273 



yet, I think, it muft be confidered, as one which is in a profperou> 

 and promifing {late. 



An extenfive purfuit and intimate knowledge of the linen manufac- 

 ture may probably fuggefl; many experiments, and obfervations, that 

 may be ferviceable in the fabrication of paper ; either to improve the 

 quality of the commodity, to fhorten the procefs, or to reduce the 

 expence of making it. For inftance, the Hime materials and operation-; 

 which are employed in the bleaching of linen, may be ufed, for the purpofe 

 of cleanfing and whitening the linen rags for paper before they come to 

 be macerated for the vat. The ufe of oxygenated muriatic acid, for the 

 purpofe of bleaching linen, and whitening the crude material for pa- 

 per was firfl: difcovered by Monfieur Berthollet, and improved, and 

 extended, by the celebrated Lavoifier, and other French chymifts, it 

 has been happily applied, in practice, in Englar.d, by thofe ingenious 

 manufafturers, Meffrs. Clement, and J. Taylor of iVIaidflione. 



Is not the operation of hot preffing paper, to give it a glofs 

 fomewhat refembling that of vellum ; analogous to the procefs of the 

 calendar, in fmoothing and glazing linens, diapers, and callicoes. 



The fuperiority of French paper to that of all other countries is 

 acknowledged. It not only excels in beauty, but, in durability, and 

 aptitude fof the operations of printing, engraving, and drawing. Such 

 is the flrengih and toughnefs of texture in French paper, that if you 

 fold up a flieet of it, and pafs it through the ring of an half himdred 

 weight, you may raife the weight, and wield it round your head, 

 without any other hold. A degree of flrength, which is not to be found 

 in the paper of any other country. \^ 



The advantages of this firmnefs and continuity of texture, are great,' 

 when the paper comes to be moiftened, and fubjefted to the aftion of 

 types, and copper plates in the operations of printing or engraving. I 

 need fcarcely fay, that the paper, being moiftened, to make it fit for re- 

 ceiving the intended impreffions is thus rendered weak, and fufceptible of 

 injury from the fliarp points of the types and indented lines of the plates 

 which inflift on its enfeebled texture fo many wounds. In proportion 

 Vol. IX. (Mm) as 



