Alchemy, ancient and modern . y destroyed. I answered: * Such aMedicine would be a most desirable acquisition forany physician ; nor can any man tell how many secretsthere may be hidden in Nature ; yet, though I haveread much about the truth of this Art, it has neverbeen my good fortune to meet with a real Master ofthe Alchemical Science. I also enquired whether hewas a medical man. ... In reply, he . . describedhimself as a brassfounder. . After some furtherconversation, the Artist Elias (for it was he) thusaddressed me: Since you have read so much in theworks of the Alchemists about this Sto
Alchemy, ancient and modern . y destroyed. I answered: * Such aMedicine would be a most desirable acquisition forany physician ; nor can any man tell how many secretsthere may be hidden in Nature ; yet, though I haveread much about the truth of this Art, it has neverbeen my good fortune to meet with a real Master ofthe Alchemical Science. I also enquired whether hewas a medical man. ... In reply, he . . describedhimself as a brassfounder. . After some furtherconversation, the Artist Elias (for it was he) thusaddressed me: Since you have read so much in theworks of the Alchemists about this Stone, its sub-stance, its colour, and its wonderful effects, may I beallowed the question, whether you have not yourselfprepared it ? On my answering his question in thenegative, he took out of his bag a cunningly-workedivory box, in which there were three large pieces ofa substance resembling glass, or pale sulphur, andinformed me that here was enough of the Tincturefor the production of 20 tons of gold. When I PLATE lOHANNES FRIDERICU5 HEEVETIUS>Anhaitinu^ Cothonen^i^Doctoh^ Vr&cUais ; CoMiris. JLf 3o,^/<r<&. To face page 84] § 63] THE OUTCOME OF ALCHEMY 85 had held the precious treasure in my hand for aquarter of an hour (during which time I listened toa recital of its wonderful curative properties), I wascompelled to restore it to its owner, which I could nothelp doing with a certain degree of reluctance. Afterthanking him for his kindness in shewing it to me,I then asked how it was that his Stone did not displaythat ruby colour, which I had been taught to regardas characteristic of the Philosophers Stone. Hereplied that the colour made no difference, and thatthe substance was sufficiently mature for all practicalpurposes. My request that he would give me a pieceof his Stone (though it were no larger than a corianderSeed), he somewhat brusquely refused, adding, in amilder tone, that he could not give it me for allthe wealth I possessed, and that
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