t>ifiSi§m far Inpiries cmcerning Stoms and oth^r MaUtUU 
f0f the Vfi ofnuilding^fogether mth afnggeBion fi^r retriving 
ihe Art of hardning and tempering Steel for cutting Porpbjn 
andetbefbard Marbkf ^ 
1, TTpO obfifrviB the great difference in the degrees of 
JL hardo^fs id Frce-ftonesj together with the other 
qualities to be found in them, and to inquire iqto their Caufes: 
There being ( e.g. ) a fort of gray Free-ftone at Faris every 
i/vhcre on the South- fide of the River Sene^ which is of a rea- 
fonable courfe grcctj and fo foft when firft taken out of the 
Quarry^ that 'tis dreft and hewn with broad (harp Axes almoft 
as eafiiy as dried Clayjbut grows harder 'and harder in the Air 
very durable and exceeding fit for building. The Port«Iaod- 
ftone of a fine chalky greet^fit for all curious hewn and carved 
workj though not fo fit for Water or Fire. ^<ere , the Gaufe 
ofihis unficncfs. On the cojitrary, the Free ftone in Kent^ of a 
whitiffa gray colour, Jafts well in Air and Water y the greet 
thereof Icfs fine and chalky, than that of Portland. TihtDirhj' * 
Frceftojie, though it endure thefierccft fire, yet brittle, 
and fo unfit for fine and curious Workmanlhip. 
t» Goncerning MirWw i whether Salisbury Marble be a 
triiej though courfe 5 Natural Marble ? Whether blew Usit^ 
[ bles, comming much from Genoa and Legorne for baJIaft, be 
liarder then wpiiVe Marble^ but take notfo good a polifli? 
Whence corns the beft black Marble>Whcthef Forfh^r diflfcr ia 
nothing from Marbles^^butiuhardnefs? 
3. To inquire after chewayes of making ArtificialMMe 5 
and whether that, with which the Eleftor of Bavaria hath a- 
dorncd his vs^hole Palace at mnchen^ fo as to one that fufpetls^ 
®ot the artifice^ it looks as rich and beautiful as any Palap^ 
in ii^i^^j is made / as^^^fo^^ affirm j QiinchGypfum^ as makes 
the Plaift^i? of Pkim, A^^hich being put over the Fire and let 
boyl tillit ceafc of Ik jfcii; after being cooled is kept dry for 
ufe 5 mixing Painters colours with it for tinging or colouring 
it according to pleafure, and ufing it as the burnt Gypfnm is at 
fark} ^ 
^^'"^"'^"^ 4. To 
