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In faft, the mathematician extends his aid to mofl: of the practical 

 objefls of human induftry. Terreftrial, and naval architedure invoke 

 his hand ; the farmer looks to him, for improvements, in the utenfils of 

 hufbandry ; every artifan and manufacturer expects, from him, ma- 

 chines, that will facilitate and abridge his labours ; or enable him to 

 perform his work, with more accuracy and perfeftion. Much, I am 

 perfuaded, might yet be done, by profound knowledge of mechanic 

 powers, in the conftruftion, both of fpinning machines, and looms, for 

 the amelioration, both of the thread and the web. 



A member of this academy, who direfts the refearches of profound 

 fcience, guided by diftinguiflied talents, to the mofl ufeful objefts, has 

 fhown how praftical chemiftry and philofophy may combine, to aid 

 the hufbandman, in the cultivation of his fields ; by fliowing him the 

 particular manure adapted to each peculiarity of foil. Chemiftry takes 

 the range of mofl: arts and manufaftures, and makes, in its circuit, 

 fome ufeful prefent to each. It taught the French, as I have before 

 obferved, to abridge the procefs of tanning leather, and to difpenfe 

 with the ufe of bark, in that operation. It has improved the art of 

 bleaching ; it examines the philofophy of permanent colours ; it ex- 

 plores the operations of fire, its power to fix or to transform ; the 

 caufes and compofuions of dyes and pgments ; it furniflies the painter 

 and the dyer, with new fubftances, of ufe in their refpeftive arts; 

 and teaches them, to prepare known fubftances, in a more cheap and 

 commodious manner. 



Near a century and half ago the procefs of dying, and the art of 

 fixing colours, appeared to be of fo much importance, that they en- 

 gaged the attention of the Royal Society in England, who, properly 

 impreffed with the utility of the inveftigation, earncftly recommended 

 thefe fubjefts, to the experimental philofophers of the time, Boyle and 

 Hook. In France, Colbert, anxious to extend the commerce and ma- 

 nufaftures of the country, turned his attention particularly to the art 

 of dying ; with a view to amend and improve the practice, as well 



( N n 2 ) as 



