50 NATURAL HISTORY. 



80. It is especially to be noted, that the cause 

 that doth facilitate the version of air into water, 

 when the air is not in gross, but subtilly mingled 

 with tangible bodies, is, as hath been partly touched 

 before, for that tangible bodies have an antipathy 

 with air; and if they find any liquid body that is 

 more dense near them, they will draw it : and after 

 they have drawn it, they will condense it more, and 

 in effect incorporate it ; for we see that a spunge, or 

 wool, or sugar, or a woollen cloth, being put but in 

 part in water or wine, will draw the liquor higher, 

 and beyond the place where the water or wine 

 cometh. We see also, that wood, lute strings, and 

 the like, do swell in moist seasons ; as appeareth^by 

 the breaking of the strings, the hard turning of the 

 pegs, and the hard drawing forth of boxes, and open 

 ing of wainscot doors : which is a kind of infusion : 

 and is much like to an infusion in water, which will 

 make wood to swell ; as we see in the filling of the 

 chops of bowls, by laying them in water. But for 

 that part of these experiments which concerneth 

 attraction, we will reserve it to the proper title of 

 attraction. 



81. There is also a version of air into water seen 

 in the sweating of marbles and other stones ; and of 

 wainscot before and in moist weather. This must 

 be, either by some moisture the body yieldeth, or 

 else by the moist air thickened against the hard 

 body. But it is plain, that it is the latter ; for that 

 we see wood painted with oil-colour, will sooner 

 gather drops in a moist night, than wood alone, which 



