_The Philosopher's Stone_.--Sir Kenelm Digby was relating to King James
that he had seen the true Philosopher's Stone, in the possession of a
hermit in Italy; and when the king was very curious to understand what
sort of a stone it was, and Sir Kenelm being much puzzled in describing
it, Sir Francis Bacon, who was present, interposed, and said, "Perhaps
it was a _whetstone_."
N.B. There is an old _proverbial_ expression, in which an excitement to
a lie was called a _whetstone_. P.T.W.
[4] Precious Salvage.
* * * * *
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Booksellers._