Mifcellaneous Obfervatioils on Saks, &c. 213 
Configuration, derive their Figures from 
the Intermixture and Operation of Salts of 
fome Sort or other. For that Salts abound 
every where in the Earth, either at Reft 
and locked up in Minerals and other Bodies ; 
or in a State of Action, being diffolved and 
carried along in Water or fome other Fluid, 
is a Matter beyond Difpute. The finer Par¬ 
ticles of fuch Salts being diffolved in and 
rifing with the Particles of Water *, float 
likewife in our Atrnofphere in great Abun¬ 
dance, where by Heat and Cold, by a greater 
or leffer Degree of Rarefaction, as well as 
by other Accidents, they at different Times 
ate (in the Air) brought together in greater 
Quantity, or become more difperfed and dif- 
fipated : whence confiderable Changes and 
Alterations are produced, fuch as Freezing, 
Hail, Snow, Lightning, Thunder, ©k*. But 
I fhall confine my Obfervations to the Ef¬ 
fects that are probably owing to faline Par¬ 
ticles within the Bowels of theEarth or very 
near the Surface thereof. 
Since we are acquainted with no DiJfoF 
vents of Metals where Salts are not prin¬ 
cipally concerned, it is reafonable to fup- 
pofe, that in the Bowels of the Earth, Salts 
may likewife, when diffolved themfelves, 
have a Power of diffolving metallic Sub- 
ftances ; and afterwards, on the withdraw* 
* Vitriol, Alum, and Nitre, are To volatile, when diffolved, 
as to force through the clofeft Cork, or between the Bottle 
£tid the Cork, tho’ ever fo clofely Hopped, 
P 3 ing 
