2,0 Mamifannre of GiU Buttons. 



on, a part would be condenfcd in .tfccnding the tube H, and 

 fall back, while the remainder would be efleclually caught in 

 tl^c tub or cafk [, open at the top and partly filled with water. 

 The latter tub (hould be on the outlide of the building, and 

 the defccnding branch of the tube H fliould go down into it 

 at leaft 18 inches, but not into the water. The chimney or 

 tJic afli-pit fhould be furni (lied with a damper to regulate the 

 heat of the fire. 



The water may be occafionally drawn out of the tnabs by a 

 fiphon, and the mercury clogged with heterogeneous matter 

 may be triturated in a piece of flannel till it paflcs through, 

 or placed in a pan of flieet iron, hke a dripping-pan, in afuf- 

 flcicnt degree of heat, giving it a tolerable inclination, fo that 

 the mercury, as it gets warm, may run down and unite in 

 the lower jxirt of the pan. But the mercury will be moft 

 efFe^lually recovered by expofing the refiduum left in the 

 flannel bag to diftillation in. a retort made of iron or of 

 earthenware. 



When the mercury is volatilifcd from the button?, or, as 

 the viorkmen denominate it, when the buttons are dryed off, 

 they are finally burniflied, and are then finiflied and fit for 

 carding. 



, The jea^er unacquaintjsd with this branch of manufacSlurc 

 w^iljl be^furprifed to learn how far a fmall quantity of gold, 

 incorporated with mercury, will fprcad over a fmooth furface 

 of copper. Five grains, worth one fliilling and threepence, 

 on the top of a grofs, that is, 144 buttons, each of one ijfich 

 diameter, are fuificient to excufe the manufafturer from the 

 penalty inflicled by an aft of parliament; yet many, upon 

 an aflay are found to be deficient of this fmall quantity, and 

 the maker fined and the buttons forfeited accordingly. Many- 

 Lund red grofles have been tolerably gilt with half that quan- 

 tity ; fo extremely far can gold be fpread, when incorporated 

 with mercury, over the furface of a fmooth piece of copper*, 



''■' The gent'cmcn to tvhom we are indebted for this cbmmunication 

 have fent us (pccimens of a iic'vv kind of verdigris, of their mnniifHihire, 

 fit for ail the purpofes of dyeing j and a beautiful new colbur'fdr.'pairitcrs, 

 which they call celijfial green. They both prornife to be ufefui articles.— 

 Epit. ' 



III. A 



