Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-07
9ailg a'ir9iaian.
Tho Philosophers Stono.


There has bean report. recently, that some ono
in France has been enabled to transmuto metals.
Such reports npe common Mt certain epochs, but
there has never bccn nny proof given OF tho possi-
bility to accomplish this undesirable end in
science. For II number of ages, in every country.
where science had been cultivated, mankind livod
the bcliot that they would bo nblo to trnnsinute
tho inferior into tho precious metals. Tho me
dirm for efecting this result was called tho phi
losorher'a stone. 1t was like tho pauncea in med
icine-the compound that was To heal all the sick,
aud confer Immortality upon mortals. In fact al
chomy embraced these two objccts-hcalh and
wealth were To bo obtained by means Of tho sol
encc. However, tho philosophers Stone was never
discovered though tho nlchcms.s did much TO
advance tho cause OF science by their experiments.
There were. however, in tho middle ages men
who pretended to have power over tho bnser mo-
tails. and who would have II understood that they
could make gold. They lived and grew wealthy
bv the deoertions which they practiscd. Fredo-
rick ILL.,, Emperor oi Germany. caused medal
/, be struck OF the gold produced by nm alohemi-
cnl operation which was performed in his presence
hv II quack of the numo of Kichterhausen. Fred
crck was well satisfied, TINT he granted letters
Of mobility to tho adept, and called him up among
the barons of the holy Roman empire by tho mp.
lropriate title o tho Baron Of Chaos Such ief
was worth n fortune, nna accordingly wherever
he went, the Baron ot thnos met with capital sue
cess At tho court Of tho cector of Mnycncc he OF.
tcrcd TO effect trnnsmntntiou. ior which purpose
hc produced n .mnll p, rion oi tho matter ot pro-
lection, in shape and sTc like n cnt
The powder had been mixed up with gum tragh-
ennIh for tho purpose hc said, of binding itand
ngnin tho pellet was cnvcloped in WAX. Tho e.
rctor was desired to put II, together with four
ounces OF quicksilver Ia cruclblc which was ni-
forwards covered with charcoal. The clecor md
tho bfron then blew the freand nt the expiration
II hnlf au hour tho cIucIhle wns taken from tho
iuIhnpr uuu the lnrpu talrpI ut the melton pDl
The liquid metal appeared Of bright red, and tho
baron exclaimed that It's touch wnA two high it
it must BE- lowered ly tho addition OF silver.
The cleetor threw in n bar Of silver and after
second fusion tho metal was cnst in an in,got
which wns found very pure, but rather brittle.
Tho baron easily accounted Tor this by saying,
probably PARTICLES Of tin adhered Ia the ingot
mould; but n third fashion would remove tho alloy.
Ibis wns done ut the mint, and gold then be
came exceedingly ductilo and tho mint master
told his scrcncc hiEl,ncss he had never seen such
fine gold Monconnis tells tho story in tho words
Il the coctor, and it is cydont that both Of them
lclicyed that real transmutation had taken
/ place.
In performing such experiments, it is usual
! trick to have piece of gold enclosed in hollow
tubo Employed 10 stir the mixture, and with tho
end stopped up with wnx. la tho process of stir
ring tie wax melting, allowed the gold to got into
! the crucblc. and tbs tho alchemist succeeded in
|
uuse proposed. John Henry Muller, originally u
| barber, in the province of Alsace. came to tho
| court ot tho Emperor lipdolph, who was munif-
cent patron Of occult sciences ard succeed well
| that he had patent OF mobility conferred ON him.
| After many adventures ho went to the court Of
the duke Of WurtemburS, MT Stuttgard, to prac-
ice his art, and tucceeded in persuading the duke
Of his ellunting tho transmutntion. Tho duke
nnured the metals into tho cruciiilr tho doors Of
the laboratory were locked und sealed, and on the
! following morning tho amngam Of lead and mcr-
curry was found richly impresnatcI with gold
| Another operation at the castle Of Rodcngen had
| had the snmo ciloct In the first place, success
Wns obtained by means of an nccompice intro
| oucoi in chest; and in the second instance, the
same useful auxiliary found his way through II
| 'uul'. But the baron was not allowed to enjoy
his honors in peace for the inr famed Sandi-
vogins made his appearance ut Stul gard. This
WAS II Polish nobleman, believed dato DO the great
est nlchcmist and magician of his ngr. Tho two
adopts were both wonderfully pcrplexed each be-
lieving the other possessed tho secret. Muller to
relieve himself from the embarrassment Of tho
presence of his rival, found means to persuade
him that the duke intcnlal to put him 10 the tor
turc. in order t. make hlm confess his secret pn
which Snndiyogious ran away from Siutgnrd.--
| Muller contrivcd To have Inn arrested by tho way
and confined IN prison; whore he almost lost his
lie by the seycrites inflicted on him. in order to
make him give up the the secret to hisfalse broth
or; for Muller had 10 doubt If Snndiyogious being
in possession Of the philosophers stone.
Sandivoguis ut last making his escape, Mulger
apprehcuded, condemned. and executed;
being dressed at his execution in garment GOV
cred with lcni gold.
1t is astonishing how many persons lost their
al in pursuit Of this vain science; but the alchem
ist still persevcrc1, aud ono generation after
her trode in tho path of fully. The al
chemist was seldom inddced to give way TO disap-
IIn rI nlp la md nln Hal.
acaiu tried new mixture of Lulphur mercury,
and salt; again heated his furnace; and every sue
ccssve change in the appearance Of the materials
he employed filled bis mind with intense hopc
and the object of his study was about to be ac-
| complished. \ nav attempt was still to be made
and the scene Of his delusi,e efforts only tormina-
ted with his life.