fit OF THE ORIGIN OF CHEMISTRY. 



alfo by the love of gain, and perhaps by vanity 

 and arrogance, unanimoufly turned their atten? 

 tion to the making of this moil precious metal. 

 They knew that art could eflTec~l various changes 

 in the appearance of metallic fubftances; and 

 \vherefore fliould they think it not competent, 

 by proper experiments, to form them in this 

 mod perfect character? 



This problem, however difficult it may ap- 

 pear, no one had then.dcmonllrated to be inca- 

 pable of folut ion ; and, it may be added, that 

 not, even in our times, has its abfurdity been 

 proved. Therefore, not without fome profpecl 

 of fucccfs, did thefe alchymiits employ number- 

 lefs means to attain their objecl. But, it is evi- 

 dent that they toiled in this occupation under no 

 good aufpices ; for their conllant perfeverance, 

 labour, and expcnce, were not only employed 

 without fucccfs, but they themfclvcs wandering 

 from the true paths of philofophy, and loll in vi- 

 lionury dreums, began to entertain conceits hoi- 

 tile to the principles of fciencc. Encouraged 

 by the wiflied-for gain, they bent ull their 

 thoughts, and every faculty of the mind, to tiic 

 foltition of this myilerious problem; fothat, had 

 any one been fo fortunate as to have obtained 

 the reward of hi> labours, he would have defer- 

 ved the appellation of 3 covetous ^W/,T;, ra- 

 ther than th:it of a fkillful chemiil. Under the 

 dominion of fordid avarice, and miferably envi- 



s, t!;ey iinpoft J upon thcinlelves u ridiculous 



fileocc, 



