the Dijfolution of Metals in Acids . 061 
V 
caufed by the addition of the fuppofed principle phlogifion, as 
one let of philofophers believe, or by the aftion of the added 
inflammable fubftance in drawing from the acid a portion of 
its aerial principle, by which the ftflphur, its other dement, is 
made to predominate, as others have lately maintained. It 
were nnich to be wiflied, that w r e had words totally uncon- 
nected with theory ; that chemifts, who differ from each other 
in fome fpeculative points, mav vet fpeak the fame language 
and may relate their fails and obfer nations, without having our 
attention continually drawn afide from thefe to the different 
modes of explanation which have been imagined. But at pre- 
fen t we have only the choice of terms between words derived 
from the ancient theory, and thofe which have been lately 
propofed by the oppofers of that theory. In this dilemma I 
have preferred the ufe of the former, not that I wifli to fhew 
any predilection to either theory, but becaufe that fyftem, hav- 
ing long been generally adopted, is underftood by all parties ; 
and principally becaufe, by ufing the words of the old theory, I 
am at liberty to define them, and to give fignifications expref- 
five merely of fails, and of the aitual Hate of bodies ; whereas 
the language and theory of the antiphlogiftic chemifts being 
interwoven and adapted to each other, the former cannot be 
diverted of its theoretical reference, and therefore feems inap- 
plicable to the mere expofition of fads, but ought to be 
referved folely for the explanation of the doitrines from which 
this language is derived. Thus by the definition which I have 
mentioned of phlogijhcation , this word expreffes not the pre- 
fence or exiftence of an hypothetical principle of inflammabi- 
lity ; but a certain well-known quality of acids and of other 
bodies, communicated to them by the addition of many aftual 
inflammable lubftances. Thus nitrous acid acquires a phlo- 
Vol. LXXX* B b b gifticated 
