of XFO %T>^S HI%E. + i 



and pafling through a blew Clay, adorned with fome glittering 

 fparks ; and meeting by the way with -pyrites argenteus, and a 

 bed of Belemnitesy or (as they call them) Thunder-bolts b He 

 came within few yards to this water, of a ftrong [ulphureows 

 fmell, the moft like of any thing I can think of, to the water 

 that has been ufed in the fcouring a foul gun : in weight lighter 

 than pure Spring-water by an Ijs. in a quart, and yet after feve- 

 raltryals,I found it fo highly impregnated with a vitrioline fait as 

 well as fulphur, that two grains of the powder of galls would 

 turn a gallon of water into a dusky red, inclining to purple ; nor 

 did they only fo alter the fite and pofition of the particles, as to 

 give a different colour and confiftence, as it happens in waters 

 but meanly fated ; but in a quarter of an hour did fo condenfe 

 and conftipate the pores of the watery vehicle, that the excluded 

 particles of the Minerals appeared in a feparate ftate, curdled in 

 theVeffel, and of fo weighty a fubftance, that they fubfided to 

 the bottom in a dark blue colour. 



50. The fediment being great in quantity, I tryed upton red 

 hot Irons, and fome other ways, to fee whether the falts or fuU 

 phur? either by colour, fcintillation, or odour, might not by that 

 means betray themfelves ; but with fmall fuccefs : whereupon I 

 betook me to diftillation, putting about a quart into a glafs body, 

 to which fitting a head and clean receiver, I gave an eafie heat, 

 till there was diftilled off about three or four ounces, which 

 when poured out, I found had neither fmell, taft, or any other 

 properties, that might diftinguifh it from any other firing water 

 diftilled: for with galls it would make no more alteration than any 

 other fimple common water would. Then ordering the fire to be 

 flackned, to fee what precipitate it would let fall ; upon filtration. 

 of what remained in the body, I procured only a pale calx of a 

 gritty fubftance, (hewing, as it dryed in the Sun, many tran- 

 fparent particles intermix' d : in taft it had a faint pleafant 

 piercing, with a gentle warmth diffufed on the tongue ; but pour- 

 ing on it Spirit of Vitriol, Oyl of Tartar, tec I could not perceive 

 any manifeft ebullition, fo as to judge whether the fait Contained 

 in this refidence, were either of the acid or lixiviate kind. 



51. Wherefore to come clofer to the point, and taking dire- 

 ctions from that accurate, Jevere, and profound Philofopher, the 

 Honorable Robert Boyle Efq; the glory of his Nation, and pride 



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