288 [Assembly 



fashion of foreign markets, and gratify the pre-Conceived notions of 

 an ignorant and formal people. But there can be no necessity for 

 treading in the footsteps of ignorance, and relinquishing the dictates 

 of common sense until we find by experience that a Tea Leaf must 

 be rolled into a wad before its Tea-making properties can be devel- 

 oped. This is a match to the wisdom of the old Tea dealer. At 

 any rate we know, if any benefit results from rolling the Tea Leaves 

 in the process of curing, we can perform that operation just as easily 

 and just as cheaply as a Chinaman. 



Dyeing. 



Although we can hardly consider the Chinese a very knowing or 

 very wise people, yet they are knowing enough, and wise enough, 

 and cunning enough, to adapt the style of their commodities to the 

 taste of their customers. 



When they perceive that their English and American purchasers 

 judge the quality of Teas by their color rather than by their taste, 

 their ingenuity is challenged to suit the color to the market, and by 

 the use of various dyes and drugs to make the w'orse appear the 

 better quality. This is an habitual and common practice. Log- 

 wood, copperas, carbonate of copper, prussian blue, &c., are all used 

 according to the shade of color and particular bloom required. But 

 perhaps the most deleterious of all the dyes used is the prussian blue, a 

 subtle poison, most destructive to health, and the only reason why we 

 are not poisoned to death out and out, is that the quantity used is not 

 quite sufficient. But although the Chinese are not very particular to 

 guard the health of their neighbors, they are vigilant enough to watch 

 over their own. They never poison themselves. They are satisfied with 

 the taste and quality of the Tea without regard to the color. If this does 

 not show genius, at any rate it shows a roguish disposition to accom- 

 modate us barbarians, by gratifying our national whims when it is 

 their interest so to do. I propose to abolish all dye shops and to 

 preserve the quality of our Tea beverage, by the exclusion of all 

 poisons and all other drugs from the Tea-pot, and by a complete 

 restoration of the herb to its natural purity. If this purification 

 should in any degree contract the circle of medical practice, and 

 curtail the bills of mortality, it will show that the tomb has already 

 received its tribute from that source, and we decline paying any 

 furUier demand. 



