Be 
Experiments on the ALKALINE SUBSTANCES ufed in 
BLEACHING, and on the COLOURING MATTER 
of LINEN-YARN. Zy RICHARD KIRWAN, Ej; 
F.R.S. and M.R.I.A. 
4 — 
BitkiiGe Bal O Nb ok 
Breacuinc being one of thofe arts which confift in fcarce 
any thing elfe than a particular application of fome of the general 
. principles of chymiftry, it might be expe@ted that the knowledge 
of the inftruments it employs would keep pace with the progrefs 
and improvements of that fcience to which it is fubordinate, 
and fo much the more as the nature of alkaline fubftances in 
general, which are its proper inftruments, has been in great 
meafure explained by the celebrated Door Black upwards of 
thirty years ago: Yet it has fo happened, that on a late occafion, 
when a fearcity of thefe faline fubftances, imported from foreign. 
countries, unhappily prevailed in this kingdom, it was ferioufly 
queftioned whether their place could be fupplied by materials 
B 2 manufactured 
Read April 
4, 1789. 
