62 



by manufacturing the wares imported from abroad ! 

 Thus though it is a false supposition, that the waters 

 themselves are strained through subterranean passages 

 into the inland countries, yet it is true, that their effects 

 are tiansfused into every town, every hamlet and every 

 cottage/' 



I beg leave to insert here what could not properly 

 come in under any of the preceding articles. 



It is a curious remark, which Dr. Cheyne makes con- 

 cerning fluids in general. " I take notice, first of the 

 fewness of the original fluids in respect of the vast 

 number of compound ones. The primary ones hitherto 

 known are only four, air, water, mercury, and light, 

 three of which are seldom much compounded with 

 others; so that it is water alone, that is the basis of all 

 our mixtures. It is the parts of solid bodies floating in 

 this fluid, that produce all our delightful and useful 

 varieties of liquors: so frugal is nature in principles, 

 and so fruitful in effects and compositions. Take 

 notice, 2dly, Of the greut difference between the 

 .specific gravities of our fluids, mercury being eight 

 thousand times heavier than air. Now, not to mention 

 the many uses of this last fluid in artificer's works, had 

 air been as heavy as mercury it had been altogether 

 useless in respiration: it had choaked us immediately. 

 And had there not been a fluid of the same weight 

 with mercury, i. e. a collection of exceeding small, 

 heavy spherules, in the present circumstances of man-, 

 kind, I do not know what a great part of the world 

 would have dor.e. For the wickedness of mankind, has 

 brought many diseases to that decree of malignity, 

 that a thorough cure could scarce be made of them 

 without this fluid. But by the gravity of I his, a remedy 

 is provided for all these maladies, which are more than 

 two or three. But that which is most wonderful ia 

 these fluids is, 3dly, That uni^evsal property, the di- 

 rection of thtir pressure upon the sides of the contain- 

 ing vessel. In all fluids, cf v hat-cever kind or nature, 

 this pressure is communicated iti lines perpendicular to 



