontedEquity,asTokeepYoufromacknowledgingthatPhilosophyismuchbeholdentotheNotionsandDiscoveriesofChymists.

If theChymistsYouspeakof (ReplyesCarneades) hadbeen somodest, or soDiscreet, as toproposetheirOpinionof theTriaPrima,butasaNotionusefulamongOthers, to increaseHumaneknowledge,theyhaddeserv’dmoreofourthanks;andlessofourOpposition;butsincetheThingthattheypretendisnotsomuchtocontributeaNotiontowardtheImprovementofPhilosophy,astomakethisNotionattendedbyafewlesseconsiderableones)passforaNewPhilosophyitself.Nay,sincetheyboastsomuchofthisphancieoftheirs,thatthefamousQuercetanusscruplesnottowrite,thatifhismostcertainDoctrineofthethreePrinciplesweresufficientlyLearned,Examin’d,andCultivated, itwouldeasilyDispelall theDarkness that benights ourminds, and bring in aClearLight, thatwould remove allDifficulties.ThisSchoolaffordingTheoremsandAxiomes irrefragable,and tobeadmittedwithoutDisputeby impartialJudges; and so useful withal, as to exempt us from the necessity of having recourse, for want of theknowledgofcauses,tothatSanctuaryoftheigorant,OccultQualities;since,Isay,thisDomestickNotionoftheChymists issomuchovervaluedbythem,Icannot thinkitunfit, theyshouldbemadesensibleoftheirmistake;andbeadmonish’dtotakeinmorefruitfulandcomprehensivePrinciples,if theymeantogive us an account of thePhænomena ofNature; and not confine themselves and (as far as they can)others to such narrow Principles, as I fear will scarce inable them to give an account (I mean anintelligibleone)ofthetenthpart(Isaynot)ofallthePhænomenaofNature;butevenofallsuchasbytheLeucippianorsomeoftheothersortsofPrinciplesmaybeplausiblyenoughexplicated.AndthoughIbenotunwillingtogrant,thattheincompetencyIimputetotheChymicalHypothesisisbutthesamewhichmaybeObjectedagainstthatofthefourElements,anddiversotherDoctrinesthathavebeenmaintain’dbyLearnedmen;yetsince’tistheChymicalHypothesisonlywhichIamnowexamining,Iseenotwhy,ifwhatIimputetoitbearealinconvenience,eitheritshouldceasetobeso,orIshouldscrupletoobjectit,because either Theories are lyable thereunto, aswell as theHermetical. For I know notwhy a TruthshouldbethoughtlesseaTruthforthebeingfittooverthrowvarietyofErrors.

Iamoblig’dtoYou(continuesCarneades,alittlesmiling)forthefavourableOpinionYouarepleas’dtoexpressofmyEquity,iftherebenodesigninit.ButIneednotbetemptedbyanArtifice,orinvitedbyaComplement, to acknowledge the great service that the Labours of Chymists have done the Lovers ofusefulLearning;norevenonthisoccasionshalltheirArrogancehindermyGratitude.Butsinceweareaswell examining to the truth of their Doctrine as the merit of their industry, I must in order to the

investigationofthefirst,continueareply,totalkattherateofthepartIhaveassum’d;Andtellyou,thatwhen Iacknowledg theusefulnessof theLaboursofSpagyrists toNaturalPhilosophy, Ido itupon thescoreoftheirexperiments,notuponthatofTheirSpeculations;foritseemstome,thattheirWritings,astheirFurnaces,affordaswellsmokeaslight;anddolittlelesseobscuresomesubjects,thentheyillustrateothers.AndthoughIamunwillingtodeny,that’tisdifficultforamantobeanAccomplishtNaturalist,thatisastrangertoChymistry,yetIlookuponthecommonOperationsandpracticesofChymists,almostasIdo on the Letters of the Alphabet, without whose knowledge ’tis very hard for a man to become aPhilosopher;andyetthatknowledgeisveryfarfrombeingsufficienttomakehimOne.

But (sayesCarneades, resuming amore seriousLook) to consider a littlemore particularlywhat youalledginfavouroftheChymicalDoctrineoftheTriaPrima,thoughIshallreadilyacknowledgeitnottobeunuseful,andthattheDivisersandEmbracersofithavedonetheCommon-WealthofLearningsomeservice,byhelpingtodestroythatexcessiveesteem,orratherveneration,wherewiththeDoctrineofthefourElementswasalmostasgenerallyasundeservedlyentertain’d;yetwhathasbeenalledg’dconcerningtheusefulnessoftheTriaPrima,seemstomeliabletonocontemptibleDifficulties.

Andfirst,asfortheverywayofProbation,whichthemoreLearnedandmoreSoberChampionsoftheChymical cause employ to evince the Chymical Principles inMixt Bodies, it seems tome to be farrenough from being convincing. This grand and leadingArgument, yourSennertus Himself, who layesGreatweightuponit,andtellsus, thatthemostLearnedPhilosophersemploythiswayofReasoningtoprove themost important things, proposes thus:Ubicunque (sayes he)pluribus eædem affectiones &qualitates insunt, per commune quoddam Principium insint necesse est, sicut omnia sunt Graviapropter terram, calida propter Ignem. At Colores, Odores, Sapores, esse φλογιϛον& similia alia,mineralibus, Metallis, Gemmis, Lapidibus, Plantis, Animalibus insunt. Ergo per commune aliquodprincipium,&subiectum,insunt.AttaleprincipiumnonsuntElementa.Nullamenimhabentadtalesqualitatesproducendaspotentiam.Ergoaliaprincipia,undefluant,inquirendasunt.

IntheRecitalofthisArgument,(sayesCarneades)IthereforethoughtfittoretaintheLanguagewhereintheAuthorproposes it, that Imightalso retain theproprietyof someLatineTermes, towhich IdonotreadilyrememberanythatfullyanswerinEnglish.ButasfortheArgumentationitself,’tisbuiltuponaprecarious supposition, that seems tome neitherDemonstrable nor true; for, how does it appear, thatwhere the sameQuality is tobemetwith inmanyBodies, itmustbelong to themupon theAccountofsome one Body whereof they all partake? (For that the Major of our Authors Argument is to beUnderstoodoftheMaterialIngredientsofbodies,appearsbytheInstancesofEarthandFireheannexestoexplainit.)FortobeginwiththatveryExamplewhichheispleas’dtoalledgeforhimself;howcanheprove,thattheGravityofallBodiesproceedsfromwhattheyparticipateoftheElementofEarth?Sincewesee,thatnotonlycommonWater,butthemorepureDistill’dRainWaterisheavy;andQuicksilverismuchheavierthanEarthitself;thoughnoneofmyAdversarieshasyetprov’d,thatitcontainsanyofthatElement.AndItheRathermakeuseofthisExampleofQuicksilver,becauseIseenothowtheAssertorsoftheElementswillgiveanybetterAccountofitthentheChymists.ForifitbedemandedhowitcomestobeFluid,theywillanswer,thatitparticipatesmuchoftheNatureofWater.Andindeed,accordingtothem,WatermaybethePredominantElementinit,sincewesee,thatseveralBodieswhichbyDistillationaffordLiquorsthatweighmorethentheirCaputMortuumdonotyetconsistofLiquorenoughtobeFluid.YetifitbedemandedhowQuicksilvercomestobesoheavy,then’tisreply’d,that’tisbyreasonoftheEarththataboundsinit;butsince,accordingtothem,itmustconsistalsoofair,andpartlyofFire,whichtheyaffirmtobelightElements,howcomesit thatitshouldbesomuchheavierthenEarthofthesamebulk, though to fillup theporositiesandotherCavities itbemadeup intoamassorpastewithWater,whichitself theyallowtobeaheavyElement.But toreturne toourSpagyrists,wesee thatChymical

OylesandfixtSalts,thoughneversoexquisitelypurify’dandfreedfromterrestrialparts,doyetremainponderousenough.AndExperiencehasinform’dme,thatapound,forinstance,ofsomeoftheheaviestWoods,asGuajacumthatwillsinkinWater,beingburnttoAsheswillyieldamuchlessweightofthem(whereofIfoundbutasmallparttobeAlcalyzate)thenmuchlighterVegetables:AsalsothattheblackCharcoalofitwillnotsinkasdidthewood,butswim;whicharguesthattheDifferingGravityofBodiesproceeds chiefly from their particular Texture, as is manifest in Gold, the closest and Compactest ofBodies,whichismanytimesheavierthenwecanpossiblymakeanyparcellofEarthofthesameBulk.Iwill not examine, what may be argu’d touching the Gravity or Quality Analagous thereunto, of evenCelestialbodies,fromthemotionofthespotsabouttheSun,dfromtheappearingequalityofthesuppos’dSeasintheMoon;norconsiderhowlittlethosePhæmoneawouldagreewithwhatSennertuspresumesconcerning Gravity. But further to invalidate his supposition, I shall demand, upon what ChymicalPrincipleFluiditydepends?AndyetFluidityis,twoorthreeperhapsexcepted,themostdiffusedqualityoftheuniverse,andfarmoreGeneralthenalmostanyotherofthosethataretobemetwithinanyoftheChymicallPrinciples,orAristotelianElements; sincenotonly theAir, but thatvast expansionwecallHeaven,incomparisonofwhichourTerrestrialGlobe(supposingitwereallSolid)isbutapoint;andperhaps to the Sun and the fixt Stars are fluid bodies. I demand also, from which of the ChymicalPrinciplesMotion flowes;whichyet is an affectionofmattermuchmoreGeneral thenany that canbededuc’dfromanyofthethreeChymicalPrinciples.ImightaskthelikeQuestionconcerningLight,whichis not only to be found in theKindl’dSulphur ofmixtBodis, but (not tomention those sorts of rottenWoods,androttenFishthatshineintheDark)inthetailsoflivingGlow-wormes,andintheVastbodiesof the Sun and Stars. Iwould gladly also know, inwhich of the three Principles theQuality,we callSound,residesasinitsproperSubject;sinceeitherOylfallinguponOyle,orSpirituponSpirit,orSaltuponSalt,inagreatquantity,andfromaconsiderableheight,willmakeanoise,orifyouplease,createasound,and(thattheobjectionmayreachtheAristotelians)sowillalsowateruponwater,andEarthuponEarth. And I could name other qualities to be met within divers bodies, of which I suppose myAdversarieswillnotinhasteassignanySubject,uponwhoseAccountitmustneedsbe,thatthequalitybelongstoalltheotherseveralbodies.

And,beforeIproceedanyfurther,Imusthereinviteyoutocomparethesuppositionweareexamining,withsomeotheroftheChymicalTenents.For,firsttheydoineffectteachthatmorethenonequalitymaybelong to, and be deduc’d from, one Principle. For, they ascribe to Salt Tasts, and the power ofCoagulation; to sulphur, as well Odours as inflamableness; And some of them ascribe to Mercury,Colours;asallofthemdoeffumability,astheyspeak.Andontheotherside,itisevidentthatVolatilitybelongsincommontoallthethreePrinciples,andtoWatertoo.For’tismanifest,thatChymicalOylesareVolatile;ThatalsodiversSaltsEmerging,upontheAnalysisofmanyConcretes,areveryVolatile,isplainfromthefigitivenessofSalt,ofHarts-horne,flesh,&c.ascendingintheDistillationofthosebodies.HoweasilywatermaybemadetoascendinVapours,thereisscarceanybodythathasnotobserv’d.Andasforwhat theycall theMercuriallPrincipleofbodies, that is soapt tobe rais’d in the formofSteam, thatParacelsus andothersdefine itby thataptness to flyup; so that (todraw that inferenceby theway) itseemsnotthatChymistshavebeenaccurateintheirDoctrineofqualities,andtheirrespectivePrinciples,since theybothderive several qualities from the samePrinciple, andmust ascribe the samequality toalmostalltheirPrinciplesandotherbodiesbesides.Andthusmuchforthefirstthingtakenforgranted,withoutsufficientproof,byyourSennertus:AndtoaddthatupontheBye(continuesCarneades)wemayhencelearnwhattojudgeofthewayofArgumentation,whichthatfierceChampionoftheAristoteliansagainst the Chymists, Anthonius Guntherus Billichius employes, where he pretends to prove againstBeguinus,thatnotonlythefourElementsdoimmediatelyconcurtoConstituteeverymixtbody,andareboth present in it, and obtainable from it upon itsDissolution; but that in theTria Prima themselves,

whereintoChymistsarewonttoresolvemixtBodies,eachofthemclearlydiscoversitselftoconsistoffourElements.TheRatiocinationitself(pursuesCarneades)beingsomewhatunusual,IdidtheotherDayTranscribeit,and(sayesHe,pullingaPaperoutofhisPocket)itisthis.Ordiamur,cumBeguino,alignoviridi, quod si concremetur, videbis in sudore Aquam, in fumo Aerem, in flamma & Prunis Ignem,Terramincineribus:QuodsiBeguinoplacueritexeocolligerehumidumaquosum,cohiberehumidumoleaginosum,extrahereexcineribussalem;Egoipsi inunoquoquehorumseorsimquatuorElementaad oculum demonstrabo, eodem artificio quo in ligno viridi ea demonstravi. Humorem aquosumadmoveboIgni.IpseAquamEbullirevidebit, inVaporeAeremconspiciet,Ignemsentiet inæstu,plusminusTerræinsedimentoapparebit.HumorporroOleaginosusaquamhumiditate&fluiditateperse,accensus vero Ignem flamma prodit, fumoAerem, fuligine, nidore& amurca terram. Salem deniqueipseBeguinussiccumvocat&Terrestrem,qui tamennec fususAquam,neccausticavi ignemcelarepotest;ignisveroViolentiainhalitusversusnecabAeresealienumessedemonstrat;IdemdeLacte,deOvis,desemineLini,deGaryophyllis,deNitro,desaleMarino,deniquedeAntimonio,quodfuitdeLigno viridi Judicium; eademde illorumpartibus, quasBeguinusadducit, sententia, quæ de viridislignihumoreaquoso,quædeliquoreejusdemoleoso,quædesalefuit.

ThisboldDiscourse(resumesCarneades,puttingupagainhisPaper,)Ithinkitwerenotverydifficulttoconfute,ifhisArgumentswereasconsiderableasourtimewillprobablyproveshortfortheremainingandmore necessary Part of myDiscourse; wherefore referring You for an Answer to what was saidconcerning theDissipatedPartsof aburntpieceofgreenWood, towhat I toldThemistius on the likeoccasion,ImighteasilyshewYou,howsleightlyandsuperficiallyourGuntherustalksofthedividingtheflameofGreenWoodintohisfourElements;Whenhemakesthatvapourtobeair,whichbeingcaughtinGlasses and condens’d, presentlydiscovers it self tohavebeenbut anAggregateof innumerableveryminutedropsofLiquor; andWhen hewouldprove thePhlegmesbeing compos’dofFireby thatHeatwhichisadventitioustotheLiquor,andceasesupontheabsenceofwhatproduc’dit(whetherthatbeanAgitation proceeding from themotion of the External Fire, or the presence of aMultitude of igneousAtomespervadingtheporesoftheVessel,andnimblypermeatingthewholeBodyoftheWater)Imight,Isay,urge theseanddiversotherWeaknessesofHisDiscourse.But Iwill rather takeNoticeofwhat ismorepertinenttotheOccasionofthisDigression,namely,thatTakingitforGranted,thatFluidity(withwhichheunwarily seems to confoundHumidity)must proceed from theElementofWater, hemakes aChymicalOyletoConsistofthatElementaryLiquor;andyetintheverynextWordsproves,thatitconsistsalsoofFire,byitsInflamability;notremembringthatexquisitelypureSpiritofWineisbothmoreFluidthenWateritself,andyetwillFlameallawaywithoutleavingtheLeastAqueousMoisturebehindit;andwithoutsuchanAmurcaandSootashewouldDeducethepresenceofEarthfrom.SothatthesameLiquormayaccordingtohisDoctrinebeconcludedbyitsgreatFluiditytobealmostallWater;andbyitsburningallawaytobealldisguisedFire.AndbythelikewayofProbationourAuthorwouldshewthatthefixtsaltofWoodiscompoundedofthefourElements.For(sayeshe)beingturn’dbytheviolenceoftheFireintosteames, it shews it self tobeofkin toAir;whereas Idoubtwhetherheever sawa true fixtSalt(whichtobecomeso,musthavealreadyendur’dtheviolenceofanIncineratingFire)broughtbytheFirealone to ascend in the Forme of Exhalations; but I do not doubt that if he did, and had caught thoseExhalationsinconvenientVessels,hewouldhavefoundthemaswellastheSteamesofcommonSalt,&c.of a Saline and not an Aereal Nature. And whereas our Authour takes it also for Granted, that theFusibilityofSaltmustbeDeduc’dfromWater,itisindeedsomuchtheEffectofheatvariouslyagitatingtheMinutePartsofaBody,withoutregardtoWater,thatGold(whichbyitsbeingtheheavyestandfixtestofBodies, shouldbe themostEarthy)will bebrought toFusionby a strongFire;which sure ismorelikelytodriveawaythenincreaseitsAqueousIngredient,ifithaveany;andontheotherside,forwantofa sufficient agitation of itsminute parts, Ice is not Fluid, but Solid; though he presumes also that the

MordicantQualityofBodiesmustproceedfromafieryingredient;whereas,nottourgethattheLightandinflamable parts,which are themost likely to belong to theElement ofFire,must probably be drivenawaybythattimetheviolenceoftheFirehasreduc’dtheBodytoashes;Nottourgethis,IIsay,northatOyleofVitriolwhichquenchesFire,burnestheTongueandfleshofthosethatUnwarilytastorapplyit,asacaustickdoth,itisprecarioustoprovethePresenceofFireinfixtsaltsfromtheirCaustickpower,unlesse itwere first shewn, that all theQualities ascribed to saltsmust be deduc’d from those of theElements; which, had I Time, I could easilymanifest to be no easy talk. And not tomention that ourAuthourmakesaBodyasHomogeneousasanyhecanproduceforElementary,belongbothtoWaterandFire,ThoughitbeneitherFluidnorInsipid,likeWater;norlightandVolatile,likeFire;heseemstoomitinthisAnatomytheElementofEarth,saveThatheintimates,Thatthesaltmaypassforthat;Butsinceafewlinesbefore,hetakesAshesforEarth,IseenothowhewillavoidanInconsistencyeitherbetwixtthePartsofhisDiscourseorbetwixtsomeofthemandhisDoctrine.ForsinceThereisamanifestDifferencebetwixttheSalineandtheinsipidPartsofAshes,IseenothowsubstancesThatDisagreeinsuchNotableQualitiescanbebothsaidtobePortionsofanElement,whoseNaturerequiresthatitbeHomogeneous,especiallyinthiscasewhereanAnalysisbytheFireissuppos’dtohaveseparateditfromtheadmixtureofotherElements,whichareconfess’dbymostAristotelianstobeGenerallyfoundincommonEarth,andto render it impure. And sure if when we have consider’d for how little a Disparities sake thePeripateticksmaketheseSymbolizingBodiesAireandFire tobe twoDistinctElements,weshallalsoconsiderthat theSalinepartofAshesisverystronglyTasted,andeasilysolubleinWater;whereastheother part of the sameAshes is insipid and indissoluble in the sameLiquor:Not to add, that the onesubstance is Opacous, and the other somewhat Diaphanous, nor that they differ in Divers otherParticulars; If we consider those things, I say, we shall hardly think that both these Substances areElementary Earth; And as to what is sometimes objected, that their Saline Tast is only an Effect ofIncineration andAdustion, it has been elsewhere fully reply’d to, when propos’d byThemistius, andwhereithasbeenprov’dagainsthim,thathoweverinsipidEarthmayperhapsbyAdditamentsbeturn’dintoSalt,yet ’tisnot like it shouldbesoby theFirealone:Forwesee thatwhenwe refineGoldandSilver,theviolentestFiresWecanEmployonthemgivethemnottheleastRellishofSaltness.AndIthinkPhiloponushasrightlyobserv’d,thattheAshesofsomeConcretescontainverylittlesaltifanyatall;ForRefinerssupposethatbone-ashesarefreefromit,andthereforemakeuseofthemforTestsandCuppels,whichoughttobeDestituteofSalt,lesttheViolenceoftheFireshouldbringthemtoVitrification;Andhaving purposely and heedfully tasted aCuppelmade of only bone-ashes and fairwater,which I hadcaus’d tobeexpos’d toaVeryViolentFire,acuatedby theBlastofa largepairofDoubleBellows, IcouldnotperceivethattheforceoftheFirehadimpartedtoittheleastSaltness,orsomuchasmadeitlessInsipid.

But(sayesCarneades)sinceneitherYounorI loveRepetitions,Ishallnotnowmakeanyofwhatelsewasurg’dagainstThemistiusbutratherinviteYoutotakenoticewithmethatwhenourAuthour,thoughaLearnedMan,andonethatpretendsskillenoughinChymistrytoreformethewholeArt,comestomakegoodhisconfidentUndertaking,togiveusanoccularDemonstrationoftheimmediatePresenceofthefourElementsintheresolutionofGreenWood,Heisfaintosaythingsthatagreeverylittlewithoneanother.ForaboutthebeginningofthatpassageofHislatelyrecitedtoyou,hemakesthesweatashecallsitofthegreenWood tobeWater, the smokeAire, theshiningMatterFire,and theAshesEarth;whereasa fewlinesafter,hewillineachofthese,nay(asIjustnownoted)inoneDistinctPartoftheAshes,shewthefourElements.SothateithertheformerAnalysismustbeincompetenttoprovethatNumberofElements,sincebyittheburntConcreteisnotreduc’dintoElementaryBodies,butintosuchasareyeteachofthemcompounded of the four Elements; or else these Qualities from which he endeavours to deduce thepresenceof all theElements, in the fixt salt, andeachof theother separated substances,willbebut a

precariouswayofprobation:especiallyifyouconsider,thattheextractedAlcaliofWood,beingforoughtappearsatleastassimilaraBodyasanythatthePeripatetickscanshewus,ifitsdifferingQualitiesmustargue thepresenceofDistinctElements, itwill scarcebepossible for themby anyway theyknowofemployingthefireuponaBody,toshewthatanyBodyisaPortionofatrueElement:Andthisrecalstomymind,thatIamnowbutinanoccasionalexcussion,whichaimingonlytoshewthatthePeripateticksaswellastheChymiststakeinourpresentControversiesomethingforgrantedwhichtheyoughttoprove,Ishallreturnetomyexceptions,whereIendedthefirstofthem,andfurthertellyou,thatneitheristhattheonly precarious thing that I take notice of in Sennertus his Argumentation; for when he inferrs, thatbecause the Qualities he Mentions as Colours, Smels, and the like, belong not to the Elements; theythereforemusttotheChymicalPrinciples,hetakesthatforgranted,whichwillnotinhastebeprov’d;asImightheremanifest,butthatImaybyandbyhaveafitteropportunitytotakenoticeofit.AndthusmuchatpresentmaysufficetohaveDiscours’dagainsttheSupposition,thatalmosteveryQualitymusthavesomeδεκτικονπρωτον,astheyspeak,someNativereceptacle,whereinasinitsproperSubjectofinhesionitpeculiarlyresides,andonwhoseaccountthatqualitybelongstotheotherBodies,Whereinitistobemetwith.NowthisFundamentalsuppositionbeingonceDestroy’d,whatsoeverisbuiltuponit,mustfall toruineofitself.

ButIconsiderfurther,thatChymistsare(foroughtIhavefound)farfrombeingabletoexplicatebyanyoftheTria Prima, those qualitieswhich they pretend to belong primarily unto it, and inmixt Bodies toDeducefromit.Tistrueindeed,thatsuchqualitiesarenotexplicablebythefourElements;butitwillnottherefore follow, that they are so by the three hermetical Principles; and this is it that seems to havedeceiv’dtheChymists,andisindeedaverycommonmistakeamongstmostDisputants,whoargueasifthere couldbebut twoOpinions concerning theDifficulty aboutwhich they contend; and consequentlytheyinferr,thatiftheirAdversariesOpinionbeErroneous,Their’smustneedsbetheTruth;whereasmanyquestions, and especially in matters Physiological, may admit of so many DifferingHypotheses, that’twill be very inconsiderate and fallacious to conclude (except where the Opinions are preciselyContradictory) the Truth of one from the falsity of another. And in our particular case ’tis no waynecessary, that the Properties of mixt Bodies must be explicable either by the Hermetical, or theAristotelianHypothesis, there being divers other and more plausible wayes of explaining them, andespecially that,which deduces qualities from themotion, figure, and contrivance of the small parts ofBodies;asIthinkmightbeshewn,iftheattemptwereasseasonable,asIfearitwouldbeTedious.

I will allow then, that the Chymists do not causelessly accuse the Doctrine of the four elements ofincompetency toexplain thePropertiesofCompoundbodies.Andfor thisRejectionofaVulgarError,theyoughtnottobedeny’dwhatpraisemenmaydeserveforexplodingaDoctrinewhoseImperfectionsaresoconspicuous,thatmenneededbutnottoshuttheirEyes,todiscoverthem.ButIammistaken,ifourHermetical Philosophers Themselves need not, as well as the Peripateticks, have Recourse to moreFruitfullandComprehensivePrinciplesthenthetriaPrima,tomakeoutthePropertiesoftheBodiestheyconversewith.Not toaccumulateExamples to thispurpose, (because Ihope fora fitteropportunity toprosecutethisSubject)letusatpresentonlypointatColour,thatyoumayguessbywhattheysayofsoobviousandfamiliaraQuality,howlittleInstructionwearetoexpectfromtheTriaPrimainthosemoreabstruseones,which theywith theAristotelians stileOccult.For aboutColours,neither do they at allagreeamongthemselves,norhaveImetwithanyone,ofwhichofthethreePerswasionssoever,thatdoesintelligiblyexplicateThem.TheVulgarChymistsarewonttoascribeColourstoMercury;Paracelsusindivers places attributes them to Salt; and Sennertus, having recited their differingOpinions, Dissentsfromboth,andreferrsColoursratheruntoSulphur.ButhowColoursdo,nay,howtheymay,arisefromeitherofthesePrinciples,Ithinkyouwillscarcesaythatanyhasyetintelligiblyexplicated.AndifMr.BoylewillallowmetoshewyoutheExperimentswhichhehascollectedaboutColours,youwill,Idoubt

not, confess that bodies exhibite colours, not upon the Account of the Predominancy of this or thatPrincipleinthem,butuponthatoftheirTexture,andespeciallytheDispositionoftheirsuperficialparts,wherebytheLightreboundingthencetotheEyeissomodifi’d,asbydifferingImpressionsvariouslytoaffect theOrgansofSight. Imight here takenotice of thepleasingvarietyofColours exhibitedby theTriangular glass, (as ’tis wont to be call’d) and demand, what addition or decrement of either Salt,Sulphur,orMercury,befallstheBodyoftheGlassbybeingPrismaticallyfigur’d;andyet’tisknown,thatwithoutthatshapeitwouldnotaffor’dthosecoloursasitdoes.Butbecauseitmaybeobjected,thattheseare not real, but apparentColours; that Imay not lose time in examing theDistinction, Iwill alledgeagainsttheChymists,acoupleofexamplesofRealandPermanentColoursDrawnfromMetallineBodies,andrepresent, thatwithout theadditionofanyextraneousbody,QuicksilvermaybytheFirealone,andthatinglassVessels,bedepriv’dofitssilver-likeColour,andbeturn’dintoaRedBody;andfromthisRedBodywithoutAdditionlikewisemaybeobtain’daMercuryBrightandSpecularasitwasbefore;SothatIhaveherealastingColourGeneratedandDestroy’d(asIhaveseen)atpleasure,withoutaddingortakingawayeitherMercury,Salt,orSulphur;andifyoutakeacleanandslenderpieceofharden’dsteel,andapplytoittheflameofacandleatsomelittledistanceshortofthepoint,YoushallnothaveheldtheSteellongintheflame,butYoushallperceivediversColours,asYellow,RedandBlew,toappearupontheSurfaceofthemetal,andasitwererunalonginchaseofoneanothertowardsthepoint;Sothatthesamebody,andthatinoneandthesamepart,maynotonlyhaveanewcolourproduc’dinit,butexhibitesuccessivelydiversColourswithinaminuteofanhour,orthereabouts,andanyoftheseColoursmaybyRemoving the Steel from the Fire, become Permanent, and last many years. And this Production andVariety of Colours cannot reasonably be suppos’d to proceed from theAccession of any of the threePrinciples,towhichofthemsoeverChymistswillbepleas’dtoascribeColours;especiallyconsidering,that if you but suddenlyRefrigerate that Iron, FirstmadeRed hot, itwill be harden’d andColourlessagain;andnotonlybytheFlameofaCandle,butbyanyotherequivalentheatConvenientlyappli’d,thelikeColourswillagainbemade toappearandsucceedoneanother,asat theFirst.But Imustnotanyfurther prosecute anOccasionalDiscourse, though thatwere not soDifficult forme to do, as I fear itwouldbefortheChymiststogiveabetterAccountoftheotherQualities,bytheirPrinciples,thentheyhavedoneofColours.AndyourSennertusHimself(thoughanAuthorImuchvalue)wouldIfearhavebeen exceedingly puzl’d to resolve, by the Tria Prima, halfe that Catalogue of Problems, which hechallengestheVulgarPeripatetickstoexplicatebytheirfourElements.Andsupposingitweretrue,thatSaltorSulphurwerethePrincipletowhichthisorthatQualitymaybepeculiarlyreferr’d,yetthoughhethat teachesus this teachesussomethingconcerningThatquality,yetheTeachesusbut something.ForindeedhedoesnotTeachusThatwhichcan inanyTollerablemeasuresatisfiean inquisitiveSearcherafterTruth.Forwhatisittometoknow,thatsuchaqualityresidesinsuchaPrincipleorElement,whilstIremainaltogetherignorantoftheCauseofthatquality,andthemannerofitsproductionandOperation?HowlittledoIknowmore thenanyOrdinaryManofGravity, if Iknowbut that theHeavinessofmixtbodiesproceedsfromthatof theEarth theyarecompos’dof, if Iknownot thereasonwhytheEarth isHeavy?AndhowlittledoestheChymistteachthePhilosopheroftheNatureofPurgatition,ifheonlytellshim that the Purgative Vertue of Medicines resides in their Salt? For, besides that this must not beconcededwithoutLimitation,sincethepurgingpartsofmanyVegetablesExtractedbytheWaterwhereintheyareinfus’d,areatmostbutsuchcompoundedSalts,(Imeanmingl’dwithOyle,andSpirit,andEarth,as Tartar and divers other Subjects of theVegetableKingdom afford;)And since too thatQuicksilverprecipitated either with Gold, or without Addition, into a powder, is wont to be strongly enoughCathartical, though theChymistshavenotyetprov’d, that eitherGoldorMercuryhaveanySalt at all,muchlessanythatisPurgative;Besidesthis,Isay,howlittleisittome,toknowThat’tistheSaltoftheRhubarb(forInstance)thatpurges, ifIfindThatitdoesnotpurgeasSalt;sincescarceanyElementarySaltisinsmallquantitycathartical.AndifIknownothowPurgationingeneraliseffectedinaHumane

Body?Inaword,as’tisonethingtoknowamansLodging,andanother,tobeacquaintedwithhim;soitmaybeonethingtoknowthesubjectwhereinaQualityprincipallyresides,andanotherthingtohavearightnotionandknowledgofthequalityitsself.NowthatwhichItaketobethereasonofthisChymicalDeficiency, is the same upon whose account I think the Aristotelian and divers other Theoriesincompetent toexplicate theOrigenofQualities.For I amapt to think, thatmenwill neverbe able toexplain thePhænomena of Nature, while they endeavour to deduce them only from the Presence andProportionofsuchorsuchmaterialIngredients,andconsidersuchingredientsorElementsasBodiesinastate of rest; whereas indeed the greatest part of the affections of matter, and consequently of thePhænomenaofnature,seemstodependuponthemotionandthecontinuanceofthesmallpartsofBodies.For’tisbymotionthatonepartofmatteractsuponanother;and’tis,forthemostpart,thetextureoftheBodyuponwhichthemovingpartsstrike,thatmodifiestomotionorImpression,andconcurrswithittotheproductionofthoseEffectswhichmakeupthechiefpartoftheNaturalistsTheme.

But(sayesEleutherius)methinksforallthis,youhaveleftsomepartofwhatIalledg’dinbehalfofthethreeprinciples,unanswer’d.ForallthatyouhavesaidwillnotkeepthisfrombeingausefulDiscovery,thatsinceintheSaltofoneConcrete,intheSulphurofanotherandtheMercuryofathird,theMedicinalvertueofitresides,thatPrincipleoughttobeseparatedfromtherest,andtherethedesiredfacultymustbesoughtfor.

Ineverdenyed(ReplyesCarneades)thattheNotionoftheTriaPrimamaybeofsomeuse,but(continueshelaughing)bywhatyounowalledgforit,itwillbutappearThatitisusefultoApothecaries,ratherthanto Philosophers, The being able to make things Operative being sufficient to those, whereas theKnowledgeofCausesistheThinglookedafterbyThese.AndletmeTellYou,Eleutherius,eventhisitselfwillneedtobeentertainedwithsomecaution.

For first, itwill not presently follow,That if the Purgative or other vertue of a simplemay be easilyextractedbyWaterorSpiritofWine,itResidesintheSaltorSulphuroftheConcrete;SinceunlessetheBodyhavebeforebeenresolvedby theFire,orsomeOtherPowerfulAgent, itwill, for themostpart,affordintheLiquorsIhavenamed,ratherthefinercompoundedpartsofitself,ThantheElementaryones.AsInotedbefore,ThatWaterwilldissolvenotonlypureSalts,butCrystalsofTartar,GummeArabick,Myrr’h,andOtherCompoundBodies.AsalsoSpiritofWinewillDissolvenotonlythepureSulphurofConcretes,butlikewisethewholeSubstanceofdiversResinousBodies,asBenzoin,theGummouspartsofJallap,GummeLacca,andOtherbodiesthatarecountedperfectlyMixt.AndweseethattheExtractsmade either with Water or Spirit of Wine are not of a simple and Elementary Nature, but Massesconsistingof the looserCorpuscles, and finerpartsof theConcreteswhence theyareDrawn; sincebyDistillationtheymaybeDividedintomoreElementarysubstances.

Next,wemayconsiderThatevenwhenthereintervenesaChymicalresolutionbyheFire,’tisseldomintheSalineorSulphureousprinciple,assuch,thatthedesir’dFacultyoftheConcreteResides;But,asthatTitularSaltorSulphurisyetamixtbody,thoughtheSalineorSulphureousNaturebepredominantinit.For,ifinChymicalResolutionstheseparatedSubstanceswerepureandsimpleBodies,andofaperfectElementaryNature;noonewouldbeinduedwithmoreSpecifickVertues,thananother;andtheirqualitieswouldDifferasLittleasdothoseofWater.Andletmeaddthisuponthebye,ThatevenEminentChymistshavesuffer’dthemselvestobereprehendedbymefortheirovergreatDiligenceinpurifyingsomeofthethingstheyobtainbyFirefrommixtBodies.ForthoughsuchcompleatlypurifyedIngredientsofBodiesmightperhapsbemoresatisfactorytoourUnderstanding;yetothersareoftenmoreusefultoourLives,theefficacyofsuchChymicalProductionsdependingmostuponwhattheyretainoftheBodieswhencetheyareseparated,orgainbythenewassociationsoftheDissipatedamongthemselves;whereasiftheywere

meerlyElementary,theiruseswouldbecomparativelyverysmall;andthevertuesofSulphurs,Salts,orOthersuchSubstancesofonedenomination,wouldbetheverysame.

Andby theWay(Eleutherius) Iam inclin’dupon thisground toThink,That theartificial resolutionofcompound bodies by Fire does not so much enrich mankind, as it divides them into their supposedPrinciples;asuponthescoreofitsmakingnewcompoundsbynowcombinationsofthedissipatedpartsoftheresolv’dBody.ForbythismeanstheNumberofmixtBodiesisconsiderablyincreased.Andmanyof thosenewproductions are indow’dwithusefulqualities, diversofwhich theyowenot to thebodyfromwhichtheywereobtein’d,buttoTheirnewlyAcquiredTexture.

But thirdly, that which is principally to be Noted is this, that as there are divers Concretes whoseFaculties reside in some one or other of those differing Substances that Chymists call their Sulphurs,Salts, andMercuries, and consequentlymay be best obtain’d, by analyzing the Concrete whereby thedesired Principlesmay be had sever’d or freed from the rest; So there are otherwherein the noblestpropertieslodgenotintheSalt,orSulphur,orMercury,butdependimmediatelyupontheform(orifyouwill)resultfromthedeterminatestructureoftheWholeConcrete;andconsequentlytheythatgoabouttoextracttheVertuesofsuchbodies,byexposingthemtotheViolenceoftheFire,doexceedinglymistake,andtakethewaytoDestroywhattheywouldobtain.

I remmember that Helmont himself somewhere confesses, That as the Fire betters some things andimproves theirVertues, so it spoylesothers andmakes themdegenerate.Andelsewherehe judiciouslyaffirmes,thattheremaybesometimesgreatervertueinasimple,suchasNaturehasmadeit,thaninanythingthatcanbythefirebeseparatedfromit.AndlestyoushoulddoubtwhetherhemeansbythevertuesofthingsthosethatareMedical;hehasinoneplacethisingenuousconfession;Credo(sayeshe)simpliciain sua simplicitate esse sufficientia pro sanatione omnium morborum. Nag. Barthias, even in aCommentuponBeguinus,scruplesnottomakethisacknowledgment;Valdeabsurdumest (sayeshe)exomnibus rebus extracta facere, salia, quintas essentias; præsertim ex substantiis per se plane velsubtilibusvelhomogeneis,qualessuntuniones,Corallia,Moscus,Ambra,&c.ConsonantlywhereuntohealsotellsUs(andVouchesthefamousPlaterus,forhavingcandidlygiventhesameAdvertisementtohis Auditors,) that some things have greater vertues, and better suited to our humane nature, whenunprepar’d,thanwhentheyhavepasttheChymistsFire;aswesee,sayesmyAuthor,inPepper;ofwhichsomegrainsswallowedperformmoretowardsthereliefofaDistemperedstomack,thanagreatquantityoftheOyleofthesamespice.

Ithasbeen(pursuesCarneades)byourFriendherepresentobserv’dconcerningSalt-petre,thatnoneofthesubstancesintowhichtheFireiswonttodivideit,retaineseithertheTast,thecoolingvertue,orsomeotherofthepropertiesoftheConcrete;andthateachofthoseSubstancesacquiresnewqualities,nottobefoundintheSalt-Petreitself.Theshiningpropertyofthetaylsofglowormsdoessurvivebutsoshortatimethelittleanimalmadeconspicuousbyit,thatinquisitivemenhavenotscrupledpublicklytoderideBaptista Porta and others; who deluded perhaps with some Chymical surmises have ventur’d toprescribe the distillation of aWater from the tayles of Glowormes, as a sure way to obtain a liquorshiningintheDark.TowhichIshallnowaddnootherexamplethanthataffordedusbyAmber;which,whilst it remains an intire body, is endow’d with an Electrical faculty of drawing to it self fethers,strawes,andsuchlikeBodies;whichInevercouldobserveeitherinitsSalt,itsSpirit,itsOyle,orintheBodyIrememberIoncemadebythereunionofitsdividedElements;noneofthesehavingsuchaTextureastheintireConcrete.AndhoweverChymistsboldlydeducesuchandsuchpropertiesfromthisorthatproportionoftheircomponentPrinciples;yetinConcretesthataboundwiththisorthatIngredient,’tisnotalwayessomuchbyvertueofitspresence,noritsplenty,thattheConcreteisqualify’dtoperformsuch

andsuchEffects;asupontheaccountoftheparticulartextureofthatandtheotherIngredients,associatedafteradeterminateMannerintooneConcrete(thoughpossiblysuchaproportionofthatingredientmaybemoreconvenientthananotherfortheconstitutingofsuchabody.)Thusinaclockthehandismov’duponthedyal, thebell isstruck,andtheotheractionsbelongingtotheengineareperform’d,notbecausetheWheelesareofbrassoriron,orpartofonemetalandpartofanother,orbecausetheweightsareofLead,butbyVertueofthesize,shape,bigness,andco-aptationoftheseveralparts;whichwouldperformethesame things though the wheels were of Silver, or Lead, orWood, and theWeights of Stone or Clay;provided the Fabrick orContrivance of the enginewere the same: though it be not to be deny’d, thatBrasseandSteelaremoreconvenientmaterialstomakeclock-wheelsofthanLead,orWood.Andtoletyousee,Eleutherius,that’tissometimesatleast,upontheTextureofthesmallpartsofabody,andnotalwaiesuponthepresence,orrecesse,orincrease,orDecrementofanyoneofitsPrinciple,thatitmaylosesomesuchQualities,andacquiresomesuchothersasarethoughtverystronglyinherenttothebodiestheyResidein. Iwilladd towhatmayfrommypastdiscourseberefer’d to thispurpose, thisNotableExample, from my Own experience; That Lead may without any additament, and only by variousapplicationsoftheFire,loseitscolour,andacquiresometimesagray,sometimesayellowish,sometimesared,sometimesanamethihstinecolour;andafterhavingpastthroughthese,andperhapsdiversothers,againrecover its leadencolour,andbemadeabrightbody.ThatalsothisLead,whichissoflexibleametal,maybemadeasbrittleasGlasse,andpresentlybebroughttobeagainflexibleandMalleableasbefore.And besides, that the same lead,which I find byMicroscopes to be one of themost opacousbodiesintheWorld,maybereducedtoafinetransparentglasse;whenceyetitmayreturnetoanopacousNatureagain;andallthis,asIsaid,withouttheadditionofanyextraneousbody,andmeerlybythemannerandMethodofexposingittotheFire.

But(sayesCarneades)afterhavingalreadyputyoutosoprolixatrouble,itistimeformetorelieveyouwithapromiseofputtingspeedilyaperiodtoit;Andtomakegoodthatpromise,IshallfromallthatIhavehithertodiscoursedwithyou,deducebutthisonepropositionbywayofCorollary.[Thatitmayasyetbedoubted,whetherornotherebeanydeterminateNumberofElements;Or,ifyouplease,whetheror no all compound bodies, do consist of the same number of Elementary ingredients or materialPrinciples.]

ThisbeingbutaninferencefromtheforegoingDiscourse,itwillnotberequisitetoinsistatlargeontheproofs of it; But only to point at the chief of Them, andReferrYou for Particulars towhat has beenalreadyDelivered.

IntheFirstplacethen,fromwhathasbeensolargelydiscours’d,itmayappear,thattheExperimentswonttobebrought,whetherby thecommonPeripateticks,orby thevulgarChymists, todemonstrate thatallmixtbodiesaremadeuppreciselyeitherofthefourElements,orthethreeHypostaticalPrinciples,donotevincewhattheyarealledg’dtoprove.Andasfortheothercommonarguments,pretendedtobedrawnfromReason in favourofAristotelianHypothesis (for theChymistsarewont to relyalmostaltogetheruponExperiments)theyareCommonlygroundeduponsuchunreasonableorprecariousSuppositions,that’tisaltogetheraseasieandasjustforanymantoreject them,asfor thosethat takethemforgrantedtoassertthem,beingindeedallofthemasindemonstrableastheconclusiontobeinferr’dfromthem;andsomeofthemsomanifestlyweakandprooflesse;thathemustbeaverycourteousadversary,thatcanbewillingtograntthem;andasunskilfulaone,thatcanbecompelledtodoso.

In the next place, it may be considered, if what those Patriarchs of the Spagyrists, Paracelsus andHelmont,doondiversoccasionspositivelydeliver,betrue;namelythat theAlkahestdoesResolveallmixtBodiesintootherPrinciplesthanthefire,itmustbedecidedwhichofthetworesolutions(thatmade

bytheAlkahest,orthatmadebythefire)shalldeterminethenumberoftheElements,beforewecanbecertainhowmanythereare.

Andinthemeantime,wemaytakenoticeinthelastplace,thatasthedistinctsubstanceswhereintotheAlkahestdividesbodies,areaffirm’dtobedifferinginnaturefromthosewhereuntotheyarewonttobereduc’dbyfire,andtobeobtain’dfromsomebodiesmore inNumber thanfromsomeothers;sincehetellsus,hecouldtotallyreduceallsortsofStonesintoSaltonly,whereasofacoalhehadtwodistinctLiquors.So,althoughweshouldacquiesceinthatresolutionwhichismadebyfire,wefindnotthatallmixt bodies are thereby divided into the same number of Elements and Principles; some Concretesafforddingmoreofthemthanothersdo;NayandsometimesthisorthatBodyaffordingagreaternumberofDifferingsubstancesbyonewayofmanagement,thanthesameyieldsbyanother.AndtheythatoutofGold,orMercury,orMuscovy-glasse,willdrawmeasmanydistinctsubstancesasIcanseparatefromVitriol,or from the juiceofGrapesvariouslyorderd,may teachme thatwhich I shallveryThankfullylearn.NordoesitappearmorecongruoustothatvarietythatsomuchconducethtotheperfectionoftheUniverse,thatallelementedbodiesbecompoundedofthesamenumberofElements,thenitwouldbeforalanguage,thatallitswordsshouldconsistofthesamenumberofLetters.

T H E

SCEPTICALCHYMIST

O R ,

AParadoxicalAppendixtotheForegoingTreatise.

H

TheSixthPart.

EreCarneadesHavingDispach’twhatheThoughtRequisite toopposeagainstwhat theChymistsare wont to alledge for Proof of their three Principles, Paus’d awhile, and look’d about him, to

discover whether it were Time for him and his Friend to Rejoyne the Rest of the Company. ButEleutheriusperceivingnothingyettoforbidThemtoProsecutetheirDiscoursealittlefurther,saidtohisFriend,(whohadlikewisetakenNoticeofthesamething)Ihalfeexpected,Carneades,thatafteryouhadsofreelydeclar’dYourdoubting,whethertherebeanyDeterminateNumberofElements,YouwouldhaveproceededtoquestionwhethertherebeanyElementsatall.AndIconfessitwillbeaTroubletomeifYoudefeatmeofmyExpectation;especiallysinceyouseetheleasurewehaveallow’dusmayprobablysufficetoexaminethatParadox;becauseyouhavesolarglyDeduc’dalreadymanyThingspertinenttoit,thatyouneedbutintimatehowyouwouldhavethemApply’d,andwhatyouwouldinferrfromthem.

CarneadeshavinginVainrepresentedthattheirleasurecouldbebutveryshort,thathehadalreadypratedverylong,thathewasunpreparedtomaintainsogreatandsoinvidiousaParadox,wasatlengthprevail’dwithtotellhisFriend;Since,Eleutherius,youwillhavemeDiscourseExTemporeof theParadoxyoumention,Iamcontent,(thoughmoreperhapstoexpressmyObedience,thenmyOpinion)totellyouthat(supposing the Truth ofHelmonts andParacelsus’s Alkahestical Experiments, if I may so call them)thoughitmayseemextravagant,yetitisnotabsurdtodoubt,whether,foroughthasbeenprov’d,therebeanecessitytoadmitanyElements,orHypostaticalPrinciples,atall.

And,asformerly,sonow,toavoidtheneedlesstroubleofDisputingseverallywiththeAristoteliansandtheChymists,IwilladdressmyselftoopposethemIhavelastnam’d,BecausetheirDoctrineabouttheElementsismoreapplaudedbytheModerns,aspretendinghighlytobegroundeduponExperience.And,todealnotonlyfairlybutfavourablywiththem,IwillallowthemtotakeinEarthandWatertotheirotherPrinciples. Which I consent to, the rather that my Discourse may the better reach the Tenents of thePeripateticks;whocannotpleadforanysoprobablyasforthosetwoElements;thatoffireabovetheAirbeingGenerallybyJudiciousMenexplodedasanImaginarything;AndtheAirnotconcurringtocomposeMixtBodiesasoneoftheirElements,butonlylodgingintheirpores,orRatherreplenishing,byreasonofitsWeightandFluidity,allthoseCavitiesofbodiesherebelow,whethercompoundedornot,thatarebigenoughtoadmitit,andarenotfill’dupwithanygrossersubstance.

And,topreventmistakes,ImustadvertizeYou,thatInowmeanbyElements,asthoseChymiststhatspeakplainestdoby theirPrinciples,certainPrimitiveandSimple,orperfectlyunmingledbodies;whichnotbeingmadeofanyotherbodies,orofoneanother,aretheIngredientsofwhichallthosecall’dperfectlymixt Bodies are immediately compounded, and intowhich they are ultimately resolved: nowwhetherthere be any one such body to be constantly met with in all, and each, of those that are said to beElementedbodies,isthethingInowquestion.

BythisStateofthecontroversieyouwill,Isuppose,Guess,thatIneednotbesoabsur’dastodenythattherearesuchbodiesasEarth,andWater,andQuicksilver,andSulphur:ButIlookuponEarthandWater,ascomponentpartsoftheUniverse,orratheroftheTerrestrialGlobe,notofallmixtbodies.AndthoughIwill not peremptorily deny that there may sometimes either a running Mercury, or a CombustibleSubstancebeobtain’dfromaMineral,orevenaMetal;yetIneednotConcedeeitherofthemtobean

Elementinthesenceabovedeclar’d;asIshallhaveoccasiontoshewyoubyandby.

TogiveyouthenabriefaccountofthegroundsIintendtoproceedupon,Imusttellyou,thatinmattersofPhilosophy,thisseemstomeasufficientreasontodoubtofaknownandimportantproposition,thattheTruthofitisnotyetbyanycompetentproofmadetoappear.Andcongruouslyherunto,ifIshewthatthegroundsuponwhichmenareperswadedthatthereareElementsareunabletosatisfieaconsideringman,Isupposemydoubtswillappearrational.

Now theConsiderations that inducemen to think that there areElements,may be conveniently enoughreferr’dtotwoheads.Namely,theone,thatitisnecessarythatNaturemakeuseofElementstoconstitutethebodiesthatarereputedMixt.Andtheother,ThattheResolutionofsuchbodiesmanifeststhatnaturehadcompoundedthemofElementaryones.

InreferencetotheformeroftheseConsiderations,therearetwoorthreethingsthatIhavetoRepresent.

And Iwillbeginwith remindingyouof theExperiments Inot longsince related toyouconcerning thegrowthof pompions,mint, andother vegetables, out of fairwater.For by those experiments its seemsevident,thatWatermaybeTransmutedintoalltheotherElements;fromwhenceitmaybeinferr’d,both,That’tisnoteveryThingChymistswillcallSalt,Sulphur,orSpirit,thatneedsalwayesbeaPrimordiateand Ingenerable body. And that Naturemay contex a Plant (though that be a perfectlymixt Concrete)withouthavingalltheElementspreviouslypresentedtohertocompounditof.And,ifyouwillallowtherelationImention’doutofMounsieurDeRochastobeTrue;thenmaynotonlyplants,butAnimalsandMineralstoo,beproducedoutofWater,Andhoweverthereislittledoubttobemade,butthattheplantsmytryalsaffordedmeas theywere like insomanyother respects to the restof theplantsof thesameDenomination;sotheywould,incaseIhadreduc’dthemtoputrefaction,havelikewiseproduc’dWormesor other insects, aswell as the resemblingVegetables arewont to do; so thatWatermay, byVariousSeminalPrinciples,besuccessivelyTransmutedintobothplantsandAnimals.AndifweconsiderthatnotonlyMen,butevensuckingChildrenare,buttoooften,TormentedwithSolidStones,butthatdiverssortsofBeaststhemselves,(whateverHelmontagainstExperiencethinktothecontrary)maybeTroubledwithgreat and Heavy stones in their Kidneys and Bladders, though they Feed but upon Grass and otherVegetables,thatareperhapsbutDisguisedWater,itwillnotseemimprobablethatevensomeConcretesofamineralNature,mayLikewisebeform’dofWater.

WemayfurtherTakenotice, thatasaPlantmaybenourisht,andconsequentlymayConsistofCommonwater; so may both plants and Animals, (perhaps even from their Seminal Rudiments) consist ofcompoundBodies,withouthavinganythingmeerlyElementarybroughtthembynaturetobecompoundedbythem:Thisisevidentindiversmen,whowhilsttheywereInfantswerefedonlywithMilk,afterwardsLivealtogetheruponFlesh,Fish,wine,andotherperfectlymixtBodies.Itmaybeseenalsoinsheep,whoon some of our English Downs or Plains, grow very fat by feeding upon the grasse, without scarcedrinkingatall.AndyetmoremanifestlyinthemagotsthatbreedandgrowuptotheirfullbignessewithinthepulpsofApples,Pears,orthelikeFruit.Weseealso,thatDungsthataboundwithamixtSaltgiveamuchmorespeedyincrementtocornandotherVegetablesthanWateralonewoulddo:Andithathbeenassur’dme,byamanexperienc’dinsuchmatters,thatsometimeswhentobringuprootsveryearly,theMouldtheywereplantedinwasmadeover-rich,theverysubstanceofthePlanthastastedoftheDung.AndletusalsoconsideraGraftofonekindofFruitupontheupperboughofaTreeofanotherkind.Asforinstance,theCiensofaPearuponaWhite-thorne;fortheretheascendingLiquorisalreadyalter’d,either by the root, or in its ascent by thebark, or bothwayes, andbecomes a newmixt body: asmayappearbythedifferingqualitiestobemetwithinthesapsofseveraltrees;asparticularly,themedicinalvertue of the Birch-Water (which I have sometimes drunk uponHelmonts great and not undeserved

commendation)Nowthegraft,beingfasten’dtothestockmustnecessarilynourishitsself,andproduceitsFruit, onlyoutof this compound Juiceprepared for it by theStock,beingunable to comeat anyotheraliment.Andifweconsider,howmuchoftheVegetablehefeedsuponmay(aswenotedabove)remaininanAnimal;wemayeasilysuppose,That thebloodof thatAnimalwhoFeedsupon this, though itbeaWell constituted Liquor, and have all the differing Corpuscles that make it up kept in order by onepræsiding form, may be a strangely Decompounded Body, many of its parts being themselvesdecompounded.SolittleisitNecessarythateveninthemixtureswhichnatureherselfmakesinAnimalandVegetableBodies,sheshouldhavepureElementsathandtomakehercompositionsof.

HavingsaidthusmuchtouchingtheconstitutionofPlantsandAnimals,ImightperhapsbeabletosayasmuchtouchingthatofMinerals,andevenMetalls,ifitwereaseasyforustomakeexperimentinOrdertothe production of these, as of those.But the growth or increment ofMinerals being usually awork ofexcessivelylongtime,andforthemostpartperform’dinthebowelsoftheEarth,wherewecannotseeit,ImustinsteadofExperimentsmakeuse,onthisoccasion,ofObservations.

Thatstoneswerenotallmadeatonce,butthataresomeofthemnowadayesgenerated,may(thoughitbedeny’dbysome)befullyprov’dbyseveralexamples,ofwhichIshallnowscarcealledganyother,thenthatfamousplaceinFranceknownbythenameofLesCavesGentieres,wheretheWaterfallingfromtheupperPartsofthecavetothegrounddoespresentlytherecondenseintolittlestones,ofsuchfiguresasthedrops,fallingeitherseverallyorupononeanother,andcoagulatingpresentlyintostone,chancetoexhibit.Of thesestonessomeIngenuousFriendsofours, thatwentawhilesince tovisit thatplace,didme thefavourtopresentmewithsomethattheybroughtthence.AndIrememberthatboththatsoberRelatorofhisVoyages,VanLinschoten,andanothergoodAuthor,informusthatintheDiamondMines(astheycallthem)intheEast-Indies,whenhavingdig’dtheEarth,thoughtonogreatdepth,theyfindDiamondsandtakethemquiteaway;YetinaveryfewyearstheyfindinthesameplacenewDiamondsproduc’dtheresince.FrombothwhichRelations,especially the first, it seemsprobable thatNaturedoesnotalwayesstayfordiversElementaryBodies,whensheistoproducestones.AndasforMetalsthemselves,Authorsofgoodnoteassureus,thateventheywerenotinthebeginningproduc’datoncealtogether,buthavebeenobserv’dtogrow;sothatwhatwasnotaMineralorMetalbeforebecameoneafterwards.Ofthisitwereeasie to alledgmany testimoniesofprofessedChymists.But that theymayhave thegreater authority, Ishallratherpresentyouwithafewborrowedfrommoreunsuspectedwriters.SulphurisMineram(astheinquisitive P. Fallopius notes) quæ nutrix est caloris subterranei fabri seu Archæi fontium &mineralium, Infra terramcitissimerenasci testanturHistoriæMetallicæ.Suntenim locaequibussihoc anno sulphur effossum fuerit; intermissa fossione per quadriennium redeunt fossores& omniasulphure,utautea,rursus inveniuntplena.PlinyRelates, In ItaliæInsulaIlva,gigni ferrimetallum.Strabomulto expressius; effossum ibi metallum semper regenerari. Nam si effossio spatio centumannorum intermittebatur, & iterum illuc revertebantur, fossores reperisse maximam copiam ferriregeneratam.WhichhistorynotonlyiscountenancedbyFallopius,fromtheIncomwhichtheIronofthatIslandyieldedtheDukeofFlorenceinhistime;butismention’dmoreexpresselytoourpurpose,bytheLearnedCesalpinus.Vena (sayeshe) ferricopiosissimaest in Italia;obeamnobilitataIlvaTirrhenimaris Insula incredibili copia, etiam nostris temporibus eam gignens: Nam terra quæ eruitur dumvena effoditur tota, procedente tempore in venam convertitur. Which last clause is therefore verynotable,becausefromthencewemaydeduce,thatearth,byaMetallineplastickprinciplelatentinit,maybeinprocesseoftimechang’dintoametal.AndevenAgricolahimself,thoughtheChymistscomplainofhimas theiradversary,acknowledges thusmuchandmore;by tellingus thatataTowncalledSaga inGermany, theydigup Iron in theFields,bysinkingditches two footdeep;Andadding, thatwithin thespaceoftenyearstheDitchesarediggedagainforIronsinceproduced,AsthesameMetaliswonttobeobtain’dinElva.AlsoconcerningLead,nottomentionwhatevenGalennotes,thatitwillincreaseboth

inbulkandWeightifitbelongkeptinVaultsorSellars,wheretheAirisgrossandthick,ashecollectsfromthesmellingofthosepiecesofLeadthatwereimploy’dtofastentogetherthepartsofoldStatues.Not to mention this, I say,Boccacius Certaldus, as I find him Quoted by a DiligentWriter, has thisPassage touching the Growth of Lead. Fessularum mons (sayes he) in Hetruria, Florentiæ civitatiimminens, lapides plumbarios habet; qui si excidantur, brevi temporis spatio, novis incrementisinstaurantur;ut (annexesmyAuthor) traditBoccaciusCertaldus,qui idcompotissimumesse scribit.Nihilhocnoviest;seddeeademPlinius,lib.34.Hist.Natur.cap.17.dudumprodidit,Inquiens,mirumin his solis plumbi metallis, quod derelicta fertilius reviviscunt. In plumbariis secundo Lapide abAmbergadictisadAsylumrecrementacongestaincumulos,expositasolibuspluviisquepaucisannis,reduntsuummetallumcumfenore. ImightAdd to these,continuesCarneades,many things that IhavemetwithconcerningtheGenerationofGoldandSilver.But,forfearofwantingtime,IshallmentionbuttwoorthreeNarratives.TheFirstyoumayfindRecordedbyGerhardusthePhysickProfessor,intheseWords. Invalle (sayeshe)Joachimacaargentumgraminimodo&more e Lapidibusmineræ velut eradiceexcrevissedigitiLongitudine,testisestDr.Schreterus,quiejusmodivenasaspectujucundas&admirabilesDomisuaaliissæpemonstravit&Donavit.ItemAquacæruleaInventaestAnnebergæ,ubiargentumeratadhucinprimoente,quæcoagulataredactaestincalcemfixi&boniargenti.

TheothertwoRelationsIhavenotmetwithinLatineAuthours,andyettheyarebothverymemorableinthemselves,andaspertinenttoourpresentpurpose.

The first I meet with in the Commentary of Johannes Valehius upon theKleine Baur, In which thatIndustrious Chymist Relates, with many circumstances, that at aMine-Town (If I may so English theGermanBergstat)eightmilesorLeaguesdistantfromStrasburgcall’dMariakirch,aWorkmancametotheOverseer,anddesiredemployment;buthetellinghimthattherewasnotanyofthebestsortatpresentforhim,addedthattillhecouldbepreferr’dtosomesuch,hemightinthemeantime,toavoididleness,workinaGroveorMine-pitthereabouts,whichatthattimewaslittleesteem’d.ThisWorkmanaftersomeweeksLabour,hadbyaCrackappearing in theStoneuponaStroakgivennear thewall, an InvitationGivenhimtoWorkhisWaythrough,whichassoonashehaddone,hisEyesweresalutedbyamightystoneorLumpwhichstoodinthemiddleoftheCleft(thathadahollowplacebehindit)upright,andinshew like an armed-man; but consisted of pure fine Silver having noVein or Ore by it, or any otherAdditament, but stood there free, havingonlyunderfoot something like aburntmatter; andyet thisoneLump held inWeight above a 1000marks,which, according to theDutch,Accountmakes 500 poundweightoffinesilver.FromwhichandotherCircumstancesmyAuthorgathers;Thatbythewarmthoftheplace, the Noble Metalline Spirits, (Sulphureous and Mercurial) were carri’d from the neighbouringGalleriesorVaults,throughothersmallerCracksandClefts,intothatCavity,andtherecollectedasinacloseChamberorCellar;whereintowhen theyweregotten, theydid inprocessof time settle into theforementionedpreciousmassofMetal.

TheotherGermaneRelationisofThatgreatTravellerandLaboriousChymistJohannes (notGeorgus)Agricola;whoinhisnotesuponwhatPoppiushaswrittenofAntimony,Relates,thatwhenhewasamongtheHungarianMinesinthedeepGroves,heobserv’dthattherewouldoftenariseinthemawarmSteam(notofthatmalignantsortwhichtheGermainscallShwadt,which(sayeshe)isameerpoyson,andoftensuffocates theDiggers, which fasten’d it self to theWalls; and that coming again to review it after acoupleofdayes,hediscern’dthatitwasallveryfast,andglistering;whereuponhavingcollecteditandDistill’ditperRetortam,heobtain’dfromitafineSpirit,adding,thattheMine-Meninform’dhim,thatthisSteamorDampoftheEnglishMine(retainingthedutchTerm)wouldatlasthavebecomeaMetal,asGoldorSilver.

Ireferr(sayesCarneades)toanotherOccasion,theUsethatmaybemadeoftheseNarrativestowardstheexplicating the Nature of Metalls; and that of Fixtness, Malleableness, and some other Qualitiesconspicuousinthem.Andinthemeantime,thisImayatpresentdeducefromtheseObservations,That’tisnotveryprobable,that,whensoeveraMineral,orevenaMetall,istobeGeneratedintheBowelsoftheEarth,Natureneeds tohaveathandbothSalt,andSulphur,andMercury toCompounditof; for,not tourgethatthetwolastRelationsseemlesstofavourtheChymiststhanAristotle,whowouldhaveMetalsGenerated of certainHalitus or steams, the foremention’d Observations together, make it seem moreLikelythatthemineralEarthsorthoseMetallinesteams(wherewithprobablysuchEarthsareplentifullyimbu’d) do contain in them some seminal Rudiment, or some thing Equivalent thereunto; by whoseplastickpowertherestofthematter,thoughperhapsTerrestrialandheavy,isinTractoftimefashion’dintothisorThatmetallineOre;almostasIformerlynoted,thatfairwaterwasbytheseminalPrincipleofMint,Pompions, andotherVegetables, contriv’d intoBodies answerable to suchSeeds.And that suchAlterations of Terrestrial matter are not impossible, seems evident from that notable Practice of theBoylersofSalt-Petre,whounanimouslyobserve,aswellhereinEnglandasinotherCountries;ThatifanEarthpregnantwithNitrebedepriv’d,bytheaffusionofwater,ofallitstrueanddissolubleSalt,yettheEarth will after some years yield them Salt-Petre again; For which reason some of the eminent andskillfullest of themkeep it in heaps as a perpetualMine of Salt Petre;whence itmay appear, that theSeminalPrincipleofNitrelatentintheEarthdoesbydegreesTransformetheneighbouringmatterintoaNitrousBody;forthoughIdenythatsomeVolatileNitremaybysuchEarthsbeattracted(astheyspeak)out of theAir, yet that the innermost parts of such great heaps that lye so remote from theAir shouldborrowfromitalltheNitretheyaboundwith,isnotprobable,forotherreasonsbesidestheremotenessoftheAir,thoughIhavenottheLeasuretomentionthem.

And I remember, that apersonofGreatCredit, andwell acquaintedwith thewayesofmakingVitriol,affirm’dtome,thathehadobserv’d,thatakindofmineralwhichaboundsinthatSalt,beingkeptwithinDoorsandnotexpos’d(asisusual)tothefreeAirandRains,didofitselfinnoverylongtimeturnintoVitriol,notonlyintheoutwardorsuperficial,butevenintheinternalandmostCentralparts.

AndIalsoremember,thatImetwithacertainkindofMerkasitethatlaytogetheringreatQuantitiesunderground,whichdid,eveninmychamber,insofewhoursbeginofitselftoturneintoVitriol,thatweneednotdistrustthenewlyrecitednarrative.ButtoreturntowhatIwassayingofNitre;asNaturemadethisSalt-PetreoutoftheoncealmostandinodorousEarthitwasbredin,anddidnotfindaverystinkingandcorrosiveAcidLiquor,anda sharpAlcalyzateSalt tocompound itof, though thesebe theBodies intowhich theFire dissolves it; so itwerenot necessary thatNature shouldmakeup allMetals andotherMineralsofPre-existentSalt,andSulphur,andMercury, thoughsuchBodiesmightbyFirebeobtainedfromit.Whichoneconsiderationdulyweigh’d isveryconsiderable in thepresentcontroversy:And tothis agreewell theRelations of our twoGermanChymists; for besides that it cannot be convincinglyprov’d, it isnotsomuchas likely thatso languidandmoderateaheatas thatwithin theMines,shouldcarryuptosogreataheat,thoughintheformeoffumes,Salt,SulphurandMercury;sincewefindinourDistillations,thatitrequiresaconsiderableDegreeofFiretoraisesomuchastotheheightofonefootnotonlySalt,butevenMercuryitself,incloseVessels.Andifitbeobjected,thatitseemsbythestinkthatissometimesobserv’dwhenLighteningfallsdownherebelow,thatsulphureoussteamsmayascendvery highwithout any extraordinaryDegree of heat; It may be answer’d, among other things, that theSulphurofSilverisbyChymistssaidtobeafixtSulphur,thoughnotaltogethersowellDigestedasthatofGold.

But,proceedsCarneades,IfithadnotbeentoaffordYousomehintsconcerningtheOrigineofMetals,Ineednot havededuc’d any thing from theseObservations; It not beingnecessary to theValidity ofmy

ArgumentthatmyDeductionsfromthemshouldbeirrefragable,becausemyAdversariestheAristoteliansand Vulgar Chymists do not, I presume, know any better then I, a priori, of what ingredients NaturecompoundsMetals andMinerals. For theirArgument to prove that thoseBodies aremade up of suchPrinciples, isdrawnaposteriori; Imean from this, that upon theAnalysis ofMineral bodies they areresolv’dintothosedifferingsubstances.ThatwemaythereforeexaminethisArgument,Letusproceedtoconsiderwhatcanbealledg’dinbehalfoftheElementsfromtheResolutionsofBodiesbythefire;whichyou remember was the second Tophick whence I told you the Arguments of my Adversaries weredesum’d.

AndthatImayfirstdispatchwhatIhavetosayconcerningMinerals,Iwillbegintheremainingpartofmydiscoursewithconsideringhowthefiredividesthem.

Andfirst, Ihavepartlynotedabove, that thoughChymistspretendfromsometodrawsalt, fromothersrunningMercury,andfromothersaSulphur;Yettheyhavenothithertotaughtusbyanywayinusamongthemtoseparateanyoneprinciple,whetherSalt,Sulphur,orMercury,fromallsortsofMineralswithoutexception. And thence I may be allow’d to conclude that there is not any of the Elements that is anIngredientofallBodies,sincetherearesomeofwhichitisnotso.

In thenextplace,supposingthateitherSulphurorMercurywereobtainablefromallsortsofMinerals.Yet still this Sulphur orMercurywould be but a compounded, not an Elementary body, as I told youalready on another occasion. And certainly he that takes notice of the wonderful Operations ofQuicksilver,whetheritbecommon,ordrawnfromMineralBodies,canscarcebesoinconsiderateastothink it of the very same nature with that immature and fugitive substance which in Vegetables andAnimalsChymistshavebeenpleas’dtocalltheirMercury.SothatwhenMercuryisgotbythehelpofthefireoutofametalorotherMineralBody, ifwewillnot suppose that itwasnotpre-existent in it,butproduc’dby theactionof thefireupon theConcrete,wemayat leastsuppose thisQuicksilver tohavebeen a perfectBody of its own kind (though perhaps lesse heterogeneous thenmore secundarymixts)whichhappen’dtobemingl’dperminima,andcoagulatedwiththeothersubstances,whereoftheMetalorMineralconsisted.AsmaybeexemplyfiedpartlybyNativeVermillionwherein theQuicksilverandSulphurbeingexquisitelyblendedbothwithoneanother,andthatothercourseMineralstuff(whateveritbe)thatharbours them,makeupa redbodydifferingenoughfromboth;andyet fromwhichpartof theQuicksilver,andoftheSulphur,maybeeasilyenoughobtain’d;PartlybythoseMineswhereinnaturehassocuriouslyincorporatedSilverwithLead,that’tisextreamlydifficult,andyetpossible,toseparatetheformeroutoftheLatter.AndpartlytoobynativeVitriol,whereintheMetallineCorpusclesarebyskillandindustryseparablefromthesalineones,thoughtheybesocon-coagulatedwiththem,thatthewholeConcreteisreckon’damongSalts.

AndhereIfurtherobserve,thatInevercouldseeanyEarthorWater,properlysocall’d,separatedfromeitherGoldorSilver(tonamenownootherMetallineBodies)andthereforetoretorttheargumentuponmyAdversaries, Imayconclude, thatsince therearesomebodies inwhich,foroughtappears, there isneitherEarthnorWater.Imaybeallow’dtoconcludethatneitherofthosetwoisanUniversalIngredientofallthoseBodiesthatarecountedperfectlymixt,whichIdesireyouwouldrememberagainstAnon.

Itmayindeedbeobjected,thatthereasonwhyfromGoldorSilverwecannotseparateanymoisture,is,becausethatwhenitismeltedoutoftheOare,thevehementFirerequisitetoitsFusionforc’dawayalltheaqueousandfugitivemoisture;andthelikefiremaydofromthematerialsofGlass.TowhichIshallAnswer,thatIRememberIreadnotlongsinceintheLearnedJosephusAcosta,whorelatesituponhisownobservation;thatinAmerica,(wherehelonglived)thereisakindofSilverwhichtheIndianscallPapas,andsometimes(sayeshe)theyfindpiecesveryfineandpureliketosmallroundroots,thewhich

is rare in thatmetal,butusuall inGold;Concerningwhichmetalhe tellsus, thatbesides this theyfindsomewhich theycallGold ingrains,whichhe tellsusaresmallmorselsofGold that theyfindwholewithoutmixtureofanyothermetal,whichhathnoneedofmeltingorRefininginthefire.

Irememberthataveryskilfulandcrediblepersonaffirmedtome,thatbeingintheHungarianmineshehadthegoodfortunetoseeamineralthatwastheredigg’dup,whereinpiecesofGoldofthelength,andalsoalmostofthebignessofahumaneFinger,grewintheOar,asiftheyhadbeenpartsandBranchesofTrees.

AndIhavemyselfseenaLumpofwhitishMineral,thatwasbroughtasaRaritytoaGreatandknowingPrince,wherein theregrewhereand there in theStone,which looked likeakindofsparr,divers littleLumpsoffineGold,(forsuchIwasassuredthatTryalhadmanifestedittobe)someofthemSeemingtobeabouttheBignessofpease.

But that isnothing towhatourAcosta subjoynes,which is indeedverymemorable,namely, thatof themorselsofNativeandpureGold,whichwelatelyheardhimmentioninghehadnowandthenseensomethatweighedmanypounds; towhichIshalladd, thatImyselfhaveseenaLumpofOarnot longsincediggedup, inwhosestonypart theregrew,almost likeTrees,diversparcels thoughnotofGold,yetof(whatperhapsMineralistswillmorewonderat)anotherMetalwhichseemedtobeverypureorunmixtwithanyHeterogeneousSubstances,andweresomeofthemasbigasmyFinger,ifnotbigger.ButuponObservationsofthiskind,thoughperhapsIcould,yetImustnotatpresentdwellanylonger.

To proceed Therefore now (sayes Carneades) to the Consideration of the Analysis of Vegetables,althoughmyTryalsgivemenocausetodoubtbutthatoutofmostofthemfivedifferingSubstancesmaybeobtain’dbythefire,yetI thinkitwillnotbesoeasilyDemonstratedthat thesedeservetobecall’dElementsintheNotionaboveexplain’d.

And before I descend to particulars, I shall repeat and premise thisGeneralConsideration, that thesedifferingsubstances thatarecall’dElementsorPrinciples,differnot fromeachotherasMetals,PlantsandAnimals,orassuchCreaturesasareimmediatelyproduc’deachbyitspeculiarSeed,andConstitutesadistinctpropagablesortofCreaturesintheUniverse;buttheseareonlyVariousSchemesofmatterorSubstances that differ from each other, but in consistence (as Running Mercury and the same Metalcongeal’dbytheVaporofLead)andsomeveryfewotheraccidents,asTast,orSmel,orInflamability,orthewantofthem.SothatbyachangeofTexturenotimpossibletobewroughtbytheFireandotherAgentsthathavetheFacultynotonlytodissociatethesmalpartsofBodies,butafterwardstoconnectthemafteranewmanner,thesameparcellofmattermayacquireorlosesuchaccidentsasmaysufficetoDenominateitSalt, orSulphur, orEarth. If Iwere fully to clear to youmyapprehensions concerning thismatter, Ishouldperhapsbeobliged to acquaint youwithdivers of theConjectures (for Imust yet call themnomore) IhavehadConcerning thePrinciplesof thingspurelyCorporeal:For thoughbecause I seemnotsatisfi’dwiththeVulgarDoctrines,eitherofthePeripatetickorParacelsianSchools,manyofthosethatknowme, (andperhaps, amongThem,Eleutherius himself) have thoughtmewedded to theEpicureanHypotheses, (asothershavemistakenme for anHelmontian;) yet if youknewhow littleConversant Ihave been with Epicurean Authors, and how great a part of Lucretius himself I never yet had theCuriositytoread,youwouldperchancebeofanothermind;especiallyifIweretoentertainyouatlarge,Isaynot,ofmypresentNotions;butofmyformer thoughtsconcerning thePrinciplesof things.But,as Isaidabove,fullytoclearmyApprehensionswouldrequireaLongerDiscoursethanwecannowhave.

For, I should tell you that I have sometimes thought it not unfit, that to the Principles which may beassign’dtothings,astheWorldisnowConstituted,weshould,ifweconsidertheGreatMassofmatteras

it waswhilst theUniversewas inmaking, add another,whichmayConveniently enough be call’d anArchitectonick Principle or power; by which I mean those Various Determinations, and that SkilfullGuidanceof themotions of the small parts of theUniversalmatter by themostwiseAuthor of things,whichwerenecessaryatthebeginningtoturnthatconfus’dChaosintothisOrderlyandbeautifullWorld;andEspecially,tocontrivetheBodiesofAnimalsandPlants,andtheSeedsofthosethingswhosekindsweretobepropagated.ForIconfessIcannotwellConceive,howfrommatter,BarelyputintoMotion,and then left to it self, there could Emerge such Curious Fabricks as the Bodies of men and perfectAnimals,andsuchyetmoreadmirablyContriv’dparcelsofmatter,astheseedsoflivingCreatures.

Ishouldlikewisetellyouuponwhatgrounds,andinwhatsence,IsuspectedthePrinciplesoftheWorld,as it now is, to be Three,Matter,Motion andRest. I say,as theWorld now is, because the presentFabrickoftheUniverse,andespeciallytheseedsofthings,togetherwiththeestablishtCourseofNature,isaRequisiteorCondition,uponwhoseaccountdiversthingsmaybemadeoutbyourthreePrinciples,whichotherwisewouldbeveryhard,ifpossible,toexplicate.

I shouldmoreover declare in general (for I pretend not to be able to do it otherwise) not onlywhy IConceivethatColours,Odors,Tasts,FluidnessandSolidity,andthoseotherqualitiesthatDiversifieandDenominateBodiesmayIntelligiblybeDeducedfromthesethree;buthowtwoof theThreeEpicureanPrinciples(which,Ineednottell,youareMagnitude,FigureandWeight)areThemselvesDeduciblefromMatterandMotion;sincetheLatteroftheseVariouslyAgitating,and,asitwere,DistractingtheFormer,mustneedsdisjoyneitsparts;whichbeingActuallyseparatedmustEachofthemnecessarilybothbeofsomeSize,andobtainsomeshapeorother.NordidIaddtoourPrinciplestheAristoteleanPrivation,partlyforotherReasons,whichImustnotnowstaytoinsiston;andpartlybecauseitseemstoberatheranAntecedent,oraTerminusaquo,thenaTruePrinciple,asthestarting-PostisnoneoftheHorsesLegsorLimbs.

IshouldalsoexplainwhyandhowImaderesttobe,thoughnotsoconsiderableaPrincipleofthings,asMotion,yet aPrincipleof them;partlybecause it is (foroughtweknowasAncient at least as it, anddependsnotuponMotion,noranyotherqualityofmatter;andpartly,becauseitmayenabletheBodyinwhichithappenstobe,bothtocontinueinaStateofResttillsomeexternalforceputitoutofthatstate,andtoconcurtotheproductionofdiversChangesinthebodiesthathitagainstit,byeitherquitestoppingorlessningtheirMotion(whilstthebodyformerlyatRestReceivesallorpartofitintoitself)orelsebygivinganewByass,orsomeotherModification,toMotion,thatis,TotheGrandandPrimaryinstrumentwherebyNatureproducesalltheChangesandotherQualitiesthataretobemetwithintheWorld.

Ishouldlikewise,afterallthis,explaintoyouhow,althoughMatter,MotionandRest,seem’dtometobethe Catholick Principles of the Universe, I thought the Principles of Particular bodies might beCommodiouslyenoughreduc’dtotwo,namelyMatter,and(whatComprehendsthetwoother,andtheireffects) theresultorAggregateof thoseAccidents,whichare theMotionorRest, (for insomeBodiesboth are not to be found) theBigness, Figure, Texture) and the thence resultingQualities of the smallparts)whicharenecessarytointitletheBodywheretotheybelongtothisorthatPeculiarDenomination;and discriminating it from others to appropriate it to a Determinate Kind of Things, as Yellowness,Fixtness,suchaDegreeofWeight,andofDuctility,domakethePortionofmatterwhereintheyConcur,tobereckon’damongperfectmetals,andobtainthenameofGold.)WhichAggregateorresultofAccidentsyoumay,ifYouplease,calleitherStructureorTexture.

Thoughindeed,thatdonotsoproperlyComprehendthemotionoftheconstituentpartsespeciallyincasesomeofthembeFluid,orwhatotherappellationshallappearmostExpressive.Orif,retainingtheVulgarTerme,Youwillcall it theFormeof the thing itdenominates, Ishallnotmuchoppose it;Provided the

wordbeinterpretedtomeanbutwhatIhaveexpress’d,andnotaScholastickSubstantialForme,whichsomanyintelligentmenprofesstobetothemaltogetherUn-intelligible.

But,sayesCarneades, ifyouremember that’tisaSceptickspeaks toyou,andthat’tisnotsomuchmypresentTalk tomakeassertionsas tosuggestdoubts, Ihopeyouwill lookuponwhat Ihavepropos’d,rather as a Narrative of my former conjectures touching the principles of things, then as a ResoluteDeclarationofmypresentopinionsofthem;especiallysincealthoughtheycannotbutappearVerymuchtotheirDisadvantage,IfyouConsiderThemastheyarepropos’dwithoutthoseReasonsandExplanationsbywhichIcouldperhapsmakethemappearmuchlesseextravagant;yetIwanttimetoofferyouwhatmaybe alledg’d to clear and countenance these notions;my design inmentioning them unto you at presentbeing,partly,tobringsomeLightandConfirmationtodiverspassagesofmydiscoursetoyou;partly toshewyou,thatIdonot(asyouseemtohavesuspected)embraceallEpicurushisprinciples;butDissentfromhiminsomemain things,aswellas fromAristotleand theChymists, inothers;&partlyalso,orrather chiefly, to intimate to you the grounds uponwhich I likewise differ fromHelmont in this, thatwhereasheascribesalmostallthings,andevendiseasesthemselves,totheirdeterminateSeeds;Iamofopinion,thatbesidesthepeculiarFabricksoftheBodiesofPlantsandAnimals(andperhapsalsoofsomeMetalsandMinerals)whichItaketobetheEffectsofseminalprinciples,therearemanyotherbodiesinnaturewhichhaveanddeservedistinctandPropernames,butyetdobutresultfromsuchcontexturesofthemattertheyaremadeof,asmaywithoutdeterminateseedsbeeffectedbyheat,cold,artificialmixturesand compositions, and divers other causes which sometimes nature imployes of her own accord; andoftentimesmanbyhispowerandskillmakesuseoftofashionthematteraccordingtohisIntentions.ThismaybeexemplifiedbothintheproductionsofNature,andinthoseofArt;ofthefirstsortImightnamemultitudes; but to shew how sleight a variation of Textures without addition of new ingredients mayprocureaparcelofmatterdiversnames,andmakeitbeLooktuponasDifferentThings;

Ishallinviteyoutoobservewithme,ThatClouds,Rain,Hail,Snow,Froth,andIce,maybebutwater,havingitspartsvaryedastotheirsizeanddistanceinrespectofeachother,andastomotionandrest.AndamongArtificialProductionswemaytakenotice(toskiptheCrystalsofTartar)ofGlass,Regulus,Martis-Stellatus,andparticularlyoftheSugarofLead,whichthoughmadeofthatinsipidMetalandsoursaltofVinager,hasinitasweetnessesurpassingthatofcommonSugar,anddiversotherqualities,whichbeingnottobefoundineitherofitstwoingredients,mustbeconfess’dtobelongtotheConcreteitself,upontheaccountofitsTexture.

ThisConsiderationpremis’d,itwillbe,Ihope,themoreeasietoperswadeyouthattheFiremayaswellproducesomenewtexturesinaparcelofmatter,asdestroytheold.

Whereforehopingthatyouhavenotforgot theArgumentsformerlyimploy’dagainst theDoctrineof theTriaprima;namelythattheSalt,SulphurandMercury,intowhichtheFireseemstoresolveVegetableandAnimalBodies,areyetcompounded,notsimpleandElementarySubstances;Andthat(asappearedbytheExperiment of Pompions) theTriaprimamay bemade out ofWater; hoping I say, that you rememberTheseandtheotherThingsthatIformerlyrepresentedtothesamepurpose,Ishallnowaddonly,thatifwe doubt not the Truth of some of Helmonts Relation, We may well doubt whether any of theseHeterogeneities be (I say not pre-existent, so as to convene together,when a plant orAnimal is to beconstitutedbut)somuchasin-existentintheConcretewhencetheyareobtain’d,whentheChymistsfirstgoesabout toresolve it;Fornot to insistupontheun-inflamableSpiritofsuchConcretes,because thatmaybepretendedtobebutamixtureofPhlegmeandSalt;theOyleorSulphurofVegetablesorAnimalsis, according tohim, reducibleby thehelpofLixiviateSalts intoSope; as thatSope isby thehelpofrepeatedDistillationsfromaCaputMortuumofChalkintoinsipidWater.Andasforthesalinesubstance

thatseemsseparablefrommixtbodies;thesameHelmontstryalsgiveuscausetothink,ThatitmaybeaproductionoftheFire,whichbytransportingandotherwisealteringtheparticlesofthematter,doesbringittoaSalinenature.

ForIknow(sayeshe,intheplaceformerlyalledg’dtoanotherpurpose)awaytoreduceallstonesintoameerSaltofequalweightwiththestonewhenceitwasproduc’d,andthatwithoutanyoftheleasteitherSulphurorMercury;whichasseverationofmyAuthorwouldperhapsseemless incredible toYou, if IdurstacquaintYouwithallIcouldsayuponthatsubject.AndhencebythewayyoumayalsoconcludethattheSulphurandMercury,astheycallthem,thatChymistsarewonttoobtainfromcompoundBodiesby the Fire,may possibly inmanyCases be the productions of it; since if the same bodies had beenwroughtuponbytheAgentsemploy’dbyHelmont,theywouldhaveyieldedneitherSulphurnorMercury;and those portions of themwhich the Firewould have presentedUs in the forme of Sulphureous andMercurialBodieswouldhave,byHelmontsmethod,beenexhibitedtousintheformofSalt.

Butthough(sayesEleutherius)Youhavealledg’dveryplausibleArgumentsagainstthetriaPrima,yetIsee not how itwill be possible for you to avoid acknowledging that Earth andWater are ElementaryIngredients, though not ofMineralConcretes, yet of allAnimal andVegetableBodies; Since if any oftheseofwhatsortsoeverbecommittedtoDistillation,thereisregularlyandconstantlyseparatedfromitaphlegmeoraqueouspartandaCaputMortuumorEarth.

Ireadilyacknowledged(answersCarneades)itisnotsoeasytorejectWaterandEarth(andespeciallytheformer)as ’tis to reject theTriaPrima, frombeing theElementsofmixtBodies;but ’tisnoteverydifficultthingthatisimpossible.

I consider then, as to Water, that the chief Qualities which make men give that name to any visibleSubstance,are,thatitisFluidorLiquid,andthatitisinsipidandinodorous.Nowasforthetastofthesequalities, I thinkyouhaveneverseenanyof thoseseparatedsubstances that theChymistscallPhlegmewhichwas perfectly devoyd both of Tast and Smell: and if you object, that yet itmay be reasonablysuppos’d,thatsincethewholeBodyisLiquid,themassisnothingbutElementaryWaterfaintlyimbu’dwith some of theSaline or Sulphureous parts of the sameConcrete,which it retain’dwith it upon itsSeparationfromtheOtherIngredients.TothisIanswer,ThatthisObjectionwouldnotappearsostongasit isplausible, ifChymistsunderstoodtheNatureofFluidityandCompactnesse;andthat,asI formerlyobserv’d, to a Bodies being Fluid there is nothing necessary, but that it be divided into parts smallenough;andthat thesepartsbeput intosuchamotionamongthemselvesas toglidesomethiswayandsomethatway,alongeachothersSurfaces.Sothat,althoughaConcretewereneversodry,andhadnotanyWaterorotherLiquorin-existentinit,yetsuchaComminutionofitspartsmaybemade,bythefireorotherAgents,astoturnagreatportionofthemintoLiquor.OfthisTruthIwillgiveaninstance,employ’dbyourfriendherepresentasoneofthemostconduciveofhisexperimentstoIllustratethenatureofSalts.IfyouTake,then,seasaltandmeltitintheFiretofreeitfromtheaqueousparts,andafterwarddistillitwithavehementFirefromburntClay,oranyother,asdryaCaputmortuumasyouplease,youwill,asChymistsconfess,byteachingitdriveoveragoodpartoftheSaltintheformofaLiquor.Andtosatisfysomeingeniousmen,ThatagreatpartofthisLiquorwasstilltrueseasaltbroughtbytheOperationoftheFireintoCorpusclessosmall,andperhapssoadvantageouslyshap’d,astobecapableoftheformeofaFluidBody,Hedidinmypresencepouretosuchspiritualsaltsadueproportionofthespirit(orsaltandPhlegme)ofUrine,wherebyhavingevaporatedthesuperfluousmoisture,hesoonobtain’dsuchanotherConcrete, both as to tast and smell, and easie sublimableness as common SaltArmoniack, which youknowismadeupofgrosseandundistill’dseasaltunitedwiththesaltsofUrineandofSoot,whichtwoareveryneerofkintoeachother.Andfurther,tomanifestthattheCorpusclesofseasaltandtheSaline

onesofUrineretaintheirseveralNaturesinthisConcrete,HemixtitwithaconvenientquantityofSaltofTartar,andcommittingittoDistillationsoonregain’dhisspiritofUrineinaliquidformbyitsself,theSeasaltstayingbehindwiththeSaltofTartar.WhereforeitisverypossiblethatdryBodiesmaybytheFirebereduc’dtoLiquorswithoutanyseparationofElements,butbarelybyacertainkindofDissipationandComminutionofthematter,wherebyitspartsarebroughtintoanewstate.Andifitbestillobjected,that thePhlegmeofmixtBodiesmustbe reputedwater,becausesoweaka tastneedsbutaverysmallproportionofSalt to impart it; Itmaybereply’d, thatforoughtappears,commonSaltanddiversotherbodies,thoughtheybedistill’dneversodry,andinneversocloseVessels,willyieldeachofthemprettystoreof aLiquor,wherein though (as I latelynoted)SalineCorpuscles abound,Yet there is besides alargeproportionofPhlegme,asmayeasilybediscoveredbycoagulatingtheSalineCorpuscleswithanyconvenientBody;asIlatelytoldyou,ourFriendcoagulatedpartoftheSpiritofSaltwithSpiritofUrine:andasIhavediverstimesseparatedasaltfromOyleofVitriolitself(thoughaveryponderousLiquoranddrawnfromasalinebody)byboylingitwithajustquantityofMercury,andthenwashingthenewlycoagulated salt from the Precipitatewith fairWater.Now towhat canwemore probably ascribe thisplentyofaqueousSubstanceaffordedusbytheDistillationofsuchbodies,thanuntothis,ThatamongthevariousoperationsoftheFireuponthematterofaConcrete,diversparticlesofthatmatterarereduc’dtosuchashapeandbignesseasisrequisitetocomposesuchaLiquorasChymistsarewonttocallPhlegmeorWater.How I conjecture this changemay be effected, ’tis neither necessary forme to tell you, norpossible todo sowithoutamuch longerdiscourse thenwerenowseasonable.But IdesireyouwouldwithmereflectuponwhatIformerlytoldyouconcerningthechangeofQuicksilverintoWater;ForthatWaterhavingbutavery faint tast, ifanywhitmore thandiversof those liquors thatChymists referr toPhlegme;Bythatexperimentitseemsevident,thatevenametallinebody,andthereforemuchmoresuchasarebutVegetableorAnimal,maybyasimpleoperationoftheFirebeturn’dingreatpartintoWater.And since those I dispute with are not yet able out of Gold, or Silver, or divers other Concretes toseparateanythinglikeWater;IhopeImaybeallow’dtoconcludeagainstThem,thatwateritselfisnotanUniversalandpre-existentIngredientofMixtBodies.

Butas for thoseChymists that,Supposingwithme theTruthofwhatHelmont relatesof theAlkahest’swonderfulEffects, have a right topressmewithhisAuthority concerning them, and to alledge that hecouldTransmuteallreputedlymixtBodiesintoinsipidandmeerWater;TothoseIshallrepresent,ThatthoughhisAffirmationsconcludestronglyagainsttheVulgarChymists(againstwhomIhavenotthereforescrupl’d to Employ Them) since they Evince that the Commonly reputed Principles or Ingredients ofThings are not Permanent and indestructible, since they may be further reduc’d into Insipid Phlegmedifferingfromthemall;Yettillwecanbeallow’dtoexaminethisLiquor,IthinkitnotunreasonabletodoubtwhetheritbenotsomethingelsethenmeerWater.ForIfindnotanyotherreasongivenbyHelmontofhisPronouncingitso,thenthatitisinsipid.NowSapourbeinganAccidentoranAffectionofmatterthatrelatestoourTongue,Palate,andotherOrgansofTast,itmayverypossiblybe,thatthesmallPartsofaBodymaybeofsuchaSizeandShape,aseitherbytheirextreamLittleness,orbytheirslenderness,orby their Figure, to be unable to pierce into and make a perceptible Impression upon the Nerves orMembranouspartsoftheOrgansofTast,andwhatmaybefittoworkotherwiseupondiversotherBodiesthanmeerWatercan,andconsequentlytoDiscloseitselftobeofaNaturefarrenoughfromElementary.InSilkedyedRedorofanyotherColour,whilstmanyContiguousThreadsmakesupaskein,theColouroftheSilkeisconspicuous;butifonlyaveryfewofthembelooktupon,theColourwillappearmuchfainter thenbefore.But ifYou takeoutone simpleThread,you shallnot easilybeable todiscernanyColouratall;SosubtileanObjecthavingnot theForce tomakeupon theOptickNerveanImpressiongreatenoughtobetakenNoticeof.Itisalsoobserv’d,thatthebestsortofOyl-Oliveisalmosttastless,andyetIneednottellyouhowexceedinglydistantinNatureOyleisfromWater.TheLiquorintowhichI

toldyou,upontheRelationofLully,andEye-witnessthatMercurymightbeTransmuted,hassometimesbutaveryLanguid,ifanyTast,andyetitsOperationsevenuponsomeMineralBodiesareverypeculiar.Quicksilveritselfalso,thoughtheCorpusclesitconsistsofbesoverysmallastogetintothePoresofthatClosest and compactest ofBodies,Gold, is yet (you know) altogetherTastless.AndourHelmontseveraltimestellsus,thatfairWaterwhereinalittleQuantityfQuicksilverhaslainforsometime,thoughitacquirenocertainTastorothersensibleQuality fromtheQuicksilver;Yet ithasapower todestroywormesinhumaneBodies;whichhedoesmuch,butnotcauselesslyextoll.AndIremember,agreatLady,thathadbeenEminentforherBeautyinDiversCourts,confess’dtome,thatthisinsipidLiquorwasofallinnocentwashesfortheFacethebestthatsheevermetwith.

And here let me conclude my Discourse, concerning such waters or Liquors as I have hitherto beenexamining,withthesetwoConsiderations.Whereofthefirstis,ThatbyreasonofourbeingwonttodrinknothingbutWine,Bear,Cyder,orotherstronglytastedLiquors,theremaybeinseveraloftheseLiquors,thatarewonttopassforinsipidPhlegme,verypeculiarandDistinct,Taststhoughunheeded(andperhapsnottobeperceiv’d)byUs.FortoomitwhatNaturalistsaffirmofApes,(andwhichprobablymaybetrueofdiversotherAnimals)thattheyhaveamoreexquisitepalatethanMen:amongMenthemselves,thosethatarewont todrinknothingbutwatermay(as Ihave try’d inmyself)DiscernverysensiblyagreatDifferenceofTastsinseveralwaters,whichoneun-accustomedtodrinkwaterwouldtaketobeallalikeinsipid.And this is the first ofmy twoConsiderations; theOther is,That it is not impossible that theCorpusclesintowhichabodyisdissipatedbytheFiremaybytheOperationofthesamefirehavetheirfiguressoaltered,ormaybebyassociationswithoneanotherbroughtintolittleMassesofsuchaSizeandShape,asnottobefittomakesensibleImpressionsontheTongue.Andthatyoumaynotthinksuchalterationsimpossible,bepleasedtoconsiderwithme,thatnotonlythesharpestSpiritofVinagerhavingdissolved asmuchCorall as it can,will Coagulatewith it into a Substance, which though soluble inwater, like salt, is incomparably less strongly Tasted then theVinagerwas before; but (what ismoreconsiderable) though theAcid salts that are carriedupwithQuicksilver in thepreparationof commonsublimatearesosharp,thatbeingmoistenedwithwateritwillCorrodesomeoftheMetalsthemselves;yet this Corrosive Sublimate being twice or thrice re-sublim’d with a full proportion of insipidQuicksilver, Constitutes (as you know) that Factitious Concrete, which the Chymists callMercuriusdulcis;notbecauseitissweet,butbecausethesharpnessoftheCorrosiveSaltsissotakenawaybytheirCombinationwiththeMercurialCorpuscles, that thewholemixturewhenit isprepar’dis judg’dtobeinsipid.

Andthus(continuesCarneades)havinggivenyousomeReasonswhyIrefusetoadmitElementarywaterforaconstantIngredientofMixtBodies,ItwillbeeasieformetogiveyouanAccountwhyIalsorejectEarth.

Forfirst,itmaywellbesuspectedthatmanySubstancespassamongChymistsunderthenameofEarth,because, likeit, theyareDry,andHeavy,andFixt,whichyetareveryfarrfromanElementaryNature.This you will not think improbable, If you recall to mind what I formerly told you concerning whatChymistscall theDeadEarthofthings,andespeciallytouchingthecoppertobedrawnfromtheCaputMortuumofVitriol;AndifalsoyouallowmetosubjoynacasualbutmemorableExperimentmadebyJohannesAgricola upon theTerraDamnata ofBrimstone.OurAuthor then tells us (inhis notesuponPopius,) that in theyear 1621hemade anOyleofSulphur; the remainingFæces he reverberated in amoderateFire fourteendayes; afterwardsheput themwell lutedup in aWindOven, andgave themastrong Fire for six hours, purposing to calcine theFæces to a perfectWhiteness, that he might makesometingelseoutofthem.Butcomingtobreakthepot,hefoundabovebutverylittleFæces,and thoseGreyandnotWhite;butbeneaththerelayafineRedReguluswhichhefirstmarvell’datandknewnot

whattomakeof,beingwellassuredthatnottheleastthing,besidestheFæcesoftheSulphur,cameintothepot;andthattheSulphuritselfhadonlybeendissolv’dinLinseedOyle;thisRegulushefoundheavyandmalleablealmostasLead;havingcaus’daGoldsmithtodrawhimaWireofit,hefoundittobeoftheFairestcopper,andsorightlycolour’d,thataJewofPragueoffer’dhimagreatpriceforit.AndofthisMetalhesayeshehad12loth(orsixounces)outofonepoundofAshesorFæces.AndthisStorymaywellinclineustosuspectthatsincetheCaputMortuumoftheSulphurwaskeptsolonginthefirebeforeitwasfoundtobeanythingelsethenaTerradamnata,theremaybediversotherResidencesofBodieswhicharewonttopassonlyfortheTerrestrialFæcesofthings,andthereforetobethrownawayassoonastheDistillationorCalcinationoftheBodythatyieldedthemisended;whichyetiftheywerelongandSkilfully examin’d by the firewould appear to be differing fromElementary Earth. And I have takennotice of the unwarrantable forwardness of common Chymists to pronounce things uselessFæces, byobservinghowoftentheyrejecttheCaputMortuumofVerdegrease;whichisyetsofarrfromdeservingthatName,thatnotonlybystrongfiresandconvenientAdditamentsitmayinsomehoursbereduc’dintocopper,butwithacertainFluxPowderIsometimesmakeforRecreation,Ihaveintwoorthreeminutesobtain’dthatMetalfromit.TowhichImayadd,thathavingfortryallsakekeptVenetianTaclkinnolessaheatthanthatofaglassFurnace,IfoundafteralltheBruntofthefireithadindur’d,theremainingBodythoughbrittleanddiscolour’d,hadnotlostverymuchofitsformerBulke,andseem’dstilltobenearerofkin toTalck than tomeerEarth.And I remember too, that a candidMineralist, famous forhisSkill intryingofOars, requestingmeoneday toprocurehimacertainAmericanMineralEarthof aVirtuoso,whohethoughtwouldnotrefuseme;Ienquir’dofhimwhyheseem’dsogreedyofit:heconfess’dtomethatthisGentlemanhavingbroughtthatEarthtothepublickSay-Masters;andtheyupontheirbeingunablebyanymeans tobring it to fusionormake it flyaway,he (theRelator)hadprocur’da littleof it;andhavingtry’ditwithapeculiarFluxseparatedfromitneerathirdpartofpureGold;sogreatmistakesmaybecommittedinhastilyconcludingthingstobeUselesseEarth.

Next, itmaybesuppos’d,Thatas in theResolutionofBodiesby theFiresomeof thedissipatedPartsmay, by their various occursion occasion’d by the heat, be brought to stick together so closely as toconstituteCorpusclestooheavyfortheFiretocarryaway;theaggregateofwhichCorpusclesiswonttobecall’dAshesorEarrh;SootherAgentsmayresolvetheConcreteintoMinuteParts,aftersodifferingamannerasnottoproduceanyCaputmortuum,ordryandheavyBody.AsyoumayrememberHelmontaboveinform’dus,thatwithhisgreatDissolventhedividedaCoalintotwoliquidandvolatileBodies,æquiponderanttotheCoal,withoutanydryorfixtResidenceatall.

And indeed, I see notwhy it should be necessary that allAgents that resolveBodies into portions ofdifferinglyqualifi’dmattermustworkonthemthesameway,anddividethemintojustsuchparts,bothfornatureandNumber,astheFiredissipatestheminto.Forsince,asInotedbefore,theBulkandshapeofthesmallPartsofbodies,togetherwiththeirFitnessandUnfitnesstobeeasilyputintoMotion,maymaketheliquorsorothersubstancessuchCorpusclescompose,asmuchtodifferfromeachotherasdosomeoftheChymicalprinciples:Whymaynotsomethinghappeninthiscase,notunlikewhatisusuallinthegrosserdivisions of bodies by Mechanical Instruments? Where we see that some Tools reduce Wood, forInstance,intodartsofseveralshapes,bignesse,andotherqualities,asHatchetsandWedgesdivideitintogrosserparts;somemorelongandslender,assplinters;andsomemorethickandirregular,aschips;butallofconsiderablebulk;butFilesandSawsmakesaComminutionofitintoDust;which,asalltheothers,isofthemoresolidsortofparts;whereasothersdivideitintolongandbroad,butthinandflexibleparts,asdoPlanes:Andof thiskindofparts itself there isalsoavarietyaccordingto theDifferenceof theToolsemploy’dtoworkontheWood;theshavingsmadebytheplanebeinginsomethingsdifferingfromthoseshivesorthinandflexiblepiecesofwoodthatareobtain’dbyBorers,andthesefromsomeothersobtainablebyotherTools.SomeChymicalExamplesapplicabletothispurposeIhaveelsewheregiven

you. To which I may add, that whereas in a mixture of Sulphur and Salt of Tartar well melted andincorporatedtogether,theactionofpurespiritofwinedigestedonitistoseparatethesulphureousfromtheAlcalizateParts,bydissolvingtheformerandleavingthelatter,theactionofWine(probablyuponthescoreof its copiousPhlegme)upon the samemixture is todivide it intoCorpusclesconsistingofbothAlcalizate andSulphureousPartsunited.And if it beobjected, that this is but aFactitiousConcrete; Ianswer, that however the instancemay serve to illustratewhat I propos’d, if not to prove it; and thatNature her self doth in the bowels of the Earth make Decompounded Bodies, as we see in Vitriol,Cinnaber,andeven inSulphur it self; Iwillnoturge that theFiredividesnewMilk into fivedifferingSubstances;butRunnetandAcidLiquorsdivideitintoaCoagulatedmatterandathinWhey:Andontheother side churning divides it intoButter andButter-milk,whichmay either of thembe yet reduc’d toothersubstancesdifferingfromtheformer.Iwillnotpressethis,Isay,norotherinstancesofthisNature,becauseIcannotinfewwordsanswerwhatmaybeobjected,thattheseConcretessequestredwithoutthehelpoftheFiremaybyitbefurtherdividedintoHypostaticalPrinciples.ButIwillratherrepresent,ThatwhereasthesamespiritofWinewilldissociarethePartsofCamphire,andmakethemoneLiquorwithitself;AquaFortiswillalsodisjoynthem,andputthemintomotion;butsoastokeepthemtogether,andyetaltertheirTextureintotheformofanOyle.IknowalsoanuncompoundedLiquor,thatanextraordinaryChymistwouldnotallowtobesomuchasSaline,whichdoth(asIhavetry’d)fromCoralitself(asfixtas divers judicious writers assert that Concrete to be) not only obtain a noble Tincture,Without theInterventionofNitreorotherSalts;butwillcarryovertheTinctureinDistillation.Andifsomereasonsdidnotforbidme,IcouldnowtellyouofaMenstruumImakemyself,thatdothmoreodlydissociatethepartsofMineralsveryfixtinthefire.Sothatitseemsnotincredible,thattheremaybesomeAgentorwayofOperationfound,wherebythisorthatConcrete,ifnotallFirmeBodies,mayberesolv’dintopartssoveryminuteandsounapttostickclosetooneanother,thatnoneofthemmaybefixtenoughtostaybehindinastrongFire,andtobeincapableofDistillation;norconsequentlytobelook’duponasEarth.ButtoreturntoHelmont, thesameAuthoursomewheresupply’smewithanotherArgumentagainsttheEarth’sbeingsuchanElementasmyAdversarieswouldhaveit.Forhesomewhereaffirms,thathecanreducealltheTerrestrialpartsofmixtbodiesintoinsipidwater;whencewemayargueagainsttheEarthsbeingoneoftheirElements,evenfromthatNotionofElementswhichyoumayrememberPhiloponusrecitedoutofAristotlehimself,whenhelatelydisputedforhisChymistsagainstThemistius.Andherewemayonthisoccasionconsider,thatsinceaBodyfromwhichtheFirehathdrivenawayitslooserpartsiswonttobelook’duponasEarth,upontheAccountofitsbeingendow’dwithboththesequalities,TastlessenesseandFixtnesse,(forSaltofTartarthoughFixtpassesnotamongtheChymistsforEarth,because’tisstronglyTasted)ifitbeinthepowerofNaturalAgentstodeprivetheCaputMortuumofabodyofeitherofthosetwoQualities,ortogivethembothtoaportionofmatterthathadthemnotbothbefore,theChymistswillnot easilydefinewhatpart of a resolv’dConcrete is earth, andmakeout, that thatEarth is aprimary,simple, and indestructible Body. Now there are some cases wherein the more skilful of the VulgarChymists themselvespretendtobeable,byrepeatedCohobationsandotherfitOperations, tomaketheDistilledpartsofaConcretebringitsownCaputMortuumovertheHelme,intheformeofaLiquor;inwhichstatebeingbothFluidandVolatile,youwilleasilybelieve itwouldnotbe takenforEarth.Andindeedbyaskilful,butnotVulgar,wayofmanagingsomeConcretes,theremaybemoreeffectedinthiskind,thenyouperhapswouldeasilythink.Andontheotherside,thateitherEarthmaybeGenerated,oratleastBodiesthatdidnotbeforeappeartobeneerTotallyEarth,maybesoalter’dastopassforit,seemsverypossible,ifHelmonthavedonethatbyArtwhichhementionsinseveralplaces;especiallywhereHe sayes that he knowes wayes whereby Sulphur once dissolv’d is all of it fix’d into a TerrestrialPowder;andthewholeBodieofSalt-Petremaybeturn’dintoEarth:WhichlastheelsewheresayesisDoneby theOdouronlyof a certainSulphureousFire.And in another placeHementionsonewayofdoing this,whichIcannotgiveyouanAccountof;because theMaterialls Ihadprepar’dforTrying it,

werebyaServantsmistakeunhappilythrownaway.

And these LastArgumentsmay be confirm’d by the Experiment I have often had occasion tomentionconcerningtheMintIproduc’doutofWater.AndpartlybyanObservationofRondeletiusconcerningtheGrowthofAnimalsalso,Nourish’dbutbyWater,whichIremember’dnottomention,whenIdiscours’dtoyouabout theProductionof thingsoutofWater.ThisDiligentWriter then inhis instructivebookoffishes,affirmesThathisWifekeptafishinaGlassofwaterwithoutanyotherFoodforthreeyears;inwhichspaceitwasconstantlyaugmented,tillatlastitcouldnotcomeoutofthePlaceatwhichitwasputin,andatlengthwastoobigfortheglassitselfthoughthatwereofalargecapacity.Andbecausethereisnojustreasontodoubt,thatthisFish,ifDistill’d,wouldhaveyieldedthelikedifferingsubstanceswithotherAnimals:AndHowever,becausetheMintwhichIhadoutofwateraffordedmeuponDistillationagoodquantityofCharcoal,IthinkImayfromthenceinferr,thatEarthitselfmaybeproduc’doutofWater;orifyouplease,thatwatermaybetransmutedintoEarth;andconsequently,thatthoughitcouldbeprov’dthat Earth is an Ingredient actually in-existent in the Vegetable and Animal Bodies whence it may beobtain’dbyFire:yetitwouldnotnecessarilyfollow,thatEarthasapre-existentElementDoeswithotherPrinciplesconvenetomakeupthoseBodieswhenceitseemstohavebeenseparated.

Afterallissaid(sayesEleutherius)IhaveyetsomethingtoObject,thatIcannotbutthinkconsiderable,sinceCarneadesHimselfalledg’ditassuch;for,(continuesEleutheriussmiling)ImustmakeboldtotrywhetheryoucanasluckilyansweryourownArguments,asthoseofyourAntagonists,Imean(pursueshe)thatpartofyourConcessions,whereinyoucannotbutrememberthatyousupply’dyourAdversarieswithan Example to prove that there may be Elementary Bodies, by taking Notice that Gold may be anIngredient in a multitude of differing Mixtures, and yet retain its Nature, notwithstanding all that theChymistsbytheirFiresandCorrosiveWatersareabletodotoDestroyit.

I sufficiently intimated toyouat that time (repliesCarneades) that I propos’d thisExample, chiefly toshewyouhowNaturemaybeConceivedtohavemadeElements,nottoprovethatsheactuallyhasmadeany;Andyouknow,thataposseadessetheInferencewillnothold.But(continuesCarneades)toanswermoredirectlytotheObjectiondrawnfromGold,ImusttellYou,thatthoughIknowverywellthatdiversof themoresoberChymistshavecomplain’dof theVulgarChymists,asofMountebanksorCheats, forpretendingsovainly,ashithertotheyhavedone,toDestroyGold;YetIknowacertainMenstruum(whichourFriendhasmade,andintendsshortlytocommunicatetotheIngenious)ofsopiercingandpowerfullaQuality,Thatifnotwithstandingmuchcare,andsomeskill,Ididnotmuchdeceivemyself,Ihavewithitreallydestroy’devenrefin’dGold,andbroughtitintoaMetallineBodyofanothercolourandNature,asIfoundbyTryalspurposelymade.AndifsomejustConsiderationsdidnotforthepresentForbidit,IcouldPerchancehereshewyoubyanotherExperimentorTwoofmyownTrying,thatsuchMenstruumsmaybemade as to entice away and retain divers parts, from Bodies, which even the more Judicious andExperienc’d Spagyrists have pronounc’d irresoluble by the Fire. Though (which I Desire you wouldmark)inneitheroftheseInstances,theGoldorPreciousStonesbeAnalys’dintoanyoftheTriaPrima,butonlyReduc’dtonewConcretes.AndindeedthereisagreatDisparitybetwixttheOperationsoftheseveralAgentswherebythePartsofaBodycometobeDissipated.Asif(forInstance)youdissolvethepurer sort ofVitriol in commonWater, theLiquorwill swallowup theMineral, and soDissociate itsCorpuscles,thattheywillseemtomakeupbutoneLiquorwiththoseofthewater;andyeteachoftheseCorpuscles retains itsNature andTexture, and remains aVitriolate andCompoundedBody.But if thesameVitriolbeexposedtoastrongFire,itwillthenbedividednotonly,asbefore,intosmallerparts,butintoHeterogeneousSubstances,eachoftheVitriolateCorpusclesthatremain’dentireinthewater,beingit self upon theDestruction of its formerTexture dissipated or divided into newParticles of differingQualities.But Instancesmore fitly applicable to this purpose, I have already given you.Wherefore to

returntowhatItoldyouabouttheDestructionofGold,thatExperimentInvitesmetoRepresenttoyou,thatThoughtherewereeitherSaline,orSulphureous,orTerrestrialPortionsofMatter,whosepartsweresosmall,sofirmlyunitedtogether,orofafiguresofittomakethemcoheretooneanother,(asweseethatinquicksilverbrokenintolittleGlobes,thePartsbroughttotouchoneanotherdoimmediatelyre-imbody)that neither theFire, nor the usualAgents employ’d byChymists, are pierceing enough to divide theirParts,soastodestroytheTextureofthesingleCorpuscles;yetitwouldnotnecessarilyfollow,ThatsuchPermanent Bodieswere Elementary, since tis possible theremay beAgents found inNature, some ofwhosepartsmaybeof suchaSizeandFigureas to takebetterHoldofsomepartsof theseseeminglyElementaryCorpusclesthanthesepartsdooftherest,andConsequentlymaycarryawaysuchpartswiththem,andsodissolvetheTextureoftheCorpusclebypullingitspartsasunder.Andifitbesaid,thatatleastwemaythiswaydiscovertheElementaryIngredientsofThings,byobservingintowhatSubstancesthese Corpuscles that were reputed pure are divided; I answer, that it is not necessary that such aDiscoveryshouldbepracticable.ForiftheParticlesoftheDissolventdotakesuchfirmeholdofthoseoftheDissolvedBody,theymustconstitutetogethernewBodies,aswellasDestroytheOld;andthestricktUnion,whichaccordingtothisHypothesismaywellbesuppos’dbetwixtthePartsoftheEmergentBody,willmakeitasLittletobeExpectedthattheyshouldbepull’dasunder,butbylittlePartsofmatter,thattoDividethemAssociateThemselvesandstickextreamlyclosetothoseofthemwhichtheyseverfromtheirFormerAdherents.Besides that it is not impossible, that aCorpuscle suppos’d to beElementarymayhave itsNaturechanged,without sufferingaDivorceof itsparts,barelybyanewTextureEffectedbysomepowerfullAgent;asIformerlytoldyou,thesameportionofmattermayeasilybytheOperationoftheFirebe turn’datpleasure into the formofaBrittleandTransparent,oranOpacousandMalleableBody.

And indeed, if you consider how farr thebareChangeofTexture,whethermadebyArt orNature (orratherbyNaturewithorwithout theassistanceofman)cango inproducingsuchNewQualities in thesameparcelofmatter,andhowmanyinanimateBodies(suchasarealltheChymicalproductionsoftheFire)weknowareDenominatedandDistinguish’dnotsomuchbyanyImaginarySubstantialForm,asbythe aggregate of theseQualities. If you consider theseThings, I say, and that the varying of either thefigure,ortheSize,ortheMotion,ortheSituation,orConnexionoftheCorpuscleswhereofanyoftheseBodies iscompos’d,mayalter theFabrickof it,youwillpossiblybe invited tosuspect,withme, thatthere is no great need that Nature should alwayes have Elements before hand, whereof tomake suchBodies aswecallmixts.And that it is not so easie asChymists andothershavehitherto Imagin’d, todiscern,amongthemanydifferingSubstancesthatmaywithoutanyextraordinaryskillbeobtain’dfromthe same portion of matter, Which ought to be esteemed exclusively to all the rest, its in-existentElementaryIngredients;muchlessetodeterminewhatPrimogenealandSimpleBodiesconvenedtogethertocomposeit.Toexemplifythis,IshalladdtowhatIhavealreadyonseveraloccasionsRepresented,butthissingleinstance.

Youmay remember (Eleutherius) that I formerly intimated to you, that besidesMint and Pompions, Iproduced divers other Vegetables of very differing Natures out of Water. Wherefore you will not, Ipresume,thinkitincongruoustosuppose,thatwhenaslenderVine-slipissetintotheground,andtakesroot,thereitmaylikewisereceiveitsNutrimentfromthewaterattractedoutoftheearthbyhisroots,orimpell’dbythewarm’thofthesun,orpressureoftheambientairintotheporesofthem.Andthisyouwillthemoreeasilybelieve,ifyoueverobserv’dwhatastrangequantityofWaterwillDropoutofawoundgiventotheVine,inaconvenientplace,ataseasonabletimeintheSpring;andhowlittleofTastorSmellthisAquaVitis, asPhysitianscall it, isendow’dwith,notwithstandingwhatconcoctionoralteration itmayreceiveinitspassagethroughtheVine, todiscriminateitfromcommonWater.SupposingthenthisLiquor,atitsfirstentranceintotherootsoftheVine,tobecommonWater;LetUsalittleconsiderhow

manyvariousSubstancesmaybeobtain’dfromit; thoughtodoso,Imustrepeatsomewhat thatIhadaformeroccasiontotouchupon.Andfirst,thisLiquorbeingDigestedintheplant,andassimilatedbytheseveralpartsofit,isturn’dintotheWood,Bark,Pith,Leaves,&c.oftheVine;ThesameLiquormaybefurtherdry’d,andfashon’dintoVine-buds,andtheseawhileafterareadvanceduntosourGrapes,whichexpress’dyieldVerjuice,aLiquorverydifferinginseveralqualitiesbothfromWineandotherLiquorsobtainablefromtheVine:ThesesoureGrapesbeingbytheheatoftheSunconcoctedandripened,turnetowell tasted Grapes; These if dry’d in the Sun and Distill’d, afford a fætid Oyle and a piercingEmpyreumaticalSpirit,butnot aVinousSpirit;Thesedry’dGrapesorRaisinsboyl’d inaconvenientproportionofWatermakeasweetLiquor,whichbeingbetimesdistill’daffordanOyleandSpiritmuchlikethoseoftheRaisinsthemselves;IfthejuiceoftheGrapesbesqueez’doutandputtoFerment,itfirstbecomesasweetandturbidLiquor,thengrowslessesweetandmoreclear,andthenaffordsincommonDistillationsnotanOylebutaSpirit,which,thoughinflamablelikeOyle,differsmuchfromit,inthatitisnotfat,andthatitwillreadilyminglewithWater.IhavelikewisewithoutAdditionobtain’dinprocesseoftime(andbyaneasiewaywhichIamreadytoteachyou)fromoneofthenoblestsortsofWine,prettystoreofpureandcuriouslyfiguredCrystalsofSalt,togetherwithagreatproportionofaLiquorassweetalmost asHony; and these I obtained not fromMust, but True and sprightlyWine; besides theVinousLiquor,thefermentedJuiceofGrapesispartlyturnedintoliquidDregsorLeeze,andpartlyintothatcrustordryfeculancy that iscommonlycalledTartar;and thisTartarmayby theFirebeeasilydivided intofivedifferingsubstances;fourofwhicharenotAcid,andtheothernotsomanifestlyAcidastheTartaritself;ThesameVinousJuiceaftersometime,especiallyifitbenotcarefullykept,DegeneratesintothatverysourLiquorcalledVinegar;fromwhichyoumayobtainbytheFireaSpiritandaCrystallineSaltdifferingenoughfromtheSpiritandLixiviateSaltofTartar.AndifyoupourtheDephlegm’dSpiritoftheVinegar upon the Salt of Tartar, therewill be produc’d such aConflict or Ebullition as if therewerescarcetwomorecontraryBodiesinNature;andoftentimesinthisVinageryoumayobservepartof themattertobeturnedintoaninnumerablecompanyofswimmingAnimals,whichourFriendhavingdiversyears agoobserved, hath in oneof hisPapers taught us how to discover clearlywithout the help of aMicroscope.

Into all these various Schemes ofmatter, or differinglyQualifyedBodies, besides divers others that Ipurposelyforbeartomention,maytheWaterthatisimbib’dbytherootsoftheVinebebrought,partlybythe formative power of the plant, and partly by supervenient Agents or Causes, without the visibleconcurrence of any extraneous Ingredient; but if we be allowed to add to the Productions of thistransmutedWaterafewothersubstances,wemaymuchencreasetheVarietyofsuchBodies;althoughinthissecondsortofProductions,theVinouspartsseemscarcetoretainanythingofthemuchmorefix’dBodies wherewith they were mingl’d; but only to have by their Mixture with them acquir’d such aDisposition,thatintheirrecessoccasion’dbytheFiretheycametobealter’dastoshape,orBigness,orboth,andassociatedafteraNewmanner.Thus,asIformerlytoldyou,IdidbytheAdditionofaCaputMortuumofAntimony,andsomeotherBodiesunfitforDistillation,obtainfromcrudeTartar,storeofaveryVolatileandCrystallineSalt,differingverymuchinsmellandotherQualitiesfromtheusuallsaltsofTartar.

But(sayesEleutherius,interruptinghimattheseWords)ifyouhavenorestraintuponyou,Iwouldverygladlybeforeyougoanyfurther,bemoreparticularlyinform’d,howyoumakethisVolatileSalt,because(youknow)thatsuchMultitudesofChymistshavebyascarceimaginableVarietyofwayes,attemptedinVaintheVolatilizationoftheSaltofTartar,thatdiverslearnedSpagyristsspeakasifitwereimpossible,tomakeanythingoutofTartar,thatshallbeVolatileinaSalineForme,orassomeofthemexpressit,informa sicca. I am very farr from thinking (answersCarneades) that the Salt I havemention’d is thatwhichParacelsus andHelmontmeanwhen they speak ofSalTartariVolatile, and ascribe such great

thingstoit.FortheSaltIspeakoffallsextreamlyshortofthoseVirtues,notseeminginitsTast,Smel,andotherObviousQualities,todifferverymuch(thoughsomethingitdodiffer)fromSaltofHarts-horn,andotherVolatileSaltsdrawnfromtheDistill’dPartsofAnimals.NorhaveIyetmadeTryalsenoughtobesure, that it isapureSaltofTartarwithoutparticipatinganythingatallof theNitre,orAntimony.Butbecause it seemsmore likely to proceed from the Tartar, than from any of the other Ingredients, andbecausetheExperimentisinitselfnotIgnoble,andLuciferousenough(asshewinganewwaytoproduceaVolatileSaltcontrarytoAcidSaltsfromBodiesthatotherwiseareObserv’dtoyieldnosuchLiquor,buteitheronly,orchiefly,Acidones,)Ishall,tosatisfieyou,acquaintyoubeforeanyofmyotherFriendswiththewayInowuse(forIhaveformerlyus’dsomeothers)tomakeit.

TakethenofgoodAntimony,Salt-PetreandTartar,ofeachanequalweight,andofQuicklimeHalfetheWeightofanyoneofthem;letthesebepowder’dandwellmingl’d;thisdone,youmusthaveinreadinessalongneckorRetortofEarth,whichmustbeplac’dinaFurnaceforanakedFire,andhaveatthetopofitaholeofaconvenientBigness,atwhichyoumaycastintheMixture,andpresentlystopitupagain;thisVesselbeingfittedwithalargeReceivermusthaveFiremadeunderit,tillthebottomofthesidesberedhot,andthenyoumustcastintheaboveprepar’dMixture,byabouthalfeaspoonfull(moreorless)atatime,attheholemadeforthatpurpose;whichbeingnimblystopt,theFumeswillpassintotheReceiverandcondensethereintoaLiquor,thatbeingrectifi’dwillbeofapuregoldenColour,andcarryupthatcolourtoagreatheight;thisSpiritaboundsintheSaltItoldyouof,partofwhichmayeasilyenoughbeseparatedbythewayIuseinsuchcases,whichis,toputtheLiquorintoaglassEgg,orboltheadwithalongandnarrowNeck.Forifthisbeplac’dalittleinclininginhotsand,therewillsublimeupafineSalt,which, as I told you, I find to bemuch of kin to theVolatile Salts ofAnimals: For like them it has aSaltish,notanAcidSalt;ithissesupontheAffusionofSpiritofNitre,orOyleofVitriol;itprecipitatesCoralsDissolv’dinSpiritofVinager;itturnestheblewSyrupofVioletsimmediatelygreen;itpresentlyturnestheSolutionofSublimateintoaMilkiewhiteness;andinsumm,hasdiversOperationslikethosethat I have observ’d in that sort of Salts to which I have resembled it: and is so Volatile, that forDistinctionsake,Icall itTartariFugitivus.Whatvirtues itmayhave inPhysickIhavenotyethad theopportunity toTry;butIamapt to thinktheywillnotbedespicable.Andbesides thataveryIngeniousFriendofmine tellsmehehathdonegreatmattersagainst thestone,withaPreparationnotverymuchDifferingfromours,averyExperienc’dGermaneChymistfindingthatIwasunacquaintedwiththewayesofmakingthissalt,toldmethatinagreatCityinhisCountry,anotedChymistprizesitsohighly,thathehadawhilesinceprocur’daPriviledgefromtheMagistrates,thatnonebutHe,orbyhisLicence,shouldventaSpiritmadealmostafterthesameWaywithmine,savethatheleavesoutoneoftheIngredients,namelytheQuicklime.But,continuesCarneades,toresumemyFormerDiscoursewhereyourCuriosityinterruptedit;

TisalsoacommonpracticeinFrancetoburythinPlatesofCopperintheMarc(astheFrenchcallit)orHusksofGrapes,whencetheJuicehasbeensqueez’doutintheWine-press,andbythismeansthemoresalinepartsofthoseHusksworkingbylittleandlittleupontheCopper,CoagulateThemselveswithitintothatBlewishGreenSubstanceweinEnglishcallVerdigrease.OfwhichIthereforetakeNotice,becausehavingDistill’ditinaNakedFire,IfoundasIexpected,thatbytheAssociationoftheSalinewiththeMetallineparts,theformerweresoalter’d,thattheDistill’dLiquor,evenwithoutRectification,seem’dbysmellandTast,strongalmostlikeAquaFortis,andverymuchsurpassedthepurestandmostRectifi’dSpiritofVinagerthateverImade.AndthisSpiritIthereforeascribetothesaltoftheHusksalter’dbytheirCo-Mixturewith the copper (though the Fire afterwardsDivorce andTransmute them) because Ifound this later in the bottom of theRetort in the Forme of aCrocus or redish powder:And becauseCopper is of too sluggish aNature to be forc’d over in closeVessels by no stronger a heat.And thatwhichisalsosomewhatRemarkableintheDestillationofgoodVerdigrease,(oratleastofthatsortthatI

us’d)isthis,thatINevercouldobservethatityieldedmeanyoyl,(unlessalittleblackslimewhichwasseparatedinRectificationmaypassforOyle)thoughbothTartarandVinager,(especiallytheformer)willbyDestillationyieldaModerateproportionof it. If likewiseyoupourSpiritofVinageruponCalcin’dLead,theAcidSaltoftheLiquorwillbyitsCommixturewiththeMetallineparts,thoughInsipid,acquireinafewhoursamorethanSaccharinesweetness;andtheseSalinepartsbeingbyastrongFireDestill’dfromtheLeadwherewiththeywereimbody’d,will,asIformerlyalsonotedtoaDifferentpurpose,leavetheMetalbehindthemalter’dinsomequalitiesfromwhatitwas,andwillthemselvesascend,partlyintheFormeofanunctuousBodyorOyle,partlyinthatofPhlegme;butforthegreatestpartintheFormeofasubtileSpirit,indow’d,besidesdiversnewQualitieswhichIamnotnowwillingtotakenoticeof,witha strong smell verymuch other than that of Vinager, and a piercing tast quite differing both from theSowernessoftheSpiritofVinager,andtheSweetnessoftheSugarofLead.

Tobe short,As thedifferenceofBodiesmaydependmeerlyupon that of the schemeswhereinto theirCommonmatterisput;SotheseedsofThings,theFireandtheotherAgentsareabletoaltertheminutepartsofaBody(eitherbybreakingthemintosmalleronesofdifferingshapes,orbyUnitingtogethertheseFragmentswith theunbrokenCorpuscles,or suchCorpusclesamongThemselves)and thesameAgentspartlybyAlteringtheshapeorbignessoftheConstituentCorpusclesofaBody,partlybydrivingawaysomeofthem,partlybyblendingotherswiththem,andpartlybysomenewmannerofconnectingthem,maygivethewholeportionofmatteranewTextureofitsminuteparts;andtherebymakeitdeserveanewandDistinctname.Sothataccordingasthesmallpartsofmatterrecedefromeachother,orworkuponeach other, or are connected together after this or that determinate manner, a Body of this or thatdenominationisproduced,assomeotherBodyhappenstherebytobealter’dordestroy’d.

SincethenthosethingswhichChymistsproducebythehelpoftheFirearebutinanimateBodies;sincesuchfruitsoftheChymistsskilldifferfromoneanotherbutinsofewqualitiesthatweseeplainlythatbyfireandotherAgentswecanemploy,wecaneasilyenoughworkasgreatalterationsuponmatter,asthosethat are requisite to changeoneof theseChymicalProductions into another;Since the sameportionofmattermaywithoutbeingCompoundedwithanyextraneousBody,oratleastElement,bemadetoputonsuchavarietyofformes,andconsequentlytobe(successively)turn’dintosomanydifferingBodies.Andsincethemattercloath’dwithsomanydifferingformeswasoriginallybutwater,andthatinitspassagethorowsomanytransformations,itwasneverreduc’dintoanyofthosesubstanceswhicharereputedtobethePrinciplesorElementsofmixtBodies,exceptbytheviolenceofthefire,whichitselfdividesnotBodiesintoperfectlysimpleorElementarysubstances,butintonewCompounds;Since,Isay,thesethingsareso,IseenotwhywemustneedsbelievethatthereareanyPrimogenealandsimpleBodies,ofwhichas ofPre-exsistentElementsNature is obliged to compound all others.Nor do I seewhywemaynotconceive that shemayproduce theBodiesaccountedmixtoutofoneanotherbyVariouslyalteringandcontriving their minute parts, without resolving the matter into any such simple or Homogeneoussubstancesasarepretended.Neither,todispatch,doIseewhyitshouldbecountedabsur’dtothink,thatwhenaBodyisresolv’dbytheFire into itssuppos’dsimpleIngredients, thosesubstancesarenot trueandproperElements,butratherwere,asitwere,Accidentallyproduc’dbythefire,whichbyDissipatingaBodyintominutePartsdoes, if thosepartsbeshutup inCloseVessels, for themostpartnecessarilybringthemtoAssociateThemselvesafteranothermannerthanbefore,andsobringThemintoBodiesofsuchDifferentConsistencesastheFormerTextureoftheBody,andConcurrentCircumstancesmakesuchdisbanded particles apt toConstitute; as experience shews us (and I have both noted it, and prov’d italready) thatas therearesomeConcreteswhosepartswhendissipatedbyfireare fitted tobeput intosuchSchemesofmatteraswecallOyle,andSalt,andSpirit;Sothereareothers,suchasareespeciallythe greatest part ofMinerals,whoseCorpuscles being of another Size or figure, or perhaps contriv’danotherWay,will not in the Fire yield Bodies of the like Consistences, but rather others of differing

Textures;Nottomention,thatfromGoldandsomeotherBodies,weseenotthattheFireseparatesanyDistinctSubstancesatall;norThateventhoseSimilarPartsofBodieswhichtheChymistsObtainbytheFire,aretheElementswhosenamestheybear,butCompoundBodies,uponwhich,fortheirresemblanceto them in consistence, or some other obvious Quality, Chymists have been pleas’d to bestow suchAppellations.

T

T H E C O N C L U S I O N.

HeselastWordsofCarneadesbeingsoonafterfollow’dbyanoisewhichseem’dtocomefromtheplace where the rest of the Company was, he took it for a warning, that it was time for him to

concludeorbreakoffhisDiscourse;andtoldhisFriend;BythistimeIhopeyousee,Eleutherius,thatifHelmontsExperimentsbetrue,itisnoabsurditytoquestionwhetherthatDoctrinebeone,thatdothnotassertAnyElementsinthesencebeforeexplain’d.Butbecausethat,asdiversofmyArgumentssupposethemarvellouspoweroftheAlkahestintheAnalyzingofBodies,sotheEffectsascrib’dtothatpoweraresounparallell’dandstupendious,thatthoughIamnotsurebutthattheremaybesuchanAgent,yetlittlelessthanαυτοψιαseemsrequisitetomakeamansurethereis.AndconsequentlyIleaveittoyoutojudge,howfarrethoseofmyArgumentsthatarebuiltuponAlkahesticalOperationsareweaknedbythatLiquorsbeingMatchless; and shall thereforedesireyounot to think that Ipropose thisParadox that rejects allElements,asanOpinionequallyprobablewiththeformerpartofmydiscourse.Forbythat,Ihope,youare satisfied, that theArgumentswont to be brought byChymists, to proveThat allBodies consist ofeitherThreePrinciples,orFive,arefarfrombeingsostrongasthosethatIhaveemploy’dtoprove,thatthereisnotanycertainandDeterminatenumberofsuchPrinciplesorElementstobemetwithUniversallyinallmixtBodies.AndIsupposeIneednottellyou,thattheseAnti-ChymicalParadoxesmighthavebeenmanag’dmoretotheirAdvantage;butthathavingnotconfin’dmyCuriositytoChymicalExperiments,IwhoambutayoungMan,andyoungerChymist,canyetbebutslenderlyfurnishedwiththem,inreferencetosogreatanddifficultaTaskasyou impos’duponme;Besides that, to tellyou theTruth, IdurstnotemploysomeevenofthebestExperimentsIamacquaintedwith,becauseImustnotyetdisclosethem;buthowever, I think I may presume that what I have hitherto Discoursed will induce you to think, thatChymistshavebeenmuchmorehappyinfindingExperimentsthantheCausesofthem;orinassigningthePrinciplesbywhichtheymaybestbeexplain’d.Andindeed,wheninthewritingsofParacelsusImeetwith suchPhantastick andUn-intelligibleDiscourses as thatWriter often puzzels and tyres hisReaderwith,father’duponsuchexcellentExperiments,asthoughheseldomclearlyteaches,Ioftenfindheknew;methinkstheChymists,intheirsearchesaftertruth,arenotunliketheNavigatorsofSolomonsTarshishFleet,whobroughthomefromtheirlongandtediousVoyages,notonlyGold,andSilver,andIvory,butApesandPeacockstoo;ForsotheWritingsofseveral(forIsaynot,all)ofyourHermetickPhilosopherspresentus,togetherwithdiversSubstantialandnobleExperiments,Theories,whicheitherlikePeacocksfeathers make a great shew, but are neither solid nor useful; or else like Apes, if they have someappearanceofbeingrational,areblemish’dwithsomeabsurdityorother,thatwhentheyareAttentivelyconsider’d,makesthemappearRidiculous.

Carneadeshavingthusfinish’dhisDiscourseagainstthereceivedDoctrinesoftheElements;Eleutheriusjudgingheshouldnothavetimetosaymuchtohimbeforetheirseparation,madesomehastetotellhim;Iconfess,Carneades, that you have saidmore in favour of your Paradoxes then I expected. For thoughdiversoftheExperimentsyouhavemention’darenosecrets,andwerenotunknowntome,yetbesidesthatyouhaveaddedmanyofyourownuntothem,youhavelaidthemtogetherinsuchaway,andapply’dthemtosuchpurposes,andmadesuchDeductionsFromthem,asIhavenotHithertometwith.

But thoughIbe therefore inclin’d to think, thatPhiloponus,hadheheardyou,wouldscarcehavebeenableinallpointstodefendtheChymicalHypothesisagainsttheargumentswherewithyouhaveoppos’dit;yetmethinksthathoweveryourObjectionsseemtoevinceagreatpartofwhattheypretendto,yettheyevinceitnotall;andthenumeroustryalsofthoseyoucallthevulgarChymists,maybeallow’dtoprove

somethingtoo.

Wherefore,ifitbegrantedyouthatyouhavemadeitprobable,

First,thatthedifferingsubstancesintowhichmixtBodiesarewonttoberesolvedbytheFirearenotofapureandanElementarynature,especiallyforthisReason,thattheyyetretainsomuchofthenatureoftheConcretethataffordedthem,astoappeartobeyetsomewhatcompounded,andoftentimestodifferinoneConcretefromPrinciplesofthesamedenominationinanother:

Next, that as to the number of these differing substances, neither is it precisely three, because inmostVegetableandAnimalbodiesEarthandPhlegmearealsotobefoundamongtheirIngredients;noristhereany one determinate number into which the Fire (as it is wont to be employ’d) does precisely anduniversally resolve all compound Bodies whatsoever, as well Minerals as others that are reputedperfectlymixt.

Lastly,thattherearediversQualitieswhichcannotwellberefer’dtoanyoftheseSubstances,asiftheyprimarilyresidedinitandbelong’dtoit;andsomeotherqualities,whichthoughtheyseemtohavetheirchiefandmostordinaryresidenceinsomeoneofthesePrinciplesorElementsofmixtBodies,arenotyetsodeduciblefromit,butthatalsosomemoregeneralPrinciplesmustbetakenintoexplicatethem.

If,Isay,theChymists(continuesEleutherius)besoLiberallas tomakeyouthesethreeConcessions,Ihopeyouwill, onyourpart, be so civil andEquitable as togrant them these threeotherpropositions,namely;

First, thatdiversMineralBodies, and thereforeprobablyall the rest,maybe resolv’d intoaSaline, aSulphureous,andaMercurialpart;AndthatalmostallVegetableandAnimalConcretesmay,ifnotbytheFire alone, yet, by a skilfull Artist Employing the Fire as his chief Instrument, be divided into fivedifferingSubstances,Salt,Spirit,Oyle,PhlegmeandEarth;ofwhichthethreeformerbyreasonoftheirbeing so much more Operative than the Two Later, deserve to be Lookt upon as the Three activePrinciples,andbywayofEminencetobecall’dthethreeprinciplesofmixtbodies.

Next, that these Principles, Though they be not perfectly Devoid of all Mixture, yet may withoutinconveniencebe stil’d theElements ofCompoundedbodies, andbear theNamesof thoseSubstanceswhich theymostResemble, andwhich aremanifestlypredominant in them; and that especially for thisreason,thatnoneoftheseElementsisDivisiblebytheFireintoFourorFivedifferingsubstances,liketheConcretewhenceitwasseparated.

Lastly,ThatDiversoftheQualitiesofamixtBody,andespeciallytheMedicalVirtues,doforthemostpart lodge in some One or Other of its principles, andmay Therefore usefully be sought for in ThatPrinciplesever’dfromtheothers.

And in this also (pursuesEleutherius)methinks both you and theChymistsmay easily agree, that thesurestwayistoLearnbyparticularExperiments,whatdifferingpartsparticularBodiesdoconsistof,andbywhatwayes (eitherActual or potential fire) theymaybest andmostConvenientlybeSeparated, aswithout relying too much upon the Fire alone, for the resolving of Bodies, so without fruitlesslycontendingtoforcethemintomoreElementsthanNaturemadeThemupof,orstripthesever’dPrinciplessonaked,asbymakingThemExquisitelyElementarytomakethemalmostuseless,

Thesethings(subjoynesEleu.)Ipropose,withoutdespairingtoseethemgrantedbyyou;notonlybecauseIknowthatyousomuchpreferrtheReputationofCandorbeforethatofsubtility,thatyourhavingonce

T

suppos’datruthwouldnothinderyoufromimbracingitwhenclearlymadeouttoyou;butbecause,uponthepresentoccasion,itwillbenodisparagementtoyoutorecedefromsomeofyourParadoxes,sincethenatureandoccasionofyourpastDiscoursedidnotobligeyoutodeclareyourownopinions,butonlytopersonateanAntagonistoftheChymists.Sothat(concludeshe,withasmile)youmaynowbygrantingwhatIpropose,addtheReputationofLovingthetruthsincerelytothatofhavingbeenabletoopposeitsubtilly.

Carneades’shaste forbiddinghim toanswer thiscraftypieceof flattery;Till I shal (sayeshe)haveanopportunitytoacquaintyouwithmyownOpinionsaboutthecontroversiesIhavebeendiscoursingof,youwillnot,Ihope,expectIshoulddeclaremyownsenceoftheArgumentsIhaveemploy’d.WhereforeIshallonlytellyouthusmuchatpresent;thatthoughnotonlyanacuteNaturalist,butevenImyselfcouldtakeplausibleExceptionsatsomeofthem;yetdiversofthemtooaresuchaswillnotperhapsbereadilyanswer’d,andwillReducemyAdversaries,atleast,toalterandReformtheirHypothesis.IperceiveIneed not minde you that the Objections I made against the Quaternary of Elements and Ternary ofPrinciples needed not to be oppos’d so much against the Doctrines Themselves (either of which,especiallythelatter,maybemuchmoreprobablymaintain’dthanhithertoitseemstohavebeen,bythoseWritersforitIhavemetwith)asagainsttheunaccuratenessandtheunconcludingnessoftheAnalyticalExperimentsvulgarlyRelyedOntoDemonstratethem.

And therefore, if either of the two examin’d Opinions, or any other Theory of Elements, shall uponrationalandExperimentalgroundsbeclearlymadeouttome;’TisObliging,butnotirrational,inyoutoExpect,thatIshallnotbesofarrinLovewithmyDisquietingDoubts,asnottobecontenttochangethemforundoubtedtruths.And(concludesCarneadessmiling)itwerenogreatdisparagementforaScepticktoconfessetoyou,thatasunsatisfy’dasthepastdiscoursemayhavemadeyouthinkmewiththeDoctrinesofthePeripateticks,andtheChymists,abouttheElementsandPrinciples,Icanyetsolittlediscoverwhattoacquiescein,thatperchancetheEnquiriesofothershavescarcebeenmoreunsatisfactorytome,thanmyownhavebeentomyself.

F I N I S .

HeAuthorsconstantAbsencefromthePresse,whilsttheformerTreatisewasPrinting,andtheNatureoftheSubjectitself,wherewithordinaryComposersarenotwonttobeatallacquainted,will,’tis

hop’d, procure theReaders Excuse, till the next Edition, if theErrata be somewhat numerous, and ifamongthemtherewantnotsomegrossermistakes,whichyetarenottheonlyBlemishestheselinesmusttakenoticeofandacknowledg;FortheAuthornowperceivesthatthroughthefaultofthosetowhomhehad committed the former Treatise in loose Sheets, some Papers that belonged to it, have altogethermiscarryed.Andthoughithaveluckilyenoughhappen’d,forthemostpart,thattheOmissionofthemdoesnotmarr theCohærenceof therest;yet till thenextdesign’dEditionaffordanopportunityof insertingthem,itisthoughtfitthatthePrintergivenoticeofoneOmissionattheEndofthefirstDialogue;andthattotheseErratatherebeannex’dtheensuingsheetofPaper,thatwascasuallylost,orforgottenbyhimthatshouldhaveputit intothePresse;whereitoughttohavebeeninserted,inthe187.printedPage,at thebreak,betwixt thewords, [Nature] in the13th. line,and[But] in thenext lineafter.Though it is tobenotedhere,thatbythemistakeofthePrinter,insomeBooks,thenumberof187isplacedatthetopoftwosomewhatdistantpages;andinsuchcopiesthefollowingadditionoughttobeinsertedinthelatterofthetwo,asfolloweth.

AndonthisoccasionIcannotbuttakenotice,thatwhereasthegreatArgumentwhichtheChymistsarewonttoemploytovilifyEarthandWater,andmakethembelook’duponasuselessandunworthytobereckon’damongthePrinciplesofMixtBodies,is, that they are not endow’dwithSpecifickProperties, but onlywithElementaryqualities;ofwhichtheyusetospeakverysleightingly,asofqualitiescontemptibleandunactive: I seenosufficientReasonfor thisPracticeof theChymists:For ’tisconfess’d that Heat is an ElementaryQuality, and yet that an almost innumerablecompanyofconsiderableThingsareperform’dbyHeat,ismanifesttothemthatdulyconsider thevariousPhænomenawherein it intervenes as a principallActor; andnoneoughtlesstoignoreordistrustthisTruththenaChymist.SincealmostalltheoperationsandProductionsofhisArtareperformedchieflybythemeansofHeat.AndasforColditself,uponwhoseaccounttheysodespisetheEarthandWater,ifthey please to read in theVoyages of our English andDutchNavigators inNovaZembla and otherNorthern Regionswhat stupendious Thingsmay be effected byCold,theywouldnotperhapsthinkitsodespicable.AndnottorepeatwhatIlatelyrecitedtoYououtofParacelsushimself,whobythehelpofanintenseColdteachesto separate the Quintessence of Wine; I will only now observe to You, that theConservation of the Texture of many Bodies both animate and inanimate do’s somuchdependupontheconvenientmotionbothoftheirownFluidandLooserParts,andoftheambientBodies,whetherAir,Water,&c.thatnotonlyinhumaneBodiesweseethattheimmoderateorunseasonablecoldnessoftheAir(especiallywhenitfindssuchBodiesoverheated)do’svery frequentlydiscompose theOeconomie ofthem,andoccasionvarietyofDiseases;butinthesolidanddurableBodyofIronitself, inwhichonewouldnotexpect thatsuddainColdshouldproduceanynotablechange,itmayhavesogreatanoperation,thatifyoutakeaWire,orotherslenderpiece of steel, and having brought it in the fire to a white heat, You suffer itafterwardstocoolleasurelyintheAir,itwillwhenitiscoldbemuchofthesamehardnesseitwasofbefore:WhereasifassoonasYouremoveitfromthefire,youplungeitintocoldwater,itwilluponthesuddenRefrigerationacquireaverymuchgreater hardness then it had before;Nay, andwill becomemanifestly brittle.AndthatyoumaynotimputethistoanypeculiarQualityintheWater,orotherLiquor,orUnctuousmatter,wherein suchheated steel iswont to bequenched that itmaybetemper’d; I know a very skillful Tradesman, that divers times hardens steel bysuddenlycoolingitinaBodythatisneitheraliquor,norsomuchasmoist.AtryalofthatNatureIrememberIhaveseenmade.AndhoweverbytheoperationthatWaterhas upon steel quenched in it, whether upon the Account of its coldness andmoisture, or upon that of any other of its qualities, it appears, that water is notalwaies so inefficaciousandcontemptible aBody, asourChymistswouldhave itpassefor.AndwhatIhavesaidoftheEfficacyofColdandHeat,mightperhapsbeeasilyenoughcarried furtherbyotherconsiderationsandexperiments;were itnotthathavingbeenmention’donlyupontheBye,Imustnotinsistonit,butproceedtoanotherSubject.

PE R R A T A .

Ag.5.line.6.readsoqualify’d,15.19.Ratiocinations,25.15.fora,33.17.inaparenth.(thatisnomore),51.24.besidesanotherCaput,79.10.employ,86.13.structure,97.13.Sack,ibid.22.Sack,

104.29.insteadofappearit,will,leg.appear,itwill,118.20.leasure,ibid.principal,126.20.andtillitsuffer,129.3.leg.inparenth.(notwithstanding,&c.131.15.so,144.15.Συγχυσις,151.5.norhavebeenresolved,180.25.Magistram,185.15.lately,188.15.tunned,200.1.intolerable,ibid.2.in,209.21.tegularum,210.7.distill’dfrom,215.25.delethe,220.1.bodies,228.11.fugitive,231.17.insteadofalllegeapound,237.6.Chymist,248.18.Ashesoff,251.23.Deopilative),259.6.itself,269.10.ουσιααναλογος,ibid.αϛρωνϛοιχειω,276.25.makeaparenth.atthewords,bythe,andshutitafterthewordsinthe27.lineatall,280.11.Corals,288.6.ascribes,294.22.porosity,ibid.28.noted,296.1.Bodies, 305. 8. (attended, 307. 12. dele to, 308. 12. devisers, 312. 14. and, 313. 3. too, 314. 24.fugitivenesse,333.13.origine,ibid.24.contrivanceof,339.1.Nay,Barthias,142.3. in; Iwill,350.26.absurd,356.11.Goutieres,358.6.antea,360.1.compertissimum, ibid.18.Joachimica, ibid.19graminis,ibid.23.sua,362.6.Dutchaccount,363.2.diggers),ibid.11.and12.lin.readdampastheEnglishmenalsocallit,366.25.aheight,368.19.inuse,370.9.latter;And,ibid.24.Water; I,377.22.Rest, ibid.25.know),378.23.afterAggregateinsertorcomplex, ibid.27.dele ), ibid.28.dele ),379.4.beforeasbeginaparenth.whichendslin.9.atGold,ibid.insteadofWhich,putThis,ibid.12.withthewordTextureshouldbeconnectedthenextline,Though,andthiswordThough is tohaveputbefore it a parenthesis, which is to end at the wordFluid in the 16th. line, 383. 3.Regulus MartisStellatus,382.3.Relations,ibid.9.Chymist,386.29.confessebyteachingit,391.8.andyetmay,392.1.an,ibid.12.of,393.distinctTasts,397.13.Talck,398.18.Earth,399.18.parts,404.8.sal-petræ,419.20.afteritputinSal.

The Publisher doth advertise the Redaer, that seeing there are divers Experiments related in thisTreatise, which the Author is not unwilling to submit to the consideration also of ForraignPhilosophers,hebelievesthispiecewillbeverysoontranslatedintoLatin.

E N D .

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