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The Uſes of the Stone itſelf may alſo be immenſe. We are well informed that the Steatites, and a Foſſil of the Nature of the Bolonian Stone, are great Ingredients in Porcelane. This Subſtance ſeems to promiſe all that can be wiſhed, without any farther Mixture. For the Matter in the Neck of the Retort, when hardened, differs little from the Subſtance of China Ware.
In Mineralogy there are laid open to us alſo a thouſand Articles of Wonder; which naturally perplexed us before we were acquainted with this Stone: Becauſe, not knowing this, which was the true Source of them, it was impoſſible that we ſhould gueſs how they were performed.
Lehman, in a very excellent Letter to Monſ. Buffon, on the Subject of a red Ore of Lead found in Siberia, entertains a Conjecture, not only that this in particular, but many others, owe a great deal of their Qualities and Particularities to the Marine Acid. The Conjecture was good; but 'tis eaſy now to ſee, by numerous Inſtances, that the Acid, ſuſpected by many, and abſolutely diſcovered by this able Chymiſt, as performing many and great Things in the mineral World, is not the muriatic, but this ſtony Acid; preſent in a thouſand Places where we do not ſuſpect it; and performing a Multitude of Things which muſt have been unintelligible, and therefore wonderful to us, ſo long as we were not acquainted with it; or indeed knew of its Exiſtence.
