234

DEATH S DOINGS.

are still hot. That it should yet occupy ardentimaginations amid the gloom, poverty, and oppres-sion of the forests of Germany, is not so astonish-ing, as that it should still have votaries in themetropolis of Britain, where the light shines uponthe free, and so many easier ways of making goldare known, and that there should be still foundpersons of reputed understanding who are willingto be deluded by men, wretchedly poor, who professthe art of making gold !

But imagination has ever been the tyrant ofthe mind, exciting enthusiasm, of which knaverytakes advantage, and folly is the food it feeds on.

*** Those who would enter further into the history ofAlchymy, may consult Boerhaave ; and for later information," A Sketch of the History of Alchymy," by Mr. Brande, in theNew Annual Register for 1819.

G. F.