OfOXFOIW-S'HFRj;. - M 



we may allow its fait to be a volatile Alcali, with which alfo that 

 Syrup turns to the fame colour : to admit fuch a thought 'tis true 

 is very hard, yet finding but a mile off, at Clifton as above- 

 mentioned, a Spring ftrangely fated with fuch a kind of/**//; I 

 adventur'd to try another Experiment of the aforefaid Honorable 

 Author , and according as he directs % made a folution of fubli- 

 mate in fair water (the only Criterion I yet know of, that plain- 

 ly diftinguifhes the two AlcalVs) to which I added this Well- 

 water, in great, fmall, and the intermediate quantities: but it 

 anfwer'dnot at all the defign of the Experiment, not giving the 

 tawny, much lefs the white precipitate : Whence 'tis eafie to con^ 

 elude, that this alfo fucceeds only in difcriminating Chymicalfalts, 

 as that gredtVirtuofo well obferves, and not in the immediate pro* 

 dufts of Nature* 



54. One thing more I could not but obferve, that notwith^- 

 (landing the powers of the Vitriol are thus reftrained in reference 

 to its acting on foap and milk, that yet it has its ufual effoft upon 

 Iron : for the corrofion of the Pump-rod I muft believe to pro- 

 ceed from Vitriol, till any one upon better grounds can convince 

 me, that 'tis, likely it may be from fomwhat elfe ; and yet this 

 neither do I conceive to be done, but by fuch fleams as afcend 

 in the Well, and are freed from the .(hackles of Sulphur, much 

 queftioning whether the Pump-rod under, or near the bottom of 

 the water, be eaten fo or no. 



55. To this add, that although the Sulphur do's exercife fuch 

 dominion over, and fo clofely knits up the Vitriol^ whil'ft toge- 

 ther in the water, yet it may and do's too, let go its hold < and 

 like, what is reported by Henricws ab Beers of his Spadacrene, and 

 the Sauvenir by Frambefariu* , can hardly be kept within any 

 bounds, but expires through glafles ftopt never fo clofe ; 'tis 

 true, I had not the conveniency there of putting it under the 

 Hermetickfeal, butfo eafiea paflage it made through a good cork 

 cover'd over with wax, and both bound down with a double 

 leather, that in fix miles riding it loft all its virtues, not giving 

 then any tinfture with galls, and having but a faint putrid fmell 

 of the Sulphur : Whether it loft in weight or bulk, as well as 7/0- 

 latile Spirits, I muft acknowledge I was not then enough curiou9 

 to obferve-, but imagine it might, ftnee 'tis plain from its not 



W(l. of Colours. Exper. 40. 



F 2 tinging 



