Coi ton- f Fool, Max, Hemp, ^c. 319 



thods usually followed by bleachers ; the present invention 

 not consisting in the kind of alkaline lyes or other liquorc 

 employed, or in the way of preparing them, but in the mode 

 of applying such alkaline, soapy, or other lyes, and in the 

 method of obtaining and applying the volatile alkali or am- 

 monia to the same purpose ; for when the goods or article* 

 to be bleached are immersed in the alkaline, soapy, or other 

 lye or liquor as before directed, instead of boiling or bucking 

 them in it, as is the practice usually followed, the patented 

 only steep them, or keep them long enough in the said lye to 

 be thoroughly impregnated with it, which requires a longer 

 or shorter time according to the quantity and texture of th« 

 articles or goods. The goods are then drawn out upon a rack 

 over the vessel in which they were impregnated, and suffered 

 to drain, that the superficially adhering lye or liquor may 

 run from them back into the said vessel. After this draining, 

 the goods will still hold a sufficient quantity of the lye or 

 liquor employed to answer the end in view. They are then 

 put into a vessel of sufficient strength and dimensions, which 

 they call the steaming-vat, and which is connected, b]f 

 means of a pipe, tube, or hose, with a boiler, kettle, or cai- 

 iiron, which they call the steaming-kettle, and which may 

 be of any convenient form and dimensions^ The tube above 

 mentioned may pass from any part of the edge or of the sid« 

 of the steaming-kettle, or ^ven from its cover, which ought 

 to fit steam-tight into any part of the side or bottom of the 

 »teaming-vat, the intention and use of it being to convey 

 «team from the foresaid kettle to the foresaid vat, and is fur- 

 liished with a stop-cock, a valve, or any contrivance that will 

 answer the purpose of shutting and opening at pleasure the 

 communication between the said kettle and vat. The steam- 

 ing- vat ought, for the convenience of lifting out the good^ 

 to be furnished with a false bottom of some kind in the inside, 

 as of wood or of net-work, for the goods to lie upon 5 and to 

 this false bottom should be attached ropes, by means of which, 

 and the assistance of a crane and pulley, or any other conve- 

 nient mechanical power, the goods may be withdrawn from 

 the vat after the operation of steaming the goods. The oj)ei- 

 ration of steaming the goods is performed by opening .the 



communis 



