Page 46 - Scottish Alchemists

promised to answer you, not by verbal demonstrations, but by a
philosophical experiment. I expect, besides, another person, whom I wish at
the same time to convince with you, so that the adversaries of alchemy may
cease to doubt upon the subject of this art. I then went to seek the person in
question, whom I only knew by sight, and who did not live far from our
hotel. I was afterwards informed that he was Dr Jacob Zwinger, whose
family numbered so many eminent naturalists. We now repaired, all three, to
the house of a goldsmith with several plates of lead, which Zwinger had
fetched from his house, a crucible which we received from a goldsmith, and
some ordinary sulphur which we bought on the way. Seton touched nothing.
He caused a fire to be made, ordered the lead and sulphur to be placed in the
crucible, the lid to be put on, and the mass stirred with rods. After a quarter
of an hour had elapsed, he said to us, ‘Throw this small paper on the middle
of the melted lead, and take care that nothing falls into the fire.’ In this paper
was a powder, rather heavy, of a colour which appeared to be citron yellow;
for the rest it required good eyes to distinguish any other peculiarities.
Although as incredulous as St Thomas himself, we did all we were
commanded. After the mass had been again heated for a quarter of an hour,
and continually agitated with rods of iron the goldsmith received an order to
quench the crucible by pouring water on it, when there was not the least
vestige of lead but a quantity of pure gold, which, in the opinion of the
goldsmith, surpassed in quality the best gold of Hungary or Arabia. It
weighed as much as the lead of which it had taken the place. We were
stupefied with astonishment. It was as if we could hardly dare to believe our
eyes. But Seton, mocking us, ‘Now,’ said he, ‘where are you with your
pedantries? You see the truth of the fact, and that is more powerful than all
your sophisms.’ He afterwards cut off a portion of the gold, and gave it as a
souvenir to Zwinger. I also preserved a portion, which weighed about four
ducats, and which I carefully kept in memory of this journey. As to you
incredulous, you will perhaps mock at what I write. But yet I saw it, and I
am a witness always ready to testify to what I have seen. But Zwinger also
saw it; he will not conceal anything, but render his testimony to what I
affirm. Seton and his domestic are still alive, the latter in England, the former
in Germany, as is well known. I might also specify the precise place where
he dwells, were it not an indiscretion to make researches into the affairs of
this great man, this saint, this demigod.”15

Jacob Zwinger, cited by Dr Dienheim, was a physician and professor at
Basle, and left a name respected in the history of German medicine. He died

15 J.W. Dienheim, de Minerali Medicina, Argent. 1610.

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