( ) 
well as the more brittle being to be rejected. Thefe 
Leaves are drawn from Bars of Iron, about an Inch 
fquare; which being made a little flat, they cut into 
thin Pieces or Soles ( femelles ) which they fold toge- 
ther, and having made them into Parcels containing 
forty Leaves each, beat them all at once with a Ham- 
mer that weighs from 600 to 700 it> Weight. After this, 
the principal Part of the whole Art is to prepare thefe 
Leaves \ for the lighted: Duff, or the leafl Ruff upon 
their Surface will prevent the Tin from uniting with 
them. This may indeed be taken off by filing, but 
that being much too expend ve, the fame may be 
brought about by deeping the Plates in acid Waters, 
for a certain Time, to what Number they pleafe, and 
when they are taken out, fcouring them with Sand, 
in order to fetch off any Thing that may remain upon 
the Surface : And by this Method a Woman may clean 
more Plates in an Hour, than the mofl expeditious 
Workman can file in many Days. Of thefe Waters 
the Author mentions feveral ; but what the Germans 
themfelves ufed, and which they make a mighty Se- 
cret of, he found to be only common Water made ea- 
ger with Rye, which requires very little Pains. For 
after they have ground the Grain groOy, and pounded 1 
it, they leave it to ferment in common Water for a certain 
Time, and with a little Patience they are fure to have 
an eager Menftruum. With this Menftruum they fill 
Troughs or Tuns, into which they put Piles of Iron - 
Plates ; and to make it grow eager the better, and to > 
have more A&ivity, they keep thefe VefTels in Vaults 
or Stoves which have little Air, and in which they 
keep lighted Charcoal. The Workmen go into thefe 
Vaults once or twice in a Day, either to turn the 
Plates* 
