VOL. IX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 133 



Obsej-vations and Experiments on Vitriol, by a Fellow of the Royal Society. 



N° 103, p. 41. 



The observations and experiments set forth in this paper, present nothing in 

 the least degree interesting to modern chemists and mineralogists. 



Some Inquiries and Suggestions concerning Salt for domestic Uses ; and concerning 

 Sheep ; to preserve and improve the Race. By Dr. John Beal. N° 1 03, 

 p. 48. 



A very useless and uninteresting paper. 



An Account of some Books. N° 103, p. 53. 



I. About the Excellency and Grounds of the Mechanical Hypothesis, some 

 Considerations occasionally proposed to a Friend, by R. B. E. F. R. S. Lon. 

 1674, in 4to. 



A treatise, by Mr. Boyle, on the importance and nature of the mechanical 

 philosophy, or that which consists in the affections of matter and motion. 



II. On Mr. John Smith's England's Improvement received, in a treatise of 

 husbandry and trade, by land and sea ; plainly discovering the several ways of 

 improving the several sorts of waste and barren grounds, and of enriching all 

 earths, with the natural quality of all lands ; and the several seeds and plants, 

 which naturally thrive therein, observed, &c. Together with the manner of 

 planting all sorts of timber trees and underwoods. Experienced in 30 years 

 practice. 



III. Davidis von der Beck, Mindani, Experirnenta et Meditationes circa 

 Naturalium Rerum Principia, &c. Hamb. 16/4, in 8vo. dedicated to the 

 Royal Society. 



A Continuation of the Discourse concerning Vitriol, begun in N° 103 ; showing, 

 that Vitriol is usually produced by Sulphur, acting on, and concoagulating with, 

 a Metal; and then making out, that Alum is likeivise the Result of the said 

 Sulphur ; as also evincing, that Vitriol, Sulphur and Alum do agree in the Saline 

 Principle; and lastly declaring the Nature of the Salt in Brimstone, and 

 whence it is derived. N° 104, p. 66. 



The chief object of this paper is to prove what is now well understood, viz. 

 that the saline principle, or more properly the acid obtained from vitriol, sul- 

 phur and alum, is one and the same. In the concluding part of these observa- 

 tions, it is very erroneously conjectured that " the saline principle of sulphur 

 is identical with common salt.'* 



