the effect of the act and friction of the small particles 

 of bodies. Aristotle speaks of some philosophers of 

 his time, who taught, that flame was nothing else, 

 but sniall corpuscular j arts, continually succetxiing 

 one another in rapid motion ; that fire was composed 

 of pyramidical particles whose sharp angles stung us 

 in entering our pores, and nu^ud metals, by disco* 

 venngthtir parts, which is what Des car tes>. hath repeat- 

 ed from him. Dfmonax affirms, ti at fire hath weight. 

 Lucretius does the same : adding, that the reason of 

 its alua)-s appearing t< tend upwards, is owing to a 

 foreign cause ; to wit, the pressure of the air, which 

 buoys its Hame up ; and makes it seem to mount. 



