1856.] on the Security and Manufacture of Bank Notes. 271 



preserving, in many instances, the appearance of fancy stationery. 

 The Russian Notes might well be adopted for merchandise labels. 

 To particularise the characteristics of all the different foreign notes 

 would only become tedious, while placing them in the same category. 



If, however, the Notes of these States, betraying such defects, 

 have in themselves upon the face of them an endeavour to f>er- 

 petuate something of National Art, it must be plain that this 

 country ought to be willing and able to effectuate a prototype of 

 superiority. Great reliance for security is placed upon a combination 

 of processes, and the greater the number employed in their con- 

 struction, — the more different the effect resulting from each, — the 

 more difficult it is supposed for the power of a single forger to em- 

 brace the exercise of the whole. This, however, is a fallacious 

 dependence, for the confusion created tends to less particularity of 

 observance upon the part of the public. 



Thus much said upon the Manufacture of the Bank Note, the 

 question of Security arises, a question most difficult of solution. For 

 two reasons : on the one hand, because it is so generally admitted 

 that what has been executed by one individual may be copied by 

 another ; on the other, because it is not in the nature of things that a 

 person who cannot read, should be protected from imposition by the 

 most clumsy forgery. Another reason might be added, the general 

 facility afforded by Science, not merely for the reproduction of one 

 special object, but of almost everything. It is not logical to suppose 

 that while Science helps the producer, she withholds her help from 

 the imitator, and this point is the main one to be considered in the 

 security of the Note. The first reason cannot be substantiated ; 

 while the second is disposed of, on the grounds of the general spread 

 of education. What is to be considered is, what is the nature 

 of the so-called scientific facilities, and what are the steps to be 

 adopted in the shape of counter-foils ; for while Science does help the 

 imitator, she also comes again to the aid of the producer. 



It might be questioned whether any person coming forward to 

 explain how many reproductive processes existed, and to what 

 extent they could be carried, was exercising a privilege consistent 

 with discretion. Such a method of proceeding, though new, is 

 certainly capable of more good than evil ; for the more light there 

 is thrown upon the subject, and the more imitators perceive and 

 understand that the eye of genuine Science is upon them, the more 

 fearful they will be of venturing on spurious manufacture that will 

 certainly eventually be detected. 



The Anastatic process has been on several occasions brought 

 prominently forward, with such promises, that its powers appeared 

 of a dangerous character, competent to effect an unprincipled 

 object. It professes that copper-plate and other engraving, old or 

 new, ancient or fresh, can be transferred to plates of metal, and 

 reprinted as fac-similes without re-engraving. In such a manner it 

 Vol. II. T 



