WATER-PROOF DRESSING FOR SHOES, &C. 293 



would admit of. The preparation which he found to 

 mix the best, was three oz. of 'Indian rubber, boiled for 

 about three hours, in a pint of linseed oil*, which thus 

 became immediately of a good consistence ; but it re- 

 quired such a time to dry, that he afterwards found it 

 necessary to add spirits of turpentine. In short, it has 

 long been known that the solution of Indian rubber is 

 a valuable recipe for making things waterproof. But 

 there are so many ways of doing it; and, perhaps, 

 among them all, the best not yet discovered, that we 

 must, for the present, dismiss the subject by merely 

 giving the hint, with the hope of putting our speculators 

 on the scent, to bring to perfection what would be to 

 their own advantage, and worthy the notice of the 

 public. 



* This comes very near to the recipe given in our former editions, 

 and now very much in use, for dressing Russia duck. 



