C 541 ) 
of the Air being removed, all Bodies defcend, be they 
never fo Joofe or compact in texture, with equal velo- 
city. It follows therefore, That there is 7 times as nuch 
matter in Gold as in a peice of Glafs of the fame Mag- 
nitude, and confequently, that at leaft fix parts of (even 
in the bulk of Glafs, muft be Pore or Vacuity : This 
fome favourers of the Atomical Philofophy have 
endeavoured to Solve, by fuppofing ths primary or con- 
ftituent Atoms of Gold to be much larger than thofe 
of other Bodies , and confequently the Pores fewer 3 
whereas in other Bodies, the great multitude of the in- 
terfperced Vacuities does diminifh their Weights. 
Being defirous to examine this Notion of the Mag* 
nitude of Atoms of Gold, I bethought my felf of the 
Extreme Du&ility of that Metal, which is feen in the 
beating of it into Leaf, and above all in the drawing 
fine Gilt- Wire 5 by means whereof, I believed I might 
moft exaftly obtain the true thicknefs of the Coat of 
Gold that appears even with the Microfcope, fo well 
to reprefent Gold itfelf, that not the leaft point of Sil- 
ver appears through it. In order to this, I inform'd 
my felf among the Wire-Drawers, what Gold they us'd 
to their Silver, and they told me, That the very belt 
double Gilt- Wire, was made out of Cylidrick Ingots 
4 Inches in circumference, and 28 Inches long, which 
weigh 16 Pounds Troy$ onthefe they beftow 4 Ounces 
of Gold,that is, to every 48 Ounces of Silver one of Gold: 
and that two Yards of the fuperfine Wire weighs a 
Grain. Hence at firft fight it appear'd, that the length 
of 98 Yards is in weight 49 Grains, and that a fingle 
Grain of Gold covers the faid 98 Yards, and that the 
10000 th. part of a Grain is above 7 of an Inch long$ 
which yet may be aftually divided into 10, and fothe 
100000 th. part of a Grain of Gold be vifible without 
a Microfcope. But being defirous to compute the thick- 
nefs of the Skin of Gold : by means of the fpecifick 
Gravities 
