174 THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 



about four thousand looms were shut up in 1 793 ; 

 which, when in full work, seven years before, had 

 given employment to about ten thousand person:-. 



The trade experienced an evident revival between 

 the years 1798 and 1800, and has made an astonishing 

 progress within the last fifteen or twenty years. This- 

 has been, in no inconsiderable degree, owing to the 

 facility with which increased supplies of raw silk are 

 now obtained from India. In 1770, the East India: 

 Company bagan to introduce the Italian mode oi 

 preparing and winding silk into Bengal ; but the 

 obstacles to its introduction, from the ignorance and; 

 prejudices of the natives, and other causes, rendered 

 its progress, for several years, comparatively slow. 

 The average quantity of raw silk imported from. 

 India previously to 1 770, did not exceed one hundred 

 thousand pounds weight ; and this, too, of a very 

 inferior description, and worth only from a third to a 

 half of Italian silk. In 1780, the imports from India 

 amounted to about two hundred thousand pounds, 

 weight; and, in 1800, to nearly five hundred thousand 

 pounds weight. Since that time they have continued 

 to increase in a still greater proportion, the quantity 

 of Bengal silk imported in 1 823 haviag been upwards, 

 of one million two hundred thousand pounds weight, 

 and of an exceedingly improved quality. The price 

 of Italian raw silk is stated in the Second Report of 

 the Lords' Committee on Foreign Trade, (page 4,} 

 to be from thirteen to twenty-six shillings a pound, 

 exclusive of duty, aud that of Bengal from twelve tQ 



