Of OXFOX'D^SHI'B^E. 4^ 
wc may allow its fait to be a volatile Alcali^ with which alfo chat 
Syrup turns to the fame colour : to admit fuch a thought 'tis true 
is very hard, yet finding but a mile ofl', at Clifton as above- 
mentioned, a Spring ftrangely fated with fuch a kind of fait ; I 
adventur'd to try another Experiment of the aforefaid Honorable 
Author , and according as he direfts % made a folution of fibli- 
mate in fair water (the only Criterion I yet know of, that plain-- 
ly diftinguidies the two Alcali's) to which I added this Well- 
water, in great, fmall, and the intermediate quantities : but it 
arifwerM not atall the defign of the Experiment^ not giving the 
tawny j muchlefs the \i/Kite precipitate : Whence 'tis eafie to con- 
clude, that this alfo fucceeds only indifcriminating Chjmical falts^ 
as that, great Virtuofo well obferves, and not in the immediate pro^ 
dufts of Nature* 
54. One thing more I could not but obferve, that nOtwith^ 
{landing the powers of the F//r/W are thus reftrained in reference 
to its afting on fiap and milkr, that yet it has its ufual effedt upon 
Iron: for the corrofion of the Pump-rod I muft believe to pro- 
ceed from Vitriol, till any one upon better grounds can convince 
me, that ^tis likely it maybe from fomwhatelfe; and yet this 
neither do I conceive to be done, but by fuch fteams as afcend 
in the Well, and ate freed from the ftiackles of Sulphur, much 
queftioning whether the Pump-rod under, or near the bottom of 
the water, be eaten fo or nO. 
55. To this add, that although the Sulphur do's exercife fuch 
dominion over, and fo clofely knits up the Vitriol, whil'fl toge- 
ther in the water, yet it may and do's too, let go its hold * and 
like, what is reported by Henricu6 ab Heers of his Spadacrene, and 
the Sauvenir by Framhefariu6 , can hardly be kept within any 
bounds, but expires through glaifes ftopt never fo clofe j 'tis 
true, I had not the conveniency there of putting it under the 
Hermetick fed, butfo eafie a paffage it made through a good cork 
cover'd over with wax, and both bound down with a double 
leather, that in fix miles riding it loft all its virtues^ not giving 
then any tinfture with galls, and having but a faint putrid fmell 
of the Sulphur : Whether it loft in weight or bulk, as well as z/a- 
latile Spirits^ I muft acknowledge I was not then enough ctiriouo 
to obferve • but imagine it might, fince 'tis plain from its not 
« Hi(i- of Colours. Exper. 40. 
F 1 tinging 
