第9章

WhilethepapyrusplanthasalmostvanishedfromEgypt，itstillgrowsinNubiaandAbyssinia。ItisrelatedbytheArabtraveler，Ibn-Haukal，thatinthetenthcentury，intheneighborhoodofPalermoinSicily，thepapyrusplantgrewwithluxurianceinthePapirito，astreamtowhichitgaveitsname。

DuCange，1376，citesthefollowinglinesfromaFrenchmetricalromance，writtenaboutthattime，toshowthatwaxentabletscontinuedtobeoccasionallyusedtillalateperiod：

“SomewithantiquatedstyleInwaxentabletspromptlywrite；

Otherswithfinerpen，thewhileFormlettersloveliertothesight。”

ThelawsofGreecewerepromulgatedbymeansofMSS。onlinen，astheywerealsoinRome，andinadditiontolinen；clothandsilkwereoccasionallyused。

Skinsofvariouskindsoffish，andeventhe“intestinesofserpents“wereemployedaswritingmaterials。

ZonarasstatesthatthefirewhichtookplaceatConstantinopleinthereignofEmperorBasiliscusconsumed，amongothervaluableremainsofantiquity，acopyoftheIliadandOdyssey，andsomeotherancientpoems，writteninlettersofgolduponmaterialformedoftheintestinesofaserpent。WearealsoinformedbyPurcellithatmonumentsofmuchmoremoderndates，thecharterofHugoandLothaire，A。D。933

(kingsofItaly)，preservedinthearchivesofMilan，arewrittenuponfishskins。

Constantineauthorizedhissoldiersdyingonthefieldofbattletowritetheirlastwillandtestamentwiththepointoftheirswordonitssheathoronashield。

B。C。270。TheJewishelders，byorderofthehighpriest，carriedacopyofthelawtoPtolemyPhiladelphus，writteninlettersofgolduponskins，thepiecesofwhichweresoartfullyputtogetherthatthejoiningsdidnotappear。

NomonumentsofHebrewwritingexistwhicharenotposterioreventotheChristianera，withtheexceptionofthoseonthecoinsoftheMaccabees，whichareintheancientorwhatistermedtheSamaritanformsoftheHebrewletters。ThiscoinagetookplaceaboutB。C。144。

ThemostancientspecimenofHebrewinkwritingextantisallegedtohavebeenwrittenA。D。489。

ItisaparchmentrollwhichwasfoundinaKariatsynagogueintheCrimea。Another，broughtfromDanganstan，ifthesuperscriptionbegenuine，hasadatecorrespondingwithA。D。580。ThedateofstillanotherofthecelebratedHebrewscripturalcodices，aboutwhichthereisnodispute，istheHilelcodexwrittenattheendofthesixthcentury。ItsnameissaidtobederivedfromthefactthatitwaswrittenatHila，atownbuiltneartheruinsoftheancientBabel；

somemaintain，however，thatitwasnamedafterthemanwhowroteit。

OneoftheearliestspecimensofGreek(wax)writingisaninscriptiononasmallwoodentabletnowintheBritishmuseum。Itreferstoamoneytransactionofthethirty-firstyearofPtolemyPhiladelphus，B。C。

254。

InEnglandthecustomofusingwoodentallies，inscribedaswellasnotchedinthepublicaccounts，lasteddowntothenineteenthcentury。

Goldwritingwasapracticewhichdiedoutinthethirteenthcentury。

ThefirstdiscoveryofGreekpapyriinEgypttookplaceintheyear1778。Itisofthe(lateofA。D。

191andoutsideofEgyptandHerculaneumistheonlyplaceinwhichtheGreekpapyrihaseverbeenfound。

SquarecapitalinkwritinginLatinofancientdateisfoundonafewleavesofanMS。ofVirgil，whichisattributedtothecloseofthefourthcentury，andthefirstrusticMS。towhichanapproximatedatecanbegiven，belongstothecloseofthefifthcentury。

Themostancientuncialinkwritingextant，belongstothefourthcentury，whilsttheearliestmixeduncialandminisculewritingpertainstothesixthcentury。

TheoldestextantIrishMS。intheroundIrishhandisascribedtothelatterpartoftheseventhcentury，whiletheearliestspecimenofEnglishwritingofanykindextantdatesaboutthebeginningoftheeighthcentury。

ThegoldpenwonbyPeterBalesinhistrialofskillwithJohnson，duringthereignofQueenElizabeth，ifreallymadeforuse，isprobablythefirstmodernexampleofsuchpens。BaleswasemployedbySirFrancisWalsingham，andafterwardskeptawritingschoolattheupperendoftheOldBailey。

In1595，whennearlyfiftyyearsold，hehadatrialofskillwithoneDanielJohnson，bywhichhewasthewinnerofagoldenpen，ofavalueofL20，which，intheprideofhisvictory，hesetupashissign。UponthisoccasionJohnDavismadethefollowingepigraminhis“ScourgeofFolly：“

“TheHandandGoldenPen，ClophonionSetsonhissign，toshew，Oproud，poorsoul，Bothwherehewonnes，andhowthesamehewon，Fromwritersfair，thoughhewriteverfoul；

ButbythatHand，thatPensobornehasbeen，FromplacetoPlace，thatforthelasthalfYeare，Itscarceasen’nightataplaceisseen。

ThatHandsopliesthePen，thoughne’ertheneare，ForwhenMenseekit，elsewhereitissent，OrthereshutupasforthePlagueorRent，Withoutwhichstay，itneverstillcouldstand，BecausethePenisforaRunningHand。”

Thesignofthe“HandandPen“wasalsousedbytheFleetstreetmarriage-mongers，todenote“marriagesperformedwithoutimposition。”

RobertMore，afamouswritingmaster，in1696

livedinCastlestreet，nearSt。Paul’schurchyard，London，atthesignofthe“GoldenPen。”

TheinkhorninQueenElizabeth’stimewasinpopularuseasareceptacleforholdingwritingink，andPetticoatlaneinLondonwasthegreatmanufacturingcenterforthem。BishopsGateinthesamevicinitywasknownasthe“homeofthescribblers。”

Beginningwith1560andformanyyearsthereafterthesignoftheFiveInkHornswasappropriatelydisplayedbyHaddononthehouseinwhichhedwelt。

AwaybackinthetimeofKingEdwardIII(1313-

1377)，royaltywasemployingthepen，bothquillandgold，asbadges。ThisisindicatedintheaccompanyinginterestinglisttobefoundintheHarleinlibrary：

“KingEdwardtheiii。gavealyoninhispropercoulor，armed，azure，langued’or。Theoustrichfethergold，thepengold，andafauconinhispropercoulorandtheSonneRising。

“ThePrinceofWalestheostrichfetherpenandallarg。

“Henry，sonneoftheErlofDerby，firstDukofLancaster，gavetheredroseuncrowned，andhisancestorsgavetheFoxtayleinhisprop。coulorandtheostrichfetherar。thepenermyn。

“TheOstrychfethersilver，thepengobonesylverandazur，istheDukofSomerset’sbage。

“Theostrychfethersilverandpengoldysthekinges。

“TheostrychfetherpenandallsylverysthePrynces。

“Theostrychfethersylver，penermynistheDukeofLancesters。

“TheostrychfethersylverandpengoboneistheDukeofSomersets。”

“What’sgreatGoliath’sspear，thesevenfoldshield，Scanderbeg’ssword，toonewhocannotwieldSuchweapons？Or，whatmeansawellcutquill，Inth’untaughthandofhimthat’svoidofskill？“——

COCKER，A。D。1650。

Theoldestink(Russian)documentsthatexistinRussiaaretwotreatieswiththeGreekemperors，madebyOleg，A。D。912，andIgor，A。D。943。Christianity，introducedintoRussiaatthebeginningoftheeleventhcenturybyVladimirtheGreat，broughtwithitmanywordsofGreekorigin。Printingwasintroducedthereaboutthemiddleofthesixteenthcentury。TheoldestprintedbookwhichhasbeendiscoveredisaSclavonicpsalter，thedateKiev，1551，twoyearsafterapresswasestablishedinMoscow。

Itissaidthattheskinsof300sheepwereusedineverycopyofthefirstprintedBible。Hencetheoldsaying，“Ittakesaflockofsheeptowriteabook。”

Whatwouldhavebeenthecommentinoldentimes，tolearnthatittakesalmostaforestoftreestoprinttheSundayeditionofsomeofourgreatnewspapers？

Wax(shoemakers’)wasfirstemployedondocumentsA。D。1213，althoughitwaswhitewaxwhichwasusedtosealthemagnacharta，grantedtotheEnglishbaronsbyKingJohn，A。D。1215。In1445

redwaxwasmuchemployedinEngland，buttheearliestspecimenofredsealingwaxextantisfoundonaletterdatedAugust3，1554。

Plinyenumeratesanddescribeseightdifferentkindsofpapyruspaper：

1。Charterhieratica——sacredpaper，usedonlyforbooksonreligion。FromadulationofAugustusitwasalsocalledchartaaugustaandchartalivia。

2。Chartaamphitheatrica——fromtheplacewhereitwasfabricated。

3。Chartafannia——fromFannius，themanufacturer。

4。Chartasaitica——fromSaisinEgypt。Thisappearstohavebeenacoarserkind。

5。Chartatoeniotica——fromtheplacewheremade，nowDamietta。Thiswasalsoofalessfinequality。

6。Chartaclaudia。Thiswasanimprovementofthechartahieratica，whichwastoofine。

7。Chartaemporitica。Acoarsepaperforparcels。

Therewasalsoapapercalledmacrocollum，whichwasofaverylargesize。

Ofallthese，hesays，thechartaclaudiawasthebest。

Theink-writtenrollsofpapyruswereplacedverticallyinacylindricalboxcalledcapsula。Itisveryevidentthatagreatnumberofsuchvolumesmightbecomprisedinthiswaywithinasmallspace，andthismaytendtoexplainthesmallnessoftheroomswhichareconsideredtohavebeenusedforcontainingtheancientlibraries。

AtMentz，inUpperGermany，isaleafofparchmentonwhicharefairlywrittentwelvedifferentkindsofhandwritingsinsixdifferentinksalsoavarietyofminiaturesanddrawingscuriouslydonewithapenbyoneTheodoreSchubiker，whowasbornwithouthandsandperformedtheworkwithhisfeet。

InRometheveryplateofbrassonwhichthelawsofthetentablesarewrittenisstilltobeseen。

Stylographicinksshouldnotbeuseduponrecords，mostofthemareaniline。Theabsenceofsolidmatter，whichmakesthemdesirableforthestylographicpen，unfitsthemforrecords。

Neveraddwatertoink。Whileaninkwhichhaswaterasitsbasemight，undercertainconditionsbeartheadditionofanamountequaltothatlostbyevaporation，asaruletheinkparticleswhichhavebecomeinjuredwillnotassimilateagain。

Oneofthebestmethodstocleanseasteelpenafteruse，istostickitinaraw(white)potato。

Inkswhicharerecommendedaspermanent，becausewaterwillnotremovethem，whileitdoesimmediatelyobliterateothers，maynotbepermanentasagainsttime。Theseinksmaybethebestformonetarypurposes，but，owingtoanexcessofacidinthem，maybedangerousintimetothepaper。

Itisinteresting，sincecoaltarhasacquiredsoimportantapositioninthearts，totracehowitsvariousproductssuccessivelyroseinvalue。ThepricesinParis，asgivenbyM。Parisalin1861，areasfollows：

Coal，……1/4c。perlb。

Coaltar，……3/4““

Heavycoaloil，……21/2a33/4““

Lightcoaloil，……63/4a101/4““

Benzole，……101/2a13““

Crudenitro-benzole，……57a61““

Rectifiednitro-benzole，……82a96““

Ordinaryaniline，……$3。27a$4。90““

Liquidanilineviolet，……28a41““

Carmineanilineviolet，……32c。a$1。92“

Pureanilineviolet，inpowder，……$245a$326。88“

Thelastisequaltothepriceofgold。Andso，saysM。Parisal，fromcoal，carriedtoitstenthpower，wehavegold；thediamondistocome。

Modernchemistryoffersmanyformulasandmethodsofrenderingvisiblesecretorsympatheticinks。Writingmadewithanyofthefollowingsolutions，andpermittedtodry，isinvisible。Treatmentbythemeanscitedwillrenderthemvisible。

Solution。Aftertreatment。Colorproduced。

Acetateoflead。Sulphuretofpotassiurin。Brown。

GoldinnitrohydroChloricacid。Tininsameacid。Purple。

Nut-galls。Sulphateofiron。Black。

Dilutesulphuricacid。Heat。Black。

CobaltindiluteHeat。Green。

nitrohydrochloricacid。

Lemonjuice。Heat。Brown。

OxideofcopperinHeat。Blue。

aceticacidandsaltNitrateofbismuth。InfusionsofNutgalls。Brown。

Commonstarch。Iodineinalcohol。Purple。

Colorlessiodine。Chlorideoflime。Brown。

Phenolphtalin。Alkalinesolution。Red。

Vanadium。Pyrogallicacid。Purple。

ThePatentOfficeatWashington，D。C。，formorethanfortyyearsemployedavioletcopyinginkmadeoflogwood。From1853until1878itwasfurnishedbytheAntoinesofParis，ofthebrandtermed“Imperial；“inlateryearsitwassuppliedbytheFabers。

Since1896theyhavebeenusing“combined“writingfluids。

ThefollowingfactselicitedbytheunrollmentofamummyatBristol，England，in1853，werecommunicatedtothePhilosophicalMagazine，byDr。Herapath。

Hesays：

“Onthreeofthebandageswerehieroglyphicalcharactersofadarkcolor，aswelldefinedasifwrittenwithamodernpen；wherethemarkingfluidhadflowedmorecopiouslythanthecharactersrequired，thetextureoftheclothhadbecomedecomposedandsmallholeshadresulted。Ihavenodoubtthatthebandagesweregenuine，andhadnotbeendisturbedorunfolded；thecolorofthemarksweresosimilartothoseofthepresent’markingink，’thatIwasinducedtotryiftheywereproducedbysilver。WiththeblowpipeI

immediatelyobtainedabuttonofthatmetal；thefibreofthelinenIprovedbythemicroscope，andbychemicalreagents，tobelinen；itisthereforecertainthattheancientEgyptianswereacquaintedwiththemeansofdissolvingsilver，andofapplyingitasapermanentink；butwhatwastheirsolvent？

Iknowofnonethatwouldactonthemetalanddecomposeflaxfibrebutnitricacid，whichwehavebeentoldwasunknownuntildiscoveredbythealchemistinthethirteenthcentury，whichwasabout2200yearsafterthedateofthismummy，accordingasitssuperscriptionwasread。

“TheYellowcolorofthefinelinenclothswhichhadnotbeenstainedbytheembalmingmaterials，Ifoundtobethenaturalcoloringmatteroftheflax；theythereforedidnot，ifwejudgefromthisspecimen，practicebleaching。Therewere，insomeofthebandagesneartheselvage，sometwentyorthirtybluethreads；theseweredyedbyindigo，butthetintwasnotsodeepnorsoequalastheworkofthemoderndyers；thecolorhadbeengivenitintheskein。

“Oneoftheouterbandageswasofareddishcolor，whichdyeIfoundtobevegetable，butcouldnotindividualizeit；Mr。T。J。Herapathanalyzeditfortinandalumina，butcouldnotfindany。

Thefaceandinternalsurfacesoftheorbitshadbeenpaintedwhite，whichpigmentIascertainedtobefinelypowderedchalk。”

“Iamascribbledform，drawnwithaPenUponaParchment，andagainstthisfireDoIshrinkup。”——

KINGJOHN，v，7。

“Withmuchado，hisBookbeforehimlaid，AndParchmentwiththesmoothersidedisplay’d；

HetakesthePapers，lays’emdownagen，AndwithunwillingfingerstrieshisPen；

Somepeevishquarrelstraighthetriestopick，HisQuillwritesdouble，orhisInk’stoothick；

InfusemoreWater；now’tisgrowntoothin，Itsinks，norcanthecharactersbeseen。”——

Persius，translatedbyDryden。

INKSCALLEDSYMPATHETICAL(SeventeenthCentury)。

“Theseoperationsareliquorsofadifferentnature，whichdodestroyoneanother；thefirstisaninfusionofquick-limeandorpin；thesecondawaterturn’dblackbymeansofburnedcork；andthethirdisavinegarimpregnatedwithsaturn。

“Takeanounceofquick-lime，andhalfanounceoforpin，powderandmixthem，putyourmixtureintoamatrass，andpouruponitfiveorsixouncesofwater，thatthewatermaybethreefingersbreadthabovethepowder，stopyourmatrasswithcork，wax，andabladder；setitindigestioninamildsandheattenortwelvehours，shakingthematrassfromtimetotime，thenletitsettle，theliquidbecomesclearlikecommonwater。

“Burncork，andquenchitinaquavitae，thendissolveitinasufficientquantityofwater，whereinyoushallhavemeltedalittlegummarabick，inordertomakeaninkasblackascommonink。Youmustseparatethecorkthatcan’tdissolve，andiftheinkbenotblackenough，addmorecorkasbefore。

“Gettheimpregnationofsaturnmadewithvinegar，distilledasIhaveshewnbefore，orelsedissolvesomuchsaltofsaturnasaquantityofwaterisabletoreceive：writeonpaperwithanewpendiptinthisliquor，takenoticeoftheplacewhereyouwrit，andletitdry，nothingatallwillappear。

“Writeupontheinvisiblewritingwiththeinkmadeofburntcork，andletitdry，thatwhichyouhavewritwillappearasifithadbeendonewithcommonink。

“Dipalittlecottoninthefirstliquormadeoflimeandorpin，buttheliquormustbefirstsettledandclear；rubtheplaceyouwrituponwiththiscottonandthatwhichappearedwillpresentlydisappear，andthatwhichwasnotseenwillappear。

ANOTHEREXPERIMENT。

Takeabookfourfingersbreadthinbigness，orbiggerifyouwill：writeonthefirstleafwithyourimpregnationofsaturn，orelseputapaperthatyouhavewrituponbetweentheleaves；turntot’othersideoftheBook，andhavingobservedasnearasmaybetheoppositeplacetoyourwriting，rubthelastleafofthebookwithcottondiptinliquormadeofquick-

limeandorpin，nayandleavethecottonontheplaceclapafoldedpaperpresentlyuponit，andshuttingthebookquickly，strikeuponitwithyourhandfourorfivegoodstrokes；thenturnthebook，andclapitintoapressforhalfaquarterofanhour；takeitoutandopenit，you’llfindtheplaceappearblack，whereyouhadwritwiththeinvisibleink。Thesamethingmightbedonethroughawall，ifyoucouldprovidesomethingtolayonbothsides，thatmighthindertheevaporationofthespirits。

REMARKS。

“Theseoperationsareindeedofnouse，butbecausetheyaresomewhatsurprizing，Ihopethecuriouswillnottakeitill，thatImakethissmalldigression。

“ItisahardmattertoexplicatewelltheeffectsI

havenowrelated，neverthelessIshallendeavourtoillustratethemalittle，withouthavingrecoursetosympathyandantipathy，whicharegeneralterms，anddonotexplicatenothingatall；butbeforeIbegin，wemustremarkseveralthings。

“Thefirstis，thatitisanessentialpointtoquenchthecoalofcorkinaquavitae，thatthevisibleinkmaybecomeblackwithit。

“Secondly，thattheblacknessofthisinkdoesproceedfromthefuliginosityorsootypartofthecoalofthecorkwhichisexceedingporousandlight，andthatthisfuliginosityisnothingbutanoilverymuchrarefied。

“Thirdly，thattheimpregnationofsaturn，whichmakestheinvisibleink，isonlyaleaddissolved，andheldupimperceptiblyinanacidliquor，asIhavesaid，whenIspokeofthismetal。

“Fourthly，thatthefirstoftheseliquorsinamixtureofthealkaliandigneouspartsofquick-limewiththesulphureoussubstanceofarsenick；fortheorpinisasortofarsenick，asIsaidbefore。

“Allthisbeinggranted，asnobodycanreasonablythinkotherwise，Inowaffirm，thatthereasonwhythevisibleinkdoesdisappear，whenthedefacingliquorisrubbeduponit，isthatthisliquorconsistingofanalkalisalt，andpartsthatareoilyandpenetrating，thismixturedoesmakeakindofsoap，whichisabletodissolveanyfuliginoussubstance，suchasburntcork，especiallywhenithasbeenalreadyrarefiedanddisposedfordissolutionbyaquavitae，afterthesamemannerascommonsoap，whichiscompoundedofoil，andanalkalisalt，isabletotakeawayanyspotsmadebygrease。

“Butitmaybedemanded，whyafterthedissolutiontheblacknessdoesdisappear。

“Ianswer，thatthefuliginouspartshavebeensodivided，andlockedupinthesulphureousalkalioftheliquor，thattheyarebecomeinvisible，andweseeeverydaythatveryexactsolutionsdorenderthethingdissolvedimperceptible，andwithoutcolour。

“Thelittlealkalisaltwhichisintheburntcorkmayalsothebetterservetojoynwiththealkaliofthequick-lime，andtohelpthedissolution。

“Asfortheinvisibleink，itiseasytoapprehendhowthatappearsblack，whenthesameliquor，whichservestodefacetheother，isuseduponit。Forwhereastheimpregnationofsaturnisonlyaleadsuspendedbytheedges，oftheacidliquor，thisleadmustneedsrevive，andresumeitsblackcolour，whenthatwhichhelditrarefiedisentirelydestroyed；sothealkaliofquick-

limebeingfilledwiththesulphursofarsenickbecomesverypropertobreakanddestroytheacids，andtoagglutinatetogethertheparticlesoflead。

Ithappensthatthevisibleinkdoesdisappearbyreasonthatthepartswhichdidrenderitblackhavebeendissolved；andtheinvisibleinkdoesalsoappearbecausethedissolvedpartshavebeenrevived。

“Quick-limeand，orpimentbeingmixedanddigestedtogetherinwater，doyieldasmellmuchlikethatwhichhappenswhencommonsulphurisboiledinalixivium，oftartar。Thishereisthestronger，becausethesulphurofarsenickisloadedwithcertainsaltsthatmakeastrongerimpressiononthesmell。Quick-

limeisanalkalithatoperatesinthismuchlikethesaltoftartarintheotheroperation；youmustnotleavethematrassopen，becausetheforceofthiswaterdothconsistinavolatile。

“Thelimeretainsthemorefixtpartofthearsenickandthesulphursthatcomefortharesomuchthemoresubtile，astheyareseparatedfromwhatdidfixthembefore，andthisappearstobeso，becausethesulphursmustofnecessitypassthroughallthebooktomakeawritingofaclearandinvisibleliquorappearblackandvisible：andtofacilitatethispenetrationthebookisstrook，andthenturnedabout，becausethespiritorvolatilesulphursdoalwaystendupwards；youmustlikewiseclapitintoapress，thatthesesulphursmaynotbedispersedintheair。Ihavefound，ifthatthesecircumstancesarenotobserved，thebusinessfails。

Furthermorethatwhichpersuadesmethatthesulphursdopassthroughthebook，andnottakeacircuittoslipinbythesides，asmanydoimagine，isthatafterthebookistakenoutofthepress，alltheinsideisfoundtobescentedwiththesmellofthisliquor。

“Thereisonethingmoretobeobserved，whichis，thattheinfusionofquick-limeandorpinbenewlymade，becauseotherwiseitwillnothaveforceenoughtopenetrate。Thethreeliquorsshouldbemadeindifferentplacestoo；foriftheyshouldapproachnearoneanother，theywouldbespoiled。

“Thislasteffectdoeslikewiseproceedfromthedefacingliquor；forbecauseuponthedigestionofquick-

limeandorpin，itisathingimpossibleforsomeoftheparticleswillexalt，stopthevesselascloseasyouwill；theairimpregnatedwiththeselittlebodiesdoesmixwith，andaltertheinks，insomuchthatthevisibleinkdoestherebybecomethelessblack，andtheinvisibleinkdoesalsoacquirealittleblackness。”

PricelessMSS。inimmensenumberwritteninperiodsbetweenthethirdandthirteenthcenturieshavebeendestroyedbymodernscholarsinexperimentationsbasedonthefalsetheorythatthefadedinksonthem，whetheraboveorbelowotherinks(palimpsests)，containediron。

Sulphocyanideofpotassiumishighlyesteemedasareagentfortherestorationofwriting，ifironispresent。

Theoretically，itisoneofthebestforsuchapurposeifemployedwithaceticacid。Itcauses，however，suchadecidedcontractionofparchmentastobeutterlyuseless，butforpaperMSS。isexcellent。Themetallicsulphidesgenerallypronouncedharmless，causesthewritingtosoftenandbecomeillegibleinashorttime。Ontheotherhand，yellowprussiateofpotash，withaceticacidinsuccessiveoperationsisofgreatserviceintreatingthemostperplexingpalimpsests。

Inkwhichbadlycorrodesasteelpenneednotnecessarilybecondemned；itmaycontainjustthequalitieswhichmakeitbindtothepaperandrenderitmoredurable。

Someinkswhicharefairlypermanentagainsttimeifnottamperedwith，canberemovedwithwater。

Thisistrueofthemostlastingofinks，——theold“Indian。”

InancientLatinMSS。thewordsfuco，fucosusandfucusarefoundtobefrequentlyemployed。Itisinterestingtonotethevariationsintheirmeaning：

FUCO——Tocolor，paintordyearedcolor。

FUCOSUS——Colored，counterfeit，spurious，painted，etc。

FUCUS——Rocklichen(orchil)reddye。Redorpurplecolor。The(reddish)juicewithwhichbeesstopuptheentrancetotheirhives。Beeglue。

FUCUS——Adrone。

InJapantheword“ink“possessesmorethanonemeaningFourhundredInks——onedegreeofsixtymiles。”(SeeGeographicalGrammar，of1737，page3。)

“SaywhatyouwillSir，butIknowwhatIknow；

ThatyoubeatmeattheMart，Ihaveyourhandtoshow；

IftheskinwereParchment，andtheblowsyougavewereInk，YourownHand-writingwouldtellyouwhatIthink。”——

ComedyofErrors，iii，1。

ThefirstbookeverprintedinEurope，towit，acopyof“Tully’sOffices。”iscarefullypreservedinHolland。

White’sLatin-EnglishDictionary，1872，distinguishesthewordsAtramentumandSutoriumintheirinterpretations。

ATRAMENTUM——Thethingservingformakingblack。Ablackliquidofanykind。Awritingink。

Shoemaker’sblack。Bluevitriol。

SUTORIUM——Belongingtoashoemaker。

Beforetheemploymentofblottingpaperapounce-

boxwhichcontainedeitherpowderedgumsandarachandgroundcuttle-fishbones，orpowderedcharcoal，sandandlikematerialswasusedbyshakingitlikeapepper-

boxonfreshlywrittenmanuscripts。

Blottingpaperasfirstemployedconsistedofverythinsheetsandofadarkpinkcolor，whichfashionchangedtoblueinlateryears。

GoodblottingpaperofthepresenttimeremovesfullytwothirdsoffreshinkwhenusedonHARD

finishedpaper。

Blottingpapershouldnotbeuseduponrecords。

Itsuseremovesthebodyoftheink，leavingdiscoloration，butnothingforpenetration。Ininksintendedforcopying，theemploymentofblottingpaperisespeciallybad。

“ThouhastmosttraitorouslycorruptedtheyouthoftherealminerectingaGrammarSchool；andwhereas，before，ourforefathershadnootherbooksbutthescoreandthetally，thouhastcausedprintingtobeused，andcontrarytotheKing，hiscrownanddignity，thouhastbuiltapapermill。”——

2KingHenryVI，iv，5。

Mr。KnightrelatesaconversationbetweenDr。GaleandagentlemenfromtheWestrelativetotheintroductionofsomematerialintoinktopreventmoulding。

Dr。Galehadastonishedhisfriendbystating——

“willpreventthedepositionoftheovaofinfusoriaanimalcutae；“whenitwassuggestedthatheadd“andthesporadicgrowthsofthallogeniccryptogramsandbefataltothefungi。”

TheUniversityofPennsylvaniaclaimstopossesstheoldestpieceofwritingintheworldandwhichisonafragmentofavasefoundatNippur。Itisaninscriptioninpicturewritingsupposedtohavebeenmade4，500yearsbeforeChrist。

Waferswerenotintroduceduntilthecloseofthesixteenthcentury。

ThePersiansinancienttimes，some800yearsB。C。，wereinthehabitofcelebratingcertainfestivalsanditisrelatedthatinthemonthofDecemberoneoftheirceremonieswasthatofdrivingtheDives(spirits)outoftheirhouses。

ForthispurposetheMagiwrotecertainwordswithsaffrononskins，papyrusorwoodandthensmokeditoverafire。Thespellthuspreparedwasgluedornailedtotheinsideofthedoor，whichwaspaintedred。Thepriestthentooksand，whichhespreadwithalongknife，whilsthemutteredcertainprayersandthenthrowingitonthefloortheenchantmentwascomplete；andtheDivesweresupposedimmediatelytovanish；oratleasttobedeprivedofallmalignantinfluence。

Aristotle’sworkontheConstitutionofAthens，B。C。340，orprobablythecopymadebyTyrannio，wasdiscoveredtranscribedunderneathfarmaccountsoflandinthedistrictofHermopolisinEgyptinthereignofVespasian，A。D。9to79。

InMSS。writtenbeforetheinventionofprintingandindeedformanyyearsafter，thetitlepageifany，willbefoundonthelastpagewiththedate。

“Letlawyersbawlandstraintheirthroats，’TisIthatmustthelandsconvey，Andstriptheirclientstotheircoats，Nay，givetheirverysoulsaway！“——

DEANSWIFT，“Onink。”

“ItiscertainthatintheirtreatieswiththeEuropeanGreeksofConstantinopletheArabsalwaysstipulatedforthedeliveryofafixednumberofmanuscripts。TheirenthusiasmforAristotleisequallynotorious；butitwouldbeunjusttoimaginethat，inadoptingtheAristotelianmethod，togetherwiththeastrologyandalchemyofPersia，andoftheJewsofMesopotamiaandArabia，theywerewhollydevoidoforiginality。”

The“Arabic“numeralswhichwenowemployareprobablyofIndianorigin，havingbeenbroughtbyArabtradersfromtheEastandintroducedbythemintoSpaininthemiddleages，whereastheyspreadoverEuropecominginuseinEnglandperhapsabouttheeleventhcentury。ButwhetherIndiainventedthemorborrowedfromGreekorothertradersfromtheWestisunknown。

Theancientwritingimplementknownasthestyluswasmadeofeveryconceivablematerial，sometimeswiththepreciousmetals，butusuallyofiron，andonoccasionmightbeturnedintoformidableweapons。

ItwaswithhisstylusthatCaesarstabbedCascainthearm，whenattackedinthesenatebyhismurderers；

andCaligulaemployedsomepersontoputtodeathasenatorwithalikeinstrument。

InthereignofClaudiuswomenandboysweresearchedtoascertainwhethertherewereanystylusesintheirpencases。Stabbingwiththepen，therefore，isnotmerelyametaphoricalexpression。

SirWilliamGoreOuseley，afamousdiplomatandsavant，whowaslivingatthebeginningofthenineteenthcentury，duringhislongresidenceinIndiaspentafortuneinthecollectionofancientPersicandArabicMSS。In1807hepermittedthemtobeexaminedbyBeloe，whosedescriptionofafewwillbearrepeating：

“No。1。AKoran，intheCufiorCuficcharacter，saidtobewrittenbyAli，theson-in-lawofMahammed，theArabianprophet。Thesubstanceuponwhichthiscuriousmanuscriptiswrittenappearstobeafinekindofasses’skinorvellum，andtheinkofared，brownishcolour。Theendsofversesaremarkedbylargestarsofgold。IfwrittenbyAli，itmustbenearlytwelvehundredyearsold，butatalleventsmaybeconsideredasveryancient，manyhundredyearshavingelapsedsincetheuseoftheCuficharacterhasgivenwaytotheNeskh，Suls，etc。，etc。Thismanuscriptisstillinexcellentpreservation。”

“No。4。Beharistan，’TheGardenofSpring。’

Abookonethicsandeducation，illustratedbyinterestinganecdotesandnarratives，writtenbothinverseandprose，inimitationoftheGulistan，or’Rosegarden’ofSaadi，andlikeitdividedintoeightchapters，composedbyNuruddin，AbdurrahmanJami，benAhmedofthevillageofJam，nearHerat。HewasbornA。H。817anddiedattheageof81years(aboutA。D。1492)。Asagrammarian，theologistandpoethewasunequalled，andhiscompositiousareasvoluminousastheyareexcellent。Theenormousexpensewhichpeoplehaveincurredtopossessaccuratecopiesofandtoadornandembellishhisworks，isnosmallproofofthegreatestimationinwhichtheywereheldbytheliteratioftheEast。”

“Thisvolumeisasmallfolio，consistingof134

pages，writteninthemostbeautifulNastilikcharacter，bythefamousscribeMohammedHussein，who，inconsequenceofhisinimitablepenmanship，obtainedthetitleofZerinKalm，or’PenofGold。’TheleavesareofthesoftestCashmirianpaper，andofsuchmodestshadesofgreen，blue，brown，dove，andfawncolors，asnevertooffendtheeyebytheirglare，althoughrichlypowderedwithgold。Themargins，whicharebroad，displayagreatvarietyofchasteandbeautifuldelineationsinliquidgold，notwopagesbeingalike。Somearedividedintocompartments，othersareinrunningpatterns，inallofwhichtheilluminationsshowthemostcorrect，andatthesametimefancifultaste。Manyaredelineationsoffieldsports，which，thoughsimpleoutlinesofgold，arecalculatedtoaffordthehighestgratificationstotheloverofnaturalhistory，aswellastheartist，fromtheuncommonaccuracywithwhichtheformsoftheelephant，rhinoceros，buffalo，lion，tiger，leopard，panther，lynx，andotherAsiaticanimalsareportrayed。

Itappears，bythenameswhichareinsertedatthebottomofthepages，thatseveralartistswereemployedinthecompositionandcombinationoftheseornaments，oneforthelandscape，anotherfortheanimals，andathirdforthehumanfigures，allofwhomhavegivenproofsofsuperiormerit。Itwouldtakealmostamonthtoinspectalltheexcellenciesofthisraremanuscript；

for，althoughsorichlyornamentedingold，thechastecolorsofthegroundpreventanyglaringobtrusionontheeye，andobligetheexaminertoplaceitinaparticularpointoflighttoseetheexquisiteandminutebeautiesofthedelineations。

Thepaintings，whicharemeanttoillustratethesubjectofthebook，aredoneincolors，andinthecenteroftheleaves。

“OnthebackofthefirstpagearetheautographsoftheEmperorsofHindustan，JehangirandhissonShajehan。”

“No。5。’ADiwaniShahi。’ADiwanorCollectionOdesbyShahi，’transcribedbythefamouspenmanMirAli，inBokar

“Theauthorofthesepoems，MamlicArnirShahi，thesonofMalicJemaluddinFirozkohi，anoblemanofhighrankandfortuneaswellasgreatliteraryattainments，wasborninSebzwar，A。H。

786。HepassedapartofhislifeatthecourtsofBaisankar(thesonofShahrukhMirza，andgrandsonofTamerlane)andofhissonAbulKasimBaber，duringwhichtimeheheldappointmentsofthehighesttrustandemolument，andwasuniversallycaressed。But，takingoffenseatanexpressionofSultanBaber’s，whichheconceivedreflectedonhisfather，hequittedthecourtindisgust，andpassedtheremainderofhislifeinthecultivationofthesisterarts，poetry，painting，andmusicinallofwhichheeminentlyexcelled。Hewasalsounequalledinpenmanship。AttheageofseventyyearsbediedinAsterabad，duringthereignofBaber，A。H。856，andwasburiedinthesuburbsofhisnativecity，Sebzwar，inamausoleumerectedbyhisancestors。

“MirAli，whotranscribedthisbook，wasthemostexcellentpenmanofhistime。HewasborninthereignofSultanHusseinMirzaBahudur，thesonofMansur，andgreatgrandsonofOmarSheikh，thesecondsonofTamerlane。Hewasalearnedmanandgoodpoet，andtooktheTakhulas(poeticaltitle)mostappropriatetohisgreatestaccomplishments，ofAlCateb，or’theScribe。’HewasthepupilofSultanAli，butfarexceededhismasterincalligraphy。AnentirebookwrittenbyhimisjustlyesteemedagreattreasureintheEast。

“OnthebackofthefirstpageofthismostbeautifulmanuscriptaretheautographsoftheEmperorsofHindustan，Jehangir(thesonofthegreatAcber)andhissonShahJehan；thereisalsothesealofAurangzeb，thesonofShahJehun。

JehangirdatestheacquiringpossessionofthistreasureA。H。1025，andShahJehun，A。H。1037。

“Acollectionofmythologicaldrawings(broughtfromafortinBhutan，wheretheyweretakenasplunder)exceedinglywellcoloured，andrichlyillumined。SomeofthedeitiesresemblethoseoftheTartars，delineatedbythetravellerPallas；

othersagainarepureHinduandmanyChinese；

butthemostfrequentaretherepresentationsofBaudh，exactlyasdepictedinthepaintingsandtemplesatCeylon。ThereligionofBhutanandNeipalseemstobelikethelocalsituationofthosecountries，thelinkofconnectionbetweenthatoftheHindus，withitsdifferentschisms，andthatoftheChinesewiththeTartarsuperstructure。

“WiththisbookofdrawingsareseveralrollsofBhutanScripture，verywellstampedbystereotypeblocksofwood。Someoftheblocksaccompaniedthedrawings；theyaresharplyandneatlycutinakindofSanscritcharacter，andareobjectsofgreatcuriosity，as，bytheaccountsofthenatives，thismodeofprintinghasbeeninusefortimeimmemorial。”

“TherearebesidesinSirGoreOuseley’scollection1，100mostbeautifulbooksofPersianandIndianpaintings，portraitsoftheEmperorsofHindustanfromSultanBaberdowntoBahudurShah，finelycoloreddrawingsofnaturalhistory，andcuriousdesignsoffancy，withspecimensoffinepenmanshipinthedifferentkindsofArabicandPersiancharacters。SeveralSanscritmanuscripts，highlyornamentedandrichlyillumined，someofthemwritteninlettersofgoldandsilveronablackground。ManyofthemillustratedwiththeneatestminiaturepaintingsoftheHindugodsandsaints。TwoKorans，thelettersentirelyofgold，withthevowelpointsinblack。ThetwoversionsofPilpaisorBedpai’sfables，byHusseinVaizandAbulfazl，illustratedwithupwardsof700

highlyfinishedminiatures；thebesthistoricalworksinthePersianlanguage，finelywritten，andinhighpreservation。”

ThehighregardwithwhichthewritersofMSS。inancientPersiawereviewedmaybelearnedamongotherthingsfromthefollowinganecdote：

Oneofthemosteminentamongthemwasinhiswalkssolicitedbyabeggarforalms。“Money。”hereplied，“Ihavenone。”buttakinghispenandinkfromhisgirdle，whicharetheinsigniaoftheprofession(withoutwhichtheyneverwentabroad)，hetookapieceofpaper，andwrotesomewordorotheruponit。Thepoormanreceiveditwithgratitude，andsoldittothefirstwealthypersonhemetforagoldenmohur，invalueabout$2。50。

“Isnotthisalamentablething，thatoftheskinofaninnocentlambshouldbemadeParchment？

thatParchmentbeingscribbledo’ershouldundoaman？“——

2KingHenryVI，iv，2。

TheBostonNewsLetter，1769，announces：

“ThebelleartwillgothroughBostonbeforetheendofnextmonth，tocollectragsforthepapermillatMilton，whenallpeoplethatwillencouragethepapermanufactorymaydisposeofthem。”

“Ragsareasbeauties，whichconcealedlie，Butwheninpaperhowitcharmstheeye；

Praysaveyourrags，newbeautiesitdiscover，Forpapertrulyeveryone’salover：

Bythepenandpresssuchknowledgeisdisplayed，Aswouldn’texist，ifpaperwasnotmade。

Wisdomofthings，mysterious，divine，Illustriouslydothonpapershine。”

Gen。WalterMartin，proprietorofthetownshipofMartinsburg，Lewiscounty，N。Y。，erectedapaper-mill，whichwasrunbyJohnClark&Co。Thiswasin1807。TheygavenoticethatragswouldbereceivedattheprincipalstoresinUpperCanadaandtheBlackrivercountry，which(likemanyoftheadvertisementsoftheearlypapermakers，bothinEnglandandAmerica)，wasaccompaniedbyapoeticaddresstotheladies，onestanzaofwhichranthus：

Sweetladiespraybenotoffended，Normindthejestsofsneeringwags；

Noharm，believeus，isintended，Whenhumblywerequestyourrags。”

Theemploymentofcomplementarycolorscreenshasmadeitpossibletophotographcolorswhichformerlyindicatednocontrastwithwhitebackgroundsinthenegativeandlaterinthefinishedpicture。

Thisdiscoveryhasdestroyedthevalueof“safety“

papers，basedoncompletetintsorpossessingcoloredlinesorwords。

“INMANUSCRIPT。

“TherainstormwieldsanoisypenAdownthepane，Wetsplashesleaving，blotsofstrangewhiteink，Blundersofrain。

“Andyetnopoemsofecstaticmen，Olympicfaced，Couldbeaswonderfulasthese，Ithink，Inciphertraced。”——

ISABELLEHOWEFISKE。

End