THE ARTIST'S ASSISTANT. 235

order to its being cut into proper fize and figure?,
for covering the places to be gilt. This cufhion
fhould be made of leather, and faftened to a fquare
board, which fhould have a handle ; it may be of
any fize from fourteen to ten inches fquare, and
fhould be fluffed, between the leather and board,
with fine tow or wool, but in fuch a manner that
the furface may be perfectly flat and even.

A proper knife is the next, and an equally requi-
fite inftrument, as it is neceffary, in all cafes, to cut
or divide the gold into parts, correfpondent to thofe
which are to be covered ; this knife may be the
fame, in all refpefts, as thofe ufed in-painting, called
pallet knives ; the blade of which may be five or fix
inches long, and fomewhat more than half an inch
in breadth, with an handle proportionable.

A fquirrel's tail is likewife generally provided,
for taking up whole leaves, and for compreffing the
gold to the furface where it is laid, and giving it the
pofition required ; it is ufed alfo, by fome, for tak-
ing uo the narts of leaves, but this is better done by
means of a ball of cotton woo!, which will both
anfwer this end and that of compreffing the gold, in
a more eafy and effectual manner. This fquirrel's
tail is cut fhort, and, fometimes, fpread in the fan
fafhion, bv means of a piece of wood, formed like
a pencil flick, but broad at one end, and fplit, to
receive the tail ; but it will equally ferve the pur-
pole in its' own form, when the hair is cut to a pro-
per length. This inflrument is, by fome, called a
pallet, but improperly, as the board for holding the
colours, in painting, and which is frequently in ufe
With this, being called by the fame name, would
neceffirily produce a confufion in fpeaking of either.

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