The Sceptical Chymist

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST: OR CHYMICO-PHYSICAL Doubts & Paradoxes, Touching the SPAGYRIST'S PRINCIPLES Commonly call'd HYPOSTATICAL, As they are wont to be Propos'd and Defended by the Generality of ALCHYMISTS. Whereunto is praemis'd Part of another Diſcourſe relating to the ſame Subject. BY The Honourable ROBERT BOYLE, Eſq;

LONDON, Printed by J. Cadwell for J. Crooke, and are to be Sold at the Ship in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCLXI.

A PRAEFACE INTRODUCTORY To the following Treatiſe.

TO give the Reader an account, Why the following Treatiſe is ſuffer'd to paſs abroad ſo maim'd, and imperfect, I muſt inform him that 'tis now long ſince, that to gratify an ingenious Gentleman, I ſet down ſome of the Reaſons that kept me from fully acquieſcing either in the Peripatetical, or in the Chymical Doctrine, of the Material Principles of mixt Bodies. This Diſcourſe ſome years after falling into the hands of ſome Learned men, had the good luck to be ſo favourably receiv'd, and advantageouſly ſpoken of by them, that having had more then ordinary Invitations given me to make it publick, I thought fit to review it, that I might retrench ſome things that ſeem'd not ſo fit to be ſhewn to every Reader, And ſubſtitute ſome of thoſe other things that occurr'd to me of the tryals and obſervations I had ſince made. What became of my papers, I elſewhere mention in a Preface where I complain of it: But ſince I writ That, I found many ſheets that belong'd to the ſubjects I am now about to diſcourſe of. Wherefore ſeeing that I had then in my hands as much of the first Dialogue as was requiſite to state the Caſe, and ſerve for an Introduction as well to the conference betwixt Carneades and Eleutherius, as to ſome other Dialogues, which for certain reaſons are not now herewith publiſh'd, I reſolv'd to ſupply, as well as I could, the Contents of a Paper belonging to the ſecond of the following Diſcourſes, which I could not poſſibly retrive, though it were the chief of them all. And having once more try'd the Opinion of Friends, but not of the ſame, about this imperfect work, I found it ſuch, that I was content in complyance with their Deſires, that not only it ſhould be publiſh'd, but that it ſhould be publiſh'd as ſoon as conveniently might be. I had indeed all along the Dialogues ſpoken of my ſelf, as of a third Perſon; For, they containing Diſcourſes which were among the firſt Treatiſes that I ventur'd long ago to write of matters Philoſophical, I had reaſon to deſire, with the Painter, to latere pone tabulam, and hear what men would ſay of them, before I own'd my ſelf to be their Author. But beſides that now I find, 'tis not unknown to many who it is that writ them, I am made to believe that 'tis not inexpedient, they ſhould be known to come from a Perſon not altogether a ſtranger to Chymical Affairs. And I made the leſſe ſcruple to let them come abroad uncompleated, partly, becauſe my affairs and Prae-ingagements to publiſh divers other Treatiſes allow'd me ſmall hopes of being able in a great while to compleat theſe Dialogues. And partly, becauſe I am not unapt to think, that they may come abroad ſeaſonably enough, though not for the Authors reputation, yet for other purpoſes. For I obſerve, that of late Chymistry begins, as indeed it deſerves, to be cultivated by Learned Men who before deſpis'd it; and to be pretended to by many who never cultivated it, that they may be thought not to ignore it: Whence it is come to paſſe, that divers Chymical Notions about Matters Philoſophical are taken for granted and employ'd, and ſo adopted by very eminent Writers both Naturaliſts and Phyſitians. Now this I fear may prove ſomewhat prejudicial to the Advancement of ſolid Philoſophy: For though I am a great Lover of Chymical Experiments, and though I have no mean esteem of divers Chymical Remedies, yet I diſtinguiſh theſe from their Notions about the cauſes of things, and their manner of Generation. And for ought I can hitherto diſcern, there are a thouſand Phaenomena in Nature, beſides a Multitude of Accidents relating to the humane Body, which will ſcarcely be clearly & ſatisfactorily made out by them that confine themſelves to deduce things from Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, and the other Notions peculiar to the Chymists, without taking much more Notice than they are wont to do, of the Motions and Figures, of the ſmall Parts of Matter, and the other more Catholick and Fruitful affections of Bodies. Wherefore it will not perhaps be now unſeaſonable to let our Carneades warne Men, not to ſubſcribe to the grand Doctrine of the Chymiſts touching their three Hypoſtatical Principles, till they have a little examin'd it, and conſider'd, how they can clear it from his Objections, divers of which 'tis like they may never have thought on; ſince a Chymiſt ſcarce would, and none but a Chymiſt could propoſe them. I hope alſo it will not be unacceptable to ſeveral Ingenious Perſons, who are unwilling to determine of any important Controverſie, without a previous conſideration of what may be ſaid on both ſides, and yet have greater deſires to underſtand Chymical Matters, than Opportunities of learning them, to find here together, beſides ſeveral Experiments of my own purpoſely made to Illuſtrate the Doctrine of the Elements, divers others ſcarce to be met with, otherwiſe then Scatter'd among many Chymical Books. And to Find theſe Aſſociated Experiments ſo Deliver'd as that an Ordinary Reader, if he be but Acquainted with the uſuall Chymical Termes, may eaſily enough Understand Them; and even a wary One may ſafely rely on Them. Theſe Things I add, becauſe a Perſon any Thing vers'd in the Writings of Chymists cannot but Diſcern by their obſcure, ambiguous, and almost Aenigmatical Way of expreſſing what they pretend to Teach, that they have no Mind to be underſtood at all, but by the Sons of Art (as they call them) nor to be Underſtood even by theſe without Difficulty and Hazardous Tryalls. Inſomuch that ſome of Them Scarce ever ſpeak ſo candidly, as when they make uſe of that known Chymical Sentence; Ubi palam locuti ſumus, ibi nihil diximus. And as the obſcurity of what ſome Writers deliver makes it very difficult to be underſtood; ſo the Unfaithfulneſs of too many others makes it unfit to be reli'd on. For though unwillingly, Yet I must for the truths ſake, and the Readers, warne him not to be forward to believe Chymical Experiments when they are ſet down only by way of Preſcriptions, and not of Relations; that is, unleſs he that delivers them mentions his doing it upon his own particular knowledge, or upon the Relation of ſome credible perſon, avowing it upon his own experience. For I am troubled, I muſt complain, that even Eminent Writers, both Phyſitians and Philoſophers, whom I can eaſily name, if it be requir'd, have of late ſuffer'd themſelves to be ſo far impos'd upon, as to Publiſh and Build upon Chymical Experiments, which queſtionleſs they never try'd; for if they had, they would, as well as I, have found them not to be true. And indeed it were to be wiſh'd, that now that thoſe begin to quote Chymical Experiments that are not themſelves Acquainted with Chymical Operations, men would Leave off that Indefinite Way of Vouching the Chymists ſay this, or the Chymiſts affirme that, and would rather for each Experiment they alledge name the Author or Authors, upon whoſe credit they relate it; For, by this means they would ſecure themſelves from the ſuſpition of falſhood (to which the other Practice Expoſes them) and they would Leave the Reader to Judge of what is fit for him to Believe of what is Deliver'd, whilſt they employ not their own great names to Countenance doubtfull Relations; and they will alſo do Juſtice to the Inventors or Publiſhers of true Experiments, as well as upon the Obtruders of falſe ones. Whereas by that general Way of quoting the Chymiſts, the candid Writer is Defrauded of the particular Praiſe, and the Impoſtor eſcapes the Perſonal Diſgrace that is due to him.

The remaining Part of this Praeface muſt be imploy'd in ſaying ſomething for Carneades, and ſomething for my Self.

And firſt, Carneades hopes that he will be thought to have diſputed civilly and Modeſtly enough for one that was to play the Antagoniſt and the Sceptick. And if he any where ſeem to ſleight his Adverſaries Tenents and Arguments, he is willing to have it look'd upon as what he was induc'd to, not ſo much by his Opinion of them, as the Examples of Themiſtius and Philoponus, and the cuſtom of ſuch kind of Diſputes.

Next, In caſe that ſome of his Arguments ſhall not be thought of the moſt Cogent ſort that may be, he hopes it will be conſider'd that it ought not to be Expected, that they ſhould be So. For, his Part being chiefly but to propoſe Doubts and Scruples, he does enough, if he ſhews that his Adverſaries Arguments are not ſtrongly Concluding, though his own be not ſo neither. And if there ſhould appear any diſagreement betwixt the things he delivers in divers paſſages, he hopes it will be conſider'd, that it is not neceſſary that all the things a Sceptick Propoſes, ſhould be conſonant; ſince it being his work to Suggeſt doubts againſt the Opinion he queſtions, it is allowable for him to propoſe two or more ſeverall Hypotheſes about the ſame thing: And to ſay that it may be accounted for this way, or that way, or the other Way, though theſe wayes be perhaps inconſiſtent among Themſelves. Becauſe it is enough for him, if either of the propoſed Hypotheſes be but as probable as that he calls a queſtion. And if he propoſes many that are Each of them probable, he does the more ſatisfie his doubts, by making it appear the more difficult to be ſure, that that which they alwayes differ from is the true. And our Garneades by holding the Negative, he has this Advantage, that if among all the Instances he brings to invalidate all the Vulgar Doctrine of thoſe he Diſputes with, any one be Irrefragable, that alone is ſufficient to overthrow a Doctrine which Univerſally aſſerts what he oppoſes. For, it cannot be true, that all Bodies whatſoever that are reckon'd among the Perfectly mixt Ones, are Compounded of ſuch a Determinate Number of ſuch or ſuch Ingredients, in caſe any one ſuch Body can be produc'd, that is not ſo compounded; and he hopes too, that Accurateneſs will be the leſs expected from him, becauſe his undertaking obliges him to maintain ſuch Opinions in Chymiſtry, and that chiefly by Chymical Arguments, as are Contrary to the very Principles of the Chymiſts; From whoſe writings it is not Therefore like he ſhould receive any intentionall Aſſistance, except from ſome Paſſages of the Bold and Ingenious Helmont, with whom he yet diſagrees in many things (which reduce him to explicate Divers Chymical Phaenomena, according to other Notions;) And of whoſe Ratiocinations, not only ſome ſeem very Extravagant, but even the Rest are not wont to be as conſiderable as his Experiments. And though it be True indeed, that ſome Ariſtotelians have occaſionally written againſt the Chymical Doctrine he Oppugnes, yet ſince they have done it according to their Principles, And ſince our Carneades muſt as well oppoſe their Hypotheſis as that of the Spagyrist, he was fain to fight his Adverſaries with their own Weapons, Thoſe of the Peripatetick being Improper, if not hurtfull for a Perſon of his Tenents; beſides that thoſe Ariſtotelians, (at Leaſt, thoſe he met with,) that have written against the Chymiſts, ſeem to have had ſo little Experimental Knowledge in Chymical Matters, that by their frequent Miſtakes and unskilfull Way of Oppugning, they have too often expos'd Themſelves to the Deriſion of their Adverſaries, for writing ſo Confidently against what they appear ſo little to underſtand.

And Lastly, Carneades hopes, he ſhall doe the Ingenious this Piece of ſervice, that by having Thus drawn the Chymists Doctrine out of their Dark and Smoakie Laboratories, and both brought it into the open light, and ſhewn the weakneſs of their Proofs, that have hitherto been wont to be brought for it, either Judicious Men ſhall henceforth be allowed calmly and after due information to diſbelieve it, or thoſe abler Chymiſts, that are zealous for the reputation of it, will be oblig'd to ſpeak plainer then hitherto has been done, and maintain it by better Experiments and Arguments then Thoſe Carneades hath examin'd: ſo That he hopes, the Curious will one Way or other Derive either ſatisfaction or instruction from his endeavours. And as he is ready to make good the profeſſion he makes in the cloſe of his Diſcourſe, he being ready to be better inform'd, ſo he expects either to be indeed inform'd, or to be let alone. For Though if any Truly knowing Chymiſts ſhall Think fit in a civil and rational way to ſhew him any truth touching the matter in Diſpute That he yet diſcernes not, Carneades will not refuſe either to admit, or to own a Conviction: yet if any impertinent Perſon ſhall, either to get Himſelf a Name, or for what other end ſoever, wilfully or careleſly miſtake the State of the Controverſie, ^[1] or the ſence of his Arguments, or ſhall rail inſtead of arguing, as hath been done of Late in Print by divers Chymists; or laſtly, ſhall write against them in a canting way; I mean, ſhall expreſs himſelf in ambiguous or obſcure termes, or argue from experiments not intelligibly enough Deliver'd, Carneades profeſſes, That he values his time ſo much, as not to think the anſwering ſuch Trifles worth the loſs of it.

And now having ſaid thus much for Carneades, I hope the Reader will give me leave to ſay ſomething too for my ſelf.

And first, if ſome moroſe Readers ſhall find fault with my having made the Interlocutors upon occaſion complement with one another, and that I have almost all along written theſe Dialogues in a ſtile more Faſhionable then That of meer ſcholars is wont to be, I hope I ſhall be excus'd by them that ſhall conſider, that to keep a due decorum in the Diſcourſes, it was fit that in a book written by a Gentleman, and wherein only Gentlemen are introduc'd as ſpeakers, the Language ſhould be more ſmooth, and the Expreſſions more civil than is uſual in the more Scholastick way of writing. And indeed, I am not ſorry to have this Opportunity of giving an example how to manage even Diſputes with Civility; whence perhaps ſome Readers will be aſſiſted to diſcern a Difference betwixt Bluntneſs of ſpeech and Strength of reaſon, and find that a man may be a Champion for Truth, without being an Enemy to Civility; and may confute an Opinion without railing at Them that hold it; To whom he that deſires to convince and not to provoke them, muſt make ſome amends by his Civility to their Perſons, for his ſeverity to their miſtakes; and muſt ſay as little elſe as he can, to diſpleaſe them, when he ſays that they are in an error.

But perhaps other Readers will be leſs apt to find fault with the Civility of my Diſputants, than the Chymiſts will be, upon the reading of ſome Paſſages of the following Dialogue, to accuſe Carneades of Aſperity. But if I have made my Sceptick ſometimes ſpeak ſleightingly of the Opinions he oppoſes, I hope it will not be found that I have done any more, than became the Part he was to act of an Opponent: Eſpecially, if what I have made him ſay be compar'd with what the Prince of the Romane Orators himſelf makes both great Perſons and Friends ſay of one anothers Opinions, in his excellent Dialogues, De Natura Deorum: And I ſhall ſcarce be ſuſpected of Partiality, in the caſe, by them that take Notice that there is full as much (if not far more) liberty of ſleighting their Adverſaries Tenents to be met with in the Diſcourſes of thoſe with whom Carneades diſputes. Nor needed I make the Interlocutors ſpeak otherwiſe then freely in a Dialogue, wherein it was ſufficiently intimated, that I meant not to declare my own Opinion of the Arguments propos'd, much leſſe of the whole Controverſy it ſelf otherwiſe than as it may by an attentive Reader be gueſs'd at by ſome Paſſages of Carneades: (I ſay, ſome Paſſages, becauſe I make not all that he ſays, eſpecially in the heat of Diſputation, mine,) partly in this Diſcourſe, and partly in ſome other Dialogues betwixt the ſame ſpeakers (though they treat not immediately of the Elements) which have long layn by me, and expect the Entertainment that theſe preſent Diſcourſes will meet with. And indeed they will much miſtake me, that ſhall conclude from what I now publiſh, that I am at Defyance with Chymiſtry, or would make my Readers ſo. I hope the Specimina I have lately publiſh'd of an attempt to ſhew the uſefulneſs of Chymical Experiments to Contemplative Philoſophers, will give thoſe that ſhall read them other thoughts of me; & I had a deſign (but wanted opportunity) to publiſh with theſe Papers an Eſſay I have lying by me, the greater part of which is Apologetical for one ſort of Chymiſts. And at leaſt, as for thoſe that know me, I hope the pain I have taken in the fire will both convince them, that I am far from being an Enemy to the Chymiſts Art, (though I am no friend to many that diſgrace it by profeſſing it,) and perſwade them to believe me when I declare that I diſtinguiſh betwixt thoſe Chymiſts that are either Cheats, or but Laborants, and the true Adepti; By whom, could I enjoy their Converſation, I would both willingly and thankfully be inſtructed; eſpecially concerning the Nature and Generation of Metals: And poſſibly, thoſe that know how little I have remitted of my former addictedneſs to make Chymical Experiments, will eaſily believe, that one of the chief Deſignes of this Sceptical Diſcourſe was, not ſo much to diſcredit Chymiſtry, as to give an occaſion and a kind of neceſſity to the more knowing Artiſts to lay aſide a little of their overgreat Reſervedneſs, & either explicate or prove the Chymical Theory better than ordinary Chymiſts have done, or by enriching us with ſome of their nobler ſecrets to evince that Their art is able to make amends even for the deficiencies of their Theory: And thus much I ſhall here make bold to add, that we ſhall much undervalue Chymiſtry, if we imagine, that it cannot teach us things farr more uſeful, not only to Phyſick but to Philoſophy, than thoſe that are hitherto known to vulgar Chymiſts. And yet as for inferiour Spagyriſts themſelves, they have by their labours deſerv'd ſo well of the Common-wealth of Learning, that methinks 'tis Pity they ſhould ever miſſe the Truth which they have ſo induſtriouſly ſought. And though I be no Admirer of the Theorical Part of their Art, yet my conjectures will much deceive me, if the Practical Part be not much more cultivated than hitherto it has been, and do not both employ Philoſophy and Philoſophers, and help to make men ſuch. Nor would I that have been diverted by other Studies as well as affairs, be thought to pretend being a profound Spagyrist, by finding ſo many faults in the Doctrine wherein the Generality of Chymiſts ſcruples not to Acquieſce: For beſides that 'tis moſt commonly far eaſier to frame Objections against any propos'd Hypotheſis, than to propoſe an Hypotheſis not lyable to Objections (beſides this I ſay) 'tis no ſuch great matter, if whereas Beginners in Chymiſtry are commonly at once imbu'd with the Theory and Operations of their profeſſion, I who had the good Fortune to Learn the Operations from illiterate Perſons, upon whoſe credit I was not Tempted to take up any opinion about them, ſhould conſider things with leſſe prejudice, and conſequently with other Eyes than the Generality of Learners; And ſhould be more diſpos'd to accommodate the Phaenomena that occur'd to me to other Notions than to thoſe of the Spagyriſts. And having at first entertain'd a ſuſpition That the Vulgar Principles were leſſe General and comprehenſive, or leſſe conſiderately Deduc'd from Chymical Operations, than was believ'd; it was not uneaſie for me both to Take notice of divers Phaenomena, overlook'd by prepoſſest Perſons, that ſeem'd not to ſuite ſo well with the Hermetical Doctrine; and to deviſe ſome Experiments likely to furniſh me with Objections against it, not known to many, that having practis'd Chymiſtry longer perchance then I have yet liv'd, may have far more Experience, Than I, of particular proceſſes.

To conclude, whether the Notions I have propos'd, and the Experiments I have communicated, be conſiderable, or not, I willingly leave others to Judge; and This only I ſhall ſay for my Self, That I have endeavour'd to deliver matters of Fact, ſo faithfully, that I may as well aſſiſt the leſſe skilful Readers to examine the Chymical Hypotheſis, as provoke the Spagyrical Philoſophers to illuſtrate it: which if they do, and that either the Chymical opinion, or the Peripatetick, or any other Theory of the Elements differing from that I am moſt inclin'd to, ſhall be intelligibly explicated, and duly prov'd to me; what I have hitherto diſcours'd will not hinder it from making a Proſelyte of a Perſon that Loves Fluctuation of Judgment little enough to be willing to be eas'd of it by any thing but Error.

PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS Touching The experiments wont to be employed to evince either the IV Peripatetick Elements, or the III Chymical Principles of Mixt Bodies.

Part of the Firſt Dialogue.

I Perceive that divers of my Friends have thought it very ſtrange to hear me ſpeak ſo irreſolvedly, as I have been wont to do, concerning thoſe things which ſome take to be the Elements, and others to be the Principles of all mixt Bodies. But I bluſh not to acknowledge that I much leſſe ſcruple to confeſs that I Doubt, when I do ſo, then to profeſs that I Know what I do not: And I ſhould have much ſtronger Expectations then I dare 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 explicate clearly the things they conceive they underſtand, acknowledge ingenuouſly what it is they ignore, and profeſs ſo candidly their Doubts, that the induſtry of intelligent perſons might be ſet on work to make further enquiries, and the eaſineſs of leſs diſcerning Men might not be impos'd on. But becauſe a more particular accompt will probably be expected of my unſatisfyedneſs not only with the Peripatetick, but with the Chymical Doctrine of the Primitive Ingredients of Bodies: It may poſſibly ſerve to ſatisfy others of the excuſableneſs of my diſatisfaction to peruſe the enſuing Relation of what paſſed a while ſince at a meeting of perſons of ſeveral opinions, in a place that need not here be named; where the ſubject whereof we have been ſpeaking, was amply and variouſly diſcours'd of.

It was on one of the faireſt dayes of this Summer that the inquiſitive Eleutherius came to invite me to make a viſit with him to his friend Carneades. I readily conſented to this motion, telling him that if he would but permit me to go firſt and make an excuſe at a place not far off, where I had at that hour appointed to meet, but not about a buſineſs either of moment, or that could not well admit of a delay, I would preſently wait on him, becauſe of my knowing Carneades to be ſo converſant with nature and with Furnaces, and ſo unconfin'd to vulgar Opinions, that he would probably by ſome ingenious Paradox or other, give our mindes at leaſt a pleaſing Exerciſe, and perhaps enrich them with ſome ſolid inſtruction. Eleutherius then firſt going with me to the place where my Apology was to be made, I accompanied him to the lodging of Carneades, where when we were come, we were told by the Servants, that he was retired with a couple of Friends (whoſe names they alſo told us) to one of the Arbours in his Garden, to enjoy under its coole ſhades a delightful protection from the yet troubleſome heat of the Sun.

Eleutherius being perfectly acquainted with that Garden immediately led me to the Arbour, and relying on the intimate familiarity that had been long cheriſh'd betwixt him and Carneades; in ſpight of my Reluctancy to what might look like an intruſion upon his privacy, drawing me by the hand, he abruptly entered the Arbour, where we found Carneades, Philoponus, and Themiſtius, ſitting cloſe about a little round Table, on which beſides paper, pen, and inke, there lay two or three open Books; Carneades appeared not at all troubled at this ſurpriſe, but riſing from the Table, received his Friend with open looks and armes, and welcoming me alſo with his wonted freedom and civility, invited us to reſt our ſelves by him, which, as ſoon as we had exchanged with his two Friends (who were ours alſo) the civilities accuſtomed on ſuch occaſions, we did. And he preſently after we had ſeated our ſelves, ſhutting the Books that lay open, and turning to us with a ſmiling countenance ſeemed ready to begin ſome ſuch unconcerning diſcourſe as is wont to paſs or rather waſte the time in promiſcuous companies.

But Eleutherius gueſſing at what he meant to do, prevented him by telling him, I perceive Carneades by the 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 our coming, engag'd in ſome Philoſophical conference, which I hope you will either proſecute, and allow us to be partakers of, in recompence of the freedome we have us'd in preſuming to ſurpriſe you, or elſe give us leave to repair the injury we ſhould otherwiſe do you, by leaving you to the freedom we have interrupted, and puniſhing our ſelves for our boldneſs by depriving our ſelves of the happineſs of your company. With theſe laſt words he and I roſe up, as if we meant to be gone, But Carneades ſuddenly laying hold on his arme, and ſtopping him by it, ſmileingly told him, We are not ſo forward to loſe good company as you ſeem to imagine; eſpecially ſince you are pleas'd to deſire to be preſent at what we ſhall ſay, about ſuch a Subject as that You found us conſidering. For that, being the number of the Elements, Principles, or Materiall Ingredients of Bodies, is an enquiry whoſe truth is of that Importance, and of that Difficulty, that it may as well deſerve as require to be ſearched into by ſuch skilfull Indagators of Nature as your ſelves. And therefore we ſent to invite the bold and acute Leucippus to lend us ſome light by his Atomical Paradox, upon which we expected ſuch pregnant hints, that 'twas not without a great deal of trouble that we had lately word brought us that he was not to be found; and we had likewiſe begg'd the Aſſiſtance of your preſence and thoughts, had not the meſſenger we employ'd to Leucippus inform'd us, that as he was going, he ſaw you both paſs by towards another part of the Town; And this fruſtrated expectation of Leucippus his company, who told me but laſt night that he would be ready to give me a meeting where I pleas'd to day, having very long ſuſpended our conference about the freſhly mention'd Subject, it was ſo newly begun when you came in, that we ſhall ſcarce need to repeat any thing to acquaint you with what has paſs'd betwixt us before your arrival, ſo that I cannot but look upon it as a fortunate Accident that you ſhould come ſo ſeaſonably, to be not hearers alone, but we hope Interlocutors at our conference. For we ſhall not only allow of your preſence at it, but deſire your Aſſiſtance in it; which I adde both for other reaſons, and becauſe though theſe learned Gentlemen (ſayes he, turning to his two friends) need not fear to diſcourſe before any Auditory, provided it be intelligent enough to underſtand them, yet for my part (continues he with a new ſmile,) I ſhall not dare to vent my unpremeditated thoughts before two ſuch Criticks, unleſs by promiſing to take your turnes of ſpeaking, You will allow me mine of quarrelling, with what has been ſaid. He and his friends added divers things to convince us that they were both deſirous that we ſhould hear them, and reſolved againſt our doing ſo, unleſs we allowed them ſometimes to hear us. Elutherius after having a while fruitleſly endeavoured to obtain leave to be ſilent promis'd he would not be ſo alwayes, provided that he were permitted according to the freedom of his Genious and Principles to ſide with one of them in the managing of one Argument, and, if he ſaw cauſe, with his Antagoniſt, in the Proſecution of another, without being confin'd to ſtick to any one party or Opinion, which was after ſome debate accorded him. But I conſcious to my own Diſability's told them reſolutely that I was as much more willing as more fit to be a hearer then a ſpeaker, among ſuch knowing Perſons, and on ſo abſtruſe a Subject. And that therefore I beſeeched them without neceſſitating me to proclaim my weakneſſes, to allow me to leſſen them by being a ſilent Auditor of their Diſcourſes: to ſuffer me to be at which I could preſent them no motive, ſave that their inſtructions would make them in me a more intelligent Admirer. I added, that I deſir'd not to be idle whilſt they were imploy'd, but would if they pleas'd, by writing down in ſhort hand what ſhould be delivered, preſerve Diſcourſes that I knew would merit to be laſting. At firſt Carneades and his two friends utterly rejected this motion; and all that my Reſoluteneſs to make uſe of my ears, not tongue, at their debates, could do, was to make them acquieſce in the Propoſition of Eleutherius, who thinking himſelf concern'd, becauſe he brought me thither, to afford me ſome faint aſſiſtance, was content that I ſhould regiſter their Arguments, that I might be the better able after the concluſion of their conference to give them my ſence upon the Subject of it, (The number of Elements or Principles:) which he promis'd I ſhould do at the end of the preſent Debates, if time would permit, or elſe at our next meeting. And this being by him undertaken in my name, though without my conſent, the company would by no means receive my Proteſtation againſt it, but caſting, all at once, their eyes on Carneades, they did by that and their unanimous ſilence, invite him to begin; which (after a ſhort pauſe, during which he turn'd himſelf to Eleutherius and me) he did in this manner.

Notwithſtanding the ſubtile reaſonings I have met with in the books of the Peripateticks, and the pretty experiments that have been ſhew'd me in the Laboratories of Chymiſts, I am of ſo diffident, or dull a Nature, as to think that if neither of them can bring more cogent arguments to evince the truth of their aſſertion then are wont to be brought; a Man may rationally enough retain ſome doubts concerning the very number of thoſe materiall Ingredients of mixt bodies, which ſome would have us call Elements, and others principles. Indeed when I conſidered that the Tenents concerning the Elements are as conſiderable amongſt the Doctrines of natural Philoſophy as the Elements themſelves are among the bodies of the Univerſe, I expected to find thoſe Opinions ſolidly eſtabliſh'd, upon which ſo many others are ſuperſtructed. But when I took the pains impartially to examine the bodies themſelves that are ſaid to reſult from the blended Elements, and to torture them into a confeſſion of their conſtituent Principles, I was quickly induc'd to think that the number of the Elements has been contended about by Philoſophers with more earneſtneſs then ſucceſs. This unſatisfiedneſs of mine has been much wonder'd at, by theſe two Gentlemen (at which words he pointed at Themiſtius and Philoponus) who though they differ almoſt as much betwixt themſelves about the queſtion we are to conſider, as I do from either of them, yet they both agree very well in this, that there is a determinate number of ſuch ingredients as I was juſt now ſpeaking of, and that what that number is, I ſay not, may be (for what may not ſuch as they perſwade?) but is wont to be clearly enough demonſtrated both by Reaſon and Experience. This has occaſion'd our preſent Conference. For our Diſcourſe this afternoon, having fallen from one ſubject to another, and at length ſetl'd on this, they proffer'd to demonſtrate to me, each of them the truth of his opinion, out of both the Topicks that I have freſhly nam'd. But on the former (that of Reaſon ſtrictly ſo taken) we declin'd inſiſting at the preſent, leſt we ſhould not have time enough before ſupper to go thorough the Reaſons and Experiments too. The latter of which we unanimouſly thought the moſt requiſite to be ſeriouſly examin'd. I muſt deſire you then to take notice Gentlemen (continued Carneades) that my preſent buſineſs doth not oblige me ſo to declare my own opinion on the Subject in queſtion, as to aſſert or deny the truth either of the Peripatetick, or the Chymical Doctrine concerning the number of the Elements, but only to ſhew you that neither of theſe Doctrines hath been ſatisfactorily proved by the arguments commonly alledged on its behalfe. So that if I really diſcern (as perhaps I think I do) that there may be a more rational account then ordinary, given of one of theſe opinions, I am left free to declare my ſelf of it, notwithſtanding my preſent engagement, it being obvious to all your obſervation, that a ſolid truth may be generally maintained by no other, then incompetent Arguments. And to this Declaration I hope it will be needleſs to add, that my task obliges me not to anſwer the Arguments that may be drawn either for Themiſtius or Philoponus's Opinion from the Topick of reaſon, as oppoſed to experiments; ſince 'tis theſe only that I am to examine and not all theſe neither, but ſuch of them alone as either of them ſhall think fit to inſiſt on, and as have hitherto been wont to be brought either to prove that 'tis the four Peripatetick Elements, or that 'tis the three Chymical Principles that all compounded bodies conſiſt of. Theſe things (adds Carneades) I thought my ſelf obliged to premiſe, partly leſt you ſhould do theſe Gentlemen (pointing at Themistius and Philoponus, and ſmiling on them) the injury of meaſuring their parts by the arguments they are ready to propoſe, the lawes of our Conference confining them to make uſe of thoſe that the vulgar of Philoſophers (for even of them there is a vulgar) has drawn up to their hands; and partly, that you ſhould not condemn me of preſumption for diſputing againſt perſons over whom I can hope for no advantage, that I muſt not derive from the nature, or rules of our controverſy, wherein I have but a negative to defend, and wherein too I am like on ſeveral occaſions to have the Aſſiſtance of one of my diſagreeing adverſaries againſt the other.

Philoponus and Themiſtius ſoon returned this complement with civilities of the like nature, in which Eleutherius perceiving them engaged, to prevent the further loſs of that time of which they were not like to have very much to ſpare, he minded them that their preſent buſineſſe was not to exchange complements, but Arguments: and then addreſſing his ſpeech to Carneades, I eſteem it no ſmall happineſſe (ſaies he) that I am come here ſo luckily this Evening. For I have been long disquieted with Doubts concerning this very ſubject which you are now ready to debate. And ſince a Queſtion of this importance is to be now diſcuſſed by perſons that maintain ſuch variety of opinions concerning it, and are both ſo able to enquire after truth, and ſo ready to embrace it by whomſoever and on what occaſion ſoever it is preſented them; I cannot but promiſe my ſelf that I ſhall before we part either loſe my Doubts or 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 this occaſion to inſiſt rather on Experiments then Syllogiſmes. For I, and no doubt You, have long obſerved, that thoſe Dialectical ſubtleties, that the Schoolmen too often employ about Phyſiological Myſteries, are wont much more to declare the wit of him that uſes them, then increaſe the knowledge or remove the doubts of ſober lovers of truth. And ſuch captious ſubtleties do indeed often puzzle and ſometimes ſilence men, but rarely ſatisfy them. Being like the tricks of Jugglers, whereby men doubt not but they are cheated, though oftentimes they cannot declare by what ſlights they are impoſed on. And therefore I think you have done very wiſely to make it your buſineſſe to conſider the Phaenomena relating to the preſent Queſtion, which have been afforded by experiments, eſpecially ſince it might ſeem injurious to our ſenſes, by whoſe mediation we acquire ſo much of the knowledge we have of things corporal, to have recourſe to far-fetched and abſtracted Ratiocination, to know what are the ſenſible ingredients of thoſe ſenſible things that we daily ſee and handle, and are ſuppoſed to have the liberty to untwiſt (if I may ſo ſpeak) into the primitive bodies they conſiſt of. He annexed that he wiſhed therefore they would no longer delay his expected ſatisfaction, if they had not, as he feared they had, forgotten ſomething preparatory to their debate; and that was to lay down what ſhould be all along underſtood by the word Principle or Element. Carneades thank'd him for his admonition, but told him that they had not been unmindful of ſo requiſite a thing. But that being Gentlemen and very far from the litigious humour of loving to wrangle about words or terms or notions as empty; they had before his coming in, readily agreed promiſcuouſly to uſe when they pleaſed, Elements and Principles as terms equivalent: and to underſtand both by the one and the other, thoſe primitive and ſimple Bodies of which the mixt ones are ſaid to be compoſed, and into which they are ultimately reſolved. And upon the ſame account (he added) we agreed to diſcourſe of the opinions to be debated, as we have found them maintained by the Generality of the aſſertors of the four Elements of the one party, and of thoſe that receive the three Principles on the other, without tying our ſelves to enquire ſcrupulouſly what notion either Aristotle or Paracelſus, or this or that Interpreter, or follower of either of thoſe great perſons, framed of Elements or Principles; our deſign being to examine, not what theſe or thoſe writers thought or taught, but what we find to be the obvious and moſt general opinion of thoſe, who are willing to be accounted Favourers of the Peripatetick or Chymical Doctrine, concerning this ſubject.

I ſee not (ſaies Eleutherius) why you might not immediately begin to argue, if you were but agreed which of your two friendly Adverſaries ſhall be firſt heard. And it being quickly reſolv'd on that Themistius ſhould firſt propoſe the Proofs for his Opinion, becauſe it was the antienter, and the more general, he made not the company expect long before he thus addreſſed himſelf to Eleutherius, as to the Perſon leaſt intereſſed in the diſpute.

If you have taken ſufficient notice of the late Confeſſion which was made by Carneades, and which (though his Civility dreſſed it up in complementall Expreſſions) was exacted of him by his Juſtice, I ſuppoſe You will be eaſily made ſenſible, that I engage in this Controverſie with great and peculiar Diſadvantages, beſides thoſe which his Parts and my Perſonal Diſabilities would bring to any other cauſe to be maintained by me againſt him. For he juſtly apprehending the force of truth, though ſpeaking by no better a tongue then mine, has made it the chief condition of our Duell, that I ſhould lay aſide the beſt Weapons I have, and thoſe I can beſt handle; Whereas if I were allowed the freedom, in pleading for the four Elements, to employ the Arguments ſuggeſted to me by Reaſon to demonſtrare them, I ſhould almoſt as little doubt of making You a Proſelyte to thoſe unſever'd Teachers, Truth and Ariſtotle, as I do of your Candour and your Judgment. And I hope you will however conſider, that that great Favorite and Interpreter of Nature, Aristotle, who was (as his Organum witneſſes) the greateſt Maſter of Logick that ever liv'd, diſclaim'd the courſe taken by other petty Philoſophers (Antient and Modern) who not attending the Coherence and Conſequences of their Opinions, are more ſollicitous to make each particular Opinion plauſible independently upon the the reſt, then to frame them all ſo, as not only to be conſiſtent together, but to ſupport each other. For that great Man in his vaſt and comprehenſive Intellect, ſo fram'd each of his Notions, that being curiouſly adapted into one Syſteme, they need not each of them any other defence then that which their mutuall Coherence gives them: As 'tis in an Arch, where each ſingle ſtone, which if ſever'd from the reſt would be perhaps defenceleſs, is ſufficiently ſecur'd by the ſolidity and entireneſs of the whole Fabrick of which it is a part. How juſtly this may be apply'd to the preſent caſe, I could eaſily ſhew You, if I were permitted to declare to You, how harmonious Ariſtotles Doctrine of the Elements is with his other Principles of Philoſophy; and how rationally he has deduc'd their number from that of the combinations of the four firſt Qualities from the kinds of ſimple Motion belonging to ſimple bodies, and from I know not how many other Principles and Phaenomena of Nature, which ſo conſpire with his Doctrine of the Elements, that they mutually ſtrengthen and ſupport each other. But ſince 'tis forbidden me to inſiſt on Reflections of this kind, I muſt proceed to tell You, that though the Aſſertors of the four Elements value Reaſon ſo highly, and are furniſh'd with Arguments enough drawn from thence, to be ſatisfi'd that there muſt be four Elements, though no Man had ever yet made any ſenſible tryal to diſcover their Number, yet they are not deſtitute of Experience to ſatisfie others that are wont to be more ſway'd by their ſenſes then their Reaſon. And I ſhall proceed to conſider the teſtimony of Experience, when I ſhall have firſt advertis'd You, that if Men were as perfectly rational as 'tis to be wiſh'd they were, this ſenſible way of Probation would be as needleſs as 'tis wont to be imperfect. For it is much more high and Philoſophical to diſcover things a priore, then a posteriore. And therefore the Peripateticks have not been very ſollicitous to gather Experiments to prove their Doctrines, contenting themſelves with a few only, to ſatisfie thoſe that are not capable of a Nobler Conviction. And indeed they employ Experiments rather to illuſtrate then to demonſtrate their Doctrines, as Aſtronomers uſe Sphaeres of paſtboard, to deſcend to the capacities of ſuch as muſt be taught by their ſenſes, for want of being arriv'd to a clear apprehenſion of purely Mathematical Notions and Truths. I ſpeak thus Eleutherius (adds Themistius) only to do right to Reaſon, and not out of Diffidence of the Experimental proof I am to alledge. For though I ſhall name but one, yet it is ſuch a one as will make all other appear as needleſs as it ſelf will be found Satisfactory. For if You but conſider a piece of green-Wood burning in a Chimney, You will readily diſcern in the disbanded parts of it the four Elements, of which we teach It and other mixt bodies to be compos'd. The fire diſcovers it ſelf in the flame by its own light; the ſmoke by aſcending to the top of the chimney, and there readily vaniſhing into air, like a River loſing it ſelf in the Sea, ſufficiently manifeſts to what Element it belongs and gladly returnes. The water in its own form boyling and hiſſing at the ends of the burning Wood betrayes it ſelf to more then one of our ſenſes; and the aſhes by their weight, their firineſs, and their dryneſs, put it paſt doubt that they belong to the Element of Earth. If I ſpoke (continues Themiſtius) to leſs knowing Perſons, I would perhaps make ſome Excuſe for building upon ſuch an obvious and eaſie Analyſis, but 'twould be, I fear, injurious, not to think ſuch an Apology needleſs to You, who are too judicious either to think it neceſſary that Experiments to prove obvious truths ſhould be farr fetch'd, or to wonder that among ſo many mixt Bodies that are compounded of the four Elements, ſome of them ſhould upon a ſlight Analyſis manifeſtly exhibite the Ingredients they conſiſt of. Eſpecially ſince it is very agreeable to the Goodneſs of Nature, to diſcloſe, even in ſome of the moſt obvious Experiments that Men make, a Truth ſo important, and ſo requiſite to be taken notice of by them. Beſides that our Analyſis by how much the more obvious we make it, by ſo much the more ſuittable it will be to the Nature of that Doctrine which 'tis alledged to prove, which being as clear and intelligible to the Underſtanding as obvious to the ſenſe, tis no marvail the learned part of Mankind ſhould ſo long and ſo generally imbrace it. For this Doctrine is very different from the whimſeys of Chymiſts and other Modern Innovators, of whoſe Hypotheſes we may obſerve, as Naturaliſts do of leſs perfect Animals, that as they are haſtily form'd, ſo they are commonly ſhort liv'd. For ſo theſe, as they are often fram'd in one week, are perhaps thought fit to be laughed at the next; and being built perchance but upon two or three Experiments are deſtroyed by a third or fourth, whereas the doctrine of the four Elements was fram'd by Aristotle after he had leaſurely conſidered thoſe Theories of former Philoſophers, which are now with great applauſe revived, as diſcovered by theſe latter ages; And had ſo judiciouſly detected and ſupplyed the Errors and defects of former Hypotheſes concerning the Elements, that his Doctrine of them has been ever ſince deſervedly embraced by the letter'd part of Mankind: All the Philoſophers that preceded him having in their ſeveral ages contributed to the compleatneſs of this Doctrine, as thoſe of ſucceeding times have acquieſc'd in it. Nor has an Hypotheſis ſo deliberately and maturely eſtabliſhed been called in Queſtion till in the laſt Century Paracelfus and ſome few other ſooty Empiricks, rather then (as they are fain to call themſelves) Philoſophers, having their eyes darken'd, and their Brains troubl'd with the ſmoke of their own Furnaces, began to rail at the Peripatetick Doctrine, which they were too illiterate to underſtand, and to tell the credulous World, that they could ſee but three Ingredients in mixt Bodies; which to gain themſelves the repute of Inventors, they endeavoured to diſguiſe by calling them, inſtead of Earth, and Fire, and Vapour, Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury; to which they gave the canting title of Hypoſtatical Principles: but when they came to deſcribe them, they ſhewed how little they underſtood what they meant by them, by diſagreeing as much from one another, as from the truth they agreed in oppoſing: For they deliver their Hypotheſes as darkly as their Proceſſes; and 'tis almoſt as impoſſible for any ſober Man to find their meaning, as 'tis for them to find their Elixir. And indeed nothing has ſpread their Philoſophy, but their great Brags and undertakings; notwithſtanding all which, (ſayes Themiſtius ſmiling) I ſcarce know any thing they have performed worth wondering at, ſave that they have been able to draw Philoponus to their Party, and to engage him to the Defence of an unintelligible Hypotheſis, who knowes ſo well as he does, that Principles ought to be like Diamonds, as well very clear, as perfectly ſolid.

Themistius having after theſe laſt words declared by his ſilence, that he had finiſhed his Diſcourſe, Carneades addreſſing himſelf, as his Adverſary had done, to Eleutherius, returned this Anſwer to it. I hop'd for Demonſtration, but I perceive Themistius hopes to put me off with a Harangue, wherein he cannot have given me a greater Opinion of his Parts, then he has given me Diſtruſt for his Hypotheſis, ſince for it even a Man of ſuch Learning can bring no better Arguments. The Rhetorical part of his Diſcourſe, though it make not the leaſt part of it, I ſhall ſay nothing to, deſigning to examine only the Argumentative part, and leaving it to Philoponus to anſwer thoſe paſſages wherein either Paracelſus or Chymists are concern'd: I ſhall obſerve to You, that in what he has ſaid beſides, he makes it his Buſineſs to do theſe two things. The one to propoſe and make out an Experiment to demonſtrate the common Opinion about the four Elements; And the other, to inſinuate divers things which he thinks may repair the weakneſs of his Argument, from Experience, and upon other Accounts bring ſome credit to the otherwiſe defenceleſs Doctrine he maintains.

To begin then with his Experiment of the burning Wood, it ſeems to me to be obnoxious to not a few conſiderable Exceptions.

And firſt, if I would now deal rigidly with my Adverſary, I might here make a great Queſtion of the very way of Probation which he and others employ, without the leaſt ſcruple, to evince, that the Bodies commonly call'd mixt, are made up of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, which they are pleas'd alſo to call Elements; namely that upon the ſuppos'd Analyſis made by the fire, of the former ſort of Concretes, there are wont to emerge Bodies reſembling thoſe which they take for the Elements. For not to Anticipate here what I foreſee I ſhall have occaſion to inſiſt on, when I come to diſcourſe with Philoponus concerning the right that fire has to paſs for the proper and Univerſal Inſtrument of Analyſing mixt Bodies, not to Anticipate that, I ſay, if I were diſpos'd to wrangle, I might alledge, that by Themiſtius his Experiment it would appear rather that thoſe he calls Elements, are made of thoſe he calls mixt Bodies, then mix'd Bodies of the Elements. For in Themistius's Analyz'd Wood, and in other Bodies diſſipated and alter'd by the fire, it appears, and he confeſſes, that which he takes for Elementary Fire and Water, are made out of the Concrete; but it appears not that the Concrete was made up of Fire and Water. Nor has either He, or any Man, for ought I know, of his perſwaſion, yet prov'd that nothing can be obtained from a Body by the fire that was not Pre-exiſtent in it.

At this unexpected objection, not only Themiſtius, but the reſt of the company appear'd not a little ſurpriz'd; but after a while Philoponus conceiving his opinion, as well as that of Ariſtotle, concern'd in that Objection, You cannot ſure (ſayes he to Carneades) propoſe this Difficulty, not to call it Cavill, otherwiſe then as an Exerciſe of wit, and not as laying any weight upon it. For how can that be ſeparated from a thing that was not exiſtent in it. When, for inſtance, a Refiner mingles Gold and Lead, and expoſing this Mixture upon a Cuppell to the violence of the fire, thereby ſeparates it into pure and reſulgent Gold and Lead (which driven off together with the Droſs of the Gold is thence call'd Lithargyrium Auri) can any man doubt that ſees theſe two ſo differing ſubſtances ſeparated from the Maſs, that they were exiſtent in it before it was committed to the fire.

I ſhould (replies Carneades) allow your Argument to prove ſomething, if, as Men ſee the Refiners commonly take before hand both Lead and Gold to make the Maſs you ſpeak of, ſo we did ſee Nature pull down a parcell of the Element of Fire, that is fancy'd to be plac'd I know not how many thouſand Leagues off, contiguous to the Orb of the Moon, and to blend it with a quantity of each of the three other Elements, to compoſe every mixt Body, upon whoſe Reſolution the Fire preſents us with Fire, and Earth, and the reſt. And let me add, Philoponus, that to make your Reaſoning cogent, it muſt be firſt prov'd, that the fire do's only take the Elementary Ingredients aſunder, without otherwiſe altering them. For elſe 'tis obvious, that Bodies may afford ſubſtances which were not pre-exiſtent in them; as Fleſh too long kept produces Magots, and old Cheeſe Mites, which I ſuppoſe you will not affirm to be Ingredients of thoſe Bodies. Now that fire do's not alwayes barely ſeparate the Elementary parts, but ſometimes at leaſt alter alſo the Ingredients of Bodies, if I did not expect ere long a better occaſion to prove it, I might make probable out of your very Inſtance, wherein there is nothing Elementary ſeparated by the great violence of the Refiners fire: the Gold and Lead which are the two Ingredients ſeparated upon the Analyſis being confeſſedly yet perfectly mixt Bodies, and the Litharge being Lead indeed; but ſuch Lead as is differing in conſiſtence and other Qualities from what it was before. To which I muſt add that I have ſometimes ſeen, and ſo queſtionleſſe have you much oftener, ſome parcells of Glaſſe adhering to the Teſt or Cuppel, and this Glaſs though Emergent as well as the Gold or Litharge upon your Analyſis, you will not I hope allow to have been a third Ingredient of the Maſs out of which the fire produc'd it.

Both Philoponus and Themiſtius were about to reply, when Eleutherius apprehending that the Proſecution of this Diſpute would take up time, which might be better employ d, thought fit to prevent them by ſaying to Carneades: You made at leaſt half a Promiſe, when you firſt propos'd this Objection, that you would not (now at leaſt) inſiſt on it, nor indeed does it ſeem to be of abſolute neceſſity to your cauſe, that you ſhould. For though you ſhould grant that there are Elements, it would not follow that there muſt be preciſely four. And therefore I hope you will proceed to acquaint us with your other and more conſiderable Objections againſt Themiſtius's Opinion, eſpecially ſince there is ſo great a Diſproportion in Bulke betwixt the Earth, Water and Air, on the one part, and thoſe little parcells of reſembling ſubſtances, that the fire ſeparates from Concretes on the other part, that I can ſcarce think that you are ſerious, when to loſe no advantage againſt your Adverſary, you ſeem to deny it to be rational, to conclude theſe great ſimple Bodies to be the Elements, and not the Products of compounded ones.

What you alledge (replies Carneades) of the Vaſtneſs of the Earth and Water, has long ſince made me willing to allow them to be the greateſt and chief Maſſes of Matter to be met with here below: But I think I could ſhew You, if You would give me leave, that this will prove only that the Elements, as You call them, are the chief Bodies that make up the neighbouring part of the World, but not that they are ſuch Ingredients as every mixt Body muſt conſiſt of. But ſince You challenge me of ſomething of a Promiſe, though it be not an entire one, Yet I ſhall willingly perform it. And indeed I intended not when I firſt mention'd this Objection, to inſiſt on it at preſent againſt Themistius, (as I plainly intimated in my way of propoſing it:) being only deſirous to let you ſee, that though I diſcern'd my Advantages, yet I was willing to forego ſome of them; rather then appear a rigid Adverſary of a Cauſe ſo weak, that it may with ſafety be favourably dealt with. But I muſt here profeſs, and deſire You to take Notice of it, that though I paſs on to another Argument, it is not becauſe I think this firſt invalid. For You will find in the Progreſs of our Diſpute, that I had ſome reaſon to queſtion the very way of Probation imploy'd both by Peripateticks and Chymiſts, to evince the being and number of the Elements. For that there are ſuch, and that they are wont to be ſeparated by the Analyſis made by Fire, is indeed taken for granted by both Parties, but has not (for ought I know) been ſo much as plauſibly attempted to be proved by either. Hoping then that when we come to that part of our Debate, wherein Conſiderations relating to this Matter are to be treated of, you will remember what I have now ſaid, and that I do rather for a while ſuppoſe, then abſolutely grant the truth of what I have queſtion'd, I will proceed to another Objection.

And hereupon Eleutherius having mis'd him not to be unmindfull, when time ſhould ſerve, of what he had declar'd.

I conſider then (ſayes Carneades) in the next place, that there are divers Bodies out of which Themiſtius will not prove in haſte, that there can be ſo many Elements as four extracted by the Fire. And I ſhould perchance trouble him if I ſhould ask him what Peripatetick can ſhew us, (I ſay not, all the four Elements, for that would be too rigid a Queſtion, but) any one of them extracted out of Gold by any degree of Fire whatſoever. Nor is Gold the only Bodie in Nature that would puzzle an Ariſtotelian, that is no more to analyze by the Fire into Elementary Bodies, ſince, for ought I have yet obſerv'd, both Silver and calcin'd Venetian Talck, and ſome other Concretes, not neceſſary here to be nam'd, are ſo fixt, that to reduce any of them into four Heterogeneous Subſtances has hitherto prov'd a Task much too hard, not only for the Diſciples of Ariſtotle, but thoſe of Vulcan, at leaſt, whilſt the latter have employ'd only Fire to make the Analyſis.

The next Argument (continues Carneades) that I ſhall urge againſt Themiſtius's Opinion ſhall be this, That as there are divers Bodies whoſe Analyſts by Fire cannot reduce them into ſo many Heterogeneous Subſtances or Ingregredients as four, ſo there are others which may be reduc'd into more, as the Blood (and divers other parts) of Men and other Animals, which yield when analyz'd five diſtinct Subſtances, Phlegme, Spirit, Oyle, Salt and Earth, as Experience has ſhewn us in diſtilling Mans Blood, Harts-Horns, and divers other Bodies that belonging to the Animal-Kingdom abound with not uneaſily ſequeſtrable Salt.

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST: OR CHYMICO-PHYSICAL Doubts & Paradoxes, Touching the EXPERIMENTS WHEREBY VULGAR SPAGYRISTS Are wont to Endeavour to Evince their SALT, SULPHUR AND MERCURY, TO BE The True Principles of Things.

Utinam jam tenerentur omnia, & inoperta ac confeſſa Veritas eſſet! Nihil ex Decretis mutaremus. Nunc Veritatem cum eis qui docent, quaerimus. Sen.

LONDON, Printed for J. Crooke, and are to be ſold at the Ship in St. Pauls Church-Yard. 1661.

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST. The First Part.

I Am (ſayes Carneades) ſo unwilling to deny Eleutherius any thing, that though, before the reſt of the Company I am reſolv'd to make good the part I have undertaken of a Sceptick; yet I ſhall readily, ſince you will have it ſo, lay aſide for a while the Perſon of an Adverſary to the Peripateticks and Chymiſts; and before I acquaint you with my Objections againſt their Opinions, acknowledge to you what may be (whether truly or not) tollerably enough added, in favour of a certain number of Principles of mixt Bodies, to that grand and known Argument from the Analyſis of compound Bodies, which I may poſſibly hereafter be able to confute.

And that you may the more eaſily Examine, and the better Judge of what I have to ſay, I ſhall caſt it into a pretty number of diſtinct Propoſitions, to which I ſhall not premiſe any thing; becauſe I take it for granted, that you need not be advertis'd, that much of what I am to deliver, whether for or againſt a determinate number of Ingredients of mix'd Bodies, may be indifferently apply'd to the four Peripatetick Elements, and the three Chymical Principles, though divers of my Objections will more peculiarly belong to theſe laſt nam'd, becauſe the Chymical Hypotheſis ſeeming to be much more countenanc'd by Experience then the other, it will be expedient to inſiſt chiefly upon the diſproving of that; eſpecially ſince moſt of the Arguments that are imploy'd againſt it, may, by a little variation, be made to conclude, at leaſt as ſtrongly againſt the leſs plauſible, Ariſtotelian Doctrine.

To proceed then to my Propoſitions, I ſhall begin with this, That

Propoſ. I It ſeems not abſurd to conceive that at the first Production of mixt Bodies, the Univerſal Matter whereof they among other Parts of the Univerſe conſiſted, was actually divided into little Particles of ſeveral ſizes and ſhapes variouſly mov'd.

This (ſayes Carneades) I ſuppoſe you will eaſily enough allow. For beſides that which happens in the Generation, Corruption, Nutrition, and waſting of Bodies, that which we diſcover partly by our Microſcopes of the extream littleneſſe of even the ſcarce ſenſible parts of Concretes; and partly by the Chymical Reſolutions of mixt Bodies, and by divers other Operations of Spagyrical Fires upon them, ſeems ſufficiently to manifeſt their conſiſting of parts very minute and of differing Figures. And that there does alſo intervene a various local Motion of ſuch ſmall Bodies, will ſcarce be denied; whether we chuſe to grant the Origine of Concretions aſſign'd by Epicurus, or that related by Moſes. For the firſt, as you well know, ſuppoſes not only all mixt Bodies, but all others to be produc'd by the various and caſual occurſions of Atomes, moving themſelves to and fro by an internal Principle in the Immenſe or rather Infinite Vacuum. And as for the inſpir'd Hiſtorian, He, informing us that the great and Wiſe Author of Things did not immediately create Plants, Beaſts, Birds, &c. but produc'd them out of thoſe portions of the pre-exiſtent, though created, Matter, that he calls Water and Earth, allows us to conceive, that the conſtituent Particles whereof theſe new Concretes were to conſiſt, were variouſly moved in order to their being connected into the Bodies they were, by their various Coalitions and Textures, to compoſe.

But (continues Carneades) preſuming that the firſt Propoſition needs not be longer inſiſted on, I will paſs on to the ſecond, and tell you that

Propoſ. II Neither is it impoſſible that of theſe minute Particles divers of the ſmalleſt and neighbouring ones were here and there aſſociated into minute Maſſes or Cluſters, and did by their Coalitions conſtitute great store of ſuch little primary Concretions or Maſſes as were not eaſily diſſipable into ſuch Particles as compos'd them.

To what may be deduc'd, in favour of this Aſſertion, from the Nature of the Thing it ſelf, I will add ſomething out of Experience, which though I have not known it uſed to ſuch a purpoſe, ſeems to me more fairly to make out that there May be Elementary Bodies, then the more queſtionable Experiments of Peripateticks and Chymiſts prove that there Are ſuch. I conſider then that Gold will mix and be colliquated not only with Silver, Copper, Tin and Lead, but with Antimony, Regulus Martis and many other Minerals, with which it will compoſe Bodies very differing both from Gold, and the other Ingredients of the reſulting Concretes. And the ſame Gold will alſo by common Aqua Regis, and (I ſpeak it knowingly) by divers other Menſtruums be reduc'd into a ſeeming Liquor, in ſo much that the Corpuſcles of Gold will, with thoſe of the Menſtruum, paſs through Cap-Paper, and with them alſo coagulate into a Cryſtalline Salt. And I have further try'd, that with a ſmall quantity of a certain Saline Subſtance I prepar'd, I can eaſily enough ſublime Gold into the form of red Cryſtalls of a conſiderable length; and many other wayes may Gold be diſguis'd, and help to conſtitute Bodies of very differing Natures both from It and from one another, and nevertheleſſe be afterward reduc'd to the ſelf-ſame Numerical, Yellow, Fixt, Ponderous and Malleable Gold it was before its commixture. Nor is it only the fixedſt of Metals, but the moſt fugitive, that I may employ in favour of our Propoſition: for Quickſilver will with divers Metals compoſe an Amalgam, with divers Menſtruums it ſeems to be turnd into a Liquor, with Aqua fortis it will be brought into either a red or white Powder or precipitate, with Oyl of Vitriol into a pale Yellow one, with Sulphur it will compoſe a bloodred and volatile Cinaber, with ſome Saline Bodies it will aſcend in form of a Salt which will be diſſoluble in water; with Regulus of Antimony and Silver I have ſeen it ſublim'd into a kinde of Cryſtals, with another Mixture I reduc'd it into a malleable Body, into a hard and brittle Subſtance by another: And ſome there are who affirm, that by proper Additaments they can reduce Quickſilver into Oyl, nay into Glaſs, to mention no more. And yet out of all theſe exotick Compounds, we may recover the very ſame running Mercury that was the main Ingredient of them, and was ſo diſguis'd in them. Now the Reaſon (proceeds Carneades) that I have repreſented theſe things concerning Gold and Quickſilver, is, That it may not appear abſurd to conceive, that ſuch little primary Maſſes or Cluſters, as our Propoſition mentions, may remain undiſſipated, notwithſtanding their entring into the compoſition of various Concretions, ſince the Corpuſcle of Gold and Mercury, though they be not primary Concretions of the moſt minute Particles of matter, but confeſſedly mixt Bodies, are able to concurre plentifully to the compoſition of ſeveral very differing Bodies, without loſing their own Nature or Texture, or having their cohaeſion violated by the divorce of their aſſociated parts or Ingredients.

Give me leave to add (ſayes Eleutherius) on this occaſion, to what you now obſerv'd, that as confidently as ſome Chymiſts, and other modern Innovators in Philoſophy are wont to object againſt the Peripateticks, That from the mixture of their four Elements there could ariſe but an inconſiderable variety of compound Bodies; yet if the Ariſtotelians were but half as well vers'd in the works of Nature as they are in the Writings of their Maſter, the propos'd Objection would not ſo calmly triumph, as for want of Experiments they are fain to ſuffer it to do. For if we aſſigne to the Corpuſcles, whereof each Element conſiſts, a peculiar ſize and ſhape, it may eaſily enough be manifeſted, That ſuch differingly figur'd Corpuſcles may be mingled in ſuch various Proportions, and may be connected ſo many ſeveral wayes, that an almoſt incredible number of variouſly qualified Concretes may be compos'd of them. Eſpecially ſince the Corpuſcles of one Element may barely, by being aſſociated among themſelves, make up little Maſſes of differing ſize and figure from their conſtituent parts: and ſince alſo to the ſtrict union of ſuch minute Bodies there ſeems oftentimes nothing requiſite, beſides the bare Contact of a great part of their Surfaces. And how great a variety of Phaenomena the ſame matter, without the addition of any other, and only ſeveral ways diſpos'd or contexed, is able to exhibit, may partly appear by the multitude of differing Engins which by the contrivances of skilful Mechanilians, and the dexterity of expert Workmen, may be made of Iron alone. But in our preſent caſe being allow'd to deduce compound Bodies from four very differently qualified ſorts of matter, he who ſhall but conſider what you freſhly took notice of concerning the new Concretes reſulting from the mixture of incorporated Minerals, will ſcarce doubt but that the four Elements mannag'd by Natures Skill may afford a multitude of differing Compounds.

I am thus far of your minde (ſayes Carneades) that the Aristotelians might with probability deduce a much greater number of compound Bodies from the mixture of their four Elements, than according to their preſent Hypotheſis they can, if inſtead of vainly attempting to deduce the variety and properties of all mixt Bodies from the Combinations and Temperaments of the four Elements, as they are (among them) endowd with the four firſt Qualities, they had endeavoured to do it by the Bulk and Figure of the ſmalleſt parts of thoſe ſuppoſed Elements. For from theſe more Catholick and Fruitfull Accidents of the Elementary matter may ſpring a great variety of Textures, upon whoſe Account a multitude of compound Bodies may very much differ from one another. And what I now obſerve touching the four Peripatetick Elements, may be alſo applyed, mutatis mutandis, (as they ſpeak) to the Chymical Principles. But (to take notice of that by the by) both the one and the other, muſt, I fear, call in to their aſſiſtance ſomething that is not Elementary, to excite or regulate the motion of the parts of the matter, and diſpoſe them after the manner requiſite to the Conſtitution of particular Concretes. For that otherwiſe they are like to give us but a very imperfect account of the Origine of very many mixt Bodies, It would, I think, be no hard matter to perſwade you, if it would not ſpend time, and were no Digreſſion, to examine, what they are wont to alledge of the Origine of the Textures and Qualities of mixt Bodies, from a certain ſubſtantial Form, whoſe Origination they leave more obſcure than what it is aſſum'd to explicate.

But to proceed to a new Propoſition.

Propoſ. III I ſhall not peremptorily deny, that from moſt of ſuch mixt Bodies as partake either of Animal or Vegetable Nature, there may by the Help of the Fire, be actually obtain'd a determinate number (whether Three, Four or Five, or fewer or more) of Subſtances, worthy of differing Denominations.

Of the Experiments that induce me to make this Conceſſion, I am like to have occaſion enough to mention ſeveral in the proſecution of my Diſcourſe. And therefore, that I may not hereafter be oblig'd to trouble You and my ſelf with needleſs Repetitions, I ſhall now only deſire you to take notice of ſuch Experiments, when they ſhall be mention'd, and in your thoughts referre them hither.

To theſe three Conceſſions I have but this Fourth to add, That

Propoſ. IV It may likewiſe be granted, that thoſe distinct Subſtances, which Concretes generally either afford or are made up of, may without very much Inconvenience be call'd the Elements or Principles of them.

When I ſaid, without very much Inconvenience, I had in my Thoughts that ſober Admonition of Galen, Cum de re conſtat, de verbis non eſt Litigandum. And therefore alſo I ſcruple not to ſay Elements or Principles, partly becauſe the Chymiſts are wont to call the Ingredients of mixt Bodies, Principles, as the Aristotelians name them Elements; I would here exclude neither. And, partly, becauſe it ſeems doubtfull whether the ſame Ingredients may not be call'd Principles? as not being compounded of any more primary Bodies: and Elements, in regard that all mix'd Bodies are compounded of them. But I thought it requiſite to limit my Conceſſion by premiſing the words, very much, to the word Inconvenience, becauſe that though the Inconvenience of calling the diſtinct Subſtances, mention'd in the Propoſition Elements or Principles, be not very great, yet that it is an Impropriety of Speech, and conſequently in a matter of this moment not to be altogether overlook'd, You will perhaps think, as well as I, by that time you ſhall have heard the following part of my Diſcourſe, by which you will beſt diſcern what Conſtruction to put upon the former Propoſitions, and how far they may be look'd upon, as things that I concede as true, and how far as things I only repreſent as ſpecious enough to be fit to be conſider'd.

And now Eleutherius (continues Carneades) I muſt reſume the perſon of a Sceptick, and as ſuch, propoſe ſome part of what may be either diſlik't, or at leaſt doubted of in the common Hypotheſis of the Chymiſts: which if I examine with a little the more freedom, I hope I need not deſire you (a Perſon to whom I have the Happineſſe of being ſo well known) to look upon it as ſomething more ſuitable to the Employment whereto the Company has, for this Meeting, doom'd me; then either to my Humour or my Cuſtom.

Now though I might preſent you many things againſt the Vulgar Chymical Opinion of the three Principles, and the Experiments wont to be alledg'd as Demonſtrations of it, yet thoſe I ſhall at preſent offer you may be conveniently enough comprehended in four Capital Conſiderations; touching all which I ſhall only premiſe this in general, That ſince it is not my preſent Task ſo much to aſſert an Hypotheſis of my own, as to give an Account wherefore I ſuſpect the Truth of that of the Chymiſts, it ought not to be expected that all my Objections ſhould be of the moſt cogent ſort, ſince it is reaſon enough to Doubt of a propos'd Opinion, that there appears no cogent Reaſon for it.

To come then to the Objections themſelves; I conſider in the firſt place, That notwithſtanding what common Chymiſts have prov'd or taught, it may reaſonably enough be Doubted, how far, and in what ſence, Fire ought to be eſteem'd the genuine and univerſal Inſtrument of analyzing mixt Bodies.

This Doubt, you may remember, was formerly mention'd, but ſo tranſiently diſcours'd of, that it will now be fit to inſiſt upon it; And manifeſt that it was not ſo inconſiderately propos'd as our Adverſaries then imagin'd.

But, before I enter any farther into this Diſquiſition, I cannot but here take notice, that it were to be wiſh'd, our Chymiſts had clearly inform'd us what kinde of Diviſion of Bodies by Fire muſt determine the number of the Elements: For it is nothing near ſo eaſy as many ſeem to think, to determine diſtinctly the Effects of Heat, as I could eaſily manifeſt, if I had leaſure to ſhew you how much the Operations of Fire may be diverſify'd by Circumſtances. But not wholly to paſs by a matter of this Importance, I will firſt take notice to you, that Guajacum (for Inſtance) burnt with an open Fire in a Chimney, is ſequeſtred into Aſhes and Soot, whereas the ſame Wood diſtill'd in a Retort does yield far other Heterogeneities, (to uſe the Helmontian expreſſion) and is reſoly'd into Oyl, Spirit, Vinager, Water and Charcoal; the laſt of which to be reduc'd into Aſhes, requires the being farther calcin'd then it can be in a cloſe Veſſel: Beſides having kindled Amber, and held a clean Silver Spoon, or ſome other Concave and ſmooth Veſſel over the Smoak of its Flame, I obſerv'd the Soot into which that Fume condens'd, to be very differing from any thing that I had obſerv'd to proceed from the ſteam of Amber purpoſely (for that is not uſual) diſtilled per ſe in cloſe Veſſels. Thus having, for Tryals ſake, kindled Camphire, and catcht the Smoak that copiouſly aſcended out of the Flame, it condens'd into a Black and unctuous Soot, which would not have been gueſs d by the Smell or other Properties to have proceeded from Camphire: whereas having (as I ſhall otherwhere more fully declare) expos'd a quantity of that Fugitive Concrete to a gentle heat in a cloſe Glaſs-Veſſel, it ſublim'd up without ſeeming to have loſt any thing of its whiteneſs, or its Nature, both which it retain'd, though afterwards I ſo encreaſed the Fire as to bring it to Fuſion. And, beſides Camphire, there are divers other Bodies (that I elſewhere name) in which the heat in cloſe Veſſels is not wont to make any ſeparation of Heterogeneities, but only a comminution of Parts, thoſe that riſe firſt being Homogeneal with the others, though ſubdivided into ſmaller Particles: whence Sublimations have been ſtiled, The Pestles of the Chymiſts. But not here to mention what I elſewhere take notice of, concerning common Brimſtone once or twice ſublim'd, that expos'd to a moderate Fire in Subliming-Pots, it riſes all into dry, and almoſt taſtleſs, Flowers; Whereas being expos'd to a naked Fire it affords ſtore of a Saline and Fretting Liquor: Not to mention this, I ſay, I will further obſerve to you, that as it is conſiderable in the Analyſis of mixt Bodies, whether the Fire act on them when they are expos'd to the open Air, or ſhut up in cloſe Veſſels, ſo is the degree of Fire by which the Analyſis is attempted of no ſmall moment. For a milde Balneum will ſever unfermented Blood (for Inſtance) but into Phlegme and Caput mortuum, the later whereof (which I have ſometimes had) hard, brittle, and of divers Colours, (tranſparent almoſt like Tortoiſe-ſhell) preſs'd by a good Fire in a Retort yields a Spirit, an Oyl or two, and a volatile Salt, beſides a Caput mortuum. It may be alſo pertinent to our preſent Deſigne, to take notice of what happens in the making and diſtilling of Sope; for by one degree of Fire the Salt, the Water and the Oyl or Greaſe, whereof that factitious Concrete is made up, being boyl'd up together are eaſily brought to mingle and incorporate into one Maſs; but by another and further degree of Heat the ſame Maſs may be again divided into an oleagenous, an aqueous, a Saline, and an Earthy part. And ſo we may obſerve that impure Silver and Lead being expos'd together to a moderate Fire, will thereby be colliquated into one Maſs, and mingle per minima, as they ſpeak, whereas a much vehementer Fire will drive or carry off the baſer Metals (I mean the Lead, and the Copper or other Alloy) from the Silver, though not, for ought appears, ſeparate them from one another. Beſides, when a Vegetable abounding in fixt Salt is analyz'd by a naked Fire, as one degree of Heat will reduce it into Aſhes, (as the Chymiſts themſelves teach us) ſo, by only a further degree of Fire, thoſe Aſhes may be vitrified and turn'd into Glaſs. I will not ſtay to examine how far a meere Chymiſt might on this occaſion demand, If it be lawful for an Aristotelian to make Aſhes, (which he miſtakes for meere Earth) paſs for an Element, becauſe by one degree of Fire it may be produc'd, why a Chymiſt may not upon the like Principle argue, that Glaſs is one of the Elements of many Bodies, becauſe that alſo may be obtain'd from them, barely by the Fire? I will not, I ſay, loſe time to examine this, but obſerve, that by a Method of applying the Fire, ſuch ſimilar Bodies may be obtain'd from a Concrete, as Chymiſts have not been able to ſeparate; either by barely burning it in an open Fire, or by barely diſtilling it in cloſe Veſſels. For to me it ſeems very conſiderable, and I wonder that men have taken ſo little notice of it, that I have not by any of the common wayes of Diſtillation in cloſe Veſſels, ſeen any ſeparation made of ſuch a volatile Salt as is afforded us by Wood, when that is firſt by an open Fire divided into Aſhes and Soot, and that Soot is afterwards plac'd in a ſtrong Retort, and compell'd by an urgent Fire to part with its Spirit, Oyl and Salt; for though I dare not peremptorily deny, that in the Liquors of Guajacum and other Woods diſtill'd in Retorts after the common manner, there may be Saline parts, which by reaſon of the Analogy may pretend to the name of ſome kinde of volatile Salts; yet queſtionleſs there is a great diſparity betwixt ſuch Salts and that which we have ſometimes obtain'd upon the firſt Diſtillation of Soot (though for the moſt part it has not been ſeparated from the firſt or ſecond Rectification, and ſometimes not till the third) For we could never yet ſee ſeparated from Woods analyz'd only the vuſgar way in cloſe veſſels any volatile Salt in a dry and Saline form, as that of Soot, which we have often had very Cryſtalline and Geometrically figur'd. And then, whereas the Saline parts of the Spirits of Guajacum, &c. appear upon diſtillation ſluggiſh enough, the Salt of Soot ſeems to be one of the moſt volatile Bodies in all Nature; and if it be well made will readily aſcend with the milde heat of a Furnace, warm 'd only by the ſingle Wieck of a Lamp, to the top of the higheſt Glaſs Veſſels that are commonly made uſe of for Diſtillation: and beſides all this, the taſte and ſmell of the Salt of Soot are exceeding differing from thoſe of the Spirits of Guajacum, &c. and the former not only ſmells and taſtes much leſs like a vegetable Salt, than like that of Harts-horn, and other Animal Concretes; but in divers other Properties ſeems more of Kinne to the Family of Animals, than to that of vegetable Salts, as I may elſewhere (God permitting) have an occaſion more particularly to declare. I might likewiſe by ſome other Examples manifeſt, That the Chymiſts, to have dealt clearly, ought to have more explicitly and particularly declar'd by what Degree of Fire, and in what manner of Application of it, they would have us Judge a Diviſion made by the Fire to be a true Analyſis into their Principles, and the Productions of it to deſerve the name of Elementary Bodies. But it is time that I proceed to mention the particular Reaſons that incline me to Doubt, whether the Fire be the true and univerſal Analyzer of mixt Bodies; of which Reaſons what has been already objected may paſs for one.

In the next place I obſerve, That there are ſome mixt Bodies from which it has not been yet made appear, that any degree of Fire can ſeparate either Salt or Sulphur or Mercury, much leſs all the Three. The moſt obvious Inſtance of this Truth is Gold, which is a Body ſo fix'd, and wherein the Elementary Ingredients (if it have any) are ſo firmly united to each other, that we finde not in the operations wherein Gold is expos'd to the Fire, how violent ſoever, that it does diſcernably ſo much as loſe of its fixedneſſe or weight, ſo far is it from being diſſipated into thoſe Principles, whereof one at leaſt is acknowledged to be Fugitive enough; and ſo juſtly did the Spagyricall Poet ſomewhere exclaim,

Cuncta adeo miris illic compagibus haerent.

And I muſt not omit on this occaſion to mention to you, Eleutherius, the memorable Experiment that I remember I met with in ^[2] Gaſto Claveus, who, though a Lawyer by Profeſſion, ſeems to have had no ſmall Curioſity and Experience in Chymical affairs: He relates then, that having put into one ſmall Earthen Veſſel an Ounce of the moſt pure Gold, and into another the like weight of pure Silver, he plac'd them both in that part of a Glaſs-houſe Furnace wherein the Workmen keep their Metal, (as our Engliſh Artificers call their Liquid Glaſs) continually melted, and that having there kept both the Gold and the Silver in conſtant Fuſion for two Moneths together, he afterwards took them out of the Furnace and the Veſſels, and weighing both of them again, found that the Silver had not loſt above a 12th part of its weight, but the Gold had not of his loſt any thing at all. And though our Author endeavours to give us of this a Scholaſtick Reaſon, which I ſuppoſe you would be as little ſatisfied with, as I was when I read it; yet for the matter of Fact, which will ſerve our preſent turne, he aſſures us, that though it be ſtrange, yet Experience it ſelf taught it him to be moſt true.

And though there be not perhaps any other Body to be found ſo perfectly fix'd as Gold, yet there are divers others ſo fix'd or compos'd, at leaſt of ſo ſtrictly united parts, that I have not yet obſerv'd the Fire to ſeparate from them any one of the Chymiſts Principles. I need not tell you what Complaints the more Candid and Judicious of the Chymiſts themſelves are wont to make of thoſe Boaſters that confidently pretend, that they have extracted the Salt or Sulphur of Quickſilver, when they have diſguis'd it by Additaments, wherewith it reſembles the Concretes whoſe Names are given it; whereas by a skilfull and rigid Examen, it may be eaſily enough ſtript of its Diſguiſes, and made to appear again in the priſtine form of running Mercury. The pretended Salts and Sulphurs being ſo far from being Elementary parts extracted out of the Bodie of Mercurie, that they are rather (to borrow a terme of the Grammarians) De-compound Bodies, made up of the whole Metal and the Menſtruum, or other Additaments imploy'd to diſguiſe it. And as for Silver, I never could ſee any degree of Fire make it part with any of its three Principles. And though the Experiment lately mentioned from Claveus may beget a Suſpition that Silver may be diſſipated by Fire, provided it be extreamly violent and very laſting: yet it will not neceſſarily follow, that becauſe the Fire was able at length to make the Silver loſe a little of its weight, it was therefore able to diſſipate it into its Principles. For firſt I might alledge that I have obſerv'd little Grains of Silver to lie hid in the ſmall Cavities (perhaps glas'd over by a vitrifying heat) in Crucibles, wherein Silver has been long kept in Fuſion, whence ſome Goldſmiths of my Acquaintance make a Benefit by grinding ſuch Crucibles to powder, to recover out of them the latent particles of Silver. And hence I might argue, that perhaps Claveus was miſtaken, and imagin'd that Silver to have been driven away by the Fire, that indeed lay in minute parts hid in his Crucible, in whoſe pores ſo ſmall a quantity as he miſt of ſo ponderous a Bodie might very well lie conceal'd.

But Secondly, admitting that ſome parts of the Silver were driven away by the violence of the Fire, what proof is there that it was either the Salt, the Sulphur, or the Mercury of the Metal, and not rather a part of it homogeneous to what remain'd? For beſides, that the Silver that was left ſee m'd not ſenſibly alter'd, which probably would have appear'd, had ſo much of any one of its Principles been ſeparated from it: We finde in other Mineral Bodies of a leſs permanent nature than Silver, that the Fire may divide them into ſuch minute parts, as to be able to carry them away with its ſelf, without at all deſtroying their Nature. Thus we ſee that in the refining of Silver, the Lead that is mix'd with it (to carry away the Copper or other ignoble Mineral that embaſes the Silver) will, if it be let alone, in time evaporate away upon the Teſt; but if (as is moſt uſual amongſt thoſe that refine great quantities of Metals together) the Lead be blown off from the Silver by Bellowes, that which would elſe have gone away in the Form of unheeded ſteams, will in great part be collected not far from the Silver, in the Form of a darkiſh Powder or Calx, which, becauſe it is blown off from Silver, they call Litharge of Silver. ^[3] And thus Agricola in divers places informs us, when Copper, or the Oare of it is colliquated by the violence of the Fire with Cadmia, the Sparks that in great multitudes do fly upwards do, ſome of them, ſtick to the vaulted Roofs of the Furnaces, in the form of little and (for the moſt part) White Bubbles, which therefore the Greeks, and, in Imitation of them, our Drugſters call Pompholix: and others more heavy partly adhere to the ſides of the Furnace, and partly (eſpecially if the Covers be not kept upon the Pots) fall to the Ground, and by reaſon of their Aſhy Colour as well as Weight were called by the ſame Greeks [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], which, I need not tell you, in their Language ſignifies Aſhes. I might add, that I have not found that from Venetian Talck (I ſay Venetian, becauſe I have found other kinds of that Mineral more open) from the Lapis Oſſifragus, (which the Shops call Ostiocolla) from Muſcovia Glaſs, from pure and Fuſible Sand, to mention now no other Concretes; thoſe of my Acquaintance that have try'd have been able by the Fire to ſeparate any one of the Hypoſtatical Principles, which you will the leſs ſcruple to believe, if you conſider that Glaſs may be made by the bare Colliquation of the Salt and Earth remaining in the Aſhes of a burnt Plant, and that yet common Glaſs, once made, does ſo far reſiſt the violence of the Fire, that moſt Chymiſts think it a Body more undeſtroyable then Gold it ſelf. For if the Artificer can ſo firmly unite ſuch comparative groſs Particles as thoſe of Earth and Salt that make up common Aſhes, into a Body indiſſoluble by Fire; why may not Nature aſſociate in divers Bodies the more minute Elementary Corpuſcles ſhe has at hand too firmly to let them be ſeparable by the Fire? And on this Occaſion, Eleutherius, give me leave to mention to you two or three ſleight Experiments, which will, I hope, be found more pertinent to our preſent Diſcourſe, than at firſt perhaps they will appear. The firſt is, that, having (for Tryals ſake) put a quantity of that Fugitive Concrete, Camphire, into a Glaſs Veſſel, and plac'd it in a gentle Heat, I found it (not leaving behinde, according to my Eſtimate, not ſo much as one Grain) to ſublime to the Top of the Veſſel into Flowers: which in Whiteneſs, Smell, &c. ſeem'd not to differ from the Camphire it ſelf. Another Experiment is that of Helmont, who in ſeveral places affirms, That a Coal kept in a Glaſs exactly clos'd will never be calcin'd to Aſhes, though kept never ſo long in a ſtrong Fire. To countenance which I ſhall tell you this Tryal of my own, That having ſometimes diſtilled ſome Woods, as particularly Box, whilſt our Caput mortuum remain'd in the Retort, it continued black like Charcoal, though the Retort were Earthen, and kept redhot in a vehement Fire; but as ſoon as ever it was brought out of the candent Veſſel into the open Air, the burning Coals did haſtily degenerate or fall aſunder, without the Aſſiſtance of any new Calcination, into pure white Aſhes. And to theſe two I ſhall add but this obvious and known Obſervation, that common Sulphur (if it be pure and freed from its Vinager) being leaſurely ſublim'd in cloſe Veſſels, riſes into dry Flowers, which may be preſently melted into a Bodie of the ſame Nature with that which afforded them. Though if Brimſtone be burnt in the open Air it gives, you know, a penetrating Fume, which being caught in a Glaſs-Bell condenſes into that acid Liquor called Oyl of Sulphur per Campanam. The uſe I would make of theſe Experiments collated with what I lately told you out of Agricola is this, That even among the Bodies that are not fixt, there are divers of ſuch a Texture, that it will be hard to make it appear, how the Fire, as Chymiſts are wont to imploy it, can reſolve them into Elementary Subſtances. For ſome Bodies being of ſuch a Texture that the Fire can drive them into the cooler and leſs hot part of the Veſſels wherein they are included, and if need be, remove them from place to place to fly the greateſt heat, more eaſily than it can divorce their Elements (eſpecially without the Aſſiſtance of the Air) we ſee that our Chymiſts cannot Analyze them in cloſe Veſſels, and of other compound Bodies the open Fire can as little ſeparate the Elements. For what can a naked Fire do to Analyze a mixt Bodie, if its component Principles be ſo minute, and ſo ſtrictly united, that the Corpuſcles of it need leſs heat to carry them up, than is requiſite to divide them into their Principles. So that of ſome Bodies the Fire cannot in cloſe Veſſels make any Analyſis at all, and others will in the open Air fly away in the Forms of Flowers or Liquors, before the Heat can prove able to divide them into their Principles. And this may hold, whether the various ſimilar parts of a Concrete be combin'd by Nature or by Art; For in factitious Sal Armoniack we finde the common and the Urinous Salts ſo well mingled, that both in the open Fire, and in ſubliming Veſſels they riſe together as one Salt, which ſeems in ſuch Veſſels irreſoluble by Fire alone. For I can ſhew you Sal Armoniack which after the ninth Sublimation does ſtill retain its compounded Nature. And indeed I ſcarce know any one Mineral, from which by Fire alone Chymiſts are wont to ſever any Subſtance ſimple enough to deſerve the name of an Element or Principle. For though out of native Cinnaber they diſtill Quickſilver, and though from many of thoſe Stones that the Ancients called Pyrites they ſublime Brimſtone, yet both that Quickſilver and this Sulphur being very often the ſame with the common Minerals that are ſold in the Shops under thoſe names, are themſelves too much compounded Bodies to paſs for the Elements of ſuch. And thus much, Eleutherius, for the Second Argument that belongs to my Firſt Conſideration; the others I ſhall the leſſe inſiſt on, becauſe I have dwelt ſo long upon this.

Proceed we then in the next place to conſider, That there are divers Separations to be made by other means, which either cannot at all, or elſe cannot ſo well be made by the Fire alone. When Gold and Silver are melted into one Maſs, it would lay a great Obligation upon Refiners and Goldſmiths to teach them the Art of ſeparating them by the Fire, without the trouble and charge they are fain to be at to ſever them. Whereas they may be very eaſily parted by the Affuſion of Spirit of Nitte or Aqua fortis (which the French therefore call Eau de Depart:) ſo likewiſe the Metalline part of Vitriol will not be ſo eaſily and conveniently ſeparated from the Saline part even by a violent Fire, as by the Affuſion of certain Alkalizate Salts in a liquid Form upon the Solution of Vitriol made in common water. For thereby the acid Salt of the Vitriol, leaving the Copper it had corroded to joyn with the added Salts, the Metalline part will be precipitated to the bottom almoſt like Mud. And that I may not give Inſtances only in De-compound Bodies, I will add a not uſeleſs one of another kinde. Not only Chymiſts have not been able (for ought is vulgarly known) by Fire alone to ſeparate true Sulphur from Antimony; but though you may finde in their Books many plauſible Proceſſes of Extracting it, yet he that ſhall make as many fruitleſſe Tryals as I have done to obtain it by, moſt of them will, I ſuppoſe, be eaſily perſwaded, that the Productions of ſuch Proceſſes are Antimonial Sulphurs rather in Name than Nature. But though Antimony ſublim'd by its ſelf is reduc'd but to a volatile Powder, or Antimonial Flowers, of a compounded Nature like the Mineral that affords them: yet I remember that ſome years ago I ſublim'd out of Antimony a Sulphur, and that in greater plenty then ever I ſaw obtain'd from that Mineral, by a Method which I ſhall therefore acquaint you with, becauſe Chymiſts ſeem not to have taken notice of what Importance ſuch Experiments may be in the Indagation of the Nature, and eſpecially of the Number of the Elements. Having then purpoſely for Tryals ſake digeſted eight Ounces of good and well powder'd Antimony with twelve Ounces of Oyl of Vitriol in a well ſtopt Glas-Veſſel for about ſix or ſeven Weeks; and having caus'd the Maſs (grown hard and brittle) to be diſtill'd in a Retort plac'd in Sand, with a ſtrong Fire; we found the Antimony to be ſo opened, or alter'd by the Menſtruum wherewith it had been digeſted, That whereas crude Antimony, forc'd up by the Fire, ariſes only in Flowers, our Antimony thus handled afforded us partly in the Receiver, and partly in the Neck and at the Top of the Retort, about an Ounce of Sulphur, yellow and brittle like common Brimſtone, and of ſo Sulphureous a ſmell, that upon the unluting the Veſſels it infected the Room with a ſcarce ſupportable ſtink. And this Sulphur, beſides the Colour and Smell, had the perfect Inflamability of common Brimſtone, and would immediately kindle (at the Flame of a Candle) and burn blew like it. And though it ſeem'd that the long digeſtion wherein our Antimony and Menſtruum were detain'd, did conduce to the better unlocking of the Mineral, yet if you have not the leaſure to make ſo long a Digeſtion, you may by incorporating with powder'd Antimony a convenient Quantity of Oyl of Vitriol, and committing them immediately to Diſtillation, obtain a little Sulphur like unto the common one, and more combuſtible than perhaps you will at firſt take notice of. For I have obſerv'd, that though (after its being firſt kindled) the Flame would ſometimes go out too ſoon of its ſelf, if the ſame Lump of Sulphur were held again to the Flame of a Candle, it would be rekindled and burn a pretty while, not only after the ſecond, but after the third or fourth accenſion. You, to whom I think I ſhewed my way of diſcovering ſomething of Sulphureous in Oyl of Vitriol, may perchance ſuſpect, Eleutherius, either that this Subſtance was ſome Venereal Sulphur that lay hid in that Liquor, and was by this operation only reduc'd into a manifeſt Body; or elſe that it was a compound of the unctuous parts of the Antimony, ^[4] and the Saline ones of the Vitriol, in regard that (as Gunther informs us) divers learned men would have Sulphur to be nothing but a mixture made in the Bowels of the Earth of Vitriolate Spirits and a certain combuſtible Subſtance. But the Quantity of Sulphur we obtain'd by Digeſtion was much too great to have been latent in the Oyl of Vitriol. And that Vitriolate Spirits are not neceſſary to the Conſtitution of ſuch a Sulphur as ours, I could eaſily manifeſt, if I would acquaint you with the ſeveral wayes by which I have obtain'd, though not in ſuch plenty, a Sulphur of Antimony, colour'd and combuſtible like common Brimſtone. And though I am not now minded to diſcover them, yet I ſhall tell you, that to ſatisfie ſome Ingenious Men, that diſtill'd Vitriolate Spirits are not neceſſary to the obtaining of ſuch a Sulphur as we have been conſidering, I did by the bare diſtillation of only Spirit of Nitre, from its weight of crude Antimony ſeparate, in a ſhort time, a yellow and very inflamable Sulphur, which, for ought I know, deſerves as much the name of an Element, as any thing that Chymiſts are wont to ſeparate from any Mineral by the Fire. I could perhaps tell you of other Operations upon Antimony, whereby That may be extracted from it, which cannot be forc'd out of it by the Fire; but I ſhall reſerve them for a fitter Opportunity, and only annex at preſent this ſleight, but not impertinent Experiment. That whereas I lately obſerved to you, that the Urinous and common Salts whereof Sal Armoniack conſiſts, remain'd unſever'd by the Fire in many ſucceſſive Sublimations, they may be eaſily ſeparated, and partly without any Fire at all, by pouring upon the Concrete finely powder'd, a Solution of Salt of Tartar, or of the Salt of Wood-Aſhes; for upon your diligently mixing of theſe you will finde your Noſe invaded with a very ſtrong ſmell of Urine, and perhaps too your Eyes forc'd to water, by the ſame ſubtle and piercing Body that produces the ſtink; both theſe effects proceeding from hence, that by the Alcalizate Salt, the Sea Salt that enter'd the compoſition of the Sal Armoniack is mortify'd and made more fixt, and thereby a divorce is made between it and the volatile Urinous Salt, which being at once ſet at liberty, and put into motion, begins preſently to fly away, and to offend the Noſtrils and Eyes it meets with by the way. And if the operation of theſe Salts be in convenient Glaſſes promoted by warmth, though but by that of a Bath, the aſcending Steams may eaſily be caught and reduc'd into a penetrant Spirit, abounding with a Salt, which I have ſometimes found to be ſeparable in a Cryſtalline Form. I might add to theſe Inſtances, that whereas Sublimate, conſiſting, as you know, of Salts & Quickſilver combin'd and carried up together by Heat, may be Sublim'd, I know not how often, by a like degree of Fire, without ſuffering any divorce of the component Bodies, the Mercury may be eaſily ſever'd from the adhering Salts, if the Sublimate be diſtill'd from Salt of Tartar, Quick Lime, or ſuch Alcalizate Bodies. But I will rather obſerve to you, Eleutherius, what divers ingenious men have thought ſomewhat ſtrange; that by ſuch an Additament that ſeems but only to promote the Separation, there may be eaſily obtain'd from a Concrete (that by the Fire alone is eaſily diviſible into all the Elements that Vegetables are ſuppos'd to conſiſt of) ſuch a ſimilar Subſtance as differs in many reſpects from them all, and conſequently has by many of the moſt Intelligent Chymiſts been denied to be contain'd in the mixt Body. For I know a way, and have practis'd it, whereby common Tartat, without the addition of any thing that is not perfectly a Mineral except Saltpetre, may by one Diſtillation in an Earthen Retort be made to afford good ſtore of real Salt, readily diſſoluble in water, which I found to be neither acid, nor of the ſmell of Tartar, and to be almoſt as volatile as Spirit of Wine it ſelf, and to be indeed of ſo differing a Nature from all that is wont to be ſeparated by Fire from Tartar, that divers Learned Men, with whom I diſcours'd of it, could hardly be brought to beleeve, that ſo fugitive a Salt could be afforded by Tartar, till I aſſur'd it them upon my own Knowledge. And if I did not think you apt to ſuſpect me to be rather too backward than too forward to credit or affirm unlikely things, I could convince you by what I have yet lying by me of that anomalous Salt.

The Fourth thing that I ſhall alledge to countenance my firſt Conſideration is, That the Fire even when it divides a Body into Subſtances of divers Conſiſtences, does not moſt commonly analyze it into Hypoſtatical Principles, but only diſpoſes its parts into new Textures, and thereby produces Concretes of a new indeed, but yet of a compound Nature. This Argument it will be requiſite for me to proſecute ſo fully hereafter, that I hope you will then confeſs that 'tis not for want of good Proofs that I deſire leave to ſuſpend my Proofs till the Series of my Diſcourſe ſhall make it more proper and ſeaſonable to propoſe them.

It may be further alledg'd on the behalf of my Firſt Conſideration, That ſome ſuch diſtinct Subſtances may be obtain'd from ſome Concretes without Fire, as deſerve no leſs the name of Elementary, than many that Chymiſts extort by the Violence of the Fire.

We ſee that the Inflamable Spirit, or as the Chymiſts eſteem it, the Sulphur of Wine, may not only be ſeparated from it by the gentle heat of a Bath, but may be diſtill'd either by the help of the Sun-Beams, or even of a Dunghill, being indeed of ſo Fugitive a Nature, that it is not eaſy to keep it from flying away, even without the Application of external heat. I have likewiſe obſerv'd that a Veſſel full of Urine being plac'd in a Dunghill, the Putrefaction is wont after ſome weeks ſo to open the Body, that the parts disbanding the Saline Spirit, will within no very long time, if the Veſſel be not ſtopt, fly away of it ſelf; Inſomuch that from ſuch Urine I have been able to diſtill little or nothing elſe than a nauſeous Phlegme, inſtead of the active and piercing Salt and Spirit that it would have afforded, when firſt expos'd to the Fire, if the Veſſel had been carefully ſtopt.

And this leads me to conſider in the Fifth place, That it will be very hard to prove, that there can no other Body or way be given which will as well as the Fire divide Concretes into ſeveral homogeneous Subſtances, which may conſequently be call'd their Elements or Principles, as well as thoſe ſeparated or produc'd by the Fire. For ſince we have lately ſeen, that Nature can ſucceſſefully employ other Inſtruments than the Fire to ſeparate diſtinct Subſtances from mixt Bodies, how know we, but that Nature has made, or Art may make, ſome ſuch Subſtance as may be a fit Inſtrument to Analyze mixt Bodies, or that ſome ſuch Method may be found by Humane Induſtry or Luck, by whoſe means compound Bodies may be reſolv'd into other Subſtances, than ſuch as they are wont to be divided into by the Fire. And why the Products of ſuch an Analyſis may not as juſtly be call'd the component Principles of the Bodies that afford them, it will not be eaſy to ſhew, eſpecially ſince I ſhall hereafter make it evident, that the Subſtances which Chymiſts are wont to call the Salts, and Sulphurs, and Mercuries of Bodies, are not ſo pure and Elementary as they preſume, and as their Hypotheſis requires. And this may therefore be the more freely preſs'd upon the Chymiſts, becauſe neither the Paracelſians, nor the Helmontians can reject it without apparent Injury to their reſpective Maſters. For Helmont do's more than once Inform his Readers, that both Paracelſus and Himſelf were Poſſeſſors of the famous Liquor, Alkahest, which for its great power in reſolving Bodies irreſoluble by Vulgar Fires, he ſomewhere ſeems to call Ignis Gehennae. To this Liquor he aſcribes, (and that in great part upon his own Experience) ſuch wonders, that if we ſuppoſe them all true, I am ſo much the more a Friend to Knowledge than to Wealth, that I ſhould think the Alkahest a nobler and more deſireable Secret than the Philoſophers Stone it ſelf. Of this Univerſal Diſſolvent he relates, That having digeſted with it for a competent time a piece of Oaken Charcoal, it was thereby reduc'd into a couple of new and diſtinct Liquors, diſcriminated from each other by their Colour and Situation, and that the whole body of the Coal was reduc'd into thoſe Liquors, both of them ſeparable from his Immortal Menſtruum, which remain'd as fit for ſuch Operations as before. And he moreover tells us in divers places of his Writings, that by this powerful, and unwearied Agent, he could diſſolve Metals, Marchaſites, Stones, Vegetable and Animal Bodies of what kinde ſoever, and even Glaſs it ſelf (firſt reduc'd to powder,) and in a word, all kinds of mixt Bodies in the World into their ſeveral ſimilar Subſtances, without any Reſidence or Caput mortuum. And laſtly, we may gather this further from his Informations, That the homogeneous Subſtances obtainable from compound Bodies by his piercing Liquor, were oftentimes different enough both as to Number and as to Nature, from thoſe into which the ſame Bodies are wont to be divided by common Fire. Of which I ſhall need in this place to mention no other proof, then that whereas we know that in our common Analyſis of a mixt Body, there remains a terreſtrial and very fixt Subſtance, oftentimes aſſociated with a Salt as fixt; Our Author tells us, that by his way he could Diſtill over all Concretes without any Caput mortuum, and conſequently could make thoſe parts of the Concrete volatile, which in the Vulgar Analyſis would have been fixt. So that if our Chymiſts will not reject the ſolemn and repeated. Teſtimony of a Perſon, who cannot but be acknowledg'd for one of the greateſt Spagyriſts that they can boaſt of, they muſt not deny that there is to be found in Nature another Agent able to Analyze compound Bodies leſs violently, and both more genuinely and more univerſally than the Fire. And for my own part, though I cannot but ſay on this Occaſion what (you know) our Friend Mr. Boyle is wont to ſay, when he is askt his Opinion of any ſtrange Experiment; That He that hath ſeen it hath more Reaſon to beleeve it, than He that hath not; yet I have found Helmont ſo faithful a Writer, even in divers of his improbable Experiments (I alwayes except that Extravagant Treatiſe De Magnetica Vulnerum Curatione, which ſome of his Friends affirm to have been firſt publiſh'd by his Enemies) that I think it ſomewhat harſh to give him the Lye, eſpecially to what he delivers upon his own proper Tryal. And I have heard from very credible Eyewitneſſes ſome things, and ſeen ſome others my ſelf, which argue ſo ſtrongly, that a circulated Salt, or a Menstruum (ſuch as it may be) may by being abſtracted from compound Bodies, whether Mineral, Animal, or Vegetable, leave them more unlockt than a wary Naturaliſt would eaſily beleeve, that I dare not confidently meaſure the Power of Nature and Art by that of the Menstruums, and other Inſtruments that eminent Chymiſts themſelves are as yet wont to Empoly about the Analyzing of Bodies; nor Deny that a Menſtruum may at leaſt from this or that particular Concrete obtain ſome apparently ſimilar Subſtance, differing from any obtainable from the ſame Body by any degree or manner of Application of the Fire. And I am the more backward to deny peremptorily, that there may be ſuch Openers of compound Bodies, becauſe among the Experiments that make me ſpeak thus warily, there wanted not ſome in which it appear'd not, that one of the Subſtances not ſeparable by common Fires and Menſtruums could retain any thing of the Salt by which the ſeparation was made.

And here, Eleutherius, (ſayes Carneades) I ſhould conclude as much of my Diſcourſe as belongs to the firſt Conſideration I propos'd, but that I foreſee, that what I have delivered will appear liable to two ſuch ſpecious Objections, that I cannot ſafely proceed any further till I have examin'd them.

And firſt, one ſort of Oppoſers will be forward to tell me, That they do not pretend by Fire alone to ſeparate out of all compound Bodies their Hypostatical Principles; it being ſufficient that the Fire divides them into ſuch, though afterwards they employ other Bodies to collect the ſimilar parts of the Compound; as 'tis known, that though they make uſe of water to collect the Saline parts of Aſhes from the Terreſtrial wherewith they are blended, yet it is the Fire only that Incinerates Bodies, and reduces the fix'd part of them into the Salt and Earth, where of Aſhes are made up. This Objection is not, I confeſs, inconſiderable, and I might in great part allow of it, without granting it to make againſt me, if I would content my ſelf to anſwer, that it is not againſt thoſe that make it that I have been diſputing, but againſt thoſe Vulgar Chymiſts, who themſelves believe, and would fain make others do ſo, That the Fire is not only an univerſal, but an adaequate and ſufficient Inſtrument to analyze mixt Bodies with. For as to their Practice of Extracting the fix'd Salt out of Aſhes by the Affuſion of Water, 'tis obvious to alleadge, that the Water does only aſſemble together the Salt the Fire had before divided from the Earth: as a Sieve does not further break the Corn, but only bring together into two diſtinct heaps the Flour and the Bran, whoſe Corpuſcles before lay promiſcuouſly blended together in the Meal. This I ſay I might alleadge, and thereby exempt my ſelf from the need of taking any farther notice of the propos'd Objection. But not to loſe the Riſe it may afford me of Illuſtrating the matter under Conſideration, I am content briefly to conſider it, as far forth as my preſent Diſquiſition may be concern'd in it.

Not to repeat then what has been already anſwer'd, I ſay farther, that though I am ſo civil an Adverſary, that I will allow the Chymiſts, after the Fire has done all its work, the uſe of fair Water to make their Extractions with, in ſuch caſes wherein the Water does not cooperate with the Fire to make the Analyſis; yet ſince I Grant this but upon Suppoſition that the Water does only waſh off the Saline Particles, which the Fire Alone has Before Extricated in the Analyz'd Body, it will not be Reaſonable, that this Conceſſion ſhould Extend to other Liquors that may Add to what they Diſſolve, nor ſo much as to other Caſes than thoſe Newly Mentioned: Which Limitation I Deſire You would be Pleas'd to Bear in Mind till I ſhall Anon have Occaſion to make Uſe of it. And This being thus Premis'd, I ſhall Proceed to Obſerve,

Firſt, That Many of the Inſtances I Propos'd in the Preceding Diſcourſe are Such, that the Objection we are Conſidering will not at all Reach Them. For Fire can no more with the Aſſiſtance of Water than without it Separate any of the Three Principles, either from Gold, Silver, Mercury, or ſome Others of the Concretes named Above.

Hence We may Inferre, That Fire is not an Univerſal Analyzer of all Mixt Bodies, ſince of Metals and Minerals, wherein Chymiſts have moſt Exercis'd Themſelves, there Appear ſcarce Any which they are able to Aanlyze by Fire, Nay, from which they can Unqueſtionably Separate ſo much as any One of their Hypoſtatical Principles; Which may well Appear no ſmall Diſparagement as well to their Hypotheſis as to their Pretenſions.

It will alſo remain True, notwithſtanding the Objection, That there may be Other Wayes than the wonted Analyſis by Fire, to Separate from a Compound Body Subſtances as Homogeneneous as thoſe that Chymiſts Scruple not to Reckon among their Tria Prima (as ſome of them, for Brevity Sake, call their Three Principles.)

And it Appears, That by Convenient Additaments ſuch Subſtances may be Separated by the Help of the Fire, as could not be ſo by the Fire alone: Witneſs the Sulphur of Antimony.

And Laſtly, I muſt Repreſent, That ſince it appears too that the Fire is but One of the Inſtruments that muſt be Employ'd in the Reſolution of Bodies, We may Reaſonably Challenge the Liberty of doing Two Things. For when ever any Menstruum or other Additament is Employ'd, together with the Fire to Obtain a Sulphur or a Salt from a Body, We may well take the Freedom to Examine, whether or no That Menſtruum do barely Help to Separate the Principle Obtain'd by It, or whether there Intervene not a Coalition of the Parts of the Body Wrought upon with Thoſe of the Menſtruum, whereby the Produc'd Concrete may be Judg'd to Reſult from the Union of Both. And it will be farther Allowable for Us to Conſider, how far any Subſtance, Separated by the Help of ſuch Additaments, Ought to paſs for one of the Tria Prima; ſince by One Way of Handling the ſame Mixt Body it may according to the Nature of the Additaments, and the Method of Working upon it, be made to Afford differing Subſtances from thoſe Obtainable from it by other Additaments, and another Method, nay and (as may appear by what I Formerly told You about Tartar) Differing from any of the Subſtances into which a Concrete is Diviſible by the Fire without Additaments, though perhaps thoſe Additaments do not, as Ingredients, enter the Compoſition of the Obtained Body, but only Diverſify the Operation of the Fire upon the Concrete; and though that Concrete by the Fire alone may be Divided into a Number of Differing Subſtances, as Great as any of the Chymiſts that I have met with teach us that of the Elements to be. And having ſaid thus much (ſayes Carneades) to the Objection likely to be Propos'd by ſome Chymiſts, I am now to Examine that which I Foreſee will be Confidently preſs'd by Divers Peripateticks, who, to Prove Fire to be the true Analyzer of Bodies, will Plead, That it is the very Definition of Heat given by Ariſtotle, and Generally Received, Congregare Homogenea, & Heterogenea Segregare, to Aſſemble Things of a Reſembling, and Disjoyn thoſe of a Differing Nature. To this I anſwer, That this Effect is far from being ſo Eſſential to Heat, as 'tis Generally Imagin'd; for it rather Seems, that the True and Genuine Property of Heat is, to ſet a Moving, and thereby to Diſſociate the parts of Bodies, and Subdivide them into Minute Particles, without regard to their being Homogeneous or Heterogeneous, as is apparent in the Boyling of Water, the Diſtillation of Quickſilver, or the Expoſing of Bodies to the action of the Fire, whoſe Parts either Are not (at leaſt in that Degree of Heat Appear not) Diſſmilar, where all that the Fire can do, is to Divide the Body into very Minute Parts which are of the ſame Nature with one another, and with their Totum, as their Reduction by Condenſation Evinces. And even when the Fire ſeems moſt ſo Congregare Homogenea, & Segregare Heterogenea, it Produces that Effect but by Accident; For the Fire does but Diſſolve the Cement, or rather Shatter the Frame, or [tructure that kept the Heterogeneous Parts of Bodies together, under one Common Form; upon which Diſſolution the Component Particles of the Mixt, being Freed and ſet at Liberty, do Naturally, and oftentimes without any Operation of the Fire, Aſſociate themſelves each with its Like, or rather do take thoſe places which their Several Degrees of Gravity and Levity, Fixedneſs or Volatility (either Natural, or Adventitious from the Impreſſion of the Fire) Aſſigne them. Thus in the Diſtillation (for Inſtance) of Man's Blood, the Fire do's Firſt begin to Diſſolve the Nexus or Cement of the Body; and then the Water, being the moſt Volatile, and Eaſy to be Extracted, is either by the Igneous Atomes, or the Agitation they are put into by the Fire, firſt carried up, till Forſaken by what carried it up, its Weight ſinks it down into the Receiver: but all this while the other Principles of the Concrete Remain Unſever'd, and Require a ſtronger Degree of Heat to make a Separation of its more Fixt Elements; and therefore the Fire muſt be Increas'd which Carries over the Volatile Salt and the Spirit, they being, though Beleev'd to be Differing Principles, and though Really of Different Conſiſtency, yet of an almoſt Equal Volatility. After them, as leſs Fugitive, comes over the Oyl, and leaves behinde the Earth and the Alcali, which being of an Equal Fixedneſſe, the Fire Severs them not, for all the Definition of the Schools. And if into a Red-hot Earthen or Iron Retort you caſt the Matter to be Diſtill'd, You may Obſerve, as I have often done, that the Predominant Fire will Carry up all the Volatile Elements Confuſedly in one Fume, which will afterwards take their Places in the Receiver, either according to the Degree of their Gravity, or according to the Exigency of their reſpective Textures; the Salt Adhering, for the moſt part, to the Sides and Top, and the Phlegme Faſtening it ſelf there too in great Drops, the Oyle and Spirit placing themſelves Under, or Above one another, according as their Ponderouſneſs makes them Swim or Sink. For 'tis Obſervable, that though Oyl or Liquid Sulphur be one of the Elements Separated by this Fiery Analyſis, yet the Heat which Accidentally Unites the Particles of the other Volatile Principles, has not alwayes the ſame Operation on this, there being divers Bodies which Yield Two Oyls, whereof the One ſinks to the Bottom of that Spirit on which the other Swims; as I can ſhew You in ſome Oyls of the ſame Deers Blood, which are yet by Me: Nay I can ſhew you Two Oyls carefully made of the ſame Parcel of Humane Blood, which not only Differ extreamly in Colour, but Swim upon one another without Mixture, and if by Agitation Confounded will of themſelves Divorce again.

And that the Fire doth oftentimes divide Bodies, upon the account that ſome of their Parts are more Fixt, and ſome more Volatile, how far ſoever either of theſe Two may be from a pure Elementary Nature, is Obvious enough, if Men would but heed it in the Burning of Wood, which the Fire Diſſipates into Smoake and Aſhes: For not only the latter of theſe is Confeſſedly made up of two ſuch Differing Bodies as Earth and Salt; but the Former being condens'd into that Soot which adheres to our Chimneys, Diſcovers it ſelf to Contain both Salt and Oyl, and Spirit and Earth, (and ſome Portion of Phlegme too) which being, all almoſt, Equally Volatile to that Degree of Fire which Forces them up, (the more Volatile Parts Helping perhaps, as well as the Urgency of the Fire, to carry up the more Fixt ones, as I have often Try'd in Dulcify'd Colcothar, Sublim'd by Sal Armoniack Blended with it) are carried Up together, but may afterwards be Separated by other Degrees of Fire, whoſe orderly Gradation allowes the Diſparity of their Volatileneſs to Diſcover it ſelf. Beſides, if Differing Bodies United into one Maſs be both ſufficiently Fixt, the Fire finding no Parts Volatile enough to be Expell'd or carried up, makes no Separation at all; as may appear by a Mixture of Colliquated Silver and Gold, whoſe Component Metals may be eaſily Sever'd by Aqua Fortis, or Aqua Regis (according to the Predominancy of the Silver or the Gold) but in the Fire alone, though vehement, the Metals remain unſever'd, the Fire only dividing the Body into ſmaller Particles (whoſe Littleneſſe may be argu'd from their Fluidity) in which either the little nimble Atoms of Fire, or its brisk and numberleſs ſtrokes upon the Veſſels, hinder Reſt and Continuity, without any Sequeſtration of Elementary Principles. Moreover, the Fire ſometimes does not Separate, ſo much as Unite, Bodies of a differing Nature; provided they be of an almoſt reſembling Fixedneſs, and have in the Figure of their Parts an Aptneſs to Coalition, as we ſee in the making of many Plaiſters, Oyntments, &c. And in ſuch Metalline Mixtures as that made by Melting together two parts of clean Braſs with one of pure Copper, of which ſome Ingenious Trades-men caſt ſuch curious Patterns (for Gold and Silver Works) as I have ſometimes taken great Pleaſure to Look upon. Sometimes the Bodies mingled by the Fire are Differing enough as to Fixidity and Volatility, and yet are ſo combin'd by the firſt Operation of the Fire, that it ſelf does ſcarce afterwards Separate them, but only Pulverize them; whereof an Inſtance is afforded us by the Common Preparation of Mercurius Dulcis, where the Saline Particles of the Vitriol, Sea Salt, and ſometimes Nitre, Employ'd to make the Sublimate, do ſo unite themſelves with the Mercurial Particles made uſe of, firſt to Make Sublimate, and then to Dulcifie it, that the Saline and Metalline Parts ariſe together in many ſucceſſive Sublimations, as if they all made but one Body. And ſometimes too the Fire does not only not Sever the Differing Elements of a Body, but Combine them ſo firmly, that Nature her ſelf does very ſeldom, if ever, make Unions leſs Diſſoluble. For the Fire meeting with ſome Bodies exceedingly and almoſt equally Fixt, inſtead of making a Separation, makes an Union ſo ſtrict, that it ſelf, alone, is unable to Diſſolve it; As we ſee, when an Alcalizate Salt and the Terreſtrial Reſidue of the Aſhes are Incorporated with pure Sand, and by Vitrification made one permanent Body, (I mean the courſe or greeniſh ſort of Glaſs) that mocks the greateſt Violence of the Fire, which though able to Marry the Ingredients of it, yet is not able to Divorce them. I can ſhew you ſome pieces of Glaſs which I ſaw flow down from an Earthen Crucible purpoſely Expos'd for a good while, with Silver in it, to a very vehement Fire. And ſome that deal much in the Fuſion of Metals Informe me, that the melting of a great part of a Crucible into Glaſs is no great Wonder in their Furnaces. I remember, I have Obſerv'd too in the Melting of great Quantities of Iron out of the Oar, by the Help of ſtore of Charcoal (for they Affirm that Sea-Coal will not yield a Flame ſtrong enough) that by the prodigious Vehemence of the Fire, Excited by vaſt Bellows (made to play by great Wheels turn'd about by Water) part of the Materials Expos'd to it was, inſtead of being Analyz'd, Colliquated, and turn'd into a Dark, Solid and very Ponderous Glaſs, and that in ſuch Quantity, that in ſome places I have ſeen the very High-wayes, neer ſuch Iron-works, mended with Heaps of ſuch Lumps of Glaſſe, inſtead of Stones and Gravel. And I have alſo Obſerv'd, that ſome kind of Fire-ſtone it ſelf, having been employ'd in Furnaces wherein it was expos'd to very ſtrong and laſting Fires, has had all its Fixt Parts ſo Wrought on by the Fire, as to be Perfectly Vitrifi'd, which I have try'd by Forcing from it Pretty large Pieces of Perfect and Tranſparent Glaſs. And leſt You might think, Eleutherius, that the Queſtion'd Definition of Heat may be Demonſtrated, by the Definition which is wont to be given and Acquieſc'd in, of its contrary Quality, Cold, whoſe property is taught to be tam Homogenea, quam Heterogenea congregare; Give me leave to repreſent to You, that neither is this Definition unqueſtionable; for not to Mention the Exceptions, which a Logician, as ſuch, may Take at it, I Conſider that the Union of Heterogeneous Bodies which is Suppos'd to be the Genuine Production of Cold, is not Perform'd by every Degree of Cold. For we ſee for Inſtance that in the Urine of Healthy Men, when the Liquor has been Suffer'd a while to ſtand, the Cold makes a Separation of the Thinner Part from the Groſſer, which Subſides to the Bottom, and Growes Opacous there; whereas if the Urinal be Warme, theſe Parts readily Mingle again, and the whole Liquor becomes Tranſparent as before. And when, by Glaciation, Wood, Straw, Duſt, Water, &c. are Suppos'd to be United into one Lump of Ice, the Cold does not Cauſe any Real Union or Adunation, (if I may ſo Speak) of theſe Bodies, but only Hardening the Aqueous Parts of the Liquor into Ice, the other Bodies being Accidentally Preſent in that Liquor are frozen up in it, but not Really United. And accordingly if we Expoſe a Heap of Mony Conſiſting of Gold, Silver and Copper Coynes, or any other Bodies of Differing Natures, which are Deſtitute of Aqueous Moiſture, Capable of Congelation, to never ſo intenſe a Cold, we find not that theſe Differing Bodies are at all thereby ſo much as Compacted, much leſs United together; and even in Liquors Themſelves we find Phaenoment which Induce us to Queſtion the Definition which we are examining. If Paracelſus his Authority were to be look't upon as a Sufficient Proof in matters of this Nature, I might here inſiſt on that Proceſs of his, whereby he Teaches that the Eſſence of Wine may be Sever'd from the Phlegme and Ignoble Part by the Aſſiſtance of Congelation: and becauſe much Weight has been laid upon this Proceſs, not only by Paracelſians, but other Writers, ſome of whom ſeem not to have perus'd it themſelves, I ſhall give You the entire Paſſage in the Authors own Words, as I lately found them in the ſixth Book of his Archidoxis, an Extract whereof I have yet about me; and it ſounds thus. De Vino ſciendum eſt, faecem phlegmaque ejus eſſe Mineram, & Vini ſubstantiam eſſe corpus in quo conſervatur Eſſentia, prout auri in auro latet Eſſentia. Juxta quod Practicam nobis ad Memoriam ponimus, ut non obliviſcamur, ad hunc modum: Recipe Vinum vetustiſſimum & optimum quod habere poteris, calore ſaporeque ad placitum, hoc in vas vitreum infundas ut tertiam ejus partem impleat, & ſigillo Hermetis occluſum in equino ventre menſibus quatuor, & in continuato calore teneatur qui non deficiat. Quo peracto, Hyeme cum frigus & gelu maxime ſaeviunt, his per menſem exponatur ut congeletur. Ad hunc modum frigus vini ſpiritum una cum ejus ſubstantia protrudit in vini centrum, ac ſeparat a phlegmate: Congelatum abjice, quod vero congelatum non est, id Spiritum cum ſubstantia eſſe judicato. Hunc in Pelicanum poſitum in arenae digestione non adeo calida per aliquod tempus manere ſinito; Postmodum eximito vini Magiſterium, de quo locuti ſumus.

But I dare not Eleu. lay much Weight upon this Proceſs, becauſe I have found that if it were True, it would be but ſeldom Practicable in this Country upon the beſt Wine: for Though this preſent Winter hath been Extraordinary Cold, yet in very Keen Froſts accompanied with laſting Snowes, I have not been able in any Meaſure to Freeze a thin Vial full of Sack; and even with Snow and Salt I could Freeze little more then the Surface of it; and I ſuppoſe Eleu. that tis not every Degree of Cold that is Capable of Congealing Liquors, which is able to make ſuch an Analyſis (if I may ſo call it) of them by Separating their Aqueous and Spirituous Parts; for I have ſometimes, though not often, frozen ſeverally, Red-wine, Urine and Milk, but could not Obſerve the expected Separation. And the Dutch-Men that were forc'd to Winter in that Icie Region neer the Artick Circle, call'd Nova Zembla, although they relate, as we ſhall ſee below, that there was a Separation of Parts made in their frozen Beer about the middle of November, yet of the Freezing of their Back in December following they give but this Account: Yea and our Sack, which is ſo hot, was Frozen very hard, ſo that when we were every Man to have his part, we were forc'd to melt it in the Fire; which we ſhar'd every ſecond Day, about half a Pinte for a Man, wherewith we were forc'd to ſustain our ſelves. In which words they imply not, that their Back was divided by the Froſt into differing Subſtances, after ſuch manner as their Beer had been. All which notwithſtanding, Eleu. ſuppoſe that it may be made to appear, that even Cold ſometimes may Congregare Homogenea, & Heterogenea Segregare: and to Manifeſt this I may tell you, that I did once, purpoſely, cauſe to be Decocted in fair Water a Plant abounding with Sulphureous and Spirituous Parts, and having expos'd the Decoction to a keen North-Wind in a very Froſty Night, I obſerv'd, that the more Aqueous Parts of it were turn'd by the next Morning into Ice, towards the innermoſt part of which, the more Agile and Spirituous parts, as I then conjectur'd, having Retreated, to ſhun as much as might be their Environing Enemy, they had there preſerv'd themſelves unfrozen in the Form of a high colour'd Liquor, the Aqueous and Spirituous parts having been ſo ſleightly (Blended rather than) United in the Decoction, that they were eaſily Separable by ſuch a Degree of Cold as would not have been able to have Divorc'd the Parts of Urine or Wine, which by Fermentation or Digeſtion are wont, as Tryal has inform'd me, to be more intimately aſſociated each with other. But I have already intimated, Eleutherius, that I ſhall not Inſiſt on this Experiment, not only becauſe, having made it but once I may poſſibly have been miſtaken in it; but alſo (and that principally) becauſe of that much more full and eminent Experiment of the Separative Virtue of extream Cold, that was made, againſt their Wills, by the foremention'd Dutch men that Winter'd in Nova Zembla; the Relation of whoſe Voyage being a very ſcarce Book, it will not be amiſs to give you that Memorable part of it which concerns our preſent Theme, as I caus'd the Paſſage to be extracted out of the Engliſhed Voyage it ſelf.

Gerard de Veer, John Cornelyſon and Others, ſent out of Amſterdam, Anno Dom. 1596. being forc'd by unſeaſonable Weather to Winter in Nova Zembla, neer Ice-Haven; on the thirteenth of October, Three of us (ſayes the Relation) went aboard the Ship, and laded a Sled with Beer; but when we had laden it, thinking to go to our Houſe with it, ſuddenly there aroſe ſuch a Winde, and ſo great a Storm and Cold, that we were forc'd to go into the Ship again, becauſe we were not able to ſtay without; and we could not get the Beer into the Ship again, but were forc'd to let it ſtand without upon the Sled: the Fourteenth, as we came out of the Ship, we found the Barrel of Beer ſtanding upon the Sled, but it was faſt frozen at the Heads; yet by reaſon of the great Cold, the Beer that purg'd out froze as hard upon the Side of the Barrel, as if it had been glu'd thereon: and in that ſort we drew it to our Houſe, and ſet the Barrel an end, and drank it up; but firſt we were forc'd to melt the Beer, for there was ſcarce any unfrozen Beer in the barrel; but in that thick Yieſt that was unfrozen day the Strength of the Beer, ſo that it was too ſtrong to drink alone, and that which was frozen taſted like Water; and being melted we Mix'd one with the other, and ſo drank it; but it had neither Strength nor Taſte.

And on this Occaſion I remember, that having the laſt very Sharp Winter purpoſely try'd to Freeze, among other Liquors, ſome Beer moderately ſtrong, in Glaſs Veſſels, with Snow and Salt, I obſerv'd, that there came out of the Neck a certain thick Subſtance, which, it ſeems, was much better able then the reſt of the Liquor (that I found turn'd into Ice) to reſiſt a Froſt, and which, by its Colour and conſiſtence ſeem'd mafeſtly enough to be Yieſt, whereat, I confeſs, I ſomewhat marvail'd, becauſe I did not either diſcerne by the Taſte, or find by Enquiry, that the Beer was at all too New to be very fit to be Drank. I might confirm the Dutchmens Relation, by what happen'd a while ſince to a neere Friend of mine, who complained to me, that having Brew'd ſome Beer or Ale for his own drinking in Holland (where he then dwelt) the Keenneſs of the late bitter Winter froze the Drink ſo as to reduce it into Ice, and a ſmall Proportion of a very Strong and Spirituous Liquor. But I muſt not entertain you any longer concerning Cold, not onely becauſe you may think I have but loſt my way into a Theme which does not directly belong to my preſent Undertaking; but becauſe I have already enlarg'd my ſelf too much upon the firſt Conſideration I propos'd, though it appears ſo much a Paradox, that it ſeem'd to Require that I ſhould ſay much to keep it from being thought a meere Extravagance; yet ſince I Undertook but to make the common Aſſumption of our Chymiſts and Aristotelians appear Queſtionable, I hope I have ſo Perform'd that Task, that I may now Proceed to my Following Conſiderations, and Inſiſt leſſe on them than I have done on the Firſt.

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST. The Second Part.

THe Second Conſideration I Deſire to have Notice Taken of, is This, That it is not ſo Sure, as Both Chymiſts and Ariſtotelians are wont to Think it, that every Seemingly Similar or Diſtinct Subſtance that is Separated from a Body by the Help of the Fire, was Pre-exiſtent in it as a Principle or Element of it.

That I may not make this Paradox a Greater then I needs muſt, I will Firſt Briefly Explain what the Propoſition means, before I proceed to Argue for it.

And I ſuppoſe You will eaſily Believe That I do not mean that any thing is ſeparable from a Body by Fire, that was not Materially pre-exiſtent in it; for it Far Exceeds the power of Meerly Naturall Agents, and Conſequently of the Fire, to produce anew, ſo Much as one Atome of Matter, which they can but Modifie and Alter, not Create; which is ſo Obvious a Truth, that almoſt all Sects of Philoſophers have Deny'd the Power of producing Matter to Second Cauſes; and the Epicureans and ſome Others have Done the Like, in Reference to their Gods themſelves.

Nor does the Propoſition peremptorily Deny but that ſome Things Obtain'd by the Fire from a Mixt Body, may have been more then barely Materially pre-exiſtent in it, ſince there are Concretes, which before they be Expos'd to the Fire afford us ſeveral Documents of their abounding, ſome with Salt, and Others with Sulphur. For it will ſerve the preſent Turn, if it appear that diverſe things Obtain'd from a Mixt Body expos'd to the Fire, were not its Ingredients Before: for if this be made to appear it, will be Rationall enough to ſuſpect that Chymiſts may Decieve themſelves, and Others, in concluding Reſolutely and Univerſally, thoſe Subſtances to be the Elementary Ingredients of Bodies barely ſeparated by the Fire, of which it yet may be Doubted Whether there be ſuch or No; at leaſt till ſome other Argument then that drawn from the Analyſis be Brought to reſolve the Doubt.

That then which I Mean by the Propoſition I am Explaining, is, That it may without Abſurdity be Doubted whether or no the Differing Subſtances Obtainable from a Concrete Diſſipated by the Fire were ſo Exſiſtent in it in that Forme (at leaſt as to their minute Parts) wherein we find them when the Analyſis is over, that the Fire did only Dis joyne and Extricate the Corpuſcles of one Principle from thoſe of the other wherewith before they were Blended.

Having thus Explain'd my Propoſition, I ſhall endeavour to do two things, to prove it; The firſt of which is to ſhew that ſuch Subſtances as Chymiſts call Principles May be produc'd De novo (as they ſpeak.) And the other is to make it probable that by the Fire we may Actually obtain from ſome Mixt Bodies ſuch Subſtances as were not in the Newly Expounded ſence, pre-exiſtent in them.

To begin then with the Firſt of theſe, I Conſider that if it be as true as 'tis probable, that Compounded Bodies Differ from One Another but in the Various Textures Reſulting from the Bigneſs, Shape, Motion, and contrivance of their ſmal parts. It will not be Irrationall to conceive that one and the ſame parcel of the Univerſal Matter may by Various Alterations and Contextures be brought to Deſerve the Name, ſomtimes of a Sulphureous, and ſometimes of a Terrene, or Aqueous Body. And this I could more largely Explicate, but that our Friend Mr. Boyle has promis'd us ſomething about Qualities, wherein the Theme I now willingly Reſign him, Will I Queſtion not be Studiouſly Enquired into. Wherefore what I ſhall now advance in favour of what I have lately Deliver'd ſhall be Deduc'd from Experiments made Divers Years ſince. The firſt of which would have been much more conſiderable, but that by ſome intervening Accidents I was Neceſſitated to loſe the beſt time of the year, for a trial of the Nature of that I deſign'd; it being about he middle of May before I was able to begin an Experiment which ſhould have then been two moneths old; but ſuch as it was, it will not perhaps be impertinent to Give You this Narrative of it. At the time newly Mention'd, I caus'd My Gardiner (being by Urgent Occaſions Hinder'd from being preſent myſelf) to dig out a convenient quantity of good Earth, and dry it well in an Oven, to weigh it, to put it in an Earthen pot almoſt level with the Surface of the ground, and to ſet in it a ſelected ſeed he had before received from me, for that purpoſe, of Squaſh, which is an Indian kind of Pompion, that Growes apace; this ſeed I Ordered Him to Water only with Rain or Spring Water. I did not (when my Occaſions permitted me to viſit it) without delight behold how faſt it Grew, though unſeaſonably ſown; but the Haſtning Winter Hinder'd it from attaining any thing neer its due and Wonted magnitude; (for I found the ſame Autumn, in my Garden, ſome of thoſe plants, by Meaſure, as big about as my Middle) and made me order the having it taken Up; Which about the Middle of October was carefully Done by the ſame Gardiner, who a while after ſent me this account of it; I have Weighed the Pompion with the Stalk and Leaves, all which Weighed three pound wanting a quarter; Then I took the Earth, baked it as formerly, and found it just as much as I did at Firſt, which made me think I had not dry'd it Sufficiently: then I put it into the Oven twice More, after the Bread was Drawn, and Weighed it the Second time, but found it Shrink little or nothing.

But to deal Candidly with You, Eleutherius, I muſt not conceal from You the Event of another Experiment of this Kind made this preſent Summer, wherein the Earth ſeems to have been much more Waſted; as may appear by the following account, Lately ſent me by the ſame Gardiner, in theſe Words. To give You an Account of your Cucumbers, I have Gain'd two Indifferent Fair Ones, the Weight of them is ten Pound and a Halfe, the Branches with the Roots Weighed four Pounds wanting two Ounces; and when I had weighed them I took the Earth, and bak'd it in ſeveral ſmall Earthen Diſhes in an Oven; and when I had ſo done, I found the Earth wanted a Pound and a halfe of what it was formerly; yet I was not ſatisfi'd, doubting the Earth was not dry: I put it into an Oven the Second Time, (after the Bread was drawn) and after I had taken it out and weighed it, I found it to be the Same Weight: So I Suppoſe there was no Moiſture left in the Earth. Neither do I think that the Pound and Halfe that was wanting was Drawn away by the Cucumber but a great Part of it in the Ordering was in Duſt (and the like) waſted: (the Cucumbers are kept by themſelves, leſt You ſhould ſend for them.) But yet in this Tryal, Eleutherius, it appears that though ſome of the Earth, or rather the diſſoluble Salt harbour'd in it, were waſted, the main Body of the Plant conſiſted of Tranſmuted Water. And I might add, that a year after I caus'd the formerly mentioned Experiment, touching large Pompions, to be reiterated, with ſo good ſucceſs, that if my memory does not much miſ-inform me, it did not only much ſurpaſs any that I made before, but ſeem'd ſtrangely to conclude what I am pleading for; though (by reaſon I have unhappily loſt the particular Account my Gardiner writ me up of the Circumſtances) I dare not inſiſt upon them. The like Experiment may be as conveniently try'd with the ſeeds of any Plant, whoſe growth is haſty, and its ſize Bulky. If Tobacco will in Theſe Cold Climates Grow well in Earth undung'd, it would not be amiſs to make a Tryal with it; for 'tis an annual Plant, that ariſes where it proſpers, ſometimes as high as a Tall Man; and I have had leaves of it in my Garden neer a Foot and a Halfe broad. But the next time I Try this Experiment, it ſhall be with ſeveral ſeeds of the ſame ſort, in the ſame pot of Earth, that ſo the event may be the more Conſpicuous. But becauſe every Body has not Conveniency of time and place for this Experiment neither, I made in my Chamber, ſome ſhorter and more Expeditions Tryals. I took a Top of Spearmint, about an Inch Long, and put it into a good Vial full of Spring water, ſo as the upper part of the Mint was above the neck of the Glaſs, and the lower part Immers'd in the Water; within a few Dayes this Mint began to ſhoot forth Roots into the Water, and to diſplay its Leaves, and aſpire upwards; and in a ſhort time it had numerous Roots and Leaves, and theſe very ſtrong and fragrant of the Odour of the Mint: but the Heat of my Chamber, as I ſuppoſe, kill'd the Plant when it was grown to have a pretty thick Stalk, which with the various and ramified Roots, which it ſhot into the Water as if it had been Earth, preſented in its Tranſparent Flower-pot a Spectacle not unpleaſant to behold. The like I try'd with ſweet Marjoram, and I found the Experiment ſucceed alſo, though ſomewhat more ſlowly, with Balme and Peniroyal, to name now no other Plants. And one of theſe Vegetables, cheriſh'd only by Water, having obtain'd a competent Growth, I did, for Tryals ſake, cauſe to be Diſtill'd in a ſmall Retort, and thereby obtain'd ſome Phlegme, a little Empyrcumaticall Spirit, a ſmall Quantity of aduſt Oyl, and a Caput mortuum; which appearing to be a Coal concluded it to conſiſt of Salt and Earth: but the Quantity of it was ſo ſmall that I forbore to Calcine it. The Water I us'd to nouriſh this Plant was not ſhifted nor renewed; and I choſe Springwater rather than Rain-water, becauſe the latter is more diſcernably a kinde of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], which, though it be granted to be freed from groſſer Mixtures, ſeems yet to Contain in it, beſides the Steams of ſeveral Bodies wandering in the Air, which may be ſuppos'd to impregnate it, a certain Spirituous Subſtance, which may be Extracted out of it, and is by ſome miſtaken for the Spirit of the World Corporify'd, upon what Grounds, and with what Probability, I may elſewhere perchance, but muſt not now, Diſcourſe to you.

But perhaps I might have ſav'd a great part of my Labour. For I finde that Helmont (an Author more conſiderable for his Experiments than many Learned men are pleas'd to think him) having had an Opportunity to proſecute an Experiment much of the ſame nature with thoſe I have been now ſpeaking of, for five Years together, obtain'd at the end of that time ſo notable a Quantity of Tranſmuted Water, that I ſhould ſcarce Think it fit to have his Experiment, and Mine Mention'd together, were it not that the Length of Time Requiſite to this may deterr the Curioſity of ſome, and exceed the leaſure of Others; and partly, that ſo Paradoxical a Truth as that which theſe Experiments ſeem to hold forth, needs to be Confirm'd by more Witneſſes then one, eſpecially ſince the Extravagancies and Untruths to be met with in Helmonts Treatiſe of the Magnetick Cure of Wounds, have made his Teſtimonies ſuſpected in his other Writings, though as to ſome of the Unlikely matters of Fact he delivers in them, I might ſafely undertake to be his Compurgator. But that Experiment of his which I was mentioning to You, he ſayes, was this. He took 200 pound of Earth dry'd in an Oven, and having put it into an Earthen Veſſel and moiſten'd it with Raine water he planted in it the Trunk of a VVillow tree of five pound VVeight; this he VVater'd, as need required, with Rain or with Diſtill'd VVater; and to keep the Neighbouring Earth from getting into the Veſſell, he employ'd a plate of Iron tinn'd over and perforated with many holes. Five years being efflux'd, he took out the Tree and weighed' it, and (with computing the leaves that fell during four Autumnes) he found it to weigh 169 pound, and about three Ounces. And Having again Dry'd the Earth it grew in, he found it want of its Former VVeight of 200 Pound, about a couple only of Ounces; ſo that 164 pound of the Roots, VVood, and Bark, which Conſtituted the Tree, ſeem to have Sprung from the VVater. And though it appears not that Helmont had the Curioſity to make any Analyſis of this Plant, yet what I lately told You I did to One of the Vegetables I nouriſh'd with VVater only, will I ſuppoſe keep You from Doubting that if he had Diſtill'd this Tree, it would have afforded him the like Diſtinct Subſtances as another Vegetable of the ſame kind. I need not Subjoyne that I had it alſo in my thoughts to try how Experiments to the ſame purpoſe with thoſe I related to You would ſucceed in other Bodies then Vegetables, becauſe importunate Avocations having hitherto hinder'd me from putting my Deſign in Practiſe, I can yet ſpeak but Confecturally of the Succeſs: but the beſt is, that the Experiments already made and mention'd to you need not the Aſſiſtance of new Ones, to Verifie as much as my preſent task makes it concern me to prove by Experiments of this Nature.

One would ſuſpect (ſayes Eleutherius after his long ſilence) by what You have been diſcourſing, that You are not far from Helmonts Opinion about the Origination of Compound Bodies, and perhaps too diſlike not the Arguments which he imployes to prove it.

VVhat Helmontian Opinion, and what Arguments do you mean (askes Carneades.)

VVhat You have been Newly Diſcourſing (replies Eleutherius) tells us, that You cannot but know that this bold and Acute Spagyriſt ſcruples not to Aſſert that all mixt Bodies ſpring from one Element; and that Vegetables, Animals, Marchaſites, Stones, Metalls, &c. are Materially but ſimple VVater diſguis'd into theſe Various Formes, by the plaſtick or Formative Virtue of their ſeeds. And as for his Reaſons you may find divers of them ſcatter'd up and down his writings; the conſiderabl'ſt of which ſeem to be theſe three; The Ultimate Reduction of mixt Bodies into Inſipid VVater, the Viciſſitude of the ſuppoſed Elements, and the production of perfectly mixt Bodies out of ſimple VVater. And firſt he affirmes that the Sal circulatus Paracelſi, or his Liquor Alkaheſt, does adaequately reſolve Plants, Animals, and Mineralls into one Liquor or more, according to their ſeveral internall Diſparities of Parts (without Caput Mortuum, or the Deſtruction of their ſeminal Virtues;) and that the Alkahest being abſtracted from theſe Liquors in the ſame weight and Virtue wherewith it Diſſolv'd them, the Liquors may by frequent Cohobations from chalke or ſome other idoneous matter, be Totally depriv'd of their feminal Endowments, and return at laſt to their firſt matter, Inſipid VVater; ſome other wayes he propoſes here and there, to diveſt ſome particular Bodies of their borrow'd ſhapes, and make them remigrate to their firſt Simplicity. The ſecond Topick whence Helmont drawes his Arguments, to prove VVater to be the Material cauſe of Mixt Bodies, I told You was this, that the other ſuppos'd Elements may be tranſmuted into one another. But the Experiments by him here and there produc'd on this Occaſion, are ſo uneaſie to be made and to be judg'd of, that I ſhall not inſiſt on them; not to mention, that if they were granted to be true, his Inference from them is ſomewhat diſputable; and therefore I ſhall paſs on to tell You, That as, in his Firſt Argument, our Paradoxical Author endeavours to prove Water the Sole Element of Mixt Bodies, by their Ultimate Reſolution, when by his Alkaheſt, or ſome other conquering Agent, the Seeds have been Deſtroy'd, which Diſguis'd them, or when by time thoſe ſeeds are Weari'd or Exantlated or unable to Act their Parts upon the Stage of the Univerſe any Longer: So in his Third Argument he Endeavours to evince the ſame Concluſion, by the conſtitution of Bodies which he aſſerts to be nothing but Water Subdu'd by Seminal Virtues. Of this he gives here and there in his Writings ſeveral Inſtances, as to Plants and Animals; but divers of them being Difficult either to be try'd or to be Underſtood, and others of them being not altogether Unobnoxious to Exceptions, I think you have ſingl'd out the Principal and leſs Queſtionable Experiment when you lately mention'd that of the Willow Tree. And having thus, Continues Eleutherius, to Anſwer your Queſtion, given you a Summary Account of what I am Confident You know better then I do, I ſhall be very glad to receive Your Sence of it, if the giving it me will not too much Divert You from the Proſecution of your Diſcourſe.

That If (replies Carneades) was not needleſly annex'd: for thorowly to examine ſuch an Hypotheſis and ſuch Arguments would require ſo many Conſiderations, and Conſequently ſo much time, that I ſhould not now have the Lieſure to perfect ſuch a Digreſſion, and much leſs to finiſh my Principle Diſcourſe. Yet thus much I ſhall tell You at preſent, that you need not fear my rejecting this Opinion for its Novelty; ſince, however the Helmontians may in complement to their Maſter pretend it to be a new Diſcovery, Yet though the Arguments be for the moſt part his, the Opinion it ſelf is very Antient: For Diogenes Laertius and divers other Authors ſpeak of Thales, as the firſt among the Graecians that made diſquiſitions upon nature. And of this Thales, I Remember, ^[5] Tully informes us, that he taught all things were at firſt made of Water. And it ſeems by Plutarch and Justin Martyr, that the Opinion was Ancienter then he: For they tell us that he us'd to defend his Tene tby the Teſtimony of Homer. And a Greek Author, (the Scholiast of Apollonius) upon theſe Words

[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Argonaut. 4.

The Earth of Slime was made,

Affirms (out of Zeno) that the Chaos, whereof all things were made, was, according to Heſiod, Water; which, ſettling firſt, became Slime, and then condens'd into ſolid Earth. And the ſame Opinion about the Generation of Slime ſeems to have been entertain'd by Orpheus, ^[6] out of whom one of the Antients cites this Teſtimony,

[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]

Of Water Slime was made.

It ſeems alſo by what is delivered in Strabo out of another Author, ^[7] concerning the Indians, That they likewiſe held that all things had differing Beginnings, but that of which the World was made, was Water. And the like Opinion has been by ſome of the Antients aſcrib'd to the Phoenicians, from whom Thales himſelf is conceiv'd to have borrow'd it; as probably he Greeks did much of their Thelogie, and, as I am apt to think, of their Philoſophy too; ſince the Deviſing of the Atomical Hypotheſis commonly aſcrib'd to Lucippus and his Diſciple Democritus, is by Learned Men attributed to one Moſchus a Phoenician. And poſſibly the Opinion is yet antienter than ſo; For 'tis known that the Phoenicians borrow'd moſt of their Learning from the Hebrews. And among thoſe that acknowledge the Books of Moſes, many have been inclin'd to think Water to have been the Primitive and Univerſal Matter, by peruſing the Beginning of Geneſis, where the Waters ſeem to be mention'd as the Material Cauſe, not only of Sublunary Compounded Bodies, but of all thoſe that make up the Univerſe; whoſe Component Parts did orderly, as it were, emerge out of that vaſt Abyſſe, by the Operation of the Spirit of God, who is ſaid to have been moving Himſelf as hatching Females do (as the Original [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], ^[8] Meracephet is ſaid to Import, and as it ſeems to ſignifie in one of the two other places, ^[9] wherein alone I have met with it in the Hebrew Bible) upon the Face of the Waters; which being, as may be ſuppos'd, Divinely Impregnated with the ſeeds of all things, were by that productive Incubation qualify'd to produce them. But you, I preſume, Expect that I ſhould Diſcourſe of this Matter like a Naturaliſt, not a Philologer. Wherefore I ſhall add, to Countenance Helmont's Opinion, That whereas he gives not, that I remember, any Inſtance of any Mineral Body, nor ſcarce of any Animal, generated of Water, a French Chymiſt, Monſieur de Rochas, has preſented his Readers an Experiment, which if it were punctually ſuch as he has deliver'd it, is very Notable. He then, Diſcourſing of the Generation of things according to certain Chymical and Metaphorical Notions (which I confeſs are not to me Intelligible) ſets down, among divers Speculations not pertinent to our Subject, the following Narrative, which I ſhall repeat to you the ſence of in Engliſh, with as little variation from the Literal ſence of the French words, as my memory will enable me. Having (ſayes he) diſcern'd ſuch great Wonders by the Natural Operation of Water, I would know what may be done with it by Art Imitating Nature. Wherefore I took Water which I well knew not to be compounded, nor to be mix'd with any other thing than that Spirit of Life (whereof he had ſpoken before;) and with a Heat Artificial, Continual and Proportionate, I prepar'd and diſpos'd it by the above mention'd Graduations of Coagulation, Congelation, and Fixation, untill it was turn'd into Earth, which Earth produc'd Animals, Vegetables and Minerals. I tell not what Animals, Vegetables and Minerals, for that is reſerv'd for another Occaſion: but the Animals did Move of themſelves, Eat, &c. — and by the true Anatomie I made of them, I found that they were compos'd of much Sulphur, little Mercury, and leſs Salt. — The Minerals began to grow and encreaſe by converting into their own Nature one part of the Earth thereunto diſpos'd; they were ſolid and heavy. And by this truly Demonstrative Science, namely Chymistry, I found that they were compos'd of much Salt, little Sulphur, and leſs Mercury.

But (ſayes Carneades) I have ſome Suſpitions concerning this ſtrange Relation, which make me unwilling to Declare an Opinion of it, unleſs I were ſatisfied concerning divers Material Circumſtances that our Author has left unmentioned; though as for the Generation of Living Creatures, both Vegetable and Senſitive, it needs not ſeem Incredible, ſince we finde that our common water (which indeed is often Impregnated with Variety of Seminal Principles and Rudiments) being long kept in a quiet place will putrifie and ſtink, and then perhaps too produce Moſs and little Worms, or other Inſects, according to the nature of the Seeds that were lurking in it. I muſt likewiſe deſire you to take Notice, that as Helmont gives us no Inſtance of the Production of Minerals out of Water, ſo the main Argument that he employ's to prove that they and other Bodies may be reſolv'd into water, is drawn from the Operations of his Alkahest, and conſequently cannot be ſatisfactorily Examin'd by You and Me.

Yet certainly (ſayes Eleutherius) You cannot but have ſomewhat wonder'd as well as I, to obſerve how great a ſhare of Water goes to the making up of Divers Bodies, whoſe Diſguiſes promiſe nothing neere ſo much. The Diſtillation of Eeles, though it yielded me ſome Oyle, and Spirit, and Volatile Salt, beſides the Caput mortuum, yet were all theſe ſo diſproportionate to the Phlegm that came from them (and in which at firſt they boyl'd as in a Pot of Water) that they ſeem'd to have bin nothing but coagulated Phlegm, which does likewiſe ſtrangely abound in Vipers, though they are eſteem'd very hot in Operation, and will in a Convenient Aire ſurvive ſome dayes the loſs of their Heads and Hearts, ſo vigorous is their Vivacity. Mans Bloud it ſelf as Spirituous, and as Elaborate a Liquor as 'tis reputed, does ſo abound in Phlegm, that, the other Day, Diſtilling ſome of it on purpoſe to try the Experiment (as I had formerly done in Deers Bloud) out of about ſeven Ounces and a half of pure Bloud we drew neere ſix Ounces of Phlegm, before any of the more operative Principles began to ariſe, and Invite us to change the Receiver. And to ſatisfie my ſelf that ſome of theſe Animall Phlegms were void enough of Spirit to deſerve that Name, I would not content my ſelf to taſte them only, but fruitleſly pour'd on them acid Liquors, to try if they contain'd any Volatile Salt or Spirit, which (had there been any there) would probably have diſcover'd it ſelf by making an Ebullition with the affuſed Liquor. And now I mention Corroſive Spirits, I am minded to Informe you, That though they ſeem to be nothing elſe but Fluid Salts, yet they abound in Water, as you may Obſerve, if either you Entangle, and ſo Fix their Saline Part, by making them Corrode ſome idoneous Body, or elſe if you mortifie it with a contrary Salt; as I have very manifeſtly Obſerv'd in the making a Medecine ſomewhat like Helmont's Balſamus Samech, with Diſtill'd Vinager inſtead of Spirit of Wine, wherewith he prepares it: For you would ſcarce Beleeve (what I have lately Obſerv'd) that of that acid Spirit, the Salt of Tartar, from which it is Diſtill'd, will by mortifying and retaining the acid Salt turn into worthleſs Phlegm neere twenty times its weight, before it be ſo fully Impregnated as to rob no more Diſtill'd Vinager of its Salt. And though Spirit of Wine Exquiſitely rectify'd ſeem of all Liquors to be the moſt free from Water, it being ſo Igneous that it will Flame all away without leaving the leaſt Drop behinde it, yet even this Fiery Liquor is by Helmont not improbably affirm'd, in caſe what he relates be True, to be Materially Water, under a Sulphureous Diſguiſe: For, according to him, in the making that excellent Medecine, Paracelſus his Balſamus Samech, (which is nothing but Sal Tartari dulcify'd by Diſtilling from it Spirit of Wine till the Salt be ſufficiently glutted with its Sulphur, and ſuffer the Liquor to be drawn off, as ſtrong as it was pour'd on) when the Salt of Tartar from which it is Diſtill'd hath retain'd, or depriv'd it of the Sulphureous parts of the Spirit of Wine, the reſt, which is incomparably the greater part of the Liquor, will remigrate into Phlegm. I added that Clauſe [In caſe what he Relates be True] becauſe I have not as yet ſufficiently try'd it my ſelf. But not only ſomething of Experiment keeps me from thinking it, as many Chymiſts do, abſurd, (though I have, as well as they, in vain try'd it with ordinary Salt of Tartar:) but beſides that Helmont often Relates it, and draws Conſequences from it; A Perſon noted for his Soberneſſe and Skill in Spagyrical Preparations, having been askt by me, Whether the Experiment might not be made to ſucceed, if the Salt and Spirit were prepar'd according to a way ſuitable to my Principles, he affirm'd to me, that he had that way I propos'd made Helmont's Experiment ſucceed very well, without adding any thing to the Salt and Spirit. But our way is neither ſhort nor Eaſie.

I have indeed (ſayes Carneades) ſometimes wonder'd to ſee how much Phlegme may be obtain'd from Bodies by the Fire. But concerning that Phlegme I may anon have Occaſion to note ſomething, which I therefore ſhall not now anticipate. But to return to the Opinion of Thales, and of Helmont, I conſider, that ſuppoſing the Alkahest could reduce all Bodies into water, yet whether that water, becauſe inſipid, muſt be Elementary, may not groundleſly be doubted; For I remember the Candid and Eloquent Petrus Laurembergius in his Notes upon Sala's Aphoriſmes affirmes, that he ſaw an inſipid Menstruum that was a powerfull Diſſolvent, and (if my Memory do not much miſ-informe me) could diſſolve Gold. And the water which may be Drawn from Quickſilver without Addition, though it be almoſt Taſtleſs, You will I believe think of a differing Nature from ſimple Water, eſpecially if you Digeſt in it Appropriated Mineralls. To which I ſhall add but this, that this Conſideration may be further extended. For I ſee no Neceſſity to conceive that the Water mention'd in the Beginning of Geneſis, as the Univerſal Matter, was ſimple and Elementary VVater; ſince though we ſhould Suppoſe it to have been an Agitated Congeries or Heap conſiſting of a great Variety of Seminal Principles and Rudiments, and of other Corpuſcles fit to be ſubdu'd and Faſhion'd by them, it might yet be a Body Fluid like VVater, in caſe the Corpuſcles it was made up of, were by their Creator made ſmall enough, and put into ſuch an actuall Motion as might make them Glide along one another. And as we now ſay, the Sea conſiſts of VVater, notwithſtanding the Saline, Terreſtrial, and other Bodies mingl'd with it,) ſuch a Liquor may well enough be called VVater, becauſe that was the greateſt of the known Bodies whereunto it was like; Though, that a Body may be Fluid enough to appear a Liquor, and yet contain Corpuſcles of a very differing Nature, You will eaſily believe, if You but expoſe a good Quantity of Vitriol in a ſtrong Veſſel to a Competent Fire. For although it contains both Aqueous, Earthy, Saline, Sulphureous, and Metalline Corpuſcles, yet the whole Maſs will at firſt be Fluid like water, and boyle like a ſeething pot.

I might eaſily (Continues Carneades) enlarge my ſelf on ſuch Conſiderations, if I were Now Oblig'd to give You my Judgment of the Thaleſian, and Helmontian, Hypotheſis. But Whether or no we conclude that all things were at firſt Generated of Water, I may Deduce from what I have try'd Concerning the Growth of Vegetables, nouriſh'd with water, all that I now propos'd to my Self or need at preſent to prove, namely that Salt, Spirit, Earth, and ev'n Oyl (though that be thought of all Bodies the moſt oppoſite to Water) may be produc'd out of Water; and conſequently that a Chymical Principle as well as a Peripatetick Element, may (in ſome caſes) be Generated anew, or obtain'd from ſuch a parcel of Matter as was not endow'd with the form of ſuch aprinciple or Element before.

And having thus, Eleutherius, Evinc'd that 'tis poſſible that ſuch Subſtances as thoſe that Chymiſts are wont to call their Tria Prima, may be Generated, anew: I muſt next Endeavour to make it Probable, that the Operation of the Fire does Actually (ſometimes) not only divide Compounded Bodies into ſmal Parts, but Compound thoſe Parts after a new Manner; whence Conſequently, for ought we Know, there may Emerge as well Saline and Sulphureous Subſtances, as Bodies of other Textures. And perhaps it will aſſiſt us in our Enquiry after the Effects of the Operations of the Fire upon other Bodies, to Conſider a little, what it does to thoſe Mixtures which being Productions of the Art of Man, We beſt know the Compoſition of. You may then be pleas'd to take Notice that though Sope is made up by the Sope-Boylers of Oyle or Greaſe, and Salt, and Water Diligently Incorporated together, yet if You expoſe the Maſs they Conſtitute to a Graduall Fire in a Retort, You ſhall then indeed make a Separation, but not of the ſame Subſtances that were United into Sope, but of others of a Diſtant and yet not an Elementary Nature, and eſpecially of an Oyle very ſharp and Faetid, and of a very Differing Quality from that which was Employ'd to make the Sope: ſo if you Mingle in a due Proportion, Sal Armoniack with Quick-Lime, and Diſtill them by Degrees of Fire, You ſhall not Divide the Sal Armoniack from the Quick-Lime, though the one be a Volatile, and the other a Fix'd Subſtance, but that which will aſcend will be a Spirit much more Fugitive, Penetrant, and ſtinking, then Sal Armoniack; and there will remain with the Quick-Lime all or very near all the Sea Salt that concurr'd to make up the Sal Armoniack; concerning which Sea Salt I ſhall, to ſatisfie You how well it was United to the Lime, informe You, that I have by making the Fire at length very Vehement, caus'd both the Ingredients to melt in the Retort it ſelf into one Maſs and ſuch Maſſes are apt to Relent in the Moiſt Air. If it be here Objected, that theſe Inſtances are taken from factitious Concretes which are more Compounded then thoſe which Nature produces; I ſhall reply, that beſides that I have Mention'd them as much to Illuſtrate what I propos'd, as to prove it, it will be Difficult to Evince that Nature her ſelf does not make Decompound Bodies, I mean mingle together ſuch mixt Bodies as are already Compounded of Elementary, or rather of more ſimple ones. For Vitriol (for Inſtance) though I have ſometimes taken it out of Minerall Earths, where Nature had without any aſſiſtance of Art prepar'd it to my Hand, is really, though Chymiſts are pleas'd to reckon it among Salts, a De-compounded Body Conſiſting (as I ſhall have occaſion to declare anon) of a Terreſtriall Subſtance, of a Metal, and alſo of at leaſt one Saline Body, of a peculiar and not Elementary Nature. And we ſee alſo in Animals, that their blood may be compos'd of Divers very Differing Mixt Bodies, ſince we find it obſerv'd that divers Sea-Fowle taſt rank of the Fiſh on which they ordinarily feed; and Hipocrates himſelf Obſerves, that a Child may be purg'd by the Milke of the Nurſe, if ſhe have taken Elaterium; which argues that the purging Corpuſcles of the Medicament Concurr to make up the Milke of the Nurſe; and that white Liquor is generally by Phyſitians ſuppos'd to be but blanch'd and alter'd Blood. And I remember I have obſerv'd, not farr from the Alps, that at a certain time of the Year the Butter of that Country was very Offenſive to ſtrangers, by reaſon of the rank taſt of a certain Herb, whereon the Cows were then wont plentifully to feed. But (proceeds Carneades) to give you Inſtances of another kind, to ſhew that things may be obtain'd by the Fire from a Mixt Body that were not Pre-exiſtent in it, let Me Remind You, that from many Vegetables there may without any Addition be Obtain'd Glaſs, a Body, which I preſume You will not ſay was Pre-exiſtent in it, but produc'd by the Fire. To which I ſhall add but this one Example more, namely that by a certain Artificial way of handling Quickſilver, You may without Addition ſeparate from it at leaſt a 5th. or 4th. part of a clear Liquor, which with an Ordinary Peripatetick would paſs for VVater, and which a Vulgar Chymiſt would not ſcruple to call Phlegme, and which, for ought I have yet ſeen or heard, is not reducible into Mercury again, and Conſequently is more then a Diſguiſe of it. Now beſides that divers Chymiſts will not allow Mercury to have any or at leaſt any Conſiderable Quantity of either of the Ignoble Ingredients, Earth and VVater; Beſides this, I ſay, the great Ponderouſneſs of Quickſilver makes it very unlikely that it can have ſo much Water in it as may be thus obtain'd from it, ſince Mercury weighs 12 or 14 times as much as water of the ſame Bulk. Nay for a further Confirmation of this Argument, I will add this Strange Relation, that two Friends of mine, the one a Phyſitian, and the other a Mathematician, and both of them Perſons of unſuſpected Credit, have Solemnly aſſured me, that after many Tryals they made, to reduce Mercury into Water, in Order to a Philoſophicall Work, upon Gold (which yet, by the way, I know prov'd Unſuccesfull) they did once by divers Cohobations reduce a pound of Quickſilver into almoſt a pound of Water, and this without the Addition of any other Subſtance, but only by preſſing the Mercury by a Skillfully Manag'd Fire in purpoſely contriv'd Veſſels. But of theſe Experiments our Friend (ſayes Carneades, pointing at the Regiſter of this Dialogue) will perhaps give You a more Particular Account then it is neceſſary for me to do: Since what I have now ſaid may ſufficiently evince, that the Fire may ſometimes as well alter Bodies as divide them, and by it we may obtain from a Mixt Body what was not Pre-exiſtent in it. And how are we ſure that in no other Body what we call Phlegme is barely ſeparated, not Produc'd by the Action of the Fire: Since ſo many other Mixt Bodies are of a much leſs Conſtant, and more alterable Nature, then Mercury, by many Tricks it is wont to put upon Chymiſts, and by the Experiments I told You of, about an hour ſince, Appears to be. But becauſe I ſhall ere long have Occaſion to reſume into Conſideration the Power of the Fire to produce new Concretes, I ſhall no longer inſiſt on this Argument at preſent; only I muſt mind You, that if You will not dis-believe Helmonts Relations, You muſt confeſs that the Tria Prima are neither ingenerable nor incorruptible Subſtances; ſince by his Alkabest ſome of them may be produc'd of Bodies that were before of another Denomination; and by the ſame powerfull Menstruum all of them may be reduc'd into inſipid Water.

Here Carneades was about to paſs on to his Third Conſideration, when Eleutherius being deſirous to hear what he could ſay to clear his ſecond General Conſideration from being repugnant to what he ſeem'd to think the true Theory of Miſtion, prevented him by telling him, I ſomewhat wonder, Carneades, that You, who are in ſo many Points unſatisfied with the Peripatetick Opinion touching the Elements and Mixt Bodies, ſhould alſo ſeem averſe to that Notion touching the manner of Miſtion, wherein the Chymiſts (though perhaps without knowing that they do ſo) agree with moſt of the Antient Philoſophers that preceded Aristotle, and that for Reaſons ſo conſiderable, that divers Modern Naturaliſts and Phyſitians, in other things unfavourable enough to the Spagyriſts, do in this caſe ſide with them againſt the common Opinion of the Schools. If you ſhould ask me (continues Eleutherius) what Reaſons I mean? I ſhould partly by the Writings of Sennertus and other learned Men, and partly by my own Thoughts, be ſupply'd with more, then 'twere at preſent proper for me to Inſiſt largely on. And therefore I ſhall mention only, and that briefly, three or four. Of theſe, I ſhall take the Firſt from the ſtate of the Controverſie it ſelf, and the genuine Notion of Miſtion, which though much intricated by the Schoolmen, I take in ſhort to be this. Ariſtotle, at leaſt as many of his Interpreters expound him, and as indeed he Teaches in ſome places, where he profeſſedly Diſſents from the Antients, declares Miſtion to be ſuch a mutual Penetration, and perfect Union of the mingl'd Elements, that there is no Portion of the mixt Body, how Minute ſoever, which does not contain All, and Every of the Four Elements, or in which, if you pleaſe, all the Elements are not. And I remember, that he reprehends the Miſtion taught by the Ancients, as too ſleight or groſs, for this Reaſon, that Bodies mixt according to their Hypotheſis, though they appear ſo to humane Eyes, would not appear ſuch to the acute Eyes of a Lynx, whoſe perfecter Sight would diſcerne the Elements, if they were no otherwiſe mingled, than as his Predeceſſors would have it, to be but Blended, not United; whereas the Antients, though they did not all Agree about what kind of Bodies were Mixt, yet they did almoſt unanimouſly hold, that in a compounded Bodie, though the Miſcibilia, whether Elements, Principles, or whatever they pleas'd to call them, were aſſociated in ſuch ſmall Parts, and with ſo much Exactneſs, that there was no ſenſible Part of the Maſs but ſeem'd to be of the ſame Nature with the reſt, and with the whole; Yet as to the Atomes, or other Inſenſible Parcels of Matter, whereof each of the Miſcibilia conſiſted, they retain'd each of them its own Nature, being but by Appoſition or Juxta-Poſition united with the reſt into one Bodie. So that although by virtue of this compoſition the mixt Body did perhaps obtain Divers new Qualities, yet ſtill the Ingredients that Compounded it, retaining their own Nature, were by the Deſtruction of the Compoſitum ſeparable from each other, the minute Parts diſingag'd from thoſe of a differing Nature, and aſſociated with thoſe of their own ſort returning to be again, Fire, Earth, or Water, as they were before they chanc'd to be Ingredients of that Compoſitum. This may be explain'd (Continues Eleutherius,) by a piece of Cloath made of white and black threds interwoven, wherein though the whole piece appear neither white nor black, but of a reſulting Colour, that is gray, yet each of the white and black threds that compoſe it, remains what it was before, as would appear if the threds were pull'd aſunder, and ſorted each Colour by it ſelf. This (purſues Eleutherius) being, as I underſtand it, the State of the Controverſie, and the Aristotelians after their Maſter Commonly Defining, that Miſtion is Miſcibilium alteratorum Unio, that ſeems to comport much better with the Opinion of the Chymiſts, then with that of their Adverſaries, ſince according to that as the newly mention'd Example declares, there is but a Juxta-poſition of ſeparable Corpuſcles, retaining each its own Nature, whereas according to the Ariſtotelians, when what they are pleas'd to call a mixt Body reſults from the Concourſe of the Elements, the Miſcibilia cannot ſo properly be ſaid to be Alter'd, as Deſtroy'd, ſince there is no Part in the mixt Body, how ſmall ſoever, that can be call'd either Fir, or Air, or Water, or Earth.

Nor indeed can I well underſtand, how Bodies can be mingl'd other wayes then as I have declar'd, or at leaſt how they can be mingl'd, as our Peripateticks would have it. For whereas Ariſtotle tells us, that if a Drop of Wine be put into ten thouſand Meaſures of Water, the Wine being Overpower'd by ſo Vaſt a Quantity of Water will be turn'd into it, he ſpeaks to my Apprehenſion, very improbably; For though One ſhould add to that Quantity of Water as many Drops of Wine as would a Thouſand times exceed it all, yet by his Rule the whole Liquor ſhould not be a Crama, a Mixture of Wine and Water, wherein the Wine would be Predominant, but VVater only; Since the Wine being added but by a Drop at a time would ſtill Fall into nothing but VVater, and Conſequently would be turn'd into it. And if this would hold in Metals too, 'twere a rare ſecret for Goldſmiths, and Refiners; For by melting a Maſs of Gold, or Silver, and by but caſting into it Lead or Antimony, Grain after Grain, they might at pleaſure, within a reaſonable Compaſs of time, turn what Quantity they deſire, of the Ignoble into the Noble Metalls. And indeed ſince a Pint of wine, and a pint of water, amount to about a Quart of Liquor, it ſeems manifeſt to ſenſe, that theſe Bodies doe not Totally Penetrate one another, as one would have it; but that each retains its own Dimenſions; and Conſequently, that they are by being Mingl'd only divided into minute Bodies, that do but touch one another with their Surfaces, as do the Grains, of VVheat, Rye, Barley, &c. in a heap of ſeverall ſorts of Corn: And unleſs we ſay, that as when one meaſure of wheat, for Inſtance, is Blended with a hundred meaſures of Barley, there happens only a Juxta-poſition and Superficial Contact betwixt the Grains of wheat, and as many or thereabouts of the Grains of Barley. So when a Drop of wine is mingl'd with a great deal of water, there is but an Appoſition of ſo many Vinous Corpuſcles to a Correſpondent Number of Aqueous ones; Unleſs I ſay this be ſaid, I ſee not how that Abſurdity will be avoyded, whereunto the Stoical Notion of miſtion (namely by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], or Confuſion) was Liable, according to which the leaſt Body may be co-extended with the greateſt: Since in a mixt Body wherein before the Elements were Mingl'd there was, for Inſtance, but one pound of water to ten thouſand of Earth, yet according to them there muſt not be the leaſt part of that Compound, that Conſiſted not as well of Earth, as water. But I inſiſt, Perhaps, too long (ſayes Eleutherius) upon the proofs afforded me by the Nature of Miſtion: Wherefore I will but name Two or Three other Arguments; whereof the firſt ſhall be, that according to Aristotle himſelf, the motion of a mixt Body followes the Nature of the Predominant Element, as thoſe wherein the Earth prevails, tend towards the Centre of heavy Bodies. And ſince many things make it Evident, that in divers Mixt Bodies the Elementary Qualities are as well Active, though not altogether ſo much ſo as in the Elements themſelves, it ſeems not reaſonable to deny the actual Exiſtence of the Elements in thoſe Bodies wherein they Operate.

To which I ſhall add this Convincing Argument, that Experience manifeſts, and Ariſtotle Confeſſes it, that the Miſcibilia may be again ſeparated from a mixt Body, as is Obvious in the Chymical Reſolutions of Plants and Animalls, which could not be unleſs they did actually retain their formes in it: For ſince, according to Aristotle, and I think according to truth, there is but one common Maſs of all things, which he has been pleas'd to call Materia Prima; And ſince tis not therefore the Matter but the Forme that Conſtitutes and Diſcriminates Things, to ſay that the Elements remain not in a Mixt Body, according to their Formes, but according to their Matter, is not to ſay that they remain there at all; Since although thoſe Portions of Matter were Earth and water, &c. before they concurr'd, yet the reſulting Body being once Conſtituted, may as well be ſaid to be ſimple as any of the Elements, the Matter being confeſſedly of the ſame Nature in all Bodies, and the Elementary Formes being according to this Hypotheſis periſh'd and aboliſh'd.

And laſtly, and if we will Conſult Chymical Experiments, we ſhall find the Advantages of the Chymical Doctrine above the Peripatetick Title little leſs then Palpable. For in that Operation that Refiners call Quartation, which they employ to purifie Gold, although three parts of Silver be ſo exquiſitely mingl'd by Fuſion with a fourth Part of Gold (whence the Operation is Denominated) that the reſulting Maſs acquires ſeverall new Qualities, by virtue of the Compoſition, and that there is ſcarce any ſenſible part of it that is not Compos'd of both the metalls; Yet if You caſt this mixture into Aqua Fortis, the Silver will be diſſolv'd in the Menſtruum, and the Gold like a dark or black Powder will fall to the Bottom of it, and either Body may be again reduc'd into ſuch a Metal as it was before, which ſhews: that it retain'd its Nature, notwithſtanding its being mixt per Minima with the other: We likewiſe ſee, that though one part of pure Silver be mingled with eight or ten Parts, or more, of Lead, yet the Fire will upon the Cuppel eaſily and perfectly ſeparate them again. And that which I would have you peculiarly Conſider on this Occaſion is, that not only in Chymicall Anatomies there is a Separation made of the Elementary Ingredients, but that ſome Mixt Bodies afford a very much greater Quantity of this or that Element or Principle than of another; as we ſee, that Turpentine and Amber yield much more Oyl and Sulphur than they do Water, whereas Wine, which is confeſs'd to be a perfectly mixt Bodie, yields but a little Inflamable Spirit, or Sulphur, and not much more Earth; but affords a vaſt proportion of Phlegm or water: which could not be, if as the Peripateticks ſuppoſe, every, even of the minuteſt Particles, were of the ſame nature with the whole, and conſequently did contain both Earth and Water, and Aire, and Fire; Wherefore as to what Ariſtotle principally, and almoſt only Objects, that unleſs his Opinion be admitted, there would be no true and perfect Miſtion, but onely Aggregates or Heaps of contiguous Corpuſcles, which, though the Eye of Man cannot diſcerne, yet the Eye of a Lynx might perceive not to be of the ſame Nature with one another and with their Totum, as the Nature of Miſtion requires, if he do not beg the Queſtion, and make Miſtion to conſiſt in what other Naturaliſts deny to be requiſite to it, yet He at leaſt objects That as a great Inconvenience which I cannot take for ſuch, till he have brought as Conſiderable Arguments as I have propos'd to prove the contrary, to evince that Nature makes other Miſtions than ſuch as I have allowed, wherein the Miſcibilia are reduc'd into minute Parts, and United as farr as ſenſe can diſcerne: which if You will not grant to be ſufficient for a true Miſtion, he muſt have the ſame Quarrel with Nature her ſelf, as with his Adverſaties.

Wherefore (Continues Eleutherius) I cannot but ſomewhat marvail that Carneades ſhould oppoſe the Doctrine of the Chymiſt in a Particular, wherein they do as well agree with his old Miſtreſs, Nature, as diſſent from his old Adverſary, Aristotle.

I muſt not (replies Carneades) engage my ſelf at preſent to examine thorowly the Controverſies concerning Miſtion: And if there were no third thing, but that I were reduc'd to embrace abſolutely and unreſervedly either the Opinion of Aristotle, or that of the Philoſophers that went before him, I ſhould look upon the latter, which the Chymiſts have adopted, as the more defenſible Opinion: But becauſe differing in the Opinions about the Elements from both Parties, I think I can take a middle Courſe, and Diſcourſe to you of Miſtion after a way that does neither perfectly agree, nor perfectly diſagree with either, as I will not peremptorily define, whether there be not Caſes wherein ſome Phaenomena of Miſtion ſeem to favour the Opinion that the Chymiſts Patrons borrow'd of the Antients, I ſhall only endeavour to ſhew You that there are ſome caſes which may keep the Doubt, which makes up my ſecond General Conſideration from being unreaſonable.

I ſhall then freely acknowledge to You (ſayes Carneades) that I am not over-well ſatisfi'd with the Doctrine that is aſcribed to Aristotle, concerning Miſtion, eſpecially fince it teaches that the four Elements may again be ſeparated from the mixt Body; whereas if they continu'd not in it, it would not be ſo much a Separation as a Production. And I think the Ancient Philoſophers that Preceded Aristotle, and Chymiſts who have ſince receiv'd the ſame Opinion, do ſpeak of this matter more intelligibly, if not more probably, then the Peripateticks: but though they ſpeak Congruouſly enough, to their believing, that there are a certain Number of Primogeneal Bodies, by whoſe Concourſe all thoſe we call Mixts are Generated, and which in the Deſtruction of mixt Bodies do barely part company, and recede from one another, juſt ſuch as they were when they came together; yet I, who meet with very few Opinions that I can entirely Acquieſce in, muſt confeſs to You that I am inclin'd to differ not only from the Aristotelians, but from the old Philoſophers and the Chymiſts, about the Nature of Miſtion: And if You will give me leave, I ſhall Briefly propoſe to you my preſent Notion of it, provided you will look upon it, not ſo much as an Aſſertion as an Hypotheſis; in talking of which I do not now pretend to propoſe and debate the whole Doctrine of Miſtion, but to ſhew that 'tis not Improbable, that ſometimes mingl'd ſubſtances may be ſo ſtrictly united, that it doth not by the uſuall Operations of the Fire, by which Chymiſts are wont to ſuppoſe themſelves to have made the Analyſes of mixt Bodies, ſufficiently appear, that in ſuch Bodies the Miſcibilia that concurr'd to make them up do each of them retain its own peculiar Nature: and by the Spagyriſts Fires may be more eaſily extricated and Recover'd, than Alter'd, either by a Change of Texture in the Parts of the ſame Ingredient, or by an Aſſociation with ſome parts of another Ingredient more ſtrict than was that of the parts of this or that Miſcibile among themſelves. At theſe words Eleu. having preſs'd him to do what he propos'd, and promis'd to do what he deſir'd;

I conſider then (reſumes Carneades) that, not to mention thoſe improper Kinds of miſtion, wherein Homogeneous Bodies are Joyn'd, as when Water is mingl'd with water, or two Veſſels full of the ſame kind of Wine with one another, the miſtion I am now to Diſcourſe of ſeems, Generally ſpeaking, to be but an Union per Minima of any two or more Bodies of differing Denominations; as when Aſhes and Sand are Colliquated into Glaſs or Antimony, and Iron into Regulus Martis, or Wine and Water are mingl'd, and Sugar is diſſolv'd in the Mixture. Now in this general notion of Miſtion it does not appear clearly comprehended, that the Miſcibilia or Ingredients do in their ſmall Parts ſo retain their Nature and remain diſtinct in the Compound, that they may thence by the Fire be again taken aſunder: For though I deny not that in ſome Miſtions of certain permanent Bodies this Recovery of the ſame Ingredients may be made, yet I am not convinc'd that it will hold in all or even in moſt, or that it is neceſſarily deducible from Chymicall Experiments, and the true Notion of Miſtion. To explain this a little, I aſſume, that Bodies may be mingl'd, and that very durably, that are not Elementary or reſolv'd into Elements or Principles that they may be mingl'd; as is evident in the Regulus of Colliquated Antimony, and Iron newly mention'd; and in Gold Coyne, which laſts ſo many ages; wherein generally the Gold is alloy'd by the mixture of a quantity, greater or leſſer, (in our Mints they uſe about a 12th. part) of either ſilver, or Copper, or both. Next, I conſider, that there being but one Univerſal matter of things, as 'tis known that the Ariſtotelians themſelves acknowledge, who call it Materia Prima (about which nevertheleſs I like not all their Opinions,) the Portions of this matter ſeem to differ from One Another, but in certain Qualities or Accidents, fewer or more; upon whoſe Account the Corporeal Subſtance they belong to receives its Denomination, and is referr'd to this or that particular ſort of Bodies; ſo that if it come to loſe, or be depriv'd of thoſe Qualities, though it ceaſes not to be a Body, yet it ceaſes from being that kind of Body as a Plant, or Animal, or Red, Green, Sweet, Sowre, or the like. I conſider that it very often happens that the ſmall parts of Bodies cohere together but by immediate Contact and Reſt; and that however, there are few Bodies whoſe minute Parts ſtick ſo cloſe together, to what cauſe ſoever their Combination be aſcrib'd, but that it is poſſible to meet with ſome other Body, whoſe ſmall Parts may get between them, and ſo dis-joyn them; or may be fitted to cohere more ſtrongly with ſome of them, then thoſe ſome do with the reſt; or at leaſt may be combin'd ſo cloſely with them, as that neither the Fire, nor the other uſual Inſtruments of Chymical Anatomies will ſeparate them. Theſe things being premis'd, I will not peremptorily deny, but that there may be ſome Cluſters of Particules, wherein the Particles are ſo minute, and the Coherence ſo ſtrict, or both, that when Bodies of Differing Denominations, and conſiſting of ſuch durable Cluſters, happen to be mingl'd, though the Compound Body made up of them may be very Differing from either of the Ingredients, yet each of the little Maſſes or Cluſters may ſo retain its own Nature, as to be again ſeparable, ſuch as it was before. As when Gold and Silver being melted together in a Due Proportion (for in every Proportion, the Refiners will tell You that the Experiment will not ſucceed) Aqua Fortis will diſſolve the Silver, and leave the Gold untoucht; by which means, as you lately noted, both the Metalls may be recover'd from the mixed Maſs. But (Continues Carneades) there are other Cluſters wherein the Particles ſtick not ſo cloſe together, but that they may meet with Corpuſcles of another Denomination, which are diſpos'd to be more cloſely United with ſome of them, then they were among themſelves. And in ſuch caſe, two thus combining Corpuſcles loſing that Shape, or Size, or Motion, or other Accident, upon whoſe Account they were endow'd with ſuch a Determinate Quality or Nature, each of them really ceaſes to be a Corpuſcle of the ſame Denomination it was before; and from the Coalition of theſe there may emerge a new Body, as really one, as either of the Corpuſcles was before they were mingl'd, or, if you pleaſe, Confounded: Since this Concretion is really endow'd with its own Diſtinct qualities, and can no more by the Fire, or any other known way of Analyſis, be divided again into the Corpuſcles that at firſt concurr'd to make it, than either of them could by the ſame means be ſubdivided into other Particles. But (ſayes Eleutherius) to make this more intelligible by particular examples; If you diſſolve Copper in Aqua Fortis, or Spirit of Nitre, (for I remember not which I us'd, nor do I think it much Material) You may by Cryſtalizing the Solution Obtain a goodly Vitriol; which though by Virtue of the Compoſition it have manifeſtly diverſe Qualities, not to be met with in either of the Ingredients, yet it ſeems that the Nitrous Spirits, or at leaſt many of them, may in this Compounded Maſs retain their former Nature; for having for tryal ſake Diſtill'd this Vitrioll Spirit, there came over ſtore of Red Fumes, which by that Colour, by their peculiar ſtinke, and by their Sourneſs, manifeſted themſelves to be, Nitrous Spirits; and that the remaining Calx continu'd Copper, I ſuppoſe you'l eaſily beleeve. But if you diſſolve Minium, which is but Lead Powder'd by the Fire, in good Spirit of Vinager, and Cryſtalize the Solution, you ſhall not only have a Saccharine Salt exceedingly differing from both its Ingredients; but the Union of ſome Parts of the Menstruum with ſome of thoſe of the Metal is ſo ſtrict, that the Spirit of Vinager ſeems to be, as ſuch, deſtroy'd, ſince the Saline Corpuſcles have quite loſt that acidity, upon whoſe Account the Liquor was call'd Spirit of Vinager; nor can any ſuch Acid Parts as were put to the Minium be Separated by any known way from the Saccharum Saturni reſulting from them both; for not only there is no Sowrneſs at all, but an admirable Sweetneſs to be taſted in the Concretion; and not only I found not that Spirit of Wine, which otherwiſe will immediately hiſs when mingl'd with ſtrong Spirit of Vinager, would hiſs being pour'd upon Saccharum Saturni, wherein yet the Acid Salt of Vinager, did it Survive, may ſeem to be concentrated; but upon the Diſtillation of Saccharum Saturni by its Self I found indeed a Liquor very Penetrant, but not at all Acid, and differing as well in ſmell and other Qualities, as in taſt, from the Spirit of Vinager; which likewiſe ſeem'd to have left ſome of its Parts very firmly united to the Caput Mortuum, which though of a Leaden Nature was in ſmell, Colour, &c. differing from Minium; which brings into my mind, that though two Powders, the one Blew, and the other Yellow, may appear a Green mixture, without either of them loſing its own Colour, as a good Microſcope has ſometimes inform'd me; yet having mingl'd Minium and Sal Armoniack in a requiſite Proportion, and expos'd them in a Glaſs Veſſel to the Fire, the whole Maſs became White, and the Red Corpuſcles were deſtroy'd; for though the Calcin'd Lead was ſeparable from the Salt, yet you'l eaſily beleeve it did not part from it in the Forme of a Red Powder, ſuch as was the Minium, when it was put to the Sal Armoniack, I leave it alſo to be conſider'd, whether in Blood, and divers other Bodies, it be probable, that each of the Corpuſcles that concurr to make a Compound Body doth, though ſome of them in ſome Caſes may, retain its own Nature in it, ſo that Chymſts may Extricate each ſort of them from all the others, wherewith it concurr'd to make a Body of one Denomination.

I know there may be a Diſtinction betwixt Matter Immanent, when the material Parts remain and retain their own Nature in the things materiated, as ſome of the Schoolmen ſpeak, (in which ſence Wood, Stones and Lime are the matter of a Houſe,) and Tranſient, which in the materiated thing is ſo alter'd, as to receive a new Forme, without being capable of re-admitting again the Old. In which ſence the Friends of this Diſtinction ſay, that Chyle is the matter of Blood, and Blood that of a Humane Body, of all whoſe Parts 'tis preſum'd to be the Aliment. I know alſo that it may be ſaid, that of material Principles, ſome are common to all mixt Bodies, as Aristotles four Elements, or the Chymiſts Tria Prima; others Peculiar, which belong to this or that ſort of Bodies; as Butter and a kind of whey may be ſaid to be the Proper Principles of Cream: and I deny not, but that theſe Diſſinctions may in ſome Caſes be of Uſe; but partly by what I have ſaid already, and partly by what I am to ſay, You may eaſily enough gueſs in what ſence I admit them, and diſcerne that in ſuch a ſence they will either illuſtrate ſome of my Opinions, or at leaſt will not overthrow any of them.

To proſecute then what I was ſaying before, I will add to this purpoſe, That ſince the Major part of Chymiſts Credit, what thoſe they call Philoſophers affirme of their Stone, I may repreſent to them, that though when Common Gold and Lead are mingled Together, the Lead may be ſever'd almoſt un-alter'd from the Gold; yet if inſtead of Gold a Tantillum of the Red Elixir be mingled with the Saturn, their Union will be ſo indiſſoluble in the perfect Gold that will be produc'd by it, that there is no known, nor perhaps no poſſible way of ſeparating the diffus'd Elixir from the fixed Lead, but they both Conſtitute a moſt permanent Body, wherein the Saturne ſeems to have quite loſt its Properties that made it be call'd Lead, and to have been rather tranſmuted by the Elixir, then barely aſſociated to it. So that it ſeems not alwayes neceſſary, that the Bodies that are put together per minima, ſhould each retain its own Nature; So as when the Maſs it Self is diſſipated by the Fire, to be more diſpos'd to re-appear in its Priſtine Forme, then in any new one, which by a ſtricter aſſociation of its Parts with thoſe of ſome of the other Ingredients of the Compoſitum, then with one another, it may have acquired.

And if it be objected, that unleſs the Hypotheſis I oppoſe be admitted, in ſuch Caſes as I have propoſed there would not be an Union but a Deſtruction of mingled Bodies, which ſeems all one as to ſay, that of ſuch Bodies there is no miſtion at all; I anſwer, that though the Subſtances that are mingl'd remain, only their Accidents are Deſtroy'd, and though we may with tollerable Congruity call them Miſcibilia, becauſe they are Diſtinct Bodies before they are put together, however afterwards they are ſo Confounded that I ſhould rather call them Concretions, or Reſulting Bodies, than mixt ones; and though, perhaps, ſome other and better Account may be propos'd, upon which the name of miſtion may remain; yet if what I have ſaid be thought Reaſon, I ſhall nor wrangle about Words, though I think it fitter to alter a Terme of Art, then reject a new Truth, becauſe it ſuits not with it. If it be alſo Objected that this Notion of mine, concerning mixtion, though it may be allow'd, when Bodies already Compounded are put to be mingl'd, yet it is not applicable to thoſe mixtions that are immediately made of the Elements, or Principles themſelves; I Anſwer in the firſt place, that I here Conſider the Nature of mixtion ſomewhat more Generally, then the Chymiſts, who yet cannot deny that there are oftentimes Mixtures, and thoſe very durable ones, made of Bodies that are not Elementary. And in the next place, that though it may be probably pretended that in thoſe Mixtures that are made immediately of the Bodies that are call'd Principles or Elements, the mingl'd Ingredients may better retain their own Nature in the Compounded Maſs, and be more eaſily ſeparated from thence; yet, beſides that it may be doubted, whether there be any ſuch Primary Bodies, I ſee not why the reaſon I alleadg'd, of the deſtructibility of the Ingredients of Bodies in General, may not ſometimes be Applicable to Salt Sulphur or Mercury; 'till it be ſhewn upon what account we are to believe them Priviledged. And however, (if you pleaſe but to recall to mind, to what purpoſe I told you at Firſt, I meant to ſpeak of Miſtion at this Time) you will perhaps allow that what I have hither to Diſcourſed about it may not only give ſome Light to the Nature of it in general (eſpecially when I ſhall have an Opportunity to Declare to you my thoughts on that ſubject more fully) but may on ſome Occaſions alſo be Serviceable to me in the Inſuing Part of this Diſcourſe.

But, to look back Now to that part of our Diſcourſe, whence this Excurſion concerning Miſtion has ſo long diverted us, though we there Deduc'd, from the differing Subſtances obtained from a Plant nouriſhed only with Water, and from ſome other things, that it was not neceſſary that nature ſhould alwaies compound a Body at firſt of all ſuch differing bodies as the fire could afterwards make it afford; yet this is not all that may be collected from thoſe Experiments. For from them there ſeems alſo Deducible ſomething that Subverts an other Foundation of the Chymical Doctrine. For ſince that (as we have ſeen) out of fair Water alone, not only Spirit, but Oyle, and Salt, and Earth may be Produced; It will follow that Salt and Sulphur are not Primogeneal Bodies, and principles, ſince they are every Day made out of plain Water by the Texture which the Seed or Seminal principle of plants puts it into. And this would not perhaps ſeem ſo ſtrange, if through pride, or negligence, We were not Wont to Overlook the Obvious and Familiar Workings of Nature; For if We conſider what ſlight Qualities they are that ſerve to denominate one of the Tria Prima, We ſhall find that Nature do's frequently enough work as great Alterations in divers parcells of matter: For to be readily diſſoluble in water, is enough to make the body that is ſo, paſſe for a Salt. And yet I ſee not why from a new ſhufling and Diſpoſition of the Component Particles of a body, it ſhould be much harder for Nature to compoſe a body diſſoluble in Water, of a portion of Water that was not ſo before, then of the Liquid ſubſtance of an Egg, which will eaſily mix with VVater, to produce by the bare warmth of a hatching Hen, Membrans, Feathrs, Tendons, and other parts, that are not diſſoluble in VVater as that Liquid Subſtance was: Nor is the Hardneſs and Brittleneſs of Salt more difficult for Nature to introduce into ſuch a yielding body as VVater, then it is for her to make the Bones of a Chick out of the tender Subſtance of the Liquors of an Egg. But inſtead of proſecuting this conſideration, as I eaſily might, I will proceed, as ſoon as I have taken notice of an objection that lies in my Way. For I eaſily foreſee it will be alledged, that the above mentioned Examples are all taken from Plants, and Animals, in whom the Matter is Faſhioned by the Plaſtick power of the ſeed, or ſomething analogous thereunto. Whereas the Fire do's not act like any of the Seminal Principles, but deſtroyes them all, when they come within its Reach. But to this I ſhall need at preſent to make but this eaſy Anſwer, That whether it be a Seminal Principle, or any other which faſhions that Matter after thoſe various manners I have mentioned to You, yet 'tis Evident, that either by the Plaſtick principle Alone, or that and Heat Together, or by ſome Other cauſe capable to context the matter, it is yet poſſible that the matter may be Anew contriv'd into ſuch Bodies. And 'tis only for the Poſſibility of this that I am now contending.

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST. The Third Part.

WHat I have hitherto Diſcours'd, Eleutherius, (ſayes his Friend to Him) has, I preſume, ſhew'n You, that a Conſidering Man may very well queſtion the Truth of thoſe very Suppoſitions which Chymiſts as well as Peripatericks, without proving, take for granted; and upon which Depends the Validity of the Inferences they draw from their Experiments. Wherefore having diſpach't that, which though a Chymiſt Perhaps will not, yet I do, look upon as the moſt Important, as well as Difficult, part of my Task, it will now be Seaſonable for me to proceed to the Conſideration of the Experiments themſelves, wherein they are wont ſo much to Triumph and Glory. And theſe will the rather deſerve a ſerious Examination, becauſe thoſe that Alledge them are wont to do it with ſo much Confidence and Oſtentation, that they have hitherto impos'd upon almoſt all Perſons, without excepting Philoſophers and Phyſitians themſelves; who have read their Books, or heard them talk. For ſome learned Men have been content rather to beleeve what they ſo boldly Affirm, then be at the trouble and charge, to try whether or no it be True. Others again, who have Curioſity enough to Examine the Truth of what is Averr'd, want Skill and Opportunity to do what they Deſire. And the Generality even of Learned Men, ſeeing the Chymiſts (not contenting themſelves with the Schools to amuſe the World with empty words) Actually Perform'd divers ſtrange things, and, among thoſe Reſolve Compound Bodies into ſeveral Subſtances not known by former Philoſophers to be contain'd in them: Men I ſay, ſeeing theſe Things, and Hearing with what Confidence Chymiſts Averr the Subſtances Obtain'd from Compound Bodies by the Fire to be the True Elements, or, (as they ſpeak) Hypoſtaticall Principles of them, are forward to think it but Juſt as well as Modeſt, that according to the Logicians Rule, the Skilfull Artists ſhould be Credited in their own Art; Eſpecially when thoſe things whoſe Nature they ſo Confidently take upon them to teach others are not only Productions of their own Skill, but ſuch as others Know not elſe what to make of.

But though (Continues Carneades) the Chymiſts have been able upon ſome or other of the mention'd Acounts, not only to Delight but Amaze, and almoſt to bewitch even Learned Men; yet ſuch as You and I, who are not unpractis'd in the Trade, muſt not ſuffer our Selves to be impos'd upon by hard Names, or bold Aſſertions; nor to be dazl'd by that Light which ſhould but aſſiſt us to diſcern things the more clearly. It is one thing to be able to help Nature to produce things, and another thing to Underſtand well the Nature of the things produc'd. As we ſee, that many Perſons that can beget Children, are for all that as Ignorant of the Number and Nature of the parts, eſpecially the internal ones, that Conſtitute a Childs? Body, as they that never were Parents. Nor do I Doubt, but you'l excuſe me, if as I thank the Chymiſts for the things their Analyſis ſhews me, ſo I take the Liberty to conſider how many, and what they are, without being aſtoniſh'd at them; as if, whoſoever hath Skill enough to ſhew men ſome new thing of his own making, had the Right to make them believe whatſoever he pleaſes to tell them concerning it.

Wherefore I will now proceed to my Third General Conſideration, which is, That it does not appear, that Three is preciſely and Univerſally the Number of the Diſtinct Subſtances or Elements, whereinto mixt Bodies are reſoluble by the Fire; I mean that 'tis not prov'd by Chymiſts, that all the Compound Bodies, which are granted to be perfectly mixt, are upon their Chymical Analyſis diviſible each of them into juſt Three Diſtinct Subſtances, neither more nor leſs, which are wont to be lookt upon as Elementary, or may as well be reputed ſo as thoſe that are ſo reputed. Which laſt Clauſe I ſubjoyne, to prevent your Objecting, that ſome of the Subſtances I may have occaſion to mention by and by, are not perfectly Homogeneous, nor Conſequently worthy of the name of Principles. For that which I am now to conſider, is, into how many Differing Subſtances, that may plauſibly paſs for the Elementary Ingredients of a mix'd Body, it may be Analyz'd by the Fire; but whether each of theſe be un-compounded, I reſerve to examine, when I ſhall come to the next General Conſideration; where I hope to evince, that the Subſtances which the Chymiſts not only allow, but aſſert to be the Component Principles of the Body reſolv'd into them, are not wont to be uncompounded.

Now there are two Kind of Arguments (purſues Carneades) which may be brought to make my Third Propoſition ſeem probable; one ſort of them being of a more Speculative Nature, and the other drawn from Experience. To begin then with the firſt of theſe.

But as Carneades was going to do as he had ſaid, Eleutherius interrupted him, by ſaying with a ſomewhat ſmiling countenance;

If you have no mind I ſhould think, that the Proverb, That Good Wits have bad Memories, is Rational and Applicable to You, You muſt not Forget now you are upon the Speculative Conſiderations, that may relate to the Number of the Elements; that your Self did not long ſince Deliver and Concede ſome Propoſitions in Favour of the Chymical Doctrine, which I may without diſparagement to you think it uneaſie, even for Carneades to anſwer.

I have not, replies he, Forgot the Conceſſions you mean; but I hope too, that you have not forgot neither with what Cautions they were made, when I had not yet aſſumed the Perſon I am now ſuſtaining. But however, I ſhall to content You, ſo diſcourſe of my Third general conſideration, as to let You ſee, That I am not Unmindful of the things you would have me remember.

To talk then again according to ſuch principles as I then made uſe of, I ſhall repreſent, that if it be granted rational to ſuppoſe, as I then did, that the Elements conſiſted at firſt of certain ſmall and primary Coalitions of the minute Particles of matter into Corpuſcles very numerous, and very like each other, It will not be abſurd to conceive, that ſuch primary Cluſters may be of far more ſorts then three or five; and conſequently, that we need not ſuppoſe, that in each of the compound Bodies we are treating of there ſhould be found juſt three ſorts of ſuch primitive Coalitions, as we are ſpeaking of.

And if according to this Notion we allow a conſiderable number of differing Elements, I may add, that it ſeems very poſſible, that to the conſtitution of one ſort of mixt Bodies two kinds of Elementary ones may ſuffice (as I lately Exemplify'd to you, in that moſt durable Concrete, Glaſs,) another ſort of Mixts may be compos'd of three Elements, another of four, another of five, and another perhaps of many more. So that according to this Notion, there can be no determinate number aſſign'd, as that of the Elements, of all ſorts of compound Bodies whatſoever, it being very probable that ſome Concretes conſiſt of fewer, ſome of more Elements. Nay, it does not ſeem Impoſſible, according to theſe Principles, but that there may be two ſorts of Mixts, whereof the one may not have any of all the ſame Elements as the other conſiſts of; as we oftentimes ſee two words, whereof the one has not any one of the Letters to be met with in the other; or as we often meet with diverſe Electuaries, in which no Ingredient (except Sugar) is common to any two of them. I will not here debate whether there may not be a multitude of theſe Corpuſcles, which by reaſon of their being primary and ſimple, might be called Elementary, if ſeveral ſorts of them ſhould convene to compoſe any Body, which are as yet free, and neither as yet contex'd and entangl'd with primary Corpuſcles of other kinds, but remains liable to be ſubdu'd and faſhion'd by Seminal Principles, or the like powerful and Tranſmuting Agent, by whom they may be ſo connected among themſelves, or with the parts of one of the bodies, as to make the compound Bodies, whoſe Ingredients they are, reſoluble into more, or other Elements then thoſe that Chymiſts have hitherto taken notice of.

To all which I may add, that ſince it appears, by what I obſerv'd to you of the permanency of Gold and Silver, that even Corpuſcles that are not of an Elementary but compounded Nature, may be of ſo durable a Texture, as to remain indiſſoluble in the ordinary Analyſis that Chymiſts make of Bodies by the Fire; 'Tis not impoſſible but that, though there were but three Elements, yet there may be a greater number of Bodies, which the wonted wayes of Anatomy will not diſcover to be no Elementary Bodies.

But, ſayes Carneades, having thus far, in compliance to you, talk't conjecturally of the number of the Elements, 'tis now time to conſider, not of how many Elements it is poſſible that Nature may compound mix'd Bodies, but (at leaſt as farr as the ordinary Experiments of Chymiſts will informe us) of how many ſhe doth make them up.

I ſay then, that it does not by theſe ſufficiently appear to me, that there is any one determinate number of Elements to be uniformly met with in all the ſeveral ſorts of Bodies allow'd to be perfectly mixt.

And for the more diſtinct proof of this Propoſition, I ſhall in the firſt place Reprelent, That there are divers Bodies, which I could never ſee by fire divided into ſo many as three Elementary ſubſtances. I would fain (as I ſaid lately to Philoponus) ſee that fixt and noble Metal we call Gold ſeparated into Sait, Sulphur and Mercury: and if any man will ſubmit to a comperent forfeiture in caſe of ſailing, I ſhall willingly in caſe of proſperous ſucceſſe pay both for the Materials and the charges of ſuch an Experiment. 'Tis not, that after what I have try'd my ſelf I dare peremptorily deny, that there may out of Gold be extracted a certain ſubſtance, which I cannot hinder Chymiſts from calling its Tincture or Sulphur; and which leaves the remaining Body depriv'd of its wonted colour. Nor an I ſure, that there cannot be drawn out of the ſame Metal a real quick and running Mercury. But for the Salt of Gold, I never could either ſee it, or be ſatisfied that there was ever ſuch a thing ſeparated, in rerum natura, by the relation of any credible eye witneſſe. And for the ſeveral Proceſſes that Promiſe that effect, the materials that muſt be wrought upon are ſomewhat too pretious and coſtly to be waſted upon ſo groundleſſe adventures, of which not only the ſucceſſe is doubtful, but the very poſſibility is not yet demonſtrated. Yet that which moſt deterres me from ſuch tryalls, is not their chargeableneſſe, but their unſatisfactorineſſe, though they ſhould ſucceed. For the Extraction of this golden Salt being in Chymiſts Proceſſes preſcribed to be effected by corroſive Menſtruums, or the Intervention of other Saline Bodies, it will remain doubtful to a wary perſon, whether the Emergent Salt be that of the Gold it ſelf; or of the Saline Bodies or Spirits employ'd to prepare it; For that ſuch diſguiſes of Metals do often impoſe upon Artiſts, I am ſure Eleutherius is not ſo much a ſtranger to Chymiſtry as to ignore. I would likewiſe willingly ſee the three principles ſeparated from the pure ſort of Virgin-Sand, from Qſteocolla, from refined Silver, from Quickſilver, freed from its adventitious Sulphur, from Venetian Talk, which by long detention in an extreme Reverberium, I could but divide into ſmaller Particles, (not the conſtituent principles,) Nay, which, when I cauſed it to be kept, I know not how long, in a Glaſſe-houſe fire, came out in the Figure it's Lumps had when put in, though alter'd to an almoſt Amethyſtine colour; and from divers other Bodies, which it were now unneceſſary to enumerate. For though I dare not abſolutely affirme it to be impoſſible to Analyze theſe Bodies into their Tria Prima; yet becauſe, neither my own Experiments, nor any competent Teſtimony hath hitherto either taught me how ſuch an Analyſis may be made, or ſatisfy'd me, that it hath been ſo, I muſt take the Liberty to refrain from believing it, till the Chymiſts prove it, or give us intelligible and practicable Proceſſes to performe what they pretend. For whilſt they affect that Aenigmatical obſcurity with which they are wont to puzzle the Readers of their divulg'd Proceſſes concerning the Analyticall Preparation of Gold or Mercury, they leave wary perſons much unſatisfyed whether or no the differing Subſtances, they promiſe to produce, be truly the Hypoſtatical Principles, or only ſome intermixtures of the divided Bodies with thoſe employ'd to work upon them, as is Evident in the ſeeming Cryſtalls of Silver, and thoſe of Mercury; which though by ſome inconſiderately ſuppoſed to be the Salts of thoſe Metalls, are plainly but mixtures of the Metalline Bodies, with the Saline parts of Aqua fortis or other corroſive Liquors; as is evident by their being reducible into Silver or Quickſilver, as they were before.

I cannot but Confeſſe (ſaith Eleutherius) that though Chymiſts may upon probable grounds affirm themſelves Able to obtain their Tria Prima, from Animals and Vegetables, yet I have often wondred that they ſhould ſo confidently pretend alſo to reſolve all Metalline and other Mineral bodies into Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury. For 'tis a ſaying almoſt Proverbial, among thoſe Chymiſts themſelves that are accounted Philoſophers; and our famous Countryman Roger Bacon has particularly adopted it; that Facilius est aurum facere quam deſtruere. And I fear, with You, that Gold is not the only Mineral from which Chymiſts are wont fruitleſsly to attempt the ſeparating of their three Principles. I know indeed (continues Eleutherius) that the Learned Sennertus, even in that book where he takes not upon him to play the Advocate for the Chymiſts, but the Umpier betwixt them and the Peripateticks, expreſſes himſelf roundly, thus; Salem omnibus ineſſe (mixtis ſcilicet) & ex iis fieri poſſe omnibus in reſolutionibus Chymicis verſatis notiſſimum est. ^[10] And in the next Page, Quod de ſale dixi, ſaies he, Idem de Sulphure dici potest: but by his favour I muſt ſee very good proofs, before I believe ſuch general Aſſertions, how boldly ſoever made; and he that would convince me of their truth, muſt firſt teach me ſome true and practicable way of ſeparating Salt and Sulphur from Gold, Silver, and thoſe many different ſort of Stones, that a violent Fire does not bring to Lime, but to Fuſion; and not only I, for my own part, never ſaw any of thoſe newly nam'd Bodies ſo reſolved; but Helmont, who was much better vers'd in the Chymical Anatomizing of Bodies then either Sennertus or I, has ſomewhere this reſolute paſſage; Scio (ſaies he) ex arena, ^[11] ſilicibus & ſaxis, non Calcariis, nunquam Sulphur aut Mercurium trahi poſſe; Nay Quercetanus himſelf, though the grand ſtickler for the Tria Prima, has this Confeſſion of the Irreſolubleneſs of Diamonds; ^[12] Adamas (ſaith he) omnium factus Lapidum ſolidiſſimus ac duriſſimus ex arctiſſima videlicet triunt principiorum unione ac Cohaerentia, quae nulla arte ſeparationis in ſolutionem principiorum ſuorum ſpiritualium diſjungi poteſt. And indeed, purſues Eleutherius, I was not only glad, but ſomewhat ſurprized to find you inclined to Admit that there may be a Sulphur and a running Mercury drawn from Gold; for unleſſe you do (as your expreſſion ſeem'd to intimate) take the word Sulphur in a very looſe ſence, I muſt doubt whether our Chymiſts can ſeparate a Sulphur from Gold: For when I ſaw you make the experiment that I ſuppoſe invited you to ſpeak as you did, I did not judge the golden Tincture to be the true principle of Sulphur extracted from the body, but an aggregate of ſome ſuch highly colour'd parts of the Gold, as a Chymiſt would have called a Sulphur incombuſtible, which in plain Engliſh ſeems to be little better man to call it a Sulphur and no Sulphur. And as for Metalline Mercuries, I had not wondred at it, though you had expreſſed much more ſeverity in ſpeaking of them: For I remember that having once met an old and famous Artiſt, who had long been (and ſtill is) Chymiſt to a great Monarch, the repute he had of a very honeſt man invited me to deſire him to tell me ingenuouſly whether or no, among his many labours, he had ever really extracted a true and running Mercury out of Metalls; to which queſtion he freely replyed, that he had never ſeparated a true Mercury from any Metal; nor had ever ſeen it really done by any man elſe. And though Gold is, of all Metalls, That, whoſe Mercury Chymiſts have moſt endeavoured to extract, and which they do the moſt brag they have extracted; yet the Experienced Angelus Sala, in his Spagyrical account of the ſeven Terreſtrial Planets (that is the ſeven metalls) affords us this memorable Teſtimony, to our preſent purpoſe; Quanquam (faies he) &c. experientia tamen (quam ſtultorum Magiſtrum vocamus) certe Comprobavit, Mercurium auri adeo fixum, maturum, & arcte cum reliquis ejuſdem corporis ſubſtantiis conjungi, ut nullo modo retrogredi poſſit. To which he ſub-joynes, that he himſelf had ſeen much Labour ſpent upon that Deſign, but could never ſee any ſuch Mercury produc'd thereby. And I eaſily beleeve what he annexes; that he had often ſeen Detected many tricks and Impostures of Cheating Alchymiſts. For, the moſt part of thoſe that are fond of ſuch Charlatans, being unskilfull or Credulous, or both, 'tis very eaſie for ſuch as have ſome Skill, much craft, more boldneſs, and no Conſcience, to impoſe upon them; and therefore, though many profeſs'd Alchymists, and divers Perſons of Quality have told me that they have made or ſeen the Mercury of Gold, or of this or that other Metal; yet I have been ſtill apt to fear that either theſe perſons have had a Deſign to deceive others; or have not had Skill and circumſpection enough to keep themſelves from being deceived.

You recall to my mind (ſayes Carneades) a certain Experiment I once devis'd, innocently to deceive ſome perſons, and let them and others ſee how little is to be built upon the affirmation of thoſe that are either unskillfull or unwary, when they tell us they have ſeen Alchymists make the Mercury of this or that Metal; and to make this the more evident, I made my Experiment much more Slight, Short and Simple, than the Chymiſts uſuall proceſſes to Extract Metalline Mercuries; which Operations being commonly more Elaborate and Intricate, and requiring a much more longer time, give the Alchymiſts a greater opportunity to Cozen, and Conſequently are more Obnoxious to the Spectators ſuſpicion. And that wherein I endeavour'd to make my Experiment look the more like a True Analyſis, was, that I not only pretended as well as others to extract a Mercury from the Metal I wrought upon, but likewiſe to ſeparate a large proportion of manifeſt and inflamable Sulphur. I take then, of the filings of Copper, about a Drachme or two, of common ſublimate, powder'd, the like Weight, and Sal Armoniack near about as much as of Sublimate; theſe three being well mingl'd together I put into a ſmall Vial with a long neck, or, which I find better, into a Glaſs Urinall, which (having firſt ſtopped it with Cotton) to avoid the Noxious Fumes, I approach by degrees to a competent Fire of well kindled coals, or (which looks better, but more endangers the Glaſs) to the Flame of a candle; and after a while the bottom of the Glaſs being held Juſt upon the Kindled Coals, or in the flame, You may in about a quarter of an Hour, or perchance in halfe that time, perceive in the Bottom of the Glaſs ſome running Mercury; and if then You take away the Glaſs and break it, You ſhall find a Parcel of Quickſilver, Perhaps altogether, and perhaps part of it in the pores of the Solid Maſs; You ſhall find too, that the remaining Lump being held to the Flame of the Candle will readily burn with a greeniſh Flame, and after a little while (perchance preſently) will in the Air Acquire a Greeniſh Blew, which being the Colour that is aſcrib'd to Copper, when its Body is unlocked, 'Tis eaſie to perſwade Men that this is the True Sulphur of Venus, eſpecially ſince not only the Salts may be Suppos'd partly to be Flown away, and partly to be Sublim'd to the upper part of the Glaſs, whoſe inſide (will Commonly appear Whitened by them) but the Metal ſeems to be quite Deſtroy'd, the Copper no longer appearing in a Metalline Forme, but almoſt in that of a Reſinous Lump; whereas indeed the Caſe is only this, That the Saline parts of the Sublimate, together with the Sal Armoniack, being excited and actuated by the Vehement heat, fall upon the Copper, (which is a Metal they can more eaſily corrode, than ſilver) whereby the ſmall parts of the Mercury being freed from the Salts that kept them aſunder, and being by the heat tumbled up and down after many Occurſions, they Convene into a Conſpicuous Maſs of Liquor; and as for the Salts, ſome of the more Volatile of them Subliming to the upper part of the Glaſs, the others Corrode the Copper, and uniting themſelves with it do ſtrangely alter and Diſguiſe its Metallick Form, and compoſe with it a new kind of Concrete inflamable like Sulphur; concerning which I ſhall not now ſay any thing, ſince I can Referr You to the Diligent Obſervations which I remember Mr. Boyle has made concerning this Odde kind of Verdigreaſe. But Continues Carneades ſmiling, you know I was not cut out for a Mountebank, and therefore I will haſten to reſume the perſon of a Sceptick, and take up my diſcourſe where You diverted me from proſecuting it.

In the next place, then, I conſider, that, as there are ſome Bodies which yield not ſo many as the three Principles; ſo there are many others, that in their Reſolution Exhibite more principles than three; and that therefore the Ternary Number is not that of the Univerſal and Adequate Principles of Bodies. If you allow of the Diſcourſe I ately made You, touching the primary Aſſociations of the ſmall Particles of matter, You will ſcarce think it improbable, that of ſuch Elementary Corpuſcles there may be more ſorts then either three, or four, or five. And if you will grant, what will ſcarce be deny'd, that Corpuſcles of a compounded Nature may in all the wonted Examples of Chymiſts paſs for Elementary, I ſee not, why you ſhould think it impoſſible, that as Aqua Fortis, or Aqua Regis will make a Separation of colliquated Silver and Gold, though the Fire cannot; ſo there may be ſome Agent found out ſo ſubtile and ſo powerfull, at leaſt in reſpect of thoſe particular compounded Corpuſcles, as to be able to reſolve them into thoſe more ſimple ones, whereof they conſiſt, and conſequently encreaſe the number of the Diſtinct Subſtances, whereinto the mixt Body has been hitherto thought reſoluble. And if that be true, which I recited to you a while ago out of Helmont concerning the Operations of the Alkahest, which divides Bodies into other Diſtinct Subſtances, both as to number and Nature, then the Fire does; it will not a little countenance my Conjecture. But confining our ſelves to ſuch wayes of Analyzing mix'd Bodies, as are already not unknown to Chymiſts, it may without Abſurdity be Queſtion'd, whether beſides thoſe groſſer Elements of Bodies, which they call Salt Sulphur and Mercury, there may not be Ingredients of a more Subtile Nature, which being extreamly little, and not being in themſelves Viſible, may eſcape unheeded at the Junctures of the Deſtillatory Veſſels, though never ſo carefully Luted. For let me obſerve to you one thing, which though not taken notice of by Chymiſts, may be a notion of good Uſe in divers Caſes to a Naturaliſt, that we may well ſuſpect, that there may be ſeverall Sorts of Bodies, which are not Immediate Objects of any one of our ſenſes; ſince we See, that not only thoſe little Corpuſcles that iſſue out of the Loadſtone, and perform the Wonders for which it is juſtly admired; But the Effluviums of Amber, Jet, and other Electricall Concretes, though by their effects upon the particular Bodies diſpos'd to receive their Action, they ſeem to fall under the Cognizance of our Sight, yet do they not as Electrical immediately Affect any of our ſenſes, as do the bodies, whether minute or greater, that we See, Feel, Taſte, &c. But, continues Carneades, becauſe you may expect I ſhould, as the Chymiſts do, conſider only the ſenſible Ingredients of Mixt Bodies, let us now fee, what Experience will, even as to theſe, ſuggeſt to us.

It ſeems then queſtionable enough, whether from Grapes variouſly order'd there may not be drawn more diſtinct Subſtances by the help of the Fire, then from moſt other mixt Bodies. For the Grapes themſelves being dryed into Rayſins and diſtill'd, will (beſides Alcali, Phlegm, and Earth) yield a conſiderable quantity of an Empyreumatical Oyle, and a Spirit of a very different nature from that of Wine. Alſo the unfermented Juice of Grapes affords other diſtil'd Liquors then Wine doth. The Juice of Grapes after fermentation will yield a Spiritus Ardens; which if competently rectifyed will all burn away without leaving any thing remaining. The ſame fermented Juice degenerating into Vinager, yields an acid and corroding Spirit. The ſame Juice turn'd up, armes it ſelf with Tartar; out of which may be ſeparated, as out of other Bodies, Phlegme, Spirit, Oyle, Salt and Earth: not to mention what Subſtances may be drawn from the Vine it ſelf, probably differing from thoſe which are ſeparated from Tartar, which is a body by it ſelf, that has few reſemblers in the World. And I will further conſider that what force ſoever you will allow this inſtance, to evince that there are ſome Bodies that yield more Elements then others, it can ſcarce be deny'd but that the Major part of bodies that are diviſible into Elements, yield more then three. For, beſides thoſe which the Chymiſts are pleaſed to name Hypoſtatical, moſt bodies contain two others, Phlegme and Earth, which concurring as well as the reſt to the conſtitution of Mixts, and being as generally, if not more, found in their Analyſis, I ſee no ſufficient cauſe why they ſhould be excluded from the number of Elements. Nor will it ſuffice to object, as the Paracelſians are wont to do, that the Tria prima are the moſt uſeful Elements, and the Earth and Water but worthleſſe and unactive; for Elements being call'd ſo in relation to the conſtituting of mixt Bodies, it ſhould be upon the account of its Ingrediency, not of its uſe, that any thing ſhould be affirmed or denyed to be an Element: and as for the pretended uſeleſsneſs of Earth and Water, 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 Intrinſick nature of the thing. The hurtful Teeth of Vipers are for ought I know uſeleſs to us, and yet are not to be deny'd to be parts of their Bodies; and it were hard to ſhew of what greater Uſe to Us, then Phlegme and Earth, are thoſe Undiſcern'd Stars, which our New Teleſcopes diſcover to Us, in many Blanched places of the Sky; and yet we cannot but acknowledge them Conſtituent and Conſiderably great parts of the Univerſe. Beſides that whether or no the Phlegme and Earth be immediately Uſeful, but neceſſary to conſtitute the Body whence they are ſeparated; and conſequently, if the mixt Body be not Uſeleſs to us, thoſe conſtituent parts, without which it could not have been That mixt Body, may be ſaid not to be Unuſeful to Us: and though the Earth and Water be not ſo conſpicuouſly Operative (after ſeparation) as the other three more active Principles, yet in this caſe it will not be amiſs to remember the lucky Fable of Menemius Aggrippa, of the dangerous Sedition of the Hands and Legs, and other more buſie parts of the Body, againſt the ſeemingly unactive Stomack. And to this caſe alſo we may not unfitly apply that Reaſoning of an Apoſtle, to another purpoſe; If the Ear ſhall ſay, becauſe I am not the Eye, I am not of the Body; Is it therefore not of the Body? If the whole Body were Eye, where were the Hearing? If the whole were for hearing, where the ſmelling? In a word, ſince Earth and water appear, as clearly and as generally as the other Principles upon the reſolution of Bodies, to be the Ingredients whereof they are made up; and fince they are uſeful, if not immediately to us, or rather to Phyſitians, to the Bodies they conſtitute, and ſo though in ſomewhat a remoter way, are ſerviceable to us; to exclude them out of the number of Elements, is not to imitate Nature.

But, purſues Carneades, though I think it Evident, that Earth and Phlegme are to be reckon'd among the Elements of moſt Animal and Vegetable Bodies, yet 'tis not upon that Account alone, that I think divers Bodies reſoluble into more Subſtances then three. For there are two Experiments, that I have ſometimes made to ſhew, that at leaſt ſome Mixts are diviſible into more Diſtinct Subſtances then five. The one of theſe Experiments, though 'twill be more ſeaſonable for me to mention it fully anon, yet in the mean time, I ſhall tell you thus much of it, That out of two Diſtill'd Liquors, which paſs for Elements of the Bodies whence they are drawn, I can without Addition make a true Yellow and Inflamable Sulphur, notwithſtanding that the two Liquors remain afterwards Diſtinct. Of the other Experiment, which perhaps will not be altogether unworthy your Notice, I muſt now give you this particular Account. I had long obſerv'd, that by the Deſtillation of divers Woods, both in Ordinary, and ſome unuſuall ſorts of Veſſels, the Copious Spirit that came over, had beſides a ſtrong taſt, to be mot with in the Empyreumaticall Spirits of many other Bodies, an Acidity almoſt like that of Vinager: Wherefore I ſuſpected, that though the ſowriſh Liquor Diſtill'd, for Inſtance, from Box-Wood, be lookt upon by Chymiſts as barely the Spirit of it, and therefore as one ſingle Element or Principle; yet it does really conſiſt of two Differing Subſtances, and may be diviſible into them; and conſequently, that ſuch Woods and other Mixts as abound with ſuch a Vinager, may be ſaid to conſiſt of one Element or Principle, more then the Chymiſts as yet are Aware of; Wherefore bethinking my ſelf, how the ſeparation of theſe two Spirits might be made, I Quickly found, that there were ſeveral wayes of Compaſſing it. But that of them which I ſhall at preſent mention, was this, Having Deſtill'd a Quantity of Box-Wood per ſe, and ſlowly rectify'd the ſowriſh Spirit, the better to free it both from Oyle and Phlegme, I caſt into this Rectify'd Liquor a convenient Quantity of Powder'd Coral, expecting that the Acid part of the Liquor would Corrode the Coral, and being aſſociated with it would be ſo retain'd by it, that the other part of the Liquor, which was not of an acid Nature, nor fit to faſten upon the Corals, would be permitted to aſcend alone. Nor was I deceiv'd in my Expectation; For having gently abſtracted the Liquor from the Coralls; there came over a Spirit of a Strong ſmell, and of a taſt very piercing, but without any ſourneſs; and which was in diverſe qualities manifeſtly different, not only from a Spirit of Vinager, but from ſome Spirit of the ſame Wood, that I purpoſely kept by me without depriving it of its acid Ingredient. And to ſatisfy you, that theſe two Subſtances were of a very differing Nature, I might informe you of ſeveral Tryals that I made, but muſt not name ſome of them, becauſe I cannot do ſo without making ſome unſeaſonable diſcoveries. Yet this I ſhall tell you at preſent, that the ſowre Spirit of Box, not only would, as I juſt now related, diſſolve Corals, which the other would not faſten on, but being pour'd upon Salt of Tartar would immediately boile and hiſs, whereas the other would lye quietly upon it. The acid Spirit pour'd upon Minium made a Sugar of Lead, which I did not find the other to do; ſome drops of this penetrant ſpirit being mingl'd with ſome drops of the blew Syrup of Violets ſeem'd rather to dilute then otherwiſe alter the colour; whereas the Acid Spirit turn'd the ſurup of a reddiſh colour, and would probably have made it of as pure a red as Acid Salts are wont to do, had not its operation been hindered by the mixture of the other Spirit. A few drops of the compound Spirit being Shaken into a pretty quantity of the infuſion of Lignum Nephriticum, preſently deſtroyed all the blewiſh colour, whereas the other Spirit would not take it away. To all which it might be added, that having for tryals ſake pour'd fair water upon the Corals that remained in the bottom of the glaſs wherein I had rectifyed the double ſpirit (if I may ſo call it) that was firſt drawn from the Box, I found according to my expectation that the Acid Spirit had really diſſolved the Corals, and had coagulated with them. For by the affuſion of fair Water, I Obtain'd a Solution, which (to note that ſingularity upon the bye) was red, whence the Water being evaporated, there remained a ſoluble Subſtance much like the Ordinary Salt of Coral, as Chymiſts are pleas'd to call that Magiſtery of Corals, which they make by diſſolving them in common ſpirit of Vinager, and abſtracting the Menſtruum ad Siccitatem. I know not whether I ſhould ſubjoine, on this occaſion, that the ſimple ſpirit of Box, if Chymiſts will have it therefore Saline becauſe it has a ſtrong taſt, will furniſh us with a new kind of Saline Bodies, differing from thoſe hitherto taken notice of. For whereas of the three chief ſorts of Salts, the Acid, the Alcalizate, and the Sulphureous, there is none that ſeems to be friends with both the other two, as I may, e're it be long, have occaſion to ſhew; I did not find but that the ſimple ſpirit of Box did agree very well (at leaſt as farr as I had occaſion to try it) both with the Acid and the other Salts. For though it would lye very quiet with ſalt of Tartar, Spirit of Urine, or other bodies, whoſe Salts were either of an Alcalizate or fugitive Nature; yet did not the mingling of Oyle of Vitriol it ſelf produce any hiſſing or Efferveſcence, which you know is wont to enſue upon the Affuſion of that highly Acid Liquor upon eit her of the Bodies newly mentioned.

I think my ſelf, ſayes Eleutherius, beholden to you, for this Experiment; not only becauſe I forſee you will make it helpful to you in the Enquiry you are now upon, but becauſe it teaches us a Method, whereby we may prepare a numerous ſort of new ſpirits, which though more ſimple then any that are thought Elementary, are manifeſtly endow'd with peculiar and powerfull qualities, ſome of which may probably be of conſiderable uſe in Phyſick, as well alone, as aſſociated with other things; as one may hopefully gueſs by the redneſs of that Solution your ſour Spirit made of Corals, and by ſome other circumſtances of your Narrative. And ſuppoſe (purſues Eleutherius) that you are not ſo confin'd, for the ſeparation of the Acid parts of theſe compound Spirits from the other, to employ Corals; but that you may as well make uſe of any Alcalizate Salt, or of Pearls, or Crabs eyes, or any other Body, upon which common Spirit of Vinager will eaſily work, and, to ſpeak in an Helmontian Phraſe, Exantlate it ſelf.

I have not yet tryed, ſayes Carneades, of what uſe the mention'd liquors may be in Phyſick, either as Medicines or as Menstruums: But I could mention now (and may another time) divers of the tryals that I made to ſatisfy my ſelf of the difſerence of theſe two Liquors. But that, as I allow you thinking what you newly told me about Corals, I preſume you will allow me, from what I have ſaid already, to deduce this Corollary; That there are divers compound bodies, which may be reſolv'd into four ſuch differing Subſtances, as may as well merit the name of Principles, as thoſe to which the Chymiſts freely give it. For ſince they ſcruple not to reckon that which I call the compound Spirit of Box, for the ſpirit, or as others would have it, the Mercury of that Wood, I ſee not, why the Acid liquor, and the other, ſhould not each of them, eſpecially that laſt named, be lookt upon as more worthy to be called an Elementary Principle; ſince it muſt needs be of a more ſimple nature then the Liquor, which was found to be diviſible into that, and the Acid Spirit. And this further uſe (continues Carneades) may be made of our experiment to my preſent purpoſe, that it may give us a riſe to ſuſpect, that ſince a Liquor reputed by the Chymiſts to be, without diſpute, Homogeneous, is by ſo ſlight a way diviſible into two diſtinct and more ſimple Ingredients, ſome more skilful or happier Experimenter then I may find a way either further to divide one of theſe Spirits, or to reſolve ſome or other, if not all, of thoſe other Ingredients of mixt Bodies, that have hitherto paſs'd among Chymiſts for their Elements or Principles.

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST. The Fourth Part.

ANd thus much (ſayes Carneades) may ſuffice to be ſaid of the Number of the Diſtinct ſubſtances ſeparable from mixt Bodies by the Fire: Wherefore I now proceed to conſider the nature of them, and ſhew you, That though they ſeem Homogeneous Bodies, yet have they not the purity and ſimplicity that is requiſite to Elements. And I ſhould immediately proceed to the proof of my Aſſertion, but that the Confidence wherewith Chymiſts are wont to call each of the Subſtances we ſpeak of by the name of Sulphur or Mercury, or the other of the Hypoſtaticall Principles, and the intollerable Ambiguity they allow themſelves ie their Writings and Expreſſions, makes it neceſſary for me in Order to the Keeping you either from miſtaking me, or thinking I miſtake the Controverſie, to take Notice to you and complain of the unreaſonable Liberty they give themſelves of playing with Names at pleaſure. And indeed if I were oblig'd in this Diſpute, to have ſuch regard to the Phraſeology of each particular Chymiſt, as not to Write any thing which this or that Author may not pretend, not to contradict this or that ſence, which he may give as Occaſion ſerves to his Ambiguous Expreſſions, I ſhould ſcarce know how to diſpute, nor which way to turn my ſelf. For I find that even Eminent Writers, (ſuch as Raymund Lully, Paracelſus and others) do ſo abuſe the termes they employ, that as they will now and then give divers things, one name; ſo they will oftentimes give one thing, many Names; and ſome of them (perhaps) ſuch, as do much more properly ſignifie ſome Diſtinct Body of another kind; nay even in Technical Words or Termes of Art, they refrain not from this Confounding Liberty; but will, as I have Obſerv'd, call the ſame Subſtance, ſometimes the Sulphur, and Sometimes the Mercury of a Body. And now I ſpeak of Mercury, I cannot but take Notice, that the Deſcriptions they give us of that Principle or Ingredient of. mixt Bodies, are ſo intricate, that even thoſe that have Endeavour'd to Polliſh and Illuſtrate the Notions of the Chymiſts, are fain to confeſs that they know not what to make of it, either by Ingenuous Acknowledgments, or Deſcriptions that are not Intelligible.

I muſt confeſs (ſayes Eleutherius) I have, in the reading of Paracelſus and other Chymical Authors, been troubled to find, that ſuch hard Words and Equivocal Expreſſions, as You juſtly complain of, do even when they treat of Principles, ſeem to be ſtudiouſly affected by thoſe Writers; whether to make themſelves to be admir'd by their Readers, and their Art appear more Venerable and Myſterious, or, (as they would have us think) to conceal from them a Knowledge themſelves judge ineſtimable.

But whatever (ſayes Carneades) theſe Men may promiſe themſelves from a Canting way of delivering the Principles of Nature, they will find the Major part of Knowing Men ſo vain, as when they underſtand not what they read, to conclude, that it is rather the Writers fault then their own. And thoſe that are ſo ambitious to be admir'd by the Vulgar, that rather then go without the Admiration of the Ignorant they will expoſe themſelves to the contempt of the Learned, thoſe ſhall, by my conſent, freely enjoy their Option. As for the Myſtical Writers ſcrupling to Communicate their Knowledge, they might leſs to their own Diſparagement, and to the trouble of their Readers, have conceal'd it by writing no Books, then by Writing bad ones. If Themistius were here, he would not ſtick to ſay, that Chymiſts write thus darkly, not becauſe they think their Notions too precious to be explain'd, but becauſe they fear that if they were explain'd, men would diſcern, that they are farr from being precious. And indeed, I fear that the chief Reaſon why Chymiſts have written ſo obſcurely of their three Principles, may be, That not having Clear and Diſtinct Notions of them themſelves, they cannot write otherwiſe then Confuſedly of what they but Confuſedly Apprehend: Not to ſay that divers of them, being Conſcious to the Invalidity of their Doctrine, might well enough diſcerne that they could ſcarce keep themſelves from being confuted, but by keeping themſelves from being clearly underſtood. But though much may be ſaid to Excuſe the Chymiſts when they write Darkly, and Aenigmatically, about the Preparation of their Elixir, and Some few other grand Arcana, the divulging of which they may upon Grounds Plauſible enough eſteem unfit; yet when they pretend to teach the General Principles of Natural Philoſophers, this Equivocall Way of Writing is not to be endur'd. For in ſuch Speculative Enquities, where the naked Knowledge of the Truth is the thing Principally aim'd at, what does he teach me worth thanks that does not, if he can, make his Notion intelligible to me, but by Myſtical Termes, and Ambiguous Phraſes darkens what he ſhould clear up; and makes me add the Trouble of gueſſing at the ſence of what he Equivocally expreſſes, to that of examining the Truth of what he ſeems to deliver. And if the matter of the Philoſophers Stone, and the manner of preparing it, be ſuch Myſteries as they would have the World believe them, they may Write Intelligibly and Clearly of the Principles of mixt Bodies in General, without Diſcovering what they call the Great Work. But for my part (Continues Carneades) what my Indignation at this Un-philoſophical way of teaching Principles has now extorted from me, is meant chiefly to excuſe my ſelf, if I ſhall hereafter oppoſe any Particular Opinion or aſſertion, that ſome Follower of Paracelſus or any Eminent Artiſt may pretend not to be his Maſters. For, as I told you long ſince, I am not Oblig'd to examine private mens writings, (which were a Labour as endleſs as unprofitable) being only engag'd to examine thoſe Opinions about the Tria Prima, which I find thoſe Chymiſts I have met with to agree in moſt: And I Doubt not but my Arguments againſt their Doctrine will be in great part eaſily enough applicable ev'n to thoſe private Opinions, which they do not ſo directly and expreſly oppoſe. And indeed, that which I am now entering upon being the Conſideration of the things themſelves whereinto Spagyrists reſolve mixt Bodies by the Fire, If I can ſhew that theſe are not of an Elementary Nature, it will be no great matter what names theſe or thoſe Chymiſts have been pleaſed to give them. And I queſtion not that to a Wiſe man, and conſequently to Eleutherius, it will be leſſe conſiderable to know, what Men Have thought of Things, then what they Should have thought.

In the fourth and laſt place, then, I conſider, that as generally as Chymiſts are wont to appeal to Experience, and as confidently as they uſe to inſtance the ſeveral ſubſtances ſeparated by the Fire from a Mixt Body, as a ſufficient proof of their being its component Elements: Yet thoſe differing Subſtances are many of them farr enough from Elementary ſimplicity, and may be yet look'd upon as mixt Bodies, moſt of them alſo retaining, ſomewhat at leaſt, if not very much, of the Nature of thoſe Concretes whence they were forc'd.

I am glad (ſayes Eleutherius) to ſee the Vanity or Envy of the canting Chymiſts thus diſcover'd and chaſtis'd; and I could wiſh, that Learned Men would conſpire together to make theſe deluding Writers ſenſible, that they muſt no longe hope with Impunity to abuſe the World. For whilſt ſuch Men are quietly permitted to publiſh Books with promiſing Titles, and therein to Aſſert what they pleaſe, and contradict others, and ev'n themſelves as they pleaſe, with as little danger of being confuted as of being underſtood, they are encourag'd to get themſelves a name, at the coſt of the Readers, by finding that intelligent Men are wont for the reaſon newly mention'd, to let their Books and Them alone: And the ignorant and credulous (of which the number is ſtill much greater then that of the other) are forward to admire moſt what they leaſt underſtand. But if Judicious men skill'd in Chymical affaires ſhall once agree to write clearly and plainly of them, and thereby keep men from being ſtunn'd, as it were, or imposd upon by dark or empty Words; 'tis to be hop'd that theſe men finding that they can no longer write impertinently and abſurdly, without being laugh'd at for doing ſo, will be reduc'd either to write nothing, or Books that may teach us ſomething, and not rob men, as formerly, of invaluable Time; and ſo ceaſing to trouble the World with Riddles or Impertinencies, we ſhall either by their Books receive an Advantage, or by their ſilence eſcape an Inconvenience.

But after all this is ſaid (continues Eleutherius) it may be repreſented in favour of the Chymiſts, that, in one regard the Liberty they take in uſing names, if it be excuſable at any time, may be more ſo when they ſpeak of the ſubſtances whereinto their Analyſis reſolves mixt Bodies: Since as Parents have the Right to name their own Children, it has ever been allow'd to the Authors of new Inventions, to Impoſe Names upon them. And therefore the ſubjects we ſpeak of being ſo the Productions of the Chymiſt's Art, as not to be otherwiſe, but by it, obtainable; it ſeems but equitable to give the Artiſts leave to name them as they pleaſe: conſidering alſo that none are ſo fit and likely to teach us what thoſe Bodies are, as they to whom we ow'd them.

I told You already (ſayes Carneades) that there is great Difference betwixt the being able to make Experiments, and the being able to give a Philoſophical Account of them. And I will not now add, that many a Mine-digger may meet, whilſt he follows his work, with a Gemm or a Mineral which he knowes not what to make of, till he ſhews it a Jeweller or a Mineraliſt to be inform'd what it is. But that which I would rather have here obſerv'd, is, That the Chymiſts I am now in debate with have given up the Liberty You challeng'd for them, of uſing Names at Pleaſure, and confin'd Themſelves by their Deſcriptions, though but ſuch as they are, of their Principles; ſo that although they might freely have call'd any thing their Analyſis preſents them with, either Sulphur, or Mercury, or Gas, or Blas, or what they pleas'd; yet when 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 either compounded or uninflamable is ſuch a Sulphur; and to think they play with words, when they teach that Gold and ſome other Minerals abound with an Incombuſtible Sulphur, which is as proper an Expreſſion, as a Sun-ſhine Night, or Fluid Ice.

But before I deſcend to the Mention of Particulars belonging to my Fourth Conſideration, I think it convenient to premiſe a few Generals; ſome of which I ſhall the leſs need to inſiſt on at preſent, becauſe I have Touched on them already.

And firſt I muſt invite you to take notice of a certain paſſage in Helmont; ^[13] which though I have not Found much heeded by his Readers, He Himſelf mentions as a notable thing, and I take to be a very conſiderable one; for whereas the Diſtill'd oyle of oyle-olive, though drawn per ſe is (as I have try'd) of a very ſharp and fretting Quality, and of an odious taſt, He tells us that Simple oyle being only digeſted with Paracelſus's ſal circulatum, is reduc'd into diſſimilar parts, and yields a ſweet Oyle, very differing from the oylediſtill'd, from ſallet oyle; as alſo that by the ſame way there may be ſeparated from Wine a very ſweet and gentle Spirit, partaking of a far other and nobler quality then that which is immediately drawn by diſtillation and call'd Dephlegm'd Aqua vitae, from whoſe Acrimony this other ſpirit is exceedingly remote, although the ſal circulatum that makes theſe Anatomies be ſeparated from the Analyz'd Bodies, in the ſame weight and with the ſame qualities it had before; which Affirmation of Helmont if we admit to be true, we muſt acknowledge that there may be a very great diſparity betwixt bodies of the ſame denomination (as ſeveral oyles, or ſeveral ſpirits) ſeparable from compound Bodies: For, beſides the differences I ſhall anon take notice of, betwixt thoſe diſtill'd Oyles that are commonly known to Chymiſts, it appears by this, that by means of the Sal Circulatum, There may be quite another ſort of Oyles obtain'd from the ſame Body; and who knowes but that there may be yet other Agents found in Nature, by whoſe help there may, whether by Tranſmutation or otherwiſe, be obtain'd from the Bodies Vulgarly call'd Mixt, Oyles or other ſubſtances, Differing from thoſe of the ſame Denomination, known either to Vulgar Chymiſts, or even to Helmont Himſelf: but for fear You ſhould tell me, that this is but a conjecture grounded upon another Man's Relation, whoſe Truth we have not the means to Experiment, I will not Inſiſt upon it; but leaving You to Conſider of it at leaſure, I ſhall proceed to what is next.

Secondly, Then if that be True which was the Opinion of Lucippus, Democritus, and other prime Anatomiſts of old, and is in our dayes reviv'd by no mean Philoſophers; namely, That our Culinary Fire, ſuch as Chymiſts uſe, conſiſts of ſwarmes of little Bodies ſwiftly moving, which by their ſmallneſs and motion are able to permeate the ſollideſt and Compacteſt Bodies, and even Glaſs it Self; If this (I ſay) be True, ſince we ſee that In flints and other Concretes, the Fiery part is Incorporated with the Groſſer, it will not be Irrationall to conjecture, that multitudes of theſe Fiery Corpuſcles, getting in at the Pores of the Glaſs, may aſſociate themſelves with the parts of the mixt Body whereon they work, and with them Conſtitute new Kinds of Compound Bodies, according as the Shape, Size, and other Affections of the Parts of the Diſſipated Body happen to diſpoſe them, in Reference to ſuch Combinations; of which alſo there may be the greater Number; if it be likewiſe granted that the Corpuſcles of the Fire, though all exceeding minute, and very ſwiftly moved, are not all of the ſame bigneſs, nor Figure. And if I had not Weightier Conſiderations to Diſcourſe to you of, I could name to you, to Countenance what I have newly ſaid, ſome particular Experiments by which I have been Deduc'd to think, that the Particles of an open Fire working upon ſome Bodies may really Aſſociate themſelves therewith, and add to the Quantity. But becauſe I am not ſo ſure, that when the Fire works upon Bodies included in Glaſſes, it does it by a reall Trajection of the Fiery Corpuſcles themſelves, through the Subſtance of the Glaſs, I will proceed to what is next to be mention'd.

I could (ſayes Eleutherius) help you to ſome Proofes, whereby I think it may be made very probable, that when the Fire acts immediately upon a Body, ſome of its Corpuſcles may ſtick to thoſe of the burnt Body, as they ſeem to do in Quicklime, but in greater numbers, and more permanently. But for fear of retarding Your Progreſs, I ſhall deſire you to deferr this Enquiry till another time, and proceed as you intended.

You may then in the next place (ſayes Carneades) obſerve with me, that not only there are ſome Bodies, as Gold, and Silver, which do not by the uſual Examens, made by Fire, Diſcover themſelves to be mixt; but if (as You may Remember I formerly told You) it be a De-compound Body that is Diſſipable into ſeveral Subſtances, by being expos'd to the Fire it may be reſolv'd into ſuch a; are neither Elementary, nor ſuch as it was upon its laſt mixture Compounded of; but into new Kinds of mixts. Of this I have already given You ſome Examples in Sope, Sugar of Lead, and Vitrioll. Now if we ſhall Conſider that there are ſome Bodies, as well Natural, (as that I laſt nam'd) as Factitious, manifeſtly Decompounded; That in the Bowells of the Earth Nature may, as we ſee ſhe ſometimes does, make ſtrange Mixtures; That Animals are nouriſh'd with other Animals and Plants; And, that theſe themſelves have almoſt all of them their Nutriment and Growth, either from a certain Nitrous Juice Harbour'd in the Pores of the Earth, or from the Excrements of Animalls, or from the putrify'd Bodies, either of living Creatures or Vegetables, or from other Subſtances of a Compounded Nature; If, I ſay, we conſider this, it may ſeem probable, that there may be among the Works of Nature (not to mention thoſe of Art) a greater Number of De-compound Bodies, then men take Notice of; And indeed, as I have formerly alſo obſerv'd, it does not at all appear, that all Mixtures muſt be of Elementary Bodies; but it ſeems farr more probable, that there are divers ſorts of compound Bodies, even in regard of all or ſome of their Ingredients, conſider'd Antecedently to their Mixture. For though ſome ſeem to be made up by the immediate Coalitions of the Elements, or Principles themſelves, and therefore may be call'd Prima Mista, or Miſta Primaria; yet it ſeems that many other Bodies are mingl'd (if I may ſo ſpeak) at the ſecond hand, their immediate Ingredients being not Elementary, but theſe primary Mixts newly ſpoken of; And from divers of theſe Secondary ſort of Mixts may reſult, by a further Compoſition, a Third ſort, and ſo onwards. Nor is it improbable, that ſome Bodies are made up of Mixt Bodies, not all of the ſame Order, but of ſeveral; as (for Inſtance) a Concrete may conſiſt of Ingredients, whereof the one may have been a primary, the other a Secondary Mixt Body; (as I have in Native Cinnaber, by my way of Reſolving it, found both that Courſer the part that ſeems more properly to be Oar, and a Combuſtible Sulphur, and a Running Mercury:) or perhaps without any Ingredient of this latter ſort, it may be compos'd of Mixt Bodies, ſome of them of the firſt, and ſome of the third Kind; And this may perhaps be somewhat Illustrated by reflecting upon what happens in ſome Chymical Preparations of thoſe Medicines which they call their Bezoardicum's. For firſt, they take Antimony and Iron, which may be look'd upon as Prima Miſta; of theſe they compound a Starry Regulus, and to this they add according to their Intention, either Gold, or Silver, which makes with it a new and further Compoſition. To this they add Sublimate, which is it ſelf a De-compound body, (conſiſting of common Quickſilver, and divers Salts United by Sublimation into a Cryſtalline Subſtance) and from this Sublimate, and the other Metalline Mixtures, they draw a Liquor, which may be allow'd to be of a yet more Compounded Nature. If it be true, as Chymiſts affirm it, that by this Art ſome of the Gold or Silver mingl'd with the Regulus may be carry'd over the Helme with it by the Sublimate; as indeed a Skilfull and Candid perſon complain'd to me a while ſince, That an experienc'd Friend of His and mine, having by ſuch a way brought over a great Deal of Gold, in hope to do ſomething further with it, which might be gainfull to him, has not only miſs'd of his Aim, but is unable to recover his Volatiliz'd Gold out of the Antimonial butter, wherewith it is ſtrictly united.

Now (Continues Carneades) if a Compound body conſiſt of Ingredients that are not meerly Elementary; it is not hard to conceive, that the Subſtances into which the Fire Diſſolves it, though ſeemingly Homogeneous enough, may be of a Compounded Nature, thoſe parts of each body that are moſt of Kin aſſociating themſelves into a Compound of a new Kind. As when (for example ſake) I have caus'd Vitrioll and Sal Armoniack, and Salt Petre to be mingl'd and Deſtill'd together, the Liquor that came over manifeſted it ſelf not to be either Spirit of Nitre, or of Sal Armoniack, or of Vitrioll. For none of theſe would diſſolve crude gold, which yet my Liquor was able readily to do; and thereby manifeſted it ſelf to be a new Compound, conſiſting at leaſt of Spirit of Nitre, and Sal Armoniack, (for the latter diſſolv'd in the former, will Work on Gold) which nevertheleſs are not by any known way ſeparable, and conſequently would not paſs for a Mixt Body, if we our ſelves did not, to obtain it, put and Diſtill together divers Concretes, whoſe Diſtinct Operations were known before hand. And, to add on this Occaſion the Experiment I lately promis'd You, becauſe it is Applicable to our preſent purpoſe, I ſhall Acquaint You, that ſuſpecting the Common Oyle of Vitrioll not to be altogether ſuch a ſimple Liquor as Chymiſts preſume it, I mingl'd it with an equal or a Double Quantity (for I try'd the Experiment more then once) of common Oyle of Turpentine, ſuch as together with the other Liquor I bought at the Drugſters. And having carefully (for the Experiment is Nice, and ſomewhat dangerous) Diſtill'd the Mixture in a ſmall Glaſs Retort, I obtain'd according to my Deſire, (beſides the two Liquors I had put in) a pretty Quantity of a certain ſubſtance, which ſticking all about the Neck of the Retort Diſcover'd it ſelf to be Sulphur, not only by a very ſtrong Sulphureous ſmell, and by the colour of Brimſtone; but alſo by this, That being put upon a coal, it was immediately kindl'd, and burn'd like common Sulphur. And of this Subſtance I have yet by me ſome little Parcells, which You may command and examine when you pleaſe. So that from this Experiment I may deduce either one, or both of theſe Propoſitions, That a real Sulphur may be made by the Conjunction of two ſuch Subſtances as Chymiſts take for Elementary, And which did not either of them apart appear to have any ſuch body in it; or that Oyle of Vitrioll though a Diſtill'd Liquor, and taken for part of the Saline Principle of the Concrete that yields it, may yet be ſo Compounded a body as to contain, beſides its Saline part, a Sulphur like common brimſtone, which would hardly be it ſelf a ſimple or un-compounded body.

I might (purſues Carneades) remind You, that I formerly repreſented it, as poſſible, That as there may be more Elements then five, or ſix; ſo the Elements of one body may be Different from thoſe of another; whence it would follow, that from the Reſolution of Decompound compound body, there may reſult Mixts of an altogether new kind, by the Coalition of Elements that never perhaps conven'd before. I might, I ſay, mind You of this, and add divers things to this ſecond Conſideration; but for fear of wanting time I willingly pretermit them, to paſs on to the third, which is this, That the Fire does not alwayes barely reſolve or take aſunder, but may alſo after a new manner mingle and compound together the parts (whether Elementary or not) of the Body Diſſipated by it.

This is ſo evident, ſayes Carneades, in ſome obvious Examples, that I cannot but wonder at their Supineſs that have not taken notice of it. For when Wood being burnt in a Chimney is diſſipated by the Fire into Smoke and Aſhes, that ſmoke compoſes ſoot, which is ſo far from being any one of the principles of the Wood, that (as I noted above) you may by a further Anlyſis ſeparate five or ſix diſtinct ſubſtances from it. And as for the remaining Aſhes, the Chymiſts themſelves teach us, that by a further degree of fire they may be indiſſolubly united into glaſs. 'Tis true, that the Analyſis which the Chymiſts principally build upon is made, not in the open air, but in cloſe Veſſels; but however, the Examples lately produc'd may invite you ſhrewdly to ſuſpect, That heat may as well compound as diſſipate the Parts of mixt Bodies: and not to tell you, that I have known a Vitrification made even in cloſe veſſels, I muſt remind you that the Flowers of Antimony, and thoſe of Sulphur, are very mix'd Bodies, though they aſcend in cloſe veſſells: And that 'twas in ſtopt glaſſes that I brought up the whole Body of Camphire. And whereas it may be objected, that all theſe Examples are of Bodies forc'd up in a dry, not a Fluid forme, as are the Liquors wont to be obtain'd by diſtillation; I anſwer, That beſides that 'tis poſſible, that a Body may be chang'd from Conſiſtent to Fluid, or from Fluid to Conſiſtent, without being otherwiſe much altered, as may appear by the Eaſineſs wherewith in Winter, without any Addition or Separation of Viſible Ingredients, the ſame ſubſtance may be quickly harden'd into brittle Ice, and thaw'd again into Fluid Water; Beſides this, I ſay it would be conſider'd, that common Quick-ſilver it ſelf, which the Eminenteſt Chymiſts confeſs to be a mixt Body, may he Driven over the Helme in its Priſtine forme of Quickſilver, and conſequently, in that of a Liquor. And certainly 'tis poſſible that very compounded Bodies may concur to Conſtitute Liquors; Since, not to mention that I have found it poſſible, by the help of a certain Menſtruum, to diſtill Gold it ſelf through a Retort, even with a Moderate Fire: Let us but conſider what happens in Butter of Antimony. For if that be carefully rectify'd, it may be reduc'd into a very clear Liquor; and yet if You caſt a quantity of fair water upon it, there will quickly precipitate a Ponderous and Vomitive Calx, which made before a conſiderable part of the Liquor, and yet is indeed (though ſome eminent Chymiſts would have it Mercurial) an Antimonial Body carryed over and kept diſſolv'd by the Salts of the Sublimate, and conſequently a compounded one; as You may find if You will have the Curioſity to Examine this White powder by a skilful Reduction. And that You may not think that Bodies as compounded as flowers of Brimſtone cannot be brought to Concurr to Conſtitute Diſtill'd Liquors; And alſo That You may not imagine with Divers Learned Men that pretend no ſmall skill in Chymiſtry, that at leaſt no mixt Body can be brought over the Helme, but by corroſive Salts, I am ready to ſhew You, when You pleaſe, among other wayes of bringing over Flowers of Brimſtone (perhaps I might add even Mineral Sulphurs) ſome, wherein I employ none but Oleaginous bodies to make Volatile Liquors, in which not only the colour, but (which is a much ſurer mark) the ſmell and ſome Operations manifeſt that there is brought over a Sulphur that makes part of the Liquor.

One thing more there is, Eleutherius, ſayes Carneades, which is ſo pertinent to my preſent purpoſe, that though I have touch'd upon it before, I cannot but on this occaſion take notice of it. And it is this, That the Qualities or Accidents, upon whoſe account Chymiſts are wont to call a portion of Matter by the name of Mercury or ſome other of their Principles, are not ſuch but that 'tis poſſible as Great (and therefore why not the like?) may be produc'd by ſuch changes of Texture, and other Alterations, as the Fire may make in the ſmall Parts of a Body. I have already prov'd, when I diſcours'd of the ſecond General Conſideration, by what happens to plants nouriſh'd only with fair water, and Eggs hatch'd into Chickens, that by changing the diſpoſition of the component parts of a Body, Nature is able to effect as great Changes in a parcell of Matter reputed ſimilar, as thoſe requiſite to Denominate one of the Tria Prima. And though Helmont do ſomewhere wittily call the Fire the Deſtructor and the Artificial Death of Things; And although another Eminent Chymiſt and Phyſitian be pleas'd to build upon this, That Fire can never generate any thing but Fire; Yet You will, I doubt not, be of another mind, If You conſider how many new ſorts of mixt Bodies Chymiſts themſelves have produc'd by means of the Fire: And particularly, if You conſider how that Noble and Permanent Body, Glaſs, is not only manifeſtly produc'd by the violent action of the Fire, but has never, for ought we know, been produc'd any other way. And indeed it ſeems but an inconſiderate Aſſertion of ſome Helmontians, that every ſort of Body of a Peculiar Denomination muſt be produc'd by ſome Seminal power; as I think I could evince, if I thought it ſo neceſſary, as it is for me to haſten to what I have further to diſcourſe. Nor need it much move us, that there are ſome who look upon whatſoever the Fire is employ'd to produce, not as upon Natural but Artificial Bodies. For there is not alwaies ſuch a difference as many imagine betwixt the one and the other: Nor is it ſo eaſy as they think, clearly to aſſigne that which Properly, Conſtantly, and Sufficiently, Diſcriminates them. But not to engage my ſelf in ſo nice a Diſquiſition, it may now ſuffice to obſerve, that a thing is commonly termed Artificial, when a parcel of matter is by the Artificers hand, or Tools, or both, brought to ſuch a ſhape or Form, as he Deſign'd before-hand in his Mind: Whereas in many of the Chymical Productions the effect would be produc'd whether the Artificer intended it or no; and is oftentimes very much other then he Intended or Look't for; and the Inſtruments employ'd, are not Tools Artificially faſhion'd and ſhaped, like thoſe of Tradeſmen, for this or that particular Work; but, for the moſt part, Agents of Nature's own providing, and whoſe chief Powers of Operation they receive from their own Nature or Texture, not the Artificer. And indeed, the Fire is as well a Natural Agent as Seed: And the Chymiſt that imployes it, does but apply Natural Agents and Patients, who being thus brought together, and acting according to their reſpective Natures, performe the worke themſelves; as Apples, Plums, or other fruit, are natural Productions, though the Gardiner bring and faſten together the Sciens of the Stock, and both Water, and do perhaps divers other wayes Contribute to its bearing fruit. But, to proceed to what I was going to ſay, You may obſerve with me, Eleutherius, that, as I told You once before, Qualities ſleight enough may ſerve to Denominate a Chymical Principle. For, when they anatomize a compound Body by the Fire, if they get a Subſtance inflamable, and that will not mingle with Water, that they preſently call Sulphur; what is ſapid and Diſſoluble in Water, that muſt paſſe for Salt; Whatſoever is fix'd and indiſſoluble in Water, that they name Earth. And I was going to add, that, whatſoever Volatile ſubſtance they know not what to make of, not to ſay, whatſoever they pleaſe, that they call Mercury. But that theſe Qualities may either be produc'd, otherwiſe then by ſuch as they call Seminal Agents, or may belong to bodies of a compounded Nature, may be ſhewn, among other Inſtances, in Glaſs made of aſhes, where the exceeding ſtrongly-taſted Alcalizate Salt joyning with the Earth becomes inſipid, and with it conſtitutes a Body, which though alſo dry, fixt, and indiſſoluble in Water, is yet manifeſtly a mixt Body; and made ſo by the Fire it ſelf.

And I remmember to our preſent purpoſe, that Helmont, amongſt other Medicines that he commends, has a ſhort proceſſe, wherein, though the Directions for Practice are but obſcurely intimated; yet I have ſome reaſon not to Diſ-believe the Proceſs, without affirming or denying any thing about the vertues of the remedy to be made by it. ^[14] Quando (ſayes he) oleum cinnamomi &c. ſuo ſali alkali miſcetur abſque omni aqua, trium menſium artificioſa occultaque circulatione, totum in ſalem volatilem commutatum est, vere eſſentiam ſui ſimplicis in nobis exprimit, & uſque in prima noſtri constitutivaſeſe ingerit. A not unlike Proceſſe he delivers in another place; from whence, if we ſuppoſe him to ſay true, I may argue, that ſince by the Fire there may be produc'd a ſubſtance that is as well Saline and volatile as the Salt of Harts-horn, blood, &c. which paſs for Elementary; and ſince that this Volatile Salt is really compounded of a Chymical Oyle and a fixt Salt, the one made Volatile by the Other, and both aſſociated by the fire, it may well be ſuſpected that other Subſtances, emerging upon the Diſſipation of Bodies by the Fire, may be new ſorts of Mixts, and conſiſt of Subſtances of differing natures; and particularly, I have ſometimes ſuſpected, that ſince the Volatile Salts of Blood, Harts-horn, &c. are figitive and endow'd with an exceeding ſtrong ſmell, either that Chymiſts do Erroneouſly aſcribe all odours to ſulphurs, or that ſuch Salts conſiſt of ſome oyly parts well incorporated with the Saline ones. And the like conjecture I have alſo made concerning Spirit of Vinager, which, though the Chymiſts think one of the Principles of that Body, and though being an Acid Spirit it ſeems to be much leſs of kin then Volatile Salts to ſulphurs; yet, not to mention its piercing ſmell; which I know not with what congruity the Chymiſt will deduce from Salt, I wonder they have not taken notice of what their own Tyrocinium Chymicum teach us concerning the Deſtillation of Saccharum Saturni; out of which Beguinus aſſures Us, ^[15] that he diſtill'd, beſides a very fine ſpirit, no leſſe then two Oyles, the one bloodred and ponderous, but the other ſwimming upon the top of the Spirit, and of a yellow colour; of which he ſayes that he kept then ſome by him, to verify what he delivers. And though I remember not that I have had two diſtinct Oyles from Sugar of Lead, yet that it will though diſtill'd without addition yield ſome Oyle, diſagrees not with my Experience. I know the Chymiſts will be apt to pretend, that theſe Oyls are but the volatiliz'd ſulphur of the lead; and will perhaps argue it from what Beguinus relates, that when the Diſtillation is ended, you'l find a Caput Mortuum extreamly black, and (as he ſpeaks) nullius momenti, as if the Body, or at leaſt the chief part of the Metal it ſelf were by the diſtillation carried over the Helme. But ſince you know as well as I that Saccharum Saturni is a kind of Magiſtery, made only by calcining of Lead per ſe, diſſolving it in diſtill'd Vinager, and cryſtalizing the ſolution; if I had leaſure to tell You how Differing a thing I did upon examination find the Caput Mortuum, ſo ſleighted by Beguinus, to be from what he repreſents it, I believe you would think the conjecture propos'd leſs probable then one or other of theſe three; either that this Oyle did formerly concur to conſtitute the Spirit of Vinager, and ſo that what paſſes for a Chymical Principle may yet be further reſoluble into diſtinct ſubſtances; or that ſome parts of the Spirit together with ſome parts of the Lead may conſtitute a Chymical Oyle, which therefore though it paſs for Homogeneous, may be a very compounded Body: or at leaſt that by the action of the Diſtill'd Vinager and the Saturnine Calx one upon another, part of the Liquor may be ſo alter'd as to be tranſmuted from an Acid Spirit into an Oyle. And though the truth of either of the two former conjectures would make the example I have reflected on more pertinent to my preſent argument; yet you'l eaſily diſcern, the Third and laſt Conjecture cannot be unſerviceable to confirm ſome other paſſages of my diſcourſe.

To return then to what I was ſaying juſt before I mention'd Helmont's Experiment, I ſhall ſubjoyne, That Chymiſts muſt confeſs alſo that in the perfectly Dephlegm'd ſpirit of Wine, or other Fermented Liquors, that which they call the Sulphur of the Concrete loſes, by the Fermentation, the Property of Oyle, (which the Chymiſts likewiſe take to be the true Sulphur of the Mixt) of being unminglable with the Water. ^[16] And if You will credit Helmont, all of the pureſt Spirit of Wine may barely by the help of pure Salt of Tartar (which is but the fixed Salt of Wine) be reſolv'd or Tranſmuted into ſcarce half an ounce of Salt, and as much Elementary Water as amounts to the remaining part of the mention'd weight. And it may (as I think I formerly alſo noted) be doubted, whether that Fixt and Alcalizate Salt, which is ſo unanimouſly agreed on to be the Saline Principle of incinerated Bodies, be not, as 'tis Alcalizate, a Production of the Fire? For though the taſt of Tartar, for Example, ſeem to argue that it contains a Salt before it be burn'd, yet that Salt being very Acid is of a quite Differing Taſt from the Lixiviate Salt of Calcin'd Tartar. And though it be not truly Objected againſt the Chymiſts, that they obtain all Salts they make, by reducing the Body they work on into Aſhes with Violent Fires, (ſince Hartshorn, Amber, Blood, and divers other Mixts yield a copious Salt before they be burn'd to Aſhes) yet this Volatile Salt Differs much, as we ſhall ſee anon, from the Fixt Alcalizate Salt I ſpeak of; which for ought I remember is not producible by any known Way, without Incineration. 'Tis not unknown to Chymiſts, that Quickſilver may be Precipitated, without Addition, into a dry Powder, that remains ſo in Water. And ſome eminent Spagyrists, and even Raimund Lully himſelf, teach, that meerly by the Fire Quickſilver may in convenient Veſſels be reduc'd (at leaſt in great part) into a thin Liquor like Water, and minglable with it. So that by the bare Action of the Fire, 'tis poſſible, that the parts of a mixt Body ſhould be ſo diſpos'd after new and differing manners, that it may be ſometimes of one conſiſtence, ſometimes of another; And may in one State be diſpos'd to be mingl'd with Water, and in another not. I could alſo ſhew you, that Bodies from which apart Chymiſts cannot obtain any thing that is Combuſtible, may by being aſſociated together, and by the help of the Fire, afford an inflamable Subſtance. And that on the other ſide, 'tis poſſible for a Body to be inflamable, from which it would very much puzzle any ordinary Chymiſt, and perhaps any other, to ſeparate an inflamable Principle or Ingredient. Wherefore, ſince the Principles of Chymiſts may receive their Denominations from Qualities, which it often exceeds not the power of Art, nor alwayes that of the Fire to produce; And ſince ſuch Qualities may be found in Bodies that differ ſo much in other Qualities from one another, that they need not be allow'd to agree in that pure and ſimple Nature, which Principles, to be ſo indeed, muſt have; it may juſtly be ſuſpected, that many Productions of the Fire that are ſhew'd us by Chymiſts, as the Principles of the Concrete that afforded them, may be but a new kind of Mixts. And to annex, on this Occaſion, to theſe arguments taken from the Nature of the thing, one of thoſe which Logicians call ad Hominem, I ſhall deſire You to take Notice, that though Paracelſus Himſelf, and ſome that are ſo miſtaken as to think he could not be ſo, have ventur'd to teach, that not only the bodies here below, but the Elements themſelves, and all the other Parts of the Univerſe, are compos'd of Salt, Sulphur and Mercury; yet the learned Sennertus, and all the more wary Chymiſts, have rejected that conceit, and do many of them confeſs, that the Tria Prima are each of them made up of the four Elements; and others of them make Earth and Water concur with Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, to the Conſtitution of Mixt bodies. So that one ſort of theſe Spagyriſts, notwithſtanding the ſpecious Titles they give to the productions of the Fire, do in effect grant what I contend for. And, of the other ſort I may well demand, to what Kind of Bodies the Phlegme and dead Earth, to be met with in Chymical Reſolutions, are to be referr'd? For either they muſt ſay, with Paracelſus, but againſt their own Conceſſions as well as againſt Experience, that theſe are alſo compos'd of the Tria Prima, whereof they cannot ſeparate any one from either of them; or elſe they muſt confeſs that two of the vaſteſt Bodies here below, Earth, and Water, are neither of them compos'd of the Tria Prima; and that conſequently thoſe three are not the Univerſal, and Adequate Ingredients, neither of all Sublunary Bodies, nor even of all mixt Bodies.

I know that the chief of theſe Chymiſts repreſent, that though the Diſtinct Subſtances into which they divide mixt bodies by the Fire, are not pure and Homogeneous; yet ſince the four Elements into which the Aristotelians pretend to reſolve the like bodies by the ſame Agent, are not ſimple neither, as themſelves acknowledge, 'tis as allowable for the Chymiſts to call the one Principles, as for the Peripateticks to call the other Elements; ſince in both caſes the Impoſition of the name is grounded only upon the Predominancy of that Element whoſe name is aſcrib'd to it. Nor ſhall I deny, that this Argument of the Chymiſts is no ill one againſt the Ariſtotelians. But what Anſwer can it prove to me, who you know am diſputing againſt the Aristotelian Elements, as the Chymicall Principles, and muſt not look upon any body as a true Principle or Element, but as yet compounded, which is not perfectly Homogeneous, but is further Reſoluble into any number of Diſtinct Subſtances how ſmall ſoever. And as for the Chymiſts calling a body Salt, or Sulphur, or Mercury, upon pretence that the Principle of the ſame name is predominant in it, That it ſelf is an Acknowledgment of what I contend for; namely that theſe productions of the Fire, are yet compounded bodies. And yet whilſt this is granted, it is affirm'd, but not prov'd, that the reputed Salt, or Sulphur, or Mercury, conſiſts mainly of one body that deſerves the name of a principle of the ſame Denomination. For how do Chymiſts make it appear that there are any ſuch primitive and ſimple bodies in thoſe we are ſpeaking of; ſince 'tis upon the matter confeſs'd by the anſwer lately made, that theſe are not ſuch? And if they pretend by Reaſon to evince what they affirm, what becomes of their confident boaſts, that the Chymiſts (whom they therefore, after Beguinus, call a Philoſophus or Opifex Senſatus) can convince our Eyes, by manifeſtly ſhewing in any mixt body thoſe ſimple ſubſtances he teaches them to be compos'd of? And indeed, for the Chymiſts to have recourſe in this caſe to other proofs then Experiments, as it is to wave the grand Argument that has all this while been given out for a Demonſtrative One; ſo it releaſes me from the obligation to proſecute a Diſpute wherein I am not engag'd to Examine any but Experimentall proofs. I know it may plauſibly Enough be Repreſented, in favour of the Chymiſts, that it being evident that much the greater part of any thing they call Salt, or Sulphur, or Mercury, is really ſuch; it would be very rigid to deny thoſe Subſtances the names aſcribed them, only becauſe of ſome ſleight mixture of another Body; ſince not only the Peripateticks call particular parcels of matter Elementary, though they acknowledge that Elements are not to be anywhere found pure, at leaſt here below; And ſince eſpecially there is a manifeſt Analogie and Reſemblance betwixt the bodies obtainable by Chymical Anatomies and the principles whoſe names are given them; I have, I ſay, conſider'd that theſe things may be repreſented: But as for what is drawn from the Cuſtome of the Peripateticks, I have already told You, that though it may be employ'd againſt Them, Yet it is not available againſt me who allow nothing to be an Element that is not perfectly Homogeneous. And whereas it is alledg'd, that the Predominant Principle ought to give a name to the ſubſtance wherein it abounds; I anſwer, that that might much more reaſonably be ſaid, if either we or the Chymiſts had ſeen Nature take pure Salt, pure Sulphur, and pure Mercury, and compound of them every ſort of Mixt Bodies. But, ſince 'tis to experience that they appeal, we muſt not take it for granted, that the Diſtill'd Oyle (for inſtance) of a plant is mainly compos'd of the pure principle call'd Sulphur, till they have given us an ocular proof, that there is in that ſort of Plants ſuch an Homogeneous Sulphur. For as for the ſpecious argument, which is drawn from the Reſemblance betwixt the Productions of the Fire, and the Reſpective, either Aristotelian Elements, or Chymical Principles, by whoſe names they are call'd; it will appear more plauſible then cogent, if You will but recall to mind the ſtate of the controverſie; which is not, whether or no there be obtain'd from mixt Bodies certain ſubſtances that agree in outward appearance, or in ſome Qualities with Quickſilver or Brimſtone, or ſome ſuch obvious or copious Body; But whether or no all Bodies confeſs'd to be perfectly mixt were compos'd of, and are reſoluble into a determinate number of primary unmixt Bodies. For, if you keep the ſtate of the queſtion in your Eye, you'l eaſily diſcerne that there is much of what ſhould be Demonſtrated, left unprov'd by thoſe Chymical Experiments we are Examining. But (not to repeat what I have already diſcover'd more at large) I ſhall now take notice, that it will not preſently follow, that becauſe a Production of the Fire has ſome affinity with ſome of the greater Maſſes of matter here below, that therefore they are both of the ſame Nature, and deſerve the ſame Name; for the Chymiſts are not content, that flame ſhould be look't upon as a parcel of the Element of Fire, though it be hot, dry, and active, becauſe it wants ſome other Qualities belonging to the nature of Elementary fire. Nor will they let the Peripateticks call Aſhes, or Quicklime, Earth, notwithſtanding the many likeneſſes between them; becauſe they are not taſtleſſe, as Elementary Earth ought to be: But if you ſhould ask me, what then it is, that all the Chymical Anatomies of Bodies do prove, if they prove not that they conſiſt of the three Principles into which the fire reſolves them? I anſwer, that their Diſſections may be granted to prove, that ſome mixt bodies (for in many it will not hold) are by the fire, when they are included in cloſe Veſſels, (for that Condition alſo is often requiſite) diſſolube into ſeveral Subſtances differing in ſome Qualities, but principally in Conſiſtence. So that out of moſt of them may be obtain'd a fixt ſubſtance partly ſaline, and partly inſipid, an unctuous Liquor, and another Liquor or more that without being unctuous have a manifeſt taſte. Now if Chymiſts will agree to call the dry and ſapid ſubſtance ſalt, the Unctuous liquor Sulphur, and the other Mercury, I ſhall not much quarrel with them for ſo doing: But if they will tell me that Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, are ſimple and primary bodies whereof each mixt body was actually compounded, and which was really in it antecedently to the operation of the fire, they muſt give me leave to doubt whether (whatever their other arguments may do) their Experiments prove all this. And if they will alſo tell me that the Subſtances their Anatomies are wont to afford them, are pure and ſimilar, as Principles ought to be, they muſt give me leave to believe my own ſenſes; and their own confeſſions, before their bare Aſſertions. And that you may not (Eleutherius) think I deal ſo rigidly with them, becauſe I ſcruple to Take theſe Productions of the Fire for ſuch as the Chymiſts would have them paſs for, upon the account of their having ſome affinity with them; conſider a little with me, that in regard an Element or Principle ought to be perfectly Similar and Homogeneous, there is no juſt cauſe why I ſhould rather give the body propos'd the Name of this or that Element or Principle, becauſe it has a reſemblance to it in ſome obvious Quality, rather then deny it that name upon the account of divers other Qualities, wherein the propos'd Bodies are unlike; and if you do but conſider what ſleight and eaſily producible qualities they are that ſuffice, as I have already more then once obſerv'd, to Denominate a Chymical Principle or an Element, you'l not, I hope, think my warineſs to be deſtitute either of Example, or elſe of Reaſon. For we ſee that the Chymiſts will not allow the Ariſtotelians that the Salt in Aſhes ought to be called Earth, though the Saline and Terreſtrial part ſymbolize in weight, in dryneſs, in fixneſs and fuſibility, only becauſe the one is ſapid and diſſoluble in Water, and the other not: Beſides, we ſee that ſapidneſs and volatility are wont to denominate the Chymiſts Mercury or Spirit; and yet how many Bodies, think you, may agree in thoſe Qualities which may yet be of very differing natures, and diſagree in qualities either more numerous, or more conſiderable, or both. For not only Spirit of Nitre, Aqua Fortis, Spirit of Salt, Spirit of Oyle of Vitriol, Spirit of Allome, Spirit of Vinager, and all Saline Liquors Diſtill'd from Animal Bodies, but all the Acetous Spirits of Woods freed from their Vinager; All theſe, I ſay, and many others muſt belong to the Chymiſts Mercury, though it appear not why ſome of them ſhould more be comprehended under one denomination then the Chymiſts Sulphur, or Oyle ſhould likewiſe be; for their Diſtill'd Oyles are alſo Fluid, Volatile, and Taſtable, as well as their Mercury; Nor is it Neceſſary, that their Sulphur ſhould be Unctuous or Diſſoluble in Water, ſince they generally referr Spirit of Wine to Sulphurs, although that Spirit be not Unctuous, and will freely mingle with Water. So that bare Inflamability muſt conſtitute the Eſſence of the Chymiſts Sulphur; as uninflamableneſſe joyned with any taſte is enough to intitle a Diſtill'd Liquor to be their Mercury. Now ſince I can further obſerve to You, that Spirit of Nitre and Spirit of Hartshorne being pour'd together will boile and hiſſe and toſſe up one another into the air, which the Chymiſts make ſignes of great Antipathy in the Natures of Bodies (as indeed theſe Spirits differ much both in Taſte, Smell, and Operations;) Since I elſewhere tell you of my having made two ſorts of Oyle out of the ſame mans blood, that would not mingle with one another; And ſince I might tell You Divers Examples I have met with, of the Contrariety of Bodies which according to the Chymiſts muſt be huddl'd up together under one Denomination; I leave you to Judge whether ſuch a multitude of Subſtances as may agree in theſe ſleight Qualities, and yet Diſagree in Others more Conſiderable, are more worthy to be call'd by the Name of a Principle (which ought to be pure and homogeneous,) than to have appellations given them that may make them differ, in name too, from the bodies from which they ſo wildly differ in Nature. And hence alſo, by the bye, you may perceive that 'tis not unreaſonable to diſtruſt the Chymiſts way of Argumentation, when being unable to ſhew us that ſuch a Liquor is (for Example) purely ſaline, they prove, that at leaſt ſalt is much the predominant principle, becauſe that the propos'd ſubſtance is ſtrongly taſted, and all Taſt proceeds from ſalt; whereas thoſe Spirits, ſuch as ſpirit of Tartar, ſpirit of Harts-horn, and the like, which are reckoned to be the Mercuries of the Bodies that afford them, have manifeſtly a ſtrong and piercing taſt, and ſo has (according to what I formerly noted) the ſpirit of Box &c. even after the acid Liquor that concurr'd to compoſe it has been ſeparated from it. And indeed, if ſapidneſs belong not to the ſpirit or Mercurial Principle of Vegitables and Animals: I ſcarce know how it will be diſcriminated from their phlegm, ſince by the abſence of Inflamability it muſt be diſtinguiſh'd from their ſulphur, which affords me another Example, to prove how unacurate the Chymical Doctrine is in our preſent Caſe; ſince not only the ſpirits of Vegitables and Animals, but their Oyles are very ſtrongly taſted, as he that ſhall but wet his tongue with Chymical Oyle of Cinnamon, or of Cloves, or even of Turpentine, may quickly find, to his ſmart. And not only I never try'd any Chymical Oyles whoſe taſt was not very manifeſt and ſtrong; but a skilful and inquiſitive perſon who made it his buſineſs by elaborate operations to depurate Chymical Oyles, and reduce them to an Elementary ſimplicity, Informes us, that he never was able to make them at all Taſtleſs; whence I might inferr, that the proof Chymiſts confidently give us of a bodies being ſaline, is ſo far from demonſtrating the Predominancy, that it does not clearly Evince ſo much as the preſence of the ſaline Principle in it. But I will not (purſues Carneades) remind you, that the Volatile ſalt of Harts-horn, Amber, Blood, &c. are exceeding ſtrongly ſcented, notwithſtanding that moſt Chymiſts deduce Odours from Sulphur, and from them argue the Predominancy of that Principle in the Odorous body, becauſe I muſt not ſo much as add any new Examples of the incompetency of this ſort of Chymical arguments; ſince having already detain'd You but too long in thoſe generals that appertain to my fourth conſideration, 'tis time that I proceed to the particulars themſelves, to which I thought fit they ſhould be previous:

Theſe Generals (continues Carneades) being thus premis'd, we might the better ſurvey the Unlikeneſs that an attentive and unprepoſſeſs'd obſerver may take notice of in each ſort of Bodies which the Chymiſts are wont to call the ſalts or ſulphurs or Mercuries of the Concretes that yield Them, as if they had all a ſimplicity, and Identity of Nature: whereas ſalts if they were all Elementary would as little differ as do the Drops of pure and ſimple Water. 'Tis known that both Chymiſts and Phyſitians aſcribe to the fixt ſalts of calcin'd Bodies the vertues of their concretes; and conſequently very differing Operations. So we find the Alkali of Wormwood much commended in diſtempers of the ſtomach; that of Eyebright for thoſe that have a weak ſight; and that of Guaiacum (of which a great Quantity yields but a very little ſalt) is not only much commended in Venereal Diſeaſes, but is believed to have a peculiar purgative vertue, which yet I have not had occaſion to try. And though, I confeſs, I have long thought, that theſe Alkalizate ſalts are, for the moſt part, very neer of kin, and retain very little of the properties of the Concretes whence they were ſeparated; Yet being minded to Obſerve watchfully whether I could meet with any Exceptions to this General Obſervation, I obſerv'd at the Glaſſe-houſe, that ſometimes the Metal (as the Workmen call it) or Maſſe of colliquated Ingredients, which by Blowing they faſhion into Veſſels of divers ſhapes, did ſometimes prove of a very differing colour, and a ſomewhat differing Texture, from what was uſuall. And having enquired whether the cauſe of ſuch Accidents might not be derived from the peculiar Nature of the fixt ſalt employ'd to bring the ſand to fuſion, I found that the knowingſt Workmen imputed theſe Miſ-adventures to the Aſhes, of ſome certain kind of Wood, as having obſerv'd the ignobler kind of Glaſs I lately mention'd to be frequently produc'd when they had employ'd ſuch ſorts of Aſhes which therefore they ſcruple to make uſe of, if they took notice of them beforehand. I remember alſo, that an Induſtrious Man of my acquaintance having bought a vaſt quantity of Tobacco ſtalks to make a fixt Salt with, I had the Curioſity to go ſee whether that Exotick Plant, which ſo much abounds in volatile ſalt, would afford a peculiar kind of Alcali; and I was pleas'd to find that in the Lixivium of it, it was not neceſſary, as is uſual, to evaporate all the Liquor, that there might be obtain'd a Saline Calx, conſiſting like lime quench'd in the Air of a heap of little Corpuſcles of unregarded ſhapes: but the fixt ſalt ſhot into figur'd Cryſtal, almoſt as Nitre or Sal-armoniack and other uncalcin'd ſalts are wont to do; And I further remember that I have obſerv'd in the fixt Salt of Urine, brought by depuration to be very white, a taſt not ſo unlike to that of common ſalt, and very differing from the wonted cauſtick Lixiviate taſt of other ſalts made by Incineration. But becauſe the Inſtances I have alledg'd of the Difference of Alcalizate ſalt are but few, and therefore I am ſtill inclin'd to think, that moſt Chymiſts and many Phyſitians do, inconſideratly enough and without Warrant from Experience, aſcribe the Vertues of the Concretes expos'd to Calcination, to the ſalts obtain'd by it; I ſhall rather, to ſhew the Diſparity of ſalts, mention in the firſt Place the apparent Difference betwixt the Vegetable fixt ſalts and the Animal Volatile ones: As (for Example) betwixt ſalt of Tartar, and ſalt of Harts-horn; whereof the former is ſo fixt that 'twill indure the brunt of a violent Fire, and ſtand in fuſion like a Metal; whereas the other (beſides that it has a differing taſt and a very differing ſmell) is ſo far from being fixt, that it will fly away in a gentle heat as eaſily as ſpirit of Wine it ſelf. And to this I ſhall add, in the next place, That even among the Volatile ſalts themſelves, there is a conſiderable Difference, as appears by the diſtinct Properties of (for Inſtance) ſalt of Amber, ſalt of Urine, ſalt of Mans Skull, (ſo much extoll'd againſt the falling Sickneſſe) and divers others which cannot eſcape an ordinary Obſerver. And this Diverſity of Volatile ſalts I have obſerv'd to be ſomtimes Diſcernable even to the Eye, in their Figures. For the ſalt of Harts-horn I have obſerv'd to adhere to the Receiver in the forme almoſt of a Parallelipipedon; and of the Volatile ſalt of humane blood (long digeſted before diſtillation, with ſpirit of Wine) I can ſhew you ſtore of graines of that Figure which Geometricians call a Rhombus; though I dare not undertake that the Figures of theſe or other Saline Cryſtals (if I may ſo call Them) will be alwaies the ſame, whatever degree of Fire have been employ'd to force them up, or how haſtily ſoever they have been made to convene in the ſpirits or liquors, in the lower part of which I have uſually obſerv'd them after a while to ſhoot. And although, as I lately told You, I ſeldom found any Difference, as to Medical Vertues, in the fixt Salts of Divers Vegetables; and accordingly I have ſuſpected that moſt of theſe volatile Salts, having ſo great a Reſemblance in ſmell, in taſt, and fugitiveneſs, differ but little, if at all, in their Medicinal properties: As indeed I have found them generally to agree in divers of them (as in their being ſomewhat Diaphoretick and very Deopilative; ^[17] Yet I remember Helmont ſomewhere informes us, that there is this Difference betwixt the ſaline ſpirit of Urine and that of Mans blood, that the former will not cure the Epilepſy, but the Latter will. Of the Efficacy alſo of the Salt of Common Amber againſt the ſame Diſeaſe in Children, (for in Grown Perſons it is not a ſpecifick) I may elſewhere have an Occaſion to Entertain You. And when I conſider that to the obtaining of theſe Volatile Salts (eſpecially that of Urine) there is not requiſite ſuch a Deſtructive Violence of the Fire, as there is to get thoſe Salts that muſt be made by Incineration, I am the more invited to conclude, that they may differ from one another, and conſequently recede from an Elementary Simplicity. And, if I could here ſhew You what Mr. Boyle has Obſerv'd, touching the Various Chymicall Diſtinctions of Salts; You would quickly diſcern, not only that Chymiſts do give themſelves a ſtrange Liberty to call Concretes Salts, that are according to their own Rules to be look'd upon as very Compounded Bodies; but that among thoſe very Salts that ſeem Elementary, becauſe produc'd upon the Anatomy of the Bodies that yield them, there is not only a viſible Diſparity, but, to ſpeak in the common Language, a manifeſt Antipathy or Contrariety: As is evident in the Ebullition and hiſſing that is wont to enſue, when the Acid Spirit of Vitrioll, for Inſtance, is pour'd upon pot aſhes, or Salt of Tartar. And I ſhall beg leave of this Gentleman, ſayes Carneades, caſting his Eyes on me, to let me obſerve to You out of ſome of his papers, particularly thoſe wherein he treats of ſome Preparations of Urine, that not only one and the ſame body may have two Salts of a contrary Nature, as he exemplifies in the Spirit and Alkali of Nitre; but that from the ſame body there may without addition be obtain'd three differing and Viſible Salts. For He Relates, that he obſerv'd in Urine, not only a Volatile and Cryſtalline Salt, and a fixt Salt, but likewiſe a kind of Sal Armoniack, or ſuch a Salt as would ſublime in the form of a ſalt, and therefore was not fixt, and yet was far from being ſo fugitive as the Volatile ſalt; from which it ſeem'd alſo otherwiſe to differ. I have indeed ſuſpected that this may be a Sal Armoniack properly enough ſo call'd, as Compounded of the Volatile ſalt of Urine, and the fixt of the ſame Liquor, which, as I noted, is not unlike ſea-ſalt; but that it ſelf argues a manifeſt Difference betwixt the ſalts, ſince ſuch a Volatile ſalt is not wont to Unite thus with an ordinary Alcali, but to fly away from it in the Heat. And on this occaſion I remember that, to give ſome of my Friends an Ocular proof of the difference betwixt the fixt and Volatile ſalt (of the ſame Concrete) Wood, I devis'd the following Experiment. I took common Venetian ſublimate, and diſſolv'd as much of it as I well could in fair Water: then I took Wood Aſhes, and pouring on them Warme Water, Diſſolv'd their ſalt; and filtrating the Water, as ſoon as I found the Lixivium ſufficiently ſharp upon the tongue, I reſerv'd it for uſe: Then on part of the former ſolution of ſublimate dropping a little of this Diſſolv'd Fixt ſalt of Wood, the Liquors preſently turn'd of an Orange Colour; but upon the other part of the clear ſolution of ſublimate putting ſome of the Volatile ſalt of Wood (which abounds in the ſpirit of ſoot) the Liquor immediately turn'd white, almoſt like Milke, and after a while let fall a white ſediment, as the other Liquor did a Yellow one. To all this that I have ſaid concerning the Difference of ſalts, ^[18] I might add what I Formerly told you, concerning the ſimple ſpirit of Box, and ſuch like Woods, which differ much from the other ſalts hitherto mention'd, and yet would belong to the ſaline Principle, if Chymiſts did truly teach that all Taſts proceed from it. And I might alſo annex, what I noted to you out of Helmont concerning Bodies, which, though they conſiſt in great part of Chymical Oyles, do yet appear but Volatile ſalts; But to inſiſt on theſe things, were to repeat; and therefore I ſhall proceed.

This Diſparity is alſo highly eminent in the ſeparated ſulphurs or Chymical Oyles of things. For they contain ſo much of the ſcent, and taſt, and vertues, of the Bodies whence they were drawn, that they ſeem to be but the Material Craſis (if I may ſo ſpeak) of their Concretes. Thus the Oyles of Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmegs and other ſpices, ſeem to be but the United Aromatick parts that did ennoble thoſe Bodies. And 'tis a known thing, that Oyl of Cinnamon, and oyle of Cloves, (which I have likewiſe obſerv'd in the Oyles of ſeveral Woods) will ſink to the Bottom of Water: whereas thoſe of Nutmegs and divers other Vegetables will ſwim upon it. The Oyle (abuſively call'd ſpirit) of Roſes ſwims at the Top of the Water in the forme of a white butter, which I remember not to have obſerv'd in any other Oyle drawn in any Limbeck; yet there is a way (not here to be declar'd) by which I have ſeen it come over in the forme of other Aromatick Oyles, to the Delight and Wonder of thoſe that beheld it. In Oyle of Anniſeeds, which I drew both with, and without Fermentation, I obſerv'd the whole Body of the Oyle in a coole place to thicken into the Conſiſtence and Appearance of white Butter, which with the leaſt heat reſum'd its Former Liquidneſs. In the Oyl of Olive drawn over in a Retort, I have likewiſe more then once ſeen a ſpontaneous Coagulation in the Receiver: And I have of it by me thus Congeal'd; which is of ſuch a ſtrangely Penetrating ſcent, as if 'twould Perforate the Noſes that approach it. The like pungent Odour I alſo obſerv'd in the Diſtill'd Liquor of common ſope, which forc'd over from Minium, lately afforded an oyle of a moſt admirable Penetrancy; And he muſt be a great ſtranger, both to the Writings and preparations of Chymiſts, that ſees not in the Oyles they diſtill from Vegetables and Animals, a conſiderable and obvious Difference. Nay I ſhall venture to add, Eleutherius, (what perhaps you will think of kin to a Paradox) that divers times out of the ſame Animal or Vegetable, there may be extracted Oyles of Natures obviouſly differing. To which purpoſe I ſhall not inſiſt on the ſwimming and ſinking Oyles, which I have ſometimes obſerv'd to float on, and ſubſide under the ſpirit of Guajacum, and that of divers other Vegetables Diſtill'd with a ſtrong and laſting Fire; Nor ſhall I inſiſt on the obſervation elſewhere mention'd, of the divers and unminglable oyles afforded us by Humane Blood long fermented and Digeſted with ſpirit of Wine, becauſe theſe kind of oyles may ſeem chiefly to differ in Conſiſtence and Weight, being all of them high colour'd and aduſt. But the Experiment which I devis'd to make out this Difference of the oyles of the ſame Vegetable, ad Oculum, (as they ſpeak) was this that followes. I took a pound of Anniſſeeds, and having groſly beaten them, cauſed them to be put into a very large glaſs Retort almoſt filled with fair Water; and placing this Retort in a ſand Furnace, I caus'd a very Gentle heat to be adminiſter'd during the firſt day, and a great part of the ſecond, till the VVater was for the moſt part drawn off, and had brought over with it at leaſt moſt of the Volatile and Aromatick Oyle of the ſeeds. And then encreaſing the Fire, and changing the Receiver, I obtain'd beſides an Empyreumatical Spirit, a quantity of aduſt oyle; whereof a little floated upon the Spirit, and the reſt was more heavy, and not eaſily ſeparable from it. And whereas theſe oyles were very dark, and ſmell'd (as Chymiſts ſpeak) ſo ſtrongly of the Fire, that their Odour did not betray from what Vegetables they had been forc'd; the other Aromatick Oyle was enrich'd with the genuine ſmell and taſt of the Concrete; and ſpontaneouſly coagulating it ſelf into white butter did manifeſt ſelf to be the true Oyle of Anniſſeeds; which Concrete I therefore choſe to employ about this Experiment, that the Difference of theſe Oyles might be more conſpicuous then it would have been, had I inſtead of it deſtill'd another Vegetable.

I had almoſt forgot to take notice, that there is another ſort of Bodies, which though not obtain'd from Concretes by Diſtillation, many Chymiſts are wont to call their Sulphur; not only becauſe ſuch ſubſtances are, for the moſt part, high colour'd (whence they are alſo, and that more properly, called Tinctures) as diſſolv'd Sulphurs are wont to be; but eſpecially becauſe they are, for the moſt part, abſtracted and ſeparated from the reſt of the Maſſe by Spirit of Wine: which Liquor thoſe men ſuppoſing to be Sulphureous, they conclude, that what it works upon, and abſtracts, muſt be a Sulphur alſo. And upon this account they preſume, that they can ſequeſter the ſulphur even of Minerals and Metalls; from which 'tis known that they cannot by Fire alone ſeparate it. To all This I ſhall anſwer; That if theſe ſequeſtred ſubſtances where indeed the ſulphurs of the Bodies whence they are drawn, there would as well be a great Diſparity betwixt Chymical Sulphurs obtain'd by Spirit of Wine, as I have already ſhewn there is betwixt thoſe obtain'd by Diſtillation in the forme of Oyles: which will be evident from hence, that not to urge that themſelves aſcribe diſtinct vertues to Mineral Tinctures, extolling the Tincture of Gold againſt ſuch and ſuch Diſeaſes; the Tincture of Antimony, or of its Glaſs, againſt others; and the Tincture of Emerauld againſt others; 'tis plain, that in Tinctures drawn from Vegetables, if the ſuperfluous ſpirit of Wine be diſtill'd off, it leaves at the bottom that thicker ſubſtance which Chymiſts uſe to call the Extract of the Vegetable. And that theſe Extracts are endow'd with very differing Qualities according to the Nature of the Particular Bodies that afforded them (though I fear ſeldom with ſo much of the ſpecifick vertues as is wont to be imagin'd) is freely confeſs'd both by Phyſitians and Chymiſts. But, Eleutherius, (ſayes Carneades) we may here take Notice that the Chymiſts do as well in this caſe, as in many others, allow themſelves a Licenſe to abuſe Words: For not again to argue from the differing properties of Tinctures, that they are not exactly pure and Elementary Sulphurs; they would eaſily appear not to be ſo much as Sulphur's, although we ſhould allow Chymical Oyles to deſerve that Name. For however in ſome Mineral Tinctures the Natural fixtneſs of the extracted Body does not alwayes ſuffer it to be eaſily further reſoluble into differing ſubſtances; Yet in very many extracts drawn from Vegetables, it may very eaſily be manifeſted that the ſpirit of Wine has not ſequeſtred the ſulphureous Ingredient from the ſaline and Mercurial ones; but has diſſolv'd (for I take it to be a Solution) the finer Parts of the Concrete (without making any nice diſtinction of their being perfectly Sulphureous or not) and united it ſelf with them into a kind of Magiſtery; which conſequently muſt contain Ingredients or Parts of ſeveral ſorts. For we ſee that the ſtones that are rich in vitriol, being often drench'd with rain-Water, the Liquor will then extract a ſine and tranſparent ſubſtance coagulable into Vitriol; and yet though this Vitriol be readily diſſoluble in Water, it is not a true Elementary Salt, but, as You know, a body reſoluble into very differing Parts, whereof one (as I ſhall have occaſion to tell You anon) is yet of a Metalline, and conſequently not of an Elementary Nature. You may conſider alſo, that common Sulphur is readily diſſoluble in Oyle of Turpentine, though notwithſtanding its Name it abounds as well, if not as much, in Salt as in true Sulphur; witneſs the great quantity of ſaline Liquor it affords being ſet to flame away under a glaſſe Bell. Nay I have, which perhaps You will think ſtrange, with the ſame Oyle of Turpentine alone eaſily enough diſſolv'd crude Antimony finely powder'd into a Blood-red Balſam, wherewith perhaps conſiderable things may be perform'd in Surgery. And if it were now Requiſite, I could tell You of ſome other Bodies (ſuch as Perhaps You would not ſuſpect) that I have been able to work upon with certain Chymical Oyles. But inſtead of digreſſing further I ſhall make this uſe of the Example I have nam'd. That 'tis not unlikely, but that Spirit of Wine which by its pungent taſt, and by ſome other Qualities that argue it better (eſpecially its Reducibleneſſe, according to Helmont, into Alcali, and Water,) ſeems to be as well of a Saline as of a Sulphureous Nature, may well be ſuppos'd Capable of Diſſolving Subſtances That are not meerly Elementary ſulphurs, though perhaps they may abound with Parts that are of kin thereunto. For I find that Spirit of Wine will diſſolve Gumm Lacca, Benzoine, and the Reſinous Parts of Jallap, and even of Guaiacum; whence we may well ſuſpect that it may from Spices, Herbs, and other leſſe compacted Vegetables, extract ſubſtances that are not perfect Sulphurs but mixt Bodies. And to put it paſt Diſpute, there is many a Vulgar Extract drawn with Spirit of Wine, which committed to Diſtillation will afford ſuch differing ſubſtances as will Loudly proclaim it to have been a very compounded Body. So that we may juſtly ſuſpect, that even in Mineral Tinctures it will not alwaies follow, that becauſe a red ſubſtance is drawn from the Concrete by ſpirit of Wine, that Subſtance is its true and Elementary Sulphur. And though ſome of theſe Extracts may perhaps be inflamable; Yet beſides that others are not, and beſides that their being reduc'd to ſuch Minuteneſs of Parts may much facilitate their taking Fire; beſides this, I ſay, We ſee that common Sulphur, common Oyle, Gumm Lac, and many Unctuous and Reſinous Bodies, will flame well enough, though they be of very compounded natures: Nay Travellers of Unſuſpected Credit aſſure Us, as a known thing, that in ſome Northern Countries where Firr trees and Pines abound, the poorer ſort of Inhabitants uſe Long ſplinters of thoſe Reſinous Woods to burne inſtead of Candles. And as for the redneſſe wont to be met with in ſuch ſolutions, I could eaſily ſhew, that 'tis not neceſſary it ſhould proceed from the Sulphur of the Concrete, Diſſolv'd by the Spirit of Wine; if I had leaſure to manifeſt how much Chymiſts are wont to delude themſelves and others by the Ignorance of thoſe other cauſes upon whoſe account ſpirit of Wine and other Menſtruums may acquire a red or ſome other high colour. But to returne to our Chymical Oyles, ſuppoſing that they were exactly pure; Yet I hope they would be, as the beſt ſpirit of Wine is, but the more inflamable and deflagrable. And therefore ſince an Oyle can be by the Fire alone immediately turn'd into flame, which is ſomething of a very differing Nature from it: I ſhall Demand how this Oyle can be a Primogeneal and Incorruptible Body, as moſt Chymiſts would have their Principles; Since it is further reſoluble into flame, which whether or no it be a portion of the Element of Fire, as an Aristotelian would conclude, is certainly ſomething of a very differing Nature from a Chymical Oyle, ſince it burnes, and ſhines, and mounts ſwiftly upwards; none of which a Chymical Oyle does, whilſt it continues ſuch. And if it ſhould be Objected, that the Diſſipated Parts of this flaming Oyle may be caught and collected again into Oyl or Sulphur; I ſhall demand, what Chymiſt appears to have ever done it; and without Examining whether it may not hence be as well ſaid that ſulphur is but compacted Fire, as that Fire is but diffus'd Sulphur, I ſhall leave you to conſider whether it may not hence be argu'd, that neither Fire nor Sulphur are primitive and indeſtructible Bodies; and I ſhall further obſerve that, at leaſt it will hence appear that a portion of matter may without being Compounded with new Ingredients, by having the Texture and Motion of its ſmall parts chang'd, be eaſily, by the means of the Fire, endow'd with new Qualities, more differing from them it had before, then are thoſe which ſuffice to diſcriminate the Chymiſts Principles from one another.

We are next to Conſider, whether in the Anatomy of mixt Bodies, that which Chymiſts call the Mercurial part of them be un-compounded, or no. But to tell You True, though Chymiſts do Unanimouſly affirm that their Reſolutions diſcover a Principle, which they call Mercury, yet I find them to give of it Deſcriptions ſo Differing, and ſo Aenigmaticall, that I, who am not aſham'd to confeſs that I cannot underſtand what is not ſence, muſt acknowledge to you that I know not what to make of them. Paracelſus himſelf, and therefore, as you will eaſily believe, many of his Followers, does ſomewhere call that Mercury which aſcends upon the burning of Wood, as the Peripateticks are wont to take the ſame ſmoke for Air; and ſo ſeems to define Mercury by Volatility, or (if I may coyne ſuch a Word) Effumability. But ſince, in this Example, both Volatile Salt and Sulphur make part of the ſmoke, which does indeed conſiſt alſo both of Phlegmatick and Terrene Corpuſcles, this Notion is not to be admitted; And I find that the more ſober Chymiſts themſelves diſavow it. Yet to ſhew you how little of clearneſs we are to expect in the accounts even of latter Spagyriſts, be pleas'd to take notice, that Beguinus, even in his Tyrocinium Chymicum, written for the Inſtruction of Novices, when he comes to tell us what are meant by the Tria Prima, which for their being Principles ought to be defin'd the more accurately and plainly, gives us this Deſcription of Mercury; Mercurius (ſayes he) est liquor ille acidus, permeabilis, ^[19] penetrabilis, aethereus, ac puriſſimus, a quo omnis Nutricatio, Senſus, Motus, Vires, Colores, Senectutiſque Praeproperae retardatio. Which words are not ſo much a Definition of it, as an Encomium: and yet Quercetanus in his Deſcription of the ſame Principle adds to theſe, divers other Epithets. But both of them, to skip very many other faults that may be found with their Metaphoricall Deſcriptions, ſpeak incongruouſly to the Chymiſts own Principles. For if Mercury be an Acid Liquor, either Hermetical Philoſophy muſt err in aſcribing all Taſts to Salt, or elſe Mercury muſt not be a Principle, but Compounded of a Saline Ingredient and ſomewhat elſe. Libavius, though he find great fault with the obſcurity of what the Chymiſts write concerning their Mercurial Principle, does yet but give us ſuch a Negative Deſcription of it, as Sennertus, how favourable ſoever to the Tria Prima, is not ſatisfi'd with. And this Sennertus Himſelf, though the Learnedſt Champion for the Hypoſtatical Principles, does almoſt as frequently as juſtly complain of the unſatisfactorineſs of what the Chymiſts teach concerning their Mercury; and yet he himſelf (but with his wonted modeſty) Subſtitutes inſtead of the Deſcription of Libavius, another, which many Readers, eſpecially if they be not Peripateticks, will not know what to make of. For ſcarce telling us any more, then that in all bodies that which is found beſides Salt and Sulphur, and the Elements, or, as they call them, Phlegm and Dead Earth, is that Spirit which in Aristotles Language may be call'd [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. He ſayes that which I confeſs is not at all ſatisfactory to me, who do not love to ſeem to acquieſce in any mans Myſtical Doctrines, that I may be thought to underſtand them.

If (ſayes Eleutherius) I durſt preſume that the ſame thing would be thought clear by me, and thoſe that are fond of ſuch cloudy Expreſſions as You juſtly Tax the Chymiſts for, I ſhould venture to offer to Conſideration, whether or no, ſince the Mercurial Principle that ariſes from Diſtillation is unanimouſly aſſerted to be diſtinct from the ſalt and Sulphur of the ſame Concrete, that may not be call'd the Mercury of a Body, which though it aſcend in Diſtillation, as do the Phlegme and Sulphur, is neither inſipid like the former, nor inflamable like the latter. And therefore I would ſubſtitute to the too much abuſed Name of Mercury, the more clear and Familiar Appellation of Spirit, which is alſo now very much made uſe of even by the Chymiſts themſelves, of our times, though they have not given us ſo Diſtinct an Explication, as were fit, of what may be call'd the Spirit of a mixt Body.

I ſhould not perhaps (ſayes Carneades) much quarrel with your Notion of Mercury. But as for the Chymiſts, what they can mean, with congruity to their own Principles, by the Mercury of Animals and Vegetables, 'twill not be ſo eaſie to find out; for they aſcribe Taſts only to the Saline Principle, and conſequently would be much put to it to ſhew what Liquor it is, in the Reſolution of Bodies, that not being inſipid, for that they call Phlegme, neither is inflamable as Oyle or Sulphur, nor has any Taſt; which according to them muſt proceed from a Mixture, at leaſt, of Salt. And if we ſhould take Spirit in the ſence of the Word receiv'd among Modern Chymiſts and Phyſitians, for any Diſtill'd Liquor that is neither Phlegme nor oyle, the Appellation would yet appear Ambiguous enough. For, plainly, that which firſt aſcends in the Diſtillation of Wine and Fermented Liquors, is generally as well by Chymiſts as others reputed a Spirit. And yet pure Spirit of Wine being wholly inflamable ought according to them to be reckon'd to the Sulphureous, not the Mercurial Principle. And among the other Liquors that go under the name of Spirits, there are divers which ſeem to belong to the family of Salts, ſuch as are the Spirits of Nitre, Vitriol, Sea-Salt and others, and even the Spirit of Harts-horn, being, as I have try'd, in great part, if not totally reducible into Salt and Phlegme, may be ſuſpected to be but a Volatile Salt disguis'd by the Phlegme mingl'd with it into the forme of a Liquor. However if this be a Spirit, it manifeſtly differs very much from that of Vinager, the Taſt of the one being Acid, and the other Salt, and their Mixture in caſe they be very pure, ſometimes occaſioning an Efferveſcence like that of thoſe Liquors the Chymiſts count moſt contrary to one another. And even among thoſe Liquors that ſeem to have a better title then thoſe hitherto mention'd, to the name of Spirits, there appears a ſenſible Diverſity; For ſpirit of Oak, for inſtance, differs from that of Tartar, and this from that of Box, or of Guaiacum. And in ſhort, even theſe ſpirits as well as other Diſtill'd Liquors manifeſt a great Diſparity betwixt themſelves, either in their Actions on our ſenſes, or in their other operations.

And (continues Carneades) beſides this Diſparity that is to be met with among thoſe Liquors that the Modernes call ſpirits, & take for ſimilar bodies, what I have formerly told you concerning the Spirit of Box-wood may let you ſee that ſome of thoſe Liquors not only have qualities very differing from others, but may be further reſolved into ſubſtances differing from one another.

And ſince many moderne Chymiſts and other Naturaliſts are pleaſed to take the Mercurial ſpirit of Bodies for the ſame Principle, under differing names, I muſt invite you to obſerve, with me, the great difference that is conſpicuous betwixt all the Vegetable and Animal ſpirits I have mention'd and running Mercury. I ſpeak not of that which is commonly ſold in ſhops that many of themſelves will confeſſe to be a mixt Body; but of that which is ſeparated from Metals, which by ſome Chymiſts that ſeem more Philoſophers then the reſt, and eſpecially by the above mentioned Claveus, is (for diſtinction ſake) called Mercurius Corporum. Now this Metalline Liquor being one of thoſe three Principles of which Mineral Bodies are by Spagyriſts affirmed to be compos'd and to be reſoluble into them, the many notorious Differences betwixt them and the Mercuries, as They call Them, of Vegetables and Animals will allow me to inferr, either that Minerals and the other two ſorts of Mixt Bodies conſiſt not of the ſame Elements, or that thoſe Principles whereinto Minerals are immediately reſolved, which Chymiſts with great oſtentation ſhew us as the true principles, of them, are but Secundary Principles, or Mixts of a peculiar ſort, which muſt be themſelves reduc'd to a very differing forme, to be of the ſame kind with Vegetable and Animal Liquors.

But this is not all; for although I formerly told You how Little Credit there is to be given to the Chymical Proceſſes commonly to be met with, of Extracting the Mercuries of Metals, Yet I will now add, that ſuppoſing that the more Judicious of Them do not untruly affirme that they have really drawn true and running Mercury from ſeveral Metals (which I wiſh they had cleerly taught Us how to do alſo,) yet it may be ſtill doubted whether ſuch extracted Mercuries do not as well differ from common Quickſilver, and from one another, as from the Mercuries of Vegetables and Animalls. Claveus, in his Apology, ſpeaking of ſome experiments whereby Metalline Mercuries may be fixt into the nobler metals, ^[20] adds, that he ſpake of the Mercuries drawn from metals; becauſe common Quickſilver by reaſon of its exceſſive coldneſſe and moiſture is unfit for that particular kind of operation; for which though a few lines before he preſcribes in general the Mercuries of Metalline Bodies, yet he chiefly commends that drawn by art from ſilver. And elſewhere, in the ſame Book, he tells us, that he himſelf tryed, that by bare coction the quickſilver of Tin or Pewter (argen um vivum ex ſtanno prolicitum) may by an efficient cauſe, as he ſpeaks, be turn'd into pure Gold. And the Experienc'd Alexander van Suchten, ſomewhere tells us, that by a way he intimates may be made a Mercury of Copper, not of the Silver colour of other Mercuries, but green; to which I ſhall add, that an eminent perſon, whoſe name his travells and learned writings have made famous, lately aſſur'd me that he had more then once ſeen the Mercury of Lead (which what ever Authors promiſe, you will find it very difficult to make, at leaſt in any conſiderable quantity) fixt into perfect Gold. And being by me demanded whether or no any other Mercury would not as well have been changed by the ſame Operations, he aſſured me of the Negative.

And ſince I am fallen upon the mention of the Mercuries of metals, you will perhaps expect (Eleutherius!) that I ſhould ſay ſomething of their two other principles; but I muſt freely confeſs to you, that what Diſparity there may be between the ſalts and ſulphurs of Metals and other Menerals, I am not my ſelf experienced enough in the ſeparations and examens of them, to venture to determine: (for as for the ſalts of Metals, I formerly repreſented it as a thing much to be queſtion'd, whether they have any at all:) And for the proceſſes of ſeparation I find in Authors, if they were (what many of them are not) ſucceſsfully practicable, as I noted above, yet they are to be performed by the aſſiſtance of other bodies, ſo hardly, if upon any termes at all, ſeparable from them, that it is very difficult to give the ſeparated principles all their due, and no more. But the Sulphur of Antimony which is vehemently vomitive, and the ſtrongly ſcented Anodyne Sulphur of Vitriol inclines me to think that not only Mineral Sulphurs differ from Vegetable ones, but alſo from one another, retaining much of the nature of their Concretes. The ſalts of metals, and of ſome ſort of minerals, You will eaſily gueſſe by the Doubts I formerly expreſs'd, whether metals have any ſalt at all, that I have not been ſo happy as yet to ſee, perhaps not for want of curioſity. But if Paracelſus did alwaies write ſo conſentaneouſly to himſelf that his opinion were confidently to be collected from every place of his writings where he ſeems to expreſſe it, I might ſafely take upon me to tell you, that he both countenances in general what I have delivered in my Fourth main conſideration, and in particular warrants me to ſuſpect that there may be a difference in metalline and mineral Salts, as well as we find it in thoſe of other bodies. For, Sulphur (ſayes he) aliud in auro, aliud in argento, ^[21] aliud in ferro, aliud in plumbo, stanno, &c. ſic aliud in Saphiro, aliud in Smaragdo, aliud in rubino, chryſolito, amethisto, magnete, &c. Item aliud in lapidibus, ſilice, ſalibus, fontibus, &c. nec vero tot ſulphura tantum, ſed & tot idem ſalia; ſal aliud in metallis, aliud in gemmis, aliud in lapidibus, aliud in ſalibus, aliud in vitriolo, aliud in alumine: ſimilis etiam Mercurii est ratio. Alius in Metallis, alius in Gemmis, &c. Ita ut unicuique ſpeciei ſuus peculiaris Mercurius ſit. Et tamen res ſaltem tres ſunt; una eſſentia est ſulphur; una eſt ſal; una eſt Mercurius. Addo quod & ſpecialius adhuc ſingula dividantur; aurum enim non unum, ſed multiplex, ut et non unum pyrum, pomum, ſed idem multiplex; totidem etiam ſulphura auri, ſalia auri, mercurii auri; idem competit etiam metallis & gemmis; ut quot ſaphyri praeſtantiores, laeviores, &c. tot etiam ſaphyrica ſulphura, ſaphyrica ſalia, ſuphyrici Mercurii, &c. Idem verum etiam eſt de turconibus & gemmis aliis univerſis. From which paſſage (Eleutherius) I ſuppoſe you will think I might without raſhneſs conclude, either that my opinion is favoured by that of Paracelſus, or that Paracelſus his opinion was not alwaies the ſame. But becauſe in divers other places of his writings he ſeems to talk at a differing rate of the three Principles and the four Elements, I ſhall content my ſelf to inferr from the alledg'd paſſage, that if his doctrine be not conſiſtent with that Part of mine which it is brought to countenance, it is very difficult to know what his opinion concerning ſalt, ſulphur and mercury, was; and that conſequently we had reaſon about the beginning of our conferences, to decline taking upon us, either to examine or oppoſe it.

I know not whether I ſhould on this occaſion add, that thoſe very bodies the Chymiſts call Phlegme and Earth do yet recede from an Elementary ſimplicity. That common Earth and Water frequently do ſo, notwithſtanding the received contrary opinion, is not deny'd by the more wary of the moderne Peripateticks themſelves: and certainly, moſt Earths are much leſſe ſimple bodies then is commonly imagined even by Chymiſts, who do not ſo conſideratly to preſcribe and employ Earths Promiſcuouſly in thoſe diſtillations that require the mixture of ſome caput mortuum, to hinder the flowing together of the matter, and to retain its groſſer parts. For I have found ſome Earths to yield by diſtillation a Liquor very far from being inodorous or inſipid; and 'tis a known obſervation, that moſt kinds of fat Earth kept cover'd from the rain, and hindred from ſpending themſelves in the production of vegetables, will in time become impregnated with Salt-Petre.

But I muſt remember that the Water and Earths I ought here to ſpeak of, are ſuch as are ſeparated from mixt Bodies by the fire; and therefore to reſtrain my Diſcourſe to ſuch, I ſhall tell you, That we ſee the Phlegme of Vitriol (for inſtance) is a very effectual remedie againſt burnes; and I know a very Famous and experienc'd Phyſitian, whoſe unſuſpected ſecret (himſelf confeſs'd to me) it is, for the diſcuſſing of hard and Obſtinate Tumours. The Phlegme of Vinager, though drawn exceeding leaſurly in a digeſting Furnace, I have purpoſely made tryall of; and ſometimes found it able to draw, though ſlowly, a ſaccharine ſweetneſs out of Lead; and as I remember by long Digeſtion, I diſſolv'd Corpals in it. The Phlegme of the ſugar of Saturne is ſaid to have very peculiar properties. Divers Eminent Chymiſts teach, that it will diſſolve Pearls, which being precipitated by the ſpirit of the ſame concrete are thereby (as they ſay) rendred volatile; which has been confirmed to me, upon his own obſervation, by a perſon of great veracity. The Phlegme of Wine, and indeed divers other Liquors that are indiſcriminately condemnd to be caſt away as phlegm, are endow'd with qualities that make them differ both from meer water, and from each other; and whereas the Chymiſts are pleas'd to call the caput mortuum of what they have diſtill'd (after they have by affuſion of water drawn away its ſalt) terra damnata, or Earth, it may be doubted whether or no thoſe earths are all of them perfectly alike: and it is ſcarce to be doubted, but that there are ſome of them which remain yet unreduc'd to an Elementary nature. The aſhes of wood depriv'd of all the ſalt, and bone-Aſhes, or calcin'd Hartshorn, which Refiners chooſe to make Teſts of, as freeſt from Salt, ſeem unlike: and he that ſhall compare either of theſe inſipid aſhes to Lime, and much more to the calx of Talk (though by the affuſion of water they be exquiſitely dulcify'd) will perhaps ſee cauſe to think them things of a ſomewhat differing nature. And it is evident in Colcothar that the exacteſt calcination, follow'd by an exquiſite dulcification, does not alwaies reduce the remaining body into elementary earth; for after the ſalt or Vitriol (if the Calcination have been too faint) is drawn out of the Colcothar, the reſidue is not earth, but a mixt body, rich in Medical vertues (as experience has inform'd me) and which Angelus Sala affirmes to be partly reducible into malleable Copper; which I judge very probable: for though when I was making Experiments upon Colcothar, I was deſtitute of a Furnace capable of giving a heat intenſe Enough to bring ſuch a Calx to Fuſion; yet having conjectur'd that if Colcothar abounded with that Metal, Aqua Fortis would find it out there, I put ſome dulcifi'd Colcothar into that Menſtruum, and found the Liquor, according to my Expectation, preſently Colour'd as Highly as if it had been an Ordinary Solution of Copper.

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST. The Fifth Part.

HEre Carneades making a pauſe, I muſt not deny (ſayes his Friend to him) that I think You have ſufficiently prov'd that theſe diſtinct Subſtances which Chymiſts are wont to obtain from Mixt Bodies, by their Vulgar Deſtillation, are not pure and ſimple enough to deſerve, in Rigour of ſpeaking, the Name of Elements, or Principles. But I ſuppoſe You have heard, that there are ſome Modern Spagyriſts, who give out that they can by further and more Skilfull Purifications, ſo reduce the ſeparated Ingredients of Mixt Bodies to an Elementary ſimplicity, That the Oyles (for Inſtance) extracted from all Mixts ſhall as perfectly reſemble one another, as the Drops of Water do.

If you remember (replies Carneades) that at the Beginning of our Conference with Philoponus, I declar'd to him before the reſt of the Company, that I would not engage my ſelf at preſent to do any more then examine the uſual proofs alledg'd by Chymiſts, for the Vulgar doctrine of their three Hypoſtatical Principles; You will eaſily perceive that I am not oblig'd to make anſwer to what you newly propos'd; and that it rather grants, then diſproves what I have been contending for: Since by pretending to make ſo great a change in the reputed Principles that Deſtillation affords the common Spagyriſts, 'tis plainly enough preſuppos'd, that before ſuch Artificial Depurations be made, the Subſtances to be made more ſimple were not yet ſimple enough to be look'd upon as Elementary; Wherefore in caſe the Artiſts you ſpeak of could perform what they give out they can, yet I ſhould not need to be aſham'd of having queſtion'd the Vulgar Opinion touching the tria Prima. And as to the thing it ſelf, I ſhall freely acknowledge to you, that I love not to be forward in determining things to be impoſſible, till I know and have conſider'd the means by which they are propos'd to be effected. And therefore I ſhall not peremptorily deny either the poſſibility of what theſe Artiſts promiſe, or my Aſſent to any juſt Inference; however deſtructive to my Conjectures, that may be drawn from their performances. But give me leave to tell you withall, that becauſe ſuch promiſes are wont (as Experience has more then once inform'd me) to be much more eaſily made, then made good by Chymiſts, I muſt withhold my Beliefe from their aſſertions, till their Experiments exact it; and muſt not be ſo eaſie as to expect before hand, an unlikely thing upon no ſtronger Inducements then are yet given me: Beſides that I have not yet found by what I have heard of theſe Artiſts, that though they pretend to bring the ſeveral Subſtances into which the Fire has divided the Concrete, to an exquiſite ſimplicity, They pretend alſo to be able by the Fire to divide all Concretes, Minerals, and others, into the ſame number of Diſtinct Subſtances. And in the mean time I muſt think it improbable, that they can either truly ſeparate as many differing Bodies from Gold (for Inſtance) or Oſteocolla, as we can do from Wine, or Vitriol; or that the Mercury (for Example) of Gold or Saturn would be perfectly of the ſame Nature with that of Hartshorn; and that the ſulphur of Antimony would be but Numerically different from the Diſtill'd butter or oyle of Roſes.

But ſuppoſe (ſayes Eleutherius) that you ſhould meet with Chymiſts, who would allow you to take in Earth and Water into the number of the principles of Mixt Bodies; and being alſo content to change the Ambiguous Name of Mercury for that more intelligible one of ſpirit, ſhould conſequently make the principles of Compound Bodies to be Five; would you not think it ſomething hard to reject ſo plauſible an Opinion, only becauſe the Five ſubſtances into which the Fire divides mixt Bodies are not exactly pure, and Homogeneous? For my part (Continues Carneades) I cannot but think it ſomewhat ſtrange, in caſe this Opinion be not true, that it ſhould fall out ſo luckily, that ſo great a Variety of Bodies ſhould be Analyz'd by the Fire into juſt five Diſtinct ſubſtances; which ſo little differing from the Bodies that bear thoſe names, may ſo Plauſibly be call'd Oyle, Spirit, Salt, Water, and Earth.

The Opinion You now propoſe (anſwers Carneades) being another then that I was engag'd to examine, it is not requiſite for me to Debate it at preſent; nor ſhould I have leiſure to do it thorowly. Wherefore I ſhall only tell you in General, that though I think this Opinion in ſome reſpects more defenſible then that of the Vulgar Chymiſts; yet you may eaſily enough learn from the paſt Diſcourſe what may be thought of it: Since many of the Objections made againſt the Vulgar Doctrine of the Chymiſts ſeem, without much alteration, employable againſt this Hypotheſis alſo. For, beſides that this Doctrine does as well as the other take it for granted, (what is not eaſie to be prov'd) that the Fire is the true and Adequate Analyzer of Bodies, and that all the Diſtinct ſubſtances obtainable from a mixt Body by the Fire, were ſo pre-exiſtent in it, that they were but extricated from each other by the Analyſis; Beſides that this Opinion, too, aſcribe to the Productions of the Fire an Elementary ſimplicity, which I have ſhewn not to belong to them; and beſides that this Doctrine is lyable to ſome of the other Difficulties, wherewith That of the Tria Prima is incumber'd; Beſides all this, I ſay, this quinary number of Elements, (if you pardon the Expreſſion) ought at leaſt to have been reſtrain'd to the Generality of Animal and Vegetable Bodies, ſince not only among theſe there are ſome Bodies (as I formerly argu'd) which, for ought has yet been made to appear, do conſiſt, either of fewer or more ſimilar ſubſtances then preciſely Five. But in the Mineral Kingdom, there is ſcarce one Concrete that has been evinc'd to be adequatly diviſible into ſuch five Principles or Elements, and neither more nor leſs, as this Opinion would have every mixt Body to conſiſt of.

And this very thing (continues Carneades) may ſerve to take away or leſſen your Wonder, that juſt ſo many Bodies as five ſhould be found upon the Reſolution of Concretes. For ſince we find not that the fire can make any ſuch Analyſis (into five Elements) of Metals and other Mineral Bodies, whoſe Texture is more ſtrong and permanent, it remains that the Five Subſtances under conſideration be Obtain'd from Vegetable and Animal Bodies, which (probably by reaſon of their looſer Contexture) are capable of being Diſtill'd. And as to ſuch Bodies, 'tis natural enough, that, whether we ſuppoſe that there are, or are not, preciſely five Elements, there ſhould ordinarily occurr in the Diſſipated parts a five Fold Diverſity of Scheme (if I may ſo ſpeak.) For if the Parts do not remain all fix'd, as in Gold, Calcin'd Talck, &c. nor all aſcend, as in the Sublimation of Brimſtone, Camphire, &c. but after their Diſſipation do aſſociate themſelves into new Schemes of Matter; it is very likely, that they will by the Fire be divided into fix'd and Volatile (I mean, in Reference to that degree of heat by which they are deſtill'd) and thoſe Volatile parts will, for the moſt part, aſcend either in a dry forme, which Chymiſts are pleas'd to call, if they be Taſtleſs, Flowers; if Sapid, Volatile Salt; or in a Liquid Forme. And this Liquor muſt be either inflamable, and ſo paſs for oyl, or not inflamable, and yet ſubtile and pungent, which may be call'd Spirit; or elſe ſtrengthleſs or inſipid, which may be nam'd Phlegme, or Water. And as for the fixt part, or Caput Mortuum, it will moſt commonly conſiſt of Corpuſcles, partly Soluble in Water, or Sapid, (eſpecially if the Saline parts were not ſo Volatile, as to fly away before) which make up its fixt ſalt; and partly inſoluble and inſipid, which therefore ſeems to challenge the name of Earth. But although upon this ground one might eaſily enough have foretold, that the differing ſubſtances obtain'd from a perfectly mixt Body by the Fire would for the moſt part be reducible to the five newly mentioned States of Matter; yet it will not preſently follow, that theſe five Diſtinct ſubſtances were ſimple and primogeneal bodies, ſo preexiſtent in the Concrete that the fire does but take them aſunder. Beſides that it does not appear, that all Mixt Bodies, (witneſs, Gold, Silver, Mercury, &c.) Nay nor perhaps all Vegetables, which may appear by what we ſaid above of Camphire, Benzoin, &c. are reſoluble by Fire into juſt ſuch differing Schemes of Matter. Nor will the Experiments formerly alledg'd permit us to look upon theſe ſeparated Subſtances as Elementary, or uncompounded. Neither will it be a ſufficient Argument of their being Bodies that deſerve the Names which Chymiſts are pleas'd to give them, that they have an Analogy in point of Conſiſtence, or either Volatility or Fixtneſs, or elſe ſome other obvious Quality, with the ſuppos'd Principles, whoſe names are aſcrib'd to them. For, as I told you above, notwithſtanding this Reſemblance in ſome one Quality, there may be ſuch a Diſparity in others, as may be more fit to give them Differing Appellations, then the Reſemblance is to give them one and the ſame. And indeed it ſeems but ſomewhat a groſs Way of judging of the Nature of Bodies, to conclude without Scruple, that thoſe muſt be of the ſame Nature that agree in ſome ſuch General Quality, as Fluidity, Dryneſs, Volatility, and the like: ſince each of thoſe Qualities, or States of Matter, may Comprehend a great Variety of Bodies, otherwiſe of a very differing Nature; as we may ſee in the Calxes of Gold, of Vitriol, and of Venetian Talck, compar'd with common Aſhes, which yet are very dry, and fix'd by the vehemence of the Fire, as well as they. And as we may likewiſe gather from what I have formerly Obſerv'd, touching the Spirit of Box-Wood, which though a Volatile, Sapid, and not inflamable Liquor, as well as the Spirits of Harts-horn, of Blood and others, (and therefore has been hitherto call'd, the Spirit, and eſteem'd for one of the Principles of the Wood that affords it;) may yet, as I told You, be ſubdivided into two Liquors, differing from one another, and one of them at leaſt, from the Generality of other Chymical Spirits.

But you may your ſelf, if you pleaſe, (purſues Carneades) accommodate to the Hypotheſis you propos'd what other particulars you ſhall think applicable to it, in the foregoing Diſcourſe. For I think it unſeaſonable for me to meddle now any further with a Controverſie, which ſince it does not now belong to me, Leaves me at Liberty to Take my Own time to Declare my Self about it.

Eleutherius perceiving that Carneades was ſomewhat unwilling to ſpend any more time upon the debate of this Opinion, and having perhaps ſome thoughts of taking hence a Riſe to make him Diſcourſe it more fully another time, thought not fit as then to make any further mention to him of the propos'd opinion, but told him;

I preſume I need not mind you, Carneades, That both the Patrons of the ternary number of Principles, and thoſe that would have five Elements, endeavour to back their experiments with a ſpecious Reaſon or two; and eſpecially ſome of thoſe Embracers of the Opinion laſt nam'd (whom I have convers'd with, and found them Learned men) aſſigne this Reaſon of the neceſſity of five diſtinct Elements; that otherwiſe mixt Bodies could not be ſo compounded and temper'd as to obtain a due conſiſtence and competent Duration. For Salt (ſay they) is the Baſis of Solidity; and Permanency in Compound Bodies, without which the other four Elements might indeed be variouſly and looſly blended together, but would remain incompacted; but that Salt might be diſſolv'd into minute Parts, and convey'd to the other Subſtances to be compacted by it, and with it, there is a Neceſſity of Water. And that the mixture may not be too hard and brittle, a Sulphureous or Oyly Principle muſt intervene to make the maſs more tenacious; to this a Mercurial ſpirit muſt be ſuperadded; which by its activity may for a while premeate, and as it were leaven the whole Maſs, and thereby promote the more exquiſite mixture and incorporation of the Ingredients. To all which (laſtly) a portion of Earth muſt be added, which by its drineſſe and poracity may ſoak up part of that water wherein the Salt was diſſolv'd, and eminently concurr with the other ingredients to give the whole body the requiſite conſiſtence.

I perceive (ſayes Carneades ſmiling) that if it be true, as 'twas lately rooted from the Proverb, That good Wits have bad Memories, You have that Title, as well as a better, to a place among the good Wits. For you have already more then once forgot, that I declar'd to you that I would at this Conference Examine only the Experiments of my Adverſaries, not their Speculative Reaſons. Yet 'tis not (Subjoynes Carneades) for fear of medling with the Argument you have propos'd, that I decline the examining it at preſent. For if when we are more at leaſure, you ſhall have a mind that we may Solemnly conſider of it together; I am confident we ſhall ſcarce find it inſoluble. And in the mean time we may obſerve, that ſuch a way of Arguing may, it ſeems, be ſpeciouſly accommodated to differing Hypotheſes. For I find that Beguinus, and other Aſſertors of the Tria Prima, pretend to make out by ſuch a way, the requiſiteneſs of their Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, to conſtitute mixt Bodies, without taking notice of any neceſſity of an Addition of Water and Earth.

And indeed neither ſort of Chymiſts ſeem to have duly conſider'd how great Variety there is in the Textures and Conſiſtences of Compound Bodie; sand how little the conſiſtence and Duration of many of them ſeem to accommodate and be explicable by the propos'd Notion. And not to mention thoſe almoſt incorruptible Subſtances obtainable by the Fire, which I have prov'd to be ſomewhat compounded, and which the Chymiſts will readily grant not to be perfectly mixt Bodies: (Not to mention theſe, I ſay) If you will but recall to mind ſome of thoſe Experiments, whereby I ſhew'd You that out of common Water only mixt Bodies (and even living ones) of very differing conſiſtences, and reſoluble by Fire into as many Principles as other bodies acknowledg'd to be perfectly mixt; if you do this, I ſay, you will not, I ſuppoſe, be averſe from beleeving, that Nature by a convenient diſpoſition of the minute parts of a portion of matter may contrive bodies durable enough, and of this, or that, or the other Conſiſtence, without being oblig'd to make uſe of all, much leſs of any Determinate quantity of each of the five Elements, or of the three Principles to compound ſuch bodies of. And I have (purſues Carneades) ſomething wonder'd, Chymiſts ſhould not conſider, that there is ſcarce any body in Nature ſo permanent and indiſſoluble as Glaſs; which yet themſelves teach us may be made of bare Aſhes, brought to fuſion by the meer Violence of the Fire; ſo that, ſince Aſhes are granted to conſiſt but of pure Salt and ſimple Earth, ſequeſtred from all the other Principles or Elements, they muſt acknowledge, That even Art it ſelf can of two Elements only, or, if you pleaſe, one Principle and one Element, compound a Body more durable then almoſt any in the World. Which being undeniable, how will they prove that Nature cannot compound Mixt Bodies, and even durable Ones, under all the five Elements or material Principles.

But to inſiſt any longer on this Occaſional Diſquiſition, Touching their Opinion that would Eſtabliſh five Elements, were to remember as little as You did before, that the Debate of this matter is no part of my firſt undertaking; and conſequently, that I have already ſpent time enough in what I look back upon but as a digreſſion, or at beſt an Excurſion.

And thus, Eleutherius, (ſayes Carneades) having at length gone through the four Conſiderations I propos'd to Diſcourſe unto you, I hold it not unfit, for fear my having inſiſted ſo long on each of them may have made you forget their Series, briefly to repeat them by telling you, that

Since, in the firſt place, it may juſtly be doubted whether or no the Fire be, as Chymiſts ſuppoſe it, the genuine and Univerſal Reſolver of mixt Bodies;

Since we may doubt, in the next place, whether or no all the Diſtinct Subſtances that may be obtain'd from a mixt body by the Fire were pre-exiſtent there in the formes in which they were ſeparated from it;

Since alſo, though we ſhould grant the Subſtances ſeparable from mixt Bodies by the fire to have been their component Ingredients, yet the Number of ſuch ſubſtances does not appear the ſame in all mixt Bodies; ſome of them being Reſoluble into more differing ſubſtances than three, and Others not being Reſoluble into ſo many as three.

And Since, Laſtly, thoſe very ſubſtances that are thus ſeparated are not for the moſt part pure and Elementary bodies, but new kinds of mixts;

Since, I ſay, theſe things are ſo, I hope you will allow me to inferr, that the Vulgar Experiments (I might perchance have Added, the Arguments too) wont to be Alledg'd by Chymiſts to prove, that their three Hypoſtatical Principles do adequately compoſe all mixt Bodies, are not ſo demonſtrative as to reduce a wary Perſon to acquieſce in their Doctrine, which, till they Explain and prove it better, will by its perplexing darkneſs be more apt to puzzle then ſatisfy conſidering men, and will to them appear incumbred with no ſmall Difficulties.

And from what has been hitherto deduc'd (continues Carneades) we may Learn, what to Judge of the common Practice of thoſe Chymiſts, who becauſe they have found that Diverſe compound Bodies (for it will not hold in All) can be reſolv'd into, or rather can be brought to afford two or three differing Subſtances more then the Soot and Aſhes, whereinto the naked fire commonly divides them in our Chymnies, cry up their own Sect for the Invention of a New Philoſophy, ſome of them, as Helmont, &c. ſtyling themſelves Philoſophers by the Fire; and the moſt part not only aſcribing, but as far as in them lies, engroſſing to thoſe of their Sect the Title of PHILOSOPHERS.

But alas, how narrow is this Philoſophy, that reaches but to ſome of thoſe compound Bodies, which we find but upon, or in the cruſt or outſide of our terreſtrial Globe, which is it ſelf but a point in compariſon of the vaſt extended Univerſe, of whoſe other and greater parts the Doctrine of the Tria Prima does not give us an Account! For what does it teach us, either of the Nature of the Sun, which Aſtronomers affirme to be eightſcore and odd times bigger then the whole Earth? or of that of thoſe numerous ſixt Starrs, which, for ought we know, would very few, if any of them, appear inferiour in bulke and brightneſs to the Sun, if they were as neer us as He? What does the knowing that Salt, ſulphur and Mercury, are the Principles of Mixt Bodies, informe us of the Nature of that vaſt, fluid, and Aetherial Subſtance, that ſeemes to make up the interſtellar, and conſequently much the greateſt part of the World? for as for the opinion commonly aſcrib'd to Paracelſus, as if he would have not only the four Peripatetick Elements, but even the Celeſtial parts of the Univerſe to conſiſt of his three Principles, ſince the modern Chymiſts themſelves have not thought ſo groundleſs a conceit worth their owning, I ſhall not think it Worth my confuting.

But I ſhould perchance forgive the Hypotheſis I have been all this while examining, if, though it reaches but to a very little part of the World, it did at leaſt give us a ſatisfactory account of thoſe things to which 'tis ſaid to reach. But I find not, that it gives us any other then a very imperfect information even about mixt Bodies themſelves: For how will the knowledge of the Tria Prima diſcover to us the Reaſon, why the Loadſtone drawes a Needle and diſpoſes it to reſpect the Poles, and yet ſeldom preciſely points at them? how will this Hypotheſis teach Us how a Chick is formed in the Egge, or how the Seminal Principles of Mint, Pompions, and other Vegitables, that I mention'd to You above, can faſhion Water into Various Plants, each of them endow'd with its peculiar and determinate ſhape, and with divers ſpecifick and diſcriminating Qualities? How does this Hypotheſis ſhew us, how much Salt, how much Sulphur, and how much Mereury muſt be taken to make a Chick or a Pompion? and if We know that, what Principle is it, that manages theſe Ingredients, and contrives (for inſtance) ſuch Liquors as the White and Yelk of an Egge into ſuch a variety of Textures as is requiſite to faſhion the Bones, Veines, Arteries, Nerves, Tendons, Feathers, Blood, and other parts of a Chick; and not only to faſhion each Limbe, but to connect them altogether, after that manner that is moſt congruous to the perfection of the Animal which is to Conſiſt of Them? For to ſay, that ſome more fine and ſubtile part of either or all the Hypoſtatical Principles is the Director in all this buſineſs, and the Architect of all this Elaborate ſtructure, is to give one occaſion to demand again, what proportion and way of mixture of the Tria Prima afforded this Architectonick Spirit, and what Agent made ſo skilful and happy a mixture? And the Anſwer to this Queſtion, if the Chymiſts will keep themſelves within their three Principles, will be lyable to the ſame Inconvenience, that the Anſwer to the former was. And if it were not to intrench upon the Theame of a Friend of ours here preſent, I could eaſily proſecute the Imperfections of the Vulgar Chymiſts Philoſophy, 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 Phaenomena as Fluidity and Firmneſs, The Colours and Figures of Stones, Minerals, and other compound Bodies, The Nutrition of either Plants or Animals, the Gravity of Gold or Quickſilver compar'd with Wine or Spirit of Wine; By attempting, I ſay, to render a reaſon of theſe (to omit a thouſand others as difficult to account for) from any proportion of the three ſimple Ingredients, Chymiſts will be much more likely to diſcredit themſelves and their Hypotheſis, then ſatisfy an intelligent Inquirer after Truth.

But (interpoſes Eleutherus) This Objection ſeems no more then may be made againſt the four Peripatetick Elements. And indeed almoſt againſt any other Hypotheſis, that pretends by any Determinate Number of Material Ingredients to render a reaſon of the Phaenomena of Nature. And as for the uſe of the Chymical Doctrine of the three Principles, I ſuppoſe you need not be told by me, ^[22] that The great Champion of it, The Learned Sennertus, aſſignes this noble uſe of the Tria Prima, That from Them, as the neereſt and moſt Proper Principles, may be Deduc'd and Demonſtrated the Properties which are in Mixt Bodies, and which cannot be Proximately (as They ſpeak) deduc'd from the Elements. And This, ſayes he, is chiefly Apparent, when we Inquire into the Properties and Faculties of Medecines. And I know (continues Eleutherius) That the Perſon You have aſſum'd, of an Opponent of the Hermetick Doctrine, will not ſo far prevaile againſt your Native and wonted Equity, as To keep You from acknowledging that Philoſophy is much beholden to the Notions and Diſcoveries of Chymiſts.

If the Chymiſts You ſpeak of (Replyes Carneades) had been ſo modeſt, or ſo Diſcreet, as to propoſe their Opinion of the Tria Prima, but as a Notion uſeful among Others, to increaſe Humane knowledge, they had deſerv'd more of our thanks; and leſs of our Oppoſition; but ſince the Thing that they pretend is not ſo much to contribute a Notion toward the Improvement of Philoſophy, as to make this Notion attended by a few leſſe conſiderable ones) paſs for a New Philoſophy it ſelf. Nay, ſince they boaſt ſo much of this phancie of theirs, that the famous Quercetanus ſcruples not to write, that if his moſt certain Doctrine of the three Principles were ſufficiently Learned, Examin'd, and Cultivated, it would eaſily Diſpel all the Darkneſs that benights our minds, and bring in a Clear Light, that would remove all Difficulties. This School affording Theorems and Axiomes irrefragable, and to be admitted without Diſpute by impartial Judges; and ſo uſeful withal, as to exempt us from the neceſſity of having recourſe, for want of the knowledg of cauſes, to that Sanctuary of the igorant, Occult Qualities; ſince, I ſay, this Domeſtick Notion of the Chymiſts is ſo much overvalued by them, I cannot think it unfit, they ſhould be made ſenſible of their miſtake; and be admoniſh'd to take in more fruitful and comprehenſive Principles, if they mean to give us an account of the Phaenomena of Nature; 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 an intelligible one) of the tenth part (I ſay not) of all the Phaenomena of Nature; but even of all ſuch as by the Leucippian or ſome of the other ſorts of Principles may be plauſibly enough explicated. And though I be not unwilling to grant, that the incompetency I impute to the Chymical Hypotheſis is but the ſame which may be Objected againſt that of the four Elements, and divers other Doctrines that have been maintain'd by Learnedmen; yet ſince 'tis the Chymical Hypotheſis only which I am now examining, I ſee not why, if what I impute to it be a real inconvenience, either it ſhould ceaſe to be ſo, or I ſhould ſcruple to object it, becauſe other Theories are lyable thereunto, as well as the Hermetical. For I know not why a Truth ſhould be thought leſſe a Truth for the being fit to overthrow variety of Errors.

I am oblig'd to You (continues Carneades, a little ſmiling) for the favourable Opinion You are pleas'd to expreſs of my Equity, if there be no deſign in it. But I need not be tempted by an Artifice, or invited by a Complement, to acknowledge the great ſervice that the Labours of Chymiſts have done the Lovers of uſeful Learning; nor even on this occaſion ſhall their Arrogance hinder my Gratitude. But ſince we are as well examining to the truth of their Doctrine as the merit of their induſtry, I muſt in order to the inveſtigation of the firſt, continue a reply, to talk at the rate of the part I have aſſum'd; And tell you, that when I acknowledg the uſefulneſs of the Labours of Spagyriſts to Natural Philoſophy, I do it upon the ſcore of their experiments, not upon that of Their Speculations; for it ſeems to me, that their Writings, as their Furnaces, afford as well ſmoke as light; and do little leſſe obſcure ſome ſubjects, then they illuſtrate others. And though I am unwilling to deny, that 'tis difficult for a man to be an Accompliſht Naturaliſt, that is a ſtranger to Chymiſtry, yet I look upon the common Operations and practices of Chymiſts, almoſt as I do on the Letters of the Alphabet, without whoſe knowledge 'tis very hard for a man to become a Philoſopher; and yet that knowledge is very far from being ſufficient to make him One.

But (ſayes Carneades, reſuming a more ſerious Look) to conſider a little more particularly what you alledg in favour of the Chymical Doctrine of the Tria Prima, though I ſhall readily acknowledge it not to be unuſeful, and that the Diviſers and Embracers of it have done the Common-Wealth of Learning ſome ſervice, by helping to deſtroy that exceſſive eſteem, or rather veneration, wherewith the Doctrine of the four Elements was almoſt as generally as undeſervedly entertain'd; yet what has been alledg'd concerning the uſefulneſs of the Tria Prima, ſeems to me liable to no contemptible Difficulties.

And firſt, as for the very way of Probation, which the more Learned and more Sober Champions of the Chymical cauſe employ to evince the Chymical Principles in Mixt Bodies, it ſeems to me to be farr enough from being convincing. This grand and leading Argument, your Sennertus Himſelf, who layes Great weight upon it, and tells us, that the moſt Learned Philoſophers employ this way of Reaſoning to prove the moſt important things, propoſes thus: Ubicunque (ſayes he) pluribus eaedem affectiones & qualitates inſunt, per commune quoddam Principium inſint neceſſe eſt, ſicut omnia ſunt Gravia propter terram, calida propter Ignem. At Colores, Odores, Sapores, eſſe [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], & ſimilia alia, mineralibus, Metallis, Gemmis, Lapidibus, Plantis, Animalibus inſunt. Ergo per commune aliquod principium, & ſubiectum, inſunt. At tale principium non ſunt Elementa. Nullam enim habent ad tales qualitates producendas potentiam. Ergo alia principia, unde fluant, inquirenda ſunt.

In the Recital of this Argument, (ſayes Carneades) I therefore thought fit to retain the Language wherein the Author propoſes it, that I might alſo retain the propriety of ſome Latine Termes, to which I do not readily remember any that fully anſwer in Engliſh. But as for the Argumentation it ſelf, 'tis built upon a precarious ſuppoſition, that ſeems to me neither Demonſtrable nor true; for, how does it appear, that where the ſame Quality is to be met with in many Bodies, it muſt belong to them upon the Account of ſome one Body whereof they all partake? (For that the Major of our Authors Argument is to be Underſtood of the Material Ingredients of bodies, appears by the Inſtances of Earth and Fire he annexes to explain it.) For to begin with that very Example which he is pleas'd to alledge for himſelf; how can he prove, that the Gravity of all Bodies proceeds from what they participate of the Element of Earth? Since we ſee, that not only common Water, but the more pure Diſtill'd Rain Water is heavy; and Quickſilver is much heavier than Earth it ſelf; though none of my Adverſaries has yet prov'd, that it contains any of that Element. And I the Rather make uſe of this Example of Quickſilver, becauſe I ſee not how the Aſſertors of the Elements will give any better Account of it then the Chymiſts. For if it be demanded how it comes to be Fluid, they will anſwer, that it participates much of the Nature of Water. And indeed, according to them, Water may be the Predominant Element in it, ſince we ſee, that ſeveral Bodies which by Diſtillation afford Liquors that weigh more then their Caput Mortuum do not yet conſiſt of Liquor enough to be Fluid. Yet if it be demanded how Quickſilver comes to be ſo heavy, then 'tis reply'd, that 'tis by reaſon of the Earth that abounds in it; but ſince, according to them, it muſt conſiſt alſo of air, and partly of Fire, which they affirm to be light Elements, how comes it that it ſhould be ſo much heavier then Earth of the ſame bulk, though to fill up the poroſities and other Cavities it be made up into a maſs or paſte with Water, which it ſelf they allow to be a heavy Element. But to returne to our Spagyrists, we ſee that Chymical Oyles and fixt Salts, though never ſo exquiſitely purify'd and freed from terreſtrial parts, do yet remain ponderous enough. And Experience has inform'd me, that a pound, for inſtance, of ſome of the heavieſt Woods, as Guajacum that will ſink in Water, being burnt to Aſhes will yield a much leſs weight of them (whereof I found but a ſmall part to be Alcalyzate) then much lighter Vegetables: As alſo that the black Charcoal of it will not ſink as did the wood, but ſwim; which argues that the Differing Gravity of Bodies proceeds chiefly from their particular Texture, as is manifeſt in Gold, the cloſeſt and Compacteſt of Bodies, which is many times heavier then we can poſſibly make any parcell of Earth of the ſame Bulk. I will not examine, what may be argu'd touching the Gravity or Quality Analagous thereunto, of even Celeſtial bodies, from the motion of the ſpots about the Sun, d from the appearing equality of the ſuppos'd Seas in the Moon; nor conſider how little thoſe Phaemonea would agree with what Sennertus preſumes concerning Gravity. But further to invalidate his ſuppoſition, I ſhall demand, upon what Chymical Principle Fluidity depends? And yet Fluidity is, two or three perhaps excepted, the moſt diffuſed quality of the univerſe, and far more General then almoſt any other of thoſe that are to be met with in any of the Chymicall Principles, or Aristotelian Elements; ſince not only the Air, but that vaſt expanſion we call Heaven, in compariſon of which our Terreſtrial Globe (ſuppoſing it were all Solid) is but a point; and perhaps to the Sun and the fixt Stars are fluid bodies. I demand alſo, from which of the Chymical Principles Motion flowes; which yet is an affection of matter much more General then any that can be deduc'd from any of the three Chymical Principles. I might ask the like Queſtion concerning Light, which is not only to be found in the Kindl'd Sulphur of mixt Bodis, but (not to mention thoſe ſorts of rotten Woods, and rotten Fiſh that ſhine in the Dark) in the tails of living Glow-wormes, and in the Vaſt bodies of the Sun and Stars. I would gladly alſo know, in which of the three Principles the Quality, we call Sound, reſides as in its proper Subject; ſince either Oyl falling upon Oyle, or Spirit upon Spirit, or Salt upon Salt, in a great quantity, and from a conſiderable height, will make a noiſe, or if you pleaſe, create a ſound, and (that the objection may reach the Ariſtotelians) ſo will alſo water upon water, and Earth upon Earth. And I could name other qualities to be met within divers bodies, of which I ſuppoſe my Adverſaries will not in haſte aſſign any Subject, upon whoſe Account it muſt needs be, that the quality belongs to all the other ſeveral bodies.

And, before I proceed any further, I muſt here invite you to compare the ſuppoſition we are examining, with ſome other of the Chymical Tenents. For, firſt they do in effect teach that more then one quality may belong to, and be deduc'd from, one Principle. For, they aſcribe to Salt Taſts, and the power of Coagulation; to ſulphur, as well Odours as inflamableneſs; And ſome of them aſcribe to Mercury, Colours; as all of them do effumability, as they ſpeak. And on the other ſide, it is evident that Volatility belongs in common to all the three Principles, and to Water too. For 'tis manifeſt, that Chymical Oyles are Volatile; That alſo divers Salts Emerging, upon the Analyſis of many Concretes, are very Volatile, is plain from the figitiveneſs of Salt, of Harts-horne, fleſh, &c. aſcending in the Diſtillation of thoſe bodies. How eaſily water may be made to aſcend in Vapours, there is ſcarce any body that has not obſerv'd. And as for what they call the Mercuriall Principle of bodies, that is ſo apt to be rais'd in the form of Steam, that Paracelſus and others define it by that aptneſs to fly up; ſo that (to draw that inference by the way) it ſeems not that Chymiſts have been accurate in their Doctrine of qualities, and their reſpective Principles, ſince they both derive ſeveral qualities from the ſame Principle, and muſt aſcribe the ſame quality to almoſt all their Principles and other bodies beſides. And thus much for the firſt thing taken for granted, without ſufficient proof, by your Sennertus: And to add that upon the Bye (continues Carneades) we may hence learn what to judge of the way of Argumentation, which that fierce Champion of the Ariſtotelians againſt the Chymiſts, ^[23] Anthonius Guntherus Billichius employes, where he pretends to prove againſt Beguinus, that not only the four Elements do immediately concur to Conſtitute every mixt body, and are both preſent in it, and obtainable from it upon its Diſſolution; but that in the Tria Prima themſelves, whereinto Chymiſts are wont to reſolve mixt Bodies, each of them clearly diſcovers it ſelf to conſiſt of four Elements. The Ratiocination it ſelf (purſues Carneades) being ſomewhat unuſual, I did the other Day Tranſcribe it, and (ſayes He, pulling a Paper out of his Pocket) it is this. Ordiamur, cum Beguino, a ligno viridi, quod ſi concremetur, videbis in ſudore Aquam, in fumo Aerem, in flamma & Prunis Ignem, Terram in cineribus: Quod ſi Beguino placuerit ex eo colligere humidum aquoſum, cohibere humidum oleaginoſum, extrahere ex cineribus ſalem; Ego ipſi in unoquoque horum ſeorſim quatuor Elementa ad oculum demonſtrabo, eodem artificio quo in ligno viridi ea demonſtravi. Humorem aquoſum admovebo Igni. Ipſe Aquam Ebullire videbit, in Vapore Aerem conſpiciet, Ignem ſentiet in aestu, plus minus Terrae in ſedimento apparebit. Humor porro Oleaginoſus aquam humiditate & fluiditate per ſe, accenſus vero Ignem flamma prodit, fumo Aerem, fuligine, nidore & amurca terram. Salem denique ipſe Beguinus ſiccum vocat & Terreſtrem, qui tamen nec fuſus Aquam, nec cauſtica vi ignem celare poteſt; ignis vero Violentia in halitus verſus nec ab Aere ſe alienum eſſe demonſtrat; Idem de Lacte, de Ovis, deſemine Lini, de Garyophyllis, de Nitro, de ſale Marino, denique de Antimonio, quod fuit de Ligno viridi Judicium; eadem de illorum partibus, quas Beguinus adducit, ſententia, quae de viridis ligni humore aquoſo, quae de liquore ejuſdem oleoſo, quae de ſale fuit.

This bold Diſcourſe (reſumes Carneades, putting up again his Paper,) I think it were not very difficult to confure, if his Arguments were as conſiderable as our time will probably prove ſhort for the remaining and more neceſſary Part of my Diſcourſe; wherefore referring You for an Anſwer to what was ſaid concerning the Diſſipated Parts of a burnt piece of green Wood, to what I told Themiſtius on the like occaſion, I might eaſily ſhew You, how ſleightly and ſuperficially our Guntherus talks of the dividing the flame of Green Wood into his four Elements; When he makes that vapour to be air, which being caught in Glaſſes and condens'd, preſently diſcovers it ſelf to have been but an Aggregate of innumerable very minute drops of Liquor; and When he would prove the Phlegmes being compos'd of Fire by that Heat which is adventitious to the Liquor, and ceaſes upon the abſence of what produc'd it (whether that be an Agitation proceeding from the motion of the External Fire, or the preſence of a Multitude of igneous Atomes pervading the pores of the Veſſel, and nimbly permeating the whole Body of the Water) I might, I ſay, urge theſe and divers other Weakneſſes of His Diſcourſe. But I will rather take Notice of what is more pertinent to the Occaſion of this Digreſſion, namely, that Taking it for Granted, that Fluidity (with which he unwarily ſeems to confound Humidity) muſt proceed from the Element of Water, he makes a Chymical Oyle to Conſiſt of that Elementary Liquor; and yet in the very next Words proves, that it conſiſts alſo of Fire, by its Inflamability; not remembring that exquiſitely pure Spirit of Wine is both more Fluid then Water it ſelf, and yet will Flame all away without leaving the Leaſt Aqueous Moiſture behind it; and without ſuch an Amurca and Soot as he would Deduce the preſence of Earth from. So that the ſame Liquor may according to his Doctrine be concluded by its great Fluidity to be almoſt all Water; and by its burning all away to be all diſguiſed Fire. And by the like way of Probation our Author would ſhew that the fixt ſalt of Wood is compounded of the four Elements. For (ſayes he) being turn'd by the violence of the Fire into ſteames, it ſhews it ſelf to be of kin to Air; whereas I doubt whether he ever ſaw a true fixt Salt (which to become ſo, muſt have already endur'd the violence of an Incinerating Fire) brought by the Fire alone to aſcend in the Forme of Exhalations; but I do not doubt that if he did, and had caught thoſe Exhalations in convenient Veſſels, he would have found them as well as the Steames of common Salt, &c. of a Saline and not an Aereal Nature. And whereas our Authour takes it alſo for Granted, that the Fuſibility of Salt muſt be Deduc'd from Water, it is indeed ſo much the Effect of heat variouſly agitating the Minute Parts of a Body, without regard to Water, that Gold (which by its being the heavyeſt and fixteſt of Bodies, ſhould be the moſt Earthy) will be brought to Fuſion by a ſtrong Fire; which ſure is more likely to drive away then increaſe its Aqueous Ingredient, if it have any; and on the other ſide, for want of a ſufficient agitation of its minute parts, Ice is not Fluid, but Solid; though he preſumes alſo that the Mordicant Quality of Bodies muſt proceed from a fiery ingredient; whereas, not to urge that the Light and inflamable parts, which are the moſt likely to belong to the Element of Fire, muſt probably be driven away by that time the violence of the Fire has reduc'd the Body to aſhes; Not to urge this, I I ſay, nor that Oyle of Vitriol which quenches Fire, burnes the Tongue and fleſh of thoſe that Unwarily taſt or apply it, as a cauſtick doth, it is precarious to prove the Preſence of Fire in fixt ſalts from their Cauſtick power, unleſſe it were firſt ſhewn, that all the Qualities aſcribed to ſalts muſt be deduc'd from thoſe of the Elements; which, had I Time, I could eaſily manifeſt to be no eaſy talk. And not to mention that our Authour makes a Body as Homogeneous as any he can produce for Elementary, belong both to Water and Fire, Though it be neither Fluid nor Inſipid, like Water; nor light and Volatile, like Fire; he ſeems to omit in this Anatomy the Element of Earth, ſave That he intimates, That the ſalt may paſs for that; But ſince a few lines before, he takes Aſhes for Earth, I ſee not how he will avoid an Inconſiſtency either betwixt the Parts of his Diſcourſe or betwixt ſome of them and his Doctrine. For ſince There is a manifeſt Difference betwixt the Saline and the inſipid Parts of Aſhes, I ſee not how ſubſtances That Diſagree in ſuch Notable Qualities can be both ſaid to be Portions of an Element, whoſe Nature requires that it be Homogeneous, eſpecially in this caſe where an Analyſis by the Fire is ſuppos'd to have ſeparated it from the admixture of other Elements, which are confeſs'd by moſt Ariſtotelians to be Generally found in common Earth, and to render it impure. And ſure if when we have conſider'd for how little a Diſparities ſake the Peripateticks make theſe Symbolizing Bodies Aire and Fire to be two Diſtinct Elements, we ſhall alſo conſider that the Saline part of Aſhes is very ſtrongly Taſted, and eaſily ſoluble in Water; whereas the other part of the ſame Aſhes is inſipid and indiſſoluble in the ſame Liquor: Not to add, that the one ſubſtance is Opacous, and the other ſomewhat Diaphanous, nor that they differ in Divers other Particulars; If we conſider thoſe things, I ſay, we ſhall hardly think that both theſe Subſtances are Elementary Earth; And as to what is ſometimes objected, that their Saline Taſt is only an Effect of Incineration and Aduſtion, it has been elſewhere fully reply'd to, when propos'd by Themistius, and where it has been prov'd againſt him, that however inſipid Earth may perhaps by Additaments be turn'd into Salt, yet 'tis not like it ſhould be ſo by the Fire alone: For we ſee that when we refine Gold and Silver, the violenteſt Fires We can Employ on them give them not the leaſt Relliſh of Saltneſs. And I think Philoponus has rightly obſerv'd, that the Aſhes of ſome Concretes contain very little ſalt if any at all; For Refiners ſuppoſe that boneaſhes are free from it, and therefore make uſe of them for Teſts and Cuppels, which ought to be Deſtitute of Salt, leſt the Violence of the Fire ſhould bring them to Vitrification; And having purpoſely and heedfully taſted a Cuppel made of only bone-aſhes and fair water, which I had caus'd to be expos'd to a Very Violent Fire, acuated by the Blaſt of a large pair of Double Bellows, I could not perceive that the force of the Fire bad imparted to it the leaſt Saltneſs, or ſo much as made it leſs Inſipid.

But (ſayes Carneades) ſince neither You nor I love Repetitions, I ſhall not now make any of what elſe was urg'd againſt Themiſtius but rather invite You to take notice with me that when our Authour, though a Learned Man, and one that pretends skill enough in Chymiſtry to reforme the whole Art, comes to make good his confident Undertaking, to give us an occular Demonſtration of the immediate Preſence of the four Elements in the reſolution of Green Wood, He is fain to ſay things that agree very little with one another. For about the beginning of that paſſage of His lately recited to you, he makes the ſweat as he calls it of the green Wood to be Water, the ſmoke Aire, the ſhining Matter Fire, and the Aſhes Earth; whereas a few lines after, he will in each of theſe, nay (as I juſt now noted) in one Diſtinct Part of the Aſhes, ſhew the four Elements. So that either the former Analyſis muſt be incompetent to prove that Number of Elements, ſince by it the burnt Concrete is not reduc'd into Elementary Bodies, but into ſuch as are yet each of them compounded of the four Elements; or elſe theſe Qualities from which he endeavours to deduce the preſence of all the Elements, in the fixt ſalt, and each of the other ſeparated ſubſtances, will be but a precarious way of probation: eſpecially if you conſider, that the extracted Alcali of Wood, being for ought appears at leaſt as ſimilar a Body as any that the Peripateticks can ſhew us, if its differing Qualities muſt argue the preſence of Diſtinct Elements, it will ſcarce be poſſible for them by any way they know of employing the fire upon a Body, to ſhew that any Body is a Portion of a true Element: And this recals to my mind, that I am now but in an occaſional Excuſſion, which aiming only to ſhew that the Peripateticks as well as the Chymiſts take in our preſent Controverſie ſomething for granted which they ought to prove, I ſhall returne to my exceptions, where I ended the firſt of them, and further tell you, that neither is that the only precarious thing that I take notice of in Sennertus his Argumentation; for when he inferrs, that becauſe the Qualities he Mentions as Colours, Smels, and the like, belong not to the Elements; they therefore muſt to the Chymical Principles, he takes that for granted, which will not in haſte be prov'd; as I might here manifeſt, but that I may be and by have a fitter opportunity to take notice of it. And thus much at preſent may ſuffice to have Diſcours'd againſt the Suppoſition, that almoſt every Quality muſt have ſome [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], as they ſpeak, ſome Native receptacle, wherein as in its proper Subject of in heſion it peculiarly reſides, and on whoſe account that quality belongs to the other Bodies, Wherein it is to be met with. Now this Fundamental ſuppoſition being once Deſtroy'd, whatſoever is built upon it, muſt fall to ruine of it ſelf.

But I conſider further, that Chymiſts are (for ought I have found) far from being able to explicate by any of the Tria Prima, thoſe qualities which they pretend to belong primarily unto it, and in mixt Bodies to Deduce from it. Tis true indeed, that ſuch qualities are not explicable by the four Elements; but it will not therefore follow, that they are ſo by the three hermetical Principles; and this is it that ſeems to have deceiv'd the Chymiſts, and is indeed a very common miſtake amongſt moſt Diſputants, who argue as if there could be but two Opinions concerning the Difficulty about which they contend; and conſequently they inferr, that if their Adverſaries Opinion be Erroneous, Their's muſt needs be the Truth; whereas many queſtions, and eſpecially in matters Phyſiological, may admit of ſo many Differing Hypotheſes, that 'twill be very inconſiderate and fallacious to conclude (except where the Opinions are preciſely Contradictory) the Truth of one from the falſity of another. And in our particular caſe 'tis no way neceſſary, that the Properties of mixt Bodies muſt be explicable either by the Hermetical, or the Aristotelian Hypotheſis, there being divers other and more plauſible wayes of explaining them, and eſpecially that, which deduces qualities from the motion, figure, and contrivance of the ſmall parts of Bodies; as I think might be ſhewn, if the attempt were as ſeaſonable, as I fear it would be Tedious.

I will allow then, that the Chymiſts do not cauſeleſsly accuſe the Doctrine of the four elements of incompetency to explain the Properties of Compound bodies. And for this Rejection of a Vulgar Error, they ought not to be deny'd what praiſe men may deſerve for exploding a Doctrine whoſe Imperfections are ſo conſpicuous, that men needed but not to ſhut their Eyes, to diſcover them. But I am miſtaken, if our Hermetical Philoſophers Themſelves need not, as well as the Peripateticks, have Recourſe to more Fruitfull and Comprehenſive Principles then the trial Prima, to make out the Properties of the Bodies they converſe with. Not to accumulate Examples to this purpoſe, (becauſe I hope for a fitter opportunity to proſecute this Subject) let us at preſent only point at Colour, that you may gueſs by what they ſay of ſo obvious and familiar a Quality, how little Inſtruction we are to expect from the Tria Prima in thoſe more abſtruſe ones, which they with the Ariſtotelians ſtile Occult. For about Colours, neither do they at all agree among themſelves, nor have I met with any one, of which of the three Perſwaſions ſoever, that does intelligibly explicate Them. The Vulgar Chymiſts are wont to aſcribe Colours to Mercury; ^[24] Paracelſus in divers places attributes them to Salt; and Sennertus, having recited their differing Opinions, Diſſents from both, and referrs Colours rather unto Sulphur. But how Colours do, nay, how they may, ariſe from either of theſe Principles, I think you will ſcarce ſay that any has yet intelligibly explicated. And if Mr. Boyle will allow me to ſhew you the Experiments which he has collected about Colours, you will, I doubt not, confeſs that bodies exhibite colours, not upon the Account of the Predominancy of this or that Principle in them, but upon that of their Texture, and eſpecially the Diſpoſition of their ſuperficial parts, whereby the Light rebounding thence to the Eye is ſo modifi'd, as by differing Impreſſions variouſly to affect the Organs of Sight. I might here take notice of the pleaſing variety of Colours exhibited by the Triangular glaſs, (as 'tis wont to be call'd) and demand, what addition or decrement of either Salt, Sulphur, or Mercury, befalls the Body of the Glaſs by being Priſmatically figur'd; and yet 'tis known, that without that ſhape it would not affor'd thoſe colours as it does. But becauſe it may be objected, that theſe are not real, but apparent Colours; that I may not loſe time in examing the Diſtinction, I will alledge againſt the Chymiſts, a couple of examples of Real and Permanent Colours Drawn from Metalline Bodies, and repreſent, that without the addition of any extraneous body, Quickſilver may by the Fire alone, and that in glaſs Veſſels, be depriv'd of its ſilver-like Colour, and be turn'd into a Red Body; and from this Red Body without Addition likewiſe may be obtain'd a Mercury Bright and Specular as it was before; So that I have here a laſting Colour Generated and Deſtroy'd (as I have ſeen) at pleaſure, without adding or taking away either Mercury, Salt, or Sulphur; and if you take a clean and ſlender piece of harden'd ſteel, and apply to it the flame of a candle at ſome little diſtance ſhort of the point, You ſhall not have held the Steel long in the flame, but You ſhall perceive divers Colours, as Yellow, Red and Blew, to appear upon the Surface of the metal, and as it were run along in chaſe of one another towards the point; So that the ſame body, and that in one and the ſame part, may not only have a new colour produc'd in it, but exhibite ſucceſſively divers Colours within a minute of an hour, or thereabouts; and any of theſe Colours may by Removing the Steel from the Fire, become Permanent, and laſt many years. And this Production and Variety of Colours cannot reaſonably be ſuppos'd to proceed from the Acceſſion of any of the three Principles, to which of them ſoever Chymiſts will be pleas'd to aſcribe Colours; eſpecially conſidering, that if you but ſuddenly Refrigerate that Iron, Firſt made Red hot, it will be harden'd and Colourleſs again; and not only by the Flame of a Candle, but by any other equivalent heat Conveniently appli'd, the like Colours will again be made to appear and ſucceed one another, as at the Firſt. But I muſt not any further proſecute an Occaſional Diſcourſe, though that were not ſo Difficult for me to do, as I fear it would be for the Chymiſts to give a better Account of the other Qualities, by their Principles, then they have done of Colours. And your Sennertus Himſelf (though an Author I much value) would I fear have been exceedingly puzl'd to reſolve, by the Tria Prima, halfe that Catalogue of Problems, ^[25] which he challenges the Vulgar Peripateticks to explicate by their four Elements. And ſuppoſing it were true, that Salt or Sulphur were the Principle to which this or that Quality may be peculiarly referr'd, yet though he that teaches us this teaches us ſomething concerning That quality, yet he Teaches us but ſomething. For indeed he does not Teach us That which can in any Tollerable meaſure ſatisfie an inquiſitive Searcher after Truth. For what is it to me to know, that ſuch a quality reſides in ſuch a Principle or Element, whilſt I remain altogether ignorant of the Cauſe of that quality, and the manner of its production and Operation? How little do I know more then any Ordinary Man of Gravity, if I know but that the Heavineſs of mixt bodies proceeds from that of the Earth they are compos'd of, if I know not the reaſon why the Earth is Heavy? And how little does the Chymiſt teach the Philoſopher of the Nature of Purgatition, if he only tells him that the Purgative Vertue of Medicines reſides in their Salt? For, beſides that this muſt not be conceded without Limitation, ſince the purging parts of many Vegetables Extracted by the Water wherein they are infus'd, are at moſt but ſuch compounded Salts, (I mean mingl'd with Oyle, and Spirit, and Earth, as Tartar and divers other Subjects of the Vegetable Kingdom afford;) And ſince too that Quickſilver precipitated either with Gold, or without Addition, into a powder, is wont to be ſtrongly enough Cathartical, though the Chymiſts have not yet prov'd, that either Gold or Mercury have any Salt at all, much leſs any that is Purgative; Beſides this, I ſay, how little is it to me, to know That 'tis the Salt of the Rhubarb (for Inſtance) that purges, if I find That it does not purge as Salt; ſince ſcarce any Elementary Salt is in ſmall quantity cathartical. And if I know not how Purgation in general is effected in a Humane Body? In a word, as 'tis one thing to know a mans Lodging, and another, to be acquainted with him; ſo it may be one thing to know the ſubject wherein a Quality principally reſides, and another thing to have a right notion and knowledg of the quality its ſelf. Now that which I take to be the reaſon of this Chymical Deficiency, is the ſame upon whoſe account I think the Ariſtotelian and divers other Theories incompetent to explicate the Origen of Qualities. For I am apt to think, that men will never be able to explain the Phaenomena of Nature, while they endeavour to deduce them only from the Preſence and Proportion of ſuch or ſuch material Ingredients, and conſider ſuch ingredients or Elements as Bodies in a ſtate of reſt; whereas indeed the greateſt part of the affections of matter, and conſequently of the Phaenomena of nature, ſeems to depend upon the motion and the continuance of the ſmall parts of Bodies. For 'tis by motion that one part of matter acts upon another; and 'tis, for the moſt part, the texture of the Body upon which the moving parts ſtrike, that modifies to motion or Impreſſion, and concurrs with it to the production of thoſe Effects which make up the chief part of the Naturaliſts Theme.

But (ſayes Eleutherius) me thinks for all this, you have left ſome part of what I alledg'd in behalf of the three principles, unanſwer'd. For all that you have ſaid will not keep this from being a uſeful Diſcovery, that ſince in the Salt of one Concrete, in the Sulphur of another and the Mercury of a third, the Medicinal vertue of it reſides, that Principle ought to be ſeparated from the reſt, and there the deſired faculty muſt be ſought for.

I never denyed (Replyes Carneades) that the Notion of the Tria Prima may be of ſome uſe, but (continues he laughing) by what you now alledg for it, it will but appear That it is uſeful to Apothecaries, rather than to Philoſophers, The being able to make things Operative being ſufficient to thoſe, whereas the Knowledge of Cauſes is the Thing looked after by Theſe. And let me Tell You, Eleutherius, even this it ſelf will need to be entertained with ſome caution.

For firſt, it will not preſently follow, That if the Purgative or other vertue of a ſimple may be eaſily extracted by Water or Spirit of Wine, it Reſides in the Salt or Sulphur of the Concrete; Since unleſſe the Body have before been reſolved by the Fire, or ſome Other Powerful Agent, it will, for the moſt part, afford in the Liquors I have named, rather the finer compounded parts of it ſelf, Than the Elementary ones. As I noted before, That Water will diſſolve not only pure Salts, but Cryſtals of Tartar, Gumme Arabick, Myrr'h, and Other Compound Bodies. As alſo Spirit of Wine will Diſſolve not only the pure Sulphur of Concretes, but likewiſe the whole Subſtance of divers Reſinous Bodies, as Benzoin, the Gummous parts of Jallap, Gumme Lacca, and Other bodies that are counted perfectly Mixt. And we ſee that the Extracts made either with Water or Spirit of Wine are not of a ſimple and Elementary Nature, but Maſſes conſiſting of the looſer Corpuſeles, and finer parts of the Concretes whence they are Drawn; ſince by Diſtillation they may be Divided into more Elementary ſubſtances.

Next, we may conſider That even when there intervenes a Chymical reſolution by he Fire, 'tis ſeldom in the Saline or Sulphureous principle, as ſuch, that the deſir'd Faculty of the Concrete Reſides; But, as that Titular Salt or Sulphur is yet a mixt body, though the Saline or Sulphureous Nature be predominant in it. For, if in Chymical Reſolutions the ſeparated Subſtances were pure and ſimple Bodies, and of a perfect Elementary Nature; no one would be indued with more Specifick Vertues, than another; and their qualities would Differ as Little as do thoſe of Water. And let me add this upon the bye, That even Eminent Chymiſts have ſuffer'd themſelves to be reprehended by me for their over great Diligence in purifying ſome of the things they obtain by Fire from mixt Bodies. For though ſuch compleatly purifyed Ingredients of Bodies might perhaps be more ſatisfactory to our Underſtanding; yet others are often more uſeful to our Lives, the efficacy of ſuch Chymical Productions depending moſt upon what they retain of the Bodies whence they are ſeparated, or gain by the new aſſociations of the Diſſipated among themſelves; whereas if they were meerly Elementary, their uſes would be comparatively very ſmall; and the vertues of Sulphurs, Salts, or Other ſuch Subſtances of one denomination, would be the very ſame.

And by the Way (Eleutherius) I am inclin'd upon this ground to Think, That the artificial reſolution of compound bodies by Fire does not ſo much enrich mankind, as it divides them into their ſuppoſed Principles; as upon the ſcore of its making new compounds by new combinations of the diſſipated parts of the reſolv'd Body. For by this means the Number of mixt Bodies is conſiderably increaſed. And many of thoſe new productions are indow'd with uſeful qualities, divers of which they owe not to the body from which they were obtein'd, but to Their newly Acquired Texture.

But thirdly, that which is principally to be Noted is this, that as there are divers Concretes whoſe Faculties reſide in ſome one or other of thoſe differing Subſtances that Chymiſts call their Sulphurs, Salts, and Mercuries, and conſequently may be beſt obtain'd, by analyzing the Concrete whereby the deſired Principles may be had ſever'd or freed from the reſt; So there are other wherein the nobleſt properties lodge not in the Salt, or Sulphur, or Mercury, but depend immediately upon the form (or if you will) reſult from the determinate ſtructure of the Whole Concrete; and conſequently they that go about to extract the Vertues of ſuch bodies, by expoſing them to the Violence of the Fire, do exceedingly miſtake, and take the way to Deſtroy what they would obtain.

I remmember that Helmont himſelf ſomewhere confeſſes, That as the Fire betters ſome things and improves their Vertues, ſo it ſpoyles others and makes them degenerate. And elſewhere he judiciouſly affirmes, that there may be ſometimes greater vertue in a ſimple, ſuch as Nature has made it, than in any thing that can by the fire be ſeparated from it. ^[26] And leſt you ſhould doubt whether he means by the vertues of things thoſe that are Medical; he has in one place this ingenuous confeſſion; Credo (ſayes he) ſimplicia in ſua ſimplicitate eſſe ſufficientia pro ſanatione omnium morborum. Nag. Barthias, even in a Comment upon Beguinus, ^[27] ſcruples not to make this acknowledgment; Valde abſurdum eſt (ſayes he) ex omnibus rebus extracta facere, ſalia, quintas eſſentias; praeſertim ex ſubſtantiis per ſe plane vel ſubtilibus vel homogeneis, quales ſunt uniones, Corallia, Moſcus, Ambra, &c. Conſonantly whereunto he alſo tells Us (and Vouches the famous Platerus, for having candidly given the ſame Advertiſement to his Auditors,) that ſome things have greater vertues, and better ſuited to our humane nature, when unprepar'd, than when they have paſt the Chymiſts Fire; as we ſee, ſayes my Author, in Pepper; of which ſome grains ſwallowed perform more towards the relief of a Diſtempered ſtomack, than a great quantity of the Oyle of the ſame ſpice.

It has been (purſues Carneades) by our Friend here preſent obſerv'd concerning Salt-petre, that none of the ſubſtances into which the Fire is wont to divide it, retaines either the Taſt, the cooling vertue, or ſome other of the properties of the Concrete; and that each of thoſe Subſtances acquires new qualities, not to be found in the Salt-Petre it ſelf. The ſhining property of the tayls of gloworms does ſurvive but ſo ſhort a time the little animal made conſpicuous by it, that inquiſitive men have not ſcrupled publickly to deride Baptiſta Porta and others; who deluded perhaps with ſome Chymical ſurmiſes have ventur'd to preſcribe the diſtillation of a Water from the tayles of Glowormes, as a ſure way to obtain a liquor ſhining in the Dark. To which I ſhall now add no other example than that afforded us by Amber; which, whilſt it remains an intire body, is endow'd with an Electrical faculty of drawing to it ſelf fethers, ſtrawes, and ſuch like Bodies; which I never could obſerve either in its Salt, its Spirit, its Oyle, or in the Body I remember I once made by the reunion of its divided Elements; none of theſe having ſuch a Texture as the intire Goncrete. And however Chymiſts boldly deduce ſuch and ſuch properties from this or that proportion of their component Principles; yet in Concretes that abound with this or that Ingredient, 'tis not alwayes ſo much by vertue of its preſence, nor its plenty, that the Concrete is qualify'd to perform ſuch and ſuch Effects; as upon the account of the particular texture of that and the other Ingredients, aſſociated after a determinate Manner into one Concrete (though poſſibly ſuch a proportion of that ingredient may be more convenient than an other for the conſtituting of ſuch a body.) Thus in a clock the hand is mov'd upon the dyal, the bell is ſtruck, and the other actions belonging to the engine are perform'd, not becauſe the Wheeles are of braſs or iron, or part of one metal and part of another, or becauſe the weights are of Lead, but by Vertue of the ſize, ſhape, bigneſs, and co-aptation of the ſeveral parts; which would performe the ſame things though the wheels were of Silver, or Lead, or Wood, and the Weights of Stone or Clay; provided the Fabrick or Contrivance of the engine were the ſame: though it be not to be deny'd, that Braſſe and Steel are more convenient materials to make clock-wheels of than Lead, or Wood. And to let you ſee, Eleutherius, that 'tis ſometimes at leaſt, upon the Texture of the ſmall parts of a body, and not alwaies upon the preſence, or receſſe, or increaſe, or Decrement of any one of its Principle, that it may loſe ſome ſuch Qualities, and acquire ſome ſuch others as are thought very ſtrongly inherent to the bodies they Reſide in. I will add to what may from my paſt diſcourſe be refer'd to this purpoſe, this Notable Example, from my Own experience; That Lead may without any additament, and only by various applications of the Fire, loſe its colour, and acquire ſometimes a gray, ſometimes a yellowiſh, ſometimes a red, ſometimes an amethihſtine colour; and after having paſt through theſe, and perhaps divers others, again recover its leaden colour, and be made a bright body. That alſo this Lead, which is ſo flexible a metal, may be made as brittle as Glaſſe, and preſently be brought to be again flexible and Malleable as before. And beſides, that the ſame lead, which I find by Microſcopes to be one of the moſt opacous bodies in the World, may be reduced to a fine tranſparent glaſſe; whence yet it may returne to an opacous Nature again; and all this, as I ſaid, without the addition of any extraneous body, and meerly by the manner and Method of expoſing it to the Fire.

But (ſayes Carneades) after having already put you to ſo prolix a trouble, it is time for me to relieve you with a promiſe of putting ſpeedily a period to it; And to make good that promiſe, I ſhall from all that I have hitherto diſcourſed with you, deduce but this one propoſition by way of Corollary. [That it may as yet be doubted, whether or no there be any determinate Number of Elements; Or, if you pleaſe, whether or no all compound bodies, do conſiſt of the ſame number of Elementary ingredients or material Principles.]

This being but an inference from the foregoing Diſcourſe, it will not be requiſite to inſiſt at large on the proofs of it; But only to point at the chief of Them, and Referr You for Particulars to what has been already Delivered.

In the Firſt place then, from what has been ſo largely diſcours'd, it may appear, that the Experiments wont to be brought, whether by the common Peripateticks, or by the vulgar Chymiſts, to demonſtrate that all mixt bodies are made up preciſely either of the four Elements, or the three Hypoſtatical Principles, do not evince what they are alledg'd to prove. And as for the other common arguments, pretended to be drawn from Reaſon in favour of the Aristotelian Hypotheſis (for the Chymiſts are wont to rely almoſt altogether upon Experiments) they are Commonly grounded upon ſuch unreaſonable or precarious Suppoſitions, that 'tis altogether as eaſie and as juſt for any man to reject them, as for thoſe that take them for granted to aſſert them, being indeed all of them as indemonſtrable as the concluſion to be inferr'd from them; and ſome of them ſo manifeſtly weak and proofleſſe; that he muſt be a very courteous adverſary, that can be willing togrant them; and as unskilful a one, that can be compelled to do ſo.

In the next place, it may be conſidered, if what thoſe Patriarchs of the Spagyriſts, Paracelſus and Helmont, do on divers occaſions poſitively deliver, be true; namely that the Alkahest does Reſolve all mixt Bodies into other Principles than the fire, it muſt be decided which of the two reſolutions (that made by the Alkahest, or that made by the fire) ſhall determine the number of the Elements, before we can be certain how many there are.

And in the mean time, we may take notice in the laſt place, that as the diſtinct ſubſtances whereinto the Alkaheſt divides bodies, are affirm'd to be differing in nature from thoſe whereunto they are wont to be reduc'd by fire, ^[28] and to be obtain'd from ſome bodies more in Number than from ſome others; ſince he tells us, he could totally reduce all ſorts of Stones into Salt only, whereas of a coal he had two diſtinct Liquors. So, although we ſhould acquieſce in that reſolution which is made by fire, we find not that all mixt bodies are thereby divided into the ſame number of Elements and Principles; ſome Concretes affordding more of them than others do; Nay and ſometimes this or that Body affording a greater number of Differing ſubſtances by one way of management, than the ſame yields by another. And they that out of Gold, or Mercury, or Muſcovy-glaſſe, will draw me as many diſtinct ſubſtances as I can ſeparate from Vitriol, or from the juice of Grapes variouſly orderd, may teach me that which I ſhall very Thankfully learn. Nor does it appear more congruous to that variety that ſo much conduceth to the perfection of the Univerſe, that all elemented bodies be compounded of the ſame numberof Elements, then it would be for a language, that all its words ſhould conſiſt of the ſame number of Letters.

THE SCEPTICAL CHYMIST OR, A Paradoxical Appendix to the Foregoing Treatiſe. The Sixth Part.

HEre Carneades Having Diſpach't what he Thought Requiſite to oppoſe againſt what the Chymiſts are 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. But Eleutherius perceiving nothing yet to forbid Them to Proſecute their Diſcourſe a little further, ſaid to his Friend, (who had likewiſe taken Notice of the ſame thing) I halfe expected, Carneades, that after you had ſo freely declar'd Your doubting, whether there be any Determinate Number of Elements, You would have proceeded to queſtion whether there be any Elements at all. And I confeſs it will be a Trouble to me if You defeat me of my Expectation; eſpecially ſince you ſee the leaſure we have allow'd us may probably ſuffice to examine that Paradox; becauſe you have ſo largly Deduc'd already many Things pertinent to it, that you need but intimate how you would have them Apply'd, and what you would inferr from them.

Carneades having in Vain repreſented that their leaſure could be but very ſhort, that he had already prated very long, that he was unprepared to maintain ſo great and ſo invidious a Paradox, was at length prevail'd with to tell his Friend; Since, Eleutherius, you will have me Diſcourſe Ex Tempore of the Paradox you mention, I am content, (though more perhaps to expreſs my Obedience, then my Opinion) to tell you that (ſuppoſing the Truth of Helmonts and Paracelſus's Alkaheſtical Experiments, if I may ſo call them) though it may ſeem extravagant, yet it is not abſurd to doubt, whether, for ought has been prov'd, there be a neceſſity to admit any Elements, or Hypoſtatical Principles, at all.

And, as formerly, ſo now, to avoid the needleſs trouble of Diſputing ſeverally with the Aristotelians and the Chymiſts, I will addreſs my ſelf to oppoſe them I have laſt nam'd, Becauſe their Doctrine about the Elements is more applauded by the Moderns, as pretending highly to be grounded upon Experience. And, to deal not only fairly but favourably with them, I will allow them to take in Earth and Water to their other Principles. Which I conſent to, the rather that my Diſcourſe may the better reach the Tenents of the Peripateticks; who cannot plead for any ſo probably as for thoſe two Elements; that of fire above the Air being Generally by Judicious Men exploded as an Imaginary thing; And the Air not concurring to compoſe Mixt Bodies as one of their Elements, but only lodging in their pores, or Rather repleniſhing, by reaſon of its Weight and Fluidity, all thoſe Cavities of bodies here below, whether compounded or not, that are big enough to admit it, and are not fill'd up with any groſſer ſubſtance.

And, to prevent miſtakes, I muſt advertize You, that I now mean by Elements, as thoſe Chymiſts that ſpeak plaineſt do by their Principles, certain Primitive and Simple, or perfectly unmingled bodies; which not being made of any other bodies, or of one another, are the Ingredients of which all thoſe call'd perfectly mixt Bodies are immediately compounded, and into which they are ultimately reſolved: now whether there be any one ſuch body to be conſtantly met with in all, and each, of thoſe that are ſaid to be Elemented bodies, is the thing I now queſtion.

By this State of the controverſie you will, I ſuppoſe, Gueſs, that I need not be ſo abſur'd as to deny that there are ſuch bodies as Earth, and Water, and Quickſilver, and Sulphur: But I look upon Earth and Water, as component parts of the Univerſe, or rather of the Terreſtrial Globe, not of all mixt bodies. And though I will not peremptorily deny that there may ſometimes either a running Mercury, or a Combuſtible Subſtance be obtain'd from a Mineral, or even a Metal; yet I need not Concede either of them to be an Element in the ſence above declar'd; as I ſhall have occaſion to ſhew you by and by.

To give you then a brief account of the grounds I intend to proceed upon, I muſt tell you, that in matters of Philoſophy, this ſeems to me a ſufficient reaſon to doubt of a known and important propoſition, that the Truth of it is not yet by any competent proof made to appear. And congruouſly herunto, if I ſhew that the grounds upon which men are perſwaded that there are Elements are unable to ſatisfie a conſidering man, I ſuppoſe my doubts will appear rational.

Now the Conſiderations that induce men to think that there are Elements, may be conveniently enough referr'd to two heads. Namely, the one, that it is neceſſary that Nature make uſe of Elements to conſtitute the bodies that are reputed Mixt. And the other, That the Reſolution of ſuch bodies manifeſts that nature had compounded them of Elementary ones.

In reference to the former of theſe Conſiderations, there are two or three things that I have to Repreſent.

And I will begin with reminding you of the Experiments I not long ſince related to you concerning the growth of pompions, mint, and other vegetables, out of fair water. For by thoſe experiments its ſeems evident, that Water may be Tranſmuted into all the other Elements; from whence it may be inferr'd, both, That 'tis not every Thing Chymiſts will call Salt, Sulphur, or Spirit, that needs alwayes be a Primordiate and Ingenerable body. And that Nature may contex a Plant (though that be a perfectly mixt Concrete) without having all the Elements previouſly preſented to her to compound it of. And, if you will allow the relation I mention'd out of Mounſieur De Rochas to be True; then may not only plants, but Animals and Minerals too, be produced out of Water, And however there is little doubt to be made, but that the plants my tryals afforded me as they were like in ſo many other reſpects to the reſt of the plants of the ſame Denomination; ſo they would, in caſe I had reduc'd them to putrefaction, have likewiſe produc'd Wormes or other infects, as well as the reſembling Vegetables are wont to do; ſo that Water may, by Various Seminal Principles, be ſucceſſively Tranſmuted into both plants and Animals. And if we conſider that not only Men, but even ſucking Children are, but too often, Tormented with Solid Stones, but that divers ſorts of Beaſts themſelves, (whatever Helmont againſt Experience think to the contrary) may be Troubled with great and Heavy ſtones in their Kidneys and Bladders, though they Feed but upon Graſs and other Vegetables, that are perhaps but Diſguiſed Water, it will not ſeem improbable that even ſome Concretes of a mineral Nature, may Likewiſe be form'd of Water.

We may further Take notice, that as a Plant may be nouriſht, and conſequently may Conſiſt of Common water; ſo may both plants and Animals, (perhaps even from their Seminal Rudiments) conſiſt of compound Bodies, without having any thing meerly Elementary brought them by nature to be compounded by them: This is evident in divers men, who whilſt they were Infants were fed only with Milk, afterwards Live altogether upon Fleſh, Fiſh, wine, and other perfectly mixt Bodies. It may be ſeen alſo in ſheep, who on ſome of our Engliſh Downs or Plains, grow very fat by feeding upon the graſſe, without ſcarce drinking at all. And yet more manifeſtly in the magots that breed and grow up to their full bigneſſe within the pulps of Apples, Pears, or the like Fruit. We ſee alſo, that Dungs that abound with a mixt Salt give a much more ſpeedy increment to corn and other Vegetables than Water alone would do: And it hath been aſſur'd me, by a man experienc'd in ſuch matters, that ſometimes when to bring up roots very early, the Mould they were planted in was made over-rich, the very ſubſtance of the Plant has raſted of the Dung. And let us alſo conſider a Graft of one kind of Fruit upon the upper bough of a Tree of another kind. As for inſtance, the Ciens of a Pear upon a White-thorne; for there the aſcending Liquor is already alter'd, either by the root, or in its aſcent by the bark, or both wayes, and becomes a new mixt body: as may appear by the differing qualities to be met with in the ſaps of ſeveral trees; as particularly, the medicinal vertue of the Birch-Water (which I have ſometimes drunk upon Helmonts great and not undeſerved commendation) Now the graft, being faſten'd to the ſtock muſt neceſſarily nouriſh its ſelf, and produce its Fruit, only out of this compound Juice prepared for it by the Stock, being unable to come at any other aliment. And if we conſider, how much of the Vegetable he feeds upon may (as we noted above) remain in an Animal; we may eaſily ſuppoſe, That the blood of that Animal who Feeds upon this, though it be a Well conſtituted Liquor, and have all the differing Corpuſcles that make it up kept in order by one praeſiding form, may be a ſtrangely Decompounded Body, many of its parts being themſelves decompounded. So little is it Neceſſary that even in the mixtures which nature her ſelf makes in Animal and Vegetable Bodies, ſhe ſhould have pure Elements at hand to make her compoſitions of.

Having ſaid thus much touching the conſtitution of Plants and Animals, I might perhaps be able to ſay as much touching that of Minerals, and even Metalls, if it were as eaſy for us to make experiment in Order to the production of theſe, as of thoſe. But the growth or increment of Minerals being uſually a work of exceſſively long time, and for the moſt part perform'd in the bowels of the Earth, where we cannot ſee it, I muſt inſtead of Experiments make uſe, on this occaſion, of Obſervations.

That ſtones were not all made at once, but that are ſome of them now adayes generated, may (though it be deny'd by ſome) be fully prov'd by ſeveral examples, of which I ſhall now ſcarce alledg any other, then that famous place in France known by the name of Les Caves Gentieres, where the Water falling from the upper Parts of the cave to the ground does preſently there condenſe into little ſtones, of ſuch figures as the drops, falling either ſeverally or upon one another, and coagulating preſently into ſtone, chance to exhibit. Of theſe ſtones ſome Ingenuous Friends of ours, that went a while ſince to viſit that place, did me the favour to preſent me with ſome that they brought thence. And I remember that both that ſober Relator of his Voyages, Van Linſchoten, and another good Author, inform us that in the Diamond Mines (as they call them) in the East-Indies, when having dig'd the Earth, though to no great depth, they find Diamonds and take them quite away; Yet in a very few years they find in the ſame place new Diamonds produc'd there ſince. From both which Relations, eſpecially the firſt, it ſeems probable that Nature does not alwayes ſtay for divers Elementary Bodies, when ſhe is to produce ſtones. And as for Metals themſelves, Authors of good note aſſure us, that even they were not in the beginning produc'd at once altogether, but have been obſerv'd to grow; ſo that what was not a Mineral or Metal before became one afterwards. Of this it were eaſie to alledg many teſtimonies of profeſſed Chymiſts. But that they may have the greater authority, I ſhall rather preſent you with a few borrowed from more unſuſpected writers. Sulphuris Mineram (as the inquiſitive P. Fallopius notes) quae nutrix eſt caloris ſubterranei fabri ſeu Archaei fontium & mineralium, Infra terram citiſſime renaſci testantur Historiae Metallicae. Sunt enim loca e quibus ſi hoc anno ſulphur effoſſum fuerit; intermiſſa foſſione per quadriennium redeunt foſſores & omnia ſulphure, ut autea, rurſus inveniunt plena. Pliny Relates, In Italiae Inſula Ilva, gigni ferri metallum. Strabo multo expreſſius; effoſſum ibi metallum ſemper regenerari. Nam ſi effoſſio ſpatio centum annorum intermittebatur, & iterum illue revertebantur, foſſores reperiſſe maximam copiam ferri regeneratam. Which hiſtory not only is countenanced by Fallopius, from the Incom which the Iron of that Iſland yielded the Duke of Florence in his time; but is mention'd more epreſſely to our porpoſe, by the Learned Ceſalpinus. Vena (ſayes he) ferri copiofiſſima eſt in Italia; ob eam nobilitata Ilva Tirrheni maris Inſula incredibili copia, etiam noſtris temporibus eam gignens: Nam terra quae eruitur dum vena effoditur tota, procedente tempore in venam convertitur. Which laſt clauſe is therefore very notable, becauſe from thence we may deduce, that earth, by a Metalline plaſtick principle latent in it, may be in proceſſe of time chang'd into a metal. And even Agricola himſelf, though the Chymiſts complain of him as their adverſary, acknowledges thus much and more; by telling us that at a Town called Saga in Germany, ^[29] they dig up Iron in the Fields, by ſinking ditches two foot deep; And adding, ^[30] that within the ſpace of ten years the Ditches are digged again for Iron ſince produced, As the ſame Metal is wont to be obtain'd in Elva. Alſo concerning Lead, not to mention what even Galen notes, that it will increaſe both in bulk and Weight if it be long kept in Vaults or Sellars, where the Air is groſs and thick, as he collects from the ſmelling of thoſe pieces of Lead that were imploy'd to faſten together the parts of old Statues. Not to mention this, I ſay, Boccacius Certaldus, as I find him Quoted by a Diligent VVriter, has this Paſſage touching the Growth of Lead. Feſſularum mons (ſayes he) in Hetruria, Florentiae civitati imminens, lapides plumbarios babet; qui ſi excidantur, brevi temporis ſpatio, novis incrementis inſtaurantur; ut (annexes my Author) tradit Boccacius Cortaldus, qui id compotiſſimum eſſe ſcribit. Nihil hoc novi eſt; ſed de eadem Plinius, lib. 34. Hiſt. Natur. cap. 17. dudum prodidit, Inquiens, mirum in his ſolis plumbi metallis, quod derelicta fertilius reviviſcunt. In plumbariis ſecundo Lapide ab Amberga dictis ad Aſylum recrementa congesta in cumulos, ^[31] expoſita ſolibus pluviiſque paucis annis, reddunt ſuum metallum cum fenore. I might Add to theſe, continues Carneades, many things that I have met with concerning the Generation of Gold and Silver. But, for fear of wanting time, I ſhall mention but two or three Narratives. The Firſt you may find Recorded by Gerhardus the Phyſick Profeſſor, in theſe Words. In valle (ſayes he) Joachimaca argentum gramini modo & more e Lapidibus minerae velut e radice excreviſſe digiti Longitudine, teſtis eſt Dr. Schreterus, qui ejuſmodi venas aſpectu jucundas & admirabiles Domi ſua aliis ſaepe monſtravit & Donavit. Item Aqua caerulea Inventa est Annebergae, ubi argentum erat adhuc in primo ente, quae coagulata redacta est in calcem fixi & boni argenti.

The other two Relations I have not met with in Latine Authours, and yet they are both very memorable in themſelves, and as pertinent to our preſent purpoſe.

The firſt I meet with in the Commentary of Johannes Valehius upon the Kleine Baur, In which that Induſtrious Chymiſt Relates, with many circumſtances, that at a Mine-Town (If I may ſo Engliſh the German Bergſtat) eight miles or Leagues diſtant from Straſburg call'd Mariakirch, a Workman came to the Overſeer, and deſired employment; but he telling him that there was not any of the beſt ſort at preſent for him, added that till he could be preferr'd to ſome ſuch, he might in the mean time, to avoid idleneſs, work in a Grove or Mine-pit thereabouts, which at that time was little eſteem'd. This Workman after ſome weeks Labour, had by a Crack appearing in the Stone upon a Stroak given near the wall, an Invitation Given him to Work his Way through, which as ſoon as he had done, his Eyes were ſaluted by a mighty ſtone or Lump which ſtood in the middle of the Cleft (that had a hollow place behind it) upright, and in ſhew like an armed-man; but conſiſted of pure fine Silver having no Vein or Ore by it, or any other Additament, but ſtood there free, having only underfoot ſomething like a burnt matter; and yet this one Lump held in Weight above a 1000 marks, which, according to the Dutch, Account makes 500 pound weight of fine ſilver. From which and other Circumſtances my Author gathers; That by the warmth of the place, the Noble Metalline Spirits, (Sulphureous and Mercurial) were carri'd from the neighbouring Galleries or Vaults, through other ſmaller Cracks and Clefts, into that Cavity, and there collected as in a cloſe Chamber or Cellar; whereinto when they were gotten, they did in proceſs of time ſettle into the forementioned precious maſs of Metal.

The other Germane Relation is of That great Traveller and Laborious Chymiſt Johannes (not Georgus) Agricola; who in his notes upon what Poppius has written of Antimony, Relates, that when he was among the Hungarian Mines in the deep Groves, he obſerv'd that there would often ariſe in them a warm Steam (not of that malignant ſort which the Germains call Shwadt, which (ſayes he) is a meer poyſon, and often ſuffocates the Diggers, which faſten'd it ſelf to the Walls; and that coming again to review it after a couple of dayes, he diſcern'd that it was all very faſt, and gliſtering; whereupon having collected it and Diſtill'd it per Retortam, he obtain'd from it a fine Spirit, adding, that the Mine-Men inform'd him, that this Steam or Damp of the Engliſh Mine (retaining the dutch Term) would at laſt have become a Metal, as Gold or Silver.

I referr (ſayes Carneades) to another Occaſion, the Uſe that may be made of theſe Narratives towards the explicating the Nature of Metalls; and that of Fixtneſs, Malleableneſs, and ſome other Qualities conſpicuous in them. And in the mean time, this I may at preſent deduce from theſe Obſervations, That 'tis not very probable, that, whenſoever a Mineral, or even a Metall, is to be Generated in the Bowels of the Earth, Nature needs to have at hand both Salt, and Sulphur, and Mercury to Compound it of; for, not to urge that the two laſt Relations ſeem leſs to favour the Chymiſts than Aristotle, who would have Metals Generated of certain Halitus or ſteams, the foremention'd Obſervations together, make it ſeem more Likely that the mineral Earths or thoſe Metalline ſteams (wherewith probably ſuch Earths are plentifully imbu'd) do contain in them ſome ſeminal Rudiment, or ſome thing Equivalent thereunto; by whoſe plaſtick power the reſt of the matter, though perhaps Terreſtrial and heavy, is in Tract of time faſhion'd into this or That metalline Ore; almoſt as I formerly noted, that fair water was by the ſeminal Principle of Mint, Pompions, and other Vegetables, contriv'd into Bodies anſwerable to ſuch Seeds. And that ſuch Alterations of Terreſtrial matter are not impoſſible, ſeems evident from that notable Practice of the Boylers of Salt-Petre, who unanimouſly obſerve, as well here in England as in other Countries; That if an Earth pregnant with Nitre be depriv'd, by the affuſion of water, of all its true and diſſoluble Salt, yet the Earth will after ſome years yield them Salt-Petre again; For which reaſon ſome of the eminent and skillfulleſt of them keep it in heaps as a perpetual Mine of Salt Petre; whence it may appear, that the Seminal Principle of Nitre latent in the Earth does by degrees Transforme the neighbouring matter into a Nitrous Body; for though I deny that ſome Volatile Nitre may by ſuch Earths be attracted (as they ſpeak) out of the Air, yet that the innermoſt parts of ſuch great heaps that lye ſo remote from the Air ſhould borrow from it all the Nitre they abound with, is not probable, for other reaſons beſides the remoteneſs of the Air, though I have not the Leaſure to mention them.

And I remember, that a perſonof Great Credit, and well acquainted with the wayes of making Vitriol, affirm'd to me, that he had obſerv'd, that a kind of mineral which abounds in that Salt, being kept within Doors and not expos'd (as is uſual) to the free Air and Rains, did of it ſelf in no very long time turn into Vitriol, not only in the outward or ſuperficial, but even in the internal and moſt Central parts.

And I alſo remember, that I met with a certain kind of Merkaſite that lay together in great Quantities under ground, which did, even in my chamber, in ſo few hours begin of it ſelf to turne into Vitriol, that we need not diſtruſt the newly recited narrative. But to return to what I was ſaying of Nitre; as Nature made this Salt-Petre out of the once almoſt and inodorous Earth it was bred in, and did not find a very ſtinking and corroſive Acid Liquor, and a ſharp Alcalyzate Salt to compound it of, though theſe be the Bodies into which the Fire diſſolves it; ſo it were not neceſſary that Nature ſhould make up all Metals and other Minerals of Pre-exiſtent Salt, and Sulphur, and Mereury, though ſuch Bodies might by Fire be obtained from it. Which one conſideration duly weigh'd is very conſiderable in the preſent controverſy: And to this agree well the Relations of our two German Chymiſts; for beſides that it cannot be convincingly prov'd, it is not ſo much as likely that ſo languid and moderate a heat as that within the Mines, ſhould carry up to ſo great a heat, though in the forme of fumes, Salt, Sulphur and Mercury; ſince we find in our Diſtillations, that it requires a conſiderable Degree of Fire to raiſe ſo much as to the height of one foot not only Salt, but even Mercury it ſelf, in cloſe Veſſels. And if it be objected, that it ſeems by the ſtink that is ſometimes obſerv'd when Lightening falls down here below, that ſulphureous ſteams may aſcend very high without any extraordinary Degree of heat; It may be anſwer'd, among other things, that the Sulphur of Silver is by Chymiſts ſaid to be a fixt Sulphur, though not altogether ſo well Digeſted as that of Gold.

But, proceeds Carneades, If it had not been to afford You ſome hints concerning the Origine of Metals, I need not have deduc'd any thing from theſe Obſervations; It not being neceſſary to the Validity of my Argument that my Deductions from them ſhould be irrefragable, becauſe my Adverſaries the Ariſtotelians and Vulgar Chymiſts do not, I preſume, know any better then I, a priori, of what ingredients Nature compounds Metals and Minerals. For their Argument to prove that thoſe Bodies are made up of ſuch Principles, is drawn a poſteriori; I mean from this, that upon the Analyſis of Mineral bodies they are reſolv'd into thoſe differing ſubſtances. That we may therefore examine this Argument, Let us proceed to conſider what can be alledg'd in behalf of the E. lements from the Reſolutions of Bodies by the fire; which you remember was the ſecond Tophick whence I told you the Arguments of my Adverſaries were deſum'd.

And that I may firſt diſpatch what I have to ſay concerning Minerals, I will begin the remaining part of my diſcourſe with conſidering how the fire divides them.

And firſt, I have partly noted above, that though Chymiſts pretend from ſome to draw ſalt, from others running Mercury, and from others a Sulphur; Yet they have not hitherto taught us by any way in us among them to ſeparate any one principle, whether Salt, Sulphur, or Mercury, from all ſorts of Minerals without exception. And thence I may be allow'd to conclude that there is not any of the Elements that is an Ingredient of all Bodies, ſince there are ſome of which it is not ſo.

In the next place, ſuppoſing that either Sulphur or Mercury were obtainable from all ſorts of Minerals. Yet ſtill this Sulphur or Mercury would be but a compounded, not an Elementary body, as I told you already on another occaſion. And certainly he that takes notice of the wonderful Operations of Quickſilver, whether it be common, or drawn from Mineral Bodies, can ſcarce be ſo inconſiderate as to think it of the very ſame nature with that immature and fugitive ſubſtance which in Vegetables and Animals Chymiſts have been pleas'd to call their Mercury. So that when Mercury is got by the help of the fire out of a metal or other Mineral Body, if we will not ſuppoſe that it was not pre-exiſtent in it, but produc'd by the action of the fire upon the Concrete, we may at leaſt ſuppoſe this Quickſilver to have been a perfect Body of its own kind (though perhaps leſſe heterogeneous then more ſecundary mixts) which happen'd to be mingl'd per minima, and coagulated with the other ſubſtances, whereof the Metal or Mineral conſiſted. As may be exemplyfied partly by Native Vermillion wherein the Quickſilver and Sulphur being exquiſitely blended both with one another, and that other courſe Mineral ſtuff (what ever it be) that harbours them, make up a red body differing enough from both; and yet from which part of the Quickſilver, and of the Sulphur, may be eaſily enough obtain'd; Partly by thoſe Mines wherein nature has ſo curiouſly incorporated Silver with Lead, that 'tis extreamly difficult, and yet poſſible, to ſeparate the former out of the Latter. And partly too by native Vitriol, wherein the Metalline Corpuſcles are by skill and induſtry ſeparable from the ſaline ones, though they be ſo con-coagulated with them, that the whole Concrete is reckon'd among Salts.

And here I further obſerve, that I never could ſee any Earth or Water, properly ſo call'd, ſeparated from either Gold or Silver (to name now no other Metalline Bodies) and therefore to retort the argument upon my Adverſaries, I may conclude, that ſince there are ſome bodies in which, for ought appears, there is neither Earth nor Water. I may be allow'd to conclude that neither of thoſe two is an Univerſal Ingredient of all thoſe Bodies that are counted perfectly mixt, which I deſire you would remember againſt Anon.

It may indeed be objected, that the reaſon why from Gold or Silver we cannot ſeparate any moiſture, is, becauſe that when it is melted out of the Oare, the vehement Fire requiſite to its Fuſion forc'd away all the aqueous and fugitive moiſture; and the like fire may do from the materials of Glaſs. To which I ſhall Anſwer, that I Remember I read not long ſince in the Learned Joſephus Acoſta, who relates it upon his own obſervation; that in America, ^[32] (where he long lived) there is a kind of Silver which the Indians call Papas, and ſometimes (ſayes he) they find pieces very fine and pure like to ſmall round roots, the which is rare in that metal, but uſuall in Gold; Concerning which metal he tells us, that beſides this they find ſome which they call Gold in grains, which he tells us are ſmall morſels of Gold that they find whole without mixture of any other metal, which hath no need of melting or Refining in the fire.

I remember that a very skilful and credible perſon affirmed to me, that being in the Hungarian mines he had the good fortune to ſee a mineral that was there digg'd up, wherein pieces of Gold of the length, and alſo almoſt of the bigneſs of a humane Finger, grew in the Oar, as if they had been parts and Branches of Trees.

And I have my ſelf ſeen a Lump of whitiſh Mineral, that was brought as a Rarity to a Great and knowing Prince, wherein there grew here and there in the Stone, which looked like a kind of ſparr, divers little Lumps of fine Gold, (for ſuch I was aſſured that Tryal had manifeſted it to be) ſome of them Seeming to be about the Bigneſs of peaſe.

But that is nothing to what our Acoſta ſubjoynes, which is indeed very memorable, namely, that of the morſels of Native and pure Gold, which we lately heard him mentioning he had now and then ſeen ſome that weighed many pounds; to which I ſhall add, that I my ſelf have ſeen a Lump of Oar not long ſince digged up, ^[33] in whoſe ſtony part there grew, almoſt like Trees, divers parcels though not of Gold, yet of (what perhaps Mineraliſts will more wonder at) another Metal which ſeemed to be very pure or unmixt with any Heterogeneous Subſtances, and were ſome of them as big as my Finger, if not bigger. But upon Obſervations of this kind, though perhaps I could, yet I muſt not at preſent dwell any longer.

To proceed Therefore now (ſayes Carneades) to the Conſideration of the Analyſis of Vegetables, although my Tryals give me no cauſe to doubt but that out of moſt of them five differing Subſtances may be obtain'd by the fire, yet I think it will not be ſo eaſily Demonſtrated that theſe deſerve to be call'd Elements in the Notion above explain'd.

And before I deſcend to particulars, I ſhall repeat and premiſe this General Conſideration, that theſe differing ſubſtances that are call'd Elements or Principles, differ not from each other as Metals, Plants and Animals, or as ſuch Creatures as are immediately produc'd each by its peculiar Seed, and Conſtitutes a diſtinct propagable ſort of Creatures in the Univerſe; but theſe are only Various Schemes of matter or Subſtances that differ from each other, but in conſiſtence (as Running Mercury and the ſame Metal congeal'd by the Vapor of Lead) and ſome very few other accidents, as Taſt, or Smel, or Inflamability, or the want of them. So that by a change of Texture not impoſſible to be wrought by the Fire and other Agents that have the Faculty not only to diſſociate the ſmal parts of Bodies, but afterwards to connect them after a new manner, the ſame parcell of matter may acquire or loſe ſuch accidents as may ſuffice to Denominate it Salt, or Sulphur, or Earth. If I were fully to clear to you my apprehenſions concerning this matter, I ſhould perhaps be obliged to acquaint you with divers of the Conjectures (for I muſt yet call them no more) I have had Concerning the Principles of things purely Corporeal: For though becauſe I ſeem not ſatisfi'd with the Vulgar Doctrines, either of the Peripatetick or Paracelſian Schools, many of thoſe that know me, (and perhaps, among Them, Eleutherius himſelf) have thought me wedded to the Epicurean Hypotheſes, (as others have miſtaken me for an Helmontian;) yet if you knew how little Converſant I have been with Epicurean Authors, and how great a part of Lucretius himſelf I never yet had the Culioſity to read, you would perchance be of another mind; eſpecially if I were to entertain you at large, I ſay not, of my preſent Notions; but of my former thoughts concerning the Principles of things. But, as I ſaid above, fully to clear my Apprehenſions would require a Longer Diſcourſe than we can now have.

For, I ſhould tell you that I have ſometimes thought it not unfit, that to the Principles which may be aſſign'd to things, as the World is now Conſtituted, we ſhould, if we conſider the Great Maſs of matter as it was whilſt the Univerſe was in making, add another, which may Conveniently enough be call'd an Architectonick Principle or power; by which I mean thoſe Various Determinations, and that Skilfull Guidance of the motions of the ſmall parts of the Univerſal matter by the moſt wiſe Author of things, which were neceſſary at the beginning to turn that confus'd Chaos into this Orderly and beautifull World; and Eſpecially, to contrive the Bodies of Animals and Plants, and the Seeds of thoſe things whoſe kinds were to be propagated. For I confeſs I cannot well Conceive, how from matter, Barely put into Motion, and then left to it ſelf, there could Emerge ſuch Curious Fabricks as the Bodies of men and perfect Animals, and ſuch yet more admirably Contriv'd parcels of matter, as the ſeeds of living Creatures.

I ſhould likewiſe tell you upon what grounds, and in what ſence, I ſuſpected the Principles of the World, as it now is, to be Three, Matter, Motion and Rest. I ſay, as the World now is, becauſe the preſent Fabrick of the Univerſe, and eſpecially the ſeeds of things, together with the eſtabliſht Courſe of Nature, is a Requiſite or Condition, upon whoſe account divers things may be made out by our three Principles, which otherwiſe would be very hard, if poſſible, to explicate.

I ſhould moreover declare in general (for I pretend not to be able to do it otherwiſe) not only why I Conceive that Colours, Odors, Taſts, Fluidneſs and Solidity, and thoſe other qualities that Diverſifie and Denominate Bodies may Intelligibly be Deduced from theſe three; but how two of the Three Epicurean Principles (which, I need not tell, you are Magnitude, Figure and Weight) are Themſelves Deducible from Matter and Motion; ſince the Latter of theſe Variouſly Agitating, and, as it were, Diſtracting the Former, muſt needs disjoyne its parts; which being Actually ſeparated muſt Each of them neceſſarily both be of ſome Size, and obtain ſome ſhape or other. Nor did I add to our Principles the Ariſtotelean Privation, partly for other Reaſons, which I muſt not now ſtay to inſiſt on; and partly becauſe it ſeems to be rather an Antecedent, or a Terminus a quo, then a True Principle, as the ſtarting-Poſt is none of the Horſes Legs or Limbs.

I ſhould alſo explain why and how I made reſt to be, though not ſo conſiderable a Principle of things, as Motion, yet a Principle of them; partly becauſe it is (for ought we know as Ancient at leaſt as it, and depends not upon Motion, nor any other quality of matter; and partly, becauſe it may enable the Body in which it happens to be, both to continue in a State of Reſt till ſome external force put it out of that ſtate, and to concur to the production of divers Changes in the bodies that hit againſt it, by either quite ſtopping or leſsning their Motion (whilſt the body formerly at Reſt Receives all or part of it into it ſelf) or elſe by giving a new Byaſs, or ſome other Modification, to Motion, that is, To the Grand and Primary inſtrument whereby Nature produces all the Changes and other Qualities that are to be met with in the World.

I ſhould likewiſe, after all this, explain to you how, although Matter, Motion and Reſt, ſeem'd to me to be the Catholick Principles of the Univerſe, I thought the Principles of Particular bodies might be Commodiouſly enough reduc'd to two, namely Matter, and (what Comprehends the two other, and their effects) the reſult or Aggregate of thoſe Accidents, which are the Motion or Reſt, (for in ſome Bodies both are not to be found) the Bigneſs, Figure, Texture) and the thence reſulting Qualities of the ſmall parts) which are neceſſary to intitle the Body whereto they belong to this or that Peculiar Denomination; and diſcriminating it from others to appropriate it to a Determinate Kind of Things, as Yellowneſs, Fixtneſs, ſuch a Degree of Weight, and of Ductility, do make the Portion of matter wherein they Concur, to be reckon'd among perfect metals, and obtain the name of Gold.) Which Aggregate or reſult of Accidents you may, if You pleaſe, call either Structure or Texture.

Though indeed, that do not ſo properly Comprehend the motion of the conſtituent parts eſpecially in caſe ſome of them be Fluid, or what other appellation ſhall appear moſt Expreſſive. Or if, retaining the Vulgar Terme, You will call it the Forme of the thing it denominates, I ſhall not much oppoſe it; Provided the word be interpreted to mean but what I have expreſs'd, and not a Scholaſtick Subſtantial Forme, which ſo many intelligent men profeſs to be to them altogether Un-intelligible.

But, ſayes Carneades, if you remember that 'tis a Sceptick ſpeaks to you, and that 'tis not ſo much my preſent Talk to make aſſertions as to ſuggeſt doubts, I hope you will look upon what I have propos'd, rather as a Narrative of my former conjectures touching the principles of things, then as a Reſolute Declaration of my preſent opinions of them; eſpecially ſince although they cannot but appear Very much to their Diſadvantage, If you Conſider Them as they are propos'd without thoſe Reaſons and Explanations by which I could perhaps make them appear much leſſe extravagant; yet I want time to offer you what may be alledg'd to clear and countenance theſe notions; my deſign in mentioning them unto you at preſent being, partly, to bring ſome Light and Confirmation to divers paſſages of my diſcourſe to you; partly to ſhew you, that I do not (as you ſeem to have ſuſpected) embrace all Epicurus his principles; but Diſſent from him in ſome main things, as well as from Ariſtotle and the Chymiſts, in others; & partly alſo, or rather chiefly, to intimate to you the grounds upon which I likewiſe differ from Helmont in this, that whereas he aſcribes almoſt all things, and even diſeaſes themſelves, to their determinate Seeds; I am of opinion, that beſides the peculiar Fabricks of the Bodies of Plants and Animals (and perhaps alſo of ſome Metals and Minerals) which I take to be the Effects of ſeminal principles, there are many other bodies in nature which have and deſerve diſtinct and Proper names, but yet do but reſult from ſuch contextures of the matter they are made of, as may without determinate ſeeds be effected by heat, cold, artificial mixtures and compoſitions, and divers other cauſes which ſometimes nature imployes of her own accord; and oftentimes man by his power and skill makes uſe of to faſhion the matter according to his Intentions. This may be exemplified both in the productions of Nature, and in thoſe of Art; of the firſt ſort I might name multitudes; but to ſhew how ſleight a variation of Textures without addition of new ingredients may procure a parcel of matter divers names, and make it be Lookt upon as Different Things;

I ſhall invite you to obſerve with me, That Clouds, Rain, Hail, Snow, Froth, and Ice, may be but water, having its parts varyed as to their ſize and diſtance in reſpect of each other, and as to motion and reſt. And among Artificial Productions we may take notice (to skip the Cryſtals of Tartar) of Glaſs, Regulus, Martis-Stellatus, and particularly of the Sugar of Lead, which though made of that inſipid Metal and ſour ſalt of Vinager, has in it a ſweetneſſe ſurpaſſing that of common Sugar, and divers other qualities, which being not to be found in either of its two ingredients, muſt be confeſs'd to belong to the Concrete it ſelf, upon the account of its Texture.

This Conſideration premis'd, it will be, I hope, the more eaſie to perſwade you that the Fire may as well produce ſome new textures in a parcel of matter, as deſtroy the old.

Wherefore hoping that you have not forgot the Arguments formerly imploy'd againſt the Doctrine of the Tria prima; namely that the Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, into which the Fire ſeems to reſolve Vegetable and Animal Bodies, are yet compounded, not ſimple and Elementary Subſtances; And that (as appeared by the Experiment of Pompions) the Tria prima may be made out of Water; hoping I ſay, that you remember Theſe and the other Things that I formerly repreſented to the ſame purpoſe, I ſhall now add only, that if we doubt not the Truth of ſome of Helmonts Relation, We may well doubt whether any of theſe Heterogeneities be (I ſay not pre-exiſtent, ſo as to convene together, when a plant or Animal is to be conſtituted but) ſo much as in-exiſtent in the Concrete whence they are obtain'd, when the Chymiſts firſt goes about to reſolve it; For, not to inſiſt upon the un-inflamable Spirit of ſuch Concretes, becauſe that may be pretended to be but a mixture of Phlegme and Salt; the Oyle or Sulphur of Vegetables or Animals is, according to him, reducible by the help of Lixiviate Salts into Sope; as that Sope is by the help of repeated Diſtillations from a Caput Mortuum of Chalk into inſipid Water. And as for the ſaline ſubſtance that ſeems ſeparable from mixt bodies; ^[34] the ſame Helmonts tryals give us cauſe to think, That it may be a production of the Fire, which by tranſporting and otherwiſe altering the particles of the matter, does bring it to a Saline nature.

For I know (ſayes he, in the place formerly alledg'd to another purpoſe) a way to reduce all ſtones into a meer Salt of equal weight with the ſtone whence it was produc'd, and that without any of the leaſt either Sulphur or Mercury; which aſſeveration of my Author would perhaps ſeem leſs incredible to You, if I durſt acquaint You with all I could ſay upon that ſubject. And hence by the way you may alſo conclude that the Sulphur and Mercury, as they call them, that Chymiſts are wont to obtain from compound Bodies by the Fire, may poſſibly in many Caſes be the productions of it; ſince if the ſame bodies had been wrought upon by the Agents employ'd by Helmont, they would have yielded neither Sulphur nor Mercury; and thoſe portions of them which the Fire would have preſented Us in the forme of Sulphureous and Mercurial Bodies would have, by Helmonts method, been exhibited to us in the form of Salt.

But though (ſayes Eleutherius) You have alledg'd very plauſible Arguments againſt the tria Prima, yet I ſee not how it will be poſſible for you to avoid acknowledging that Earth and Water are Elementary Ingredients, though not of Mineral Concretes, yet of all Animal and Vegetable Bodies; Since if any of theſe of what ſort ſoever be committed to Diſtillation, there is regularly and conſtantly ſeparated from it a phlegme or aqueous part and a Caput Mortuum or Earth.

I readily acknowledged (anſwers Carneades) it is not ſo eaſy to reject Water and Earth (and eſpecially the former) as 'tis to reject the Tria Prima, from being the Elements of mixt Bodies; but 'tis not every difficult thing that is impoſſible.

I conſider then, as to Water, that the chief Qualities which make men give that name to any viſible Subſtance, are, that it is Fluid or Liquid, and that it is inſipid and inodorous. Now as for the taſt of theſe qualities, I think you have never ſeen any of thoſe ſeparated ſubſtances that the Chymiſts call Phlegme which was perfectly devoyd both of Taſt and Smell: and if you object, that yet it may be reaſonably ſuppos'd, that ſince the whole Body is Liquid, the maſs is nothing but Elementary Water faintly imbu'd with ſome of the Saline or Sulphureous parts of the ſame Concrete, which it retain'd with it upon its Separation from the Other Ingredients. To this I anſwer, That this Objection would not appear ſo ſtong as it is plauſible, if Chymiſts underſtood the Nature of Fluidity and Compactneſſe; and that, as I formerly obſerv'd, to a Bodies being Fluid there is nothing neceſſary, but that it be divided into parts ſmall enough; and that theſe parts be put into ſuch a motion among themſelves as to glide ſome this way and ſome that way, along each others Surfaces. So that, although a Concrete were never ſo dry, and had not any Water or other Liquor inexiſtent in it, yet ſuch a Comminution of its parts may be made, by the fire or other Agents, as to turn a great portion of them into Liquor. Of this Truth I will give an inſtance, employ'd by our friend here preſent as one of the moſt conducive of his experiments to Illuſtrate the nature of Salts. If you Take, then, ſea ſalt and melt it in the Fire to free it from the aqueous parts, and afterward diſtill it with a vehement Fire from burnt Clay, or any other, as dry a Caput mortuum as you pleaſe, you will, as Chymiſts confeſs, by teaching it drive over a good part of the Salt in the form of a Liquor. And to ſatisfy ſome ingenious men, That a great part of this Liquor was ſtill true ſea ſalt brought by the Operation of the Fire into Corpuſcles ſo ſmall, and perhaps ſo advantageouſly ſhap'd, as to be capable of the forme of a Fluid Body, He did in my preſence poure to ſuch ſpititual ſalts a due proportion of the ſpirit (or ſalt and Phlegme) of Urine, whereby having evaporated the ſuperfluous moiſture, he ſoon obtain'd ſuch another Concrete, both as to taſt and ſmell, and eaſie ſublimableneſs as common Salt Armoniack, which you know is made up of groſſe and undiſtill'd ſea ſalt united with the ſalts of Urine and of Soot, which two are very neer of kin to each other. And further, to manifeſt that the Corpuſcles of ſea ſalt and the Saline ones of Urine retain their ſeveral Natures in this Concrete, He mixt it with a convenient quantity of Salt of Tartar, and committing it to Diſtillation ſoon regain'd his ſpirit of Urine in a liquid form by its ſelf, the Sea ſalt ſtaying behind with the Salt of Tartar. Wherefore it is very poſſible that dry Bodies may by the Fire be reduc'd to Liquors without any ſeparation of Elements, but barely by a certain kind of Diſſipation and Comminution of the matter, whereby its parts are brought into a new ſtate. And if it be ſtill objected, that the Phlegme of mixt Bodies muſt be reputed water, becauſe ſo weak a taſt needs but a very ſmall proportion of Salt to impart it; It may be reply'd, that for ought appears, common Salt and divers other bodies, though they be diſtill'd never ſo dry, and in never ſo cloſe Veſſels, will yield each of them pretty ſtore of a Liquor, wherein though (as I lately noted) Saline Corpuſcles abound, Yet there is beſides a large proportion of Phlegme, as may eaſily be diſcovered by coagulating the Saline Corpuſeles with any convenient Body; as I lately told you, our Friend coagulated part of the Spirit of Salt with Spirit of Urine: and as I have divers times ſeparated a ſalt from Oyle of Vitriol it ſelf (though a very ponderous Liquor and drawn from a ſaline body) by boyling it with a juſt quantity of Mercury, and then waſhing the newly coagulated ſalt from the Precipitate with fair Water. Now to what can we more probably aſcribe this plenty of aqueous Subſtance afforded us by the Diſtillation of ſuch bodies, than unto this, That among the various operations of the Fire upon the matter of a Concrete, divers particles of that matter are reduc'd to ſuch a ſhape and bigneſſe as is requiſite to compoſe ſuch a Liquor as Chymiſts are wont to call Phlegme or Water. How I conjecture this change may be effected, 'tis neither neceſſary for me to tell you, nor poſſible to do ſo without a much longer diſcourſe then were now ſeaſonable. But I deſire you would with me reflect upon what I formerly told you conterning the change of Quickſilver into Water; For that Water having but a very faint taſt, if any whit more than divers of thoſe liquors that Chymiſts referr to Phlegme; By that experiment it ſeems evident, that even a metalline body, and therefore much more ſuch as are but Vegetable or Animal, may by a ſimple operation of the Fire be turn'd in great part into Water. And ſince thoſe I diſpute with are not yet able out of Gold, or Silver, or divers other Concretes to ſeparate any thing like Water; I hope I may be allow'd to conclude againſt Them, that water it ſelf is not an Univerſal and pre-exiſtent Ingredient of Mixt Bodies.

But as for thoſe Chymiſts that, Suppoſing with me the Truth of what Helmont relates of the Alkahest's wonderful Effects, have a right to preſs me with his Authority concerning them, and to alledge that he could Tranſmute all reputedly mixt Bodies into inſipid and meer Water; To thoſe I ſhall repreſent, That though his Affirmations conclude ſtrongly againſt the Vulgar Chymiſts (againſt whom I have not therefore ſcrupl'd to Employ Them) ſince they Evince that the Commonly reputed Principles or Ingredients of Things are not Permanent and indeſtructible, ſince they may be further reduc'd into Inſipid Phlegme differing from them all; Yet till we can be allow'd to examine this Liquor, I think it not unreaſonable to doubt whether it be not ſomething elſe then meer Water. For I find not any other reaſon given by Helmont of his Pronouncing it ſo, then that it is inſipid. Now Sapour being an Accident or an Affection of matter that relates to our Tongue, Palate, and other Organs of Taſt, it may very poſſibly be, that the ſmall Parts of a Body may be of ſuch a Size and Shape, as either by their extream Littleneſs, or by their ſlenderneſs, or by their Figure, to be unable to pierce into and make a perceptible Impreſſion upon the Nerves or Membranous parts of the Organs of Taſt, and what may be fit to work otherwiſe upon divers other Bodies than meer Water can, and conſequently to Diſcloſe it ſelf to be of a Nature farr enough from Elementary. In Silke dyed Red or of any other Colour, whilſt many Contiguous Threads makes up a skein, the Colour of the Silke is conſpicuous; but if only a very few of them be lookt upon, the Colour will appear much fainter then before. But if You take out one ſimple Thread, you ſhall not eaſily be able to diſcern any Colour at all; So ſubtile an Object having not the Force to make upon the Optick Nerve an Impreſſion great enough to be taken Notice of. It is alſo obſerv'd, that the beſt ſort of Oyl-Olive is almoſt taſtleſs, and yet I need not tell you how exceedingly diſtant in Nature Oyle is from VVater. The Liquor into which I told you, upon the Relation of Lully, and Eye-witneſs that Mercury might be Tranſmuted, has ſometimes but a very Languid, if any Taſt, and yet its Operations even upon ſome Mineral Bodies are very peculiar. Quickſilver it ſelf alſo, though the Corpuſcles it conſiſts of be ſo very ſmall as to get into the Pores of that Cloſeſt and compacteſt of Bodies, Gold, is yet (you know) altogether Taſtleſs. And our Helmont ſeveral times tells us, that fair Water wherein a little Quantity f Quickſilver has lain for ſome time, though it acquire no certain Taſt or other ſenſible Quality from the Quickſilver; Yet it has a power to deſtroy wormes in humane Bodies; which he does much, but not cauſeleſsly extoll. And I remember, a great Lady, that had been Eminent for her Beauty in Divers Courts, confeſs'd to me, that this inſipid Liquor was of all innocent waſhes for the Face the beſt that ſhe ever met with.

And here let me conclude my Diſcourſe, concerning ſuch waters or Liquors as I have hitherto been examining, with theſe two Conſiderations. VVhereof the firſt is, That by reaſon of our being wont to drink nothing but VVine, Bear, Cyder, or other ſtrongly taſted Liquors, there may be in ſeveral of theſe Liquors, that are wont to paſs for inſipid Phlegme, very peculiar and Diſtinct, Taſts though unheeded (and perhaps not to be perceiv'd) by Us. For to omit what Naturaliſts affirm of Apes, (and which probably may be true of divers other Animals) that they have a more exquiſite palate than Men: among Men themſelves, thoſe that are wont to drink nothing but water may (as I have try'd in my ſelf) Diſcern very ſenſibly a great Difference of Taſts in ſeveral waters, which one un-accuſtomed to drink water would take to be all alike inſipid. And this is the first of my two Conſiderations; the Other is, That it is not impoſſible that the Corpuſcles into which a body is diſſipated by the Fire may by the Operation of the ſame fire have their figures ſo altered, or may be by aſſociations with one another brought into little Maſſes of ſuch a Size and Shape, as not to be fit to make ſenſible Impreſſions on the Tongue. And that you may not think ſuch alterations impoſſible, be pleaſed to conſider with me; that not only the ſharpeſt Spirit of Vinager having diſſolved as much Corall as it can, will Coagulate with it into a Subſtance, which though ſoluble in water, like ſalt, is incomparably leſs ſtrongly Taſted then the Vinager was before; but (what is more conſiderable) though the Acid ſalts that are carried up with Quickſilver in the preparation of common ſublimate are ſo ſharp, that being moiſtened with water it will Corrode ſome of the Metals themſelves; yet this Corroſive Sublimate being twice or thrice re-ſublim'd with a full proportion of inſipid Quickſilver, Conſtitutes (as you know) that Factitious Concrete, which the Chymiſts call Mercurius dulcis; not becauſe it is ſweet, but becauſe the ſharpneſs of the Corroſive Salts is ſo taken away by their Combination with the Mercurial Corpuſcles, that the whole mixture when it is prepar'd is judg'd to be inſipid.

And thus (continues Carneades) having given you ſome Reaſons why I refuſe to admit Elementary water for a conſtant Ingredient of Mixt Bodies, It will be eaſie for me to give you an Account why I alſo reject Earth.

For firſt, it may well be ſuſpected that many Subſtances paſs among Chymiſts under the name of Earth, becauſe, like it, they are Dry, and Heavy, and Fixt, which yet are very farr from an Elementary Nature. This you will not think improbable, If you recall to mind what I formerly told you concerning what Chymiſts call the Dead Earth of things, and eſpecially touching the copper to be drawn from the Caput Mortuum of Vitriol; And if alſo you allow me to ſubjoyn a caſual but memorable Experiment made by Johannes Agricola upon the Terra Damnata of Brimſtone. Our Author then tells us (in his notes upon Popius,) that in the year 1621 he made an Oyle of Sulphur; the remaining Faeces he reverberated in a moderate Fire fourteen dayes; afterwards he put them well luted up in a VVind Oven, and gave them a ſtrong Fire for ſix hours, purpoſing to calcine the Faeces to a perfect Whiteneſs, that he might make ſometing elſe out of them. But coming to break the pot, he found above but very little Faeces, and thoſe Grey and not White; but beneath there lay a fine Red Regulus which he firſt marvell'd at and knew not what to make of, being well aſſured that not the leaſt thing, beſides the Faeces of the Sulphur, came into the pot; and that the Sulphur it ſelf had only been diſſolv'd in Linſeed Oyle; this Regulus he found heavy and malleable almoſt as Lead; having caus'd a Goldſmith to draw him a Wire of it, he found it to be of the Faireſt copper, and ſo rightly colour'd, that a Jew of Prague Offer'd him a great price for it. And of this Metal he ſayes he had 12 loth (or ſix ounces) out of one pound of Aſhes or Faeces. And this Story may well incline us to ſuſpect that ſince the Caput Mortuum of the Sulphur was kept ſo long in the fire before it was found to be any thing elſe then a Terra damnata, there may be divers other Reſidences of Bodies which are wont to paſs only for the Terreſtrial Faeces of things, and therefore to be thrown away as ſoon as the Diſtillation or Calcination of the Body that yielded them is ended; which yet if they were long and Skilfully examin'd by the fire would appear to be differing from Elementary Earth. And I have taken notice of the unwarrantable forwardneſs of common Chymiſts to pronounce things uſeleſs Faeces, by obſerving how often they reject the Caput Mortuum of Verdegreaſe; which is yet ſo farr from deſerving that Name, that not only by ſtrong fires and convenient Additaments it may in ſome hours be reduc'd into copper, but with a certain Flux Powder I ſometimes make for Recreation, I have in two or three minutes obtain'd that Metal from it. To which I may add, that having for tryall ſake kept Venetian Taclk in no leſs a heat than that of a glaſs Furnace, I found after all the Brunt of the fire it had indur'd, the remaining Body though brittle and diſcolour'd, had not loſt very much of its former Bulke, and ſeem'd ſtill to be nearer of kin to Talck than to meer Earth. And I remember too, that a candid Mineraliſt, famous for his Skill in trying of Oars, requeſting me one day to procure him a certain American Mineral Earth of a Virtuoſo, who he thought would not refuſe me; I enquir'd of him why he ſeem'd ſo greedy of it: he confeſs'd to me that this Gentleman having brought that Earth to the publick Say-Maſters; and they upon their being unable by any means to bring it to fuſion or make it fly away, he (the Relator) had procur'd a little of it; and having try'd it with a peculiar Flux ſeparated from it neer a third part of pure Gold; ſo great miſtakes may be committed in haſtily concluding things to be Uſeleſſe Earth.

Next, it may be ſuppos'd, That as in the Reſolution of Bodies by the Fire ſome of the diſſipated Parts may, by their various occurſion occaſion'd by the heat, be brought to ſtick together ſo cloſely as to conſtitute Corpuſcles too heavy for the Fire to carry away; the aggregate of which Corpuſcles is wont to be call'd Aſhes or Earth; So other Agents may reſolve the Concrete into Minute Parts, after ſo differing a manner as not to produce any Caput mortuum, or dry and heavy Body. As you may remember Helmont above inform'd us, that with his great Diſſolvent he divided a Coal into two liquid and volatile Bodies, aequiponderant to the Coal, without any dry or fixt Reſidence at all.

And indeed, I ſee not why it ſhould be neceſſary that all Agents that reſolve Bodies into portions of differingly qualifi'd matter muſt work on them the ſame way, and divide them into juſt ſuch parts, both for nature and Number, as the Fire diſſipates them into. For ſince, as I noted before, the Bulk and ſhape of the ſmall Parts of bodies, together with their Fitneſs and Unfitneſs to be eaſily put into Motion, may make the liquors or other ſubſtances ſuch Corpuſcles compoſe, as much to differ from each other as do ſome of the Chymical principles: Why may not ſomething happen in this caſe, not unlike what is uſuall in the groſſer diviſions of bodies by Mechanical Inſtruments? Where we ſee that ſome Tools reduce Wood, for Inſtance, into darts of ſeveral ſhapes, bigneſſe, and other qualities, as Hatchets and Wedges divide it into groſſer parts; ſome more long and ſlender, as ſplinters; and ſome more thick and irregular, as chips; but all of conſiderable bulk; but Files and Saws makes a Comminution of it into Duſt; which, as all the others, is of the more ſolid ſort of parts; whereas others divide it into long and broad, but thin and flexible parts, as do Planes: And of this kind of parts it ſelf there is alſo a variety according to the Difference of the Tools employ'd to work on the Wood; the ſhavings made by the plane being in ſome things differing from thoſe ſhives or thin and flexible pieces of wood that are obtain'd by Borers, and theſe from ſome others obtainable by other Tools. Some Chymical Examples applicable to this purpoſe I have elſewhere given you. To which I may add, that whereas in a mixture of Sulphur and Salt of Tartar well melted and incorporated together, the action of pure ſpirit of wine digeſted on it is to ſeparate the ſulphureous from the Alcalizate Parts, by diſſolving the former and leaving the latter, the action of Wine (probably upon the ſcore of its copious Phlegme) upon the ſame mixture is to divide it into Corpuſcles conſiſting of both Alcalizate and Sulphureous Parts united. And if it be objected, that this is but a Factitious Concrete; I anſwer, that however the inſtance may ſerve to illuſtrate what I propos'd, if not to prove it; and that Nature her ſelf doth in the bowels of the Earth make Decompounded Bodies, as we ſee in Vitriol, Cinnaber, and even in Sulphur it ſelf; I will not urge that the Fire divides new Milk into five differing Subſtances; but Runnet and Acid Liquors divide it into a Coagulated matter and a thin Whey: And on the other ſide churning divides it into Butter and Butter-milk, which may either of them be yet reduc'd to other ſubſtances differing from the former. I will not preſſe this, I ſay, nor other inſtances of this Nature, becauſe I cannot in few words anſwer what may be objected, that theſe Concretes ſequeſtred without the help of the Fire may by it be further divided into Hypoſtatical Principles. But I will rather repreſent, That whereas the ſame ſpirit of Wine will diſſociare the Parts of Camphire, and make them one Liquor with it ſelf; Aqua Fortis will alſo disjoyn them, and put them into motion; but ſo as to keep them together, and yet alter their Texture into the form of an Oyle. I know alſo an uncompounded Liquor, that an extraordinary Chymiſt would not allow to be ſo much as Saline, which doth (as I have try'd) from Coral it ſelf (as fixt as divers judicious writers aſſert that Concrete to be) not only obtain a noble Tincture, without the Intervention of Nitre or other Salts; but will carry over the Tincture in Diſtillation. And if ſome reaſons did not forbid me, I could now tell you of a Menſtruum I make my ſelf, that doth more odly diſſociate the parts of Minerals very fixt in the fire. So that it ſeems not incredible, that there may be ſome Agent or way of Operation found, whereby this or that Concrete, if not all Firme Bodies, may be reſolv'd into parts ſo very minute and ſo unapt to ſtick cloſe to one another, that none of them may be fixt enough to ſtay behind in a ſtrong Fire, and to be incapable of Diſtillation; nor conſequently to be look'd upon as Earth. But to return to Helmont, the ſame Authour ſomewhere ſupply's me with another Argument againſt the Earth's being ſuch an Element as my Adverſaries would have it. For he ſomewhere affirms, that he can reduce all the Terreſtrial parts of mixt bodies into infipid water; whence we may argue againſt the Earths being one of their Elements, even from that Notion of Elements which you may remember Philoponus recited out of Aristotle himſelf, when he lately diſputed for his Chymiſts againſt Themiſtius. And here we may on this occaſion conſider, that ſince a Body from which the Fire hath driven away its looſer parts is wont to be look'd upon as Earth, upon the Account of its being endow'd with both theſe qualities, Taſtleſſeneſſe and Fixtneſſe, (for Salt of Tartar though Fixt paſſes not among the Chymiſts for Earth, becauſe 'tis ſtrongly Taſted) if it be in the power of Natural Agents to deprive the Caput Mortuum of a body of either of thoſe two Qualities, or to give them both to a portion of matter that had them not both before, the Chymiſts will not eaſily define what part of a reſolv'd Concrete is earth, and make out, that that Earth is a primary, ſimple, and indeſtructible Body. Now there are ſome caſes wherein the more skilful of the Vulgar Chymiſts themſelves pretend to be able, by repeated Cohobations and other fit Operations, to make the Diſtilled parts of a Concrete bring its own Caput Mortuum over the Helme, in the forme of a Liquor; in which ſtate being both Fluid and Volatile, you will eaſily believe it would not be taken for Earth. And indeed by a skilful, but not Vulgar, way of managing ſome Concretes, there may be more effected in this kind, then you perhaps would eaſily think. And on the other ſide, that either Earth may be Generated, or at leaſt Bodies that did not before appear to be neer Totally Earth, may be ſo alter'd as to paſs for it, ſeems very poſſible, if Helmont have done that by Art which he mentions in ſeveral places; ^[35] eſpecially where He ſayes that he knowes wayes whereby Sulphur once diſſolv'd is all of it fix'd into a Terreſtrial Powder, and the whole Bodie of Salt-Petre may be turn'd into Earth: Which laſt he elſewhere ſayes is Done by the Odour only of a certain Sulphureous Fire. And in another place He mentions one way of doing this, which I cannot give you an Account of; becauſe the Materialls I had prepar'd for Trying it, were by a Servants miſtake unhappily thrown away.

And theſe Laſt Arguments may be confirm'd by the Experiment I have often had occaſion to mention concerning the Mint I produc'd out of Water. And partly by an Obſervation of Rondeletius concerning the Growth of Animals alſo, Nouriſh'd but by Water, which I remember'd not to mention, when I diſcours'd to you about the Production of things out of Water. ^[36] This Diligent VVriter then in his inſtructive book of fiſhes, affirmes That his Wife kept a fiſh in a Glaſs of water without any other Food for three years; in which ſpace it was conſtantly augmented, till at laſt it could not come out of the Place at which it was put in, and at length was too big for the glaſs it ſelf though that were of a large capacity. And becauſe there is no juſt reaſon to doubt, that this Fiſh, if Diſtill'd, would have yielded the like differing ſubſtances with other Animals: And However, becauſe the Mint which I had out of water afforded me upon Diſtillation a good quantity of Charcoal, I think I may from thence inferr, that Earth it ſelf may be produc'd out of Water; or if you pleaſe, that water may be tranſmuted into Earth; and conſequently, that though it could be prov'd that Earth is an Ingredient actually in-exiſtent in the Vegetable and Animal Bodies whence it may be obtain'd by Fire: yet it would not neceſſarily follow, that Earth as a pre-exiſtent Element Does with other Principles convene to make up thoſe Bodies whence it ſeems to have been ſeparated.

After all is ſaid (ſayes Eleutherius) I have yet ſomething to Object, that I cannot but think conſiderable, ſince Carneades Himſelf alledg'd it as ſuch; for, (continues Eleutherius ſmiling) I muſt make bold to try whether you can as luckily anſwer your own Arguments, as thoſe of your Antagoniſts, I mean (purſues he) that part of your Conceſſions, wherein you cannot but remember that you ſupply'd your Adverſaries with an Example to prove that there may be Elementary Bodies, by taking Notice that Gold may be an Ingredient in a multitude of differing Mixtures, and yet retain its Nature, notwithſtanding all that the Chymiſts by their Fires and Corroſive Waters are able to do to Deſtroy it.

I ſufficiently intimated to you at that time (replies Carneades) that I propos'd this Example, chiefly to ſhew you how Nature may be Conceived to have made Elements, not to prove that ſhe actually has made any; And you know, that a poſſe ad eſſe the Inference will not hold. But (continues Carneades) to anſwer more directly to the Objection drawn from Gold, I muſt tell You, that though I know very well that divers of the more ſober Chymiſts have complain'd of the Vulgar Chymiſts, as of Mountebanks or Cheats, for pretending ſo vainly, as hitherto they have done, to Deſtroy Gold; Yet I know a certain Menstruum (which our Friend has made, and intends ſhortly to communicate to the Ingenious) of ſo piercing and powerfull a Quality, That if notwithſtanding much care, and ſome skill, I did not much deceive my ſelf, I have with it really deſtroy'd even refin'd Gold, and brought it into a Metalline Body of another colour and Nature, as I found by Tryals purpoſely made. And if ſome juſt Conſiderations did not for the preſent Forbid it, I could Perchance here ſhew you by another Experiment or Two of my own Trying, that ſuch Menſtruums may be made as to entice away and retain divers parts, from Bodies, which even the more Judicious and Experienc'd Spagyriſts have pronounc'd irreſoluble by the Fire. Though (which I Deſire you would mark) in neither of theſe Inſtances, the Gold or Precious Stones be Analys'd into any of the Tria Prima, but only Reduc'd to new Concretes. And indeed there is a great Diſparity betwixt the Operations of the ſeveral Agents whereby the Parts of a Body come to be Diſſipated. As if (for Inſtance) you diſſolve the purer ſort of Vitriol in common Water, the Liquor will ſwallow up the Mineral, and ſo Diſſociate its Corpuſcles, that they will ſeem to make up but one Liquor with thoſe of the water; and yet each of theſe Corpuſcles retains its Nature and Texture, and remains a Vitriolate and Compounded Body. But if the ſame Vitriol be expoſed to a ſtrong Fire, it will then be divided not only, as before, into ſmaller parts, but into Heterogeneous Subſtances, each of the Vitriolate Corpuſcles that remain'd entire in the water, being it ſelf upon the Deſtruction of its former Texture diſſipated or divided into new Particles of differing Qualities. But Inſtances more fitly applicable to this purpoſe, I have already given you. Wherefore to return to what I told you about the Deſtruction of Gold, that Experiment Invites me to Repreſent to you, that Though there were either Saline, or Sulphureous, or Terreſtrial Portions of Matter, whoſe parts were ſo ſmall, ſo firmly united together, or of a figure ſo fit to make them cohere to one another, (as we ſee that in quickſilver broken into little Globes, the Parts brought to touch one another do immediately re-imbody) that neither the Fire, nor the uſual Agents employ'd by Chymiſts, are pierceing enough to divide their Parts, ſo as to deſtroy the Texture of the ſingle Corpuſcles; yet it would not neceſſarily follow, That ſuch Permanent Bodies were Elementary, ſince tis poſſible there may be Agents found in Nature, ſome of whoſe parts may be of ſuch a Size and Figure as to take better Hold of ſome parts of theſe ſeemingly Elementary Corpuſcles than theſe parts do of the reſt, and Conſequently may carry away ſuch parts with them, and ſo diſſolve the Texture of the Corpuſcle by pulling its parts aſunder. And if it be ſaid, that at leaſt we may this way diſcover the Elementary Ingredients of Things, by obſerving into what Subſtances theſe Corpuſcles that were reputed pure are divided; I anſwer, that it is not neceſſary that ſuch a Diſcovery ſhould be practicable. For if the Particles of the Diſſolvent do take ſuch firme hold of thoſe of the Diſſolved Body, they muſt conſtitute together new Bodies, as well as Deſtroy the Old; and the ſtrickt Union, which according to this Hypotheſis may well be ſuppos'd betwixt the Parts of the Emergent Body, will make it as Little to be Expected that they ſhould be pull'd aſunder, but by little Parts of matter, that to Divide them Aſſociate Themſelves and ſtick extreamly cloſe to thoſe of them which they ſever from their Former Adherents. Beſides that it is not impoſſible, that a Corpuſcle ſuppos'd to be Elementary may have its Nature changed, without ſuffering a Divorce of its parts, barely by a new Texture Effected by ſome powerfull Agent; as I formerly told you, the ſame portion of matter may eaſily by the Operation of the Fire be turn'd at pleaſure into the form of a Brittle and Tranſparent, or an Opacous and Malleable Body.

And indeed, if you conſider how farr the bare Change of Texture, whether made by Art or Nature (or rather by Nature with or without the aſſiſtance of man) can go in producing ſuch New Qualities in the ſame parcel of matter, and how many inanimate Bodies (ſuch as are all the Chymical productions of the Fire) we know are Denominated and Diſtinguiſh'd not ſo much by any Imaginary Subſtantial Form, as by the aggregate of theſe Qualities. If you conſider theſe Things, I ſay, and that the varying of either the figure, or the Size, or the Motion, or the Situation, or Connexion of the Corpuſcles whereof any of theſe Bodies is compos'd, may alter the Fabrick of it, you will poſſibly be invited to ſuſpect, with me, that there is no great need that Nature ſhould alwayes have Elements before hand, whereof to make ſuch Bodies as we call mixts. And that it is not ſo eaſie as Chymiſts and others have hitherto Imagin'd, to diſcern, among the many differing Subſtances that may without any extraordinary skill be obtain'd from the ſame portion of matter, Which ought to be eſteemed excluſively to all the reſt, its in-exiſtent Elementary Ingredients; much leſſe to determine what Primogeneal and Simple Bodies convened together to compoſe it. To exemplify this, I ſhall add to what I have already on ſeveral occaſions Repreſented, but this ſingle inſtance.

You may remember (Eleutherius) that I formerly intimated to you, that beſides Mint and Pompions, I produced divers other Vegetables of very differing Natures out of Water. Wherefore you will not, I preſume, think it incongruous to ſuppoſe, that when a ſlender Vineſlip is ſet into the ground, and takes root, there it may likewiſe receive its Nutriment from the water attracted out of the earth by his roots, or impell'd by the warm'th of the ſun, or preſſure of the ambient air into the pores of them. And this you will the more eaſily believe, if you ever obſerv'd what a ſtrange quantity of Water will Drop out of a wound given to the Vine, in a convenient place, at a ſeaſonable time in the Spring; and how little of Taſt or Smell this Aqua Vitis, as Phyſitians call it, is endow'd with, notwithſtanding what concoction or alteration it may receive in its paſſage through the Vine, to diſcriminate it from common Water. Suppoſing then this Liquor, at its firſt entrance into the roots of the Vine, to be common Water; Let Us a little conſider how many various Subſtances may be obtain'd from it; though to do ſo, I muſt repeat ſomewhat that I had a former occaſion to touch upon. And firſt, this Liquor being Digeſted in the plant, and aſſimilated by the ſeveral parts of it, is turn'd into the Wood, Bark, Pith, Leaves, &c. of the Vine; The ſame Liquor may be further dry'd, and faſhon'd into Vine-buds, and theſe a while after are advanced unto ſour Grapes, which expreſſ'd yield Verjuice, a Liquor very differing in ſeveral qualities both from Wine and other Liquors obtainable from the Vine: Theſe ſoure Grapes being by the heat of the Sun concocted and ripened, turne to well taſted Grapes; Thoſe if dry'd in the Sun and Diſtill'd, afford a faetid Oyle and a piercing Empyreumatical Spirit, but not a Vinous Spirit; Theſe dry'd Grapes or Raiſins boyl'd in a convenient proportion of Water make a ſweet Liquor, which being betimes diſtill'd afford an Oyle and Spirit much like thoſe of the Raiſins themſelves; If the juice of the Grapes be ſqueez'd out and put to Ferment, it firſt becomes a ſweet and turbid Liquor, then grows leſſe ſweet and more clear, and then affords in common Diſtillations not an Oyle but a Spirit, which, though inflamable like Oyle, differs much from it, in that it is not fat, and that it will readily mingle with Water. I have likewiſe without Addition obtain'd in proceſſe of time (and by an eaſie way which I am ready to teach you) from one of the nobleſt ſorts of Wine, pretty ſtore of pure and curiouſly figured Cryſtals of Salt, together with a great proportion of a Liquor as ſweet almoſt as Hony; and theſe I obtained not from Muſt, but True and ſprightly Wine; beſides the Vinous Liquor, the fermented Juice of Grapes is partly turned into liquid Dregs or Leeze, and partly into that cruſt or dry feculancy that is commonly called Tartar; and this Tartar may by the Fire be eaſily divided into five differing ſubſtances; four of which are not Acid, and the other not ſo manifeſtly Acid as the Tartar it ſelf; The ſame Vinous Juice after ſome time, eſpecially if it be not carefully kept, Degenerates into that very ſour Liquor called Vinegar; from which you may obtain by the Fire a Spirit and a Cryſtalline Salt differing enough from the Spirit and Lixiviate Salt of Tartar. And if you pour the Dephlegm'd Spirit of the Vinegar upon the Salt of Tartar, there will be produc'd ſuch a Conflict or Ebullition as if there were ſcarce two more contrary Bodies in Nature; and oftentimes in this Vinager you may obſerve part of the matter to be turned into an innumerable company of ſwimming Animals, which our Friend having divers years ago obſerved, hath in one of his Papers taught us how to diſcover clearly without the help of a Microſcope.

Into all theſe various Schemes of matter, or differingly Qualifyed Bodies, beſides divers others that I purpoſely forbear to mention, may the Water that is imbib'd by the roots of the Vine be brought, partly by the formative power of the plant, and partly by ſupervenient Agents or Cauſes, without the viſible concurrence of any extraneous Ingredient; but if we be allowed to add to the Productions of this tranſmuted Water a ſew other ſubſtances, we may much encreaſe the Variety of ſuch Bodies; although in this ſecond ſort of Productions, the Vinous parts ſeem ſcarce to retain any thing of the much more fix'd Bodies wherewith they were mingl'd, but only to have by their Mixture with them acquir'd ſuch a Diſpoſition, that in their receſs occaſion'd by the Fire they came to be alter'd as to ſhape, or Bigneſs, or both, and aſſociated after a New manner. Thus, as I formerly told you, I did by the Addition of a Caput Mortuum of Antimony, and ſome other Bodies unfit for Diſtillation, obtain from crude Tartar, ſtore of a very Volatile and Cryſtalline Salt, differing very much in ſmell and other Qualities from the uſuall ſalts of Tartar.

But (ſayes Eleutherius, interrupting him at theſe Words) if you have no reſtraint upon you, I would very gladly before you go any further, be more particularly inform'd, how you make this Volatile Salt, becauſe (you know) that ſuch Multitudes of Chymiſts have by a ſcarce imaginable Variety of wayes, attempted in Vain the Volatilization of the Salt of Tartar, that divers learned Spagyrists ſpeak as if it were impoſſible, to make any thing out of Tartar, that ſhall be Volatile in a Saline Forme, or as ſome of them expreſs it, in forma ſicca. I am very farr from thinking (anſwers Carneades) that the Salt I have mention'd is that which Paracelſus and Helmont mean when they ſpeak of Sal Tartari Volatile, and aſcribe ſuch great things to it. For the Salt I ſpeak of falls extreamly ſhort of thoſe Virtues, not ſeeming in its Taſt, Smel, and other Obvious Qualities, to differ very much (though ſomething it do differ) from Salt of Harts-horn, and other Volatile Salts drawn from the Diſtill'd Parts of Animals. Nor have I yet made Tryals enough to be ſure, that it is a pure Salt of Tartar without participating any thing at all of the Nitre, or Antimony. But becauſe it ſeems more likely to proceed from the Tartar, than from any of the other Ingredients, and becauſe the Experiment is in it ſelf not Ignoble, and Luciferous enough (as ſhewing a new way to produce a Volatile Salt contrary to Acid Salts from Bodies that otherwiſe are Obſerv'd to yield no ſuch Liquor, but either only, or chiefly, Acid ones,) I ſhall, to ſatisfie you, acquaint you before any of my other Friends with the way I now uſe (for I have formerly us'd ſome others) to make it.

Take then of good Antimony, Salt-Petre and Tartar, of each an equal weight, and of Quicklime Halfe the Weight of any one of them; let theſe be powder'd and well mingl'd; this done, you muſt have in readineſs a long neck or Retort of Earth, which muſt be plac'd in a Furnace for a naked Fire, and have at the top of it a hole of a convenient Bigneſs, at which you may caſt in the Mixture, and preſently ſtop it up again; this Veſſel being fitted with a large Receiver muſt have Fire made under it, till the bottom of the ſides be red hot, and then you muſt caſt in the above prepar'd Mixture, by about halfe a ſpoonfull (more or leſs) at a time, at the hole made for that purpoſe; which being nimbly ſtopt, the Fumes will paſs into the Receiver and condenſe there into a Liquor, that being rectifi'd will be of a pure golden Colour, and carry up that colour to a great height; this Spirit abounds in the Salt I told you of, part of which may eaſily enough be ſeparated by the way I uſe in ſuch caſes, which is, to put the Liquor into a glaſs Egg, or bolthead with a long and narrow Neck. For if this be plac'd a little inclining in hot ſand, there will ſublime up a fine Salt, which, as I told you, I find to be much of kin to the Volatile Salts of Animals: For like them it has a Saltiſh, not an Acid Salt; it hiſſes upon the Affuſion of Spirit of Nitre, or Oyle of Vitriol; it precipitates Corals Diſſolv'd in Spirit of Vinager; it turnes the blew Syrup of Violets immediately green; it preſently turnes the Solution of Sublimate into a Milkie whiteneſs; and in ſumm, has divers Operations like thoſe that I have obſerv'd in that ſort of Salts to which I have reſembled it: and is ſo Volatile, that for Diſtinction ſake, I call it Tartari Fugitivus. What virtues it may have in Phyſick I have not yet had the opportunity to Try; but I am apt to think they will not be deſpicable. And beſides that a very Ingenious Friend of mine tells me he hath done great matters againſt the ſtone, with a Preparation not very much Differing from ours, a very Experienc'd Germane Chymiſt finding that I was unacquainted with the wayes of making this ſalt, told me that in a great City in his Country, a noted Chymiſt prizes it ſo highly, that he had a while ſince procur'd a Priviledge from the Magiſtrates, that none but He, or by his Licence, ſhould vent a Spirit made almoſt after the ſame Way with mine, ſave that he leaves out one of the Ingredients, namely the Quick-lime. But, continues Carneades, to reſume my Former Diſcourſe where your Curioſity interrupted it;

Tis alſo a common practice in France to bury thin Plates of Copper in the Marc (as the French call it) or Husks of Grapes, whence the Juice has been ſqueez'd out in the Wine-preſs, and by this means the more ſaline parts of thoſe Husks working by little and little upon the Copper, Coagulate Themſelves with it into that Blewiſh Green Subſtance we in Engliſh call Verdigreaſe. Of which I therefore take Notice, becauſe having Diſtill'd it in a Naked Fire, I found as I expected, that by the Aſſociation of the Saline with the Metalline parts, the former were ſo alter'd, that the Diſtill'd Liquor, even without Rectification, ſeem'd by ſmell and Taſt, ſtrong almoſt like Aqua Fortis, and very much ſurpaſſed the pureſt and moſt Rectifi'd Spirit of Vinager that ever I made. And this Spirit I therefore aſcribe to the ſalt of the Husks alter'd by their Co-Mixture with the copper (though the Fire afterwards Divorce and Tranſmute them) becauſe I found this later in the bottom of the Retort in the Forme of a Crocus or rediſh powder: And becauſe Copper is of too ſluggiſh a Nature to be forc'd over in cloſe Veſſels by no ſtronger a heat. And that which is alſo ſomewhat Remarkable in the Deſtillation of good Verdigreaſe, (or at leaſt of that ſort that I us'd) is this, that I Never could obſerve that it yielded me any oyl, (unleſs a little black ſlime which was ſeparated in Rectification may paſs for Oyle) though both Tartar and Vinager, (eſpecially the former) will by Deſtillation yield a Moderate proportion of it. If likewiſe you pour Spirit of Vinager upon Calcin'd Lead, the Acid Salt of the Liquor will by its Commixture with the Metalline parts, though Inſipid, acquire in a few hours a more than Saccharine ſweetneſs; and theſe Saline parts being by a ſtrong Fire Deſtill'd from the Lead wherewith they were imbody'd, will, as I formerly alſo noted to a Different purpoſe, leave the Metal behind them alter'd in ſome qualities from what it was, and will themſelves aſcend, partly in the Forme of an unctuous Body or Oyle, partly in that of Phlegme; but for the greateſt part in the Forme of a ſubtile Spirit, indow'd, beſides divers new Qualities which I am not now willing to take notice of, with a ſtrong ſmell very much other than that of Vinager, and a piercing taſt quite differing both from the Sowerneſs of the Spirit of Vinager, and the Sweetneſs of the Sugar of Lead.

To be ſhort, As the difference of Bodies may depend meerly upon that of the ſchemes whereinto their Common matter is put; So the ſeeds of Things, the Fire and the other Agents are able to alter the minute parts of a Body (either by breaking them into ſmaller ones of differing ſhapes, or by Uniting together theſe Fragments with the unbroken Corpuſcles, or ſuch Corpuſcles among Themſelves) and the ſame Agents partly by Altering the ſhape or bigneſs of the Conſtituent Corpuſcles of a Body, partly by driving away ſome of them, partly by blending others with them, and partly by ſome new manner of connecting them, may give the whole portion of matter a new Texture of its minute parts; and thereby make it deſerve a new and Diſtinct name. So that according as the ſmall parts of matter recede from each other, or work upon each other, or are connected together after this or that determinate manner, a Body of this or that denomination is produced, as ſome other Body happens thereby to be alter'd or deſtroy'd.

Since then thoſe things which Chymiſts produce by the help of the Fire are but inanimate Bodies; ſince ſuch fruits of the Chymiſts skill differ from one another but in ſo few qualities that we ſee plainly that by fire and other Agents we can employ, we can eaſily enough work as great alterations upon matter, as thoſe that are requiſite to change one of theſe Chymical Productions into another; Since the ſame portion of matter may without being Compounded with any extraneous Body, or at leaſt Element, be made to put on ſuch a variety of formes, and conſequently to be (ſucceſſively) turn'd into ſo many differing Bodies. And ſince the matter cloath'd with ſo many differing formes was originally but water, and that in its paſſage thorow ſo many transformations, it was never reduc'd into any of thoſe ſubſtances which are reputed to be the Principles or Elements of mixt Bodies, except by the violence of the fire, which it ſelf divides not Bodies into perfectly ſimple or Elementary ſubſtances, but into new Compounds; Since, I ſay, theſe things are ſo, I ſee not why we muſt needs believe that there are any Primogeneal and ſimple Bodies, of which as of Pre-exſiſtent Elements Nature is obliged to compound all others. Nor do I ſee why we may not conceive that ſhe may produce the Bodies accounted mixt out of one another by Variouſly altering and contriving their minute parts, without reſolving the matter into any ſuch ſimple or Homogeneous ſubſtances as are pretended. Neither, to diſpatch, do I ſee why it ſhould be counted abſur'd to think, that when a Body is reſolv'd by the Fire into its ſuppos'd ſimple Ingredients, thoſe ſubſtances are not true and proper Elements, but rather were, as it were, Accidentally produc'd by the fire, which by Diſſipating a Body into minute Parts does, if thoſe parts be ſhut up in Cloſe Veſſels, for the moſt part neceſſarily bring them to Aſſociate Themſelves after another manner than before, and ſo bring Them into Bodies of ſuch Different Conſiſtences as the Former Texture of the Body, and Concurrent Circumſtances make ſuch disbanded particles apt to Conſtitute; as experience ſhews us (and I have both noted it, and prov'd it already) that as there are ſome Concretes whoſe parts when diſſipated by fire are fitted to be put into ſuch Schemes of matter as we call Oyle, and Salt, and Spirit; So there are others, ſuch as are eſpecially the greateſt part of Minerals, whoſe Corpuſcles being of another Size or figure, or perhaps contriv'd another Way, will not in the Fire yield Bodies of the like Conſiſtences, but rather others of differing Textures; Not to mention, that from Gold and ſome other Bodies, we ſee not that the Fire ſeparates any Diſtinct Subſtances at all; nor That even thoſe Similar Parts of Bodies which the Chymiſts Obtain by the Fire, are the Elements whoſe names they bear, but Compound Bodies, upon which, for their reſemblance to them in conſiſtence, or ſome other obvious Quality, Chymiſts have been pleas'd to beſtow ſuch Appellations.

THE CONCLUSION.

THeſe laſt Words of Carneades being ſoon after follow'd by a noiſe which ſeem'd to come from the place where the reſt of the Company was, he took it for a warning, that it was time for him to conclude or break off his Diſcourſe; and told his Friend; By this time I hope you ſee, Eleutherius, that if Helmonts Experiments be true, it is no abſurdity to queſtion whether that Doctrine be one, that doth not aſſert Any Elements in the ſence before explain'd. But becauſe that, as divers of my Arguments ſuppoſe the marvellous power of the Alkahest in the Analyzing of Bodies, ſo the Effects aſcrib'd to that power are ſo unparallell'd and ſtupendious, that though I am not ſure but that there may be ſuch an Agent, yet little leſs than [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] ſeems requiſite to make a man ſure there is. And conſequently I leave it to you to judge, how farre thoſe of my Arguments that are built upon Alkahestical Operations are weakned by that Liquors being Matchleſs; and ſhall therefore deſire you not to think that I propoſe this Paradox that rejects all Elements, as an Opinion equally probable with the former part of my diſcourſe. For by that, I hope, you are ſatisfied, that the Arguments wont to be brought by Chymiſts, to prove That all Bodies conſiſt of either Three Principles, or Five, are far from being ſo ſtrong as thoſe that I have employ'd to prove, that there is not any certain and Determinate number of ſuch Principles or Elements to be met with Univerſally in all mixt Bodies. And I ſuppoſe I need not tell you, that theſe Anti-Chymical Paradoxes might have been manag'd more to their Advantage; but that having not confin'd my Curioſity to Chymical Experiments, I who am but a young Man, and younger Chymiſt, can yet be but ſlenderly furniſhed with them, in reference to ſo great and difficult a Task as you impos'd upon me; Beſides that, to tell you the Truth, I durſt not employ ſome even of the beſt Experiments I am acquainted with, becauſe I muſt not yet diſcloſe them; but however, I think I may preſume that what I have hitherto Diſcourſed will induce you to think, that Chymiſts have been much more happy in finding Experiments than the Cauſes of them; or in aſſigning the Principles by which they may beſt be explain'd. And indeed, when in the writings of Paracelſus I meet with ſuch Phantaſtick and Un-intelligible Diſcourſes as that Writer often puzzels and tyres his Reader with, father'd upon ſuch excellent Experiments, as though he ſeldom clearly teaches, I often find he knew; me thinks the Chymiſts, in their ſearches after truth, are not unlike the Navigators of Solomons Tarſhiſh Fleet, who brought home from their long and tedious Voyages, not only Gold, and Silver, and Ivory, but Apes and Peacocks too; For ſo the Writings of ſeveral (for I ſay not, all) of your Hermetick Philoſophers preſent us, together with divers Subſtantial and noble Experiments, Theories, which either like Peacocks feathers make a great ſhew, but are neither ſolid nor uſeful; or elſe like Apes, if they have ſome appearance of being rational, are blemiſh'd with ſome abſurdity or other, that when they are Attentively conſider'd, makes them appear Ridiculous.

Carneades having thus finiſh'd his Diſcourſe againſt the received Doctrines of the Elements; Eleutherius judging he ſhould not have time to ſay much to him before their ſeparation, made ſome haſte to tell him; I confeſs, Carneades, that you have ſaid more in favour of your Paradoxes then I expected. For though divers of the Experiments you have mention'd are no ſecrets, and were not unknown to me, yet beſides that you have added many of your own unto them, you have laid them together in ſuch a way, and apply'd them to ſuch purpoſes, and made ſuch Deductions From them, as I have not Hitherto met with.

But though I be therefore inclin'd to think, that Philoponus, had he heard you, would ſcarce have been able in all points to defend the Chymical Hypotheſis againſt the arguments wherewith you have oppos'd it; yet me thinks that however your Objections ſeem to evince a great part of what they pretend to, yet they evince it not all; and the numerous tryals of thoſe you call the vulgar Chymiſts, may be allow'd to prove ſomething too.

Wherefore, if it be granted you that you have made it probable,

Firſt, that the differing ſubſtances into which mixt Bodies are wont to be reſolved by the Fire are not of a pure and an Elementary nature, eſpecially for this Reaſon, that they yet retain ſo much of the nature of the Concrete that afforded them, as to appear to be yet ſomewhat compounded, and oftentimes to differ in one Concrete from Principles of the ſame denomination in another:

Next, that as to the number of theſe differing ſubſtances, neither is it preciſely three, becauſe in moſt Vegetable and Animal bodies Earth and Phlegme are alſo to be found among their Ingredients; nor is there any one determinate number into which the Fire (as it is wont to be employ'd) does preciſely and univerſally reſolve all compound Bodies whatſoever, as well Minerals as others that are reputed perfectly mixt.

Laſtly, that there are divers Qualities which cannot well be refer'd to any of theſe Subſtances, as if they primarily reſided in it and belong'd to it; and ſome other qualities, which though they ſeem to have their chief and moſt ordinary reſidence in ſome one of theſe Principles or Elements of mixt Bodies, are not yet ſo deducible from it, but that alſo ſome more general Principles muſt be taken in to explicate them.

If, I ſay, the Chymiſts (continues Eleutherius) be ſo Liberall as to make you theſe three Conceſſions, I hope you will, on your part, be ſo civil and Equitable as to grant them theſe three other propoſitions, namely;

Firſt, that divers Mineral Bodies, and therefore probably all the reſt, may be reſolv'd into a Saline, a Sulphureous, and a Mercurial part; And that almoſt all Vegetable and Animal Concretes may, if not by the Fire alone, yet, by a skilfull Artiſt Employing the Fire as his chief Inſtrument, be divided into five differing Subſtances, Salt, Spirit, Oyle, Phlegme and Earth; of which the three former by reaſon of their being ſo much more Operative than the Two Later, deſerve to be Lookt upon as the Three active Principles, and by way of Eminence to be call'd the three principles of mixt bodies.

Next, that theſe Principles, Though they be not perfectly Devoid of all Mixture, yet may without inconvenience be ſtil'd the Elements of Compounded bodies, and bear the Names of thoſe Subſtances which they moſt Reſemble, and which are manifeſtly predominant in them; and that eſpecially for this reaſon, that none of theſe Elements is Diviſible by the Fire into Four or Five differing ſubſtances, like the Concrete whence it was ſeparated.

Laſtly, That Divers of the Qualities of a mixt Body, and eſpecially the Medical Virtues, do for the moſt part lodge in ſome One or Other of its principles, and may Therefore uſefully be ſought for in That Principle ſever'd from the others.

And in this alſo (purſues Eleutherius) methinks both you and the Chymiſts may eaſily agree, that the ſureſt way is to Learn by particular Experiments, what differing parts particular Bodies do conſiſt of, and by what wayes (either Actual or potential fire) they may beſt and moſt Conveniently be Separated, as without relying too much upon the Fire alone, for the reſolving of Bodies, ſo without fruitleſsly contending to force them into more Elements than Nature made Them up of, or ſtrip the ſever'd Principles ſo naked, as by making Them Exquiſitely Elementary to make them almoſt uſeleſs,

Theſe things (ſubjoynes Eleu.) I propoſe, without deſpairing to ſee them granted by you; not only becauſe I know that you ſo much preferr the Reputation of Candor before that of ſubtility, that your having once ſuppos'd a truth would not hinder you from imbracing it when clearly made out to you; but becauſe, upon the preſent occaſion, it will be no diſparagement to you to recede from ſome of your Paradoxes, ſince the nature and occaſion of your paſt Diſcourſe did not oblige you to declare your own opinions, but only to perſonate an Antagoniſt of the Chymiſts. So that (concludes he, with a ſmile) you may now by granting what I propoſe, add the Reputation of Loving the truth ſincerely to that of having been able to oppoſe it ſubtilly.

Carneades's haſte forbidding him to anſwer this crafty piece of flattery; Till I ſhal (ſayes he) have an opportunity to acquaint you with my own Opinions about the controverſies I have been diſcourſing of, you will not, I hope, expect I ſhould declare my own ſence of the Arguments I have employ'd. Wherefore I ſhall only tell you thus much at preſent; that though not only an acute Naturaliſt, but even I my ſelf could take plauſible Exceptions at ſome of them; yet divers of them too are ſuch as will not perhaps be readily anſwer'd, and will Reduce my Adverſaries, at leaſt, to alter and Reform their Hypotheſis. I perceive I need not minde you that the Objections I made againſt the Quaternary of Elements and Ternary of Principles needed not to be oppos'd ſo much againſt the Doctrines Themſelves (either of which, eſpecially the latter, may be much more probably maintain'd than hitherto it ſeems to have been, by thoſe Writers for it I have met with) as againſt the unaccurateneſs and the unconcludingneſs of the Analytical Experiments vulgarly Relyed On to Demonſtrate them.

And therefore, if either of the two examin'd Opinions, or any other Theory of Elements, ſhall upon rational and Experimental grounds be clearly made out to me; 'Tis Obliging, but not irrational, in you to Expect, that I ſhall not be ſo farr in Love with my Diſquieting Doubts, as not to be content to change them for undoubted truths. And (concludes Carneades ſmiling) it were no great diſparagement for a Sceptick to confeſſe to you, that as unſatisfy'd as the paſt diſcourſe may have made you think me with the Doctrines of the Peripateticks, and the Chymiſts, about the Elements and Principles, I can yet ſo little diſcover what to acquieſce in, that perchance the Enquiries of others have ſcarce been more unſatisfactory to me, than my own have been to my ſelf.

FINIS.

THe Authors conſtant Abſence from the Preſſe, whilſt the former Treatiſe was Printing, and the Nature of the Subject it ſelf, wherewith ordinary Compoſers are not wont to be at all acquainted, will, 'tis hop'd, procure the Readers Excuſe, till the next Edition, if the Errata be ſomewhat numerous, and if among them there want not ſome groſſer miſtakes, which yet are not the only Blemiſhes theſe lines muſt take notice of and acknowledg; For the Author now perceives that through the fault of thoſe to whom he had committed the former Treatiſe in looſe Sheets, ſome Papers that belonged to it, have altogether miſcarryed. And though it have luckily enough happen'd, for the moſt part, that the Omiſſion of them does not marr the Cohaerence of the reſt; yet till the next deſign'd Edition afford an opportunity of inſerting them, it is thought fit that the Printer give notice of one Omiſſion at the End of the firſt Dialogue; and that to theſe Errata there be annex'd the enſuing ſheet of Paper, that was caſually loſt, or forgotten by him that ſhould have put it into the Preſſe; where it ought to have been inſerted, in the 187. printed Page, at the break, betwixt the words, [Nature] in the 13th. line, and [But] in the next line after. Though it is to be noted here, that by the miſtake of the Printer, in ſome Books, the number of 187 is placed at the top of two ſomewhat diſtant pages; and in ſuch copies the following addition ought to be inſerted in the latter of the two, as followeth.

And on this occaſion I cannot but take notice, that whereas the great Argument which the Chymiſts are wont to employ to vilify Earth and Water, and make them be look'd upon as uſeleſs and unworthy to be reckon'd among the Principles of Mixt Bodies, is, that they are not endow'd with Specifick Properties, but only with Elementary qualities; of which they uſe to ſpeak very ſleightingly, as of qualities contemptible and unactive: I ſee no ſufficient Reaſon for this Practice of the Chymiſts: For 'tis confeſs'd that Heat is an Elementary Quality, and yet that an almoſt innumerable company of confiderable Things are perform'd by Heat, is manifeſt to them that duly conſider the various Phaenomena wherein it intervenes as a principall Actor; and none ought leſs to ignore or diſtruſt this Truth then a Chymiſt. Since almoſt all the operations and Productions of his Art are performed chiefly by the means of Heat. And as for Cold it ſelf, upon whoſe account they ſo deſpiſe the Earth and Water, if they pleaſe to read in the Voyages of our Engliſh and Dutch Navigators in Nova Zembla and other Northern Regions what ſtupendious Things may be effected by Cold, they would not perhaps think it ſo deſpicable. And not to repeat what I lately recited to You out of Paracelſus himſelf, who by the help of an intenſe Cold teaches to ſeparate the Quinteſſence of Wine; I will only now obſerve to You, that the Conſervation of the Texture of many Bodies both animate and inanimate do's ſo much depend upon the convenient motion both of their own Fluid and Looſer Parts, and of the ambient Bodies, whether Air, Water, &c. that not only in humane Bodies we ſee that the immoderate or unſeaſonable coldneſs of the Air (eſpecially when it finds ſuch Bodies everheated) do's very frequently diſcompoſe the Oeconomie of them, and occaſion variety of Diſeaſes; but in the ſolid and durable Body of Iron it ſelf, in which one would not expect that ſuddain Cold ſhould produce any notable change, it may have ſo great an operation, that if you take a Wire, or other ſlender piece of ſteel, and having brought it in the fire to a white heat, You ſuffer it afterwards to cool leaſurely in the Air, it will when it is cold be much of the ſame hardneſſe it was of before: Whereas if as ſoon as You remove it from the fire, you plunge it into cold water, it will upon the ſudden Refrigeration acquire a very much greater hardneſs then it had before; Nay, and will become manifeſtly brittle. And that you may not impute this to any peculiar Quality in the Water, or other Liquor, or Unctuous matter, wherein ſuch heated ſteel is wont to be quenched that it may be temper'd; I know a very skillful Tradeſman, that divers times hardens ſteel by ſuddenly cooling it in a Body that is neither a liquor, nor ſo much as moiſt. A tryal of that Nature I remember I have ſeen made. And however by the operation that Water has upon ſteel quenched in it, whether upon the Account of its coldneſs and moiſture, or upon that of any other of its qualities, it appears, that water is not alwaies ſo inefficacious and contemptible a Body, as our Chymiſts would have it paſſe for. And what I have ſaid of the Efficacy of Cold and Heat, might perhaps be eaſily enough carried further by other conſiderations and experiments; were it not that having been mention'd only upon the Bye, I muſt not inſiſt on it, but proceed to another Subject.

ERRATA.

PAg. 5. line. 6. read ſo qualify'd, 15.19. Ratiocinations, 25.15. for a, 33.17. in a parenth. (that is no more) 51.24. beſides another Caput, 79.10. employ, 86.13. ſtructure, 97.13. Sack, ibid. 22. Sack, 104.29. inſtead of appear it, will, leg. appear, it will, 118.20. leaſure, ibid. principal, 126.20. and till it ſuffer, 129. 3 leg. in parenth (notwithſtanding, &c. 131.15. ſo, 144.15. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], 151.5. nor have been reſolved, 180.25. Magiſtram, 185.15. lately, 188.15. tunned, 200.1. intolerable, ibid. 2. in, 209 21. tegularum, 210.7. diſtill'd from, 215.25. dele the, 220.1. bodies, 228.11. fugitive, 231.17. inſtead of all lege a pound, 237.6. Chymiſt, 248.18. Aſhes off, 251. 23 Deopilative) 259.6. it ſelf, 269.10 [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], ibid. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], 276.25. make a parenth at the words, by the, and ſhut it after the words in the 27. line at all, 280.11. Corals, 288.6. aſcribes, 294 22. poreſity, 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. contrivance of, 339.1. Nay, Barthias, 142.3. in; I will, 350.26. abſurd, 356.11. Goutieres. 358.6. antea. 360.1. compertiſſimum, ibid 18. Joachimica, ibid. 19. graminis, ibid. 23. ſua, 362 6. Dutch account, 363.2. diggers) ibid 11. and 12. lin. read damp as the Engliſhmen alſo call it, 366.25 a height, 368.19. in uſe. 370.9. latter; And, ibid. 24. Water; J, 377.22. Reſt, ibid. 25. know) 378.23. after Aggregate inſert or complex, ibid 27. dele) ibid 28. dele), 379.4. before as begin a parenth. which ends lin. 9. at Gold. ibid. inſtead of Which, put This, ibid. 12. with the word Texture ſhould be connected the next line, Though, and this word Though is to have put before it a parentheſis, which is to end at the word Fluid in the 16th line, 383 3. Regulus Martis Stellatus, 382.3. Relations, ibid 9. Chymiſt, 386.29. confeſſe by teaching it, 391.8. and yet may, 392.1. an, ibid. 12. of, 393. diſtinct Taſts; 397.13. Talck, 398.18. Earth, 399.18. parts, 404.8. ſal-petrae, 419.20. after it put in Sal.

The Publiſher doth advertiſe the Reader, that ſeeing there are divers Experiments related in this Treatiſe, which the Author is not unwilling to ſubmit to the conſideration alſo of Forraign Philoſophers, he believes this piece will be very ſoon tranſlated into Latin.

END.

Marginal notes

1. G. and F. and H. and others, in their books againſt one another. ↩
2. Gaſto Claveus Apolog. Argur. & Chryſopera. ↩
3. Agricola de Natura Foſſil. Lib. 9. Cap. 11. & 12. ↩
4. Lib. 1. Obſervat. Cap. 6. ↩
5. De Natura Deorum. ↩
6. Athenagoras. ↩
7. Univerſarumrerum primordia diverſa eſſe, faciendi autem mundi initium aquam. Strabo. Geograp lib. 15. circa medium. ↩
8. Deuter. 32.11. ↩
9. Jerem. 23.9. ↩
10. Sennert. lib. de conſ. & diſſenſ. pag. 147. ↩
11. Helmon. pag. 409. ↩
12. Quercet. apud Billich in Theſſalo redivivo. pag. 99. ↩
13. Illud notabile, in vino eſſe Spiritum quendam mitiorem ulterioris & nobilioris qualitatis participem qua qui immediatèper diſtillationem elicitur diciturque aqua vitae dephlegmata, quod facilius in ſimplici Olivarum oleo ad oculum ſpectatur. Quippe diſtillatum oleum abſque laterum aut tigularum additamento, quodque oleum Philoſophorum dicitur, multum differt ab ejus oleitate, quae elicitur prius reducto oleo ſimplici in partes diſſimilares ſola digeſtione & Salis circulati Paracelſici appoſitione; ſiquidem ſal circulatum idem in pondere & quantitatibus priſtinis ab oleo ſegregatur poſtquam oleum olivarum in ſui beterogeneitates eſt diſpoſitum. Dulce enim tunc Oleum Olivarum exoleo, prout & ſuaviſſimus vini ſpiritus a vino hoc pacto ſeparantur, longéque ab aquae vitae acrimoniâ diſtinctus. — Helmont. Aura vitalis, pag. 725. ↩
14. Helment pag. 412. ↩
15. Tyroc. Chym. L. 1. C. 4. ↩
16. Oſtendi alias, quomodo lib. una aquae vitae combibita in ſale Tartari ſiccato, vix fiat ſemuncia ſalis, caeterum totum corpus fiat aqua Elementalis. Helmont. in Aura vitali. ↩

17. Error vero per diſtillationem nobis monſtrat etiam Spiritum ſalinum plane volatilem odore nequicquam ut nec guſtu diſtinguibilem a ſpiritu Ʋrinae; In eo tamen eſſentialiter diverſum, quod ſpiritus talis cruoris curat Epilepſiam, non autem ſpiritus ſalis lotii.

    Helmont. Aura Vitalis.

    ↩
18. Aliquando oleum Cinnamomi, &c. ſuo ſali Alcali miſcetur abſque omni aqua, trium menſium Artificioſa occultaque circulatione, totum in ſalem volatilem commutatum eſt. Helmont. Tria Prima Chymicorum, &c. pag. 412. ↩
19. Chm. Tyrocin. lib. 1. Cap. 2. ↩
20. Dixi autem de argento vivo a metallis prolicito, quod vulgare ob nimiam frigiditatem & humiditatem nimium concoctioni eſt contumax, nec ab auro ſolum alterato coerceri poteſt. Gaſt. Clave. in Apoll. ↩
21. Paracel. de Mineral. Troct 1. pag. 141. ↩
22. Senn. de Conſ. & Diſſen. p. 165, ↩
23. In Theſſalo redivivo. Cap. 10. pag. 73. & 74. ↩
24. De Cons. & diſſen. cap. 11. pag. 186. ↩
25. Senuert. de Con. ſeus. & Diſſens. pag. 165.166. ↩
26. Helm out Pharm. & Diſpens. Nov. p. 438. ↩
27. Vide Jer. ad Begu. Lib. 1. Cap. 17. ↩

28. Novi ſaxum & lapides omnes in merum ſalem ſuo ſaxo aut lapidi & aequiponderantem reducere abſque omni prorſus ſulphurc aut Mercurio.

    Helmont. pag. 409.

    ↩
29. In Lygiis, ad Sagam opidum; in pratis eruitur ferrum, foſſis ad altitudinem bipedaneam actis. Id decennio renatum denuo fo ditur non aliter ac Ilvae ferrum. ↩
30. ☜ * ↩
31. ☞ ↩
32. Aceſta Natural. and Moral hiſtory of the Indies, L. 3. c. 5, P. 212. ↩
33. See Acoſla in the fore-cited Place, and the paſſage of Pliny quoted by him. ↩
34. Omne autem Alcali additae pinguedine in aqueum liquorem, qui tandem mera & ſimplex aqua fit, reducitur, (ut videre eſt in Sapone, Lazurio lapide, &c.) quoties per adjuncta fixa ſemen Pinguedinis deponit. Helmont. ↩
35. Novi item modos quibus totum Salpetiae in terram convertitur, totumque Sulphur ſemel diſſolutum fixetur in Pulvecrem terreum. Helmont in Compl. atque Miſt. Elementor, Sect. 24. ↩
36. Lib 1. cap. 2. ↩