Of a degradation of gold made by an anti-elixir, a strange chymical narative.
         Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
      
       
         
           1678
        
      
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             Of a degradation of gold made by an anti-elixir, a strange chymical narative.
             Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
          
           [4], 17 p.
           
             Printed by T.N. for Henry Herringman,
             London :
             [1678]
          
           
             Caption title: An historical account of the degradation of gold by an anti-elixir.
             Attributed to Robert Boyle--NUC pre-1956 imprints.
             Reproduction of original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Gold -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           DEGRADATION
           OF
           GOLD
           Made
           by
           an
           ANTI-ELIXIR
           A
           STRANGE
           Chymical
           Narative
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             T.
             N.
          
           for
           
             Henry
             Herringman
          
           ,
           at
           〈…〉
           in
           the
           Lower
           Walk
           of
           the
           
             New
             Exch
             〈…〉
          
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PUBLISHER
           To
           the
           Reader
           .
        
         
           HAving
           been
           allowed
           the
           Liberty
           of
           Perusing
           the
           following
           Paper
           at
           my
           own
           Lodging
           ;
           I
           found
           my self
           strongly
           tempted
           ,
           by
           the
           Strangeness
           of
           the
           things
           mention'd
           in
           it
           ,
           to
           venture
           to
           Release
           it
           :
           The
           knowledge
           I
           had
           of
           the
           Author's
           Inclination
           to
           Gratifie
           the
           Virtuosi
           ,
           forbidding
           me
           to
           despair
           of
           his
           pardon
           ,
           if
           the
           same
           disposition
           prevail'd
           with
           me
           ,
           to
           make
           the
           Curious
           Partakers
           with
           me
           of
           so
           Surprising
           a
           Piece
           of
           
             Philosophical
             
             News
          
           .
           And
           ,
           though
           it
           sufficiently
           appear'd
           ,
           that
           the
           insuing
           Conference
           was
           but
           a
           Continuation
           of
           a
           larger
           Discourse
           ;
           yet
           ,
           considering
           ,
           that
           this
           Part
           consists
           chiefly
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           only
           ,
           of
           a
           Narrative
           ;
           which
           (
           if
           I
           may
           so
           speak
           )
           stands
           upon
           its
           own
           legs
           ,
           without
           any
           need
           of
           depending
           upon
           any
           thing
           that
           was
           deliver'd
           before
           ;
           I
           thought
           it
           was
           no
           great
           Venture
           ,
           nor
           Incongruity
           ,
           to
           let
           it
           come
           abroad
           by
           it self
           .
           And
           ,
           I
           the
           less
           scrupled
           to
           make
           this
           Publication
           ,
           because
           I
           found
           ,
           that
           the
           Honorable
           Mr.
           Boyle
           confesses
           himfelf
           to
           be
           Fully
           Satisfied
           of
           the
           Truth
           ,
           of
           as
           much
           of
           the
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           as
           delivers
           the
           Phoenomena
           of
           the
           Tryal
           ;
           the
           Truth
           whereof
           was
           further
           Confirm'd
           to
           me
           ,
           by
           the
           Testimony
           ,
           and
           Particular
           Account
           ,
           which
           that
           most
           Learned
           and
           Experienc'd
           Physitian
           ,
           who
           was
           Assistant
           to
           Pyrophilus
           in
           making
           the
           Experiment
           ,
           and
           with
           whom
           I
           have
           the
           honor
           to
           be
           Acquainted
           (
           being
           now
           in
           London
           )
           gave
           me
           with
           his
           own
           Mouth
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           the
           Tryal
           .
           And
           ,
           where
           the
           
           Truth
           of
           that
           shall
           be
           once
           Granted
           ,
           there
           is
           little
           cause
           to
           doubt
           ,
           that
           the
           Novelty
           of
           the
           thing
           will
           sufficiently
           Indear
           the
           Relation
           :
           especially
           to
           those
           that
           are
           studious
           of
           the
           
             Higher
             Arcana
          
           of
           the
           
             Hermetick
             Philosophy
          
           .
           For
           ,
           most
           of
           the
           Phoenomena
           here
           mention'd
           ,
           will
           probably
           seem
           wholly
           new
           ,
           not
           only
           to
           vulgar
           Chymists
           ,
           but
           also
           to
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           more
           knowing
           Spagyrists
           ,
           and
           
             Natural
             Philosophers
          
           themselves
           :
           none
           of
           the
           Orthodox
           Authors
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           remember
           ,
           having
           taken
           notice
           of
           such
           an
           Anti-Elixir
           .
           And
           ,
           though
           Pyrophilus's
           Scrupulousness
           (
           which
           makes
           him
           very
           unwilling
           to
           speak
           the
           utmost
           of
           a
           thing
           )
           allowes
           it
           to
           be
           a
           Deterioration
           into
           an
           Imperfect
           Mettal
           onely
           ;
           yet
           ,
           to
           tell
           the
           truth
           ,
           I
           think
           it
           was
           more
           Imbas'd
           than
           so
           ;
           for
           the
           part
           left
           of
           it
           (
           and
           kept
           for
           some
           farther
           Discoveries
           )
           which
           I
           once
           got
           a
           sight
           of
           ,
           looks
           more
           like
           a
           Mineral
           ,
           or
           Marchasite
           ,
           then
           like
           any
           
             Imperfect
             Mettal
          
           :
           and
           therefore
           this
           Degradation
           is
           not
           the
           same
           ,
           but
           much
           greater
           ,
           
           than
           that
           which
           Lullius
           doth
           intimate
           in
           some
           places
           .
           These
           Considerations
           make
           me
           presume
           it
           will
           easily
           be
           granted
           ,
           That
           the
           Effects
           of
           this
           
             Anti-Philosophers
             Stone
          
           ,
           as
           I
           think
           it
           may
           not
           unfitly
           be
           call'd
           .
           ,
           will
           not
           only
           seem
           very
           strange
           to
           Hermetick
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           other
           Philosophers
           ,
           but
           may
           prove
           very
           Instructive
           to
           Speculative
           Wits
           ;
           especially
           if
           Pyrophilus
           shall
           please
           to
           acquaint
           them
           with
           that
           more
           odd
           Phoenomenon
           ,
           which
           he
           Mentions
           darkly
           in
           the
           Close
           of
           his
           Discourse
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           AN
           Historical
           Account
           OF
           THE
           DEGRADATION
           OF
           GOLD
           BY
           AN
           Anti-Elixir
           .
        
         
           AFter
           the
           whole
           Company
           had
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           by
           Common
           Consent
           ,
           continued
           silent
           for
           some
           time
           ,
           which
           others
           spent
           in
           Reflections
           upon
           the
           Preceding
           Conference
           ,
           and
           Pyrophylus
           ,
           in
           the
           Consideration
           of
           what
           he
           was
           about
           to
           Deliver
           ;
           this
           Virtuoso
           at
           length
           stood
           up
           ,
           and
           Addressing
           himself
           to
           the
           rest
           ,
           
             I
             hope
             ,
             Gentlemen
             ,
             sayes
             he
             ,
             that
             what
             has
             been
             already
             Discoursed
             ,
             has
             Inclin'd
             ,
             if
             not
             Perswaded
             you
             to
             Think
             ,
             
             That
             the
             Exaltation
             ,
             or
             Change
             of
             other
             Metals
             into
             Gold
             ,
             is
             not
             a
             thing
             Absolutely
             Impossible
             ;
             and
             ,
             though
             I
             confess
             ,
             I
             cannot
             remove
             all
             your
             Doubts
             ,
             and
             Objections
             ,
             or
             my
             own
             ,
             by
             being
             able
             to
             Affirm
             to
             you
             ,
             That
             I
             have
             with
             my
             own
             hands
             made
             Projection
             (
             as
             Chymists
             are
             wont
             to
             call
             the
             Sudden
             Transmutation
             made
             by
             a
             small
             quantity
             of
             their
             Admirable
             Elixir
             )
             yet
             I
             can
             Confirm
             much
             of
             what
             hath
             been
             Argued
             for
             the
             Possibility
             of
             such
             a
             sudden
             Change
             of
             a
             Metalline
             Body
             ,
             by
             a
             Way
             ,
             which
             ,
             I
             presume
             ,
             will
             surprize
             you
             .
             For
             ,
             to
             make
             it
             more
             credible
             ,
             that
             other
             Metals
             are
             capable
             of
             being
             Graduated
             ,
             or
             Exalted
             into
             Gold
             
               by
               way
               of
               Projection
            
             ;
             I
             will
             Relate
             to
             you
             ,
             that
             
               by
               the
               like
               way
            
             ,
             Gold
             has
             been
             Degraded
             ,
             or
             Imbased
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Novelty
           of
           this
           Preamble
           having
           much
           surprised
           the
           Auditory
           ,
           at
           length
           ,
           Simplicius
           ,
           with
           a
           disdainful
           Smile
           ,
           told
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Company
             would
             have
             much
             thanked
             him
             ,
             if
             he
             could
             have
             assured
             them
             ,
             That
             he
             had
             seen
             another
             Mettal
             Exalted
             into
             Gold
             ;
             but
             ,
             that
             to
             find
             a
             way
             of
             spoiling
             Gold
             ,
             was
             not
             onely
             an
             Useless
             Discovery
             ,
             but
             a
             Prejudicial
             Practice
             .
          
        
         
           Pyrophilus
           was
           going
           to
           make
           some
           Return
           to
           this
           Animadversion
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           prevented
           by
           Aristander
           ;
           who
           ,
           turning
           himself
           to
           Simplicius
           ,
           told
           him
           ,
           with
           a
           Countenance
           and
           Tone
           that
           argued
           some
           displeasure
           ;
           
             If
             Pyrophilus
             had
             been
             Discoursing
             to
             a
             Company
             of
             Goldsmiths
             ,
             or
             of
             Merchants
             ,
             your
             severe
             Reflection
             upon
             what
             he
             said
             would
             have
             been
             proper
             :
             but
             ,
             you
             might
             well
             have
             forborn
             it
             ,
             if
             you
             had
             considered
             ,
             as
             I
             suppose
             he
             did
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             speaking
             to
             an
             Assembly
             of
             Philosophers
             and
             Virtuosi
             ,
             who
             are
             wont
             to
             estimate
             Experiments
             ,
             not
             as
             they
             inrich
             Mens
             Purses
             ,
             but
             their
             Brains
             ,
             and
             think
             Knowledge
             especially
             of
             uncommon
             things
             very
             desirable
             ,
             even
             when
             't
             is
             not
             accompanyed
             with
             any
             other
             thing
             ,
             than
             the
             Light
             that
             still
             attends
             it
             ,
             and
             indears
             it
             .
             It
             hath
             been
             thought
             an
             Useful
             Secret
             ,
             by
             
             a
             kind
             of
             Retrogradation
             to
             turn
             Tin
             and
             Lead
             into
             brittle
             Bodies
             ,
             like
             the
             Ores
             of
             those
             Metals
             .
             And
             if
             I
             thought
             it
             proper
             ,
             I
             could
             shew
             ,
             that
             such
             a
             change
             might
             be
             of
             use
             in
             the
             Investigation
             of
             the
             Nature
             of
             those
             Metals
             ,
             besides
             the
             practical
             use
             that
             I
             know
             may
             be
             made
             of
             it
             .
             To
             find
             the
             Nature
             of
             Wine
             ,
             we
             are
             assisted
             ,
             not
             only
             by
             the
             methods
             of
             obtaining
             from
             it
             a
             Spirit
             ;
             but
             by
             the
             ways
             of
             readily
             turning
             it
             into
             Vinegar
             :
             the
             knowledge
             of
             which
             ways
             hath
             not
             been
             despised
             by
             Chymists
             or
             Physitians
             ,
             and
             hath
             at
             Paris
             ,
             and
             divers
             other
             places
             ,
             set
             up
             a
             profitable
             Trade
             .
             'T
             is
             well
             known
             that
             divers
             eminent
             Spagyrists
             have
             reckon'd
             amongst
             their
             highest
             Arcana
             the
             ways
             by
             which
             they
             pretended
             ,
             (
             and
             I
             fear
             did
             but
             pretend
             )
             to
             Extract
             the
             Mercury
             of
             Gold
             ,
             and
             consequently
             destroy
             that
             Metal
             ;
             and
             't
             were
             not
             hard
             to
             shew
             by
             particular
             instances
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             Experiments
             wherein
             Bodies
             are
             in
             some
             respects
             deteriorated
             ,
             are
             not
             without
             distinction
             to
             be
             rejected
             or
             despis'd
             ;
             since
             in
             some
             of
             them
             ,
             the
             Light
             they
             may
             afford
             may
             more
             than
             countervail
             the
             Degradation
             of
             a
             small
             quantity
             of
             matter
             ,
             though
             it
             be
             Gold
             it self
             .
             And
             indeed
             ,
             (
             continues
             he
             )
             if
             we
             will
             consider
             things
             as
             Philosophers
             ,
             and
             look
             upon
             them
             as
             Nature
             hath
             made
             them
             ,
             not
             as
             Opinion
             hath
             disguised
             them
             ;
             the
             Prerogatives
             and
             usefulness
             of
             Gold
             ,
             in
             comparison
             of
             other
             Metals
             ,
             is
             nothing
             near
             so
             great
             as
             Alchymists
             and
             Usurers
             imagine
             .
             For
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             true
             ,
             that
             Gold
             is
             more
             ponderous
             ,
             and
             more
             fix'd
             ,
             and
             perhaps
             more
             difficult
             to
             be
             spoiled
             ,
             than
             Iron
             ;
             yet
             these
             qualities
             (
             whereof
             the
             first
             makes
             it
             burthensom
             ,
             and
             the
             two
             others
             serve
             chiefly
             but
             to
             distinguish
             the
             true
             from
             counterfeit
             )
             are
             so
             balanced
             by
             the
             hardness
             ,
             stiffness
             ,
             springiness
             ,
             and
             other
             useful
             qualities
             of
             Iron
             ;
             that
             if
             those
             two
             Metals
             I
             speak
             of
             ,
             (
             Gold
             and
             Iron
             )
             were
             equally
             plentiful
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             it
             is
             scarce
             to
             be
             doubted
             ,
             but
             that
             Men
             would
             prefer
             the
             
             more
             useful
             before
             the
             more
             splendid
             ,
             considering
             how
             much
             worse
             it
             were
             for
             Mankind
             to
             want
             Hatchets
             ,
             and
             Knives
             and
             Swords
             ,
             than
             Coin
             and
             Plate
             ?
             Wherefore
             ,
             (
             concludes
             he
             )
             I
             think
             Pyrophilus
             ought
             to
             be
             both
             desired
             and
             incouraged
             to
             go
             on
             with
             his
             intended
             Discourse
             ,
             since
             whether
             Gold
             be
             or
             not
             be
             the
             Best
             of
             Metals
             ;
             an
             assurance
             that
             it
             may
             be
             degraded
             ,
             may
             prove
             a
             Novelty
             very
             Instructive
             ,
             and
             perhaps
             more
             so
             than
             the
             Transmutation
             of
             a
             baser
             Metal
             into
             a
             Nobler
             .
             For
             I
             remember
             it
             hath
             long
             pass'd
             for
             a
             Maxim
             among
             Chymical
             Philosophers
             ,
             That
             
               Facilius
               est
               aurum
               construere
               quam
               destruere
               :
            
             And
             whatever
             becomes
             of
             that
             ,
             't
             is
             certain
             that
             Gold
             being
             the
             closest
             ,
             the
             constantest
             ,
             and
             the
             least
             destructible
             of
             Metals
             ,
             to
             be
             able
             to
             work
             a
             notable
             and
             almost
             
               Essential
               change
            
             in
             such
             a
             Body
             ,
             (
             though
             ,
             by
             detereorating
             it
             )
             is
             more
             than
             to
             work
             a
             
               like
               change
            
             ,
             (
             though
             in
             popular
             estimation
             for
             the
             better
             )
             in
             any
             Metal
             less
             indisposed
             to
             admit
             alterations
             ,
             especially
             in
             such
             an
             one
             as
             Pyrophilus
             intimates
             ,
             by
             telling
             us
             ,
             that
             't
             was
             made
             by
             
               Way
               of
               Projection
            
             ,
             and
             consequently
             by
             a
             very
             small
             proportion
             of
             active
             matter
             ;
             whereas
             the
             destructions
             that
             vulgar
             Chymists
             pretend
             to
             make
             of
             Gold
             ,
             are
             wont
             to
             be
             attempted
             to
             be
             made
             by
             considerable
             proportions
             of
             Corrosive
             Menstruums
             ,
             or
             other
             fretting
             Bodies
             ;
             and
             even
             these
             ,
             Experience
             shews
             to
             be
             usually
             too
             weak
             to
             ruine
             ,
             though
             sometimes
             they
             may
             much
             disguise
             the
             most
             Stable
             Texture
             of
             Gold.
             
               Cuncta
               adeo
               miris
               illic
               complexibus
               haerent
               .
            
          
        
         
           Pyrophilus
           perceiving
           by
           several
           signs
           that
           he
           needed
           not
           add
           any
           thing
           of
           Apologetical
           to
           what
           Arristander
           had
           already
           said
           for
           him
           ,
           resumed
           his
           Discourse
           ,
           by
           saying
           ,
           
             I
             was
             going
             ,
             Gentlemen
             ,
             when
             Simplicius
             diverted
             me
             ,
             to
             tell
             you
             That
             looking
             upon
             the
             Vulgar
             Objections
             that
             have
             been
             wont
             to
             be
             fram'd
             against
             the
             possibility
             of
             Metalline
             Transmutations
             ,
             from
             the
             Authority
             and
             Prejudices
             of
             
             Aristotle
             ,
             and
             the
             School-Philosophers
             ,
             as
             Arguments
             that
             in
             such
             an
             Assembly
             as
             this
             need
             not
             now
             be
             solemnly
             discuss'd
             ;
             I
             consider
             that
             the
             difficulties
             that
             really
             deserve
             to
             be
             call'd
             so
             ,
             and
             are
             of
             weight
             even
             with
             Mechanical
             Philosophers
             ,
             and
             Judicious
             Naturalists
             ,
             are
             principally
             these
             .
             First
             ,
             That
             the
             great
             change
             that
             must
             be
             wrought
             by
             the
             Elixir
             ,
             (
             if
             there
             be
             such
             an
             Agent
             )
             is
             effected
             upon
             Bodies
             of
             so
             stable
             and
             almost
             immutable
             a
             Nature
             as
             Metals
             .
             Next
             ,
             That
             this
             great
             change
             is
             said
             to
             be
             brought
             to
             pass
             in
             a
             very
             short
             time
             .
             
               And
               thirdly
            
             ,
             (
             which
             is
             yet
             more
             strange
             )
             That
             this
             great
             and
             suddain
             alteration
             is
             said
             to
             be
             effected
             by
             a
             very
             small
             ,
             and
             perhaps
             inconsiderable
             ,
             proportion
             of
             the
             transmuting
             Powder
             .
             To
             which
             three
             grand
             difficulties
             ,
             I
             shall
             add
             another
             that
             to
             me
             appears
             ,
             and
             perhaps
             will
             seem
             to
             divers
             of
             the
             new
             Philosophers
             ,
             worthy
             to
             be
             lookt
             upon
             as
             a
             fourth
             ,
             namely
             ,
             The
             notable
             change
             that
             must
             by
             a
             real
             transmutation
             be
             made
             in
             the
             Specifick
             Gravity
             of
             the
             matter
             wrought
             upon
             :
             which
             difficulty
             I
             therefore
             think
             not
             unworthy
             to
             be
             added
             to
             the
             rest
             ,
             because
             upon
             several
             tryals
             of
             my
             own
             and
             other
             men
             ,
             I
             have
             found
             no
             known
             quality
             of
             Gold
             ,
             (
             as
             its
             colour
             ,
             malleableness
             ,
             fixity
             ,
             or
             the
             like
             )
             so
             difficult
             ,
             if
             not
             so
             impossible
             ,
             to
             be
             introduc'd
             into
             any
             other
             Metalline
             Matter
             ,
             as
             the
             great
             Specifick
             Gravity
             that
             is
             peculiar
             to
             Gold.
             So
             that
             ,
             Gentlemen
             ,
             (
             concludes
             Pyrophilus
             )
             if
             it
             can
             be
             made
             appear
             that
             Art
             has
             produc'd
             an
             Anti-Elixir
             ,
             (
             if
             I
             may
             so
             call
             it
             )
             or
             Agent
             that
             is
             able
             in
             a
             very
             short
             time
             ,
             to
             work
             a
             very
             notable
             ,
             though
             deteriorating
             ,
             change
             upon
             a
             Metal
             ;
             in
             proportion
             to
             which
             ,
             its
             quantity
             is
             very
             inconsiderable
             ;
             I
             see
             not
             why
             it
             should
             be
             thought
             impossible
             that
             Art
             may
             also
             make
             a
             
               true
               Elixir
            
             ,
             or
             Powder
             capable
             of
             speedily
             Transmuting
             a
             great
             proportion
             of
             a
             baser
             Metal
             into
             Silver
             or
             Gold
             :
             especially
             if
             it
             be
             considered
             ,
             that
             those
             
             that
             treat
             of
             these
             Arcana
             ,
             confess
             that
             't
             is
             not
             every
             matter
             which
             may
             be
             justly
             called
             the
             Philosophers
             Stone
             ,
             that
             is
             able
             to
             transmute
             other
             Metals
             in
             vast
             quantities
             ;
             since
             several
             of
             these
             Writers
             ,
             (
             and
             even
             Lully
             himself
             )
             make
             differing
             orders
             or
             degrees
             of
             the
             Elixir
             ,
             and
             acknowledge
             ,
             that
             a
             Medicine
             or
             Tincture
             of
             the
             first
             or
             lowest
             order
             will
             not
             transmute
             above
             ten
             times
             its
             weight
             of
             an
             Inferior
             Metal
             .
          
        
         
           Pyrophilus
           having
           at
           this
           part
           of
           his
           Discourse
           made
           a
           short
           pawse
           to
           take
           breath
           ,
           Crattippus
           took
           occasion
           from
           his
           silence
           to
           say
           to
           him
           ,
           
             I
             presume
             ,
             Pyrophilus
             ,
             I
             shall
             be
             disavowed
             by
             very
             few
             of
             these
             Gentlemen
             ,
             if
             I
             tell
             you
             that
             the
             company
             is
             impatient
             to
             hear
             the
             Narrative
             of
             your
             Experiment
             ,
             and
             that
             if
             it
             do
             so
             much
             as
             probably
             make
             out
             the
             particulars
             you
             have
             been
             mentioning
             ,
             you
             will
             in
             likelyhood
             
               perswade
               most
            
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             will
             certainly
             oblige
             them
             all
             .
             I
             shall
             therefore
             on
             their
             behalf
             as
             well
             as
             my
             own
             ,
             sollicite
             you
             to
             hasten
             to
             the
             Historical
             part
             of
             a
             Discourse
             that
             is
             so
             like
             to
             gratifie
             our
             Curiosity
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Company
           having
           by
           their
           unanimous
           silence
           ,
           testified
           their
           approbation
           of
           what
           Crattippus
           had
           said
           ;
           and
           appearing
           more
           than
           ordinarily
           attentive
           ,
        
         
           As
           I
           was
           one
           day
           abroad
           ;
           saith
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           to
           return
           visits
           to
           my
           Friends
           ,
           I
           was
           by
           a
           happy
           Providence
           (
           for
           it
           was
           beside
           my
           first
           Intention
           )
           directed
           to
           make
           one
           to
           an
           Ingenious
           Foreigner
           ,
           with
           whom
           a
           few
           that
           I
           had
           received
           from
           him
           ,
           had
           given
           me
           some
           little
           acquaintance
           .
        
         
           Whilst
           this
           Gentleman
           and
           I
           were
           discoursing
           together
           of
           several
           matters
           ,
           there
           came
           in
           to
           visit
           him
           a
           stranger
           ,
           whom
           I
           had
           but
           once
           seen
           before
           ;
           and
           though
           that
           were
           in
           a
           promiscuous
           company
           ,
           yet
           he
           addressed
           himself
           to
           me
           in
           a
           way
           that
           quickly
           satisfied
           me
           of
           the
           greatness
           of
           his
           Civility
           ;
           which
           he
           soon
           after
           also
           did
           of
           that
           of
           his
           Curiosity
           .
           
           For
           the
           Virtuoso
           ,
           in
           whose
           Lodgings
           we
           met
           ,
           having
           (
           to
           gratifie
           me
           )
           put
           him
           upon
           the
           discourse
           of
           his
           Voyages
           ;
           the
           curious
           stranger
           entertained
           us
           an
           hour
           or
           two
           with
           pertinent
           and
           judicious
           Answers
           to
           the
           Questions
           I
           askt
           him-about
           places
           so
           remote
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           within
           Land
           ,
           that
           I
           had
           not
           met
           with
           any
           of
           our
           English
           Navigators
           or
           Travellers
           that
           had
           penetrated
           so
           far
           as
           to
           visit
           them
           .
           And
           because
           I
           found
           by
           his
           discourse
           that
           I
           was
           like
           to
           enjoy
           such
           good
           company
           but
           a
           very
           little
           while
           ,
           (
           since
           he
           told
           me
           that
           he
           came
           the
           other
           day
           into
           England
           but
           to
           dispatch
           a
           business
           which
           he
           had
           already
           done
           as
           far
           as
           he
           could
           do
           it
           ,
           after
           which
           he
           was
           with
           speed
           to
           return
           ,
           as
           (
           to
           my
           trouble
           )
           he
           did
           to
           his
           Patron
           that
           sent
           him
           )
           I
           made
           the
           more
           haste
           to
           propose
           such
           Questions
           to
           him
           ,
           as
           I
           most
           desired
           to
           be
           satisfied
           about
           ;
           and
           among
           other
           things
           ,
           enquiring
           whether
           in
           the
           Eastern
           parts
           he
           had
           travers'd
           ,
           he
           had
           met
           with
           any
           Chymists
           ;
           he
           answered
           me
           that
           he
           had
           ;
           and
           that
           though
           they
           were
           fewer
           ,
           and
           more
           reserved
           than
           ours
           ,
           yet
           he
           did
           not
           find
           them
           all
           less
           skilful
           .
           And
           on
           this
           occasion
           ,
           before
           he
           left
           the
           Town
           to
           go
           aboard
           the
           Ship
           he
           was
           to
           overtake
           ;
           he
           in
           a
           very
           obliging
           way
           put
           into
           my
           hands
           at
           parting
           a
           little
           piece
           of
           Paper
           ,
           folded
           up
           ;
           which
           he
           said
           contained
           all
           that
           he
           had
           left
           of
           a
           rarity
           he
           had
           received
           from
           an
           Eastern
           Virtuoso
           ,
           and
           which
           he
           intimated
           would
           give
           me
           occasion
           both
           to
           Remember
           him
           ,
           and
           to
           exercise
           my
           thoughts
           in
           uncommon
           Speculations
           .
        
         
           The
           great
           delight
           I
           took
           in
           conversing
           with
           a
           Person
           that
           had
           travelled
           so
           far
           ,
           and
           could
           give
           me
           so
           good
           an
           account
           of
           what
           he
           had
           seen
           ,
           made
           me
           so
           much
           resent
           the
           being
           so
           soon
           deprived
           of
           it
           ,
           that
           though
           I
           judg'd
           such
           a
           Vertuoso
           would
           not
           ,
           as
           a
           great
           token
           of
           his
           kindness
           ,
           have
           presented
           me
           a
           trifle
           ,
           yet
           the
           Present
           did
           but
           very
           imperfectly
           consoal
           me
           for
           the
           loss
           of
           so
           pleasing
           and
           instructive
           a
           Conversation
           .
        
         
         
           Nevertheless
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           comply
           with
           the
           curiosity
           he
           himself
           had
           excited
           in
           me
           ,
           and
           know
           how
           much
           I
           was
           his
           Debtor
           ,
           I
           resolved
           to
           see
           what
           it
           was
           he
           had
           given
           me
           ,
           and
           try
           whether
           I
           could
           make
           it
           do
           what
           I
           thought
           he
           Intimated
           ,
           by
           the
           help
           of
           those
           few
           hints
           rather
           than
           directions
           how
           to
           use
           it
           ,
           which
           the
           parting
           haste
           he
           was
           in
           (
           or
           perhaps
           some
           other
           reason
           best
           known
           to
           himself
           )
           confin'd
           him
           to
           give
           me
           .
           But
           in
           regard
           that
           I
           could
           not
           but
           think
           the
           Experiment
           would
           one
           way
           or
           other
           prove
           Extraordinary
           ,
           I
           thought
           fit
           to
           take
           a
           Witness
           or
           two
           and
           an
           Assistant
           in
           the
           trying
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           for
           that
           purpose
           made
           choice
           of
           an
           experienced
           Doctor
           of
           Physick
           ,
           very
           well
           vers'd
           in
           the
           separating
           and
           copelling
           of
           Metals
           .
        
         
           Though
           the
           Company
           (
           says
           Heliodorus
           )
           be
           so
           confident
           of
           your
           sincerity
           and
           wariness
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           give
           credit
           even
           to
           unlikely
           Experiments
           ,
           upon
           your
           single
           testimony
           ;
           yet
           we
           cannot
           but
           approve
           your
           discretion
           in
           taking
           an
           Assistant
           and
           a
           Witness
           ,
           because
           in
           nice
           and
           uncommon
           Experiments
           we
           can
           scarce
           use
           too
           much
           circumspection
           ,
           especially
           when
           we
           have
           not
           the
           means
           of
           reiterating
           the
           tryal
           :
           for
           in
           such
           new
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           difficult
           cases
           ,
           't
           is
           easie
           even
           for
           a
           clear-sighted
           Experimenter
           to
           over-look
           some
           important
           circumstance
           ,
           that
           a
           far
           less
           skilful
           by-stander
           may
           take
           notice
           of
           .
        
         
           As
           I
           have
           ever
           judged
           ,
           (
           saith
           Pyrophilus
           )
           that
           cautiousness
           is
           a
           very
           requisite
           qualification
           for
           him
           that
           would
           satisfactorily
           make
           curious
           Experiments
           ;
           so
           I
           thought
           fit
           to
           imploy
           a
           more
           than
           ordinary
           measure
           of
           it
           ,
           in
           making
           a
           tryal
           ,
           whose
           event
           I
           imagined
           might
           prove
           odd
           enough
           .
           And
           therefore
           having
           several
           times
           observed
           that
           some
           men
           are
           prepossessed
           ,
           by
           having
           a
           particular
           Expectation
           rais'd
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           are
           inclined
           to
           think
           that
           they
           
             do
             see
          
           that
           happen
           which
           they
           think
           they
           should
           see
           happen
           ;
           I
           resolved
           to
           obviate
           this
           prejudication
           as
           much
           as
           innocently
           I
           could
           ,
           
           and
           (
           without
           telling
           him
           any
           thing
           but
           the
           truth
           ,
           to
           which
           Philosophy
           as
           well
           as
           Religion
           obliges
           us
           to
           be
           strictly
           loyal
           )
           I
           told
           him
           but
           thus
           much
           of
           the
           truth
           ,
           that
           I
           expected
           that
           a
           small
           proportion
           of
           a
           Powder
           presented
           me
           by
           a
           Foreign
           Virtuoso
           ,
           would
           give
           a
           Brittleness
           to
           the
           most
           flexible
           and
           malleable
           of
           Metals
           ,
           Gold
           it self
           .
           Which
           change
           I
           perceiv'd
           he
           judged
           so
           considerable
           and
           unlikely
           to
           be
           effected
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           greedy
           of
           seeing
           it
           severely
           try'd
           .
        
         
           Having
           thus
           prepared
           him
           not
           to
           look
           for
           all
           that
           I
           my self
           expected
           ,
           I
           cautiously
           opened
           the
           Paper
           I
           lately
           mentioned
           ,
           but
           was
           both
           surprized
           and
           troubled
           ,
           (
           as
           he
           also
           was
           )
           to
           find
           in
           it
           so
           very
           little
           Powder
           ,
           that
           in
           stead
           of
           two
           differing
           tryals
           that
           I
           designed
           to
           make
           with
           it
           ,
           there
           seem'd
           very
           small
           hope
           left
           that
           it
           would
           serve
           for
           one
           ,
           (
           and
           that
           but
           an
           imperfect
           one
           neither
           .
           )
           For
           there
           was
           so
           very
           little
           Powder
           ,
           that
           we
           could
           scarce
           see
           the
           colour
           of
           it
           ,
           (
           save
           that
           as
           far
           as
           I
           could
           judge
           it
           was
           of
           a
           darkish
           Red
           )
           and
           we
           thought
           it
           not
           only
           dangerous
           ,
           but
           useless
           to
           attempt
           to
           weigh
           it
           ,
           in
           regard
           we
           might
           easily
           lose
           it
           by
           putting
           it
           into
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           the
           Balance
           ;
           and
           the
           Weights
           we
           had
           were
           not
           small
           enough
           for
           so
           despicable
           a
           quantity
           of
           matter
           ,
           which
           in
           words
           I
           estimated
           at
           an
           eighth
           part
           of
           a
           Grain
           :
           but
           my
           Assistant
           ,
           (
           whose
           conjecture
           I
           confess
           my
           thoughts
           inclin'd
           to
           prefer
           )
           would
           allow
           it
           to
           be
           at
           most
           but
           a
           tenth
           part
           of
           a
           Grain
           .
           Wherefore
           seeing
           the
           utmost
           we
           could
           reasonably
           hope
           to
           do
           with
           so
           very
           little
           Powder
           ,
           was
           to
           make
           one
           tryal
           with
           it
           ,
           we
           weighed
           out
           in
           differing
           Balances
           two
           Drams
           of
           Gold
           that
           had
           been
           formerly
           English
           Coyn
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           caused
           by
           one
           that
           I
           usually
           imploy
           to
           be
           cupell'd
           with
           a
           sufficient
           quantity
           of
           Lead
           ,
           and
           quarted
           ,
           as
           they
           speak
           ,
           with
           refin'd
           Silver
           ,
           and
           purg'd
           
             Aqua
             fortis
          
           ,
           to
           be
           sure
           of
           the
           goodness
           of
           the
           Gold
           :
           these
           two
           Drams
           I
           put
           into
           a
           new
           Crucible
           ,
           first
           carefully
           neal'd
           ,
           and
           having
           brought
           them
           to
           fusion
           by
           the
           meer
           action
           of
           the
           fire
           ,
           without
           
           the
           help
           of
           Borax
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Additament
           ,
           (
           which
           course
           ,
           though
           somewhat
           more
           laborious
           ,
           than
           the
           most
           usual
           we
           took
           to
           obviate
           scruples
           )
           I
           put
           into
           the
           well-melted
           Metal
           with
           my
           own
           hand
           the
           little
           parcel
           of
           Powder
           lately
           mentioned
           ,
           and
           continuing
           the
           Vessel
           in
           the
           fire
           for
           about
           a
           quarter
           of
           an
           hour
           ,
           that
           the
           Powder
           might
           have
           time
           to
           defuse
           it self
           every
           way
           into
           the
           Metal
           ,
           we
           poured
           out
           the
           well-melted
           Gold
           into
           another
           Crucible
           that
           I
           had
           brought
           with
           me
           ,
           and
           that
           had
           been
           gradually
           heated
           before
           ,
           to
           prevent
           cracking
           .
           But
           though
           from
           the
           first
           fusion
           of
           the
           Metal
           ,
           to
           the
           pouring
           out
           ,
           it
           had
           turn'd
           in
           the
           Crucible
           like
           ordinary
           Gold
           ,
           save
           that
           once
           my
           Assistant
           told
           me
           he
           saw
           that
           for
           two
           or
           three
           moments
           it
           lookt
           almost
           like
           an
           Opale
           ;
           yet
           I
           was
           somewhat
           surpriz'd
           to
           find
           when
           the
           matter
           was
           grown
           cold
           ,
           that
           though
           it
           appear'd
           upon
           the
           Balance
           that
           we
           had
           not
           lost
           any
           thing
           of
           the
           weight
           we
           put
           in
           ,
           yet
           in
           stead
           of
           
             fine
             Gold
          
           ,
           we
           had
           a
           lump
           of
           Metal
           of
           a
           dirty
           colour
           ,
           and
           as
           it
           were
           overcast
           with
           a
           thin
           coat
           ,
           almost
           like
           
             half
             vitrified
             Litharge
          
           ;
           and
           somewhat
           to
           increase
           the
           wonder
           ,
           we
           perceived
           that
           there
           stuck
           to
           one
           side
           of
           the
           Crucible
           a
           little
           Globule
           of
           Metal
           that
           lookt
           not
           at
           all
           yellowish
           ,
           but
           like
           course
           Silver
           ,
           and
           the
           bottom
           of
           the
           Crucible
           was
           overlaid
           with
           a
           vitrified
           substance
           ,
           whereof
           one
           part
           was
           of
           a
           transparent
           yellow
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           of
           a
           deep
           brown
           ,
           inclining
           to
           red
           ;
           and
           in
           this
           vitrified
           substance
           I
           could
           plainly
           perceive
           sticking
           at
           least
           five
           or
           six
           little
           Globules
           that
           lookt
           more
           like
           impure
           Silver
           than
           pure
           Gold.
           In
           short
           ,
           this
           stuff
           look
           so
           little
           like
           refin'd
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           as
           
             ordinary
             ,
             Gold
          
           ,
           that
           though
           my
           Friend
           did
           much
           more
           than
           I
           marvel
           at
           this
           change
           ,
           yet
           I
           confess
           I
           was
           surpriz'd
           at
           it
           my self
           .
           For
           though
           in
           some
           particulars
           it
           answered
           what
           I
           lookt
           for
           ,
           yet
           in
           others
           ,
           it
           was
           very
           differing
           from
           that
           which
           the
           Donor
           of
           the
           Powder
           had
           ,
           as
           I
           thought
           ,
           given
           me
           ground
           to
           expect
           .
           Whether
           the
           cause
           of
           my
           disappointment
           
           were
           that
           (
           as
           I
           formerly
           intimated
           )
           this
           
           Virtuoso's
           haste
           or
           design
           made
           him
           leave
           me
           in
           the
           dark
           ;
           or
           whether
           it
           were
           that
           finding
           my self
           in
           want
           of
           sufficient
           directions
           ,
           I
           happily
           pitcht
           upon
           such
           a
           proportion
           of
           Materials
           ,
           and
           way
           of
           operating
           ,
           as
           were
           proper
           to
           make
           a
           new
           Discovery
           ,
           which
           the
           excellent
           Giver
           of
           the
           Powder
           had
           not
           Design'd
           ,
           or
           perhaps
           thought
           of
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           not
           at
           all
           wonder
           ,
           saith
           Cratippus
           ,
           either
           at
           your
           Friends
           amazement
           ,
           or
           at
           your
           surprize
           ,
           if
           your
           further
           tryals
           did
           in
           any
           measure
           confirm
           what
           the
           
             superficial
             change
          
           that
           appeared
           in
           your
           Metal
           could
           not
           but
           incline
           you
           to
           conjecture
           .
        
         
           You
           will
           best
           judge
           of
           that
           (
           replies
           Pyrophilus
           )
           by
           the
           account
           I
           was
           going
           to
           give
           you
           of
           what
           we
           did
           with
           our
           odd
           Metal
           .
           
             And
             First
          
           ,
           having
           rubb'd
           it
           upon
           a
           good
           Touchstone
           ,
           whereon
           we
           had
           likewise
           rubb'd
           a
           piece
           of
           
             Coyn'd
             Silver
          
           ,
           and
           a
           piece
           of
           
             Coyn'd
             Gold
          
           ,
           we
           manifestly
           found
           that
           the
           mark
           left
           upon
           the
           Stone
           by
           our
           Mass
           between
           the
           marks
           of
           the
           two
           other
           Metals
           ,
           was
           notoriously
           more
           like
           the
           Touch
           of
           the
           Silver
           than
           to
           that
           of
           the
           Gold.
           Next
           ,
           having
           knockt
           our
           little
           lump
           with
           a
           Hammer
           ,
           it
           was
           ,
           (
           according
           to
           my
           prediction
           )
           found
           brittle
           ,
           and
           flew
           into
           several
           pieces
           .
           Thirdly
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           more
           )
           even
           the
           insides
           of
           those
           pieces
           lookt
           of
           a
           base
           dirty
           colour
           ,
           like
           that
           of
           Brass
           or
           worse
           ,
           for
           the
           fragments
           had
           a
           far
           greater
           resemblance
           to
           Bell-Metal
           ,
           than
           either
           to
           Gold
           or
           to
           Silver
           .
           To
           which
           we
           added
           this
           fourth
           ,
           and
           more
           considerable
           ,
           Examen
           ;
           that
           having
           carefully
           weigh'd
           out
           one
           dram
           of
           our
           stuff
           ,
           (
           reserving
           the
           rest
           for
           trials
           to
           be
           suggested
           by
           
             second
             thoughts
          
           )
           and
           put
           it
           upon
           an
           excellent
           now
           and
           well-neal'd
           Cupel
           ,
           with
           about
           half
           a
           dozen
           times
           its
           weight
           of
           Lead
           ,
           we
           found
           ,
           somewhat
           to
           our
           wonder
           ,
           that
           though
           it
           turn'd
           very
           well
           like
           good
           Gold
           ,
           yet
           it
           continued
           in
           the
           fire
           above
           an
           hour
           and
           an
           half
           ,
           (
           which
           was
           twice
           as
           long
           as
           we
           expected
           )
           and
           yet
           
           almost
           to
           the
           very
           last
           the
           fumes
           copiously
           ascended
           ,
           which
           sufficiently
           argu'd
           the
           operation
           to
           have
           been
           well
           carried
           on
           ;
           and
           when
           at
           last
           it
           was
           quite
           ended
           ,
           we
           found
           the
           Cupel
           very
           smooth
           and
           intire
           ,
           but
           ting'd
           with
           a
           fine
           Purplish
           Red
           ,
           (
           which
           did
           somewhat
           surprize
           us
           )
           and
           besides
           ,
           the
           
             refined
             Gold
          
           ,
           there
           lay
           upon
           the
           cavity
           of
           the
           Cupel
           some
           dark-coloured
           recrements
           ,
           which
           we
           concluded
           to
           have
           proceeded
           from
           the
           deteriorated
           Metal
           ,
           not
           from
           the
           Lead
           .
           But
           when
           we
           came
           to
           put
           our
           Gold
           again
           into
           the
           Balance
           ,
           we
           found
           it
           to
           weigh
           only
           about
           
             fifty
             three
             Grains
          
           ,
           and
           consequently
           to
           have
           lost
           seven
           ;
           which
           yet
           we
           found
           to
           be
           fully
           made
           up
           by
           that
           little
           quantity
           of
           recrements
           that
           I
           have
           lately
           mention'd
           ,
           whose
           Weight
           and
           Fixity
           ,
           compared
           with
           their
           unpromising
           Colour
           ,
           did
           not
           a
           little
           puzzle
           us
           ,
           especially
           because
           we
           had
           not
           enough
           either
           of
           Them
           ,
           or
           of
           leisure
           ,
           to
           examine
           their
           nature
           .
           To
           all
           which
           circumstances
           ,
           I
           shall
           subjoin
           this
           ,
           that
           to
           prevent
           any
           scruples
           that
           might
           arise
           touching
           the
           Gold
           we
           imploy'd
           ,
           I
           caused
           a
           dram
           and
           a
           half
           that
           had
           been
           purposely
           reserv'd
           out
           of
           the
           same
           portion
           with
           that
           that
           had
           been
           debased
           ;
           I
           caused
           this
           (
           I
           say
           )
           to
           be
           in
           my
           Assistants
           presence
           melted
           by
           it self
           ,
           and
           found
           it
           (
           as
           I
           doubted
           not
           but
           I
           should
           do
           )
           fine
           and
           well-coloured
           Gold.
           
        
         
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           pardon
           my
           curiosity
           ,
           saith
           Arristander
           to
           the
           Gentleman
           that
           spoke
           last
           ,
           if
           I
           ask
           why
           you
           take
           no
           notice
           of
           the
           effect
           of
           
             Aqua
             fortis
          
           upon
           your
           
             imbased
             Metal
          
           ?
           Your
           Question
           ,
           replies
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           I
           confess
           to
           be
           very
           reasonable
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           somewhat
           troubled
           that
           I
           can
           answer
           it
           but
           by
           telling
           you
           that
           we
           had
           not
           at
           hand
           any
           
             Aqua
             fortis
          
           we
           durst
           relie
           on
           ;
           which
           yet
           I
           was
           the
           less
           troubled
           at
           ,
           because
           heretofore
           some
           tryals
           purposely
           made
           had
           inform'd
           me
           ,
           that
           in
           some
           
             Metalline
             Mixtures
          
           the
           Gold
           if
           it
           were
           much
           predominant
           in
           quantity
           ,
           may
           protect
           another
           Metal
           ;
           (
           for
           instance
           Silver
           )
           from
           being
           dissolved
           by
           that
           Menstruum
           ,
           though
           not
           from
           being
           at
           all
           invaded
           by
           it
           .
        
         
         
           There
           yet
           remain'd
           ,
           saith
           Heliodorus
           ,
           one
           examen
           more
           of
           your
           odd
           Metal
           ,
           which
           would
           have
           satisfied
           me
           ,
           at
           least
           as
           much
           as
           any
           of
           the
           rest
           ,
           of
           its
           having
           been
           notably
           imbas'd
           :
           for
           if
           it
           were
           altered
           in
           its
           
             specifick
             gravity
          
           ,
           that
           quality
           I
           have
           always
           observ'd
           (
           as
           I
           lately
           perceiv'd
           you
           also
           have
           done
           )
           to
           stick
           so
           close
           to
           Gold
           ,
           that
           it
           could
           not
           by
           an
           additament
           so
           inconsiderable
           in
           point
           of
           bulk
           ,
           be
           considerably
           altered
           without
           a
           notable
           and
           almost
           Essential
           change
           in
           the
           texture
           of
           the
           Metal
           .
        
         
           To
           this
           pertinent
           discourse
           ,
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           with
           the
           respect
           due
           to
           a
           person
           that
           so
           worthily
           sustain'd
           the
           dignity
           he
           had
           of
           presiding
           in
           that
           
             choice
             company
          
           ,
           made
           this
           return
           :
           I
           owe
           you
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           my
           humble
           thanks
           for
           calling
           upon
           me
           to
           give
           you
           an
           account
           I
           might
           have
           forgotten
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           yet
           of
           so
           important
           a
           thing
           ,
           that
           none
           of
           the
           other
           Phaenomena
           of
           our
           Experiment
           seem'd
           to
           me
           to
           deserve
           so
           much
           notice
           .
           Wherefore
           I
           shall
           now
           inform
           you
           ,
           that
           having
           provided
           my self
           of
           all
           the
           requisites
           to
           make
           Hydrostatical
           Tryals
           ,
           (
           to
           which
           perhaps
           I
           am
           not
           altogether
           a
           stranger
           )
           I
           carefully
           weighed
           in
           water
           the
           ill-lookt
           Mass
           ,
           (
           before
           it
           was
           divided
           for
           the
           coupelling
           of
           the
           above-mentioned
           dram
           )
           and
           found
           ,
           to
           the
           great
           confirmation
           of
           my
           former
           wonder
           and
           conjectures
           ,
           that
           in
           stead
           of
           weighing
           about
           nineteen
           times
           as
           much
           as
           a
           bulk
           of
           water
           ,
           equal
           to
           it
           ,
           its
           proportion
           to
           that
           liquor
           was
           but
           that
           of
           fifteen
           ,
           and
           about
           two
           thirds
           to
           one
           :
           so
           that
           its
           
             specifick
             gravity
          
           was
           less
           by
           about
           31
           /
           ●…3
           than
           if
           it
           had
           been
           pure
           Gold
           it
           would
           have
           been
           .
        
         
           At
           the
           recital
           of
           this
           
             notable
             circumstance
          
           ,
           superadded
           to
           the
           rest
           ,
           the
           generality
           of
           the
           Company
           ,
           and
           the
           President
           too
           ,
           by
           looking
           and
           smiling
           upon
           one
           another
           ,
           express'd
           themselves
           to
           be
           as
           
             well
             delighted
          
           as
           surpriz'd
           ;
           and
           after
           the
           murmuring
           occasion'd
           by
           the
           various
           whispers
           that
           pass'd
           amongst
           them
           ,
           was
           a
           little
           over
           ,
           Heliodorus
           address'd
           himself
           to
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           and
           told
           him
           ,
           I
           
             need
             not
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           
             shall
             
             not
          
           ,
           stay
           for
           an
           express
           order
           from
           the
           Company
           to
           give
           you
           their
           hearty
           thanks
           :
           for
           as
           the
           
             Obliging
             Stranger
          
           did
           very
           much
           gratifie
           you
           by
           the
           Present
           of
           his
           
             Wonderful
             Powder
          
           ,
           so
           you
           have
           not
           a
           little
           gratified
           us
           by
           so
           candid
           and
           particular
           a
           Narrative
           of
           the
           effects
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           I
           hope
           (
           continues
           he
           )
           that
           if
           you
           have
           not
           yet
           otherwise
           dispos'd
           of
           that
           part
           of
           your
           
             deteriorated
             Gold
          
           that
           you
           did
           not
           cupel
           ,
           you
           will
           sometime
           or
           other
           favour
           us
           with
           a
           sight
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           I
           join
           in
           this
           request
           ,
           said
           Crattippus
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           he
           perceived
           the
           President
           had
           done
           speaking
           ,
           and
           to
           facilitate
           the
           grant
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           scruple
           to
           tell
           Pyrophilus
           he
           may
           be
           confident
           that
           the
           Degradation
           of
           his
           Gold
           will
           not
           depreciate
           it
           amongst
           Us
           :
           since
           if
           it
           be
           allowable
           for
           Opinion
           to
           stamp
           such
           a
           value
           upon
           
             Old
             Coyns
          
           and
           Medals
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           Judgment
           of
           good
           Antiquaries
           ,
           a
           rusty
           piece
           of
           Brass
           or
           Copper
           ,
           with
           a
           half
           defaced
           Image
           or
           Inscription
           on
           it
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           highlier
           valued
           than
           as
           big
           a
           piece
           of
           well-stampt
           Gold
           ;
           I
           see
           not
           why
           it
           should
           not
           be
           lawful
           for
           Philosophers
           to
           prize
           such
           a
           lump
           of
           
             depraved
             Gold
          
           as
           yours
           ,
           before
           the
           
             finest
             Gold
          
           the
           Chymists
           or
           Mintmasters
           are
           wont
           to
           afford
           us
           .
           And
           though
           I
           freely
           grant
           that
           some
           old
           
             Copper
             Medals
          
           are
           of
           good
           use
           in
           History
           ,
           to
           keep
           alive
           by
           their
           Inscriptions
           the
           memory
           of
           the
           taking
           of
           a
           Town
           ,
           or
           the
           winning
           of
           a
           Battel
           ;
           though
           these
           be
           but
           things
           that
           almost
           every
           day
           are
           some
           where
           or
           other
           done
           ,
           yet
           I
           think
           
           Pyrophilus's
           imbas'd
           Metal
           is
           much
           to
           be
           preferr'd
           ,
           as
           not
           only
           preserving
           the
           memory
           ,
           but
           
             being
             an
             effect
          
           of
           such
           a
           Victory
           of
           Art
           over
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           conquering
           of
           such
           generally
           believ'd
           insuperable
           difficulties
           ,
           as
           no
           Story
           that
           I
           know
           of
           gives
           us
           an
           example
           of
           .
        
         
           As
           soon
           as
           ever
           Crattippus
           had
           made
           a
           pawse
           ,
           Pyrophilus
           to
           prevent
           complimental
           discourse
           ,
           did
           in
           few
           words
           tell
           the
           President
           ,
           That
           his
           part
           had
           been
           but
           that
           of
           a
           Relator
           of
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           and
           that
           therefore
           he
           could
           deserve
           but
           
           
             little
             thanks
          
           and
           
             no
             praise
          
           at
           all
           ;
           though
           a
           good
           measure
           of
           both
           of
           them
           were
           due
           to
           the
           
             Obliging
             Virtuoso
          
           that
           had
           given
           him
           the
           Powder
           ;
           and
           in
           that
           ,
           the
           opportunity
           of
           complying
           with
           his
           duty
           ,
           and
           his
           inclination
           ,
           to
           serve
           that
           learned
           Company
           .
        
         
           These
           Gentlemen
           (
           saith
           Arristander
           )
           are
           not
           persons
           among
           whom
           modesty
           is
           either
           restrained
           from
           expressing
           it self
           ,
           or
           construed
           according
           to
           the
           Letter
           ;
           and
           therefore
           whatever
           you
           have
           been
           pleas'd
           to
           say
           ,
           the
           Company
           cannot
           but
           think
           its
           self
           much
           obliged
           to
           you
           ;
           and
           I
           know
           the
           obligation
           would
           be
           much
           increas'd
           ,
           if
           you
           would
           favor
           us
           with
           your
           reflections
           upon
           the
           extraordinary
           Experiment
           you
           have
           been
           pleased
           to
           relate
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           If
           ,
           replies
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           I
           had
           had
           wherewithal
           to
           repeat
           the
           Experiment
           ,
           and
           vary
           it
           according
           to
           the
           hints
           afforded
           me
           by
           the
           first
           tryal
           ,
           I
           should
           be
           less
           unfit
           to
           comply
           with
           
           Arristander's
           motion
           :
           but
           the
           Phaenomena
           are
           too
           new
           and
           too
           difficult
           for
           me
           to
           attempt
           to
           unriddle
           them
           by
           the
           help
           of
           so
           slender
           an
           information
           as
           a
           person
           so
           little
           sagacious
           as
           I
           could
           get
           by
           a
           
             single
             tryal
          
           ;
           and
           though
           I
           will
           not
           deny
           that
           I
           have
           had
           some
           ●aving
           thoughts
           about
           this
           puzzling
           subject
           ,
           yet
           I
           hope
           I
           shall
           easily
           be
           pardon'd
           ,
           if
           I
           decline
           to
           present
           crude
           and
           immature
           thoughts
           to
           a
           Company
           that
           so
           well
           deserves
           the
           most
           ripe
           ones
           ,
           and
           can
           so
           skilfully
           discover
           those
           that
           are
           not
           so
           .
        
         
           I
           confess
           ,
           saith
           Heliodorus
           ,
           that
           I
           think
           
           Pyrophilus's
           wariness
           deserves
           not
           only
           to
           be
           allow'd
           ,
           but
           imitated
           ;
           and
           therefore
           by
           my
           consent
           the
           further
           discourse
           of
           so
           abstruse
           a
           subject
           ,
           shall
           be
           deferr'd
           till
           we
           shall
           have
           had
           time
           to
           consider
           seriously
           of
           Phaenomena
           that
           will
           be
           sure
           to
           imploy
           our
           most
           speculative
           thoughts
           ,
           and
           I
           fear
           to
           pose
           them
           too
           :
           only
           we
           must
           not
           forget
           that
           
             Pyrophilus
             himself
          
           ought
           to
           be
           not
           barely
           allow'd
           ,
           but
           invited
           to
           draw
           before
           we
           rise
           ,
           what
           Corrollaries
           he
           thinks
           fit
           to
           propose
           from
           what
           he
           hath
           already
           delivered
           .
        
         
         
           The
           inference
           ,
           saith
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           I
           meant
           to
           make
           ,
           will
           not
           detain
           you
           long
           ;
           having
           for
           the
           main
           been
           already
           intimated
           in
           what
           you
           may
           remember
           I
           told
           you
           I
           design'd
           in
           the
           mention
           I
           was
           about
           to
           make
           of
           the
           now-recited
           Experiment
           .
           For
           without
           launching
           into
           difficult
           Speculations
           ,
           or
           making
           use
           of
           disputable
           Hypotheses
           ,
           it
           seems
           evident
           enough
           from
           the
           matter
           of
           Fact
           faithfully
           laid
           before
           you
           ,
           that
           an
           Operation
           
             very
             near
          
           ,
           if
           not
           altogether
           as
           strange
           as
           that
           which
           is
           call'd
           Projection
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           difficultest
           points
           much
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           with
           it
           ,
           may
           safely
           be
           admitted
           .
           For
           our
           Experiment
           plainly
           shews
           that
           Gold
           ,
           though
           confessedly
           the
           most
           homogeneous
           ,
           and
           the
           least
           mutable
           of
           Metals
           ,
           may
           be
           in
           a
           very
           short
           time
           (
           perhaps
           not
           amounting
           to
           many
           minutes
           )
           exceedingly
           chang'd
           ,
           both
           as
           to
           
             malleableness
             ,
             colour
             ,
             homogeniety
          
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           is
           more
           )
           
             specifick
             gravity
          
           ;
           and
           all
           this
           by
           so
           very
           inconsiderable
           a
           proportion
           of
           injected
           Powder
           ,
           that
           since
           the
           Gold
           that
           was
           wrought
           on
           weighed
           two
           of
           our
           English
           drams
           ,
           and
           consequently
           an
           hundred
           and
           twenty
           grains
           ,
           an
           easie
           computation
           will
           assure
           us
           that
           the
           Medicine
           did
           thus
           powerfully
           act
           ,
           according
           to
           my
           estimate
           ,
           (
           which
           was
           the
           modestest
           )
           upon
           near
           a
           thousand
           times
           ,
           (
           for
           't
           was
           above
           nine
           hundred
           and
           fifty
           times
           )
           its
           weight
           of
           Gold
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           my
           Assistants
           estimate
           ,
           did
           (
           as
           they
           speak
           )
           
             go
             on
          
           upon
           twelve
           hundred
           ;
           so
           that
           if
           it
           were
           fit
           to
           apply
           to
           this
           Anti-Elixir
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           formerly
           ventur'd
           to
           call
           it
           )
           what
           is
           said
           of
           the
           true
           Elixir
           by
           divers
           of
           the
           Chymical
           Philosophers
           ,
           who
           will
           have
           the
           virtue
           of
           their
           Stone
           increas'd
           in
           such
           a
           proportion
           ,
           as
           that
           at
           first
           't
           will
           transmute
           but
           ten
           times
           its
           weight
           ;
           after
           the
           next
           rotation
           
             an
             hundred
          
           times
           ,
           and
           after
           the
           next
           to
           that
           
             a
             thousand
             times
          
           ,
           our
           Powder
           may
           in
           their
           language
           be
           stil'd
           
             a
             Medicine
             of
             the
             third
             order
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Computation
           ,
           saith
           Arristander
           ,
           is
           very
           obvious
           ,
           but
           the
           change
           of
           so
           great
           a
           proportion
           of
           Metal
           is
           so
           wonderful
           and
           unexampled
           ,
           that
           I
           hope
           we
           shall
           among
           other
           things
           
           learn
           from
           it
           this
           lesson
           ,
           That
           we
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           so
           forward
           as
           many
           men
           otherwise
           of
           great
           parts
           are
           wont
           to
           be
           ,
           in
           prescribing
           narrow
           limits
           to
           the
           power
           of
           Nature
           and
           Art
           ,
           and
           in
           condemning
           and
           deriding
           all
           those
           that
           pretend
           to
           ,
           or
           believe
           ,
           uncommon
           things
           in
           Chymistry
           ,
           as
           either
           (
           heats
           or
           Credulous
           .
           And
           therefore
           I
           hope
           ,
           that
           though
           (
           at
           least
           in
           my
           opinion
           )
           it
           be
           very
           allowable
           to
           call
           Fables
           ,
           Fables
           ,
           and
           to
           detect
           and
           expose
           the
           Impostures
           or
           Deceits
           of
           ignorant
           or
           vain-glorious
           Pretenders
           to
           Chymical
           Mysteries
           ,
           yet
           we
           shall
           not
           by
           too
           hasty
           and
           general
           censures
           of
           the
           sober
           and
           diligent
           Indigators
           of
           the
           Arcana
           of
           Chymistry
           ,
           blemish
           (
           as
           much
           as
           in
           us
           lies
           )
           that
           excellent
           Art
           it self
           ,
           and
           thereby
           disoblige
           the
           genuine
           Sons
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           divert
           those
           that
           are
           indeed
           Possessors
           of
           Noble
           Secrets
           ,
           from
           vouchsafing
           to
           gratifie
           our
           Curiosity
           ,
           as
           we
           see
           that
           one
           of
           them
           did
           
           Pyrophilus's
           ,
           with
           the
           sight
           at
           least
           ,
           of
           some
           of
           their
           highly
           Instructive
           Rarities
           .
        
         
           I
           wholly
           approve
           ,
           saith
           Heliodorus
           rising
           from
           his
           seat
           ,
           the
           discreet
           and
           seasonable
           motion
           made
           by
           Arristander
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           presume
           ,
           subjoins
           Pyrophilus
           ,
           that
           it
           will
           not
           be
           the
           less
           lik'd
           ,
           if
           I
           add
           ,
           That
           I
           will
           allow
           the
           Company
           to
           believe
           that
           as
           extraordinary
           ,
           as
           I
           perceive
           most
           of
           you
           think
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           lately
           recited
           Experiment
           ;
           yet
           I
           have
           not
           (
           because
           I
           must
           not
           do
           it
           )
           as
           yet
           acquainted
           you
           with
           the
           Strangest
           effect
           of
           our
           Admirable
           Powder
           .