could not make with crude Copper a Green Solution without the Blewishness
that is wont to accompany its Vulgar Solutions, I bethought my self of
using two _Menstruums_, which I had not known imploy'd to work on this
Metall, and which I had certain Reasons to make Tryal of, as I successfully
did. The one of these Liquors (if I much misremember not) was Spirit of
Sugar distill'd in a Retort, which must be warily done, (if you will avoid
breaking your glasses) and the other, Oyl or Spirit of Turpentine, which
affords a fine Green Solution that is useful to me on several occasions.
And yet to shew that the adventitious colour may result, as well from the
true and permanent Copper it self, as the Salts wherewith 'tis corroded, I
shall add, that if you take a piece of good _Dantzick_ Copperis, or any
other Vitriol wherein _Venus_ is prædominant, and having moistened it in
your Mouth, or with fair water, rubb it upon a whetted knife, or any other
bright piece of Steel or Iron, it will (as we have formerly told you)
present'y stain the Steel with a Reddish colour, like that of Copper, the
reason of which, we must not now stay to inquire.

_Annotation I._

I presume you may have taken notice (_Pyrophilus_) that I have borrowed
some of the Instances mention'd in this 47th Experiment, from the
Laboratories of Chymists, and because in some (though very few) other
passages of this Essay, I have likewise made use of Experiments mention'd
also by some Spagyrical Writers, I think it not amiss to represent to you
on this Occasion once for all, some things besides those which I intimated
in the præamble of this present Experiment; For besides, that 'tis very
allowable for a Writer to repeat an Experiment which he invented not, in
case he improve it; And besides that many Experiments familiar to Chymists
are unknown to the generality of Learned Men, who either never read
Chymical processes, or never understood their meaning, or never durst