On the Preparati'on 6f Indiaii Ink. 51 1 



coot becomes of the consistence of jelly * : then, having 

 hlackened an earthen plate or dish by holding it oyer the 

 flame of a candle, mix up, with a camel haiT pencil^ the 

 fine lamp-black thus obtained, with some of the above size, 

 while the plate is still warm: This black requires no grihd- 

 in<r, and produces an ink of the veiy same coloufj which 

 works as freely with the pencil, and is as perfectly transpa- 

 rent, as the best Indian ink : it possesses the advantage of 

 furnishing artists, &c. with a substitute for that article, 

 which may be prepared in situations where it might be dif- 

 ficult to obtain the ink itself. 



If a larger quantity is required, lamp-black obtained from 

 the smoke of oil, tallow, hcc. (that sold in the shops being 

 too coarse for the purpose,) may be formed into a mass 

 with the size ; to which a little spirituous extract of musk 

 may be added, to give it the smell of Indian Ink. When 

 it has obtained a proper consistence it may be pressed into 

 moulds to form it into sticks, which, when dry, will be 

 found to agree with the real Indian ink irt its property of 

 rubbing smoothly on the finger nail when welted, and leav- 

 ing the surface polished on becoming dry ; and, in short, 

 ditferino- from it in one trifling circumstance on^y, namely, 

 that the" genuine Indian ink has a yellowish metallic lustre 

 when dry, which may probably be owing to the mixture of 

 some oily or saponaceous substance, possibly oX gall : this, 

 however, is entirely needless. 



I trust that we shall now be no more misled by the 

 stransrc accounts most writers have given of the fabrication 

 of Indian ink from the ink of the cuttle fish, burnt fish 

 bones, burnt peach stones, extract of liquOilce, &c. &c. ; 

 when it appears that the above two simple substances are 

 fully surticicnt to prod'nce an ink possessing every good pro- 

 perty that can be desired. I am, Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



Thomas Gill. 



• If it is thought too much trouhle to prepare the parchment size, a 

 solution of gwd con.mon carpenter's glac, of the consistence desciibed, 

 may be einpfoyed in its; 'jteid. 



2 XXXVT. An 



