230 ON A NATURAL SYSTEM 



and therefore recourfe is had to the more fubtile 

 powers of chemittry; and the precipitation of a 

 folution made in a ftrongcrmcnttruum, is taken 

 fuccefsfully for this purpofe. Fora precipitate 

 yet moid and recent is fo open and fpongy, that 

 it far exceeds all mechanical divifion. 



In like manner, though a folution cannot 

 be effected in an equal weight of water; yet, if 

 that weight is doubled or tripled, or fufllciently 

 encreafcd, there would be no doubt of produc- 

 ing it. If water of a moderate temperature a- 

 vail nothing, tepid or warmer water may fuccecd; 

 and fliould this degree alfo of heat be ineffectual, 

 it may yet be raifed to fuch a height in a clofe 

 veflel, as will generally overcome all refiftence, 

 and even produce elicits fcarcc to be expected. 



Hence, then, I apprehend it is evident, that 

 the very nature of folubility will not admit of a- 

 ny certain or determinate criteria, but that it 

 may be faid rather to proceed in an infinite fe^ 

 ries : For if, on inttituting an experiment, no- 

 thing is dillblvcd, a fufpicion will always arifc 

 that if the refitting matter were cither more 

 minutely divided or immerfcd in a greater quan- 

 tity of water, or in water of a higher tempera- 

 ture, it would ncccflarily be diflblvcd. In this 

 manner, therefore, all certainty is dettroyed, and 

 every conclufion rendered merely 



