its wonderful EjfeSls, Ji 
But the Particles of this acid Spirit are 
no more the Particles of Nitre, than Nitre is 
the Gunpowder which it compofes by the 
Addition of Sulphur and Charcoal. And 
the Truth of this feems confirmed by the 
Impofiibility of obtaining a fingle Grain of 
real Nitre from any Quantity of Snow or 
Ice : whereas Nitre being but little volatile, 
fome of it certainly would be found if it was 
really there. However, though no Nitre 
can be found, after the volatile Salts that 
link’d the Particles of Water to one another 
are driven out by Heat, and the Water be¬ 
comes fluid, it is obferved to be much harder, 
or lefs fit to make a Lather with Soap, than 
it was before its being frozen, from its re¬ 
taining fome flmail Portion of the acid faline 
Particles, in the fame Manner as any Water 
may be rendered hard, by putting into it a 
few Grains of common Salt, or a few Drops 
of any acid Spirit. 
’Tis probable thefe acid Spirits are pro¬ 
duced every where •, but being extremely 
volatile, and eafily driven away by Heat, 
they loon become diilipated in thofe hot 
Regions, under, or nearly under the Sun’s 
direct Rays, unlefs they are immediately 
embodied by mixing with fome other Mat¬ 
ter ; and confequently, thofe Countries 
nearer the Poles, whereunto they are driven 
by the Sun’s Heat, muft abound with them, 
more or lefs, in proportion to the Ability or 
F 4 Inabi- 
