[ 593 3 
It hath been reported, that the Spaniards have 
fometimes been tempted to adulterate Gold with 
\ Tlatina , as the Mixture could not be d flinguifh'd 
from true Gold by all the ordinary Trials: But the 
Gold thus adulterated was, upon a nicer Examination, 
found hard and brittle, and could not be feparated 
from the ^Platina , and render’d du&ile and pure, 
either by Cementation, or by the more ordinary 
Operations with Lead and Antimony. In order 
therefore to prevent this Fraud, the King of Spain 
commanded that the Mines of Tdlatina fhould be 
flopped up ; fo that this Semi-metal is now much 
fcarcer than formerly. 
From the foregoing Account it appears, that no 
known Body approaches nearer to the Nature of 
Gold, in its molt efiential Properties of Fixedncfs and 
Solidity, than the Semi metal here treated of j and 
that it alfo bears a great Refemblance to Gold in 
other Particulars. Some Alchemilts have thought 
that Gold differ’d from other Metals in nothing fo 
much as in its fpccific Gravity ; and that, if they 
could obtain a Body that had the fpccific Weight 
of Gold, they could eafily give it all the other Qua- 
lities of that Metal. Let them try their Alton this 
Body j which, if it can be made as du&ile as Gold, 
will not eafily be diftinguifh’d from Gold itfelf. 
Upon the whole, this Semi metal feems a very 
fingular Body, that merits an exatter Inquiry into 
its Nature than hath hitherto been made; lince it 
is not altogether improbable, that, like the Magnet, 
Iron, Antimony, Mercury, and other metallic Sub- 
ftances, it may be endowed with fome peculiar Qua- 
Ffff 2 litiesi 
