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SIR,

Mr. Macnamara on Paving.

To the Editor of the Journal of Arts.

85

SINCE I obtained the patent for the new method of paving streets, &c. noticed in your number for July, 1822, I have adopted a considerable improvement upon my principle, namely, by reducing the size of the stones to 16 inches by 14, or 14 by 12, which greatly reduces the expense, fewer grooves being necessary: at the same time, the stones may be laid with greater facility, being much lighter to handle. This will, of course, tend very materially to reduce the price, an object of the greatest importance.

When it is considered that, in my pavement, the stones are nearly in contact with each other, it must appear evident that, compared with the common pavement, more materials are used, at least one-fourth, in any given space, than in ordinary pavement, that being occupied by a considerable quantity of dirt between the stones. I consider these few remarks due to my invention, because your observations are calculated to impress an idea that this kind of pavement would be more expensive than common paving, which is not the case when the quantity of material is compared, durability and other advantages, noticed in my prospectus, being also taken into the account.

London; July 17, 1822.

I am, Sir, your's, &c.

RICHARD MACNAMARA,

86

Nobel Inventions.

On the Plans for the Prevention of Forgery.

THE execution of another unfortunate criminal for passing forged Bank of England notes has again excited the attention of the public to this subject. We intended to have made some further remarks on the comparative merits of Messrs. Perkins and Fairman's, and Sir W. Congreve's, Plans; but, as we are in expectation of communications from some of the parties immediately interested in this business, we defer what we have to say till a future opportunity.

At present, we cannot avoid calling our readers' attention to some observations of Mr. Pearse (a bank director, we believe,) made in the House of Commons, on the 8th of July, which are deserving of serious consideration.

Mr. Pearse said, according to the report of the Times Newspaper, "that the Bank could have no other motive or desire than to issue the best note they could for the security of the public. The utmost care had been taken by the directors; commissioners, appointed to inquire into the subject, had sat long, and the result of the investigation, which was close and accurate, was, that it was impossible to find any other plan of note which was not more easily imitable than the present one. The bank engraver had imitated all the plans submitted by the commissioners, and, after the utmost exertions were used to devise difficulties in the execution of copies, from all kinds laid before them, they were all found imitable, and the scheme of imitation more easily practicable than that of their present note. Such was the fact up to the

On the Plans for the Prevention of Forgery. 87

present hour." Subsequently, Mr. Pearse explained that "the utmost pains had been taken.”

Of this statement, although we confess it appears to us most extraordinary, we have no right to complain,because we cannot doubt the facts. But we must, nevertheless, be permitted to say, that we think, by some means or another, the Bank has been grossly misled and imposed upon: and that the public will think so too, we cannot for a moment permit ourselves to doubt. What! after the superior styles of engraving offered to the public by Messrs. Perkins and Fairman, and others, and after Sir William Congreve's "Compound Plate" to boot, is it come to this?—That the Bank engraver has more genius than any other engraver in England to imitate more easily all these than the note now in circulation,—that is, his own note! Has any other engraver beside the Bank engraver been set to imitate these notes? Yes, Mr. Branston has, we know, imitated some of Messrs. Perkins and Co.'s specimens: with what success may be learnt from our first volume.

That there has been, in a certain quarter, a prejudice against Messrs. Perkins and Fairman's style of engraving we know ; but we are astounded at the rejection of the compound plate,—at the rejection of every plan hitherto offered to the Bank, as a succedaneum for their present easily imitable note; for that the present note is and has been easily and effectually imitated, is proved by the numerous convictions for forgery which have taken place.

Now, taking the fact on the Bank's own shewing, we do think that a public company supported by public opinion ought, nevertheless, to adopt another style of engraving in their note in compliance with that public opinion, so often and so strongly as it has been expressed on this subject. Nor can we see any impropriety,

if doubts exist, as to whether Messrs. Perkins and Fairman's, or Sir W. Congreve's, be the better plan, in their being both tried simultaneously or otherwise, as may be thought best.

Whilst we make these observations, we cannot avoid observing, also, that to find an engraved note which may not be, by talent and labour, successfully imitated, is what must not be expected. All we can desire or hope is, that a note more difficult to be imitated with success than the present one should be found: indeed, that it may be obtained by some of the processes of Messrs. Perkins and Fairman, there does not appear any reason to doubt. What the public expect, and what they have a right to expect, is, that the Bank will adopt the best means for the prevention of the forgery of their notes which human science can devise. This we do not, nor does the public generally, believe that the Bank has hitherto done.

We have, ourselves, during the last twenty years, compared very numerous forged Bank of England notes with genuine notes; and we have generally found, on minute comparison, that the forged note is commonly deficient in the shape or turn of the letters in the body of the bill; whilst others, and those a few only, have been so well executed as to defy detection by common means. Whatever may be said by the Bank of the present execution of their notes, we are decidedly of opinion that the country bank-notes generally are much better executed than the Bank of England notes, and therefore more difficultly imitable. The paper, too, on which the Bank of England note is printed, is, perhaps, another objection to it. Some paper appears to receive engraving more readily than others. It appears, also, that combining different styles of engraving in the same

The Rev. Mr. James on certain Schools of Painting. 89

note must add to the difficulty of the forger; and, if some of the words are engraved in large roman letters, as well as in the written character, we cannot avoid thinking that this would be an additional security. What is wanted above all things in a Bank-of-England note is such a characteristic as may strike the most common observer, and not such a nicety of which nine-tenths of mankind will take no notice. On this subject, we fear engravers generally, as well as the Bank, think too mechanically and too artist-like.

We cannot take our leave of this subject without sincerely lamenting that interest from any quarter should prevent our obtaining a less easily imitable Bank-ofEngland note than the one now in circulation: for that it is some interest we entertain no doubt. At the same time, we acquit the Bank directors, as a body, from any participation in this truly unfortunate state of their paper circulation. Where the fault lies, it is not our business to inquire,

Review of New Publications.

The Flemish, Dutch, and German Schools of Painting by the Rev. J. T. JAMES. 8vo. pp. 412.

Ir would appear from the sentiments which are incidentally promulgated by a certain class of writers in this country, some of whom mistake bluntness for wit, and impertinence for sagacity, that, had they the direction of the public mind, the encouragement and study of the fine arts would be set aside; that natural history is an almost useless study; and, as for the splendid collections,

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