2 
Configurations and Cryfiah 
conftituent Parts; Filed we do not; I think, 
fuppofe Body to a£t on Body by any other 
Principles *: I have long imagined, that 
if by an eafy and natural Separation of 
fuch their conflituerit Parts, it were poffible 
to know the comparative Size and Figure, 
Solidity and Motion of the Particles com¬ 
pounding Bodies, when fo feparated from 
one another; and if we could alfo learn in 
what Order and Figure they naturally come 
together, and re-unite after fuch a Separa¬ 
tion, it might lay a Foundation whereon 
fome able Builder may eredt a valuable 
Superstructure. 
With this View I have been making Ex¬ 
periments, almofl continually, for above 
ten Years pad:, on a great Variety of Sa¬ 
line Bodies, Mineral, Vegetable and Ani¬ 
mal, as well as many other Subfiances, 
both fimple and compound, whofe Parts 
can be diffolved in Fluids, after a Method 
which has never hitherto been defcribed by 
any Author, or pradtifed before myfelf by 
any body that I have heard of. And tho* 
I have found their original Particles undifco- 
verable by any Microfcope, the Time I hope 
has not been wholly mifemployed ; fince 
I have, been enabled, by the Help of that 
Inflrument, to behold the amazing Order 
* Unlefs the new-difcovered Properties of Eleftricity be 
Imagined owing to fome Caufes we are yet acquainted 
with, 
and 
