Take gum-lac, well picked, put it into a small linen bag, and wash it in pure water, till the water becomes no longer red, then take it from the bag and suffer it to dry. When it is perfectly dry, reduce it to a fine powder Then take four parts of spirits of wine, and one of gum, reduced, as before directed, to an impalpable powder, so that for every four pounds of spirits you may have one of gum; mix these together, and having put them into an alembic, graduate the fire so that the gum may dissolve in the spirits. When dissolved, strain the whole through a strong piece of linen cloth; throw away what remains as of no use, and preserve the liquor in a glass bottle, closely corked. This varnish may be employed for gilding any kind of wood.

When you wish to use it, you must, in order that the work may be done with more smoothness, employ a brush made of the tail of a Vari, (to be obtained at all artists' colour shops,) and with this instrument dipped in the liquor, wash over gently, three times, the wood which has been silvered; let each coat dry before the next is applied, and your work will resemble the finest gold.