Procefs for extracting a Gum from Lichens, 293 



fbuth-eaft from Cracow, to which I repaired for that purpofe; 

 but I was not allowed to defcend into them, for want of the 

 neceflarv written orders. They are conducted like thole of 

 Wiclitfka; but the pits are deeper, and they contain more of 

 that kind of fait called ftiiibtka. The fait, however, is nei- 

 ther fo pure nor fo various in it3 nature, nor are there to he 

 feen in the latter any of thofe malierpicces of art above de~ 

 fcribed. Large fragments of black wood and alabafter are 

 often found mixed with the fait. 



XLVTI. Account of Lord Dundonald's Difcovery of a 

 Procefs for extracting from Lichens a Gum applicable to 

 moji Purpofes in which Gum Senegal has been hitherto em- 

 ployed, 



X HIS important difcovery was announced by a circular 

 letter from his lordfhip, which' was followed by a meeting 

 of calico printers at Glafgow, and the publication of diifercnt 

 papers, a perufal of which will put our readers in potjeiiion 

 of all that has yet tranfpired refpecthig this bufmefs. The 

 following are copies of the letter and papers alluded to : 



To Calico Printers and other Confumers of Gicm Senegal in 



Scotland. 



GENTLEMEN, April zjl i?or. 



IT is now upwards of nineteen years fince I difcovered that 

 a gummy extract, or gum, (equally well adapted as gum Se- 

 negal for moft purpofes in which that, article is employed,) 

 Was to be procured, by an eafy procefs, from the plant called 

 in botany lichen, or the mofs wiv.ch grows on trees and 

 hedges ; to be had in considerable quantities in many parts of 

 this country, and (till in mueh greater abundance in Sweden, 

 Norway, and in the northern parts of America. 



At the time I made this dilcovery other objects, apparently 

 more important, occupied my attention; but having, fome 

 months ago, been informed that foreign gums had rifen to 

 fuch a priee as to 'hear hard on fever.il branencs of manufac- 

 ture, I again turned my attention to the preparation of gum 

 from the lichen, and can now, with confidence, inform you 

 that it aofwers equally well as gum Senegal for your branch 

 of manufacture. I intended ai one time to have taken out 

 patents, but have now come to the deiermmation of lavmg 

 my invention open, for the benefit of the calico printers and 

 other conlumerjj of gum. 



T3 With 



