EARLY CHINESE CHEMISTS. 3 



the rest of the world. From this country the 

 science extended to surrounding nations by slow 

 degrees. Even in far- distant China it appears 

 certain that there was, at an early period, some 

 knowledge of chemistry; for we find that they 

 were well acquainted with many chemical dyes, 

 and with several metals, such as gold, silver, 

 mercury, lead, copper, iron, tin, and zinc, be- 

 sides several salts and chemicals, and also medi- 

 cinal preparations. In Egypt, also, the arts of 

 working in metals, of manufacturing soap, and 

 more singular still of manufacturing glass of the 

 most beautiful description, were practised, in all 

 probability, even before philosophers in that 

 ancient country caught a glimpse of the beau- 

 tiful science which was intimately connected 

 with these processes. Nevertheless, the mere 

 knowledge of the right employment of the dif- 

 ferent substances used in these arts was a kind 

 of chemistry, though not an enlightened one ; 

 it was the chemistry of experience. It is very 

 surprising to find how successful both the 

 Egyptians aijd the Chinese were in these arts, 

 notwithstanding their deep ignorance of the 

 laws of the science. Some of the colours em- 

 ployed by the Chinese for their porcelain, and 

 some of their dyes, cannot be equalled even in 

 our day, when so much is known about the 

 principles and practice of chemistry. The 

 Egyptians, before the Exodus of the chil- 

 dren of Israel, or about three thousand five 

 hundred years ago, were well acquainted with 

 the means of colouring glass in the most exqui- 

 site manner by some chemical substance, so that 

 they used to make artificial gems, such as the 



