The origin of the use of Anti-moine, or _Antimony_, is a remarkable circumstance. Basil Valentin, Superior of a College of Religionists, having observed that this mineral fattened the pigs, imagined that it would produce the same effect on the holy brotherhood. But the case was seriously different; the unfortunate fathers, who greedily made use of it, died in a short time, and this is the origin of its name, according to the pure French word. In spite of this unfortunate beginning, _Paracelsus_ resolved to bring this mineral into practice; and by mixing it with other preparations make it useful. The Faculty at Paris were on this occasion divided into two parties, the one maintained that _Antimony_ was a _poison_; the other affirmed that it was an excellent _remedy_. The dispute became more general, and the Parliament and the College of the Sorbonne interfered in the matter; but some time afterwards people began to judge rightly concerning this excellent mineral; and its wonderful and salutary effects have occasioned the Faculty to place it among their best medicines. ❦ [Sidenote: Extract from Dr. Johnson’s Correspondence.] I have three letters this day all about the balloon; I could have been content with one. Do not write about the balloon, whatever else you may think proper to say. ❦ In the reign of Charles VII. of France, John, Earl of Buchan, was made Constable of France, in acknowledgment of the bravery displayed by him at the battle of Beaugé, in Anjou, when the Duke of Clarence, of England, was killed by his hand. ❦ This is the state of man: A passing shadow Throws down the baseless fabric of his joy: And when the tablet of his fleeting state Is character’d with all felicity, Comes Malice, with a sponge moisten’d in gall, And wipes the beauteous images away. ❦ [Sidenote: Parfilage.] In the reign of Louis XV. this curious employment had become paramount over all other female avocations of fancy work. It consisted in separating the bullion from the silk of gold lace, fringe, frogs, hat loops, or sword knots, for the purpose of selling it to the Jews at half the price of new; and it was quite ordinary to hear ladies begging and bespeaking the spoiled finery of their male acquaintance, to furnish material for their dexterous industry. These contributions were termed galons. The shopkeepers, taking advantage of the folly, invented a number of ingenious and expensive toys, composed of _galons_. Sheep, dogs, squirrels, cradles, carriages in miniature, &c. were offered, admired, and then pulled to pieces for “_parfilage_.”[18] It afforded good opportunity for innumerable gallantries. A gentleman went to a masked ball in a costume purposely composed of cloth of gold and bullion, worth two hundred pounds, which he sent next day to a lady. [18] Or drawing the gold or silver thread from tissue. ❦