F R E 
F R I 
ter, impregnated with falts, fulphurs, or earths, 
which are not eafiiy difiolvable, may form it-felf into 
metals, minerals, gums, and other foftils ; the parts 
of thefe mixtures becoming a cement to the particles 
of water, or getting into their pores, change them 
into thefe different jubilances. 
For the fecond : as an ethereal matter or medium is 
generally allowed to be the caufe of the motion or 
fluids, and as the air itfelf has all its motion from the 
fame principle, it follows, that all fluids muff remain 
in a ftate of reft or fixity, when that matter lofes of 
its necefiary force. And confequentiy, the air being 
lefs warmed in the winter time, , by reafon of the ob- 
liquity of the fun’s rays, is more denfe and fixed in 
winter than any other feafon of the year. 
But farther : it is evident, from divers experiments, 
that the air does contain a fait which is fuppofed to 
be of the nature of nitre. If this be granted, and the , 
denfity of the air allowed, it will follow, that 'the 
particles of this nitre mufl likewife be brought nearer 
together, and thickened by the condenfation of the 
air; as on the contrary, a rarefaction of the air, and 
an augmentation of its fluidity, mufl divide and fe- 
parate them. 
And if the fame happens to all liquors that have im- 
bibed or difiolved any fait, if the warmth of the li- 
quid keep the fait exactly divided, and if the cool- 
nefs of a cellar, or of ice, caufe the particles of the 
difiolved fait to approach, run into each other, and 
Ihoot into cryftals ; why fiiould the air, which is al- 
lowed to be a fluid, be exempt from the general law 
of fluids ? 
It is true, that the nitre of the air, being grofler in 
cold weather than in hot, mufl: have a lefs velocity •, 
but ftill the produbt of its augmented mafs into the 
velocity that remains, will give it a greater momen- 
tum, or quantity of motion. Nor is there any thing 
farther required to make this fait abt with greater 
force againft the parts of fluids, and this may pro- 
bably be the caufe of the great evaporation in frofty 
weather. 
This aereal nitre mufl: neceflarily promote the con- 
cretion of liquids ; for it is not the air, nor yet the 
nitre that it contains, which gives the motion to fluids; 
it is the ethereal medium, therefore a diminution of 
the motion of reft arifes from the diminution of that 
force. 
Now the ethereal matter, which in the -winter time 
Is weak enough, muft ftill lofe more of its force by 
its aCtion againft air condenfed, and loaded with large 
particles of fait. It muft therefore lofe of its force 
in cold weather, and become lefs clifpofed to maintain 
the motion of the fluids. 
In fine, the air, during froft, may be efteemed like 
the ice impregnated with fait wherewith liquors are 
iced in fummer time. It is very probable that thefe 
liquors freeze by reafon of a diminution of the motion 
of the ethereal medium, by its aCting againft the ice 
and fait together, and the air is not able to prevent 
Its concretion by all its fcorching heat. 
The air (fays Mr. Boyle) being a fluid as well as 
water, and impregnated with falts of different kinds, 
it is not improbable, that what happens in water im- 
pregnated with fuch falts, may alfo happen in the air. 
Two proper quantities of different lalts being dif- 
folved in hot water, they floated undiftinguifhably. in 
it, and retained a capacity to aCt in conjunction upon 
ieveral occafions ; yet when the liquor becomes cold, 
the faline particles of one kind being no longer 
agitated by a due degree of heat, fhot into cryftais ; 
and, lofing their fluidity and motion, vifibiy feparat- 
ed themfelves from die other, which ftill continued 
fluid in the liquor, and capable of aCting feparately. 
We have divers accounts in the Fhilofophical Tranl- 
aCtions, of a freezing rain which fell in the weft of 
England in December 1672. This rain, as foon as 
it touched any thing above the ground, as a bough, 
-or the like, immediately fettled into ice; and, by 
multiplying and enlarging the icicles broke all down 
with its weight; the rain that fell on the fnow im- 
mediately froze into ice, without finking into the.fhbw 
at all. 
It made an incredible deftruCtion of trees beyond any 
thing in all hiftory. A certain gentleman weighed a 
fprig of an Afh-tree of juft three quarters of a pound, 
the ice which was on it weighed 16 pounds; that 
fome perfons were frighted with the noiie in the air, 
till they underftood that it was the clatter of Icy 
boughs dallied againft each other. 
Dr. Beale remarks, that there' was no considerable 
Toll cbferved on the ground during the whole time 5 
whence he concludes, that a froft may be very fierce 
and dangerous on the tops of fome hills 'and plains, 
while in other places it keeps at two, three, or four 
feet diftance above the ground, rivers, lakes, &c. 
and may wander about very furious in fome places, 
and remifs in others not far off. The froft was fol- 
lowed by glowing heats, and a wonderful forwardnefs 
of flowers and fruits. The effects of freezing vege- 
tables, is farther explained under the article of Frost. 
FRIT ILL ARIA. Lin. Gen. Plant. 372. Tourn. 
Inft. R. H. 376. tab. 201. Corona Imperials. Tourn i 
Inft. R. H. 372. tab. 197, 198. Fritillary, or Che- 
quered Tulip and Crown Imperial. 
The Characters are, 
The flower hath no, empalement ; it hath fix oblong petals * 
is b ell- jh aped , and flpreading at the bafle ; in the. hollow , 
at the bafle of each petal , is fitmted a nedlarium ; the 
flower hath fix ftamina funding near the ficyle, which are 
terminated by oblong four-cornered fiummits. In the center 
is fitmted an oblong three-cornered germen , fupporting a 
fingle Jlyle which is longer than the ftamina , crowned 
by a flpreading obtufie ftigma. The germen ' af terward be- 
comes an oblong capfuls with three lobes having three 
cells , which are filled with fiat feeds , ranged in a double 
order. 
The capfule of Fritillaria is oblong and fmooth, but 
that of Corona Imperialis hath acute borders, or 
membranaceous wings. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the firft febtion of 
Linnaeus’s fixth clafs, which includes the plants which 
have fix ftamina in their flowers, and but one ftyle. 
Thefe two genera of Fritillary and Crown Imperial, 
have been always feparated, till Dr. Linnaeus joined 
them together; indeed by their flowers they may be 
properly enough placed in the fame genus ; but, if 
their fruit may be allowed as a charabteriftic note, 
they fiiould be feparate ; however, as this new fyftem 
is generally received, I fhall, in compliance with 
the prefent tafte, join them together. 
The Species are, 
1. Fritillaria {Melagris) foliis linearibus alternis, flo- 
ribus terminalibus. Fritillary with narrow leaves placed 
alternate , and .flowers terminating the ftalk. Fritillaria 
prrecox, purpurea, variegata. C. B. P. 64. Early , 
purple , variegated , chequered Tulip. 
2. Fritillaria ( Aquitanica ) folks infimis oppofitis. 
Hort. Clift. 8 1 . Fritillary whofe lower leaves are op - 
pofitc. Fritillaria Aquitanica, flore luteo obfeuro. 
Swert. Floril. Aquitain chequered Tulips with an obfeure 
yellow fewer. 
3. Fritillaria {Nigra) florihus adfeendentibus. Fri- 
tillary with flowers growing above each other. Fritil- 
laria nigra. Lob. Adver. 2. 496. Black chequered 
Tulip. 
4. Fritillaria (. Lute a ) foliis lanceolatis, caule unifioro 
maxirtfo. Fritillary with fpear-jhaped leaves , and one 
large flower on each ftalk. fritillaria lutea maxima I ta- 
ll ica. Park. Parad. 43, Largejl yellow Italian Fritillary. 
5. Fritillaria ( Umbellata ) lloribus umbellatis. Fritil- 
lary with flmJers growing in umbels. Fritillaria umbel ■ 
hfera. C. B. P. 64. Umbellated chequered Tulip. 
6. Fritillaria ( Ferfica ) racemo nudiufculo, foliis ob- 
liquis. Hort. Upfal. 82. Fritillary with a naked [pike 
of flowers and oblique leaves. Lilium Periicum. Dod. 
Pempt. 2 2 cl The Perfian Lily. 
7. Fritillaria {Racemo fa) floribus racernofis. Fritillary 
with flowers growing in bunches. Fritillaria ramofa, 
feu lilium Perficum minus. Mor. Hort. Reg. Bleft 
Branching Fritillary, or [mailer Perfian Lily , 
•8. Fr.j 7 
9 ! 
