For the bleaching of tallow, a solution of chlorine, of less strength than the above, will suffice, and the sulphuric acid should be more plentifully diluted but the proportions necessary, will vary both in the wax and the tallow, according to the quantity of colouring matter that may be combined with them. The following formulae for the composition of the various kinds of sealing-wax, will not be out of place:— The best hard red wax for sealing letters :—Mix two parts of shell-lac, well powdered, with resin and vermilion, each one part, and melt this combined powder over a very gentle fire: when the ingredients are thoroughly incorpo rated, work the mass into sticks. Seed-lac may be substituted for shell-lac; and instead of resin, boiled Venice turpentine may be used. Coarse hard red sealing-wax i—Mix two parts of resin, one part of shell-lac, vermilion and red lead together one part; tthe latter in the proportion of one of vermilion to two of the red-lead. For a cheaper kind, the vermilion may be omitted, and for very coarse uses, the shell-lac also. Black sealing-wax is made in the same manner as red, with the exception of the colouring ; the colouring ingredient for black wax, being the finest ivory black. Hard green sealing wax is the same mixture of resins and gum-resins as before-mentioned ; the colouring ingredient is powdered verdigris; for a brighter colour, crystals of verdigris. Blue sealing
wax :—Use smelts, light blue verditer, or a mixture of both. Yellow sealing wax :--Use massicott ; for a fine bright yellow, turbith mineral. Purple sealing-wax :—Use half vermilion, and half smelts, or red and blue in various proportions, according to the tint required.
Particular attention should be paid to the ingredients, while over the fire, that no more heat be given than is just sufficient for them to melt, and be thoroughly incorporated. The wax is formed into sticks, by rolling it on a copper plate or atone, with a rolling-board lined with copper or tin, into rolls of any required size. The polish or gloss is given afterwards, by placing the sticks of wax over a fire in a small stove, which is provided with a suitable apparatus for placing and turning them in that situation, where the heat given to them is just sufficient to melt the surface of the wax, and produce the gloss.
A patent was recently taken out by Mr. Wason, of the Middle Tempe, for introducing a small wick into the middle of the sticks of wax, for the conve nience of sealing letters. These sealing-wax candles we do not, however, per ceive in the shops.