The Sun.
London, England, 1837-10-04 00:00:00

SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIGO.

Public attention has been latterly attracted in France by
the reported perfection to which the discovery of a substi-
tute for indigo has been brought, and by the establishment
of dye-works on a large scale for applying the process to
the dying of wool and woollen cloths, for which it is more
especially suited. It appears that so far hack as the pub-
lic exposition of the protiucts of art and industry for 1834
two pieces of kerseytnere were exhibited amongst the as-
sortment of cloths from the manufactory of M. Cunin Gri-
daMe, ens of the largest and most reputed amongst the
French woollen manufacturers, which were dyed upon the
new principle. The cloths were purposely collected, it
is said, of a strong make and extremely close texture,
so as to test the virtue of the dyeing matter more com-
pletely. The result is stated, according to the report of
the jury or council, to have been entirely successful, a
beautiful even colour being produced—the one piece be-
ing of a light, and the other of a deep blue, of superb
lustre. Tnis discovery was the fruit of eight years' ex-
periments and research by the authors, Messrs. Merle
and INlalartic, dyers at Bordeaux, who, previous to
this public exhibition, had already devoted a portion of
their premises to this particular process. Subsequently,
with the help of M. Poncet, an ingenious chymist and pupil
of the celebrated Baron Thenard, they appeared to have
improved the quality of their material and simplified the
mode of its application ; and the three in partnership have
formed a considerable establishment at St. Denis, near
Paris, which has now been several months in activity. This
new product is called French blue (blue de France), and
its advantages are thus described:-Ist. Its colour, in all
its shades, is of very superior beauty to any thing yet
known. 2d. It is perfectly unchangeable by air, acids,
soaps, &c. 3d. It never whitens at the seams, like indigo.
4th. It dyes in or penetrates the piece in the most perfect
manner, which cannot be done with indigo. sth. It pre:,
serves the qu lity of the cloth with all its softness and
suppleness, without in any way altering the texture or nap.
Gth. It facilitates the reproduction of the sane shades,
which is so difficult with indigo. 7th. Its resultsia theit
execution are so sure, that an exact estimate
y be i
made
beforehand of the expense and product., Bth. It offers
value of
indigenoustlic raw
ra
a very considerable saving upoi‘is;l::l,elob
is
s an
material (prussiate of potash),
product of moderate price, snaceptible of reduction to a
value still less, and by which, according to the quality of
the cloth, it may be dyed at from 25 to 50 per cent. less
expense than from indigo. 9th. It is said to be of great
advantage for furuiture, carriage, and livery cloths, and for
tartans, merinos, cachemeres, Sze., on account of the su-
perior clearness and lustre of its colours. 10th. It pro-
duces an economy of 12 to 15 per cent. in the manufac-
ture of the cleth, by the solid application of the colouring
matter in piece, which has only been effected till now in
black and scarlet. Such are the large results promised by
this discovery, which appears to be looked upon by the
parties originating it, as well as by several of the first
woollen manufacturers of France, a list of whom as having
ottsu
the es
their their goods dyed with it is given, for rderence, as
literally likely to render Franceindependent. of foreige. countries for
o
Pt e e h
description, the
amount of 20,000,000 francs per aeltutn. This rather
•
a
the supply of indigaion,loosft which she
taken now
fromc b
perhapsserve to draw the attention of our
manufacturers to the subject.--Mornifly Paper.
sangine ac
no:ny

satabtoi
ount_hsoeuxs' eeti
fo:chleo
division II inform
morning,tioll:wesatsebrdnamyg
o
in
Church-street, Spit alfields, that tradesman of the name
of Willoughby, living in Red Lion-street, had committed
s lf-destruction, by hanging himself. Police constable
Brooke, 11 64, instantly proceeded there, and found him
suspended by a cord in the back loft, no one having had the
courage to cut him down. Brooke immediately separated
the rope, but life was extinct. A surgeon was sent for,
who tried to ble2a the deceased by opening the jugular
vein and ti.e in the arm, but no blood foilowed. The
utilokunate man had Iteen observed fcl. some time past to
be in a low despwding way. He had for many years kept
the home, and had obtained some property as a general
de4iet, having been able to place some money in the funds,
A e:;w ago be took the last of that money cut. He
remarked to his friends that he had then no resources, and
that, in consequence of the badness of trade, he should be
raluced to poverty. A will was found in which he had left
the above inoaz'y to a daughter in the country.
1,,,,,ever a yellow juice exudes from the coat of
the mushroom on rubbing the fungus, it is certainly unwhole-
some, though there n 1,4 la:spurious sorts which do net afford
this te§,