library of its possessor and to descend as an heir-loom to posterity, now presents to the mortified owner its elegant print surrounded by a margin of tan colour, which in some instances forms, as it were, a complete frame round each page, the oil varnish in the composition of the ink seeming to preserve the interstices between the print from the same kind of discoloration. School books (he adds) printed on this species of paper, will scarcely last out their destined period, from one vacation to the next.” Another gentleman informs us, speaking of a quantity of Bibles, which were printed for the British and Foreign Bible Society, that one in his possession, printed at the University press at Oxford in 1816, (which had never been used) was then, within a year or two afterwards, literally crumbling into dust. “Almost the entire book of Genesis (says he) has mouldered away, and left not a trace behind.” Of course, paper of this description (if it deserves the name at all) would prove very bad stock in like manner for the stationer, being for any purpose whatever as utterly useless as it was worthless, with but one exception, which in the case of a large parcel of this description, I understand, was once adopted, viz., that of shipping it in very common cases, thus securing the drawback, which, at that time, was far more worth consideration than it would be now, and eventually consigning it to the fate of innumerable other treasures within the boundless limits of the ocean. If to speak of the various artificial aids which the manufacturer has recourse to in the present day be necessary, it surely cannot but be equally advisable, to point out their main cause; and if blame exist at all, or fault be found, it cannot, I apprehend, be rested with greater safety than with those who, stipulating their own terms, must of necessity be supplied in their own way. The paper maker requires to be remunerated; and with competition to grapple with and contend against, not only all the improvements which mechanical science is capable of supplying, must be adopted by him, but even in many cases, however much to be regretted, he is tempted to an intermixture of noxious and heterogeneous materials, in order that the minimum price may be attained. Some specimens of paper will be found to contain as much as one-fourth their weight of gypsum; and in fact, even worse material, as a means of adulteration, is as eagerly sought after by the manufacturer of paper, as the public generally, to the sacrifice of quality, seek the cheapest article which it is possible to procure. I need but refer, as an instance, to the packing papers of the present day, of which one sheet properly made (25), contrasted with one of the same weight of the sort usually selected, will be found to possess three times the amount of strength, although not 10 per cent. higher in price.