181 [ 175 ] 



hundred thousand pounds; Turkey the same. The remainder comes 

 from Italy — about eight hundred thousand pounds. 



The duties on raw silk areas follow: Bengal 4.?.; Italian, Turkey, 

 and China, 5s. Ihd. per pound. Italian organzine, 14^, Crf. to 14*. Ihd. 

 per pound. Prices paid for organzine silk in England, Is. to 10,9. per 

 pound; the waste is from three to fifteen per cent. No organzine is 

 made in France; they prepare their own trams and singles. China silk 

 is applicable to hosiery — the Italian is not. 



John Thorpe, ribbon manufacturer. — The price for making organ- 

 zine in Italy, is from 35. to 4*. per pound. There is a great difference 

 in the size and goodness of the silk to work. In England it costs from 

 7*. to 105-. per pound to make it. The French, are superior to the En- 

 glish in ribbons, but inferior in hosiery. China silk goods are heavier 

 than English, but not of a better quality. The China raw silk is 

 equal to most Italian, and better than any Bengal. 



Joh7i De Ferre, a silk tnerchant. — In the Bengal silk there is a kind 

 of cottony or fuzzy substance, which is thrown up into a pile or knap 

 when woven. This is not perceived in the raw silk of Italy, France, 

 or Turkey. The price of Bengal silk per pound, duty included, is 

 from 14.S. to 30*.; that of Italian raw silk, from 18*. to Z5s. 



Stephen Wilson, a silk manufacturer. — Nearly two millions of 

 pounds weight of raw and thrown silks are annually imported into 

 England; it gives employment to 40,000 hands, in throwing it for the 

 weaver, and their wages are £350,000. Half a million pounds of soap 

 and a large proportion of the most costly die stuffs, are consumed at a 

 further expense of £300,000; and £265,000 more are paid to winders 

 to prepare it. The number of looms may be taken at 40,000, and the 

 weavers, warpers, mechanics, &c. will employ 80,000 more persons, 

 and their wages will am.ount to £3,000,000. Including infants and 

 dependants, 400,000 mouths will be fed by this manufacture; the 

 amount of which I estimate at £10,000,000. 



The price of dying white at Lyons, is fifteen sous, or seven pence 

 halfpenny per pound; and colors 24 sous, or one shilling. In England 

 the price bf the first is 2s., and of the latter, from 2*. 6d. to 4*. Tlio 

 drawback on silk goods, in England, is 12*. per pound — ribbons 10*. 



English silk goods are exported chiefly to the Brazils, and other 

 parts of South America. 



The labor in preparing raw silk, affords much more employment to 

 the country producing it, than any other raw material. 



The defect complained of in the Bengal silk, is in the preparation. 

 There is nothing in the nature of the silk, which should not render it< 

 applicable to every purpose of Italian silk. 



