On painting Linen Cloth in Oil Colours. 155 



he had seen it when ground /in oil and laid on work, when 

 it appeared to possess all the properties of goad paint, and 

 bad therefore been recommended by him to the Navy Board. 



SIR, 



In answer to your letter of the 23th of April, in whieh 

 you informed me that the eommittce were desirous that I 

 should furnish them with a sample of canvass painted in the 

 old method, and another on my improved plan, I trust that 

 I shall be able fully to comply with their request. In the 

 first place, I have sent a small sample of the residuum of 

 the burnt canvass, fit for grinding in oil for paint, also a x 

 piece of- canvass painted therewith, marked No. 1 ; another 

 piece painted after the old method, marked No. 2 ; another 

 piece painted according to my process, marked No. 3 ; and, 

 lastly, a piece finished entirely with a new composition, 

 marked No. 4 ; each sample having received three coats of 

 paint. Upon examining No. 2, you will find it becoming ' 

 from time to time more stubborn, in consequence of the paint 

 hardening ; and when a small ridge is formed in it, by press- 

 ing it between the finger and thumb, it will soon discover 

 that it is subject to crack, and by this means, permitting the 

 wet to enter it, will soon rot the canvass. 



The space of time proper between laying on the new pre- 

 paration and the second coat, ought to be one entire day; 

 but if saving time is an object, the second coat may be put 

 on (he day following the first ; for a if the canvass is placed in 

 an advantageous situation for drying, the composition will 

 dry or harden so as not to rub ofT. 



Canvass finished entirely with the composition, leaving it 

 to dry one day between each coat, will not stick together if 

 laid in quantities, as you will find by making experiments 

 on the sample No. 4. 



Since the Navy Board have given directions for ships' can- 

 vass to be painted according to my method, I find, upon 

 calculation, that I have painted upwards of twenty thousand 

 yards since November last, a great part of which has not 

 been hung up tor painting and drying more than one week, 



as 



