The kind most in esteem is of a bright golden yellow colour. This is occasionally manufactured into snuff─boxes, small vases, necklaces, bracelets, cane─heads, and other ornamental articles, many of which are purchased by the Turks, Russians, and Poles; but the general demand for them has of late very much decreased. Some years ago the German artists paid great attention to this substance; and many experiments were made for the purpose of discovering means of removing its defects, and improving its beauty. It is said that they possessed the art of liquefying it to such a degree, that it could be run into moulds without injuring its beauty; and that specimens of this liquefied amber are preserved in the Electoral Cabinet at Dresden. There are still considerable manufactories of amber at Stolpen, Konigsberg, Dantzic, and Lubeck. Amber, when wrought into ornaments, is first split on a leaden plate, and then turned on a particular kind of whetstone. The polishing of it is performed with chalk and water, or chalk and oil; and the work is finished by rubbing the whole with clean flannel. Without great attention it becomes very hot, and either flies into pieces, or takes fire during the operation. After having been roasted or melted, amber is readily soluble in oil, and, in this state, constitutes the basis of several kinds of varnish. It was formerly much used in medicine, but, in this respect, it is now almost wholly neglected. Some persons, however, have still an absurd notion that a collar or necklace of amber, tied round an infant’s neck, will enable it to cut its teeth in safety. Oil of amber combined with liquid ammonia constitutes a white soapy liquor called _eau─de─luce_. It has already been mentioned that insects are occasionally found in amber. These are generally in a very perfect state, and consist of flies, small moths, &c. Grains of sand, pieces of iron pyrites, and the leaves of plants, are also sometimes found in it. Insects, sand, and other substances, are likewise remarked in a species of gum, called _gum animè_, which, in colour, appearance, and qualities, so nearly resembles amber, that it is almost impossible to distinguish the two substances from each other. Large productions, which were formerly supposed to have been made of amber, such as a column ten feet high in the Florentine Museum, are now usually considered to have been formed of this gum; and many of the large beads of what are sold as amber necklaces are made of it. If a piece of amber be fixed on the point of a knife and lighted, it will burn entirely away, emitting at the same time a white smoke, and a somewhat agreeable though sickly odour. When rubbed it has the property of attracting light bodies; hence one of the ancient Greek philosophers attributed to it a certain kind of life. From the name of _electron_, which was given to it by them, in consequence of this property, we derive our word electricity.