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Drying Oil, and Melgelh.

Although our Colour Shops now supply us in general with good drying Oil, it is desirable to know the best method of preparing it, and [[crossed out]] indeed [[/crossed out]] of a [[crossed out]] this preparation is [[/crossed out]] paler colours [[crossed out]] and better [[/crossed out]] than can [[crossed out]] always [[/crossed out]] be procured from the shops. Into a Bottle of the best cold brown linseed oil put a quantity of litharge in powder -- shake it well many times a day, [[crossed out]] and [[/crossed out]] expose it to the action of the Sun, or in default of that, keep it in a Basin of hot water or a Sand Bath -- for a week or two or three weeks. It is better to have lots much than too little Litharge, because the Oil will not dissolve more than is necessary.This process causes the oil to become a little darker, and when fully prepared and suffered to rest a while a whitish gummy matter is perceived to have subsided to the bottom resting on the superfluous Litharge. When the oil has remained at rest so long as to become perfectly clear it will no longer make Megelh, unless it be shaken up so to diffuse a little of the whitish matter throughout it, making it resemble New Beer. Equal quantities of this Drying oil and good Mastic Varnish, shaken, or well stirred together, will quickly [[crossed out]] constantly [[/crossed out]] coagulate into a delicate [[crossed out]] good [[/crossed out]] Megelp. Prepared in a small Gallipot it will keep some time under the water. 

The Drying Oil should be mixed with the colours only at the lime of using them. 

Drying Oil and Spirits of Surpentine, in a small cup, near at hand, should be used in diluting the tints, when necessary, wither by taking small portions with the Pallette-Knife, or by dipping the point of the Brush or pencil into the liquid. A Phial of this mixture of Drying oil and Spirits of Surpentine should be prepared for ready use. It which soon becomes colourless, and dries with a gloss [[crossed out]] that [[/crossed out]] for a time is a little sticky, but finally dries tough and hard.