The P R E F A C E. vi 



we make-, as the following Experiments will 

 plainly prove, by ftoewing how great the power 

 of the attraction of acidfulphureous partichs 

 mufl be at Jome little diftancefrom the point 

 of contact, to be able rnofl readily to fubdite 

 and fix elaflick aerealparticles, which rep ell 

 with a force fuperior to vaft incumbent pref- 

 fures : Which particles we find are thereby 

 changed from a ftrongly repelling, to as 

 flrongly an attracting ft ate : And that ela- 

 flicity is no immutable property of air, is fur- 

 ther evident from thefe Experiments $ becaufe 

 it were impojfible for fuck great quantities of 

 it to be confined in thefubftances of Animals 

 and Vegetables, in an elaflick ft ate, without 

 rending their conftituent parts with a vafl 

 explofion. 



I have been careful in making, and faithful 

 in relating the refult of thefe Experiments, and 

 wifh I could be as happy in drawing the pro- 

 per inferences from them. However I may fall 

 fhort at firft fetting out inthisftatical way of 

 inquiring into the nature ofTlants, yet there is 

 goodreafon to believe that confiderable advan- 

 ces in the knowledge of their nature may in 

 procefs of time be made, by refe arches of this 

 kind. 



x And 



