The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

460 PHYSIOLOGICAL REMAINS.
Metals dissolved. The dissolution of gold and 3. For principiation, I cannot affirm whether
silver disagree, so that in their mixture there is there be any such thing or not; and I think the
great ebullition, darkness, and in the end a pre- chymists make too much ado about it; but howcipitation of a black powder. soever it be, be it solution or extraction, or a kind
The mixture of gold and mercury agree. of conversion by the fire; it is diligently to be
Gold agrees with iron. In a word, the dissolu- inquired what salts, sulphur, vitriol, mercury, or
tion of mercury and iron agree with all the rest. the like simple bodies are to be found in the seveSilver and copper disagree, and so do silver and ral metals, and in what quantity.
lead. Silver and tin agree.
Dr. Meverel's answers to the foregoing questions,
The second letter of the cross-row, touchia g the touching the separations of metals and minZerals.
separation of metals and misserals.
1. For the means of separating. After that the
Separation is of three sorts; the first is, the ore is washed, or cleansed from the earth, there is
separating of the pure metal from the ore or dross, nothing simply necessary, save only a wind furwhich we call refining. The second is, the draw- nace well framed, narrow above and at the hearth,
ing one metal or mineral out of another, which in shape oval, sufficiently fed with charcoal and
we call extracting. The third is, the separating ore, in convenient proportions.
of any metal into its original or ", materia prima," For additions in this first separation, I have
or element, or call them what you will; which observed none; the dross the mineral brings being
work we will call principiation. sufficient. The refiners of iron observe, that that
1. For refining, we are to inquire of it according ironstone is hardest to melt which is fullest of
to the several metals; as gold, silver, &c. Incident- metal, and that easiest which hath most dross.
ally we are to inquire of the first stone, or ore, or But in lead and tin the contrary is noted. Yet
spar, or marcasite of metals severally, and what in melting of metals, when they have been calkind of bodies they are, and of the degrees of cined formerly by fire, or strong waters, there is
richness. Also we are to inquire of the means of good use of additaments, as of borax, tartar, arseparating, whether by fire, parting waters, or moniac, and saltpetre.
otherwise. Also for the manner of refining, you 2. In extracting of metals. Note, that lead
are to see how you can multiply the heat, or and tin contain silver. Lead and silver contain
hasten the opening, and so safe the charge in the gold. Iron contains brass. Silver is best sepafining. rated from lead by the test. So gold from silver.
T'he means of this in three manners; that is to Yet the best way for that is "6 aqua regia."
say, in the blast of the fire; in the manner of the 3. For principiation. I can truly and boldly
furnace, to multiply heat by union and reflection; affirm, that there are no such principles as sal,
and by some additament, or medicines which will sulphur, and mercury, which can be separated
help the bodies to open them the sooner. from any perfect metals; for every part so sepaNote, the quickening of the blast, and the multi- rated, may easily be reduced into perfect metal
plying of the heat in the furnace, may be the same without substitution of that, or those principles
for all metals; but the additaments must be seve- which chymists imagine to be wanting. As, supral, according to the nature of the metals. Note, pose you take the salt of lead; this salt, or as some
again, that if. you think that multiplying of the name it, sulphur, may be turned into perfect lead,
additaments in the same proportion that you mul- by melting it with the like quantity of lead which
tiply the ore, the work will follow, you may be contains principles only for itself.
deceived: for quantity in the passive will add I acknowledge that there is quicksilver and
more resistance, than the same quantity in the brimstone found in the imperfect minerals: but
active will add force. those are nature's remote materials, and not the
2. For extracting, yo.u are to inquire what me- chymist's principles. As, if you dissolve antimotals contain others, and likewise what not; as ny by " aqua regia," there will be real brimstone
lead, silver; copper, silver, &c. swimming upon the water' as appears by the
Note, although the charge of extraction should colour of the fire when it is burnt, and by the
exceed the worth, yet, that is not the matter: for smell.
at least it will discover nature and possibility, the
ottler mlay be thought on afterwards. The third letter of the cross-row, touching the vaWe are likewise to inquire, what the differences iation of netals into several shaes, bodies, or
are of those metals which contain more or less naties thepartictlarswhereoffollow.
other metals, and how that agrees with the poorness or richness of the metals or ore. in them- Tincture: turning to rust; calcination; subliselves. As the lead that contains most silver is mation: precipitation: amalgamatizing, or turnaccounted to be more brittle, and yet otherwise ing into a soft body; vitrification: opening or dispoorer in itself. solving into liquor; sproutings, or branchings, oi