A Letter

to the

Gold-hungry

Lovers of Chemistry

and

Alchemy,

wherein they are well-meaningly advised, through various evidentiary reasons and refutations grounded in sound reason and experience The author uses the word "Experience" to emphasize practical, empirical observation over mere theory., not to pursue this art The "art" refers to the practice of Chrysopoeia, or the alchemical attempt to create gold. any longer, so as not to plunge themselves into the utmost misery This refers to the common historical occurrence of "gold-cooks" or amateur alchemists spending their entire fortunes on expensive materials and furnaces, only to end up in bankruptcy.,

a true worshiper of truth,
and a sincere lover of his neighbor.

Whoever knows the Abyssinian Abyssinia is a historical name for Ethiopia. The "Abyssinian alphabet" refers to the Ge'ez script. alphabet knows my name.

Three Ethiopic (Ge'ez) characters, specifically the syllables ጴ (pé), ጲ (pi), and ጴ (pé), each followed by a period. These represent the author's initials, concealed behind a scholarly cipher.

Frankfurt and Leipzig.

To be found in the Krauß Bookstore, 1770.