iOO PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1704. 



surprising particles, which may justly be stiled sands, with their regular sides 

 and angles, and many of them of the same figure as the shining sand. 



But not being satisfied with this hypothesis, viz. that the abovementioned 

 particles were originally nothing else but sand particles, with their angles and 

 smooth sides, and that at the time of their coalition or falling upon one another, 

 they were all soft and flexible, and thereby were so rivetted and joined together 

 as to become one solid body, which we call marble ; and consequently that the 

 said particles did for the most part change their figure, and assume another 

 form, proportionable to the solidity of their coalition, and that yet some of 

 them had preserved those smooth sides and angles, which they had at the time 

 of their conjunction ; which sides and angles represent tlie points that are 

 found in diamonds ; and that in one particle of sand may be discovered 3, and 

 in another 7 neat and regular points. 



♦K ■ From these observations, I imagined that almost all the sand of the whole 

 earth has preserved the figure given at the creation, and that their particles, 

 before they happened to collide or fall upon others, were composed of such hard 

 bodies, that they could not be joined to others, and so have remained what 

 they originally were ; only that by their collisions with other bodies, their first 

 figure may be somewhat impaired ; and the nearer they lie to the surface of the 

 earth, the more subject they are to such alterations. 



When I opposed such a diamond-like sand with its point to the sight, I could 

 see its point ; but the sides from whence the points arise, are more obvious ; 

 and in such a position the sand would appear 4, 5, or 6 sided ; and not only 

 so, but where two sides joined, I could also perceive such a point of a diamond- 

 cut projecting out. 



I have caused three of the sand particles of the abovementioned white marble, 

 as they were separated from each other, to be drawn, as follows. Fig. IQ, 

 ABCDEF represent one of those grains of sand, of which a great number com- 

 pose the white Italian marble, where at each of these capital letters may be seen 

 its points or angles. Fig. 20, ghiklm shows the second sand, and those letters 

 the several points. Fig. 21, Nora is the third sand, wherein there is such a 

 flatness nop, as is observable in few sands. 



I took a little piece of the said marble, the parts of which were very close 

 and compact, and making it red hot, I dropped it in the water; in doing which, 

 I observed not only that the sand particles were separated from one another, 

 but some of them broke off" with such violence, that they were thrown out of 

 the water. 



''\ I presently took some of this water, to see what salts it had received from 

 ^e stone ; and I soon perceived a sort of film, or scum over the water, with- 



