_Collectanea Chymica_: A collection of ten several treatises in
chymistry, concerning the liquor Alkehest, the Mercury of Philosophers,
and other curiosities worthy the perusal. Written by Eir.
Philaletha,[254] Anonymus, J. B. Van-Helmont,[255] Dr. Fr. {126}
Antonie,[256] Bernhard Earl of Trevisan,[257] Sir Geo. Ripley,[258]
Rog. Bacon,[259] Geo. Starkie,[260] Sir Hugh Platt,[261] and the Tomb
of Semiramis. See more in the contents. London, 1684, 8vo.
In the advertisements at the ends of these tracts there are upwards of a
hundred English tracts, nearly all of the period, and most of them
translations. Alchemy looks up since the chemists have found perfectly
different substances composed of the same elements and proportions. It is
true the chemists cannot yet _transmute_; but they may in time: they poke
about most assiduously. It seems, then, that the conviction that alchemy
_must_ be impossible was a delusion: but we do not mention it.
{127}
The astrologers and the alchemists caught it in company in the following,
of which I have an unreferenced note.
"Mendacem et futilem hominem nominare qui volunt, calendariographum dicunt;
at qui sceleratum simul ac impostorem, chimicum.[262]
"Crede ratem ventis corpus ne crede chimistis;
Est quaevis chimica tutior aura fide."[263]
Among the smaller paradoxes of the day is that of the _Times_ newspaper,
which always spells it _chymistry_: but so, I believe, do Johnson, Walker,
and others. The Arabic work is very likely formed from the Greek: but it
may be connected either with [Greek: chemeia] or with [Greek: chumeia].
Lettre d'un gentil-homme de province a une dame de qualite, sur le
sujet de la Comete. Paris, 1681, 4to.
An opponent of astrology, whom I strongly suspect to have been one of the
members of the Academy of Sciences under the name of a country
gentleman,[264] writes very good sense on the tremors excited by comets.
The Petitioning-Comet: or a brief Chronology of all the famous Comets
and their events, that have happened from the birth of Christ to this
very day. Together with a modest enquiry into this present comet,
London, 1681, 4to.
A satirical tract against the cometic prophecy:
"This present comet (it's true) is of a menacing aspect, but if the _new
parliament_ (for whose convention so many good men pray) continue long to
sit, I fear not but the star will lose its virulence and malignancy, or at
least its portent be averted from this our nation; which being the humble
request to God of all good men, makes me thus entitle it, a
Petitioning-Comet."
{128}
The following anecdote is new to me:
"Queen Elizabeth (1558) being then at Richmond, and being disswaded from
looking on a comet which did then appear, made answer, _jacta est alea_,
the dice are thrown; thereby intimating that the pre-order'd providence of
God was above the influence of any star or comet."
The argument was worth nothing: for the comet might have been _on the dice_
with the event; the astrologers said no more, at least the more rational
ones, who were about half of the whole.
An astrological and theological discourse upon this present great
conjunction (the like whereof hath not (likely) been in some ages)
ushered in by a great comet. London, 1682, 4to. By C. N.[265]
The author foretells the approaching "sabbatical jubilee," but will not fix
the date: he recounts the failures of his predecessors.
A judgment of the comet which became first generally visible to us in
Dublin, December 13, about 15 minutes before 5 in the evening, A.D.
1680. By a person of quality. Dublin, 1682, 4to.
The author argues against cometic astrology with great ability.
A prophecy on the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in this present
year 1682. With some prophetical predictions of what is likely to ensue
therefrom in the year 1684. By John Case, Student in physic and
astrology.[266] London, 1682, 4to.
{129}
According to this writer, great conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn occur
"in the fiery trigon," about once in 800 years. Of these there are to be
seven: six happened in the several times of Enoch, Noah, Moses, Solomon,
Christ, Charlemagne. The seventh, which is to happen at "the lamb's
marriage with the bride," seems to be that of 1682; but this is only
vaguely hinted.
De Quadrature van de Circkel. By Jacob Marcelis. Amsterdam, 1698, 4to.
Ampliatie en demonstratie wegens de Quadrature ... By Jacob Marcelis.
Amsterdam, 1699, 4to.
Eenvoudig vertoog briev-wys geschrevem am J. Marcelis ... Amsterdam,
1702, 4to.
De sleutel en openinge van de quadrature ... Amsterdam, 1704, 4to.
Who shall contradict Jacob Marcelis?[267] He says the circumference
contains the diameter exactly times
1008449087377541679894282184894
3 --------------------------------
6997183637540819440035239271702
But he does not come very near, as the young arithmetician will find.