zS The js(atural Htjlory 
J?utrefaS1ion°j with their falts znd fulphurs ready for flight, and 
in that pofture catch'd -by the adventitious cold, are probably 
fo congealed at the top of the water. How confonant to truth 
this Theory may be, I leave to the Readers judgment and future 
experience, and by the way would have him take notice, that as 
this, fo my other opinions hereafter to be mentioned, are not 
magifterially laiddowm, fo as to juftle out better whenever they 
can be brought, but fairly to have their tryal, and fo live or dye. 
But as to the matter of Faft, as I cannot but think it hard that 
fo many people ftiould agree in a lalfity, fo methinks 'tis as diffi- 
cult they fl:iould miftake in their judgments, fince I was told by 
one of thefobereft of that callings that he once knew a Hatchet 
cafually fall over-board into the River near fVallingford., which 
was afterwards brought up , and found in one of thefe Ice- 
meers, 
16. And fo much for the falts that give life to the waters, mul- 
tiply the Fi/^;, and are the caufe of congelations-^ for the watry 
Plants it feems have their vegetation from none of thefe, but a 
higher principle, which fome will have to be a volatile Niter ^ 
brought along with the lliowers in their paifage through the Air, 
Thztfubaqueou^Vhnts have a proportionable growth to thofe on 
the Land after a ftiower of rain, is alfo the general voice of the 
Barge-men; and herein lam the rather inclin'd to believe them, 
becaufe 'tis a matter fo much their intcreft to obferve ; our water- 
men here in thefe (liallow Rivers^ praying not fo much for rain to 
fill them when low, as that weeds may alfo grow to help keep the 
waters when they have them, which will otherwife too foon glide 
away, to their no fmall detriment. Some have thought this vi- 
gorous ^looting of the aqueo'^ ?hnts^ fo prefently fenfible af- 
ter plentiful ftiowers, to proceed rather from the foyls brought 
with them from the hills, and impregnated with falts fit to pro- 
mote vegetation ; but the contrary is evident from the former 
Paragraphs^ for with fuch as thefe the Rivers are daily fated, and 
yet this brisk vegetation is wanting till it rains : whence I guefs 
that terreflrial and fuhaqueom Plants (that I fay not fuch as delight 
in uliginows places) have their fprightful fhooting from different 
principles^' and if to the former I fliould affign a more fix'd, 
and to the latter a volatile falt^ perchance I might not be much 
Wdliide Ferment, 
out 
