on some ancient metallic Arms and Utensils. 439 
more experiments with different proportions of copper and steel. 
For, 1st, granting that the allays of copper by steel are as hard, 
strong, and malleable as those of copper by tin, it is utterly 
improbable that the ancients should have used steel to harden 
copper; on account of the great scarcity and high price of steel 
comparatively with tin ; and also on account of the difficulty 
of uniting copper with steel, but facility of uniting copper 
with tin. 
2dly. It appears that no allays of copper by steel can be 
made, which possess the hardness, strength, and malleability 
required ; but which required properties we obtain by com- 
binations of copper with tin, and with which most indubitably 
the ancients were well acquainted. Count Caylus has indeed 
told us, that the ancients had two methods of hardening cop- 
per; namely, by cementation, and by allaying it with iron. 
The first method he has not explained ; nor is any method 
known of hardening copper without addition, except by ham- 
mering it ; which it is well understood cannot produce the 
required hardness. As to the other method by allaying with 
iron, I think myself warranted in refusing the Count's single 
vague evidence; and in admitting the evidence of other plainly 
decisive experiments ; which consist also with reasoning and 
analogy. 
Philological, and antiquarian writers in giving an account of 
the copper arms and utensils of the ancients : as they found 
them much harder than copper, and that they were used for 
purposes to which copper would have been quite unfit ; and as 
they saw that the ancients commonly used copper on most of 
those occasions in which we now use iron, or steel ; were led 
to imagine, that in ancient times there was an art understood 
mdccxcvi. 3 L 
