_MADAM,_
I cannot conceive why your _Author_ is so much for little and
insensible parts, out of which the Elements and all other bodies are
made; for though Nature is divideable, yet she is also composeable; and
I think there is no need to dissect every creature into such little
parts, to know their nature, but we can do it by another way as well;
for we may dissect or divide them into never so little parts, and yet
gain never the more knowledg by it. But according to these principles
he describing amongst the rest the nature of Water, says,[1] _That
those little parts, out of which Water consists, are in figure somewhat
long, light and slippery like little Eeles, which are never so closely
joyned and entangled, but may easily be separated._ To which I answer,
That I observe the nature and figure of water to be flowing, dilating,
divideable and circular; for we may see, in Tides, overflowings, and
breaking into parts, as in rain, it will always move in a round and
circular figure; And I think, if its parts were long and entangled
like a knot of Eeles, it could never be so easily contracted and
denced into snow or ice. Neither do I think, That _Salt-water hath a
mixture of somewhat grosser parts, not so apt to bend_;[2] for to my
observation and reason, the nature of salt-water consists herein, that
its circle-lines are pointed, which sharp and pointed figure makes it
so penetrating; yet may those points be separated from the circle lines
of water, as it is seen in the making of Salt. But I am not of your
_Authors_ opinion, That those little points do stick so fast in flesh,
as little nails, to keep it from putrefaction; for points do not always
fasten; or else fire, which certainly is composed of sharp-pointed
parts, would harden, and keep other bodies from dissolving, whereas on
the contrary, it separates and divides them, although after several
manners. But Putrefaction is onely a dissolving and separating of
parts, after the manner of dilation; and the motion of salt is
contracting as well as penetrating, for we may observe, what flesh
soever is dry-salted, doth shrink and contract close together; I will
not say, but the pointed parts of salt may fasten like nayls in some
sorts of bodies, but not in all they work on. And this is the reason
also, that Sea-water is of more weight then fresh-water, for being
composed of points, those points stick within each other, and so become
more strong; But yet do they not hinder the circular dilating motion
of water, for the circle-lines are within, and the points without, but
onely they make it more strong from being divided by other exterior
bodies that swim upon it. And this is the cause that Salt-water is not
so easily forced or turned to vapour, as Fresh, for the points piercing
into each other, hold it more strongly together; but this is to be
considered, that the points of salt are on the outside of the watery
Circle, not on the inside, which causes it to be divideable from the
watery Circles. I will conclude, when I have given the reason why water
is so soon suckt up by sand, lime, and the like bodies, and say that it
is the nature of all spongy, dry and porous bodies, meeting with liquid
and pliable bodies as water, do draw and suck them up, like as animal
Creatures being thirsty, do drink: And so I take my leave, and rest,
Madam,
_Your Faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] _Of Meteor. c._ 1. _a._ 3.
[2] _C._ 3. _a._ 1.