CHAP. V. 



Of the Chymistry of the Ancients. 



1. J[ F we will be guided by the greatest number of 

 etymologists, there needs no deep research to de- 

 monstrate the antiquity of chymistry. Its name 

 seems to declare its origin. It is agreed, almost by 

 all, that it was first cultivated in Egypt, the country 

 of Cham, of whom it is supposed to have taken its 

 name %/***, Chemia sive Chamta, the science of 

 Cham. In the 105th psalm, Egypt is called, '* the 

 land of Cham. " According to Bockhart^theCoptes 

 still call themselves Chcmi, or Chami ; and Plutarch, 

 in his Isis and Osiris, speaking of a district of Egypt, 

 names it Chamia quasi Chimia. But without enter- 

 ing here into a philological discussion, 1 shall con- 

 tent myself with considering whether (he ancients were 

 chymists, and to what degree ; and hope to make it 

 appear, that they not only knew all of that art, which 

 .we do, but had such insight in it, as we have not at 

 present. 



2. The first instance that occurs for ascertaining 

 the antiquity of the sciencft is of a very remote date. 

 Nobody, 1 think, will doubt but Tubal-Cain, and 

 those who with him found out the way of working 

 in brass anti iron, must have been able chymists. It 

 was impossible to work upon these metals, without 

 knowing the art of digging them out of the mine, of 

 excavating them, and of refining and separating them 

 from the ore, all which are chyinicai operations, and 

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