Anabjfn of the Air. j 17 
find it fo operative and aftive a * principle 
in every chymical operation, fince its con- 
diment parts are of fo durable a nature, 
that the mod violent adion of fire, or fer- 
mentation, cannot induce fuch an alteration 
of its texture, as thereby to difqualify it 
from refuming, either by the means of fire, 
or fermentation, its former elaftick date ; 
unlefs in the cafe of vitrification, when with 
the vegetable Salt and Nitre, in which it is 
incorporated, it may perhaps fome of it 
with other chymical principles be immuta- 
bly fixt : Since then this is the cafe, may* 
we not with good reafon adopt this now fixt, 
now volatile Proteus among the chymical 
principles, and that a very adive one, as well 
as acid fulphur 5 not withdanding it has hither- 
to been overlooked and rejeded by Chy mills, 
as no way intitled to that denomination ? 
If thofe who unhappily fpent their time 
and fubdance in fearch after an imaginary 
production, that was to reduce ail things to 
gold, had, inftead of that fruitlefs purfuit, 
bellowed their labour in fearching after this 
much negieded volatile Hermes , who has fo 
often efcaped thro' their burft receivers, in 
* Jovis omnia plena* Virgil, 
she 
