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ALL the Ancients who have treated of the se∣veral Sorts, and Properties of Precious Stones, have at the same time discoursed of Pearls, because they claim a place among the first and best of Jewels, in respect of their Value, as well as their Beauty, and the fixt Quality which they contain, they having been at all times sought
after, for the Ornament and Pleasure of Ladies, as they are at this Day; for these Reasons we thought it convenient to give them a Place among our Works, that (from our Experience) the Curious might be informed how to make such Ar••ificially as fine and splendid, as those which Nature forms in the Depth of the Ocean.
We avow that the Production of Pearls, is very different from that of Precious-Stones, because the latter proceeds from the Earth, and the former quite contrary, from the Shell-Creatures which are shrouded in the Bottom of the Sea; these receive their Nourishment from the same Liquld Substance which crntributes to the Growth of the Shells, and this Slimy Substance is resolved from the Watry Hu∣mour of the Creature, by three several Processes. The first dries it by degrees, the next brings it to an hardness, and last of all, 'tis at certain times em∣plyed by the Animal, for the Increase of its Shell, and the place where this is effected in the inmost in∣veloped recesses thereof. Now the first Principle of these, and all other Precious Stones, descends from Above, to wit, the Universal Seed, which alone can give Birth and Increase to all the Tenants of this vast Universe; and these Precious Stones, as well as the Metals, are nourished in the Womb of the Earth, so the living Creatures bear each other the Foetus within its Parent, &c.
The Oriental Pearls are generated in the Fish, which contains them with the Mother as the Occiden∣tal, or Western in our Oysters, but the Beauty of these two, is very different, the Oriental being of a Silver White, and exceeding splendid to the Occi∣dental; the best of these latter seldom arriving to any higher than the Colour of Milk. We will not here take notice of the particular Places of the East, where they are found, but only inform you, That
the best and most beautiful▪ come from the Persian∣Gulf, about the Isle of Ormus Bassora: They are found in Europe, not only in the Sea, but in Rivers, and Fresh Water; we have them from Scotland, Si∣lesia, Bohemia, Frisia, Lorrain, &c. in all which Pla∣ces they are found very fine, only those of Frisia, are very small.
'Tis thought the Fish wherein the Pearl is genera∣ted, becoming Sickly and Weak, and not able to di∣spose of the Slimy Moisture for the Growth of its Shell, it remains in the Body thereof, and is dried: Hence the Birth of the Pearl, and so by a continual supply of the like Substance still coating it a-new, it becomes large, just as the Stone in the Bladder of Man, and other Creatures, engenders, and is fed by a Clammy Humour, which cannot be emitted by Urine, but remains behind, and so hardens and be∣comes a Stone: After the like manner the Bezoar Stone is bred in the Indian Goats of the Kingdom of Golcondea, and in the Galls of Wild-Boars in India, and the Hedgehogs of Malacca; so several other Stones, to which they give the Name of Bezoar, are found in the Galls of Beeves, Deer, Goats, and o∣ther Animals in France, and elsewhere, all which have great Vertues in Physick.
How great and effectual those Pearls are in Physi∣cal Matters, and what Successes they reach there, is not to our Purpose; we only intend to shew the way of imitating their Beauty by Art so finely, and with such exactness of Lustre, as not to leave it in the power of any to distinguish them easily from the true and Natural ones, they being made of the very fi∣nest sort of Paste that can be, and the same Stuff as the true ones.
Poverty and Pride are two inseparable Compani∣ons among our French; such Ladies as make use of pure Pearl, are those that can afford it, and the lit∣tle
Creatures that cannot reach the Price, but would however appear gay, are obliged to have recourse to the Counterfeit, and content themselves with I∣mitation only of Nature: 'Tis some Years since the Use of these latter was introduced in France, which now, not only the Puny Ladies, but those of Birth and Quality do wear; this proceeded all from that Fashion which insensibly reached still at the larger Pearls, which these Ladies coveted for Ornament; and because they could not be furnished enough with true, they made use of the Artificial; whence the Common Sort of Persons receiv'd the Advantage to vie with Persons of the First Rank and Quality; which they don't fail to do, without Consideration of either Estate, or Condition, but only to conform with the Mode.
The Counterfeit Pearls, which are usually made, are just the Colour of the Pastes, and of no Conti∣nuance but for the present; they are done with a Composition of Brittle Glass and Wax a little melt∣ed; and for Colouring, they use prepared Mercury, Mouth-Glue, or any other Drug, to give them a Brightness, which soon Peels off, and Scales away, especially in the Heat of Summer: The Way which we will give, is not only very good and solid, but exceeding fine, being effected with Seed Pearl; we grant these Pastes to be much dearer than the for∣mer, but consider their Fineness, and that they'll last for ever; we shall also shew how to make the Counterfeits finer and harder; and we are persuad∣ed, that the Preparation of those we shall assign, will appear so easie, and yet produce such fine Imi∣tations, as shall be very satisfactory.