Passing closet with their prisoner, the officers went through sort of ante-chamber, nothing material was found, chemist's sleeping-room They here rummaged some drawers and boxes, but discovered only few papers, of no importance, and some good coin, silver and gold , looking under the bed, they saw large, common hair trunk, without hinges, hasp, or lock, and top lying carelessly across the bottom portion Upon attempting to draw this trunk out from under the bed, they found that, with their united strength (there were three , all powerful men), they ' stir it one inch ' Much astonished , crawled under the bed, and looking trunk, said:

'No wonder we couldn't move it -- why it's full brim of old bits of brass ! '

Putting his feet, now, against the wall so as good purchase, and pushing with all his force, while his companions pulled with an theirs, the trunk, with much difficulty, was slid out from under the bed, and its contents examined The supposed brass filled was all in small, smooth pieces, varying size of pea of dollar; but the pieces were irregular in shape, although more or less flat-looking, whole, ' as lead looks when thrown ground in molten state, and there suffered to grow cool ' Now, not officers for moment suspected this metal any thing but brass The idea being gold never entered their brains, ; how could such wild fancy have entered it ? And their astonishment well conceived, it became known, all over Bremen, 'lot of brass' which they had carted so contemptuously police office, without putting themselves trouble of pocketing the smallest scrap, was gold -- real gold -- but gold far finer than any employed in coinage-gold, , absolutely pure, virgin, without the slightest appreciable alloy

not go over the details of Von Kempelen's confession (as far as it went) and release, are familiar public That he has actually realized, in spirit and in effect, letter, the old chimaera philosopher's stone, no sane person is at liberty to doubt The opinions of Arago are, , entitled greatest consideration; but by no means infallible; and what of bismuth, report Academy, taken cum grano salis The simple truth is, that up period all analysis has failed; and until Von Kempelen chooses to the key own published enigma, more than probable matter will remain, for years, in statu quo All that can fairly be said known is, that 'Pure gold made at will, and very readily from lead in connection with certain other substances, in kind and in proportions, unknown '

Speculation, , is busy immediate and ultimate results discovery -- discovery which few thinking persons will hesitate in referring to an increased interest matter of gold generally, late developments in California; and this reflection brings us inevitably to another -- the exceeding inopportuneness of Von Kempelen's analysis If many were prevented from adventuring to California, mere apprehension that gold would so materially diminish in value, on account plentifulness mines there, render the speculation of going in search of it doubtful one -- what impression wrought now, minds about to emigrate, and especially minds actually mineral region, announcement astounding discovery of Von Kempelen ? discovery which declares, in words, that beyond its intrinsic worth for manufacturing purposes (whatever that worth ), gold now is, or soon ( supposed that Von Kempelen can long retain his secret), of no greater value than lead, and of far inferior value to silver , indeed, exceedingly difficult to speculate prospectively consequences discovery, but positively maintained -- announcement discovery six had material influence in regard settlement of California

In Europe, , the most noticeable results rise of two hundred per cent price of lead, and nearly twenty-five per cent that of silver