THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 171 



the colonists were considerably elevated. But, alas ! 



how uncertain are human affairs ! for several seasons 

 followed in succession unfavourable to the Silk 



Worms ; and this, with the indifferent quality of the 

 silk, and government reducing the bounty, proved a 

 deathblow to the flattering prospects of the Georgians 

 and Carolineans, and the principal planters abandoned 

 the culture of the Silk Worm in despair. By the 

 end of the eighteenth century, the Silk Worm was 

 nknown in these colonies. 



The manufacture of silk was introduced into Eng- 

 land in the fifteenth century. Its early progress was, 

 however, far from being rapid ; but it gradually 

 increased, according as the growing wealth of the 

 country occasioned a greater demand for silk goods. 

 The silk throwsters of the metropolis were united in 

 a fellowship in the year 1562, and were incorporated 

 by royal charter in 1629 ; and, so prosperous and 

 flourishing had their business become, that it is stated, 

 in the preamble to a statute passed in 1666, (13 and 

 14 of Charles II, cap. 15,) that they had at that time 

 BO fewer than forty thousand individuals in their 

 employment ! And it is of importance to observe, 

 that though the importation of silk goods from foreign 

 'countries was occasionally prohibited during the 

 reigns of James I. and Charles I, the Protectorate, 

 isnd the reign of Charles II, the prohibition was not 

 'strictly enforced; and, generally speaking, the impor- 

 tation of these goods was quite free. 



A considerable stimulus, though not nearly so great 

 i? has been commonly supposed, was given to the 



