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AND this is the first account, on which I observe that the Chy∣mical Theory of Qualities does not reach far enough: But there is ano∣ther branch of its deficiency. For even, when the explications seem to come home to the Phaenomena, they are not primary, and, if I may so speak, Fontal enough. To make this
appear, I shall at present imploy but these two Considerations. The first is, that those substances themselves, that Chymists call their Principles, are each of them indowed with seve∣ral Qualities. Thus Salt is a consi∣stent, not a fluid, body; it has its weight, 'tis dissoluble in water, is ei∣ther diaphanous or opacous, fixt or volatile, sapid or insipid; (I speak thus disjunctively, because Chymists are not all agreed about these things; and it concerns not my Argument, which of the disputable Qualities be resolved upon.) And Sulphur, ac∣cording to them, is a body fusible, in∣flammable, &c. and, according to Ex∣perience, is consistent, heavy, &c. So that 'tis by the help of more primary and general Principles, that we must explicate some of those Qualities, which being found in bodies, suppo∣sed to be perfectly similar or homo∣geneous, cannot be pretended to be derived in one of them from the o∣ther. And to say, that 'tis the nature of a Principle to have this or that
Quality, as, for instance, of Sulphur to be susible, and therefore we are not to exact a Reason why it is so; though I could say much by way of answer, I shall now only observe, that this Argument is grounded but upon a supposition, and will be of no force, if from the primary affections of bo∣dies one may deduce any good Me∣chanical Explication of Fusibility in the general, without necessarily sup∣posing such a Primigeneal Sulphur, as the Chymists fancy, or deriving it from thence in other bodies. And indeed, since not only Salt-peter, Sea salt, Vitriol and Allum, but Salt of Tartar, and the Volatile Salt of Urine are all of them fusible; I do not well see, how Chymists can derive the fu∣sibleness even of Salts obtained by their own analysis (such as Salt of Tartar and of Urine) from the par∣ticipation of the Sulphureous Ingredi∣ent; especially since, if such an at∣tempt should be made, it would over∣throw the Hypothesis of three Simple bodies, whereof they will have all
mixt ones to be compounded; and still 'twould remain to be explicated, upon what account the Principle, that is said to endow the other with such a Quality, comes to be endowed therewith it self. For 'tis plain, that a mass of Sulphur is not an Atomical or Adamantine body; but consists of a multitude of Corpuscles of deter∣minate Figures, and connected after a determinate manner: so that it may be reasonably demanded, why such a Convention of particles, rather than many another that does not, consti∣tutes a fusible body.