THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 177 



thousand mouths will be fed by the silk manufacture, 

 the value of which I estimate at TEN MILLIONS."* 



At the same period, Mr Hale of Spitalfields 

 estimates the number of persons supported by the 

 silk manufacture at five hundred thousand ; but this 

 was probably too high an estimate for the time. 

 Since that time, however, the trade has greatly 

 increased, and we have no doubt but half a million 

 must be somewhat near the number now employed. 



These statements are sufficient to shew the very 

 great and increasing importance of the British silk 

 manufacture. So extended and rapid has been its 

 improvement, that it has now become of considerably 

 greater magnitude and value than that of France ! 

 M. Chaptal, who had the best means of obtaining 

 accurate information on the subject, states, in his 

 valuable work.f that " France does not, in ordinary 

 years, produce more than a million of pounds of raw 

 silk, and that the whole quantity consumed in the 

 French manufacture, is not more than double that 

 amount." Neither is it in extent only that we have 

 begun to surpass our ingenious and enterprising 

 neighbours ; for, though they still continue to excel 

 us in the manufacture of the lighter fabrics, we have 

 obtained an unquestionable superiority over them in 

 the manufacture of gloves and hosiery, as well as in 

 that of poplins, tabinets, and all those mixed fabrics 

 of which silk is the basis, and we are also already 



* Second Report of the JLords' Committee, p. 39. 

 f Svr I' Industrie Franyoise, torn, ii p. 1 18. 



