Part 3

That the Difference, arising from the Different State of these Hydes, on Exportation, is 66,000 Pounds, which Sum added to the 21,000 Pounds, the Value of the imported Bark, making in the whole 87,000 Pounds, must be accounted, as so much gained to the Kingdom, should our Tannage be effected by our own Produce and Labour.

The Nations, that demand this Export of those Green Hydes, are those, whose black Cattle are not bred, in such Numbers, as to supply their indispensable Demands; Nor will their dry Hydes, which they receive from their Settlements abroad, admit a thorough Tannage; They, in hopes of putting their Neighbours, who have a Redundancy of Hydes, under a Necessity, of parting with them unmanufactured, have prohibited, by the severest Penalties, the sending us any Bark. While we, on the other Part, have not only complied with this detrimental Export; but also have been so regardless of our own Interest, as to permit several Tanners, some from this City, to go, and instruct them in an Art, they almost were Strangers to.

The English, from a true Sense of the Disadvantage of such a Trade, have subjected the Exporter of a Green Hyde, to the Penalties of 500 Pounds, and a Disability to trade in Leather, ever after. Ann. 14. Car. II.

Such an Act, even in our present Circumstances, may, by some, be thought adviseable for us; Because, such Nations, as now gladly receive our Green Hydes, finding a Stop, put to their usual Supplies, would be under a Necessity of receiving our tanned Hydes, and selling us their Bark. Leather being a Commodity, that does not depend on the Fancy; but, is absolutely requisite, not only to the Luxuries, but also, to the Necessities of Mankind.

At present, Our Tanners find a great Scarcity of Bark, except those residing in some considerable Sea-Port-Town, and are under just Apprehensions of a greater. Several in the Country have been obliged to lay aside their Pits, and take to other Imployments; the usual Supplies failing. Our Neighbours who will permit any Bark, to be sent us, are in a Manner exhausted. Our American Plantations are too remote to find their Account, in sending any great Quantity. The Produce of our Country is scarce a twentieth Part of what is used in Tanning. This renders our Tannage dear, and often imperfect, so as not to serve a foreign Market, to Advantage, and Reputation.

But if we had Materials, of our own Growth, easy of Acquisition, and Propagation, that would tan, in every Respect, as well as Bark; were these Materials, as to their Powers, well ascertain’d, and confirm’d by a general Experience, the making an Act, to prohibit the Exportation of Green Hydes, would be judged by all to be Adviseable, and Useful to the Kingdom.

When the apparent Qualities of Bark, are considered; and that by it’s insinuating into the Pores, and incorporating with the Substance of the Hyde, it produces a Firmness, Strength, and Consolidation of the Parts; It is very surprizing, that other Materials, of the same Apparent Qualities, have so long remained neglected, and unapplied to the same Uses; when the Consequence is of such Moment.

Tormentil, and Cinquefoil Roots, are ranged in the same Medical Class; have the same apparent Qualities, especially the first, in a more eminent, and evident Degree, than Bark, it self.

On Tryal, they have answered beyond Expectation: The Cinquefoil did not give so good a Colour, as the Tormentil, which in all Respects, as to Colour, Bloom, Substance, Solidity, and Weight, in the Tanned Hyde, compleatly answered, and in much less Time, than when Bark, (even of the best Kind, or Growth) is used.

Tho’, what is here asserted, is grounded on several Years Experience, and confirmed by the Opinion and Testimony of Mr. Philip Cooley, Tanner, who from the Beginning hath been concerned in the several Tryals, and to whose Skill and Industry a Part of the Subsequent is owing. Yet to give the utmost Satisfaction, and as I think my self in the strongest Manner bound by the Encouragement, hitherto given me, by the House of Commons, to render the best Information I am able, in an Affair of some Consequence to the Public, I shall give a most faithful Account of the Progress that has been made, and the Success that hath attended this Way of Tanning with relation to the Goodness of the Leather, the Time, and Charge of Tanning, and other Circumstances; and shall add several Observations, with Directions for finding, and propagating these Roots, in great Plenty, that all Persons may be encouraged to carry this Method of Tanning, into a general Practice, which as it will be for their private Advantage, so it will not fail to promote the Public Benefit.

In Order to this, I shall in the first Place beg Leave to place this Affair in the Light it appeared in before the Committee of the House of Commons of Ireland, to whom my Petition was referred by the House, in which Petition it was alledged, that I had established a Method of Tanning, without the Use of any Barks, to as great Perfection, cheaper, and in less Time, than with Bark, by Vegetables of our Natural Produce, and of easy Culture.

The Committee, were pleased, for their greater Satisfaction, to summon a Great Number of Tanners, Curriers, Shoemakers, and others, to attend, to give their Testimony in relation to the several Specimens, and Proofs, that were to be laid before them.

In respect to the Goodness of the Leather, so tanned, the following Specimens were exhibited.

Nᵒ. 1. A Calve’s Skin from the Ooze.

Nᵒ. 2. A Calve’s Skin, uncurryed.

Nᵒ. 3. A Calve’s Skin, curried: each of these, when tann’d and dry’d, weighing about three Pounds.

Nᵒ. 4. A Calve’s Skin, very strong and large, when tanned and dryed, weighing about Six Pounds.

Nᵒ. 5. Seven or Eight Pair of Soles, of a Calve’s Skin, rais’d.

Nᵒ. 6. A Bend of a Bullock’s Hyde for Harness.

These were all proved by Thomas Cooley and Patrick Shale to be tanned without Bark, and with the Roots.

Mr. Henderson, Master of the Tanners, said he was diffident of the Goodness of the Specimens, that he should have been thoroughly satisfyed: had he known, how the Leathers had proved, if worn, by some Porters, or Chairmen. That the Colour of Number 2, or 3, was not so good as some tanned with Bark, producing a Calve’s Skin curried, to compare with them, but did own, all the Specimens were thoroughly struck, and well tanned: That if they were in a Shop, intermixt with Skins, tanned by Bark, he could not distinguish them; and that, what tanned Numb. 5 and 6, would tann, Time and Quantity allowed, the thickest Bullock’s Hyde.

Mr. Dobson, Tanner, affirmed the Specimens were not well tanned, because they did not come up to the Colour of the Skin produced by Mr. Henderson, but in other Respects, the Leathers appeared, to be as good in their respective Kinds, as any tanned with Bark.

Mr. Nicholas Gibson, Master of the Curriers, affirmed that the Skin produced by Mr. Henderson, was of an Extraordinary Colour; That there were not ten such in Dublin; That the Difference in Colour was but very small, and in regard even to Colour, would choose those tanned by the Vegetables, as soon as Mr. Henderson’s Skin; That all the Specimens appeared to be very well tanned, and that he could in no wise distinguish them from Bark-Tannage.

Mr. Devereux, Currier, being sent out, returned, producing two Calves Skins tanned by Bark, which he took indifferently, and without choosing, from the next Currier’s Shop. They were allowed by all, to be of a general or common Colour; and being compared were much exceeded by the Specimens, and particularly, as to Colour.

Mr. Edmund Sheild, Currier, said he never saw better tanned Leather, than the Specimens, that their Colour was very good and, that what tanned Numb. 5. would tann any Hyde, whatsoever.

Mr. Brookfield, Tanner, reported the Specimens exhibited, were well tanned and thoroughly struck; that neither He, or any other could distinguish them, from Bark Tannage; and that what tanned Numb. 5, could not fail in any Tannage.

Mr. Veckers, Tanner, allowed the Specimens to be very well tanned; and gave it, as his Opinion, that what tanned Numb. 5 and 6, would tann the thickest Sole Leather.

Mr. John Gades, Shoemaker, after giving his Testimony, that all the Specimens appeared to be exceedingly well tanned, produced a Shoe, made by him, of the Leather of this Tannage, affirming the Leather, wrought very well, and that the Soles exhibited, under the Hammer, all the Signs of extraordinary Leather.