camera is to the successful production of a fine picture. *) There are many fine pictures produced upon plates that are not galvanized; still I can see no reason why the process of galvanizing is not beneficial. It makes the plates more sensitive for an impression and a shorter time is required for the impression; besides imparting a finer tone then those not galvinized. Operators using them have this advantage, that they can keep on hand a greater number of clean plates which are galvanized for a greater length of time in a perfecftly clean state than others not so cleaned; for it is a well known fact that plates which are not galvanized will not keep from day to day clean. The same precaution should be observed before galvanizing as before buffing, namely to keep the plate free from dust. Dip your plate in the solution of silver until it assumes a light sky blue-say about one minnte if your battery is in good working order, then take it out and wash it well with pure rain water; then it must be completely dried over the spirit-lamp, you may then put it into the plate box until you are ready to take a picture then you will rebuff it in the same manner as you did at the first. Plates so cleaned will last any length of time and will be as good as if they had been cleaned the day before.

Fourth Chemicals and coating; there are as many different ways of coating the plates as there are chemicals to bring out the pictures. I shall here, however, confine myself to my own method of coating and to the chemicals I use. Good, tight coating boxes should always be used. I prefer using three of the deepest kind; I cover the bottom of the first box with cotton cloth and spread on it some of the best Iodine so as to entirely cover the bottom. I then cover that with an other piece of the cloth and fasten up the box until I am ready to use it. In the second, I spread over the bottom dry Quick to the depth of about half an inch and immediately fasten up the box. When I use the wet Quick I put one half pint of rain-water and about a table-spoon full of liquid Quick in my coating box **). In the third box I use Iodine as in the first. The benefit to be derived from using the third box is, that you then know the exact proportions of Iodine you are using, whereas if you use one Iodine box, you will find it rather difficult to ascertain the due proportions on your plate-especially in cold weather.

I coat my plates in the following manner, taking care to have them free from all dust spots and of a warm temperature, as they

*) A small battery (Daniels) is generally used, although some operators are not partial to them.

**) Te liquid Quick, which I use is nothing more than Bromine water which is allowed by our best writers and artists, to be the finest Quick that can possibly be used,if you can at all manage the working of it, which is very simples The great error operators fall into is, the making the mixture too strong. One ounce of German Bromine will make two quarts of Quick, I use it as mentioned. above. A quantity of it thus prepared will last about two weeks or longer.

come from the buffs. I put the plate first into the box No. 1 and coat it over the Iodine until it is a cherry red: then I put it over the box No. 2 until it becomes of a deep red or just turning to a slight steel or grey color, when I place it over the box No.3 and coat it one fifth of the first time of Iodine for the dry Quick, and one third for the wet Quick *). When using the wet Quick I coat my plates a little lighter then what I do in using the dry in my dark room. The light is admitted freely while coating, except when coating the second time over the Iodine, when I coat entirely in the dark. After coating, great care should be taken to let no dust get on the plate holder, if it does it is apt to get on the plate in moving about and the picture becomes spotted. Although a north light is preferable, yet I believe good pictures can be taken in any light. Sky lights seem to be all the rage at present, but I believe if operators knew as much about them before they had gone to the trouble and expense of constructing them as they do afterwards, they would not have had them made. In posing my şitters I endeavor to place them in as easy and graceful a position as possible, and by carrying on a conversation until I am ready to uncover the camera tube-generally get a more animated expression of countenance than I otherwise would do.

Fifth After the impression is taken, put your picture over the the mercury and leave it over about three minutes, I heat up my Mercury early in the morning at a certain point and keep it there during the day.**),

Sixth Gilding and coloring, are parts of the Daguerreotype process which require great care, if not skill, and either adds to, or takes from the beauty of the pictures.

Take of Hyposulphate of Soda one ounce, put it into a pint of filtered rain or distilled water, when dissolved filter it again when it is ready for use. Pour the solution of Hyposulphate of soda over the plate until the chemicals disappear then rinse well the plate with rain water and pour on the gold solution and with a slow heat gild the picture, keeping the solution in motion to prevent it from staining or gilding too fast. In using the chlorid of gold, put fifteen grains of gold to fifty-two of Hyposulphate of soda in one pint and a half of rain water. In mixing always pour the gold on the Hypo. When the salts of gold are used all that is necessary is to mix one bottle of the salts-fifteen grains to one quart of water and then filter it. I now use salts of gold altogether. In coloring the pictures I believe the less coloring

*) My dry Quick is composed of Bromine and Lime.

**) I am in the habit of filtering my mercury once a week and of washing my plate holders and shides with a solution of Hyposulphate of Soda about the same time. My zooms are sprinkled, occasionally, with ammonia and a silver plate bangs in my dark room to catch the floating chemicals. My chemical boxes or Lottles are never opened in my laboratory.

matter used the better for their appearance. Such is my own simple process given in as concise a manner as possible, and I would say in conclusion that there are many things connected with the art into which I cannot enter in this communication, but will merely remark that the great secret of success in the process is to have all things in order, use the best materials and though last not least have some taste yourself for something more then the almighty dollar and my word for it money will come all the quicker. I have hastily sketched my own method of proceeding for the benefit of those who really love the art and are desirous of practizing it, and also as a guide to my pupils in their manipulations.

ARTICLE VI.

THE MARINE STEAM FORCE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Great Britain possesses one hundred and forty-seven steamships, including three in Canada, and thirty two iron steamers, eleven ranging from 1,547 to 1,980 tons. Of these, four were formerly 76-gun ships, and have now engines of 450 horse power. The largest, the Simoom, of 1,980 tons, has only 350 horse power; the Terrible, however, of 1,850, has engines of 800 horse-power; the Termagant, of 1,547, has engines of 620 horse-power; while the Arrogant, of 1,872, has only 360 horse-power; the Retribution, of 1,641, has 400 horse-power. One of the above eleven, the Penelope, was a 46-gun frigate. Fifteen from above 1,200 and under 1,500 tons, twenty-seven above 1,000 and under 1,200, twenty-three above 700 and under 1,000, nine above 500 and under 700, twenty-seven from 250 and under 500, twenty-two from 150 and under 250, four from 42 to 149; three on the lakes of Canada, one of 406 and of 90 horse-power; and one of 750 and of 200 horse power; twelve packets, 237 to 720, some of which are very fine vessels; 58,643 in commission, and 58,501 tons in ordinary. Of the steam-ships, there are built of iron-the Simoom, 1,984; the Vulture, 1,764, both 350 horse-power; the Greenock, 1,418, and 550 horse-power; the Birkenhead, 1,405, and 556 horse-power; the Niagara, 1,395, and 350 horse-power; the Trident, 850, and 350 horse-power; the Antelope, 650, and 264 horse-power; the packet Lizard, 340, and 150 horse-power; the Bloodhound, 378, and 150 horse-power; the Grappler, 557, and 220 horse-power; the Sharpshooter, 503, and 202 horse-power; the Harpy, 344, and 200 horse-power; the Myrmidon, about 350, and 180 horse-power; the Sphynx and Fairy, about 300, and 110 horse-power; and four other smaller vessels, of 20 to 9 horse-power. Six of the packets are built of iron. Screw-steamers on the stocks, viz., one 80-gun at Devon

port, one 80-gun at Woolwich, and one 80-gun at Pembroke; in all, one hundred and fifty steamships. Then there is the mercantile steam power. The steam vessels registered in the port of London on the 1st of January, 1851, were three hundred and thirty three; one hundred and seventeen under 100 tons, sixty-four from 100 to two hundred, twenty-six from 200 to 250, twentyseven from 250 to 300, sixteen from 300 to 350, nine from 350 to 400, ten from 400 to 450, eight from 450 to 500, three from 500 to 550, seven from 550 to 600, three from 600 to 650, six from 650 to 700, two from 700 to 750, five from 750 to 800, three from 850 to 900, one from 900 to 950, eight from 1,000 to 1,500, six from 1,500 to 1,800, eleven from 1,800 to 2,000 and one above 2,000. In Liverpool there were ninety-two steam vessels; twenty under 100 tons, 49 from 100 to 200, twelve from 200 to 400, six from 400 to 600, three from 600 to 800 one of 1,300 tons, and one of 1,609 tons. At Bristol there were thirtyone steam vessels; eleven under 100 tons, fourteen above hundred tons and under 300, three from 300 to 500, two from 500 to 600, one (Great Britain) of 2,936. At Hull there were thirty-four steam vessels; eight under 100 tons, seven from 100 to 200 tons, eight from 200 to 400, eight from 400 to 700, two from 700 to 1,000, and one of 1,320 tons. At Shelds there were fifty steam vessels; forty-eight under 100 tons, one of 388, and one of 106 tons. At Sunderland there were thirty-two steam vessels under 100 tons. At Newcastle-upon-Tyne there were one hundred and thirty-eight steam vessels; one hundred and thirty under 100 tons, six from 100 to 300, two from 300 to 500. At Southampton there were twenty-three steam vessels; nine under 100 tons, nine from 100 to 300, five from 300 to 500. At Glasgow there were eighty-eight steam vessels; fourteen under 100 tons, forty-eight from 100 to 300, sixteen from 300 to 700, three from 700 to 1,000, five from 1,000 to 2,000, two from 2,000 to 2,500. At Leith there were twenty-three steam vessels; eight under 100, twelve from 100 to 500 tons, three from 500 to 1,000 tons. At Aberdeen there were sixteen steam vessels; three under 100 tons, four from 100 to 300, three from 300 to 600, five from 600 to 1,000, and one of 1,117 tons. At Dublin there were fortyfour steam vessels; three under 100 tons, fifteen from 100 to 300, thirteen from 300 to 500, thirteen from 500 to 800 tons. At Dundee there were ten steam vessels; five under 100 tons, two from 100 to 300, three from 500 to 800. At other ports there were two hundred and seventy steam vessels; one hundred and thirty-nine under 100 tons, sixty-one above 100 tons and under 250, forty-five from 250to 500, twenty-two from 500 to 750, and three from 750 to 1,000.Of the 1184 steam vessels registered at the several ports of Great Britain, 547 are less than 100 tons burthen.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS

SUGAR IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES DURING THE YEAR ENDING 30th JUNE 1850.