438 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



To the albumen of two fresh eggs add three drachms of saturated 

 solution of chloride of sodium, beat it up with a wooden fork into a 

 very thick froth, let it stand for twelve hours. Pour the liquor upon 

 a flat dish, and let one surface of the paper remain in contact with 

 the liquor for forty or fifty seconds ; then lift the paper carefully and 

 with an even motion, and pin up by one corner to dry for several 

 hours. When perfectly dry, place it between two sheets of writing- 

 paper, and pass four or five times over it very quickly an iron, as 

 liot as may be without scorching the paper. When cool, put it upon 

 a solution of nitrate of silver (two drachms to an ounce of distilled 

 water) spread upon a glass plate, and let it rest there four or five 

 minutes ; then hang up to dry. When the impression is taken, fix 

 in the usual way. 



By this method the picture becomes varnished ; and a force, sharp- 

 ness, and brilliancy are produced not easily obtainable by other 

 means. 



I remain. Sir, 



Your most obedient Servant, 



Woking, Surrey, W. R. Deere Salmon. 



April 21, 1851. 



GOVERNMENT MANUFACTURE AND PUBLICATION OF SCHOOL 

 BOOKS AND ELEMENTARY WORKS OF SCIENCE. 



We would direct the attention of our readers to the correspondence 

 between Lord John Russell and Messrs. Longman and Co. and 

 Mr. Murray, as recently pubhshed by them, copies of which we 

 append to our present Number. 



The attempt to establish under the patronage of Goverrfment a 

 monopoly of school-books to be produced at the public expense, is 

 reprehensible, not merely as regards the just principles of trade, but 

 as being entirely hostile to the interests of science, whether we con- 

 sider the means of its advancement and diff"usion, or the benefit of 

 those who are engaged in their promotion. 



The production of elementary works of the best kind, adapted to 

 the continually progressive state of the sciences, must ever be an 

 object of great importance, and should freely be left in the hands of 

 those men of science who are best able to supply them, and of whose 

 competence the scientific public are the best judges. 



The measure complained of tends directly to the establishment of 

 a monopoly, fostered by the irresponsible favoritism of some Board 

 or Commission (probably, as in many instances of late, under the 

 influence of forward quacks and pretenders who easily impose them- 

 selves on members of the Government) ; and such favoritism and 

 adventitious aid must evidently tend to the discouragement and 

 eventual prohibition of works, however superior, which cannot con- 

 tend against such unfair advantages. 



Nor must it be overlooked, that the public money thus to be ex- 

 pended is in part levied upon those who come unaided into the field 



