Dr, Martin Wall. 99 



regard to the treatment of cloth, the most truly Manchester 

 subject in the volume, is given by Dr. Eason on p. 240, vol. 

 i. (Aug. 7, 1782). The author wishes to recommend the 

 use of muriatic acid instead of sulphuric acid in the bleach- 

 ing of cloth, after the alkaline treatment ; because not only 

 is it cheaper, but when sulphuric acid is used ' the selenitic 

 matter adhering to the threads of the cloth will injure it 

 and make it feel hard to the touch, and probably is the 

 reason why some linens wear so badly ! ' 



The present aim is to load the cloth to the utmost with 

 extraneous matter, and if selenite is not used much at 

 present, it is because another sulphate comes in more 

 conveniently. An exporter of sulphate of magnesia in 

 Stassfurt was asked rather in fun, if he did not think it a 

 dishonest thing to sell that material to the Manchester 

 people in order to enable them to adulterate their goods } 

 ' That I never do,' he said ; * I sell this and know nothing 

 of it after it leaves me. I would not sell it for such a 

 purpose as you mention.' Men defend the custom by 

 speeches and letters in newspapers, and defend their bad 

 cloth by lawsuits, and put on an appearance of ill-usage 

 when they lose the case. 



Wonders in nature we see and scan, 

 But the chief of them all is man. 



Dr. Martin Wall. 



Dr. Martin Wall was Praelector of Chemistry in the 

 University of Cambridge in 1782 ; we find him paying the 

 greatest respect to the rising scientific authorities in 

 Manchester, and writing with great deference. A gentle 

 essay * On the Use of Symbols' (chemical) shows his classical 

 knowledge and tastes ; but we do not find in him either 



H 2 



