No. 85.J 467 



articles. It would delight me to put before you the information 

 collected at the last Convention ; and I have it in my power to state, 

 that the Committee will lay before this Convention a large amount of 

 information, collected from different parts of the country, on the sub- 

 ject on which they are called to deliberate. 



With regard to the consumption of siJk, I hold it to be the duty of 

 the patriot and statesman, when any article is consumed extensively 

 in the country, to use his influence to promote its production at home, 

 so that we may be rendered independent of other nations ; to do all 

 we can to make our own people industrious, and to prevent them from 

 lookino; abroad for food or clothino;. 



Much information with regard to silk is collected and might be laid 

 before you ; but I will ask your attention to one fact. 



In the State of New-York we are slow in making progress in the 

 culture of silk, compared with those parts of the country further west. 

 We are great consumers of the article. There is a village called 

 Gloversville, Montgomery county, N. Y., and it may surprise you, as 

 I was surprised, to learn that $500,000 are annually spent for ma- 

 terials for making gloves ; and listen to one fact ; $10,000 a year is 

 paid for silk to sew them with. Until lately all that silk was im- 

 ported, and now I can tell you that the great body of it has been pro- 

 duced in this country. 



Judge Meigs arose with a letter in his hand, and addressed the Pre- 

 sident as follows : 



Mr. President — I never rose, sir, to say any thing with as much 

 satisfaction as I now rise to address you. I see evidence that the 

 public interest is awakening to the important objects of agriculture,' 

 when it receives substantial notice from a gentleman of such distin- 

 guished character and intelligence as the writer of this letter. It is 

 from a gentleman of Dutch descent, with a fine old Dutch name, 

 Myndert Van Schaick, a merchant of this city for many years. He 

 authorises me to come here this morning and to offer to the American 

 Institute one thousand dollars — that is, one hundred dollars a year for 

 ten years — to be paid in premiums for the encouragement of the silk 

 manufacture. He has well considered the subject and has taken this 

 resolution. 



JYew-York, July 16^/i, 1844. 

 To the Hon. James Tallmadge, 



President of the American Institute : 



Dear Sir — It gives me the greatest satisfaction to perceive from this 

 afternoon's paper, that the American Institute is seriously engaged in 

 efforts for the promotion of the culture and manufacture of silk in this 

 country. Your distinguished society cannot be employed in a more 

 truly national object, or in one which will confer on its members a 

 greater share of renown ; for I am persuaded that it is not an extra- 

 vagant opinion to estimate the saving which the culture and manu- 

 facture of silk will produce in the country, when the supply shall equal 

 the demand, at not less than twenty millions of dollars per annum. 



I have always looked at this subject as one of the most interesting, 

 in relation to the profitable application of industry and skill, which 



