refining of metals. Professor Pepper relates in his Play Book of Metals, 1877,
that " At the time when Alchemy flourished as a thriving trade, nothing
was more common than to find men in the garb of beggars who professed
to be Alchemists. Such persons made their way unscrupulously through
the towns, and villages, quietly duping many avaricious victims who
were ashamed to complain openly of their losses. But with Pope Julian
they met different consequences. This shrewd Pontiff, when canvassed by
a fellow who undertook to make the Prelate's fortunes by metallic
transmutation, if first supplied with a little ready money to go on
with, presented the rogue with an empty purse, remarking that of course
the possessor of the transmutation secret could easily fill this purse
! Sometimes the charlatans would display a rusty iron nail, and a
bottle of the wonderful elixir ; then some cabalistic high-sounding
words were solemnly pronounced, the nail was stirred in the elixir, and
now Gold would flash on the eyes of the delighted, and credulous
beholders. The nail was straightway handed round for inspection, and
was found apparently changed into Gold where it had been immersed in
the elixir. Of course it was urged that the small quantity of fluid
remaining in the hands of the Alchemist had then parted with its power
! But some more could be similarly made if only money were forthcoming
to buy the necessary apparatus, and chemicals. When these funds were
provided, the impostor decamped, taking with him his prepared nail, one
half of it being iron, and the other half Gold, so that when the nail
was stirred in the elixir (i.e., water), this innocent liquid served to
remove the outer covering of paint, and the Gold appeared. One such a
nail is still
