

a Mr. ALCHORNE’S Experiments 4 
It may well be afked, whether the tin, or part of it, in 
every trial, might not be deflroyed, and thus render the con- 
clufions fallacious? But as, in any of thefe experiments, not 
more than fix or eight grains of the original weight were mif- 
fing after the cafting, and as even fine gold can fearcely be 
melted without fome lofs in the operation, fo we may rea- 
fonably fuppofe; that our {mall loties, in the foregoing trials, 
do not deferve confideration. 
The above experiments then feem to thew, that tin is not fo 
mifchievous to gold as hath been generally reprefented. But 
it would be unfair to infer, that the original author of this 
_ doétrine (from whom fo many have implicitly tranfcribed) had 
no foundation for the affertion. Gold and Tin, indeed, are 
{ubftances pretty well known ; but it is eafy to imagine, that 
coins or trinkets may have been ufed for one, and impure tin, 
or pewter, perhaps, for the other; and it is difficult to guefs 
what might be the refult of fuch uncertain combinations. To 
inquire farther, therefore, the experiments were continued as 
follows. 
7 
‘ 
: 
A 
f 
: 
EXPERIMENT VII. 
To determine whether the two metals might be more inti- 
mately combined, and the mafs rendered brittle, by additional 
heat; the mixture of gold and tin, produced in the firft of 
thefe experiments, was re-melted in a f{tronger fire than before, 
and thus kept in fufion full half an hour. By this operation 
fix grains only were loft in the weight; and the bar obtained 
was no lefs manufacturable than at firft. 

