1816.] Introduction of Bleaching by Oxymuriatic Acid. 101 
much of the design of your present publication, and it would give 
me pleasure to contribute to its success, in however small a degree; 
and though I can add little to the account you have already received 
from my friend Mr. Milne, you are at full liberty to make use of it 
in any way you think most proper.” It was in the early part of 
1787 I had the honour of accompanying the present Duke of 
Gordon on a tour to the Continent, during which we passed several 
weeks at Geneva chiefly in company with Professor de Saussure, 
under whose direction his Grace had studied there, in the early 
part of his life. Among much valuable information I received 
from Saussure, he showed me the experiment of discharging vege- 
table colours ty the oxymuriatie acid, which though I had met with 
accounts of (1 think in M. de la Metheric’s Journal) I had never 
before seen tried. Impressed with the idea of its importance to our 
manufactures, and well acquainted with the chemical knowledge of 
the Mr. Milnes, I immediately on my return communicated it to 
them, and perfectly recollect our instahtly trying it on a hank of 
~ yarn directly from the spinner, to which in less than an hour we 
gave a good white colour. To the best of my recollection this was 
about the end of July, 1787, and from that time 1 was frequently 
informed by Mr. Milne and his late brother that they always con- 
tinued to use this new mode of bleaching in their manufactory, and 
particularly for finishing orders where they were limited as to time. 
1 also think they were soon enabled to extend its application to 
larger quantities, by using vessels of white wood in place of glass, 
as at first. Mr. Milne is, therefore, in my opinion, perfectly cor- 
rect in stating that ¢heis was the first manufactory in Britain where 
the new method of bleaching was introduced and continued to be 
practised. As His Grace dines with me to-morrow, on his way to 
London, before sealing my letter I shall ask his opinion as to dates, 
&c. and get him to direct it. 
“ J am with great regard, 
‘¢ Sir, your obedient humble servant, 
Fo Samuel Parkes, Esq. Pat. CoPLAND. 
Goswell-street, London. 
28th.—P. S. “ His Grace having read the above, perfectly re- 
collects the experiment shown by Saussure, with the opinion we 
both entertained of its importance; and as it may add to the 
authenticity of your account, permits you to use his name also in 
your publication.” 
From the testimony which this letter affords in corroboration of 
the foregoing details, 1 think I have completely established the fact 
that oxymuriatic bleaching was employed at Aberdeen in preparing 
goods for sale many months prior to any such application of it at 
Manchester, or at any other place in Great Britain, Mr. Mac-. 
gregor’s works in Scotland, where the operations of Mr, Watt were 
conducted, being alone excepted. But surely this circumstance 
does not at-all lessen the merit of Mr. Thomas Henry, and other 
