The practice of blueing the paper pulp had its origin in a singularly accidental circumstance, which not merely as an historical fact, but as forming an amusing anecdote, is perhaps worth mentioning. It occurred about the year 1790, at a paper mill belonging to Mr. Buttenshaw, whose wife, on the occasion in question, was superintending the washing of some fine linen, when accidentally she dropped her bag of powdered blue into the midst of some pulp in a forward state of preparation, and so great was the fear she entertained of the mischief she had done, seeing the blue rapidly amalgamated with the pulp, that all allusion to it was studiously avoided; until, on Mr. Buttenshaw’s inquiring in great astonishment what it was that had imparted the peculiar colour to the pulp, his wife, perceiving that no very great damage had been done, took courage and at once disclosed the secret, for which she was afterwards rewarded in a remarkable manner by her husband, who being naturally pleased with an advance of so much as four shillings per bundle, upon submitting the _improved_ make to the London market, immediately purchased a costly scarlet cloak, (somewhat more congenial to taste in those days, it is presumed, than it would be now,) which he carefully conveyed home, and presented with much satisfaction to the sharer of his joy. Although the practice of blueing paper is not, perhaps, so customary now as was the case a few years back, the extent to which it is still carried may be a matter of considerable astonishment. On its first introduction, when, as regards colour, the best paper was anything but pleasing, so striking a novelty would no doubt be hailed as a great improvement, and as such received into general use, but when we contrast a _first class_ paper now (8), without any colouring matter whatever, and without any superfluous marks upon its surface, with the miserable blue tints one so frequently sees, it becomes a source of surprise, that the superior delicacy of the former is not more generally appreciated. The only objection which can be urged against the use of a colourless paper is, its comparative transparency when glazed in the ordinary way: but this is by no means essential. A finished surface imparted by calendering, when contrasted with one more highly glazed, will be found wholly superior for a writing paper, and unobjectionable as regards opaqueness.