I must not (replies _Carneades_) engage my self at present to examine
thorowly the Controversies concerning Mistion: And if there were no
third thing, but that I were reduc'd to embrace absolutely and
unreservedly either the Opinion of _Aristotle_, or that of the
Philosophers that went before him, I should look upon the latter,
which the Chymists have adopted, as the more defensible Opinion: But
because differing in the Opinions about the Elements from both
Parties, I think I can take a middle Course, and Discourse to you of
Mistion after a way that does neither perfectly agree, nor perfectly
disagree with either, as I will not peremptorily define, whether there
be not Cases wherein some _Phaenomena_ of Mistion seem to favour the
Opinion that the Chymists Patrons borrow'd of the Antients, I shall
only endeavour to shew You that there are some cases which may keep
the Doubt, which makes up my second General Consideration from being
unreasonable.
I shall then freely acknowledge to You (sayes _Carneades_) that I am
not over well satisfi'd with the Doctrine that is ascribed to
_Aristotle_, concerning Mistion, especially since it teaches that the
four Elements may again be separated from the mixt Body; whereas if
they continu'd not in it, it would not be so much a Separation as a
Production. And I think the Ancient Philosophers that Preceded
_Aristotle_, and Chymists who have since receiv'd the same Opinion, do
speak of this matter more intelligibly, if not more probably, then the
Peripateticks: but though they speak Congruously enough, to their
believing, that there are a certain Number of Primogeneal Bodies, by
whose Concourse all those we call Mixts are Generated, and which in
the Destruction of mixt Bodies do barely part company, and recede from
one another, just such as they were when they came together; yet I,
who meet with very few Opinions that I can entirely Acquiesce in,
must confess to You that I am inclin'd to differ not only from the
_Aristotelians_, but from the old Philosophers and the Chymists, about
the Nature of Mistion: And if You will give me leave, I shall Briefly
propose to you my present Notion of it, provided you will look upon
it, not so much as an Assertion as an _Hypothesis_; in talking of
which I do not now pretend to propose and debate the whole Doctrine of
Mistion, but to shew that 'tis not Improbable, that sometimes mingl'd
substances may be so strictly united, that it doth not by the usuall
Operations of the Fire, by which Chymists are wont to suppose
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