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idea of the transmutative power, with which he favoured the Phrygian 
king. The following lines seem to corroborate the opinion : 
Vixque sibi credens, non alta fronde virentem 
nice detraxit virgam ; virga aurea facta est. 
Tollit humo saxum ; saxum quoque palluit auro. 
Contigit et glebam ; contactu gleba potenti 
Massa fuit. Arentes Cereris decerpsit aristas ; 
Aurea messis erat. Demtum tenet arbore pomum ; 
Hesperidas donasse putes. 
Metamorph. lib. xi. 1. 108. 
There are, undoubtedly munerous appearances, which would lead 
to the thought of such a transmutative power. Besides stones and 
earth, we have just seen a realization of the metallic twig ; and shall 
have occasion afterwards to point out some specimens, which dis- 
play such appearances as have occasioned very learned men to 
adduce them, as instances of the conversion of corn and fruits into a 
metallic substance. 
You will, I suspect, deem this letter too long ; in apology, I must 
remind you, that the task which I have endeavoured to perform is 
of importance, and, in attempting to establish the aqueous origin 
of pyrites, I have had to oppose those opinions, which the learning, 
and the zealous exertions, of their promulgators, have stamped with 
the highest authority. The strong ground, on which the opinion 
here opposed, is supposed to be established, may be gathered from 
the words of Mr. Playfair, who, speaking of pyrites, asserts it to be 
“ a substance that is, perhaps, more than any other, the decided 
progeny of fire*.” 
Yours, &c. 
* Page 33. 
