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John Frederick Helvetius (see plate 13), an eminent doctor of medicine, and physician
to the Prince of Orange, published at the Hague in 1667 the following remarkable
account of a transmutation he claimed to have effected. Certain points of resemblance
between this account and that of van Helmont (e.g., in each case the Stone is described as
a glassy substance of a pale yellow colour) are worth noticing: "On the 27 December,
1666, in the forenoon, there came to my house a certain man, who was a complete
stranger to me, but of an honest, grave countenance, and an authoritative
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mien, clothed in a simple garb like that of a Memnonite . . .
"After we had exchanged salutations, he asked me whether he might have some
conversation with me. He wished to say something to me about the Pyrotechnic Art, as he
had read one of my tracts (directed against the sympathetic Powder of Dr. Digby), in
which I hinted a suspicion whether the Grand Arcanum of the Sages was not after all a
gigantic hoax. He, therefore, took that opportunity of asking me whether I could not
believe that such a grand mystery might exist in the nature of things, by means of which a
physician could restore any patient whose vitals were not irreparably destroyed. I
answered: `Such a Medicine would be a most desirable acquisition for any physician; nor
can any man tell how many secrets there may be hidden in Nature; yet, though I have
read much about the truth of this Art, it has never been my good fortune to meet with a
real Master of the Alchemical Science.' I also enquired whether he was a medical man....
In reply, he ... described himself as a brassfounder.... After some further conversation, the
Artist Elias (for it was he) thus addressed me: `Since you have read so much in the works
of the Alchemists about this Stone, its substance, its colour, and its wonderful effects,
may I be allowed the question, whether you have not yourself prepared it?' On my
answering his question in the negative, he took out of his bag a cunningly-worked ivory
box, in which there were three large pieces of a substance resembling glass, or pale
sulphur, and informed me that here was enough of the Tincture for the production of 20
tons of gold. When I
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ALCHEMY
66
PLATE 13.
JOHANNES FREDERICUS HELVETIUS
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had held the precious treasure in my hand for a quarter of an hour (during which time I
listened to a recital of its wonderful curative properties), I was compelled to restore it to
its owner, which I could not help doing with a certain degree of reluctance. After
thanking him for his kindness in shewing it to me, I then asked how it was that his Stone
did not display that ruby colour, which I had been taught to regard as characteristic of the
Philosopher's Stone. He replied that the colour made no difference, and that the substance
was sufficiently mature for all practical purposes. My request that he would give me a
piece of his Stone (though it were no larger than a coriander seed), he somewhat
brusquely refused, adding, in a milder tone, that he could not give it me for all the wealth
I possessed, and that not on account of its great preciousness, but for some other reason
which it was not lawful for him to divulge; . . .
64. Helvetius obtains the Philosopher's Stone.
"When my strange visitor had concluded his narrative, I besought him to give me a
proof of his assertion, by performing the transmutatory operation on some metals in my
presence. He answered evasively, that he could not do so then, but that he would return in
three weeks, and that, if he was then at liberty to do so, he would shew me something that
would make me open my eyes. He appeared punctually to the promised day, and invited
me to take a walk with him, in the course of which we discoursed profoundly on the
secrets of Nature in fire, though I noticed that my companion was very chary in imparting
information about the Grand Arcanum. . . . At last I asked him point-blank to show me
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the transmutation of metals. I besought him to come and dine with me, and to spend the
night at my house; I entreated; I expostulated; but in vain. He remained firm. I reminded
him of his promise. He retorted that his promise had been conditional upon his being
permitted to reveal the secret to me. At last, however, I prevailed upon him to give me a
piece of his precious Stone -- a piece no larger than a grain of rape seed. He delivered it
to me as if it were the most princely donation in the world. Upon my uttering a doubt
whether it would be sufficient to tinge more than four grains of lead, he eagerly
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ALCHEMY
67
demanded it back. I complied, in the hope that he would exchange it for a larger piece;
instead of which he divided it in two with his thumb, threw away one-half and gave me
back the other, saying: `Even now it is sufficient for you.' Then I was still more heavily
disappointed, as I could not believe that anything could be done with so small a particle
of the Medicine. He, however, bade me take two drachms, or half an ounce of lead, or
even a little more, and to melt it in the crucible; for the Medicine would certainly not
tinge more of the base metal than it was sufficient for. I answered that I could not believe
that so small a quantity of Tincture could transform so large a mass of lead. But I had to
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