a Suppcfed Homogeneity of Matter. [Book I. 



diftin<5t or definite portion of matter; whereas matter in 

 the abftract implies a more confufed and general idea 

 of folidity and extenfion, with little or no regard to 

 figure, proportion, or quantity. 



Thefe words are of fuch common and frequent ufe 

 in philofophy, that it appeared neceffary to have a 

 competent notion of their force and meaning, particu- . 

 larly in a chapter which profeffes to treat of the firft of 

 them : and I have generally found etymology a fafer 

 and eafier mode of communicating knowledge than 

 definition. 



That the whole matter, of which this univerfe of 

 things is compofed, is efientially the fame, and that the 

 apparent differences which .fubfift in different bodies 

 depend altogether on the particular diftribution ordif- 

 pofition of the component particles, is an opinion 

 which has been entertained by fome philofophers of 

 the higheft reputation. The wonderful apparent tranf- 

 mutations which take place in the different proceffcs 

 and operations of nature do, it mud be confeffcd, ac 

 firft fight countenance this hypothefis. A plant will 

 vegetate and become a folid fubftance in the pureft 

 water *. The generation of ftones in the earth, the 

 various phenomena of petrifactions, and a multitude of 

 other fuels, contribute greatly, on a fair confideration, 

 , to diminifh the abfurdity of the alchemifts, who feem 

 chiefly to have refted on this hypothefis (viz. that all 

 matter was intrinfically the fame) their hopes of con- 

 verting the bafeft materials by the efforts of art into 

 the mod fplcndid and valuable of fubftances. 



Mr. Boyle diftilled the fame water about two hun- 

 dred times, and at the cad of each diftillation found a 



* See the Experiments of Mr. Boyle and Van Hehnont, 

 Book VJII. c. iii. 



9 frefli 



