Moreover, the following Experiment, for the trying the Truth of my Aurum Potabile, is not to be contemned. Rub some Argent-vive upon a small Silver Plate, and what is superfluous, and doth not adhere, wipe off with a Linen cloth, after the manner of Goldsmiths, (or Gilders) who gild with the Amalgama of Gold and Quick-silver: Digest the Silver Plate in my Aurum Potabile, for half an hour, or an hour, then take it out, and you shall see with how, fair a Golden Colour it will be gilt. For in this digestion the Mercury is not so heated, that it can vanish in smoak, and therefore adhereth to the Silver Plate, and is tinged by my Aurum Potabile into the best Gold. Now try the same operation with another Silver Plate, rubbed over with Argent-vive, and digest it in a solution containing corporeal Gold, to see if that Plate will be gilt like the other. For the Plate coming out white, you will see a very great difference.
I could here add more such Experiments, if I thought it needful. If Goldsmiths (or Gilders) could gild their Silver Vessels, by such a coction (or digestion) in a solution of corporeal Gold, without doubt they would soon leave the common way of gilding by the Amalgama of Mercury and Gold, because by its poisonous Mercurial fume, affecting the bodies of those who handle it, it is wont to cast them into dangerous and lasting Diseases. But because they can effect nothing by such golden solutions, they are forced to supersede their Use, and to acquiesce in the old usual way.
These few things of my Aurum Potabile, which is the Fourth and Last Article in my Continuation of Miraculum Mundi, I am constrained to publish for its defence, that every one may know I have not attributed too much to it, but that it can perform much more; the truth of which I am ready to exhibit. Therefore this is a Medicament most worthy to be presented to Great and Noble Men, as a precious Gift.
As for the Third Process in the same Work, which is offered to Physicians and Citizens, that they may by an easie labour obtain good Medicines for Mankind, and an honest livelihood; it is openly and clearly described, so that in it not the least thing is hidden or concealed, I cannot force any to believe or try the matter; I have enough to do with my own affairs; but if in my Youth I could have obtained such a Manuduction, as I have hitherto and still do administer to others, I should not have been forced to the searching out of Nature with so great charge and labours, heavy stinks, and great danger of my Life, as I have. I here again assert that which I have often asserted, viz. That by the fulminating of Salt-Petre with Tin and Mercury, much Gold and Silver is acquired; which thing I have often done, and as yet can do it, and do promise that in due time I will demonstrate it publickly in my Laboratory to Friends. The other point, in which I have taught how Rich men may augment or improve their Gold and Silver, much safer than they are wont to do by putting it to Usury, I have truly and candidly revealed, and have kept back nothing. NB. But that there are other waies of acquiring Riches, without great Cost and Labours at the Fire, the troublesome Exercise of Merchandise, or other things, disturbing or hurting the mind, I do in no wise deny. For the like things are every where obvious, in divers place of my Writings, especially in the 2, 3, and 4 parts of The Prosperity of Germany, where mention is made of an Excellent Work, by means of which an honest livelihood may be obtained in tranquility, without noise, meltings, and blowings of Bellows, and that by the help of a certain Water extracting Gold and Silver from Sand, Earth, Clay, Stones, and Minerals, without great labour and costs. And although there should not be at hand any such Earth, Sand, or Stones, which contain Gold and Silver, from which these cannot be elicited by common melting; (yet there is hardly any place in the World, where these matters do not occurr) nevertheless there is no want of Lead and Tin, from which two at all times, and in all places of the World, Gold and Silver, by the help of the said Water of Salt-petre may be extracted; which is an excellent and profitable Art, the which, lest it should die with me, I have already shewed it to some Friends.
I also here promise, that in my publick Laboratory I will shew and demonstrate various Secrets. But let no man perswade himself that I will do this to all men, without descrimination, or admit every unknown Person to this demonstration, but only those whose Piety and Candour I my self have long known, or such as shall be recommended by them, or other known Friends.
Moreover, besides my publick Laboratory, I will also have a private one, in which shall be shewed to my Friends the more curious and excellent things which I have mentioned in my Writings.
There shall be shewed rare and hitherto unknown Wonders of Nature, as Vegetable and Mineral Plants. As for example.
Vegetables of a Metallick Nature; of which we have spoken in the Treatise of The Nature of Salts.
Herbs springing up or growing out of hard Flints, yea, out of pieces of Iron.
Metals in a few hours growing up like Vegetables, by the help of a certain Water; concerning which, see my Description of the Liquor of Flints, in The Second Part of Furnaces.
Metals in a few hours space, like Herbs, without the addition of any foreign matter, growing up, so that they lose nothing in the trial of the Cupel.
Also divers manual Operations, and Compendiums not common in the Destillation of excellent Spirits, profitable both in Alchymy and Physick, such are Spirit of Nitre, Spirit of Salt, Aqua-fortis, Aqua-regis, and the like, by which they are so easily and swiftly destilled, that with two or three pound of Coals, by a Body and Head, in Sand, every hour may be destilled one pound of spirit, and that so pure, sweet, and clear, that it needs no rectification.
But seeing that this is a thing unheard of, and therefore will be look’d upon by the common Chymists as a thing incredible, I cannot forbear here only to point at the way, by which it may appear possible to be done.