1800.] 
place for fucceffive generations of moths, 
while, in the later, the books more fre- 
quently ftand upon naked or painted 
boards, which are lefs favourable to th 
propagation of the infect. “ey 
To dimintfh the evil in great libraries, 
I would recommend that woollen (uff of 
every kind be either entirely banithed from 
them, or, if fuffered to remain, ftrongly 
impregnated with an infufion of worm- 
wood, aloe, or fome other bitter, that may 
prove difagreeable to the moths; and, 
moreover, that it be not permanently faf- 
tened to the fhelves, but fitted on in a 
loofe manner, fo as to admit of its being 
occafionally taken off to be aired, funned, 
and bruthed. 
But, whether the woollen ftuff be ex- 
cluded or not, it would, I think, be ad- 
vifeable to have the thelves well painted 
with white lead, fince we frequently fee 
proofs that deal boards, as well as paper, 
are liable to the ravages of fome infect of 
the moth-kind, which, from the fhelves, 
may perhaps invade the books, but which 
might be prevented by the paint from 
lodging in the wood. Should d predilec- 
tron for the favorite green colour prove, 
with the proprietor of any library, an ob- 
jection to the ufe of white lead, a good 
thick coat of verdegrife-green would, I ap-. 
prehend, afford no very agreeable gnawing 
to the infect. | 2 
Were cedar lefs expenfive in this coun- 
try, many gentlemen would, no doubt, 
have all their book-thelves formed of that 
wood, and experiments might be made to 
afceriain the moft eligible mode of apply- 
ing its oil or eflence to the covers and 
edges of books, as the ancients fuccefstully 
applied it to their volumes. But this I 
leave for the confideration of cthers. 
Without cecar, however, much might be 
done for polterity if we could prevail on 
the book-binders to take a litle extra 
trouble in the performance of their tak. 
Y have obferved that the covers and backs 
of books are the places where the moths 
are molt apt to fix their refidence, and 
thence make inroads upon the leaves. If, 
therefore, care were taken to mix fome 
bitter diug with the glue and pate ufed 
in binding, this precaution might probably 
be at:ended w th the defirable effect of pre- 
ferving many a valuable book which now 
ftands an unproteéted prey to thele devour. 
ing infeals. 
Ido not indeed expect that any book- 
binder ever will {pontaneoufly fubmit to 
that additional] trouble and expence. But, 
if gentlemen, who beftow new binding on 
Fare and curious books, made a rule to 
Prefervation of Books and Peftures. 
323 
infift on the ufe of medicated glue and 
palte on thofe oceafions, perhaps /ame good 
might be effected. 
While om the fubjeé&t of prefervation, 
allow me, Sir, to add a few words in fa- 
vour of anether clafs of the fine produc- 
tions of genius—that of pif&tures. I have 
frequently obferved the paint to be per 
fectly found, though the canvas was de- 
cayed and rotten. In this fate, a picture 
is liabie to have a hole broken through it 
by a flight ftroke which would perhaps do 
little or no injury to one that hada back 
of found’ canvas to fupport it. “To 
firengthen, therefore, a decayed canvas, 
and to preferve found canvas from decay- 
ing, I propofe that the back of every pic- 
ture receive two or three good thick coats 
of white lead, or whatever other cheap 
pigment is moft recommendable for tena- 
city and ftrength. 
Tn many intances it may not perhaps 
be advifctable to detach the canvas frem 
the ftrainer or inner frame for .he fake of 
completely backing the entire picture ; but 
wherever that happens to be prasticable 
without danger, it would certainly be the 
more eligible mode :—-where otherwile, at 
leaft the chiet part of the piéture may be 
fecured without unnailing it, and no part 
of the canvas left expofed to decay, except 
two or three inches of the margin on eve:y 
fide. 
So much for the piétures already in ex- 
iftence. With refpect to thole which may 
hereafter be produced, I hope that-every 
painter—(that is to fry, every arti; for 
I except all thofe mere canvas-colourers 
who feel a con{ciows conviction that their 
productions are not worth preferving)— 
will henceforward take care to have his 
canvas well backed with a. good ftrong 
coating of paint, previoufly to its being 
nailed to the frame, to fecure it in every 
part from damp, mould, and mildew ; in 
confequence of which fimple precaution, 
his piece may live one or two centuries 
longer than other contemporary pictures- 
whofe backs are naked canvas. 
Submitting thefe hints to the confide- 
ration of thofe who have the good fortune 
to poffefs vaiuable books and paintings, I 
conclude, - Sw, Yours, &c. 
Odfober 2, 1800. sitar ig, 28 
EF 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SER, 
i purfue a fubje& agreeably com- 
menced iu your ufeful Magazine, I 
fhall endeavour to give you a {ketch of 
Exeter, and the prefent flate of its fociety, 
Tt hoping 
