162 Electrography. 



surface, however delicate or intricate, with a thin metallic film, 

 which will be found a good conductor. We have in this way 

 obtained deposits on plaster, and even paper, and any one by 

 availing himself of this fact may procure perfect fac-similes in 

 copper of those beautiful reliefs of animals and plants, &;c., on 

 Bristol paper, by Dobbs of London. In doing this it is neces- 

 sary to protect the back and sides of the plaster or paper by var- 

 nish, to prevent its absorbing water, and thereby injuring the 

 sharpness of the copy. 



We have thought that with proper care in the details, this 

 mode might be with great advantage, applied to the production 

 of copper busts and statues. For this purpose let a plaster mould 

 be obtained, such as is used in the production of common plaster 

 casts ; let the individual parts of this mould be carefully treated, 

 in the manner just described, to render their surfaces conductors ] 

 the mould may then be united, and all requisite care being taken 

 to see that the joints are properly secured and closed, so as not 

 to interrupt the conducting surfaces, let it be placed in a vessel 

 of suitable form, and completely immersed in a solution of sul- 

 phate of copper, and treated in a manner similar to any other ob- 

 ject under such circumstances. We regret that it is not in our 

 power to say that we have done this, and we are not aware that 

 any experiments on this point have been published.* If it can 

 be done successfully, its value to the arts will be very great ; fur- 

 nishing the artist at once with the means of perpetuating his 

 fame by a literal moniimentum cere perennius. 



This art has sprung up and grown to great perfection almost in 

 a day ; and we hear from every quarter, accounts of its application 

 to new and valuable purposes. The art of printing seems likely 

 to profit greatly by this new coadjutor. The type-founder can 

 now fill his moulds with copper and thus obtain plates which will 

 outlast their owners, while their superior hardness and durability 

 will warrant the expenditure of much greater care and labor in 

 finishing all their details.f 



* A plaster bust may, after proper preparation, be inclosed in copper by this 

 mode ; but the surface of the deposit, after attaining the thickness of stout paper, 

 manifests, according to our observations, a tendency to rise up in grains like shot, 

 and after a little, the sharpness of the inclosed plaster is lost; we doubt therefore if 

 this modification of the process can ever be pursued with much hope of success. 



t Mr. Spencer sent us with his pamphlet, a handsomely printed table in 8vo. 

 from type thus produced. 



