USEFUL PROJECTS. 



651 



tlon of retracing their perform- 

 ances, and the doubtful handling 

 of the etching-needle, which can 

 never give a suflBcient breadth 

 and scope to their abilities. 



I have, sir, forwarded, in an 

 annexed paper, the different spe- 

 cimens, for the inspection of the 

 gentlemen forming the Society of 

 Arts, &c. &c. 



In making my specimens I have 

 thought it necessary to show, if 

 by any incident a part might fail, 

 that it could be retouched a se- 

 cond time, and oftener if wanted ; 

 in this particular, its simplicity 

 stamps its use. 



To elucidate the foregoing pro- 

 position, 1 purposely caused a part 

 of the distance to fail in specimen 

 AA ; this is repaired, you will 

 perceive, in specimen B, and the 

 sharp touches wanted to perfect 

 the sketch are added. 



I beg also to state, it is not the 

 style usually termed soft ground 

 etching : that process is always un- 

 certain, cannot be repaired, and 

 will only print about two hundred 

 impressions; whereas the speci- 

 mens herewith sent will print up- 

 wards of five hundred with care. 



Should the Society for the En- 

 couragement of Arts, &c. deem 

 the subject worthy of their"reward, 

 I shall feel proud in communicat- 

 ing its process, and flatter myself 

 the arts and artists will feel a pe- 

 culiar addition and pleasure in its 

 utility. Permit me, sir, to sub- 

 scribe myself, with all respect, 



Your obedient humble servant, 

 John Hassell. 

 Landscape Draftsman^ 

 \\, Clement's Inn, Strand. 



March 26, 1810. 

 To C. Taylor, M. D. ^c. Sfc, 



Process of Drawmg upon Copper, 



to imitate Black-lead Pencil, or 



Chalk. 



A remarkable good polish must 

 be put on the copper with an oil- 

 rubber and crocus-martis well 

 ground in oil ; after which it must 

 be cleaned off with whiting, and 

 then rubbed with another clean 

 rag. 



You are then to pour over your 

 plate the solution to cause ground, 

 which is made as follows : 



No. 1. — Three ounces of Bur- 

 gundy pitch. 

 One ditto of frankincense. 



These are to be dissolved in a 

 quart of the best rectified spirits 

 of wine, of the strength to fire 

 gunpowder when the spirits are , 

 lighted. 



During the course of twenty- 

 four hours this composition must 

 be repeatedly shook, until the 

 whole appears dissolved; then 

 filter it through blotting paper, 

 and it will be fit to use. 



In pouring on this ground, an 

 inclination must be given to the 

 plate, that the superfluous part of 

 the composition may run oft" at the 

 opposite side ; then place a piece 

 of blotting-paper along this ex- 

 tremity, that it may suck up the 

 ground that will drain from the 

 plate, and in the course of a quar- 

 ter of an hour the spirit will eva- 

 porate, and leave a perfect ground 

 that will cover the surface of the 

 copper, hard and dry enough to 

 proceed with. 



With an exceeding soft black' 

 lead pencil sketch your design on 

 this ground, and when finished 

 take a pen and draw with the fol* 

 lowing composition, resembling 

 ink : if you wish your outline to 

 be thin and delicate, cause the 



