Preface.

know The text continues from the previous page's unfinished sentence: "...which, however, you should know..." that it is not every man’s work to accomplish such things, because it cannot be done as easily as one might imagine. Rather, it requires patience along with diligent investigation of the ores, as I intend to teach and demonstrate quite clearly and according to the laws of nature in this treatise original: "Tractat". Even a common smelter (provided he understands his furnace) will be able to adapt to it quite easily. He will learn to make a tangible distinction between these teachings of nature original: "Natur-Lehren" and the usual labors and tasks performed in the works. My goal is that the path of nature in the metallic kingdom A common alchemical and metallurgical concept viewing metals as part of a living "kingdom" with its own growth and laws may be paved, and thereby a better profit original: "Nußen," referring both to the yield of metal and the financial gain may be achieved than is otherwise possible. This I heartily wish for, and I humbly recommend myself to the favor of the most gracious reader.

Berlin,
Written the 12th of December,
1742.