% \ i Analyfn of tide Air. 



we may with pleafure fee what immenfe trea- 

 fures of this noble and important element, 

 endued with a moft active principle, the all- 

 wife Providence of the great Author of na- 

 ture has provided, the conftant wafte of it 

 being abundantly fupplied by heat and fer- 

 mentation from innumerable denfe bodies ; 

 and that probably from many of thofe bodies, 

 which, when they had their afcending fumes 

 confined in my glaffes, abforbed more air 

 than they generated -, frut would, in a more 

 free, open fpace, generate more than they ab- 

 forbed. 



- I made fome attempts both by fire, and 

 alfo by fermenting and abforbing mixtures, 

 to try if I could deprive all the particles of 

 any quantity of elaltick air of their elafticity; 

 but I could not effect it : There is therefore 

 no direct proof fiom any of thefe Experi- 

 ments, that all the elaftick air may be ab- 

 forbed, tho* 'tis very probable it may, fince 

 we find it is in fuch great plenty generated 

 and abforbed -, it may well therefore be all 

 abforbed and changed from an elaftick to a 

 fixt ftate : For, as Sir Isaac Newton 

 obferves of light, cc That nothing; more is re- 

 * c quifite for producing all the variety of co- 

 « lours, and degrees of refrangibilny, than 



tc that 



