fire , a way found out in Peru in fuch difficult cafe % but all 
to no purpofe* fofroward a matter it was, that it could not be 
brought to receive Mercury, neither by fair means, nor by foul. 
Then I devifed a way to torment it with a Corrofive of ordinary 
fepara ting water, impregnated with common fait, and it made 
a diflblution , like that of Gold 5 which, thus diflblved,I flievr'd 
to a Mineralift, who had been verfed all his life time in the fepa- 
ratory Art of Gold and Silver 5 and he would not believe but 
that it was true gold. But having fteam'd away the Aqudfcrtv, 
I found my hopes turn'd into a dirt fomething yellow , out ot 
which, with diftill'd vineger, enforced with its own tartareous 
Salt , I extracted a Tin&ure more curious, rhan ufeful. 
The faid Mineralift would not defpair yet, but taking a quan- 
tity <Df the golden duft , he cemented it with the powder of 
vulgar fulphur, fratum fapcr ftratum , and this in a moderate 
fire for three days together; hoping, the Sulphur would confume 
all the impediments , which kept the Mercury fromentring. 
But (as I told him before-hand) itonlyferv'd to clog the mat- 
ter with, more fulphureous un<auofity,than it had before. 
I brought for a curiofity fome of this Mineral from the Indies 
mtoSfam^ where fome of our friends had a view of it $ but 
have not been able hitherto , to do any good upon it. What I 
leajnt by thefe Tryals, was not only Caution , but feveral fe- 
<a*ts of extra&ing Mettals by Quick-filver 5 in which there 
arefo many Cautions and obfervations , that it [would require 
.much writing to rehearfe them. 
I (hall only fubjoyn the grand ufe of Mercury in feparating 
Silver in the Indies, when that Mettal is generated ( as com- 
nionly'tis) in certain rocky ftones, abounding with bituminous 
and corrofive mixtures, fo as 'tis impoflible to free it totally 
from its corrupt Matrix by the violent way of melting, whatever 
auxiliary Ingredients may be added, as Lead and artificial faks , 
and the Hke,becaufe thofe fulphureous and vitriolick compounds, 
( in the way of fufion) melting together with the Silver, fublime 
part of it away in a volatile fume by their corroding acrimony, 
calcinating and vitrifying th' other part , and robbing the Arti- 
ficer of half his gain. In this cafe the ufe of Quick-filver is 
found molt advantageous 1 the pra&ife whereof , becaufe lam 
