244 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 



lated their theories by the principles which de- 

 termine the belief of ordinary men. 



216. Don Rubin de Celis, in the paper re- 

 ferred to above, mentions fome maffes of lilveu 

 found at Quantajaia, and alfo fome duft of pla- 

 tina, in terms that excite a ftrong deiire to have 



i 



more information concerning them. They are 

 confidered by him as effects of volcanic fire; fo 

 we may conclude, that they contain evident 

 marks of fulion, and would in this fyftem be 

 afcribed to that heat, from which volcanic fire 

 is but a partial and accidental derivation. 



X 



217. The ftate alfo in which gold and fdver 

 are often found pervading maffes of quartz, and 



* 



iTiooting acrofs them in every direftion, furniflies 

 a ftrong argument for the igneous origin, both 



of th 



metal and the itone. From fach fpeci- 



mens, it is evident, that the quartz and the me- 

 tal cryfcallized, or palTed from a fluid to a folid 

 ftate, at the fame time ; and it is hardly lefs 

 clear, that this fluidity did not proceed from fo- 

 lution in any menftruum : For the menltruum, 

 v/hether water or the chaotic fluid j to enable it 

 to diflolve the quartz, muft have had an alka- 



line impregnation ; and, to enable it to diflolve 



the metal, it mufl: have had, at the fame time, 



an acid impregnation. 



But thefe two oppofite 



fubjea ; 



qualities could not refide in the fame 



the acid and alkali would unite together, and, 



if 



