April 7th, 1873. Cold and overcast; temperature fell to 38°F; flurries of snow.

We went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where there was a reception.

At half past one we went to the bank-note printing works, which is larger than that of any other country. The paper manufactured in the printing works is a different colour on each side and contains watermarks. The design, made of copper (in other words, a mesh made of copper wire), is placed on the wooden frame which holds the paper-making screen and then pressure is applied to the screen to make one side of the paper. Then, after removing the mesh, they pour in paper pulp of a different colour; as a result, paper of a different colour is formed in those parts where the screen was covered, leaving the design clearly visible on the reverse. Once the paper is formed, the screen is placed on a flat piece of flannel to deposit the paper; thus, a pile is gradually built up, and steam-power is used to apply pressure to the paper and the flannel and thereby expel the water. The paper is then dried by steam, and after the sheets of paper have been removed the process is completed (by rolling them between two sheets of copper to give them a sheen, and so on). The paper thus produced is pliant and of excellent quality, but it involves a great deal of labour and is therefore costly.