Note 80 — CHAP. II.

Since I came to England I have met with a pamphlet published by Mr. Henry, of Manchester, in which an ingenious method, founded on chemical principles, is proposed for separating the quick lime from water; but I fear it is too nice and complex to be brought into common practice. It would certainly be worth the trouble; but there are so many duties in a ship of war to call off the attention of the men, and they are so little accustomed to nice operations, that it would be difficult to persuade officers to attend to it and enforce it. If a sufficient quantity should not be precipitated by the air in the water, and by the accidental exposure to the atmosphere, it might be more effectually exposed to the air by Osbridge’s machine, to be described hereafter, or by a long-nozzled bellows, and if a small impregnation should be left, this is rather to be desired than avoided.