62 Recipe for an elastic and permanent Varnish, 
well at the king’s brewliouse at Weevil, from whence 
ships of war lying at or near Portsmouth are usually 
supplied with water for their sea store, as well as for 
present use. 
NO. 14. 
Recipe for an elastic and permanent Varnish for Hats 
or Helmets of Felt , Gaiters , or other Parts of Dress 
in Leather , as Boots and Shoes , and which may he also 
employed with Success in varnishing Cloth and Linen** 
First Operation.— It is necessary, in the first place, 
to free the hats, or other articles of felt, from all the gum 
which they may contain. This may be easily effected by 
washing them in warm water, and afterwards pressing 
them. Before they are perfectly dry, they must be placed 
on moulds in order that they may be preserved in their 
proper shape, and be without wrinkles,— a very essential 
requisite. New leather, as well as old, must be scraped 
in order to clear its superficies from the wax or grease 
with which it is impregnated. Colophony, or resin in 
powder, laid upon a coarse brush, also removes the grease 
perfectly well. 
Second Operation. — All felt hats have a kind of down 
or nap, of which they must be cleared, when dry, by 
means of pumice stone ; and every part of the hat where 
the varnish is to be applied must be smoothed in this 
manner. Leather must be smoothed in the same manner 
also to remove all inequalities, and even the marks of the 
scraper. 
The same method must be pursued with cloths or 
linens. 
* Tilloch, vol. 26, p. 1. From Bibliotheque Physico-Economique, May 1806, 
