( 494 ) 
When I look upon fuch a Razor thro* my Micro- ‘ 
fcope, I (land amazed at the great number of Caps and 
Notches that I fee in the Edge thereof, and wonder how' 
•one can (have ones felf fo foftly therewith^ nor does 
my Razor refufe to do me Service even in Winter 
and cold Weather, tho’ I mnft own at fuch times the 
Shaving is a little more plainful, but that Uiavc hither- 
to thought, was Only occafion’d by the Hair of the 
Beard being harder in Winter than Summer, when ’cis 
cold Weather 1 always keep my Razor in a Room that 
has Fire in it. 
Now as to what concerns the Razors becoming blunt 
in cold Weather, I can conceive no other Reafon for 
it, but that thQ waterh fubtilh, or exceeding fine Mac- 
^ ter, which is in all Metals, and which we may com- 
pare to Fire, is by the Cold driven out of the Edge ot 
the Razor ; by which means the Steel becomes fo (lub- 
born or hard, that in a fine Razor it makes Notches, 
and is blunted by the Hair. I have alfo experienced,, 
that afrer having (haven the Beard with a fine Razor] 
■ and attempting to Cut Tome of the little Hairs in the 
Eye-brows, which were harder than thofe of the Chin, 
notwithftanding that they were a little foftned with' 
“Water, feveral Norches were thereby made in the fame 
Razor. 
“ I asked a certain skilful Barber, what difference he 
fciind in his Razors in very cold or hot Weather ^ 
vvho informed me, that when it was very Cold, he al- 
ways dipt his Razors in warm \Yat^, which made 
*em cut much the better. 
I have thought fit to acquaint you with the manner of 
my preparing my Leather upon which I pafs my Razor. 
My Shoe-maker furnifh’d me with a Piece of Leather, 
that is very fmooth upon the fide next the FIdh, and 
of about two Fingers breadth^ this I faften’d with Glue to 
a thin Board of the fame breadth, and when twas dry, 
i 
