of the Pyrites, 267 



which it brings into the fame ferment and coction 

 with itfelf •, and when the body begins to be com- 

 pleated, which happens from within outwards, it 

 ceafes to receive any thing further, till at laft it is 

 arrived at its ftate, or full degree of perfection, 

 and is, as it were, finiflied. Nor ought we more 

 readily to believe pyrites, or any other ore, once 

 arrived at their confidence, firmnefs, and ftate, to 

 improve further ; for inftance, in gold and filver- 

 yield, all further working is at an end, and the 

 body continues at reft and at a ftand. An ore, it 

 is true, begins again to come into motion, not in- 

 deed for its melioration and exaltation, but rather 

 deftruction and refolution ; as I mentioned above, 

 and mail (till further prove in the following chap- 

 ter. 



What has hitherto been (aid, may feem fufficient 

 on the head of the original particles of the pyrites ' 9 

 as being matters quite out of the reach of our fenfes, 

 and in fupport of which we can have no convin- ' 

 cing proofs •, but the whole mult be made out by 

 diftant inferences and reafonings, and a good fhare 

 of imagination : nor can any very confiderable ufe 

 be expected from them : yet, I cannot omit taking 

 notice of two objections, for the fake, at Jeaft, of 

 obviating fome prejudices, and making fome re- 

 marks, that may not be altogether unufeful. 



(1.) It will be afked, how water is capable of 

 fuch mighty effects, and the moifture of the air, 

 which is nothing but a pure water, of diffolving, 

 corroding, and weathering (tones and ores ? I 

 might only, for anfwer, direct the objector to the 

 pyrites, which may be ken to crumble and vitrio- 

 life barely by means of the air, without any fharp, 

 corrofive waters: but here I cannot forbear advan- 

 cing 



