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VIII. Experiments made to afcerlain the Compojition of the 

 Siuedl/b Stojie Paper or Artificial Slate. By J . G. Gk or g I . 

 From the New Tranfaclions of the Imperial Academy at 

 Peterfburgh, Vol. IF. 



1 HE invention of Arfuid Faxe, confirmed by many ex- 

 periments tried at Carlfcrona, but not yet communicated to 

 the public, for making a certain* kind of artificial flate or 

 ftone paper, which may be procured at a fmall expence, 

 and can be employed inftead of common flate, was an- 

 nounced and highly extolled a few years ago in feveral of 

 the public journals. This fubftancc was faid to have a great 

 refemblance to milled or pafte-board; to be of an iron-red, 

 white, or yellow colour ; to be very hard and ftiff, but fome- 

 what elaftic ; to be fubjecl to no alteration even when im- 

 merfed in cold water for feveral months, or when boiled for 

 feveral hours ; to be hardened by expofure to the air ; to re- 

 fift fire-a long time, and to burn flowly, after having expe- 

 rienced a great degree of heat, but, when left to itfelf, to be- 

 come foon extinguifhed. 



It is evident, therefore, that this paper may be applied to 

 various economical purpofes, fuch as fheathing fhips, which 

 it would not only preferve from rottennefs, but alfo from 

 being deftroyed by worms ; for guarding from fire the cook- 

 ing places in fhips and powder magazines, and, laftly, for co- 

 vering houfes and woodari buildings. To this it may be 

 added, that plates' of .this paper fixed on with brafs nails, and 

 done over at Xh<s joinings with cement, might be covered 

 with fome oiLvart« r fh-4n. inch a manner as to be altogether 

 impenetrable to. aaofttuxe* We are told alfo that a fmall 

 building conftrueled of wood at Carlfcrona, and cafed over 

 with ll'orie papery after bevag .filled with combuflibles and 

 fet on. fire, refifled.ihereiYcc&fciof the flames and remained 

 unhurt, and {hat,ilif^lanie;e^irrment repeated at Berlin on 

 a hnaller buildihg.was aUehdcd/with the fame refult. One 

 great advantage oLthis itonbrf aper alfo is, that it is exceed-- 



kgly 



