on the Calcination of Metals. vcSl 



forms one confused mixture. The vessel being then left at 

 rest, it is pleasant to see the clearing off of the confusion*. 

 The enamel gains the lowest station, representing earth ; the 

 liquor of tartar settles close by it, representing water; the 

 brandy, like tlie air, occupies the third place ; and spirit of 

 turpentine, to shew the nature of fire, arranges itself above 

 them all. All this is eiFected by the influence of weight, 

 according as it is largely or sparingly distributed amongst 

 these bodies. In the same manner the elements acknowledge 

 no other cause that arranges and disposes each in its proper 

 place, it being needless to introduce levity, which our prede- 

 cessors vainly devised for that purpose. 



Essay II. 

 There is nothing absolutely light in Nature. 



Almost all philosophers, ancient and modern, fearing an 

 eternal confusion of the elements, were they all endowed with 

 weight, conceived the two uppermost to be furnished with a 

 certain levity, by means of which they bounded up on high, each 

 to occupy its peculiar place, like as the two lower ones are 

 pushed downwards by their own weight. But having clearly 

 shewn in the last Essay, that levity is not necessary for that 

 effect, weight alone being sufficient, I embrace the maxim, 

 which they themselves have prudently laid down, that we should 

 never multiply existences-^ unnecessarily ; assuming that God and 

 Nature do nothing in vain, (which they also teach.) I think it 

 would be otherwise were we to admit levity, since it is of no 

 use. I say much more ; that fire, being of so subtile a nature, 

 that it can hardly be called a body, is consequently almost 

 stripped of all resistance ; whence it follows, that the air, mount- 

 ing up without impediment, would reach the skies, driving fire 

 from its place, and compelling it to seek a lower station, to the 

 injury of their own doctrine. To this I will add another incon- 

 venience, namely, the perpetual and unprofitable strife, which 

 would ensue between the heavy and the light elements, the latter 



* " Le debrouillement se/aire." t " L'eslre des choaes." 

 Vol. XI. G 



