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  • The Freemasons' Magazine
  • Aug. 1, 1797
  • Page 28
  • A BRIEF SYSTEM OF CONCHOLOGY.
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The Freemasons' Magazine, Aug. 1, 1797: Page 28

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    Article A BRIEF SYSTEM OF CONCHOLOGY. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Page 28

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A Brief System Of Conchology.

collections , hate the disagreeable outsides , and will have all such polish , d . It would be veiv advisable , however , for both knios of collectors to ha-e the same " shelis in different specimens , both rough a'd polished : the naturalist wo-. Id by this means , besides knowing the outside of the shell , be better acquainted with its internal characters than he otherwise could be , and the lady would have a pleasure ht stateto its

in comparing the beauties of the shell , in its wroug , _ coarse appearance as nature ( jives it . Plow many elegancies in this part of the creation u-iusr be " wholly lost to us , if it were not for the assistance of an art of this kind ! Many shells in their native state are like rough diamonds ; and we can form no just idea of their beauties till they ' have been polished and wrought into form . valuable it

Th . mtrh ' the art of polishing shells is a very one , yet ¦ is very dangerous to the shells ; for without the utmost care , the means used to polish and beautify a shell often wholly destroy it . When a shell is to be polished , the first thing to be examined is whether it have naturally a smooth surface , or be covered with tubercles prominences

or . . A shell which has a smooth surface , and a natural dull polish , need only be rubbed with the hand , or with a piece of chamoy leather , with some tripuli , or fine rotten stone , and will become ofa perfectly bright and fine polish . Emery is not to be used on this occasion , because it wears away too much of the shell . This operation requires the hand of an experienced person , that knows how superficial the work must

be , and where to slop ; for in many of these shells the lines are only on the surface , and the wealing away ever so li tie of the shell defaces them . A shell that is rough , foul , and crustv , or covered with a tartareous coat , must be left a whole day steeping in hot water : when it has imbibed a large quantity of this , it is to be rubbed with rough emery on a stick , or with the blade of a knife , in order to get in diluted

off the coat . After this it may be dipped aquafortis , spirit of salt , or any other acid ; and after remaining a few moments in it , be again plunged into common water . This will add greatly to the speed of the work . After this it is to be well rubbed with linen cloths , impregnated with common soap ; and when by these several means it is made perfectlcleanthe polishing is to be finished with fine

y , emerv and a hair-brush . If after this the shell when dry appears not to have so good a polish as was desired , it must be rubbed over with a solution of gum arabic ; and this will add greatly to its gloss , without doing it the smallest injury . The gum-water must not be too thick , and then it gives no sensible coat , only heightening the colours . The white of an egg answers this purpose also very well ; but it is which will

subject to turn yellow . If the shell has an epidermis , by no means admit the polishing of it , it is to be dipped several times in diluted aquafortis , that this may be eaten off ; and then the shell is to be polished in the usual way with putty , fine emery , or tripoli , on the hair of a fine biush . When it is only a pellicle that hides the colours , the t hells must be steeped in hot water , and after that the skin worked off by degrees with an old file . This is the case with

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1797-08-01, Page 28” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 27 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01081797/page/28/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
LONDON: Article 2
TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. Article 3
MEMOIR OF MR. HULL. Article 4
AN APOLOGY FOR THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF SHYLOCK. Article 5
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB'S ARMY. Article 9
HISTORY OF THE THE ARTS AND SCIENCES FOR 1797. Article 12
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES or PETER PORCUPINE; Article 14
MEMOIRS OF CHARLES MACKLIN, Article 18
A BRIEF SYSTEM OF CONCHOLOGY. Article 26
THE COLLECTOR. Article 30
HUMOROUS ACCOUNT OF VENICE. Article 33
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. Article 34
WHAT IS THE ORDER OF FREEMASONRY? Article 38
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 42
POETRY. Article 50
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 54
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLLAMENT. Article 56
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Article 59
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 62
INTELLIGENCE FRONT THE LONDON GAZETTES . Article 67
OBIUARY. Article 70
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

A Brief System Of Conchology.

collections , hate the disagreeable outsides , and will have all such polish , d . It would be veiv advisable , however , for both knios of collectors to ha-e the same " shelis in different specimens , both rough a'd polished : the naturalist wo-. Id by this means , besides knowing the outside of the shell , be better acquainted with its internal characters than he otherwise could be , and the lady would have a pleasure ht stateto its

in comparing the beauties of the shell , in its wroug , _ coarse appearance as nature ( jives it . Plow many elegancies in this part of the creation u-iusr be " wholly lost to us , if it were not for the assistance of an art of this kind ! Many shells in their native state are like rough diamonds ; and we can form no just idea of their beauties till they ' have been polished and wrought into form . valuable it

Th . mtrh ' the art of polishing shells is a very one , yet ¦ is very dangerous to the shells ; for without the utmost care , the means used to polish and beautify a shell often wholly destroy it . When a shell is to be polished , the first thing to be examined is whether it have naturally a smooth surface , or be covered with tubercles prominences

or . . A shell which has a smooth surface , and a natural dull polish , need only be rubbed with the hand , or with a piece of chamoy leather , with some tripuli , or fine rotten stone , and will become ofa perfectly bright and fine polish . Emery is not to be used on this occasion , because it wears away too much of the shell . This operation requires the hand of an experienced person , that knows how superficial the work must

be , and where to slop ; for in many of these shells the lines are only on the surface , and the wealing away ever so li tie of the shell defaces them . A shell that is rough , foul , and crustv , or covered with a tartareous coat , must be left a whole day steeping in hot water : when it has imbibed a large quantity of this , it is to be rubbed with rough emery on a stick , or with the blade of a knife , in order to get in diluted

off the coat . After this it may be dipped aquafortis , spirit of salt , or any other acid ; and after remaining a few moments in it , be again plunged into common water . This will add greatly to the speed of the work . After this it is to be well rubbed with linen cloths , impregnated with common soap ; and when by these several means it is made perfectlcleanthe polishing is to be finished with fine

y , emerv and a hair-brush . If after this the shell when dry appears not to have so good a polish as was desired , it must be rubbed over with a solution of gum arabic ; and this will add greatly to its gloss , without doing it the smallest injury . The gum-water must not be too thick , and then it gives no sensible coat , only heightening the colours . The white of an egg answers this purpose also very well ; but it is which will

subject to turn yellow . If the shell has an epidermis , by no means admit the polishing of it , it is to be dipped several times in diluted aquafortis , that this may be eaten off ; and then the shell is to be polished in the usual way with putty , fine emery , or tripoli , on the hair of a fine biush . When it is only a pellicle that hides the colours , the t hells must be steeped in hot water , and after that the skin worked off by degrees with an old file . This is the case with

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