The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-23
Miscellaneous.

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TITS readers of the Enquirer will recolleSt
that fome diicuilion has taken place in this pa
Der. on two plans which have been propoied.
the one by MIR. Jacob Perkins OF Bottom, the
other by MIR. Samuel Brooks of Richmond, to
prevent the counterfeiting OF BANK Norris.
The controversy between Mr.. Brooks and the
Editor rcfpeefing the utility OF bis invention was
concluded by an intimation from Mr.. Brooks,
that he was aboutto renduceh isplan TO the I'M
erring teit of experiment. MIR. Brooks has not
yet pubhihed the refult of his experiment, but
from 4 flight engraving which the Editor has
accidentally feen, executed according to MIR.
Brooks's plan, he has realon TO believe, either
that its plan is radically defective, or that its
author has not yet had All opportunity of max
ing a satisfactory eXperiment.--I>he efficacy OF
Mr.. Perkins plan is fill open for the public
confederation. The following letter to MIR.
Brooks is intended TO anfwer the different obiec-
tons which 6s had propofed agaiuit it. The E
ditor willingto admit, that the objection which
he kinfLfl,as offered to it may not be iatist;c-
tory, as the general petition on which he has
placed it is not numerically true. He has atlert-
ed IN the end. No. ofthis paper, that II is DIFF
hcult to conceive why an impreiiion upon a
fmooth plane of paper, however diverted in its
lines and letters fhould not be transferred TO a
Gnooth plate of copper by GmPle proccfs /;
and why this plate after it has been etched and
engraved, fhould not deliver rs impreifon upon
other pieces of paper" This petition is true
as far as it applies to any engraving. 1t is gene
rally eafy for one engraving to initiate any other.
But it is extremely difficult, and fome-
times impofiible, for the cngraver to imi-
tate an inpreliion that is made in other
ways. The Rrokes of pen, or TIE inn
prefion of a type are fcarcely TO be counterfeit
ed by the fimple procefs which has been deicri-
bed. Any one who win compare the letters
made by type, or the pen ola common writer,
with thofe delivered on paper by an engraved
plate of copper, will foon perceive that the
itrokes OF the latter are fmoother, and more deli
cate than thofe of the former As Mr.. Perkins S
plan combines the ufe of blockvyork with engra-
wing, and thus introduces thoie two different
methods of operation, it does not appear praGti-
cable to initiate his work by the ordinary me-
thod. One of the Editor friends who has fome
experience in the art of engraving, has, however,
fuggefted another method for producing this
imitation. The Editor will not yet mention this
p'ar; but referves it for more mature con6de-
ration. The reader will obierye that MIR. Per-
kins has not claimed the original invention of the
tereo-type method Of engraving. That he has
been the firft to propoie It's application to the
making bank notes, is The only credit to which
he thinks hinfelf entitled. An advertisement,
which follows Mr.. Perkins letter, and which
the Editor has extracted from &c The True Bri-
tom" London paper, will ihow fome of the
ufes to which this modern art is about to be ap-
piled by the ingenious Engliihmen.