dividing the paper, so as to render it perfectly intelligible to a mechanist; we need not here enter more particularly into any further description in relation to the construction or conformation of the said instruments; but, for the better understanding their application, we do further describe the operation of cutting or subdi viding the sheets of paper, as the same is performed by us; that is to say we cause the table and instruments above described, to be placed at or near the end of the machine by which the paper is made, and as soon as one of the reels or rollers becomes charged or filled with paper, we remove the said reel or roller from the mas chine, and place it upon the supports or posts affixed to the end of the cutting table, upon which the steel plates and wheels have been previously adjusted to their pro per distances, &c. Two workmen, one stationed on each side of the table, draw the paper from the reel and spread it upon the said table, depositing the first end of the paper, which is always rough and uneven, over or beyond the pair of steel plates furthest from the reel, taking care at the same time to lay the edges of the pa per parallel with the edge of the table, or rather at right angles with the edges of the steel plates, in order that the angles or corners of the sheets of paper, when cut, may be square; and these workmen are guided or directed in this operation, by having several conspicuous lines drawn along the table in the proper direction, parallél to which lines they lay the edges of the sheet. The paper being thus deposited or spread uniformly upon the table and over the edges of the steel plates, the man on whose side the carriage with the three cutting wheels stands, pushes it across the table to the man on the opposite side, where it is retained ready for a se

cond operation. By thus passing the wheels over for the first time, the rough or uneven end of the sheet is separated at the plates farthest from the reel, another separation being made at the same time by the plates nearest to the reel, leaving one whole sheet of paper between the two pair of steel plates. The paper is again drawn from the reel and spread upon the table, and the end of the sheet being now square and even, is laid so much over or beyond the edges of the steel plates furthest from the reel, as will leave a sheet of paper when the next separation or cutting is made. Two sheets being now separated by each cutting after the first, the wheels are again passed over, and the sheets thus separated at each cutting are removed, and laid into packs by children employed for that purpose.

In witness whereof, &c.

Specification of the Patent granted to EDWARD MOORE NOBLE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Surgeon; for a new Method of making Carbonate of Lead, commonly called White Lead.

Dated January 23, 1808.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &e.

Now KNOW YE, that I the said Edward Moore Noble, in compliance with and in performance of the aforesaid proviso in the said in part recited letters patent contained, do by this present instrument in writing declare, that the nature of my said invention and the manner in which I perform the same is as follows: I take lead, which I prefer to be in thin plates or small pieces, and place it in a vessel that has a small communication with the atmosphere: to this I add so much acetous acid or

vinegar, or a solution of acetite of lead, or of both, that
the lead may not be wholly but only partly immersed in
the liquor. I then transfer into the vessel a mixture of
carbonic acid gas and oxygen gas, or of carbonic acid
gas and atmospheric air, or a mixture of all three; and
I frequently agitate the mixture in order to make the
liquor pass over and act upon the lead, and that the
carbonate of lead when formed may be removed from
the surface of the metal, and a fresh surface thereof
may be exposed. Or instead of lead in a metallic state,
I take litharge or an oxyd of lead, containing the pro-
portion of oxygen that will enable it to unite with ace
tous acid; and to this I add either acetous acid or a-
solution of acetite of lead, or both acetous acid and
acetite of lead, taking care that the quantity of oxyd of
lead be at least sufficient to saturate the acid. I then
transmit into, through or upon the mixture, carbonic
acid gas, either in a state of purity or mixed with at-
mospheric air with oxygen gas, or with any other gas
that will not injure the process; and I find it expedient
frequently to agitate the mixture to facilitate the union
of the carbonic acid with the oxyd of lead. Whichever
process I make use of, a white substance is produced,
which is the carbonate of lead, commonly called white
lead or ceruse; but the degree of whiteness will depend
upon the quality of the materials employed, upon the
operation being well or imperfectly performed, and
upon its being more or less free from mixture with other
substances. When the carbonate of lead is formed, I
separate it from the mixture; and if I intend it to be
mixed with oil, I dry it: I sometimes find it expedient
to wash the carbonate of lead with water previously to
its being dried. In witneess whreof, &c.

Specification

Specification of the Patent granted to SAMUEL PHELPS, of Cuper's Bridge, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Esquire; for certain Improvements in manufacturing Soap. Dated January 23, 1808.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c. NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I the said Samuel Phelps do hereby declare, that the nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed are particularly described and ascertained as follows; that is to say: Instead of constructing and using a vessel of the usual materials, form and dimensions, for boiling and making soap, commonly called a soap copper, with a fire-place beneath the same, I do construct and use a boiler or vessel of any materials whatever, which are or may be proper to contain the component parts of soap during the process of boiling the same, and of much more considerable dimensions, if required, than the common boilers or soap coppers. And that instead of raising the temper ature of the goods, namely, the lees, and the fat or oily component part of the soap, to the boiling heat, by the application of fire alone, as hath hitherto been done, I do introduce steam through one or more pipes or passages into the said goods; and I do avail myself of the usual means of obtaining the said steam, and of introducing the same at such temperature as may be required at or above the common boiling water point, by subjecting the same, if needful, to pressure or re-action. And that in general I find that the re-action or pressure afforded, by suffering the said steam to pass into the said goods at the depth of about four feet below the

surface,

surface, is sufficient to cause the same to boil very speedily, and to produce a very perfect combination or union of the component parts throughout, in much less time, and with a less expenditure of lees than in the ordinary process of making soap. And that in preference, I suffer the steam to escape into the goods at a distance not exceeding one foot from the bottom of the said boiler or vessel. And further, that I do prevent any introduction or rising of the goods from the boiler or vessel, or soap copper, into the steam boiler (at such times as the varying efficacy of the fire beneath the said steam boiler might otherwise allow that effect to take place), by interposing a cock or cocks, valve or valves, or other similar well-known contrivances in the pipes, passages or communications, between the said steam boiler and the said other boiler, copper or vessel, in which the soap is to be made. And I do further declare, that it is not requisite as to my said improvements, that the said pipes, passages or communications for the steam, should be made of any precise dimensions or proportional magnitude. And that in practice, upon a scale of considerable magnitude, I find that one pipe having its aperture one inch in diameter, does effectually answer the intended purpose. And further, that whereas, by the introduction of steam as aforesaid, the strength of the lees or the relative proportion of water to the alkaline salt therein contained, is in some measure altered by the condensation of the said steam, or part thereof, I do make an allowance for the same by using an additional quantity of lees of such greater strength, at the first or any subsequent supply, as may be needful or advantageous..

And