The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

PHENOMENA OF THE UNIVERSE. 563
abound in variety, I am not inclined to suppose r sideration the region in which the mines or quarthat there are any intermediate bodies, excepting, ries are found, whether it be higher ground or
perhaps, the elements of quicksilver. From lead whether lower. And in the same manner as to
there is a gradual ascent to iron and tin. Again, stones and diamonds that are crystals, whether
there appears a great hiatus between metals and the stony nature penetrate the earth so deeply as
stones, namely, from eight to three pennyweights; the metallic, or rather attaches only to the surface,
for such, or about such, is the distance from tin which appears the more probable supposition.
to the touchstone. Only between these comes Sulphur, commonly deemed the father of metals,
the loadstone, and almost on a par, and this is a though generally not so by the learned, or sulphur
metallic stone; and, probably, other fossils may transferred to a kind of natural and not common
be found of imperfect mixture, and of a nature sulphur, has a collection of matter inferior to
compoumnded between stone and metal. From every kind of metal and even to stones and the
stones, indeed, to the other bodies, there is a gra- stronger earths, by two pennyweights and two
dual variation. grains; and yet, (if other circumstances concur,)
But we little doubt that, as to vegetables, and if mixed up with mercury, on account of the adalso in the parts of animals, they show themselves mirable gravity of this latter, it could give the
more than other bodies, although of sufficiently weights of all metals according to the ratio of the
equal texture, which surpass spirit of wine in temperament, except the weight of gold.
lightness. For, even the wood of the oak, which The efficient of conjunction in bodies is not
is firm and solid, is lighter than spirit of wine, always considered in respect to their accumulaand the wood of the fir much more. And very tion. For glass, which joins by means of a fierce
many fowers and leaves, and membranes and and powerful fire, outweighs crystal, which is
fibres, as the skins of serpents, the wings of in- its original nature, and is extracted without fire
sects, and the like, would doubtless approach the or apparent heat; for as to ice being a solid, that
lesser ratios of weights, (if they were capable of is a popular error, and crystal itself is much
cubic dimension,) and much more artificial sub- heavier than ice, which is plainly kept together
stances, as tinder, the leaves of roses after distil- by cold, and yet it floats upon the water.
lation, and the like. The mixture of liquors does not depend upon
We generally find, as to the parts of' animals, or arise from the ratios of their weights only,
some bodies more compact than in plants. For, since the spirit of wine is not mixed with distilbones and skins are more compact than woods led oil of almonds, but (what would not appear
and leaves; for, we must correct that proneness probable) floats upon oil as oil upon water; and
which the human mind entertains toward conjec- yet (as may be seen from the table) is only lighter
turing that bodies are hard and consistent, in pro- by a grain and a half. But at the same time spiportion to their compactness and solidity, butthat rit of wine is by far more easily mixed with the
fluids are naturally less contracted. For, a col- spirit of water, though heavier;- and as water
lection of matter is not less in fluids than in itself is more easily mixed with oil of vitriol than
solids, but rather more. Gold, by a certain soft- with oil of olives; and yet oil of vitriol is heavier
ness which it possesses, verges to a fluid state, and, than water by eighteen grains, but oil of olives
when liquefied, is not extended, but is contained lighter by four. But this is not to be received
within its -former place. And quicksilver flows without a particular consideration of the weight
of itself, and lead easily flows, iron with difficulty, in bodies proportioned according to the mixture.
of which the one is a very heavy, the other a very For we see that wine floats upon water, if the
light body. But this is especially to be noted, agitation is repressed or there is a perturbation of
that metals which are frangible (fluids, to wit) the descent or first state; as when into a vessel
far exceed stones in weight. in which water is contained you pour wine,
It is very remarkable of gold and quicksilver, but with a piece of bread or cloth intervening,
which are so much heavier than other metals, that which would break the power itself of the first
they are found sometimes in grains and small condition. And the same takes place in water
particles, as if perfect by nature and commonly poured upon oil of vitriol with this design. And
pure, which happens to no other metals, which what is more; although wine be first poured in
must unite and-be purified by fire, whereas these and afterwards water (upon the bread or cloth as
two, the conjunction of which is by far the great- aforesaid,) it finds its own place, and passes
est and the strictest, is natural and without the through the wine and settles itself.
aid of fire.
In the investigation of the nature of metals and Continueation of the History of the Conjeenction and
stones, some inquiry should be made respecting Expzasion of the Matter in the samne Body.
those metals which are found lower than others I deem that our investigation into the ratios of
and are deeper in the earth, as to whether there powders will be attended with greater utility if
is any certain rule and standing experiment on we compare them with the bodies themselves, in
this head. But here we must take into the con- their complete state, and do not cons der them