Philalethes

The Three Treatises of Philalethes

I. THE METAMORPHOSIS OF METALS. II. A SHORT VADE MECUM TO THE CELESTIAL RUBY. III. THE FOUNT OF CHEMICAL TRUTH. ALL men who devote their lives to the study of any art, or to any kind of occupation, have before their eyes, as the aim of their efforts, perfection in the thing which they pursue. But only few attain to the goal of their wishes: there are many architects, but few masters of the art of architecture; many students of medicine, but few men like Hippocrates or Galen; many mathematicians, but few proficients like Archimedes; many poets, but few worthy to rank with Homer. Yet, even men who have nothing more than a respectable knowledge of their calling, are capable of being useful to society.