es-t G O L 
weight w'it’n the gold ifiTued from tii<e mint, whicli is 
that of 17-6+; and tliat, nevertlielefs, the quantity of 
gold fliould be fufiiciently reduced to aiford !'ome profit 
to the coiners. The condition of attaining tl;e fpecific 
weight, or the fame volume for an equal weight, does 
not permit the ftandard to be lowered beyond o-’joo ; 
other,vife the excefs of weight would betray the fraud, 
d'he button of alloy which M. Guyton fubmitted to 
this experiment, contained onlyo‘i55 of platina ; and 
yet the alteration of colour was fo confiderable, that 
even the paled gold colour could not be recognized in 
it. Thus \ve are^t once able to appreciate the appre- 
henfioRs, which have been lb mucli exaggerated, of the 
abufe that may be made of platina alloyed or fiifed 
witli gold. Or if platina be covered with gold-leaf, 
the excefs of fpecific weight, which is more than 19, 
foon caufes it to be fufpe^ted ; and if we have any 
doubts, it v,/ill be fufficient to let a drop of nitro-mu- 
riatic acid fall upon the piece, and it will indantly ex- 
pofe tite grey colour. 
Gold, till very lately, was confidered as a metal 
wholly indelh'uCtible and unalterable by fire, or by 
means of any chemical procefs. Modern chemidry, 
liowever, has not only convinced us of the fallacy of 
tliis hypcthefis, but lias even fhewn that the harded 
adamant, even the diamond, the mod fixed of every 
iubdance known, cannot refid the force of caloric. But 
for particulars of this, and of all the chemical opera¬ 
tions upon gold, and the method of preparing fulmi¬ 
nating gold, &c. fee the article Chemistry, vol. iv. 
p. 242, 312, 314, 316, 330, and 387.—Kor the various 
ufes of gold in tlie manufacture of ornamental, works, 
fee the article Gildixg, in this volume; and for the 
different fpecies, and tlie countries producing tliem, fee 
the article Mineralogy. 
“ All is not Gold that glitters.” 
The French fa\', Toict ce qui rclidt n'ejl pas or. The Ger¬ 
mans, EJl ijl nidit allcs gold, was da glaentzet. The Latins, 
Fronli nulla fides. 1 he Italians, Non e oro tutto quel die luce. 
This proverb is intended as an admonition to us, not to 
found our notions and opinions of perfons and things by 
glittering pomp and outlide lliow ; which are oftener 
calculated to impofe on the credulous multitude, tlian 
to aiford to a wife and thinking man the fmalled proof 
of permanent riches, or of a folid and durable ellablifh- 
ment. 
“ Gold will enter in at every Gate, except that of 
Heaven.” 
The Germans fay. Das gold machet alle thure aiif mir des 
kinimcls nidi. Philip of Ma.cedon is reported to have 
faid, that lie could te.ke any fort or caftle, let the talk 
be ever fo difficult, provided he could drive an afs laden 
witli gold up to the gate. Tltis fecret appears to have 
been well known to tile conqueror Napoleon. 
GOLD COAST, a name given to a country of Africa, 
near the Atlantic, about 120 leagues in length from ealt 
to we.lf, between the rivers Ancobar and Volta. It con¬ 
tains "a variety of different ftates and kingdoms, and re¬ 
ceived its name from tile imnvenfe quantity of gold which 
it produces. Several of the European nations have fet- 
tlements here. The climate is exceedingly hot from 
-Odtober to -Marcli, tlie reft of the montlis are tolerable. 
The natives enjoy a good ftate of liealth, and are fubjedt 
to but few difeafes ; to Europeans the climate is fre¬ 
quently unwholfome, and often proves fatal, efpecially 
in the inontlis of July and Augiill:. The domeltic ani¬ 
mals are bulls, cows, Iheep, and goats, the lalf of wiiicli 
are innumerable, and their flelh excellent; the mutton 
and beef are neither of them good ; but of all animal 
food dog’s fleili is raoft preferred by tlie negroes. Other 
animals are elephants, tigers, buffaloes, jackalls, wild 
boars, deer of different fixes, wild cats, porcupines, fe- 
veral fpecics of monkeys, rats, mice, &c. Among the 
birds are pheafants, parrots, maccaws, turtle-doves, and 
leveral others, d'he reptiles are numerous, fnakes, I’er- 
G O L 
pents, vipers, lizards, fcorpions, &'c. The coafts, lakes, 
and rivers, abound with fifli, and likewife with alliga¬ 
tors. Among the trees are the palm, the cocoa-nut, 
the papay, the banana. The principal countries on the 
Gold Coalt are Ancobar, Axem, Anta, Commenda, 
Fetu, Sabo, Adorn, Agouna, Acra, Acamboii, La- 
badde, Fantin, Incaffan, Ningo, Sabu, and Soko. 
GOLD CP..O'NACH, a towm of Germany, in the 
circle of Franconia, and principality of Bayreuth. It 
had formerly a gold mine, now iieglefted : five miles 
n^th of Bayreuth. 
-%OLD FOIL,/. Leaf gold. 
GOLD-HEADED, adj. Having a head of gold. 
GOLD SIKE, a little fpring in Weftmoreland, which 
cafts up fmall thin pieces of fubftance which fliines, and 
refembles gold. 
GOLD'APP, a town of Pruflian Lithuania, founded 
in 1564, by the marggrave Albert: fixty-eight miles 
eaft-fouth-eaft of Konigfberg. 
GOLD'APP, a river of Prufiia, which runs into the 
Roininte, fix miles north of Goldapp, in the province 
ot Lithuania. 
GOLD'AST (Melchior Heimensfeld), a learned and 
laborious writer, born at Bifchoffs-zell in Swilferland. 
He ftiidied the civil law at Altdoif, but capricious for¬ 
tune prevented him from thriving in the world. After 
a life of poverty, he died in 1635. His works, which 
are chiefly compilations, were nevertlielefs much efteem- 
ed. The principal are, i. Monarchia SanRi Imperii Ro¬ 
mani, 3 vols. folio, 1611-14; a colledlion of treatifes on 
the civil and eccleliaftical jiirifdidlion of the empire. 
2. Alimaniis Scriptores, 3 vols. folio, 1730. 3. Commentarius 
de Bohemia Regno, 4I0. 4. Informalio de Statu Bohemia quoad 
Jus, 4to. if. Sybilla Francica, 4to. a colleiSlion of pieces 
relative to the maid of Orleans. 5. Scriptures Rerum Sue- 
vicarum, 4to. 6. ColleRio Confuetudinum & Legum hnperia- 
lium, folio. 7. Politica Imperialia, 2 vols. folio. A col¬ 
lection of letters, written to him by feveral men of learn¬ 
ing, was printed at Frankfort in 1688. 
GOLD'BACH, a town of Germany, in the circle of 
Upper Saxony, and principality of Gotha: two miles 
north of Gotha. 
GOLD'BE ATER,/. One whofe occupation is to 
beat or foliate gold to gild other matter.— Owe goldbeat¬ 
ers, though, for their own profit fake, they are wont to 
life the fineft gold tliey can get, yet they icruple not to 
employ coined gold. Boyle. 
GOLD'BEATER’s SKIN,/. Tlie inteftinum reclum 
of an ox, which goldbeaters lay between the leaves of 
tlieir metal while they beat it, wliereby the membrane 
is reduced tliin,- and made fit to apply to cuts or wounds. 
Quincy. —When J'our gilHHowers blow, if they break the 
pod, open it with a penknife at each divifion, as low as 
the flower has burft it, and bind it about with a narrow 
flip oigoldbeaters Jkin, which moiften with your tongue, 
and it will (lick together. Mortimer. 
GOLD'BFIRG, a town of Silelia, in the principality 
of Lignitz. It receives its name-from a gold mine near 
it, which was formerly very rich : fealed earth is found 
in the neiglibourhood, and the inhabitanrs are engaged 
in manufaifures of woollen and linen: eigJit miles and 
a half Ibuth-weft of Lignitz, and-eleven weft-north-weft 
of Jauer. 
GOLD'BOUHD, adj. Encompafled with gold : 
Thy air. 
Thou other goldbound brow, is like the firft. Shahejpeare. 
GOLD'EGG, a town of Germany, in the archduchy 
of Auftria : four miles weft of St. Polten. 
GOLD'EN, adj. Made of gold ; confiding of gold : 
Nine royal knights in equal rank fucceed, 
Each warrior mounted on a fiery deed. 
In golden armour glorious to behold ; 
The rivets of their arms were nail’d with gold. Dryden. 
4 Shining 
