Mathew, a Cornish Family (Vol. ix., p. 22.).—Excuse my troubling you again about real names, but it is extraordinary how shy some men seem to be of their cognomen and habitat. In a late Number, p. 222., B. of Birkenhead asks about the family of Mathew. A great-great-grandmother of mine was of that Devon family, and I should be delighted to learn more than I know of her, and perhaps B. Birkenhead might instruct me. Do try to draw him from his cover.
H. T. Ellacombe.
Rectory, Clyst St. George, Topsham, Devon.
Zeta. For notices of Mother Shipton, see "N. & Q.," Vol. v., p. 419.
C. W. B. Is our Correspondent quite certain there was a naval engagement, as the words of the pedigree simply state that he was on board when he died, in command of a body of Marines?
J. D. The wedge-shaped baths of glass, originally recommended by Mr. Archer, are certainly the best. They are economical in use and very cleanly. They may, no doubt, be procured from Mr. Archer. The one we have in we got at Hockin's. There is little doubt that if, when properly constructed, they were sold at a reasonable price, they would entirely supersede baths of gutta percha.
B. P. (Warrington). We have often answered the question before. Precipitate the silver in the form of a chloride by means of common salt; put this into a crucible with twice or thrice the quantity of common carbonate of soda: The crucible being exposed to a strong heat, the metallic silver will form in a button at the bottom of the crucible. 2. Use a bath of thirty grains of nitrate of silver to the ounce, and drop into it a few drops of nitric acid, sufficient to turn litmus paper red. 3. A glass bath is far preferable to gutta percha.
E. W. (A Beginner). 1. In all printing of positives it is needful to salt the paper; when albumenized paper is used it is combined with the albumen. 2. We have for many reasons entirely discarded the ammonio-nitrate of silver. We have seen very few positives produced by it which are permanent. 3. Sel d'or causes a sort of plum colour, which is much admired by some; intensity of light alone will not produce certain tints. We have met with uniform success by trusting to the formula given in "N. & Q." by Dr. Diamond (Vol. viii., p. 324.), and its ease in manipulation has alone much to recommend it. 4. Proofs should be left in the hypo, until they are quite clear and transparent when held up to the light, looking like a piece of Chinese rice-paper. They at first change to a reddish-brown upon immersion, but if sufficiently printed that soon departs and becomes a very rich tint, the thin Canson's paper giving best. As a beginner we will forward you a small specimen of the color obtained.
Our Eighth Volume is now bound and ready for delivery, price 10s. 6d., cloth, boards. A few sets of the whole Eight Volumes are being made up, price 4l. 4s.—For these early application is desirable.