CONTENTS.PART I.AN EXOTERIC VIEW OF THE PROGRESS AND THEORY OF ALCHEMY.CHAPTER I.-- A PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT OF THE HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY, WITH THE MORE SALIENT POINTS OFITS PUBLIC HISTORY- -- gathered from the best extant authorities, with notices of the works of various writers, ancient and modern, in succession, on the subject of Alchemy -- their evidence in support of the art of gold-making and transmutation.-- Page 3. CHAPTER II.-- OF THE THEORY OF TRANSMUT ATION IN GENERAL, AND OF THE FIRST MATTER -- showing the true basis on which the rational possibility of Transmutation rests; with Definitions from Albertus Magnus, Aquinas, Friar Bacon, Raymond Lully, Arnold DiVilla-Nova, Syensius and others, descriptive of the Hermetic Material -- with some suggestions additional concerning the Ethereal Nature and analogous phenomena of Light. -- Page 72.CHAPTER III.-- THE GOLDEN TREATISE OF HERMES TRISMEGISTUS CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL SECRET OF THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, IN SEVEN SECTIONS -- esteemed one of the best and oldest pieces of Alchemical Philosophy extant; comprising in epitome,""0911662642