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Great Britain imports, annually, chiefly from Bengal, 

 Italy, China, and Turkey, raw silk, to supply her manu- 

 factories, to the amount of more than seven millions of 

 dollars ; France imports from the same places, chiefly, 

 more than twenty millions ; besides large quantities rais- 

 ed in her own territory ; and she exports^ " besides a 

 much greater saving from the quantity used at home," 

 of this article manufactured, the incredible amount of 

 '''five hundred millions of dollars,'^'' 



The records of the treasury show, that the United 

 States imported, in five years, from 1821, to 1825 inclu- 

 sive, more than thirty five millions of dollars, in manu- 

 factured silks. Of which eight millions only were ex- 

 ported 'y leaving to be used, and paidfor^ in the United 

 States, twenty seven millions ; or about four ayid a half 

 millions annually. This has since increased — and the 

 probable consumption of silk stuffs, within the United 

 States, at this time, is between seven and ten millions^ an- 

 nually. And this amount increasing in a ratio, greater 

 than that of the population of the country. This 

 large sum is to be paid for ; and it will be seen, that 

 our exports, from New England, fall short of doing it. 



These facts show the importance of this culture ; 

 both to agriculturalists, and to the nation. We pay for 

 this article, manufactured abroad, an annual tax, of be- 

 tween seven and ten millions ; Avhich its culture would 

 save — and, in a few years, enable us to export, of the 

 same material, as much more. Thus saving that sum, 

 " twice toldy The fact also, that the demand, abroad, 

 for our bread-stuffs, is constantly diminishing ; and our 

 exports of that article, annually, decreasing, adds im- 

 portance to this culture. 



Its value may be learned from the estimation, in which 



