PHYSICAL anv LITERARY.. 209 
infipid, the lime which it contained being 
mixed with the magnefia. But, if the ma-, 
guefia be deprived of air by calcination 
before it is mixed with the lime-water, 
this fluid fuffers no alteration. 
Ir quick-lime be mixed with a diffolved 
alkali, it likeways fhews an attraGtion for 
fixed air fuperior to that of the alkali. Ic 
robs this falt of its air, and thereby be- 
comes mild itfelf, while the alkali is con- 
fequently rendered more corrofive, or dif- 
covers its natural degree of acrimony or - - 
{trong attraction for water, and for bodies 
of the inflammable, and of the animal and 
vegetable kind; which attraction was lefs 
perceivable as long as it was {aturated 
with air. And the volatile alkali, when 
deprived of its air, befides this attraction 
for various bodies, difcovers like eways its 
- matural degree of volatility, which was 
formerly fomewhat reprefled by the air 
a | adhering to it, in the fame manner as it is 
: * reprefled by the addition of an acid. 
_. Tuis account of lime and alkalis re- 
Bees encoded itfelf by its fimplicity, and 
a, affording an eafy folution of many 
Vor. Il, Dd. plaiomena 
