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* 1.1MY design in following Experiments, be∣ing rather to lay down such as may be instructive to the Reader, than Ostentations of my own skill, I shall give this short Advertise∣ment, that I have upon that account rather made choise of such as are easie, than those that are difficult to be prepared, those being more proper for my design, which is to lay
down Fundamentals for compiling of natural Phylosophy, because they are likely to be most Intelligible; for it does not always happen, that that which is most pleasing to the Eye is most useful, for tho' Gold and Diamonds are valu∣able in themselves, yet a piece of Steel or Flint are in effect in some respects, of greater use to Mankind.
Tho' Chymists so much boast of their Au∣rum Potabile,* 1.2 as to think it a curious prepara∣tion, yet it is possible to make one without the help of a furnace, or so much time, after the following manner. Having ground four Parts of pure Nitre with two of Rock-Allom, and one of Sal-Armoniack, I put the Mixture into a new Crucible, keeping it in a moderate Heat, till the Mixture contained in it was dry, which being taken out, and presently pulverised, it afforded a Golden Tincture in highly recti∣fyed Spirit of Wine.
* 1.3Three ounces of Silver being put into a Re∣tort upon six ounces of strong Sublimate, by a strong Fire the Sublimate was carried to the top of the Vessel, leaving the Silver half mel∣ted, and turned into a Semidiaphanous hor∣ny
Substance, which would melt at the flame of a Candle like Wax.
N. B. That if there be any Phaenomena in this or other Experiments, above what the Title promises, the Apology I make for them is, that as they may tend to the promoting of natural Philosophy as well as the other, so I was not willing to pass them by without No∣tice.
* 1.4Having gradually mixed the precipitate of Silver made with Copper, with two drachms of Antimonial Mercury in a Man's hand, till it had reduced to a yielding consistence three quarters of its own weight, we put the Amalgama which was noted to be sensibly warm during the Mixture, and of an uniform consistence, in∣to a Glass Vial, which in two Nights time be∣came a hard and brittle Concrete.
I sent a Mercury to the Royal Society, which was prepared with a great deal of pains in my Furnaces,* 1.5 which being mixed in one hand with a due proportion of Calx of Gold, might be perceived to acquire a sensible Heat, which faculty it retained being Hermetically
sealed in a Glass Egg ten or twelve years. And what is more remarkable is, that the Mercury being separated by Distillation, would when mixed again with Gold reiterate the former Incalescence.
* 1.6In the common method of operating upon An∣timony, the Air not only influencing the fire in its Operation, but also bearing up several of its Particles which work upon each other as in a Medium, I took the following method to try what effects the fire would have upon it, viz. I laid S S S of common Chalk and Antimony powdered, in an Earthen Pot, and placed it in a digestive Furnace, where it con∣tinued about twenty four hours, having taken care that the first and last Stratum should be of Chalk, and that the Layer of Antimony should be pretty thin.
* 1.7Preparations of Gold being usually taken for extraordinary Medicines, I shall lay down one, which is a Calces prepared without the help of corrosives Menstruums. Having dissol∣ved Gold in Aqua Regia, and distilled off so much of the Menstruum as to leave the Gold
dissolved in so much of it, as to resemble a thick Oyly Liquor, upon which Inflamable Spi∣rit of Wine. being poured, a red Calx presen∣ly subsided; and the like Precipitation succeed∣ed upon mixing Spirit of Wine again upon the decanted Liquor, which was very much sweetned by the first Infusion; and this Calx is not only more subtle, but milder and safer than common Preparations, and may be made yet more safe, if Spirit of Wine be soccessive∣ly poured upon it, and consumed by Defla∣gration, for by that means the residue, if there be any of corrosive saline Parts will be carried off; but there is one thing to be noted here, which is, that amongst this Calx there were several Particles which shined like Gold, so that there ought to be more than ordinary care in the Preparation to dissolve the Gold per∣fectly. N. B. This Menstruum is not only in this but several other Preparations prefera∣ble to common A R, because the Inflamable Spirit being mixed with it renders it more Spirituous.
To try how much Volatile Salt might be dissolved in Water, we put a quantity of them both together in a moderate Heat, and found that an ounce and a drachm might be dissolved in three ounces of Water.
Salt of Tartar being dissolved in Spirit of French Verdigrease, two or three times succes∣sively, and the Spirit being as often drawn off by Distillation, the Salt remained in a disposi∣tion to be dissolved in rectifyed Spirit of Wine, and apt to be brought to Fusion.
A quart of Ale-Yest, being kept in fermen∣tation five or six days together, with two bushels of Damask Roses and red Rose Buds well beaten, yielded an Inflamable Spirit being distilled per Vesicam.
* 1.8From two ounces of Oriental Pearls distilled in a Retort in a sand Furnace, we obtained a black Oyl which swam upon an Opacous and muddy Spirit, both being in weight about twenty three grains; and from the top of the Retort to the bottom was extended a film of Oyl which was about three grains, being of a fetid smell and discolouring Spirit of Wfne with a redish brown Tincture, the Oyl and Spirit also resembled Harts-horn in smell, and the latter had all the Qualities of a Volatile Alkaly,
as to turn Sublimate white and Syrup of Violets green, and to ferment with Spirit of Salt. The Caput Mortuum which was black being calcined became white, being of a hot and bit∣terish taste, and capable of turning Syrup of violets green. As also when mixed with a So∣lution of sublimate it would yield an Orange coloured precipitate.
A collection of Chymical Medicines.
Crude Gold dissolved by a dry Body.
Luna Cor∣nea by Di∣stillation.
Mercury growing warm with Silver.
Mercury growing Hot with Gold.
A particu∣lar way of working up∣on Antimo∣ny.
Calces of Gold.
A Chymical Analysis of Pearls.