866 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



public spirit and liberality •in com- 

 municating the discovery to the 

 public without reserve. 



William Adams, Mount Nod, 

 Edward Bullock, Curate, 

 Woi. Gardner, Surgeon. 



Sireatham, Surrey, 

 Jan. 9, 1809. 



These are to certify to the se- 

 cretary of the Society for the En- 

 couragement of Arts, Sec. London; 

 and all whom it may concern, that 

 having seen (at first to our asto- 

 nishment) the rev. James Hall, 

 who has resided here for some time 

 past, procuring hemp from com- 

 mon bean-straw, steeped some 

 days in water, we steeped some 

 also, and easily got hemp from it ; 

 there being no mystery in the mat- 

 ter, more than merely steeping the 

 straw, peeling oft" the hemp, and 

 then washing and cleaning it, by 

 pulling it ' through a hackle or 

 comb. 



These are' also to certify, that 

 having tried bean-hemp, and found 

 it to take both wax and rosin, we 

 have sewed with it, and find the 

 fibres of which it consists in gene- 

 ral so strong, that the leather never 

 failed to give way sooner thnn the 

 seam. We have only to add, that 

 as hemp has of late become uncom- 

 monly dear, while much of it is 

 bad, we anxiously wish the prose- 

 cution of the discovery, and the 

 appearance of bean-hemp in the 

 market ; and shall, so soon as we 

 hear of its being spun and on sale, 

 be among the first to purchase and 

 use it. • 



John Houne, Snoe-maker, 

 Thomas Alford, Shoe-maker. 



Letter from Mr. Hume, of Long 

 Acre, to the Rev. James Hall. 



Sir; 



I inclose a specimen of the bean 

 filaments or thread which have 

 been submitted to the bleaching 

 process. The texture and strength 

 seem not in the least to have been 

 impaired, but retain the primitive 

 tenacity ; and I am persuaded .his 

 substance will prove an excellent 

 substitute for hemp and flax, for 

 the manufacture of various kinds 

 of paper, cordage, and other ma- 

 terials. I did not find nore diffi- 

 culty in accomplishing the bleach- 

 ing of this than in other vegetables 

 which I have occasionally tried, 

 and I believe this article is suscep- 

 tible of a still greater degree of 

 whiteness. I remain, Sir, 



Your very obedient servant, 

 Jos. Hume. 

 Long Acre, Feb. 24; 1807. 



Letter from Mr. H. Davey, to the 

 Rev, James Hall. 



Sir; 



I shall inclose in this paper a 

 small quantity of the bean fibre, 

 rendered as white as possible by 

 chemical means. 



It seems to bear bleaching very 

 well, and, as to chemical proper- 

 ties, differs very little from hemp. 



The question, whether it is likely 

 to be of useful application, is a me- 

 chanicnl one, and must be solved 

 by experiments on its comparative 

 strength. I am, Sir, 



Your obedient humble servant, 

 H. Davy. 



Simple 



