The art of glass shewing how to make all sorts of glass, crystal and enamel : likewise the making of pearls, precious stones, china and looking-glasses : to which is added, the method of painting on glass and enameling : also how to extract the colours from minerals, metals, herbs and flowers ... : illustrated with proper sculptures / written originally in French, by Mr. H. Blancourt, and now first translated into English ; with an appendix, containing exact instructions for making glass-eyes of all colours.

CHAP. CLXVII. To Extract Spirit of Saturn, an Excellent Ingredient for Enamel and Glass-work.

WE think fit to propose all the Preparations pro∣per for making a Red Enamel, before we shew the way to make it, because the Ingredients to

be used must first be provided, or we can't proceed regularly to our Business.

Among the rest, this Spirit of Saturn is not to be laid aside, which tho considered here as useful only in Enamel and Glass-work, may have other Vertues familiar to the Learned; but for our Business 'tis such as does very nobly heighten and much improve the Matter for our Work, and for any other not imme∣diately relating to us here, we pass over in silence.

Reduce good Litharge, as much as you please, to an impalpable powder, and set it in a glazed Earthen Vessel over a still Fire; add to this good distilled Vi∣negar, till four Inches above it, mix 'em well toge∣ther, and then let them settle until the Vinegar be∣come Milk-coloured, which will be in a little time; decant this Vinegar off gently, and put on fresh, con∣tinuing to do thus until it admits of no more colour∣ing; then put all the Milk-coloured Vinegar into a glazed Earthen Vessel, and let it stand until the Lead precipitate to the bottom; from whence pour of the clear Vinegar, which will be at top, and that Milk-coulour'd Sediment which remains, is what we call Spirit of Saturn, tho improperly, and that which we'll make use of for the Enamel and Glass.

If it do not precipitate well to your liking, and that the Vinegar at top be not very clear, cast among it some cold Water; if that won't do, and that your Vinegar still continues muddy, set all the Water and Vinegar together over a gentle Fire to evaporate, and thus you'll have the more Spirituous part of your Vi∣negar a Sediment in the bottom of the Vessel, which is exceeding useful for Glass-work; keep it together with the rest of the Saturn for use.

This Noble Preparation which we call Spirit of Saturn, does indeed contain it, but you must have skill to extract it thereout; to say that 'tis all Spirit of Saturn is untrue, for 'tis that wherein the Spirit

is contained, and from whence it may be more easily and better separated, than from the Mass of Lead, I propose this first step towards extracting it as such, whereby the Curious may succeed with small trou∣ble.