THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY, 



of nature is required, than has as yet been 

 clifcovtred. But even granting the poftibili- 

 ty, it remains next, to curry it into execu- 

 tion: For it does not follow, that every tiling 

 that is poilible to be clone is within the power 

 of art to perform. Should the experiment fuo 

 ceed by a fair procefj, all further enquiry about 

 the poilibility of it is at an end ; for the fact un- 

 der fuch circumflances is abiblutely djciiive. 



We are i;ow, in the next place, to coniider, 

 whether, of the great number who called them- 

 fclves adepts, any one lias actually compofed 

 gold. The folution of this que'liun is entangled 

 in many diilicuhies, owin^ to the want of pro- 

 per and faithful defcriptioiib of tlie many tranf- 

 mutations. 'J'he teltiinony of ignorant inecta- 

 tors is as little to be depended en as the after- 

 tions of the writers themfelves. In the prorelc 

 many deceptions have been praclifed: (Juld hue 

 been concealed in the vdlols, in the inflrumcnts, 

 in the. reals, and in oilier ir.atciiak. liut tho' 

 this may ))e fuid of ninety-nine oi a Iiundred 

 fuch afl'irtions concernin.^ the tranfmutation, it 

 niny be alic;!f r ed, triat it does not apply indefi- 

 nitely : Vv here, however, fuch afiertions arc nor 

 fupported by abfolute prooi" they mult remain 

 inadmi/lible. 



But ibine accounts are entitled to u greater 

 ^retr of credit. .For, doubtlefu, if a perfon 



who has no faith in the clranges of a 

 fTi'jiill cbti'.ia by chance it Imall piece t,f thr 



philofcpher'f; 



