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plants and seeds were sent for distribution. He also had a book of 

 instructions composed, on the rearing of the trees and the culture of 

 silk, to promote the success of his project. The royal wishes do not 

 appear to have been seconded by his subjects; but he had the satisfac- 

 tion to see the broad silk manufactory introduced in the latter end of 

 his reign. The revocation of the edict of Nantes, in the year 1685, 

 which drove all the Protestants from France, permanently established 

 the business in England; and the erection of the silk throwing mill 

 of Sir Thomas Lombe, at Derby, in the year 1719, greatly promoted 

 it, by the rapid preparation of the raw material, 



HISTORY OF SILK IN THE UNITED STATES. 



The culture of silk first commenced in Virginia. Upon the settle- 

 ment of that colony, it was deemed an object of the first importance; 

 and the attention of the settlers was strongly directed to it by the 

 British government, by which silkworm eggs, white mulberry trees, 

 and printed instructions, were sent over and distributed. King James 

 the First, in the 20th year of his reign, having, doubtless, seen the 

 defeat of his plan to encourage the silk culture at home, was induced 

 to attempt it in Virginia; and, *' having understood that the soil 

 naturally yieldeth store of excellent mulberries," gave instructions 

 to the Earl of Southampton, to urge the cultivation of silk in the 

 colony, in preference to tobacco, "which brings with it many disor- 

 ders and inconveniences." In obedience to the command, the Earl 

 wrote an express letter on the subject, to the Governor and Council, 

 in which he desired them to compel the colonists to plant mulberry 

 trees, and also vines. Accordingly, " as early as the year 1623, the 

 colonial assembly directed the planting of mulberry trees; and in 

 1656, another act was passed, in which the culture of silk is described 

 as the most profitable commodity for the country; and a penalty of ten 

 pounds of tobacco is imposed upon every planter who should fail to 

 plant at least ten mulberry trees for every hundred acres of land in 

 his possession. In the same year a premium of 4,000 pounds of 

 tobacco* was given to a person as an inducement to remain in the 

 country, and prosecute the trade in silk; and, in the next year, a pre- 

 mium of 10,000 pounds of tobacco was offered to any one who should 

 export £200 worth of the raw material of silk. About the same time, 

 5,000 pounds of the same article was promised " to any one who 

 should produce 1,000 pounds of wound silk in one year." The act of 

 1656, coercing the planting of the mulberry trees, was repealed, in the 

 year 1658, but was revived two years after; and the system of re- 

 wards and penalties was steadily pursued until the year 1666, when 

 it was determined that all statutory provisions were thereafter unne- 

 cessary, as the success of divers persons in the growth of silk, and 

 other manufactures, "evidently demonstrated how beneficial the same 



* In the early settlement of Virginia, tobacco was the circulating medium, the 

 substitute for money, as sewing silk is, in part, at present in Windliam county, Con- 

 necticut. 



