To Gild Silk or Ivory by the action of Hydrogen.
Immerse a piece of white satin, silk, or ivory, in a solution of nitro-muriate of gold (in the proportion of one part of the nitro-muriate, to three of distilled water) whilst the substance to be gilded is still wet, immerse it in a jar of hydrogen gas, and it will soon be covered by a complete surface of gold.
Glass broken by Air.
Lay a square of glass on the top of an open receiver, and exhaust the open air. The weight of the external air will press on the glass, and smash it to atoms.
To make luminous writing in the dark.
Fix a small piece of solid phosphorus in a quill, and write with it upon paper; if the paper be then placed in a dark room, the writing will appear beautifully luminous.
Incombustible Paper.
Dip a sheet of paper in strong alum-water, and when dry, repeat the process a second and third time. As soon as it is dry, you may put it in the flame of a candle, and it will not burn.
The Animated Sixpence.
To make a sixpence leap out of a pot. This is done by means of a long black horse hair fastened to the rim of a sixpence, by a small hole driven through it. This feat should be done by night, with a candle placed between the spectators and the operator, their eyes being thereby hindered from discerning the deception.