Preface

Thus far speaks the one—honored reader, according to your status and dignity—who gave birth to this child and let it travel out into the world with a French mouth A metaphor for the original author, Nicolas Lemery, and the original French language of the text.: But one will not take it amiss if he who has also taught it to speak German The translator referring to himself and his work in translating the text. adds a few small things. I do not wish to make a great fuss in order to recommend this book to the reader’s favor based on all its perfections.

For, to begin with, its author Mr. Lemery has already been known throughout the learned world for over twenty years as an exceedingly perfect chemist and physicist: Thus he already has a favorable presumption original: "Præsumption". In this context, it refers to a "preconceived positive reputation" or the benefit of the doubt earned through past merit. in his favor, suggesting that with this book he has brought no imperfect fruit or misshapen monstrosity into the world; especially since he presided over the laboratory of a King as curious as he was glorious A reference to King Louis XIV of France, known for his patronage of the sciences. for such a long time, to the King’s great pleasure and the good satisfaction of the curious the curious: From the German Curiosen, referring to the "virtuosi" of the 17th century—intellectuals and collectors who were dedicated to investigating new scientific phenomena. in France. Secondly, the book has already so well legitimized itself by its own merits that in France itself, just last year, for the ninth [time]...