THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 



175 



twenty-five shillings a pound. But as only one crop 

 of raw silk is annually produced in Italy, while/row 

 two to three crops are produced in the same period in 

 India, a very great reduction of price may be expected 

 the moment these absurd and jealous regulations are 

 removed, which now prevent the free application of 

 European capital and skill to the culture and pre- 

 paration of Indian silk. 



The following is an official account of the quantities 

 of raw and thrown silk imported into Great Britain 

 in the year ending the 5th January, 1824 : 



During the same year, the exports amounted to 

 only fifty-three thousand six hundred pounds weight, 

 of which forty thousand were to Ireland. The 



