3 C 175 ] 



Treasury Department, 



February 5, 1828. 



Sir: In obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives, 

 passed on the eleventh of May, 1S26, directing that "the Secretary of 

 the Treasury cause to be prepared a well-digested Manual, containing 

 the best practical information that can be collected on the growth and 

 manufacture of silk, adapted to the different parts of the Union, and con- 

 taining such facts and observations, in relation to the growth and man- 

 ufacture of silk in other countries, as may be useful," I have the honor 

 to transmit to the House the accompanying report. 



This report, by an additional clause of the resolution, ought to hav« 

 been made at the session immediately succeeding that at which the 

 resolution passed ; but the interval was found to be too short to ren- 

 der this practicable. In order to procure the materials from which 

 alone the Manual could be adequately prepared, it became nectissary 

 to institute a correspondence co-extensive with the Union, and to seek 

 additional light in relation to the subject from several countries abroad. 

 The returns to inquiries thus instituted by the Department, had not 

 even been received, except in part, during the interval above-mentioned, 

 although no time had been lost in instituting them. The work has since 

 proceeded with as much expedition as was believed to comport with 

 the care due to its preparation; which, amongst other things, included 

 plates, for the better illustration of some parts of the machinery used in 

 manufacturing silk. These explanations, it is hoped, may be received 

 as satisfactory. 



I have the honor to remain. 



With high consideration and respect, 

 Your obedient servant, 



RICHARD RUSH, 

 The Honorable the Speaker 



of the. Houne of RepresentaHves U. S. 





