their weight. 6. It is dissolvable hy almost all acic'j^ 

 but vinegar. And hereby we discover, if it besophis. 

 treated with lead. Rub it in a mortar with vinegar. 

 If it be mixed with lead it grows sweetish : if with 

 copper it turns greenish or bluish. If there be no aduU 

 teration, the quicksilver and vinegar will both remain 

 as before. 7. It is the most simple of all bodies, 

 but gold and platina. 8. It has no acidity at all) nor 

 does it corrode any body. 



But it may be observed of metals in general, there 

 is great uncertainty and inconstancy in the metallic 

 and mineral kingdoms, both as to colour, figure, and 

 situation. A marcasite, for instance, may have the 

 colour of gold and silver, and yet afford nothing but a 

 little vitriol and sulphur : while what is only a peb- 

 ble in appearance, may contain real gold. 



It is common also to find the same metal shot info 

 many different forms, as well as to find different kinds 

 of metal of the same form. There is the same uncer- 

 tainty as to their place. Sometimes they are found in 

 the perpendicular fissures of the strata, sometimes in. 

 terspersed in the substance of them ; and the same 

 metals in strata of very different natures. They are 

 likewise frequently intermixed with each other' so 

 that we seldom find any of them pure and simple, but 

 copper and iron, gold and copper, silver and lead, 

 tin and lead in one mass; yea ; sometimes all fix 

 together. 



What distinguishes them from all other bodies, as 

 well as from each other, is their heaviness ; each me- 

 tal having its peculiar weight, which no art can imi- 

 tate. 



But who can reckon the various ways, wherein 

 metals are useful to mankind ? Without these 

 we could have nothing of culture or civility no til- 

 lage or agriculture; no reaping or mowing, no plow- 

 ing or digging, no pruning or grafting, no mechanic 

 arts or trades, no vessels or utensils or household stuff 

 no convenient houses or edifices, no shipping or navi- 



