16 



half our imports were from China. Yet neither the 

 articles of raw silk, nor any of those numerous, substan- 

 tial, and elegant fabrics, which are composed of part 

 silk, and part cotton, or mixtures of silk and worsted, 

 are included in the above amount. In no year previous 

 to 1821, had the annual amount consumed arisen to one 

 fourth of what it was in 1835. But in no year previous to 

 1839 had the annual consumption arisen to one Aa/f this 

 amount; the increase during 15 years being fourfold. 



In the year ending September 1836, the importations 

 of silk amounted to $22,000,000 at the first cost in for- 

 eign countries; and the imports of those fabrics com- 

 posed of part silk and cotton, and part silk and worsted, 

 amounted to $6,000,000 more in that same year ; but 

 this was a year of excessive importations and is not 

 stated as the average. 



Those resources, the millions we now annually ex- 

 pend for silks, the productions of foreign industry and 

 of foreign policy ; those vast sums should be preserved 

 to our own citizens, and a great and general interest 

 encouraged an interest so adapted, as an occupation 

 for the feeble, and a resource for the poor, and to 

 awaken to habits of industry and of virtue the rising 

 generation. Thus instructed and educated, they will 

 be enabled to contribute their share to the public hap- 

 piness and prosperity, and to add to the resources and 

 wealth of the country. 



The enterprise, the fertile invention, the noble efforts 

 of individual exertion, have already accomplished much ; 

 but much yet remains to be done. That industry, that 

 portion which, unawakened is now lost, being alone more 

 than sufficient to accomplish all more than sufficient to 

 recover again those very considerable sums, the millions 

 so lavishly expended, with interest an hundred fold. 



By those unceasing toils, and mighty efforts, and 

 matchless labors, for which our people are so distin- 

 guished ; the millions thus recovered, will not only be 

 their just reward, but will add to the substantial wealth 

 of the nation, and to the glory of the whole republic. 



