New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-18
WRITING INK 5.

Among the many discoveries Of the age developing
in almost every branch of the arts, little
has been done by chemical science to improve and
perfect this cart preventative of all arts. An Ink
perfectly black linpid, and ndeble, has yet to be
discovered.
Nutealls appear to be the only really valuable in
credient in modern nks-the value and peTmanence OF
Which deperd upon the proper quantity OF gailc acd
extracted from the gas being used in ITS preparation;
but nutgalls are expensive and ink makers are apt I"
increase their profits by substituting loS"oou "hich
gives large amount Of cOorng matter at small cost
compound Of bichromate of potash and the extract
oflocwood discovered by the German chemists few
wears since makes hmpid ink black when hrSt used
at q cost Of less than three cents o'""" or - d
vile dive totally valueess az ink, fading out on
few weeks exposure to the light and becoming illeg
bic in a few wears however securely kept. Still, its
cheapnees. ease of manufacture, and apparent good
qualities when first made have caused it 10 be extern
syely manufactured and sold particularly in the West
ern States The recipe for its production has been
sold by travelling vendors in every considerable town
in the Northern States. as very great secret which
each particular bu,er would make his fortune py ge'
tine r1clusve nossesson of-at all prices from one to
fifty dollars A cute Yanke>a near Boston was victim
lated would make his fortune by making ink Tor
nothing.
The ink used by the ancients was maze Win pow
dered charcoal mixed with muciiage ana " a'ei' anu
is ndestructibe by time: but this ink is mprac
in this age when barrels used where penul SUI
feed.
The value of permanent ink cannot be questioned; for
state town and county cords and the like, 1t Is oil
vital ;mpcrtance that the ink used should be egibe in
succe edpg gel eratons. Too little attention Is pad 10
this matter by our registers, surrogates town clerks
and court officers. writer in the Apni number OF
The Nee. England Historical and Genealogical Nag
.ine speaking of the town records of Bolton, Conn.,,
and making suggestions for their preservation, @c,
SAWS. Moreover the ink is fast fading out This
matter of permanent ink is attracting much attention
IN Europe, particularly in the government offices,
records, courts, &c.
Prot. Sharp of Edinburgh, in paper recently read
before the ROYAL Society of Arts, gives the result OF
series Of elaborate experiments designed to test Tue
perm antuce of writing ink by exposure 10 the lSh'
ard TO the action ofthe elements.
Or. Chiffon of New York has submitted number
of the principal inks of this country to similar 'ra
with a view to test their relative mdehDe quantities.
The result of his experiments Is before Us III hney
engraved fac smile OF the original paper, upon which
the doctor wrote with four different INKS and ihen e1-
posed the writing over five months TO the action O the
weather upon the icof of his laboratory.
This ties, appears to be conclusive, 50 far as II goes
rs showing what will be the action of tune upon man
uscrips in various stages of exposure The matter =
srerestive and of impoi apce 70 oil who would pre-
so,ve lepiblc records for future generations.