( ^77 ) 
very reducible to one of thefe/^/'^^ fpecks. I do not re- 
memberj that I have ever feen any more tranfportingly agreeable 
Appearance in any Chymical operation,although it is well known^ 
that Chymiftry doth daily prefent thofe, who are very converfanc 
u^ithher,agreat number and variety ofobje^3:s, highly diverting 
for their prettinefs and curiofity in colour, figtire, and other acci- 
dents. 
But to return unto the foremention'd Operation, [ am not igno- 
rantjthat Volatil Salts doconftancly (hoot into varioufly and beau- 
tifully lhaped Cryftals, but I could never obferve them regular, or 
reducib'eunto a certain number of figures ; whereas in the Ope- 
ration we have defcribed, the figures were Jirjl very different from 
any that ever appear 'd before orfince upon Diflillation of Com- 
mixture, and Diftillationof Pot-afliesandSalt Armoniac,althoby 
me frequently repeated ; as neither upon the Diftiliationor Refii- 
ficationof Hartshorn, Blood, Urine, Cranium hummumy Salt Ar- 
moniac with Lime, Salt of Tartar,and other Alcalies, Secof^dl/,ThQ 
Figures were alt reducible,intheapprehenfionof every Speftator, 
unto three kinds,two of them commonly known 5 and fome of them 
were perfons not eafily bribed by fancy. 
Howfoever, had I been confiderate and welladvifed, I might 
have eafily filenced doubt and detraftion both, by preferving the 
Glafs containing this beautiful Scene, which was prevented 
by my aftonifhment at,and too greedy contemplation of,fo delicious 
a fpedtacle ; whereof, to my great grief, I was foon deprived by the 
Sublimation of more Salt, which fillingup the Interfiices, did, toge- 
ther with the form.er, cafe the Glafs, and retained no other Figure 
than the Concavity thereof allow'd of. 
The next day that great Virtuofo, Sr« Rokr^ Mora^t fwhofe 
memory can never be too much cheriflbed, nor his lofs fufficient- 
ly bewailed,) honouring me with a vifir, I acquainted him with 
the lately recited Accident ^ who fcrupled nor, though a rigid 
Philofopher, to credit my Relation, arxl co confirm me in the be- 
lief , that fome certain governing principle might contribute 
towards the produftion of this Phenomenon. He affirmed, thac 
one Davifon, a famous and experienced Chymiftat Paris, had fre- 
quently fhew*d him in a Glafs a great company of Firrs and Pines^ 
which feem'd no lefs lively and accurate, than thofe produced by 
Painters areibut fuch fufpicions were foon ftifled by their fpeedy 
difappearanceand eafie reprodudion. Healforeferr'd me unto his 
Book of Chymical Operations yyN\\QX^\^nA he makes mention of its 
A a as 
