IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CONTINUOUS PAPER INTO SHEETS AND IN PILING OR DISPOSING OF THE SAME WHEN CUT
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Martyn Nicholls, of No. 14, Southampton
Street, Strand, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CONTINUOUS PAPER INTO SHEETS AND IN PILING OR
DISPOSING OF THE SAME WHEN CUT."
Sealed the 24th April 1867, and dated the 30th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Martyn Nicholls
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1866.
I, HENRY MARTYN NICHOLLS, of No. 14, Southampton Street, Strand, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CONTINUOUS PAPER INTO SHEETS AND IN PILING
OR DISPOSING OF THE SAME WHEN CUT," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for cutting
continuous paper-into-sheets and in-piling or disposing of the same when cut...
The endless web of paper-after it has been-printed or otherwise is delivered
between two currents of air proceeding from suitable nozzles and travelling
Price &1

page_text: in the same direction as the paper. Whilst the end of the continuous web is
thus kept floating in a narrow enclosed space a cutter detaches a sheet, the
forward movement of this sheet is checked, and at the same time the current
of air under the detached sheet is diverted, which enables the top current
immediately to flatten down the sheet on to a receiving surface below; this
receiving surface is an endless apron, which carries the pile or layer of over-
lapping sheets; it thus receives continuously forward until from time to time
they are removed in batches by hand. The knife I employ has a serrated
edge, and passes from side to side of the web to be divided; it is carried by a
revolving axis beneath the web, and at each revolution it is brought up
against the paper and divides it by acting in conjunction with a surface of
blades on the other side of the web; these blades are set apart from one
another, so as to correspond with the intervals between the teeth of the knife.
At the time of separating the paper the knife is travelling in the same
direction as the web. but at a higher speed. The knife is hinged to another
blade not employed in the act of cutting the paper, and it closes on this
blade immediately after cutting the paper, so as to catch hold of the tail of
the sheet. As the knife continues to travel on revolving about its axis it
carries down the tail of the detached sheet through the lower blast of air, and
thus the forward motion of the sheet is checked, whilst at the same time the
lower blast is diverted to the top of the detached sheet, which is thus pressed
down on to the receiving surface. After the tail of the sheet has been
retained by the knife and its holding blade for a sufficient time suitable
grippers or instruments take it from the knife.
In machinery arranged according to my Invention as above described
grippers or mechanical instruments may be employed to do the work per-
formed by the currents of air, but not so conveniently. In some cases it is
convenient to lead the web of paper to the machine vertically, and to
accumulate the piles of sheets on edge. The web is caused to proceed
vertically between two air blasts, and it is cut off by a reciprocating cutter
moving horizontally. In connection with the cutter and below it is a beating
surface the size of the sheets, and formed of strained wire or other light and
open material; this surface coming against the sheet as it is detached pushes
it into a receiver, the sides and ends of which are formed of endless aprons
slowly travelling, so that the pile in the receiver may recede as it accumulates;
the back also of the receiver is so formed as to give a light support to the
pile, but to retire as it accumulates. To keep the edges of the sheets from
springing out of the receiver as the beating surface leaves them rotating
brushes are arranged all round the receiver, which constantly brush the edges

page_text: of the sheets inwards. There are two such receivers, one on each side of the
beating surface, and the surface lays a sheet first into one and then into the
other as it vibrates to and fro.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Martyn Nicholls in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
MARTYN NICHOLLS, of No. 14, Southampton Street, Strand, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me.
the said Henry Martyn Nicholls, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Martyn Nicholls, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Henry Martyn Nicholls, my executors, administrators, and assigns.
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN APPARATUS_ FOR CUTTING CONTINUOUS PAPER INTO SHEETS AND IN
PILING OR DISPOSING OF THE SAME WHEN CUT," upon the condition (amongst
others) that L, the said Henry Martyn Nicholls, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Martyn Nicholls, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for cutting
continuous paper into sheets and in piling or disposing of the same when
-cut. The endless web of paper after it has been printed or otherwise is
delivered between two currents of air proceeding from suitable nozzles and
travelling in the same direction as the paper. Whilst the end of the con-

page_text: tinuous web is thus kept floating in a narrow enclosed space a cutter
detaches a sheet, the forward movement of this sheet is checked, and at
the same time the current of air under the detached sheet is diverted, which
enables the top current immediately to flatten down the sheet on to a
receiving surface below; this receiving surface is an endless apron, which
carries the pile or layer of overlapping sheets; it thus receives continuously
forward until from time to time they are removed in batches by hand. The
knife I employ has a serrated edge, and passes from side to side of the web
to be divided; it is carried by a revolving axis beneath the web, and at each
revolution it is brought up against the paper and divides it by acting in
conjunction with a surface of blades on the other side of the web: these
blades are set apart from one another, so as to correspond with the intervals
between the teeth of the knife. At the time of separating the paper the
knife is travelling in the same direction as the web, but at a higher speed.
The knife is hinged to another blade not employed in the äct of cutting the
paper, and it closes on this blade immediately after cutting the paper, so as
to catch hold of the tail of the sheet. As the knife continues to travel on
revolving about its axis, it carries down the tail of the detached sheet
through the lower blast of air, and thus the forward motion of the sheet is
checked, whilst at the same time the lower blast is diverted to the top of
the detached sheet, which is thus pressed down on to the receiving surface.
After the tail of the sheet has been retained by the knife and its holding
blade for a sufficient time suitable grippers or instruments take it from the
knife.
In machinery arranged according to my Invention as above described
grippers or mechanical instruments may be employed to do the work performed
by the currents of air, but not so conveniently. In some cases it is con-
venient to lead the web of paper to the machine vertically, and to accumulate
the piles of sheets on edge. The web is caused to proceed vertically between
two air blasts, and it is cut off by a reciprocating cutter moving horizontally.
In connection with the cutter and below it is a beating surface the size of
the sheets, and formed of strained wire or other light and open material;
this surface coming against the sheet as it is detached pushes it into a receiver
the sides of which are formed of endless aprons slowly travelling, so that the
pile in the receiver may recede as it accumulates; the back also of the
receiver is so formed as to give a light support to the pile, but to retire as
it accumulates. To keep the edges of the sheets from springing out of the
receiver as the beating surface leaves them rotating brushes are arranged all
round the receiver, which constantly brush the edges of the sheets inwards.

page_text: There are two such receivers, one on each side of the beating surface, and
he surface lays a sheet first into one and then into the other as it vibrates
to and fro.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect 1 will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,. Figures 1 to 11 represent
different views of an apparatus and details constructed according to this
Invention for cutting into sheets and piling the paper in a horizontal position.
Similar letters of reference point to similar parts in all the views.
The principal parts of which the apparatus consist are those employed in
supplying the paper to it, in conducting and directing currents of air under
and over the paper as it passes through it, in giving support to the paper
while it is being cut, in cutting it, in holding the tail of the sheet to the knife
and again delivering it up when required, in securing the tail end of the
sheet on the pile when deposited, lastly, in preventing the level of the pile
of sheets from rising, and at the same time continually carrying it forward.
The paper is supplied to the apparatus by means of the rollers a, which are
kept running constantly in the required direction, the power being trans-
mitted through the belt b. The currents of air are conducted and directed
by the two nozzles c, c, the openings d, d, from which point in the direction
of the pile of sheets. The air is further directed by the frame e, which I
prefer to make of glass, and which is placed at a short distance above the
pile of sheets, and capable of sliding backwards and forwards when required
on the side frames g, g, of the apparatus. The paper is supported while it is
being cut by an arrangement of blades, some opposing a vertical and some a
horizontal edge to it. The vertical blades marked are secured to a portion i
of the frame of the apparatus, while the horizontal blades k and i are secured
to the lower part of the said vertical blades, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
Between each pair of the horizontal blades marked k a small interval m is
left. Besides these fixed blades I sometimes make use of (as an additional
means of giving support to the paper while. it is being cut) certain moveable
blades n and o, one of these n is supported above the paper by springs p
5 which are set so as to maintain it in the position shown in Figure 6 except
when the cutting process is going on; the other ois shown in the same view,
Figure 6, also in its normal position and-below-the-paperit-is-attached at
each extremity to the springs q. The knife is formed as shown in Figures

page_text: 9, 10, 11; it is constructed of steel and presents an edge to the paper more or
less serrated. Sometimes I make use of acute-angled teeth, as shown in
Figure 9, and at other times of very obtuse teeth, as shown in Figures 10
and 11, the choice depending on the quality and condition of the paper to be
cut and on conditions of construction; gaps or intervals are formed at
intervals in the blade of the knife corresponding with the position of the vertical
fixed blades h. The knife blade is attached to the spindle s by short projecting
pieces t, t, the said spindle is attached by suitable bearings u, u, to the bar
w, and is free to turn therein. The said bar is secured to the drum z which is
fast on the shaft y, the latter is free to turn in the bearings z, z, in the side
frames g. g. of the apparatus. A toothed pinion a' is fixed on each extremity
of the spindle s; into these pinions the toothed quadrants gear; these
quadrants are free to turn on centres fixed in the projecting arms c¹, c', which
are fixed on each end of the bar we; on the outside of these quadrants b' the
rollers d', d', are mounted, which fit into and are actuated by the cams e¹, e¹,
fixed to the side frames g. The mechanism by which the tail of the sheet of
paper is secured to the knife blade after it is separated from the web consists
of the blade, which is hinged to the spindle s so as to turn on it and with
it. This blade is pressed against the under side of the knife blade by springs,
one of which, marked g', is shown in Figure 5. If the spindle s turns
round beyond a certain amount stops h¹, one of which is also shown in
Figure 5, come in contact with the bar w, and prevent the blade f from
following the knife any farther. The parts employed in securing the tail of
the sheet when it is deposited on the pile consist of the springs i', which
press the tail of the sheet against the roller . Those parts employed in
preventing the level, of the pile from rising and in carrying it away consist of
the table ', which is supported free to turn on centres m³, m³, at one end,
and rests on a portion n' of the frame of the apparatus, which is free to rise
and fall in the hollow standard o', which gives support to the apparatus. At
each extremity of the table la roller is mounted in suitable bearings free to
revolve: an endless apron p² passes round the said rollers and table. One
extremity of the spindle of the roller q' is furnished with a toothed wheel r',
which gears into another toothed wheel s¹ on the extremity of the shaft 1.
which turns in bearings u' and ', the one u¹ is attached to the table 1,
while the bearing w¹ is connected with the axle y by means of the bracket ³,
which has centres formed on it through which the axle y passes and in which
it is free to turn. A worm wheel is attached to the extremity of the spindle t',
which gears into a worm y¹ fast on the axle.
1.
The mode, in which the apparatus operates is as follows:-The web of

page_text: paper z is drawn into it by the rollers a, a, through or between the blowing
nozzles c, c.
Air is supplied under the required pressure from a fan or other
blower to the said nozzles, from which it escapes in a stream in the direction
of the pile of sheets on the table 1, the one nozzle discharging a stream of
air under and the other over the surface of the paper as it issues from
between them. The glass frame e, placed a little above the pile of sheets,
serves to confine and direct the currents of air over the pile. The pulley a³,
which gives motion to the rollers a, a, has a circumference equal to the
length of the sheet to be cut, and being fast on the axle y every revolution it
makes brings the knife into the position indicated in Figure 5, when it passes
through the paper and cuts off a sheet. On approaching the position shown
in Figure 5 the inclined springs be shown in Figures 7 and 8, are attached
to each extremity of the bar c, lift the blade o up against the paper, and
press it against the blade n, which again is forced up against the fixed
blades, as shown in Figure 5. The knife blade now passes through the
paper and over the fixed horizontal blades k, and under the fixed, horizontal
blades. The projecting pieces, 1, by which the knife blade is attached to the
spindle 8, pass through the corresponding openings m formed between the
blades k, while the fixed blades h again pass between the corresponding
openings in the knife blade. The gripper f', which is pressed against the
lower side of the knife blade by the springs g', is forced open by the fixed
blade k. and compelled to pass under it, pressing the paper at the same time
against the said blade k. When the knife has passed through the paper' and
got beyond the blade the gripper closes against it, and holds the tail of the
sheet to it. The spindle s, to which the knife is attached, is now caused to
turn backwards by the action of the cams e¹, el. on the rollers d', ', which
gear with them, and which cause the footh quadrants b', b¹, to turn the
pinions a. a. on the extremities of the spindle s. When the knife has
passed the roller kit comes to occupy the position marked in Figure 7
(where it is shown in three different positions, marked respectively 1. "2,
and 3); it points upward towards the roller k', and the gripper f. being
prevented by the stops h', one of which is shown in Figure 5, from going
back further. The said stop coming in contact with the bar it loses its hold
on the tail of the sheet, and the springs i, i, which are bent backwards, as
shown in the same Figure 7. by the bar w. as it passes them, now spring out
against the roller k, and disengage the tail of the sheet froin the knife, and
press it against the roller. These springs i, i, are attached, one on
cach side of the drum, to the circular fixed pieces, cs, which are secured.
to and project from the side frames c apparatus. When the paper
-

page_text: having been carried out over the pile by the currents of air, and the sheet
cut off in the manner described the knife carrying the tail of the sheet with
it passes below the level of the lower nozzle, the air left between the sheet
and the top of the pile continues to travel forward, which helps to flatten the
sheet down on the pile, while the two currents of air, now united in one, also
help to press it flat. The level of the pile is prevented from rising, and it is
continually advanced forward by the motion of the endless apron p¹, which
travels round the inclined table 1. Motion is given to the said apron by the
roller q', which is kept continually revolving in the same direction (indicated
by the arrow in Figure 1). Motion is given to the said roller by the worm y¹
through the worm wheel and mitre wheels s' and r'. The amount the
apron p¹ travels forward for each sheet of paper depends on the pitch of the
worm y'.
In the modification of the apparatus shown in Figures 12 and 13 I sub-
stitute an arrangement consisting of a series of grippers mounted on endless
belts in place of the currents of air to carry out the paper and deposit it on
the pile, and as the other parts of the apparatus remain the same as those
just described, have only thought it necessary to show and describe such
parts as are immediately concerned in the operation for which the grippers
are used.
represents a shaft on which the fast pulleys e, e³, are mounted; this
shaft is carried in the bearings f,, in the side frames g of the apparatus;
g³ represents another shaft, on which are fixed the pulleys h³, h; this shaft
is also free to turn in bearings,, in the side frames" g; h, k, represent
endless belts which pass round the pulleys e, e, and h², h. At intervals
on these belts eyes or centres are fixed, in which the tubes are
supported, turning freely therein. In these tubes are other tubes free to
turn in them; to one of these tubes the lower jaw of the grippers m³ are
attached, and to the other the upper jaw is attached the jaws are held
together by india-rubber springs n³. o represent arms which are fixed fast
on the outer extremities of the tubes, one on the outer tube and one on the
inner tube; these arms are furnished with projecting pieces p³, which enter
the channels formed on the inner side of the side frames g. Just as the
knife has cut off a sheet and is carrying it away one of the grippers passes
(open) over it, the upper jaw passing between the fixed vertical blades h and
over the edge of the paper, while the lower jaw passes under the edge of the
paper. Gaps are left in the blades I, k, and n where the grippers enter,
while the blade o is recessed to allow of the lower jaw of the gripper getting
between it and the paper, as shown in Figure 14. On the gripper getting

page_text: into this position it is allowed by the channels q³ ceasing to act on it to close
on the front edge of the web of paper and draw it forward; when it has
carried it out the required distance the channels again act on it and compel it
to open and let go its hold of the sheet: The channels are formed behind
the pulleys e for the purpose of keeping the grippers always pointing in the
direction in which the paper is advancing.
When I wish to pile the sheets of paper on edge I make use of a modifi-
cation of the Invention for the purpose, the principal parts of which are
employed in drawing forward the paper into the apparatus, in conducting and
directing currents of air along each side of the sheet as it passes into it, in
giving support to the paper while it is being cut, in cutting it into sheets, in
pressing it against the face of the pile, in giving support to the front of the
pile, in giving support to the back of the pile; lastly, in carrying forward the
pile as it accumulates.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings. Figures 15 to 21 represent
different views and details of this modification of the apparatus.- The rollers a
employed in drawing the paper into the apparatus are identical with those
already described in connection with the first modification; the blowing
nozzles c, c. are also identical with those already described. The arrange-
ments for giving support to the paper while it is being cut differ but little
from the corresponding parts in the first-described modifications; they are,
however. doubled in consequence of the knife in this modification cutting
alternately in opposite directions. h, h. represent the fixed vertical blades;
1, 1, and k, k, the fixed horizontal blades; represent the moveable
blades which are free to turn on centres s³, 8. at each extremity;,, repre-
sent arms depending from the said centres s³, 83; u³, u³. represents one of
a pair of springs, one attached to each end of the bar ac, which carries the
knife springs for holding back the plates or blades r., against
the edges of the blades h; 1. represents the knife. see Figure 21, which is
identical with that used in the first modification of the apparatus, except that
being required to cut in opposite directions it is double-edged, presenting the
like edge in both directions.
Figure 21 exhibits a plan of a portion of the knife blade, together with
the blades h and h, the moveable blades not being shown. The knife is
attached to a bar which forms part of that portion of the apparatus employed
in packing the sheet of paper against the pile; it consists of an outer frame
formed above by the bar 13, and below by the corresponding bar z³; these
are held-apart-by- the two-upright-standards, the extremities of which
are screwed as shewn. Between the bars a series of wires b are arranged,

page_text: which are strained by the action of the nuts c³, c³, which when screwed
up against the bars. force them asunder; d³, d³, represent horizontal arms
carrying the rollers e³, e³, at their extremities, which run in the forked
guides f, f. The opposite extremities of the said arms are united by
the rods g³, g, to one of which the cam h³ is attached by the rod, ; k
represent a series of vertical spindles which are fitted at intervals with
projecting elastic blades P, P, (as here shown) or bristles, these spindles are
.stepped in bearings in the bed plate m³ of the apparatus, and above they
pass through bearings in the entablature n³, and on their upper extremities
the, small toothed wheels o are fixed, by which each pair is coupled together,
a pulley is fixed on one of them by which it is driven, while the mitre
wheels and shaft serve to transmit the motion of the said spindles
on one side of the apparatus to those on the opposite side; 3, 3, represent a
series of rollers which are carried in the slotted brackets 3, 3, attached to
the pillars ³, which form the main frame of the apparatus; represent a
. series of balance weights, two of which are attached to the extremities of
.the spindles of the said rollers by cords, the cords and weights of one set of
rollers passing over pulleys ³ running loose on the extremities of the spindles
of the other set; 23, 23, represent upright spindles free to turn in bearings in
the two plates n³ and m³, on the spindles k³ pulleys a' are fitted at intervals,
which run loose on the said spindles, endless belts of leather or other suitable
material pass between these pulleys and the spindles b'. The four spindles b
are coupled together by means of the toothed mitre wheels cand
spindles d';
ev represents a driving pulley to give motion to one of these
spindles; represent corresponding spindles turning freely in bearings g' in
. the plate m3; h represent a series of endless belts which pass between each pair
of these spindles; represent rollers of the same diameter as the spindles
and turning freely in corresponding bearings k', these rollers pass through the
endless belts h from side to side. The spindles f' are geared with the upright
spindle b by means of the mitre wheels and shaft as the vertical spindles are
The web of paper passes into the apparatus, being drawn forward by the rollers
a, r, these rollers are driven by a belt b from the pulley k, whose circumference
equals the length of the sheet to be cut. The paper passes between the
nozzles into the apparatus, being helped forward by the currents of air from
the nozzles c, c. When the sheet has nearly run into the apparatus between
the two piles 1, 1, the packing frame to which the knife is attached begins to
. move, being actuated by the cam h³; as it approaches the centre of the passage
between the piles, 14, 1, the springs u² (see Figure 18) come in contact with
one or other of the arms t, t, according to the direction in which it is

page_text: moving, and carries the moveable blade to the centre 8, of which the said
arm is attached together with the paper against the opposite corresponding
blade; the knife then passes through the paper, and the sheet is carried forward
and lodged against the face of one or other of the piles 1, 1. When the centre
of the knife blade has passed through the paper the spring u loses its hold
on the arm, and the moveable blade flies back and allows the web of
.paper to advance again into the apparatus. The packing frame, together
with the knife, now remains at rest till another length of paper equal to a
sheet has nearly run forward, when the process of cutting is repeated in the
opposite direction. When the sheet is forced against the face of the pile by
the packing frame it is secured to the pile by the action of the blades or
bristles P, &c. ranged round the upright spindles &c., which are maintained
continually revolving inwards towards the face of the pile, being driven by the
belt, see Figure 9, which runs in the direction shown by the arrows. As
the sheets are successively lodged against the two piles the endless belts
arranged along the sides and bottom of each pile, which are kept moving at
a speed corresponding with the rate of accumulation of the pile, carry it
forward or away from the centre of the apparatus; the rollers &", which give
support to the back of the piles, recede with it, drawing up the weights 16³ as
they do so, and so continuing to give support. A portion of the sheets must
be removed from the back of the pile before the rollers recede to the full
extent allowed by the guides t" which support them. On a quantity of paper
being removed in this manner from the back of the pile the rollers &³, &c. close
up against it in succession, the balance weights to descending and drawing'
them forwards.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact details described; but what I claim is, the arranging
machinery for cutting continuous paper into sheets and for piling or disposing
of the same when cut in such manner that the end of the continuous paper
s brought forward between two currents of air as described.
Also the method of constructing the knife and combining it in action with
supporting blades on the other side of the paper as described.
Also the arranging mechanism in conjunction with the knife to secure the.
ail of the sheet it detaches and check its onward movement as described.
Also the arranging mechanism in conjunction with the knife to carry the
ail of the detached sheet into such a position that the two currents which
ring the paper forward may unite over the detached sheet and press it down
n to the pile as described

page_text: Also the employing grippers to secure the sheet to the face of the pile
immediately it is laid thereon as described.
Also in the case of vertical piling the use of a reciprocating open work
frame to lay the detached sheets on to the piles as described.
Also in the case of vertical piling the use of revolving brushes or similar
instruments to secure the sheet to the face of the pile immediately it is laid
thereon as described.
Also in the case of vertical piling, forming the vertical piles of sheets
within receivers where the sides of the piles are subject to the action of
moving belts or aprons, which advance the piles at a rate corresponding with.
their accumulation, and in which receivers the backs of the piles are supported
as described.
Also the general arrangement of the machinery for cutting continuous
paper into sheets and accumulating the detached sheets in regular order on a
continuously travelling endless apron as described.
Also the general arrangement of the machinery for cutting continuous
paper into sheets and accumulating the detached sheets in two vertical piles
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Martyn Nicholls, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.