Note a — BOOK III.
Reading edition
Altho’ Minerals, Metals and Stones lie in Beds, and have done so ever since Noah’s Flood, if not from the Creation; yet it is greatly probable that they have Power of growing in their respective Beds: That as the Beds are robbed and emptied by Miners, so after a while they recruit again. Thus Vitriol, Mr. Boyl thinks, will grow by the Help of the Air. So Alum doth the same. We are assured (he saith) by the experienced Agricola, That the Earth or Ore of Alum, being robbed of its Salt, will in tract of Time recover it, by being exposed to the Air. Boyl’s Suspic. about some Hid. Qual. in the Air, p. 18.