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DYEING AND CALICO PRINTING.

obtained from him considerable information upon the subject of dyeing, set nplarge dye-works at Bow, near London, in 1643, and successfully carried on anextensive business for a number of years.

The journeys to India made by the Portuguese and the inhabitants of theNetherlands early in the 17th century had the effect of again introducingindigo to the notice of European nations as a substitute for woad as a blue dyematerial. The farmers who cultivated the latter plant felt their interestsinjured by the introdudtion of indigo, and acccordingly several governments,including our own, in the time of Elizabeth, prohibited its use, and largequantities were destroyed. A similar measure was enadted against logwood.In consequence of this prohibition, woad was still used instead of indigo longafter the re-importation of the latter; and even as late as the end of the lastcentury the dyers’ foremen of Niiremburg were compelled to take an oathbefore the Syndic of that town to abstain from the use of indigo and employwoad only, as being the orthodox and genuine colour. However, notwith-standing the oath, when Niiremburg was taken and pillaged by the French,about 1798, large quantities of indigo were found in the town. The progressmade during the 18th century in dyeing, as well as in printing calico, is toovaried and extensive to be specifically alluded to here; suffice it to say that inFrance especially it was very great. It is more particularly from France thatmost other nations of Western Europe originally obtained those preparationsof large establishments and manufactories which have now become so numerous,especially in Great Britain. Political commotions, for instance the repeal ofthe Edict of Nantes, drove a number of industrious and skilful people fromFrance at an earlier period; they took refuge in England, the Netherlands,and Switzerland, and carried with them the knowledge of industrial art alreadypractised in their native country. The great discoveries made in chemistryduring the latter part of the last century have greatly improved and extendedthe application of dyes to woven fabrics, whilst the employment of steam as amotive power presents increased facilities for practising the art.