1815.] Scientific Intelligence. 281 
which unites the colouring matter with the fibres, and renders the 
subsequeut bleaching process necessary. Thus, by Mr. Lee’s 
process, flax and hemp are obtained in much greater quantity, of 
much stronger quality, and much finer in the fibre than by the 
common method, and the necessity of bleaching is altogether 
superseded. The great importance of such an improvement must 
be at once obvious to every one. 
Ill. Thermometer. 
(fo Dr. Thomson.) 
MY DEAR SIR, July 24, 1815. 
In consequence of a bill that is coming before the House of 
Commons for the universal regulation of weights, I beg leave to 
suggest, through your Journal, my ideas for the regulation of the 
thermometer and pyrometer, which is so different as to require, 
when reading off various temperatures, some calculation before you 
ean perfectly understand it ; beside the liability of mistake that may 
arise from quoting different thermometers, as Fahrenheit, Reaumur, 
&c. My ideas on the subject are for all thermometers to begin with 
@, or zero, for water just freezing (as | do not see any reason why it 
should be called 32°), and continue it down to mercury freezing, 
and upwards to water boiling, which might be called 200°, as there 
would then be only 20° difference between the present nominal 
temperature of boiling water and the new one ; and also to continue 
it upwards as high as mercury would admit, which, for example, 
say 500°. The pyrometer (Wedgwood’s) might then commence by 
ealling the first degree 1°, equal to 501° of the mercurial. The 
degrees of temperature would be then understood by the mere 
number written, without the addition of Fahrenheit or Reaumur, 
&c. and the higher degrees would, by comparison with the numbers 
of the lower, be easier, as the equivalent of Fahrenheit to any de- 
gree, say 50° of Wedgewood, is known to very few. I think it might 
perhaps be an improvement to make the mercurial thermometers in 
two scales; that is, one up to 220°, or thereabouts, for common 
purposes; and the other to 500°, or any other number that may be 
thought proper. I merely beg leave to suggest the above ideas, as 
I am thoroughly aware it must be a matter of courtesy whether the 
foreign chemists will adopt it, when made, in preference to Reaumur 
or Celsius; as the great use of the improvement would be materially 
done away with by their refusing the use of it; and 1 know no 
means so likely to on it into use as coming from you, through the 
medium of your Annals of Philosophy. \f you consider the above 
remarks worthy a place among a number of far more worthy papers, 
I shall feel myself honoured by your compliance. 
I remain, Sir, yours respectfully, 
Wi. 
P.S. In a paper which I sent you some time since, I promised 
some experiments with regard to the nature of bees, wasps, and 
