gg ANCIENT STATE OP SCIENCE* 



But we muft mount up much higher than what are called the 

 dark and barbarous ages of modern Europe, or even of any of 

 thofe revolutions in the Eaft of which hiftory has tranfmitted 

 any detailed accounts. — Science had began to decline previous 

 to the earliefl hiftoric relation which is extant, and there ap- 

 pears fufficient evidence that the Greeks and Egyptians, in 

 their hieroglyphics, their allegoric devices, and in their my- 

 thologic myfteries, which they had blindly received from their 

 enlightened predeceifors, were recording for pofterity a feries 

 of phyfics, of which they were ignorant, and which is now 

 gradually unfolding. 



The univerfal rage for penetrating into the fclence of al- 

 chemy, not only indicates the fcarcity and value of gold in all 

 ages, but evinces, I think, that there has always exifted fome 

 tradition of fuch a tranfmutation having been once effeded. 



The decorapofition of water into different gafes was cer- 

 tainly once known; and our recovery of that fublime phe- 

 nomenon, which feems the key to the great laboratory of na- 

 ture, bids fair to reftore to mankind the moft important fadls 

 which have lain in obfcurity for fo many centuries. 

 4.khemy. Of thefe, alchemy will probably be one; it has deeply ex- 



cited the attention of fome excellent chemifts in (his ifland, 

 with whom I have the honour of being conneded: of any 

 progrefs we may hereafter make, you (hall be immediately ap- 

 prifed; and if you, or any of your ingenious correfpondents 

 are engaged in a firailar courfe of experiments, we might mu- 

 tually affift, and abridge each others labours, 

 I have the honour to be. 



Your fincere friend and zealous well-wiiber, 



E. P, 



P. S. A feries of experiments on this fubje6l will probably 

 (hrow confiderable light on the lunar (more properly lunatic) 

 ilones, the rational plienomena of which you have taken fo 

 fDuch laudable pains to elucidate. 



Tranfmutation 

 of metals. 



Decotnpofition 

 of water. 



Defcriptiojt 



