A New Light of Alchemy

An Address by a Friend to the Reader

1To the Well-disposed Reader. Whoever the author of this little treatise may be, dear reader, stop asking. Here is the reason he wrote it. You have no need to know who I am either. But know with complete certainty that the author of this little work understands the philosophers’ stone perfectly, has made it, and possesses it. Because we regard each other with sincere affection, I asked him, as a token of his friendship for me—as the title itself testifies—to discuss the three first principles, Mercury, Sulphur and Salt. He was to indicate whether the philosophers’ stone should be sought in their common forms or in other ones, and do so in the simplest words and plainest style. He agreed, quickly writing this little treatise. I then persuaded myself that lovers of true philosophy would be grateful to me for publishing it, although I fear that the author may be less pleased, since every kind of ambition is far from him. After reading and considering it well, they will, I have no doubt, suffer less waste of money and time, and less damage to reputation and honour at impostors’ hands. If I find the honest world grateful for my goodwill—I hate and exclude the profane crowd of alchemists—I shall endeavour to have the same author follow this with the other two principles and many further things. Meanwhile, enjoy this work and farewell.