The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq., epitomiz'd by Richard Boulton ... ; illustrated with copper plates.

EXPEREMENT. IV.

SPirit of Soot of Wood dissolved Copper in∣to a lovely Azure; but the substance grow∣ing dry in the Air, changed it's Ceruleous for a Cyanious Colour, such as may be seen in good Turquoises. Which Change depended not on the Saline-Sulphureous Salt. Which I rather believe, because I had the same success when I made use of an Urinous Spirit drawn from an Animal substance.

Most of the Inland Parts of our Country a∣bound not with Corrosive Vapours, the Bars of Iron being not so subject to be corroded and Rust; So that I believe this Salt may proceed from Sea Vapours, or a dissolution of some Cor∣roding Salt, upon the burning of a Sea, or Mineral Coals.

Mox ollam ex igni removent;* 1.1 postea ex refrige∣rata eximunt halinitrum purissimum: quod candidi marmoris speciem gerit; aet{que} tunc etiam id quod ter∣renum est, in fundo residet. At terra, ex qua dilu∣tum fuit factum, & Rami quernei vel consimilis Arbo∣ris alternis sub dio ponantur, & aqua quâ combibit halinitrum conspergantur: quo modo quin{que} vel sex annis rursus apta fit ad conficiendum dilutum. Ha∣linitrum quodammodo purum, quod dum terra tot annos quievit interea, ortum fuit, & quod lapidei parietes in Cellis Ʋrinariis & locis opacis exudant, cum primo diluto permistum decoquatur.

Si verò locus aliquis talium venarum, copiam sup∣peditaverit, ipsae statim non conjiciantur in cast ella;

sed primò convehantur in areas, at{que} cumulentur: quanto enim diutius aeri & pluviis expositae fuerint tanto meliores fiunt. Nam in ejus∣modi cumulis, aliquot post Mensibus, quam Venae in are as fuerint conjectae, nascuntur fibrae longe venis bonitate praestantes: deinde vehantur in sex, plurave Castella longa & lat a ad novem pedes, ad quin{que} alta.

Si verò dum dilutum recoquitur, seperata non fue∣rint, mox ex minoribus Vasis infundatur in Majora, ea{que} concludantur; in quibus item atramentum suto∣rium seperatum ab alumine concrescit utrum{que} inci∣sum & in Hypocausto siccatum divendatur dilutum, quod in vasis & cupis non concrevit in cortinam, re∣fusum recoquatur: sed verra, quae in fundo cujus{que} cortinae resedit, ablata in castella unà cum verra; de∣nuo aqua & urina dilutaur. At terra quae in Castel∣lis diluta, postquam effluxit, superfuit egesta & coa∣cervata quotidie, rursus magis ac magis fit aluminosa, non aliter at{que} terra, ex qua halinitrum fuit con∣fectum, suo succo plenior fit: quare denuo in Castel∣la conjicitur, & aquae effusae ea percolantur.

And I have not only been informed, that the Dews in the most Southern parts are more than ordinary Corrosive; but that in Basil they are so Esurient, that the Portugals are forc'd to keep their great Guns cased up; in which Country the same Person told me the very Mony was cor∣roded by the sharpness of the Air; and he like∣wise observed, that the Dew left a White Salt upon the Grass, which looked like a Hoar Frost.

And I am likewise inform'd by a Native of the Place, that in a Town call'd Fahlure in Sweedland,

which stands upon the bottom of a Hill, which hath a Copper Mine in it, The Exhalations are so powerful as to Corrode Iron and Brass, and even Money it self, tho' lock'd up in Chests of Wood an Inch thick.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Agricola de re Metal. Lib. 12.