In connection with this exhibit it is interesting to learn of a 

 silk culture which was carried on by the Charleston Library So- 

 ciety as long ago as 1767, in the days before the Revolutionary 

 War, when England was offering a bounty on silk and the industry 

 gave promise of becoming estabUshed in South CaroUna. We 

 are indebted to Mr. John Bennett for the following extract taken 

 from the South Carolina and American General Gazette of May 

 8, 1767. 



We have the pleasure to acquaint the publick, that the successful introduction 

 of the Silk Manufacture in this province bears a promising aspect, as we hear 

 there are great quantities of silk-worms raised in almost every family in Purrys- 

 burg parish, and some by the French of Hillsborough, and the English and Ger- 

 mans near Long Canes, and that several gentlemen and ladies, near Charlestown, 

 will make the private amusement of raising silk worms, tend to the publick benefit, 

 by shewing how easily the knowledge thereof is to be acquired, and what small 

 labour is necessary in the management of them. Mr. John Lewis Gibert, a native 

 of France, who is employed by the gentlemen concerned on behalf of the publick, 

 in the encouragement of this manufacture, to wind, and teach the winding of 

 silk, has now a considerable number of silk worms, in the old school-house, near 

 the new barracks, where gentlemen, who are desirous of seeing them, either througli 

 curiosity, or incHuation to promote so valuable a branch of trade, may, at one and 

 the same time, view them in the various stages of life, some young, some full 

 grown, and some spinning their balls or cocoons. 



I The Librarian of the Charlestown-Library-Society also raises a few in the lobby 

 of the library-room, where gentlemen, who are not willing to go so far as Mr. Gi- 

 lbert's, may satisfy their curiosity. 



Workmen are now employed in building an oven for curing the cocoons, erect- 

 ing four machines and all other necessaries for winding silk, with all expedition, 

 in rooms adjoining Mr. Gibert 's, in order that the Filature may be set to work 

 as soon as the cocoons are fit, which may be in about three weeks. 



We have here an example of the broad-mindedness and di- 

 versity of interests on the part of the Charleston Library So- 

 ciety which in 1773 led to the founding of that scientific collection 

 which has developed into what is today known as the Charleston 

 Museum. 



L. M. Bragg. 



37 



