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

Of Generation, Corruption, and Alteration.

VIII. Having thus according to our Hypothesis shewed what is meant by a Form, it remains that we explain, what is to be understood by Generation, Corruption, and Alteration. In order to which we are to consider,

• * 1.11. That there are some Particles of Matter so small, that tho' they be Mentally, or by Divine Omnipotence, divisible, yet are scarce Actually divided by Nature; which in that respect may be call'd Minima Naturalia.
• 2. That there are Multitudes of Corpuscles, con∣sisting of a Coalition of several of these Minima Naturalia, whose Bulk is so small, and Adhe∣sion so close, that tho' not absolutely indivisible

• into the Minima Naturalia, yet very seldom are actually divided; and these are the Seeds or imme∣diate Principles of many sorts of Natural Bodies, as Earth, Water, &c.
• 3. That both the Minima Naturalia, and those Primary Clusters resulting from the Coalition of them, having their determinate Bulk and Shape; when these are united, the Size and Shape by their Juxta-position must be often altered, and often∣times their Tendency in and to Motion vary'd; which Accidents will also happen when they are dis-joyn'd, by which Unions and Separation of Parts, the Size and Shape being variously altered, they are accordingly adapted to several Pores, upon which Account they have different Effects upon several Bodies.
• 4. That when several of these Corpuscles are associated, and put into Motion, that Motion will produce great Alterations, and many new Qua∣lities in the Bodies they compose; as Air swiftly moved, is call'd Wind, and feels colder to the Touch; and Iron rubb'd against Wood, feels warm. But besides these Invisible Alterations, there are several which are visible; as when the Particles, by knocking together, are broke and dis-joyn'd, and by that means acquire new Forms, their Bulk and Figure being altered, and the Tex∣ture and Interstices of the Parts being also vary'd: Thus Water froze, acquires Firmness, and loses its Transparency; and Milk, by a languid inte∣stin Motion of its Parts, in hot Weather, turns into a thinner Liquor, and into Cream, which agitated in a Churn, turns to an Oyly Substance, and a thin fluid. So Fruit, by being bruised, loses its Colour, Taste, Smell, and Consistence: From

• whence it appears, that Motion is not only the Grand Agent in Altering, but Composing and Constituting the Forms of Bodies.
• 5. And that since the Qualities of Bodies are derived from the Size, Shape and Motion, and the Texture, or Essential Modification of the Parts of Matter, we need not deride the Ancient Atomists, for attempting to deduce Generation and Corruption from the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Con∣vention and Dissolution, and their Alterations from the Transpositions of their Atoms; tho' I believe they all three are concern'd in Generation, as well as Corruption and Alteration.

* 1.2These things premis'd, our Doctrin of Gene∣ration, Corruption and Alteration may be compri∣z'd in a few Words; for when there is such a Concurrence of Accidents as are requisite to con∣stitute any determinate Species; such a Species is said to be generated; in which Action no new Substance is produced, but that which was Praeexi∣stent obtains a new Manner of Existence, or new Modification; which is evident in the making of a Watch, where the Parts are the same, when se∣parate, as when joyn'd, only the Union in respect of the whole, makes a new Body of a peculiar Modification: And when that Union of Acci∣dents, which denominates a Body generated, is destroy'd and dissolv'd, that Body, losing its Essential Modification, is said to be corrupted; for as a Watch is said to be made, when its Parts are put together; so when they are again dis∣plac'd, it is no longer call'd a Watch.

Hence we may learn to understand that Axiom, Corruptio unius est Generatio alterius; & è contrà for when those Accidents which make one Body,

are by any means altered, it loses that Denomi∣nation, and being modify'd anew puts on ano∣ther Form, and becomes a Body of another Kind.

* 1.3And here before we wholly leave off the Con∣sideration of Corruption, it may not be amiss to take Notice, That Putrefaction is but a peculiar kind of Corruption, where the Texture of Matter is more slowly altered, than in Corruption in a strict Sense; and also, that all the Essential Qua∣lities are not destroy'd.

* 1.4And here it may be seasonable to take Notice also, That tho' the Form of a Body depends on its Essential Modification, yet it seldom happens, that a Body acquires no other Qualities, than what are essentially and absolutely necessary to deno∣minate its Species; since in most Bodies it falls out, that there are some Qualities, which whe∣ther absent or not, don't essentially change the Subject; the Acquisition or loss of which is call'd Alteration (or by some Mutation). Generation and Corruption, depending on an Acquisition or Loss of the Essential Qualities of a Body.

But to conclude this Theoretical Part, let us re∣flect briefly on the Fruitfulness of this Mechani∣cal Hypothesis: For, according to this Doctrin, the World we live in is not a moveless indigested Mass of Matter, but an 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Self-moving Engine, whose Parts are most of them in a va∣riety of Motions; and so close set together, as to leave no Vacuities, or very little ones betwixt them. And since the various Coalitions of these Parts, are enough to make several Bodies of as various Textures; and we see such a vast variety of Words made only of 24. Letters differently situated, we need not wonder that so many, and

such multitudes of Bodies should result from Matter differently Modify'd, by a Coalition of Matter subject to so many Accidents, as Matter in Motion must be, its Parts being subject to be alter'd variously by the Addition, Comminu∣tion, or Substraction of a few Parts of Matter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Considera∣tions re∣quisite to the Doctrin of Genera∣tion, &c.
• * 1.2

  Generati∣tion, Corru∣ption, &c. what.
• * 1.3

  Putrefa∣ction what.
• * 1.4

  Alteration what.