TESTIMONIALS.

135

Where the word “ seal ” or “ seals ” is men-tioned, it must be understood to mean “ wax ”seals.

“ Perfectly uninjured ” means that the materialremained in its pristine state, after the depositoryenclosing it had been subjected to intense heat.

“ Intense heat,” “ severe fire,” “ fierce fire,” aresynonimous terms, and mean red-heat, i. e. 1000degrees of Fahrenheit.

“ Only slightly warmed ” means that the articleswere of the temperature known as “ milk-warm.”

“ Thoroughly steamed ” means that the articleswere of the temperature of boiling water—212 deg.Fahrenheit.

“ The iron was melted,” when applied to wrought-iron, is a misnomer, as wrought-iron does not melt—it only fuses—and the lowest heat at which ironwill weld being 12,777 deg., it follows, that such atemperature can only be produced by a blast.*

“ In immediate contact with the top of the chest”means that the articles touched the iron lining ofthe interior.

“ Not in the slightest degree injured,” whenapplied to wax seals, means that the sealing waxretained its impression ; that it did not run orspread upon the surface of the deed.

“ Perfect conductor ” means that it has no powerof transmitting heat.

A simple non-conductor only, when acted upon

* See Appendix F.