OF THE ORIGIN OF CHEMISTRY. 27 



proofs that we have brought, especially when 

 they relate to the periods of the greateft anti- 

 quity. 



For, if we examine into circumfiance:;, that 

 preceded the age of writers of. the i5tli and iGtli 

 centuries, and which \\orcrccordexlbyforcigncrs; 

 if we ccnfider the enigmatical (lylc of thofc 

 times; and, hilly, if we attend to the impeded! 

 ft ate of writing, the uncertainty of various rela- 

 tions and book:, and the errors and alterations 

 in manuicripts, it will be impolliblc not to hefi- 

 tatc in our belief. Some authors fpcak of one 

 Mercury only, others will have two; Abulpha- 

 ragius names three, Ladlantius four, and Cicero 

 infills on producing five. How, then, if their 

 number is as yet undetermined, (hall their ac- 

 tions be defined, and dates aliigncd to their ex- 

 iftcnce? Let us pafs therefore to the arts of the 

 Egyptians, which may probably be involved in 

 left darknefs. 



Dicdorus Siculus, who vifucd Egypt under 

 the reigns of Julius .and Oclaviu.s Cxfar, at a 

 time when arts were in full fplendorin the Ro- 

 man empire, ingcnuoufly confdics, that they 

 were highly cultivated among the Egyptians, 

 nnd brought to the greatcfl degree of perfection. 

 He mentions, that cgg r were not hatched there 

 by the birds; but that the Egyptians, contrary 

 to the cuilom of any other country, were able, 

 by their ingenuity and fame x;atural prcccfc, to 



bring 



