. Further,why he fliould make Iron and Vitriol two diftinii 
Miii^rai Conftituents of this Water, and call xi Ferrum Fitriok- 
ttm^ I do not fee.- Asif Vitriol were a ftranger to Ir n, or that 
they were here two diftindl Minerals 5 when indeed Iron alone 
will fupply both. Vitriol is the Salt of Iron 5 and there is no 
/ron withQueic. And that Vitriol , which he faith is found a- 
lone in the Rocks near this Water, will by the Summer- heat be 
hardned iqto Iron^which in a forge v^ill melt and run. So that, 
though Vitriol may be found alone without the Iron ftone, it is 
not becaufe it is no Ingredient in the Compofition of Iron,which 
cannot be Iron without it ^ but becauf^ thofe Vitriolin Earths 
are not grown to that perfedion, Utrt either by fome acciden- 
tal mixture of other Bodies is clapt up into the Compofition of 
fome other Mettal or Mineral 5 or elle wants thofe Bodies 3 or 
time^that fliould fix it into Iron. 
And truly that opinion of Learn'd Dr. ^ordan^ that Waters 
are tinged by Minerals while they are in feri (though it feems 
to fome ridiculous^as importing^ that they (hould remain for ma- 
ny hundreds of Years in the fame imperfed ftatej may yet have 
much of truth in it here. And what can the Water receive from 
a perfedly wrought and mixt Metal 5 in its paflTage by it c' But 
when the vv hole mafs is in [olutis frincipis^ no part fixt by its 
neighbour, but everyoneatiibertyjthe water, paffing through, 
may eafily lick up fomething of every Body diflolveable in it. 
And thatthefe Bodies may continue in this State of Liberty for 
many yearSjWithour a eofuU t3 fix them into fuch a MetaLis not: 
amatter either un-intelligibleor ridiculous. The Salts in the 
Earthmay combine with different Bodies^and make up feveral 
compounded maflTes^which yet, when diffolved 5 may communis 
cate the fame properties. The Vi^^riol of Copper makes water 
acid as well as that of Iron. 
But it is not my bufinefs to undertake the quarrel 5 only I 
mufl note, thqt his Colouring of Roman V triol f^g, 21. is 
erroneous. Note, that Vitriol was oxitted in the Print of 
mmb, 51. p. 103^.1.40. 
In the 1 20th p:3g. he is diflatisfied^ that his Ac verfary allows 
the Saltnefs of the Sea to proceed from the Foffile Salt 5 or from 
fuch Rocks and Bodies of Salt which are often found in the Sea-, 
befid.es 
