The caoutchouc is dissolved in spirits of turpentine, asphalte, pyroligneous spirit, or spirit of tar, and used in the proportion of one pound to every six pounds of glue used in the composition.

The patentee's claims are as follow:-First, the application of voltaic electricity to the manufacture of picture and other frames, as described.

Second. The application of voltaic electricity to the manufacture of moulds for making ornaments in papier machée, glass, china, &c.

Third. The application of voltaic electricity for the purpose of making patterns or moulds, for iron-founders, in copper.

Fourth. The use of bromine and iodine, combined with gold, in conjunction with voltaic electricity, for the purposes mentioned under the fourth improvement.

Fifth.-The use of bromine and iodine, combined with silver, in conjunction with voltaic electricity, for the purposes mentioned under the fifth improvement.

Sixth. The use of the solution of platinum first described, in conjunction with voltaic electricity, for covering metal surfaces with platinum; and likewise the use of bromine, combined with platinum, in conjuntion with voltaic electricity, for covering metal surfaces with platinum; also the covering lead with platinum, aud applying it, for the first time, to the uses herein before mentioned.

Seventh.-Covering the surfaces, mentioned in the fourth improvement, with tin, by the method herein described.

Eighth. The method of cleaning iron surfaces, and the regulation of the quantity and intensity of electric force, necessary to render iron fit to be deposited on.

Ninth. The method of producing embossed or enriched surfaces on picture and other frames and cornices,-being also applicable to other interior decorations.

Tenth. The application of cautochouc to the purpose mentioned in the tenth improvement.-[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, September, 1841.]

To ALEXANDER PARKES, of Birmingham, artist, for certain improvements in the production of works of art in metal, by electric deposition.-[Sealed 29th March, 1841.]

THESE improvements consist in manufacturing articles in gold and silver, such as busts, vases, drinking vessels, the branches of chandeliers, &c., by depositing the metals, by the electrotype process, in or upon suitable moulds or models.

The moulds or models are removed after the article is formed, and for this purpose, are either made of metal, in parts, by electric agency or other means, or when whole, of stearine wax, or fusible metal, so as to admit of their removal by the application of heat; or they may be made of copper, and removed by dissolving them in muriatic acid, used in a hot state, in combination with colcothar, (per-oxide of iron.)

If the articles are not sufficiently strong when the moulds are removed, they are strengthened by depositing copper or any other suitable metal within them, by means of eléctricity, or by filling them with fusible metal or other materials.

The patentee claims, firstly, the mode generally of manufacturing articles of gold or silver, by depositions thereof, caused by electric agency, in or on suitable moulds or models, which may be removed from the articles of gold or silver, when the same have been formed.

Secondly. The mode of manufacturing articles of gold

or silver on or in metal moulds or models, which are deposited by electric means, such moulds or models being afterwards removed.

Thirdly.—The mode of manufacturing articles of gold or silver, by electric depositions on or in moulds or models, when such moulds or models are removed by heat or solution.

Fourthly. The mode of manufacturing articles of gold or silver by electric depositions in or on moulds or models, made up of parts.

Fifthly. The mode of strengthening articles of gold or silver, produced in or on moulds or models, by electric depositions, by introducing a baser metal within them.[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1841.]

To EDWARD PALMER, of Newgate-street, in the City of London, Gent., for improvements in producing printing surfaces, and in printing china, pottery-ware, music, maps, and portraits.—[Sealed 12th June, 1841.]

THIS invention consists, firstly, in a mode of obtaining printing surfaces, by drawing or painting on silver or copper, or other metallic or couducting surfaces, (or on surfaces made conducting after drawing or painting thereon,) and then, by means of the electrotype process, producing copper or other metallic plates, with sunken surfaces, from which prints may be taken, as from engraved copper or steel plates or rollers.

Secondly. In a mode of drawing or painting on copper or other metallic or conducting surfaces, (or on surfaces made conducting after being drawn or painted on,) so as, by means of the electrotype process, to produce copper or

other metallic plates, with raised surfaces, from which prints may be taken, as from engraved wood blocks, or stereotype plates.

The mode of carrying out the first part of this invention is as follows:-A metallic plate or surface, of the required size, which will not be prejudicially acted on by the solution used, is obtained, with its face whitened (if copper be used, either by plating it with silver, or by depositing silver on it by means of electricity,) by a coating of platinum, or any other white metallic or conducting surface, and a small strip of copper having been affixed to the back of the plate, it is ready for the artist's use.

The outline may be made in the ordinary way, if a sketch, already made, is to be transferred on to the plate; but if the electrotint painting is to be made from the life, the composition, hereafter described, (thinned with spirits of turpentine,) is used with a fine sable pencil.

A satisfactory outline having being obtained, the plate or surface is placed so as to reflect the window of the apartment, or some white surface, in order to see the work more clearly, as it is produced on the surface of the plate, and the painting is then proceeded with, the polished surface of the plate being left uncovered in those parts where absolute white is required, and the composition laid on thickly and roughly in the dark and black portions; the intermediate shades are laid on thick and rough, in proportion to the degree of "colour" or "tone" required. It is requisite, however, to mention, that a picture painted smoothly, especially in the dark parts, however perfect it may appear on the plate, will not produce an impression capable of receiving and transferring the printing ink in an equal degree, as the rubbing which it undergoes, to take off the superfluous ink, renders all the smooth portions of the plate nearly bare.

To obtain a regular roughness, sufficient to retain the printing ink, and at the same time to produce an appropriate "texture," various modes of "handling" may be employed; for instance,—a flat tint, made by spreading the composition over the plate, and striking a fitch or hoghair brush perpendicularly all over it, will give an impression in the electrotint plate, that will retain the printing ink by numerous minute indentations.

Cut brushes, of different sorts, make a series of continuous lines on the plate, of different degrees of fineness, which form corresponding indented lines in the electrotint plate, capable of receiving and transferring the ink, so as to produce the same effect on paper or other material, as had been previously obtained on the first plate; a mixture of these styles of handling will also be found useful. "A dragged" texture is produced by passing a soft brush, held in a standing position, quickly over the surface, the brush being filled with the composition, slightly thinned with spirits of turpentine.

The composition employed in the electrotint paintings, is composed of one part, by weight, of white wax, two of lard, and one of lamp black, melted together, and stirred till nearly cold; after which, the composition is ground with a small quantity of olive oil. This composition never dries, and consequently can be removed from the plate, or its position altered at pleasure; it should be made thin enough to work freely, and yet sufficiently firm to retain the position it is placed in without spreading. For a washy texture, the composition is made by mixing equal parts of wax and ivory black, and grinding them with olive oil, thinning the mixture with spirits of turpentine.

When the painting is finished, it is slightly touched in the dark parts, by means of a soft pencil, with plumbago, or other suitable material, for the purpose of making the