STATER OF PHILIP OP MACEDON. 33 



But, without being left in suspense by the assertions and 



opinions of others, 1 have the means of removing all doubt 



on the question ; having had an opportunity of ascertaining but it is some- 



by my own examination, that gold is actually found native times abso- 



at 94 carats. 



I had for some time the keeping of the rich collect ion Collection at 

 of natural histery belonging to our first king, who was Florence - 

 very fond of these things, and eminently versed in natural 

 philosophy. 



In it were many specimens of mineralized gold and native Specimens of 

 gold, among which I observed two well formed crystals of in ^ 

 gold ; one cubical, the other a tetraedral prism surmounted Two smgnjar 

 by a four-sided pyramid. It would be gratifying to know cr>S 

 what substances united to the gold determined these diffe- 

 rent figures, naturally formed in the bowels of the Earth, 

 and altogether different from those produced in our laborato- 

 ries by cooling after fusion. The cube is very pale; the 

 prism is of a deeper colour : but these two crystals, which 

 I found by chance in selecting a great many native grains, 

 are unique in the collection, so that it is impossible to think 

 of subjecting them to an examination, that would spoil 

 their figure. 



An amorphous but remarkable specimen from Brazil en- Specimen 

 riched the same collection. It was given by the Prince of from Brazil*. 

 Brazil, atBadajbz; Yo'fh'e" late'Rfng bf'Etruria, then infant 

 of Spain''andtteYeditaVy'pYihce"of Parma. The weight of 

 this pieced about: T4 lbs.' [12 lbs, 5 bz. troy]*, beside a weighing 12 

 small fragment of the same, the nature of which, through lbs * ^ oz * 

 the kindness of the king's apothecary, John Ulrici, I was 

 enabled to examine by cupellation and parting; without p ar tofite». 

 neglecting to test its solution in nitromuriatic acid by sul- amined 

 phate of iron, and neutral salts witti base of potash. By 

 all these trials I was convinced, that it is Very pure gold of was perfectly 

 24 carats, if the whole mass be homogeneous, without any P ur8 » 

 portion of" inferior metal. 



As no person has ever doubted* that very coarse" gold }s' 

 ■ 



* Pliny informs us, that pieces above ten pounds weight were cal- 

 led by .the Spaniards in his time palacras and palacranas ; othei-s»say, 

 that small pieces we're termed palas, whence perhaps our paglieUe t and 

 the French paillettes. 



Vol. XXXII.— May, 1812. D found 



