The time required for priming, may be shortened very much, by taking the first and second couches with distemper; and as soon as they are quite dry, and pumiced into an even surface, let the last couch be merely oil, which has become viscous by exposure to the air; this will penetrate the distemper, and render it quite pliant, By the former method much time is required to dry the cloth. But by this mode, as soon as the oil is absorbed, they may be rolled up like waxed cloths, with perfect safety.1 As the pliancy of these cloths depends upon the complete union of the oil with the distemper, the absorption would be greatly facilitated by using a very weak size, mixed with a little oil, and a good quantity of mucilage of linseed meal, or the latter mucilage alone will do if well boiled. ,This species of ground may be made in four or five days, which will economise the time considerably. It is even pretended that a picture may be commenced immediately upon one of these grounds when fresh prepared, and that the colours will change much less than they do when used on a well dried ground; but such is not my opinion: for the viscous oil used in the ground, and to which the cloth owes its pliancy, dries but slowly. Hence the colours, being left too long exposed to the chemical action of the oil, are likely to undergo a change. I would therefore advise, that if circumstances compel artists to paint on such a ground when fresh, they would do well to apply a strong couch of white chalk with a little size in it, to absorb the excess of oil; but it would, in such a case, be still better to paint on a distemper ground.,,1M.Rey is the first of our colourmen who has adopted this method. He gave to his primed cloths the name of absobent canvasses; and they have preserved their pliancy for several years. See Le Bulletin de la Societe d'Encourgement, (fifth year).,,,