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 industriously concealed their Art. But there is a wide Difference between concealing the Rules and Precepts of an Art, and concealing the Memory that ever there was such an Art. If it was ever known before the Persian Conquest, as by his Account of the Erection of the Pyramids, which were built many Ages before Cambysess Time, it is plain he believes it was, though we should allow it to have been in few Hands, it is not credible that this Art of making Gold should never have been pretended to before Dioclesians Time, who is reported by Suidas to have burnt great Numbers of Chymical Book, which gave an Account of the Process. Whereas afterwards, ever now and then, Footsteps of cheating Alchemists are to be met with in the Greek Historians. It was not possible to pretend to greater Secrecy in the Manner of their Operations, than is now to be found in all the Writings of Modern Adept Philosophers (as they call themselves.) And yet these Men, who will not reveal their Process, would think themselves affronted, if any Man should question the real Existence of their Art.

But the Hypothesis of those who find Chymical Secrets in Homer, Virgil, and the rest of the ancient Poets, is liable to