The practical conclusions that I think myself warranted in drawing from these experiments, are as follow:—­In order to procure an ink which may be little disposed either to mould or to deposit its contents, and which, at the same time, may possess a deep black colour, not liable to fade, the galls should be macerated for some hours in hot water, and the fluid be filtered; it should then be exposed for about fourteen days to a warm atmosphere, when any mould which may have been produced must be removed.  A solution of sulphate of iron is to be employed, which has also been exposed for some time to the atmosphere, and which, consequently, contains a certain quantity of the red oxide of iron diffused through it.  I should recommend the infusion of galls to be made of considerably greater strength than is generally directed; and I believe that an ink, formed in this manner, will not necessarily require the addition of any mucilaginous substance to render it of a proper consistence.

I have only further to add, that one of the best substances for diluting ink, if it be, in the first instance, too thick for use, or afterwards become so by evaporation, is a strong decoction of coffee, which appears in no respect to promote the decomposition of the ink, while it improves its colour, and gives it an additional lustre.

    [2] Chairman of the Committee of Chemistry, in the Society for
        the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.  This
        valuable article is extracted from the 47th Vol. of its
        Transactions.

* * * * *

THE SKETCH-BOOK.

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FAIRY FAVOURS.—­A VISION OF FAIRY LAND.

(For the Mirror.)

Once—­whether in a dream, a waking vision, a poetical hallucination, or in sober reality, I know not—­once was I favoured with a distinct and glorious vision of the Faries’ Land!  I found myself in a country more enchantingly beautiful than the warm, romantic dream of the poet has ever yet conceived:—­therein bloomed trees, and plants, and flowers, in beauty and luxuriance never to fade; therein was the soft air strongly imbued with the ambrosial odour of the orient rose; but ever as a gentle breeze enfolded me, it seemed on its refreshing wings to bear the heavenly fragrance of unknown flowers.  The sky was of an effulgent azure, altogether indescribable—­but under the influence of stealing twilight, insensibly was it darkening, though the yet undimmed colours of sunset were inexpressibly varied and vivid.  Radiant and exquisitely beautiful beings, fair miniatures of mortals, inhabited this charming region, wherein was assembled all that had power to inebriate the soul with pure and rapturous felicity, and imbue it with an intense perception of its immortality and blessedness.  Now stole the faint, delicious sound