Analyfts oj the Air. 3 1 1 
numerable denfe bodies > and that probably 
from many of thofe bodies, which when 
they had their afcending fumes confined in 
my Glaffes, abforbcd more air than they 
generated, but would in a more free, open 
fpace generate more than they abforbed. 
I made fomc attempts both by fire, and 
alfo by fermenting and abforbing mixtures, 
to try if I could deprive all the particles of 
any quantity of elaflick air of their elafticity, 
but I could not efFeci it : There is therefore 
no dired proof from any of thefe Experi- 
ments, that all the elaftick air may be ab- 
forbed, tho* tis very probable it may, Ence 
we find it is in fuch great plenty generated 
and abforbed ; it may well therefore be 
all abforbed and changed from an elaf- 
tick to a fixt ftate : For as Sir Isaac New- 
ton obferves of light, that nothing more 
is requifite for producing all the variety of 
colours, and degrees of refrangibility, than 
that the rays of light be bodies of different 
fizes i the lead of which may make the 
weakefl: and darkeft of the colours, and 
be more eafily diverted, by refrading fur- 
faces from the right courfe 5 and the red, 
as they are bigger and bigger, may make 
X 4 the 
