Light from the Diamond 169 To break a Stone with a blow of the Fist 169 Mimic Frost-work 169 To melt Lead in a piece of Paper 170 Hydrostatic Balance 170 Metallic Reduction 171 Electrical Attraction and Repulsion 171 Alchemical Electricity 172 The Electric Balls 173 The Electric Dance 173 Electric Light 173 Electric Light from Brown Paper 174 Sudden Production of Light 174 Electricity of the Cat 174 [Illustration] [Illustration: TRANSMUTATIONS.] [Illustration] TRANSMUTATIONS. THE SPECTRAL LAMP. MIX some common salt with spirit of wine in a platinum or metallic cup; set the cup upon a wire frame over a spirit-lamp, which should be inclosed on each side, or in a dark-lantern: when the cup becomes heated, and the spirit ignited, it will burn with a strong yellow flame; if, however, it should not be perfectly yellow, throw more salt into the cup. The lamp being thus prepared, all other lights should be extinguished, and the yellow lamp introduced, when an appalling change will be exhibited; all the objects in the room will be but of one colour, and the complexions of the several persons, whether old or young, fair or brunette, will be metamorphosed to a ghastly, death-like yellow; whilst the gayest dresses, as the brightest crimson, the choicest lilac, the most vivid blue or green—all will be changed into one monotony of yellow: each person will be inclined to laugh at his neighbour, himself insensible of being one of the spectral company. Their astonishment may be heightened by removing the yellow light to one end of the room, and restoring the usual or white light at the other; when one side of each person’s dress will resume its original colour, while the other will remain yellow; one cheek may bear the bloom of health, and the other, the yellow of jaundice. Or if, when the yellow light only is burning, the white light be introduced within a wire sieve, the company and the objects in the apartment will appear yellow, mottled with white. Red light may be produced by mixing with the spirit in the cup over the lamp, salt of strontian instead of common salt; and the effect of the white or yellow lights, if introduced through a sieve upon the red light, will be even more striking than the white upon the yellow light. CURIOUS CHANGE OF COLOURS.