J5§ SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



it is at present. Every step toward these ends is surely en- 

 titled to our notice. 



3. Art of Printing from Designs made upon the Surface of 



r^-j.i^-i-.:rA ■■■■ ^-.^{j ^,.- Stone 



i?rints orirAi* ' - ti^rd hot at present in possession of the history of an art 



drawing^ u °on ^^^''^^ ^^^ ^^P" practised for some years in this town by 



stone. several ingenious foreigners ; namely, that of printing copies 



fl'oin designs made on the surface of stone. An eminent 



chemist informs me that tiie meihod is as follows : 



Upon th^ surface of an hbtit, or close grained stone, de- 

 signs are to be made in the stroke manner, with a pen, by 

 means of an ink or pigment, made of a solution of lac in 

 leys of pure soda, with a little soap added, coloured with 

 lamp-black; or the designs may be_ made with a crayon of 

 the same composition. I suppose that the proportions and 

 ithanipulation would require some trials before perfect suc- 

 cess would be obtained. When the design has been allowed 

 to dry or harden for three or four days, the stone may be 

 soaked in water, and its surface wetted. In this state if it 

 be dabbed with Printers' ink from the balls, the ink will 

 stick to the design, but not to the naked stone, and a copy 

 iDay be taken from it by applying wet paper with pressure ; 

 whether of a rolling or screw press was not mentioned, but 

 I suppose the latter to be preferable. 



The advantage of this art appears to be that the print is 

 given from an original, and not from a copy, as all engrav- 

 ings must necessarily be. It may also be considered as one 

 of the means adverted to in our last article. For if a 

 smooth stone, or a board of close wood, or perhaps some 

 species of tile, or other prepared surface, could be written 

 upon by an ink which, when speedily dried by the fire, or 

 otherwise put into a state fit for use, could be made to 

 afford impressions or copies by a simple roller, it would be 

 easy to multiply bills, orders, notices, and an infinite num- 

 ber of other useful papers, to an extent which cannot at 

 present be developed without much investigation and re.. 

 st!arcli! 



