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IX. Theſe Qualities Stones have, therefore, from the common Differences of the Matter, and Manner of the Affluxes of their conſtituent Parts: But beſides theſe, they have others[1] which ariſe from the more peculiar Powers of their concreted Maſſes: Such are their acting upon other Bodies; or being ſubject, or not ſubject to be acted upon by them. Thus ſome are fuſible, others will never liquify in the Fire; ſome may be calcined, others are incombuſtible;
- ↑ The common Differences of the more frequent and large Maſſes of Stone having been now accounted for, from the frequent Diverſities of the Earths of which they were formed; which are found to differ, like them, in the
conſtituent Matter of theſe foſſile Subſtances, and the manner and Cauſes of its Coaleſcence, in order to their Formation, comes here to the Conſideration of the Differences of the diſtinct Claſſes, Genera, and ſeparate Species of them. Theſe he very juſtly and philoſophically deduces from the different Matter of which they are formed, and the various Elaborations it has paſſed in the Affluxes by which it has been brought together. The terreſtrial Matter, which ſerves as the Baſis of their Formation, he obſerves, is very commonly found differing in Colour, Denſity, &c. and hence the Stones formed of it have very frequently theſe Differences; which make the many various Species of the common Strata of them: but that there are alſo other Varieties in this coaleſcent Matter, in regard to more peculiar Qualities, which are more rarely found, but which, wherever they are, make Differences in the Body formed from them, of other and more remarkable Kinds: this he goes on to ſhew in their proper Places.
Some Editions of this Author have it πνοαὶ διαφοραὶ, and others πολλαὶ διαφοραὶ, in the laſt Line of this Sentence; the ῥοαὶ διαφοραὶ is a very rational and judicious Alteration of De Laet's, and in all Probability was the true original Reading.
