Preface.

Most Esteemed Reader!

In this treatise, I am fulfilling the promise made on my title page and, with all faithfulness, I deliver several practical experimentsoriginal German: "Kunst-Stücke." In this era, the term referred to skillful demonstrations, chemical recipes, or mechanical "tricks" that proved a scientific or artistic principle. that have been proven reliable through frequently repeated trials. I do this so that it cannot be said of this treatiseoriginal: "Tractat"—at least not with any basis in truth—as is so often said of other books: that the title page promises much, but within the work itself, that which was promised is neither found nor carried out. No person who grants this writing even a small measure of attention will be able to claim that it contains any falsehood. Indeed, to ensure the absolute certainty of the subjects discussed here, I have kept them secret for many years, so as not to place before the art-loving reader anything that might—