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imagine that such was the case. Even prepared paper 
surfaces, such as are named in Senefelder’s patent specifica- 
tion, dated 1801, might have been used at Soho. When we 
look at the rough hand-made paper on which these impres- 
sions are placed, and see the thick coating of gum or gelatine 
on the surface, the question then arises — Is this prepared 
surface necessary for taking up the ink or whatever was used ? 
or is it merely to smooth over the coarse wire lines in the 
paper ? We do know that the want of smooth paper inter- 
fered with the practice of lithography for a long period. 
Machine-made paper was a great improvement, but now 
paper is made especially for the purpose. 
After glancing over these processes, I am led to imagine 
that the following mode may in some degree serve to produce 
pictures similar to those before us : — Admitting that the 
impressions were touched up by hand, I think the camera 
was employed only for tracing the outline and reducing or 
enlarging the image to any required scale. The pictures 
Nos. 7 and 8 give good evidence of tracing. The shading 
would be an after process, having the original for a copy, the 
crayon employed being made of some resinous or fatty matter 
mixed with the colour — this production then to be used as a 
transfer on the prepared surface. 
In such pictures intended for painting, the ink would be 
light in colour — in others red or black, as the taste of the 
artist dictated. In this manner, as Senefelder states in his 
specification, the various styles of etching, stroke engraving, 
drawings in black and red chalk and aquatinta, &c., &c., could 
be imitated, and at small cost compared with any other known 
process. 
I shall now leave this very interesting inquiry in your 
hands. As an excuse for the brief and imperfect handling of 
the subject, I may state that it is only two days since I first 
saw the pictures, and I have not had sufficient time to work 
up the subject in a proper manner ; but if ray speculations serve 
to provoke a discussion amongst the members of the Section, 
its purpose will have been answered. 
