of certain new Methods of preparing Hemp and Flax,
Year: 1812

page_text: the Inrolment of Specifications of Inventions, pursuant to an Act of Parliament
made and passed in the fifty-third year of the reign of His Majesty King
George the Third, intituled "An Act for securing to James Lee and the
Public the Benefit of his Invention of certain new Methods of preparing
Hemp and Flax, by enabling him to lodge the Specification, under certain
Restrictions," of Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date the Ninth day of June,
in the fifty-second year of the reign of His present Majesty King George the
Third, whereby His said Majesty did give and grant unto James Lee, of Frizo
Water House, Enfield Wash, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, his
executors, administrators, and assigns, the sole and exclusive use, benefit, and
advantage, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
and in all His said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, of a certain
Invention of "CERTAIN NEW METHODS OF PREPARING HEMP AND FLAX FOR THEIR
SEVERAL USES, AND BY WHICH ALSO OTHER VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES MAY BE RENDERED
APPLICABLE TO MANY OF THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH HEMP AND FLAX ARE USED," for
the term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent.
Inrolled [in the Petty Bag Office] the Twentieth day of September, in
the fifty-third year of the reign of King George the Third [Part 181].
[Inrolled also in the Rolls Chapel on the 22nd day of September 1813
(Spec. 28. No. 35.); and at the Enrolment Office on the 24th day of
September, 1813. (Cl. 53. G. 3. Part 12. No. 4.)]

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEE, of Frizo Water House, Enfield Wash, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, by His Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Ninth day of June, in the fifty-
second year of His reign, did give and grant unto me, the said James Lee,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, special licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, to make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and [also in His Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN NEW METHODS OF
PREPARING HEMP AND FLAX FOR THEIR SEVERAL USES, AND BY WHICH ALSO OTHER
VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES MAY BE RENDERED APPLICABLE TO MANY OF THE PURPOSES
FOR WHICH HEMP AND FLAX ARE USED," during the term of years therein ex-
pressed; in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said James Lee, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within fifteen calendar months next after the date of
the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had)
may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Lee, in compliance with the
said proviso, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in the Plans and Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
description thereof, that is to say :-
No. 1. The flax and hemp being properly dried, and made just to a state
of dryness, that it may be put into ricks or barns without danger of heating,
the process of my Invention then commences (without any water-retting or
dew-retting,) with the machine represented in the annexed Drawing.
No. 1, Fig. 1, the swing thrashing machine. This consists of a block of
wood, which I call the beater, about seventeen or eighteen inches long, eleven
or twelve inches wide, and six or seven inches thick (Fig. 1, A), and is to be
screwed or otherwise fastened to the lower ends of two upright bars of wood,
iron, or other proper material (represented Fig. 1, B), through or on to the
upper ends of which a round bar of iron or other metal (Fig. 1, C), to make a
pivot or axis on which the swing is to move. The swing, including the bars

page_text: and the block or beater, is to be about seven feet in length. This, however,
may be longer or shorter, and the beater somewhat larger or smaller, thicker
or thinner, without materially altering either the convenience or effect. The
weight of the whole is to be considered, so as to give a sufficient but not too
heavy a stroke. The dimensions stated will be about sufficient to effect this,
supposing the material to be beech or elm. The weight of oak may be found
sufficient if the block or beater should be a little thinner or smaller. The
weight may be regulated by loading it with a piece of iron, or other convenient
substance, if at first made too light; and, of course, by lessening the thickness,
or in some way the substance, if at first made too heavy. The material
should be that which, being nicely planed smooth, will remain so without being
too soft, so as to wear too fast; and such wood as will be liable to splinter is
to be avoided. Beech or elm, from their qualities, and being easily procured,
and at moderate price, appear to me to be best adapted for the purpose. The
bars to which the beater is to be fixed may be differently shaped, or thicker
or thinner, according to the material used; and the mode of fastening to the
ends of the beater (shewn Fig. 2, D, being a side view of the swing) may be
varied according to fancy or convenience. There will be no difficulty to make
it answer the purpose. The bar axis or pivot on which the swing is to act
must be placed to work in a proper collar, and attached to some beam or
other means of strong, firm, and steady support, in any of the best of the
various ways in which swing machinery is commonly made.
proper and in general use, is shewn (marked c, c, c, c, c, several times
repeated, and in several parts of the Drawing. E denotes a cap of iron at the
top of the swing for the axis or pivot to work in a collar or socket in that
iron. It may be proper here to state that the same letters dente the same
things in all parts of the Drawings. A solid piece of wood or timber [F, F],
best to be of the same sort as the block or beater, is to be placed and
fixed firmly at the bottom of or under the swing, for the beater to fall and
strike upon.
A break is supposed in this piece of timber in the Drawing
(marked Ġ), to shew more distinctly the beater (as marked A). The piece
of timber is to be planed smooth, and made a little slanting or bevelwise
where the beater is to strike, so that the widest surface of the beater shall
strike upon this fixed piece of timber evenly, equally, and flat in every part,
but a little slanting (as represented Fig. 2, F, D), instead of exactly perpen-
dicular. If perpendicular it will do, but I think it best to be a little slanting.
This piece of timber may be of the length to serve for several or many of these
swings to act upon (as shewn in the Drawing F, F, F); and, of course, both
in length and mode of fixing (by which it must be made firm and steady) is
One mode, very

page_text: to be adapted to the size and circumstances of the building or situation in
which it is to be used. The flax or hemp being placed, the seed ends all
one way, taking a handful in one hand about the middle, and the seed ends
being put between the breaker and piece of fixed timber, the swing is to be
moved backwards and forwards with the other hand by a handle to be placed
for that purpose (marked H), the stroke of the swing beater will thrash
out the seed. The seed ends are to be moved higher or lower, and turned
from time to time as may be necessary, and the beating continued till all the
seed is thrashed out. Wheat and other grain and seeds may likewise be
thrashed by it, and in the same manner. Instead of a handle a cross bar
may be used (as in Fig. 3, K, in No. 2); or, instead of the cross bar, a handle
may be used in the machinery described No. 2, but I think a handle more
convenient for thrashing, and that the machines No. 2 and 3 will be better
worked by the bar holding it at the middle or center, as it will have the effect
of working more evenly, which in that machinery is very desirable. Fig. 2
No. 1, shews a side view of one of the side bars of the frame fixed at one end
to the beater marked D, falling upon the slanting timber marked F.
No. 2, the swing breaking machine.-It will be seen by the. Drawing, Fig. 3,
the swing part of this is of the same kind, and to be worked in nearly the same
manner, as specified in the description of the apparatus, Fig. 1. The swing
part may be made shorter than the swing of the thrashing machine. From
five to six feet will be of sufficient length for the breaking machine. Instead
of the smooth beater at the end of the swing, as described, Fig. 1, two pieces of
wood are to be placed and fixed (as shewn in the Drawings No. 2, L, L, L, L,)
about a foot long, seven eighths of an inch thick, and six inches from front to
back. These two projecting pieces are to be separated and kept firm in their
situation by another piece being screwed between them at the back, by screws
going through the whole. This is shewn more distinctly than in the Drawing of
the whole machine, by a separate Drawing of the breaker, Fig. 4. The separating
piece (M) to be about three inches wide from the back, leaving the opening
between the two projecting pieces about three inches deep, measuring from the
fronts to the middle or separating piece. The openings between the projecting
pieces to be about one inch five eighths from one of the pieces to the other ;
of course the separating piece (M) by which that opening is to be made must
be one inch five eighths thick. This I call the breaker. The three pieces
described are to be fixed together firmly and strongly. N is a fixed piece of
wood through which the screw marked O passes, and acts upon a moveable
piece called P, which slides in a groove marked Q, to fix the box or breaker in
the frame. This piece marked Q, where the groove is represented, is an inside

page_text: view of one of the bars of the swing frame. By the screw marked O, the
situation of the breaker may be rectified by raising or lowering it, or the whole
may be taken out to be altered or repaired, as may be necessary. This, it is
to be observed, operates on the piece in the groove, and consequently, on the
breaker, like the screw of a common press, pressing the breaker down upon
the lower bar (marked W) of the frame of the swing, which is to be made as
firm and strong as possible. If necessary to raise the breaker from this bar,
wedges or pieces of wood must be placed between to fix the breaker as firmly
as possible in the situation to correspond with the receiver. R represents a
back piece to be fastened strongly on the frame where the breaker is to be
fixed, to assist the force of the screw in supporting and keeping the breaker
steady, and firm enough to strike with sufficient force without being displaced
or shaken in it's situation by the continual striking. Instead of the smooth
timber for the swing block or beater of the thrashing machine to strike upon,
three pieces of wood are to be fixed by pieces screwed between them at the
ends; that is, instead of being screwed between at the back, as described for
the breaker, they are to be screwed between the three pieces at the four
corners (referred to in the Drawing by Fig. 5, S, S), so as to leave the middle
parts open for the projecting pieces of the breaker to strike betweem them, and,
of course the center piece of these three will strike into the corresponding open-
ing between the two which form the breaker. The three pieces thus fixed, and
forming two openings (as marked T, T), I distinguish in this description by
calling it the receiver, represented separately Fig. 5, and as fixed, Fig. 6. The
appertures in each (both the breaker and the pieces to be fixed to receive its
stroke, and be called the receiver,) to be about one inch five eighths in the
openings between the pieces; and the pieces of wood striking into these
appertures to be about seven eighths of an inch thick, the same as the breaker,
so that when struck, one into the other, a vacancy or space of about three
eighths of an inch will be remaining between the pieces of wood, as they must
not strike too closely one piece of wood to the other. The appertures in the
receiver should be about an inch at each end longer than the projecting pieces
of the breaker which strike into them. The receiver is to be firmly fixed to
the top part of some substantial steady piece of timber, or other firm support
(as represented, Fig. 6); the appertures of it being left open quite through,
will prevent its being choaked by the broken wood, or other matter, which forms
part of the plant, and which this machine is to separate from the fibre. The
projecting pieces of the breaker, or parts or fronts of the pieces of which the
breaker is formed, are to be faced with plates or pieces of iron, or other metal,
exactly covering the face of each piece of wood. This iron must be fastened

page_text: by screws let in flush and made smooth; the thickness of it must be sufficient
to make it firm and steady, and to bear the repetition of the strokes in working
without being injured. One eighth of an inch in thickness will do very well.
The edges of this iron, striking on the flax or hemp, should not be too acute or
sharp so as to cut the fibre, nor yet so round or dull as to be unfit to break
and separate the woody parts, which are the purposes of this operation. This
circumstance must be looked to and regulated from time to time. If the
receiver were to be fixed on the front (or side) of the support facing the fall of
the breaker, instead of being fixed at the top of the support, it would do, but
in this the advantage of the openings through would be lost. The breaker and
receiver may be made with more pieces and of course with more openings
than stated, but I think they answer best as I have described them. A
moderate handful of flax or hemp, with the seed ends all one way, and placed
smoothly, straight, and a little spread, being taken in one hand and placed
between the swing breaker and the fixed part called the receiver, and the
swing part being with the other hand worked backwards and forwards (by
the cross bar or handle marked K), and struck upon the flax or hemp
so placed, and the flax or hemp moved higher or lower, and turned from
time to time so as both ends are operated upon, and moving the hand so
as the middle and all parts of the plant or fibre shall be equally beaten
as may be necessary. The beating is to be continued till the wood is broken
and seperated from the fibre. The ends of the flax or hemp are then to be
opened by being pulled over a common flax or hemp hatchell, and then taking
the fibre in one hand, place it on the brushing board represented, Fig. 7, and
brush out the loose wood and dust. A few minutes beating by this machine,
and brushing afterwards as directed, will bring the flax to a state fit for some,
and the hemp fit for many, of the purposes for which those articles are used.
By continuing the operation in the same way with the machine to be
described, No. 3, the fibre will be brought to a still finer, cleaner, and softer
state. The brushing bench mentioned (Fig. 7) should be made a little slant-
ing, with a raised piece of wood at the upper end of the bench, over or just
behind which the hand holding the fibre is to be placed, and the fibre over
that piece of wood a little opened and spread, will receive the brushing to the
best advantage. The brush should be of proper strength and openness, which
any person conversant with the use of the brush on flax will have no difficulty
in chusing.
No. 3, the swing cleaning or refining machine.-This is exactly the same
as the last described, No. 2, except by the teeth parts and proportions being
so much closer or finer. The parts striking into each other may be about.

page_text: three eighths or nearly half an inch, instead of seven eighths of an inch as
stated, No. 2, and of course the corresponding parts or openings or spaces,
both of the parts to be immovably fixed, as well as the breaker, to be in
proportion. The flax or hemp being taken in the state to which it is brought
by No. 2, the same kind of process is to be gone through with this finer
machine No. 3, as that before described, No. 2, and the flax or hemp becomes
still further cleaned, and the broken wood and other matter still more com-
pletely separated from the fibre. After a few minutes operation of this
machine, brush the flax or hemp upon the smooth brushing bench as before.
I further continue the process, by the machinery and mode described, as
follows:-
No. 4, the crimping machine.-Fig. 8, two crimping rollers of the common
kind, of wrought iron, brass, gun metal, or other material, which a workman in
that branch of business will readily know to be best adapted to the purpose,
considerations of the price, and ease of working the metal into the form of
crimping rollers, as well as its effects on the flax or hemp to be refined,
operating in the choice of the material. A diameter of about an inch and
half appears to be a proper size, and on a roller of this size there may well
be about twenty-five, twenty-six, or twenty-seven flutes; the shape of the
flutes I use are about triangular, that is, the triangular flute of each roller
working into the triangular space between the flutes of the other. The roller
should be about four, five, or six inches long in the fluted part. The flutes
of each roller meeting and fitting into each other with an axle or pivot at
each end [marked a in the Drawing], of a proper form for turning smoothly
and steadily in a frame (marked b, b, b,) and a part at one end of the axle
or pivot on which to fix a handle or moving power (marked c). Fig. 9 is a
side view of the frame, and shewing the collars or socketts for the two rollers
(as marked d, d,) and the pin (h, h, h,) resting upon the upper collar or
socket. The axles or pivots of the lower roller are always to rest in a fixed
half collar or socket, of brass or other smooth working metal, at each end
(marked d) of the frame, and on the axle or pivot of this lower one the handle
or wheel or moving power is to be fixed, and operate to turn it, and, conse-
quently also to turn the upper one; or the moving power may be fixed, or
first operate upon the upper roller, but I think it best upon the lower. In
order to keep these two rollers together and sufficiently close, and bearing
just enough one upon the other to produce the proper degree of weight,
pressure, and operation upon the flax or hemp, and this whether there may
be more or less of the flax or hemp put between, and therefore the subtance
to be pressed or acted upon be thicker or thinner in different parts, and

page_text: consequently requiring more or less room or space for the fibre acted upon
between the rollers, yet that it may in all parts receive it's due portion of
pressure, and be equally acted upon with sufficient but not too much weight,
á bar or lever of iron (which I think best), or of wood, or other material
(marked in the Drawing e, e, e, c,) branched off or divided so as to be fastened
with pins to each side of the frame (as shewn in the Drawing f, f) with a
weight (marked in the Drawing g) at the end of the lever, so as to be move-
able upon it, and to operate on the principle of the steelyard. The length of
this from the fixed ends may conveniently be about sixteen or eighteen inches,
with a proper weight according to the length of the lever, the shorter the
lever the greater the weight. In the frame, exactly over the pivots of the
rollers, is to be placed a pin (as shewn in the Drawing h, h,) which pin being
pressed upon at the top, a short distance from the fastened ends (f,f,) of the
lever, over each axle or pivot of the rollers, by moving the weight to greater
or less distance from the fulcrum or prop of the lever, which, in this case,
will be very near the fixed end (marked f,) the proper degree of pressure
will be applied. The fulcrum or prop of the lever will be the two pins, one
on the one side of the frame, the other on the opposite side of the frame,
directly over the axle of the upper roller upon which the operation of pressure
or weight is desired, and the means of producing it will be the fixed ends of
the branches, and the moveable weight at the end of the lever, as in the
steelyard. By the lower end of this pin resting upon and pressing down
the moveable collar or [socket (marked in the Drawing d), exactly under
which the axle or pivot of the upper roller is to turn, this upper move-
able collar or socket is to be placed at each end, running in a groove in the
frame, to admit of the weight operating to press it more or less down
upon the axle or pivot of the upper roller, and consequently the upper roller
upon the under roller, as may be necessary. The rollers are marked in the
Drawing k, k. One end of a small handfull of flax or hemp, as prepared
by the operation of the apparatus No. 2 and No. 3, being introduced
between these rollers, the whole by the turning of the rollers would be
drawn through between them, and might be again put in;
tinually and repeatedly being put in and drawn through, the
further cleansing and refining be continued till sufficiently done.
way is to pass one end between and through the rollers, and
that end round under the lower roller, and put it upon and a
other end, and a sort of skein will be formed like a skein of thread or yarn,
and the turning and operation may then go on as long as desirable without
the flax or hemp coming out or being meddled with, except that it must be
and by con-
operation of
But a better
then to bring
little over the

page_text: a little opened or spread on the rollers now and then by hand, and kept in a
state of smoothness and evenness, free from twisting. Two pegs shall be placed
(as marked m, m,) in a piece of wood n, n, in the front of the rollers, at a
little less distance one peg from the other than the length of the fluted parts,
to keep the fibre in a straight progress between them, and to work round that
piece into or between the rollers. In the various stages of the process before
described, the fibre may from time to time be drawn through the hatchel to
free it from any tangling as often as any tangling may occur to render it
necessary. After a sufficient operation upon it by this machine, which is to
be determined by the degree of cleansing and fineness desired, and also by the
previous state and the quality of the hemp and flax operated upon, it is to
be taken out and again brushed upon the kind of brushing bench before
described. The flax will then be found fit for the hackle of the dresser. The
rollers and brushing may be alternately applied till the wood and other matter
shall be thought to be sufficiently discharged. The state of it will be easily
judged of whether it may require any dressing to make it fit for the wheel,
according to the use to which it may be intended to apply it, whether for
the more or less fine frabricks or manufactures. If any convenience or saving
in quantity of machinery, or to lessen the number of stages of the process
before described, should appear desirable on any ground, a little longer opera-
tion of the breaking machine No. 2, and taking it from that immediately to
the crimping rollers No. 4, will be found to bring the flax or hemp into the
same or nearly the same state without operating upon it with swing cleaning
or refining machine No. 3, and, in fact, a little longer continuance of the opera-
tion of the machines described No. 2 and 3, and a little more brushing, will, under
the general circumstances to be expected in flax or hemp, prepare it nearly
as well as carrying the process through the crimping rollers; but some cases
it may be attended with advantage either to use the three, or, if the use of
either is to be omitted, rather to adopt the rollers than the finer breaking
machine No. 3; and I think the rollers may be more conveniently worked by
mill work, and consequently steam, water, horse power, fly-wheel, or any other
power beyond or assisting that of the hand. My method goes only to the
more perfect cleansing of the fibre, and removing the extraneous, useless, and
prejudical matter from it. If it be desirable, after the operation of the process
already described, to carry the cleansing, and consequent division and sepa-
ration of the fibre still further, and to discharge it of those extraneous particles,
so as to produce the fibre in that state of whiteness, fineness, and purity which
is the natural quality of it when most perfectly cleansed, and to bring it into
the most perfect state possible fit for the finest and most delicate manufactures,

page_text: this effect may be still further produced by the following mode of continuing
that process of cleaning, and consequent refinement:-Let the fibre be well
washed either in warm or cold water; I consider a clear stream the best, and
soft water rather than hard. It is desirable to avoid water impregnated with
metallic or other extraneous substances. It may then be put into water
either boiling with soap, or into cold water with soap, and made to boil; the
quantity of soap,
in proportion with the water, to be enough to produce a good
lather. The flax or hemp is first to be tied, as much in the middle as may be,
into skeins or divisions with whitened thread or tape. The size of each skein
may be from the size of a finger to that of a wrist tied loosely. A slight
twisting of one end of the skein over the other end will make them adhere
one to the other and prevent tangling. Continue these in the soap and water,
boiling till, on being examined, the matter which binds the fibres together is
operated upon, and so loosened as to be removed by the subsequent process.
In general this will take from one to three hours. It is then to be again
washed in the clearest and at the same time softest water, that can be pro-
cured, and, if possible, a stream. In the foregoing process it should be
occasionally squeezed or wrung, or both, to discharge it of the water, and conse-
sequently the matter, and so alternately till all the loose matter is taken away,
then placed in the best situation to dry clean. To take off the stiffness which
may be found after this process and drying, place it between the crimping
rollers, forming it into a round skein as before, and turn the rollers till the fibre
is soft, and it appears to be in that state of refinement, perfection, and beauty
that may be desired, and of which it may by its natural quality be capable.
A slight use of the machine No. 3 will finally be found useful in the produc-
tion of this beauty.
I have in this description shewn the manner of making and working
the several parts as adapted for being worked by hand, and in a way I
conceive will leave no difficulty in applying any other moving power now
commonly is use for working machinery, as by mill work, steam, water,
fly-wheels, or any other power producing or assisting in the production
or acceleration of motion. It is to be observed that machinery, upon the
principle of my Invention, may be made to produce the same or nearly
the same effect as the machinery I have particularly described, though
made with some variation in form, dimensions, or proportions of some
of the parts, or in the materials I have stated as being in my opinion
most proper for the purpose. The great object and principle of my Inven-
tion are to carry the cleansing and separation of the fibre of flax and hemp
to the greatest possible degree of perfection, by means similar to those I

page_text: have described, without water-retting or dew-retting, or the use of any-
thing destructive or injurious to the natural good qualities of the fibre,
either in point of strength or beauty. Of the many variations in the several
kinds of machinery and processes I have tried in twelve years I have been
employed in the completion of this Invention (all upon the same principle),
what I have described appears to me to be the most perfectly adapted to the
purpose. It is essential to the perfect operation of the machinery that every
part should be made, fixed, and supported in the most substantial, firm, steady,
and perfect manner, so as to correspond with and work with each other in the
way described, and the materials used should be good and well seasoned, and
this will the more certainly recompence the manufacturer for any little increase
of expence in the first instance by the future wear and the perfection of the
operations. The materials I have mentioned as appearing to me the most
proper are such as are easily to be procured, well adapted for the substantial
and sound workmanship required, and at no great cost, and which commonly
good workmen in their several branches will always be found capable of per-
forming. An observing overseer, or person employed to superintend the work-
people, will easily judge, from circumstances as they arise, when to direct any
small alterations in any parts of the machinery or process; as, for instance, the
dimensions of the parts in the machines described No. 2 and No. 3 will
require to be somewhat varied according to the coarseness or fineness of the
article to be operated upon. Of course it will require to be finer when to
operate upon a very fine flax plant, and the parts larger and more open
when to operate upon a large strong hemp plant. Care is to be taken in all the
operations to keep the fibre as straight and even as possible, free from tangling.
The same means described as applicable to flax and hemp I conceive to
be likewise applicable, with considerable benefit, in the preparation of the
sun hemp of India, from the degree of examination I have had the oppor-
tunity of giving to the article in the state in which it is imported after being
water-retted. The nettle may be made, by the mode I have specified, of
some use, but I conceive will be always inferior to flax and hemp, and the
more so considering the smaller portion of the plant that can be made useful;
and all plants of a fibrous nature which can be applied to the same or some
of the purposes of flax or hemp, may be, as I conceive, prepared by my mode
with some benefit, when it can commence immediately on the plant before any
water-retting or dew-retting has been applied; but after that, or any such pro-
cess, it is, I conceive, scarcely worth while to attempt the improvement of flax,
or hemp, or other fibrous substances, so much injured by that treatment. Some
improvement may, however, be practicable with the refining machine No. 3,

page_text: and the crimping rollers No. 4, and the process subsequently described, but
not to produce it in nearly the same strength or beauty.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-
third day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and thirteen.
August, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid James Lee came before
our Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
I, James Lee, of Frizo Water House, Enfield Wash, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, make oath, That the Description or Specification
hereto annexed is a particular Description or Specification of the nature of
my Invention of certain New Methods of preparing Hemp and Flax for their
several Uses, and by which also other Vegetable Substances may be rendered
applicable to many of the Purposes for which Hemp and Flax are used, and
fully, completely, and accurately defines and describes the whole and every
part of such Invention and discovery, and the means of using and employing
the same for the uses and purposes therein set forth, and that the said Inven-
tion is the same mentioned in His Majesty's Letters Patent, bearing date the
Ninth day of June, in fifty-second year of His said Majesty's reign, and
also mentioned in an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, intituled
"An Act for securing to James Lee and the Public the Benefit of his Iuven-
tion of certain new Methods of preparing Hemp and Flax, by enabling him
to lodge the Specification under certain Restrictions."
JAMES LEE

page_text: BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the Twenty-fourth day of August 1813,
this Instrument and Affidavit annexed were delivered to me, and I have
ordered the same to be deposited in the Office, and under the care and
custody of James Stephen, Esquire, One of the Masters of the High Court of
Chancery, to be inrolled at the expiration of seven years from the passing
of and pursuant to an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, intituled
"An Act for securing to James Lee and the Public the Benefit of his Inven-
tion of certain new Methods of preparing Hemp and Flax, by enabling him
to lodge the Specification under certain Restrictions."
Inrolled the First day of November, in the first year of the reign of
King George the Fourth.