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Article ID: CBB835202237

Alchemical Promise, the Fraud Narrative, and the History of Science from Below: A German Adept’s Encounter with Robert Boyle and Ambrose Godfrey (2021)

Ambix: Journal of the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry
Volume: 68
Issue: 1
Pages: 28-48
Publication date: 2021
Language: English

URI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00026980.2020.1847750

DOI: 10.1080/00026980.2020.1847750

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Experiments and experimentation Deceptions; hoaxes; frauds Natural philosophy Correspondence and corresponding Alchemy 19th century London (England) Moritz, Peter Godfrey, Ambrose Boyle, Robert

Until now, the only known source on a curious incident in Robert Boyle’s life was the account of his laboratory assistant Ambrose Godfrey regarding one anonymous “Crosey-Crucian.” It survives only in excerpts and paraphrases published in 1858. Based on the recent identification of this adept as Peter Moritz, a German alchemist and religious dissenter, this paper presents his own perspective as expressed in an epistolary document originally addressed to Boyle. It emerges that the stock tale of alchemical fraud dominating Godfrey’s account does not do justice to the episode’s complexities. Instead, it becomes possible to perceive how the fraud narrative itself – construed as an implicit and increasing scepticism towards the claims of alchemical practitioners – affected events as they unfolded. Boyle initially offered modest support yet soon reduced it, as he observed that Moritz’s behaviour did not correspond to that expected of a paid labourer. Despite this, most of the experiments Moritz conducted in London clearly reflected Boyle’s long-standing interests. As Godfrey had promised financial assistance without Boyle’s backing, Moritz accused the laboratory assistant of embezzling funds and of undermining his livelihood by extracting arcana for payments that were subsequently discounted or withheld altogether.

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