article of question touch mineral question and solution concern the compound  incorporate or union of metal or mineral which subject be the first letter of  his lordship alphabet Q with what metal gold will incorporate by simple  colliquefaction and with what not and in what quantity it will incorporate and  what kind of body the compound make a gold with silver which be the ancient  electrum gold with quicksilver gold with lead gold with copper gold with brass  gold with iron gold with tin so likewise of silver silver with quicksilver  silver with lead silver with copper silver with brass silver with iron Plinius  Secund lib ringtail to mix denarius  triumvir Antonius ferrum silver with tin  so likewise of quicksilver quicksilver with lead quicksilver with copper  quicksilver with brass quicksilver with iron quicksilver with tin so of lead  lead with copper lead with brass lead with iron lead with tin pl ringtail so  of copper copper with brass copper with iron copper with tin so of brass brass  with iron brass with tin so of iron iron with tin what be the compound metal  that be common and know and what be the proportion of their mixture as latten  of brass and the calaminar stone pewter of tin and lead bell metal of c and  the counterfeit plate which they call alchemy the Decompositees of three metal  or more be too long to inquire of except there be some composition of they  already observe it be also to be observe whether any two metal which will not  mingle of themselves will mingle with the help of a other and what what  compound will be make of metal with stone and other Fossiles as latten be make  with brass and the calaminar stone as all the metal incorporate with vitriol  all with iron powder all with flint c some few of these will be inquire of to  disclose the nature of the rest whether metal or other Fossiles will  incorporate with melt glass and what body it make the quantity in the mixture  will be well consider for some small quantity perhaps will incorporate as in  the alley of gold and silver coin upon the compound body three thing be chief  to be observe the colour the fragility or pliantness the volatility or  fixation compare with the simple body for present use or profit this be the  rule consider the price of the two simple body consider again the dignity of  the one above the other in use then see if you can make a compound that will  save more in price than it will lose in dignity of the use as for example  consider the price of brass ordnance consider again the price of iron ordnance  and then consider wherein the brass ordnance do excel the iron ordnance in use  then if you can make a compound of brass and iron that will be near as good in  use and much cheap in price then there be profit both to the private and the  common wealth so of gold and silver the price be double of twelve the dignity  of gold above silver be not much the splendour be a like and more please to  some eye as in Cloth of silver silver rapier c the main dignity be that gold  bear the fire which silver do not but that be a excellency in nature but it be  nothing at all in use for any dignity in use I know none but that silver will  full and canker more than gild which if it may be correct with a little  mixture of gold there be profit and I do somewhat marvel that the latter age  have lose the ancient electrum which be a mixture of silver with gold whereof  I conceive there may be much use both in coin plate and gild it be to be note  that there be in the version of metal impossibility or at least great  difficulty as in make of gold silver copper on the other side in the  adulterate or counterfeit of metal there be deceit and villainy but it shall  seem there be a middle way and that be by new compound if the way of  incorporate be well know what incorporation or Inbibition metal will receive  from vegetable without be dissolve in their substance as when the armourer  make their steel more tough and pliant by aspersion of water or juice of herb  when gold be grow somewhat churlish by recover be make more pliant by throw in  shred of tan leather or any leather oil note that in these and the like show  of Inbibition it be good to try by the weight whether the weight be increase  or no for if it be not it be to be doubt that there be no inbibition of  substance but only that the application of that other body do dispose and  invite the metal to another posture of part than of it self it will have take  after the incorporation of metal by simple colliquefaction for the better  discovery of the nature and consent and dissent of metal it will be likewise  try by incorporate of their dissolution there be to be observe in those  dissolution which will not easy incorporate what the effect be as the  bullition the precipitation to the bottom the ejaculation towards the top the  suspension in the amid and the like note that the dissent of the menstrual or  strong water may hinder the incorporation as well as the dissent of the metal  themselves therefore where the menstrua be the same and yet the incorporation  follow not you may conclude the dissent be in the metal but where the menstrua  be several not so certain