of 0 XFO %p^S HI%E. 41 
and pa/Ting through a blew Clay, adorned with foriie glittering 
fparks ; and meeting by the way with pjrites argtnuus^ and a 
bed of Bekmnites^ or (as they call them) Thunder-bolts^ He 
came within few yards to this water, of a ftrong fuiphureous 
fmell, the mod like of any thing I can think of, to the water 
that has been ufed in the fcouring a foul gun : in weight lighter 
than pure Spring-water by an sjs. in a quart, and yet after feve- 
raltryals,! found it fo highly impregnated with a vitriolint fait as 
well as fulphur^ that two grains of the powder of galls would 
turn a gallon of vpater into a dusky red, inclining to purple ; nor 
did they only fo alter the fete and pofition of the particles, as to 
give a different colour and confiftence, as it happens in Ty'^7/fr5 
but meanly fated ; but in a quarter of an hour did fo condenfe 
^nd conftipate the pores of the watery vehicle^ that the excluded 
particles of the Mw^r^j/i appeared in a feparate ftate, curdled in 
theVelTel, and of fo weighty a fubftance, that they fubfided to 
the bottom in a dark blue colour. 
50. The fediment being great in quantity, 1 tryed upon red 
hot Irons^ and fome other ways, to fee whether the falts or ful^ 
fhur^ either by colour, fcintillation, or odour, might not by that 
means betray themfelves ; but with fmall fuccefs : whereupon I 
betook me to diftillation^ putting about a quart into a glafs body^ 
to which fitting a head and clean receiver, I gave an eafie heat, 
till there was diftilled ofF about three or four ounces, which 
when poured out, I found had neither fmell, tafl, or any other 
properties, that might diflinguifli it from any other fpringwater 
diftilled: for with galls it would make no more alteration than any 
other fimple common water would. Then Ordering the fire to be 
flackned, to fee what frecipitate\lwoTA6.\tzh\\-^ upon filtratiom 
of what remained m\}s\thody^ I procured only a pale calx of a 
gritty fubftance, ftiewing, as it dryed in the Sun^ many tran» 
fparent particles intermixed i in taft it had a faint pleafant 
piercing, with a gentle warmth diftufed on the tongue ; but pour- 
ing on it Spirit of Vitriol^ Ojl of Tartar^ isrc. 1 could not perceive 
any manifeft ebullition, fo as to judge whether the fait contained 
in this refidence, were either of the acid or lixiviate kind. 
51. Wherefore to come clofer to the point, and taking dire-- 
dions from that accurate^ jevtre^ and profound Philofopher., the 
Honorable Robert Bojle Efq; the glory of his Nation, and pride 
F of 
