ANALYSIS OF LITIIOMARCE. 



of the \vcb by the curling or intermixture of the 

 fibres on its furfacc. Any kind of clay will an- 

 fxvcrthcfc purpofcs, provided it is free from quali^ 

 ties pofitivcly noxious. The filiceous part of it 

 mud be very finely divided ; for large particles 

 would wear the threads with their angles, or 

 even cut them under the hammers : The argil- 

 laceous proportion alfo mull not be too fmall, 

 that it may readily diflblve in water, form the 

 ncccfiary confiflcncc, and be eafily waflicd a- 

 way when the operation is fmiflicd. It mud 

 not be combined with any colouring matter, ci- 

 ther vitriolic, or any other that is capable of af- 

 fe cling the dye of the cloth. It fhould contain 

 a fmall proportion of chalk; but if that propor- 

 tion is cncreaied, the mafs becomes too thin, 

 looting not only its tenacity, which is ncccflary 

 to form the pile or map, but its grcaiincfs alfo, 

 by which the threads arc prcferved againft all 

 external violence. Nothing of the kind of py- 

 rites ought to be in it. But that it may contain 

 the calx of iron not combined with any mcnf- 

 truum without prejudice, is evident from the 

 Hampfliire clay, which is an excellent fullers 

 earth. 



We have no doubt but the Ofmundic likcwife 

 might be very fcrviccablc, if it could be procur- 

 ed in fufficicnt quantity, and of the fame quality 

 as tjiat examined here. Soaps would indeed be 

 M 2 preferable 



