20 MEMOIR OF ALFRED SMEE. [CHAP. III. 



5. Amongst the many other novel facts first brought forward 

 in this work, ' Elements of Electro-Metallurgy,' a work which 

 naturally created a great sensation at the time, is the novel appli- 

 cation for the coating of fruit, ferns, leaves, &c., with copper. 

 As this would afford a pleasant recreation for ladies, I have tran- 

 scribed the directions for coating these natural objects in the 

 author's own words (see the Appendix, No. VIII.) 



Besides being well reviewed, from the moment ' Electro-Metal- 

 lurgy ' was published, numerous were the letters which poured in to 

 my father about some matter or other appertaining to the subject, 

 not only from most of the manufacturers of this country, but also 

 from those of other countries. Indeed, up to the time of his 

 death, he never ceased receiving letters or seeing persons engaged 

 in the application of electro-metallurgy, all seeking for informa- 

 tion respecting either Smee's battery or some matter connected 

 with the process. As my father always gave his advice gra- 

 tuitously, his family have often been surprised and pleased by 

 receiving some small token made by the above kind of battery 

 as a recognition of some service, in the form of advice, 

 given by my father. As may be expected, there were not 

 wanting forgers of base coin to take advantage of the process 

 of electro-metallurgy for counterfeiting the coins of the realm. 

 In the prosecution of such cases my father was frequently called 

 as a witness. 



I have dwelt long upon Smee's ' Electro-Metallurgy,' because 

 that work is now out of print, and it has been my desire to show 

 exactly to what extent Alfred Smee contributed to this science, 

 for other works are now appearing on that subject, in which 

 his name is more or less being ignored. I have also given many 

 details of Smee's battery, so as to serve as useful hints to those 

 employing the same ; for now the inventor is dead, his advice con- 

 cerning its management can be heard no more. 



On the 4th of January, 1841, the distinguished chemist, 

 Brande, wrote from the Koyal Mint to Mr. Smee, thus : 



MY DEAR SIB, Mr. Palmer has been good enough to send me a 

 copy of your valuable essay on Electro-Metallurgy, and as it will shortly 

 fall to my lot to give an evening at the Royal Institution, I am inclined to 

 take up that subject, provided you will lend me your aid. I was in hope 

 Faraday would have done it, but he is not well enough to take an active 

 part at present. Pray give me a line to tell me your feelings upon the 

 subject, and whether you will allow me to talk the matter over with 

 you in a day or two. Yours faithfully, 



W. T. BRANDE. 



