GLASS, a transparent, brittle, fictitious body, produced by the action of fire upon a mixt salt and sand, or stone, that readily melts.
The chemists hold, that there is no body but may be vitrified, or converted into glass; being the last effect of fire, as all its force is not able to carry the change of any natural body beyond its vitrification.
When or by whom the art of making glass was first found out is uncertain: some will have it invented before the flood; but without any proof. Neri traces the antiquity of this art as far back as the time of Job: but Dr Merret will have it as ancient as either pottery, or the making of bricks: because that a kiln of bricks can scarce be burnt, or a batch of pottery be made, but some of the bricks and the ware will be at least superficially turned to glass; so that it must have been known at the building of Babel, and as long before as the making of bricks was used. It must have been known, consequently, among the Egyptians, when the Israelites were employed by them in making bricks. Of this kind, no doubt, was that fossil glass mentioned by Ferrant. Imperat. to be found under-ground in places where great fires had been. The Egyptians indeed boast, that this art was taught them by the great Hermes. Aristophanes, Aristotle, Alexander Aphrodisæus, Lucretius, and John the divine, put us out of all doubt that glass was in use in their days.
Pliny relates, that it was first discovered accidentally in Syria, at the mouth of the river Belus, by certain merchants driven thither by a storm at sea, who, being obliged to continue there, and dress their victuals, by making a fire on the ground, where there was great plenty of the herb kali; that plant burning to ashes, its salts mixed and incorporated with sand, or stones fit to vitrify, and produced glass: that this accident being known, the people of Sidon, in that neighbourhood, assayed the work, improved the hint, and brought it into use; and that this art has been improving ever since.
Venice, for many years, excelled all Europe in the fineness of its glasses; but of late the French and English have excelled in the Venetians, so that we are no longer supplied with this commodity from abroad.