Passing from this strainer the pulp is next made to distribute itself equally throughout the entire width of the machine, and is afterwards allowed to flow over a small lip or ledge, in a regular and even stream, whence it is received by the upper surface of the endless wire (K), upon which the first process of manufacture takes place. Of course the thickness of the paper depends in some measure upon the speed at which the machine is made to travel, but it is mainly determined by the quantity of pulp allowed to flow upon the wire, which by various contrivances can be regulated to great nicety. Among the specimens at the end, you will find one, No. 7, which was made by this machine, and which is considerably less than the thousandth of an inch in thickness,—a thousand sheets measuring but three quarters of an inch. And I would call your attention to the fact, that although so thin, it is capable of being coloured, it is capable of being glazed, it is capable of receiving a water-mark; and what is perhaps still more astonishing, a strip not exceeding four inches in width, will be found capable of sustaining a weight of twenty pounds: so great is its tenacity. But, to return to the machine itself. The quantity of pulp required to flow from the vat (M) being determined; it is first received by the continuous woven wire (K), upon which it forms itself into paper. This wire-gauze, which resembles a jack-towel, passing over the small copper rollers (N), round the larger one marked (O), and being kept in proper tension by two others placed underneath. A gentle vibratory motion from side to side is given to the wire, which assists to spread the pulp evenly, and also to facilitate the separation of the water, and by this means, aided by a suction pump, the pulp solidifies as it advances. The two black squares on either side of the “dandy” roller (P) indicate the position of two wooden boxes, from which the air is partially exhausted, thus causing the atmospheric pressure to operate in compacting the pulp into paper, the water and moisture being drawn through the wire, and the pulp retained on the surface.