So also it is written, that sixty
years since, Alexander Scotus, made
projection of that kinde, in the
trust: famous City of Colonia and
Hanovia, &c..
I cannot in this place over-pass,
some Examples worthy of note,
touching the possibility of
Transmutation.
Read the following true Extract
out of an Epistle written by Doctor
Kufflerus.
Kufflerus: Artist, I found-in my
own Laboratory, an Aqua-fortis.
Secondly, I again found another
in the Laboratory, Caroli de Roy;
this Aqua-Fortis I poured upon the
Calx of Sol, prepared of Gold, in
the Vulgar manner, and after the
third Cohobation, it sublimed the
Tincture of Gold with it self in the
Neck of the Retort; this Tincture
I mixed with Silver, precipited in
the vulgar manner, and I saw that
one ounce of the sublimed Tincture
of Gold, with ordinary Flux in a
Crucible, had transmuted one
ounce, and halfe of the two ounces
of precipitate Silver, into the best
Gold: but a third part of the Silver
yet remaining, was a white and
fixed Gold: the other two parts
thereof were perfect Silver, fixed
in every examen of Fire. This is
my experience, after this time, we
could never find the like Aqua-fortis.
I Helvetius saw this Gold
white, and without Tincture.
The same.
There is yet one other Example
very rare; of what was done at
the Hague by a Silver-Smith, whose
name was Grill: how he in the year
1664. by Spirit of Salt, not
prepared in the Vulgar manner,
transmuted Lead so, as from one
pound, he received three parts of
the best Silver, and two ounces of
most fixed Gold.
At the Hague, a certain Silver-Smith,
and a much exercised Disciple
of Alchimy, but according to
the nature of Alchimy, a very poor
man; did sometime since require
Spirit of Salt, not vulgarly prepared,
of a loving Friend of Mine, a
Cloath-Dyer, by name, John Casparus
Knottnerus. My Friend giving
the same to him; demanded,
whether he would use that Spirit
of Salt, he now had, for Metals,
or not? Grill made answer; for
Metalls. And accordingly he afterward
powred this Spirit of Salt
upon Lead, which he had put into
a Glass Dish, usual for Conditures
and Confections. The space of two
Weeks being elapsed, supernatant
on the Spirit of Salt, appeared a
most splendid Silver-Starre, so exceeding
curious, as if it had been
made With an Instrument by a most
ingenious Artist. At the sight of
which, the said Grill, filled with
Exceeding Joy, signified to us, that
he had seen the Signate Star of
Philosophers, touching which he
had read in Basilius, as he thought.
I, and many other honest Men,
did behold this Star supernatant
on the Spirit of Salt, the lead in
the mean while remaining in the
bottom of an ash colour, and swollen like
a Sponge. But in the space
of seven or nine dayes, that humidity
of the Spirit of Salt, being absumed
by the exceeding heat of the
Aire, in July, did vanish; but the
Star settled down, and still stood
above that Earthly Spongeous Lead.
That was a thing worthy of admiration,
and beheld by not a few
Spectators. At length Grill himself
having taken part of Cinereous,
or Ash-like Lead, with the Star
adhering, cupellated in a Test,
and found from one ounce of this
Lead, twelve ounces of Cupellate
Silver, and from these twelve ounces,
he also had two ounces of the
best Gold. And I Helvetius am able
to shew some of this Spongeous
Lead with part of the Star yet adhering,
& besides the pieces of the Star
the Silver and Gold made thereof.
Which when this Subtile (and
Likewise Foolish) Grill understood,
he would not be known to Knottterus,
whether he had used the
Spirit of Salt, or not; but thenceforth
attempted to learn of him
the Art how to make it; yet some
time being Elapsed, the worthy
Knottnerus had for got what Spirit
of salt (for he was expert in
various kinds thereof) he had given
him; not being able to call
the same to mind so suddenly: in
the mean while, he and his Family
were visited with the Pestilence
and dyed: the other falling into
the Water was drowned. After
the death of these two, none
could find out the way of either of
their Operations.
Certainly here is cause of Admiration,
that the Internal Nature
of Lead, by the simple maturation
of Spirit of Salt, should appear
in an external form so noble.
No less admirable and wonderful
to the mind is this, viz. that the
mirifick Stone of Philosophers can
so exceeding swiftly transmute
Metals; having virtue potentially
insited in it self, so as it is deduced
into Art, as in Iron by contact
of the Magnet. But touching
These enough for the Sons of Art.