1 8 Mayow 



yet I do not think they exist in celestial fires, as I 

 shall endeavour to show below. 



For whether we consider flame as sharp, caustic, 

 and in the highest degree corrosive, or as possessing 

 an extremely penetrating and dissolving power, or 

 finally as being ruddy and bright, in all of which 

 qualities the true essence of fire consists, all these, I 

 say, seem to proceed from its nitro-aerial spirit, since 

 the particles of the latter are in the highest degree 

 subtle, sharp, and caustic. For it has been shown 

 above that the extremely corrosive and acrid nature 

 of nitrous spirit is due to the nitro-aerial and fiery 

 particles which reside in it. And, indeed, fire and 

 the spirit of nitre are so like in respect to their 

 caustic virtue, that 1t can scarcely be doubted that 

 their extremely corrosive nature is due to particles 

 of the same kind, namely, to the nitro-aerial and fiery 

 spirit which resides in both. 



Besides, nitro-aerial particles when in very great 

 commotion become red like fire and glisten, as is 

 clearly seen in the spirit of nitre which is ruddy dur- 

 ing distillation. Nay, that every kind of light pro- 

 ceeds from the motion of the nitro-aerial particles 

 will be shown below ; while, on the other hand, the 

 gentler sulphureous particles, however violently 

 agitated, appear less fitted for assuming the keen 

 and eminently destructive nature of fire. 



If we consider attentively the nature of flame and 

 reflect upon the character of the change which the 

 fiery particles undergo on being ignited, we can form 

 no other conception than that the kindling of the 

 igneous particles consists in their extremely rapid 

 motion. Why then should we not suppose that 

 saline particles are specially fit for the production of 

 fire ? For since they are extremely solid, subtle, and 



