N. B.—The Chevalier Dr. Anselme and Monsieur Belart were also relieved from their distresses by a loan of Rs. 310, and to those whose situation demanded peculiar indulgence, a monthly allowance of Rs. 30 was given.

THE 29TH OCTOBER 1789.

Fort William, October 21, 1789.

The Governor General in Council has been pleased to direct, that the following Extract of a general letter, dated the 8th of April 1789, from the Hon'ble Court of Directors should be published.

Although the samples of Indigo and the patterns referred to in the Extract are not in this country, the Governor General in Council has thought it probable that the relations given of experiments made, will be of use to the Indigo Manufacterers in enabling them to determine the quality of the plant by comparing the produce of it with Guatimala Indigo.

Extract, Para. 54.

INDIGO. We are in hopes the measure of laying open this Trade will be attended with the good effects expected to result therefrom, and that hereafter it may become a permanent and advantageous article of commercial remittance as well to the benefit of Bengal as of this country. In order to effect every possible improvement in the article, we transmit you herewith copy of a letter from William Fawkener, Esq., Secretary to the Lords Committee of the Privy Council for Trade, giving cover to a report of some experiments that have been made therewith by a Manufacturer of this country, with some hints necessary to be attended to in the management and preparation of the same. As it is probable the information therein contained may be useful to the gentlemen concerned in Indigo plantations, we direct that the same be made known in a manner that shall be most likely for rendering them publicly useful.

OFFICE OF COMMITTEE OF PRIVY COUNCIL
February 6, 1789.

SIR,—I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to transmit to you the enclosed specimens of East India Indigo, together with a letter to Mr. Chalmers from Mr. Taylor, of Manchester, containing an account of experiments made thereon, an information respecting the mode of preparing and managing Indigo, which I am to desire you will please to communicate to the Court of Directors; and I am further to recommend to the Court of Directors, on the part of their Lordships, to continue to encourage the growth and manufacture of Indigo in their Settlements in the East Indies, as it appears that it may be made of equal quality with the finest Guatimala Indigo, and may in time afford such a supply to this country as may render any importation thereof from foreign countries unnecessary.

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF

THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient and humble Servant,
W. FAWKENER.

To GEORGE CHALMERS, ESQ.

Remarks on some specimens of East India Indigo.

The Indigo I received from you was contained in three papers, one of which was marked Lieutenant Rogers, the others, Nos. 1 and 2, Flora.

B

Though the quantity of the whole was small, I have returned you a little of each in the original papers, that you may occasionally recur to them in the following experiments.

In consequence of not having a sufficient quantity to admit a great variety of separate trials upon each specimen, and that too great a dependance might not be placed on my own opinion, I consulted a merchant who sells large quantities of Indigo, also another person who is an eminent dyer, that we might ascertain the comparative value of the samples you sent, by the usual means of the light weight trial by the nail, and other methods which I cannot easily explain to you by letter, but of which any of the London brokers will inform you.

Lieutenant Rogers' samples appearing to consist of two different kinds, I separated them and marked one A, the other B; No. 1 Flora I noted by E, No. 2 Flora by the letter D.

As you intimated by your letter a desire that these samples might be compared with Guatimala Indigo, I made the following experiment on each of these four samples separately for that purpose.

Having reduced to a fine powder some of the Indigos A, B, C, D, and also some fine Guatimala Indigo, I dissolved a certain portion of each separately in wine-glasses in equal quantities of concentrated vitriolic acid: I stirred them with glass tubes during the solution, and when perfectly digested, I added to each an equal quantity of clear spring water. All the solutions thus diluted were full bright blue colours.

This experiment I think fully indicates that the fecula or colouring matter of the East India Indigos is of the same nature, and probably produced from the same species of plant as the Guatimala, the Carolina and West India Indigos usually affording only brownish-green colours by digestion in vitriolic acid.

The vitriolic solutions of the Indigos A, B, C, and D being not distinguishable in brightness of colour, and there not being a sufficient quantity of each to allow me to dye with them separately, I mixed these four solutions together, and by adding thereto different proportions of water, &c., I dyed therein the velveret patterns marked Nos. 1, 2, 3, and by comparing these patterns with others dyed with fine Spanish Indigo, the colour of those done with East India Indigo appeared equally clear and brilliant.

The colours dyed in this manner are not durable on cotton, but in consequence of the brightness of the colour, are much in demand, particularly upon woollen goods.

Having reserved small portions in dry powder of the East India Indigos A, B, C, and D, I mixed them together in order to afford me a sufficient quantity to form with water, lime, and the preparation called by dyers blue vat, and which gives a permanent colour to cotton dipped therein.

To form and manage this liquor properly is perhaps the most difficult branch in the dyeing business, and seldom succeeds in small experiments. To prepare these dyes, vessels containing upwards of 400 gallons are generally used, contrived in such a manner as to prevent the cotton from touching the dregs at the bottom of the vessel, which would otherwise impair the beauty of the colour.

Judge, then, of the difficulty I had to dye in a half pint glass the patterns I send you, marked Nos. 4, 5, 6. I wish you, therefore, to consider these patterns as calculated only to show the durability and intensity of the colour of the East India Indigo, the brightness thereof having been exemplified in the patterns Nos. 1, 2, 3.

I took the Indigo liquor remaining from the last experiment, and prepared therewith the liquid used by the calico printers called pencil blue. I formed with it the blue spot on the printed velveret patterns Nos. 7, 8, 9; you will find this colour both bright and durable.

From the circumstances I have related, I am induced to believe that the colouring matter of your four specimens is very good and of similar quantity, but they differ in value from accidental circumstances or mismanagement in their formation. I suppose the East India Indigo A to be worth 11s. per 1 lb and equal to any Spanish Flora or Guatimala. That marked A is only worth 58. 6d., C 8s. 6d., and D 68. 9d. per lb. Thus far I have confined my remarks to the samples you have sent It would lead me too far into the subject if I were to mention to you many experiments I have made on East India Indigo procured from other persons.

me.

The result of all of them confirms me in opinion that East India can furnish every kind of Indigo wanted in Great Britain.

In one pound of East India Indigo taken promiscuously of a large package, and which I afterwards carefully examined, there appeared to be the following different qualities :

d.

10

..

6 per

8

6

0

74

6

As it may be an object with you to know how the East India Indigos may be prepared to the best advantage, I will give you the outlines of the usual methods of making Indigo, and some limits for improving the process, which I will notice under the terms of fermentation, precipitation, and manner of drying:

1st. The fermentation is begun by steeping the leaves and stalks of the Indigo plant in a large vessel, adding water thereunto and suffering the whole to ferment until the colour is separated from the leaves of the plant, and diffused in a full dark green colour through the whole mass of liquid in the vessel.

2nd. When properly fermented, the coloured liquor is drawn off into another reservoir underneath, and agitated by buckets or levers for a long time until the coloured liquor granulates and precipitates (by subsiding for some time) the Indigo to the bottom of the reservoir.

3rd. The useless yellowish-brown coloured liquor which covers the precipitate is suffered to run away. The blue precipitate is put into linen bags and drained from the superfluous moisture, then taken out and placed in shallow wood cases to dry, and afterwards cut in small squares, and when perfectly dry, packed in casks, boxes, or skins, for sale.

As an intelligent Overseer is always necessary to direct an Indigo manufactory, the use of a thermometer, in the first process, would enable him to judge accurately of the state of the fermentation, save him much trouble and anxiety, and prevent the loss which frequently happens from the Indigo liquor turning putrid and useless by being suffered to overheat during this fermentation through the want of a certain method to determine its heat.

The use of the violent agitation in the second process I think has never been clearly ascertained in any account I have seen respecting Indigo; its theory certainly depends upon the great attraction which Indigo in that state of solution hath for fixed air; by agitation and exposure to the atmosphere, it absorbs moisture, the common air unites with it, and it is thereby precipitated. The success of this part of the business, therefore, will be increased by such improvement in our merchandize as will expose the coloured liquor with the largest possible surface to the atmosphere, that the affinity may sooner take place by procuring a great circulation of common air in and about the reservoir.

In the third part of the process it is necessary that the moist Indigo should be dried slowly, perfectly, and with a regular degree of heat; it should also remain some time exposed to the air before packed in close vessels or casks. If dried hastily, it occasions the white veins frequently found in Indigo, similar to those in the sample B; it also brings on a