Thus, this notorious literary forgery, through the cunning ingenuity of the perpetrator, ultimately proved so successful as to deceive many learned and able critics of the age. Indeed, on one occasion a kind of certificate was drawn up, stating that the undersigned names were affixed by gentlemen who entertained no doubt whatever as to the validity of the Shaksperian production, and that they voluntarily gave such public testimony of their convictions upon the subject. To this document several names were appended by persons as conspicuous for their erudition as they were pertinacious in their opinions. The water-mark in the form of a letter _p_, of which I have given an illustration, is taken from Caxton’s well-known work, “The Game of the Chesse,” a _fac simile_ of which is about to be published as a tribute to his memory. Paper has recently been made expressly for the purpose, in exact representation of the original, and containing this water-mark, which will be found common in works printed by him. The ordinary mode of effecting such paper marks as we have been describing is that of affixing a stout wire in the form of any object to be represented to the surface of the fine wire-gauze, of which the hand-mould, or machine dandy roller is constructed. The perfection, however, to which water-marks have now attained, which in many instances is really very beautiful, is owing to a more ingenious method recently patented, and since adopted by the Bank of England, as affording considerable protection to the public in determining the genuineness of a bank note. For the original idea of producing light and shade, as seen in specimens 1, 13, and 15, we are indebted to Mr. Wm. Henry Smith, whose patient perseverance, and laborious efforts, at length enabled him to overcome many difficulties, and finally to produce not only any peculiarity of design, however complicate, but also to secure its repetition with a certainty of uniformity which, in the process of manufacture as hitherto conducted, it was found impossible to accomplish.