[ III  ] 
VIII.  An  improved  Method  of  tanning  Leather.  By  David 
Macbride,  M.  D.  communicated  by  Sir  John  Pringle,. 
Bart.  P.  R.  S. 
SIR, 
Read  Jan.  22, 
1778. 
Dublin, 
May  30,  1777. 
A GREEABLY  to  the  promife  which  I 
^ made  you  fome  years  ago,  I now  fend 
you  my  fecret  method  for  the  more  expeditious  tanning 
of  leather.  If  you  think  the  letter,  and  paper  which  it 
inclofes,  worthy  of  the  Society’s  attention,  you  will  pleafe 
to  prefent  them.  I have  already  delivered  in  one  of  thefe 
fets  of  inftruftions  to  our  Dublin  Society  (who  have  been 
acquainted  with  the  whole  progrefs  of  this  affair  fince 
the  beginning)  and  have  fent  two  others  to  the  Societies 
which  are  eftablifhed  in  London  and  Edinburgh,  for  the 
purpofe  of  encouraging  trade  and  manufactures ; as 
judging  it  will  be  more  in  their  way  than  in  the  Royal 
Society’s  to  extend  the  utility  of  this  invention : for  I 
apprehend  it  will  require  fome  encouragement  from 
them. 
