S6 L h Port-Folios . . 
do, to tlieir own destruction, and material injury of the 
things they contain. 
A frame of four feet by three will be strong enough, if 
made of deal. The stiles are four inches wide by half 
an inch thick ; and they have a middle upright stile of the 
same width, with angle pieces at the corners, as is shown 
in the engraving, tig. 1, plate 11. A frame of much 
greater dimensions may require two middle upright stiles ; 
and, if very large, a middle longitudinal stile, as is sho wn 
in the engraving, fig. 2. 
If the frames are made of mahogany, they need not ex- 
ceed three sixteenths of an inch in thickness ; but, of 
whatever wood they are made, it must be well seasoned, 
or they will warp. A padlock may be applied to suck 
cases, for the protection of their contents. 
On this construction I have made two port-folios, one 
of which I have had in use these ten years. A hand 
some one, of tolerably large dimensions, I have sent with 
this paper, for the inspection of the Society. The outer 
stiles of it are of mahogany, which, beaded, forms the 
out edge in a neat manner. Its simple formation, its 
lightness, and its firm flatness, must be obvious to every 
one; and I am of opinion the Society will obtain the 
thanks of all collectors and artists (if they think it wor- 
thy of insertion in the volume of their Transactions) by 
making this simple matter publicly known. For my own 
part, I shall be highly gratified in having contributed to 
the comfort of artists and collectors, in preserving their 
valuable researches. I am, &c. 
James Malton. 
JSTorton-street , June 2o, 1802. 
Reference to the Engraving , Plate 11. 
Fig. 1. One of the sides of a frame for a port-folio, the 
dimensions four feet by three : it may be made of deal or 
