VI 
The P REF AC E. 
as the following Experiments will plainly 
prove , by fhewing how great the power of 
the attraction of acid fulphur eons particles 
muft be at fome little diftance from the point 
of contaEi , to be able moft readily to fubdue 
and fix elafiick aereal particles , which repel 
with a force fuperior to vaft incumbent prefi 
fares: Which particles we find are thereby 
changed from a firongly repelling, to as 
firongly an attracting ft ate : And that elaf 
ticity is no immutable property of air, is fur- 
ther evident from tkefe Experiments ; be- 
caufe it were tmpojfible for fach great quan- 
tities of it to be confined in the fabftances 
of Animals and Vegetables, in an elafiick 
ft ate, without rending their conftituent parts 
with a vaft explofion * 
1 have been careful in making , and faith- 
ful in relating the refult of thefe Experi- 
ments, and wifb I could be as happy in draw- 
ing the proper inferences from them : How- 
ever 1 may fall jhort at firft fetting out in 
this ftatical way of inquiring into the na- 
ture of Plants, yet there is good reafon to 
believe that confiderable advances in the 
knowledge of their nature may in pro cefs of 
time be made, by refe arches of this kind \ 
And 
