QUESTIONS TOUCHING MINERALS. 397 



dignity in use I know none, but that silvering will sully 

 and canker more than gilding ; which if it might be 

 corrected with a little mixture of gold, there is profit : 

 and I do somewhat marvel that the latter ages have lost 

 the ancient electrum, which was a mixture of silver with 

 gold : whereof I conceive there may be much use, both 

 in coin, plate, and gilding. 



It is to be noted, that there is in the version of met- 

 als impossibility, or at least great difficulty, as in mak- 

 ing of gold, silver, copper. On the other side, in the 

 adulterating or counterfeiting of metals, there is deceit 

 and villainy. But it should seem there is a middle 

 way, and that is by new compounds, if the ways of in- 

 corporating were well known. 



What incorporation or imbibition metals will receive 

 from vegetables, without being dissolved in their sub- 

 stance : as when the armourers make their steel more 

 tough and pliant, by aspersion of water or juice of 

 herbs ; when gold being grown somewhat churlish by 

 recovering, is made more pliant by throwing in shreds 

 of tanned leather, or any leather oiled. 



Note ; that in these and the like shews of imbibition, 

 it were good to try by the weights whether the weight 

 be increased or no ; for if it be not, it is to be doubted 

 that there is no imbibition of substance, but only that 

 the application of that other body doth dispose and in- 

 vite the metal to another posture of parts than of itself 

 it would have taken. 



After the incorporation of metals by simple collique- 

 faction, for the better discovery of the nature and con- 

 sents and dissents of metals, it would be likewise tried 

 by incorporating of their dissolutions, [What metals 

 being dissolved in strong waters will incorporate well 



