Sulsiitution of Oxymuriate of Magnesia for that of Lime. «27 



on as seemed sufficient to obtain a solution as saturated as 

 at first ; and in this state the whole vvas left for 24 hours. 

 The specimen after washing and drying vvas not perceptibly 

 injured. 



Sensible, however, thai I could not possibly be a compe- 

 tent judge of the strength or soundness of linens, I resolved 

 to subnut the mailer to persons who, from constant expe- 

 rience, should be supposed adequate to the task of decidmg 

 the Qiicslion. I accordinglv handed the specimens to some 

 persons of iircat respectabi'ity who are engaged in the linen 

 trade, and whose names if necessary shall be made public. 

 These gentlemen permit me to state, that in their opmions 

 the linens were perfectly sound and merchantable. 



In the preceding experiments, it is to be observed, that 

 the solutions of muriate of liaie were considerably more 

 concentrated than any that are used by the bleacher; and I 

 thought It probable ihat if the muriate ever exerted any de- 

 leteruHis influence on the linen, it would be the more con- 

 siderable in proportion as the power of the deleterious fluid 

 was increased. If this be fact, and we can scarcely doubt 

 that it is, the second trial was particularly calculated to 

 effect the destruction of the cloth ; for the muriate was in a 

 state of fusion, and consequently was brought to the utmost 

 state of concentration that could be employed in expe- 

 riment. 



The forecoing is a simple statement of facts as I found 

 them. I am much at a loss to account for the difference 

 between my results and those of others. I will not say that 

 Sir H. Davy has been deceived ; it is just as likely that I 

 have been deceived : yet it will be allowed, should the latter 

 prove to be the truth, that there must be something in the 

 matter \niih which we are as yet unacquainted, and which 

 consequently ie(]uires elucidation. 



As well as I can recollect, Sir H. Davy, in his lectures 

 1810, proposed the oxvmuriatcof magnesia as a substitute 

 f )r the oxynjuriate of lime in all the processes of bleaching. 

 I am the more satislied in thiS opinion by the coincident 

 testimony of f)thers : indeed the matter appears to be de- 

 monstrable from ceriaiii passauesin Sir H.Davy's Elements, 

 and Irorn his ol)servaiions on the destructive mfluence of 

 muriate of lime on Imen. 



The impracticability of this proposal is, in another part 



of this Magazine, adverted to by Dr. Ogilby, on accoinit 



ot the enonnou-; comparative expen>e ot niagiii'Sia. What 



compeusating advantages are to be derived Irum the suo.u- 



P 2 luuon ? 



