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of the Mercury forthwith abandons the siiver, and falls to the bottom, from whence it is recover'd, and kept for the like use.
Lastly, The siiver is melted down with the Liga, (as 'tis call'd) which the King of Spain allows, by which He returns to the people in Copper that fifth part, which they allow him of all the silver.
Having described this whole operation, you will perhaps expect, I should somewhat enlarge here upon the generation of Mettals, and my speculations and theory concerning it. But, though this was indeed one of the chief motives of my undertaking this long and tedious Voyage, yet considering the subject to be of such a nature, that it requires very many things to be supposed and premised, and more experience, than I yet dare pretend to, and l dare not at present engulf my self in this Ocean. I shall only say this; first, that my opinion of this matter is something different from the ordinary, though I will not deny, that for the substance, I differ not much from the opinion of the famous Sendivogius, in librode 12. Tractatibus. And then that I think it observable, that there is a very strong offensive smell, ranker then that of Sepulchers, which I have observed in some Mines, the Work-men telling me, that that is one of the chief signes of a rich Mine.
To conclude, I shall presume to give you some of my thoughts concerning the so much discoursed of Transmutation of Mettals; concerning which, I am of opinion, that that Change is erroneousiy apprehended by many, imagining that the whole imperfect mettal is totally transform'd into the more perfect by the substance mixed with it; whereas the mixture added to the melted mettal, joyns it self, (as I conceive) to those parts, which being homogeneal, symbolize together with the nature of the more perfect, whereby the pure metalline parts are separated from the other heterogeneal impure Sulphures, which together, with other causes, did hinder nature in the Mine from concocting that substance into the perfecter Mettal.
That which contributed not a little to make me a Proselyte to the Art of Chymistry, was, among others, a very pretty experiment, a friend shew'd me, more curious than gain-full; It was a continual budding forth of silver in the form of a branch in a glass over an indifferent strong fire of Coals, which sprouts being clipp'd off with Scissers, and a small supply of crude Mercury added to the matter, in a small time there arose another branch of true siiver, which had sucked and converted into metallick sprigs a considerable portion of the Quick-silver. This motion, and the increment of new silver-branches ceased not, as long as the fire continued, and fresh Mercury applyed for the due nutriment of this mineral Vegetation. This ingenious Knack made me reflect on the golden Tree of Virgil. 6. Æneid.
