dnalyjis of the Air. 3 17 



find it fo operative and aftive a * principle in 

 every chymical operation ; fince its conftituenc 

 parts are of fo durable a # nature, that the 

 moft violent adlion of fire or fermentation 

 cannot induce fuch an alteration of its texture, 

 as thereby to difqualify it from refuming, 

 either by the means of fire, or fermentation, 

 its former elaftick ftate 5 unlefs in the cafe of 

 vitrification, when, with the vegetable Salt 

 and Nitre, in which it is incorporated, it 

 may perhaps fome of it, with other chymical 

 principles, be immutably fixt : Since then 

 this is the cafe, may we not with good reafon 

 adopt this now fixt, now volatile Proteus, 

 among the chymical principles, and that a 

 very a&ive one, as well as acid fulphur ; not- 

 withftanding it has hitherto been overlooked 

 and reje&ed by Chymifts, as no way intitled 

 to that denomination ? 



If thofe who unhappily fpent their time 

 and fubltance in fearch after an imaginary 

 production, that was to reduce all things to 

 gold, had, inftead of that fruitlefs purfuit, be- 

 llowed their labour in fearching after this 

 much negleded volatile Hermes, who has fo 

 often efcaped thro' their burft receivers, in 



* Jov'n omnia plena. Virgil. 



the 



