ALCHYMY.

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ancient chymistry about the time of the revivalof learning in Europe. Its evil was in givingbirth to some of those bubbles by which knaveryis ever preying upon folly and avidity: its goodhas been the fortuitous discoveries to which weowe the progress of medicine, chymistry, and thearts—a Lavoisier, a Cavendish, and a Davy!

If still there is any one who aims at the alkahest,universal solvent, or elixir of life,—if he would ob-tain the philosopher's stone which transmutes themetals, or if he would discover the elements ofmatter, let him not apply to Sir Humphrey forhis electro-chymical apparatus which severed thealkalis,—nor seek, with safety in the midst ofdanger, the explosive mines of the earth bythe light of his Davy, —nor tempt the ocean insearch of these wonders sheathed and shieldedby his Protectors : —let him not trouble himselfwith the salt, sulphur, and mercury of the Adepti.*

* The Alchymists have a tradition, that there are alwaystwelve Adepti, or possessors of the philosopher's stone, panacea,&c. ; and that, as frequently as they are exploded hy Death,their places are supplied by new Adepts.

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