UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 145 



The best gum lac is deep red ; it comes to 

 England in five different states : 



1. Stick lac, as in its natural state. 



2. Seed lac, which is the former broken into 

 small pieces, and appearing in a granulated 

 form. 



3. Lump lac, that is, the seed lac, liquefied 

 by fire, and formed into cakes. 



4. Shell lac, or the latter substance thoroughly 

 purified. For this purpose it is put into canvass 

 bags, and held over a charcoal fire, till liquid 

 enough to be squeezed through the canvass ; it 

 is then allowed to drop on the smooth bark of the 

 plantain tree, to which it will not adhere, and it 

 spreads itself there in thin transparent layers. 



Gum lac is extremely useful, being a principal 

 ingredient in varnishes, in sealing-wax, and in 

 cements ; it is also used in large quantities in 

 dyeing silk ; and, when mixed with tamarinds, it 

 is said to make a beautiful scarlet, which is not 

 discharged by washing. 



24/i. Yesterday, you well know, dear Mam- 

 ma, was my uncle's birth-day it was not al- 

 lowed to pass unnoticed, though, he says, the 

 habit of marking particular days may be the 

 cause hereafter of much pain. Be that as it 

 may, we all were anxious to celebrate it. Lit- 

 tle Grace repeated to him, when he came to 

 breakfast, some very touching lines, written by 



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