III. A Letter from Mr Anthony van Leeuwenhoek, 
K R- S. containing fome Microfcopical Observations 
upon the Chry ft aliped Particles of Silver dtjfolVed 
in Aqua fortis. 
A Prtr having examined the Coagulation of thofe 
Particles that I found in Aqua forth impregnated 
with Silver, and (hewn, that thefe Particles had aflum’dl 
the Figure of fo many rough Diamonds 5 I feparated the 
Silver and melted it, and then poured frefh Aquafortis 
upon it, to the end that I might once again difeover the 
Chryftalline or Adamantine Figures thereof $ but in vain, 
for I could only now and then meet with one fingle 
Chryftalline Figure of the Shape and Fafhion of a Dia- 
mond- 
This caufed in me a great difeontent, and the more, 
becaufe if any Body ftiould imitate me, and not meet 
with the fame Succefs, as I have deferibed in my fore- 
going Obfervations, they might blame me, for not ha- 
ving faithfully related what I had difeovered. 
For my further Satisfa&ion therefore, I took a piece 
of Silver, being part of a Piece of Eighty which was 
ftampt with the Arms of Portugal , and had been coined 
many Years ago, and threw iwnto Aquafortis, where 
it had not lain long till the Water was tinged with a 
Green Colour, from whence I inferr’d there was a great 
deal of Copper in it. 
After this Silver had lain Eleven Days in the Aqua 
fortis , I faw a great many long Particles Coagulated in 
it, which I judged to be^ Sexaogular, and as clear as 
ChryftaL 
I 
