AMERICAN EDITION. 9 



employment, and might be practised without degradation by the aristo- 

 cracy. The introduction of the silk worms into France has been attri- 

 buted to Louis the XI, and to Francis I ; certain it is, however, that the 

 people of France made rapid progress in this pursuit under the fostering 

 care of the monarch, and timely and well devisfd bounties for the planting 

 and culture of the mulberry tree. Henry IV, in his letters-patent for the 

 establishment of silk manufactories in Paris, conferred titles of nobility for 

 success and perseverance. Nurseries of the mulberry were established, 

 and at first the trees were given away by the Government, unsuccessfully ; 

 but at length a more judicious plan was adopted. A reward of three livres 

 was offered to the cultivator, for every tree that should be found in a thriv- 

 ing condition three years after it had been planted. Thus stimulated, the 

 cultivation was eminently successful. The results are shown in the 

 modern statistics of France, and how amply the outlay of three livres per 

 tree has been repaid by the revenue accruing to the crown from the man- 

 ufacture of silk. 



The experience of nations will not be lost upon the United States. 

 Her statesmen, her legislators, and her people are awake to the subject. 

 We have only to will it, to naturalize the culture and manufacture of 

 silk, and the time is believed to be not distant, when this important branch 

 of industry will be added to the resources of our national prosperity. The 

 present work has been translated and published as our humble mite to 

 the accomplishment of this great work. 



WASHINGTON. February, 1838. 



