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332 332 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. pondent promises a further account, when he has divested them of the lui- sightly covering which conceals the details ; and he proposes to send notices of other specimens of ancient plate, existing in the neighbouring parish churches. We may take this opportunity of observing that sketches of such subjects will be very acceptable, especially of examples bearing a date, or any arms or ornament serving to fix the age ; and accompanied by im- pressions in sealing wax or gutta percha from the assay marks, by which the date of fabrication may be ascertained. The registers of these marks in the custody of the goldsmiths' company do not go back further than 1687, but the list might easily be extended by collecting the marks from plate of earlier date, and such a list would frequently prove very useful. The introduction of the valuable substance, just mentioned, has afforded to archceologists a most valuable means of taking impressions from seals, coins, or any object either in intaglio or relief, without risk of injury to the original, and most durable. Such impressions may be transmitted by post with the fullest security, and we have been indebted to the Rev. C. R. Manning, Mr. Oldham, Mr. Franks, and several collectors, for interesting fac-similes of seals thus obtained in the most satisfactory manner. As enquiries have repeatedly been made at the meetings of the Institute, and on other occasions, regarding the mode of working the ' Gutta percha,' we are persuaded that the following instructions, for which our best thanks are due to the Rev. S. Blois Turner, of Haleswoith, will prove highly acceptable to many readers. His formula is thus clearly expressed : — "The preparation I use, is that commonly sold for the soles of shoes, and I prefer the thickest, as being less troublesome to work into a mass. In choosing the Percha, I try to select that which is the freest from im- purities. The next step is to procure a convenient vessel to contain boil- ing water, and for this purpose I have a covered tin pan upon feet ; under this I place a spirit lamp, which keeps the water at a proper temperature, and saves much time when there are many seals to be copied. A common saucepan on the fire will, however, answer the purpose quite as well. When the water boils I put in a piece of Percha of the size required, replace the cover and let it remain in the water till quite soft ; this will be. in two or three minutes. I then take it out, wipe it quite dry with a silk handkerchief, knead it till moderately cool, and place it upon a piece of tin or any metal (as it will sometimes adhere to wood.) I then imbed the seal to be copied firmly into the soft mass of Percha, leaving the face or portion of the seal a little above the bed of Percha. This requires some little attention, because if the seal is not equally supported, it may perhaps crack when pressure is applied. In a few minutes, that is as soon as the Percha becomes hard, the seal is ready for the next operation. This is done by putting a second piece of Percha into the boiling water, and treating it as the former piece, taking great care to avoid enclosing any air in the folds of the Percha, during the kneading. This is one of the most troublesome aimoyances we have to contend with, one air bubble spoiling an otherwise excellent impression. When properly performed, the Percha