The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-02
For the Literary Echo
Alchemy and the AlchcmlStS.

era in the progress of human affairs. AL
chemy affords striking illustration of the
romantic origin, the struggling efforts and
the slow progress of real science.
To gain an intelligent notion of alchemy
and the alchemists, it will be necessary to
first glance at the mystery of chemistry.
In its origin, chemistry consisted of a
few of the most obvious facts in Natural
Philosophy, and must have been coeval
with the earliest society. AS society adj
vanced, chemistry embraced the working
of metals and, as the precious metals
were the chief objects of pursuit, the name
of chemistry was used to denote the art Of
procuring and purifying gold and silver
AS civilization continued to advance, Ma
tural Philosophy became distinct branch
of study. Chemistry was, therefore, con-
fined to the treatment of the metals 1t is
in this sense that chemistry was known and
practised by the Oriental nations, especial
ly by the Greeks, Egyptians and Arabians,
among the latter Of whom it was first de-
nominated alchemy 1t received the name
of alchemy (Which is derived from the Ar
able words Al, and Rimia, meaning The
secret art, from the fact that many of the
ablest chemists, in this early period, had
imbibed the notion that the bascr metals
were alloys Of the pure, or that in nature
there existed secret agent which could
transmute different metals into gold.
This curious idea, SO pleasing to the
cupidity of mankind, and so fattering to
the reputation of its originators, soon
spread itself over every country where sci
ence was at all cultivated. 1t passed into
Europe with the Moorish conquests, and
the return of the Crusaders. Over south
ern and middle Europe, it spread with
great rapidity. Alchemy was the chief
study of scholars, and was pursued with
unexampled zeal But from numerous
impositions, and the many signal failures
of those who boasted that they had found
the "hpis pAilosophorum, the science began
in the 10Th century to decline.
1t, however, Immediately received new
impulse. Theophrastus Paracelsus advanc
ed the notion that there was in nature a
principle which would give health to the
sick, youth to old age, and even confer
physical Immortality. He affirmed that
the loss of this principle was what consti-
tuted the fall of our first parents. At the
announcement Of this theory, the alchc-
mists reused themselves from their despon-
dency, and summoned every energy to the
Accomplishment of the glorious work of
winning back mans lost perfection and i'm
mortality The mysterious agent for which
they toiled they called the elizir Of life.
BY this new element in the study of al
chemy, the study of medicine, (though al
ready an old and distinct science) was for
time necessarily associated with it. But
from the necessities of the new theory, ex-
travagances, pervertions and impositions
followed the alchemic department of study,
In the meantime, however, new truths or
facts were multiplying. The experiments
of the alchemists, though not successful
in the object sought, led to the discovery
of many of the most important principles.
These accidental discoveries at length be-
gan to undermine their parent SCIENCE
Facts now opposed themselves to theories ;
and at the close of the 18th century alche-
my began to fade before the light of true
science.
Thus, alchemy sprung from the rudi-
ments of the science of chemistry. After
exhausting itself with fruitless toll for un-
attainable objects, it gave back the science
to the world, not in its infancy as it found
it, but greatly enlarged and elucidated.
Having briefly noticed the history of al
chemy, we are prepared to say few words
X ..