single cover being put over the tray, and the outer orifice of the air-tube closed by a good cork, the whole may be left a few minutes to cool still further for perfect security, until, the glass being supposed to have arrived at the state of a thick paste, the annealing should commence. Then the ash-pit, the fire-place, and all the other apertures to the furnace are to be closed; the second glass cover put into its place; the chamber shut up by its iron and tile covers; a layer of bricks arranged close together over the whole upper surface of the chamber and furnace; the damper of the flue closed to prevent air passing through the fire-place, and the whole left to cool gradually for several days.
90. The interval between the common temperature and that at which the glass begins to lose solidity and acquire softness, is so much less with this variety than with flint glass, that it is probable a much shorter period of time is required for its perfect annealing than for the latter. That no failure might occur in this point, however, four days and nights have been allowed for the annealing of the large plates. If everything were left as just described, the contents of the chamber would be warm on the sixth or even the seventh day, so gradually do the arrangements allow it to cool; but on the morning or the evening of the third day, according to circumstances, the damper in the flue is withdrawn a very little to allow the passage of a small quantity of air, and by this means the cooling facilitated and regulated.
91. When the furnace and its contents are cold, the chamber is opened: if the experiment has been well conducted, everything will be found loose, and unaltered in disposition from what they were when first arranged. The earthenware supports are to be removed, and the tray taken out. After examining the glass itself, the exterior of the tray should be carefully observed, whether there be any appearance of leakages either through imperceptible holes or at the corners; and such place as can be rectified by a patch should be noted in reference to the future use of the platinum.
92. An operation which, to be successful, requires much care, is then to be performed; namely, the separation of the platinum from the glass. The tray should be placed on clean smooth paper upon a cloth. The corners are one by one to be opened by a blunt smooth knife, or some softer instrument, from the side towards which they were folded; and being then carefully
