MANUFACTURE OF PAPIER MACHE. 255 
of an aluminous and micaceous nature, most appropriately named by- 
Mr. Hunt u nacreous" (or pearly) slates ; it is of the same description 
as that found at Acton, but is distributed in a succession of slate bed 
coinciding with the stratification, and also in quartz courses or veins 
crossing the strata at various angles. " The mode," says Sir William 
Logan, " in which the copper ore is distributed in the nacreous slates of 
Leeds precisely resembles that in which it occurs in the bituminous 
slates of Germany ; and it is only the circumstance that the facts known 
in connection with the Canadian deposits are yet too few to give entire 
confidence in the persistence of similar conditions over a great area, 
which should moderate expectation of an important result." 
Sir William estimates the average yield of metallic copper from the 
Leeds beds at about four per cent. The copper-bearing slates of Mans- 
feldt in Germany, above referred to, are profitably worked on a yield of 
only two per cent. ; and the following remarks by Mr. Whitney m re- 
ference to somewhat similar circumstances are deserving of attention. 
Speaking of one of the workings on Keewanaw Point, Lake Superior, 
he says, " Here a bed of sandstone has been lately examined, carrying 
enough copper to be excellent stamp-work. By some it is believed that 
it carries one per cent, of copper, but by others it is thought to be richer. 
It is perfectly clear from what can now be seen of it that many thou- 
sand tons of mixed rock and copper will be taken up from it in opening 
the mines. It will require no calcining to stamp and wash . easily, 
and can be cheaply excavated. So little has been done in test- 
ing the value of the bed in question, that great caution should be 
observed in giving an opinion, in regard to it ; but metalliferous beds 
have been and are now mined in the Ontonagon districts with some 
success, and on Portage Lake with prospects decidedly flattering." 
MANUFACTURE OF PAPIER MACHE. 
The origin of the manufacture of useful and ornamental articles from 
paper, is still a matter of doubt, although it is generally believed that 
the Japanese were the first inventors. From the name given to it, we 
would naturally infer that it had been introduced by the French ; a 
recent French writer, however, ascribes the merit of producing paper 
ornaments to the English. 
When the art of moulding and casting in plaster was first introduced 
into England, the art of preparing the pulp of paper was improved 
and extended, and ultimately rendered practicable the adoption of 
papier mache in the formation of architectural decorations. The hand- 
VOL. VI. D D 
