Mifcellaneons Obfervatlons on Salts , See. 225 
fufficiently evident from that Variety of Fi¬ 
gures they produce, by combination with one 
another, or when incorporated with Sub¬ 
fiances of other Kinds. But this has given 
Oecafion for fome to objedt, that the Figures 
of Salts cannot be determined, fince the fame 
Acid diffolving different Bodies affumes dif¬ 
ferent Shapes. Spirit of Nitre, fay they, 
for Inftance, having diffolved Copper, fhoots 
into hexagonal Cryftals ; having diffolved 
Iron, into irregular Squares ; and forms tri¬ 
angular thin Cryftals after diffolving Silver. 
But waving all Difpute, which I fhall ever 
carefully avoid, does not this feem a Proof 
rather of their Conftancy than their Uncer¬ 
tainty ? for the Shootings of pure Nitre ex¬ 
amined alone are conftantly the fame ; and 
are not the Cryftals produced in Spirit of 
Nitre when Copper, Iron, or Silver has been 
diffolved therein, always conft'ant to each re- 
fpedtive Metal, though different from one 
another ? What greater Conftancy than this 
can poffibly be expected ? and would it not 
oecafion much greater Uncertainty and Con- 
fufion were mixt and unmix t Subftances to 
put on the fame Forms?—It is likewife 
objected, that their Figures vary if they are 
differently prepared: And this indeed is 
true. But as with the fame Mixtures or 
Management they are found to produce the 
lame Cryftals and Configurations, this Ob¬ 
jection has no Force; unlefs it be to prove, 
Yo l * II? QL that 
