CENTURY I. 15 



they call it, of the air ; which produceth dews and 

 rains. And the experiment of turning water 

 into ice, by snow, nitre, and salt, whereof we shall 

 speak hereafter, would be transferred to the turn 

 ing of air into water. The second way is by com 

 pression ; as in stillatories, where the vapour is 

 turned back upon itself, by the encounter of the 

 sides of the stillatory ; and in the dew upon 

 the covers of boiling pots ; and in the dew to 

 wards rain, upon marble and wainscot. But this is 

 like to do no great effect ; except it be upon vapours, 

 and gross air, that are already very near in degree to 

 water. The third is that, which may be searched 

 into, but doth not yet appear ; which is, by mingling 

 of moist vapours with air; and trying if they will 

 not bring a return of more water, than the water 

 was as first : for if so, that increase is a version of 

 the air : therefore put water into the bottom of a 

 stillatory, with the neb stopped ; weigh the water 

 first ; hang in the middle of the stillatory a large 

 spunge ; and see what quantity of water you can 

 crush out of it ; and what it is more, or less, com 

 pared with the water spent : for you must under 

 stand, that if any version can be wrought, it will be 

 easiliest done in small pores : and that is the reason 

 why we prescribe a spunge. The fourth way is 

 probable also, though not appearing ; which is, by re 

 ceiving the air into the small pores of bodies : for, as 

 hath been said, every thing in small quantity is more 

 easy for version ; and tangible bodies have no plea- 

 Mi re in the consort of air, but endeavour to subact 



