1will hinder the other Stones that are near it
in the Kiln, from burning too. They alſo
diſlike all carthy Stone, becauſe it makes the
Lime ſoul. But the ancient Architects greatly
praiſe the Lime made of very hard cloſe Stone,
eſpecially white, which they ſay is not im
proper for any Sort of Work, and is extremely
ſtrong in Arches. In the ſecond Place, they
commend Lime made of Stone, not indeed
light or rotten, but ſpungy; which they think
for plaiſtering is better, and more tractable
than any other, and gives the beſt Varniſh to
the Work; and I have obſerved the Architects
in France, to uſe no other Sort of Lime but
what was made of the common Stones they
found in Rivers or Torrents, blackiſh, and ſo
very hard, that you would take them for
Flints; and yet it is certain, both in Stone
and Brickwork, it has preſerved an extraordi
nary Strength to a very great Age. We read
in Pliny, that Lime made of the Stone of
which they make Mill-ſtones, is excellent for
all manner of Uſes; but I find upon Experi
ence, that ſuch of them as ſeem ſpotted with
Drops of Salt, being too rough and dry, will
not do for this Uſe; but that which is not ſo
ſpotted, but is cloſer, and when it is ground,
makes a finer Duſt, ſucceeds extremely well.
However, let the Nature of the Stone be what
it will, that of the Quarry will be much bet
ter for making of Lime, than that which we
pick up; and that dug out of a ſhady, moiſt
Quarry, better than out of a dry one; and
made of white Stone, more tractable than of
black. In France, near the Sea-ſhore about
Vannes, for Want of Stone, they make their
Lime of Oyſter and Cockle-Shells. There is
moreover a kind of Lime which we call Plai
ſter of Paris, which too is made of burnt
Stone; tho' we are told that in Cyprus, and
about Thebes, this Sort of Plaiſter is dug out
of the Surface of the Earth, ready baked by
the Heat of the Sun. But the Stone that
makes the Plaiſter of Paris, is different from
that which makes the Lime; for it is very
ſoft, and will eaſily rub to Pieces, except one
found in Syria, which is very hard. It differs
likewiſe in this, that the Plaiſter of Paris
Stone requires but twenty Hours; and the
Lime Stone takes threeſcore Hours in burning.
I have obſerved, that in Italy there are four
Sorts of Plaiſter of Paris, two of which are
tranſparent, and two which are not: Of the
tranſparent, one is like Lumps of Allum, or
rather of Alabaſter, and they called it the
Scaly Sort, becauſe it conſits of extreme
thin Scales, one over the other, like the Coats
of an Onion. The other is ſcaly too, but is
more like a blackiſh Salt than Allum. The
Sorts that are not tranſparent are both like a
very cloſe Sort of Chalk, but one is pale and
whitiſh, and the other with that Paleneſs has
a Tincture of red; which laſt is firmer and
cloſer than the firſt. Of the laſt, the reddeſt
is the moſt tenacious. Of the firſt, that which
is the cleareſt and whiteſt is uſed in Stuc Work
for Figures and Corniſhes.
in the Kiln, from burning too. They alſo
diſlike all carthy Stone, becauſe it makes the
Lime ſoul. But the ancient Architects greatly
praiſe the Lime made of very hard cloſe Stone,
eſpecially white, which they ſay is not im
proper for any Sort of Work, and is extremely
ſtrong in Arches. In the ſecond Place, they
commend Lime made of Stone, not indeed
light or rotten, but ſpungy; which they think
for plaiſtering is better, and more tractable
than any other, and gives the beſt Varniſh to
the Work; and I have obſerved the Architects
in France, to uſe no other Sort of Lime but
what was made of the common Stones they
found in Rivers or Torrents, blackiſh, and ſo
very hard, that you would take them for
Flints; and yet it is certain, both in Stone
and Brickwork, it has preſerved an extraordi
nary Strength to a very great Age. We read
in Pliny, that Lime made of the Stone of
which they make Mill-ſtones, is excellent for
all manner of Uſes; but I find upon Experi
ence, that ſuch of them as ſeem ſpotted with
Drops of Salt, being too rough and dry, will
not do for this Uſe; but that which is not ſo
ſpotted, but is cloſer, and when it is ground,
makes a finer Duſt, ſucceeds extremely well.
However, let the Nature of the Stone be what
it will, that of the Quarry will be much bet
ter for making of Lime, than that which we
pick up; and that dug out of a ſhady, moiſt
Quarry, better than out of a dry one; and
made of white Stone, more tractable than of
black. In France, near the Sea-ſhore about
Vannes, for Want of Stone, they make their
Lime of Oyſter and Cockle-Shells. There is
moreover a kind of Lime which we call Plai
ſter of Paris, which too is made of burnt
Stone; tho' we are told that in Cyprus, and
about Thebes, this Sort of Plaiſter is dug out
of the Surface of the Earth, ready baked by
the Heat of the Sun. But the Stone that
makes the Plaiſter of Paris, is different from
that which makes the Lime; for it is very
ſoft, and will eaſily rub to Pieces, except one
found in Syria, which is very hard. It differs
likewiſe in this, that the Plaiſter of Paris
Stone requires but twenty Hours; and the
Lime Stone takes threeſcore Hours in burning.
I have obſerved, that in Italy there are four
Sorts of Plaiſter of Paris, two of which are
tranſparent, and two which are not: Of the
tranſparent, one is like Lumps of Allum, or
rather of Alabaſter, and they called it the
Scaly Sort, becauſe it conſits of extreme
thin Scales, one over the other, like the Coats
of an Onion. The other is ſcaly too, but is
more like a blackiſh Salt than Allum. The
Sorts that are not tranſparent are both like a
very cloſe Sort of Chalk, but one is pale and
whitiſh, and the other with that Paleneſs has
a Tincture of red; which laſt is firmer and
cloſer than the firſt. Of the laſt, the reddeſt
is the moſt tenacious. Of the firſt, that which
is the cleareſt and whiteſt is uſed in Stuc Work
for Figures and Corniſhes.
NEAR Rimini they find a Plaiſter of Paris ſo
ſolid that you would take it for Marble or Ala
baſter, which I had had cut with a Saw into
large thin Pieces, extremely convenient for In
cruſtations. That I may omit nothing that is
neceſſary, all Plaiſter of Paris muſt be broken
and pounded with wooden Mallets, till it is
reduced to Powder, and ſo kept in Heaps in
ſome very dry Place, and as ſoon as ever it is
brought out, it muſt be watered and uſed im
mediately.
ſolid that you would take it for Marble or Ala
baſter, which I had had cut with a Saw into
large thin Pieces, extremely convenient for In
cruſtations. That I may omit nothing that is
neceſſary, all Plaiſter of Paris muſt be broken
and pounded with wooden Mallets, till it is
reduced to Powder, and ſo kept in Heaps in
ſome very dry Place, and as ſoon as ever it is
brought out, it muſt be watered and uſed im
mediately.
BUT Lime on the Contrary need not be
pounded, but may be ſoak'd in the Lumps,
and muſt be plentifully ſoak'd with Water a
good while before you uſe it, eſpecially if it is
for Plaiſtering; to the Intent that if there
ſhould be any Lumps not enough burnt, it
may be diſſolv'd and liquify'd by long lying
in the Water: Becauſe, when it is uſed too
ſoon, before it is duly ſoak'd, there will be ſome
ſmall unconcocted Stones in it, which afterwards
coming to rot, throw out little Puſtules, which
ſpoil the Neatneſs of the Work. Add here
unto, that you need not give your Lime a
Flood, as I may call it, of Water at once, but
wet it by little and little, ſprinkling it ſeveral
Times over, till it is in all Parts thoroughly
impregnated with it; afterwards it muſt be
kept in ſome ſhady Place, moderately moiſt,
clear from all Mixture, and only cover'd over
with a little Sand, till by Length of Time it is
better fermented; and it has been found that
Lime by this thorough Fermentation acquires
inconceivable Virtue. I have known ſome
found in an old neglected Ditch, that, as
plainly appear'd by the ſtrongeſt Conjectures,
was left there above five hundred Years;
which when it was diſcover'd was ſo moiſt and
liquid, and, to uſe the Expreſſion, ſo mature,
that it far exceeded Honey or Marrow itſelf in
Softneſs; and nothing in Nature can be ima
gin'd more ſerviceable for all Manner of Uſes.
It requires double the Sand if prepared thus,
pounded, but may be ſoak'd in the Lumps,
and muſt be plentifully ſoak'd with Water a
good while before you uſe it, eſpecially if it is
for Plaiſtering; to the Intent that if there
ſhould be any Lumps not enough burnt, it
may be diſſolv'd and liquify'd by long lying
in the Water: Becauſe, when it is uſed too
ſoon, before it is duly ſoak'd, there will be ſome
ſmall unconcocted Stones in it, which afterwards
coming to rot, throw out little Puſtules, which
ſpoil the Neatneſs of the Work. Add here
unto, that you need not give your Lime a
Flood, as I may call it, of Water at once, but
wet it by little and little, ſprinkling it ſeveral
Times over, till it is in all Parts thoroughly
impregnated with it; afterwards it muſt be
kept in ſome ſhady Place, moderately moiſt,
clear from all Mixture, and only cover'd over
with a little Sand, till by Length of Time it is
better fermented; and it has been found that
Lime by this thorough Fermentation acquires
inconceivable Virtue. I have known ſome
found in an old neglected Ditch, that, as
plainly appear'd by the ſtrongeſt Conjectures,
was left there above five hundred Years;
which when it was diſcover'd was ſo moiſt and
liquid, and, to uſe the Expreſſion, ſo mature,
that it far exceeded Honey or Marrow itſelf in
Softneſs; and nothing in Nature can be ima
gin'd more ſerviceable for all Manner of Uſes.
It requires double the Sand if prepared thus,