256 



they inhale, crowded into miferable hovels, in narrow lanes and alleys, 

 where the cheering fun and invigorating breeze never gain admittance. 

 Add to this, that the fluftuations of faftiion, and other caufes, fuch 

 as a general mourning, the capture of a few, (hips laden with the raw 

 material, may fuddenly put a total flop to the manufadlure ; and leave 

 the wretched artifan, whofe fubfiftence mud be derived from it, wholly 

 deftitute. 



I do not hold it good policy, to make great exertions, in direfting 

 the capital of a country to a manufafture, like that of filk, which is 

 fubjeft to rapid fluftuation, and fudden declenfion. The laft genera- 

 tion fludied formal dignity and expenfive grandeur, more than becom- 

 ing elegance, graceful economy, or individual accommodation. Houfes, 

 in general, were loaded with fuperfluous ornaments, without ; — incon- 

 venient and gloomy within. — The furniture was anfwerable, maffy, large, 

 and immoveable ; the chairs enormous, the tables round. Large perukes, 

 immenfe hoops, vafl: cuffs and flounces, (tiff brocades, velvets and em- 

 broideries feemed to announce the dignity, or at leafl: the felf-impor- 

 tance of the wearers, by the burthens with which they encumbered 

 themfelves. In thofe times of expenfive finery and gaudy parade, the 

 filk manufafture was in its zenith. — When the light and ornamental 

 began to fuperfede the rich and (lately. A thoufand different raanu- 

 faftures of linen, wool, and cotton came into efteem ; and the pom- 

 pous brocades and velvets of other times funk into difufe ; and fled to 

 the antiquarian wardrobes, and repofitories, of old m;iids and batche- 

 lors, for refuge from general contempt, and from the claws of the 

 xaft-clothes man. 



It is further to be confidered, that the primum of the filk manu- 

 fafture is imported,. — comes from regions, at a confiderable diftance, 

 and is more coftly, — than the raw materials of the linen, the woollen, 

 or the cotton manufafture ; another motive this, to render us lefs 

 fanguine, in the profecution of the filk, than of any of the forego- 

 ing manufactures . Where the charge of freight and carriage is heavy, 



and 



