in /fe Pyrites. 15 r 



times more one way, fometimes more another, ac- 

 cording as the fubject happens to be qualified by 

 nature, or prepared by art ; alfo according to the 

 nature of the fire, the procefs, and other circum- 

 ftances. 



As to fulphur in its feparate ftate, 'us certain, it 

 mineraliies, or reduces metals to an ore-Hate : in 

 particular, this holds good of lead, which it reduces 

 to a form, tho' more earthy and footy, and thus 

 very indiftincl: ; yet fuch a one, as will here and 

 there eafily manifeft fmall eyes of glitter inter- 

 fperfed. 



It reduces alfo to an ore-ftate the regulus of an* 

 timony, fo as to make it greatly refemble a crude 

 antimony. It turns quick filver to cinnabar -, filver, 

 efpecialJy when reduced to that white calx, from 

 which the Luna cornua is made, to a mafs, little 

 or nothing diftinguifhable from that richeft filver - 

 ore, called glajjy. It alfo mineralifes tin, yet fo 9 

 as to appear like an antimony rather than a tin 

 ore. 



Further, fulphur metallifes crude earth, from 

 which otherwife no metal would be procurable 5 

 yet, with this remarkable difference, that it fooner 

 reduces it to a noble than ignobie metal : as to the 

 production of thefe laft, a part only of the fulphur, 

 namely, its fattinefs, is better adapted than the 

 whole body of the fulphur. It exalts the earths of 

 imperfect metals, and makes them approach con- 

 fiderably near to filver, and probably to gold, as I 

 found by experience, after having found out, and 

 duly worked the proper fort. This I can with con- 

 fidence affirm of the reguli of lead and antimony. 

 And I conclude from experience, that the hiftories 



L 4 9 



