This _Asbestos_, or Matter out of which this wonderful Cloth ... is made, is a Fossil, a mineral stony Substance, of a whitish Colour, and woolly Texture (call’d _Salamander’s-Wool_) the downy Fibres, separable into short Filaments of Threads, capable of being spun, and made into a sort of Cloth, which will endure the Fire without consuming. When foul, instead of washing, they throw it into the Fire, which cleanses without burning it. Whole Webs and Coats, Napkins, Handkerchiefs, Towels, have been made of it; which were so far from being consumed by Fire, that they were only cleansed from their Dross, and came out purified into a greater Lustre than if wash’d with Water. Its principal use, according to _Pliny_[201], was for making of Shrouds, in which the Corps of their Kings were usually burnt, lest their royal Ashes should be blended with common Dust. The Princes of _Tartary_ use it to this day in burning the Dead[202]. _Nero_ had a Napkin or Towel made of it. The _Brachmans_ among the _Indians_, are said to make Clothes of it. The Wicks for their perpetual Candles were made of it[203]; and some to this day use it for Lamp-Wicks. Footnote 201: Book xix. cap 1. Footnote 202: _Philos. Transact._ Footnote 203: Dr. _Lister_. The Emperor _Constantine_ ordered an incombustible sort of Linnen to be made of _Lapis Amianthus_, the growth of _Cyprus_, that might burn in his Lamps, which were in his _Baths_ at _Rome_. The Commentator on St. _Augustin_ says, that he saw several Lamps at _Paris_, which would never be consumed: and at a Feast at _Louvain_, there was a Napkin thrown into the Fire, which was restored to the Owner clearer and brighter than if it had been rinsed in Water[204]. Footnote 204: _Ludovicus Vives, in his Scholia—de Civitate Dei. Pancirol. Historia rerum deperdit._ The _incombustible Paper_ is made of this lanuginous Mineral, viz. _Asbestine-Stone_, which will bear burning without being injured. Whoever would be further informed about this wonderful incombustible Stone, may peruse Dr. _Bruckman_, Professor at _Brunswick_, who has publish’d _a natural History of the Asbestos,_ or _incombustible Paper_; and what is most remarkable, has printed four Copies of his Book on _this_ Paper, which are deposited in the _Library_ of _Wolfembuttle_. The manner of making this extraordinary Paper is described by Mr. _Lloyd_, in _Philosoph. Transactions_, N^o. 166. _N. B._ The _Salamander_ is said to live in the Fire, and has power to extinguish it: “From which Conjuncture was taken the _Device_ of Great King _Francis_, the first of the Name, (Father of Arts and Sciences) _Nutrisco & Extinguo_, I Feed and Extinguish[205].” Footnote 205: _Pedro Mexia_ and M. _Francesco Sansovinio_, the famous _Italian_.