(46) 
pound of Uqumen^ which remained fluid, and would notico- 
agulate, I do the rather mention this ; for thai is oneof the 
moft eminent Inftances, I ever met withai , of fo great a 
quantity of Salt kept fluid in the cold by fo fmall a quantity 
of water. 
2. The remaining liqumen was very fiery, acidly pungent, 
and extreamly ponderous ; no whit inferiour, in my opinion, 
in any of thefe refpefts, to common Oil of Vitriol; it feem- 
ing to me ftrange, and unufual, that fo ftrong a liquor fhould 
be obtained without any confiderable degree of fire. 
3. This licfuAmen being expofed unto Jhe Air, foon attracted 
(if ourCriticks will permit me toufefuch anexpreffion,) 
double its quantity of moifture. I cannot recoiled, that I 
did ever obferve any fluid body, which approached near unto 
it for this property ; though I am not ignorant, that all 
corrofive Saline liquors will borrow confiderably from their 
neighbouring Element. And I remember, that divers emi- 
nentChymifts have delivered feveral preparations of Vitriol, 
which derive moifture from the Moon more or lefs, according 
unto her feveral Pbafes ; which I am perfwaded is a meer 
dream, having ften little hitherto that fhould perfwade me, 
any of the Planets do influence otherwife than by heat and 
light. And I always obferved this //^/^^;»^;^ to acquire more 
or lefs moifture, according to the Conftitution of the Seafon, 
rifing fenfibly in moift weather, and little in dry, without 
any refpeft unto the Moon or other Planets ^ which I can 
the more pofitively determine, having for feveral Months 
made accurate obfervations with conveniently fliaped GlafTes. 
But to return from whence we digreffed; 
The white Salt laft mentioned was diftilled in a Sand- 
furnace , and the far greater part came over in the form of a 
Spirit highly acid, especially that which came laft in fmall 
drops. This liquor reftined in a very tall body, immedi^ 
ately upon the approach of the fmal'efl degree of heat a vo- 
latile Sulphureous Spirit did arife, c!earas Rock-water al- 
moft, nay I think altogether infipid ; yet the fmell fofubtile 
and penetrating, that 'twas irfupporcable: And fuch it con- 
tinued many years, not letting fall any fedimenc , and thereby 
loofing its ftrength, as doth the volatile Spirit made out of 
