The principal method of making these impressions is to electrify a perfect or imperfect electric, and then to throw certain powders upon the electrified substance, which will be arranged in different forms. The most convenient method of projecting these powders is to put them into a small bottle of India-rubber, and then fasten a tube of glass or metal to the neck of the bottle; the orifice of this tube must be covered with a piece of flannel when used. As to the nature of the powders, almost every substance which can be pulverized will do.—Thus chalk, rosin, sulphur, rose-pink, dragon’s blood, gum-arabic, lake, and evaporated decoctions of colouring woods, may be used with advantage, either singly or mixed. Take a clean pane of glass, fourteen or fifteen inches square, and after drying it thoroughly, hold it by one corner, and pass over its surface the knob of a jar, moderately charged with positive electricity—then, keeping it suspended, project upon it, by means of the bottle above described, a mixed powder of dragon’s blood and gum-arabic, in equal parts. If you examine the glass, you will find that the two powders will be separated upon it, the red powder of dragon’s blood falling on certain places, and the white powder of gum-arabic falling upon certain other places, so as to form a track upon the parts which were touched with the charged jar, consisting of two colours disposed in a thousand different ways. If, instead of drawing the knob of the jar over the surface of the glass, you only touch it here and there with it, and then throw on the mixed powders as before, separate star-shaped figures will be formed about these places. The stars will be better defined when a single powder is used; their rays are sometimes few and strong; at others, many and slight, and frequently they do not go entirely round the parts which have been touched by the phial. These different effects depend chiefly upon the quantity of the charge in the jar. If the jar be charged negatively, the appearances will be very different, from those occasioned by positive electricity. Very few rays will now be observed, the powders for the most part disposing themselves in round figures, and generally a central spot of one powder will be surrounded by another of a different colour. Some powders adhere but slightly to the glass, so as not to bear being touched; but if a piece of paper be laid upon the painted side, without disturbing the figures, and the edge of it be fastened all round to the edge of the glass, the figure may be preserved without injury. But a better method is to lay another pane of glass over the one with the figures upon it, and then to fasten them together with sealing-wax, or a piece of paper pasted over the edges.