_Baths for the Collodion Process._--Having lately been assured, by a gentleman of scientific attainments, that the sensitiveness of the prepared collodion plate depends rather upon the strength of the nitrate of silver bath than on the collodion, I am desirous of asking how far the experience of your correspondents confirms this statement. My informant assured me, that if, instead of using a solution of thirty grains of nitrate of silver to the ounce of water for the bath, which is the proportion recommended by Messrs. Archer, Horne, Delamotte, Diamond, &c., a sixty grain solution be substituted, the formation of the image would be the work of the fraction of a second. This seems to me so important as to deserve being brought under the notice of photographers--especially at this busy season--without a moment's delay; and I therefore record the statement at once, as, from circumstances with which I need not encumber your pages, I shall not have an opportunity of trying any experiment upon the point for a week or two. Upon referring to the authorities on the subject of the best solution for baths, I have been struck with their uniformity. One exception only has presented itself, which is in a valuable paper by Mr. Thomas in the 6th Number of the _Journal of the Photographic Society_. That gentleman directs the bath to be prepared in the following manner: Into a 20 oz. stoppered bottle, put-- Nitrate of silver 1 oz. Distilled water 10 oz. Dissolve. Iodide of potassium 5 grs. Distilled water 1 dr. Dissolve. On mixing these two solutions, a precipitate of iodide of silver is formed. Place the bottle containing this mixture in a saucepan of hot water, keep it on the hob for about twelve hours, shake it occasionally, now and then removing the stopper. The bath is now perfectly saturated with iodide of silver; when cold, filter through white filtering paper, and add-- Alcohol 2 drs. Sulphuric ether 1 dr. The prepared glass is to remain in the bath about eight or ten minutes. Now, is this bath applicable to all collodion, or only to that prepared by Mr. Thomas; and if the former, what is the rationale of its beneficial action? A BEGINNER. * * * * * Replies to Minor Queries. _Mitigation of Capital Punishment to a Forger_ (Vol. vii., p. 573.).--If your correspondent H. B. C. really wishes to be released from his hard work in hunting up the truth of my and other narratives of the _mitigation of capital punishment to forgers_, I shall be happy to receive a note from him with his name and address, when I will give him the name and address of my informant in return. By this means I may be able to relieve his shoulder from a portion of its burden, and myself from any farther imputations of "mythic accompaniments," &c., which are unpalatable phrases even when coming from a gentleman who only discloses his initials. ALFRED GATTY. Ecclesfield.