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from the salt yet there might be some. that might straine
the salt from the water, and mentiond vnglased potts of
Earth through which it is commonly obserued that the
salt would passe through the sides thereof and stick in the
forme of salt on the outsides

/It was objected by R Hooke that though it appeard in a dry forme yet that it
passed through by the vehicle of the water which being euaporated left the Salt/
mr. Henshaw affirmd that there was a known way of Refining
salt peter from sea salt by transudation through Earthen
potts in 6 howres -

vpon this Dr. croon mentiond the transudation of water
through the coates of the Stomack through wch. yet the
air wch. was more subtil would not passe

To this mr. Hooke added that the reason of this was from the
congruity of the coats of the Stomack to water & their
incongruity to Air of wch. there had been many Expts
shewn in this Society.

He further also added that there were very differing salts
some that were aeriall and had a congruity wth. the air
and would therefore easily mingle therewth. and Leaue the
water And that there were other salts that had a greater
congruity to water and other ^ /aqueous/ liquors - And of this nature
seemd to be volatill or vrinous salts - which are readily
taken up by the air especially if it the air be assisted
by heat. soe that if there way of Rendering Sea salt soe
volatile the air salt might be separated by subliming
from the water as well as the water is now sublimated
or Distilled from the salt
Sr. Christopher wren mentiond that possibly there might
be a way of separating the fresh water from salt water
by suffering it to stand and settle in vessells for that it had been
obserud that the top of the water was very much fresher
then the bottom, and that by powring salt fresh water vpon salt
the same would remaine a good while fresh at the top before
the salt would rise thither .

Ref: CELL/RS/HF_214  © Centre for Editing Lives and Letters