VI

Preface

[Sile]sia, the late Mr. von Siegroth! As an excellent estate manageroriginal: "Oekonom." In this historical context, an "Oekonom" was someone skilled in the management of land, finances, and household resources., he was able to indulge his inclination for the hermetic artoriginal: "hermetischen Kunst." This is a traditional name for alchemy, named after the mythical figure Hermes Trismegistus, who was thought to be the father of the craft. all the more securely, and yet still leave to each of his twelve heirs at least 15,000 Reichsthalersoriginal: "Rthlr." The Reichsthaler was a standard silver coin used across the German states of the Holy Roman Empire; 15,000 was a very substantial sum..