Chinese Sheet Lead, — Antiquities. 145 



northern extremities of the metropolis, something of this kind 

 seems to be desirable for those who inhabit or frequent the 

 middle of the town. It is to be called the Metropolitan Lite- 

 rary Institution. This design has originated, we believe, in 

 consequence of a crisis in the affairs of the Surry Institution, 

 produced by its having been carried on in too expensive a 

 manner. A number of the subscribers resident on the south 

 side of the Thames have also announced a proposal for a new 

 Surry Institution on a more economical plan. 



CHINESE SHEET LEAD. 



The following account of the Chinese method of making 

 thin sheets of lead was communicated to Dr. Brewster by 

 Mr. Waddell, who during his residence in China obtained 

 much information respecting the arts of that singular country. 

 The operation is carried on by two men ; one is seated on the 

 floor with a large flat stone before him, and with a moveable 

 flat stone-stand at his side. His fellow workman stands be- 

 side him with a crucible filled with melted lead ; and having 

 poured a certain quantity upon the stone, the other lifts the 

 moveable stone, and dashing it on the fluid lead presses it out 

 into a flat and thin plate, which he instantly removes from the 

 stone. A second quantity of lead is poured in a similar man- 

 ner, and a similar plate formed, the process being carried on 

 with singular rapidity. The rough edges of the plates are 

 then cut off, and they are soldered together for use. 



Mr. Waddell has applied this method with great success to 

 the formation of thin plates of zinc, for galvanic purposes. 



ANTIQUITIES. 



Paris. — The spirit of criticism and analysis with which the 

 antiquities of Egypt are now investigated, daily conducts to 

 the same goal men of letters who follow the most different 

 routes. Thus M. ChampoUion jun., who applies with so much 

 success to the investigation of the ancient wi'iting of Egypt, 

 and M. Lehonne, who endeavours to explain the Greek and 

 Latin inscriptions found in that country, have both arrived at 

 the same results ; for the discovery of the phonetic hierogly- 

 phics, which we owe to the former, has only confirmed, with 

 regard to the date of productions of Egyptian art, the con- 

 clusions which the latter had drawn two years ago from the 

 inscriptions engraved on the facade of certain temples, and 

 which M. ChampoUion discovers by the designs of the bas- 

 reliefs of the great portico of Esne, — that the zotliac of that 

 temple was carved under the reign of the Emperor Claudius. 

 We are informed that M. Lehonne proves, from Greek in- 

 scriptions discovered in the temple of Esn6, that the zodiac 



Vol. 61. Na 298. Feb. 1823. T ^.coilptJitrcd 



