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rior in intellect to their masters, because they make a better use 

 of it. 



During my stay here I paid frequent visits to the mint, and was 

 liberally permitted by the officers to see every process performed 

 there. Jn the smel ting-house were eight or ten small blast-furnaces, 

 in form much resembling blacksmiths' hearths. The fuel used is 

 charcoal. When a quantity of gold-dust is brought, (no matter 

 whether large or small,) say, for instance, six ounces, it is first per- 

 muted, and a fifth taken for the Prince ; the rest is put into a Hes- 

 sian crucible about three inches in diameter, which is immediately 

 placed in the furnace. A quantity of corrosive sublimate is then 

 put to it, which, on being heated, exhales very strong fumes ; the 

 scoriae, if any be formed, are taken off with a pair of tongs, and 

 more sublimate is added if required. Ebullition sometimes occurs, 

 in which case the crucible is covered with a bit of common tile. 

 As soon as the mercury is evaporated, the gold is poured into an in- 

 got-mould, previously rubbed with animal fat ; it is afterwards 

 turned out into a tub of water. The ingot generally, in some part 

 or other, has mercury attached to it, which it seizes immediately, 

 and the part of the gold thus affected assumes the appearance of 

 lead*. To remove this, they hold it in a strong fire with a pair of 

 tongs until the mercur}' is evaporated. It is afterwards sent to the 

 assay-master, who first compares it on the touchstone with gold bars 

 of different alloys, ascertained and marked, and then assays it. The 

 two methods being found to agree, the assay-master stamps upon 

 the ingot its degree of fineness, (called toque,) also its weight, its 

 number, the name of the place, and the year. It is then registered 

 in a book kept for that purpose, and a copy of the entry is made 

 out on a slip of paper, in which the ingot is wrapped, and delivered 



* In England I once knew an instance in which an ingot with mercury thus adhering to 

 it, in the possession of a person ignorant of metallurgy, was sold at a reduced price, as if the 

 discoloured part had really been lead ; the purchaser also supposing that to be the case, 



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