BOOKS OF SECRETS. 



By professor FERGUSON. 

 Read April 21st, igi3. 



•F this theme had not, in a manner, been prescribed to 

 me by our Secretary, I myself should hardly have 

 selected it for presentation to the Society. It is true 

 that I have been rummaging among these books for a 

 good many years past, from time to time have printed 

 some results, and ought to be able to say something about them, but I 

 am so far from having exhausted the material which has gathered, that 

 I am hardly prepared as yet to pass a judgment on this branch — historical, 

 I may remind you — of scientific, or rather technological, literature. I 

 repeat technological, for the aim of the greater part of it is not to speculate, 

 or discuss, or describe, but to give directions how to do something, how 

 to produce something tangible, a practical result for human use or con- 

 venience. Hence " secrets," as they are called, have, from this point of 

 view, no reference to religious, or philosophical, or masonic, or other 

 mysteries, but simply denote "receipts," which are used even now for 

 effecting certain purposes. 



It is unnecessary to dwell on the name. We may, however, deduce 

 from it, that, at one time or other, the artist or craftsman had special 

 knowledge gained by practice and experience which was personal and 

 which he, intentionally or unintentionally, kept to himself. This accu- 

 mulated skill constituted the "secrets" of his art or craft, and whoever 



