362 DICKSON ON THE STRENGTH AND SPINNING 



your process. I should like also to bring a piece of the India 

 plant which yields such strong fibre. I have a plant growing 

 and could cut off one stalk, if that would be of any use. I 

 am going to publish a pamphlet giving an account of the 

 Indian fibres. I should like to say something about your 

 process. 



" 6 Yours obediently, 



" < J. F. ROYLE. 



" 'Mr. J. Hill Dickson, 



" 6 Proprietor, Flax Works, Grove Street, Deptford.' 



" 'East India House, Dec. 7th, 1854. 

 " 1 Dr. Royle presents his compliments to Mr. Dickson, and 

 regrets that he has been unable to visit his works, and would 

 like to know if any coming day would suit for his coming 

 down. 



" c As Dr. R. is just going to publish his work on fibres, he 

 has an opportunity of mentioning' it, and if, in his work, Mr. 

 Dickson will give him a short description of it, Dr. R. would 

 insert it. There is, of course, a description published among 

 the patents, but Dr. R. would only notice the general prin- 

 ciples, if Mr. D. had no objection. 



" 'Advantage of J. Hill Dickson's inventions in preparing 

 East India hemp and Flax, Italian hemp and New Zealand 

 Flax, as substitutes for Irish, English, and Foreign Flax. 



* ' 6 The extensive firm of Messrs. Hives and Atkinson .sent 

 the following note to Mr. Dickson, in reply to an inquiry 

 respecting the useful qualities of Indian Flax yarn, the fibre 

 of which had been prepared with his valuable patent liquid : — 



" 1 Bank Mill, Leeds, Oct. 4th, 1858. 

 "'Mr. Dickson, Sir, — We think the hank of Indian 

 Flax yarn is in as good a state for weaving as if it were boiled. 

 We have no machinery suitable for the silk, and think you 

 would be more likely to obtain what you want of a silk- 



