77 
SECT. XVI. 
XI. ON THE POWER OF CERTAIN OXYGENATED SUBSTANCES 
TO ACCELERATE THE PROCESS OF GERMINATION, 
Hence in fine Streams diffusive Acids flow. 
Darwin. 
As all the Acids resemble each other in their taste; in their giving a red 
colour to litmus^ and other bine vegetable substances; in their tendency to 
coalesce with alkalies, and metallic bodies; the Immortal Mayow* first pro¬ 
claimed to the world, that they must possess some common principle ; and 
chemical analysis, advanced as it is at the present day, has put this opinion 
beyond the possibility of a doubt. 
* De acidorum ortu, Ch. iv. or vide an Analysis of Mayow’s work by the celebrated Dr. Beddoes, 
who has the honour of first bringing into light the merit of him, whom he has justly styled the “ Philo¬ 
sopher of the last century.” For some time, says Dr. Beddoes, though I had often tried to procure for 
myself Mayow’s five Treatises, I had only been able to see them within the precincts of a college library, 
so scarce is his publication, and should I ask, who of all our acquaintance, is the person least likely 
to be overtaken by surprize, you would, I think, name a certain northern professor (Dr. Black), to 
whom both of us owe great obligations, yet at the sight of the plates, representing Mayow’s che¬ 
mical apparatus, this sedate philosopher lifted up his hands in complete astonishment. I have deduced, 
adds Dr. Beddoes, as well as I can, the history of Mayow’s writings to our own times. Hencefor¬ 
ward, I flatter myself, that he will share the glory of Verulam and Newton, and be named with 
due respect by all, by those especially who have perused his work; and that when the enthusiasm 
of an Englishman salutes his country, as 
Magna parens frugum!- 
Magna virum!-- 
Mayow will be ranked among the foremost of her illustrious men. He continues with his usual candour, 
Should any one now inquire, in the simplicity of his heart,—for if the question were dictated by 
any other spirit, I should bid the inquirer seek information for himself,—whether the name of honour, 
due to the moderns, is to be found by subtracting the share of Mayow, let him be assured, that the 
discoveries of our times set out from a different point, and proceeded in a different train, in per¬ 
fect ignorance of him, and therefore without any assistance from him . 
U 
