When the pan is opened, the cake of metal and plaster is removed, and beaten upon its edges with a mallet, to clear away all superfluous metal. The stereotype plate is then taken by the _picker_, who planes its edges square, "turns" its back flat upon a lathe until the proper thickness is obtained, and removes any minute imperfections arising from specks of dirt and air-bubbles left among the letters in casting the mould. Damaged letters are cut out, and separate types soldered in as substitutes. After all this anxious care to obtain perfection, the plate is pronounced ready for working, and when made up with the other plates into the proper form, it may be worked either at the hand-press or by machine. Other modes of stereotyping have been introduced, but not one has attained to the popularity of the method we have just described. The Steam Engine. I.--THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. II.--JAMES WATT. The Steam Engine. "It is said that ideas produce revolutions and truly they do--not spiritual ideas only, but even mechanical."--CARLYLE. I.--THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. As the last century was drawing to its close, two great revolutions were in progress, both of which were destined to exercise a mighty influence upon the years to come,--the one calm, silent, peaceful, the other full of sound and fury, bathed in blood, and crowned with thorns,--the one the fruit of long years of patient thought and work, the other the outcome of long years of oppression, suffering, and sin,--the one was Watt's invention of the steam engine, the other the great popular revolt in France. These are the two great events which set their mark upon our century, gave form and colour to its character, and direction to its aims and aspirations. In the pages of conventional history, of course, the French revolution, with its wild phantasmagoria of retribution, its massacres and martyrdoms, will no doubt have assigned to it the foremost rank as the great feature of the era,-- "For ever since historians writ, And ever since a bard could sing, Doth each exalt with all his wit The noble art of murdering." But those who can look below the mere surface of events, and whose fancy is not captivated by the melo-drama of rebellion, and the pageantry of war, will find that Watt's steam machine worked the greatest revolution of modern times, and exercised the deepest, as well as widest and most permanent influence over the whole civilized world.