CII30 
Jewels 5 though they feem ftrong enough to hold out a Plato- 
nical Revolution , do neverthelefs naturally tend to a Terreftrial 
DifTolucioD, And fome of the Antient Philofophers have con- 
ceived, Water is the Mother to Earth icfelf, And chey 
feem to have the greatcft Authority , as well as good Reafons 
on their fide. And Honourable Mr Be'jU hath by choice Ex- 
periments taught us 3 that Water may have her turn to put in 
her claim for a Maternal right ^ and to be as much a Principle^as 
any of the other which we call Elements. And it feeras to hold 
a kind of Middle Station between Earth and Air-, apt to be con- 
denfed into the former or to be expanded into the latter 5 and to 
.Jhavc a nearer allyance to running Metals, fplendid Geras,and 
tranfparent Minerals, than Earth can have, 
h^tfacheniusxn yom Nmmh. 50. offers more clofely , the 
Fdriot^lSalts y efpecially of the ^/c^Z/s , and Acids , to be the 
Principles of all mixt Bodies. I cannot doubt , bat that they 
are generally neceflfary Ingredients ^and powerful Agents for 
Generation : And perhaps there areas many kinds of Salts , as 
there are Earths,Minerals5Scones,MetaIs,Vegetables,Tafts5 &c. 
from the fweeteft Sugar to the moft difpatching Menfiruumi 
Yet many of them by their expedit Volatility ^ and fomg by 
by their inclination to unite firmly with water ^ as in Glafs, do 
fliew a more than ordinary congeniality and friendly agreement 
with the pureft liquids. Air and Water. 
But to decline intricate Theory s,and therevvichal the fubtil- 
lies and difficulties of determining , Whether Salt or Water be 
the Rearer or more original Principle 5 or the more copious^raore 
aitivC; or more influencing in this or that Body .- This wchave 
before our eyes 5. The B:rch and Alder feed more kindly on a 
thin uliginous moifture 5 the Elme, Pine,Firr5Pitch , and Cy- 
prefs, chufe aftrongerliquor 5 yetthefeand many more of tl^ 
wideft difference 3 are fometimes feen to draw their whole fufte- 
nance, bulkand ornaments, whether annual or pereanialjfrora 
the liquors they find in the fame piece of ground, and from 
the ambient Air, and Dews > when as yet by our beft diligence 
wecmnot difiinguiflb the Liquors or Salts clofe'y approaching 
their feveral Roots. And we may exchange all the Earth to- 
tally from the Roots of Trees , whofe Barlss , S^p.Fruit j and 
