y32 JAMAICA. 



principle, muft, if unmixed and brought to confiftence, yield a true 



perfe<a: colour, lively and brilliant, as we find it in its natural 



Hate. 



Upon this hypothefis Mr. David Rk, an ingenious gentlemaa 

 of Kingllon in this ifland, proceeded in feveral experiments, to ob- 

 tain from the plant artificially, what rftture accompliflied in the 

 infcd, and at length happily fucceeded by infpiflating the juice j but 

 tie means he ufed are not yet communicated to the public. En- 

 couraged by this difcovery, he went to England with feventy-fix 

 procefies differently manufactured, to try which would anfwer 

 befi: as a fubftitute to the cochineal. After a great number of ex- 

 periments, he found one procefs which communicated a crimfon 

 colour to filk and wool, fuperior to that given by cochineal ; trials 

 of which were made before a number ot the principal dyers in and 

 about London, at the mufeum of the Royal Society, invited there 

 for that purpofe. He alfo found two other proceffes, which pro- 

 mifed, with very little alteration in their manufactory, to afford the 

 colour-making dyes of fcarlet and purple. Upon a moderate calcu- 

 lation it was found, that his colour would go further than three 

 times the quantity of cochineal, which he accounted for by remark- 

 ing, that there is a great part of the infedl, as its ikin, i£c. which 

 affords no dye, but tiiat the whole of his procefs was genuine colour, 

 with little or no impurity. 



Notwithftanding the advantages that might be derived to the 

 nation from this gentleman's difcovery, he met upon the whole 

 with very little encouragement to profecute his manufadure further. 

 It was faid, that " our commerce with Spain would be hurt by itj" 

 for this very reafon it ought to have been encouraged. I am a 

 flranger to the annual importation of cochineal from the Spaniards, 

 but the quantity mufl certainly be very confiderable, as it is fo 

 largely confumed in our fabrics and medical compofitions ; but 

 whatever the quantity may be, it is evident that the procefs dif- 

 covered by Mr. RIz gave promife of rendering the importation of 

 that article wholly unneceffary ; and as his colour, weight for weight, 

 was found to go further in dying fabrics, than thrice the quantity of 

 cochineal, a great faving would be made by the dyers themfelves,. 

 and their fabrics would be afforded at a cheaper rate, all which 



makes 



