156 



Proceedings. [no. 5/ new series, 



the point at issue, he cannot positively pronounce as to what credit 

 Mr. Smith is entitled to in the question of discovery. 



Major Wilson observed that'the process referred to by Mr. Bur- 

 gass was probably that exhibited by Mr. Cox at the Polytechnic 

 Institution under the name of the Foliographic Press, for Printing 

 from fresh leaves and plants. Major Wilson stated that one of 

 these Presses was in his possession, and that he had frequently taken 

 impressions of leaves with it, the process appearing to be identical 

 in all respects with that described in Mr. Smith's paper. Major 

 Wilson sent for the prospectus of Mr. Cox's invention, of which 

 the following is a copy : — 



" The Foliographic Press for printing from Nature being a new 

 and exceedingly simple machine for printing fresh leaves, ferns, 

 feathers, lace &c, invented and sold by G. I. Cox, at 134, Great 

 College Street, Camden Town, and the Royal Polytechnic Institu- 

 tion. Press, Roller, Pot of Ink, and Sheet of Carbonised Paper 

 5s. 6d. small ; 85. 6d. large." 



Direction for use. 



" Put a leaf between the fold of the Carbonised paper. Pass 

 the Roller five or six times over each outside surface ; open the 

 fold and extract the leaf, which has now become impregnated with 

 ink. Then place it between the fold of a clean sheet of writing 

 paper, which is now to be introduced under the leather flap and 

 pressed by passing the roller once over the surface, when an ac- 

 curate and beautiful impression will be the result. 



The carbonised paper is made by dabbing the ink evenly over 

 the surface of ordinary writing paper, with a dabber made of wash 

 leather. 



It is advisable, previous to using a leaf, to roll it slightly be* 

 tween a sheet of blotting paper, to absorb the extraneous damp or 

 moisture." 



The Meeting were of opinion that the principle of both process- 

 es was the same, but Mr, Smith has the merit of having develop- 



