Intheyear1705，therewasmuchtalkinFranceofablacksmith，namedDelisle，whohaddiscoveredthephilosopher’sstone，andwhowentaboutthecountryturningleadintogold。HewasanativeofProvence，fromwhichplacehisfamesoonspreadtothecapital。Hisearlylifeisinvolvedinobscurity；butLongletduFresnoyhasindustriouslycollectedsomeparticularsofhislatercareer，whichpossessconsiderableinterest。Hewasamanwithoutanyeducation，andhadbeenservantinhisyouthtoanalchymist，fromwhomhelearnedmanyofthetricksofthefraternity。Thenameofhismasterhasneverbeendiscovered；butitispretendedthatherenderedhimselfinsomemannerobnoxioustothegovernmentofLouisXIV，andwasobliged，inconsequence，totakerefugeinSwitzerland。DelisleaccompaniedhimasfarasSavoy，andthere，itissaid，setuponhiminasolitarymountain-pass，andmurderedandrobbedhim。Hethendisguisedhimselfasapilgrim，andreturnedtoFrance。Atalonelyinn，bytheroad-side，wherehestoppedforthenight，hebecameacquaintedwithawoman，namedAluys；andsosuddenapassionwasenkindledbetwixtthem，thatsheconsentedtoleaveall，followhim，andsharehisgoodorevilfortunewhereverhewent。TheylivedtogetherforfiveorsixyearsinProvence，withoutexcitinganyattention，apparentlypossessedofadecentindependence。Atlast，in1706，itwasgivenoutthathewasthepossessorofthephilosopher’sstone；andpeople，fromfarandnear，cameflockingtohisresidence，attheChateaudelaPalu，atSylanez，nearBarjaumont，towitnessthewealthhecouldmakeoutofpumpsandfireshovels。ThefollowingaccountofhisoperationsisgiveninaletteraddressedbyM。deCerisy，thePriorofChateauneuf，intheDioceseofRiez，inProvence，totheVicarofSt。
JacquesduHautpas，atParis，anddatedthe18thofNovember1706:——
“Ihavesomethingtorelatetoyou，mydearcousin，whichwillbeinterestingtoyouandyourfriends。Thephilosopher’sstone，whichsomanypersonshavelookeduponasachimera，isatlastfound。ItisamannamedDelisle，oftheparishofSylanez，andresidingwithinaquarterofaleagueofme，thathasdiscoveredthisgreatsecret。Heturnsleadintogold，andironintosilver，bymerelyheatingthesemetalsredhot，andpouringuponthem，inthatstate，someoilandpowderheispossessedof；sothatitwouldnotbeimpossibleforanymantomakeamillionaday，ifhehadsufficientofthiswondrousmixture。Someofthepalegoldwhichhehadmadeinthismanner，hesenttothejewellersofLyons，tohavetheiropiniononitsquality。
HealsosoldtwentypoundsweightofittoamerchantofDigne，namedTaxis。Allthejewellerssaytheyneversawsuchfinegoldintheirlives。Hemakesnails，partgold，partiron，andpartsilver。Hepromisedtogivemeoneofthem，inalongconversationwhichIhadwithhimtheotherday，byorderoftheBishopofSends，whosawhisoperationswithhisowneyes，anddetailedallthecircumstancestome。
“TheBaronandBaronessdeRheinwaldshowedmealingotofgoldmadeoutofpewterbeforetheireyesbyM。Delisle。Mybrother-in-lawSauveur，whohaswastedfiftyyearsofhislifeinthisgreatstudy，broughtmetheotherdayanailwhichhehadseenchangedintogoldbyDelisle，andfullyconvincedmethatallhispreviousexperimentswerefoundedonanerroneousprinciple。Thisexcellentworkmanreceived，ashorttimeago，averykindletterfromthesuperintendentoftheroyalhousehold，whichIread。Heofferedtouseallhisinfluencewiththeministerstopreventanyattemptsuponhisliberty，whichhastwicebeenattackedbytheagentsofgovernment。Itisbelievedthattheoilhemakesuseof，isgoldorsilverreducedtothatstate。Heleavesitforalongtimeexposedtotheraysofthesun。Hetoldmethatitgenerallytookhimsixmonthstomakeallhispreparations。I