WEDGWOOD'S INKSTANDS. 



339 



taken out ; or on standing for a few hours, it will subside of itself 

 to E, especially if warmed a little before the plug is put in. 



" The advantages of this inkstand are, that the form of the tube 

 D E, through which the pen is dipped, prevents the soiling of the 

 pen and fingers ; that the narrow end of this tube, below E, pre- 



vents the pen from striking the bottom ; that the ink comes in 

 contact with the air only in the small space E, by which means it 

 is prevented from evaporating, growing thick, and spoiling, as it 

 does in all the common inkstands, where a large surface is unavoid- 

 ably exposed to the air ; that the sediment which the ink may 

 deposit on standing, will settle chiefly on the broad part of the 

 bottom, under the main body of ink, not where the pen is dipped, 

 as the ink is there in small quantity, and continually supplied with 

 the fine part from above ; that the vessel being made of the fine 

 compost black basaltes, is neither corroded by the ink nor absorbs 

 it, nor injures its colour, as the metals used for these purposes do ; 

 and that it admits of being finished, in point of workmanship, with 

 the highest degree of accuracy. 



" These inkstands are sold separately, as represented in the above 

 plate, or with sand boxes, wafer boxes, &c., forming various kinds 

 of useful and ornamental ecritoires, as well in the jasper of two 

 colours, as in the basaltes. The prices are from Sixpence, rising 

 according to the sizes, forms, and workmanship, to Two Guineas." 



The French advertisement to which I have alluded is as 



