Proceedings of Societies. 
1 73 
useful knowledge they might, with their opportunities, collect, and add to the com- 
mon stock. 
“ I send you a bottle of the Burmese lacker, and shall be much obliged to you to 
forward it to your correspondent in China with a request, that he would endeavour 
toascertain whether it be the same as that with which the Chinese make their beau- 
tiful black varnish. It would be very desirable to know the exact process by which 
the Chinese prepare it, from the raw state in which it flows from the tree, such as 
is now sent. 
After ascertaining the mode of its preparation, the ingredients which may be 
mixed up with it, &c. the next thing to be inquired into, is the mariner of laying it 
on wood, leather, and other articles. Hoiv many coats are laid on, what time is 
•bowed for each coat to dry, and whether it is dried by artificial heat, exposure to 
the sun, or, as I have heard, in damp cellars under ground. Also how it is polished, 
and whether any coat of a transparent varnish is laid over the whole. 
The implements, used in laying the lacker on, should also be described, such as 
brushes, &c. Perhaps the hand only is used. 
If the Burmese lacker be the material from which the Chinese prepare their 
lacker, it is requested that a portion of what is now sent, may be so prepared and 
returned. If it be not the same, still the Chinese artist may be asked if it w ill answer 
as a substitute, or what are the objections to it. We know that the Burmese em- 
ploy it as a lacker, though we do not know how it is prepared and used by them. 
And, lastly, the Chinese artist should be asked from whence their best lacker is 
procured; and, if possible, a drawing of the tree and of the seed should be made. If we 
could get the seed itself, or some live plants, so much the better. 
T* S. I should he glad to procure specimens of the real Chinese lacker in its rude 
and prepared state. If it be mixed with any kind of oil, some of the oil is also re- 
quested, and the proportions of oil to the varnish should be stated. If a transparent 
tarnish is laid over the last coat of the lacker, the composition of that varnish 
should be ascertained, and specimens of it in its prepared state, and of the resin 
from which it is made, should be sent.” 
lleply to the above. 
“ The Varnish tree of China is called Long shu . The varnish, when fresh and un- 
»ixed with colouring matter, is of a reddish colour and transparent. In this state it 
is laid over bamboo pillows, baskets, &c*. 
The pigments incorporated with the varnish are lamp black, vermilion, &c. as 
tke colour may be wanted black, red, or other. 
Common lackered ware has only one coat ; the finer kinds three ; from whence 
dealers, in recommending the ware, say ‘ it is three times lackered.’ 
The uncoloured lacker is called tsuh in Chinese. Du Halde tells us that it is not 
customary to draw it from trees leas than 7 or 8 years old. 
The Chinese lackered ware, when discoloured by the contact of hot fluids, is ex- 
posed to frost or the sun to restore its brilliancy. The lacker is laid on with a stiff 
end very wide bristle brush inserted into a wooden handle, and is suffered, as far as 
I have observed, to dry gradually in a cool shady place, and not in the sun, lest 
ft blister and peel off. 
V. — Proceedings of Societies. 
1. — Asiatic Society. 
A Meeting of this Society was held on 'Wednesday, the 6th instant, the Ilonor- 
ehle Sir Charles E. Grey, president, in the Chair — Maharajah Baidya- 
xath Kai, Captain Hamilton, Mr. Seppin os, and Captain Cowles, were 
dected Members of the Society. . . 
Captain Herbert was elected a Member of the Committee of Papers, in the 
town of Colonel Hodgson, gone to Europe. n 
Read extract from a note from Mr. Calder, stating that the donation of 20,000 
Rupees, made by the King of Oude to the Society, had been realized, and only 
Waited for a favourable remittance. , , , , , . 
Resolved, that on receipt of the donation, it should be suitably acknowledged by 
lac Society. 
* The Burmese lacker you sent me to examine appears to be coloured artificially. 
