436 MEMOIR ON THE 



and of the thickneni of a fixpence ; on the 

 plate they write^ Pure gold. 



Among the metal which remains in the 

 crucible, they throw a filver penny j and 

 from this goldj dirainifhed one penny in its 

 finenefs, they form a fecond plate ; upon 

 which they write, Gold of nmeiy-ntne. 



The like operation repeated a third time, 

 gives them a third plate ; upon which they 

 wite, Gold of nlnety-eighL 



Continuing, then, in this manner, they 

 form as many plates as they choofe from a 

 piece of gold, which decreafes always in fine- 

 nefs proportionably to the filver mixed with 

 it in the crucible. 



Generally they have twenty or thirty of 

 thefe plates^ each with an infcriptiou which 

 exadly fhews its real finenefs or quality. 

 They afterwards form a kind of bracelet of 

 them; and the merchant* who purchafes 

 gold, either io cakes or ingots, firft tries 5t 



3 ^^y 



