^(•>zo9') 
among the reft, if I remember right, by the learned 
GaJJendi, Neither doth the Wind much hurt them, 
though one (hould think, that if it was a burning 
Subftance, like common Fire, it ftiould either be dif- 
lipated in windy Weather, or extinguifhed by Rain. 
But fince they do not receive any Damage from wet 
Weather, and fince, on the other Hand, it hath never 
been obferved, that any thing was thereby fet on 
Fire, though they muft needs in their moving to and 
fro, meet 'with a good many coinbuftible Subftances, 
it may from thence be very reafonably inferr’d, that 
they have fome Refemblance to that Sort of Phof- 
phorus which doth indeed ihine in the Dark, but doth 
not burn any ‘thing as common Fire doth. Nor is 
there ^ any thing extraordinary in this, any more 
than in otlier fiery Appearances, which 1 am inform- 
ed are likewife pretty common, and agree with the 
i in having only th£ Sjilendor and Appear- 
ance of Fire, without the Quality' of' Burning, but 
differ from them 'in a good many other Particulars. 
Such a Phoenomenon was obferved by a noted Cier- 
gy-man of this City, one Summer’s Evening, near 
fome Country Peoples Houfes. .The Flame feem’d to 
him fo ftrong, that he called to them to put it out, 
for fear it fliould reach a Hay-loft, and a Heap of 
Hemp that lay not far from it • but when he came 
to the very Place where he had firft feen the Flame, 
he perceived that it was only an Appearance, obferv- 
ing not the leaft Footftep of Fire, though he aftured 
me there lay a good deal of coinbuftible Stuff all 
thereabouts, which 'would have eafil'y took Fire, 'if 
there had been any thing of an adual Flame upon 
the Spot. The fame Gentleman told me, that in a 
F f very 
