APPENDIX. 



Communiealion from D. D. StebbinSj JYorthampton^ Mast. 



To THE Trustees of the American Institute : 



Gentlemen — It might be amusing to speculate upon the early de- 

 velopment, rise and progress, of silk culture, which succeeded the 

 fig leaf and sheep skin clothing of early times ; but we have better 

 evidence than the most fanciful imagination can devise. 



The most ancient history of the world, has frequent notice of silk 

 and the silk tree ; and the most eminent linguists suggest that the 

 Hebrew words " shesh" and " meshi " might be rendered either cot- 

 ton, fine linen, or silk. 



Whether the Jews, at their dispersion, or any other time, carried 

 with them the knowledge of silk culture, or whether it originated 

 ■with the Chinese, and by stealthy measures introduced into Europe, 

 is not needful for us to contend about. Desirable as it might be to 

 review the past, it would be more pleasing could we lift the curtain^ 

 and ken what changes will take place within the present century. 



Great and important changes have taken place within a few years. 



Most of us remember the disastrous tree speculations, succeeded 

 by almost a total apathy in the silk cause, until recently, when pub- 

 lic sentiment is waking up, to establish the silk cause on a firmbasis- 



Within the last year, great and essential improvements have been 

 devised and put in operation by intelligent silk growers, more, it is 

 hoped, for the general good than private emolument. 



Among the early pioneers of our country in the silk cause, we 

 hold in grateful recollection the names of a Styles, Aspinwall, Clarke 

 and a few others, who early engaged in the introduction of silk cul- 

 ture into the northern and eastern States, perilling their time and 

 property in the great and good cause in which they were engaged. 



The Rev. Dr. Wigglesworth of Cambridge, is recorded to have 

 raised the first silk-worms in New England in 1737. How and where 

 he obtained the eggs is not told us. Between the years 1747-50, the 

 Hon. Jonathan Law, Governor of Connecticut, wore the first silk 

 cravat, and his daughter the first silk gown made of American silk 

 of their raising. 



In subsequent years, the culture of silk was attended with good 

 success and profit, until suspended by the operation of the war of the 

 Revolution, during which, and several years after, very little was 

 done in Ntw-England, except in Mansfield and its vicinity. 



There was then in existence no general understanding or union 

 about the culture of silk — no patronage of a public institution like 



