expensive stamps on thousands of old deeds of partnership, leases and other documents, when no longer of value, offered a rich harvest to those who were dishonest enough to use them.

With a knowledge of these facts I was enabled to fully appreciate the importance of any system of stamps that would effectually prevent so great a loss to the Government; nor did I for one moment doubt but that Government would amply reward me if I were successful in so doing. After some months of study and experiment -- which I cheerfully undertook, although it interfered considerably with the pursuit of my regular business, inasmuch as it was necessary to carry on the experiments with the strictest secrecy, and to do all the work myself during the night after my people had left work -- at last I succeeded in making a stamp that satisfied all the necessary conditions. It was impossible to remove it from one deed and transfer it to another. No amount of damp, or even saturation with water, could obliterate it, and it was impossible to take any impression from it capable of producing a duplicate.

I knew nothing of patents or patent law in those days, and if I had for a moment thought it necessary to make any preliminary conditions with Government, I should have at once scouted the idea as one utterly unworthy. Dealing direct with Government, I argued, must render my interest absolutely secure; and in this full confidence, I wended my way one fine morning to Somerset House, and was ushered into the presence of the chief, Sir Charles Presley. I explained the object of my call, and showed him numerous proofs in my possession: how easily all his stamps could be forged, and also my mode of prevention. He was greatly astonished at what I had communicated and shown to him, and asked me to call again in a few days, which I did, and after further conversation on the subject he suggested that I should work out the principle of my invention more fully. This I was only too anxious to do; and some five or six weeks later, I called on him again with a newly-designed stamp, which greatly pleased him. The design was circular, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, and consisted of the garter, with the motto in capital letters surrounded by a crown. Within the Garter was a shield, with the words "Five Pounds." The space between the shield and the Garter was filled with network in imitation of lace.² The die had been executed in steel, which had pierced the parchment with more than four hundred holes, each one of the necessary form to produce its special portion of the design. Since that period, perforated paper has been largely employed for valentines and other ornamental purposes, but was previously unknown. It was at once obvious that the transfer of such a stamp was impossible. It was equally clear that mere dampness could not obliterate it; nor was it possible to take any impression from it capable of perforating another skin of parchment.

The design gave great satisfaction, and everything went on smoothly; Sir Charles again consulted Lord Althorp, and the Stamp Office authorities determined to adopt it. I was then asked if, instead of receiving a sum of money from the Treasury, I should be satisfied with the position of Superintendent of Stamps, at some £600 or £800 per annum. This was all I could desire, and great was my rejoicing at the prospect before me, for I was at that time engaged to be married, and my future position in life seemed now assured. A few days after affairs had assumed this satisfactory position, I called on the young lady to whom I was engaged (now Mrs. Bessemer), and showed her the pretty piece of network which constituted my new parchment stamp. I explained to her how it could never be removed from the parchment and used again, mentioning the fact that old deeds with stamps on them dated as far back as the reign of Queen Anne could be fraudulently used, when she at once said, "Yes, I understand this; but surely, if all the stamps had a date put on them they could not at a future time be used again without detection?" This was, indeed, a new light, and I confess greatly startled me, but I at once said the steel dies used for this purpose can have but one date engraved upon them. But after a little consideration I saw that moveable dates were by no means impossible; and shortly afterwards it came into my mind that this could easily be effected by drilling three holes of about a quarter of an inch in diameter in the steel die, and fitting into each of these openings a steel plug or type with sunk figures engraved on their ends, giving on one the day of the month, on the next the month of the year, and on the third circular steel type the last two figures of the year. I saw clearly that this plan would be most simple and efficient, would take less time and money to inaugurate than the elaborate plan I had devised; but I must confess that while I felt pleased and proud at the clever and simple suggestion of the young lady, I saw also that all my more elaborate system of piercing dies, the result of months of study, and the toil of many a weary and lonely night, was shattered to pieces by it, and I more than half feared to disturb the decision that Sir Charles