The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CENT. IV. NATURAL HISTORY. 47
CENTURY IV.
Experiments in consort touching the clarification 306. On the other side it were good to try,
of liquors, and the accelerating thereof. what the adding to the liquor more lees than his
ACCELERATION of time, in works of nature; may own will work; for though the lees do make the
well be esteemed ", inter magnalia nature." And liquor turbid, yet they refine the spirits. Take
even in divine miracles, accelerating of the time thereibre a vessel of new beer, and take another
is next to the creating of the matter. We will vessel of new beer, and rack the one vessel from the
now therefore proceed to the inquiry of it: and lees, and pour the lees of the racked vessel into
for acceleration of germination, we will refer it the unracked vessel, and see the effect: this inover unto the place where we shall handle the stance is referred to the refining of the spirits.
subject of plants generally, and will now begin 307. Take new beer, and put in some quantity
with other accelerations. of stale beer into it, and see whether it will not
301. Liquors are, many of them, at the first, accelerate the clarification, by opening the body
thick and troubled; as muste, wort, juices of of the beer, and cutting the grosser parts, whereby
fruits, or herbs expressed, &c. and by time they they may fall down into lees. And this instance
settle and clarify. But to make them clear before again is referred to separation.
the time is a great work, for it is a spur to nature, 308. The longer malt or herbs, or the like, are
and putteth her out of her pace: and, besides, it infused in liquor, the more thick and troubled the
is of good use for making drinks and sauces po- liquor is; but the longer they be decocted in the
table and serviceable speedily. But to know the liquor, the clearer it is. The reason is plain,
means of accelerating clarification, we must first because in infusion, the longer it is, the greater
know the causes of clarification. The first cause is the part of the gross body that goeth into
is, by the separation of the grosser parts of the liquor: but in decoction, though more go(.t
liquor from the finer. The second, by the equal forth, yet it either purgeth at the top, or settleth
distribution of the spirits of the liquor with the at the bottom. And therefore the most exact way
tangible parts: for that ever representeth bodies to clarify is, first, to infuse, and then to take off
clear and untroubled. The third, by the refining the liquor and decoct it; as they do inbeer, which
the spirit itself, which thereby giveth to the liquor hath malt first infused in the liquor, and is aftermore splendour and more lustre. wards boiled with the hop. This also is referred
302. First, for separation, it is wrought by to separation.
-weight, as in the ordinary residence or settlement 309. Take hot embers, and put them about a
of liquors; by heat, by motion, by precipitation, bottle filled with new beer, almost to the very
or sublimation, that is, a calling of the several neck; let the bottle be well stopped, lest it fly
parts either up or down, which is a kind of at- out; and continue it, renewing the embers every
traction; by adhesion, as when a body more day, by the space of ten days, and then compare
viscous is mingled and agitated with the liquor, it with another bottle of the same beer set by.
which viscous body, afterwards severed, draweth Take also lime both quenched and unquenched,
with it the grosser parts of the liquor; and lastly, and set the bottles in them " ut supra." This
by percolation or passage. instance is referred both to the even distribution,
303. Secondly, for the even distribution of the and also to the refining of the spirits by heat.
spirits, it is wrought by gentle heat; and by 310. Take bottles, and swing them, or carry
agitation or motion, for of time we speak not, them in a wheel-barrow upon rough ground twice
because it is that we would anticipate and re- in a day, but then you may not fill the bottles full,
present; and it is wrought also by mixture of but leave some air; for if the liquor come close to
some other body which hath a virtue to open the the stopple, it cannot play nor flower: and when
liquor, and to make the spirits the better pass you have shaken them well either way, pour the
through. drink into another bottle stopped close after the
304. Thirdly, for the refining of the spirit, it usual manner, for if it stay with much air in it,
is wrought likewise by heat, by motion, and by the drink will pall; neither will it settle so permixture of some body which hath virtue to attenu- feetly in all the parts. Let it stand some twentyate. So therefore, having shown the causes for four hours, then take it, and put it again into a
the accelerating of clarification in general, and the bottle with air, " ut supra:" and thence into a botinducing of it, take these instances and trials. tle stopped, "; ut supra:" and so repeat the same
305. It is in common practice to draw wine or operation forseven days. Note, that in the emptybeer from thelees, which wecallracking, whereby ing of one bottle into another, you must do it
it will clarify much the sooner; for the lees, though swiftly lest the drink pall. It were good also to try
they keep the drink in heart, and make it lasting, it in a bottle with a little airbelow the neck, without
yet withal they cast up some spissitude: and this emptying. This instance is referred to the even
instance is to be referred to separation. distribution and refining of the spirits by motion