THE STORY OF ARTIFICIAL SILK

tion. He received a Council medal and a
special letter of praise from the jurors.

Queen Victoria had declined all offers of
gifts from the exhibitors, but she made two
exceptions. One of the exceptions greatly
pleased John Mercer. She accepted two
nandkerchiets of mercerized cotton from
im.

A French company immediately offered
Mercer £40,000 for his patents, but Mercer
refused the offer. The patents remained in
England. He had much difficulty in persuading
 manufacturers to use his process,
because of the high cost of chemicals. But
eventually he succeeded, and his process has
brought in tens of millions of pounds to
Lancashire.

Mercer was an eminent scientist. He gave
lectures on light and heat and chemistry. He
was a great pioneer. He did not make
his discovery by chance, as many people
believe.

He helped to start Technical Schools in
England. He conceived of the ‘energy
theory ”’ of the universe before Kelvin, and

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