CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SCOURING AND CLEARING WOOL AND WOOLLEN FABRICS, ALSO IN BLEACHING AND CLEARING SILK, COTTON, AND LINEN AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN'
MERCER, of Oakenshaw, Clayton-le-Moois, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Second day of May, in the ninth year of Her reign, and in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Mercer,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
John Mercer, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
John Mercer, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Inven-
tion of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SCOURING AND CLEARING WOOL AND WOOLLEN
FABRICS, ALSO IN BLEACHING AND CLEARING SILK, COTTON, AND LINEN AND OTHER
FABRICS," in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the
said John Mercer, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, T, the said John
Mercer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be carried into effect, are described as follows, that is to say :-

page_text: My Improvements in Scouring and Clearing Wool and Woollen Fabrics,
also in Bleaching and Clearing Silk, Cotton, Linen, and other Fabrics, consists
in the use and employment of the phosphates and arseniates of potass, of soda,
and of ammonia, added to and along with the substances usually used and
employed in scouring and cleansing these fabrics, which are carbonates of
potash, carbonate of soda, ammonia, soap, and urine. Any of the phosphates
or arseniates of potass, of soda, and of ammonia will do, but I prefer the
sub-phosphate of soda or sub-arsenate of soda. I make the sub-phosphate
of soda and sub-arseniate of soda, by mixing equal weights of phosphate
of soda and soda ash or arseniate of soda and soda ash, and after dissolving
them in hot water evaporate the clear solution to a crystallized state or
powder. These salts I call p (phosphoric) scouring salts, or a (arsenic)
scouring salt to distinguish them. In using these scouring salts I add one
part of scouring salt to one, two, three, or more parts of soap, soda, pearlash,
&c. (whatever the substance may be), and conduct the process in the usual
way. All I claim is the use and application of the various phosphates of
potash, of soda, or of ammonia, and also the arseniates of potash, of soda, and
of ammonia, to be used either alone or in addition to the usually employed
substances used in scouring, bleaching, and cleansing of woollens, cottons, silk,
and other fabrics, which to the best of my knowledge and belief is new and
never before used for this purpose.
The above is a true and faithful description of my discovery, and the manner
in which it may be practised.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Mercer, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Loid
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six