20 



INDIGO. 



onEaTindia ^^^^ process it is necessary 



Indigo. that the moist indigo should be dried slowly, per- 

 fectly, and with a regular degree of heat : it should 

 also remain some time exposed to the air before 

 packed in close vessels or casks. If dried hastily, 

 it occasions the white veins frequently found in 

 indigo, similar to those in the sample B ; it also 

 brings on a violent fermentation (like to that of 

 hay newly stacked), which sometimes entirely 

 destroys the quality of the indigo. Great care 

 should be taken that the indigo is dried upon 

 clean wood cases, free from sand or earth. 

 Through carelessness in the preparation of East- 

 India indigo, sand is frequently mixed therewith, 

 and greatly reduces its value. 



For the perfection of this article and sundry 

 others which India could furnish, upon terms 

 which would render the connection betwixt her 

 and Great Britain mutually and truly serviceable, 

 some political alterations would be necessary in 

 India. I think I gave you some hints on this 

 subject, when I had the honour to attend the 

 Lords of the Privv Council as a deleo;ate from 

 the English Calico and Muslin Manufacturers. 



Though not concerned myself in the manufac- 

 ture of the articles of which that deles:ation was 

 the object, yet I espoused the cause, from an 

 opinion that both Great Britain and India would 

 benefit from a candid investigation of it. From 

 the same principle, I still regret that the Directors 



of 



