in the Pyrites. 143 



one might be apt to imagine, fuch as it might be 

 fuppofed to be run together and formed of. 



We (hall omit mentioning the metallic ground- 

 earth, as being what is at leaf! in potentia, fo that na- 

 ture may, with eafe, completely fit it for the pyrites- 

 mixtion •, nay, which already appears to be pretty 

 well fitted ; as art, which is far from being able 

 to call in aid fuch auxiliary means, or far from 

 having that time for the purpofe, (hews the pof- 

 fibility, from Becber's famous experiment on loam 

 and linfeed oil, of fuch earth being proximately 

 fitted for the production of iron, alfo of pyrites. 

 But we would only enquire, from whence the fuU 

 phttr is to be derived to it ? On the fpot, where 

 the generation is to happen, there is none. 



But it will, for inflance, be alledged, that fuch 

 a lute, wherein the pyrites appears to run neft-wife, 

 muft, e'er the production of the pyrites, have been 

 of quite a different mixtion and nature from 

 what it is at prefent ; fo that its prefent date ren- 

 ders it unfit for any further conception. Now, 

 fhould we ever allow the places for the production 

 of minerals, partly in the (late the creation left them, 

 partly as the deluge has affected them by new mix- 

 tions to be become more unfit by exficcations, exue- 

 tions, indurations, nay, even petrifications, whence 

 (hall we then derive the fulpbur to the pyritified 

 periwinkle and mufcle- (hells, which doubtlefs owe 

 r rife to the deluge ? Should it be even prefent 

 upon the fpot, and fuch earths happen then to be 

 ot a quite different mixtion and nature, from what 

 they are at prefent, yet it is impofiible to conceive, 

 it was formally and actually prefent, or that^x- 

 mfe^ like a fulpbur melted in the fire, being 

 brought thither, it had, like a feed, collected and 



lodged 



