Full text of "The art of bleaching piece-goods, cottons, and threads, of every description : rendered more easy and general by means of the oxygenated muriatic acid ; with the method of rendering painted or printed goods perfectly white or colourless. To which are added, the most certain methods of bleaching silk and wool; and the discoveries made by the author in the art of bleaching paper. Illustrated with nine large plates, in quarto, representing all the utensils and different manipulations of the bleaching process. An elementary work, composed for the use of manufacturers, bleachers, dyers, callico printers, and paper-makers"

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THE

ART OF BLEACHING.

THE

ART OF BLEACHING

PIECE-GOODS,
COTTONS, and THREADS,

OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,

Rendered more eafy and general by Means of the Oxygenated,

Muriatic Acid ; with the Method of rendering painted or

printed Goods perfectly white or colourlefs. To which

are added, the moll certain Methods of bleaching

Silk and Wool ; and the Discoveries made by

the Author in the Art of bleaching Paper.

ILLUSTRATED WITH NINE LARGE PLATES,
IN QUARTO,

REPRESENTING ALL THE UTENSILS AND DIFFERENT
MANIPULATIONS OF THE BLEACHING PROCESS.

AN ELEMENTARY WORK,

COMPOSED FOR THE USE OF MANUFACTURERS, BLEACHERS^
DYERS, CALLICO PRINTERS, AND PAPER-MAKERS,

By PAJOT DES CHARMES,

EORMERLY INSPECTOR OF MANUFACTURES, MEMBER OF THE
LYCEUM OF ARTS, OF THE SOCIETY OF INVENTIONS AND
DISCOVERIES OF THE PHILOMATHIC SOCIETY, IN FRANCE.

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH,
With an Appendix.

LONDON:

I>RINTS» FOR Q. G. AND J. ROBINSON, PATER-NOSTSR-RO"VV,

. 1799-

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I*

Jr\.N Explanation of the Difficulties which attend the
Method of Bleaching, described in rhe fecond Volume
of tue Annales de Chimie, when pra£tifed by inexperi-
enced Operators - page i

CHAP. II.

The Methods fubftituted inftead of thofe enumerated in
the foregoing Chapter - - -6

CHAP. III.

The Composition of Lutes - r « 12

CHAP. IV.

The Method of difpofing the Apparatus for Diftillation

CHAP. V.
Preparation of the Materials - * 43

xlv CONTENTS,

CHAP. VI.
The Diftillation g 52

CHAP. VII.
Concerning the alkaline Lixivium or Lees - 74

CHAP. VIII.
Refpe&ing the Preparation to be given to the various
Kinds of Goods « - - or

CHAP. IX.
Concerning the firft Immerfion - - in

CHAP. X.
Jnftruc"lions with Regard to the Quantity of Lixiviations
and Immerfions - - - 126

CHAP. XI.
An Account of the Quantity of Linen, and Cotton
Thread, bleached at each Immerfion, and the Colours
acquired by thofe Subflances - - 134.

CHAP. XII.
Of the Firft Dreflings - 140

CHAP. XIII.
Of the Laft Dreflings - 154

CHAP. XIV.
Concerning Proof Liquors - . 17a

CHAP. XV.
The Methods of remedying fuch Accidents as happen
during the Courfe of Bleaching - - 178

CONTENTS. xv

CHAP. XVI.
The Method of taking out Spots of Ruft or Iron-mould,
Tar, Fruit, Wine, Sec. - - - 189

CHAP. XVII.
The Expence of Bleaching different Kinds of Goods, of
Linen, Hemp, or Cotton, by the oxygenated muriatic
Acid, at per Ell, or per Pound - - 193

CHAP. XVIII.

The Method of bleaching yellow Wax, nankeen Stock-
ings, and other Articles which have acquired a dark
Colour by keeping ; Linen flamed by Dampnefs, and
the Madder Grounds of printed Goods - 207

CHAP. XIX.
The Method of difcharging the Colour of painted or
printed Cottons, or Linens, and every Kind of Dye on
Cloth or Thread, before or after it is wrought up 21$

CHAP. XX*

The Methods of taking out the Dye from Silk and Wool

228

CHAP. XXI.
Dying by the oxygenated muriatic Acid - 232

CHAP. XXII.

Various Properties of the oxygenated muriatic Acid 236

CHAP. XXIII.
On the Podibility of applying the Refidues to Profit 250

CHAP. XX rV.
The Method of bleaching Hemp and Flax in the unma-

xvi CONTENTS.

nufaftured State, as well as Thread and Piece-goods^
by the Afliitance of Water only - 261

CHAP XXV.
The Method of Bleaching written or printed Papers and
Rags, whether unbleached, dyed, or coloured . 266

CHAP. XXVf.
- - * - 271

CHAP. XXVII.
Fabrication of crude Alkali (cendres Gravelees) with the
Lees of Wine - - - - 276

CHAP. XXVIII.
The Method of bleaching Wool - - 280

CHAP. XXIX.
The bleaching of Silk - - . 291

Explanation of the Plates - 296

Appendix - » - - 245

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,

BY THE AUTHOR.

iHOUGH the illuftrious Swedifh che-
inift Scheele was the firft who obferved the
property of the oxygenated muriatic acid,
which was alfo a difcovery of his own, of
difcharging vegetable colours, has acquired
the ftrongeft claim to the gratitude of the
public, it is equally true, that the celebrated
French chemift Berthollet has eftablifhed an
equal claim to the acknowledgments of the
world, by his active and able exertions on an
object of fo much confequence to the com-
merce of the linen and cotton manufactures.
The different memoirs which he has pub-
lifhed on this fubjedt, particularly that which
is inferted in the fecond volume of the An-

b 2 nales

Vlll PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

nales de Chimie — the fcientific application he
has made of this acid to difcolour the feve-*
ral vegetable fubftances which conftitute the
raw materials of 'manufactures — the particu-
lar developement, which the profperity of
thole manufaclures led him to confider as ne-»
cerTary to excite emulation among {peculate
ors, foon afforded very promifing remits,
as might naturally be expected from the
publication of fo ufeful a procefs. Manu-
facturers in all parts of the nation were in-
duced to confult chemical and philofophical
men, in order to obtain information refpecH*
ing it : the happy confequences which have
rewarded their labours in this refpect, are
truly honourable to the zeal of the parties
themfelves, and have added to the reputa-
tion of their guide in this new department
of refearch.

The knowledge which I had acquired re-
fpecting the inconvenience and delay of the

common

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. IX

common procefs of bleaching— the incalcula-»
ble advantages which I faw mull attend the
method propofed by Berthollet — the new life
which the manufactures of thread and piece-*
goods, and the commercial tranfadtions de-
pendent thereon, would certainly receive : —
thefe views, added to the defire of knowledge,
and a wifh to contribute to the propagation
of a difcovery which promifed an increafe of
our riches and our enjoyments, engaged me
to verify the procefs defcribed in the Annales
de Chimie. My intention was, in the firft
place, to make myfelf mafter of the procefs,
and then to propofe, with confidence, this
new method of bleaching to the manufac-
turers, merchants, and bleachers, in my de-
partment of infpedtion, to whom this fpecies
of induftry might prove advantageous, and to
give them every information in my power.
But I foon found that it would be in vain to
defcribe and publifh this method, which

would

X PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS*

would be in a fhort time forgotten or confined
to a few individuals, if it were not rendered
more economical, lefs dangerous, and more
amply defcribed with regard to the manipu-
lations, or practical part, fo as to be rendered
eafy and perfectly adapted to the comprehen-
fion even of workmen totally unacquainted
with chemical operations. For I knew that
mailers have feldom the time, or will take
the trouble, to operate themfelves, but moft
commonly coafide their work to men upon
whom they can depend. I therefore took the
utmoft pains to render the difcovery of
bleaching with the oxygenated muriatic acid
of general ufe. As I had the good fortune to
be fuccefsful in my trials, I fhall endeavour
in the following work to defcribe the procefTes,
by the afiiftance of which I fucceeded.

I firft give an account of the principal diffi-
culties I experienced in operating, according to,

the

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. Xl

the directions in the memoir before-men-
tioned ; difficulties which the author him-
felf would not have failed to remove, if he
had himfelf operated in the large way. I
then defcribe the methods which I have
thought proper to fubftitute, inftead of feve-
ral of thofe which are there pointed out : and,
laftly, I defcribe, with the greateft precifion
and minutenefs, the different operations
which are indifpenfably neceffary to give
linen, hempen, cotton and mixed goods, a
perfect bleaching, equal in colour to the beft
which are met with in the market, and are
known in France by the names of the white
goods of Troyes, Rouen, Senlis, &c.

BT THE TRANSLATOR.

X HILOSOPHICAL men, as well as manu-
facturers, will, no doubt, receive with fatif-
fa&ion the following treatife on a new art of
great importance to fociety, and truly honour-
able to philofophical chemiftry. It is unne-
cessary to enlarge on the value of a procefs,
which has been eagerly and univerfally
adopted as foon as ever it was known, and
its principal difficulties removed. Neither
will it require any argument to fhew the
advantage which practical men muft receive
from a detailed and very faithful account of
procefTes, conducted on a fcale of fufficient
magnitude for commercial purpofes.

a i When

VI ADVERTISEMENT.

When we reflecl: on the ftate of thofe arts
which are mentioned in the title pr.ge, and
the numerous applications this new method is
ftill capable of, as well as the utility of teach-
ing it to all who are in any refpect concerned
in bleaching, it will fcarcely be queftioned,
but that this elementary treatife muft prove of
great public benefit.

WILLIAM NICHOLSON.

Newman-ftreet, June 13,
1799.

THE ART

BLEACHING COTTONS, THREAD, &c.

THE OXYGENATED MURIATIC ACID, '

RENDERED OF MORE EASY AND GENERAL USE *.

CHAP. I.

An Explanation of the Difficulties which attend the
Method of Bleaching, defcribed in thejecond Volume
of the Annales de Cbimie, when praclifed by inex-
perienced Operators.

V_>/NE of the firft difficulties, in the operation
illuftrated by the plate annexed to the memoir
in the Annals of Chemiftry, is to obtain in the

depart-

* It was intended that this work fhould have been publifh-
cd, in 1791, by the General Adminiftration of Commerce
(in France) ; but the fuppreflion of that board, in the courfe
of the fame year, prevented its appearance. Since that time,
other circumftances have been unfavourable to the author's
intention of publifhing the refults of his experiments on tha
new method of Bleaching. — Ncte of the Jutbar.

B A fhort

i The Art of Bleaching

departments fuch furnaces as are there pre-
ferred to be ufed. They can fcarcely be had
but by fending to Paris, where they are made :
and if it be even fuppofed that thefe furnaces
might conveniently be made at a diftance from
the capital, they would flill appear to be coftly,
fuitable only to a fmgle matrafs, not calculated
to fhew the procefs which takes place in the
veffel, fubje£r. to be heated too fpeedily, and
liable to render part of the lutes difficult to hold ;
laftly, they do not always fecure the operation
from the confequences of an abforption of
the water of the tub into the intermediate vef-
fel (notwithstanding the tube of fafety), in fuch
cafes where the heat is not kept up and urged
particularly towards the end of the diftillatiom
or where any negligence has taken place in the
agitation which is required for the fpeedy ab-
forption of the gas, or where the tubes of com-
munication are too fmall.

2. The greatefl addrefs and precaution are
required for the proper application of the re-
curved tube, which on the one hand communi-

A fliort table of fynonimes is added at the end of this
work, for the ufe of thofe who may be unacquainted with the
new nomenclature. — P. D. C.

The method of Bleaching, to which the prefent chapter
be:}is reference, is defcrihed in my Chemical Dictionary, ait.
Bleaching. — Note of the Ttaiflator.

cates

Cottons, Thread, &V. $

cates with the matrafs, and on the other with the
intermediate veffel. The flighteft agitation, whe-
ther in attending the lutes, fupplying the fur-
nace with coal, &c. is fufficient to break this
tube, and likewife that which communicates
to the tub. The difagreeable confequences of
fuch an accident, wThen the apparatus is in a
ftate of activity, and the difengagement of the
gas muft continue to take place, are too obvious
to need defcription. The fame accident may
happen whenever the tube is put in its place,
or taken out to clear the matrafs. To this we
may add, the difengagement and frequent re-
newal of fo many ftoppers of cork, which are
corroded by the gas and the acid during their
paffage, and the adjuftment of the lutes requir-
ed to cover and defend them. The care and vi-
gilance required to maintain the feveral lutes of
the whole communication muft be extreme.

3. The pneumatic tub or veffel having no
cover, muft fuffer a large quantity of gas to
efcape during the courfe, and particularly to-
wards the end of the operation, which is not
only attended with lofs, but renders it impoffible
to remain for any length of time in the place of
diftillation, without being greatly and even in-
fufferably incommoded.

4. It is not a flight talk to conftru£t the fides

» 2 or

4 The Art of Bleaching

or borders of the inverted veffels in the pneu-
matic tub, to retain and concentrate the gas
in a proper manner. The memoir affords no
explanation of the manner of conftructing cr
adjufting thefe parts, and, confequently, leaves a
degree of uncertainty, which expofes fuch ope-
rators as may not be aware of the great import-
ance of the perfect clofure of thefe parts, to the
probability of making very confiderable mif-
takes.

5. The long fucceffion of lixiviations and im-
merfions prefcribed in this memoir, which are in-
difpenfible according to that procefs, is produc-
tive of much Iofs of time and inconvenience.

6. The method of compofing the lutes, parti-
cularly thofe which are proper for this diftillation,
not being explained, any one who is not ac-
quainted with the means of doing this, or can-
not conveniently procure them, will be much
embarraffed, more particularly if his refidence be
in the country, where the practical chemifts of
the vicinity, if any, may either be unprovided in
this refpe£t, or not difpofed to fupply either the
lute, or the initruclions for making it.

7. Laftly, I have found, by my own experience,
that, independent of the difficulties here enume-
rated, the fingle obttacle of keeping the lutes in
a proper ftate during the whole courfe of the

diftillation,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 5

diftillation, together with the no lefs effential
requifite of preventing the danger of immerfions,
are quite fufficient to repel the efforts of the
moil zealous and obltinate in this kind of ope-
ration.

Such are the leading impediments to which
every one, whether he be a practical chemifl or
not, will find himfelf expofed in an attempt to
follow in the large way the procefs of bleaching
defcribed in the fecond volume of the Annales
de Chimie. It was, therefore, of effential con-
fequence to diminifh, or rather to remove thefe
difficulties, without which this important art
might be confidered as of no value to the public.
It will be feen in the account of the methods
I have employed, whether 1 have fucceeded in
rendering the application and practice of this
new procefs much more advantageous and prac-
ticable, by perfons the leaft acquainted with
chemical manipulations.

CHAP.

The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. II.

The Methods fubjlimtt J inflcad of thofe enumerated in
thefcrcgoir.g Chapter.

X SHALL, in the firft place, defcribe the fur-
nace I have made ufe of, which I have endea-
voured to render of the greateft poffible utility,
without increafing the expence of fuel.

A fimple calk of the proper height, or four
pieces of wood framed together (fee plate I, fig.
i and i *), fupport the furnace. The hearth
is difpofed upon boards defended by tiles placed
on a bed of clay. The walls or fides are formed
of bricks, likewife connected with clay. 'J his
furnace would be equally ufeful and folid, and
perhaps lighter, if it were lined with plaifter,
like thofe portable furnaces commonly ufed in
Paris,' which it confiderably refembles in its
manner of fupport. It is ufually double, and
ought in fact to be fo, when the operations are
intended to be made on a fcale of fome extent ;
and confequently it is divided in the middle by
a partition. At the front of the furnace above

* The defcriptions of the plates, by literal reference, are
found at the end of this work.— N.

there

Cottons, Thread &c. 7

there are two openings, which may be either
round or fquare, adapted each to receive a
fquare or cylindric capfule, with a ledge, and
flat or rounded at bottom. Behind, and on the
fame level as the capfule, there is a vent or pipe
which conveys the heat and vapour of the char-
coal, which is burned in a chafing-difli, or upon
a portable grate, beneath, or round the capfules,
into a kind of refervoir, which being difpofed
a few inches higher than the capfules, ferves to
place along fquare bafon of fheet-iron with pro-
jecting edges, which is kept filled with fea fait
or muriate of foda to the height of an inch and
a half, in order that it may be dried during the
diftillation. At the two oppofite extremities are
two fmall apertures, which are opened or clofed
as may be found expedient for the pailage of the
heat or fmoke, and therefore operate like re-
gifters. In the empty fpace, at the back part
of the furnace, beneath the drying place, there
is an opening in the fide, into which troughs or
boxes of fheet-iron are put, containing the mix-
tures of muriate of foda, and manganefe, ready
prepared before hand. In this place they are
kept dry, and in readinefs to be poured into
the vefiels, the evening before the diftillation.

The opening through which the chafing-difli

is introduced, which is likewife on the fide of

b 4 the

8 The Art of -Bleaching

the furnace, is not quite fo much raifed as the
bottoms of the capfules, which, though fup-
ported by their rims on a level with the top of
the furnace, have neverthelefs their bottoms
placed on a fmall bar (verguillon). This open-
ing may be fliut during the diftillation by a plate
of iron, or any regiiler whatever which does not
permit the accefs of air from without, except at
its lower part. The furnace, it may be perceiv-
ed, is portable, and on that account can be
placed in any part of the laboratory, as conve-
nience or new arrangements may require.

If, in order to anfwer any particular purpofe,
or without attending to expence, the preference
fhould be given to furnaces of baked earth, I
would then advife the ufe of fuch as have their
chimnies on the fide, without a dome. Many
furnaces of this kind have lately been conftrufted
at Paris, by Laffineur, rue Mazarine. Their
upper part, which is flat, and on a level with
the chimney, allows the placing of capfules ;
and the chimney, which is at the front, renders
it eafy to take out the wood or charcoal which
is put into a fire-place, provided with its alb-
hole in the fame manner as the other furnaces
which have a dome. This furnace is round,
portable, lefs coftly, and appears to rne to be, in
other refpedls, much more convenient than that

defcribed

Cottons, Thread, &c, 9

defcribed in the Annals : befides which, they
may be made of any required fize.

2 = Inftead of the matrafs, the intermediate
veflel, and the tubes which communicate from
this laft veflel to the diftilhng and the pneu-
matic apparatus, I have fubftituted a tubulated
retort, to which I have adapted a recurved neck
of glafs or lead, the beak of which is placed and
luted to a fmall leaden fupport in the form of a
funnel j and this laft piece is adjufted to the end
of a tube, of the fame metal, within the pneu-
matic tub, whofe lower extremity is bended to
a right angle, and performs the office of the glafs
tube in the apparatus of Berthollet. This tube,
as wTell as the additional neck of the retort,
may likewife be made either of pottery, ftone
ware, or, which is ftill better, of porcelain.

Inftead of the retort, and its neck of glafs or
lead, I have ufed, with no lefs but even with
more advantage, a body or bottle tubulated at
the fhoulder. Above the neck of this body or
veflel is applied a pipe, which at the fame time
forms the communication and the interior tube.
I (hall hereafter fliew the method of difpofing
this apparatus.

3. The pneumatic veflel, to which I adjuft a
cover, is divided into three parts by two falfe
bottoms, fixed in the veflel itfelf by means of

its

I o The Art of Bleaching

its conical figure, or upon a hoop, or mafles of
wood, fixed with pins. I (hall alfo, in the pro-
per place, give an account of the manner of
fixing and difpofing thefe falfe bottoms, as well
as of other kinds of veffels, not without their
peculiar conveniences.

4. I have considerably diminished the lixivia-
tions and immcrfions. In the chapter which
treats of thefe fubjecis, it will be feen in what
manner I have proceeded in Amplifying thefe
important operations.

5. I mail alfo defcribe the method of compo-
fing two lutes, which I have found very ufeful ;
one made with the cake of linfeed, and the other
known in chemiftry by the name of fat lute.
The latter, though mere expenfive and difficult
to make, appears to me to deferve the prefer-
ence.

6. By fuppreffing the intermediate veflel, and
by the fubftitution of a retort or tubulated bot-
tle inftead of the matrafs, together with the re-
curved neck or tubes of lead inftead of the tubes
of glafs ; when once the connecting part is well
luted, in the manner hereafter to be defcribed,
no further trouble or inconvenience follows from
the lute?, becaufe there is but one to take care
of, namely, that of the beak of the neck placed
on the tube which pafles into the pneumatic

veflel.

Cottons, Thread, &c. II

veffel. This lute being renewed, if thought fit,
at each diftillation, and a little attention being
paid to apply it well, is never found to fail. The
operator is, therefore, at liberty to employ his
time in the lixiviations and immerfions. It
will hereafter be feen in what manner I have
fucceeded in removing the danger of thefe im-
merfions.

In this early ftage of our defcription, it is
eafy to perceive how much lefs troublefome our
apparatus muft prove, than that to which we
have referred in the firft chapter. Neverthelefs,
as it is of confequence that the inhabitants of
the country, to whom my attention has been
principally directed in this work, mould be in
no refpect expofed to failure in the fraalleft par-
ticular, I (hall proceed to give the molt minute
accounts of the ufes and arrangement of the
apparatus j and, in the firft place, I mall treat of
the 'utes.

CHAP,

12 Tie Art of Bleaching

CHAP. III.

The Compoftlion of lutes.

FAT LUTE.

JL HE obfervations I (hall offer on this parti-
cular lute are partly extracted from Baume's
Chemiftry. I have thought it proper to add
fome ufeful obfervations for the fake of besrin-
ners. Take any quantity of good grey or blue
clay : I have always found fullers-earth (iirgile
a foulon) excellent for the purpofe. The clays of
Gentilly and of Vanvres, near Paris, are Iikewife
very good. The clay is to be dried in thin cakes,
which may be fpeedily done in an oven after
the bread is drawn ; the dried clay is to be
pounded finely, and fifted ; a certain quantity of
this clay, together with a fufficient dofe of boiled
linfeed oil, rauft then be beaten in an iron or
bell-metal mortar for a long time, until the
fmalleft lumps have difappeared, and the whole
mafs ihall form a pafte, of an uniform colour,
rather folid and tenacious, but, neverthelefs, not
adhering to the hands: this is called fat lute.

A large quantity of this lute may be prepared
beforehand, more efpecially when the operations

are

Cottons, Thread, &c. i*

are to be performed in the large way, and almoft
continually. That which has been made for a
twelvemonth is more pliant and better, but it
muft be kept in a cellar, in a covered earthen
pot. When it has become too dry to be
handled, it may be eafily foftened, by firft
warming it, and afterwards beating it in the
iron mortar, with as much of the boiled linfeed
oil as may be found neceffary.

The lute, which has ferved for one diftillation,
may be ufed again, after the burned or decom-
pofed parts have been feparated : thefe parts
may be known by the white or yellowifh colour,
and the dry or brittle confidence which the lute
illumes at thofe places. Lute which is worked up
again is fo far from being worfe, that it is more
flexible and tenacious. In this manner, the old
fat lute, or that which has already been ufed,
may be advantageoufly mixed with new lute.
It is particularly effential that the burned por-
tions mould be rejected from this mixture 5 if
this be not done, the lute will not dry as it
ought, and, fo far from being foft and flexible, it
will be harm, fhort, and continually difpofed to
give way, by flicking to the fingers.

When the quantity to be mixed, or kneaded
up again, is very fmall, the trouble of beating it
in the mortar may be avoided, becaufe the ope-
ration

14 The Art of Bleaching

ration is performed very well, by kneading the
matter with the hands. For this purpofe, a
portion of the lute already kneaded in the mor-
tar, and foaked with oil, may be taken and
rolled in the veiTel containing the pounded and
fifted earth ; the portion of earth which adheres
may then be worked in ; and, by a repetition of
this manipulation, the mafs will fpeedily become
enlarged, and muft be ftrongly compreffed, rolled
out, and doubled again, until it is found that it
pofiefTes the requifite foftnefs and tenacity, and
does not crack when doubled.

If it mould happen that the lute mould become
too foft by excefs of oil, and clay is not at hand
to correct this fault, the mafs will foon acquire
firmnefs by expofing it to the open air upon
parchment, or upon a plate. It muft not be
laid upon paper, becaufe it is very difficult to
feparate this material entirely ; and if any parti-
cles mould remain, there would be reafon to fear
that, when incorporated in the mixture, they
would either prevent the perfect adhefion of the
lute, or would allow the paffage through that
kind of void, or pore, which the fragments of
paper would form. It is, moreover, to be re-
marked, that this lute cannot be too fmooth
and uniform. It ought not to afford any per-
ception of inequality when it is handled, or

kneaded>

Cottons, Thread, &V. 15

kneaded, nor indicate the prefence of foreign
fubftances, fuch as fand, ftraw, earthy particles,
&c. which are capable of preventing the inti-
mate connection of its parts.

I ftrongly infift on the perfection of this lute,
becaufe it is the foul of diftillation.

Boiled linfeed oil is thus made : two pounds
of common linfeed oil being put into a faucepan,
or proper vefTel, of copper, iron, or pottery, add
three ounces of red litharge, finely powdered and
lifted ; after ftirring the whole well together*
place the vefTel on the fire, heating it gradually,
until the litharge is completely difTolved. It is
neceflary to ftir the mixture very frequently
with a wooden fpatula, until the whole folution,
which at firft acquires a brick-duft colour, is
completed : it is then to be removed from the
fire, and, when cold, transferred into a ftone or
earthen vefTel, and kept well corked. This is
the boiled linfeed oil above directed to be ufed
in making the fat lute.

When this oil, which is blackifh after boiling,
is well made, it congeals in the vefTel as foon as
it is cold. When it is required to be poured
out, it may be rendered fluid by bringing it near
the fire. To fave the trouble of heating it, it
may be poured, as foon as made, into a plate or
fhallow vefTel, or left in the vefTel ufed for boil-
ing

1 6 The Art of Bleaching

ing it. It is feldom neceflary to heat it for the
mere purpofe of mixture ; the quantities re-
quired for this purpofe may be taken up with
the fingers, or in any other manner.

It is proper to obferve, that the veflel in which
the oil is boiled muft be fumciently high, to
afford a fpace for the fuelling of the fluid ; for,
as foon as the heat begins to ael:, it will rife
and overflow the veffcl, if particular attention
be not paid to it. As foon as this procefs
begins, the veffel muft inftantly be taken off
the fire, and the mixture ftrongly agitated by
plunging the fpatula in it, at the fame time
blowing ftrongly at its furface with the mouth ;
by which means the ebullition will be checked.
After this event lias happened two or three
times, it may with certainty be concluded, that
the oil will be fufficiently coniiftent to form a
good fat lute. By cooling, it immediately con-
geals, as has been remarked, to the confiftence of
plaifter, of a black colour, inclining to brown.

The lute made of linfeed oil cake is thus
made :

The cake is firft to be broken and pounded
in an iron or bell-metal mortar, and afterwards
fitted. through a iilken fieve ; ftarch is then to
be boiled up, to the confiftence of fize or glue ;
a fmall piece of this, being powdered with the

flour

Cc:U;tsy Thread, &c. 17

flour of the oil-cake, is to be worked in a plate,
or with the hands ; more of the flour may then
be added, and the kneading continued until the
mafs is abfolutelv without any lump, or in-
equality, and its confidence has become nearly
the fame as that of the fat lute ; after which it
is to be kept in a plate, or covered wooden
bowl, in the cellar, for ufe. The fame care
mud be taken with this, as with the fat lute, not
to wrap it in paper, but in parchment, if thought
neceftarv.

This lute dries and hardens much on its outer
furface, which remains uninjured at the place
where it is applied; but it is decompofed more
fpeedily than the fat lute, on account of its
peculiar property to become hard and flirink
with a firong heat. In this ftate, in confe-
quence of the action of acids, it aflumes a yellow
colour, and is then good for nothing: it mull be
renewed.

A very good lute is likewife made with equal
parts of the flour of almonds, of linfeed, and of
itarch, kneaded together. It muft be under-
ftood, that the latter is to be boiled to the con-
fidence of ftarch.

To thefe different lutes we may add that
which is compofed of lime and white of egg,

c which

1 8 The Art cf Bleaching

which has the property of acquiring a consider-
able degree of hardnefs.

Among all thefe lutes, that to which I have
conftantly given the preference, and is always
kept in fight in the prefent work, is the fat lute.
The lute of white of Qgg and lime, retained by
a cloth and a bandage, may be advantageoufly
ufed as a covering to the fat lute *.

The fat lutes adhere very much to the hands,
during the kneading, or working ; but it is not
difficult to wafli off the remains after the opera-
tion : nothing more is neceffary, than to ufe
warm water and foap, or foap leys, after having
previoufly wiped off the greater part with blot-
ting paper.

* Faujas de St. Fond, in his Voyage en Ecoue, mentions
the following lute, communicated to him by. the celebrated
Dr. Black, of Edinburgh. That chemift confrdered it as
impermeable to every fpecies of gas.

This lute is composed fimply of the pafte of almonds, in
the ftate it poffefles after extraction of the oil ; it is foftened
with a fmall quantity of water, in which glue ha<, been dif-
folved; the glue may even be difpenfed with.— Note of the
Author.

CHAP

Co1 tons, TBread, &?r. ig

CHAP. IV.

The Method of dt/pcfing the Apparatus for Dtf-
tillation.

IT has already been remarked, that our diftil-
ktion may be performed either in a retort, or 9
tubulated body or bottle. There can be no
difficulty in properly placing thefe veiTels. The
jun£Hon of the neck or tube, communicating;
with the pneumatic veflel, is the only obje£t
which requires particular care. The manner
of joining thefe two parts, by means of lute
alone, will be explained below.

As the ufe of the retort requires more atten-
tion with regard to its form, and the applica-
tion of the additional part, the following details
will be of ufe to prevent accidents.

When the retorts are new, and have not be*
ore been luted to any additional part, it is ad-
vifable either to rub a fmall quantity of warmed
wax on the parts where the lute is to be ap-
plied, that is to fay, the neck of the retort, as
well as the correfpondent part of the addi-
tional piece, or to fuffer a fmall quantity of
ftarch or pafte to dry upon thofe parts j without

c z this

20 The Ait of Bleaching

this precaution the lute could not be eafily ap-
plied ; it would Aide and roll upon the glafs in-
ftead of adhering.

Care muft afterwards be taken to fix round
the neck of the retort a mafs of lute, fomewhat
greater than is fuppofed to be neceffary to fill
the additional part to the place where it is to
be fixed, in order that by the forcing of that
piece upon the neck of the retort, the lute may
extend and apply itfelf more intimately. The
fame attention muft alfo be paid to the mafs of
lute, which is required to fecure the beak of
the additional piece in its connection with the
pneumatic apparatus. Thefe obfervations are
of more importance, in order that the two pieces
may, by this compreftion, be made to operate as
if they formed one entire vefTel.

To apply thefe lutes with eafe and conveni-
ence, the retort is to be held in one hand, in
fuch a manner as that its belly or lower part
may not touch or reft upon any thing whatever,
becaufe the flighted blow upon this very thin
part will break it.

Before the lutes are applied, care muft be
taken to introduce the neck of the retort into
the additional piece, and mark with lute or wax
upon the additional piece the place where the
extremity of the retort touches it internally;

and

Cot 'ens, Thread, &ff. 21

and in like manner, on the retort itfelf, the place
where the extremity of the additional piece
touches its neck. By means of thefe marks it
is eafy to eftimate the thicknefs of the mafles
of lute, by placing the two veffels near each
other in the refpeftive portions they ought to
have when fixed. Laftly, they are united toge-
ther by Hiding the recurved additional piece
upon the neck of the retort, which is to be held
firmly by its neck, refting the hand on the
furrounding part, if the retort is (mall; or hold-
ing it by the recurved part, if it be large, or the
additional piece mould be too long and heavy.
The greateft attention muft be paid not to turn
the parts round, during this operation, more
than is abfolutely neceffary to bring them toge-
ther ; and if this can be done without any turn-
ing at all, it will be dill better, as the lute will
hold more effeaually. The neck of the retort
muft be entered into the additional piece as far
as it is capable of comprefling the lute, or nearly
to the marks made upon the pieces before they
were put together. In this fituation the lute}
which forms a mafs round the edge of the addi-
tional piece, muft be raifed fo as to cover both
furfaces, after having firft preffed it as firmly
as poffible into the joint; fmoothing it upon
the two pieces, fo as to prevent the fmalleft

c 3 opening

22 The Art of Bleaching

opening or crack. It is advifable after all to
fpread a thin coating of the boiled linfeed oil
over the lute, which not only renders it fmoother
and more perfect, but by the denfity it acquires
from evaporation it forms a kind of varnifh or
pellicle, which fupports the late, and prevents
the fiffures which might be formed during the
actual operation. Whenever in the courfe of the
work the lute ihould appear too dry, it mull be
fupplied with a thin coating of oil.

While the lute is thus fpread and applied on
the external part of the additional piece and the
neck of the retort, the compound apparatus is
to be held by the additional piece only, and the
retort left to be fupported untouched in the air,
by its infertion at the neck only.

Inftead of luting the additional piece to the
retort, (imply at the extremity of th^ neck of
this laft, and at the place where the wider part
of that piece touches the retort, we might apply
the lute upon the whole furface comprehended
between thofe parts. But I have found that it
is fufheient if thefe two parts be made fecure.
A retort luted in this manner forms one fingle
and entire body with its additional neck ; and
with very little care and attention, the lute will
feldom or ever have occafion to be renewed
before one or two months' fervice.

The

Cot tens, Thread, &u o§

The tube on which the recurved additional
piece refts during the diftillation, and through,
which the gas is introduced into the pneumatic
tube, is, as I have remarked, entirelv of lead.
If i be not caft, it ougiu to be carefully joined
with ftrong folder ; and, for fear this lair mould
fail, it will be prudent to cove/ it with a coating
of yellow wax, pitch, or melted pitch.

At the beginning o^ my experiments, I made
thefe tubes of the fame fize as thofe of the ba-
rometer ; I afterwards had them of eight or nine
lines (| inch Engliih), and did not find that the
diftillation was lefs advantageous. The greater
diameter even feemed to be preferable, becaufe
the gas was tranfmitted with more facility, and
the abforption feemed to be more effectually op-
pofed.

That part of the tube (if foldered as before
mentioned) which pafifes under the lower falfe
bottom, ought to be carefully bended with -a
round corner, before it is coated with the wax
or pitch ; and in the bending it is fafer to caufe
the foldered part to lie within the angle. It 's
likewife proper to ftop the mouth of the tube
with paper, or a cork, during the time of wax-
ing or tarring, in order to prevent any introduc-
tion of thofe fubltances into its cavity, taking
care to withdraw this temporary (topper before

c 4 the

24 The Art of Bleaching

the apparatus is applied to actual ufe. It is
not abfolutely neceflary to coat any other part
of the tube, but that which is to be placed
within the pneumatic apparatus, becaufe it is
eafy to fto.p any other part, out of which the
gas might iflue, with foft wax or lute.

The extremity of this tube, in which the re-
curved neck of the additional piece is to be in-
ferted, rauft have the form of a fmall funnel, net
only for the purpofe of affording the moft con.
venient fupport, and the more ready adaption
to the various fizes of thofe necks, but alfo be-
caufe it more readily fupports the only kind of
Jute which in this work we fuppofe to be ufed.
This lute is never deranged, if care be taken to
prefs it againft the internal furfaces of this fmall
funnel, and of the glafs or lead of the additional
piece, fo as to unite them as much as poflible,
it being always underltood that the lute is good,
and polTdTcs the properties before defcribed in
treating of that fubflance.

I have remarked that the ufe of the retort
with its additional neck might be difpenfed
with, by fimply ufmg a body or bottle with a
neck (even a wine bottle may be ufed in cafe of
neceflity, provided its bottom be either very thin,
or very gradually heated). In the orifice of the
neck of thefe veflels, is to be adapted a tube of

lead.

Cottons, Tbready Cifr. 25

lead, properly bended, and of a due fize. This
method is in fact very advantageous and eccmo
mical ; but care muft be taken to join the tube,
if it be of meet-lead, particularly in the parts
below the bottle which are liable to become
heated, a fhort time before the end of the diftil-
lation ; to join it, I fay, without folder, by
fufing the two edges together. For in procefs
of time the folder, though ever fo ftrong, yet
becaufe it contains tin, is liable to exceflive cor-
fofion by the oxygenated muriatic acid, which,
notwithstanding its heat, is not found to attack
lead in any perceptible degree.

But it may, perhaps, be more convenient to
caft fuch a tube at one heat, as well as the ad-
ditional piece in the apparatus, with the retort;
unlefs, indeed, it mould be practicable to have
it made of ftoneware or porcelain, the latter of
which is the leaft permeable to the gas. Or
we might, with more advantage, make ufe of a
thick tube of common glafs, which might be
eafily bended in a charcoal fire, and might be
adapted to the tubulated bottle, as well as the
leaden tube. But the danger of its breaking, and
the difficulty of procuring others in cafe of need,
together with the expence, have led me to reject
this, as well as the tubes of pottery or porcelain.

In order that the tube adapted to the neck

a 6 The Art of "Bleaching

of the bottle may accurately fit, and prevent all
cfcape of the oxygenated muriatic acid, it is de-
fended by lute in fuch a manner, that it (hall
not be thruft into the neck of the bottle, with-
out extruding a portion of that fubftance; and
a border of luting muft then be applied round
the place of junction, which will effectually pre-
vent the efcape of any vapour which might ifTue
through the firir. luting. Laftly, the whole fur-
face of this external luting is to be fmeared
with boiled linfeed oil; after which the diftil-
latory apparatus may be confidered as perfectly
fecure.

If a tube of glafs be ufed, it may be fo adapt-
ed by grinding with emery as to fit the neck of
the glafs body, and require no luting. The
lame might be done v%ith a tube of porcelain, if
the material were fufriciently fine.

With regard to the other neck which I have
recommended, as well in the bottle as in the
retort, it ferves not only to introduce the mate-
rials when the leaden tube is previoufly luted in,
but likewife to admit the external air, if by
chance an abforption fhould be perceived to
take place ; that is to fay, if the water, by a
diminution of the heat, which leaves a kind of
vacuum, mould rife from the pneumatic appa-
ratus into the body: though even in this cafe

there

Cottons, Thread, &c. 2T

there would be no reafon to fear its breaking
notwithftanding its being confiderably heated,
as at the end of the operation. I have expreftly
made the trial feveral times, and always with-
out any accident. The fluid becomes gradually
heated in its pafiage along the (ides of the tube
or neck of the diftiiling apparatus, before it
enters and mixes with the matter in the body
itfelf; and again, if the tubulated bottle and
tube be made ufe of, the water riling through
the latter and falling in the middle of that con-
tained in the yeffel, cannot directly touch the
fides before it becomes mixed. But, at all events,
if the fmalleft abforption be feared, it will be
fufficient to raife the Hopper and return it to its
place the inftant after the introduction of the at-
mofpheric air. Inftead of a glafs Hopper, a cork
may be ufed, which muft be carefully luted
round the neck, if there be any reafon to think
that the vapour mould find its way through, in
confequence of the neck being not perfectly
round.

With regard to the pneumatic veflfel, the fol-
lowing is the method of placing and fixing the
falfe bottoms. (See plate I. and If. and plate
IX. figs, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.)

A common wooden hoop is plained flat on
the fide which is to bear the falfe bottom, and

fixed

28 The Art of Bleaching

fixed within the caflc with pegs which do not
pafs quite through the ftaves. The falfe bot-
tom, fecured together by two dove-tails, is plac-
ed upon this hoop, and fixed there by fimilar
pegs, which penetrate part of the bottom it-
felf, and by that means prevent it from either
rifing or turning. The cavities between the
falfe bottom and the fides are then to be clofed
round with caulker's fluff {brai fa), or melted
pitch. It mull' be remembered, that the verti-
cal axis with its crofs arms is to be placed be-
neath each falfe bottom. The arms are fixed in
a mortice by means of two pins, which prevent
them from vibrating or getting loofe. The
leaden pipe in which the extremity of the addi-
tional neck is to be inferted. is not to be put
into its place till the firft falfe bottom is immove-
ably fixed. A notch is fuppofed to have been
cut in this bottom to admit the tube; and when
it is duly placed, the vacant fpace is to be made
good, firft with tow and then with melted
pitch.

Inftead of the wooden hoop, which affords a
folid fupport for the falfe bottom, it may anfwer
the purpofe very well, if cleats or blocks of
wood, three inches thick, be pinned on, at dif-
ferent parr> of the circumference ; or, which is
ftill better, if the trouble be taken to fit the

falfe

Cottons, Thread, &cj iy

falfe bottom fo well, that it may bear fimply
upon the inclination of the ftaves, which natu-
rally oppofe its defcent. This method would
certainly be the quickeft, and is not very dif-
ficult to be done.

When the falfe bottom is thus fixed, it muft
be retained in its place by pins placed at certain
diftances, and afterwards made tight by caulk-
ing.

In order that the tube may not be expofed to
vary in its pofition, a mark muft be made on
the edge of the funnel which terminates one of
its extremities, by which it is eafy to afcertain
the pofition of the bended part below, and place
the fame in the moft favourable fituation. It.
will be convenient to fix the pipe in this pro-
per fituation, by means of two pegs, which
muft be drawn out previous to the laft fixing of
the falfe bottoms.

When the firft or lowed falfe bottom is fe-
cured in its place, the fecond arm of the agita-
tor is to be faftened to the axis, and the other
falfe bottom is to be placed and made faft in the
fame manner as the firft.

It is particularly neccffary to place thefe two
partitions in fuch a manner, as that the holes of
communication may not be in the fame vertical
line, but as far as poftible from each other, that

30 The Art of Bleaching

is to fay, diametrically oppofite. This diipofw-
tion is neccfTary in order that the gas may have
time to concentrate in one part, before it ef-
capes to the other. For the fame feafon, it is
proper to direct, the lower opening of the leaden
tube to that extremity of the diameter which is
oppofite the pipe of communication from the
firft to the fecond bottom, in cafe one diftilling
vefTel only is ufed. If two or more communi-
cate with each pneumatic apparatus, the open-
ings of the tubes muft be refpecYively difpofed
at equal diftances, as far as pofiible from each
other, and from the opening in the falfe bottom
next above them.

If inftead of falfe bottoms the preference
fliould be given to inverted tubs [cuvettes), the
following method mav be ufed to make the rims
or tides, and to fix them immoveable. (See
plate IX. fig. i, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.)

The rim may be made in two ways ; either
by fhort ftaves, fixed with wooden hoops as
ufual, fcarfed or hooked together at their two
extremities, or tKe, by fimply fixing a broad
wooden rim. like that of a fieve, round the bot-
tom of this inverted vefTel, by means of fmall
wooden pins with heads.

Eoth thefe methods are good. The fecond
has the advantage of taking lefe room and being

cheaper.

Cottons , Thread* <3c. 3 1

cheaper. If this method be ufed, the points
of the pins muft be made a little thicker than
the ilem, in order that they may be lefs difpofed
to draw out of the holes bored in the bottom.
With regard to the joining of the two ends of
this kind of broad hoop, it may be effected very
firmly by fewing them together with a fiat ftrip
of ofier, as is done in the better fort of chip
boxes, or it may be very well managed by
means of two pins with heads, which may be
driven through the overlapping part, and fe-
cured at the other fide by driving a fmall wedge
into the tail of each pin. With regard to the
empty fpaces or openings which may be be-
tween the rim and its bottom, they muft be
flopped with glaziers' putty (mafiii du vitrier),
which may be fmooihed with oil. This putty
is of excellent fervice when the muriatic acid is
ufed without potafh j but it is foon deftroyed if
potafh be put into the pneumatic veffel. \n
this cafe the internal part of the places of junc-
tion muft be pitched or caulked, as has been
already fhewn.

The method of making thefe inverted velTels
with Haves and hoops, has the advantage of
being clofe, and not requiring any particular
caulking.

Laftly, inftead of thefe inverted veffals, the

operation

32 Tic Art of Bleaching

operation may be performed merely by flat
beards without rims, provided, however, that
the upper board be fome inches broader on
everv fide than the lower, in order that the bub-
bles of <ras may be forced in their afcent to
ftrike each board in fucceilion, and remain for a
fhort time in contact with it. The effential
circumflance in this arrangement will be to
keep the upper part of the vefiel well clofed,
which is to be defended at the hole which ad-
mits the axis of the agitator by a central tube
to retain the gas ; and the partial efcape which
might take place between that axis and the
covering, mult be more effectually prevented by
a cloth foaked in alkaline lees. This method,
betides its convenience, requires lefs care in fix-
ing, but it renders it necefTary to work the agi-
tator more frequently, in order to haften the
abforption of the gas in the water. I have de-
termined to relate all the methods which I have
fuccefsfully praclifed, in order that thofe who
may undertake any work of this nature, may
determine for themfelves, not only with regard
to general motives of preference, but likewife
the facility with which their own fituation.or
circumftances may enable them to carry the
fame into execution.

The next object is to fix thefe inverted vefTels

Cottons, Thread, &c» 32

In the pneumatic apparatus. This is a very
iimple operation, and confifts merely in fixing
pieces of wood or brackets, three inches in
length, under each of the two bars which con-
heel: the pieces of the bottoms of the inverted
vefTels together. The bracket pieces are fatten-
ed to the fide of the veffel with oak pegs, and
the crofs-bars which reft upon them are fecured
by pins of the fame material driven above them
and on each fids, in fuch a manner that the
central perforation is in its true place, and the
whole is incapable of being removed or dif-
turbed.

In this operation, as I have already recom-
mended with regard to the falfe bottoms, it is
advifable to place the revolving axis in its pro-
per fituation, in order to afcertain that it is not
likely to be impeded in its action, It is bell,
indeed, to avoid fixing either the two inverted
vefTels or the two falfe bottoms, if thefe be ufed,
until the clear movement of the agitator has
been afcertained ; without which precaution,
there might probably be occafion to difplace
them, either in whole, or in part, to remove
the impediments which might prevent the free
motion of the parts.

From the defcription I have here given, it
may be feen that my pneumatic vefTels have

d only

3 4 The Art of Bleaching

only two falfe bottoms or inverted veflels. I
think it advifable not to ufe more, becaufe I
have remarked that three cf thefe veflels requir-
ing a greater depth, the diftillation became
much more laborious, particularly when I made
ufe of the intermediate apparatus. *i. The lutes
did not fo well refift the preflure of the vapour.
i. It was not difengaged with the fame fpeed,
and confequently the operation was more tedi-
ous. It is better, therefore, to ufe ihallower
veffels, and enlarge their dimenfions in the dia-
metral direction, as I have conftantly founds
The proportions which have appeared to me to
be advantageous for a fmall common workfhop,
are i \ foot in height, 32 inches in diameter be-
Jowr, and 36 inches diameter above, all infide
meafure.

With regard to the kind of wood for con-
tracting the veflels, it has appeared to me to be
a] molt a matter of indifference. I ufed fir, oak,
and cheftnut, without obferving that either the
one or the other were productive of any incon-
venience to the quality or clearnefs of the liquor,
imlefs that, at the nrfl or fecond diftillation, the
degree of force was a' little altered, by foaking
into the wood. That kind of wood may, there-
fore, be ufed which can the moft readily be pro-
cured. I muft, however, obferve, that the large

calks

• Cottons, Thread, &V. 35

calks in which oil is brought from Languedoc,
which are moftly made of cheftnut-tree, are very-
convenient when cut in two to form the pneu-
matic veffels. They have even an advantage
over the oak and fir cafks, becaufe they are
clofer in the joints, better hooped with iron
and wooden hoops, and impregnated with the
oil, in confequence of which they are not fub-
je£t to become dry, how long foever they may
be out of ufe, provided they are kept in a clofe
place ; whereas the tubs of fir wood require to
be aim oft conftantly filled with water. Oak
does not contract fo foon as fir.

It muft alfo be obferved that the white deal
muft not be ufed, becaufe it tranfmits water like
a fponge. The yellow deal is to be preferred,
becaufe it undergoes lefs alteration from the
fluid, no doubt on account of the refin it con-
tains. But if the ufe of the white deal, or
any other fpongy wood cannot be avoided, it
will be proper to paint the veffel within and
without with one or two good coatings of white
lead. I have had the great fatisia£tion to ob-
ferve, that this treatment not only prevents the
water from palling through, but likewife that
the oxygenated muriatic acid does not attack
this colour, or if it does attack it, a long courfe
of time muft be required for that purpofe.
p 2 Melted

36 The Art of Bleaching

Melted pitch or tar likewife afford a good de-
fence for fuch wooden materials as have this de-
fect. A mixture of vellow wax and refin is
likewife of excellent fervice as a coating for the
whole internal furface of the pneumatic veffcl,
including the inverted veffels and the aqifafcor.

Befides the falfe bottoms, or inverted vc-fiels
we have defcribed, each apparatus rni owife

have its cover chamfered, to fit the hfer-

ence, with apertures to admit the tul. the

central axis; together with two other.,, n at&efr,
one of confiderable fize, to receive a funnel
through which water is poured as occal on re-
quires, and the other fmaller, to be opened on
fuch occallons, in order that the air may efcape.
The cover being nailed, or rather fattened with
wooden pins, in its place, is afterwards fecured
by glueing Hips of paper over the line where it
is applied to the veflel.

Inftead of the wooden pneumatic veffel, it
might be more advantageous to ufe fimilar
veflels of grit-ftone (gres), rolled or caft-lead, or
cement of loriot *. Manufacturers mufl form

The author does not appear to fpeak from experience in
fhis place. It is not probable that any manufacturer would
be tempted to incur the expence of fione veflels ; but it is
neverthciefs proper to remark, that every (lone which could

with

Cottons* Thread, &rV» 37

an eftfmate of the advantages to be derived
from the expences they incur. If leaden vef-
fels be ufed, it will be proper to defend the
fo 1 Wed places with one or more coats of white
leadi or putty, or refin, or pitch mixed with
bees-wax. I have tried thefe prefervatives
againft the deftru&ion of the folder, and found
them anfwer very well.

As it is ufeful to poffefs a knowledge of the
height and quantity of water contained in the
tub, there is a tube of glafs fixed againft its
outer fide, the lower end of which is bended
and enters the vefTel about five or fix inches
from its bottom. This part, into which the
tube is ftuck by firm prefTure, is to be previoufly
defended by lute, which is afterwards trimmed
•and laid fmooth upon the fides of the tube and
1he vefTel.

Laftly, as it is efientially neceiTary to afcer-
tain, from time to time, the flrength of the
liquor, and to draw it off upon occafion, I have
ufefully availed myfelf of a brafs cock, covered
with feveral coatings of white lead for this pur-

with facility be wrought, contains lime or clay, or both ; the
former of which would no doubt be fpeedily corroded by the
liquor, on which it would alfo have a pernicious effect. It
is not likely that clay would be more durable. So that on the
whole there is no temptation to ufe, and many reafons to rejefl,
the earths. — T.

d 3 ^ pofe.

3 S The Art of B Je aching

pore. By means of this cock, it is eafy to draw-
oft any fmall quantity of the fluid at pleafurei
It has likewife the advantage of readily rilling
the narrow-mouthed (lone- ware, or glafs vefTels,
in which the liquor may be kept when there
may be any to fpare, or in cafe it is thought fit
to pre er- e a quantity always in readinefs.

When it is required to draw off the acidulated
water with fpeed and in abundance, it is con-
venient to ufe one or more wooden tubes or
fpigots, which may be opened feparately, or all
at once, into appropriate veffels. But it is moft
convenient that they mould have ftoppers of
cork only, becaufe thofe of wood, though covered
with tow, are very apt to burft the wooden tubes
by their fwelling ; befides which they very fel-
dom fit with accuracy, unlefs turned with ex-
traordinary care.

With regard to the intermediate vefifels men-
tioned in the Annales de Chimie, in cafe the
operator is determined to ufe them, it is proper
to avoid ufing ftoppers of cork to clofe the
orifices, and fupport the tubes at the fame time.
For this fubftance being very fpeedily afted
upon by the corrofive gas, expofes the lutes
and clofures to frequent derangement, as well
as the tubes which pafs through them. At the
beginning of my operations, I fupplied the place

Cottons, Thread, &c. 39

of thefe Hoppers as follows, when the necks
were of a larger diameter than the tubes. I
made Hoppers of glafs, with flanches on the
fides. Thefe were ground with emery upon
the necks themfelves, and they were perforated
quite through with a hole, no larger than was
proper to admit the paflage of a glafs or leaden
tube. This tube was coated with lute of fuf-
ficient thicknefs, that it could not pafs through
the hole without forming a protuberant piece,
which I prefled and fmoothed againH the tube
as well as the orifice. Or if the Hoppers of
cork fhould, neverthelefs, from convenience be
chofen, the necks may be covered with lute,
and the Hoppers forced in. In cafe the interval
be fmall, the parts may be heated a little, co-
vered with virgin-wax, and then forced into the
neck, and the fmall vacuities which may re-
main may be filled up with the fame wax,
melted and poured out of a fpoon. Inftcad of
lute, yellow wax may alfo be ufed to fix the
tube of fafety ; and the fame operation may be
performed with regard to the glafs or leaden
tube, which communicates from the tub to the
intermediate veffel. Stoppers and tubes luted
in this manner, are, in fome meafure,, fixed for
ever ; for when the wax is once hardened, they
are in no further danger.

D4 If

4© The Art of Bleaching

If the operator be fo fituated, that he can
order the intermediate veflels of whatever
form he chufes, it will be advifable to have
the orifices of no greater diamerer than juft
to fuffer the tubes to pafs through. No other
defence will then be neceflary, than that they
Ihould be covered with lute at the time of
placing them, which will render them fuf-
ficiently firm. The rim, or border of thefe ori-
fices, ought like wife to be large enough to fup-
port the mafs of lute which it is proper to ap-
ply round the tube.

It may not, perhaps, be impoffible, that fkil-
ful workmen, of which there are many at the
glafs houfes, mould execute tubulated retorts
with a recurved neck, in the form of an adopter.
Such veffels would be particularly convenient.
The tubulated bottles exhibited in fig i and 2,
plate IX, may be fubflitufed inftead of retorts,
with the greateft advantage. In my lateft ope-
rations on bleaching, I have always preferred
them, becaufe mere convenient,' lefs coflly, and
lefs fubjeft to accidents.

As it is of utility to know the method of
grinding the ftoppers here defcribed, as well as
thofe of the tubulated retorts or bottles which
may be wanted, becaufe the ftoppers are ufually
fold in the original rough ftate, at fuch works as

arc

Cottons, Thread-, &c. 45

are not in the vicinity of glafs grinders, and con-
sequently cannqt be ufed in the works we have
defcribed, I fhall point out the method I have
made ufe of. The tool which I have conftrucled
for this purpofe, plate II, fig. 1, confifts merely
in a kind of vice or clams, in which the nob of
the ftopper may be fixed, and of which the
handle being inferted in the centre of a brace,
receives and communicates the rotatory motion
imprefled upon this laft by the hand.

As the orifices, neither of retorts, bottles,
&c. nor of their (toppers, are accurately round,
it is neceflary, in order to reduce the firft irre-
gularities, that a kind of ftopper made of iron
fhould be ufed in the firft place before the ftop-
per itfelf. Common fand-ftone, powdered and
lifted, may be ufed in the firft place, and after-
wards fine fand which has been lifted through a
clofer fieve ; or otherwife the fand may be ufed
firft, 'and when the whole internal face of the
neck has loft its polifh, it muft be ground a
ihort time with fine fifted or warned emery.
If fand or grit-ftone cannot eafily be procured,
emery of different degrees of finenefs may be
made ufe of. Care muft be taken to wet the
ftopper from time to time before it is covered
with fand, or to drop it from a fpoon with one
hand, between the ftopper and the neck, while

the

az Tie Art of L

the other is employed in turning th2 brace. ft
is Jikewife neceflary to wet the ftopper -when
the grinding matter is too party, or the rotation
takes place by (tarts. If this be not attended
to, there will be great danger of breaking either
the ftopper or the tube.

This method of grinding is expeditious enough.
A quarter of an hour, or half an hour at moft,
*s fufficient for each (topper ; but if greater ex-
pedition be required, it will be neceflary that
two perfons (hould apply to the work, one to
turn, while the other applies the grinding ma-
terials and water.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thread, £?r. 43

CHAP. V.

Preparation of the Materials,

JL HE knowledge of difpofing the diftilling
apparatus to the greateit advantage, is not the
only point in which thofe who are defirous of
praclifing this new method of bleaching, with
the oxygenated muriatic acid, fhould be in-
ftrucled. It is very effential to prepare the ma-
terials for producing this acid, which are, as is
well known, the muriate of foda, manganefe,
and the fulphuric acid, or (imply the muriatic
acid and manganefe. But this laft mixture is
lefs convenient to be obtained, and is likely to
prove expenfive, if the manufactory be not (o
Situated as to obtain the acid at a low price.
I fliall therefore fpeak at length of the firft mix-
ture only, and fliall (imply obferve, with refpecl
to the fecond, that there is no ri(k when it is
ufed of breaking the diftilling veffels by the
drying, and the incruftation of the materials;
and alfo that the vapour'of the muriatic acid,
when poured out, is particularly offenfive and
injurious to refpiration. It is likewife lefs eafy
to procure the muriatic than the fulphuric acid,

becaufe

44 T&e Art of Bleaching

becaufe' the fabrication of this laft in France
is more widely eflablilhed.

The proportions of the mixture of muriatic
acid and manganefe, which I found to anfwer
very well, are five ounces and a half or fix
ounces of cryftallifed manganefe to one pound
of the acid; that is to fay, about two pounds
and a half of manganefe for (even pounds of
the muriatic acid at 25 °. This is the propor-
tion fuitable to the pneumatic veflel, of which
the capacity has been already defcribed.

The grey muriate of foda * dried on an iron
plate, in the part of the furnace defcribed in a
preceding chapter, and ftirred from time to time
till it appears white, is to be pounded and fifted
through a fieye ot moderate finenefs. It is efTential
that this fliould be done, in order that it may mix
more intimately with the manganefe, without
which the fulphuric acid could not decompofe
it with the fame facility, and a lefs quantity of
gas would be produced. The diftilling veflel
being likewife flrongly heated towards the end
of the diilillation, there would be reafon to fear
that the coarfe fait might fall more fpeedily to

* The regulations of the fait duties in Great Britain are
fuch, if I miftake not, as prevent this coarfe fait from being
ufed in Great Britain. T.

the

Cottons, Thread, (3c. 45

the bottom than the manganefe, and form a
cruft which would endanger its breaking.

The observations here made with regard to the
grey muriate of foda, are equally applicable to
the white muriate.

The manganefe muft alfo be pounded very
fine, and fifted through the fame fieve as the mu-
riate. The good quality of this mineral fub-
ftance is known from its cryftallization, in
fine brilliant needles (lightly adherent to each
other. Not that it is to be fuppofed that the
other kinds may not produce as much oxygen,
buc the cryftallized fpecimens are to be preferred-
For it is more eafily pounded, is ufually more
pure, and lefs difficult to be cleared of quartz,
fpar, &c. and likewife, from its cryftallization, it
prefents a larger furface to the action of the
acid.

The white muriate of foda has not appeared to
me to be preferable to the grey. It is true that it
contains lefs impurity, but it likewife contains
an equal quantity of water, and is dearer. The
grey muriate of foda, on the contrary, befides its
being much cheaper, contains a certain quan-
tity of muriate with an earthy bafis, which let-
ting go its acid at a certain heat, fuch as takes
place towards the end of the diftillation, permits

4^ The A; t cf Bleaching

the operator to ufe a lefs quantity of fulphuric-
acid to decompofe the muriate of foda.

The fulphuric acid, if it be purchafed in the
rectified ftate, ought to mark at leaft 6c° below
Zero, on the Areometer for falts and acids of
MofTy, which is the inftrument I fhall always
refer to in the courfe of this memoir *. As it is
neceffary to dilute the acid with its own weight
of water, which then caufes it to mark about 38
or 400, it would be much better either to make
it of this ftrength at firfr, or to procure it with-
out being rectified, becaufe, as Berthollet well
obferves, it would be ready for ufe, and lefs ex-
pensive in the charges of rectification and car-
riage.

If the rectified fulphuric acid be ufed, it is pro-
per to obferve that the acid muft be poured into
the water, and not the water upon the acid, on
account of the heat and efTervefcence which is
produced by the mixture. Thefe are much \eh
in the firft cafe. It is advifable, moreover, in the
mixture of thefe two liquids, to pour the acid
gently, and along the fides of the glafs at two

* I have not been able to learn the principles upon which
this inftrument is conftructed. It is much to be regretted
that instruments for afcertaining fpecific gravities, are not
conftantly made to denote the numbers in the ufual tables
where water is taken as unity,— .J*.

Cottons, Thread, &c. 4y

or three different times, with an interval of fe-
veral minutes, taking care to turn the face on
one fide, to avoid the drops which may fly-
about. As the union of thefe two fluids pro-
duces, in a very fhort time, fuch a degree of heat,
that it becomes impoflible to touch the bottom,
of the veffel with the hand, it is bed to make
the mixture in veffels of (tone-ware, or earth
well baked, with handles, and a neck, if it be
poflible to procure them of this kind, in order
that they may be lifted with eafe and conveni-
ence, when it is required to pour the diluted
acid upon the mixture of muriate and of man-
ganefe in the diftilling veffels. Common earthen
veffels may be ufed, but they are more readily
penetrated by the acid, which fplits and de-
compofes them in procefs of time.

The proportions, according to which I would
advife the procefs to be performed with the
greateft fpeed and economy of time, are four
pounds of muriate of foda, twenty ounces of
cryflallized manganefe * (lefs of this being re-
quifite than of fuch as is not cryflallized), and
forty-four ounces of fulphuric acid at 6o°, di-

* Our beft mangarrefe is brought from the duchy ofDeux-
ponts, from a place named Hombourg ; it is ufuaily mixed
with quartz and other matters.— -Note of the Author,

luted

4S The Art of Bleaching

luted with three pounds and a quarter of water.
I have fometimes ufed only forty ounces of
water, and did not find the operation the lefs
effectual. Thefe proportions are adapted to a
veffel containing fourteen vefTels of water, each
containing fixtcen Paris pints, and the materials
are expofed to diftillation in a retort, one foot
in height from the lower part of its neck, and
eight inches in diameter or width in its body *.
I muft obferve befides, that the moft elevated
retorts are to be preferred, becaufe their roof
and necks are lefs liable to be heated, and the
lutes on that account are lefs liable to crack
or be decompofed. The bottles, or tubulated
balloons to be ufed inftead of the retorts, mould
have nearly the fame proportions. Inftead of
white glafs, the common green bottle-glafs may
be ufed with almoir. equal advantage. For
though it is lefs tranfparent, it is always fuf-
ficiently fo to allow the operator to fee what
pafles within the veffels. The only change fuch
veflels will undergo is, that the bottom, which
ought to be chofen thin, is liable to be decom-
pofed, or converted into the porcelain of Reau-

* This height is neceflary, in order that one third, or one
fourth part at leaft, may remain for the fwelling or effervef-
cence of the contents, — Note of the Author.

mur,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 49

mur, if the muriate of foda fhould encruft the
bottom fo as to leave no humidity between
them. But this change does not render them
lefs ferviceable.

The prefent is certainly the place to fpeak of
the attempt I have made, to procure the fulphu-
ric acid without the intermedium of nitre, and
to defcribe the apparatus I made ufe of for that
purpofe. It confifted of a pitcher or pot of
ftone-ware, perforated at bottom, the neck
of which communicated with two fmall two-
necked glafs bodies connected together, and
each half filled with water. Under each of
thefe glafs vefiels was lighted charcoal, to keep
the water in a ilate of evaporation, and under
the earthen pot there was likewife fire to heat
and enflame the fulphur, which was put into
the pot through the opening oppofite the neck.
This opening, which draws in the external air
for the combuilion of the fulphur, was clofed
with a ftopper, perforated like the nozel of a
garden-pot.

The fulphur, thus enframed, foon filled the
vacant part of the glafs veffels with its whitiih
cloudy vapour. This vapour, meeting that of
the water, combined with it, and fell in acidu-
lous drops on the lower water, over which the

e vapour

$0 The Art of Bleaching

vapour of the fulphur circulating for a time, docs
alfo probably combine with it to a certain point.
Another proof that this condenfed water did
combine with the vapour of the fulphur is,
that the fame vapour, received in drops beyond
the fecond glafs vefTel by means of a recurved
adopter, came out in the acid ftate, reddening
the tincture of turnfol, and effervefcing with
alkalis when concentrated. I have twice re-
peated this experiment with fuccefs, and with
fcarcely any inconvenience.

I likewife attempted to burn fulphur and
heat water, in two feparate veffels communi-
cating with a third. The two vapours com-
bining together in the receiving vefTel, likewife
produced by their condenfation a fluid, which
afforded the fame indications of acidity as that
of the former experiment.

When fulphur was burned in an earthen
vefTel, and its vapour communicated into an
earthen jar, in which water almoft boiling was
poured, the refults were the fame.

It is probable that if thefe experiments were
repeated more at large, with a fuitable ap-
paratus, a longer feries of glafs veffels, and
proper furnaces, the fuccefs would be more
complete. I intend at forne future time to re-
fume

Cottons, Thread, &c, 51

fume this procefs, and fliall haften to commu-
nicate my fuccefs to the public, if fuccefs mould
attend my endeavdurs *.

* Chaptal made a great number of experiments in the
large way, for the purpofe of difcovering the means of acidi-
fying fulphur, without the expence of nitre. Upon the whole
they were unfuccefsful. The manufacturer who may be
difpofed to enter into this refearch, is advifed firft to read
Chaptal's paper in the Annales de Chimie, II. 86. or the full
abflraft of the fame paper in my dictionary of Chemiftry,
art. Sulphur. T.

E Z

CHAP.

5* The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. VI.

'The DiJlHlation.

JL HERE arc two methods of making the oxy-
genated muriatic liquor, namely, with fmell and
without. Each has its advantages and incon-
veniences. I fhall defcribe both methods, be-
gining with the liquid which has fmell.

In the firfl place, we mutt fuppofe the cover
of the wooden vefTel to be fixed with its pegs,
and pafted round with (trips of paper. For this
laft purpofe, the pafte of wheat flour is prefera-
ble to ftarch, becaufe more tenacious.

The wooden vefTel mult alfo be fupplied with
river wrater, either before or after the patting of
the flips of paper, which feldom require to be
renewed. The water in the tubs, of the fize
already defcribed, muft rife to the height of
about fixteen inches, or within an inch or two
of the top, which may be eafily known by the
index tube on the outfide. Every inch in vef-
fels of that fize anfwers nearly to fixteen Paris
pints (or very nearly the fame number of Eng-
jifli quarts).

Whenever this vefTel is filled with water after

the

Cot I oris, Thread, &c. 53

the covering is fixed and clofed, whatever may
be its construction, it is of importance, that the
fmall aperture in the covering, near that pro-
vided for the infertion of the funnel, mould be
unclofed, to permit the efcape of the internal air.
This is the more efTential (though the hole may
be a mere gimlet hole), particularly in the
conftru&ion with falfe bottoms,: becaufe the
ftream of water being conftant, when once
the lower partition is filled, if the air above
the fecond cannot efcape, the water, inftead of
entering the veflel, will be driven back beneath
the flips of paper, or along the axis of the agi-
tator.

When the veffel is filled with water to the
proper height, the retort muft be placed in its
bed, upon a thicknefs of half an inch at moft, of
fine fand or dry fifted allies, and the neck of its
adopter muft be adjufted in the funnel of the
leaden tube. The retort is then to be fteadily
fixed by pouring fand round it, to fill the vacant
fpace between it and the capfule of the furnace.
In this fituation the muriate and the npanganefe,
being previoufly mixed as equally as poilible,
are to be poured through the neck into the re-
tort, by means of a glafs, leaden, wooden, or
paper funnel, perfectly dry. The goodnefs of
the mixture is feen by its uniform blacknefs

e 3 throughout,

54 The Art cf Bleaching

throughout, no particles of the white muriate
being in this cafe feparately vifible.

After the introduction of the muriate and the
manganefe into the retort, great care muft be
taken to clean the ftopper and the neck, in
order that no vapour may rind its way through,
when once the fulphuric acid is poured in. It
is necefTary, therefore, that the neck and its
ftopper, being previoufly wetted, fhould clofe
the retort, as it were, hermetically. For the
flighted odour would be fufncient to retard the
operation, by rendering the workfhop extreme-?
]y inconvenient. This odour of the oxygenated
muriatic acid very readily diffufing itfelf through
the whole fpace of the laboratory.

When the neck of the retort or bottle, for the
fame obfervation applies to both, the beak of
the adopter muft be properly luted to the leaden
funnel. For this purpofe a piece of lute is to be
rolled out in the hands, and applied round the
neck of the adopter, ftrongly preflirrg it as well
on the fides of the funnel as againft thofe of
the adopter, and finifhing by foftening each fide
and uniting the whole with the finger dipped in
boiled linfeed oil.

In the ufual courfe of regular practice, the
pneumatic vefifel or vefTels are filled with water>
the diftilling vefTels duly placed and luted, and

the

Cottons, Thread, 6fV. $$

the mixture of muriate and manganefe introduced
the evening before the day of diftillation, after
having cleaned and cleared the fame veflels from
their refidues *. By means of this preparatory
work, there remains nothing more to be done
at the beginning of the day-work, than to pour
in the fulphuric acid, which during the night
has had time to cool, in the earthen or (tone-
ware veflels, in which it was previoufly mixed
with water. Not that it would not be advan-
tageous to pour it while yet warm, after having
diminifhed its temperature, by plunging the
veflel in cold water ; but there would be reafon
to fear, that the proper degree of heat might not
eafily be adjufted, and that the diftilling velTel
might be endangered by the fudden applica-
tion.

It might alfo be practicable to advance the
diftillation, by pouring in the fulphuric acid in the
evening, immediately after the introduction of
the mixture of muriate and of manganefe ; but
there would be reafon in this cafe to fear that
the greateft part of the gas afforded by the diftil-
lation might be loft by derangement of the
Jutes, if the operation were not overlooked dur-

* A fufiicient number of diftilling velTels ought always to be
in readinefs, to be difpofed for the diftillation of the following
day. Author,

E 4 ing

$6 The Art of Bleaching

ing the interval. This management would not
in fact be fuitable to a manufactory, in which
the work was not continued both day and night.

With regard to the fulphuric acid, it is to be
introduced gently through a glafs or leaden
funnel, in order that the air which efcapes may
not throw up drops of the acid on the face or
hands of the operator. When the acid is pour-
ed in, the neck muft be flopped by turning the
ftopper with a flight preffure.

If the acid has been poured in warm, and the
muriate is very dry, and well mixed, the fulphuric
acid not more diluted than has been prefcribed>
and the manganefe of a good quality, bubbles
of air will be heard to pafs into the wooden
velTel, through the leaden tube, at the end of
two or three minutes'. If the above requifites
be wanting, the efcape will not take place till
fomewhat more than a quarter of an hour. In
either cafe it is necefTary, a few inftants after
the pouring of the acid, to place a charing dim
with lighted charcoal beneath the vcfTel which
holds the retort.

About half an hour after the pouring of the
acid, a confiderable effervefcence takes place,
which fometimes fwells the materials as high as
the neck of the retort, if this laft be too fmall
for its charge. The bubbles of the froth are

/. larSe>

Cottons, Thread, (3c. 57

large and covered with a kind of pellicle, formed
by a portion of the mixture carried up during
the agitation. This intumefcence lafts about
two hours, during which time the bubbles of
oxygenated muriatic acid gas are moft abund-
antly difengaged in the water. They even fuc-
ceed with fuch rapidity, that the intervals are
not diftinguifhable, and an inceffant noife is
heard in the pneumatic veflel, which very often
lafts three or four hours, according to the ma-
nagement cf the fire, and the goodnefs and ac-
curate mixture of the materials. The agitation
produced by this rapid efcape is commonly
fuch, that it is fcarcely neceffary to move the
agitator.

The fire is not to be renewed till the expira-
tion of two hours, even though it may have
gone out in the mean time. After this, it is not
to be renewed till the end of an hour and a half,
and after that period at the end of an hour, and
fo forth, without any perceptible increafe of its
intenfity. It will be fufficient after thefe periods
to keep up the fire, excepting that during the
laft two hours the fire mufl be maintained with-
out fufTering the charcoal to be almoft burned
away, as in. the former cafes, before it is re-
newed. The chafing dim mull be raifed upon
bricks, to bring it nearer the retort, during the

laft

5 8 The Art of Bleaching

laft hour. Imuftobferve, with regard to this chaf-
ing dim, that the grate mud not be too open, left
the charcoal mould be too rapidly confumed.
After the intumefcence of the mixture has
ceafed, the rapid efcape of bubbles does not
diminifh for a long time, in confequence of an
effervefcence which conftantly proceeds. It is
true that this continually diminiihes, and to-
wards the end of the diftillation the bubbles
which pafs into the tube appear only at inter-
vals, notwithstanding the marter k tort
mav, by the gradual augmentation of the heat,
be brought into the ftate of ebullition. This heat
is fuch, that eight or nine hours after the com-
mencement of the operation, the hand can
fcarely be endured near the aperture, or the
neck of the retort, or other diftillatory vefiel,
though between the fourth and fixth hours the
fame parts are fcarcely warm. The diftillation
of one or more retorts or bodies into a fingle
veftel, according to the dofes before mentioned,
takes ufually eleven or twelve hours, and even
lefs ; the time for Hooping the diftillation is
known from the efcape of the bubbles being
very flow, and the noife lefs perceptible. This
flight noife is even a mark to form a judgment
of the concentration of the gas, and the degree
of faturation of the water. In order to hear the

bubbles,

Cottons, Thread, t!£c. 59

bubbles, it is often neceflary to apply the ear
againft the tub. Moreover, the adopter of the
retort begins to be heated, and the lute upon
its neck becomes a little foftened. Another in-
dication that the procefs is near its termination
is had from the Ions: vibrations of the water in
the indicatory tube, placed on the outfide of the
tub, and like wife in the tube of fafety, when an
intermediate veffel is ufed.

If a proper regard be not paid to the figns here
enumerated, and the diftillation be not Hopped,
there will not only be a lofs of time and fuel,
and a diftillation of mere water ; but the fleam
when an intermediate veffel is ufed, will
drive the water through the tube of fafety, and
itfelf immediately follow, if not inftantly re-
medied by diminifhing or removing the fire,
and cooling the neck of the retort and its
adopter with a wet cloth, or, which is better, by
drawing the ftopper of the retort for an inftant.

As foon as the diftillation is flopped, the im-
pregnated fluid of the pneumatic veffel is to be
drawn ofT into tubs, or other veflels, proper to
receive the goods which are previoufly difpofed
therein. If it be not convenient to ufe it im-
mediately, the liquor may be left in the tub
without fear of any perceptible diminution of its
virtue, provided the cover and its joinings be

well

6o The Art of Bleaching

well clofed with lute and ftrips of paper pafled
on, and likewife that the fpace between the
axis of the agitator and the cover be fimilarly
fecured. It may likewife be drawn off in ftone-i
ware bottles well clofed with corks, covered
With lute at the place of their contact. In this
manner the liquid may be preferved till wanted.
I have kept it for feveral months without its
goodnefs having been impaired.

I muft obferve in this place, that if it be
wiihed that the liquor at the upper part of the
veflel fliould be equal in ftrength to that of the
lower, without retarding the diftillation (which
may be ufelefsly prolonged for upwards of
twenty-four hour?, by an erTecl: ot the concen-
tration of the gas in the bottom of the vefieh
and the refinance it then oppofes to its intro-
duction, which Angularly contributes to inereafe
the heat of the retort) ', I have found no better
method, than that of drawing off the liquor,
either into earthen pitchers or veflels tilled with
merchandize ready for immerfion. I have done
this after a limited time, and repeated proofs of
the good quality of the fluid. At the end of
eight hours diftillation, I drew off one fourth of
the contents of the veflel ; a fecond fourth two
hours afterwards ; a third fourth after ten hours
and a half, or eleven hours 5 and the reft after

twelve

Cottons, Thread, 6fa gi

twelve hours diftillation, which formed the con-
clufion. *

When the liquor is entirely drawn off from
the veffel, it mud again be immediately filled
with water, or at leaft to the height of five or
fix inches above the return of the leaden tube,
otherwife the gas, which continues to efcape
from the diftilling veffel and then affords no re-
finance, might attack the pneumatic veffel it-

The fire mufl be taken from beneath the re-
tort as foon as the diftillation is fmifhed, not
only to prevent the effeft of the gafeous vapours,
which (till continue flowly to efcape, from act-
ing on the fides of the tub, but likewife to dif-
pofe the retorts or bodies to receive a quantity
of warm water, which is to be poured in up to
the neck. There is no reafon to fear an excefs
of quantity, and the hotter the veffels are the
better. It is effeniial, however, that it be not
poured in cold, for fear of breaking the glafs.
The adopter is then to be unluted from the
neck of the leaden tube, if the operator chufes ;
and in order that no vapour may efcape into the
workthop, a bit of lute or a cork may be ap-
plied to the beak of the adopter. The fand
bath eafily permits the retort to be raifed and
returned again to its place; as well as the ap-
plication

6z The Art o/Blsaciririg

plication of the lute or ftopper to the neck of
the adop'.e , this 'aft baing railed with one hand
while the cork is put m with the other.

Neverthelefs, as the lutes which connect the
adopter with the retort are fomewhat foftened
towards the end of the operation, it would be
more prudent to leave every thing in its place,
for fear of deranging thofe lutes. This danger is
greater when the adopter is of lead, becaufe
the great length of this additional piece tends
to force the luting ftill more on that account. If
it be required to proceed immediately to a new
diftillation, the retort or bottle with its capfule
or pan mull: be immediately taken from the fur-
nace, and another fubftituted in its place ready
prepared during the former diftillation. This
neceflarily requires a double fet of veflels.

When the diftilling veflel is cold, or nearly {o,
the whole of its contents muft be fhaken, by
holding this veflel by the neck with one hand,
and applying the other to its bottom. The ftop-
per mull then be taken out, and the veflel
fpeedily inverted, Ihaking the relidue to facili-
tate its efcape. In this laft Situation the retort
is to be held by its neck with one hand, and its
fide gently refting againft the other. The vef-
fels into which the water and refidual matter of
the retorts are poured, mould rather be of ftone-

ware,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 63

ware, pottery, or lead, than of wood, unlefs
thefe laft be oil veflels, which are lefs fubje£t to
dry in the part above the fluid. If this cir-
cumftance be not attended to, there will be
danger of lofing great part of the contents.

It is moft convenient to difengage the retorts
or bodies while they are flill warm, which con-
tinues to be the cafe the next morning after
diftillation, in confequence of the heat of the
fand bath. If they be left to cool entirely, the
fulphate of foda will cryftallize, and it will be
neceffary to dilTolve in hot water fuch larger
portions as cannot pafs through the neck.
But this inconvenience is not likely to happen,
unlefs the quantity of water laft added be too
fmall, and the refidues have been left undif-
turbed for feveral days. The fame obferva-
tion is applicable to that kind of incruftation
which is formed by the muriate, if not properly
pulverifed, dried, or mixed ; this cannot be fepa-
rated from the bottom of the retort, but by
means of hot water poured at different fuccef-
five times. It is like wife effential to leave no
crufl: or depofition of muriate, or other matter,
in the veflels which are emptied, unlefs the fame
be moveable, in which cafe the rifk is lefs.
But if the urgency of bufinefs mould then re-
quire that the fame veflels be ufed without en-
tirely

64 The Art of Blenching

tirely clearing them, it will be neceffary to
range this refidual matter on one fide, where it
will be lefs expofed to the heat, and will afford
a greater degree of facility for the nitric acid to
acl upon it.

In order that the vapour which exhales from
the diftilling veflels may not prove inconvenient*
it is necefiary to pour in a fmall quantity of al-
kaline lixivium in the firft place, which inftantly
deftroys the fmell. This may be done imme-
diately after the end of the diftillation, and the
weak alkaline folution may fupply the place of
the water ufed for diluting the refidues. At
the inftant of pouring this lixivial water, a
ftrong effervefcence takes place ; for which rea-
son it is proper to pour it in by feveral fucceflive
portions, waiting a little between each time.

The oxygenated muriatic acid obtained in
this manner has a moft keen and penetrating
odour. It cannot be breathed even for a few
inftants, without the danger of a moft obftinate
and violent cough. Its aclion is fometimes fo
flrong that the operator will fall down fenfclefs,
if he fliould determine to continue his work
with his nofe over the veflels. Running of the
nofe, afthmatic affecYion of the breaft, headach,
tears and fmarting of the eyes, bleeding at the
nofe, the fenfation known by the name of the

teeth

Cottons, Thrtad, &c. $j

teeth fet on edge, pains in the fmall of the back,
and even fpitting of blood, are the ordinary in-
conveniences to be expected, when the pure
oxygenated muriatic acid is ufed as is prefcribed
in the /Innales de Chimie. It is even impoffible
to Tupport for feyeral fucceffive days an em-
ployment fo deftru&ive to the health, if the
lutes be not carefully attended to, and the vef-
fels for immerfion of goods be not covered and
placed in a med, through which a ftrong cur-
rent of air pafTes. I am moreover perfuaded
that there is not, perhaps, any perfon who has
fuffered fo much as myfelf in this refpecl, on
account of the earneftnefs with which I at.
tempted to bring this procefs of bleaching to
perfection, or rather to make it more generally
ufeful. The ftrong expectoration to which I
was expofed, agitated the fyftem fo much, that
I found it impoffible to retain any food on my.
ftomacb, and was for forty-eight hours, without
intermiffion, not only deprived of fleep, but con-
tinually emitting faliva, with acid and corrofive
humours from the eyes and nofe in fuch abund-
ance, particularly from the eyes, that it was
fometimes five or fix hours before I could open
them to fupport the light. My fituation, at
thofe periods, was fo difagreeable, that I could
not lie a moment on my back, and a very fhort
F tim

66 The Art of Bleaching

time on my fide. The ereft pcfition was leafl
painful j but I was foon obliged to fit or lie
down, in confequence of the pain I felt, at every
attack of the cough, in the mufcles of the back
and thighs.

The difficulty, or rather the impoffibility, of
fupporting fuch painful exertions for any length
of time, induced me to contrive a mafk of card,
with glafs eyes, which allowed me, for a certain
fpace, to work with my face over the veffels for
the immerfion of goods, to turn, prefs, and wring
the pieces without fear of any ferious inconve-
nience. I likewife occafionally made ufe of a
handkerchief, moiftened with alkaline lixivium,
which I bound round my head to defend my
nofe and mouth from the effect of the odour, but
thefe means were merely palliatives.

As it is of great confequence that the opera-
tor mould be defended againft fuch accidents, or
at leaft be able to diminifh their confequences,
it may be of fome advantage to know, that X
have had the pleafure to experience, that the
black extract of liquorice, which I chewed be-
fore I expofed myfelf to refpire this vapour,
almoft always pfoduced a good effect, by di-
miniming the cough, and in fome inftances pre-
ferving me from it. I therefore was particularly
careful to ufe this extract, previous to expofing

myfelf

Cottons, Thread, &c. Cy

myfelf to the danger of refpiring the gas, at the
fame time taking care not to omit the ufe of my
moiftened handkerchief, or mafk.

A folution of fugar in warm or cold water,
fipped or drank flowly, likewife appeafed the
cough very much after a certain time. The
warm folution was rather the moft effectual. I
likewife occafionally fipped or drank milk for
the fame purpofe.

Being at length, however, worn out with
fuffering, and unable to purfue my experiments
on bleaching with the requifite convenience, I
endeavoured to make the acid without fmell,
avoiding, at the fame time, any confiderable in-
creafe of expence. The following procefs fuc-
ceeded bell of any that I tried. It confifts
fimply in adding to the quantity of water pro-
per for each pneumatic veffel, a quarter of a
pound, at moft, of carbonate of pot-afh, or of
foda, for every pound of muriate of foda which
has been taken in the mixture of the matter for
diflillation. This quantity is fufficient, abfo-
lutely, to prevent the fmell of the acid, and per-
mit the operator to work with his face uncover-
ed over the neutralized fluid, without rifking
the fmalleft inconvenience. The water may be
difpofed, for this purpofe, in two different man-
ners ; either by previoufly diflblving the clari-

F a fied

6S The Art of Bleaching

fied pot-alh in the refervoir of water appro-
priated to fill the vefTels, or it may be fimply
poured into the latter vefTels after it has been
difTolved, fettled, and drained by itfelf. This
latter method is preferable to the other. For
this purpofe, after having difTolved the alkali in
a fmall portion of water, it is to be poured in
at different times at the commencement, and
towards the end of filling the pneumatic vefTels.
Thefe precautions muft be more efpecially at-
tended to when the vefTel has falfe bottoms, be-
caufe the folution of pot-afh, in that cafe, mixes
lefs readily with the water. I muft here re-
mark, that the falfe bottoms, inftead of being
placed horizontally, muft be fomewhat inclined
towards that fide, in which the aperture of com-
munication, through which the gas pafles, is
made. This inclination prevents any of the
fluid from remaining in the vefTel at the time of
drawing off, which might happen if there were
not a decided flope towards the place of com-
munication.

If it fhould, however, be defired to prepare a
folution of pot-afh proper to fill the vefTels, it
muft be diluted till it marks no more than one
degree beneath zero on the areometer of MofTy
already mentioned. But this arrangement is
attended with trouble, and requires more vef-
Tels,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 6f

fels, and confequently more room, without pro-
ducing any advantage fuperior to that which is
derived from pouring the ftrong folution of pot-
afh to the water at the time of filling, according
to the directions already given.

It fometimes happens, that the laft portions
of the impregnated fluid, at the time of drawing
ofF; have a flight degree of fmell ; either becaufe
the agitators have not been fufficiently attended
to, or becaufe the falts are conftantly difpofed
to fall to the bottom of the veffel. To avoid
this inconvenience, about a fourth or an eighth
part of the alkaline folution may be referved,
not to be poured into the veffel till half an hour
before the diftillation is (topped. The agitator
is then to be turned, and the fuperior liquid
will be without fmell as well as the reft, be-
caufe the combination takes place inftantly.
The fame effect will follow, if the folution of
pot-afh be put into the bottles or veffels ufed to
draw off the liquid : nothing more being re-
quired in this cafe, than to pour a few glaffes of
the lixivium into the receiving veffel, which,
when filled, mult be covered up or corked. In
order that the feparate folution of pot-afh, which
is poured into the pneumatic veffel at the time
of filling it with water, may not be fubject to
Remain in part upon the falfe bottoms, to the
F 3 prejudice

70 The Art of Bleaching

prejudice of the water beneath, it is poured
through wooden or leaden pipes, terminating
above in a conical part or funnel, and of fuch a
length as refpeclively to communicate with the
feveral cavities into which the veflel itfelf is
divided. By this expedient it is rendered cer-
tain, that the pot-afh, which is required to be
depofited in the feveral compartments, will be
fpecially poured into each. But as the alkaline
folutk-n does not immediately and intimately
mix with the whole of the water, but is dif-
pofed to flow infenfibly from the upper com-
partments to the lower, by reafon of its weight,
care muft be taken to pour no greater quantity
into the loweft compartment than four-fixths of
the faline folution, referving the two other
fixths for the fecond or firft compartment, and
forbearing to pour them in till the whole, or at
leaft the greatefl: part of the water has been
poured into the veffel.

The neceffary attention for diftilling the acid,
as well as the dofes of the materials, are the
fame whether the odour be prevented or not.
The only difference confifb in their effects,
as we fhall hereafter fee. The colour of both
folutions is abfolutely the fame. That which
contains pot-afh feems rather Iefs limpid, par-
ticularly the firil portions drawn off, on account

Cottons, Thread, fcfo 7 x

of the faline deposition which is ftirred up by
the rapid motion of the fluid as it iffues out.
A fimilar effeft happens when the veflfel has
been newly painted ; in which cafe, the liquor
decompofes the paint by feizing the oil, and
from this caufe flows out with a foapy, or milky
appearance.

Inftead of pouring the pot-afh into the veflej,
as has been defcribed, I have very often ufed
the following method. To prevent the effluvia
from rifing from the veflfel in which the goods
were to be immerfed, I Amply poured my folu-
tion of pot-afh into one or two pots, and after-
wards fprinkled it upon the furface of the li-
quor contained in the bleaching veffel. This
afperfion was fufficient to check the fuffocating
exhalation of the muriatic acid gas. I fre-
quently ufed powdered chalk for the fame pur-
pofe, and with equal efFe£t.

I muft obferve, that I did not refolve upon
making this new liquor without fmell, until
after I had repeatedly afcertained, that it is im-
poffible to refift, for any length of time, the dif-
ficulties which refult from the method and the
jproportions defcribed in the Annates de Chimie.
I am even of opinion, that this method of bleach-
ing would be renounced altogether, if the ope-
rators were literally to follow thofe inftruclions

7 2 The Art of pleaching

in preference to my method, or fome other me-r
thod on fimilar principles.
' I muft particularly remark in this place, that
the agitator muft by no means be neglecled.
It is necefiary to turn it feveral times together
at the end of every half or quarter of an hour,
to favour the abforption of the gas in the water,
and to deftroy its odour by facilitating its com-
bination with the pot-afh. If this be not done,
in cither cafe, the gas beneath the firft falfe bot-
tom will pafs too fpeedily into the fecond. This
pafTage muft be prevented as much as poftible,
until it is fuppofed that the water in the lower
compartment is nearly faturated.

It muft alfo be remarked, that when a
pneumatic veflel has once been ufed to make
one of thefe liquors, it muft not be changed in
its application ; for nothing more fpeedily de-
ftroys the veflel and the agitator, than alternate-
ly ufing them for both. On the contrary, when
the fame veflel- is conftantly ufed for the fame
liquor, the action of the muriatic acid is fcarce-
ly, in any refpecl, perceptible.

Laftly, I muft remark that the ftrength of
the liquor may be increafed at pleafure, as Ber-
thollet alfo obfervcs, by putting lefs water into
tbe veffels. I have feveral times obtained it at
fuch a degree of concentration, as to mark be-
tween.

Cottons, Thread, &c, 73

twcen ten and twelve of the areometer of
MofTy. In this (late i*s colour was evidently
of a lemon yellow, a little inclining to green.
This liquor contained no pot-am, and was de-
figned for particular ufes.

CHAP

74 The Art of Bleaching

CHAF. VII.

Concerning the alkaline Lixivium or Lees, '

JL HE method of making the lees is not a

matter of indifference, whether we attend to the
faving of time, or of alkali. The following is
that which I would, from my own experience,
advife, and which I have fince learned is the
method ufed in Ireland. It is well known, that
the white colour of the Irifh linens is highly ef-
teemed. The method has always fucceeded
perfectly well with me.

Upon a kind of iron platform, compofed of
two or three concentric rings, connected to-
gether by crofs pieces of the fame metal, as
may be feen in the figures, i, 2, 3,4, Plate III,
which refts on the bottom of a boiler fet in a
furnace for the faving of fuel, are placed the
piece-goods, thread, &c. in folds or parcels,
When thefe different kinds of goods are to be
immerfed together in the alkali, the piece-goods
muft always be placed at the bottom. When
the boiler is thus charged, the alkaline folution,
at the ftrength of a degree and a half under zero

Cottons, Thread, &V. 75

of the areometer, muft be poured in till the mafs
of goods are foaked, and covered to the depth
of at leaft an inch or two without preffing them
too much down. Or the alkaline folution may-
be poured in, accordingly as the goods are placed
in the copper. This lafr. method would be pre-
ferable, in my opinion, in all cafes where there
was no reafon to fear that the goods might lie
too clofe. To prevent thefe from rifing and
floating above the furface of the lees, a flat
cover is fitted to the boiler, which ferves to re-r
tain the heat, and prevent any dirt from falling
upon the goods.

A judgment is formed that the pieces are in,
a ftate to be taken out of the fluid, when this
laft under the cover in the middle of the heap
is too hot to admit of the hand being held in it,
pr when it fimmers round the circumference of
the boiler and throws up white bubbles, which
circulate towards the centre. It is not neceffary
that the lees fhould boil ; the effential conditions
are, that it fhould be fufflciently ftrong, abun-
dant, and hot ; and that it fhould properly pe-
netrate the goods which are fubmitted to its
action. I have frequently thought it fufhcienr,
between the two immerfions in the bleaching
liquor, to plunge the goods (previoufly wafhed
and ftraitened out) for a few minutes into the

lixivium*

76 The Art of Bleaching

lixivium, which was very far from pofleiTing the
degree of heat above mentioned. The cloths
and piece-goods, which were treated in this
manner, bleached perfectly well.

In order to obtain a criterion refpecling the
time confumed in one boiling of the lixivium, I
mult obferve, that 3,600 French pints (or about
900 Englith wine gallons) of the alkaline folu-
tion, in a boiler fet in the manner juft defcribed,
will be rendered juft boiling hot in three quar-
ters of an hour at moft; and if pit-coal be
ufed, the quantity of fuel required, for this pur-
pofe, will be one-third part lefs than if wood be
ufed.

When the goods are to be taken out of the
copper, the cords or chains which are fixed to
the exterior circle of the ftage are to be raifed,
and hooked to the fall or rope of a crane placed
on one fide of the boiler ; by turning which
crane the whole of the goods are raifed out of
the copper, and after they have drained for a
certain time, the mafs is conveyed and placed
upon two crofs-pieces over a tub defigned to re-
ceive the fubfequent drainings ; after which, the
feveral pieces are prefled or wrung, and after-
wards rinfed in a ftream, if the manufacturer
poiTeffes that convenience ; or, otherwife, they
are warned by means of the revolving cy-
linder,

Cottons, Threap &c. 77

linder, or other machinery. Thefe operations
are to be repeated as often as the goods are
taken out of the alkaline lixivium, according to
the nature of the merchandize ; for it may eafily
be imagined, that piece-goods, hofiery, and
thread, will require different kinds of manipu-
lation.

As it is of effential confequence to lofe as
little as poffible of the lixivium in this procefs,
it will be proper to wring or prefs the goods
before they are rinfed. Piece-goods may be
advantageoufly wrung by means of a fixed hook,
and a handle or wooden crofs, to which a fimilar
hook is adapted that moves with the handle.
See Plate IX. fig. 9. Thefe hooks being
placed refpe&ively at the two fides of a trough
intended to receive the wafte lees, the piece it-
felf muft be palled and repaired a number of
times over the hooks, as is reprefented in the
figure, until either the whole piece is thus
wound up, or as much of it as can be con-
veniently wrung at a time.

With regard to thread, it may be prefTed or
wrung with the pin ; and hofiery may be treated
in the fame manner. But it is more advifable
to wring this laft article feparately by hand, un-
lefs the operator poflefTes a prefs fuited to both
the laft-mentioned articles. By this engine the

goods'

7$ The Art of Bleaching

goods may be cleared of the alkaline lee, with
more eafe and expedition, and with much lefs
injury.

In order to economife the fire in the fufion of
the alkali made ufe of in new lees, as foon
as the old has been drawn out of the boiler,
which may be done by means of a fyphon, or a
cock, as may be moft convenient, the neceflary
quantity of water may be immediately poured
in with the pot-afh or crude foda broken in
fmall pieces, if the purified fait be not ufed. In
this manner the folution may be accomplished
for the following day. The heat of the boiler,
and its fire-place, fuppofing a fmall quantity of
the fire to remain, the regifters of the furnace
being fhut, and the boiler covered up, will
be fufficient to melt the alkali in the courfe of
the night. It is neceflary to break the pot-afh
into pieces of the fize of a nut before it is
thrown in, particularly that kind which is known
in France by the name of pot-afh of York, the
pieces of which are as hard as ftones, and can-
not eafily be broken but by a mallet upon a
ftone pavement. The Spanifh foda is equally
hard.

The method of pafling the goods through the
heated alkaline lixivium, as here defcribed, is
particularly fuited for works upon a large fcale.

But

Cottons, Thread, Sfa, 79

But when the manufacturer intends to confine
himfelf to the bleaching of fmall articles, fuch
as hofe, night-caps, thread, &c. without med-
dling with the larger piece-goods, it will be
equally advantageous to uie a fimple boiler, pro-
perly difpofed in a common fire-place, with a
barrel and winch above it, as is exhibited in
Plate II. fig. 4, 5, and 6. For the faving of fuel,
this boiler maybe fet in brick- work ; and like the
great boiler before defcribed, it may have a fur-
rounding cavity for evaporating the old lees,
which will be very ufeful if it be no more than
four inches in height, and of the fame width.

New lees, which have already been ufed for
the immerfion of one piece of cloth, are not to
be rejected on that account; As the folution
lofes fomewhat of its ftrength on account of the
matter which it extracts from the cloth, and
with which it enters into combination, it muft
be reftored by adding one-third or one-fourth of
lixivium from the refervoir, which likewife fup-
plies that portion which was carried away in the
goods, and partly recovered by draining, rinf-
ing, or preffure. The firft lixivium, after two
boilings, can only be poured on dyed goods, be-
caufe it is then loaded with extractive matter,
which in a great meafure faturates it, and ren-
ders it black and vifcid to fuch a degree, that it

fome-

8o The Art cf Bleaching

fometimes takes a curdled or gelatinous appear-
ance on cooling.

The fecond lixivium may commonly be ufed
three or four times for the fame objects, taking
care to flrengthen it every t m with one-third or
one-fourth part of new lees ; after which it is to
be thrown, like the others, into the refervoir. The
third and fourth lixiviums mav likewife be ufed
feveral times, but without adding new lees, be-
caufe they take up but little colouring matter;
It is eafily afcertained by the tafte, whether they
have any remaining active faline parts. Many
perfons, particularly laundreffes, afcertain whe-
ther their alkaline lees has loft its force, by rub-
bing it between their finger and thumb. They
eftimate its quality according to the degree of
lubricity it exhibits. The quality of the two
fTrft lixiviums may be afcertained to a certain
point by the ufe of the areometer. When they
mark three degrees under zero, they are cer-
tainly too much loaded with extractive matter,
and wTill produce no other effect on the goods,
than to give them a brown colour, to the abfo-
lute lofs of time. It is advi fable to keep the
lees at the fame degree of force, either by ad-
dition, or by changing them altogether, for the
firft two or three immerfions of the fame goods ;
diminiftiing the ftrengtbj however, one-third or

one-

Cottons, Thready &c. 8t

one-fourth as foon as the pieces have acquired
an uniform colour, which will happen, at fartheft,
at the fecond immerfion in the bleaching liquid.
When the goods have arrived at this ftate,
weaker lixiviums may be advantageoufly ufed,
becaufe there remains fcarcely any thing more
of impurity to be carried off ; and the fubfe-
quent procefs may be confidered merely as a
brightning of the colour, by detaching the fmall
portion of impurity which may remain fixed in
the texture of the thread itfelf.

The old faturated lees bein£ taken out of the
boilers, are to be added to the other lees of the
fame kind, arifing from the drainings into refer-
voirs appropriated for that purpofe. This fluid
is of ufe to foak piece-goods or thread, in or-
der to clear them of their drefTing, or the im-
purity attached to the latter during the {pin-
ning. With regard to the lees which are ob-
tained by preffure or wringing of the goods, if
they be not too highly coloured, they may, as
well as all the others, be added to the lees in
the boiler.

As foon as one boiling or immerfion is made,
if the lixivium be in a good ftate, whether by
the addition of frefh lees or not, the next im-
merfion may be immediately proceeded upon in
order to take advantage of the heat, in cafe

« the

Sz The Art of Bleaching

the courfe of bufinefs requires it ; but for this
purpofe it is neceffary to have another frame or
platform ready prepared, with the proper quan-
tity of goods for immerfion. But if there only
remain a fmall number of pieces which require
to be plunged in the alkali, they may be thrown
into the fame bath without reftoring it, or even
heating it up again. Nothing more will be ne-
ceffary than to cover up the boiler, and leave
the goods immerfed for a fufficient time, that
they may be well penetrated with the alkaline
folution. I have often found this manner of
proceeding very convenient for piece-goods,
hofe, or thread, in fmall quantities, without
making ufe of the frame or platform.

It muft not be overlooked, that whenever the
goods are taken out, the copper muft be exa-
mined with a ftaff, in order to difcover and take
out any fmall articles which might be forgotten,
and would be in danger of burning if they were
to remain at the bottom of the copper during
the time of the fubfequent procefs or charge.

It muft alfo be remarked, that it fcldom hap-
pens that any piece which may have been fub-
je&ed to two frefli fucceliive lixiviations, even
though it may have been a dyed piece, will re-
ceive any advantage from a further repetition.
The third immerfion, to which it might be fub-

jecled,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 83

je£ted, with the hope of clearing it of an addi-
tional portion of impurity, will be found to pro-
duce fcarcely any effect, and the liquid will take
up little or no colour. It fometimes happens,
that the fecond lixivium, even though of con-
iiderable flrength, is equally ineffectual.

It is of great importance that the alkaline
lees mould be always as clear and limpid as p*f-
fible. Their value may be eftimated by ob-
serving the readinefs with which they abforb
the colouring matter from the goods. The tubs,
in which they are kept, ought, therefore, to be
made of fir ; becaufe thofe of oak, or chefnut,
though very carefully treated with lime water,
always become more or lefs coloured in procefs
of time. It is true, that the colour of the lees
is of, comparatively, little confequence for the
firft two or three immerfions of dyed goods
[des pieces bifes). But this is not the cafe when
the goods have once acquired an even colour,
and require only to be brightened. It is then
highly effential, for the faving of time and la-
bour, that the lees fliould be as clear and limpid
as pofiible.

The new lixivium, or lees, is good whenever
it marks one degree and a half beneath zero j
and 1 have obferved, that it is not necefTary it
lhould be ftronger. At a higher degree of

o 2 firength,

84 The Art of Bleaching

ftrength, it would foon become as foul or co-
loured as the weaker folution ; and it is ufelefs
to confume the alkali to no purpofe, and com-
municate a dark colour to the goods, which by
that means become more difficult to wafh or
rinfe. Care mult alfo be taken to rinfe them
after the lees, until the water, if the opera-
tion be performed in the warning apparatus,
flows off very clear ; or, on the contrary, if the
goods be expofed to a dream of water, they
muft not be taken out till it has been afcer-
tained, in various parts of the pie'ces, that the
water, upon wringing, comes out very clear. If
this precaution be not attended to, the pieces,
thus imperfectly rinfed, would be in danger of
becoming yellow inftead of white, by immerfion
in the bleaching liquor ; and even to acquire a
very tenacious and difagreeable ruddy tinge,
either partially, if the rinfing have been partial, *
or totally, if it have been entirely neglected.

The activity of the fixed alkali, or pot-afh, may
be increafed, by throwing into the boiler in
which this fait is put for folution, one-third or
one-fourth of its weight of well burned and very
white lime, of the belt, quality ; which is to be
tied up in a bag or cloth. By this management,
the calcareous earth is lefs capable of render-
ing the lees turbid ; or if it mould efcape, it will

fall

Cottons, Thread, &c. 85

fall to the bottom when the folution cools. The
lime may alfo be feparately diffolved or diffufed,
and the pot-afh diffolved in this folution inftead
of pure water ; a method which may be prefer-
able to the other. It is fcarcely neceflary to
add lime to the foreign pot-afh, moil of them
contain a certain quantity ; particularly thofe
which are imported from the north of Europe,
or from America.

The ufe of lime has appeared to me to pro-
duce a greater effe6t at the commencement,
than towards the end of the bleaching. At
this latter period, the different operations to
which the merchandize has already been fub-
je£ted, the caufticity of the lees, and the fmall
grains of calcareous earth which they may con-
tain in fpite of every precaution, would be likely
to impair the ftrength of the goods, particularly
during the operations of wringing, or the prefs.
But the ufe of lime has appeared to me to be
pf advantage at the beginning, becaufe I have
found reafon to conclude, that the goods which
are thus treated acquire a decided whitenefs in
lefs time than the others.

As it may happen, that the boilers ufed for
the lixiviations may leak at the place of the
rivetting, and manufacturers may find them-
selves embarraffed at a diflance from proper
g 3 work-

86 The Art of Bleaching

workmen, I conclude, that the following method
of repairing them may be acceptable. It con-
fines in beating a certain quantity of lime, flaked
by expofure to the air, and fifted with a fmall
quantity of the white cheefe called a la pie*.
The mixture is to be ftirred or beaten without
ceafmg ; and the lime muft be fucceffively added,
until the mixture begins to acquire a certain
confidence. The damaged part of the copper
being then well cleaned and wiped, this cement
is to be very firmly applied, fpreading and ex-
tending it at the edges as well as poilible. The
cement foon hardens, and the copper may be
ufed as before. By this means every kind of
fmall fra&ure, or opening, may be eafily flopped
without difplacing the boiler.

The fame kind of lime fifted, and mixed in a
fimilar manner with leaven, may be ufed with
equal advantage. I have had occafion to ufe
both thefe cements, and it appears that the falts
exercife no a&ion upon them ; or, if they acl at
all, it muft be in a manner fcarcely perceptible.

As it may be of advantage, in certain places,
inftead of ufing pot-afh, to give the preference

* I am not acquainted with this kind of cheefe ; but it
may eafily be fuppofed, that experiment will point out, which
of the feveral kinds the manufacturer may have at his dif-
pofal may be the beft. I fuppofe a very fmall quantity of
water is to be added.— T.

Cottons, Thread, &c. 87

in France to the alkali, known by the name of
/alia, which can now be bought one-third part
cheaper than formerly, before the impoft of page
was fuppreffed ; I fliall defcribe the manner of
calcining it, in order to deprive it of the colouring
matter with which it is combined. The common
baker's oven may eafily be ufed, at leaft pro-
visionally, inftead of a calcining furnace. It is
to be heated as if for bread, taking care only to
place the wood on one fide, in order that the
part of the floor which remains free, may be wcli
heated by the circulation of the flame. The
crude falin is to be thrown into this vacant
part by means of a fliovel or any peel ; for which
purpofe, the common peel, belonging to the
oven, may anfwer very well. The alkali may,
without inconvenience, be difpofed to the height
of two or three inches over the whole clear fur-
face of the floor of the oven, as far as to the
diftance of five or fix inches from the mouth ;
and in order that the coal of the finall wood
may fall thereon as little as poffible, by fpark-
ling, rolling, or bounding, the largeft pieces,
or faggots, muft be placed neareft to the fait.
At the commencement of the operation it is
neceffary to turn up the alkali, and renew its
Surfaces from time to time ; for which purpofe,
vhe bended part of the poker may be very ufe-
g 4 ful.

88 The Art of Bleaching

fill. This precaution is the more effentia], be*
caufe it prevents the fait from adhering to the
bottom of the oven by the aqueous fufion.
Some famples of this fait, at the firit impreilion
of the fire, decrepitate more or lefs, which arifes
from the muriate of foda, or fulphate of pot-aih,
which is almoft conftantly found in every kind
of incinerated vegetables ; and it is fometime3
the confequence of adulteration, to which that
of Lorraine is more particularly fubject. Thq
oven is to be more and more heated, and the
fait ftirred until it ceafes to emit fumes, and be-
gins to lofe its fmoaky or black appearance, and
becomes white throughout internally, as well as
externally.

When the fait is firft put into the oven, the
heat ought not to be greater than for baking
bread. It may be of advantage to begin the
operation immediately after the bread is drawn,
becaufe ihe heat which is already in the oven,
will render the confamption of fuel lefs than
would otherwife have been required for the cal-
cination.

After the fait has once become white, the
fire is to be kept up as fteadily as poffible, with-
out increafing it ; and the greater!: care muft be
taken, left the fait, by too ftrong heat, fhould
form itfelf into clots or malfes. Whenever this

happens,

Cottons ', Thread, &c. - 89

happens, the pieces mult be broken fmall with
the rake or poker ; for the internal part of fuch
Jumps, though white on the outride, would very
probably retain its dark colour. If the fait be
imperfectly, or not at all calcined, it will afford
a folution of a yellow-blackiih colour, fimilar to
that of old lees highly charged with colouring
matter, as is the cafe with that which has been
ufcd for the firft immerfion of piece-goods, or
thread. The effeft of fuch a folution would be
very different from that of the clear and limpid
folution, which it is abfolutely neceffary to pre-
pare for thefe operations.

When the fait appears white throughout, and
ignited in certain places, when it is turned oveiy
it will be proper to take it out of the oven.
The fire is then to be gently diminifhed till no
more combuftion remains than is convenient to
give light for drawing out the fait. The latter
is then to be drawn with an iron rake, or the
bended part of the poker, to the mouth of the
oven ; where it may be received in troughs of
(lone, or plate-iron, or caft-iron pots, of fufficient
fize to contain the whole. The fire may be fuf-
fered to decay, until the oven mall have ac-
quired the proper temperature to begin the
fecond calcination, if required ; which is to be
managed as before, taking care only, that the

fait

90 The Art of Bleaching

fait be rather more frequently ftirred at the
commencement, becaufe the floor of the oven is
always fomewhat hotter than at the commence-
ment of the firft calcination. The operator
muft alfo endeavour, as much as he can, to pre-
ferve his alkali from the fmall pieces of char-
coal which fly in fparks from the wood, though
thefe are not abfolutely of much confequence,
becaufe they fwim on the furface of the water
in which the calcined fait is afterwards dif-
folved ; in which fltuation they may be taken
off" with the fcum which ufually rifes from this
fait, though in lefs quantity than from the or-
dinary pot-afh ; which laft fait is expofed to a
itronger heat, and is ufuallv mixed and calcined
with calcareous earth, or other earthy matter,
either to increafe its caufticity, or to add to its
weight. The coal and the fcum obtained in
this folution, are not to be thrown away, but
may be difpofed upon a cloth or fieve over the
refervoirs containing the new lees. As thefe
fubftances retain a fmall quantity of fait, it is
advifable to pour water upon them feveral
times ; after which, they may be thrown into
the oven at the next calcination.

If the calcination of this alkali be carefully
managed, there will be no incruftation upon the
pavement in the oven ; but if that event lhould

happen,

Co! Ions, Thread, &c. 91

happen, the oven would not be lefs proper for
baking bread. The only effect it will have upon
this article of food, would be, that the bottoms
of the loaves would be rendered more uneven.
Thefe incruftations may eafily be removed by
ftriking them with a hammer while they are flill
hot, or by raking them off after the oven is cold,
and the alkali has began to attract the humidity
of the air. In this ftate the flighteft blow will
detach all the faline incruftations, which may
have fixed themfelves to the pavement of the
oven *•

The Jalin lofes twelve or fifteen per cent
when thus converted into pot-alh, accordingly
as it is more or lefs humid at the time of calci-
nation.

The procefs here defcribed, is practicable by
women as well as men. The whole was ex-

* In the fecond year of the French republic, I had occa-
fion to direct my attention particularly to the inquiry after
certain fubftances proper to afford alkali by incineration; that
of the marc or (talks of grapes appeared tome, among others,
to deferve the notice of thofe who are engaged in the manu-
facture of pot am. I have, therefore, inierted at the end of
this work, the two memoirs which I at that time addretfed to
the different committees of the national convention, which
were fpeciaily charged to excite the zeal of the citizens to-
wards the molt proper means of fupplying the faltpetre works
with the requifite quantity of vegetable alkali.

ceedingly

92 The Art of B leaching

ceedingly well managed by a woman, to whom
I gave inftru6tions. In an oven capable of bak-
ing two meafures of flour, each weighing twenty-
five Paris pounds (or twenty- feven pounds avoir-
dupois), an hundred pounds of alkali may be
eafily calcined, in three or four hours, at a fingle
heat, at no greater expence than twelve or fifteen
fols, in fuch wood as is ufed by the bakers.

After this defcription of calcining the impure
alkali, it mav not be amifs to point out the me-
thod of obtaining the alkali from the old lees,
which were formerly thrown away. For this
purpofe, I prefer the following method. In-
ftead of covering with mafonry, or brick-work,
that fpace which remains above the nanch or
horizontal part of the boiler for lixiviation, an
additional piece is to be applied round the cir-
cumference, fo as to form a circular cavity or
external boiler. The heat which this channel
undergoes from the continual action of the flame
beneath, very fpeedily evaporates the old lees,
with which it is for that purpofe filled. When
the lees are thus rendered very thick by evapo-
ration, they are conveyed to a boiler, or pot
of caft-iron, properly placed upon a calcin-
ing furnace; fee Plate III. dcr. jy 8, 9, io, and
11. The lees muft not be fiiffered to become

entirely

Cottons, Thread, &c. 93

entirely dry in the circular cavity, which fur-
rounds the great boiler, left the copper fhould
be burned or oxyded.

The old lees, when brought to a pellicle in
the evaporatory apparatus firft mentioned, are,
as already obferved, to be conveyed to the boiler
of caft-iron, where they may be heated to dry-
nefs without any danger of breaking the veffel ;
particularly if it be made of foft grey iron. The
refidue muft be ftirred as frequently as polfible,
efpecially towards the end of the procefs, in
order to prevent the fait from adhering ; which,
in that cafe, would render it neceffary to dW it
out with a chiflel and mallet, unlefs there were
time for it to foften by the humidity of the air ;
or the operator might choofe to fprinkle it with
water to produce the fame effect.

In order to take the utmoft advantage of the
heat of the evaporating apparatus, it muft be
duly fupplied with lixivium as foon as that which
has been evaporated to a pellicle is taken out;
and in cafe there fhould be no foul lees to evapo-
rate, it will be proper to fill the external channel
with water, to prevent the copper from burn-
ing. This hot water may be drawn off for ufe,
by means of a fyphon or cafk, when required.

The heat which is carried up the chimney
may alfo be converted to an ufeful purpofe, by

placing

94 3Tfe Art of Bleaching

placing another fmall copper over the flue, into
which the old lees may be put ; where they
will obtain a certain degree of concentration
previous to conveying them into the circular
channel. In this laft veffel they will be (till
farther concentrated, previous to the laft evapo-
ration in the iron-pot, in which they are reduced
to the irate of pot-afh, or JaUn. This feries of
veifcls may be ufed with great profit and advan-
tage.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thread, &c. 05

CHAP. VIII.

RefpeSiing the Preparation to be given to the various
kinds of Goods.

HE preparation necefTary tQj.be given to
piece goods, before they are immerfed in the
oxygenated muriatic acid confiits, firil, in {bak-
ing them about twelve hours in water to dif-
folve, and clear off the dreffing, which is ufually
either common (larch, or thin parte of flour. If
the piece be foaked in a trough, it mull be dif-
pofed in very open folds, and covered with
water. If the foaking be performed in a river,
or ilream, it mult be expofed to the current,
after having fattened it to a poll fixed for this
purpofe. It would be much better to form a
kind of refervoir, defended all round by planks,
as well as at the bottom, in order that the pieces
might fwim therein, without being expofed to
damage or dirt ; and the water might pafs in
and out by two fluices. When the goods have
foaked for a convenient time, they are taken out
fold by fold, and then preiTed or wrung by the
wring, fig. 9, PI. IX ; or, if time permits, they
are fuffered to drain on the horfe. With regard

96 The Art of Bleaching

to the goods foaked in troughs, as the water be-
comes very foul, it would not be amifs to foak
them again in frefh water till the fluid comes off
very clear. In fact, there cannot be too much
attention paid to clear the goods perfectly of
their dreffing. This previous treatment difpofes
them for the fubfequent operations, by render-
ing the extractive colouring matter more eafily
to be difcharged. A fulling-mill would be very
ufeful for thefe workings and rinfings.

The fecond operation to which the piece-
goods are to be fubje&ed, is that of maceration ;
which confifts in foaking them in old lees which
has been ufed, and is referved for this purpofe.
In the macerating troughs the pieces are like-
wife to be difpofcd in folds ; not only becaufe
they occupy lefs room, but likewife becaufe they
will be lefs preffed together, and the maceration
will be more equally effected. The quantity of
lees muft be fufficient to cover the goods ; and in
order that thefe may not rife above the fluid,
they may be preffed down by means of loaded
planks, or which is ftili better, by pieces of wood
capable of being fixed fo as not to prefs the
goods, but Amply to prevent their riling above
the furface. In this fituation they muft be left
for at leaft forty-eight hours, even in fummer,
without any fear of inconvenience. For greater

certainty

Cottons, Thread, &c. qj

certainty, however, this procefs may be managed
according to the heat of the atmofphere. It is
known that the maceration operates in a proper
manner when the lixivium is covered with an
infinity of white bubbles, and begins to emit a
fetid fmell ; and the piece-goods have aflumed
a clear yellowifli ruddy colour, inftead of the
grey or dark colour they had before their kn-
merfion. This, at leaft, is the cafe with almoft
all the linens of Picardy, in confequence of the
fpreading of the linens in the field, where the
impurities are fo far from being detached, as
when the clearing is performed in water, that
they become fixed, and acquire more colour.
This maceration is accelerated if the lixivium
be ufed hot, as it is when rejected from the
boilers. It would fcarcely be imagined how
much the maceration in the old lees, when thus
managed, advances the bleaching of the goods.
It anfwers the fame purpofe as two immerfions
in the copper ; whence it is evident, how much
it faves of time, labour, and expence.

Inftead of macerating the goods in the old
lees, I have fometimes ufed with advantage a
cold bath of lime water, or milk of lime. The
grey piece-goods when deprived of their dreffing,
or even without that previous preparation, were
plunged in this liquid? and after having re-
mained therein no longer than five or fix hours,

h thev

98 The Art of Bleaching

they were taken out, of a ruddy yellow colour,
and in a proper ftate for the aclion of the lixi-
viums.

In order that the pieces fct to macerate may
not be too clofely prefled againft the bottoms of
the veffels, bundles of white ofier twigs, or
merely flicks deprived of their bark and laid
acrofs each other, may be difpofed upon the
bottom. The fame remark is applicable to the
firil foaking, required to clear them of the drefl*-
ing. This firft operation is performed merely to
fave the lees, for when the operator is preffed
for time, the foreign matter contained in piece-
goods, that is to fay, the faliva of the fpinners,
and the ftarch of the weavers, is cleared off as
perfectly as in the old lees when the goods are
fubmitted to maceration.

When the maceration is carried to the dclired
point, the lees are to be drawn off, the goods
taken out, and wrung or prefled in the manner
already defcribed, and rinfed in the ftream, or
in a veflel where it may be worked until the
water, which is repeatedly poured on, comes off
clears or, in preference to this laft procefs, the
goods may be paffed through the fulling appa-
ratus, if the manufacturer poffeffes one. See
the plans and parts of this mill in the Plates IV.
and V. After the fulling or rinfing, the goods
are left to drain on a proper ftage, or preffed or

wrung

Cottons, Thread, &c. 99

wrung to fuch degree that they may remain
only moift or humid. For too great a quantity
of water if retained would weaken the aftion
of the oxygenated muriatic acid.

If the operator do not poffefs the advantage
of a fulling^ftock, but fimply that of a ftream of
water, the warning of thefe piece-goods may be
haftened, by beating them on a ftage, level with
the furface of water, by means of dyers' fticks
or poles, which are very well adapted for this
operation.

Care mull be taken that the troughs or other
wooden veffels in which the goods are foaked or
macerated, be clear of every crack or fplinter,
otherwife there would be danger of tearing them
in taking out, becaufe the fermentative procefs
occafions them to expand and prefs againft the
fides of the veffels.

The obfervations we have made with refpe£i
to piece-goods of linen or hemp, are alfo ap-
plicable to thofe containing cotton, taking care
to proportion the time of foaking and maceraT
tion to the coarfenefs or fmenefs of their tex-
ture.

Particular attention muff be paid after the
rinfing or clearing of the piece-goods, fubfe-
quent to the firft foaking or maceration, and
even after the firft lixiviations or boilings, to rub

H 2 them

ioo The Art of Bleaching

them well with black foap, and afterwards to
clear them out, particularly along their felvedges;
for this part, being always clofer than the reft,
requires to be made very fupple, in order to
open it to the aclion of the lees and the acid.
Without this precaution it might, probably, be
neceffary after the feveral operations to rub
them feparately by hand, and the bleaching
would be retarded by requiring feveral extraor-
dinary immerfions to prevent thefe parts from
being lefs perfectly white than the reft. If the
rinfing and clearing be well performed at the
commencement, the beauty and evennefs of the
white colour, and likewife its acceleration, will
be much promoted. It is alfo highly advan-
tageous, particularly to fine goods, that the
whole piece fhould be foaped and cleared after
the laft lixiviation and rinfing, till the water
flows off limpid. I do not hefitate to recom-
mend this particular manipulation, as well after
the maceration as after the laft immerfion in the
lees, becaufe the whitenefs which it affords is
proportionally more brilliant and folid.

It is proper to add, that it will be likewife
very ufeful to proceed with the fame attention
and care in rinfing the goods after each lixivia-
tion. This part of the work being well per-
formed, has more effeel than is ufually fuppofed

©n

CotionSy Thread, &V. ior

on the folidity of the white colour in many-
piece-goods which are efteemed in the market.
Out of the various kinds I fhall only mention
thofe called De Laval, which, after drefling, ex-
hibit the mod beautiful milk white ; but which
have the fault of not preferving it when they are
brought into the ufual wafh, during the courfe
of wear. This fault is particularly attributed to
the expofure of the goods in the field, before
they are properly cleared of the extractive
matter detached by the lees.

I forgot to mention, that for numbering and
marking the cloths, red ochre {/anguine) may be
ufed as well as lamp-black ground with oil ;
but the mark traced with red-ochre upon a
moiftened place, is more expeditioufly made,
and equally tenacious.

Linen, thread, hofe, mittens, and gloves, of
the fame material, mud undergo the pre-
parations of fteeping in water, and in the old
lees, with the ' fame care. Sewing thread,
hofe, and gloves, only require more time to
arrive at the defired point in the lees, on ac-
count of the firmnefs of their texture, which
fwells confiderably, and acquires a degree of
rigidity, that oppofes the extraction of the
impurities which this operation is defigned to
remove.

Hj The

1 o 4 The Art of Bleaching

The firft thing to be done in the management
of thread, is to make good the faftenings of all
the fkeins, large or fmall ; for there are many
places in which the loops are either imperfectly
or not at all fattened by the fpinners. As thread
fwells up more than half its own bulk by wet-
ting, it is neceffary to loofen all the faftenings
already made, in fuch a manner that the thread
may lie very loofe in the loop $ for if it were
otherwife, there would be reafon to fear an in-
equality in the bleaching. One perfon may
loofen, and tie up again, all the fkeins of one
hundred pounds of thread in a day, This is
work for women rather than men.

When the fkeins are made up, a firing is
paffed through two or three fkeins, according to
their thicknefs ; upon one end of which firing, a
certain number of knots may be made to denote
the owner of the article, whofe name is fup-
pofed to be entered in a book oppofite the fame
number. This affemblage of fkeins is called a
hank, fee Plate II. fig. 1 1. An account is like-
wife taken of the weight of the thread, and the
number of hanks, togetherwith its quality,asmay
be neceifery. Thefe. different obferyations muft
be entered in the day-book as foon as the goods
are received, for fear of omiffion or miflake.
The fame care mull be taken to regifter the

quality,

Cottons, Thread, &V. 103

quality, number, and weight, of the piece-
goods under the name of the proprietor.

The firings for tying up the hanks ought to
be previoufly boiled in water, as well for the
purpofe of clearing them of the drefling, which
the manufacturer may have applied for the pur-
pofe of glazing them, as to render them fupple,
and prevent their curling up when acled upon
by the hot lees. The fame firings may be ufed
for a long time.

The foaking in water requires a lefs time for
thread than for piece-goods, becaufe there is no
drefling to be diffolved, but merely the impurity
which it may have acquired during the fpin-
ning. The thread is to be difpofed in layers in
the fleeping veffelsj taking care to place the
end of the firing of each hank upon the hank
itfelf, in ord.er that there may be no difficulty in
taking them out. It is likewife advifable, to
place thofe articles together which belong to
the fame perfon. Attention muft alfo be paid,
to place a kind of bafket-work, as was directed
with regard to the piece-goods, in order that
the lower parcels while preffed by the upper
may continue to be furrounded with water.
Fine goods ought always to be placed the laft ;
and in order that no part may rife above the
furface, they muft be kept down either by a

h 4 cover

104 The Art of Bleaching

cover perforated with holes, or boards properly
difpofed. Thread may Hkewife be foaked as
well as piece-goods, by expofure to a current
of water ; but for this purpofe it is neceffary to
pafs the hanks over poles fixed beneath the
water. When the thread has remained feven or
eight hours in the water, it is eafily taken out
after the water is drawn off. It may then be
wrung on the pin, or preffed, after having been
rinfed, if convenient, in clear water.

It is then to be arranged in the fame manner,
one ftratum crofs-wife over the other in the
troughs for maceration, as has been directed
for the freeping ; or, if the fituation and con-
venience of the operator permit, it may be fuf-
pended upon flicks. But it will require more
time to macerate or heat in this manner, though
the goods will by that means acquire a more
equal colour. When they are fuppofed to be
well cleared, as we have obferved refpefting the
piece-goods j they are then to be taken out,
wrung or preffed, then rinfed or warned in clear
water, and wrung a fecond time, or hung up to
drain. When the thread is wrung on the pin,
care muft be taken to twift the hanks three
times in three different parts of their circum-
ference, drawing it out each time with as much
ftraitnefs and equality as poffible, to difpofe and

arrange

Cottons, Thready &c. 105

arrange the threads. This operation is likewife
neceffary for the perfect wringing out of the
fkeins in every part. The precaution of extend-
ing the hanks upon the pin for the due arrange-
ment of the threads, is particularly neceffary for
double thread, which is apt to curl up by the
impreffion of the heat. If they be left in this
fituation, there would be reafon to fear, that
the bleaching would be lefs perfect in the curled
parts.

Inftead of wringing the thread on the pin,
which requires much time, it would be ftill
better to clear it of the water by the beetle, or
by the prefs, as by this treatment the thread
would be lefs fubjeft to injury.

With regard to the time of maceration for
thread, it requires in general lefs time than
piece-goods, by reafon of the clofe texture of
the latter. The time, likewife, depends on the
finenefs or quality of the article, the tempera-
ture of the air, and the goodnefs of the lees.

With regard to ftockings, gloves, and mit-
tens, they require at leaft as much time, if not
more, than cloths, to be properly macerated.
This muit be managed according to the clofe-
riefs of their texture, and the other relative cir-
cumftances already mentioned.

Cotton, as well as linen thread, muftbe made

into

1 06 The Art of Bleaching

into hanks, then foaked in water, and difpofed irt
crofs-layers, if troughs be ufed. Cotton imbibes
water with great difficulty, and is lefs difpofed
to adhere together than linen thread, which is
not fo foft and porous. It therefore always
fwims at the top of the fluid in fpite of every
precaution which can be taken, unlefs it be
kept down by the methods before defcribed.
The cotton being difpofed in crofs-layers, and
thus loaded, the troughs (which, as well as.thofe
for piece-goods, ought to be fquare, for the
more convenient difpofition of the feveral ar-
ticles) are to be filled with water.

On account of the difficulty of imbibing
water, which depends on a certain oil, gum, or
refin, it is naturally impregnated with, cotton
requires at leaft as much foaking as piece-goods.
Though it may not appear foul, it never fails to
render the water of a darkifh colour by its im-
purities. The foaking, likewife, affords a faving
of lees, for if the cotton were to be put into the
lees, without this previous treatment, the cop-
per would hold but a fmall quantity.

After twenty-four hours, or lefs time, of im-
merfion, the cotton is to be taken out, and
wrung or preffed, after rinfing in clear water, if
thought ncceffary. It cannot be left to drain
of itfelf, unlefs the procefs be conducted very

leifurely

Cot Ions, Thread, &c. 107

leifurely indeed, for it requires a long time to
clear itfelf of water in this manner.

The cotton is not to be macerated. After
fteeping in water it is boiled in the lees. A
good folution of black foap may on fome occa-
fions be ufed inflead of the lees ; but the lees
are always more effectual, and need not be made
ftronger than three quarters of a degree below
zero. But the folution of black foap muft not
be neglected for thread foiled by the oil of the
jennies or fpinning machines ; for fome of the
girls who manage that procefs take fo little
care in greafing the fpindles, that the bobbins
of thread are fpotted with a thick black oil,
which it is advifable to rub, previous to lixivia-
tion, with a good folution of black foap. If
this be not done, it will be very difficult to dif-
charge the fpots : in fpite of every care they are
fometimes vifible upon the hanks even after
the bleaching. I muft here remark, that I re-
commend black foap in preference to the white,
becaufe it is more active, and does not contain
thofe fmall ftones, or grains, which fometimes
abound in the white foap, and may injure the
goods, or the hands of the operator. Black
foap, indeed, has a ftronger fmeJl, but this is
diiiipated in the courfe of the fubfequent pro-
cefles.

Night-

10S The Art of Bleaching

Night-caps, ftockings, focks, mittens, and
gloves of cotton, are to be tacked together as
foon as received, and marked with threads paflf-
ing through each pair ; upon which a greater
or lefs number of knots is to be tied, and an
account taken in the day-book of every circum-
ftance relating to their number, quality, &c.
which may be neceflary to prevent miftakes, or
confufion, in the fubfequent delivery to the re-
fpecHve proprietors.

Thefe goods, when marked and tacked to-
gether, are not to be fteeped in pure water ; but,
on the contrary, in a good folution of green or
black foap as hot as poffible, in order that the
black and oily marks, and the impurities with
which they always more or lefs abound, may-
be eafily detached by rubbing them with the
hands.

"When the ftockings, night- caps, &c. are
taken out of the fuds, thev mull be rinfed and
cleaned in clear water, and afterwards wrung
by hand. They cannot be treated in any other
manner, excepting by the prefs, without danger
of breaking fome of the flitches.

After this treatment the feveral pieces may-
be conveyed to the troughs for immerfion in the
bleaching liquor ; but the work fucceeds much
better if they be previoufly boiled in the lees.

With

Cottons y Thread, &c. 109

With regard to flax and hemp, which it may-
be required to bleach in the rough, it will be
proper in the firft place to give them a lixivia-
tion, on account of the difficulty of macerating
them in this ftate, though it is not abfolutely
impracticable to do it, by tying them up in fmall
feparate parcels. The different knots of flax,
muft, therefore, be difpofed on the bottom of
the boiler, firft covered with a piece of wicker
work, upon which a coarfe cloth is fpread.
The different knots are to be mixed as little as
poffible, taking care to make a flight fold, or
return, at the head of each knot. They are to
be preffed by hand the fame as the ftockings.
For rinfing and walhing them, it is likewife ne-
ceflary that this mould be done by hand, hold-
ing each parcel by the head, and repeatedly
plunging and moving it about in water. This,
at lealt, is the management I have thought it
beft to adopt in my trials.

It is to be remarked, that the exhaufted and
unferviceable folutions of the oxygenated muri-
atic acid may be ufcd inftead of water for the
lixivium, if it be fufficiently concentrated to
mark one degree beneath zero on the areometer.
I have fometimes ufed it to advantage for cotton
goods, after the laft, and even the fecond, boil-
ings. This liquor was not lefs difpofed to be-
1 come

no The Art of Bleaching

come coloured, by diffolving the extractive parts
of thread and piece-goods, notwithftanding the
acid with which the pot-afh appeared to be
combined. It feems probable, that the acid is
but flightly attached to the alkali, and may be
driven off by a ftrong heat -, as, in facl, I thought
I perceived in feparate evaporations *.

* This laft observation feems to apply to fuch bleaching
liquor only, as may have been deprived of its fmell by pot-afh>
and not to that in which chalk, or lime, may have been ufed;

CHAP,

Cottons, Thread, &c. gjg

CHAP. IX. '

Concerning the fir ft Immerfion.

HE firft, as well as the laft, immerfions may
be made with the acid without fmell, compofed
with the proportion of pot-afh already pointed
out ; but in cafe this proportion mould be ex-
ceeded, it muft not be ufed but for the two firft
immerfions. In every cafe thefe ought to be
made with the acid without fmell, becaufe this
liquid acls with more fpeed and equality. We
fhall prefently mention the reafon why, in cafe
of a greater proportion of pot-aili, no more than
the two firft immerfions ought to be made in
this inodorous oxygenated muriatic acid.

When the immerfions are to be made, if the
apparatus is fo placed, that the trough or back
defigned for that purpofe is placed below the
ipigot of the pneumatic veiTel (fee Plate I. fig. i,
2), the muriatic acid is to be drawn off to the
necelfary height, in order that the goods which
are folded in equal folds may be covered at leaft
two or three inches. But if the arrangement
be not made in this manner, the liquor muft be

drawn

112 The Art of Bleaching

drawn off in pitchers, or conducted to the vef-
fels of immerfion by leaden or wooden tubes,
provided thofe vcfTcls be placed on the ground,
or low enough for that purpofe. With refpect
to what remains in the pneumatic veffel, which
is fhewn by the degrees on the external tube or
£ase, after the moveable veffel of immerfion is
conveyed away on caftors, if the bleaching li-
quor be fuppofed to be fufficiently ftrong, and ;
is not immediately wanted, it may be drawn off
in ftone-ware bottles of that kind which is ufed
for nitrous acid ; or, if requifite, the diftillation
may proceed to its entire termination. I muft
only remark, that when the liquor is thus partly
drawn off, the diftillation is renewed though
there be no increafe of the fire, becaufe the gas
which efcapes from the diftilling veffels under-
goes lefs refiftance from the diminished column
of water. This is even a method, as I have al-
ready remarked, to render the liquor in the fe-
cond partition equal in Strength to that in the
firft ; for otherwife there will always be a dif-
ference between them, which, neverthelefs,
fpecdily difappears when the whole, of the fluid
contained in the pneumatic veffel is drawn off
at once, and poured into the fame veffel for im-
merfion.

I mall now proceed to defcribe the method

Cottons, Thread, &c. 113

of fubmitting piece-goods to the a&ion of the
oxygenated muriatic acid.

1. Above the veffel for immerfion is placed
the winch, or reel, ufed by dyers. The piece-
goods, if there be many pieces, are fewed to-
gether, or fattened with firings in fuch a man-
ner, that they form a large loop, or endlefs web,
which is pafled over the reel, fo that by turning
one part rifes as the other defcends, and the;
whole length is fubje&ed to the aaion of the
acid. One workman turns the handle gently,
while another Handing in front of the cloth,
takes it by each felvedge, and conduas it into
the liquor. Two round fmooth Haves may be
ufed for the fame purpofe. The perfon who
manages the immerfion takes care to prevent
the piece from folding breadthwife, and guides
the cloth in fuch a manner, that it may continue
open and expanded as it defcends into the
veffel.

This procefs of turning muft be continued for
half an hour, in which time the liquor, almoft
in every cafe, has produced its whole effeft in
equalizing the colour. It is then taken off the
reel, and left in the acid for another quarter of
an hour ; after which it is palled again over the
reel, and left in the liquor till the time of tak-
ing it out, which may be done immediately, if the

* fluid

! 14 The Art of Bleaching

fluid no longer acts on the goods, and mould
appear (till of value to operate upon other
pieces. This may be immediately afcertained,
either by the appearance of the fluid, of which
experience will render the operator a fufficient
judge, or by the proof of indigo or cochineal,
pointed out in the Annals of Chemiftry, of
which I fhall hereafter fpeak.

If the liquor do not retain fufKcient ftrength
for new, or dyed pieces, but enough for fuch as
are in a more advanced ftate (which circum-
ftances, and qualities, will be foon learned by
experience) , or if it be proper for cotton itock-
ings, or thread only, they may immediately be.
immerfed after having wrung the cloths by the
wring over the trough, in order to fave the acid
they have imbibed, and bring them to a ftate
fit for boiling. Every time the piece-goods arc
wrung, it is necelTary to arrange them in folds
on a clean table, or board, whence they may be
carried and arranged in. the fame manner upon
the frage of the lixiviating boiler.

In cafe there be no particular hafle required
to boil the goods, after it has been afcertained
that the acid exerts no further action upon
them ; and fuppofing, likewife, that no other
goods are at hand to be immerfed in the fluid, the
yiects may be difengaged from the reel, and left

Cottons, Thread, &c. nr

Sn the bleaching liquor until they are wanted
for the boiling. This prolonged immerfion can
do no harm, and only exhaufts the acid more
completely. Laftly, when this liquor is entirely
cxhaufted, it is either to be thrown away, or elfe
referved for the purpofes hereafter to be men-
tioned. This firft folution, it may be remarked,
has ufually a ruddy yellow colour.

The veflel, or back, for immerfion ought to be
fquare, or at leafl, long like a bathing tub, be-
caufe the piece-goods are much better flowed
in fuch a veflel. It ought to be fomewhat more
than five quarters long, and three quarters wide,
thefe dimenfions being beft fuited to our piece-
goods (in France). The height may be propor-
tioned to the quantity or length of the pieces
intended to be depofited therein at the fame
time, and the mafs of fluid which muft, confe-
quently, be poured in.

The mixed goods of cotton and thread, or
cotton alone, being more fufceptible of the
fpeedy aftion of the acid than fuch as are en-
tirely of linen ; and among thefe the fine being
more fpeedily affeaed than the coarfe, they
muft accordingly be taken out as early as expe-
rience may have mown to be proper for their
effeaual bleaching. The other goods which lie
beneath, and require to remain a longer time in

1 2 the

1 1 6 The Art of Bleaching

the fluid, will be more advantageoufly a&ed
upon, becaufe they will be lefs preffed, and will
float in a greater volume of the bleaching liquor.
Inftead of paffing the goods over the reel or
winch in the manner here defcribed, which re-
quires the time and attention of two perfons,
the goods might be previoufly difpofed in a
frame of one ell in breadth. This frame, fee
Plate VIII. fig. i and 2, is provided with a
number of pins with heads, over which is pafled
the fame number of loops attached to the fel-
vedge of the cloth, at the diftance of an ell
afunder. By this means the pieces are fuf-
pended in a zig-zag form, and not only occupy
a fmall fpace in the veffel, but likewife become
of a very even colour, in confequence of the free
accefs which the acid obtains to the whole of the
furface when the apparatus is plunged therein.
This operation may be performed by a pulley
fattened to lines which fufpend the frame. The
latter may thus be eafily taken out with its
charge, and be left to drain above the vefTel it-
felf, or any other veffel appropriated to that
purpofe, in cafe the liquor lhould be found fuf-
ficiently ftrong to admit a fecond frame pre-
vioufly prepared. If this fhould not, however, b£
the cafe, the fluid is to be difnofed as before

J A.

directed.

With

Cottons •> Thread, &V. ny

With regard to linen and hempen thread, and
knit or woven goods of the fame materials, they
may be managed as follows.

Over a trough for the immerfion, fee Plate IX.
fig. 7 and 8, are placed clean poles or fticks
cleared of the bark, upon which the fkeins of
thread, {lockings, night-caps, or mittens in pairs,
are to be hung. After the acid is introduced,
each hank, or pair of ftockings, &c. is to be
fucceflively turned, by immerfing that part into
the liquor which was before upon the pole. In
this manner the operator proceeds from one
pole to the other, and returns fucceffively to
thofe goods which were flrft turned. Care
muft be taken to open them well at the time of
turning, in order that they may prefent a greater
furface to the fluid. Inftead of turning the
poles fingly in this manner, it might be fo ma-
naged by a band, or other mechanical contriv-
ance, that the whole might turn together upon
turning one (ingle piece of the fet. This me-
thod would be lefs tedious and fatiguing for the
workmen.

It is advifable, that the troughs for the im-
merfion of threads mould be as nearly as pofli-
ble of a fquare figure, in order that they may
hold a greater quantity of hanks ; and the
diftance between each may be very nearly
equal, for the purpofe of exhaufting the bath

J 3 with

1 1 8 The Art of Bleaching

with uniformity; excepting that the diftance
between the fides of the veffel, and the thread
may be lefs confiderable.

. As the bleaching liquor is liable to lofe its gas
more fpeedily in proportion to the extent of its
furface, it might, perhaps, be proper to have the
troughs rather deep than broad, in order that
the gas may be more effectually retained ; and
fmce it is effential, that the bleaching liquor
fhould act with the utmoft pollible equality
upon the threads, inftead of pouring it into the
troughs wherein thefe are difpofed and arranged
upon poles, it would be more advantageous to
caufe it to rife gradually to the height of the
hanks or poles ; a condition which may eafily be
obtained by means of one or more tubes of lead
or wood ; the bended parts of which might be
laid under the middle of the bottom of the
trough. Thefe tubes being fixed along the in-
ternal fides of the trough, may be furnifhed at
their upper extremity with a funnel of wood, or
of lead, for the reception of the fluid. After
the fluid has been poured in, great care muft be.
taken to keep the funnels clofed.

Thefe are the methods which it is convenient
to ufe, to fubject threads to the action of the
oxygenated muriatic acid, when the operator is
in pofiefiion of a certain quantity; but when,
on the contrary, the quantity he poflefles is

Qnall,

Cottons, Thread, m. I i 9

fmall, or his operations on a fmall fcale, certain
pieces of bafket work, with handles, for which
fee Plate II. fig. 2 and 3, may be ufed, feveral of
which mav be placed one above the other in a
found or fquare trough of oak or fir, it being of
110 oonfequence which of the two kinds of
wood be ufed ; upon each bottom a fingle layer
of hanks is to be difpofed, taking care that it
ftiall be covered with the bleaching liquor at
leaft one inch or two in depth, and to turn them
upfide down, at firlt every quarter of ari hour,
and afterwards every half hour j laftly, after one
hour's- immerfion the thread may be taken out,
if its colour be equal, and other thread put in,
if the- blfeachmg liquor continues ' to pofTei*s
ftrength.- In a word, this procefs is to be ma-
naged like the other already defcribed ; it mull,
however, be remarked, that the bleaching liquor
may appear to poffefs fome ftrength by the tell
of cochineal or indigo, though it may not have
fufficient for the bleaching procefs ; thefe nearly
exhaufted folutions are to be referved either for
the kind of preparation hereafter to be pre-
fcribed, or thrown away if no immediate ufe
prefents itfelf 3 'or otherwife they may be kept
for ufes which I {hall defcribe when I fpeak of
piece-goods. The colour of the bleaching li-
quor which has been ufed for the firft immer*
1 4 fion

no The Art of Bleaching

fion of linen or hempen thread or flockings is or*
a ruddy yellow, the fame as that which has been
ufed for piece-goods.

Brown or white cotton threads are to be fteeped
and turned in the oxygenated muriatic acid, in the
•fame manner as thread of flax or hemp ; namely,
upon poles, or in bafkets ; with this difference,
neverthelefs, that they require to be turned only
haif as often. A good half-hour is fufficient for
the firfl: immerfion, after which time they are to
be taken out, and other thread put in, if the
bleaching liquor continues ftrong enough for
ufe, for it very felplom . happens that the new,
"bleaching liquor is incapable of ferving more
than once for cotton. .This, liquor does not un»
dergo any remarkable change of colour.

^Stockings,, night-caps, gloves, mittens, and
focks of cotton, may be very well managed with
regard to the immerfion, in the fame manner as
linen or cotton thread ; but as this fort of bulky
articles occupy a coniiderable fpace, and cannot
conveniently be laid on the other, it is adyifable
to arrange them fcparately in layers in the
troughs,, which may be of any form, either round
or fquare, though the latter form is moil con-
venient, and, upon the whole, to be preferred.
Thefe articles are to be difpofed in layers upon
platforms of clear ofier work, provided, as has

already

Cottons, Thread, &V. iai

already been obferved, with four handles, upon
which the other platforms are to be placed. No
more than three can be put into one trough.
As the articles placed upon the uppermoft plat-
form might rife to the furface, which would ex-
pofe. them to an inequality of colour, another
platform, or piece of bafket-work, with a rim,
may be placed above them, which muft be fo
managed as to prefs the goods in a Tmall degree,
and -prevent their rifing. Two or three ranges
of night-caps, ftockings, Sec. are fufficient upon
each platform.

. It is eafily known: when the cotton ftockings,
or night-caps, have .remained a fufficient time in
the firft bleaching liquor. Nothing more is ne-
ceflary for this purpofe than to hold them up to
the light i in which pofition they ought not to
fhew thofe opaque fpots, which are of a more
or lefs ruddy colour, according to the nature of
the goods, or' at leaft very few of thofe fpots
ihould appear.

Cotton ftockings^. with .clocks, are more diffi-
cult to bleach in that part, and muft be care-
fully pulled open every time they are immerfed
in the liquor, becaufe they are very fubje£t tq
ihrink up. It is advantageous to turn them in-
iide-out previous to the fecond immerfion.

The prefent remark with refpeel to cotton

ftockings

f $ l The Art of Bleaching

(lockings is Hill more flrongly applicable to
ribbed thread (lockings. The fingers of gloves
are likewife more difficult to bleach at their ex*.
tremities, becaufe the texture is clofeft at that
part. It is even prudent to turn ribbed (lock-
ings infide-out feveral times during the courfe of
the immerfion, for which reafon it will be moft
convenient to place them always near the top of
the veffei. Common cotton (lockings, and other
goods, may remain in the fluid without being
turned during their immerfion, becaufe they
are more loofe and fpongy. They may be left in
the liquor about half an hour. Cotton manu-
factured into goods is more difficult to be pene-
trated than the fimple thread. By means of
cords paffing through the handles of the lowef
platform, upon which all the others reft, the
whole fyftem may be very eafily raifed by a
pulley. In this fituation they mud be left to
drain above the trough -, after which, the pieces
arc to be preflfed feparately by the hand, or all
at once by mechanical means, if the operator be
provided with an apparatus.

If the acid be dill good, other (lockings are to
be immerfed in it, either in their firft (late, or
in different itages of the procefs j the raw ar-
ticles mufl be immerfed in lefs quantity than
thofe which are partly bleached : if the liquor

Cottons, Thread, fcfr. 2

be nearly exhaufted, it is to be referved pur-
suant to the recommendation alrcadv given.

The obfervation which we have made with
regard to night-caps, ftockings, &c. made of
cotton, in which the greater or lefs effecT: ma7
be feeu by holding them up to the light, is alfo
applicable to gloves and ftockings of linen
thread : but, as it has already been remarked,
thefe goods are much more difficult to bring to
an equal colou ; for however loofe the texture
may be. the linen thread always fvvells confider-
ably, fo as to render ftockings ft iff and inflex-
ible. The texture in this fituation is fo difficult
to be penetrated, that the bleaching is as it
were entirely fuperfkial. It is better, therefore,
when ftockings are required to be well bleach-
ed, that the thread mould have been cleanfed
at leaft before the knitting or weaving, by
which means it becomes more difpofed to open
and imbibe the acid. Stockings, of linen thread
entirely in the raw ftate, without having been
cleared of their firft impurities, are very un-
pleafant for the bleaching liquor to operate
upon, and ftill more when they are ribbed or
have clocks. Thefe goods are liable to a very
unequal colour.

In general, all kinds of looped or flocking
^ork of flax or hemp, muft be fuffered to ret

main

124 The Art of Bleaching

main in the liquor at lead half as much longer
than other goods ; that is to fay, from two to
three hours, for the acid does not penetrate
them and give them an equal colour, unlefs it
be'fuffered to operate for a confiderable time.
They muft not even be lixiviated until their co-
lour is nearly equal. If it mould happen that
they do not acquire an uniform colour during
the firft immerfion, they mult have a fecond,
which muft, in both cafes, be of confiderable
ftrength, and in which they muft be kept a fuf-
ficient time to undergo the effect without the
intermediate action of the lees. This obferva-
tion is equally applicable to all other piece-
goods of linen, or ftockings of cotton.

With regard to knots of flax or hemp, they
are to be bleached in the fame manner as the
ftockings and night-caps, by difpofing them
as much as poflible in thin ftrata ; be caufe fila-
ments are naturally much difpofed to become
entangled, and form a clofe mafs. Knots of
flax are bleached very fpeedily, that is to
fav, by one or two immerfions lefs than are
required for thread of middling finenefs. It
muft, neverthelefs, be obferved, that they muft
not be bleached until after having been beaten
and combed, becaufe they muft always be
foaped after the bleaching, on account of their

adher-

Cottons t Thread, Z3c. X25

adhering together while drying, a circumftance
which can hardly be prevented. If this be not
attended to, there will be confiderable lofs.
Knots of flax bleached in this manner, and
afterwards combed, appear to the eye as beauti-
ful and mining as white filk.

It muft be remarked, that if the (loop of
flax or hemp obtained from this bleaching, or
bleached feparately, be cut, in cafe the ftaple be
too long, and afterwards carded, it has a lingular
reiemblance to the cotton of Siam, which is
very plentiful in the market, and known to have
the fhorteft ftaple. When it is well carded, no
difference can be perceived between the two
articles ; neither is it poffible to diftinguifli them
in fpinning. I have had an opportunity to
weave fome of this thread at the end of a web:
of cloth, where it might have been taken for
real cotton. I have likewife had an oppor-
tunity of ufing it in candle wicks, in which
there was no perceptible difference between it
and cotton, either with regard to the colour, or
clearnefs of the light. It will, no doubt, be a
very interefting object to afcertain all the advan-
tages which the commercial world may derive
from this application of the oxygenated mu-
riatic acid.

CHAP.

tafi The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. X.

Inftrufticns with regard to the Quantity of Lixivi~
at i ens and Immerfions.

JL HE number of immerfions for hempen or
linen goods is commonly three for fine goods,
fiich as hollands, cloths, lawns, &c. &c. five
for common cloths, and feven for the coarfeft. It
may alfo happen, that an immerfion extraordi-
nary may be required for each of thefe kind of
goods, according to the accidents they have
met with, the greater or lefs degree of clofenefs
in their texture, and the dark colour of threads
here and there paffing through the cloths, par-
ticularly in thofe known at Laval under the
name of toiles brindellees. This name is ^iven
to them on account of threads paffing through
them, which are faid to be dyed by the manu-
facturer for the exprefs purpofe of rendering it
heavier, and on this account more advantageous
in the fale. The dark threads of thefe cloths
can never be bleached by the common method j
whence a judgment may be formed of the ad-
vantage of the new method ia bringing thefe

goods

Cottons, Thread, &c. f 2-i

goods into the market, which, though fine and
equal in beauty and general whitenefs to thofe
of Flanders, Ireland, and Silefia, are neverthe-
lefs greatly deprefled in price, on account of the
fmgularity In the colour, which renders them at
leaft twenty per cent lefs valuable.

From the number of immerfions here pre-
fcribed, it will follow that the lixiviations may-
be reduced to two for fine cloths, four for mid-
ling cloths, and fix for the coarfeft kind, fuppof-
ing the moft perfeft white to be required 5 for
if a commoner colour fhould be thought fuffi-
cient, one lixiviation, and one immerfion, may be
deduaed from each kind of goods ; whence it
follows, that for a middling white no more will
be required than to give one or two immerfions
to the fine goods, two or three for thofe of me-
dium finenefs, and three or four for goods of the
moil inferior quality.

With regard to piece-goods of cotton, the
coarfeft will not require more than four immer-
fions, and three lixiviations. For fuch as confift
of linen and cotton mixed, no regard mult be
paid to the cotton, but to the thread, which al-
ways, during the procefs, remains behind in its
degree of perfeaion. Neverthelefs thefe are
bleached more fpeedily than if they were en-
tirely of linen, becaufe the cotton, which is in-
termixed,

128 The Art of Bleaching

termixed, renders the goods more penetrable by
the acid. In general no more than five immer-
sions and lixiviations are required for ihe coarfeft
goods of this kind. The fame advantage of
fpeed is alfo obtained in other open-worked
goods, which admit the acid more readily into
their texture.

Linen and hempen threads are affected nearly
in the fame manner as piece-goods ; that is to
fay, the fine thread requires no more the three
immerfions, and two lixiviations, the middling
four or five, and the double or fewing thread, or
threads of coarfe quality, fix or feven immer-
fions ; whence it follows, that three or four lixi-
viations are fuflicient for fine thread, five or fix
for clofe coarfe thread, and fix and a half for
fewing thread of the fame quality. The latter
threads requiring more care and attention, are
likewife more difficultly penetrated by the acid.

Gloves and flockings of hemp or linen follow
nearly the fame proportions, with the addition
of half a lixiviation and one immerfion more,
according to their quality, the clofenefs of their
texture, and the inequality of the thread.
Ribbed flockings, or fuch as have woven clocks,
will, likewife, in fome cafes require an additional
immerfion. The fame proportion is to be ob-
ferved in thefe goods wheji they are mixed, as

was

Cottons, Thread, &c. 129

was (hewn with regard to mixed cotton goods,
excepting that an extraordinary immerfion, or
half immerfion, is given on account of the linen
thread, which fvvells up by moifture, and al-
ways becomes white fomewhat more (lowly.
But, on the whole, fingle threads bleach more
quickly than piece-goods, becaufe the threads
are more difengaged and feparate from each
other, and being lefs compreiTed admit the fluid
into contact with greater facility, with the ex-
ception only of dyed or fewing thread. But
this facility in the bleaching is fully counter-
balanced by the care which thread requires tQ
prevent its becoming entangled or broken.

Three immerfions are fufficient to bleach the
coarfeft cotton thread, fuch as that which is in-
tended for cotton wicks ; and accordingly no
more than two are required for common threads
with the appropriate lixiviations, it being al-
ways understood that the fineit white colour is
here meant. It is of no confequence whether
the cotton be of a dark colour, or inclined to
white : the latter, which is naturally more foul
or impure, might be expected to bleach more
fpeedily, but it frequently acquires the pro-
per degree of whitenefs more flowly than the
other.

Gloves, mittens, focks, night- caps, and ftock-
K ings,

1 30 The Art of Bleaching

iflgs, of cotton, require no more than three im«
mcrfions, and fometimes two are fuflicient, ac-
cording to the quality and clofenefs of their tex-
ture. Hence it may be obferved, that the
number of lixiviations cannot exceed two for
the molt common goods, and it is, therefore, eafy
to regulate the procefs for an imperfect white.
This colour, however, is feldom required on
cotton.

I mud obferve, that by the words half lixivia-
tion, I underftand that the lees poflefs no greater
ftrength than one degree at molt for thread and
piece-goods, and half a degree, or three-fourths,
for cotton, if the lees be new ; but other wife
the operator may ufe fuch as have already been
applied, and have not been reftored to their
original ftrength. When the fame term is ap-
plied to immerfions, I mean to fpeak of the
bleaching liquor, diluted with one-fourth of its
weight of water, or fuch as has already been
ufed for the firft white, and ftill retains ftrength
enough for the immerfion of pieces already ad-
vanced in their bleaching.

When the muriatic acid without fmell is well
made, the operator fees with pleafure that one
quarter of an hour after the immerfion of thread,
a white, and, as it were, foapy lather comes up
to the top. This is a good fign, for it very

feldom

Cottons, Thread, &V. i«i

feldom happens, that pieces immerfed in a
bleaching liquor which produces fuch an effect,
do not obtain an even colour. I muft, moreover,
remark, that it is not neceffary to dry the goods
before their immerfion in the lees, or the bleach-
ing liquor. It is fufficient that they be well
wrung, or cleared of their water to fuch a de*
gree, as only to remain moift. We might even
plunge them into the bleaching liquor immedi-
ately after their rinfing, or wringing out of the
lees, if it were not that this management di-
minifhes its ftrength in fome degree.

On the fame principle we may plunge the
goods;, when taken out of the bleaching liquor,
into the lees without rinfing, but merely after
ftrong preffure, though the rinfing appears to
deferve the preference. To fave time and trou-
ble, however, I would advife the operator to
omit the rinfing when he is defirous of haftening
his work ; the only rifk which this omifTion af-
fords, is that of weakening or neutralizing the
lixivium to a greater degree, which by this
means will not ferve for fo many boilings. It
is proper alfo to remark, that if a lixivium thus
neutralized, but not loaded, with colouring
matter (which may be productive of deception
if the ftrength be not afcertained by the tafte)
be ufed, the goods will come out dyed of a
k z nankeen

132 The Art of Bleaching

nankeen colour, and the operator will be af-
tonifhed that they do not bleach though fleeped
in a new and ftrong bleaching liquor. This
laft, on the contrary, ferves only to deepen the
nankeen tinge ; but, as I have before remarked,
this accident does not happen, excepting when
the lixivium is entirely exhaufted, and neutral-
ized by frequent immerfions of goods therein.
This effect does not ufually happen, until after
the lees having been ufed five or fix times with-
out being renewed. The remedy for this acci-
dent will be siven hereafter.

I (hall conclude the prefent chapter by ob-
ferving how ufeful it is to rinfe, and cleanfe the
<roods as foon as thev have undergone their lixi-
viation, that is to fay, a few minutes after tak-
ing them out ; they are at that time more open
in their texture, and more difpofed to part with
the impurities which the lixivium may have
detached.

In the rinfing of threads, they mull not be
held by the firing of the hanks, but, on the con-
trary, the hand muft be paffed through all the
fkains, and thus held, they muft be ftirred
round in the water. By this treatment the
thread is better cleanfed, becaufe it remains lefs
entangled, and more open. If the operator
have the advantage of a river, or flream, the

fliorteft

Cottons, Thread, &c. 133

ihorteft method will be to loop them all on a
pole, and hold them fufpended in the water.
The poles are to be fixed in an ofier bafket, in
order that fuch hanks as may be accidentally-
detached, during the a& of turning, or placing
them, may not be carried away by the ftream.
This is much more expeditious, and lefs embar-
rafling.

CHAP.

&34 The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XI.

An Account of the Quantity of Linen, and Cotton
Thread, bleached at each Immerfwn, and the Co-
lours acquired by thoje Sub/lances.

1 HE quantity of pounds of linen, or hempen
thread, which may be patted into a bath com-
pofed of the whole contents of a pneumatic
vefiel of the acid without fmell, obtained ac-
cording to the dofes and proportions before
prefcribed, may be eftimated at fixty or fixty-
two pounds for the firft immerfion, and eighty
for the fecond and following immerfions. In
order to avail himfelf of this datum, for piece-
goods which are to be plunged in the liquor,
the operator mud take care to weigh them be-
forehand, previous to deeping them to clear off
their dreffing. This quantity is alfo fufceptible
of variation, according to the quality of the
thread. Thread of middling quality is here
meant.

The quantity of cotton which may be patted
through a fimilar dofe of the fluid, is from eighty
to ninety pounds, of middling quality, for the

firft

Cottons, Thread, &c. 135

firlt. immerfion, and one hundred for the fecond.
According to this rate the operations mud be
regulated for other objects, fuch as flockings,
night-caps, gloves, &c.

It is more advifeable to diminifh than increafc
this quantity of goods, to have them more perfect,
more equal, and of a better white. The fuc-
ceeding immerfions will produce a greater effe£t
upon threads thus treated.

The bleaching liquor which has been ufed
for cotton becomes flight! v charged with colour-
ing matter, and at the firft immerfions acquires
a pale amber colour. The latter immerfions do
not change it, but leave it clear and limpid.
The fame obfervation is applicable to both the
oxygenated acids ; that is to fay, the acid with
fmell, and that which is without.

As it is of effential confequenee to be aware
of certain events, or facts, by which the progrefs
of the bleaching may be afcertained, I mall here
point out the gradations of colour, which the
pieces aflume after each immerfion in the oxy-
genated muriatic acid without fmell, made ac-
cording to the proportions here defcribed. The
firft immerfion gives the thread, or piece goods,
a reddiih colour, fiightly inclining to yellow ;
the fecond, a colour inclining to ruddy yellow ;
k 4 the

136 The Art of Bleaching

the third, a whitifh yellow ; the fourth, a white,

fiightly inclining to a ruddy tinge ; and by the

fifth and fixth, the white becomes clearer and

clearer. Thefe are very nearlv the fhades which
1

are aflumed by coarfe goods, for the line goods
frequently pafs to the fecond or third gradation
by one fmgle immerfion.

When the liquor is ftrongly concentrated in
pot-afh, fuch as that which is denoted in the
annals of chemiftry by the name of Javelle, the
goods immediately, and without previous lixi-
viation, aflume the third colour ; but I have ob-
ferved, that it is difficult to bleach them further
without ufing the fulphuric acid, to remove the
lees with which they are loaded. It muft,
moreover, be remarked, that in order to obtain
this tone of colour, it is fufficient that the lixi-
vium be diluted with water, fo as to mark two
or three degrees only on the aerometer inftead
of eighteen or twenty, which it may mark after
it is prepared by diftillation.

There are fome who do not approve the co-
lour which the thread acquires after the firft
immerfion, but it may immediately be reduced
by fteeping the goods in cold or hot lees. The
latter produes its effect more fpeedily ; and after
fubfequent rinfmg and drying, the goods retain a

grey

Cottons, Thread, &i. 137

grey white colour, more or lefs deep accord-
ing to the fhade it has received. Many venders
prefer this grey, or reduced colour, on account
of its preferable fale in certain markets.

With regard to the bright and perfect white,
there are very few perfons in the provinces who
care for it, or appear to give it an exclufive
preference. Two reafons may be given for this:
firft, becaufe a prejudice is unfortunately efta-
bliflied againft the fpeed with which the new
invented method of bleaching operates : and
fecondly, the confumer is conftantly perfuaded,
whether the bleaching may have been performed
in this manner, or in the field, that when the
goods have attained an extreme degree of white-
nefs, they cannot be as durable as fuch as are
lefs white. It is thought to be rotten, or burnt,
and this opinion leads to a preference in favour
of fuch linens, and even cottons, which preferve
after bleaching a folid ihade of grey, or dulnefs
in the white.

From a prejudice of the fame kind it is, that,
in many countries, the women, particularly the
peafants, prefer their linen, whether for cloth-
ing or houfehold ufe, fimply cleared without
bleaching. The orders of proprietors, or pur-
chafers, mult therefore be attended to, and the

number

13S Tie Art of Bleaching

number of immerfions and lixiviations regulated
accordingly.

It may be confidered as a rule, that when the
goods no longer communicate a perceptible co-
lour to new lees, they are entirely finifhed, and
confequently, that every fubfequent lixiviation,
or immerfion, will be attended with abfolute
lofs, unlefs the immerfion is necefiary to clear
off the laft lees, on the fuppofition that fimple
rinfmg in a large quantity of water may not be
fufficient.

I muff, neverthelefs, remark, that thread
bleached by the oxygenated muriatic acid, may
be ufed by the fempftrefs with much more
fpeed and briiknefs than thread of the fame
quality bleached in the field ; it is lefs brittle,
and, on that account, is better for the weft, as
well as the warp. It likewife may be ftruck much
more effectually home to its place in weaving,
and does not afterwards move. I received this
valuable obfervation from impartial and unpre-
judiced manufacturers, for whom I bleached
thread according to this method for making
handkerchiefs.

Before I conclude the prefent chapter I mud
obferve, that the conjunction of the old and new
methods of bleaching may be of incalculable

advantage.

Col tons j Thread, &c. 139

advantage. For however great may be the
fpeed of bleaching by the oxygenated muriatic
acid, it is fcarcely poffible to adopt it in an
extenfive manufactory, to the exclufion of the
method of expofure in the field, without very
heavy charges in workfhops, tools, and utenfils;
I would therefore advife, that the entire bleach-
ing, without expofure in the field, fhould be
confined to fuch goods as are intended to re-
ceive, what may be called, a half or three-quar-
ters white; and that thofe which require a
higher bleaching fhould be finifhed by expofure
in the field. By this arrangement the produc-
tion of each kind of white colour will be dif-
tributed, fo as to be very fpeedy, and to acquire
the requifite degree of perfection in a very eco-
nomical manner for the manufacturer, under all
the heads of time, expence, and labour. The
high price which may be afforded by a piece of a
perfect white, and fine quality, will be a compen-
fation for the price of common goods intended
for ordinary ufe.

CHAP.

140 The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XII,

Of the Fir ft Dreffmgs.

N order to give more clearnefs to the white
colour of bleached goods, it is ufual to give
them certain dreffings. Fine piece-goods, few-
ing thread, (lockings, gloves, and other articles
of thread, or cotton, are more particularly fub-
je£ted to this treatment. The following inftruc-
tions may be fufficient to fhew the management
of thefe feveral articles, after they have been
fubmitted to the laft immerfion. 1. The piece-
goods are firft to be prefled, or wrung, in the
fame manner as after taking them out of the
muriatic acid, and in this Hate they are to be
immerfed in water, rendered four by fulphuric
acid, to fuch a degree that it may mark from
two and a half to three e grees of the areometer
of MofTy. The lrifh manufacturers, who ufe
this acid in preference to four milk, for the
bleaching their piece-goods, compofe their
bath of one hundred parts of water to one of
acid. This proportion communicates to the
water a tafte refembling that of ftrong le-
monade.

The

Cottons, Thread \ teV. 141

The French bleachers, particularly thofe of
Mayenne and its environs, who are accuftomed
to pafs their piece-goods through fulphuric acid,
compofe their bath of fixty pots of water to one
pot of fulphuric acid, and they leave their goods
immerfed therein during the whole night. The
bath may be ufed cold, but it is more effectual
and fpeedy in its operation when heated, and
appears betides to throw out the colour to more
advantage. If it be thought proper to ufe the
heated bath, it will not at all be neceflary that
it fhould exceed the heat which the hand can
conveniently fupport. But it is advifeable in
that cafe, to pour in the fulphuric acid at the
time when the hot water is added, or elfe to
mix it with one of the meafures of cold water,
which may be ufed to dilute the mixture, or to
cool it. At the time the hot water is poured
out of the boiler, the acid mull be poured
gently, and with care, becaufe it is liable to fly
about * i and the greateft attention muft be paid
to mix it well with the water, in order that the
bath may be equally acid throughout.

The goods which are immerfed in the bath

* This danger is obviated by a&ually plunging the neck
of the bottle in the water. The fulphuric acid immediately
quits the bottle, in confequence of its fuperior weight. — T.

may

I4& The Art of B'(a:hin*

may be left for half an hour, or an hour, with-
out the leaft apprehenfion of any ill confe-
quence. I have even left them for twelve or
fifteen hours without the fligheft accident. The
bath mult be left covered whether it be hot or
cold, principally in order to prevent any acci-
dental dirt, or other impurity, from falling into
the fluid. The jjoods muft not be too much
prefied together : the lefs they are prefTed, the
fooner the acid will produce its efFecl, and con-
fequently the lefs time will be required for them
to remain in it.

When the goods are taken out of the bath
thev muft be prefTed or wrung, and then kept
in a ftream. or large mafs of water ; that is to fay,
until upon rinfing them out in various parts, and
applying the tongue to the part that is cleared,
no acid tafte fhall be perceived. If any fuch
tafte remain, the goods muft be immerfed again,
if in a running ftream, or the water muft be
changed if they be fteeped in troughs.

When the goods are ready for taking out,
they are to be wrung with the winch, or hook,
before defcribed, and prefTed, and then pafTed
through the blue liquor if necefiary. The blu-
ifh caft may be given in two ways, either by
paiTmg them through a hot or cold folution ot

the

Cot I ens, Thread, &c. 140

the foap, in which a fmall quantity of fine in-
digo has been diffufed in the ufual manner by
means of a bag ; or otherwife the piece may
merely be plunged in a folution of white foap,
without any kind of blue, while it ftill contains
a fmall portion of acid. In the latter cafe, the
acid contained in the cloth immediately deve-
lopes in the bath a flight tinge of Prutiian blue,
anting from the particles of iron combined with
the alkali of the foap, which tinge is diftributed
very equally on the whole piece. I mult re-
mark, that I have always ufed white veined, or
mottled foap, to produce this laffc kind of blue.
As a certain degree of experience is neceffary
in the ufe of this fecond method, which, never-
thelefs, pofTerTes the recommendation of eco-
nomy, I would advife the operator to make ufe
of the former, until, by trials, he is fo far accuf-
tomed to the fecond as to have no fear of mif-
take.

The piece-goods being then well preffed are
always dried upon lines of hemp, or, which is
ftill better, of hair ftretched on poles properly
difpofed under cover j the pieces are held on
the lines by the ufual wooden peg or clamp of
the laundrefTes, or they may be hung over poles
cleared of the bark, and covered with coarfe
cloth, in order that the goods may not receive

anv

1 44 The Art of Bleaching

any fiain from the wood. It feems, upon the
whole, a matter of indifference, whether the
drying be performed in the fhade, or in the
fun-fhine.

With regard to common or coarfe cloths,
which require no very extraordinary bleaching,
they are never blued unlefs it be required. In
every cafe, as it is effential that the blue mould
be given with as much evennefs as pofhble, care
mult be taken to pafs the pieces over a reel
placed above the veflel exprefsly appropriated
to this purpofe.

Linen or cotton thread, Sec. is drefled in the
fame manner as has been directed for piece-
goods. Thefe may be plunged in a bath of ful-
phuric acid upon poles, or in the fame manner
as has been directed for the bath of blue. It is
not neceffary to turn them, becaufe the poles
are fixed in the veffel beneath the furface of the
liquor j or, inftead of this method, they may be
difpofed in layers in bafkets of white willow.
The bath of fulphuric acid may be ufed for all
kinds of goods, though in procefs of time it af-
fumes a flight amber colour ; it is poffible,
neverthelefs, to ufe it without danger until it is
entirely exhaufted, taking care only to reftore it
from time to time, by the addition of that quan-
tity of acid which may be neceflary to keep up

its

Cottons, Thread, &rV. t^c

its ftrength ; when, however, the bath of acid
has at Jaft acquired too deep a colour, it muft
be entirely renewed.

Linen and cotton threads are likewife plunged
in the bath of blue, after having immerfed them
in the acid upon the poles ; but in order that
this part of the preparation may be diftri-
buted equally, the fkeins muft be turned once
or twice half round; they may likewife be
preffed by the hand, provided the quantity be
Co fmall as to render the economy of time an
object of no confequence.

Every kind of wood may be employed with
nearly the fame advantage, for the baths of ful-
phuric acid or blue, without fear of fpotting
the goods. I have ufed oak, cheftnut, white-
wood, and deal. The latter, however, is pre-
ferable, if at hand. Great care mould be taken,
that there fhould be no nails in it ; and before
the pieces are plunged in either of the baths,
the acidulated water muft be well ftirred, in
order that the acid, or the blue, may be equally
diftributed. Stockings, night-caps, gloves, &c.
of thread or cotton, require particular manage-
ment. After the bath of fulphuric acid, and
before they are paired through the blue, it is
always advantageous to give them a good folu-
tion of white foap, in which they muft be well

L rubbed,

146- The Art of Bleaching

rubbed, for the purpofe of completely removing
the fpots of oil or greafe of the manufacturer,
which may have refilled the black or greeri
foap, or the lees, to which they have been
fubjected during the procefs of bleaching ;
for it very feldom happens, that they are en-
tirely clear of fuch fpots, becaufe the dirt of
the hands with which almoft all this kind of
goods are covered, frequently prevent their
being feen. The oxygenated muriatic acid
having likewife little or no action on fat or
oily bodies, the different objects fo fpotted
might be plunged to little purpofe in that fluid.
Stockings, gloves, Sec. when taken out of
the falution of foap, are to be cleared in clean
water, after which they are to be fubjected to
the prefs, or wrung, previous to palling them
through a flight infufion of blue. The fecond
method of communicating the blue tinge, as
before defcribed, may here be ufed, that is to
fay, they may be plunged in the folution of foap
immediately upon taking them out of the acid,
and rinfing them, if the goods have no fpot
upon them, which it is eflential previoufly to
tlifcharge. After they have received the blue,
they are to be preffed, or wrung, and dried
upon cords, firfr. turning them infide-out, for
fear of foiling the place of contact. This pre-
caution

Col tons, Thread, &c. 147

caution ought to be trfkefi beforfe they are
paffed through the blue, and at the time of
taking them -out of the folution of foap.

Linen or cotton thread requires its harks to
be opened and feparated, in order that it may
dry more fpeedily. This is the raoft certain
method of preventing the entangling of the
thread, and their confequent breaking, which
would not fail to happen fooner or later, efpe-
cially with fingle thread, if the operator were
to fuffer them to dry before they were feparated
from each other. This feparation is to be made,
after they have been preffed, or wrung out of
the laft fluid. It is time enough, neverthelefs,
to do it when they are half dry, and in this ftate
it is, in fa£t, rather more convenient.

The following method is very convenient to
untangle the thread, particularly iuch as is fine,
and reftore it to its original flare, when, in con-
fequence of the operations of bleaching, the
ikeins may have been mixed in fuch a manner
as to endanger their breaking, if an attempt
were made to clear them by any other means.
It confifts fimply in extending each fktin fepa-
rately, and flightly, under water. By turning
and returning them, and afterwards extending
them with the hand, the threads will very foon
arrange themfelves, and obtain their original

*• * fituation

148 The Art of Bleaching

fituation gently, without obftacle, and without
giving any caufe to apprehend their breaking.

If by accident the thread fhould become dry,
while too much intermixed to be cleared and
wound off in this ftate for wefts, warps, or other
ufes, nothing is more effectual to clear the fkeins,
than {lightly1 rubbing them with linfeed oil, here
and there. This method is ufed for entangled
filk ; and I have found it fucceed perfectly well
with thread.

The operator mult be aware not to foap
cleared objects (fuch as callicoes, or other linen,
or cotton goods, dyed or printed) in the foapy
folution, which has been ufed upon pieces taken
out of a ftrong oxygenated muriatic acid, even
though they may have firft paffed through a
bath of fulphuric acid. For this folution of
foap does not fail to acquire the property of
bleaching and difcolouring other goods, unlefs
the goods which were foaped have, after being
taken out from the muriatic acid, been im-
merfed in clear water for a long time. I have
ieveral times beheld this effect with furprize ; I
have frequently remarked, even that pieces,
which after being taken out of the bleaching
liquor, have undergone an immerfion in the ful-
phuric acid bath, Hill retained a fufricient quan-
tity of muriatic acid to affume a yellowilh tinge

after

i Cottons, Thread, &c. 1 49

after they had paflfed through an infufion of in-
digo. This laft fometimes aifumes the fame
tinge after an interval of twenty-four or thirty
hours.

To avoid this inconvenience, it is neceffary
not only to cleanfe the piece by rinfing after
its laft immerfion, but likevvife to give it a flight
immerfion in a foapy or alkaline water, from
which it mult be afterwards well cleared.

The bath of indigo muft be compofed in fuch
a manner, that it may not be neceffary to reftore
it during the immerfion of the fame article 5
otherwife there would be a danger of its receiv-
ing different fhades of blue.

There is much lefs danger of this in ufing the
azure blue (powder blue of the market)^ the
different fhades of which are all previoufly pre-
pared, and fold in this feparate diftincl ftate.
In either cafe it is neceffary to plunge the goods
in the bath, at the moment when the colour
is fufpended, and to leave them in it no longer
time than is neceffary for them to imbibe it.

I have before recommended, that the waters
of the immerfions, or bleaching liquor, fhould
be preferved, even though too weak to aft (en-
fibly upon the pieces already in part bleached.
They are ufeful in this part of the procefs ; that
\s, after the drefting with foap, for fuch articles as

L 3 ?W

1 50 The Art of E! caching

are not to be patted through the blue : for thrs
lair, dreinng is not agreeable to every one, be-
caufe it gives a greyifh tinge to fuch parts as
are not of a very firm white. After the immer-
sion i:i f jap- water, and the fubfequent rinfing,
the goods, being firft we]l preffed, are thrown
into this exhaufted bleaching liquor, where
they foon acquire a clearnefs, which has a very
good effect. After they have remained in this
fluid for half an hour, they are to be prefTed and
dried as before directed. It may alfo be re-
marked, that the fame referved bleaching li-
quor, though exhaufted, is excellent for clearing
and rinling thread and ftockings from their lixi-
vium when they are already bleached. If it
were applied to no other ufe, it is preferable
for this ufe to common water. The feveral ar-
ticles are much more fpeedily cleanfed, and ac-
quire a certain degree of improvement in the
general appearance of their colour.

Some perfons require in their goods a certain
drefung, as it may properlv be called, which af-
fords, particularly to fuch as are of open tex-
ture, an appearance of firmnefs, which they
lofe when folded. The drefling may be given
in a more or lefs durable manner. The firft
method confifts in drying the goods, with,
fcarcely any wringing, nnd battening the drying

Cottons, Thread, &c. 151

as much as poflible. This dreflmg is, as may
eafily be imagined, one of the mod innocent;
but its effect difappears by handling, or car-
riage, or by one iingle time of wear. The fe-
cond dreffing, which is permanent till after
warning, confifts, as all the world knows, in in-
corporating ftarch with the powder-blue for
fuch objects as require it, or ufing it without
blue for thofe which do not. The dofe mull
be varied according to the quality and kind of
the goods, and the choice of the proprietors.

There are likewife certain articles, to which
a greater or lefs appearance of firmnefs is given,
by a dreffing of glue or gum-arabic, which is
mixed with the ftarch after both have been
boiled feparately.

There are alfo certain articles, fuch as linens,
which are frequently drefled with a decoction
of rice.

Thefe different goods are always hot-prefled
by means of a cylinder; which operation gives
them the proper degree of firmnefs.

As every object which can be of ufe to acce*
lerate the work, and diminiih labour, is of great
importance, 1 mall here defcribe the machine
with which the Englilh, who are the inventors,
wafh their fine linens.

It confifts in a kind of churning inftrument
x. 4 (fee

j 5 2 The Art of Bleaching

(fee Plate II. fig. 15 and 16), the circular part of
which has four holes bored in it, into which are
fixed pins of white-wood, rounded at their ex-
tremities. They are more or lefs long, according
to the depths of the troughs in which they
are ufed. The handle of this inftrument is a
crofs, or T, with which the pins at the other
end may be moved in different directions, and
ufed to agitate the {lockings, and other fmall
articles deposited in the troughs, containing the
folution of foap. This inftrument being moved
in various directions, is very convenient in cauf-
ing the fuds to lather, and to impregnate the
linen with great expedition. It appears to me,
that fuch an inftrument may be ufeful to cleanfe
(lockings, gloves, and other articles of cotton
or linen thread, which may be required to be
bleached or difcoloured, as I fhall hereafter
more fully explain.

I have been informed by an Englifh woman,
whom I faw make ufe of this machine, that
they have others of the fame kind in England,
of a fize adapted to common warning ; and even
fome of fuch large dimenfions as to be moved
by horfes. If this be practicable, it might, at
leaft, be worth trying. And for this reafon it
is, that I have thought proper merely to de-
scribe the fmall inftrument I have myfelf feen.

Thg

Cottons , Thread, &fa 133

The fame recommendation may be offered in
favour of another machine, which is ufed in
England to rub coarfe linen, It confifts fimply
in two ftrong planks with grooves, the upper-
mod of which is moveable -, the motion which
it gives to the cloth palfed between them
caufes the foap, or lees, in which it is plunged,
to lather, and contributes to clear it of its im-
purities.

The Englifh likewife ufe, with advantage,
for wafhing clothes, two grooved cylinders,
running one upon the other, by means of a
handle above the veifel of water, between
which cylinders a number of pieces of cloth
are palfed at a time, their extremities being
fewed together, fo as to form a long loop,
or endlefs web. A few turns of the cloth
between the cylinders (the lower of which is'
abfolutely covered with water) are fufficient to
cleanfe it from all the impurities which the lees
have opened and detached. I have not thought
it neceffary to give a defign-of thefe two ma-
chines, which are executed and ufed with fuc-
cefs at St. Denis, as well as at Beauvais.

CHAP.

1 54 T'-( Ari of Bleaching

CHAP. XIU,

Of the lafi Drejjings.

_L IECE-goods, bleached by the oxygenated
muriatic acid, if left to themfelves during the
courfe of bleaching, are fubject, from the na-
ture of their thread and texture, to fwell and
contract; and, confequently, to lofe, in their di-
menfions, particularly in length. It is efTential,
therefore, not only in order to recover this mea-
fure, but likewife to render the piece more uni-
form, fofter, and more equal in its grain, that it
fhould receive a proper drelTmg, to re ft ore its
original irate. The neceiTary treatment for pro-
ducing this erle£t, i^ by means of an apparatus
defcribed in Plate VI. fig. i and 2. It confifts
of a light frame of wood-work, on the upper
part o: which there are ieveral light bars fixed
acrofs, very near one another ; and on each fide
is a grooved piece. The piece-goods are drawn
between thefe bars and the ftretcher j after
which they are rolled on a wooden cylinder
moved by wheel-work, turned by one or two
p jpj u».< prdi the degree pf tenfion rer

quired

Cottons, Thready &c. i$*

quired to be communicated. This dre fling Qn
the roller may be performed either with 6t
without the application of heat; the piece
being either humid or dry.

It mull be drefled in a dry ftate, without
heat, when nothing more is required than to
foften the grain, and to reftore its original di-
menfions. On the contrary, the operation is
performed with the afliftance of heat on the
humid piece, where it is required not only to
l?e ftretched but dried at the fame time. Inde-
pendent of the force of tenfion to which the
piece is fubjecled in the direction of its length,
the perfon employed to roll it upon the cylinder
mutt be careful to pull it out by the felvedges,
to the fame width as that part which is fixed-
upon the cylinder already. The piece muft
then remain at leaft twenty-four hours upon,
the cylinder, that the folds, or wrinkles, may be
totally effaced, and its original dimeniions per-
manently reftored. The rollers, or cylinders,
mould be covered with cloth, to prevent the:
bleached goods from being foiled, a«4 iron
plates muft be placed beneath for the purpofe
of drying them, when it is required that this
operation mould be performed at the fame time
s^s they are llretched and rolled.

\Yhen the obje$ of the manufacturer is

fimply

« j 6 72? ^ 0/ Beaching

limply to take out the folds or wrinkles of the
piece, without altering its grain, it is to be fuc-
ceffively paffed over feven wooden rollers, dif-
pofed one over the other in fuch a manner, that
by turning one, the fix others, over which the
piece is rolled, muft likewife turn. The handle
of this apparatus is fixed to the lower roller,
and requires one perfon to turn it. I have not
thought it neceflary to make a drawing of this
machine, as it is now ufed in many manufac-
tories and workfhops.

When it is required to comprefs the grain of
the piece, or to glaze it, it muft then be patted
through a hot calendar, fee Plate VII. fig. i, 2,
3, which confifts in a folid frame of wood-work,
in which moves a brafs cylinder, kept at a cer-
tain degree of heat, by means of balls or bars of
iron heated in a furnace, prepared for the pur-
pofe. This cylinder is placed between two others
of walnut-tree, and of twice the diameter. Before
its arrival at thefe cylinders the piece is pafTed
over and under feveral bars, as well as through
a ftretching frame. This machine is ufually
moved by a horfe, though there are fome which
are worked by hand, but, of courfe, with
lefs expedition. In either cafe, that is to fay,
whether they may be intended to act with or
without heat, although the former is prefer-

able,

Cot tens, Thread, &c. 157

able, the machine is always fet in motion by a
train of wheel-work, to procure a fomewhat
greater degree of tenfion, and more perfectly to
efface the folds. When the piece paffes under
the heated cylinder, it is to be (lightly fprinkled
with water, by means of a fmall broom or rod.
In fome bleaching works they ufe the mangle,
more or lefs loaded ; a well-known engine, con-
fiding of a fquare heavy box, which is made to
run backward and forward upon cylinders of
wood. This machine, which is commonly
moved by water, or by a horfe, does not glaze
the goods, but lengthens the meafure. It ne-
cefiarily implies the ufe of an engine, like that
defcribed in Plate VI. to difpofe the pieces upon,
the cylinders. The mangle is alfo neceffary
when the goods are required to be damaiked,,
that is to fay, when the effect of a wave is de-
fired upon their furface. This laft dreffing is
eafily obtained, by rolling the folds a flight de-
gree in zig-zag.

The following method is likewife very much
ufed for drying piece-goods by the dealers of
thofe articles. It is extremely iimple, and con-
lifts limply in a plate of copper or brafs placed
on an iron ftand, under which is placed a bafon
of charcoal, or burning embers. The piece
being palled over this heated plate, dries gradu-

15S The Art of Bleaching

ally, and very fpeedily. This method is equi*
valent to a fecond paflirig through the ftretch-
ing engine, and ferves well for drying, but does
not reftore the original meafure. It is, how-
ever, perfectly well fiiited to ftockings night-
caps, &c. The heated plate lliould be kept
perfectly clean, left it thould foil the goods.

The method of drying, and giving uniformity
to piece-goods, being defcribed, it now remains
to be (hewn, how thread is to be arranged and
drefTed after drying on the pole. The prepar-
ation given to this article tends to clear the
thread from that roughnefs which it acquires
from handling, and never fails to exhibit when
dry. This is eafily removed by fhaking each
hank, either upon the pin or the hand, after
having rubbed it between the hands, or beaten
it with a mallet. The operation is particularly
necefTary for {keins of fewing filk, which, as I
have before remarked, are difpofed to curl up
and fhrink from their original meafure ; to
which they may, however, be very fpeedily and
conveniently reftored by means of a kind of
frame, fee Plate VIII. fig. 3 and 4, acrofs which
the fkains are to be pafied and ftretched, One
of the moveable crofs-pieces is to be raifed and
fixed, by means of the pins which enter into
holes difpofed in a zig-zag direction, at a fmal;

di fiance

Cottons, Thread, &c. I59

diftance from each other, on the apparatus of
the "frame. It may eafily be underftood, that
each fkein being moiftened and wrung, and
afterwards patted over thefe crofs-pieces, muft
remain thus ftretched for a certain lime, that is
to fay, until it is dry, and by that means- forced
to preferve the length, which it has received
from this tenfion. But this laft preparation is
not ufually given, except to double or fewing
thread, which muft be fpread out as much as
pofhble upon the crofs-piece, in order to haften
the drying.

The Ikeins of lingle thread are afterwards to
be tied up in the middle, and put together 'by
fcores, or quarters of the hundred, in a bundle,
tied together with a ftein of the fame thread.
At leaft the finilhed thread, in fome provinces
of France, is thus made up for delivery from
the bleacher to the merchant or manufacturer.
With regard to fewing or double threads, they
are turned up in a fpiral or twift, and, in order
that they may lie clofe, this operation is made on
the pin. See Plate II. fig. 12. This, in France,
is called folding up in carrots.

Stockings, night-caps, 8cc. of thread or cottonv
as foon as dry muft be examined, to take up
the Hitches, or repair them,, for it very feldom
happens, particularly in flight goods, fuch as

ftockinssp

1 6 o The Art of Bleaching

{lockings, that they pafs through the various ope-
rations here defcribed without fome flitch fall-
ing ; fhere is, indeed, little to be feared if the cot-
ton be knitted by hand, but moft goods which are
wove in the flocking engine, which is employed
in preference for articles intended for fale, are
very unequally knit ; and many articles are
made, like the Engliih goods of the fame kind,
with two or three threads, which diminifhes
their ftrength ftill more. Stockings, gloves,
&c. after examination, turning, and repairing,
if neceffary, are difpofed in the prefs, folded in
three folds according to their length, then forted
according to their quality, fafhion, and dimen-
sion, in fixes or half dozens. After dreiling, if
required, they are then put into the prefs ; and
laflly, wrapped in blue or white paper, and
properly marked.

Thefe lafl dreffings are not commonly given,
unlefs the employer requires them ; otherwife
thefe kind of goods are returned as foon as dry,
even without turning them, for fear they fhould
be foiled in the carriage. In many places (lock-
ings are dried on the leg, in order that they
may recover the contraction they have under-
gone in the bleaching, for it is the property of
frame-work knitting to fhrink and draw up a
little when wetted. No more than one pair of

itockings

Cottons, Thread, &fc. 161

ftockings is put on each leg; and to prevent
their fhrinking, as they dry, the upper part of
the leg is fixed with pins after the ftretching
has been carried to the required extent. The
forms, or legs, ought to be made of afh-wood,
and, if poffible, of a fingle piece, becaufe the
ftockings may be torn at the place where the
two pieces that form the foot and leg are joined
together, as is frequently the cafe with thefe
implements. The corners ought to be very
carefully taken off, to prevent the fame acci-
dent from taking place.

Stockings, whether of thread or of cotton, are
likewife finged with a hot iron, which is paffed
over the article, properly ftretched on the leg.
This preparation is not to be given but juft
before the laft bathe in the lixivium, or immer-
fion in the acid, on account of the reddifh brown
colour, which is the confequence of this procefs,,
and requires to be cleared off.

Inftead of this procefs with the hot iron, the
go )ds are fometimes pafled over a lamp of
burning fpirit of wine. Thefe particular drefT-
ings are only given to fuch goods as are re-
quired to have a very uniform appearance, and
the moft exquifite white, in imitation of goods
of the fame kind which we import from Eng-
land,

m Having

ldz The Art of Bleaching

Having thus fhewn the method of drefiing,
fquaring. and drying the pieces, I fhall now
proceed to give directions for folding them.
This operation is ufually performed on the
ftick, becaufe it is very expeditious, and the
goods are in this way very properly folded.

Moft piece-goods are folded in two, acrofs
their length (fee Plate II. fig. 7) ; for this pur-
pofe, one of the ends of the piece is patted over
a moveable roller, previoufly fufpended at each
extremity in the loop of a cord, fixed to the
cieling of the work -mop : this length of the
cloth is thrown on the other fide of the roller,
and the workman continues to make the fold
he has began, by drawing what he has folded
equally over the roller. In this manner the
piece becomes completely folded up. Atten-
tion muft be paid, that it lhould fall upon a
ftage, or board, in order that it may not be ex-
pofed to injury, or dirt.

The cloth, thus folded in two, is carried to
a table (fee the lame Plate, fig. 8 and 9) to be
folded in this ftate, in equal and regular folds.
The length of the intended fold is taken with
the piece itfelf, which is applied to two flat
iron bars, fixed on each fide of the table, and
pierced with different holes, to fix the fupports
which determine the length of the folds ; after

which,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 163

which, with a firft rod refting on the two firft
fupports, the cloth is thrown over the rod, and
thence carried to the fecond, which is to form
the oppofite fold. In this place a rod is laid to
form the fold, and the cloth is again carried to
the oppofite extremity, where a fecond fold is
made over another rod. Hence the workman
proceeds, as before, to the other extremity, and
the fame procefs is thus repeated to the end of
the piece, drawing out thofe rods, as he pro-
ceeds, which were firft laid. It is not neceflary
to ufe more than four or five rods at each fide.
They are of poliftied iron, of the thicknefs of a
little finger ; the pins, or fupports, placed in the
holes of the flat bars of iron, ought to be fuffi-
ciently long to contain all the folds which the
cloth may require. The length of thefe folds
are proportioned to the extent, or volume,
which the piece is expected to occupy after the
folding. Experience will foon direct the ope-
rator in this matter.

To this operation fucceeds that of the prefs,
if the pieces are thought capable of it, with re-
gard to their bulk, and the facility in difpofing
them for that purpofe. On taking the piece
out of the prefs, when it is folded in equal folds,
whether fingle or double, it is turned inwards,
fp as to form one general fold, as may be feen in

M 2 Plate

1 64 The Art cf Bleaching

Plate II. fig 10 ; in which fituation it is feeured
by firings of different fize, according to the qua-
lity of the piece. The piece thus packed to-
gether is ornamented with taffels of <n>ld thread
for fine goods, fuch as cloths, cambrics, muflins,
or of filk of different colours for more common
goods. With regard to coarfe goods, it is ufual
to knot the ftrings together in the front part of
the fold.

I muft here obfefve, that piece-goods lofe in
their length by bleaching about one ell, or an
ell and a quarter in twenty-five, according t©
their quality; and this lofs is reftored to them
again by the laft dreffings here defcribed.

With regard to the lofs of weight which
threads undergo, it depends much on the rot-
ting of the flax, according as it has been more or
kfs perfect. The linen threads of Flanders and
Artois, for example, which are rotted in water,
do not lofe more than 2c per cent j whereas
thofe of Picardv, of which the rotting in water
is fo far from fufficiently warning the thread,
that it acquires, on the contrary, a degree of im-
purity from the earth on which it repofes, in ad-
dition to that which is detached in the courfe of
time by the maceration, which its external part
has undergone, lofe more than one fourth of their
weight, generally ipeaking. Coarfe threads na-
turally

Cottons y Thread, &c. 165

turally -k>fe more than others. In general the
lofs may be eftimated at twenty-five. or thirty
per cent, and eighteen or twenty-five for thofe
of middling quality. With regard to cotton
threads, the lofs is fcarcely three or four per
cent. Cotton piece-goods may lofe more in
proportion, on account of the dreiTing which
was added to their weight, and which mult firft
be diflbl.ved, and taken out of the cloth, before
it can be prepared for the difcolouring or
bleaching procefs.

Having treated of the ordinary dreffings ufed
in France, I think that the reader will receive,
with pleafure, fome account of the fingeing,
particularly ufed by the Englilh for light cotton
goods. Every one knows that muflinets are
ftriped, plain, and fpotted : muflins are more
beautiful in proportion as they are lefs downy,
or covered with fibres of the cotton wool. On
this account the Engliiri, who are like wife at-
tentive to ufe cotton of long ftaple for thefe
goods, take the greateft care to render them as
fmooth as pollible ; this may be obferved, par-
ticularly in their frame-work, and other cotton
goods, of which the beauty of the bleaching is
the more confpicuous, in proportion as the fur-
face of the article is fmoother, or lefs covered
with the light down, which is ohfervahle on
m 3 aU

1 6 6 The Art of B leaching

all the articles of cotton when firft manu*
factured.

I have, therefore, prefumed, that my country-
men will learn with pleafure how the Englifti
manufacturers contrive to take off all this down,
which on a beautiful and fine piece of cloth is
fmgularly hurtful to the reflection and bright-
nefs of the white colour it has received. With
this view I have given a drawing of the machine
-ufed for this dreffing. See Plate VIII. figs. 5
to 10, and the defcription. It will be fufficient
to obferve in this place, that after having fewed
the muflins to the coarfe cloths, which are
nailed upon two rollers, with handles to ftretch
them, they are rubbed with a brufh to raife the
down. The brufh is pafled once or twice over
the face of the piece, after which a bended bar
of iron, more or lefs ignited, is fpeedily and
Jightly pafled over the upper furface. This bar,
according to its degree of heat, is pafled two or
three times over the fame place, and after it has
been repeatedly moved along one border, it is
infenfibly moved towards the other. When
the down of this firft length is well cleared off,
which is obferved by looking aflant upon the
furface of the piece, a new portion is ftretched,
by rolling another part of the piece, which is to
be treated as before.

Piece-

Cot tens, Thread, &c, 167

Piece-goods which are intended to produce
an effect on both fides, are fmged on the back
as well as the face, but more flightly on the
former than the latter. It is neceflary to have
at leaft two or three irons, one of which is to
be heated, while the other is in ufe ; and the
greateft precaution mull be had to make them
very clean previous to each time of ufing; this
is done upon a rag, or a fine grained fand-ftone,
when they are taken out of the furnace in which
they were heated- This attention is neceffary,
for fear fome greafy fubftance, or tallow, might
attach itfelf to the face of the iron, and burn,
or penetrate the piece. The irons may be
heated indifferently with turf or pit-coal, as
well as. with wood.

Cotton cloths, or muilin, which are rendered
even and fmooth by this method, immediately
acquire by this treatment, which is always per-
formed at the commencement of the bleaching,
a brown tinge fimilar to that exhibited by linen
burned in ironing, but this colour moftly difap-
pears at the firft or fecond immerfion, without
any intermediate lixiviation.

This management with regard to cotton
goods, or mujflins, is equally applicable to li-
nens, though thefe are lefs fubjecl to the downy
m 4 covering,

J 6 8 The Art of Bleaching

covering, on account of the length of the ftaplc
of which they are compofed.

It is very poflible to life the fame procefs
with ftockings, night-caps, and other fine knit
works in cotton, capable of being rendered
more valuable by their clear white colour,
which always feduce the confumer, who is, for
the moft part, lefs attentive to the quality of the
merchandize than its external appearance But
I have already remarked, that the mechanifm
to . difpofe knit, or frame-worked goods, to re-
ceive the fingeing, ought to be different from
that of piece-goods, and appropriated to the
form of the object.

There is another method alfo of fingeing cot-
ton goods and muflins, namely, by fpirit of
wine ; but this method never operates with the
fame fmoothnefs and equality as the red-hot
iron, and is alfo much lefs expeditious. Never-
thelefs, as it may be ufeful and applicable to
certain goods, the reader may confult Plate VI.
fig. i and 2, where I have defcribed the ma-
chine which may be ufed for this purpofe. I
need only remark, that inftead of the box
which contains the hot embers, another muft
be placed, containing a row of wicks for burn-
ing fpirit of wine. One man is fufficient to at-
tend

Cot ton st Thready Z3c. iSg

tend and direct this method, as well as the
former j and the fpirit of wine made ufe of may
be mixed with a certain proportion of brandy,
or otherwife it may be lowered in its ftrength,
as the operator may find beft fitted to his pur-
pofeT

CHAP.

170 The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XIV.

Concerning Proof Liquors,

'Y proof liquors, I underltand all thofe co-
loured fluids, which are extracted from vege-
tables by deco£Uon or fermentation, and which,
when mixed with the oxygenated muriatic
acid, are more or lefs changed, according as
the one or the other liquors is more or lefs
concentrated : thefe vegetable fluids, accord-
ing to the degree of alteration which they
undergo, are of ufe to afcertain the ftrength,
and more particularly to afford a judgment of
the ufe to which the muriatic acid may be ap-
plied, when after having been prepared accord-
ing to the directions already pointed out, it
has been applied to one or more immerfions.
It is true, indeed, that this acid might be more
concentrated by putting lefs water into the
pneumatic veffel, or by increafmg the dofes of
the ingredients ; but this would afford no ad-
vantage excepting for the purpofe of carrying
it from place to place, or for the more fpeedy
bleaching of coarfe goods, or other objecls of
the fame quality 5 fuch as towel pieces, coarfe

thread,

Cottons, Thread, &c, jji

thread, twifts, and the like, of which there is
no reafon to fear an alteration in their texture.
For every other merchandize of a fine quality,
it is always prudent to dilute the acid in a cer-
tain proportion for its mpft advantageous appli-
cation.

A folution of one part of indigo in eight
parts of fulphuric acid, is particularly pointed
out by Berthollet as having been ufed by De
Croifille at Rouen. This preparation differs
from a folution of Saxon blue in no other re-
fpect than that this laft is made with one part
of indigo to four parts of the fulphuric acid.
Either of thefe compofitions may be digefted
in a matras, or fimply in an apothecary's phial,
placed on a water or fand bath, or in hot afhes :
at the expiration of feveral hours part of the
indigo, previoufly pounded and fifted through
(ilk, becomes diffolved. This folution, which
js of a very deep and denfe blue, is to be gently
poured by inclination into an appropriate veflel,
after which it is to be diluted with water, until
it marks one degree below zero on the areo-
meter of Mo fly. In this ftate it forms a proof
liquor, of which three parts will be rendered
cplourlefs by one feventh or eighth part of oxy-
genated muriatic acid, compofed in the manner
before defcribed. This liquor may be meafured

1 7 a The Art of Bleaching

in the cap of the cafe of the areometer, and
then poured into a glafs cylinder, which is gra-
duated and {lands upon a foot. See Plate IX.
fig. 10 and n.

•I have thought proper in this place to men-
tion the kind of meafure which is made ufe ot
in this proof, becaufe the degree of itrength in-
dicated by the fluid is very frequently different
when the oxygenated muriatic, acid is poured
into a veifel of a different diameter. It is there-
fore efiential to ufe the fame meafure conftantly.

It muff, be obferved, that the oxygenated
acid may be ufed to advantage, as a fecond
bath for linen goods, already in the progrefs of
bleaching, or as a fir ft bath for cotton goods,
from the time its itrength is fuch, that one
iingle half part of the acid is required to render
three parts of the blue fluid colourlefs, until
that ftate in which it requires one entire part of
the latter to difcolour three of the blue. When
the bath is weakened to this degree, it is no
longer applicable but to the preparation.

Neverthelcfs, if there be a certain quantity
on hand, it may be ufed for fteeping and prepa-
ration, in cafe there is time for fuch goods as
are either cleared or uncleared ; for though the
acid be fo weak that it does not feem capable
of bleaching., neverthelefs it will act. in process

Cottons, Thread, &fo 173

of time!, as long as it is capable of difcolouring
the proof liquor. For I have many times re-
marked, that however weak the preparation
may be in which the piece is thus immerfed*
the white colour of this laft does not fail to be
very perceptibly forwarded, when it comes to
be again fubjected to the aclidn of a newly-pre-
pared and ftrong bleaching liquor. This ex-
haufted fluid muft not, therefore, be rejected^
even though one whole meafure mould be re-
quired to difcolour one meafure of the blue fo-
lution of indigo, with which it may be mixed.
In this manner trials may be made to afcertain
its ftrength, as foon as it is weakened to that
degree that three parts of the blue liquor are
difcoloured by one of the acid. The operator
cannot pay too much attention to the total ex-
haufling of the power of the bleaching liquor,
fince, upon the whole, thofe weak folutions may
be very profitably applied in a well-regulated
manufactory. When the liquor of the bath no-
longer acls upon the proof liquor, it is entirely
exhaufted of the oxygenated muriatic acid,
though it (till preferves a peculiar odour, which
is not difagreeable ; it then confilts of the com-
mon muriatic acid diluted with water, if it be
the refidue of a bath of the odorant muriatic
acid ; but, if, on the contrary, the fluid be the

refidue

j 74 Tbe Art of Bleaching

refidue of the oxygenated muriatic acid without
finell, it contains likewife a combination of that
acid with pot-am. In either cafe the fluid may
be thrown away,, if the operator is not aware of
any peculiar purpofe to which it may be ap-
plied ; if he has fuch a purpofe in view, he may
referve it either for that obje£t, or for rinfing
fuch goods as are already bleached, and have
paired through the laft lees, as has before been
remarked, for which laft purpofe it appears
preferable to common water.

The tincture of cochineal may be ufed as a
proof liquor, according to the information given
in the annals of chemiftry. It is equally valuable
with the Saxon blue, and even made with lefs
trouble ; nothing more being required than to
boil a finall quantity of the cochineal, firft
cru flied in a marble or glafs mortar, or (Irongly
rubbed between the fingers; the decoction mult
then be filtered through cloth, or blotting-paper,
upon which it muit be poured (lightly by inclin-
ing the veflel, in order that the remains of the
infed may be feparated from the fluid.

Two parts of the tinclure of cochineal diluted
with water to half a degree below zero, require
two parts of the muriatic acid without fmell,
at the fame degree as that which is neceflary to
render the blue proof liquor colourlefs. The

tincture

Cot tons y Thready &V. 17 c

tincture of cochineal becomes converted to a
yellow colour.

It may here be remarked, that the violet li-
quor of Javelle concentrated to four degrees of
pot-afti below zero, requires no more parts to
difcolour three parts of the blue before de-
scribed, than are required of oxygenated muri-
atic acid to difcolour the fame quantity of blue ;
but the liquor of Javelle bleaches more fpeedily
and uniformly.

The tincture of turnfole may alfo be ufed
with no lefs advantage than cochineal, and is
prepared in the fame manner ; and, laftly, the
tincture of beet-root, and even wine itfelfr
may be ufed with equal convenience, if other
vegetable tinctures and decoctions be not at
hand. The juice of acacia and currants are alfo
fufceptible of affording the fame indications.

With regard to the colours which the differ-
ent tinctures affume, they are as follows :

The Saxon blue, or folution of indigo in the
fulphuric acid, becomes a yellow, more or lefs
inclining to fawn colour, whether it be mixed
with the oxygenated muriatic acid with fmell
or without. Its tint becomes deeper in pro-
portion as the blue is more intenfe.

The tincture of cochineal aflumes an orange
colour.

Red

jy$ The Art of Bleaching

Red wine of Macon acquires an opal colour ;
the infufion of turnfole becomes of a light
amber colour with either of the acids, prepared
in the manner recommended in this treatife ; I
have, neverthelefs, obferved, that it does not
change with the fluid called the lixivium of
Javelle (leffive de Javellc), which neverthelefs
caufes a flight efTervefcence with vinegar.

It is very eafy for the operator to regulate his
procefs with regard to every kind of tincture or
irtfufion, which he may find it mod convenient
to ufe, whether of woods or roots, according to
the preparations I have laid down for cochineal
and indigo. The latter folution may be pre-
pared without the afliftance of heat, as follows.
After having poured the proper quantity of ful-
phuric acid into an earthen or ftonc ware
bottle, the pounded and lifted indigo is poured
in, and ftrongly agitated by the hand for an
hour, which is a fufheient time for the clots of
indigo, which are formed either at the furface
of the acid, or on the fides of the bottle, entirely
to difappear: during this agitation a ftrong
efTervefcence takes place in the fluid. The in-
digo, when well fhaken, and penetrated by the
acid, is foon difiblved, but it ufually require?
half an hour for that purpofe. This portion of
time is applicable to two ources of indigo in

one

Cottons, Thread3 &c. ijj

pound of the fulphuric acid. To this quantity
of acid half a glafs of water may be added. I
am convinced by experience, that this addition
renders the a£tion of the acid upon the blue
more fpeedy.

W CHAP.

178 T. j Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XV.

The Methods of remedying fuch Accidents as happen
during the Courje of Bleaching.

H E accidents likely to happen in the
courfe of bleaching, may be diftinguifhed into
accidents of the diftillation, accidents of the immer-
fion in the alkaline or acid liquor, and accidents
of the dreffing. I fhall give a fhort account of
thefe three claufes of accidents, and at the fame
time point out their remedies.

Accidents in the diftillation. The principal ac-
cident which is capable of interrupting the dif-
tillation, is when the lutes of the adopter fuffer
the gas to efcape. The moft fpeedy remedy, in
this cafe, to prevent the exhalation of the acid,
which cannot be retained but with great diffi-
culty, feldom for any length of time, and then
very imperfectly, in confequence of its great
expanfion ; the fhorteit method, I fay, at lead
if the diftillation be not near its conclufion, is
to remove the fire immediately from beneath
the capfule of the retort, and to furTer this laft
to cool for a certain time, by railing it a little in

its

Cottons, Thread, &c. 179

its fand-bath. If it be not poflible to take it
out of the furnace, together with its capfule, on
account of the heat, or its (ticking too faft, the
adopter muft be unluted from the funnel of the
]eaden tube, and the aperture of this tube clofed
with a cork, or lute, to prevent the gas of the
pneumatic veflel from evaporating ; after which
the retort muft be raifed, and placed gently
upon a bag of ftraw, or on coarfe cloths folded
together; and then holding the retort by its
neck, near the flexure, the adopter muft be en*
tirely unluted, by twifting it round and drawing
it off. The orifice of the neck of the retort is
then to be clofed with a cork ftopper, but not
fo clofely but that a very fmall portion of gas
may be fufFered to efcape, for fear of an ex-
plofion. The ftopper of the neck may, for
greater fafety, be flightly raifed. This precau-
tion is neceflary, on account of the great ex-
panfion of the muriatic acid gas. The old lute
muft then be taken off, as well from the adopter
as the retort, and the places to which they
were applied muft be well cleaned, in order to
receive frefh lute, after having carefully wiped
off the moifture with a cloth or a fponge. If.
the lute which comes off be ftiU good, it may
be kneaded again, adding, if required) a fmall
N a quantity

1 8o The Art of Bleaching

quantity of boiled oil, or it may be mixed
with new lute> if it be burned or decompof-
ed. This decomposition in the fat lute may
be known by the white or reddifh colour
which it acquires, and the facility with which
it breaks, on account of its having loll the glu-
ten which afforded it that toughnefs and tena-
city, on which its goodnefs chiefly depends.

With regard to the lute of linfeed cake, it
muft, in almoft every cafe, be totally renewed,
particularly when internally applied, becaufe the
heat hardens it too much to admit of its being
kneaded again, with any moderate degree of
facility ; the decompofition of this lute is known
by the yellow colour it acquires, and the con-
traction it undergoes from the e fife ft of the
heat. The lutes being kneaded to a proper
conliftence, and duly placed according to the
directions laid down in Chap. IV. the adopter
is to be fixed, previoufly removing the Hopper
from the mouth of the retort, and placing
another in that of the fmall end of the adopter,
to prevent any inconvenience from the vapour
which might iffue out during the time of fixing
it. This vapour is likewife condenfed within
the adopter, in confequence of its coldnefs.
The retort is then to be placed, as before, on the

furnace,

Cottons, Thread, &c. i8t

furnace, the adopter uncorked, and its beak
luted into the tube of lead ; after which, the
iire is to be replaced beneath the capfule, and
the diftillation very fpeedily recommences, and
proceeds as ufual. This operation is a work of
fome delicacy; it requires to be performed with
fpeed, and great care muft be taken while plac-
ing the lutes and the adopter in their proper
fituations, to ftand always in fuch a pofition, that
the current of the external air may drive the
vapour from the operator himfelf.

If the accident here defcribed mould take
place towards the end of the diftillation, as it
may fometimes happen, in confequence of the
ftrong heat which, at that time, may foften the
lutes, it will be fufficient if the fire be taken
from beneath the capfule. The diftillation
foon ceafes when this is done, particularly if
care be taken to condenfe the gas, by the pru-
dent application of wet cloths on the neck of
the retort, as well as the adopter.

This inconvenience would not take place, if
the workmen in th.ofe glafs-houfes which are
principally employed in the fabrication of chy-
mical veflels could make retorts with necks re-
curved in the form of the adopter. Thefe kind
of yeffels maybe affiduoufly fupplied by making

n 3 ufe

182 The Art of Bleaching *

life of a tube of lead, fo formed as to ferve inftead
of the adopter, as I have already obferved, with
regard to the tubulated bottles or bodies *. If,
by accident, the lute which is adapted mould
fail, or fuffer the gas to pafs through, it may
eafily be flopped, by applying new lute to the
place of junction. Inftead of the leaden tube,
we may fubftitute, with flill greater convent
ence (the danger of breaking excepted), a tube
of glafs, of which the end neareft the bottle, or
tubulated body, ihould be ground with emery.
Bv thefe means there would be no application
of lute, and confequently no danger to be
feared with regard to the filtration of the gas,
the efcape of which is eafily perceived by the
fmell which diffufes itfelf through the work>
fhop, and is more particularly perceived when
the nofe is applied near the veflels, or the lute.
But as this laft method of difcovering the place
where the lute has failed may be attended with
the moft ferious confequences, if the greateft
precaution be not ufed, it is more prudent to
apply an open bottle of ammoniac near the

* This laft method appears to me preferable to every
other ; becaufe it requires only a flight attention to the lute,
and can never produce thole dangers which arifc from the
ufe of retorts. — C.

fufpected

Cottons , Thread, &c. 1 83

fufpe£red place ; at the inftant that it is pre-
ferred, a white fume is formed, which immedi-
ately points out the defective fpot. The bottle
muft be prefented above the current of air$
which takes place near the lute, or in the wrork-
fhop. If this precaution be not attended to, the
operator might be induced to remove a good
lute, inftead of one which was really defective.

On the other hand, if in the courfe of the dif-
tillation, and for want of keeping up the heat, the
fluid in the pneumatic veffel mould be abforbed
and rife into the diftilling apparatus, it is necef-
fary the inftant it is perceived to withdraw for a
moment the (topper out of the neck of the retort,
where, as I have already had occafion to obferve,
the abforption inftantly ceafes. Neverthelefs, if
for want of being obferved in time, the water
mould rife fo far as partly to fill the retort, or
body (for it never entirely fills it), the diftillation
will be ftopped, from the coldnefs of the water,
and its too great quantity. The ihorteft remedy
is to draw out the excefs of water, which is thus
introduced into the diftilling veffel, by the aiiift-
ance of a glafs pump, or fyphon, and afterwards
to heat the fame veflel, firft returning the water
into the pneumatic veiTel, if thought expedient :
but if the diftillation be properly attended to,
*fris accident can sever happen,

n 4 Accidents

184 The Art of Bleaching

Accidents in the lixiviations and immcrfions. I
place the accidents arifing from thefe two opera-
tions in the fame clafs, becaufe they can fcarcely
take place, but by the joint operation of both.

Any article which is badly cleared of the lixi-
vium, and afterwards immerfed in the oxygenat-
ed muriatic acid, becomes almoft immediately
of a nankeen colour, particularly in the folds,
either in fpots where certain parts have not been
fufficiently rinfed, or ele the colour is general,
if the whole has not been well rinfed.

The fame accident happens if foot has fallen
on the linen or thread. The difference is fim-
ply in the colour, which approaches more to
brown. Thefe colours are capable of becoming
more and more deep if the mifmanagement be
not remedied as foon as perceived, and that be-
fore the goods are fubje£ted to other immerfions
in the alkaline lees, or of the oxygenated muria-
tic acid. The fame acident is to be expected,
if the goods, though white at the time of their
immerfion, arefuffered to remain too long in the
bleaching liquor. I his does not fail to happen,
particularly if rhe articles which are fuffered to
remain even in a weak folution, are kept in that
fhte the whole night. The next day they
are found to be yellow, or charged with lix-
ivium.

The

Cottons, Thread, Z3c\ 185

The remark which has here been made, con-
cerning the nankeen colour, takes place alfo
with regard to thofe articles which, though white,
have been immerfed in an exhaufted lixivium
or lees which have been ufed feveral fucceflive
times for the immerfion of goods taken out of a
ftrong muriatic acid, without previous rinfing.
Thefe articles, when taken out of fuch exhaufted
lees, and plunged into a new acid folution, un-
dergo a change even though they may have been
properly rinfed. I muft in this place remark,
that a lixivium may be exhaufted in confequence
of its combination with the muriatic acid from
the goods which are plunged in it, though they
may have been prefTed or wrung at the time of
taking them out of the acid. Such exhaufted
lees may, neverthelefs, indicate a certain degree
of ftrength by the areometer, though in fact
they do not poffefs it.

The only method of remedying thefe acci-
dents confifts in the ufe of water, flightly acidulat-
ed with fulphuric acid, no matter whether cold
or hot, but the hot folution operates more fpeed-
ily. The fpotted or tinged goods are to be foak-
ed in this water for a few minutes, or a quarter
of an hour, accordingly as the colour may be
more or lefs deep, in confequence of a feries of

lixiviations

1 86 The Art of Bleaching

lixiviations or immerfions, more or lefs repeated.
In this fituation the offenfive colour is feen aU
mofi: immediately to difappear.
■% Inftead of making a fulphuric foliition ex-
prefsly for that purpofe, that which has ferved
for the drefling may anfwer very well : neither
of thefe reed be ftronger than has been there
directed, uniefc the goods be confiderably charg-
ed with colour, and there be a great quantity
to immerfe at once. The acidulated water is
tried by the areometer, and if, in confequence
of having been ufed, it mould not be fufficiently
ftrong, it may be reftored by adding the requifite
quantity of acid for that purpofe. It is necef-
fary when any new acid is poured in, to mix
it well with the water before any goods are
immerfed therein.

It muft, in this place, be obferved, that though
the thread and piece-goods may become charg-
ed with a foreign colour, in confequence of
the accidents here pointed out, both thefe arti-
cles are frequently very well bleached at the
under furface. It is even a proof that the muri-
atic acid has operated effectually, in caufing the
lixivium to produce fuch an effecl : but thefe
acidents are difficult to be obferved on objects
&mply cleared, or in the crude ftate. In the

latter

-Cottons, Thread, "r. 187

latter cafe, a permanency of the original colour
may alone (hew the neceffity of ofing the ful-
phuric acid, particularly when the lees and the
muriatic acid which have been ufed are not at
all exhaufted.

Accidents at. fending the •preparation or drying, When
the piece-goods are immerfed in a folution of
foap, after having been taken out of the fulphu*
ric acid, while they are (till too ftrongly acidulated,
or if inftead of rinfing them they be immediately
conveyed from the acid into the folution of
foap, this laft folution is fubject to curdle, or
become immediately decompofed; whence the
operator has the mortification to obferve the
whole furface of the goods covered with an
infinite number of fmall fpots of oil, in the form
of clots, of a yellowifh colour, and very tenacious,
particularly on (lockings or cotton goods, be-
caufe they incorporate as it were with the nap
or texture of the goods : they difappear in eon-
fequence of much warning or rinfing. I muft
particularly mention an accident which may
happen to any one, namely, that of placing by
miftake (lockings or other bleached objects,
which have received their fir ft: treatment in the
folution of foap, upon articles which have been
expofed to the vapour of fulphur. I have placed
(tockV.L ;s upon gauze, which had been whitened

i S 8 Tie Art of Bleaching

by fulphur, and found that after they had re-
mained in this fituation for the courfe of a night,
they became entirely of a brown-red at the
place of contact. They appeared as if burnt
or marked with an hot iron. This colour, which,
no doubt, was produced by the combination of
the volatile fulphuric acid, with the alkali of
the foap, with which the (lockings were ftill
impregnated to a certain degree, immediately
difappeared upon expofing them, firft, to the
action of a bath of the odorant oxygenated mu-
riatic acid, and afterwards to another of water,
Hightly acidulated with the fulphuric acid.

Every fait with excefs of acid, fuch as the
fait of forrel, removes the ruddy fpots here men-
tioned with equal eafe. It is true, that this
fait cannot with convenience be ufed, on account
of its dearnefs, but the refidue of the diftilling
veflels, that is to fay, the water which holds in
folution the refidue of the diilillation of the
oxygenated muriatic acid, is very ferviceable in
this procefs, and may be advantageoufly ufed
either hot or cold, to remove thofe very tena-
cious fpots, which are not at all capable of
being removed by foap or alkaline lees.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thread, &c. 1JJ0

CHAP. XVI.

The Method cf taking cut Spots of Rujl or Ironmould,
Tar, Fruit, Wine, &c.

W HEN the fpots of oxyde of iron, com-
> monly diftinguifhed by the name of ironmould,
are fmall, they may eafily be taken out with fait
of forrel in powder, laid upon the fpot itfelf,
which is afterwards to be moiftened with a
fmall quantity of water; or the part which is
fpotted may be fleeped in a folution of the
fame fait. It foon becomes fainter, and at length
difappears, after which the place mufl be very
well rinfed. The fulphuric acid may be ufe-
fully applied inftead of the fait of forrel, as
Bertholet feems to affirm in his memoir ; and
I have proved with fuccefs, that, though the
fpots may penetrate quite through the cloth, and
be very broad, yet if they be foaked in a bath of
fulphuric acid, either warm or cold, when the
goods are taken out of the bath of muriatic acid,

the

x 9<^> 5f2e Art of Bleaching

the effect will be that the fpots infenfibly dif-
appear. If the goods be of clofe texture, the
operation of the acid is flower *.

With regard to the fpots of ruft which are
frequently feen on thread or cotton ftockings,
they are produced by the needles of the engine,
and commonly disappear during the dreffing,
that is to fay, in the bath of fulphuric acid. The
fame obfervation is true of the fpots of ruft
which fometimes appear on the piece-goods, in
confequence of their having been in contact
with iron. In general, the older any ironmould
may be, the more tenacious it is, and the more
difficult to be effaced ; but every fpot may be
made to difappear in time.

It frequently happens that piece-goods are
fpotted with tar, during their carriage by water,
in boats, where they are liable to be placed
upon the pitchy parts of the veffels, or in con-
tact with tarred ropes. Thefe fpots may be
foon taken out, by rubbing them with oil of
olive, which diffolves the tar j or ftill better, by
holding the part id fpirit of wine, if this procefs
fhould be thought more convenient. The latter

* The fait of forrel is fold in London, in fmall bo:tles,
by the perfumers and apothecaries, under the name of fait
of lemon. The fulphuric acid, as prefcribed above, muft,
of couife. be diluted. — T.

method

Cottons, Thread, &c. 191

method operates by the complete folution of
the tar.

With regard to fpots of wine, cyder, or anjr
kind of fruit, they may be effaced by drop-
ping a few drops of the oxygenated muriatic
acid upon them, which caufes them almoft in-
ftantly to difappear. But there are certain fruits,
fuch as plumbs, of which the fpots are more
difficult to efface ; they requiring one or two
lixiviations- Thofe that are grey, or reddifh,
at firft, affume a fine yellow colour in the muri-
atic acid, which does not difappear during a
fubfequent lixiviation, but requires a fecond
immerfion in the bleaching liquor.

I muft not omit a fecond very fimple and
economical method to rake out every kind of
fpot occafioned by fruits, fuch as ftrawberries,
goofeberries, &c. It confifts in caufing the
fpotted part to imbibe water, and afterwards
to burn one or two common brimftone matches
over the place : the fulphureous gas which is dif-
charged foon caufes the fpot to difappear.

There is a kind of indelible fpot which is
produced from red ochre and the charcoal black,
with which the weavers mark the turns of the
beam, in order to afcertain the length of the
chain of piece goods. This kind of mark,

whi£b

192 The Art of Bleaching

which is impreffed on the goods at equal
diftances, is fo far from being effaced, that it
feems, in fome meafure, to receive ftrength
from the oxvgenated muriatic acid, notvvith-
ftanding the intermediate action of the lees.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thready &c. 193

CHAP. XVII.

The Expence of Bkaching different Kinds of Goods,
of Linen, Hemp, or Cotton, by the oxygenated
muriatic Acid, at per Ell, or per Pound.

EFORE I proceed to give an account of
the expence of bleaching any quantity of ells
or pounds of goods, by the muriatic acid, I
mall, in the firft place, mention the prices of
the materials required to make the liquor, either
with or without fmell, of which I have before
defcribed the compofition. The prices are cal-
culated according to thofe of the articles to
be delivered at Abbeville, in 1791 *.

The fulphuric acid of Rouen, rectified for

* I have not reduced the numbers in this chapter to their
values in Englifh money, becaufe the difference of locality
would, even in that cafe, have rendered them of little im-
mediate utility.

As tranflator, I am obvioufly not at liberty to omit the
chapter, even if I were fo difpoGd. The Englifli pi ices of
the materials are given in the Appendix. — T.

o the

194 ?7,<? Art of Bleaching

the market to 66 degrees, delivered at Abbe-
ville, willcoft ii fols the pound, wholefale.

Mangsnefe, cryftallized in needles, ready fort-
ed, from Pelletier, apothecary, rue Jacob, at
Paris, 8 fols, retail.

Grey muriate of foda, in the market of
Abbeville, 2 fols, retail.

Charcoal, weighing five or fix pounds to the
bufhel, according to the quality of the wood,
3 fols, retail, per bufhel.

Blue potafh, of Dantzick, or the yellow pot-
afh, in hard lumps, of York, 12 fols, whole-
fale.

Green or black foap, of Abbeville, 8 fols,
retail.

White marble foap, of Marfeilles, bought at
Abbeville, 1 2 fols, retail.

The fack of turf, containing four mannes,
8 fols, wholefale.

I fhall now fhew the expence of charging two
pneumatic veffels, by two fucceflive diftilla-
tions with the fimple apparatus, or by one
diftillation, when the apparatus has two of
thefe veffels, as well with muriatic acid which
emits no fmell, as with that in which the oda-
rante gas is not detained.

Expence

Cottons, Thread t &c. 195

Expence of two pneumatic vejjels of the muriatic
acid, without Jmell> made according to the pro-
portions prefcribed in this Work.

Lit), s. d.
Sulphuric acid, five pounds and a half ---306

Manganefe, two pounds and a half - - - - 100

Grey muriate of foda, eight pounds ----080

One bufhel of charcoal of wood ------ o 3 o

Workman, one day -------«-ioo

Potalh, two pounds and a half ------ 1100

Total 7 1 6

Expence of two pneumatic vejfels of the odor ant
muriatic acid, made according to the proportions
prefcribed in this work.

Sulphuric acid, five pounds and a half
Manganefe, two pounds and a half -
Grey muriate of foda, eight pounds
One bufhel of charcoal of wood
Workman, one day -
Potafh

Liv

, s.

</.

Total

I fhall, in the next place, fhevv the expence
of lixiviating, or rather of boiling, two pieces
of cloth, each feventy-two ells long, of fuch a
degree of fmenefs, that two ells in length, on a
breadth of two-thirds, may weigh one French
pounds or of feventy-two pounds of thread,

o 2 fuch

1 9 6 The Art of Bleaching

fuch as is commonly fpun in Picardy. I choofe
this kind of cloth in preference, as an example,
becaufe it feldom happens that coarfer goods
are required to be bleached even to the ordinary
white, which I muft be understood to mean in
the prefent inftance.

The proportion of ingredients for the lees re-
quired to fteep the feventy-two ells of cloth,
beforementioned, or the feventy-two pounds of
thread, are ten veffels of water, of eighteen
pints each, with about five pounds of potafh,
which gives a degree of (rrength, marking rather
more than one and a half, compofed according
to the directions in chap. VII. feparately, and
in a fmall covered portable boiler.

Expence of new lees, proper for one boiling of feventy-
two ells of cloth , or feventy-two pounds of thread,
of middling qualify.

Liv. s.

Potafh, five pounds, 3 Jivres - ->

Turf, two marines, or halt a fack, 4fbls J

It remains to be fhewn, what may be the
expence of bleaching the above feventy-two
pounds of fingle thread, or feventy-two ells of
cloth. I have before obferved, that cloth of
middling finenefs requires nearly four immer-
fions, two of which may be made in the muri-
atic acid without fmell, and two, if it be

thought

Cottons, Thread, &c. 197

thought better, in the odorant acid, befides
four iixiviations ; and again, that one pneuma-
tic veflel is fufficient for (ixty pounds of thread,
at the firft immerfion, and from feventy-two to
eighty at the fecond. I (hall take feventy-two
pounds as the middle term, between the firft
and the Iaft immerfions, which, as well as the
Iixiviations, I will fuppofe to be made with
freih folutions.

Liv. j.

Two pneumatic veflels, for the two firft new im-
merfions in muriatic acid without fmell - 1* x

Two pneumatic vefTeJs, for the two other immerfions,

in the odorant muriatic acid - - n 3

Four new Iixiviations, or the quantity of potafh necef-
fary for that purpofe -

Two facks of turf

One day's work -

Total

Hence, the pound of thread of Picardy, con-
taining fixteen ounces, will coft 10 fols 10 de-
niers. With regard to Flanders thread, which
is cleared in water, the price will not, at molt,
exceed 8 fols, becaufe this article requires only
one immerlion, and a lixiviation lefs. Flanders
thread, likewife, as has been remarked, is fub-
jecl to a lofs of no more than twenty per cent.

If this calculation be, therefore, applied to
the bleaching of common coarfe cloth, two elk

03 of

1 9 3 The Art of Bleaching

of which weigh a pound, the ell will not ex-
ceed 5 fols 5 deniers for the bleaching.

If it be, therefore, fettled to charge for the
thread of Picardy, or any other which is cleared
on the grafs, 12 fous the pound, or livre de
Marc ; for Flanders thread, or any other, which
is rotted or cleared in water, at 10 fols, upon an
average ; and for linen piece-goods, 8 fols the
ell, of fine or middling quality, the manufacturer
will find himfelf reafonably paid for his trouble.
Thefe are the ufual prices at the moft celebrat-
ed bleaching works of Lifle, Beauvais, Saint
Quentin, Senlis, Rouen, Rheims, &c. I mud,
however, take notice, that the dreffings are not
reckoned in thefe charges, which, with regard
to the piece-goods, amount to about 2 liards
per ell for cold calendering, and 1 fol for hot
calendering, including the folding, &c. There
are feme articles of which the price of the
dreffing amounts to half that of the bleaching :
thefe are fuch as require a degree of firmnefs,
by means of flarch, gum, or other fimilar mate-
rial, with blue, which, in certain markets, and
with regard to goods of a certain description, is
favourable to the fale.

The proper dreffing for thread amounts to
about 1 fol the pound, but is the objeti of a
particular agreement between the bleacher and

the

Cottons, Thread, &c. 199

the owner. With refpe£t to the price of bleach-
ing double, or fewing, threads, my advice is to
charge 1 fols extra per pound, on account of the
greater difficulties they prefent, and the atten-
tions they require, as may be gathered from
what has been before faid on this fubjecl

Piece-goods, in general, require more care,
and are attended with more difficulty, than
threads, on account of their volume, their
weight, their texture, and the even white co-
lour required to be given, on both fides, as
well as towards the felvedges. It mult alfo be
remarked, that the felvedges having their tex-
ture clofed by the action of the temple, when
the cloth is in the loom, fometimes require, in
the middle of the bleaching procefs, to be
rubbed with foap, by hand, for which purpofe
black foap is to be ufed in preference. If they
be not opened to the action of the acid by this
treatment, there will be danger of the white
being lefs advanced towards the edge than on
the reft of the furface. This management may,
however, be avoided, if, at the time of fteeping
and macerating the cloth, as well as in the firft
lixiviation, the operator is careful to rub or clear
thefe parts, on account of the rirmnefs of their
texture.

From thefe feveral data, it will be eafy to
o 4 eftimate

ceo The Art of Bleaching

eftimate the expence of bleaching finer thread,
for linens and lawns, as well as that of the ell
of thefe articles refpectively. For nothing more
will be neceffary, for that purpofe, than to con-
lider the account of the number of immerfions
and lixiviations which I have ftated to be necef-
fary for thofe goods. The thread of lawns, of
the ordinary finenefs, will run fix ells in the
piece to the pound, on a breadth of one ell.

Having thus fhewn the coft of bleaching
thread or linen goods, by the pound or ell, I (hall
proceed to examine that of the fame articles in
cotton ; for which purpofe I fhall choofe the
thread proper to make the commoneft wrappers,
which run two ells to the pound, on a width of
one ell. I have before ftated, that each pneu-
matic veffel is fufficient for the immerfion of
eighty or ninety pounds of thread, for the firft
working, and ioo for the fecond. I will, there-
fore, take only ninety for the middle term. I
have alfo ftated, that no more than three im-
merfions, at moft, were required to bleach
cotton, one of which mould be in the muriatic
acid without fmell, and the others in the odo-
rant acid, befides three lixiviations. I will
fuppofe that neither the acid nor the lees have
been ufed before. My piece of cloth mall be
ailumed at 180 ells, or two pieces of ninety

ells

Cot Ions, Thread, &c% 201

ells each, and the quantity of thread equiva-
lent to this {hall be ftated at oo"pounds \ whence
it will follow :

LlV. S. d,

Firft immerfion in new muriatic acid, without

fmell 716

Two other new immerfions in the odorant mu-
riatic acid - - - - - -1130

Three new lixiviations in one of double propor-
tion with regard to the mafs to be lixiviated - 12 o o

Three facks of turf, on account of the double
lixiviations - -

One day's work _----.

Total

This computation fettles the pound of cotton
thread at about 7 fols 6 deniers, and confe-
quently the cloth at 3 fols 9 deniers the ell. It
is to be obferved, that cotton, being more loofe
and fpongy, and more fubjeel: to rife up in
the boiler by the aftion of heat, requires near
double the quantity of lees than for thread, and
confequently more fire in the fame proportion to
heat it, fuppofing the fame boiler to be ufed.
The fame remark is, in part, applicable to the
muriatic acid ; but as this may be ufed rather
weaker for cotton than for thread, the liberty of
diluting it with water may be taken.

If the bleacher, according to this new me-
thod

202 The Art of Bleaching

thod, {hall therefore fix the price of bleaching
cotton thread at 8 fols 6 deniers the pound, and
of cloth entirely of cotton at 6 fols the fquare
ell, of every kind coarfe or fine, he may derive
confiderable advantage, and the public will
have no reafon to complain, fince cotton threads
in genera], and likewife muflins, require much
care and attention, on account of the delicacy
of their texture and the flight tenacity of the
fibres, the fhort ftaple of which, as is very well
known, will fcarcely permit it to be turned on
the reel without great care.

It now remains to be fhewn what price ought
to be fixed for the bleaching of ftockings of linen
or cotton per pair. 1 fliall begin with plain thread
ftockings of men's fize, from which an eftimate
may be made for fmaller articles of the fame
kind, as well as all other knit or ftocking-wove
goods. I fliall likewife aflume that one pair of
men's ftockings contains half a pound of thread,
and confequently 6 pounds will be contained in
one dozen pair. My calculation will be for :2
dozen or 72 pounds of thread. I fliall likewife
aflume that one pound of green foap will be re-
quired for the firft wafliing of fix dozen pair of
men's ftockings, and one pound of white foap
for the fecond and laft wafliing of the fame fix
dozen. And accordingly I fliall add to the fum

before

s. d.

Co/tons, Thread, £3c. 203

before deduced, for the mere and fimple bleach-
ing of 72 pounds of linen, of which the detail
has been given, the furplus in lixiviations, im-
merfions, and wafliing with foap, which (lock-
ings require. This amounts to two lixiviations,
and the fame number of immerfions as I have
fhewn at chapter X.

Therefore firft fet down the fimple price of

bleaching 70 pounds of thread, namely -
To which add two additional lixiviations
Two immerfions in the odorant muriatic acid
Two pounds of green foap for the firft warning
Two pounds of white foap for the fecond wafiiing
Half a fack of turf to heat the folutions of foap
A woman one day for the warning

Total

This account gives 8 fols 3 deniers for each
pair of men's dockings ; and if 12 fols be taken
for this article, I am of opinion that there will
not be many bleachers envious of the advantage
of rendering them milk-white at this price, on
account of the difficulties they prefent, which
require them to be turned from time to time to
open the texture, which would otherwife become
clofe and impenetrable to the muriatic acid: and
if the ftockings be ribbed, or have clocks, it will
not be too much to charge 14 fols the pair, on

account

204 The Art of Bleaching

account of the particular care required for thefe
kind of goods, the ribs of which being difpofed
to fhrink up, are very apt to prevent the intire
action of the acid.

With regard to women's and boys' (lockings,
10 fols per pair may be charged, and for fmaller
articles 8 fols; at which laft price gloves ought to
be charged, becaufe the fingers being clofer than
the other parts, require to be turned from time
to time to produce an even colour. Mittens
may be charged at 5 fols the pair. Articles of
the fame kind of thread and cotton, mixed, de-
ferve nearly the fame price on account of the
thread which retards the bleaching.

We muft now inquire the price of bleaching
the fame articles in cotton. Here likewife I
mall ground my comparifon on plain ftockings
for men, admitting that 6 ounces of cotton will
make one pair of this fize, which will amount to
41 pounds the dozen pair, or 90 pounds of thread
for 22 dozen pair. To this laft quantity we
fhall direct our inquiries, in which I fhall con-
fine myfelf to add to the former determination
with regard to 90 pounds of cotton thread of
like quality, the extraordinary lixiviations and
immersions which knit or itocking-wove articles
require. This excefs, as fhown at chapter X. is

half

Cottons, Thread, &c. 205

half a lixiviation and one immerfion in the odo-
rant muriatic acid.

Liv. s. d.
I (hall therefore reckon for the mere bleaching of

90 pounds of cotton thread as before ftated - 32 8 6

To which add half a lixiviation in a double dofe 340

One immerfion in the odorant muriatic acid - 5 ix 6
One fack of turf for heating the double quantity

of lees - - - 080

Four pounds of green foap for the fin! warning 112 o
Four pounds of white foap for the fecond and

laft wafhing - -- - - 280

One fack of turf for heating the folutions of foap 080

Two days' work of a woman to wafh - 1 10 o

Total 47 10 o

Whence we fee that the coft for 1 pair of
men's plain cotton (lockings is about 4 fols, and
if the charge be fettled at 5 fols for men and 4
for women, or 4 fols 6 deniers one with another,
there can be no caufe of complaint. Ribbed
ftockings mull:, however, be excepted. Thefe
deferve at lead an addition of 1 fol per pair for
the extra attentions, which have been before
mentioned.

Nightcaps may be charged, one with another,
at 2 fols 6 deniers : gloves, on account of the
fingers, mull: be charged at 3 fols the pair, and
mittens, and children's ftockings, at 2' fols.

Xh< "

icS The Art of Bleaching

The foregoing are, in general, the articles
which are ufually bleached at the proper works
for that purpofe. With regard to the prices I
have affi^ncd for bleaching; each article without
any kind of dreiiing, they are fuch as I have, from
my own experience, thought fit to advife to thofe
perfons to whom 1 have had the pleafure of
teaching this new and important art of bleach-
ing. They are capable of being confiderably
diminiihed bv turning to advantage the lees and
acid which have been ufed as I have advifed in
the proper place. But I have chofen in my
eftimates to confider them as new, in order that I
might be fubjeft to no reproach for diminifhing
the charges which I have, on the contrary, ftated
at the higheft, as every operator may convince
himfelf. If to thefe firft favings of lees of mu-
riatic acid, and of the other collateral and de-
pendent objects, we add the advantage which
may be derived from the old lees, as I have
fhewn, as well as from the exhaufted bleaching
liquor, the refidues of the retorts, &c. there can be
no doubt but that all thefe different prices may
be confiderably abated ; even though we might
not venture to affirm that the expence would be
entirely compenfated by the profit arifing from
an intelligent application of thefe matters, which
have heretofore been thrown away as ufelefs.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thread, &c. 207

CHAP. XVIII.

The Method of bleaching yellow Wax, Nankeen
Stockings, and other Articles which have acquired
a dark Colour by keeping ; Linen Jlained by Damp-
nefsy and the Madder Grounds of printed Gcods.

JL HE bleaching of yellow wax may be ef-
fected by means of the bleaching liquor, with
fmell, as well as with that which has no fmell.
For which purpofe a fingle immerfion, or, at
mod, two, with the fame number of intermedi-
ate fufions, are necefTary. The operation, never-
theless, fucceeds more fpeedjly with the odorant
muriatic acid, becaufe the wax bleaches as well
above as below; which facility it acquires by
its property of fwimming, and prefenting a
greater furface, as well to the gas which rifes
in the liquor, and bleaches in its paffage, as
to that which efcapes above the ribbons of wax,
which, being retained by the covers of the vef-
fels, is forced to a£t upon the furface expofed
to its a£lion by falling in a kind of dew. Thefe
ribbons of wax mull be very thin.

It is more convenient, however, to ufe only
the vapour of the oxygenated muriatic acid,

2oS Tie Art of Bleaching

3.s Berthollet informs us from the experiment of
T-andriani. This laft method is, as I likewife find
by experiment, much more effectual. To prove
this truth, nothing more is neceflary to be done
than to expofe wax rafped or fcraped into very
thin leaves, under the cover of a pneumatic
veffel, above the furface of the liquor. I am
even difpofed to think that this experiment may
point out the invention of a bleaching procefs
in appropriate veffels furnifhed with different
ftages of frame-work covered with coarfe cloths.
The goods being fufpended through the whole
height of the veffel thus conftrucled, or elfe in a
chamber difpofed and appropriated to the fame
effect, that is to fay, that it fhall be provided
\rith fhelves, or poles, fo difpofed all round
within its capacity, upon which the acid va-
pour, directly conveyed from the neck of the
retort, or admitted through the fides of the
chamber, may thus act with great freedom and
promptnefs, in the fame manner as the volatile
fulphureous acid a£ts upon goods which are re-
quired to be bleached by its means. I have
alfo remarked, that the mafs of wax, with which
the ends of 'the leaden tubes, plunged in the
intermediate veffel when I ufed this apparatus,
was rendered of a beautiful white through its.
whole thicknefs, which was nearly half a line,

and

CottonSy Thread, &V. 209

and this by no more than two hours expofure to
the action of the vapour.

1 The true nankeen is bleached or deprived of
its colour with fome difficulty. It is firft to be
wetted and wrung ; after which it i9 fubjee~red to
a firft immerfion in the bleaching liquor, which
deprives it of a large portion of its colour. It
is then to be properly rinfed, and agitated in a
good folution of lbap, which is preferable to
lees, becaufe it caufes the colour, which had
merely difappeared, to (hew itfelf again more
effectually. The piece of nankeen is then to
be well rinfed, and fubjected to a new immer-
fion. The number of immerfions varies accord-
ing to the ihade of the colour ; but this article
feldom requires more than three immerfions,
with intermediate warnings with foap< The
finifh is given in a bath of fulphuric acid, after
which it is to be rinfed in a large quantity of
water, and then wrung and dried. This pro-
cefs may be performed indifferently with either
of the two acids, the odorant, or that without
fmell ; neverthelefs the latter ought always to
be preferred, particularly for the firft immer-
fion, becaufe it more fpeedily and equally de-
ftroys that kind of flefh colour which is peculiar
to the true nankeen. Neverthelefs, though the
oxygenated muriatic acid acts fo ftrongly on this

f colour,

a I o The Art of Bleaching

colour, I never have been able to bring nan-
keens to a white of the fame beauty as is ac-
quired by cotton, thread, and piece goods
bleached by this procefs.

Stockings and other goods bleached by the old
procefs, but which have acquired a ruddy co-
lour, at the extremity of the folds, by remaining
in the fhop or warehoufe, partly uncovered either
from want of care or for fliew, require only a
fingle immerfion without preliminary foaping
or lixiviation. The ink marks which retailers
are in the habit of making to afcertain either
the number, price, or quality of their goods,
partly difappear in this immerfion, and totally
in the bath of fulphuric acid, in which they are
afterwards plunged. Thefe goods are to have
all the fubfequent dreflings, of which I have given
an account, if the proprietor expects or re-
quires it.

It is a peculiar property of the oxygenated
muriatic acid, to difcharge thofe black fpots
which are feen on foul linen, particularly when
they rife from perfpiration or moifture. The
places moft fubjec~t to thefe flains, are where the
linen is applied to the back or beneath the
arm pits. This procefs is to be commenced
with a lixiviation or boiling, which is to be
fucceeded by^n immerfion, and afterwards by a

bath

Cottons, Thread, &c. m

bath of fulpburic acid. However ftrong the
fpots may be, they never refill thefe feveral
operations.

Spots of brandy likewife difappear by the
fame procefs.

With regard to the madder ground of paint-
ed or printed goods, it is eafily difcharged by
either of the oxygenated muriatic acids, a
fingle bath ufually being fufficient for that pur.
pofe.

For greater convenience, it is advifeable to
ufe the acid without fmel], becaufe the operator
may, with more eafe, follow and conclude at
a proper time the immerfion of the piece as foon
as, while paffing it over the reel, he obferves
that the ground is fufficiently white and clear.
The bleaching liquor, which is partly exhaufted,
may be ufed to advantage in this procefs. Be-
fore the immerfion is made, care muft be taken
to plunge the piece in water and wring it out
fo far as to leave it merely humid or moift.
After the immerfion it muft be well rince4
and dried either in the fun or in the fhade, turn-
ing the coloured furface from the fun.

It may be remarked that the deep reds are capa-
ble of being again brought out, or rendered flightly
red, by the fun's light, and the other (hades ad-
vanced in proportion 5 this would happen in the
eommon method of bleaching, if the printed
* 2 part

2t2 The Art of Bleaching

part were not always turned to the grafs. I
fhall proceed to mention fome circumftances
with refpecl to this method of difcolouring or
bleaching, which may be of ufe to thofe who
are interefted in applying it to practice.

Goods printed in fait colours (bon tei?itjt for
thofe with chemical colours (-petit teint) are too
difficult to be treated by this method, intended
to be bleached by the oxygenated muriatic acid,
inftead of the ufual expofure in the field, ought
to have their den^iis much more charged with
colour, than fuch as are intended limply to be
fubje&ed to the action of the air ; in order that
while the acid exercifes its action on that part
of the ground which is maddered without mor-
dant, the fame action which is alfo exerted on the
part where the madder is combined with the mor-
dant, may not deftroy in the laft part any more
of the colour than that quantity in excefs, be-
yond what the piece ought to preferve to pro-
duce the intended e fleet, and, confequently,
that it fliould not, after the procefs, appear
more fenfibly altered than it would have been
after the ufual expofure in the field : this pre-
caution ought to be attended to more particu-
larly with regard to the ordinary violets, blacks,
and browns. They are much more eafily de-
graded than the red, or rofe-colours, and the
deep browns.

One

Cottons, Thread, Z3c. 912

One leading objecl, which is effential to the
prefervation of the colour, and contributes in-
finitely to the unmaddering, is to give the pieces
pne or two boilings in bran and water, which
may follow a boiling in a folution of foap. If
thefe three boilings are properly managed, the
ground of the piece goods will be brightened
at lead three quarters. One or two immer-
iions in the bleaching liquor will remove the
fmall portion of colour which remains. Be-
tween the two immerfions attention muft be
paid to plunge the goods in bran and water.
This ought to be done after the laft immeriioi),
for it raifes and relieves trje tone of the colours
which may have been flightly weakened.

I have feveral times found, that when the
preparatory baths have been well proportioned
to the grounds intended to be coloured, it is
unnecefTary to apply the bleaching liquor. &.
few days expofure in the field are fufficient
afterwards to complete the bleaching.

The proportions which I followed for the
bath of bran and water, were three ounces and
an half of wheat bran, and three pounds and
an half of river water. Thofe for the folution
of foap were two ounces of foap to four or five
pounds of water; the weight of the goods to
which thefe dofes were adopted were 10 gros.
? $ More,

214 Me Art of Bleaching

Moreover, it is practicable, according to the
depth of the tints, and the experience the ope-
rator may have acquired, to diminifh the force
of the oxygenated liquor to that point which
may infure him againft a too perceptible de-
struction of thofe parts which ought to pre-
ferve their brightnefs. But, in this practice, the
procefs is too flow, and the great advantage of
ufing this method with regard to fuch kind of
goods would thus be loft.

In a confiderable manufactory, where the
operations of printing and bleaching fucceed
each other with rapidity, it might, perhaps, be
more advantageous to clear off no more than
three-fourths of the ground of the cloth which
has received the madder without mordant, by
fubjecting it to the boilings with bran, wa-
ter, foap, and a flight immerfion in the liquor,
as has been prefcribed, and afterwards to ex-
pofe it to the action of the air in the fieid.
This method of operating feems preferable,
and would be no lefs expeditious, whether in
fummer or in winter. And in the cafe only of
the goods being in great hafte, the complete
bleaching with the oxygenated acid might be
advifcable, taking care to ufe all the precau-
tions which have already been pointed out.

In order to avoid expofing the goods to too

con-

Cottons 3 Thread, &c. 215

confiderable alteration, it is more convenient to
pafs only one or two pieces through at a time,
with the attention that they fhould be of the
fame degree of intenfity in their colours, in
order that if it mould be neceffary to ftop fud-
denly the effea of the liquor, it may, in fome
meafure, be done inftantly. This could not be
eafily accomplifhed, if eight or ten pieces were
fewed together as foon as foaped. For it is
eafy to imagine, that while one piece was
drawn out, the others remaining in the liquor
too long a time, would be expofed to have
their colours weakened, at lead in the propor-
tion of the longer time they remained in the
liquor. If it were thought an objea of fuf-
ficient importance, this laft inconvenience,
however, might be removed, by placing at the
bottom of the veflel for immerfion a platform
of ftrong balket work, which might be fpeedily
raifed by means of a pulley, or other me-
chanifm, to remove the goods out of the bath
at the inftant it might be found neceffary, and
they might afterwards be thrown into a refer-
voir of water, or conveyed to the river.

It would be a very delirable objeft, if the
oxygenated muriatic acid could aa only upon
the furface oppofite to the printed fide ot the
piece. In this way it would operate like the

P ^ atuio-

2i6 The Art of Blading

atmofpheric air, without giving caufe to fear
the deftru&ion or perceptible alteration of the
fbades, whatever might be their depth. The
difficulty of fucceeding, and the length of time
required for bleaching, may, perhaps, fooner or
later, give rife to a method of fixing the co-
lour by particular mordants, without the aflift-
ance of madder.

It would alfo be a dcfirable object to difcorer
a procefs to prevent too much degradation of
the tranfverfal red or blue ftripes, and other or-
naments of coloured thread, which are ufually
made at each extremity or angle of cotton co-
verlids. This procefs might alfo be applicable
to the defence of thofe tranfverfal blue or red
ftripes which are made in pieces intended for
napkins, between one napkin and another, and
at the ends of pieces of muflins and the like.
The beft method, no doubt, would confift in
manufacturing thefe goods entirely of one co-
lour, and afterwards making the terminations
with coloured thread. As thefe kind of jroods
ate capable of being foiled, either by the dref-
fing given to their chain, or by the different
operations which fucceed or are previous to
the weaving, they may be eafily cleanfed by a
proper wafhing or foaping.

The following is the expedient which I have

thought

Cottons, Thread, &c. 217

thought proper to ufe to preferve the ftripes in
queftion from every action which might be too
perceptible. After two good baths in the
lixivium, each of the ftripes was covered, on
both fides, with one or more coatings of chalk
and oil, which was left to dry until the pieces
could be handled without fear of fpotting the
neighbouring parts. I then fubjecled them to
the bleaching liquor, afterwards to a flight lixi-
viation, and a folution of foap, &c. and fo on,
fuccefhvely, till the ground was as clear as re-
quired. After each lixiviation I took care to
repair or renew the covering, if neceflary. I
afterwards cleared off this covering of chalk and
oil, either with a good foaping, or with a flight
bath of fulphuric acid, according to the nature
of the colour of the bar, and the degree of te-
nacity of the paint. If by accident the colour
of the bar was fomewhat weakened, it did not
fail to be raifed again, by palling it through
bran-water at the conclufion of the procefs. I
apprehend that this expedient, which I have
always ufed with a certain degree of fuccefs,
will be acceptable to the'manufacturer.

CHAP.

2i8 The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XIX.

The Method of df charging the Colour of fainted or
fritted Cottons, or Linens, and every Kind of
Dye on Cloth cr Thread, before or after it is
wrought up,

-/jLLL the colours of callicocs, or printed
goods in fail colours, are deftroyed by either of
the oxygenated muriatic acids, without having
recourfe to the lixiviations or other previous or
intermediate operations before defcribed. The
blues, yellows, and blacks, afford an excep-
tion with refpect to the bath of fulphuric acid,
which muft be fubftituted inftead of the lixi-
viation. A fmgle immerfion in the muriatic
acid is fufficient to deftroy all other colours,
fuch as reds, yellows, auroras, green, &:c. ; but
the yellows, properly fo called, and the lemon
colour, with which greens are produced, and
the blues and blacks, fometimes require, accord-
ing to their (hade, three immerlions, and two
or three intermediate baths of fulphuric acid.

Cottons, Threads , &c. 219

It muft not, however, be fuppofed, that the
Adrianople reds, when difcharged by the oxy-
genated muriatic acid, become perfectly white.
There always remains a flight ruddy appear-
ance, which arifes from the oily matter which
enters into the preparation for this dye.. This
tinge of rednefs does not difappear, however
numerous the lixiviations and immerfions and
baths of fulphuric acid may be.

There is another thing no lefs worthy of
remark with regard to the black colour, which,
forms the outline or border of defigns, namely,
that if the muflin, or cleared fine piece, upon
which the different flowers were deligned
which have been difcharged, be folded toge-
ther in feveral folds, or placed upon a dark-
coloured ground, the effaced outline becomes
vifible according to the expofure of the piece
under a certain obliquity of the light exhibiting
the appearance of a flight trace. The kind of
outline which, under thefe circumftances, be-
comes vifible, cannot be compared to any thing
better than the embroidery of muflins placed
on a coloured ground. This trace feen at a cer-
tain diftance has the fame effect, and even when
clofely obferved, it is impoffible to determine
what it is, becaufe it is not vifible, except
under a certain reflection of the light ; never-

thelefs

22* The Art of Bleaching

thelefs the whole piece appears white, and or a
very fuperior quality. I have remarked that this
effect does not take place excepting with regard
to the old prints of flowered defigns of the
true India callicoes imported from that part of
the globe. For in the .printed goods of our
manufactures, fuch as thofe of Paris, Joly,
St. Denis, and Beauvais, all the traces of the
defigns completely difappeared, to my great
furprize. It mult, therefore, necelTarily be
admitted, that the difference in thefe refult*
depend on the qualities of the mordants, which
are more or lefs oily, or the manner of ftriking
the blocks in the aft of printing.

If this effect were produced by the mordant
with the outlines of the defigns in the pieces of
printed goods, it might, perhaps, be of advan-
tage to take the fame method of obtaining a
fubftitute, inftead of the rich expenfive em-
broideries with which the fine muffins of India
and Switzerland a^e covered. Thcfe defigns
Jikewife do not appear in their full effect, but
when they are placed upon a tranfparent fluff
of a deep colour, which exhibits all the out-
line. This method of producing fo rich an
effett would be extremely fimple, fingularly
permanent, and highly economical. I think,
however, that I may add, that, after many trials

I I

Cottons, Thread, &c. 22 S

I Lave at laft fucceeded in difcbarging this
mordant, fometimes by a bath of fulphuric
acid, rather ftronger than ufual, and at other
times by foaping the goods before and after the
bath. This management is very eflential to be
known, in order that the operator may not be
cxpofed to the mortification of feeing the fame
defigns return again by the fecond action of the
madder applied to the fame bleached piece in a
fubfequent printing procefs. To obviate every
accident of this kind, it will be proper to in-
form the owner which of the methods have
been ufed to bleach their goods, and in cafe
the new method may have been ufed, it would
then be prudent to pafs them previoufly through
a good Bath of fulphuric acid.

With regard to chemical colours, as they are
called, which are applied on callicoes or other
goods, they difappear immediately, and much
more fpecdily, than fa ft colours. A fingle im-
merlion in the weakeft oxygenated muriatic
acid, without any other preparation, is Sufficient
to deftroy them, excepting only the outline of
the flowers, which, as has already been re-
marked, requires particular precautions.

Among the yellow colours of this defcription
there is one, however, in the compofition of
which fulphate of copper, fulphate of iron,

and

222 ¥he Art of Bleaching

and acetate of lead, are ufed, which is fo far
from being deftroyed by the oxygenated mu-
riatic acid, that, on the contrary, it is nxed by
that means. This colour cannot be difcharged,
unlefs the piece be previoufly well rubbed in a
good bath of foap, which difpofes it fo far to
detach itfelf from the goods, that the immer-
fion it afterwards undergoes in the muriatic
acid completes its difcharge.

It is very remarkable, that, after the difco-
louring of the printed goods, particularly brown
or black, and when the oxygenated muriatic
acid has combined with the merchandize, there
arifes from the trough a certain gas, which acts
upon and irritates the organ of fight only, to
fuch a degree, that it is very difficult to fup-
port its action for any confiderable time with-
out a difcharge of tears *. This effeft, how-
ever, is not very perceptible in a trough over
which the workman has operated for the whole
day, until towards the evening, whence it fol-

* The effect of this gas upon the human body is very fimi-
lar to that which was produced on the 22d Brumaire in the
evening, the prefent year, 6th of the republic, by a thick
mift, of which the influence was felt, more or lefs, through-
out Paris. This action was exerted principally by an irrita7
tion of the throat, a pricking fenfation in the eyes and nofe,
and a difcharge from the head. The oxygenated muriatic
gas produces the fame effects when it is breathed for any length
of time, on which fubject lee chap. vi. of the prefent work.

lows

Cottons, Thread, &c. 11%

lows that the acid does not a£t till after a confi-
derable time upon the mordants, (o as to pro-
duce this peculiar gafeous combination, which
is then capable, by its quantity, of irritating the
organs of fight. Thefe inconveniences may be
avoided, by taking care to work thefe pieces
under a glafs cover, exprefsly difpofed for that
purpofe, nearly as is reprefented in fig. 1 and
2. in plate 1 ; or by making ufe of the covered
verTel reprefented in fig. 1 and 2. plate 9. It
would be an important acquifition to know the
nature of the gas here fpoken of.

With regard to piece goods dyed before or
after the weaving, whether of thread or cotton,
all the falfe dyes,-fuch as red, blue, green, flefli-
color, orange, grey, black, &c. difappear in an
inftant, and almoft conftantly, by a fingle im-
merfion, and certainly by one immerfion and one
lixiviation ; but it is moft ufual to omit the lixi-
viation.

The fame remark does not apply to the true
dyes, or fair, colors, fuch as blues, Indian red,
ftrawberry colour, deep brown, &:c. the yellow
colour and lemon colour either applied to linen or
cotton : thefe are much more difficultly effaced.
They fometimes require one lixiviaticn between
two immerfions, according to the force of the
made. The blue in particular is the molt tena-
cious

224 the Art of Bleaching

cious colour ; it muft be obferved, that a bath of
fulphuric acid muft always be given at the con-
clufion, particularly with refpeft to the yellows,
of the colour of ruft of iron, which does not to-
tally difappear but in this laft fluid.

With regard to goods which have not been
maddered, and of which the defigns have been
printed in oil, the firft preparation is that of the
lees, in which they muft be heated, without rinf-
ing or clearing off. After this, while they are
yet hot from the lees, they mull be flrongly rub-
bed in a good folution of fo?p. Moll of the
colours are, by this means, partly difcharged, and
their definition may be completed, either by.
the oxygenated muriatic acid, or by the fulphuric
acid. It is feldom Decenary to repeat this courfe
of operations, many of thefe colours being ufu-
ally difcharged by the foap.

It is certainly proper to remark, in this place,
that the effect of the oxygenated muriatic acid
in deftroying all colours whatever, as well on
printed goods, as in fuch as have undergone the
procefs of dying, whether in the thread, or in the
web, muft afford many perfons the advantage of
multiplying, in fome meafure, the changes of
their clothes, without going to the expence of
new : for if the old or unlafhionable colours of a
garment be difcharged, and it be afterwards font

Cottons, Thread, &c. 11$

to the printer's to receive a new defign, this fun-
pie procefs would enable the wearers to change
the faftiion every feafon, if they thought proper.
The only expence would be that of difcharging
the old colours and printing new, at fo much an
ell, for the feveral colours, according to their re-
fpe&ive value. It is equally obvious, that dealers
in printed goods * might, by this means, vary or
enlarge their fpeculations. I muft like wife add,
it might be poffible to take advantage of the faid
property of the oxygenated muriatic acid, to de-
stroy the colours of dyed goods, or to trace any re-
quired defign with the pencil, the pen, fimply
in the way of outline, and in the manner of
goods printed a la referve. I have feveral times
attempted to iketch different flight defigns on
fuch goods, principally in the muriatic acid
without fmell, and I fucceeded perfectly in ob-
taining very neat and fine traces. It might be,
perhaps, an object of (till greater intereft, to give
a rofe or other colour to piece-goods dyed d la
referve, becaufe this method has not hitherto
been applied but with refpecl to blues, and

* It feems probable that the wholefale method of operating
in England, and the effe£t of the excife laws, would render
the practice here dsfcribed not very convenient in the English
market, — T.

€L fometimes

226 I'be Art of Bleaching

fometimos to orange or olive colour, or a few
other light colours of this kind.

The fame thing might be done with regard
to the. particular defigns or things which might
be imitated on ftriped goods, the threads of
which were dyed before the weaving ; from
which it might be poffible, either to take away
part of the colour, or to add at pleafure a
ftripe of another kind. I have fometimes ac-
complished this purpofe on blue and white
ftockings, as well as, ftriped and chequed piece-
goods, by lightly fprinkling the oxygenated
muriatic acid upon them : the different drops
of the acid produced a lingular effect by fpot-
ting thofe ftockings and ftriped goods. All
the goods thus treated may be warned with
foap or lees, without danger of effacing the
different lingular marks or defigns which have
been traced upon them. The obfervation I
have made, with refpect to dyed goods, is like-
wife applicable with regard to certain patterns
of one uniform colour ; it is probable that the
prints might be made from a block impregnated
with the muriatic acid, combined or amalga-
mated in fuch a manner as to work with the
fame accuracy as in the common practice of
callico printing. 1 fliall hereafter relate an ex-
periment

Cottons, Thread, &V. S27

periment which I have made in fupport of this
obfervation .

I muft not omit the remark, that the oxyge-
nated acid is very ufeful to brighten up the
white defigns referved in piece-goods printed
a la referve.

It is well known that thefe white fpaces are
feldom clear; .either becaufe the compofition
being ill applied, or ill made, fuffers a fmall
quantity of the colour to pafs through j or from
the effect of the fulphuric acid in which they
are fteeped to clear off the compofition, when
it is made of tobacco-pipe clay, &c. If the
piece, when taken out of the boiler, is not well
cleared of its colour, this laft will flightly extend
itfelf towards the blue, which is uncovered ; con-
sequently, by fteeping the piece in a bath of
oxygenated muriatic acid, after its immerfion
in the fulphuric acid, the colour is not only
brightened, but the referved white, in confe-
quence of the neat finifh in its outline, is ren-
dered much more linking in its effect.

a. * * CHAP.

228 The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XX.

The Methods of taking cut the Dye from Silk and.
Wool.

J^ILKS dyed in a fimple colour, fuch as indigo-
blue, lilac, crimfon, and grey, are capable of
lofing their colour, and acquiring a yellow cha-
mois colour, by fteeping in a bath of oxygenated
muriatic acid, without any previous or inter-
mediate lixiviation or preparation. White filk
receives the fame yellow colour, if expofed to
this acid. But it is poffible to convert this yel-
low colour to white, by expofing the filk to the
vapour of fulphur or the fulphureous volatile
acid. For this purpofe, it is neceffary that they
fhould be yet in a moift ftate, to facilitate the
equal a£tion of the fulphureous gas. It rauft be
obferved alfo, that the goods ought not be ex-
pofed too near the flame of the fulphur, becaufe
the heat dries them, and retards the aclion of

the

Cottons, Thready &c. S29

the volatile acid, and may likewife give them a
fcorched or brown colour.

Compound colours, fuch as browns, violets,
greens, and blacks, likewife lofe their colour,
and acquire a fimilar tinge of chamois yellow ;
but this difcolouring commonly requires two
immerfions. The blue of brown violet and
puce colours commonly difappears firft, leaving
the fhade of red more or leis weakened. The
fame gradation takes place with regard to the
green and orange colo jrs, of which the yellow
gives way firfl:. The blue of the former, and
the red of the latter, only remains. It is
neceffary that the oxygenated muriatic acid
mould be weak (legcre) otherwife it would ac-
quire an aurora colour inftead of a rofe colour,
when it afterwards came to be fteeped in ful-
phuric acid ; for it is to be noted, that it is pro-
per to ufe a bath of fulphuric acid, and rinfe
off with much water previous to each of the
faid immerfions. With regard to black filks,
the brown difappears firft, and leaves the blue
ground, if this may have been ufed ; or the root
ground, fuppofing this lafl: to have been the
bafis of the black.

Thefe obfervations, refpecting filk, hold good
alfo with regard to wool dyed grey, orange, green,

Q. 3 Saxon

a 30 The At of Bleaching

Saxon blue, apple green, root or fawn colour,
brown lemon, and dipped blue. All thefe co-
lours difappear more or lefs readily, and become
of a chamois yellow, like the filk ; but this laft
tint is eafily brought to the original white, by
expofure to the volatile fulphureous acid. Two
immerfions in the oxygenated muriatic acid are
fometimes required, according to the depth of
the colour ; and the expofures to fulphuric acid
will like wife require to be occasionally repeated.
For if the cbamoi.s colour ioes not totally difap-
pear at the fir ft expofure, it will at the fecond.

If we attend, for a moment, to the alterations
which woollen and filken goods undergo by ex-
pofure to the air, we lhall immediately fee, that
the oxygen of the atmofphere is the principle
which acls on the colouring matters with which
the goods are impregnated, particularly the
falfe dyes ; and that the change is of the fame
nature as that which is produced by immerfmg
thefe goods in a liquid which is, in fome meafure,
faturated with that principle. The difference
confifts only in the fpeed with which this effect
is brought about in the latter cafe.

The yellowifh colour produced by the oxygen
of the air is particularly obfervable in grey
woollen with a raifed nap, and loofe hofiery of

the

Cottons, Thread, Be- 0.3 i

the fame colour. This mode of fabrication and
opennefs of texture probably affords a ftronger
hold to the oxygen, from the more extended
furface it prefents.

With regard to dyed filks, thofe of a rofe co-
lour, and Saxon blue, as well as the falie blacks,
are moft fubjeft to alteration by fimple expofure
to the air.

d 4 CHAP.

2$l The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XXL

Dying by the oxygenated muriatic Acid.

HAVE little to fay, with regard to the dyes,
in which the concurrence of the oxygenated
muriatic acid is of advantage, after thofe of the
nankeen and lemon yellow, of which I had oc-
cafion to fpeak in the fifteenth chapter. I fhall
here fpeak only of the different tinges of grey,
which are obtained by plunging white wool or
iilk in a folution of fulphate of copper, and after-
wards taking them out and immerfing them in
a bath of the oxygenated muriatic acid, either
with or without fmell. By this treatment the
operator will obferve the gradual appearance of
a fine grey colour, more or lefs dark, and varying
in its tinge, accordingly as the folution of the
fulplate, or of the oxygenated acid, may have
been concentrated. This dye appeared to me
to be folid > for I perceived no alteration in its
fhade after expofing it for feveral days to the
fun, and to a ftrong folution of foap.

It may be proper, in this place, to fpeak of a
black or grey dye varying in its fhade, which I
have feveral times feen fuccefsfully made, in

thofe

Cottons, Thread, &c. 233

thofe glafs-houfes where the mineral alcali, with
the crude foda, or the purified fait, is ufed. I here
fpeak only of the Spanim foda, which is well
known to contain a certain quantity of the mu-
riate of foda, the prefence of which is indicated
at the moment of the fufion of the glafs : for
at this period more efpecially, as well as during
the whitening of the frit, there exhales from the
pots, for about half an hour, a thick white fume
of muriatic acid, which afts on the nofes and
mouths of the workmen, and caufes them to
cough and fneeze : its prefence is likewife ma-
nifested by the ruft which immediately covers
the pipes and other iron implements, placed
within its reach, which the workmen are obliged
to brighten, whenever they ufe them. I have con-
cluded that the dye, of which I mail here give
a concife account, was the more evidently pro-
duced by the action of the oxygenated muriatic
acid, becaufe a confiderable quantity of man-
ganefe is ufed in the glafs-works in which it is
praclifed. The quantity ufed is fuch that the
cadmia fornicorum of thefe works are of a perfeft
violet colour.

The following is the procefs I have feen in
pra£iice, at the glafs-works of St. Gobin, in the
department of Aifne, as well as in that of Tour-
la-ville, in the department oflaManche. The

former

234 The Art of Bleaching

former of thefe eftablifhments ufe wood for
fue], and the purified fait of the foda of Alicant;
the other burns pit-coal, and ufes the fame foda
in the crude ftate.

The fkems of thread being previoufly warned
in lees, or cleaned and afterwards rinfed and
dried, are fteeped in a folution of alum, in river-
water. When they are well foaked in this fo-
lution, they are dallied ftrongly upon a kind of
blackiih foot, which is fixed along with the fa-
line vapours by the internal projection of the fur-
nace above the glafs pot or crucible. After
having repeated this a number of times, in order
that the thread may become more or lefs loaded
with the foot, it is agitated or rinfed in the
fame alum water, and again dafhed againft the
foot, until it is thought to have acquired a colour
fufficiently equal and deep. Laft of all, they are
rinfed in the fame water, in which they become
deprived of the excefs of faline and colouring
matter ; after which they are flightly rung out,
and dried, either in the fun, or in the made. This
black or grey colour, which the thread has thus
acquired, is fingularly tenacious. I have neck-
ings of thread, thus dyed ten or twelve years ago,
which have been warned in lees upwards of forty
times, and have loft not the leaft portion of the
intenfity of their colour. It is to be remarked,

that

Cottons, Thread, &c. 235

that linen and cotton piece-goods are dyed by
the fame procefs. There is no doubt but it
would be poffible to imitate this dye, with pro-
fit and advantage, by fome direct manufacturing
procefs. I have made fome trials which have
fucceeded, to a certain degree, by putting the
foot of pit-coal into alum-water, in which I
fteeped thread, which acquired a fhade, and
was afterwards put into a bath of oxygenated
muriatic acid. I repeated this alternation feve-
ral times, which appeared to communicate an
equal dye, and this dye was very flightly altered
by foap.

I We may likewife give the fame grey or black
fhade to cotton, by boiling it for fome time in a
certain quantity of the faline foot of the glafs-
works, ufually difFufed in water, in which mix-
ture the thread is (imply turned and worked for
a number of times, without any previous or
fubfequent operation, excepting that of wafhing
or rinfing, which is always indifpenfable. I have,
in this manner, dyed white thread (lockings of
a violet grey colour (grifdelin). This (hade be-
came fome what pale after repeated warnings.

CHAP.

i$6 The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XXII.

Various Properties cf the oxygenated muriatic
Acid.

HE power of difcharging every kind of co-
lour from painted or printed goods, mud render
the difcovery of the oxygenated muriatic acid
of the higheft value to manufacturers of
paper, who may very profitably avail them-
felves of the acid to form white paper out of
coloured rags. It, in fome meafure, affords them
an additional refource to fupply their manu-
factories with raw materials, and to avoid any
particular forting. They may, even in this re-
fpett, extend their fpeculations to cordage,
oakum, old fails, and other articles, which
they may bleach as fpeedily, and in as large a
quantity, as they pleafe, without giving them-
felves any concern about the fcarcity of rags.
It may alfo be queftioned, why the bleaching
property of the oxygenated muriatic acid mould
not be ufed to whiten paper which has been

written

Cottons, Thread, &c. 237

Written upon, and is become wafte. This
paper may afterwards be fized again, like any
other fort, by which means the product and
activity of this manufactory may be inftanta-
neoufly augmented. This laft object is fo much
the more eafy to be attained, becaufe the leaves
of paper, containing writing, require to be
fteeped only one fmgle time in the oxygenated
muriatic acid without fmell. The work is,
therefore, of the greateft facility. This firft
operation may be made on a number of leaves
together, difpofed in fuch a manner that the
oxygenated muriatic acid may furround and pe-
netrate each leaf fufpended in the fluid. It
mull be followed by a bath of fulphuric acid, of
the fame ftrength as has already been prefcribed
for the dreffings. This bath is effentially ne-
ceflary, however clearly the ink may appear to
have been discharged when the paper comes
out of the muriatic acid. The fulphuric acid is
required to take up the iron, which, as is well
known, compofes a great part of every writing
ink. Care mult be taken to wafh the paper,
when it comes out of this laft bath, in clean and
limpid water, in order to carry off the fulphuric
acid, after which the paper may be fized, if ne-
ceflary, and then left to dry. Such paper as
has been lized before it has undergone this ope-
ration.

2j 3 The Art cf Bleaching

ration, will not require fizing again, or at leaft
this is very fcklom the cafe, unlefs it has re-
mained too Jong in the rinfing water. The
paper, when dried, muft be afterwards treated
exactly in the fame manner as if it had been
newly manufactured. This method of bleach-
ing written paper may alfo be of the greateft
ufe to men of bufinefs of every defcription,
merchants, and others, who ufe many books.
When thefe have become ufelefs, and out of
date, they may, by the method here directed,
be eafily cleared of their writing, and ren-
dered ufeful a fecond time *. When we re-
flect on the property of the oxygenated muriatic
acid to difcharge ink from paper, we obferve,
in the action of this liquor, a kind of analogy
with that action which takes place, in the
courfe of time, with refpeft to ancient writings.
There is reafon to think, that, in this lair cafe,
the air, by virtue of the oxygen which it
contains, is acted upon in the fame manner as
the oxygenated muriatic acid ; for old writings

* Since thefe experiments I have had occafioa to make
others, as well on the bleaching of the pafte of paper, as on dif
charging the colour of written or printed papers. I have,
therefore, thought it ufeful to infert, at the end of this work,
the feries of particular proceffes which I have made ufe of*
and which I addrefled to the different committees of the .Na-
tional Convention, in the year Ii. of the republic.

are

Colt ens y Thread, &c. j^o

are fo confiderably altered, that a fingk flirht
bath of fulphuric acid is often fufficient to dif-
charge them entirely, and in cafe this bath
fhould not have been fufficient, they do not
refill a very flight immerfion in the muriatic
acid.

The fame obfervation may be made with re-
gard to fnow and dew; both thefe fubftances
difcolour and foon render the foles of fhoes
yellow when expofed to their a&ion. This ob-
fervation may very eafily be made after walking
out on the fnow or grafs embibed with dew.

On the fame principle it is in the mountainous
country, in the department of La Somme, the
country people clear their linens limply by ex-
pofmg them in the winter to the a&iori of the
fnow, the dew, and the mills, without giving
them any other preparation; except that they
are careful to turn them from time to time on
the ground, for about fifteen or twenty days, dur-
ing which time this vegetable fubftance is expofed
to the influence of the air and the a'tmofphere.

A folution of fulphate of foda, and the re-
fidue of the dialling veflels, is fometimes fuf„
fkient to difcharge thefe ancient writings, which
are already in part effaced by the oxygen of the
atmofpheric air in the courfe of time.

I muft here mention an obfervation I have

had

240 The Art of Bleaching

had occafion to make in the courfe of my ope*
rations on the bleaching of threads and cloths.
The waters which had ferved to rinfe the fingle,
double, and twilled threads, when taken out of
the lees, were very foon covered in the veffels,
where this rinfing was then performed with a
kind of lather, more or lefs white, accordingly
as the thread was more or lefs advanced in its
bleaching. This froth, which rofe to the top
of the water, wasfometimes more than an inch
in thicknefs, according to the quantity of thread
or cloth which was rinfed or cleared, and forms*
an excellent parte for the immediate manufacture
of paper. It may, in fact, be . eafily underftood
that this fubftance is of the fame -nature to that
which is ufually formed by the decompofed rags
in the paper-mills, and is, in the prefenf cafe, form-
ed of an affemblage of the filaments of thread or
cloth detached by the lees or the acid, but more
particularly by the former, and more fpeedily and
effectually feparated by the rinfing. I can alfo
affert, that the famples of paper which I- have
attempted to make with this material, were very
beautiful and fine. The bleachers may, there-
fore, referve this produce, and fell it to the
paper manufacturer at a price which muft necef-
farily vary according to its colour and quality."
The fame remark is applicable to the inner

part

Cottons ', Thread, &V. 94 1

part of the fides of the veffels or tubes which is
direclly bleached by the action of the oxyge-
nated acid, which, in procefs of time, renders
it of a very fine white colour. This ligneous
fubftance, when collected, is alfo very proper
to form paper, after it has undergone the pre •
vious action of the mallets or cylinders of the
paper-mill, and is afterwards properly diluted
with water, according to the practice of the
paper-makers ; a very confiderable quantity of
this pafte may even be collected in a fliort time.
Nothing is more neceflary for this object than
to difpofe the wood in the veffels defiined for
this purpofe in fuch a manner, that it may pre-
fent alternately to the acid and the fait of the
intermediate lees the greateft quantity of furface
poffible. Two lixiviations, and two immerfions,
are fufHcient to alter the wood fo far that it may
be rafped off with advantage. This very eco-
nomical method may, with much profit, be ufed
to fupply certain paftes, which will afford very
fine and good paper, according to its beauty*
its whitenefs, and the proportionate mixture of
other paftes formed from rags. I have in this
manner fabricated fmall famples of paper,
which I mewed, at the beginning of 1789, to
the adminiftration of commerce, announcing
this particular method, as well as that of mak*

$42 The Art of Bleaching

ing a kind of grey paper with the tufts of the
typha paluftris. Thefe paftes are not to be re-
jected, even fuppofing they could only be ufed
for the white-brown or common paper, or for
pafleboard ; as they would always contribute to
render the fine rags more abundant for the ma-
nufacture of white papers, to which ufe they
might be entirely referved, if it fhould not be
found advantageous to mix them with the other
materials to produce the intermediate kinds of
paper.

Olive oil, expofed in the uppermoft falfe
bottom of the pneumatic veffel to the gas or
vapour of the oxygenated muriatic acid, pall-
ed through water loaded with potafh in the
proportion I have pointed out, became changed
to the confidence of foft foap, or very white
greafe, without tafte, nearly mifcible with wa-
ter, not foluble in the fpirit of wine, nor fub-
je£f. to any perceptible change by the ordinary
muriatic or nitric acids. Rectified fulphuric
acid alone decompofes it almoft as foon as
poured on. The muriatic acid, with which the
oil was combined, flies off, and the fulphuric
acid changes the white and foapy colour of the
oil into a brown mafs, which very foon after-
wards became blackiih. Does not this expe-
riment lead to a prefumption that it might be

poffible

Cottons, Thread, &V. 243

foflible to form a kind of muriatic foap in the
foft or hard form, which mould have the pro-
perty of bleaching ? Thus much is certain,
that from this notion I have attempted to com-
bine olive oil with potafh, partly neutralized
by the oxygenated acid ; and a fample of thread,
which I bleached and foaped with this kind of
foap, appeared to me to become white to a
higher degree, and much more fpeedily, than
by the method above defcribed. This new
method would be of infinite utility in every
refpe£t.

Copper or brafs expofed in the fame manner
as the oil above mentioned to the a£tion of the
oxygenated acid gas, became, at firft, blackilh,
after which it was covered with a firm, dry,
pellicle of verdigreafe, as well above as be-
neath : this verdigreafe was of a very fine colour.
When warned and ground, it is abfolutely equal
in colour to that fine Englifh green fo highly
efteemed, with which the fafhionable papery
hangings are printed. It might be poflible to
obtain this matter, in great quantities of it, at a
low price, by conftru&ing an apparatus for this
purpofe. I have obtained this kind of verdi-
greafe by putting copperplates into the waters
obtained from the refidue of the diitilling veffels.
I have had occafion to remark on this fubjecr,
r 2 that

244 "ft*6 drt of Bleaching

that the fluid was, in the courfe of time, covered
with a pellicle fimilar to that which rifes upon
milk when fet to boil, but of a green colour.

Water, impregnated with the gas, has no
action upon the copper, except in the courfe of
a long time ; but the gas itfelf acts inftantly
either upon copper or brafs.

This kind of verdigreafe may alfo be ufefully
employed in dying, and, in many inftances, fup-
ply the place of that which is made with the
refufe of grapes in the fouthern provinces.

Tin vefTels (pewter) are totally diffolved or
corroded by the oxygenated muriatic gas, and
aflume a grey colour.

Malacca tin is corroded in like manner, but
it affumes a whitifh colour. From this experi-
ment it is that we have thought proper to con-
clude, that the folder of leaden tubes cannot
long refift the aftion of the gas or liquor which
is impregnated with our acid, and that it is par-
ticularly neceflary, when tubes of this metal
are to be ufed, that they mould be caft entire,
or without folder *.

* As the muriatic acid, whether oxygenated or not, when
in the expanded or vapourous ftate, attacks, and fpeedily
f ults copper, iron, and tin, it is improper to have in the,
place of diftillation, any vtflel or inftrument made of thofe
metals, becaufe they would fpeedily be deftroyed.

Sheet

Cottons, Thready &c. 84$

Sheet lead did not all, or fcarcely at all, change
its colour or properties by this expofure. It
merely acquired a flight brown tinge. It was
in confequence of this experiment that I de-
termined to fubftitute tubes and adopters of
lead inftead of thofe of glafs, and to recom-
mend that the pneumatic veffels to be made of
common wood, and that thefe, as well as the
veffels for immerfion, mould be defended with
meet lead.

Litharge of gold, or yellow litharge, remains
dry, and undergoes no other effect than to ac-
quire a violet colour.

The directions or addrefs on the outfide of
letters difappear entirely, without leaving any
trace or alteration in the paper. This experi-
ment, added to that of taking out the ink-
marks made by the proprietors of (lockings,
gave me the firft hint to apply this method of
bleaching to written paper, which I have men-
tioned in this chapter.

Red fealing-wax became of a pale rofe- colour,
and was reduced into a kind of moid or foft wax.

Indigo, in fmall fragments expofed in the
fame manner to the oxygenated muriatic acid
o-as, changed its colour from a deep blue to the
yellow colour of dead leaves. Black pitch merely
became red at its furface. Hair, and feathers

r 3 cf

246 The Art cf Bleaching

of a black colour, were changed, the firft grey,
and the latter to an aurora colour. Green oil-
cloth (tcih die.'), fpotted with black, became
very white, and fpotted with brown fpots.

Fluid vegetable alkali, being the foluio^ of
blue potafh expofed to the fimple contact of
the oxygenated muriatic acid, acquired the
property of bleaching like the true water of
Javelle, but, inftead of the clear yellow colour
it at firft poflefTed, it became white and limpid,
The bottom of the faucer made ufe of was lined
with an infinite variety of very white cryftals,
in thin brilliant plates, of a dry appearance, like
talc or mica -, having the appearance of fo many
factions of the cryftals of fulphate of potafh,
through the whole length of the prifms, termi-
nating in their pyramids. Thefe cryftals might
be one line and an half in length, one in breadth,
and near a quarter of a line thick. This expe-
riment, and another mentioned in the following
chapter, feemed to prove that the violet colour
of the lees, diitinguiihed by . the name of ja-
velle, is, as Berthollet has obferved, more par-
ticularly owing to manganefe, of which the co-
louring matter is carried off with the gas that
efcapes.

The folution of mineral alkali, extracted from
the foda of Alicant, and of an amber colour,

being

Cottons, Thread3 &c. 247

being expofed in the fame manner as that of the
vegetable alkali, acquired the fame property of
bleaching, without, however, entirely lofing its
own colour, or prefenting any cryftalization.

Pure water, expofed in the fame manner, ob-
tained the fame property of bleaching, preferv-
ing its natural colour, without exhibiting any
obfervable peculiarity.

Thefe three different fluids, by becoming thus
impregnated by the muriatic acid gas, feem to
prove that it is not abfolutely neceffary to agi-
tate the water of the veffels to concentrate the
gas. An experiment with the intermediate
tubulated veffels of the old apparatus, in which
I have obtained pure folutions of this gas, co-
loured yellow or greenifh, and marked from ten
to twelve degrees of concentration, appear like-
wife to fliew that agitation of the water is not,
in ftrictnefs, abfolutely neceffary.

Thread, which had been fubjecled to the
lees, and was merely moift, or (lightly humid,
with the lixivial folution, being limply expofed
to the vapour or oxygenated acid gas, acquired
a ruddy white colour fimilar to that of the
third immerfion, and without any kind of altera-
tion.

Coarfe thread, macerated feveral days in a

\veak folution of fulphate of potafh, became

r 4 three-

%±3 "The Art of Bleaching

three fourths bleached, and with much uni-
formity or evennefs of colour.

Flax macerated in the fame manner likewife
obtained a very fine white.

Flax, macerated for feveral days in the folu-
tion of potafh, one degree below zero, and ex-
pofed, like the objects above mentioned, to the
oxygenated muriatic acid gas, became of th
moft beautiful white.

All thefe different articles were fubjeft to no
alteration. It is true, that, being apprehenfive
left the gas, with which they were impregnated,
mould alter their texture in confequence of its
concentration when they ihould become dry, J
was careful to wafli them out in a large quan*
tity of water.

May we not infer from thefe various trials,
which were all made during the winter of 1790,
that it is highly probable that threads and piece-
goods might be advantageoufly bleached by
fimple expofure to the vapour of the oxyge-
nated muriatic acid. For this purpofe it ap-
pears to me, that the various articles, flightly
moiftened with water or with lees, would re-
quire to be hung up in a very clofe chamber,
like that which is ufed for expofmg goods to the
vapour of fulphur, into which room the extre-
mity of the diftilling veffels mull be introduced,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 249

to convey the gas in proportion as it mould bo
difengaged. An experiment of this nature
would require peculiar management, and its
fuccefs would be of the greateft importance to
the manufacturer.

CHAP.

2 50 The Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XXIII.

On the Pojjibility of applying the Refidues to Profit,

JL HE refidues to which the attention of the
operator may be directed, in order to derive
advantage, are : 1. Thofe of the retorts, bottles,
or other diftillinar veflfels : 2. Thofe of the im-
merfions, or bleaching liquors: 3. Thofe of the
alkaline lees, or foap : and, 4. Thofe of the
baths of fulphuric acid.

The refidues of the retorts, bottles, or other
diftilling veflels, are reducible to the following :
1. Manganefe not difcoloured, and the common
muriatic acid coloured by manganefe, if the
muriatic acid has been ufed inilead of the mu-
riate of foda : 2. Sulphate of foda, and a fmall
portion of muriate of foda not decompofed, if
this laft has been made ufe of: 3. Sulphate of
potafh, if lees have been ufed to extinguish the
fuffocating odour of the refidue of the folution,
which is always more or lefs impregnated with
oxvjrenated muriatic acid.

Though

Cottons, Thread, &?£ z$t

Though I have reduced the proportions o£
manganefe to one-fixth lefs than directed by
Berthollet, it is not,neverthelefs, difcoloured after
the operation, or rather, it is only difcoloured very
flightly, and in few places. In this ftate it ftill
prefer ves fufficient virtue, that is to fay, enough
of vital air to be mixed with about one-third of
new manganefe of the fame quality. This pro-
perty, or ftrength, cannot, however, be afcribed
to manganefe in lumps, or interfperfed with
quartz, though well cleared of foreign matter.
The manganefe cryftallifed in needles, fuch as
is fold by Lapelletier, has alone afforded me this.
very perceptible difference *. Every other man-
ganefe, on the contrary, that is to fay, the fpe-
cimens in lumps, afford a much lefs quantity of
gas, and render the bleaching liquor lefs ftrong.
This laft kind of manganefe is alfo harder and
more troublefome to pulverife.

The manganefe taken out of the retort,
after the firft diftillation, preferves almoft the
whole of its metallic brilliancy, and foils the
hands as before, and may be ufed to purify
glafs. It is true, that in this ftate it feems to
have increafed in bulk. Manganefe entirely
decompofed is known by the whitifh or pale

* This manganefe is brought from Hambourn;, in the
duchy of Deuxponts.

purple

25ft The Art of Bleaching

purple colour, which the ftrong impreffion of
the fire has given it.

The fbmrion of the refidue of the diftilling
veffels diluted with water, the evening after the
dilliilation, is found on the following day, if the
veffels have been clofed, to be of a fine red, in-
clining to violet or purple, accordingly as the
foiutionhas been more oi' lefs diluted; but this
colour does not fail to disappear by expefure to
the open air, or by the heat employed to eva-
porate it. In either cafe, the violet colour of
the foluticn is changed for a iliade inclining to
apple-green.

It feldom happens that the water which holds
the refidue of the retort or bottle in folution, is
not fufficiently concentrated to afford, after re-
maining for a day or two in the receiving vef-
fels, cryllals of the fulphate of foda ; but thefe
cryftals, which are of different fizes, are covered
with manganefe, from which it is neceiTary to
clear them. This is eafily done, by putting a
fmall quantity of thefe refidues into a veffeJ,
and pouring a little clean water upon them,
which, after brifo agitation, mull be imme-
diately poured off, before the manganefe fub-
fktes, into a proper veffel intended to receive
this laft fubftance. This manoeuvre is to be re-
peated

Cottons, Thread, trie 2$$

peated four or five times as quic^'y as poflible,
in order that lefs of the fait may be diflblved.

This trouble of warning may be avoided, if
the violet-coloured water, which covers the re-
fidue of the diftilling veflels, be carefully de-
canted off into wooden or leaden receptacles
appropriated to this purpofe. The cryftals,
which are foon afterwards formed in this water,
are neat and clear as they ought to be. But it is
neceflary, after having decanted this violet-
coloured fluid, that common water mould be
poured into the retorts or bottles, for the pur-
pofe of facilitating the extraction of what re-
mains. This, together with the water, muft be
referved by itfelf. If it be propofed to fepa-
rate the manganefe, for the purpofe of ufing it
again, as I have before mentioned, the follow-
ing method mull be recurred to. The refidue
muft be warned repeatedly with a large quan-
tity of water till it gives no perceptible faline or
acid indication. The refidue muft then be
dried, and afterwards mixed with new manga-
nefe, in the proportions before directed. If the
waters of the wafhing be fufficiently impreg-
nated to render it proper to mix them with the
violet water, in order to increafe the producl of
cryftals, whether by infeniible evaporation, or
by the affiftance of heat, this muft be done,

taking

£54 &>* Art of Bleaching

taking care only, that in the latter procefs leaden
veffels mud be ufed, becaufe copper, iron, and
mod other metals would be fpeedily corroded
and deftroyed.

The fulphates of foda and of potafh, which
are obtained from the wafhings of the refidue of
the diftilling veffels, have not hitherto been ap-
plied to any ufe in the arts. It is poffible, as I
have before remarked, to employ them for dif-
colouring certain ribbands, and effacing writing
from paper or parchment, as well as for fcour-
ing copper and iron for braziers, &c. Both thefe
falts are likewife ufed in medicine when puri-
fied -, but it may be doubted whether the apo-
thecaries would purchafe them, becaufe the
very fmall quantity they confume is afforded
very cheap from the falt-works of Lorraine and
other places.

It would, therefore, be much more interefting
to decompofe thefe falts, and obtain the alkalis,
in a difengaged ftate, which might, in that
cafe, be ufed, to make the lees in the fubfe-
quent operations. Berthollet, in the firft vo-
lume of the Annales de Chimie, informs us,
that feveral perfons have communicated different
recipes to him for effecting this purpofe ; it were
much to be wifhed that the authors would
benefit the public by a more liberal communi-
cation.

Cottons, Thread, cjrV; ac; .?

Cation. In the mean time I mail here remark,
that it is very poffible to decompofe thefe neu-
tral falts by means of liberal fulphur and the
muriate of foda, by the fulphuric acid, and
more efpecially by certain metallic oxydes, par-
ticularly that of lead. I have fuccefsfully tried
this 1 alt method in 1784, which was indicated
by Scheele. The alkali which is obtained by
thefe different proceffes is of the pureft kind,
and I have had reafon to be affured, that, with
proper treatment, it affords glafs equal in beauty
to flint or cryftal glafs *

The fecond refidue, which may be applied
to ufe, is that of the exhaufted liquor of im-
merfion. After the vital air, or oxygen, has
been exhaufted, the odorant liquor contains
nothing but muriatic acid and water; the liquor
without fmell likewife contains muriate of pot-
afh. This fait, as well as the neutral falts, writh

* The Committee of Public Safety published, in the fe-
cond republican year, the various procefTes for decompofing
muriate of foda, which it had received from the different au-
thors or inventors. Eftablifhments may, therefore, be made
for fupplying the national commerce with the alkaline fait
of foda, the ufe of which is indifpenlible in different works,
fuch as thofe of glafs, foap, dyeing, bleaching, &c. for the
fupply of which feveral millions are annually expended among
foreigners. Note of the Slather,

A copy of this report may be feen in the Annales de
Chimie.— 7*.

a fixed

2 $6 fhe Art of Bleaching

a fixed alkaline bafe, is of fome ufe in medi->
cine, but it is not worth while to extract any
thing but the fulphate of foda. This may be
decompofed for the fake of the alkali, if the
refulf mould be attended with fufncient profit,
I mall fimply remark in this place, that thefe
exhaufted bleaching liquors may be effectually
ufed in making fill ammoniac. The different
trials I have made on this fubjecl, by combining
them with the volatile alkali of putrified urine
or rotten vegetables, have conftantly tended to
confirm my opinion. Laftly, if it fhould be
found advantageous to reduce the pure bleach-
ing liquor without potaih to the merchantable
ftrength, it may be ufed for the fubfequent
diftillations, in the fame manner as other mu-
riatic acid, inftead of the muriate of foda and
fulphuric acid j unlcfs, indeed, it ihould be
thought more advantageous to ufe it for making
white lead or verdigris, both which combi-
nations I have made and ufed in painting with
fuccefs. The verdigris might alfo be ufed in
dyeing.

I have alfo occafionally ufed thefe waters of
immerfion of the muriatic acid without fmell, to
make the fecond lees for piece-goods and
threads. This fluid becomes as highly charged
as if the lees had been pure. The exhaufted

bleaclr

Cottons, Thread, &c. 257

bleaching liquor may likewife be ufefully em-
ployed in the firft maceration of goods ; for
which purpofe, when it is not highly charged
with colouring matter, it is no lefs valuable than
the new liquor from the pneumatic veffels.

There is another property of the exhaufted
bleaching liquor, which is, perhaps, of conlider-
able importance, namely, that of accelerating
the vegetation of plants ; from repeated trials
I can affirm that it pofleffes peculiar properties
in this refpecl. I have at different times ufed
it, inftead of common water, on cauliflowers,
chervil, peas, cabbages, leeks, &c : and thefe
various plants have not only grown more quickly
than others of the fame kind planted in the
fame bed, and watered with river water, but
have likewife acquired double the fize.

Befides the property of accelerating vegeta-
tion, thefe waters have likewife the property to
drive away, at the inftant of pouring on the
ground, the fpiders, ants, worms, fnails, and
other reptiles of this kind, which are noxious
to plants and feeds. A gardener, near the la-
boratory where I made the muriatic acid for
bleaching, was fo fully convinced of the advan-
tage of thefe waters, from his own experience,
that he requefted, as a favour, that I would re-
serve them for his ufe; and was continually

s fpeak-

258 The Art of Bleaching

fpeaking in praife of the good effects it produced
on the plants in his garden.

But in proportion as the fmall quantity of
oxygenated muriatic acid, diffufed through' the
exhaufted water, is of advantage to vegetation,
fo much more noxious it is to plants when in
the form of gas or vapour. Plants expofed to
this elaftic fluid infrantly fade and perifli. I
have frequently feen this effect on the plant
monk's-hood, and even on vines, the leaves of
which foon became vellow, and the ftems, after
having languished for a certain time, partly died.

With regard to the third refidue, of which
the waters of lixiviation form a part, I think I
have faid all that is neceffary in the chapter
upon lixiviums. I (hall here only add, that if
there were an opportunity of difpofing of them
to advantage to a faltpetre-work, it would pro-
bably be more advantageous than to reduce
them by evaporation. There is, however, rea-
fon to think, that the old lees might be re-
stored to a certain point by boiling them a long
time with lime j this earth, having the property
ct dcftroying the vegetable parts which cover
and weaken the alkalis, might, perhaps, produce
the fame effect as reducing the folution to the
iblid confidence.

The following is likewife an economical me-
thod

Cottons, Thread, &c. 259

thod of constantly applying the fame lees to ufe,
which I have often employed with the greateft
fuccefs. It confifts fimply in throwing the afbes,
from which they have been extracted, into the
fires ufed for domeftic purpofes in the houfe,
fufFering them to dry, and afterwards wetting
them with the exhaufted lees from time to time,
which are to be referved for this purpofe. The
flame of the wood, burned in the chimney
(for thefe obfervations are only applicable to a
wood fire), and the heat of the hearth, foon
burn the impurities, which coloured the alkali,
and the afhes fpeedily become proper for lixi-
viation as before. This operation, which de-
mands very little care, may be of great ufe,
^even in the domeftic concerns of a houfe where
alkaline lees are ufed.

The foap-waters likewife are not to be
neglected. It would be poffible to decompofe
them, either by means of the waters which
have ferved for the baths of fulphuric acid, or
with thofe of the exhaufted bleaching liquor ; but
the beft ufe would be for the manufacture of falt-
petre, for which purpofe the alkali mult be ex-
tracted by calcination. In the laft cafe the procefs
is nearly the fame as with the lees -3 that is to fay,
when the foap-water is reduced to the con-
fidence of extract, and nearly dry, the oil mutt
s 2 be

260 The Art of Bleaching

be burned off in an open fire, which will leave
the alkali foluble in water, and ready for ufe,
in the diftillations and lixiviations, in the fame
manner as new potafh. I have pra&ifed this
method, and muft here remark, that new foap-
water rifes in froth above the veffel when it
boils, whereas that which has been ufed does
not exhibit the fame propertv.

With regard to the baths of fulphuric acid,
which compofe the fqurth refidue, when they
are too much diluted with water, from the im-
merfion of wet articles, the fhorteft method is
to add more acid, or elfe to concentrate the
fluid in the fame manner as I have obferved
with regard to the fulphate of foda, and other
falts. For this purpofe it may be concentrated
to fuch a degree as to be ufed again infread of
common fulphuric acid, or it may be ufed tor
making alum or fulphate of ammoniac, by com-
bination with the alkali of urine or putrefying
vegetables.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thread, (3 c. 261

CHAP. XXIV.

'The Method of bleaching Hemp and Flax in the
unmanufactured State, as well as Thread and
Piece-goods, by the Affifiance of Water only.

HAVE long remarked, that the rags or
pieces of unbleached cloth, which have been
fet to ferment in order to make blotting-paper,
became white to a certain point, in confequence
of being wafhed or foaked, either in heaps or
under the mallets, for the purpofe of deftroying
their texture. The wafhing, in thefe circum-
ftances, becomes more eafy on account of the
fermentation, which opens the threads of the
cloth, and the mechanical procefs of the cy-
linder, or mallet, which renders the colouring
parts more eafily detached, and in a certain
degree diflblved. I attempted to imitate this
fermentation, and folution of the colouring part
of the thread, by warning in a large quan-
tity of water. I made my experiment in pre-
ference upon flax. - I firft. macerated it in pure
fiver water, in a veifel, where I fufFered it to
s 3 remain

262 The Art of Bleachir,?

remain till the furface of the fluid was covered
with numerous bubbles. In this ftage I turned
it, and faw, with pleafure, that its grey colour
was changed to a light yellow. I then changed
the water, firft warning out the flax, and left it
till other bubbles appeared, when I warned it
again. At the fecond wafhing, I obferved fe-
veral parts which were whiter than the reft,
and at the fame time obferved a confiderable
quantity of fmall portions of grey and yellowifla
impurities, which detached themfelves from the
filaments of the flax. I then warned it with rub-
bing, and was not a little furprifed to obferve the
quantity of impurity increafe, and the flax become
whiter in proportion. Encouraged by the fuccefs
of this wafhing, I then plunged the fame flax into
warm water, to haften the folution of the other
colouring parts, which had immediately fixed
themfelves on the flax, as foon as it had dried,
after taking out of the vefTel. I then prefTed it
in the water, which difengaged an additional
quantity of colouring parts, and the flax appear-
ed much more beautiful. I did not carry this
experiment further, becaufe the flax appeared
clear and white, to as great a degree as 1 fup-
pofed it would arrive at by this method, for no
more impurities were detached. Though it ap-
peared to be white, when in the ftate oi divi-
sion.

Cottons, ttrecd, (3c. 2.63

(ion, yet in the mafs it dill preferved a flight
(hade of yellow, which with a fimple bath of
oxygenated muriatic acid totally difappeared,
without the ufe of lees, or any other particular
preparation.

This experiment perfectly agrees with an ob-
fervation which may be daily made upon pieces
of cloth which are fubje£ted to the fulling-flock.
Some of thefe pieces have holes in them ; and
jn order that thefe damaged parts may not be
enlarged by the procefs of fulling, it is ufual to
fecure them by fewing on a piece of brown
linen cloth. I have remarked, not without
aftonilhment, that thefe pieces of unbleached
linen, after having remained in the water for
two or three days, with the cloths to which
they were fixed, and which were thus expofed
in order to clear them, either from the folution
of foap, the urine, or the fullers' earth, became
as white as if they had been palled through the
lees, and expofed alternately in -the field foj
feveral months, or the ufual time employed in
bleaching.

This refult likewife agrees with the method
in ufe in India, where, according to the rela*
tion of travellers, the natives bleach their fine
cottons, which we receive from them, in no
other way than by wetting and evaporation by
s 4 the.

264 The Art cf Bleaching

the fun, and expofure to the dew, without the
ufe of lees, or any other preparation.

All thefe experiments prove, therefore, that
it would be very poffible to bleach with water
alone, if not piece-goods, at leaft flax, in as ex-
peditious a manner as can be defired. This has,
to a certain extent, been put in practice by a
certain induftrious individual in the town of
Amiens, named Bade. Without any know-
ledge of this man, or his method, but from the
fimple recital of his difcovery, that he had
bleached hemp in the ftalk by water alone, I
was tempted to make the trial. In confequence
I fet to macerate in water, during for about a
fortnight, a certain quantity of hemp ftalks, which
had been gathered about five or fix months, and
afterwards dried in a barn, without undergoing
the procefs of rotting. At the end of fifteen
days the hemp had recovered its original ver-
dure, that is to fay, the appearance it had when
rirft gathered. I rubbed them much under
water, which difperfed the green matter which
appeared on the bark, and difcovered the fibrous
part, which had a pretty good appearance. I
feparated this, and left it to fteep for feveral
fucceflive days in frefn water, after which I gave
it another rubbing, and immerfed it for a fecond
time. It then appeared of a very beautiful

white,

Cottons, Thread, &c, 265

white, nearly the fame as thread acquires by the
old method of bleaching in the field, or the new
procefs with the oxygenated muriatic acid.
This flax retained only a very flight tinge of a
pale ruddy colour.

Thefe various experiments evince how import-
ant it would be to bring the fteeping of hemp
and flax to perfe£tion, particularly of the latter
article, which in the department of La Somme,
whence it is watered only on the grafs ; but the
deiire of gain, which attends to the weight only,
and not the quality, will fcarcely permit the
old method to be laid afide. On the other
hand, the bleacher, who is accuftomed to ufe
lime in folution, and even in fubftance — an in-
gredient which is, in fome refpecls,, rendered
neceflary by his intereft, and the black tenacious
colour of flax thus watered — might alfo, per-
haps, be unwilling to abandon this praclice.
For the cheap price, which the ufe of this me-
thod enables him to offer, namely, 3 fols an
ell, without regard to the breadth, may fecure
employ, which would, perhaps, leave him, if he
were to ufe another method, fomewhat more
coftly, though at the fame time in every refpect
beneficial for the merchandize and the pro-
prietor.

CHAP,

a 6 6 The Art ef Bleaebin*

CHAP. XXV.

The Method cf Bleaching written or print e J paper}
and Rags, whether unbleached, dyed, or cc loured.

HE following proceffes are extracted from
different memoirs addreffed to the Committee of
Commerce of the French National Convention ;
alfo to the Commiflion of Sublicences and Pro-
yifions, on the 24th Frimaire, the 15th Plu-
viofe, and the 9th, 14th, and 21ft of Germinal,
an the fecond year of the French republic.

Bleaching cf old pointed Papers, to be "jxrked up
again.

1. Boil your printed paper for an inftant in
folution of foda rendered cauftic by potaih. The
foda of varech is good.

2. Steep them in foap-water, and then wafh
them, after which the material may be decom-
pofed, or reduced to apulp, by the machinery
of the paper-mill. The wafhing with foap may
be omitted without any great inconvenience.

Bleaching

Cottons, Thread, tsfo 267

Bleaching of old written Papers, to be worked up.
again.

Steep your paper in a cold folution of ful-
phuric acid in water, after which waih them
before they are taken to the mill. If the acidu-
lated water be heated, it will be fo much the
more effe&ual.

Bleaching of printed Papers without deflroying the
'Texture of the Leaves.

i. Steep the leaves in a cauftic folution of
foda, either hot or cold. 2. And in a folution
offoap. 3. Arrange the meets alternately be*
tween cloths, in the fame manner as the paper-
makers difpof e thin meets of paper when deli-
vered from the form. 4. Subje£t the leaves to
the prefs, and they will become whiter, unlefs
they were originally loaded with fize and prin-
ters' ink. If the leaves mould not be entirely
white by this firft operation, repeat the pro-
cefs a fecond, and, if neceffary, a third time.
The bleached leaves, when dried and preffed,
may be ufed again for the fame purpofes as
before.

Bleaching

268 The Art of Bleaching

Bleaching of old written Tapers without deft r eying
the Texture of the Leaves.

i. Steep the paper in water acidulated with
fulphuric acid, either hot or cold. 2. And in the
folution of oxygenated muriatic acid. Thefe
papers, when preffed and dyed, will be fit for
ufe as before.

The Method of bleaching Rags of the natural brown
Colour for the Manufaclory of white Paper.

1. Let the rags be opened or feparated from
each other, after previous foaking or macera-
tion for a longer or a fhorter time, according to
their texture and quantity. 2. Give a lixivia-
tion in cauftic, vegetable, or muriatic alkali.

3. P2fs them through the oxv<renated muriatic
acid, more or lefs concentrated with alkali.

4. Let the mafs be then worked for a fufheient
time in the apparatus of the paper-mill, and it
may be advantageouilv fubftituted inftead of that
which is afforded by white rags.

The white colour will be ftill better, if, aficr
ihe maceration, the rags be opened and fub-
jecled, asufual, to the aclion of the mill ; after
which the pafte itfelf muft be fubjecled to on?
lixiviation, one immernon, and a bath of ful-
phuric acid. The mafs being then well wnfhed

and

Cottons, Thread, 13 c. 269

and preffed out, may be thrown into a trough
to be manufactured.

Method of bleaching Rags, of all Colours whatever,
in order to make white Paper.

1. Let the rags be opened, as before. 1. Steep
them in the oxygenated muriatic acid. 3. If, as
it commonly happens, the colour is difcharged
by this firft immerfion, let thefe bleached and
decompofed rags be immerfed in water acidu-
lated with fulphuric acid. 4. Complete the dif-
organization by the mallets or cylinders of the
mill, after having previoufly well warned them.

If the colour fhould not be fufficiently dif-
charged by the firft immerfion in the oxygenated
muriatic acid, which is very feldom the cafe,
give them another alkaline lixiviation, and after
that a fecond immerfion in the oxvgenated mu-
riatic acid ; after which deep them in water
acidulated with fulphuric acid, either hot or
cold, the latter of which is the moil aclive and
effectual; and, laftly, let them be fubjecled to
the action of the mallets or cylinders.

Red and blue colours are moft tenacious.
With regard to black, it will be fufficient if
they be fteeped after opening their texture,

1. In a diluted folution of fulphuric acid ; and,

2. In a folution of the oxygenated muriatic acid.

tyo Tht Art of 'Bleaching

If the operator could know that thefe rags
had been dyed in the raw ftate, a ftill more bril-
liant white might be obtained by following the
fecond method defcribed in the preceding ar-
ticle. But it very feldom happens that coloured
lags have not been bleached before they were
dyed. The manipulations may be performed
with fufficient fpeed to bleach at lead three
thoufand pounds weight in the courfe of the day,
without appropriating any extraordinary edi-
fice or workfhop to this purpofe.

Thefe new methods, if adopted in the prefent
circumftances (of France), will greatly contri-
bute to prevent the Avant or dearnefs of paper
or rags. The quantities of the refpective ma-
terials cannot be precifely directed on account
of the difference of the veffels, the papers, and
the colours; but practice and attention have
foon regulated thefe matters. In the applica-
tions of thefe principles, the republic of France
have obtained two valuable advantages. On
the one hand, a greater quantity of linen has
been faved for the ufe of the hofpitals ; and, on
the other hand, it has been more eafy to referve
the rags of fuperior quality for paper-money
and the purpofes of trade, which require pecu-

liar flrength to undergo the circulation.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thread, &c. 271

CHAP. XXVI.

X HE valuable product of vegetable alkali,
which may be expected from the incineration of
the marc or refidue of grapes*, in order to mew
the considerable magnitude of the advantage
which this hitherto neglected material may af-
ford, which in fome vineyards is ufed as fuel,
and in others as manure, I fhall (imply remark,
that, after direct experiments, 1 find that five
hundred pounds of the refidue of this marc,
dried after diftillation (a purpofe to which they
are in fome provinces applied to obtain brandy),
and afterwards burned, have conftantly afforded
me one hundred pounds, or thereabouts, of afhes,
which produced ten pounds of fixed vegetable
alkali or potafh, reduced to the confidence of
faline of a blackifh brown colour.

It is eafy to perceive what an immenfe pro-
vifion of this article one might annually obtain
•in countries where the marc is ufed only as

* The following account is extracted from a memoir on the
fame fubjec% which was addreffed on the 18th Thermidor to
the CommuTion for Provifions and Ammunition to the armies
of France,

manure.

2^2 The Art of Bleaching

manure. Nothing more would be required
than to collect the aflies of this marc, burned
after it is taken from the prefs, or fubfequent to
the time of attaining the fmall vines, or, laftly,
after diftillation in thofe places where they are
ufed to make brandy.

The refidue of grapes is not eafily burned,
becaufe the feeds become difengaged. It may,
neverthelefs, be burned with a certain decree
of fpeed, by means of a grate, having intervals
of one inch, or half an inch wide, raifed above
an afh-hole or hearth to the height of 11 or 15
inches. The hulks intended to be burned are
to be difpofed all round, becaufe the previous
drying is of advantage to haften the combuftion.
The feeds which fall through muft be thrown
up, from time to time, with a (hovel, until they
are entirely red hot, in which ftate they are to
be taken out and thrown in a heap in fome
convenient "place near the furnace, where the
combuftion may be completed by turning them
over from time to time, and expofing them to
a current of air. The larger this heap is made,
the more fpeedy and perfect will be the com-
buftion, and the more abundant will be the
alkaline produce. The heat remains a long
time. I have feen inftances in which the mafs
remained very red after having burned for a

month

Co/ tens, Thread, 6sJV. 273

month with frequent ftirring and expofure to
the air. It is proper to remark, that whatever
care is taken to burn the feeds, there will,
fieverthelefs, remain near one-tenth part not
entirely confumed, which may be eafily feparat-
ed from the red with a fieve. Thefe may after-
wards be burned with the hulks, or feparately,
as may be mod convenient. The rain does not
perceptibly injure the allies of thefe heaps, if
they be covered with other hulks, either dry of
flightly moift. If the marc be burned in this
lair, fiate, it produces a cinder, which is difpofed
to agglutinate together in a ftony form.

When the fire is once kindled upon the grate,
it is afterwards kept up without intermiffion, by
charging it with dry hulks in proportion as the
combuftion proceeds. Thefe may be put on to
the depth of (ix inches. When the fire is well
lighted, and urged by a ftrong wind, the moift
hulks and ftalks burn almoft as fpeedily as thofe
which are dry.

It is of elfential confequence, that the grates
fliould be fixed in a fpacious airy place, where
there is no danger from fire. The relidue of
grapes emits during its combuftion a white
and very thick fmoke, which would incommode
the neighbourhood.

t Two

274 The Art of Bleaching

Two grates of iron wire, about three quarters
of an inch in the meihes, or holes, twelve feet
n length, and four and an half or five feet wide,
properly attended by one man, will burn in a
clay, by a frelh wind, five thoufand pounds of
this dry refidue, which afford nearly one thoufand
pounds of allies, and from the lixiviation of thefe
alhes a product of one hundred or one hundred
and ten pounds of well dried falin or vegeta-
ble aikaii is attained.

The relidue of grapes may alfo be made up
in the torm of peat, and dried in the open air,
or under a fhed. Thefe are moulded in the
lame manner as the relidue of the tanners. Af-
ter drying for three days, they are fufficiently
firm to be burned on a grate of bars one inch
iquare, and an inch afunder, which form a kind
cf turnace either in the open air, or beneath a
chimney. A furnace 8 feet long, 20 inches wide,
and 18 inches deep, may confume four thoufand
cf thefe dry pieces, each weighing about one
pound and a half, and meafuring in diameter
rive inches, and from an inch and a half to two
inches thick. A woman, or a boy of fifteen
years old, can make fifteen hundred of thefe cakes
in a day with eafe. This was the procefs I
uled in Meflidor, in the year two, in order to

afford

Cottons, Thread, &c. 27$

afford a fpeedy fupply of vegetable alkali to a
manufactory of faltpetre, which I directed that
year in the department of La Cote d'Or.

It may alfo be remarked, that advantage may
very ealily be derived from the heat of the fire,
neceffarily made of this procefs, whether for the
purpofe of lixiviation of the allies, or drying the
alkali.

The mod effential facl, however, which re-
quires to be known, is, that a very fpeedy and
abundant product of vegetable alkali, for the
manufattory of faltpetre, or for other arts and
manufactories, may be obtained by the fimple
means here pointed out.

t z CHAP.

G.j G The Art cf Bleaching

CHAP. XXVII.

Fabrication of crude Alkali [cendres Gravelees), with
the Lees cf IVine *.

U NDER the mantle of a kitchen, or a bake-
houfe chimney, from one wall to the other, at
the diftance of 18 or 20 inches from the back,
according to the opening of the flue, let a grate
be fixed of bars of one inch fquare, at the diftance
of about one inch and a half afunder. This grate
is to be raifed at leaft 18 inches above the
hearth, and defended in front with a wall one
brick thick, having perforations nearly refembling
thofe of a pigeon- houfe. Or, inftead of the
wall, a grate may be fubftituted fimilar to that
of the bottom. This wall, or grate, may be 24
inches high. The interior fpace of this kind
of furnace, is then to be rilled with the lees
of wine preffed dry or green. The latter are to

* The following is extra&ed from a memoir prefented
on the 22d Vendemiaire, in the year two, to the Committees of
Commerce and Provifions, and to the Commiffion of Agricul-
ture and of Arts.

Cottons, Thread, &c. 277

be preferred, becaufe the alkali they afford is
much finer. The whole is to be fet on fire by
means of ftraw or fmall wood, previoufly difpof-
ed under the lees. The fire foon penetrates thp
whole mafs, and in lefs than a quarter of an
hour the flame fpeedily reaches the upper ftrata,
which muff be regularly fupplied with new
lees, in proportion as the mafs finks down by the
combuftion. That portion which falls through
the grate, and may appear from its brown or
blackifh fracture to be not entirely confumed,
muft be returned again to the fire. The grate
muft be cleared from time to time with a hook,
in order to facilitate the combuftion.

Inftead of burning the lees in a furnace of this
kind, another furnace may be ufed with equal
advantage, entirely of brick, in the form of a
hollow tower, at the bottom of which fome fag-
gots of wood are to be placed, which are to be
lighted after having filled part of the capacity
of the furnace with frefh lees, mixed with dry, or
with frefh lees only; for thofe which are too dry
muft be fteeped a day beforehand, in order that
they may be perceptibly moift. Thofe lees are
then fucceftively thrown in at the top of the fur-
nace, in which manner the procefs is to be con-
tinued until the whole of the lees are confumed.
After continuing this procefs for feveral days, the

t 3 furnace

278 "The Art of Bleaching

furnace is fuffered to cool, and the allies taken
out through a door at the bottom.

It is proper again to remark, that thefe fur-
naces ought to be conftrucled in a fpacious
place, on account of the dangers of fire, and
the inconvenience of the fmoke, wliich is very
conflderable.

The lees, thus burned, emit a light very long
flame tinged with different colours. It may
be advantageoufly ufed in furnaces inftead of
wood, either alone, or mixed with that combuf-
tible.

One barrel or piece and a half of cendres
gravelces, weighing about 260 Paris pounds,
is the product per day by one man's work of
the combuftion of 6 or 7 barrels or pieces of
wine lees, well dried in a furnace conftrucled
under a chimney 20 or 24 inches deep, 18 inphes
wide, and 8 feet in length. This was filled
four times during the day, taking care each time
in the fir ft place to llir the lees at top and in
front with an iron fork, and to clear the grate
beneath with a hook, which is abfolutely necef-
fary to be done, in order to prevent the mafs
from coagulating, and to favour the action of the
air. With proper attention 50 or 60 barrels
may be burned in fix days, without being oblig-
ed to employ the night j the fame quantity may

Cottons, Thread, &c. 279

be burned in three days and two nights in the
round furnace above defcribed, if conftru&ed of
a diameter of 5 feet.

The good cendrcs gravels s, or that which is
afforded by the red lees, contains at leaft 70 cr So
pounds of vegetable alkali in the hundred, when it
has been carefully burned. That which is made
with white lees, though well pounded and difr
folved in hot water, does not afford more than
45 or 50 pounds of alkali. In general, when
the cinders have acquired a green or blue colour
in the fire, and are light and fonorous, the qua^
lity is good j but it feldom happens that the
whole product is of the fame colour. That
which is too much burned and refembles the
fcoria of iron, mult be rejected, not only becaufe
it is very difficult to pound, but likewife infolu-
ble and earthy. The faltpetre-makers, dyers,
bleachers, potters, leather-ftainers, glafs-makers,
and others who ufe this faline fubftance, are
particular in their choice of that which is light,
fpongy, and of a greeniih or bluifh colour, which
fhews no fign of vitrification in its fra&ure, the
undoubted fign of too ftrong a fire.

CHAP.

2 So ?ht Art of Bleaching

CHAP. XXVIIL

The Method of Bleaching UrooL

Jl lECE-gocds formed of thread and wool,
wool and cotton, being at prefent very much in
fafhion (in France), it may probably be an inte-
resting object to manufacturers in this branch,
to fee an account of the method of bleaching
wool in this place by the ordinary procefs,
though well known. I fhall in the firft place
fpeak of carded wool, which is ufed for broad-
cloths, and wool proper for combing, which is
ufed for the manufacture of (luffs *.

Wool for carding for the mawfafture cf broad-
cloths, &c, — This kind of wool, as it is ufually
found in the market, has already been fubjected
in the hands of the grower or dealer to a cleanf-
ing, which has deprived it of 50 or 60 per cent.
But the wools forwarded to the manufactories
are (till loaded with a portion of the unctuous or

* The following is, in great part, extracted from different me-
moirs of Roland Laplatiere, and Allard, formerly infpeftors of
manufa&ures.

sre afv

Cottcvs, Thread, &c. i8i

greafy matter, wh'ch it isneceffary to clear them
of. Experience has (hewn, that thisfmall quan-
tity of natural greafe is neceffary to preferve
them from worms, during the carriage, as well
as the time of keeping, before they are a pplied
to ufe.

The manufacturer's method of cleanfing his
wool, is ufually performed as follows : — To a
given quantity of water poured into a boiler,
for example, five-and-twenty pails, an addition
is made of five of old putrified urine, which is
boiled for a fhort time. The mixture is then pro-
per to dilTolve the greafe of the wool. Three or
four pails of this liquid are then poured into a
yeffel at the heat which will admit the workman
to hold his hand in it. About %o pounds of
wool are then thrown in, which, after fteeping
a very fhort time, are- continually rlirred with a
flick for a quarter of an hour, after which it is
taken out and drained for a few moments in a
bafldet over the veffel, into which the drainage
liquor returns. The wool is then carried to
the river and repeatedly warned in large open
batkets, by ftirring it about with long poles or
rakes, till the water comes off very clear. In the
mean time another workman puts a like quan-
tity of wool into the verTel, and the fame opera-
tion is repeated, &c.

Several

582 The Art of Bleaching

Several eflential matters are required to be
obferved during this operation, i. The bath
in the boiler, as well as in the ether veflel, muft
be refrefhed * from time to time, when its force
is found to be diminished, for it lofes much
of its ftrength, in confequence of the various
changes of the wool, as well as from evaporation.
2. It he fliould think the addition of urine un-
neceflary, by way of reftoring the bath, he muft
raife its temperature, in order to give it the
requifite power for the wafhing. 3. But the
heat muft be carefully prevented horn increafing
beyond the proper degree, as determined by
experience, for it is found that too much heat
hardens the un£hiou^ matter, infeead of diflblving
it, and that too great a quantity of urine changes
the wool, and renders it harfh. 4. When the
bath has become too foul for the warning, k
muft be entirely changed : it may eafily be ima-
gined, that this work requires a very intelligent
workman ; but practice renders the bufmefs
very eafy.

The fuccefs of this operation is afeertained
from the appearance of the wool, which becomes

* It i> more advifable. to refrefti than to renew the hatl^
becaufe the greafy impurity of the wool, which is dilengaged
by warning, becomes a leaven which dilengages the greale from
the other wool, plunged in the bath.

white.

Cottons, Thread, &c. £83

white, foft, elaftic, and open, dilating or fwelr
ling when touched, inftead of being hard, greafy,
and clofe, as it was at firft. The qualities it
acquires in the bath do, therefore, fufficiently
ihew the neceffity and utility of this fecond
cleanfmg, by which it lofes 10 or 12 per cent
more. This laft lofs, added to the former, gives
a total of about 60 or 70 per cent; that is to fay,
100 pounds of raw wool produce fcarcely more
than 30 or 40 pounds in a very clear date, fit
for the manufacturer.

Wool fir combing for the manufafture of Stuffs.

This wool, in the market, is broken or

Ported by the clothier, and fent before or after the
dying (if this be intended) to the combers in
parcels of about fix pounds and a half each.
'1 he quantity is fir ft warned in a velTel filled with
hot water, taken out of a fmall boiler in which
two or two and a half pounds of green or black
foap has been diflblved, for the faid quantity
of wool, which accordingly as it is thought to
be more or lefs foul, is well preffed and after-
wards wrung on the hook, and then dried in the
fun, or in the open air. Before it is combed, it
is again fubjeded to a fecond bath of the fame
kind. Thefe two clearings are fufficient to
deprive it of all the natural greafe which remains,

and

1 84 The Art of Bleachm*

and of fuch impurities as might be an impedi-
ment to the combing procefs.

It muft be remarked, that thefe fix pounds
and a half of wool are wafhed in fuccefiive
fmalJ portions at a time. The water of the
wafhing-tub is renewed as the work goes on, in
order to detach the greafe and other impurities
from the wool -3 there are two hooks fixed within
the vefTel, one at each end, one of which can be
turned round by a handle. The workman, after
having well wafhed and preffed with his hands
the feveral parts of the wrool, wraps them round
the twro hooks, and by wringing it out, he ex-
prefles the dirty water, which carries with it ali
the greafe detached by virtue of this ftrong
preffure. After this fecond warning, the wool
is dried carefully to prevent its being accident-
ally foiled.

In this ftate it is, that the wool is combed.
It muft be rather moift for this operation, in
order to facilitate the prolongation of its fila-
ments,of which, when the wool is well cleanfed,
the comber ought always to form lengths of
three or four feet each. It is, therefore, eflenti-
ally neceflary, that this operation mould be well
managed, not only for the good effect it pro-
duces in the opening, but, likewife, becaufe the

colour

Cot tens, Thread, &c. 1%$

co our and clearnefs of the fluff depends much
more upon this firft operation, than it is generally-
imagined.

In many manufactories, after the wools are
combed, and according to the kind of ftuff in-
tended to be made, it is ufual, in order to difpofe
them to fpin well, to give them a third wafliing
in the fame veiTel with hot water and foap*
The wool is afterwards carefully dried, and in
this (late delivered to the fpinner, if it be intend-
ed for the chain or weft ; but that which is
intended for weft is returned to the comber,
and after coming out of his hands it is warned
a fourth time as before. But this fourth and
laft warning is not given except to wools of
the firft quality, manufactured of a white colour,
or intended to receive any clear and brilliant
dyes.

Wool, which is well cleared of the greafe,
ought to have its filaments flender, long, even,
and not connected with each other, hefides which
it ought to be tenacious, white, and difengaged
from every foreign fubftance. The wool from
Holland is remarkable for this laft quality. That
of England, is harfher and much fouler. The
German wool is ftill harfher, but equal to this
in length. It approaches the French wool,

which

1 8 6 The Art of Bleaching

which is the word kind of any, with regard to
its length and fitnefs for combing;.

The lofs fuflained by cleanfing, is fomewhat
lefs than one-fourth in the Dutch wools, and
about a fourth in thoie of England. The Ger-
man wools, and fchofe of France, undergo a iliil
more confiderable lofs, on account of their infe-
rior quality. Some of the latter lofe more than
one-third.

Sulphuring. Wool, fluffs, (lockings, and other
articles of the fame nature which are foiled by
dreffing or ufe, are expofed to the vapours of
fulphur. By this procefs thefe goods receive a
clearer white than that which is natural to the
wool after the ufual warning and cleanfing.

This operation is ufually commenced by wafh-
ing or fulling the piece, For this purpofe it is re-
quifite that the fulling rammers mould be made
lighter than ufual. When the convenience of a
ftream is not to be had for moving them, it will
be fufRcient if a frame of 15 or 20 inches wide
be made with two beams three or four inches
thick, fupportcd by crofs-pieces, and terminat-
ing below in a crofs-piece fomewhat longer,
ftronger, and vertically fufpended to a plank
or poles placed between the timbers of the
loof, and forming a fpring. A wooden trough

Cottons, Thread, &f& 287

is placed underneath, in which a workman may
move the fpringing peflle up and down with
his hand with great facility, and by inclining
the trough the fame effect of turning the (luff
may be produced as in the common fulling
apparatus.

Inflead of a machine of this kind, the ma-
nufacturer may ufe the mallet, or which is ft 111
better, the goods may be worked with the feet,
in a place properly difpofed for this effect, as
has been recommended for piece-goods and
(lockings.

When the piece is well cieanfed and rinfed
in a dream, it is dried and fmged, or fent to the
dye-houfe ; if, on the contrary, it is intended for
a clear white, it muft be finged before the
fcouring ?. For the fine white, a fecand (light
warning is given in a folution of foap, in which
the (luff is left for a certain time, then vvaflied
well, rinfed in running water, and left to drain
tor an hour on the horfe, after which it is ex-
pofed to the vapours of fulphur for five or fix
hours, or longer, as far as 24 hours, according to
the bulk of the piece.

After this operation, it is again waihed, and

* The method of tinging muflins. i? equally applicable to
Woollen goods which require this treatment.

its

28B The Art of 'Bleaching

its colour heightened with fine whiting and blue,
which are difFufed in clear water j it is then
fulphured a fecond time, waflied in a flight
folution of foap, dried, patted through the
flretching machine, calendered, or prelTed, ac-
cording to its nature.

The following is the method of treating a
piece of cloth of 40 or 4c ells, with the whiting
and blue. Seven or eight pounds of fine whit-
ing (blanc d'FJpagne) are pounded and mixed
up with water in a pail. This mixture, except
the coarfe particles at the bottom, is poured
into a fmall trough of- clear water. The bath
being well mixed, the piece is patted rapidly
through it upon the reel for a quarter of an hour,
after which it is raifed out of the bath upon the
reel, and a pail of water is added, in which an
ounce and a half of the finell indigo, or Pruiiian
blue, has been dittufed by the ufual method
of pounding, lifting, and wrapping it in a bag.
The bath being again well ftirred, the piece is
immediately returned through the fluid again
by means of the reel. After this treatment, it
is laid on a packing-cloth, and carried to the
workfhop, where the nap is laid by the fullers'
thiftle, during which the furface is wetted with
the fluid of the bath, and when the piece is dry,

Cottons, Thread, &c. 289

it is beaten with twigs to clear it of the white
powder it received in the foregoing procefs.

It is proper to obferve, that bad fmells, and
even the offenfive breath of individuals, will fome-
tiiries produce a change in the bath of blue and
white, in which woollen goods are deeped ; or,
at lead, this is what very refpe£table manufac-
turers affirm to be the cafe. When this happens,
the operator is obliged to plunge his piece in a
bath of hot water, to warn out the white and the
blue, which have fixed themfelves irregularly
in a kind of vegetation, after which the opera-
tion muft be repeated. With regard to woollen
fliirts, flannels, and other articles intended to
be worn next the (kin, neither fulphur nor foap
are in any refpecl fuitable to them. It is fuffici-
ent if thefe be well fcoured in bran and water,
and afterwards well warned in clear water. The
colour is of no particular confequence, as the
main objeft is to render it as abforbent as poili-
ble, to which quality the foap itfelf is a great
impediment.

The preference is often given to leave dock-
ings on the leg with waihing or fulphuring
them.

The place in which the operation of fulphur-
ing is performed, is merely a very clofe chamber,
in which the goods are fufpended on poles of

v white

290 Tbt Art of Bleaching

white deal, fo as to hang down in folds, which
neither touch each other, nor the floor or wall. It is
ftill more particularly neceflary, that they fhould
not touch any iron, which becomes oxyded by
the muriatic and the volatile fulphureous acid
afforded by the fulphur which burns in a veffel on
the floor, and would certainly fpot it, Inftead of
pafling thefe pieces over the poles, it might, per-
haps, be more advifeable to faflen them beneath
the fame poles, by means of hooks pafling either
through the lifts themfelves, or through loops
of twine attached to the lifts.

It is neceflary to be aware, that a cloth which
has undergone the operation of fulphuring, fhould
not be immediately laid upon wood before it is
purged of the fulphureous acid, which would
diflblve the refinous or gummy parts, and fpot
the goods.

The fulphuring not only communicates a dif-
. agreeable fmell to the cloth, but likewife gives
it a harfh feel. A bath of foap which is given
after this operation reftores its foftnefs, and that
in a degree which is more effe&ual the longer
the cloth is worked in it.

CHAP.

Cottons, Thread, (2c. *9X

CHAP. XXIX.

The Bleaching of Silk.

Th E fame reafons which have led me to in-
fer! the procefs of bleaching wool in the forego-
in. chapter, with the account of the goods which
are wholly or in part made of that material, in-
duced me likewife to infert the proceffes for

bleaching filk. .

There are two methods of performing thi?,
either by ungummhg it, or leaving the gum m
its texture. I mall treat of both, beginning
with that in which the filk is ungummed and

boiled*. „ _._. , ?

This procefs is managed as follows: D.ffolve,
in a fufficient quantity of water, in a bo.le. -over
the fire, JO pounds of white foap of Marseilles
for every 100 pounds of filk. After the fo luhon
has boiled, lower its heat by an addition of cold
water. Extinguilh or flacken the fire, but take

. Here, as in the foregoing chapter, I recur to the Memoirs

of Roland Laplatiere.

o 2 care,

2 2 2 The Art of Bleaching

care, neverthelefs, to keep the bath at a confi-
derable heat. Steep therein the filks, hung on
rods, in which ftate. leave them till their white-
nefs and flexibility fhevvs that the gum is diffolv-
ed and feparated. Spread out the filk on the
rods, and turn them, in order that the parts out of
the bath may be ftet-ped in their turn, and when
each hank is perfectly ungummed, wring them on
the pin to exprefs the foap ; make them, and put
them in bags of coarfe cloth, containing 20 or
30 pounds each.

Make a new bath in the fame proportion, and
in the fame manner, as the former. Throw the
bajjs therein, and boil them for an hour and a
half, ftirring them from time to time in the
boiler. The ungumming and boiling of filk
deprives it of 25 per cent of its weight.

If the filk be intended to be dyed, the ungum-
ming and boiling are performed in the fame
bath, which is boiled for 3 or 4 hours, making
ufe of a quantity of foap proportioned to the
finenefsof the colour, or rather the white ground
which it requires j 25 or 30 pounds are fufficient:
for common colours, and as much as 50 for thofe
with faffranum, and poppy red, cherry colour,
&c.

But when it is intended that the filk mould
be white, and, confequently, to bleach it, the

basrs

Cottons, Thread, erV. 293

bags are carried to the river, when they are
taken out of the boiler, and the filk being taken
out, is extended upon cords floating on the
water and well wafhed.

A new bath, containing a pound and a half
of foap to 30 pails of water (of about three
Englifli gallons each), in which a fmall quantity
of litmus, with a portion of powder-blue or in-
digo, isdiffufed, according to the nature of the
made intended to be given. The boiler is filled,
the bath heated, but never to boiling, and the
filk is paffed through it over the rods, until it
has uniformly acquired the requifite made. It
is then wrung dry, and hung out, or elfe carried
to the fulphuring room.

All the filks made ufe of in the white, in any
manufacture whatever, require to be fulphured
in order to bleach them more perfectly. One
pound and a half or two pounds of fulphur
are fufficient for one hundred pounds of filk.
At the expiration of 24 hours, the room is ven-
tilated, and muff, not be entered until the vapour
of the fulphur is ditfipated. The air which
enters in Cummer is fufficient to complete the
drying of the filk, but in winter this is performed
by a chafing-dim or ffove put into the room.

If the white or fulphured filk fhould not prove

blue enough, a new (hade is given with clear

u 3 watery

194 The Art of Bleaching

water ; the hardeft water is beft, after which it
is fulphured a fecond time.

With regard to filks intended for gauzes and
blonds (one of the principal qualities of which
is derived from the natural rigidity of the filk),
they ought not to be either ungummed or boiled.
The whiteft natural filks are chofen in prefe-
ence, which are fteeped and opened in a bath
of clear hot water, or foap and water In the
firft cafe, they are wrung, and afterwards fulphur-
ed. The fine filks of Nankin, which are of a
beautiful white, have no need of this operation.

The following is the method publifhed by
Rigaud in 1778, for bleaching filks without
ungumming them *.

The filk, intended to be bleached, is put into
a glafs veffel containing a mixture of fpirit of
wine and muriatic acid, in the proportion of
a pound of the former to half an ounce of the

* This method differs a little from that publifhed in 1793,
by Baume. See this laft, Journal de Phyfique of the fame year
may be confulted, and for that of Rigaud, the Gazette du
Commerce of the 7 Ncvembre, 1778. Kate of the Author.

This method requires many precautions, and would be
much too expenfive if the materials were not afterwards re-
covered. An abridgement of Baumt's paper, which contains
a detail of thefe obje«£b, may be feen in Nicholfon's Philoso-
phical Journal, I. », 32. — N.

latter,

Cottons, Thread, fcfa 295

latter, and, in quantity, fufficient to float the
filk. The veffel is then clofed with wet parch-
ment, and expofed for 12 hours to the fun, or
othervvife it may be left 24 hours in the (hade,
at a temperature between 15 and 20 degrees of
Reaumur. The filk is then taken out and preffed,
and again macerated for the fame time, and un-
der the fame circumftances, in frefh acidulated
fpirit of wine, in another fimilar veffel clofed as
before. The filk is then taken out, preffed, and
walhed for four or five minutes in pure fpirit of
wine. In the next place, it is kept for 24 hours
in the fun, or 36 in the fhade, in a third veffel,
containing pure fpirit of wine, which is to be
renewed at intervals, after which the filk is t<J
be taken out, preffed, and warned two or three
times in clear water, which is to be changed
at each warning. Laftly, the filk is expofed
to dry upon a frame fo contrived as to ftretch
it with considerable force, and prevent its curl-
ing up as it dries.

v 4 EXPLA-

t *96 3

EXPLANATION OF ftiE PLATES.

The fame Letters denote the fame Things in the eorref-
fondent Figures of Plans, Elevations, Seflions, and
Profiles,

PI,ATE THE FIRST. *

FIGURES i, i. 10, ii. The plan, fedion,
profile, and detail of a diftilling apparatus, en,,
tirely mounted and ready for fervice. It ma ybe
formed either with a fingle or double apparatus, as
is fhewn in the figures. Each apparatus is com-
pofed of two feparate furnaces, which are, never-
thelefs, fupportedon the fame ftru&ure, with two
diftilling-veflels, one pneumatic veffel, and a
veffel for immerfing the goods.

A. A ftru&ure of light wood-work, which fup-
ports the furnaces cr their mafonry in brick or
plaifter.

B. Platform of brick or tile, ferves as a
hearth to the alh-holes, C, of the furnaces.

D. A bed of clay, on which the brick plaU-
form is fupported.

E. The wood-work, or planks of the veffels in
which the bed of clay is placed.

F. A vacant {'pace, in which the mixtures of
muriate of foda and manganefe, in the proper
dofesf or changing each diftilling veffel, are

kept

Explanation of the Plates. 297

kept dry, for the purpofe of procuring the oxyge-
nated muriatic acid by the muriate of foda, in-
ftead of directly ufing the common muriatic acid
at 25 degrees of concentration of the areometer of
Molly.

G. The door of each of thefe receptacles.
H. The drying pans. Thefe are a kind of
troughs or capfules of plate-iron of a fquare form,
in which the muriate of foda is put to dry, either
before or after pounding and fifting.

T. T he ventsor chimnies through which the
fmoke or fumes of the coal efcapes, which is ufed
in heating the diftilling veflels.

J. The chimney of the furnace, leading under
the drying place.

K. Acapfuleorveffel of plate-iron, either fquare
or cylindrical, for the purpofe of fupporting the
diftilling veflels and the fand-bath in which they
are placed. It is moft advifeable to form this
veffel cylindrical, becaufe the flame, in that cafe,
applies better to its external furface, and a lef*
quantity of fand would be required to be heated.
L. The door of the furnace.
M. A ledge or ftep, fixed to the frame of the
furnace, in order that the operator may raife
himfelf upon it fufficiently high to pour the mix-
tures into the diftilling veffels, or for any other
operation relative to the furnaces.

N. The

ipS Explanation of the Plates.

N. The diftilling vcffel, or retort, having its
neck O, and its adopter P, which lad may be of
glafs,feparatefrom the retort, or elfe apart or pro-
longation of the fame, fuppofing the glafs-men
to be fufficiently fkilful to give it this figure. In
order to obviate the accidents of fractures, it
may be made of (tone ware, porcelain, or, which
is ftill better, of lead, as is fhewn in the figure,

O. A welt or projection of lute which fixes the
adopter to the retort. Inftead of the retort, the
operator may ufe, with ftill greater advantage,
balloons, or tubulated veffels, fuch as are defcrib-
ed in plate 9, fig. 1 and 2. I prefer thefe laft
veffels becaufe lefs expenfive, more common,
more generally ufeful, and, in particular, more
convenient. Q. 1, a pipe of glafs, ftone-ware
porcelain, or lead, the latter of which is prefer-
able; its"extremity, Q 2, is fitted to the adopter -3
and its other extremity, Q j, fuffers the
oxygenated muriatic acid to efcape in the form
of bubbles into the pneumatic veftel.

R. The pneumatic vefTel, placed on its three-
legged fupport S.

T. The arbour of the agitator. U its fans, or
arms. V. Handle for turning it. X. Diaphragms
or falfe bo:toms, beneath which the oxygenated
muriatic acid gas is concentrated and abf>rbed;
they are fupported on one fide by the regular in-
clination

Explanation of tfot Plates. 299

clination of the ftaves of the veffel, and on the
other by the pegs of wood Y : thefe falfe bottoms
divide the pneumatic veflel into a number of fe-
parate receptacles.

Z. The pipe through which the gas pafTes from
one cavity to the other ; its prolongation pre-
vents the gas from immediately efcaping into
the upper-chamber; the gas being by this means
forced to remain for a time in the inferior cham-
ber, where it is frequently agitated by the arms of
the apparatus, becomes abforbed in the water to
a certain degree. &, a funnel of wood to facilitate
the pouring of water into the pneumatic veffel,
when its cover is fixed on, pinned faft, and the
places fecured by paper palled on.

a. Spigot, or cock, to draw off the acidulat-
ed water for trial of its ftrength, by the known
re-agents, indigo or cochineal, as mentioned in
chap. 14. This cock may be formed of glafs, or
lead, or even copper ; but this laft metal muft be
covered with a coating or two of white lead paint,
to prevent its being rutted, or oxyded by the
vapour of the gas, and its confequent fpotting
the various goods which may come into contact
with it, or may be foiled by the falling of parti-
cles of verdigreafe with which it would become
covered.

b. The cocks, for emptj ing the bleaching li-
quor

300 Explanation of the Plates.

quor into the veffels of immerfion : they ought
to be of wood, clofed either with a cork, or with
a turned pin, fecured with flax ; they mud like-
wife be firmly fixed in the pneumatic veffel, and
well defended with fat lute, within and without.

c. A tube of glafs, of the fize of barometer
tubes ; that is to fay, 2 or 3 lines in diameter : it
ferves to fhew the height of the liquor which re-
mains in the veffd, when a portion has been drawn
off for particular immerfions; and it likewife in-
dicates the greater or lefs a£tion of the diftilla-
tion, by the frequency with which the liquor
ofcillates up and down without. This laft indi-
cation is particularly ufeful toward the end of
the operation, when the flownefs and weaknefs
with which the bubbles efcape, produce fcarcely
the leaft found in the veffel, even though the
car be applied to its fides.

This tube is fixed at the diftance of about an
inch from the bottom of the pneumatic veffel ;
its place of junction is well fecured with fat lute,
within and without ; its upper extremity is fe-
cured in its place, by a fmall piece of wood, dt
pinned to the pneumatic veffel.

e. A fhort tube, of about the length of two
inches, below each inferior falfe bottom ; it does
not fuffer any gas to efcape from one cavity to the
other, excepting that portion which cannot in-
corporate

Explanation of the Plates. 301

corporate with the water, either becaufe it may
already be nearly faturated, or becaufe too large
a quantity may be collected in the upper part of
each cavity, refpectively, for want of the agitator
being worked with fufficient frequency.

/. Pipes of lead, or ftone-ware ; they may
likewife be made of wood ; one of them paffes
through all the falfe bottoms, the other paffes
only through the uppermoft ; they ferve to intro-
duce, upon the bottom of each cavity, either
the quantity of potafh neceffary to fix the odour
of the muriatic acid, or that which may be necef-
fary to form the liquor, known under the deno-
mination of the oxygenated muriate of potafh.
Thefe two pipes are clofed during the distil-
lation, with a ftopper of cork ; their upper extre-,
mity, being formed fomewhat in the fhape of a
funnel, facilitates their fufpenfion and fupport ;
they mud be well fecured with fat lute, at the
place of contact, with the partition through which
they pafs.

g. The cover of the pneumatic veffel. It muft
be kept in its place by good pins of oak formed
with heads, and its joints all round muft be clofed
with ftrips of paper patted on The joints of the
feveral pieces or planks which compofe it, though
tongued together, are likewife covered with pa-
per: by means of thefe precautions, no fmell of

the

302 Explanation of the Pla'i;.

the oxygenated acid exhales. In order likewife
that this vapour ihould not efcape through the
fmall fpace between the cover and the arbour of
the agitator, this laft is furrounded with a fmall
quantity of flax, or piece of rag, wetted, either
with common water, or a folution of pot-afh.
When the diftillation is begun, the opening
of the aperture of the funnel / muft be clofed
with a cork.

h. Supports of the adopter of the retort :
they reft on the cover of the pneumatic vef.
fel, and receive the upper extremity of the
tube, communicating with the internal part near
the bottomof the veflel ; this extremity is difpof-
ed in the form of a funnel ; i. To receive the
beak of the ad. pter; 2. To facilitate the applicar
tion of the lute. The two parts which compofe
the fupport are connected together, either with
Iron-wires, or pack-thread, or elfe by means of
hooks, i a hole to fuffer the air to efcape out
of the pneumatic velfcl when the water is pour-
ed in.

/. The veffel for immerfions, mounted on its
rollers J. m the reel to move the piece-goods
in the liquor, n its handle. 0 the piece, or
good . pafiing over the reel, p the dotted lines,
reprefenting the cover. It may confifl either
of a cloth, thrown over the veflel after the
liquor has been poured in, or it may be much

Explanation of the Plates. Tp$

more fuitably and conveniently formed, by means
of two frames of light wood, with panes of glafs,
which open on the oppofite faces, and clofe to-
wards the upper part of the triangle, which they
form by their junction. In order that the odour
of the liquor may not be inconvenient to the
workman, at the time it is poured into the vefTels,
in thofe cafes, where it is not thought proper to
extinguish it; either by a certain dofe of fifted
chalk, or a proper addition of folution of pot-afh
in water,one of thefe frames has a proper opening
to fuffer the difcharging cocks to pafs through;
and thofe parts of this opening, which are not ac-
curately clofed, are afterwards fecured by means
of cloths tied round the cock itfelf. In order,
moreover, to avoid all fmell from the pipes,
communicating from the bottom of the pneumatic
vefTels to the veffels of immerfion, thefe may be
fo difpofed, as to convey the bleaching liquor
to the bottom of this laft, and caufe it to rife gra-
dually, inftead of pouring it in with agitation.

Fig. 3. — Perpendicular view of the grate, or
chafing-difh, upon which the coal and charcoal
a, which heats the capfules and retorts, is placed.
They may be raifed higher or lower by placing
them on one or more bricks. It is likev, ife very
eafy to take them out of the furnace by means of
the handle B, when it is required, from any caufi

whatever.

304 Explanation of the Plates.

whatever, that the diftillation fliould fpeedily be
checked.

Fig. 4. — The elevation in pcrfpective of this

grate.

Fig. 5. — Plate of iron, which ferves as a door
to the furnaces.

Fig. 6. — The fame plate, or door, feen in pro-
file; at a projection which ferves to raife it, or
place it ; by borders, by means of which it refts
on the joints, formed by the upper bricks of the
furnace, which, at the time of its construction,
are left open for this purpofe.

Fig. 7. — Supports which furround the upper
extremity of the tube of lead, which receives the
beak of the adopter of the retort, or the retort
only, if the glafsman have made it all of one
piece.

Fig. 3. — Elevation, in perfpeclive,of the iron-
trough, which contains the mixture of muriate of
foda and manganefe, which is fet to dry, as
before defcribed, between the furnaces, under
the drying place, during the time of diftillation,
in order that it may be ready for the fubfequent
procefs.

Fig. 9. — Plan of the fame trough.

Plate the second.
Fig. 1. — A machine for grinding the glafs

(toppers of veffels and bottles, which are requir-
ed to be clofed, as it were, hermetically.

Explanation of tie Plates, 30c

A^. A bottle with three necks.

B, The ftopper fitted to clofe the middle
neck.

C. A kind of brace, one extremity of which
has its centre of motion in the wooden Aider E,
and the other extremity F receives in its focket
G, the ftem H, of the prefs I, the two jaws of
which, I, K, hold faft the knob of the ftopper, re-
quired to be ground in. The Aider of wood E is
not fixed, but muft rife or fall according to the
wear of the ftopper in the neck of the bottle, in
which it is intended to be fitted.

Fig. 2 and 3.— Plan and profile of a veflel, for
immerfing thread ftockings, or other pieces of
frame-work knitting ; if, inftead of the round
figure, this veflel had been made fquare, the
goods might have been ftowed in a more advan-
tageous manner. Three bafoets of white wicker-
work may be placed one upon the other, as is
fhewn in figure 2, each upper bafket reding on the
handles of that beneath. B, a bundle, or hank,
of flcains of thread fpread out in the bath : there
muft not be more than three or four ofthefe con-
nected together in the fame bundle, as,other-
wife, they would be lefs conveniently expofed to
the action of the bleaching liquor, and lefs eafily
wrung orcleared out. In order that no dirt may
fall into the veflel, and to prevent any oppreflive

x vapour

306 Explanation of the Plates,

vapour from incommoding the workmen, the>
whole is covered with a piece of cloth, deftgned
for this purpofe; or, rather, with a light cover-
ing of wood, cut into two pieces, to facilitate
the management.

Fig. 4 and 5. — Plan and elevation of a fmal]
portable boiler for the purpofe of immediately
Doiling the thread in. alkaline lees, or any other
fmall articles, which either cannot with conveni-
ence, in point of time, or otherwife, be put into
the large boiler with piece-goods, or other articles,
whether on account of their finenefs, their fmall
quantity, the fpeed required, or their being the
obje£t of fome particular experiments.

a. The boiler, placed on its tripod, £, under
the mantle of the chimney ; c its cover, which
muft never be neglected to be put on, not only
becaufe the heat is more fpeedily produced, but
likewife for the purpofe of defending goods from
foot, which may fall down the chimney, and
would produce fpots not eafily discharged, as has
been mentioned in chap. 15. This boiler may
be heated by means of wood, or turf, or pit-coal,
if a proper grate may be made ufe of.

Fig. 6. — The method of fufpending, by means
of an arbor D, the bafket, containing the articles
taken out of the boiler, and draining over it. In
order that no impurities may fall either into the

lees,

Explanation cf the Plates. 307

lees, or upon the goods, during this operation,
it will be proper that a clofe cloth, or frame of
light wood, fhould be fupported in that part of
the pipe of the chimney which is immediately
over them.

e. The bafket, or plat form, of ofier, fupporting
the goods ; this plat-form may likewife be made
of iron, covered with linen rags : if a bafket be
ufed, it muft be perfectly cleared of its bark, for
fear of fpotting the goods.

The four cords ft which fupport the bafket,
are united in pairs, on each fide, at the knot gt
to the cord h, which winds on the arbor.

j. Supports, between which the arbor turns.-
ky a clump fattened on the arbor, to prevent its
recoiling from the fupport i, in confequence
of the fri&ion upon m. n> the handle of the
arbor.

Fig. *j. — Rollers, for the purpofe of folding
piece-goods into lengths, after they have received
the dreflings.

a. Cords, one extremity of which is attached
to the ring b> fixed to the cieling, and the other
extremity bears the two gudgeons of the
wooden roller d.

e. Part of the piece of cloth, to be folded in
two.

/. Part pf the cloth already folded. In this
x 2 operation,

3^8 Explanation of the Plates.

operation, which is very fpeedy, the cloth is
fupported by holding one part, /, in one hand,
and the other part, e, in the other, taking care to
bring the edges together by raiting this part of
the cloth thus joined a little, the weight of the
folded part, foon draws over that part to the
other fide of the roller, a new portion is fuccef-
iively folded, and is thus fubjected to the fame
manipulation.

Fig. 8, 9. — Plan and profile of a machine for
folding cloths in equal folds, whether it be re-
quired that the folds mould be in the whole length,
or that they mould be folded in two, as has al-
ready been obferved.

a. Uprights of iron, placed oppofite each
other, in the holes b, in the brafs c, fixed on
each fide of the table d.

e. Reds of iron, or wood, placed in each fold
of the cloth behind the two uprights.

/. Another rod, which raifes from the heap
of cloth, g, that part which is to be carried be-
hind the upright, over the rods. In proportion
as the folding advances, the lower rods are drawn
out to be ufed in the progrefs of the work. By
this means the operation may be performed with
a dozen rods. The ufe of thefe rods, and the
regularity which they afford in this method of
folding, which is very expeditious, has caufed it

• Explanation of the Plates: 309

to be named folding by the rod, in the fame
manner as that defcribed in figure 7 is named
folding by the roller.

Fie. 10. — End view of the manner in which
the pieces are folded together after they are
taken from the machine, fig. 9 : the round fold,
which is given to the piece, is fecured by means
of firings, more or lefs fine, a at according to
the quality of the merchandize. Thefe cords,
firings, or twift of filk, or flax, pafs from the up-
per felvedge to the lower ; they are faftened to-
gether with a knot, which is, la ft of all, covered
with a taffel, b, of coloured thread, of filk, or
linen, or thread, according to the beauty and
flnenefs of the piece. Coarfe goods are likewife
faftened in front, as is (hewn by the letter C. '

Fig. 11.— Hanks of linen or cotton thread;
the union of feveral fkains, that is to fay, frve or
fix by a fingle firing, a, forms what is called a
hank : by the number of knots, b, made in
one or other of the two ends of the firing,
the bleacher diftinguiihes the merchant to
whom the article belongs. For this purpofe
the diftinclive figns are entered in a book, oppo-
fite the name of the proprietor. With regard to
other articles, fuch as piece-goods, ftockings,
&c. they may be diftinguiflied by one or more
coarfe threads fewed to them, upon which any
x 3 number

3 » o Explanation of the Plates.

number of knots at pleafure maybe made. This
method of marking goods appears to be much pre-
ferable to the different marks with crayons, red
oaker, &c. which always, more or lefs, fpot and
foil the goods.

Fig. 12. — Shews the method of rinfing the fkairt
on the pin to clear it of water, lees, or any other
fluid it may contain. As the part which is near-
eft the pin is not fo effectually wrung as that
which lies near the middle, care mud be taken
in opening the fkain, c, to icpkce it in fuch a
manner that the part which was upon the pin,
a, fhall be near the middle at the time of the
fecond wringing. After this fecond wringing,
the thread is, for the mofl part, dry enough, and
may be ftraitened out -, which is done by palling
it over the hand, and ftrongly jirking or mak-
ing it by drawing out ; or the operation may
be performed with the wringing-pin inftead of
the hand.

Fig. 13.— The method of difpofing the fkains,
fo that they may not intermingle too much
with each other, particularly thofe of fewing
thread, which, inftead of being wrung on the
pin, are worked under the lower part of a kind
of rammer or ftirrer. The four faftenings, a, pre-
vent the fkains from becoming intermingled dur-
ing this kind of fulling procefs. A tub or pail may-
be

Explanation of the Plates. % 1 *

be ufed for this operation, according to the quan-
tity of the article, intended to be cleared in this
manner. A man or woman may work them
with the inftrument, fig. 14, without much dif-
ficulty : a certain degree of (kill and intelligence
is required to do the bufinefs in the molt effec-
tual manner.

a. Reprefents the handle of this inftrument,
and b, the lower part, which is made of beech
cut into fteps or notches, c, on each fide, in order
that it may take a flight hold of the goods, and
afford a facility in turning them. Thefe indenta-
tions muft be rounded at the edges and corners.

Fig. 15, 16. — Plan and elevation of a warn-
ing implement, with which {lockings, thread,
and other fmall and fine articles, may be cleaned
or rinfed in a tub or pail, a, exhibit the teeth
or feet, between which the different goods dif-
pofe themfelves, and are agitated againft each
other, for the purpofe of clearing them of the
different liquids, with which they are fucceffive-
]y penetrated during the courfe of the bleaching.
b, is a double handle, by the affiftance of which
this fmall inftrument is moved.

Plate 3. Fig. 1. — a* Birds-eye view of the great
boiler, in which piece-goods are heated in the
alkaline folution or lees.

% 4 Fi

312 Explanation of the Plates.

Fig. 2. — Se&ion of the fame boiler through
the line A, B.

a. Floor of the (hop.

b. The mafonry, in which, the copper C is fet'

d, the wooden cover, formed of two or more part?.

e, crofs pieces which pafs under the cramps/, fix-
ed to the boiler itfelf, which keep down the co-
vering and prevent it from rifing by the force of
the ftream, which lad is, by thefe means, com-
pelled to re-aft on the pieces of cloth, or other
articles placed in the boiler.

g. A cavity or gutter furrounding the copper,
and ufed for evaporating without any other heat
than that which it receives from the boiler itfelf,
the old lees, which are referved after they have
been applied to every ufe, which can be made
of them, in order to recover the alkali.

h. A fmall boiler, heated by the heat which
efcapes from the great boiler, before it pafles
into the chimney. In this fmall boiler is kept
a quantity of lees, ready prepared, of the proper
flrensth. It here receives an increafe of tern-
perature, which prevents its fenfibly retarding
the boiling of the great boiler, when it is ne-
cefTary to convey a certain quantity into this
laft velfel.

i. A cock, by which the pure folution of al-
kali is drawn off, and may be conducted to

the

Explanation of the Plates. 313

the great boiler, by a channel of tin or wood,
&c. &c.

j. The fire-place under the boiler. Inftead of
the iron-bars, or a grate, which, on account of
this diftance between them, fuffer too much air
to pafs, for the confumption of wood, and by
thefe means wafte much of that fuel, I have
preferred an arch of brick-work, with openings
of a fufficient fize. This arch, wThile it faves
the wood, likewife preferves the heat, on ac-
count of the fpace between the vents, upon
which the burning fuel remains for a longer
time. It might perhaps be poffible to diminiOi
the expence ftill further, by having no apertures
at all through the arch. Thefe apertures are alfo
liable to be worn or broken, and require to be
defended at their edges with iron.

k. The afh-hole.

/. The chimney, proceeding from the fire-
place, immediately beneath the fmall boiler.

n. Stairs afcending from the floor, to the brick-
work of the floor.

0. Another fet of (lairs, leading to the plat-
form p.

q. A regifter for regulating the heat of both
boilers.

r. Flue of the chimnev.

514 Explanation of the Plates,

Fig. 2' — Se&ion of figure 1, along the line
c d. a, the floor. b> the mafonry in which the
copper is fct. ct mouth of the fire-place of the
great boiler, d, lower part of the chimney,
e, afh-hole. /, regifter, to regulate the heat of
the fmall boiler, g, the flairs from the platform
of the mafonry to the floor of the work-fhop.
b, ftairs leading to the upper part of the ma-»
fonry.

Fig. 4. — A crane, moveable on its axis, pro-
vided with tooth and pinion-work, by means of
which the charge of the boiler, confifting of
piece-goods, or other articles, may be raifed.
a, the (haft, b, the pivot, c, the arm. d,
bracket, or fupport. e, a ratchet wheel, worked
by a pinion with a double lever: round the
barrel of this wheel is wound the chain, at
the other end of which are three or four hooks,
in which the chains h are held. Thefe laft are
covered with cloth or cord, to prevent the ef-
fect of ruft. The intermediate part between
the two concentric circles, which form the
veflel, or fufpended apparatus, is likewife de-
fended by fmall cords, in order that the various
articles difpofed therein may not efcape ; this
(lage, charged with the different articles which
have undergone lixiviation, is, by means of the

crane,

Explanation of the Plates. 315

crane, conveyed over other veffels, where it is
lowered down upon crofs pieces, in order that
the drainage may be completed.

Fig. 5, 6, 7. — Plan, feclion, and elevation,
of an oven for calcining crude alkali, in order
to convert it into potafh. a9 flairs, which lead
to the back part of the oven, where there arc
placed two boilers of caft-iron, b b, in which
the alkali is dried, after having been concen-
trated to a certain degree in the cavity furround-
ing the great boiler. See Fig. 1, 2. Thefe
two boilers may be appropriated alternately to
dry the alkali entirely, whence it is to be con-
veyed into the calcining oven ; and afterwards
to complete the reduction of the concentrated
alkalies to the confidence of extract ; and may
Jikewife be difpofed in fuch a manner that
the flame which they receive from the fire-
place of the oven, before it palTes into the
Jower part of the chimney, may heat a third
boiler of caft-iron, -of copper, or even of lead,
which may be ufed to evaporate the old lees,
or folutions of foap: for thefe lad: require the
fame management in order to obtain their at-
knli.

This concentrated alkaline folution from the
tipper boiler, may be fuffered to fall, drop by
drop, into the lower, in order that the evapora-
tion,

3 1 6 Explanation of the Plates.

tion, or complete drying, may not be impeded
by too much water being fuddenly poured in.

c. Paflage from the fire-place to the fpace
beneath the caft-iron boilers. It conveys a
ftream of flame, which is more than fufficient,
and may be governed by means of regifters. As
this paflage is conftructed on a flope, which,
for that reafon, is not eafy to be made in the
mafonry, a contrivance was ufed during the
building of the roof of the fire-place, to fix in
the proper place a roller of wood, upon which
the bricks in part refted which were intended
to form this paflage ; it may eafily be imagined
that this wooden roller could not be taken out
after the conftruction was fini fried ; it was,
therefore, intended that it mould be burnt out.
To accelerate the combuflion at that time, and
during the heating of the oven, a hole of two
or three inches in diameter was bored through it.
This piece of wood may be of white deal, or any
other material which is mod readily confumed.
The heat conveyed by this paflage, of which I
have afcertained the good effect by experiment,
is very well regulated by means of a regifter
made at the bottom of the fpace immediately
beneath the boiler. This regifter is entirely
fhut when the boilers are not intended to be
ufed.

When

Explanation of the Plates. 317

When the calcining oven is not ufed, but
the boilers are wanted to dry alkaline folutions,
thefe laft may be feparately heated by a fire
between both.

d. An aperture in the roof of the oven, through
which the dried alkali is conveyed into the
oven.

e. The calcining oven. In order that the
alkali may be eafily difengaged from the edges
or angles of the floor where the walls take their
rife, at which place it readily fixes itfelf by the
aqueous fufion, it is advifeable that this part
fhould be defended by a plate of iron, four or
five inches high, and about half an inch thick.
By this means the fait is more eafily feparated
by the rake.

/. The ftoke-hole for fupplying the fuel. It
is conftru£ted in the fame manner, and for the
fame ufes, as that of the boiler for lixiviation.

g. A flight piece of brick-work, between
the fire-place and the hearth of the oven, which
prevents the fuel and the faline matter from
communicating or mixing with each other.

h. A done or cafl-iron trough, into which the
red hot calcined alkali is thrown when taken
out of the oven. In this veflel it is left to cool
before it is packed up in calks, in which laft
veflels it mud be prefled as clofely as poffible, in

order

3 1 8 Explanation cf the Plates.

order that it may be lefs liable to attract moiflure
from the air.

/. The mouth of the oven. It has two iron
uprights, j j, forked at top, in which the ends
of a racked bar k are placed. The handle of the
rake, with which the alkali is ftirred, is refted
between the notches of this bar. The mouth
of the oven is alfo provided with an iron plate,
to be ufed either for clofing it entirely, or more
or lefs, as occafion may demand.

Inftead of fufFering the heat, which ifiues
from the mouth of the furnace, to be loft, it
may be very advantageoufly directed by a pipe
rifing under the boilers of call-iron, or thofe
which are placed above, for preparatory eva-
poration. None of thefe means ought to be
neglected of employing the heat, which in al-
mod every conilruclion of this kind has been
hitherto loft, for want of a proper degree of
fkill in the proprietors, or thofe who undertake
to erecl them.

Fig. 8. — Reprefentspart of the chain, which is
wound upon the drum of the ratchet-wheel of
Fig. 4. It may be obferved, that it is con-
ftrucled on the fame principles as the chains of
pocket watches.

Fig. 9, 10, and n.— Details relative to the

racked

Explanation of the Plates, 3T9

tacked bar placed acrofs the mouth of the cal-
cining oven.

a. The teeth, between which the handle of
the rake is moved, b, an elbow, which pre-
vents the rake from moving the bar fide-ways
when once duly placed, r, crampons, or iron
fixed pieces, whieh receive and {ready the up-
rights, d, the mafonry of the oven in which
they are placed, c, the rake feen fide-ways,
/, its claw placed on the floor of the oven, g, its
iron handle, h, the external part of its handle,
which is made of wood, becaufe the iron would
communicate the heat too readily to the hand of
the workman. Fig. 11. the claw of the rake
feen in face. Fig. 12. an hook, by means of
which the rake is lifted up or changed for an-
other, either on account of its being too hot to
be touched, or in danger of bending, a, the
hook, b3 its handle. In order that the iron
handle of the rake may Hide more readily be-
tween the teeth of the crofs-bar, it is occafion-
ally rubbed with a piece of bacon nailed to a
fmall piece of wood.

PLATE THE FOURTH,

Fig. 1.— Elevation of a miH proper to cleanfe
piece-goods and other articles, which are more

3 20 Explanation of the Plates.

or lefs bulky. It is moved by a horfe ; or its
mechanifm may be fet in motion by wind, wa-
ter, or other powers, by making fuitable ar-
rangements for that purpofe.

A, the principal thaft. B, the bar, to which
the horfe is attached. C, the wheel. D, lan-
tern. E, the arbor, which gives motion to
the flocks or peftles E, by means of certain
tripping pieces. See Fig. i. and 2, Plate V.
F, mortices, in which the tripping pieces move
to raife the peftles. It is advifeable that the
part which is a£ted upon by the tripping piece
ihould be defended, either by a plate or roller
of copper. G, crofs-pieces, between which
the peftles rife and fall. H, the box or recep-
tacle, in which the goods are placed. The
figure reprefents the internal part, in confe-
quence of a portion of the wood-work in front
being removed. One of the fpaces is larger
than the other, for the purpofe of fubdividing
the different kinds of work. The receptacle is
commonly made of elm, and the rammers of
beech. I, holes made at different heights, to
draw off the water. J, a door, which may be
taken down or put up at pleafure by means of
buttons. It mult always be up during the time
of work. K, a pipe, which fupplies the work
with water. Out of this proceed a number of

fliort

Explanation of the Plates. 321

jhort pipes anfwerable to the refpective cham-
bers. L, a ftop, to prevent the peftle from
defcending too low, and injuring itfelf. M, a
lever fixed to a crofs-piece, N, behind the
four uprights, O. By means of the pin P, and
the firing Q, the fulling rammer may be raifed
fo high, that the tripping pieces cannot reach
it. While it remains thus fixed, the goods
may be examined or taken out, as occafion may
require.

Fig. 1 and 3 A fucking-pump, which fur-

nilhes the water to the work. Fig. 2, fhews the
fame in profile, and Fig. 3, the front view.

A is the extremity of the arbor which works
the fulling apparatus. B, prolongation of the
axis or pivot of this arbor. It turns on the
brafs bed C ; and its extreme part D is bended
into a handle, which gives motion to the pump,
rods E F. The latter is attached to the ftem of
the pifton which moves in the body of the pump.
H. I, the pipe, which fupplies the refervoir J
with water. K, the pipe which conveys the
water to the fulling works.

PLATE THE FIFTH,

Plan and elevation of the fame machine for
wafhing and cleanfing piece-goods. A, the

y turning

322 Explanation of the Plates.

turning arbor, with its tripping pieces B. C, the
mortices, in which the tripping pieces enter to
raife the hammers. D, holes, through which
the rammers traverfe. E, bolts, which hold
together the lateral partitions, and connect them
with the uprights F. G, the fulling rammer,
refting on its ftop H. I, the lever, to throw
the fulling rammers in or out of work. The
dotted lines J denote the pofition of the levers
when the work is flopped. The cord K being
fattened to the hook L, keeps the lever in this
pofition; but when M is fixed to the fame
hook, it keeps the lever clear of the working
bar. N, the infide of the receptacle for the
goods. O, holes for drawing off the water.
F, the door. Q, the pipe which brings water
to the work. R, a table, on which the goods
are laid before or after they have been put into
the engine. T, a board to defend the work-
man frOm being wetted.

Fig- 1. — A, the principal arbor, with its
tripping pieces B. This figure fhews in what
manner they are difpofed in order to produce
their alternate effects on the rammers.

Fig. 3«— Plan of the wheel fixed on the up-
right (haft, which ferves to fhew the manner
of its conftruclion.

Fig. 4. — The lantern which moves the arbor.

A, reprc-

Explanation of the Plates. 323

A, reprefents the arbor itfelf, upon which the
lantern it folidly fixed. The bolts B connect
the two drum-heads.

Fig. 5, (hews the method of difpofing the
goods in the trough of Fig. 1, when it is more
particularly intended to work them acrofs their
length. Fig. 6. The method of difpofing them
when, on the contrary, it is intended to work
them in the direction of their length.

PLATE THE SIXTH.

Fig. 1, 2. — Plan and profile of the machine
for fquaring and rolling out the pieces after they
have received the dreffings. a, the flage on
which the goods are placed, b, the piece folded
back and forwards. c} the ftretcher, through the
mortice of which the cloth pafles. At one of
its extremities there is a ratchet-wheel, a7, by
means of which the neceffary tenfion is given,
that the cloth may undergo a flight degree of
fricVion againft its rounded edges during its
courfe. <?, crofs pieces, at fuch a diftance from
each other, that the cloth, by pairing alternately
over one and under the other, may be gently
rubbed againft their blunted edges. f9 another
ftretcher, through the mortice of which the piece
likewife paftes before it arrives at the wooden
y 2 cylinder.

3 -4 Explanation of the Plates »

cylinder. This is likewife provided with a
ratchet-wheel, g, for the purpofe of ftretching
the cloth more or lefs. As the tenfion is consi-
derable in this part, there is a lever, h, fixed
on for the purpofe of facilitating the turning,
z, a cylinder or roller of wood, upon which the
cloth is rolled, and left for a longer or ihorter
time, as may be necefiary for it to keep the
figure and dimenfions which it has received.
The workman, who itands before this roller,
takes care for this purpofe to arrange and draw-
out the felvedges in fuch a manner that they
may apply at every turn upon the fame parts of
the cloth which are already rolled, and preferve
the fame width throughout. /', a moveable
piece, which may be thrown forward, and
ferves to keep the roller in its place endways,
and when drawn back, leaves it at liberty to be
taken out for the purpofe of unrolling the cloth.
A. groove is made lengthways in the roller, for
the purpofe of fixing the end of the cloth
therein, which is firir. wrapped round a wooden
rod, and then lodged in the groove. /, brafs
rollers, upon which the wooden cylinder turns.
m> the fquare, into which the fquare end of the
cylinder is lodged. », wheel of the arbor, which
carries the fquare. c. the lantern or pinion,
hlch gives. motion to the wheel, and is itlelf

carried

Explanation of the Plates. 325

carried round by the handle p, worked by one
or two men, according to the force or velocity
required to be exerted, q, a fly, armed with
balls or plates of lead, which ferves as a refer -
voir of force, and greatly affifts the workman,
j, a trough of plate-iron, in which hot embers
are put for the purpofe of drying, or giving a
proper degree of firmnefs to certain goods be-
fore they are rolled on the cylinder, upon which
they preferve the ftate and appearance it is in-
tended they mould receive.

Fig. 3 and 4. — Plan, fection, and profile, of
the earthen furnace, made au rue Mazarin, of
which mention is made in Chapter II. a, the
furnace. I/, the am-hole. c, the door of the
afh-hole. d, the fire-place, e, door of the fire-
place. /, grate of earthen-ware ; inftead of which,
if preferred, a grate of iron may be fubftituted.
g, the chimney. h, a protuberance for more
ealily removing the furnace, i, the pot. /, fand-
bath. m, tubulated bottle, containing the mix-
ture for diftillation. Inffcead of the bottle, a
tubulated retort may be ufed, which, in that
cafe, may be placed in a bath fuited to its figure.
n, the neck, to which the tube of lead is to be
adapted, for the purpofe of conveying the gas
into the pneumatic veflels. 0, the aperture, into
which the fulphuric or muriatic acid is to be

y 3 poured,

326 Explanation of the Plates.

poured, accordingly as the diftillation is per-
formed with or without the muriate of foda.
fy a ftand or bafe of ftone, upon which the fur-
nace may be raifed, either for the purpofe of
giving it a proper elevation, or to prefervc the
floor from the danger of fire.

This kind of furnace is ufually compofed of
one fingle piece , but for the facility of remov-
ing and fixing them, when conftructed of a cer-
tain fize, they ought to be formed of fevcral
pieces which may be eafily fixed together by
means of indentations made in them before
they are baked.

plate the seventh.

Fig. t, 2, and 3. — Bird's-eye view, elevation,
and profile, of the machine for calendering piece-
goods with or without heat. A, a double handle
which gives motion to the pinion B. This ma-
chine, as well as the one juft defcribed, may
eafily be moved by connecting it with the ful-
ling mill, in the fame manner as the pump re-
ceives its motion, namely, by a branch or tum-
bler, which on the one hand is applied to the
arbor of the mill, and on the other to the leading
axis of th« machine. It is neceflary of colirfe
to arrange the workfhops accordingly. The

pinion

Explanation of the Plates. 327

pinion drives the toothed wheel C ; on the
axis of which is fixed the lantern or pinion P,
which moves the great wheel E, to which is
adapted the brafs cylinder F, and this in its turn
communicates its motion to two cylinders of
walnut-tree G.

H, the ftage upon which the piece I is placed
ready for calendering, having previoufly receiv-
ed all the other dreffings ; it is folded, as the
figure mews, in alternate folds, in order that it
may be more eafily delivered. It firft paries
between the crofs-pieces J, thence through the
mortice K, of the ftretcher L, which is provided
with a wheel and click, M, to flretch the piece
more or lefs and regulate its courfe. It after-
wards paffes back under the brafs cylinder N,
over that of walnut-tree, and returns in front
under the upper wooden cylinder, which it en-
velopes as it paffes over and falls behind O of
the machine on the roller P, and againft Q,
where it is ranged in alternate folds on the
ftage R, whence it is taken to be regularly made
up for fale.

S. The prefling fcrew, by means of which the
upper wooden cylinder may be urged more
flrongly againft that of brafs, accordingly as it
js required that the face of the cloth iliould be
niore or lefs acted upon.

\r 4 T. Piece

328 Explanation of the Plata.

T. Piece of caft-iron, which Aides in grooves
made in the uprights U, and bears upon the
pivot V of the upper cylinder, accordingly as
the fcrews prefs upon the crofs- piece X, to
which this piece of call-iron is fixed.

Fig. 4. — The brafs cylinder feen at one end,
where it is open to receive the bars of red-hot
iron which heat it.

A. The cylinders of wood to which the brafs
cylinder communicates its motion. Inftead of
wooden cylinders, others may be fubftituted of
card-paper, compofed of the quantity of leaves
necefTary to fill the fpace which is determined
between the plates of brafs adjufted at the ex-
tremity of their axis. They are ftrongly preffed
by thefe plates, which are retained in their pofi-
tion by powerful fcrews. Cylinders of paper,
properly turned, give to fine goods a glaze which
they cannot acquire by the wooden cylinders.
They have likewife the advantage of retaining
their figure, which is not the cafe with wooden
cylinders. Thefe lafi: require to be occafionally
rectified in the lathe, and at laft become too
fmall for ufe.

The lathe ufed for turning any of thefe cylin-
ders ought to be conftru£ted in fuch a manner,
as to render it a matter of certainty that the

diameter

Explanation of tbe Plates. 329

diameter fhould continue equal from one end
to the other.

B. The cylinder of brafs.

C. The neck on which it turns in the manner
of a pivot.

D. The aperture through which the bars of
red-hot iron are introduced with tongs. The
aperture is then clofed with a cover to keep in
the heat.

U. The uprights between which the brafs
cylinder moves againft the plates V.

Fig. 5. — The form of the pieces of caft-iron
with which the cylinder is heated. Two are
commonly put in, and they are ufually changed
every hour, or oftener, according to the nature of
the work.

PLATE THE EIGHTH.

Fijf. 1 and 2 Plan and fection of a veffel

particularly defigned for fubmitting fine piece-
goods, fuch as muflins, linens, &c. to the ac-
tion of the oxygenated muriatic acid.

a. A frame armed on each fide with fmall
leaden points or pins, b, the central parts of
which are iron ; they may be altogether of iron,
painted with white lead, and well wrapped with
ftrips of linen or itring. Thefe points are of

ufe

33° . Explanation of the Plates.

ufe to fufpend the piece-goods in a zigzag form,
as is fhewn by thefe figures, either immediately
by the felvedge of the piece, or by loops of tape
fewed to the pieces themfelves.

c. Rings of lead cad upon rings of iron, which
they cover; otherwife rings of iron alone, paint-
ed with white lead, and wrapped with cloth
or twine to defend them from the mil. The
cords e> wThich are faftened to thefe rings, pafs
over hooks at d, fixed to the cord/, which, by
means of the pulley £, is ufed to raife or lower
the frame. When the latter is entirely plunged
in the bleaching liquor, the cords are detached
from the hook g, and the veilel is covered to
prevent the introduclion of any impurities, as-
well as to defend the workmen from any dif-
agreeable odour.

An apparatus of this kind may be ufed, not
only for immerfmg of the goods in the oxvge-
nated muriatic acid, but likewife for the lees,
as well as the bath oi" fulphuric acid, 8cc.

Fig. 3 and 4. — Elevation and profile of the
frame for ftrctching the fkains of thread when
taken out of the bleaching veflels. A, upright
pieces, in which a number of holes, B, are
pierced for the purpofe of fupporting C, the
crofs-pieces, over which the fkains of thread,
D, pafs fingly. Thefe crofs-pieces have th< ir

angles

Explanation of the Pla'es. 331

angles well rounded, and are fet at a greater
or lefs diftance, according to the degree of ten-
fion to be produced, by means of the iron pins
inferted in the holes of the uprights.

The thread is firft well wrung upon the pin,
or with the hand, after which ii is fh-etched
upon the pannel, and left to dry. Care muft
be taken that thofe Ikains which are put on at
any one time fhall all be of the fame length, in
order that the tenfion may be equal throughout.

If thefe threads, when taken out of the
bleaching veflels, fhould be fo entangled or
mixed as to feem incapable of being cleared
without breaking, they may eafily be brought
to their original ftate by plunging them in water,
and gently finking them with the edge of the
hand. This operation may, if thought fit, be
repeated at each immerfion, in cafe it fhould
be fuppofed that the thread would be too dif-
ficult to clear after the entire bleaching-.

The fkains of thread, thus adjufted and dried,
are afterwards twifted together in dozens or
fcores, or any other count, according to the
cuftom of the market ; or they may be packed
in fmall parcels in coloured paper, according
to their quality, and the orders of the vender.

Fig. 5, 6, 9, 10.— Plan, profile, and parts of
the machine for fcorching or fingeing muflins,

and

332 Explanation of the Plates.

and other piece-goods, which are particularly
required to have an even face fimiJar to goods
of the fame kind imported from England.

A, ports fixed in a cavity, B, in the pave-
ment yor floor of the workfhop. They are con-
nected by the crofs-pieces, C, fixed at their up-
per extremities by the bolts or fcrews D. Thefe
pofls may be taken up at pleafure, in order to
leave more fpace in the workfhop. E, axis of
a roller placed between each poll, the pro-
longation of which is bended into a handle, F,
for regulating the tenfion of the piece by the
ratchet-wheel G. A fhort piece of cloth or can-
vas, H, is nailed to each of thefe rollers, and to
thefe the extremities or ends of the piece to be
finged are fixed with the needle or rod of iron, K.
One of thefe rollers takes up that part of the
piece which is finged, while the other gives off
or unfolds a new length to be fubje&ed to the
fame operation.

L, the bended iron, with which the fingeing
is performed by palling it over the furface, from
one edge to the other, in a light, fpeedy, and
dextrous manner. The flat part M being firft
made very hot, is well wiped on a cloth or pad,
in order that it may not foil or greafe the piece,
which laft action would endanger its being
burned. This iron is to be pafled two or three

times

Explanation of the Plates. 333

times over the extended part of the cloth, in
order that it may produce its effect more uni-
formly.

If the piece require to be finged on both
fides, it muft be afterwards turned, by chang-
ing the rollers M for N. The brown fcorched
colour which the piece acquires by this treat-
ment fpeedily disappears in the bleaching.

Fig. 7 and 8 A plate of call-iron, viewed

in face and edgewife, which is advantageoufly
ufed to fmooth or lay the nap of certain piece-
goods, fuch as velverets, fuftians, coverlets, &:c.
This plate is heated to the proper degree ; and
one or two men, according to the weight and
dimenfions of the plate, and the nature of the
fluff, pafs it along, more or lefs fpeedily, over
the piece intended to be thus ironed or fmoothed.
The fame care mult be taken to wipe the plate
when it comes out of the furnace as was de-
fcribed for the fingeing. The handles, B, of the
plate, are wrapped round with cloth, in order to
defend the hands of the workman.

Fig. 14. — -A bru(h,with ihort hair, ufed to raife
the fibres or nap of the piece-goods intended to
be fubje£ted to either of the operations here
defcribed.

Fig. 11,12 and 13. — Plan, elevation, and fec"H-
on of a prefs proper for drying or expreffing the

Water

334 Explanation of the Plates.

water from piece goods, whether in the courfe
of the f veral operations, or at the end of the
bleaching procefs. This prefs may like wife be
employed to advantage, to give a neat appear-
ance to folding goods, or for the clofe packing
of bales.

A. The platform or table of the prefs upon
which the goods are placed. This table is hol-
lowed out to the depth of one inch, and is in-
clined towards the gutter or beak, B, in order
that the waters which flow from the goods may
be received in a pail placed underneath for that
purpofe.

C. The preffing fcrews which rife and fall be-
tween the uprights, D, in order that the whole
furface of the table may be left clear.

PLATE THE NINTH.

Fig. i and i. — Plan and fecrion of the dif-
tilling apparatus mentioned at the commence-
ment of this work.

A. The double furnace with its fixed grate.
B a cover of plate-iron of a fquare or round
figure with Bat edges, which may be raifed or
placed in contact with the furnace. C the fand
bath whieh furroands the capfule ; it ought to
be verydry> fine and uniform. D, the cylindrical

bottle

Explanation of the Plates. 335

bottle with two necks ; one in the middle, E, to
receive the ftem, F, of the communication of
the pneumatic veffel, and the other for pouring
in the fulphuric acid, when muriate of foda is
ufed, or the common muriatic acid, if that fait
be not applied. Inftead of the cylindrical bottle,
a balloon, or globular veffel with a neck on one
iide, may be ufed, as is (hewn in figure 2. The
choice of thefe veffels will, in a great meafure,
depend on the fkill of the workmen, at fuch
glafs manufactories as may be in the neighbour-
hood of the bleaching works. In ftrictnefs, the
neck or tube on one fide may be difpenfed with,
and it is here mentioned only becaufe it adds a
convenience to the operation.

From thefe obfervations on balloons, it is eafily
feen, that thofe who, in purfuance of the dire£ti-
onsin the memoir upon bleaching, in the fecond
volume of the Annals of Chemiitry, may have
ufed the mattras, the neck of which fooner or
later muft break at the termination of the
chimney of the dome of the furnace there re-
commended, may afterwards ufe thefe globu-
lar veffels with advantage.

J. The door or opening to the fire-place.

Inftead of glafs bodies, it might probably be
of advantage to ufe leaden veffels heated by a
water-bath, or in any other manner which would.

not

336 Explanation of the Plates.

not endanger the fufion of thofe vefTels. This
danger would be lefs to be feared when manga-
nefe and the muriatic acid were ufed alone ;
but vefTels of this kind would always have the
difadvantage of not allowing the operator to fee
what paffed within them, as he may with glafs,
nor whether the vefTels were well cleaned. Thefe
two inconveniences, which can hardly admit of
any remedy, unlefs a glafs could be fixed in the
upper part, have hitherto prevented me from
ufing them, though they might, probably, be at-
tended with very confiderable advantages.

K. The afh-hole ; this is clofed in the fame
manner as the aperture of the furnace, by Aiding
doors ; or more limply as has been defcribed in
the explanation of the furnace exhibited in
plate I.

G. A tube of lead formed all of one piece,
without folder, and caft at one Tingle pouring,
or feveral fucceffive pourings like water pipes in
copper moulds. It may alfo be caft very fhort
at one (ingle pouring, provided it be made thick
enough to be afterwards drawn out. TheTe
fucceffive drawings reduce its thicknefs to a An-
gle line, while its internal diameter is kept at
feven or eight lines, which proportions are very
convenient. This pipe is fixed in the pneumatic
veflel in fuch a manner that it may be freely

raifed

Explanation of the Plates. 337

raifed and lowered in the groove L, made for
this purpofe in the piece which fecures it on
each fide in its place, by means of the wooden
pins M.

N. Another tube for a fecond diftilling appa-
ratus, if it be thought fit to place one befide
that already formed, whether for the purpofe of
obtaining a high degree of concentration in the
oxygenated acid, or great fpeed in the compofi-
tion of the gas, on account of the hafte required
in the work.

O. Arms of the agitator, which may be floped
off on both fides. This form agitates the liquor,
and facilitates the abforption of the gas more
effectually than any other.

P. A focket applied to the arbor 'Q of the
agitator. If the pneumatic veffel be conftrucled
according to the reprefentation in the figure,
and the explanation given in the chapter IV. the
fockets, R, here expreffed become unneceffary,
as well as the inverted ftages, whether they be
made with hoops, as at S, or conftru£ted of thin
wood-like fieves, as at T. They are placed in this
drawing only to fhew the manner of difpofing
them in cafe they fhould be preferred. The
crofs-pieces, U, of the bottoms of thefe kind of
veffels, placed upon cleats fixed to the flaves of
the veffel,, fhew the manner in which they are

z to

33 5 Explanation g/ the Plates.

to be fixed, with wooden pins, that they may
not be fubje£t to rife, nor become loofe in any
refpect.

X. The cover of the pneumatic veffel.

Y. A ftool upon which the veflel itfelf is
fupported.

Fig. 3. — Exhibits the manner in which the
hoops of thin wood are joined for the purpofe
of forming the inverted veffels, as well at their
terminations, where one part overlaps the other,
as upon the circumference attached to the bot-
tom itfelf.

a. Wooden nails with heads. Oak is the befl
material. The extremities of the hoop of thin
wood overlapping each other, and fecured on
each fide in the joint of their ligature with
wooden wedges.

b. The extremities of the circle of thin wood
lying over each other, and confined on each
fide in the joint of their ligature with wooden
wedges.

Fig. 4. — The manner in which the hoops are
put on which hold the fmall ftaves of thefecond
conftruftion together. The circles a are kept
together without binding, merely by a fcarf or
notch made in each end. Thefe hoops are
{tripped of their bark.

Cr The

Explanation of the Plates. 339

c. The flaves. Thefe, as well as the bottoms
themfelves, may be made of yellow deal.

a. The fcarfed ends of the hoops, which are
turned inwards.

Fig. 5. — The method of difpofing the tranf-
verfal bars to which the bottoms of the inverted
veflels are fixed, a the crofs-bars. b the bottom
of the inverted vefTel. c the ftaves. d the fcarfed
hoops, e wooden pins which fix the bottom of
the inverted veflfcl to the crofs bar. They are
rivetted beneath, by fplitting the lower point of
the pin, and driving a wedge into the notch. /
a fmall block or cleat, fixed to the ftaves of
the cafk with wooden pins, g, driven flan t ways
above the crofs-bar to keep it fteady in its place.

Ffsn 6. — The method of fixing the inverted
veflels, which have a border of thin wood like a
fieve. a the hoop or circle of thin wood pinned
to the circumference of the bottom, b heads of
the pins which fix the circular part, c boards
making part of the bottom, but left of a greater
length, in order that they may be fixed down to
the fupport d.

As thefe circles of thin wood are not likely to
join exactly to the circumference of the bottom
of the vefTel, they mult be made good with putty,
after previoufly flopping the larger vacuities
with tow driven firmly in. Pitch may be ufed

z 2 inftcad

34-o Explanation cf the Plates.

inftead of putty, if it fhould be found more con-
venient.

Fig. 7 and 8. — Section and plan of the veffel
for immerfing linen, hempen or cotton thread.
It is placed on rollers or trucks, a, for the con-
venience of removal.

A. Ears with the corners rounded off, which
are fupported at each end in a notch or mortice,
B, in the-crofs piece c.

d. Skains of thread, feparate or ranged in
bundles of two or three only. The pofition ot
thefe muft be changed once or twice during the
immerfion, in order that the part which refts on
the bar may be fubjected in its turn to the
action of the oxygenated muriatic acid.

E. A pipe of lead or wood, through which the
veffel is filled from beneath. If the acid were
to be poured upon the thread, it would bleach,
more fpeedily at the upper part than elfewhere.
Inftead of one pipe there may be more, or the
diameter may be fufficiently large for the fpeedy
filing of this veffel.

F. A funnel through which the bleaching
liquor flows from the pneumatic veffel. In ftricl-
nefs it may be fuppreffed, and the apparatus fa
difpofed that the cocks from that veffel may
difcharge themfelves immediately into the upper
part of the pipe, which muft be fixed withinfide

the

Explanation of the Plates. 341

the vefTel, in order that it may not impede the
covering and uncovering. The cover ought to
be corapofed of feveral portions or frames of
glafs, as was directed with regard to the vefTel
for immerfing piece-goods 3 as by this means
facility of management, and fpeed in the procefs,
are infured.

G. A fmall door or Aiding piece, in which a
plate of glafs is fet, through which it is eafy to
obfer-ve the progrefs of the work. This may be
opened from time to time to examine the goods
without railing the covers.

This method of difpofing the fkains of thread
in the oxygenated muriatic acid, is likewife ap-
plicable to their immerfion in the fulphuric acid 5
when either of thefe liquors is exhaufted, it may
eafily be drawn off, either by means of fyphons
or of a cock placed near the bottom.

Fig. 9.— Seaion of a vefTel for immerfing
piece-goods, to which a pair of hooks is ahixed to
wring out the pieces in parts at a time, particu-
larly if of considerable magnitude.

A. uprights, which may be eafily adapted to
the two oppofite fides of the vefTel by means of
the two clamps, B, which are fixed to the vefTel
with a hinge on one fide and a ftaple and pin on
the other or by ftaple and pin on each fide, if
z 3 intended

542 Explanation- of the Plate t. '

intended to be applied to other vefTels. The
lower ends of thefe uprights are inferted into
holes in the floor or pavement of the workihop.
The hook D is fixed and unmoveable. The hook
E is capable of revolving upon its fhank, the
outer end of which is fixed by plate3 of iron and
fcrews to the levers I.

The ufe of this aparatus for wringing is equal-
\y applicable to the bath of oxygenated muriatic
acid, or fulphuric acid or lees, or the macera-
tions, &c.

Fig. 10. — A tube of glafs divided into feveral
equal parts called degrees, it is of ufe to afeer-
tain the ftrength of the oxygenated acid. This
tube is eafily made out of any cylindrical bottle
or piece of tube, the lower end of which may be
(imply flopped with a cork. White glafs is to
preferred, and it is convenient that it mould be
about an inch in diameter.

Fig. 1 1 .—A fmall meaiure of glafs, tin, lead, or
pottery, which when full contains the quantity
of liquor neceffary to form one of the degrees
traced on the external furface of the tube with
a flint or the edge of a file. The trial is made
by pouring one of thefe meafures of the oxyge-
nated muriatic acid intended to be proved into
the vellel? fig. 10, and afterwards oblervirig how

many

Explanation of the Plates* 343

many of the fame veffels filled with indigo blue,
or tincture of cochineal, &c. prepared as direct-
ed in Chapter IX — XIV, it will difcolour. .From
the refult of the experiment, the liquor is judged
to be more or lefs adapted to the bleaching
procefs ,

* 4

APPENDIX }

0 R,

SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER.

i. Nomenclature.

J\t the end of the original work, the author
has given a fhort table of fynonimous terms, to
which the following is equivalent :

Scientific Names.

Marine or muriatic acid
Oxygenated muriatic acid

Nitric acid —

Sulphuric acid — «
Ammoniac —

Carbonate of ammoniac
Aluminc —

Potato — .

Carbonate of potalh

Names in the Market, or
common isames.

Spirit of fait.

Dephlogifticated marine
acid of Scbecle.

Spirit of nitre; aqua
fortis.

O'l of vitriol.

Spirit of fal ammoniac
with lime.

Sal volatile.

Pure clay.

Pearl afti (which is im-
pure).

Salt of tartar.

Soda

346

'Appendix,

Scientific Names.

Soda —

Carbonate of Soda
Sulphate of ; otafh

of foda

■ of alumine

. of iron

- of copper

-^— — of zinc

Acetite of copper

Muriate of foda
Oxide —

Namtt in the Market, Of
common Names,

Barilla.

Salt of foda.

Vitriolated tartar,

Glauber's fait.

Alum.

Copperas ; green vitriol.

Vitriol ; blue vitriol.

White vitriol, or cop-
peras.

Verdigris, or diftilled ver-
digris (if in cryftak).

Common fea fait.

The ruft or calx of a
metaL

2. Meafures and Weights*

I have not been able to difcover the Jaws of
graduation of the areometer of MofTy, which is
mentioned in this work. If is much to be re-
gretted that all meafures, and inftruments for
fpecific gravity, are not reduced to the. ufual
numbers, of the tables in which that of water is
taken as unity.

Meafures of Temperature, according to Reaumur's
fc ale, are reduced to that of Fahrenheit by this
Rule : Multiply the degrees by 9 -y divide thepro-
du£t by 4, and to the quotient add 32, if the

temperature

•dfpendiw 347

temperature be above the freezing water point ;
or otherwife, if below freezing, take the quo-
tient from 32. The fum or remainder will be
the degree fought.

Meafures of Length. The old French meafures
of length are ufed throughout this treatife. The
Paris foot, compared with the Englifh (Philof.
Tranf. 1768), is as 1.06575 to t, which anfwers
to fomewhat more than 12 inches and three
quarters Engliih. The Paris ell (aune) being
44 French inches, will therefore meafure 46.89
Englifh inches, or rather more than 46 inches
and feven eighths. Whence 5 Paris ells are
very nearly equal to 6§ Englifh yards, the
latter quantity being lefs than half an inch
morter.

Meafures of Capacity. The Paris pint is 2.017
Engliih wine pints, or a little more than a quart ;
and the muid of wine 280 pints, or very nearlv
707 gallons. The feptier or chopine is half a
pint. In corn meafure of Paris, 3 buihels make
1 minot j 2 minots, 1 mine j 2 mines, 1 fep-
tier ; and 12 feptiers, 1 muid. The muid is
not quite 52 Winchefter bufhcls.

Weights. The Paris pound is 7561 Englifh
grains, or one pound, one ounce, and 24I
grains avoirdupois.

Money. The livre is commonly reckoned at"

ten

34^ Appendix,

ten pence Englifh, and is divided into 20 fob,
each confifting of 12 deniers*.

With regard to the articles made ufe of, the
od of vitriol, or fulphuric acid, may be rated
at c|d per lb.; fait, at if per lb. ; manga-
nefe, about one penny per pound ; pearlafh,
6d. per lb. ; foap, 4 1. per cwt. ; coals and other
fuel very different in price, according to the
fituation of the manufactory.

3. Obfervations en the Procefs,

The new method of bleaching, for which wc"
are undoubtedly indebted to Berthollet, in his
application of the oxygenated acid, firft dif-
covered by Scheele, to this ufeful purpofe, was
very fpeedily introduced into our manufactories
at Glafgow and Manchefter, and has fince been"
very generally adopted in Ireland, Germany, and
France. Some of our bleachers in Ireland im-
merfe one thoufand pieces daily. The obftacles
which at firft impeded the progrefs of this new
aft arofe from the prejudices of bleachers, their
ignorance in chemrftry, and the real difficulties

* For the new weights, meafures, and money of France,
which, however, are not ufed in the foregoing treatife, fee
Nicholfon's Fhilof. Journal, I. 199.

Appendix. 349

of the procefs *, the chief of which, as is very
ftrikingly (hewn by our author, confifted in the
intolerable exhalations of the oxygenated acid,
which rendered it nearly impoffible and highly
dangerous for any workman to handle the goods
during the immerfion, while it feemed no lefs
impracticable to contrive a clofe apparatus, in
which the goods ihould be expofed through all
their parts to an equal a&ion of the bleaching
liquor. Various contrivances were tried with
little fuccefs, till it was difcovered that an ad-
dition of alkali deprived the liquor of its pun-
gent effluvia, but left it in poffeffion of its
bleaching power. It feems to have been gene-
rally thought that the only inconvenience of
this addition was the expence of the alkali ; but
Mr. Rupp f, in a lace excellent memoir, has
fhewn that the ufual addition of one pound of
pearlafli to the liquor for every three pounds
of fulphuric acid in the mattras, renders the
bleaching upon an average * $ per cent, lefs ef-
fectual, which, with the coil of the alkali adds
40 per cent, to the coft of the unfaturated liquor.

* Mr. Watt at Glafgovv, and Mr. Henry and Mr. Cooper
at Manchefter, were among the firft by whofe exertions .his
art was introduced.

) Manchefter Memoirs, v. Parti.; or Nicholibn's Jour-
nal, II. s68.

The

35° Appendix.

The fame ingenious chemift has propofed a
machine for the gradual and regular expofure
ofthefurtace of piece-goods to the bleaching
liquor in a clofed veffel. It confifts of two rol-
lers, upon one of which the cotton is wound,
and from which another roller draws it by-
means of a winch. Daring this action, the
evolved face is expofed to the liquor, and when
all the cloth is thus wound off, it is rolled baek
again upon the original cylinder, to which the
handle is for that purpofe fhifted. It does not,
however, appear that the inventor has ever ufed
his apparatus, and I very much fear that the
piece would run endways upon the cylinders fo
as to defeat the operation *.

Mr. Rupp found the bleaching liquor to be
always ftrongeft when the diftillation was car-
ried on very flowly, and that this ftrength is
much increafed by diluting the fulphuric acid
more than is ufually done. The following pro-
portions afforded the ftrongeft liquor : three
parts manganefe, or more or lefs, according to
its quality; eight parts common fait; fix parts
oil of vitriol; and twelve parts water.

The author of the prefent treatife mentions

* On this fubjecl:, which is the chief difficulty in cylinder
printed, fee the Journal kft quoted, I. 33.

lime

appendix. 25l

lime as a fubftitute for alkali in the bleaching
liquor, but without particularly infilling upon
it as pofTefling fuperior advantages. Our bleach-
ers, however, doubtlefs from experience, at
leaft in point of cheapnefs, fet'a confiderable
value upon it. Mr. Turner, of Darnly, near
Glafgow, obtained a patent * in January, 1798,
for the fole ufe of this earth in a 11 ate of me-
chanical fufpenfion in the bleaching liquor, and
has even received premiums or rents from other
bleachers for permiihon to ufe his method. But
I understand that the validity of this grant is
likely to be contefted.

* See Repertory of Arts, ix. 303.

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4 Nea Books Published by W. Bayncs.

F greatest utility to all those who read the Bible, and desire fully fo un-
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Ci.ab.KE, in 1 vol. crown 8vo. 4s boards.
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Vide Bishop Home's Discourses, vol. 1.

25 A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, adapted to the

state and condition of all orders of Christians, by W. Law, A.M.
The fourteenth edition, corrected ; to which is added some account of
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abounds with many new and sublimo thoughts; in a word, one may say
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it has in it whatever wit ami wisdom can put together.

Vide Clergymen's Letter, Gents. Mug. Nov* I SCO.

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character sec ttho thr Evangelical and Theological Magazine.

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7/2 the Press, and nill fa shortly published,

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