AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 555 



Tihe capabilities of electro typing. One of these new processes is 

 called " stilographic." A plain surface is covered with a pre- 

 paration somewhat like the waxen tablets upon which the ancients 

 wrote. It is composed of two parts of shell-lac and one part of 

 stearine. On this material the draughtsman makes his design 

 with a style. This forms a matrix, from which an electrotype is 

 taken in relief; and from this another plate is taken, which 

 answers the purpose of an incised copper, (engraved plate,) and 

 is worked at the roller-press. It furnishes a readier mode to the 

 artist than the etching process, but it is scarcely so effective. 



The art called " nature-printing,'' (in German called " natur- 

 selbstdruck,") had not made sufficient advances to be exhibited 

 in 1851. The Austrian printing office in 1855 showed to what 

 beautiful and useful purposes it might be applied. The identi- 

 cal reproduction of any natural object — a plant, a feather — by 

 taking its impression on a sheet of lead by an application of cyl- 

 indrical force, and then producing a galvanic plate which will 

 give impressions of the form, and giving also the colors by sepa- 

 rate impressions of the similarly colored parts, is an onward step 

 in printing which has already taken a commercial shape in Eng- 

 land. The admirable plates of Ferns, now published by Messrs. 

 Bradbury & Evans, are quite equal to the Austrian examples.'' 



Note. — The American Institute received from the Honorable 

 Charles E. Loosey, consul general of Austria, copies of those 

 magnificent nature-printings, including the great work, 

 " Naturselbstdi-uck.'-' 



James K. Fisher, civil engineer, observed that the London 

 editor was mistaken in the idea that the French metre was little 

 used, if at all, out of France, for he knew it to be used exten- 

 sively in Lomlmrdy and some other parts of Italy. 



Mr, Tillman said that the whole subject demands great atten- 

 tion, and desired that it may be thoroughly discussed by this 

 Club. Let it be kept before us. 



Mr. Creamer did not think the difference between the pendu- 

 lum and the metre standards as of much importance; but he 

 much preferred the decimal plan. 



The Chairman was of opinion that this question was of impor- 

 tance. We want a proper standard ! 



Mr. Creamer moved that the committee for selection of ques- 

 tions be now appointed for the season. Nominations were made 

 and the following members were unanimously elected, viz : 

 William B. Leonard, James K. Fisher and S. D. Tillman. 



