2 oo Jnalyjis of the Jir. 



for I purpofely avoided making ufe of any 

 moift lute, and took care to wipe the infide 

 of the receiver very dry with a warm cloth. 



The Mercury made a great ebullition, and 

 came fo^cic of it over into the receiver, as foon 

 js the retort had a red heat given it, which 

 was increafed to a white and almoft melting 

 heat, in which ftate it continued for half an 

 hour. During which time, I frequently co- 

 hohated fome part of the Mercury, which 

 condenfed, and was lodged on an horizontal 

 level, about the middle of the neck of the 

 retort : And which, upon raifing the receiver, 

 flowed down into the bottom of the retort, and 

 there made a frefh ebullition -, which had 

 ceafed, when all the Mercury was diftilled 

 from the bottom of the retort. When all 

 was cool, I found about two drams of Mercury 

 in the retort, and loft in the whole forty-three 

 grains, but there was not the leaft moifturein 

 the receiver 



Whence it is to be fufpected that Mr. Boyle 

 and ethers were deceived by fome unheeded 

 circumftance, when they thought they ob- 

 tained a water from Mercury in the diftilla- 

 tion of it ; which he fays he did once, but 

 could not make the like Experiment after- 

 wards fucceed. Boyle, Vol. III. p. 416. 



I re 





