US OhjeSfs cf the Art of Dying, {*?c. 345 



ot" greatly changed by the aftion of air, or of 

 certain faline fubftances, to which they are liable 

 to be expofed, and which are necefiary to render 

 them clean, when foiled j — this was an art which 

 required the knowledge of principles not within 

 the reach of untutored men, and only to be ob- 

 tained by gradual invdtigation, and in long 

 procefs of time. 



It has been proved by our ingenious aflbciate, 

 Mr Delaval, that the Egyptians were pofleffed of 

 the art of dying, and even of that of printing on 

 cloths. In a paflage, which he has quoted from 

 Pliny, that author relates that the Egyptians hav- 

 ing befmeared, or drawn on white cloth, with 

 various fubftances, which were in themfelves 

 colourlefs, but capable of abforbing colouring 

 matter, threw them into a caldron of hot liquor, 

 tinged with dying materials; and that, though the 

 parts, thus drawn upon, were not diftinguifhable, 

 before the cloth; was immerfed in the colouring 

 liquor, and though this liquor contained only one 

 colour, it was furprizing to fee the cloth taken 

 out, ftained with feveral different colours, accord- 

 ing as the different parts of it had been irtipreg- 

 nated with the various fubftances, capable of 

 receivtng and altering the nature of the pigment. 



This is fo plain a defcription of the art of what 

 is now called callico printing, chat though it is my 

 intention to refer thofe gentlemen, who wifli to 

 be more intimately acquainted with the ancient 



hiftory 



