J^HYSICAL AND LITERARY. 433 



fome other way unknown to us, alter the 

 fpecific gravity of water. But, whatever 

 piay be in this, it is evidently unreafon- 

 able to deny that lime-water is as>inuch 

 fpecifically heavier than common water, 

 as the hydroftatic balance, or other accu- 

 rate experiments fhew ; becaufe we cannot 

 account for this excefs of gravity from 

 any thing we know of the contents of 

 lime-water. This is no lefs unphilofophi- 

 cal, than if one was to doubt of univer- 

 VoL. I. lii fal 



the lime ; it follows, that, befides this earth, it contains 

 fome more aftive and fubtile part, to which its tafte and 

 virtues are chiefly OAving : For we know that the calca- 

 ' rious matter of lime-water is perfectly infipid and void 

 pf any other virtue, than what all abforbent earths pof- 

 fefs. This aftive and more fubtile part of lime-water 

 feems to be feparated from its earth by the alcaline fait, 

 which ftrongly attrafts and embraces it. And hence, 

 lime-water, mixed with fait of tartar, does not lofe its tafte 

 pf the lime by being expofed to the open air. Does not 

 ^ folution of a fixed alcaline fait in water, poured on 

 quick-lime, feparate this fubtile aftive matter of quick- 

 lime from its earthy part, by ftrongly attracting it ? 

 And do not foap-leys confift of water and fixed alcaline 

 fait, united with this a£tive part of quick-lime, without 

 any, or almoft any, of its earthy part ? 



