ofBlcali antjActDum* 13 



To this might be added the Pro- 

 perties, peculiar to fome particular 

 Acids^asthat Spirit of Wtre or Aqua 

 forth will Siffolve Cam phire into an 

 Oil,and coagulate common oil into a 

 confident and brittle fubftance like 

 Tallow 5 and , though it will both 

 corrode Silver^ Copper, Lead, and 

 Mercury 3 and keep them diflblved, ie 

 will quickly let fall almoft the whole 

 body of Tin, very foon after it has 

 corroded as much as it can of it. By 

 all which 3 and fome other like Inftan- 

 ces^I am induced to queftion, whether 

 the Acidum and Al^alij we are fpeak- 

 ing of/have the fimplicity that Philo- 

 (bphy requires in Principles 5 and 

 (hall be kept from wondering, if 

 others (hall think it as free for them 

 to conftitute other Principles, as 'tis 

 for the ^earned men I reafon with,to 

 pitch upon Acidum and Alkali. 



And fome perhaps will be bold to 

 fay, that, fince the former of thofe 

 Principles comprehend fuch a number 

 of bodies^that are,maoy of them,very 

 differing, and fome of them dire&ly 



contrary 



