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THE LOOKING-GLASS MAKER.
  This business consists in laying tin foil
on polished pieces of glass by the assistance
of quicksilver, so as to produce reflection
by effectually obstructing the rays of light ;
and afterwards fitting the glass to frames of
various sizes, either for the use of cham-
bers or dressing-rooms, or for the purposes
of decoration in the houses and mansions
of the great.  The polishing of the plates
for this business is usually effected by other
hands before they come to the Looking-glass
Maker. The usual mode of making glass
smooth, and in every respect proper to re-
ceive the tin foil and quicksilver, is to use
first of all fine sand water, then emery of
different degrees of fineness, and lastly,
colcothar of vitriol, or, as it is more com-
monlyi called, crocus martis, or purple
brown. The polishing instrument is a block
of wood covered with several folds of cloth
and carded wool, so as to make a fine elastic
cushion.  This block is worked by the
hand.  The plate is then fastened to the
table with plaister, covered with colcothar;
and the polisher finishes his operation by
working it backwards and forwards. This
trade is in very few hands, and therefore
profitable.      G