98 



As I was going to conclude this letter, I received, from 

 Philadelphia, extracts from a series of public documents 

 lately presented to the American Philosophical Society, 

 by Don J. M. Tornel, late minister from Mexico to the 

 United States. Among those documents, are official re- 

 ports, in which it is stated that the want of the knowledge 

 of the art of reeling is the only thing that prevents the 

 culture of silk from flourishing in that Republic ; and I 

 ought to add, that it is known to me that overtures have 

 been made to Mr Homergue, on the part of that Gov- 

 ernment, to induce him to enter into their service. 



Thus, sir, three foreign Governments have endeavored 

 to obtain the aid of Mr D'Homergue to introduce or per- 

 fect the art of reeling silk among them. This shows that 

 it is not so easy, as some have imagined, to obtain per- 

 sons thus qualified from other countries : and that this 

 nation is possessed of an opportunity, which, if it should 

 suffer to escape, it may long, very long, have cause to re- 

 gret hereafter. 



The only object of this letter is to endeavor toconvince 

 your honorable House of the high importance of this bill, 

 in the confident expectation that it will be finally acted 

 upon by Congress at the present session. In doing so, I 

 conceive I am performing a duty, which, if I were to 

 neglect, I would have cause to reproach myself for it for- 

 ever after. 



I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir, 

 Your most obedient and very humble servant, 



PETER S. DU PONCEAU. 



NOTE. It is well known that M- Du Ponceau's Bill was rejected 

 in the House of Representatives, by a majority of seventeen votes. 

 What the principal objections to it were, I do not know. But as 

 the popular voice calls loudly for legislative encouragement, it is 

 not improbable that some future Congress may enact suitable pro- 

 visions on the subject. 



