varnish to the proper tone, and very little must be used; the block must be carefully and well beat, without any superfluity of ink; if there be any, the tint will not be flat, and the ink will be squeezed into the edges of the engraved part, and give the appearance of lines. The pull must also be very strong, so as to have a great pressure on the surface of the block, otherwise there will be inequality in the colour.

Thus proceeding, the ink must be thickened with colour. to match the colour required; and advance progressively to the greatest depths.

In the specimens I sent to the Society, there is an imitation of a pen and ink sketch, with a second block added, to give a tinted coloured ground, with the lights cut out, to represent a sketch on coloured paper with the light put in.

In imitation of slight drawings in sepia, I have sent a specimen with three blocks, and have increased the number in other specimens to eight, for the purpose of showing an attempt to imitate more finished drawings in this

manner.

In sculpture, I have sent specimens of a bust and a statue, and also an Etruscan vase: these subjects are from drawings made from some of the finest remains of antiquity in the British museum.

In natural history there is an attempt to represent a flower, an insect, and a quadruped. The flower is not finished so highly as it might have been, but was left in this state, printed on hard-sized paper, purposely to show that, when finished by the hand, the near resemblance this process will produce to drawings, and that water colours may be used on my inks without difficulty.

In the imitation of coloured drawings, I have com

bined a succession of fourteen blocks; a greater number than ever was used by my predecessors in printing in colours. I had repeatedly been told that the representaton of a washy tint and distances could not be produced by this process;-the sky, the water, and the distances, in the coloured landscape will, I think, refute this opinion. In venturing before the Society of Arts as a candidate for a premium, I certainly advance no pretensions as an inventor; but rest my expectations on having extended the application of the common printing press; on having introduced additional colouring matters for printing ink; and on having introduced a simple varnish*, in its natural state, for the composition of these inks, that does not affect the colours and renders them perfectly easy in their management, nothing more being required than a stone and mullar. On my part this is a first attempt to open a path to raise printing to a higher scale than was before thought practicable-that of a closer imitation of works of art, and also of nature-which will, I trust, be carried to a far greater state of perfection, and thus enable the press to decorate its own productions with an elegance and splendour well suited to that art which bestows so many blessings on man. I am, Sir,

A. Aikin, Esq.
Secretary, &c. &c.

&c. &c. &c.

WILLIAM SAVAGE.

* Balsam of Capivi.

PAPERS

IN

MANUFACTURES.

No. I.

BRITISH LEGHORN.

The following REWARDS were last session given for Bonnets and Hats, made of British materials, platted and knit in imitation of those imported from Leghorn.

For articles made of indigenous grass, chiefly the crested dogs-tail.

To Sophia Dyer, of West Meon, near Alton, Hants; two guineas.

To Anne Dyer, ditto; two guineas.

To Mrs. Venn, of Hadleigh, Suffolk; nine guineas.

To Anne Venn, ditto; three guineas.

To Lucy Hollowell, of Banbury; five guineas.

To the children of Mrs. Villebois' school, at Adbury, Berks; five guineas.

To Mary Marshall, mistress of Lady H. Bernard's school, at Bandon, near Cork; two guineas.

To the children of the school at Bandon; three guineas.

For articles made of spring wheat.

To Mr. James Cobbing, of Bury St. Edmunds; fourteen guineas.

To Maria Pain, of Boxted, near Bury St. Edmunds; two guineas.

To Mrs. Morrice, of Great Brickhill, Berks; the silver Ceres medal.

To Mr. James Long, master of the house of industry, at Barham, Suffolk; the silver Ceres medal.

To Mrs. Syrett, of Bury St. Edmunds; ten pounds.

The

The specimens produced are mostly superior to those for which rewards were bestowed in the year before: they exhibit considerable dexterity and accuracy, both in the platting and knitting, and some of those which are made of the straw of spring wheat may be mistaken, by ordinary observers, for real Leghorn of average quality. crested dog's tail, the best probably for this purpose of our indigenous grasses, though of good colour, appears to be deficient in strength and elasticity; but the spring wheat (which is, indeed, the very plant used in Tuscany) appears, under proper management, and in a suitable soil, to produce straw every way fit for the purpose.

VOL. XLIII.

G

No. II.

PLAT OF DOUBLED WHEAT STRAW.

The SILVER CERES MEDAL was this session given to Mrs. LowREY, of Exeter, for a bonnet made of doubled wheat straw.

IN common plat, of split straw, the folds are alternately shining and dull, on account of their presenting to view alternately the outside and inside of the straw. In the candidate's plat each single straw is replaced by a double one, consisting of two pieces having the shining or external surface of each placed outside; the consequence of which is a plat with a high degree of lustre, which varies according to its position in respect to the light.