VIII. — Recent practice of Alchemy. — From Jonathan Couch, 

 F.L.S., &c. 



Read at the Spring Meeting, May 14, 1867. 



THE science of Alchemy, or the art of turning the baser metals in^ gold, 

 is iisually regarded as belonging to a remote age. It may excite some 

 sm'prise, therefore, to find proof, in the following documents, that a 

 professor of the art lived among us, and was encouraged in his profession, 

 less than a hundi-ed years ago. That the professor of an art which has been 

 defined as " Ars sine arte, eujus 'principium est mentiri, medium laborare, et 

 ^^ finis mendicare," was not enriched by his labours may readily be believed; 

 his refuge from poverty was the enjoyment of a place under government. 



(Copies). 



Alex'' Trescott (of the Borrougli of Bodmin) doth hereby 

 Promise bind & engage himself to the presant adventurers of 

 Polperro in the Chimical science never to engage w*'^ or for any 

 other Person or Persons in the said art of Transmutation of 

 Mettles wethout there knowlidge & consent & do hereby promise 

 & engage to render the same advantage to every individial of the 

 said presant adventurers If am ever hereafter possessed of the ad- 

 vantages of the said Science during my life as wittness my hand 

 this 22 Day of Jan^ 1773. 



ALEX« TEESCOTT 

 Wittness Thomas Coad. 



I need not repeat my strong perswasion of the success if the 

 Lord will, it was always held the uppermost of God's Temporal 

 gifts & wholy at his good pleasure, the request of such as obey 

 him may be of use. 



The Book I intended to have sent is w* Jn° Terthewy at S* 

 Stevens you are wellcome to that also when returnd As the 

 People of Polp'" are so bountious I think to push three ways at 

 once w'"" will increase the expense & time as they must be differant 

 from the beginning & every compound would cost ab* three week 



