60 Some Account of Polyautography. 



thought the turnips had increased in size; and he thought, 

 likeu ise, that the crops of apples appeared larger, and the 

 annual bearings more certain in the orchard I was observing, 

 than in those where no turnips were put ; though, till the 

 time I spoke, he had not even guessed at the cause. 

 I have the honour of being, 

 With due respect, 

 Exeter, Apr!! C8, 1805. Your obedient servant. 



To C. Taylor, M. D. James Dean. 



Secretary, &c. 



IX. Some Accot/nt of Polyautography ; a Discovery lately 

 made of Printing from Stone *. 



J- HIS very ingenious art was first discovered in Germany by 

 Aloys Sencfelder, and was introduced into this country ia 

 ISOI, when it obtained a patent. 



The following is the process : — A drawing is made vijith 

 a pea and a prepared liquid upon a level stone with a smooth 

 surface, in the manner and with the same facility as a pen 

 and ink draw ing : the stone is then, by a very simple pro- 

 cess, rendered capable of repelling the printing ink, except 

 in those parts which have been drawn upon by the before- 

 mentioned liquid, to which it adheres : it is then dabbed over 

 with the balls as in printing, and the impression is taken by 

 a cylinder being passed over it ; and by this means you have 

 an exact reversed fac-simile of the original sketch. There 

 is also a prepared pastil of the consistence of Italian chalk, 

 and with which you can also draw on the stone, which, when 

 printed, cannot be distinguished from a chalk drawing. 



The stone is of a yellowish gray, of a very compact tex- 

 ture, smooth grained and brittle. 



This invention, from the extreme facility with which a 

 person totally ignorant of any method of engraving may, in 

 a few hours, multiply as many originals as he pleases at a 

 very trifling expense and trouble, is certainly deserving of 



* Commr.nicatcd by H, B. Kcr, E-:i. Sloan-street. 



4 'ihe 



