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try ; and what was tranflated from thofe of other 

 countries, was from authors of ancient date< 

 wrote, I believe, before artifts in that way had 

 arrived at the perfedion of knowledge they have 

 now attained j and many of thefe authors feem 

 not to have pradifed it themfelves ; for I have 

 been led by them through many labyrinths (from 

 which I found it difficult to extricate myfelf ) 

 before I attained the ready pra6i:ice of etching, 

 which I am here willing to communicate, in as 

 fhort and plain terms as I can, for the benefit of 

 many curious young gentlemen who are my 

 friends and acquaintance. 



Firft of all, it will be proper to fay fomething 

 of copper- plates. — Authors on the fubjed of 

 etching, tell us how to fmooth, fcour, and po- 

 liih them for ufej which is, I believe, a thing 

 hardly any gentleman will trouble himfelf 

 about, feeing that feveral people, in and about 

 London, make it their bufinefs to fquare 

 and fmooth plates of all fizes, for perfons 

 who want them. Examine your plates when, 

 you buy them, to fee if they are perfedly free 

 from fcr^tches, dents or holes 5 and if they are 



bad. 



