In making a gelatine emulsion with zinc it must be decidedly acid or it fogs.  I prefer nitric acid for the purpose.  I also found that some samples of the bromide behaved in a very peculiar way.  All went on well until it came to the washing, when the bromide of silver washed out slowly, rendering the washing water slightly milky; this continued until the whole of the bromide of silver was discharged from the gelatine, and the latter rendered perfectly transparent as in the first instance.  I remember a gentleman mentioning at one of the meetings of the South London Photographic Society that he was troubled in the same way as I was at that time.  I think if a few experiments were made in this direction with the zinc salt and worked out, it would be a great advantage.—­Wm. Brooks, in Br.  Jour. of Photo.

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DESIGN FOR A VILLA.

The villa of which we give a perspective drawing is intended as a country residence, being designed in a quiet and picturesque style of domestic Gothic, frequently met with in old country houses.  It is proposed to face the external walls with red Suffolk bricks and Corsham Down stone dressings, the chimneys to be finished with moulded bricks.  The attic gables, etc., would be half-timbered in oak, and the roof covered with red Fareham tiles laid on felt.  Internally, the hall and corridors are to be laid with tiles; the wood finishing on ground floor to be of walnut, and on first floor of pitch pine.  The ground floor contains drawing-room, 23 ft. by 16 ft., with octagonal recess in angle (which also forms a feature in the elevation), and door leading to conservatory.  The morning-room, 16 ft. by 16 ft., also leads into conservatory.  Dining-room, 20 ft. by 16 ft., with serving door leading from kitchen.  The hall and principal staircase are conveniently situated in the main part of the house, with doors leading to the several rooms, and entrances to garden.  The domestic offices, though conveniently placed, are entirely cut off from the main portion of the house by a door leading from the hall.  In the basement there is ample cellar accommodation for wine or other purposes.  The first floor contains four bed-rooms, two dressing-rooms, bath-room, w.c., etc.  The attic floor, reached by the servants’ staircase, contains two servants’ bed-rooms, day and night nurseries, and box and store rooms.  The estimated cost is L3,800.  The design is by Mr. Charles C. Bradley, of 82 Wellesley Road, Croydon.—­Building Times.

[Illustration:  SUGGESTIONS IN ARCHITECTURE—­DESIGN FOR A VILLA.]

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WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE.

William Spottiswoode, President of the Royal Society, was born in London, Jan. 11, 1825.  He belongs to an ancient Scottish family, many members of which have risen to distinction in Scotland and also in the New World.