LETTER X, 285 



find their account in it. But Maximilimi Mi[fof\ 

 obferves rightly enough on this occafion, That 

 nothing is more eafy than to prepare a certain 

 Compofition or Mixture of Drugs of any con- 

 liflence and colour, that fliews fome Motion 

 without Fire, by their fermenting together. An 

 Acquaintance of mine, on his Travels, happened 

 to be at Naples^ at the time of this Jugling Trick's 

 being played ; and curioiity tempted him to be a 

 Spedtator. The Ele6loral Pr'mce^ o£ Bavaria (now 

 both Eledlor and Emperor too, if not deprived 

 of thofe Honours by the Queen of Hungary and 

 her Allies) was prefent, with feeming Devotion, 

 and my Friend had the good fortune to be placed 

 very near him. The Mixture of Drugs {alias ^ 

 Coagulated Blood) which is preferved in a tranf- 

 parent Glafs Phial, was brought forth by a Prieft 

 or Bifhop, and with great Solemnity either fet 

 down upon the Shrine, or upon an Altar clofe by 

 it. As it did not immediately liquify, the Jugling 

 Priefl: or Bifhop took it up in his Hands more 

 than once, pretending highly to reverence the Re- 

 lick, and holding it there for a fmall fpace of 

 time, that is to fay, till the Warmth of his Hands 

 could ferment and of courfe caufe a Motion in the 

 Drugs, alias Coagulated Blood. Nay, fuch is 

 their Artifice, that fometimes the Prieft afTures 

 the deluded Populace, That the Coagulated Blood 



cannot 



