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326 ESSAYS anv OBSERVATIONS 
tions both of filver and quick-filver, it 
turned them both milky, and made a white 
precipitation. From all which I have no dif- 
ficulty to conclude, that the acid contained 
in crude fal-ammoniac is of the muriatic kind, 
or the fame which is produced from fea falt. 
But, whence this acid fhould proceed, isa — 
matter of greater intricacy . fince we are af- _ 
fured that no fea falt is neceffary to, nor em- 
ployed in, the preparation of that {al-ammo- 
niac which is brought to us from Egypt. 
Tuas queftion I fhall not undertake to dif 
cufs, as being foreign to my prefent purpofe; 
but fhall fubjoin fome remarks on the experi- 
ments above related, or deduce fome corol- 
laries which feem naturally to arife from 
them. 
I. Tue acid fpirits, as thofe of vitriol, ni- 
tre, fea falt, vinegar, &c. are faline liquors, 
or fluid falts, made up of the very minute 
particles of an acid falt, and a certain pro- 
portion of plegm or water. 
I]. THe particles of thefe acid falts cannot 
be brought to unite, among themfelves, by — 
chryftallization or fublimation, fo as to ap- 
pear in the form of a folid or dry falt: but 
they 
