AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 485 



take the place of plaster. A useful process has been added to printing, 

 called the anastatic, which has the effect of starting the ink. 



The finest execution, most elaborate design, and brilliant conception, 

 can be copied with the same fidelity as the plate without any delicate 

 workmanship upon it, for the reason that the deposit of metal forms an 

 exact cast in both cases. Some electrotype operators possess the secret of 

 forming a pretty fair matrix with gutta percha, but they will not inform 

 me how they accomplish it. When they do, I can give them a much better 

 recipe. This glorious invention will enable the present race of men to hand 

 down to posterity all the prominent works of art known to us, and to per- 

 petuate the portraits of all the great and good among us. We may em- 

 bellish our common dinner services at the cheapest imaginable rate, with 

 copies of our finest works and most magnificent pictures of nature, when I 

 make known a plan through the medium of which a steel plate can be 

 formed from one single impression, at the cost of a dollar. 



Next to electrotyping, there is no art that deserves more praise, in my 

 opinion, than wood cut engraving, which has been brought to the greatest 

 imaginable perfection, so much so, that in minuteness of design and sharp- 

 ness of cutting, steel engraving cannot surpass it. I have seen specimens 

 lately from which you might take a million of impressions without wearing 

 them out ; and they may then be multiplied by electro-metallurgy indefi- 

 nitely. The title page of the humorous English Punch is electrotyped, 

 and from it nearly six millions of impressions have been taken. The vig- 

 nette of the London News illustrated is engraved on copper, to represent 

 as near as possible a wood engraving, because it will last longer than wood. 

 The use of electro-metallurgy in the multiplication of the daguerreotype 

 is very great. 



The value of electrotyping and electro-metallurgy can scarcely be com- 

 prehended even in the present state of the science, and it is utterly impos- 

 sible to conjecture to what extent it may ultimately be carried. It owes 

 its very existence to electricity, the gigantic power of which everybody 

 recognizes in the thunder storm and devastating lightning. Human intel- 

 lect is too weak to fathom the amazing and sublime effects that it is, during 

 every instant of our lives, silently producing around us, and God will yet 

 make one brighter than now exists, to cause it to supersede steam, and 

 enable those coming after us to traverse the seas and land borne by the 

 power of lightning. 



Mr. Tillman, from the committee on questions, stated the next subject, 

 " Iron best adapted for steam boilers." 



Mr. Veeder moved that at next meeting we have Mr. Pell's paper on 

 electrotype. Carried. 



Adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



March, 30, 1859. 

 Present — Messrs. Robert L. Pell, Bruce, Witt, Alanson Nash, Veeder, 

 Sykes, Finell, Breisach, Stetson, John Johnson, John W. Cham^ e "S, God- 



