[An Account of Some Books]

1. It may be worth while for some ingenious Chymist, to open the body of Sand, thereby to discern its several principles, that are most prevalent: And then for some good Naturalist, to consider how it becomes so advantageous to Vegetation, and especially as to that part which concerns the prolific Seed. 2. It may be also worth while for some ingenious Husbandmen or Gardener, to make some trial of Sea-sand, if it will not some way answer expectation in these Eastern parts. For their encouragement, 1. There is Sand (not much unlike our Plymouth sand) which is taken up in the Thames about Frith, made use of by Brickmakers, and brought to them by Lighters at reasonable rates. 2. A Brickmaker told me, that by the sides of his Sand heap the grass did better spring than elsewhere, and turned to a clover-grass. 3. In our Country we have almost all kinds of Soyles, and Sand agrees very well with each of them: And therefore the conceit of a diversity of Soyle, and another nature of the ground, may be no discouragement. 4. 'Tis well known, that Sandwich Carrots and Pease are well esteemed, and they grow there, where the Sea-sand has a little over-blown and mixed with the Soyle. 3. If you find this do any good, the Thames may be searched where is Ouse about Blackwall or a little lower, by removing about a foot of the mudd, to see if there be not some beds of flabby substance or Coralline under it, as it is in the mouth of Falmouth; and if such stuff may be found, it may be cheaper than what is farther fetched, and may do well. 4. But especially our Country men who are satisfied in the experience of it, should seriously bethink themselves, If there may not be an easier and cheaper way of Conveyance, for a greater quantity thereof to be brought up into the middle of the Country. And that is the next thing we shall speak something to, &c. I. HERMETIS ÆGYPTIORUM & CHEMICORUM SAPIENTIA, ab Hermanni Conringii Animadversionibus vindicata per Olaum Borrichium, Hafniae, A. 1674 in 4°. The learned Author of this Vindication begins his Book with shewing against his famous Antagonist, that the Egyptian Hermes, as an excellent Man, a great Physician & Chymist, hath well deserv'd of all Mankind, and consequently is highly injured by Conringius his Detractions. In this part the Reader will meet with store of of good Learning and Antiquity, and see, among many other particulars, that Pythagoras, one of the best and most solid Philosophers and Mathematicians among the Antients, learn'd his Philosophy in Egypt; that the great work of Transmutation is due to this Hermes; that from thence the Egyptians acquired that immense wealth, whereby they raised such vast structures; that those Egyptians were so skilful in making artificial Gems, as that in lustre and hardness they vied with the true natural ones; those ancient Artists being masters of three things in this their work, which by the Grecians were called, ἐκλογή, πάθος, σύστημα; the first implying a laxity of pores, sufficiently to imbib the tincture; the second, a strong adhesion and due lustre of the color; the third, a hardning again of the body of the gemm, after the ingress of the tincture. Where our Author takes occasion to alledge a passage in Raymund Lulle his Test. ult. ad Regem Anglie about a real change of Crystal into a very Adamantin mass; Vidisti (saith he) Rex, mirabilem illam projectionem, quam feci teum Londini, in camera tua secreta S. Catharine, versus partem Castelli, super Crystalum solutum cum aqua argenti vivi, & converti eum in massam unam Adamantis finissimi, & virtuos, plusquam naturalis, ex quo fecisti columnulas protabernaculo Dei. He takes also notice of another particular, strictly observed among the old Egyptians, which is, That each of their Physitians applyed himself to the knowledge and cure of one only Disease, whereby he became very sagacious and expert in recovering his Patients of such a malady; which way could not but conduce very much to the improvement of Physick, and the benefit of the people. Nor does he pass by, that the most celebrated Men of Greece travelled into Egypt to acquire acknowledge, and gained so considerable advantage of their travels, as answer'd their expectation. And whereas Conringius tells us of his own thorow-insight in the manifold learning and knowledge of the Grecians, and admires the same above that of other Nations, challenging our Author to shew any thing among the Egyptians like that of Aristotle's History of Animals, of Theophrastus of Plants, of Euclid and Archimedes in Mathematicks, of Ptolemy in Astronomy, of Hippocrates and Galen in Physick: Whereas, I say, Conringius does this; our Author scruples not to reply; 1. That, without detracting any thing from the Grecians, if we should sit down and acquiesce in what the Greeks have deliver'd to us, the knowledge of Nature and the skill of Physick would be very imperfect and lame. 2. That, Aristotle hath erred grossly in many many particulars in his History of Animals; and that for the greatest part of what is true therein, he was beholden for it to Fishermen, Hunts-men and Fowlers; besides what he had learn'd of Plato, instructed by the Egyptians. 3. That Theophrastus hath made no thorough investigation of any Plant, and left a very great number of them untouch't, owing also much of what he knew to the Egyptians. 4. That Euclid lived a while in Egypt, a Country much addicted to Geometry and Arithmetick: And that Archimedes found in Egypt his famous Cebclea ad exhaustendas aquas; witness Diodorus Siculus. So that our Author judges it reasonable, we should think ourselves more obliged to the first Inventors, than the Promoters, of useful knowledge. And as for Hippocrates and Galen, he saith, that Cos, the Country of the former, was so near Egypt, that doubtless he thence received great advantage to his Medical knowledge; and that Democritus, his Master, who had been long acquainted with Egypt, had questionless suggested many things to him: That Galen also had lived long at Alexandria, and was wont to advise the Grecian Candidates of Physick to travel thither for experience. As for Ptolemy, that he was no Grecian, but an Alexandrian, or a Pelasgot, and consequently of Egypt. And seeing that Conringius inveighs with a virulent style against Hermes and Paracelsus, our Author inquires the more narrowly into the Morals and Doctrines of Aristotle, so much extoll'd by the said Conringius, and shews, that the former of these two was much polluted, and the latter very jejune, perfunctory, and erroneous. Where he takes occasion both to shew the many falsities deliver'd by Aristotle in his History of Animals, particularly in that of the Lyon, Eagle, and Crocodile, and to rectifie the same, especially in the History of the Crocodile; of the Anatomy of which he here gives us an accurate and considerable account. Again, forasmuch as Conringius undervalues Medicines prepared of Minerals, our Borrichius enumerates the Diseases, that are not cured but by them, such as the Lues venerea, stubborn Hypochondriacal affections, Epilepsies, inveterate Head-aches, latent Abscesses in the Body, old and malign Ulcers, &c. And Conringius being positive in asserting, that no force of fire is able to dissolve Gold, our Author mentions a way to perform it with a heat, at first scarce sensible, which he affirms to have been experimented by his late Majesty of Denmark, Frederick III; who commanded a thin plate of very pure Gold to be ground in a mortar, until it was reduced reduced into a darkish powder, which being afterwards put into a Glass-retort, and driven by a strong heat, yielded a very red liquor, which tinged spirit of Wine, and became a good potable Gold. On this occasion he relates, what himself hath performed about Gold, viz., that, without the use of any fire, by the sole phlegm of common acetum, after a previous slight circumstance, (which yet he names not) out of very fine gold he drew a greenish Tincture, which, if in Summer it were left in an open glass, would, upon the exhalation of the liquor, be converted into a greenish salt, which conversion whilst it was doing, the liquor in the glass would stir up and down in a strange manner, shooting corporeal rays downwards, long and very fine, not unlike the rays of the Sun, only that they were whitish, and sending forth green branches upwards: Which spectacle he saith he hath often shew'd to his friends coming to see him; that salin texture lasting long, nor being dissolvable but by violence. To this he joyns his Assertion, grounded upon Experiments, that Corals and Gems yield Salts; which Conringius denieth. Discoursing of the vertues of Preparations made of Animal substances, and particularly of the spirit of Blood, he declares, that the volatile spirits of human blood are more powerful in the curing of the Epilepsie, than those of the blood of other animals; refuting withal the assertion of Conringius, importing, that the Ancients did not employ Human blood but among their Magicks. Examining the Controversie, Whether the vertues of Purgatives or Vomitives pass into their distilled waters, he recites an Experiment he made upon a Dog with the distilled water of black Hellebore, which was, that having given him 12 spoonfuls of it, he did within 4 hours vomit 4 times, and dunged twice, all very copiously. Discussing the Question about the Resuscitation of Plants, (which he seems inclin'd to maintain,) he alleges, for the countenancing of it, the Regeneration of bodies of other kinds, and amongst them he takes notice of Mercury, affirming, that that substance, having been a whole year vexed by various fires, and reduced into water, turbith, and ashes, will, by the attraction of the Salt of Tartar amidst the flames, return to the pristin liquor: And that Lead, reverberated into Minium, melted into glass, reduced into a cerus, burnt to a Lytharge, in a word, tormented, torn, or burnt, as you please, will in a trice rise again into genuin Lead, by a bare dextrous application of Lixiviat Salt. Discoursing of the Signature of Plints, concerning which Conrin- gins affirms, that not any footstep of it is to be found in all Antiquity; our Author alleges to this famous Antiquary several passages out of Dioscorides, and Pliny, clearly evincing the mistake of his Adversary. Conringius affirming, that all sorts of Diseases have been cur'd without Chymical remedies; our Borrichius maintains, that the Lues venerea, a confirm'd Dropsie, and Phthysis, and Cancer, and several other maladies will very hardly be cur'd by meer Galenical medicaments. It being controverted, in what sense the Three Principles of the Chymists are contained in Bodies; our Author labours to explain it; relating withal an Experiment of his own, (too long to be inserted here,) in which he affirms to have obtained them all three out of common limpid water. Concerning the Question, whether there be actually Salt in bodies before combustion or the operation of the Fire; Dr. Borrichius endeavours to defend the Affirmative; and in the end of that Discourse undertakes experimentally to shew, that, without any combustion at all, Corals, Cockel-shells, Stones, Gems, if they be ground to as fine dust as is possible, will, by a simple, though somewhat long, decoction in common distilled water, yield some true Cubical Salt, to be seen after the liquor is strained, and abstracted to a spissitude. The like he affirms he hath found by Experiment in Metals, Gold itself not excepted; the process whereof (which is by grinding) he describes at large lib. 2. c. 7; expecting the judgment of the Intelligent Reader upon it. After which he intimates, that though he could not obtain any visible Salt out of Quicksilver, yet he is perswaded from certain effects, that it holds some. For, when once he had crowded an oblong glass full of thin and well-polished plates of Steel, and put to them so much highly defecated Mercury, as filled up all the interstices, and being very carefully shut, exposed it for three months to the Summer Sun; he at length breaking the glass, found, not what he looked for, to wit, an Amalgama of Mars, but what he looked not for, which was, that almost all those Steel-plates were seised on by rust, though immersed in the very body of the Quicksilver: which to him is an argument, that in it there was somewhat saline but volatile, that excited the Iron to protrude the rust. This saline substance he thinks to be wanting in no Element; where he noteth, that he hath observ'd it not only in a mans breath, being in winter carefully collected in a glass, and by a gentle heat inspissated; ted; but also in Air, crowded together in a wind-gun, which Air, he faith, when let out again into a Tin-vessel, turns into water, which, after a simple exhalation, is not without saltiness. What he hath thus proved of Salt, he also labours to prove of Sulphur and Mercury; I mean, their In-existence in all Mixts, whether Vegetable, Ani- mal, or Mineral. In the Conclusion of the whole, our Author makes it his business to shew, that Paracelsus his Manners had been too severely represented; but, what- ever they were, that that ought not to rob him of the praise due to his know- ledge. Again, that being provoked by a crowd of Enemies, he had indulged too far to that human imperfection, which is inclined to retaliate with recrimi- nations; Yet that he had not been a Magician, in the worst sense of which Crime the Learned Naudaeus also had upon good grounds purged him. Moreover, that though his servant Oporinus, gain'd by his Masters Adver- taries, had virulently inveighed against him; yet may there be gather'd out of that Oporinus his Epistle more matter of praise for Paracelsus, than (as our Au- thor speaks) all his Enemies together have deserv'd; forasmuch as 'tis there said, Fuisse in Paracelso mirabilem faciendi medicinam in omni morborum gene- re promptitudinem & felicitatem: Again, In curandis ulceribus, etiam deplora- tissimis, miracula eum edidisse, nulla viatis praescripta aut observata ratione: Item, Laudano suo ita gloriatum fuisse, ut affirmare non dubitaret, ejus solius usu se & mortuis vivos reddere posse idqaliquoties, dum ille (Oporinus) apud ipsum fuit, declarasse. Mentioning Paracelsus his skill in making the grand Elixir, (as they call it) our Author recites a Narration made in his hearing by the Count of Win- dshgratz, the Emperors Ambassador at the Danish Court, concerning a person, that was possessor of that great Arcanum; which because 'tis very cu- rious and more than ordinarily circumstantiated, we shall take the liberty to transfer it hither, in the very words of our Author; viz., Vivere bodie in aula Caesaris hominem 28 circiter annorum, ex Augustiniano pridem monacho nunc Chemicum, qui pulvisculo ex rubro purpurascente Metalla quævis in obryzum purgatissimum facile convertit, & plurimis ibidem apud maximos mediocres, nonnunquam etiam minimos, inlucrescit Experimentis: Vel triginta homines Vi- ennæ offendere, confectum ab ipso se infestantibus, nobile illud metallum, atq., inter eos Illustrem Comitem Augustinum Wallensteiniurn præter quotidie aureo torque operis illius Chemici insignire: Quin & Illustrem Comitem Breunerum contemplatum esse, Stannum mensarium in Aurum tingentem, alios metallorum alia. Cum vita sit paulo dissolutior, atq.; magisterii (quod non dissimulat) sig- narus, existimare nonnullos, in monasterio quodam Pragensi, inter moribundii cu- jusdam Patris capsulas, thefaurum hunc indeptum fuisse: Ipsum autem, cum ante mensæ aliquot ex febre periculose decumberet, inquirente in rem Medico, pro- fessum, ex indiciis quibusdam se inducitum, ut latentem alicubi, quem olim Par- acelsus sepserat, lapidem Philosophicum, fodiendo investigaret, quaestusse solli- citè & reperisse. II. The Garden of Eden, or an Account of the Culture of Flowers and Fruits now growing in England; with particular Rules how to advance their Nature and Growth, as well in Seeds and Herbs, as in ordering of Trees and Shrubs: In 2 parts, in 8°. written by Sir Hugh Platt Kt; newly reprinted. This, I think, is the first time, I take notice of a small parcel of a late Writer, only reprinted, and without additions. And this I do with great respects for the pains he took, to promote, solicit and communicate Experiments and Inventions; to accommodate all occasions of Human Life, for all conditions of men, for Necessaries, and in all extremities; and for Delicacies, Treats and Entertainments, and generally with more than ordinary success. This will appear by a few Touches, which I shall here give upon three of his Books formerly publish't: 1. This his Garden. 2. His Jewelhouse. 3. His Closet. The second part of his Garden came forth posthumous A. 1660; in the preface of which 'tis said, That the First part had four Impressions in less than six years. This Collection (as himself computes them) is of 200 Experiments in that first part, and of 118 in the second part. Not, that he assumes them all for his own Experiments, nor gives his warrant for them all: But whatever he could obtain from all the famous Gardiners of his time about London or elsewhere, by exchanges of his own discoveries, or by purchase, or by frequent visits, or by addresses, he briefly published, constantly naming or indicating the right Author. These he calls his long, costly and laborious Collections, not written at adventure, or by an imaginary conceit in a Scholar's private study, but wrung out of the Earth by the painful hand of Experience, saith he. And this small Manual may do Gardiners more good, than many large and methodical Volumes, which are fitter to furnish the Libraries of Theorists, than to grace our Gardens with the best demonstrations of this practical and operative part of Nature. We want more such worthy persons, to report the progress of all Tryals and Improvements in these affairs, ever since his Majesties restoration. And now more especially, since the Inoculating of herbs, flowers and shrubs, and the grafting in Roots, and the mixing and uniting of Vegetables by the Roots, and the twists of the roots and stems, inclosed under one bark, or rind, and many other operations upon bulbous flowers, are in advance, upon grounds of well-confirmed Experiments; and since the Anatomy of Vegetables, which may direct the most curious operations, is so accurately handled (as will shortly further appear;) and withall, since we begin to discourse so warmly of propagating Mulberries and Vines in England: For the later of which our Author hath given us good assurance and encouragement in his second part of Gardens, Sect. 40. Meanwhile we must acknowledge, that some of our English have lately done excellently well for Gardens and Orchards. And the first and best Matter in France, for the manner of Walling fruit: The Sieur le Gendre, and the French Gardiner were elegantly English't about the year 1660. But yet this was peculiar in our Author, that he excited the adventures of all the expert expert Gardiners he could hear of, and communicated the best of their results: which was more than any one man could, in so short a time, perform: This can only be done at London, where there are Clubs of expert Gardiners apt to assay Novelties and Rarities; and where they may have the fullest intelligence from other parts, and can most effectually disperse all over England what is most for common good. 2. His Jewel-house came abroad A.1653, containing 149 chapters, perhaps more Experiments and Observations, than Chapters. To which the Printer has added another Discourse of Gems, Gums, &c., which some think not worthy to be annexed. Here also he assumeth not all for his own, but often vouches his Author, or Instance. And sometimes he may mistake, or be mis-informed. Neither must it be expected, that I should give a Judgment on those few instances, which I shall contract here out of many, which may perhaps be no less considerable. For Seamen he directs, how to preserve fresh water a long time from putrefaction, c.5. He provides a wholesome, lasting and fresh Victual for the Navy, c.147. A portable earle Pump, to drain Fens, standing Pools and Ponds, to salt water on banks out of a River, and to do good service upon any sudden, or a great leak in a ship, c.146. To keep Oylers good some time, and fresh, c.88. The like for Lobsters, Crayfishes, Prawns, &c., c.89. I omit the ways he first taught to preserve Rose-leaves, and other flowers, the Juice of Oranges, Lemons, and other Juices in all particulars, all the year, Artichokes, (the dainties of Princes of old, and lately so in England, with Muffet,) all the Winter, c.1; and all the Lent, See Closet, b.69; and divers other kind of fruit, c.1, here in his Jewel-house. He shews c.4, how to preserve and keep sweet any fowl or other flesh, for three weeks or a month, in extreme hot weather. For Travellers he offers a light garment, yet sufficient against any rainy weather, c.149, if later cheats have not disgraced the invention: A drink for travellers ex tempore, when they cannot bear the change of beer on the road, c.25. Other helps to ease Horse or Man in their travels, c.24, 83, 87. For Buildings, a cheap mortar, c.92. To make smooth or glittering floors or walls, c.90, &c. He shew'd great respects for honest Chymistry, and was careful in directing Distillations, for Salts, Spirits, Oyls, and shewing various uses of them: But he gives cautions against the cheating Alchymist, c.99; against some Vintners and Marchands of Wine, c.73; against frauds in some Brewers, c.9. For the Curiosity, he shews, How a Dutch Jeweller did cement two of the Queens Crystal-cups that were broken, and teaches other cements, c.50. But we expect better Cements from a more learned and honorable Philosopher. He hath many devices to ease the charge of Artificers; for cheap and long lasting candles, and double lights, cheap fuel, drinks in extreme wants, and for delicacy. But above all, he advanced the Agriculture of England by Marle, Saline materials, as far as the Seas extend, which encompass these Islands; and by other Soyles, c.104; chiefly by Lime, and the way of Denshiring; whereby the most barren lands, hills and walks may be converted to bear the richest burthens of corn, hay, and grass. 3. His Closet was published in two parts, bound together, A.D. 1651. The first part contains Preserves, Candyng, Pastes, Banqueting conceits, Cordial waters, Conserve, Medicins and Salves. The second part has more of the same, or the like, as Preserves, Conserve, Candyng, Secrets in distillation, Cookery and Huswifry, Sweet powders, Ointments. Further, our Author, having enlarged noble tables, furnish't necessaries for multitudes of the most indigent, enriched husbandmen, found good employments for younger and sickly families, assisted and encouraged ingenious Arts and honest Trades, invented many new, and revived unregarded or too much neglected accommodations, and having taught, how the Sea-waters and Sea-sand may be made a fertilizing compost, and the very Earth a relieving fuel; he thought it best to ingratiate with Ladies, to do many of the good offices of charity, to heal the sick, lame, maimed and wounded, who by poverty were unable to discharge Apothecaries bills, Physitians and Chirurgions; and to impart the elegant huswifry for delicacies, treats, and collations. He taught them, how to convert the wholesome plants and blossoms of their gardens and common fields, hills and pastures, and the fruit of bushes, shrubs and hedges, and many of our taller trees, to be found food and rich wines; even to challenge the blood of the grape; and under the favour and with the assistance of the Sugar-cane, and sometimes with the help of the Alembick, to carry the general applause, and to triumph in victory. And what had now become of our Sugar-plantations, if he had not so happily begun when he did, to shew us the excellencies and infinite uses of Sugar. And as to his Cookery, Columella, who spake the most he could against it, yet himself instructs, How to order Wine, and other liquors, pickles, gamons, and other food, for the best; and marmalades, quinces, and conserves, most agreeable for the Empresses of those days, when the Bee supplied the want of Sugar-canoe. And good Cookery is as ancient, as the reputation of the most famous Physitians, a noble part of their profession. Emperours and Popes had always learned Physitians for Master-cooks. And our Author was follow'd with the Cabinets and Closets of both Illustrious and Learned Persons: The Countess of Arundel's Closet, the Countess of Kent's, Sr. Theod. Mayern's, Sr. Ken. Digby's, the Queen-like Cabinet, the accomplish't Cook, the French Cock, and Rabbiha's Body of Cookery: These two last revised and perfected for the year 1673. And for sure and moderate Cookery, Muffet's Improvement of Health, reprinted 1665, and, as Dr. Bennet thinks, worth all that wrote before him, not excepting Platina, Apicius and Alexandrinus. At this day, Barbados and Jamaica are the better for Ligons skill in Cookery. And, if the Sturgeon of New England be the right Sturgeon, and so chosen and order'd, as Muffet directs, it may be a service (as of old) for an Imperial Table. And all Commanders and Pursers at Sea are concern'd for good marinal pickles, &c. Errata in Numb. 112. Pag. 256. l. 10. r. other requisites. p. 257. l. 17. r. serve out Apprenticeships. Errata in this Numb. 113. Pag. 247. l. 10. r. receive delay. p. 290. l. 24. r. debite. London, Printed for John Martyn, Printer to the Royal Society. 1675.