4i8 On Tainting. 



cefs, the oxide, Inftead of being abforb'ed, ought to flow from 

 the furnace. This circumftance needs excite no uneafinefs; 

 for the wind of the bellows, if well direfted, will make the 

 litharge flow along the gutter more abundantly than if there 

 had been an abforpiioii. 



I have feen refiners in GermanVj who, in conftru^ing their 

 cupells of aflies, formed in the-middle of it a frnall circular 

 depreffion the diameter of which was proportioned tp the 

 quantity of the filver which they knew to be contained in 

 the lead fubjefted to the operation. By this excellent dif- 

 pofition no grains of that valuable metal remain infulated 

 frorn the cake; the whole runs into the central bafon, and 

 forms a cake perfectly round, I would recomn'iend this 

 praAice. 



I am certain that the cupells here propofed, if carefully 

 and properly conftrufted, will be attended with complete 

 fuccefs ; will be free from the inconveniences of thole of 

 afhes, and at the fame time will be economical. I am de- 

 Crous, for the benefit of metallurgy, that the method here 

 pointed out may be put in pra6lice : it will prove that we 

 ought not to be too tenacious in adhering fervilely to antient 

 ufages or to the common routine of workmen. 



XXXIII. On Tainting, By Mr. E.D ayes, Painter *. 



I 



THiKK it right again to repeat, that I have not obferved 

 any order in the produftion of thefe Eflays. They were 

 written as the fvibjedls arofe in my mind, and the pre- 

 fent paper fliould be confidered rather as an introductory 

 addreis than othervvife. My motive in writing the prefent 

 efl'aywas to endeavour to remove the prejudice of thofe who 

 coniider the arts as a ufelefs ftudy, and their produce as 

 things merely ornamental. But who, in a ftate of civil fo- 

 ciety, would be content with the ufeful or neceflfary ? Who 

 is he whofe foul feeks not after perfection ? 



The motions m his fpirit are dull as night, 

 And his afteftions dark as Erebus : 

 Let TO fuch man be trutled. 



Tlie fubjcft of the following effay had long engaged my 

 attention ; but I had dropped the idea of writing on it, in 

 confequence of fome intelligent friends obferving it would 

 be ufelefs, as no one could be fo ftupid as not to fee the ufe- 

 Tulnefs and influence of the arts on fociety. Experience, 



* Connnunicated by the Author. 



however. 



