10 THE MANUFACTURE OP LEATHER CLOTH. 



machines, and carry it to the drying-rooms. While watching the pro- 

 cess, we thought that in many respects, it was similar to the tanning 

 with sumach, from the leaves and stalks of the Rhus coriaria, by means 

 of which skins are made into morocco leather. As the leather cloth can 

 be made permanently soft and elastic by the oily matter combining with 

 the texture of the cloth, as it does with the fibres of the skin, the 

 imitation is complete and successful. 



There is another room in this establishment, especially interesting to 

 the artist, where the cloth is printed in gold and colours, in designs 

 which are really chaste and beautiful, and which, when used for the 

 furniture and hangings, adorn rooms with something of oriental 

 splendour. Here, too, there are table-covers with floral borders, rich in 

 colour and choice in grouping, with centre pieces, which, as specimens 

 of decorative art, are very effective. Many of these are displayed at 

 the International Exhibition, and, we doubt not, excite both surprise and 

 admiration. 



The mixing room is a kind of sanctum of the manager's, and we sup- 

 pose that from the skill with which the colours are prepared arises much 

 of the excellence of the company's manufacture. In a room adjoining 

 there are sixteen colour 7 grinding mills, constructed on the American 

 principle, and worked by machinery, as in, indeed, almost everything on 

 the premises seems to be. The machine which sets all in motion is a 

 high pressure double-cylinder engine of 50-horse power, made by Woods, 

 of Halifax. There are three immense Cornish boilers by Hill, of Hey- 

 wood, which have been tested to a water pressure of 130 lbs. to the square 

 inch, and represented 60-horse power. One of these is sufficient to work 

 the engine by day and heat the drying rooms by night. We observed 

 that, by the generosity of the company, a part of their premises had been 

 given for the use of the 5th Essex Rifle Volunteers ; the drill room and 

 armoury are magnificent apartments, such as are seldom seen devoted to 

 such a purpose. 



A writer in a very useful work on the "Manufactures of Great 

 Britain," asks somewhat triumphantly, "What substitute could be found 

 for leather ? — a substance at once durable and elastic, affording protection 

 from wet and cold, capable of being formed into innumerable useful 

 articles, and susceptible of a high degree of ornament, and supplying 

 lining to our carriages and covers to our books." This book was pub- 

 lished in 1848, under the direction of the " Committee of General 

 Literature and Education," and now in 1862, we have a substitute 

 answering all the requirements here specified. 



As to protection from wet and cold, the whole American army is 

 equipped with leather cloth in the shape of capes, leggings, and knap- 

 sacks, our upholsterers can vouch for its durability and elasticity. The 

 useful articles into which it can be made, and the degree of ornamenta- 

 tion it can receive, are becoming even 7 day more manifest. We line our 



