well as I, by that time you shall have heard the following part of my
Discourse, by which you will best discern what Construction to put
upon the former Propositions, and how far they may be look'd upon, as
things that I concede as true, and how far as things I only represent
as specious enough to be fit to be consider'd.
And now _Eleutherius_ (continues _Carneades_) I must resume the person
of a Sceptick, and as such, propose some part of what may be either
dislik't, or at least doubted of in the common _Hypothesis_ of the
Chymists: which if I examine with a little the more freedom, I hope I
need not desire you (a Person to whom I have the Happinesse of being
so well known) to look upon it as something more suitable to the
Employment whereto the Company has, for this Meeting, doom'd me; then
either to my Humour or my Custom.
Now though I might present you many things against the Vulgar Chymical
Opinion of the three Principles, and the Experiments wont to be
alledg'd as Demonstrations of it, yet those I shall at present offer
you may be conveniently enough comprehended in four Capital
Considerations; touching all which I shall only premise this in
general, That since it is not my present Task so much to assert an
_Hypothesis_ of my own, as to give an Account wherefore I suspect the
Truth of that of the Chymists, it ought not to be expected that all my
Objections should be of the most cogent sort, since it is reason
enough to Doubt of a propos'd Opinion, that there appears no cogent
Reason for it.
To come then to the Objections themselves; I consider in the first
place, That notwithstanding what common Chymists have prov'd or
taught, it may reasonably enough be Doubted, how far, and in what
sence, Fire ought to be esteem'd the genuine and universal Instrument
of analyzing mixt Bodies.
This Doubt, you may remember, was formerly mention'd, but so
transiently discours'd of, that it will now be fit to insist upon it;
And manifest that it was not so inconsiderately propos'd as our
Adversaries then imagin'd.
But, before I enter any farther into this Disquisition, I cannot but
here take notice, that it were to be wish'd, our Chymists had clearly
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