234 Of the G old 



Whatever probability there may be for Le mery's 

 opinion in the encreafe of weight of fome metallic 

 calces or earths, a thing not to be denied, yet till 

 other convincing experiments can be produced, I 

 hold the actual caufality, or the formality of Be- 

 cher's experiment to confift, not in removing mat- 

 ters, Handing in the way of the metallifation ; nor 

 in a way of unfolding all the iron-particles already 

 extant, but in a material influx, and an addition of 

 parts deficient ; in an eflential communication of 

 the metallifing fattinefs, and thus in a real forma- 

 tion. Confequently, that there is nothing in Le- 

 mery's opinion that can in the lead invalidate my 

 notion ; not only in regard to the metallifation of a 

 gold-earth in pyrites, but alfo principally, in regard 

 to the production of gold, extant therein neither in 

 a metallic nor earthy form ; alfo in regard to the 

 bufinefs of transformations, nay even tranfmutations. 



To illuftrate the deftru&ions or diffolutions, 

 performable by additions, and not by air and fire 

 alone, I (hall here alledge M. Homberg's experi- 

 ment, promifed above. c Take and diffolve a 

 « mark of filver in aqua fortis, and remove what 

 c remains undhTolved at the bottom of the glafs : 

 c throw down this folution with common fait; 



* adulterate well the precipitate, and dry it. To this 



* filver-calx take half as much regulus of anti- 

 4 mony, well purified and reduced to a fine pow- 

 « der : mix all well together, and being put into a 



* retort, drive it in a fand-heat, and there will 

 c come over about three ounces, or fomewhat 



* more, of a butter cf antimony : raife your fire to 

 c the higher! pitch, and you have the filver at the 

 4 bottom of the retort, mixt with a part of the 

 4 regulus of antimony. Put this filver into a cru- 

 c cible in an openfmelting fire, wherein let it fume, 

 6 till it can no logger, or till the regulus be entire- 

 ly 



