The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony, xxix 



writer. Finally, there is the " Tri- 

 umphal Chariot of Antimony," which 

 is translated in the following pages ; 

 this is by far the most important, as it is 

 also the most lucid and simple, of all 

 Valentine's works ; it has done more 

 than any other to establish his reputation 

 as a chemist on the solid basis of plain, 

 practical experiment. It is not, there- 

 fore, surprising that it achieved an im- 

 mense success, that it has passed through 

 many editions, and has been translated 

 into various languages, while it is still a 

 subject of reference for the archaeology 

 of exoteric chemistry. Its presentation 

 in accessible form to the modern student 

 of the old alchemists will, it is believed, 

 prove of good service in redeeming 

 those profound investigators of Nature 

 from the undeserved disdain of to-day, 

 albeit Basil Valentine himself stands 

 scarcely in need of vindication, for even 

 the biographical dictionaries * of the 



* "Among his discoveries, since improved on, and still 

 medical preparations in constant use, are sulphuric ether, 

 vinegar from honey- water, sugar of lead, litharge, fuimi- 



