5 [ 175 ] 



tion of the article was suspended, not from any difficulty experienced 

 in the process, but from causes connected with the Revolution. Mea- 

 sures have recently been adopted at Savannah, with a view to the re- 

 newal of the cultivation of the mulberry tree and breeding the silk- 

 worm. In Kentucky, the Committee learn that sewing silk is now 

 produced in considerable quantities, and of excellent quality. Many 

 5''ears ago the attention of public spirited individuals in Pennsylvania 

 was turned to the production of silk. The Persian mulberry was in- 

 troduced into Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Bishop Ettwein, where it 

 flourished and still flourishes. Silk was produced without difficulty. 

 In Chester and other of the southern counties of that State, the experi- 

 ment was also made with success. The great demand and high price 

 of bread stufis, owing to the wars growing out of the French revolu- 

 tion, rendered the cultivation of grain so profitable for many years, 

 that the mulberry was neglected. In 1779 two hundred pounds of sew- 

 ing silk were made in the town of Mansfield, in Connecticut; and in 

 1810, according to the report of the marshal who took the census, the 

 Value of silk produced in Windham county was estimated at §27,373. 

 The Committee learn that the production of silk is still attended to and 

 found profitable. Some beautiful specimens of sewing silk, the pro- 

 duction of that State, have been exhibited to the Committee. Of the 

 fact, therefore, that the United States can produce silk for its own con- 

 sumption, and even for exportation to the extent of foreign demand, 

 there appears no reason to doubt. There are few persons, the Com- 

 mittee believe, even the most intelligent of our citizens, (who have 

 not turned their attention particularly to the subject,) who will not be 

 surprised at the view presented by the following official statement of 

 the value of silks imported into the United States the last five years: 



Statement of the value of silk goods imported and exported in the 



years 1821 to 1825, inclusive. 



Years. Imported- Exported. 



1821 - - ^4,486, 924 - - ^1,057,233 



1822 - - 6,480,928 - - 1,016,262 



1823 - * - 6,713,771 - - 1,512,449 



1824 - - 7,203,344 - - 1,816,325 



1825 - - 10,271,527 - - 2,565,743 



§35,156,494 §7,968,011 



What a bounty is paid by us to support the agriculturist and manu- 

 facturer of other nations, on articles which our country, with a few 

 years of care, might supply! How important it is that the agriculturist, 

 should turn his attention to new objects of production, is very fully 

 shown by the circumstance of the diminished and diminishing demand 

 of bread stuffs abroad. 



In 1817, the exports of bread stuffs amounted to §20,374,000 



In 1818, 15,388,000 



In 1824, .--..--. 6,799,246 



In 1825, - 5.417,007 



