478 
Notices. 
Indian ink, you will, I doubt not, give the preference to the coal, 
as it will be found free from a brownish cast, always perceivable 
in the former. The harshness observable in the inclosed drawing 
arises from the extreme badness of the pencil I was obliged to 
use, and not from the quality of the ink, which is susceptible of 
the greatest softness. 
The coal is found to be superior to lamp or ivory black for 
paint, printers ink, and blacking leather. It also makes the best 
writing ink for records that has yet been discovered. The colour 
is deeper, and is not in the least affected by the oxy-muriatic acid, 
or any other chemical agent, and must remain unaltered by time. 
The application of coal to these purposes was discovered by Mr 
Jacob Cist bf this place — he has obtained a patent. 
Very sincerely your friend, 
JOHN B. GIBSON. 
Thomas Cooper^ Esq. 
The only objection to the preceding account of the uses to 
which stone coal may be put, is, that whatever mucilaginous sub- 
stance be used to fix it on the paper, water can wash it away. But 
that it will afford a colouring matter unattackable by any acid, and 
unalterable by any time, cannot be doubted. The discovery is of 
importance. T. C. 
Platina. Dr. Bollman, whose ingenuity and perseverance 
upon this subject deserves well of the public, has succeeded in 
giving a plating of platina to iron, of which I have a specimen. 
Also I believe to copper. The use of this metal will be extend^ 
ed to many manufactures. 
He has succeeded in giving the. mercurial-coloured metalline 
coating to porcelain with platina. He will by and by introduce it into 
the glassworks, if not in the form of crucibles (which can be done) 
at least to furnish an unoxydable smooth plate, on which the glass 
blower can work his vessel. It promises, in his hands, to become 
a very important object to the useful and ornamental arts. 
Statistics. The following table has been inserted in two or 
three of our daily papers. The last number of the sixth column 
has been printed 16,452,656, This must be a mistake. I have 
inserted six instead of sixteen, for reasons obvious on inspection. 
In my former number, I stated, by conjecture, the poor rates of 
Great Britain at six millions stciiing, in round numbers. I was 
about half a million too !oW 
