from the P v R I T E S? 289 



The nature of the climate feems not to contri- 

 bute much to the mixtion of this metallic fait, fo 

 far as that the one fort need be preferred to the 

 other. The vitriol-acid, whether from fulphur, 

 or the air, proves every where one and the fame, 

 as all fulphurs are fundamentally the fame ; the iron 

 and copper, though, in regard to their admixture 

 and working, they may differ according to the dif- 

 ferent places and times, yet equally lay themfelves 

 open to the action of the acid, without communi- 

 cating any the leaft foreign admixture. Moreover, 

 it may eafily and often happen, that a country (hall 

 yield more than one fort of vitriol at a time, and 

 how fhall thefe be diftinguifhed by the commoa 

 name of the country ? 



Under the appellation Cyprus vitriol, there is 

 now a-days fold a blue venereal fort* though, pof- 

 fibly, never from Cyprus. The Roman is proper- 

 ly martial, and fomewhat venereal, bur, by fining, 

 becomes an iron- vitriol. As the times alter, fo with, 

 them alfo change the methods of working in a 

 country •, nature either refufing to afford any more 

 materials for the purpofe, or art finding it more 

 profitable to employ thefe for other ends; for in- 

 ftar.ce, inftead of an iron-vitriol, to make a copper- 

 vitriol, and vice verfa, or both at once. The Hun- 

 garian foffile, or atlas-vitriol, is the only fort, 

 which here, for a certainty, in fome circumftances* 

 difplays fomething peculiar, as that among the na- 

 tive fort, it may hitherto be eminently cailed Hun- 

 garian i I fay, in fome circumftances, not indeed in 

 regard to its mixtion, in which it is not fingular, 

 -but in regard to its origin and findings as breaking 

 ufually in firm entire rock, whereas other groove- 

 vttriols are found \r\Jloafts, in the fides and roofs of 



U levels 



