Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-07-24

The city OF Brussels has, for year, cctr.
tanned an establishment which ought to fix
the attentions of all who are interested IN
the progress of the useful arts, and one
which shows how much the sciences are
capable of assisting them. By means o!
a process, the first discovery Of which was
the result of the studies Of the most able
Chemists, Messs. Baugnier, and Despree,
the principals Of the establishments, have
the secret Of converting wood into char.
coal, and at the same time, by very sim
pie operation, Of extracting pitch, and pr.
ro-lignic acid.-The heat for the purpose
is produced by hydrogen gas, which is fur.
nished by the operation, and they have
learned by very ingenious means 70
manage and direct il at pleasure. The
charcoal is of perfect purity. The pyro.
Iignic acid, independently Of the uses 10
which ii is applicable in the arts, gives when
rectifed, an excellent vinegar, which both
for the table and domestic purposes, sur
passes in quality the best wine vinegar, and
which by its moderate price, will give a
considerable saving to the customers. The
pitch, cheaper also than that which is in
ported from abroad, ran on other accounts
be made to enter into competition with it.
In fine, the hydrogen gas not only serves
TO heat the furnaces in which these differ.
ent products are elaborated, but by its 81.
perabundance contributes 10 illuminate he
work shops. o..
The pyro-Iignic acid is particularly va.
liable 10 the dyers. Mixed with iron 81.
lings, it gives black dye very much supe.
rier 10 that in common use /; and with the
addition Of dyer's wood it produces shade:
as brilliant as they are durable, varyingac &C.
eording tothe nature and extent Of the add.
tons. Those hatters and manufacturers
Of printed calicoes who have tried it, have
found that il communicates to the furs and
clothes the property OF resisting The action
of the air for long time. This property
seems to be owing to the peculiar nature OF
the pyro-lignic acid, and to an oily SUB.
stance which it contains, when it has no,
been rectihed, to be converted into
vine EAR. We do not personally warrant
the correctness of these last effects, bu, the
artizans, who practice the different branch.
es Of dying, are so much interested in pro.
wing them, by new experiments, that We
have no doubt OF their eageness TO asce.-
tain them with certainty.
Those ignorant pretenders, and discon.
tented people, who are always dissatisfied
with the age in (which they live, ought now.
at least, to render justice to the progress
which modern chemistry has given 10 the
useful arts. How is it that not one among
them should suspect that any Of these
valuable products can De obtained from
billet Of wood, if chemistry had not re-
realed the secret to Them. II is not how.
ever to these refractory incurables, who
cannot be subjected 10 the action Of the ou-
chile that we should recommend to visit the
establishment Of Messrs- Bougnier l. Des-
prets. II is to those laborious men, those
useful and brilliant men, who exert them
selves continually for the happiness Of thei:
country. who give animation to its inhabi-
tsnts, who occupy themselves without ces
sation in producing the means Of sustaining
the national industry under the discourage
ments which foreigners would impose upon
il, who struggle against difficulties, OF
which they are not even admitted 10 CON-
plain, and who, Notwithstanding the want
Of reciprocal advantages, which foreign
industry obtains amongst US, seek 10 in
crease the general mass Of riches by crea-
ting new objects Of expectation. These a.
lone can appreciate the benefits Of the es.
adjustment which we recommend TO their
notice-and which the government has en-
eouragd by apatent.
Wilmington, (Del.) July IL.
LIGHT IN THE SOUTH
During the short but interesting CONVEX
sations we have had with several gentlemen