Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Supplement/Letter

LETTER.—A new method of copying letters has lately been proposed; which is certainly less expensive, and promises to be nearly as expeditious, as that obtained by means of Copying Machines:—we have, therefore been induced to subjoin the following directions.

First, the letter to be copied, must be written with good black ink, in which a little sugar has been dissolved. Damp, unsized paper, or such as has previously been rendered sufficiently porous by suspending it over steam, is then to be adapted to the size of such letter, and be laid on the writing, which ought to be in a dry state. Several clean sheets are now to be arranged on the copying paper; and a flat iron, moderately heated, should be passed uniformly over the whole, till it be thoroughly dried.—If the original be written on both sides, it must be placed between a double sheet of such unsized paper, and managed in the manner above directed; when an exact copy will be procured. In this instance, however, the iron must be applied with the greatest expedition, lest the unsized paper become too dry, or communicate its dampness to the ink; in which cases, either no impression would be taken, or the ink would sink: lastly, the iron ought to be pressed on the paper longer than is usual for single sheets; in order that the heat may be regularly diffused, and the full effect be ensured.