PRODUCTION OF SILK. 149 



until, in 1826, Mr. Huskisson, the wise and sagacious 

 minister, demolished the barriers which were raised for 

 its protection, and at once dissolved the charm. The 

 duties on the raw silk, inasmuch as it could never be 

 produced in England, were abolished, and the duties on 

 imports of manufactured silks were reduced to 30 per 

 cent. From that period, the manufactures of England, 

 thus left to rely on themselves, have acquired new ener- 

 gy ; and in the healthful but desperate struggle of com- 

 petition, it has wonderfully augmented its strength. And 

 with the industry and talent, and ready invention of the 

 people, and the introduction of the Jacquard loom of 

 France, and of every species of improvement from 

 abroad, they are now enabled to rival in excellence even 

 the most beautiful fabrics of China, of Italy, of Switz- 

 erland, and of France. 



Formerly, the silk manufactures of England were 

 chiefly confined to Spitalfields ; but now, in a great 

 measure, Manchester has become the emporium. The 

 throwing-mills of that place, in 1832, required for their 

 movement a power of steam equal to 342 horses. In 

 1819, there were not fifty silk looms in Manchester, and 

 now there are 12,000 looms, whereof one-third are for 

 silk with admixture, and two-thirds for silk alone. Pow- 

 er looms for silk are believed to be but little used in 

 England^ they are an invention of but a few years, 

 the weavers of the old school being opposed to their 

 introduction. Thus it was in England on the first in- 

 vention of the power looms for cotton, their introduc- 

 tion being opposed by mobs, and the wonderful machines 

 consigned to destruction, and their authors to execra- 

 tion. 



I have stated that the silks left for consumption in Great 

 Britain alone, so late as 1835, amounted to the enormous 

 sum of $28,282,582 annually, at the wholesale prices, 

 besides the whole amount of all they exported. 



