( 2.04 ) 
had he been fo Fortunate to have found out this IlJuflri. 
ous Experiment, it would have blown up his Fancy to 
fome great Rapture. 
Having got over this Digreffion , I come now to 
attempt fomctliing as to the iStiology of this Experi- 
ment, and will firft endeavour to find out what (hare 
our Compound Spirit of Nitre has in making this Pha^- 
mmenoH^ and then will fubjoyn my thoughts about the 
Oyls. 
This Compound Spirit feems to be the Adive Prin* 
ciple that ftirs up the Oily, or more Paffive Particles to 
take fire, which will more eafily be agreed to, if we 
coiifider that our Compound Spirit of Nitre does not 
only confift of all thofe igneous Particles to be found in 
Common Spirit of Nitre, but that it has alfo ail thofe 
igneous Particles which Oyl of Vitriol contains in it, 
crouded into our Spirit of Nitre made this way. 
For further Illuftration,let us confider what Oyl of Vi- 
triol is. It is a Creature of the Fire : That the Sulphur, 
which is plentifully in Vitriol,or in Copperas,is accended, 
and afterwards diftilled over in the form of a Liquor, 
which is a liquid fort of Fire,as having many Properties 
of it.If you put it to Water it will make it boy ling hot ; 
it burns not only Linnen and Woollen, but Wood to a 
Coal, and fcarce fpares any thing. 
Nitre, the other Ingredient of our Spirit, is very 
fufceptible of Flame, which does alfo incorporate many 
igneous and corrofive Particles after it has fo many hour^ 
lain ignited in the Fire, comes over, by Diftillation ' 
very highly impregnated with the fame fiery Particles • ■ 
which is obvious to any one that has ufed to make Ex- ' 
periments with it. For Nitre it felf has no diflbiving j 
or heating Quality, but is a great cooler, and fcarce can 
be reckoned amongft Acids ; but after it comes out ©f I 
the Fire in the form of a Spirit, it tears in pieces almoft 
all Metals, and brings them to a fort of Fufion, as afl^ual 
