in Borrondale. 173 
crucibles; it is also excellent for diminishing 
friction in wooden screws and other machi- 
nery ; and itis probably an ingredient in most 
of the anti-attrition compositions: but its 
principal use is in pencils, the manufacturing 
of whichis carried on at Keswick to a consi- 
derable extent, and has lately received great 
improvements: but although in the vicinity of 
the mine, the pencil makers hereare obliged to 
send to London for all the wad they use ; as 
the proprietors will not permit any to be sold 
till it has first been lodged in their own 
warehouse. 
It has generally been used without any 
other preparation than merely cutting it with 
a saw to the scantlingss required, and thus en- 
closing it in a suitable casing of cedar wood ; 
but as it varies greatly in quality, both as to 
purity and hardness, considerable skill is re- 
quired in the chnsing, and assorting it, ac- 
cording to the different uses for which it is in- 
tended ; and most of it being found too soft 
for some purposes, a method of hardening it, 
had long been a desideratum; and it has at 
length been accomplished. ‘This has been a 
source of considerable emolument to those 
pencil makers who first possessed the art; 
they of course have endeavoured to keep it a 
secret, and it has not yet that I know of been 
