Chap. 2.] Water a 'compound Subftance, 7 



determined that water as well as air is a compound 

 fubftance *. 



It is, therefore, necelTary to adopt a new arrange- 

 ment, though it is more than probable that future dif- 

 coveries may render it in fome meafure nugatory. 

 Future difcoveries may perhaps demonftrate that many, 

 if not moft, of the follovying fubftances will yet admit 

 of fubdivifions ; or they may demonftrate that the con- 

 .ftituent principles of bodies are (till fewer. They may 

 demonftrate that all earths have originally the fame 

 bafis, and are only altered by different combinations 

 with vital air or other fubftances ; the alkaline falts 

 may be in reality a fpecies of earth, which alfo derives 

 its diftinguifhing qualities from a union with fome fub- 

 tile matter in a certain proportion. Thefe, however, 

 v are points on which we have at prefent obtained no 

 experimental evidence, and which for that reaibn we 

 are not authorized to affirm. 



The mofl fimple fubftances' hitherto difcoyered may 

 be refolved into, 



1. Fire, heat, or caloric j including light and the 

 electric fluid. 



2. The bafis of pure, vital, or dephlogifticated air, 

 the oxygen of the French cbemifts. 



3. Hydrogen, or the bafis of inflammable air. 



4. Azote, or the bafis of nitrous acid. 



5. Sulphur, the balis of vitriolic acid. 



6. Phofphorus, the bafis of phoiphoric acid. 



* I fhall not perplex the reader with the exploded vifions of 

 chemiits during the iail two centuries, with their phlegm or watry 

 principle,, their mercury or aciive and fpiritous principle, their 

 faput mortuurn, their fpiritus retfor, and a quantity cf uielefs and 

 alraoft unintelligible jargon. 



B 4 7. CoaJ 



