( > 1 ) ) 
Tret yielding, in quantity, as aforeraid; and the other, 
or found part, yielding no more than other Wood. 
Having thus given you a true and foil Account of 
this ft range and Unuftial Produrftion, we foall give 
youourlhoughts refpeding the Solution of it , which 
we (hould not attempt, but that being on the foot, we 
havx examined the Tree, and confidered what (by 
the Marks found on it ) hath, in all probability, hap- 
pened to it; and therefore fuppofe ourfelves, in fome 
mealure, capable of giving as true or truer Judgment 
concerning it, than wifer and more ingenious Men can 
be, vvho have not had thofe Advantages, All which 
we do with humility and modefty fubmic to your 
Cenfure. And we would firft premifc, that the Tree 
in all probability, was ftruck with Lightning many 
Tears fince, it being torn from the top of its Trunk to 
the bottom, on that fide, which is now decay’d, and 
which yielded the aforefaid Salt, there being a Chan- 
nel from top to bottom, about five Inches wide as 
we fuppofe at firff, which the length of time had 
cioled. And under this Bark, the Wood next to it 
was black; which we fuppofe was caufed by the Light- 
ning. 7 5 
. Fr t 0m wI ? ich thin gs we conjedured, that the Wood ha- 
ving been thus expofed to the Air and Water, for fo long- 
a time, this was thcoccafion of its becoming defective in 
that part ; and that the Lightning having penetrated the 
Wood had fo altered and difpoled the Parts and Pores 
° 1C l f ^ I ^ ure an ^ Texture of the Parts appearing* 
much different from other rotten Wood ) to attradL 
receive in, and retain the Nitrous Salt of the Air, 
which through fo long a fpace of time, could not but 
be in great abundance. Even as Salt of Tartar, or 
Jj zt Alkalis, being expofed to the Air for fome con- 
siderable fpace of time, will be wholly reduced to a 
^ Nitrous 
