3 4^ Mr, Henrfs Conjtderations on different Materials t 



liiftory of dying, to that written by Mr. Delaval, 

 and prefixed to his ingenious treatife on light 

 and colours, yet I could not refrain from relating 

 it on this occafion. 



Permit me alfo to mention another hiftorical 

 fa6l from the ancient hiftory of this art. The 

 Phoenicians held a decided pre-eminence in the 

 tinftorian art, for many ages : their purple and 

 fcarlet cloths were fought after by every civilized 

 nation, and the city of Tyre, enriched by its 

 commerce, increafed to an amazing extent. 

 But her career was flopped by the vanity and 

 folly of the Eaftern emperors ; under whofe do- 

 minion, this opulent city had unfortunately 

 fallen. Defirous of monopolifing the wearing 

 of the beautiful cloths of Tyre, thefe misjudging 

 tyrants iflued moft fevere edifts, prohibiting any 

 one from appearing in the Tyrian blue, purple, 

 or fcarlet, except themfelves, and their great 

 officers of ftate. The enabling, and enforcing of 

 f{/mptuary laws requires great judgment, and de- 

 licacy ; and much caution fhould be ufed, left, 

 in curbing exceffive luxury, the arts, which arc 

 fupported by its moderate indulgence, fhould be 

 deftroyed. Such however was the fate of the 

 Tyrian dyes. Under the impolitic reftraint im- 

 pofed on the confumption of the Phoenician 

 cloths, the manufafturers and dyers were no 

 longer able to carry on their trade, it grew lan- 

 guid. 



