Mifcellanea Curiofa. 237 



ever ; and confequently the mod capable of 

 moving and conveying other Matter, that is 

 not fo active and voluble. Then the Inter- 

 vals of Bodies of that Figure are, with re- 

 fpedl: to their Bulk, of all others the large! ; 

 and fb the raoft fitted to receive and enteN 

 tain foreign Matter in them. BeCidcs, as far 

 as the Trials hitherto made inform us, the 

 conltituent Corpufcles of Water are, each fing- 

 ly confider'd, abfolutely folid} and do not yield 

 to the greateft External Force. This fecures 

 their Figure againft any Alteration ; and the 

 Intervals of the Corpufcles muft be always a- 

 like. By the latter, 'twill be ever difpofed 

 to receive Matter into it • and by the for- 

 mer, when once received, to bear it on alono- 

 with it. Water is further capacitated to be 

 a Vehicle to this Matter, by the tenuity and 

 finenefs of the Corpufcles of which it con- 

 fills. We hardly know any Fluid in all Na- 

 ture, except Fire, whofe conftituent Parts are 

 fo exceeding fubtie and fmall as thofe of Wa- 

 ter are. They'll pafs Pores and Interfaces, that 

 neither Air nor any other Fluid will. This 

 enables them to enter rhe fineft Tubes and 

 VeiTels of Plants, and to introduce the Terreft ri- 

 al Matter, conveying it to all Parts of them ; 

 whilft each, by means of Organs 'tis endowed 

 with for the Purpofe, intercepts and affumes 

 into it felf fuch Particles as are fuitable to its 

 own Nature, letting the reft pafs on through 

 the common Du£ts. Nay, we have alrnoft 

 every where Mechanical InftanCes of much the 

 fame Tenor. 5 Tis obvious to every one, how 

 eafaly and fuddenly Humidity, or the Corpufcles 

 of Water fuftained in the Air, pervade and in- 



finuate 



