( ) 
with forae of the before-mentioned fat Subftances, 
which feldom or never fails. 
May one not account for this odd Phenomenon 
thus > Thai: as the Action of Heat and Fire exfpands 
the Parts of all hard and folid Bodies and Metals 
themfelves, fo when the Action of the Fire about the 
Stone has made the Particles of the fame recede far- 
ther from one another, than when in their natural 
State, the' oily Subftances infinuate' themfelves more 
and more between the Particles of the Stone ; by 
which Means, when the Stone cools again, and 
flirinks, they feem to prevent thefe Particles from 
coming as clofe, and within their Sphere of Adivity, 
as the remainder Particles may, where no fuch foreign 
Matter has been applied ^ by which Means they alfo 
cannot attrad one another fo ftrongly as the red, 
and muft therefore remain feparated. 
Fat and oily Subftances feem to be moft fit for this 
fame Purpofe, lince they are endued with a repelling 
Force. 
I can’t but admire, that notwithftanding fo many 
Phenomena in Nature prove a Tendency and a 
ftrong mutual Attradion of the Parts of Matter, what- 
ever be the Caufe, yet moft learned Men, of feveral 
Nations, would rather charge fuch inanifeft Quali- 
ties and Operations of Nature with the Nick-Name 
of occult Qualities, than give the Honour to the 
great Difcoverer ( isoho is no more ) of thofe ma- 
nifeft Qualities and Principles of Motion. How- 
.ever, I am confident, that as Nature is very uniform 
and agreeable to herfelf, fhe’ll evince the Truth of 
her Operations, 
If 
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