A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HATS, BONNETS, AND OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES, OF PAPER, AND OF RENDERING THE SAME WATERPROOF WHEN REQUIRED
Year: 1804

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, GEORGE.
SIMMONDS, of the Parish of Saint George, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Nineteenth day of May,
in the forty-fourth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said George
Simmonds, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, His especial licence that I, the
said George Simmonds, my exors, admors and assigns, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
HATS, BONNETS, AND OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES, OF PAPER, AND OF RENDERING THE
SAME WATERPROOF WHEN REQUIRED;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso obliging me, the said George Simmonds, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be inrolled in His Majestie's High Court of Chancery within one calendar
month after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Simmonds, do hereby describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as follows (that
is to sav).

page_text: I take sheets of paper of any size or thickness, either white, dyed, or stained,
fit and proper for the intended purpose. I cut the same into slips or strips
to any width required; I then weave, mat, or plat the same into sheets or
squares, after the manner of cane or chip, or into the form or shape of the
article required; I then dress them over with spirit varnish to bind them
together; I then make them up into hats, bonnets, or other articles, after the
manner of chip or cane, square or Leghorn hats; and if required to be water-
proof, I repeat the varnish two or three times or more till the same becomes
waterproof. I also plat the said slips or strips of paper into narrow or other
strips of platting, and I sew the same together into any shape required for hats,
bonnets, and other articles, after the manner of straw or Leghorn plat; I then
dress them over with spirit varnish to bind them together; and if required to
be waterproof I repeat the varnish two or three times or more, till the same
becomes waterproof. I also manufacture the aforesaid sheets, squares, or
platt into ladies' dressing boxes, work baskets, table mats, and all other articles,
both useful and ornamental, that are capable of being made of such sheets,
squares, or platt. All the above articles which are to be rendered waterproof
I heat and clear off after the manner of drawings on paper that are varnished.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Simmonds, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and four.