a person versed in philosophy; or one who makes profession of, or applies himself to, the study of nature and morality.

PHILOSOPHER'S Stone, the greatest object of alchemy, is a long-fought for preparation, which, when found, is to convert all the true mercurial part of metal into pure gold, better than any that is dug out of mines or perfected by the refiner's art; and this only by casting a little quantity thereof upon metals in fusion, whilst that part of the metal which was not mercury is immediately burnt or blown away. But this, like every other scientific chimera, will forever elude the researches of mankind.