120 Mechanic Arts. [Chap. IX. 



debtee! to Dr. Macbride^ Messrs. Fay, Seguin, 

 Desmond, and several others *. 



The still more numerous and radical improve- 

 ments which late years have produced in the art 

 o^ Brew'mg, are no less woithy of notice. The 

 successive investigations, and valuable writings, of 

 sir Robert Murray, Mr. Combrune, \h Richard- 

 son, Mr. Ker, and Mr. Long, on this subject, are 

 worthy of respectful notice in marking the pro- 

 gress of the age under review. 



In the art of Bieac/N??g, also, important disco- 

 veries and improvements were made in the course 

 of the last age, especially toward the close of it. 

 The speculations and experiments of Drs. Home 

 and Black, and Mr. Watt, of Great Britain ; and 

 of Messrs. Chaptal, Bertholiet, Pajot de Ch amies, 

 and Beaume, of France ; beside those of many 

 other chemists and practical artists, have con- 

 tributed to place this art, so interesting to manu- 

 fticturers, entirely on a new footing, within a few 

 years past. Instead of the old process, which or- 



■■* The mode of tanning leather with great expedition was first 

 recommended by Seguin, of France. It was introduced into 

 England by Mr. Desmond, about the year 1790 ; and has been 

 frequently employed with great success. But it is said to be only 

 eligible in cases of pressing necessity, where the process nwst be 

 completed in a short time, being expensive, and, as some believe, 

 in a degree injurious to the leather. The liquid for tanning leather, 

 according to this method, is obtained by digesting ouk bark, or other 

 proper material, in water, frecjuently drawing oft' the v^ater, 

 and pouring it upon fresh tan, until the liquor is highly coloured, 

 and very strong. Into this liquor the hides are immersed for a 

 few days, after being previously prepared for tanning by means vf 

 a 9olution of the astringent principle and vitriolic acid. 



