In June, 1840, Mr. Richard Prosser took out a patent for making a variety of articles from clay in a powdered state, viz., buttons, tesseræ, floor tiles, glazed tiles, &c., by pressure; by preference using screw presses of different powers for articles containing up to and including fifty square inches of surface in each piece; articles of larger surface, and of course requiring a greater pressure, being made by hydraulic press, the pumps of which were worked by steam. Patents were taken for England, France, and America. That for France lapsed in consequence of a condition of the French patent law requiring the process being worked in that country within six months of its date; the political condition of France at that time, in the opinion of the patentee, not being safe for the investment of capital. Of this patent and its application, the following notes, drawn up for me by Mr. John Turley, are of especial interest. “The English patent was very early introduced to the firm of Minton and Boyle, of Stoke-on-Trent. Mr. Minton took a lively interest in it, but not so Mr. Boyle. Mr. Prosser sold the half part of the English patent to Mr. Minton. Arrangements were made for the prompt commencement of making glazed tiles, tesseræ, and buttons, at Messrs. Minton and Boyle’s works. Two work-rooms were given up to Mr. John Turley, engineer, who at first placed six button presses in one, and a large tile-press in the other, and commenced making white glazed tiles (6 in.) and buttons in these works in August, 1840. Prior to this time, white glazed or Dutch tiles (6 in.) could be bought in the London market for less money than paid to the journeyman potter for making this article at Stoke. The demand for white glazed tiles was soon very great, and has subsequently become a staple article of manufacture in most potting districts by this process. Buttons, tiles, and tesseræ continued their progress in numbers manufactured until 1843, when, on March 8th, the process of making tesseræ was exhibited by Mr. Turley at the Society of Arts, London--Lecture by Cowper; Paper read by Blashfield--and 290 boxes of buttons, three dozen in each, given away at the doors. March 11th, 1843, the same press and process was exhibited by Mr. Turley at the Marquess of Northampton’s soirée, as President of the British Association--a brilliant gathering, at which were present Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, a number of bishops, and about thirty foreign princes. The late Prince Consort took so much interest in the process, that Mr. Prosser and Mr. Minton decided that a description of the process and a drawing of the press as then seen at work should be prepared forthwith, and presented to his Highness, which was done, and presented on the 15th of March, 1843. This paper, with copy of drawing of the press, was reproduced in Dr. Ure’s ‘Dictionary of Arts and