[ *3 ] 
I endeavour to make it appear, that Amber was, 
in its Origin, a vegetable RelTn ; the Product, per- 
haps, of the Fir or Pine Kind ; by confidering the 
Appearance of the Subftance itfelf : And that though 
it has fome diftinguifhing Properties, yet it has many 
others, which are common to an indurated Refin. Its 
Afpecf, its Texture, its Form, are Arguments for 
this. The Bodies which it is known to inclofe, are 
urged as Proofs, that this Inclufion could not happen 
in the Sea,, nor in the Earth, but upon its Surface ; 
as the included Objects are moftly Animals, mollly 
Volatiles too 5 very few Reptiles, except fuch as are 
often found aloft in Trees, as Ants, Spiders, &c. 
and fcarcely ever any Aquatics, are found in Amber. 
And, I believe, I may challenge all the Cabinets of 
the Curious to produce one Inftance of a marine 
Body having been found naturally inclofed in Am- 
ber. That there are feveral fictitious ones, is 
granted. 
That this Refin with the Trees which afforded it 
were buried in the Earth by the Deluge, or by fome 
fuch violent Renverfement, and there conftitute the 
proper Veins of Amber, I Jikewife endeavour to 
make appear, from the fame Evidence of Fads, The 
Subftance of which thefe Veins confift, hath feveral 
genuine CharaCteriftics of Wood (till remaining. The 
Texture of this Subfiance is often an undoubted Proof 
of what it hath been j being fibrous, and, when dried, 
fwims in Water, 'and burns like other Wood. The 
Amber is not difpofed in thefe Veins in one con- 
tinued Stratum s but Lumps of it are irregularly dif- 
feminated through the Whole of what I call the' 
woody Mafs. 
A Dif- 
