180 [Senatr 



Emile Beauvais raised 72 lbs. of cocoons from 1,000 lbs. of leaves. 

 The Marquis Amelot distinguishes himself for zeal and taste in 

 silk works. 



H. MEIGS, 

 Member of the American Institute. 

 Oct. 12th, 1843." 



Mr. Barbour, of the business committee, reported from that com- 

 mittee a series of resolutions, having reference to the culture and 

 manufacture of silk. 



In the discussions arising upon them, as they came up for conside- 

 ration, many members made remarks upon the feasibility of very 

 speedily bringing the business into popularity and active operation- 

 It was not, as had been alleged, "all moonshine,'- — and the presi- 

 dent made a few remarks in favor of an amendnrient, offered by him- 

 self, to the effect that the disrepute and distrust into which the busi- 

 ness fell, some three years ago, was the work of brokers and specu- 

 lators, who had engaged in the purchase and sale of mulberry trees, 

 cuttings, &c., with no intention of growing or manufacturing. 



A debate also arose, in the course of the discussion of these reso- 

 lutions, in reference to the fact that, under a provision of Congress, 

 in the passage of the tariff act, to import " silk in the gum," at a 

 low rate of duty, frauds had been committed, by importing silks (on 

 which the duty is $2 per lb., instead of 50 cents, the duty on the 

 gummed article.) The committee were instructed to report on this 

 subject to-morrow ; and then the convention adjourned until to-mor- 

 row at 10 A. M. 



Evening. 



The Saloon in the Garden, in the evening, was thronged with visi- 

 tors — and at half-past seven, agreeably to previous arrangement, 

 General Tallmadge introduced the speaker of the evening, Mr, Bar- 

 bour, from Massachusetts ; a practical silk grower. 



The assemblage were deeply interested in the remarks made by 

 the speaker, and frequently interrupted him with warm shouts of 

 applause. 



His speech, as given by the city reporters, was substantially as 

 follows : 



Mr. Barbour said he would address himself to the task assigned 

 him without any apology or introduction. He would endeavor to 

 convey to the minds of his audience the impressions and convictions, 

 which experience and practice had deepened in his own, as to the fea- 

 sibility of cultivating the silk-worm in this country. 



And /rsi, he would say as a matter of fact, distinctly proved be- 

 yond all doubt, that it can be done. The plain Saxon words can 

 and canH had applicability to this subject. He would lead off his 

 hearers on no false track, any more than he would himself He was 

 satisfied of the truth of his position. The feasibility of this enter- 

 prise was durably fixed in his own mind, and it was his purpose to 

 do something towards impressing it as forcibly upon the minds of 

 those who heard him. The nuestion is, Can we raise silk in this 



