476 = Afeans of preveniing the Forgery of Bank-notes. [Dec. 1, 
note, That the public at lange, are not 
competent judges of works of this de 
Sorption, Is too obvious to require com- 
ment, and the raneties winch mast un. 
avoriably eccar, ever by the same artist, 
copying the same subject, would so pu 
ale and distract the mimute observer, that 
no judgment could be formed with any 
degree of certainty. ‘The expense atten- 
ding such plan, may possibly be below 
the consideration of the Bank of England, 
bet wt would certainly be very much aug- 
mented to what it is at present. 
That [ may not be understood as differ. 
ing In opinion from the artists, stated by 
Mr. Phillips, as having given their appro- 
bation to the above scheme, I must quote 
what he advances being their sole abject, 
namely, “to defy the imitation of bun- 
glers in the art of engraving.” With such 
it would most certainly hare an effect, 
and save many a stupid fellow from ran- 
ming his head against the gallows ; but 
there is hulle rehawece to be placed in 
knavery always chusing such heads for 
its habitation. 
Nr. Phillips has mentioned the ruling 
machine, 2s an assistant, in conjunction 
with the water-mark, to form a basis for 
the ermament and writing. This pon 
jenction, I should conceive improper; 
‘not only because the water-mark has been 
wed of no real service, but were the 
ce of the note to be covered with ruled 
fines, the water-mark, at present hardly 
distinguishable, would then be rendered 
imuisble. But that the ruling machine 
affords the best means of security, among 
the inventions of thé present day, is an 
opimjon [ am decidedly m favour of; and 
it 3 on that principle, I founded a plan, 
which hes, for upwards of a twelve- 
mouth, been before the public: a short 
neceant of which was inserted im this 
Magazine, of December, 1808; andia the 
Scots Magazine of May lest, a peared 2 
more detailed paper on the Re vg by 
Alexander Henderson, esq. of Edin- 
bergh. itis not only on account of the 
hand: marner Mr. Henderson has 
ren of the invention, that I eish to 
refer to his paper, but more particelarly 
his laudable ansrety te promote, what he 
cance wed of commercial atility, is deser- 
~ 
ving of pubhe notice, as his disinterested 
to whom | am personally unknown. 
T hope, Mr. Editor, I shall be 
this htdle dicression; if I have turned 
gside, it was to ackeowledge a debt Jam 
efraid I shall never be able to pay, 
That engraved lines, divided with no 
other assistant — oe eye, a poe 
ever disguised their defects, atly 
deficient in mathematical enceu ean: 
ly be denied; and that an instrament 
capable of pecfurming and dividing such 
hanes with mathematical precision, m 
produce an effect, in point of execatien, 
very much saperior, requires, I should 
imagine, no elucidanon. The fact is 
universally admitted by artists, that 
one will or can undertake to match, by 
the common process, what has been 
done by the machine. The only objec~ 
tien te the ruling machine on Ks ong 
nal construction, furnishing the means 
of Bank-note aprile “ 
bemg so easily com y 
work produced, and consequently at 
fording no security against its becoming” 
generally known. This has been ver 
fied by the number of these machines 
now in existence. Various attempts 
were made to improve the rons of 
this imstrement, which, being confined 
extremely difficult, and a stiff mechanical 
uniformity, resembhng what may be seen 
accomplished, and having invented an 
mstrument, so dificult m its construe- 
tion of the appearance of the note 
been given wm a former Magazine, I shall 
here omit it. pemety Be 
the ruling machines, for not one _ 
a 
ott 
é 
4 
