MINERALS. 



THAT all matter was primordially In a (late of fluidity, and that 

 the earth arofe from the bofom of the waters, we have have the 

 teftimony of Mofes, Thalcs, and Seneca. And it is manifeft, that 

 the lea enveloping the chaotic nucleus, produced by flow and gradual 

 means the continent, which by continually exhaling its, dews into 

 clou. is, is regularly moillened by astherial, recStified, deciduous Ihowers. 

 Genuine remains of the general deluge, as far as I have inveftigated, 

 I have not found ; much lefs the adamitic earth : but I have every 

 where fcen earths formed by the dereliction or depofition of waters, 

 and in thcfe the remains of a long and gradual lapfe of ages. 



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The WATER of the ocean, frigid, paflive, concipient, every where 

 foecundated by a dry calefcent active generating air, is obferved 

 teeminc^ with a double offspring: 



AyV/ZV^/f male, foluble, acrid, clear, cryftalllne, 

 A/^r/YWf female, fixed, vifcid^ opake, attra6torial. 

 This water, moreover, affords nourifhment to two other of its off- 

 fpring. Animals and Vegetables, continued in their kind by a re- 

 gular catenation of feeds, and thefe both sjre reduced into earth 

 by a perennial circle of aclion. 



SALTS are fapid, many-Tided, diaphanous, foluble into infinite mi- 

 nute particles always retaining their original form, and concret- 

 ing again and again into larger malfes of like uniform fhape. 

 Theft, by cryltallization in and from various earths, generate 

 various flpnes. 



Nitre, which is aerial, and which by obdu£lion augments fand. 



Muriaf which is marine, and which by corrofion attra£ls clay. 



Natrumy which is animal, and which by rejfudation coagu- 

 lates calx. 



Ah?}!) which is vegetable, and which by ramification cements 

 foil. 



Thefe are the fathers of flones. 



Az 



