830 SulstitulionofOxymuriate of Magnesia for that of Lime. 



the result of which was, that the idea was originally con- 

 ceived by Mr. William Ramsay of Glasgow, that it is ahoai 

 four years since he applied it to the clearing; of printed ca- 

 lico, in the way of experinicyit ; but that it is three years 

 since he made known the manner of preparing the salt to a 

 calico printer, Mr. T. Arthur at Levcnbank, in the county 

 of Dumbarton, who employed it very exlensivcdy ; and that 

 Mr. Ramsav also conminnicated it to a bleacher at Lennox 

 Miln printfield. Some time after this, the house in which 

 Mr. Ramsay is concerned received a letter from Belfast, offer- 

 ing for sale the very process which he himself had originally 

 communicated. It was fortunate enough for Mr. Ramsay 

 that he had not kept his sc cret entirely to himself, as other- 

 wise he might nov/ perhaps be unable to lay such irresisti- 

 ble claims to originality. 



I also wished to know from the bleachers of Scotland, 

 what was their general opinion concerning the supposed de- 

 leterious influence of muriate of lime. I was not displeased 

 at finding, that in the use of this substance there was not 

 one disagreeable circumstance that could lessen the merit, 

 or subtract from the importance, of Mr. Tennanl's must 

 valuable discovery. 



It now only remains to, notice the precise situation in 

 which the matter rests : Sir H. Davy at first proposed 

 the substance in question, as a general agent in bleaching. 

 The substitution appears to have been grounded on an 

 assertion at present denied upon all sides ; and the pro- 

 posal itself is said to be impracticable from its expense. 

 Sir H. Davy, by his own account, proposed his process for 

 whitening only within the last few months ; but Mr. Ram- 

 say had |)ui it to practice almost four years before. 



Such are the results of my few inquiries on the subject. 

 Should any be inclined to dispute the claims of Mr. Ram- 

 say, I have little doubt that all the parties concerned, with 

 perhaps several others, will, if called upon, give their united 

 testimony in favour of the above statement. 



I am sir, 

 With respect, yours, &c. 

 Dublin, ' M. Donovan, 



Sept. 21, 1812. 



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