[ 6 ] [Book I. 



CHAP. II. 

 OF ELEMENTS*. 



Opinions of the JncientisNew Arrangement. Enumeration of finale 

 SubJIances, according to the new Pbilcfophy.~ Aerial Subftances. 

 Earths. Metals. 



WHEN we take a general farvey of nature, we 

 find that notwithftanding the apparent variety 

 of creatures, with which the univerfe abounds, every 

 natural body which has hitherto come within the limits 

 of our infpection may be reduced into a few diftinct 

 kinds of matter: and though we probably have not as 

 yet difcovered the ultimate and moft fubtile principles 

 of which bodies are compounded; yet we appear to be 

 juftified in calling the moft fimple fubftances which 

 we have been able to dif cover as entering into the 

 competition of bodies by the name of ELEMENTS. 



Ariftotle, and after him moft of the ancients, admit- 

 ted four different elements, fire> air, earthy and water, 

 It is evident, in the firft place, that in this enumeration 

 the falts are omitted, the exiftence of which can no 

 more be doubted than that of any of the others. Se- 

 condly, it was found necefiary in the progrels of fci- 

 encej not only to admit a Jaline, but a fulphureous or 

 inflammable principle. I might add, that we are war- 

 ranted by no experiments, which have as yet been 

 ;o public, in fuppofing that there exifts but one 

 <ie Ipecies of earth ; and later experiments have 



f From CiEOj or E LEO, to create. 



determined 



