_MADAM,_
Your _Author_ condemns the _Schools_ for saying,[1] That _Air is
moist_, or that it may be _converted into Water by pressing it
together_; bringing an example of an _Iron Pipe, wherein Air has been
pressed together, which afterwards in its driving out has, like a
Hand-gun discharged with Gun-powder, sent a bullet thorow a board or
plank._ Truly, _Madam_, concerning the moisture of Air, I am against
it, but the transchanging of Air into Water I do verily believe, _viz._
that some sorts of Air may be contracted or condensed into Water, and
that Water again may be dilated into Air, but not readily, commonly and
easily by Art, but onely by Nature. Wherefore your _Authors_ Experiment
can serve for no proof; for an artificial trial cannot be an infallible
natural demonstration, the actions of Art, and the actions of Nature
being for the most part very different, especially in productions and
transmutations of natural things: Neither can an alteration of parts,
cause an utter destruction of the whole, because when some parts change
from their figures, other parts of matter change again into the like
figures, by which successive change the continuation of the whole is
kept up. Next your _Author_ reproves the Schools for maintaining the
opinion, that _Air is hot_; for says he, _Water, Air, and Earth, are
cold by Creation, because without Light, Heat, and the partaking of
Life._ He might, in my opinion, conclude, as well, that Man is cold by
Creation, because a Chameleon, or a Fish is cold, being all of animal
kind: But why may not some sorts of Air, Water and Earth be hot, and
some be cold, as well as some sorts of Light are hot, and some cold;
and so several other Creatures? His Reasons prove nothing: for Light
doth not make Heat, nor is it the principle of Heat; and it is no
consequence to say, all that is without Light is without Heat, there
being many things without Light, which nevertheless are Hot; But to
say, Water, Air, and Earth are cold, because they are without heat, is
no proof, but a meer begging of the principle; for it is but the same
thing, as if I should say, this is no Stone, because it is no Glass.
And that Water, Air and Earth, do not partake of Life, must be proved
first, for that is not granted as yet, there being, according to my
opinion, not one Creature that wants Life in all Nature. Again: your
_Author_ is of opinion, That _Water is the first and chief Principle of
all Natural things._ But this I can no more believe, then that _Water
should never change or degenerate from its essence_: nay, if your
_Author_ means, there shall always be Water in Nature, it is another
thing; but if he thinks that not any part of water doth or can change
or degenerate in its nature, and is the principle and chief producer
of all other Creatures; then he makes Water rather a Creator then a
Creature; and it seems, that those Gentiles which did worship Water,
were of the same opinion, whereas yet he condemns all Pagan opinions
and all those that follow them. Moreover, I cannot subscribe to his
opinion, That _Gas and Blas from the Stars do make heat_: For heat is
made several ways, according to its several sorts; for there is a dry
heat, and a moist heat, a burning, melting, and evaporating heat, and
many more. But as for _Meteors_, that _they are made by Gas and Blas_,
I can say nothing, by reason I am not skilled in Astrology, and the
science of the Heavens, Stars, and Planets; wherefore if I did offer
to meddle with them, I should rather express my Ignorance, then give
your _Ladiship_ any solid reasons; and so I am willing to leave this
speculation to others, resting content with that knowledg Nature hath
given me without the help of Learning: Which I wholly dedicate and
offer to your _Ladiship_, as becomes,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] In the _ch._ of _Air._