C "8 ) 
TOST^SCRITT. 
H E Pyrites being the Mother of our Oyl of Vi- 
1 triol, which is tiie principal Ingredient incur 
Aftive Fiery Meteor or Compound Spirit ; I will here 
fet down an Account I received-of an honeft unphiioTc- 
phical Friend of nfiine, who complained of his great Lofs, 
which he attributed as a Punifliment of his GDvetouf- 
nefs. He was Matter of a Copperas Work at Whttjlalle 
in Kent^ and engrofled all the Pyrites or Copperas-flone 
to himfelf, in order to the breaking of a Njighbours 
Work, in fo much that he had laid up two or three Hun- 
dred Tun in a heap, and bulk a Shed over it to keep 
orF the Rain : But in the fpace of fix or ftven Months 
it firfi: fmoaked, and then took fire, and burnt for a 
Week ; it burnt down the Shed, fome of it look'd like 
melted Metal, and other parts hke red-hot Stones, but 
difcharged fo faetid, Sulphurous, or {linking Exhalations, 
that the People in the Neighbourhood were miferably 
afflifted, and forced to ufe all their endeavours to extin- 
guiih it. 
How far this Communication will (erve the Hypo- 
thefes of thcfe that derive Lightning, and Thunder, 
and Earthquakes from the Matter of the Pyrites^ or will 
Account tor the Rife or Continuance of burning Ful- 
cans, or even the Great Conflagration of the World, I 
leave to their Confideration. 
