[ i6o 3 
the fame kind, and that what we call evaporation Is 
nothing more than a gradual folution of water in 
air, produced and promoted by the fame means (to 
wit) attraction, heat, and motion, by which other 
folutions are effected. 
I ffiall now endeavour to account for feveral ph^e- 
nomena of the atmofphere upon this principle, which 
will be ftill further confirmed, if it be found to 
anfwer the purpofe to which it is applied. 
The lowed; part of the air being prelfed by the 
weight of the atmofphere againfi: the lurface of the 
water, and continually rubbing upon it by its motion, 
has thereby an opportunity of attracting and diffolv- 
ing thofe particles with which it is in contaCt, and 
feparating them from the reft of the water. And 
fince the caufe of folution, in this cafe, is the ftronger 
attraction of the particles of water towards air, than 
towards each other, thofe that are already diflblved, 
and taken up, will be ftill further raifed by the at- 
traction of the dry air that lies over them, and thus will 
diffufe themfelves, rifing gradually higher and higher, 
and thereby leave the lowed; air not fo much fatu- 
rated, but that it will ftill be able to didblve, and 
take up frefti particles of water. And thus ice, or 
fnow, will evaporate as well as water, its particles 
being attracted and diffolved by the air, which is 
ftrongly preffed againft its furface, for though heat 
promotes both folution and evaporation, yet we do 
not find that in either cafe any fenfible degree of it 
is abfolutely neceffary *, 
* Water, by freezing, is deprived of its air, which v/e fee 
-gathered into bubbles through the ice, therefore the fubHance 
of the ice, being deprived of air, will attract the external air 
In 
