1 92 Miscellanies. 



coat of glue added, over which was laid a pattern of house papering, 

 with rich figures. After the body of the carpet was thus prepared, 

 a very thin touch of glue was carried over the face of the paper 

 to prevent the India Rubber varnish from tarnishing the beautiful col- 

 ors of the paper. After this was dried, one or two coats, (as may be 

 desired,) of India Rubber varnish were applied, which, when dried 

 formed a surface as smooth as polished glass, through which the va- 

 riegated colors of the paper appeared with undiminished, if not with 

 increased lustre. This carpet is quite durable, and is impenetrable 

 to water, or grease of any description. When soiled, it may be wash- 

 ed, like a smooth piece of marble, or wood. If gold or silver leaf 

 forms the last coat, instead of papering, and the varnish is then appli- 

 ed, nothing can exceed the splendid richness of the carpet, which 

 gives the floor the appearance of being burnished with gold, or silver. 

 A neat carpet on this plan, will cost (when made of good papering,) 

 about 37 £ cts. a yard. When covered with gold, or silver leaf, the 

 cost will be about $ 1,00 or $1,50 cents a yard. 



18. Stereotype Metalagraphic Printing. — I offer this name, as I 

 have nothing better to designate it by. It means simply the transfer- 

 ring of printed letters, from the pages of a book, or news paper to the 

 polished surfaces of metallic plates, especially of soft iron. My ex- 

 periments are not yet completed, yet I feel satisfied that the result is 

 entirely a practicable one, if carefully conducted with proper instru- 

 ments. 



The best plan on which to conduct the experiment is as follows: 

 Take two plates of very soft iron, of moderate dimensions, give one 

 face of each a very true and fine polish, so that when applied by these 

 faces, they shall uniformly fit and adhere together. Moisten two 

 slips of printed news paper, or parts of a leaf from a book of the size of 

 the plates, apply one to the polished face of each plate, and interpose 

 between them a fold or two of silk paper, and then clamp the plates 

 together. Give them a gentle heat- over the fire, then place them in 

 a vice, and apply a strong screw power. On separating them and 

 gently removing the paper, the letters will be seen, distinctly formed 

 on the faces of the two plates. Now as printer's ink, is formed of 

 lamp black and oil, upon which acid acts very little, the faces of the 

 plates may be slightly touched over with diluted sulphuric or nitric 

 acid, which if skilfully applied, acts on the iron and leaves the letters 



