438 [Assembly 



ted States in Paraguay, gave very interesting information as to 

 that region and South America in general. For the present pur- 

 pose, we are happy to quote liim as to dye-stufls : " There is an 

 immense variety ; besides the cochineal, there are two distinct 

 kinds of indigo, vegetable vermillion, &,c." 



It is unnecessary to say that the discussion of this question, 

 proposed by our president Tallmadge, is of great importance, as 

 leading to the growth and manufacture of the indispensible blue 

 dye to our great country. R. L. Pell, being called upon by the 

 chairman, replied. 



The subject is one of very great importance, though at the pre- 

 sent time seldom practiced in domestic economy. If the Club 

 will permit me, I will endeavor to explain some of its general 

 principles. 



It is known that in all ages brilliant colors have excited uni- 

 versal admiration, even among uncultivatedtribesof savages, gay 

 colored feathers have always been sought after and used for 

 decorations. 



The origin of producing colors by artificial means is of very 

 great antiquity. Moses speaks of scarlet, red, and blue dyed 

 stuffs. The Greeks practice it extensively, scarlet was particu- 

 larly esteemed by them. Royalty was only allowed to wear pur- 

 ple. Their famous purple dye was called Tyrian, which was 

 extracted from a Mediterranean shell fish, of the murex species, 

 in very minute quantities, consequently the garments dyed with 

 it were very valuable. The Romans likewise placed a high 

 value on that color, and would only permit dignitaries of the 

 highest rank to wear it. Their colors were inconsiderable, and 

 the art of dyeing progressed slowly until modern times, when the 

 application of that most desirable of all modern sciences, chemis- 

 try advanced it rapidly to a degree of perfection formerly entirely 

 unknown. 



Among the numerous substances capable of coloring cloths, 

 but a very few have suj£cient affinity for them, to answer the 

 purposes of dy«ing of themselves. 



