Dissatisfactionwithhislotseemstobethecharacteristicofmaninallagesandclimates。Sofar，however，frombeinganevil，asatfirstmightbesupposed，ithasbeenthegreatciviliserofourrace；
　　andhastended，morethananythingelse，toraiseusabovetheconditionofthebrutes。Butthesamediscontentwhichhasbeenthesourceofallimprovement，hasbeentheparentofnosmallprogenyoffolliesandabsurdities；totracetheselatteristheobjectofthepresentvolume。Vastasthesubjectappears，itiseasilyreduciblewithinsuchlimitsaswillmakeitcomprehensivewithoutbeingwearisome，andrenderitsstudybothinstructiveandamusing。
　　Threecausesespeciallyhaveexcitedourdiscontent；and，byimpellingustoseekforremediesfortheirremediable，havebewilderedusinamazeofmadnessanderror。Thesearedeath，toil，andignoranceofthefuture——thedoomofmanuponthissphere，andforwhichheshowshisantipathybyhisloveoflife，hislongingforabundance，andhiscravingcuriositytopiercethesecretsofthedaystocome。Thefirsthasledmanytoimaginethattheymightfindmeanstoavoiddeath，or，failinginthis，thattheymight，nevertheless，soprolongexistenceastoreckonitbycenturiesinsteadofunits。Fromthissprangthesearch，solongcontinuedandstillpursued，fortheelixirvitae，orwateroflife，whichhasledthousandstopretendtoitandmillionstobelieveinit。Fromthesecondsprangtheabsurdsearchforthephilosopher’sstone，whichwastocreateplentybychangingallmetalsintogold；andfromthethird，thefalsesciencesofastrology，divination，andtheirdivisionsofnecromancy，chiromancy，augury，withalltheirtrainofsigns，portents，andomens。
　　Intracingthecareeroftheerringphilosophers，orthewilfulcheats，whohaveencouragedorpreyeduponthecredulityofmankind，itwillsimplifyandelucidatethesubject，ifwedivideitintothreeclasses:——thefirstcomprisingalchymists，orthoseingeneralwhohavedevotedthemselvestothediscoveringofthephilosopher’sstoneandthewateroflife；thesecondcomprisingastrologers，necromancers，sorcerers，geomancers，andallthosewhopretendedtodiscoverfuturity；andthethirdconsistingofthedealersincharms，amulets，philters，universal-panaceamongers，touchersfortheevil，seventhsonsofaseventhson，sympatheticpowdercompounders，homeopathists，animalmagnetizers，andallthemotleytribeofquacks，empirics，andcharlatans。
　　But，innarratingthecareerofsuchmen，itwillbefoundthatmanyofthemunitedseveralorallofthefunctionsjustmentioned；
　　thatthealchymistwasafortune-teller，oranecromancer——thathepretendedtocureallmaladiesbytouchorcharm，andtoworkmiraclesofeverykind。InthedarkandearlyagesofEuropeanhistory，thisismoreespeciallythecase。Evenasweadvancetomorerecentperiods，weshallfindgreatdifficultyinseparatingthecharacters。Thealchymistseldomconfinedhimselfstrictlytohispretendedscience——thesorcererandnecromancertotheirs，orthemedicalcharlatantohis。Beginningwithalchymy，someconfusionoftheseclassesisunavoidable；butthegroundwillclearforusasweadvance。
　　Letusnot，intheprideofoursuperiorknowledge，turnwithcontemptfromthefolliesofourpredecessors。Thestudyoftheerrorsintowhichgreatmindshavefalleninthepursuitoftruthcanneverbeuninstructive。Asthemanlooksbacktothedaysofhischildhoodandhisyouth，andrecallstohismindthestrangenotionsandfalseopinionsthatswayedhisactionsatthattime，thathemaywonderatthem，soshouldsociety，foritsedification，lookbacktotheopinionswhichgovernedtheagesfled。Heisbutasuperficialthinkerwhowoulddespiseandrefusetohearofthemmerelybecausetheyareabsurd。Nomanissowisebutthathemaylearnsomewisdomfromhispasterrors，eitherofthoughtoraction，andnosocietyhasmadesuchadvancesastobecapableofnoimprovementfromtheretrospectofitspastfollyandcredulity。Andnotonlyissuchastudyinstructive:hewhoreadsforamusementonly，willfindnochapterintheannalsofthehumanmindmoreamusingthanthis。Itopensoutthewholerealmoffiction——thewild，thefantastic，andthewonderful，andalltheimmensevarietyofthings“thatarenot，andcannotbe；butthathavebeenimaginedandbelieved。“
　　“Mercuryloquitur——Themischiefasecretanyofthemknow，abovetheconsumingofcoalsanddrawingofusquebaugh！Howsoevertheymaypretend，underthespeciousnamesofGeber，Arnold，Lulli，orbombastofHohenheim，tocommitmiraclesinart，andtreasonagainstnature！Asifthetitleofphilosopher，thatcreatureofglory，weretobefetchedoutofafurnace！Iamtheircrude，andtheirsublimate，theirprecipitate，andtheirunctions；theirmaleandtheirfemale，sometimestheirhermaphrodite——whattheylisttostyleme！Theywillcalcineyouagravematron，asitmightbeamotherofthemaids，andspringupayoungvirginoutofherashes，asfreshasaphoenix；layyouanoldcourtieronthecoals，likeasausageorabloat-herring，and，aftertheyhavebroiledhimenough，blowasoulintohim，withapairofbellows！See！theybegintomusteragain，anddrawtheirforcesoutagainstme！Thegeniusoftheplacedefendme！“——BenJonson’sMasque“MercuryvindicatedfromtheAlchymists。“
　　Formorethanathousandyearstheartofalchymycaptivatedmanynoblespirits，andwasbelievedinbymillions。Itsoriginisinvolvedinobscurity。Someofitsdevoteeshaveclaimedforitanantiquitycoevalwiththecreationofmanhimself；others，again，wouldtraceitnofurtherbackthanthetimeofNoah。VincentdeBeauvaisargues，indeed，thatalltheantediluviansmusthavepossessedaknowledgeofalchymy；andparticularlycitesNoahashavingbeenacquaintedwiththeelixirvitae，orhecouldnothavelivedtosoprodigiousanage，andhavebegottenchildrenwhenupwardsoffivehundred。LengletduFresnoy，inhis“HistoryoftheHermeticPhilosophy，“says，“MostofthempretendedthatShem，orChem，thesonofNoah，wasanadeptintheart，andthoughtithighlyprobablethatthewordschemistryandalchymywerebothderivedfromhisname。“Otherssay，theartwasderivedfromtheEgyptians，amongstwhomitwasfirstfoundedbyHermesTrismegistus。Moses，whoislookeduponasafirst-ratealchymist，gainedhisknowledgeinEgypt；buthekeptitalltohimself，andwouldnotinstructthechildrenofIsraelinitsmysteries。Allthewritersuponalchymytriumphantlycitethestoryofthegoldencalf，inthe32ndchapterofExodus，toprovethatthisgreatlawgiverwasanadept，andcouldmakeorunmakegoldathispleasure。Itisrecorded，thatMoseswassowrothwiththeIsraelitesfortheiridolatry，“thathetookthecalfwhichtheyhadmade，andburneditinthefire，andgroundittopowder，andstrewedituponthewater，andmadethechildrenofIsraeldrinkofit。“This，saythealchymists，henevercouldhavedone，hadhenotbeeninpossessionofthephilosopher’sstone；bynoothermeanscouldhehavemadethepowderofgoldfloatuponthewater。Butwemustleavethisknottypointfortheconsiderationoftheadeptsintheart，ifanysuchtherebe，andcometomoremodernperiodsofitshistory。TheJesuit，FatherMartini，inhis“HistoriaSinica，“says，itwaspractisedbytheChinesetwothousandfivehundredyearsbeforethebirthofChrist；buthisassertion，beingunsupported，isworthnothing。Itwouldappear，however，thatpretenderstotheartofmakinggoldandsilverexistedinRomeinthefirstcenturiesaftertheChristianera，andthat，whendiscovered，theywereliabletopunishmentasknavesandimpostors。AtConstantinople，inthefourthcentury，thetransmutationofmetalswasverygenerallybelievedin，andmanyoftheGreekecclesiasticswrotetreatisesuponthesubject。Theirnamesarepreserved，andsomenoticeoftheirworksgiven，inthethirdvolumeofLengletduFresnoy’s“HistoryoftheHermeticPhilosophy。“
　　Theirnotionappearstohavebeen，thatallmetalswerecomposedoftwosubstances；theone，metallicearth；andtheother，aredinflammablematter，whichtheycalledsulphur。Thepureunionofthesesubstancesformedgold；butothermetalsweremixedwithandcontaminatedbyvariousforeigningredients。Theobjectofthephilosopher’sstonewastodissolveorneutralizealltheseingredients，bywhichiron，lead，copper，andallmetalswouldbetransmutedintotheoriginalgold。Manylearnedandclevermenwastedtheirtime，theirhealth，andtheirenergies，inthisvainpursuit；
　　butforseveralcenturiesittooknogreatholdupontheimaginationofthepeople。Thehistoryofthedelusionappears，inamanner，lostfromthistimetilltheeighthcentury，whenitappearedamongsttheArabians。Fromthisperioditbecomeseasiertotraceitsprogress。A
　　masterthenappeared，whowaslonglookeduponasthefatherofthescience，andwhosenameisindissolublyconnectedwithit。
　　Ofthisphilosopher，whodevotedhislifetothestudyofalchymy，butfewparticularsareknown。Heisthoughttohavelivedintheyear730。HistruenamewasAbouMoussahDjafar，towhichwasaddedAlSoft，or“TheWise，“andhewasbornatHauran，inMesopotamia。
　　[“BiographieUniverselle。“]SomehavethoughthewasaGreek，othersaSpaniard，andothers，aprinceofHindostan:but，ofallthemistakeswhichhavebeenmaderespectinghim，themostludicrouswasthatmadebytheFrenchtranslatorofSprenger’s“HistoryofMedicine，“whothought，fromthesoundofhisname，thathewasaGerman，andrendereditasthe“Donnateur，“orGiver。Nodetailsofhislifeareknown；butitisasserted，thathewrotemorethanfivehundredworksuponthephilosopher’sstoneandthewateroflife。Hewasagreatenthusiastinhisart，andcomparedtheincreduloustolittlechildrenshutupinanarrowroom，withoutwindowsoraperture，who，becausetheysawnothingbeyond，deniedtheexistenceofthegreatglobeitself。Hethoughtthatapreparationofgoldwouldcureallmaladies，notonlyinman，butintheinferioranimalsandplants。Healsoimaginedthatallthemetalslabouredunderdisease，withtheexceptionofgold，whichwastheonlyoneinperfecthealth。Heaffirmed，thatthesecretofthephilosopher’sstonehadbeenmorethanoncediscovered；butthattheancientandwisemenwhohadhituponit，wouldnever，bywordorwriting，communicateittomen，becauseoftheirunworthinessandincredulity。[His“sumofperfection，“orinstructionstostudentstoaidtheminthelaborioussearchforthestoneandelixir，hasbeentranslatedintomostofthelanguagesofEurope。AnEnglishtranslation，byagreatenthusiastinalchymy，oneRichardRussell，waspublishedinLondonin1686。Theprefaceisdatedeightyearspreviously，fromthehouseofthealchymist，“attheStar，inNewmarket，inWapping，neartheDock。“Hisdesigninundertakingthetranslationwas，asheinformsus，toexposethefalsepretencesofthemanyignorantpretenderstothesciencewhoaboundedinhisday。]ButthelifeofGeber，thoughspentinthepursuitofthisvainchimera，wasnotaltogetheruseless。Hestumbledupondiscoverieswhichhedidnotseek，andscienceisindebtedtohimforthefirstmentionofcorrosivesublimate，theredoxideofmercury，nitricacid，andthenitrateofsilver。[Article，Geber，“BiographieUniverselle。“]
　　FormorethantwohundredyearsafterthedeathofGeber，theArabianphilosophersdevotedthemselvestothestudyofalchymy，joiningwithitthatofastrology。OfthesethemostcelebratedwasALFARABI。
　　Alfarabiflourishedatthecommencementofthetenthcentury，andenjoyedthereputationofbeingoneofthemostlearnedmenofhisage。Hespenthislifeintravellingfromcountrytocountry，thathemightgathertheopinionsofphilosophersuponthegreatsecretsofnature。Nodangerdismayedhim；notoilweariedhimofthepursuit。
　　Manysovereignsendeavouredtoretainhimattheircourts；butherefusedtorestuntilhehaddiscoveredthegreatobjectofhislife——theartofpreservingitforcenturies，andofmakinggoldasmuchasheneeded。Thiswanderingmodeoflifeatlastprovedfataltohim。HehadbeenonavisittoMecca，notsomuchforreligiousasforphilosophicalpurposes，when，returningthroughSyria，hestoppedatthecourtoftheSultanSeifeddoulet，whowasrenownedasthepatronoflearning。Hepresentedhimselfinhistravellingattire，inthepresenceofthatmonarchandhiscourtiers；and，withoutinvitation，coollysathimselfdownuponthesofa，besidethePrince。Thecourtiersandwisemenwereindignant；andtheSultan，whodidnotknowtheintruder，wasatfirstinclinedtofollowtheirexample。Heturnedtooneofhisofficers，andorderedhimtoejectthepresumptuousstrangerfromtheroom；butAlfarabi，withoutmoving，daredthemtolayhandsuponhim；and，turninghimselfcalmlytotheprince，remarked，thathedidnotknowwhowashisguest，orhewouldtreathimwithhonour，notwithviolence。TheSultan，insteadofbeingstillfurtherincensed，asmanypotentateswouldhavebeen，admiredhiscoolness；and，requestinghimtositstillclosertohimonthesofa，enteredintoalongconversationwithhimuponscienceanddivinephilosophy。Allthecourtwerecharmedwiththestranger。
　　Questionsfordiscussionwerepropounded，onallofwhichheshowedsuperiorknowledge。Heconvincedeveryonethatventuredtodisputewithhim；andspokesoeloquentlyuponthescienceofalchymy，thathewasatoncerecognisedasonlysecondtothegreatGeberhimself。Oneofthedoctorspresentinquiredwhetheramanwhoknewsomanyscienceswasacquaintedwithmusic？A1farabimadenoreply，butmerelyrequestedthataluteshouldbebroughthim。Thelutewasbrought；andheplayedsuchravishingandtendermelodies，thatallthecourtweremeltedintotears。Hethenchangedhistheme，andplayedairssosprightly，thathesetthegravephilosophers，Sultanandall，dancingasfastastheirlegscouldcarrythem。Hethensoberedthemagainbyamournfulstrain，andmadethemsobandsighasifbroken-hearted。