If the Wax had any Inherency of Fire in its Nature, Why, if you turn a lighted Candle downwards, does the Wax extinguish the Flame? If this my Conjecture be difficultly conceiv’d, pray let me farther ask, Why does a Candle, which is lighted, and let down into a Mine where there is a Damp, go out? In a large Mine there is Space enough surely for a Candle to burn in, if there had been enough of that _Pabulum Vitæ_ left in the stagnated Air which occupy’d that large Cavern. Now, if you will suppose, with me, that this Air had been robb’d of its Fire, by its supporting and keeping alive such Things under-ground as its Business is to do every-where, and that Space was left full of stagnated Air, and therefore could not admit of fresh to enter, it became impossible for Fire, or any living Creature, to subsist there. The Cure of this Evil is performed in Mines by a Horse-Mill, which works large Bellows, that drive fresh Air down a Shaft made for that Purpose. I remember Dr. _Halley_ told me, that he once try’d the Experiment of making a factitious Damp; which he did, by exhausting the Air out of the Receiver of an Air-Pump, and then luting to a Stop-cock a Gun-barrel; the other End of which he put into a Charcoal-Fire, and with the Air, which pass’d thro’ the Fire, he fill’d the Receiver again; he told me that it instantly kill’d a Mouse he put into it, and many other Animals, just as Damps did: Now how will you account for this, if you suppose not that its Fire was extinguish’d, and carried from it another Way? Having thus far, I hope, prepared your Mind to understand what I apprehend the Element of Fire is, and what its Office seems to be, I will shew, if I can, First, Why, in Electricity, Fire proceeds from an electrical Body, so as to light into a Flame many different Compositions. Secondly, Why a Tube of Glass, when rubbed so as to be made electrical, will not only attract to it, but repel from it alternately, any light Body, as Leaf-Gold, Feathers, and the like: And also, why it will seem to send from it a Quantity of Wind, with a singing small Noise, if you hold it nigh to your Cheek and Ear. Thirdly, Why, when any unelectrify’d Body touches any thing electrify’d, the Electricity breaks off with a smart Crack, and a Spark of Fire. Fourthly, Why a Number of Men, who are joined together by holding any metallic Body betwixt them, if one of them touch a Piece of Iron electrify’d, the whole Company shall feel a violent Concussion, in proportion to the Largeness of the Body electrify’d. First, I will endeavour to shew, Why an electrify’d Body will kindle an _Alcohol_, or rectify’d Spirit of Wine, and many other compounded Liquors, into a Flame.