I79I' ^^' J- vviLsohf ON blIachisG. i 75 



To f^r Editor of the Bee. 



SiR, Stockport, May i6th, I7'jl. 



I received your polite letter, and am forrr, that, for 

 various reafons, I cannot, at prefent, make public \nj 

 new proceTs in bleaching. I fliould have been gl-.id to 

 have been abie to indulge yoa in this refpecl, as 1 think 

 you are entitled to the elteera of the world, ior the ar« 

 dour with which you inquire into fubjecls of general 

 utility. \\'hat follows, is all that I v-'ould wiih tcF 

 commun'.cate concerning it at prefent. 



The method, which I have lately devifed, faperfedes 

 every former procefs, and muft be confiderably cheaper 

 than that which is recommended b}' Mr. Eerthollet, as 

 the materials employed are lefs expenlive than fiis. 

 The procefs itfclf is alfo more Cmple. 



That my liquor is ejjentiully different fronn hi?, will 

 be apparent from the following conSderatien, His, un- 

 lefs when combined with an alkali, deftrovs every co- 

 lour vhich is put into it ; but mine, without the ufc 

 of any alkaline fubllance, preferves the blue in the fci- 

 vages of Britifla Calicos ; and, as far as my experiments 

 have gone, it dees no injury to any other Bxcd e-j. 

 lour. 



My preparation is fo fafe, that I have taken cottoij 

 lotli, which had been ftceped in llrong liquc, and 

 without wafliing it, have dried it both in the open air; 

 and at the fire, and found that the fabric was net im- 

 paired. There is alfo anoiher pioctfs, peculiarly fair- 

 able for ftrong goods, where there are no d^eJ coIcu:-s 

 to be retained. 



I would not be underftood a3 boiifLing of what I ha\e 

 done. 1 would afcribe my fuccefs to a Utde attentive 

 pbfervation, aided by a concurrence of fortunate cir- 

 iumftance?. The prefent is a t-me of difcovejy, and 



