C 33 ° )

ESSAY VIII.

OF COMMON SALT AND ITS MINES,

Common salt is found either in a liquidor in a solid form, and in greater plentythan any other salt whatsoever.

In the liquid form it is found in the sea,in fait lakes, and in salt springs; as boththese last, however, proceed from masses offait contained in the earth, in a solid form,I shall postpone their consideration to thatof salt in a solid form.

§ i*

Os the Sea.

The sea, comprehending under that namethe different oceans, the Mediterranean,Euxine, and Baltic, is undoubtedly themost considerable mine of any sort existingin any known part of the globe, since judg'ing from indiscriminate experiments tVof its whole weight nearly, is saline mat'

ter;