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and in others, other ſuch particular Properties are obſervable. To this it may be added, that in the Action of the Fire on them, they alſo ſhew many Differences.
X. [1]Some are ſaid to have a Power of making Water appear of their own Colour, as the Emerald. Others of petri-
- ↑ After aſſigning the Cauſes of the various Figures and Qualities as well of the common, as the more rare and precious Kinds of Stones and Earths, the Author here enters into a Detail of what they are.
The Emerald is the Stone whoſe. Properties he begins with: but as he only hints in this Place, at what he more particularly explains himſelf upon ſome Pages after; I ſhall reſerve what I have to offer, on this Subject, to that Part of the Work, where there will be a more immediate Opportunity of comparing it with his own Words.
The Stone he next mentions, and of which he has recorded the petrifying Power, but not the Name, is the Lapis Aſſius, or Sarcophagus. The Aſſian, or Fleſh-conſuming Stone. The Sarcophagus, Boet. 403. Aſius vel Aſſius Lapis, Charlt. 251. Sarcophagus, ſive Aſſius Lapis, De Laet. 133. Aſſius Lapis, Salmaſ. in Solin. 847. Plin. Book 36. Chap. 17.
This was a Stone much known, and uſed among the Greeks in their Sepultures, and by them called σαρμόφαγος from its Power of conſuming the Fleſh of Bodies buried in it; which it is ſaid to have perfectly effected in forty
common Accidents of Colour, &c. and even much more than they, in every Pit; the Author now proceeds to enumerate the Differences of a more remarkable Kind, obſervable in the more rare and valuable Species, and occaſioned, according to his Syſtem, by Diverſities of leſs frequent, and therefore more remarkable Qualities in the Matter from which they were formed: which, together with the more ſingular Operations of Nature, in ſeparating and afterwards bringing that Matter into a Maſs, have imparted to the formed Subſtance Qualities, or, as he chuſes to expreſs it by a Word of greater Signification, Powers more ſingular and obſervable than thoſe occaſioned by leſs eſſential and more common Varieties in both.
