13 



government, in the 20th year of the reign of 

 James I. Having unsuccessfully attempted to 

 introduce it into his own kingdom, in Europe, 

 he was the more desirous of doing so in his 

 transatlantic possessions, in order that his 

 manufacturers at home might draw their sup- 

 plies of the raw material from his colonies in 

 America. With the view of furthering his 

 object, which had now become quite a favo- 

 rite with him, silk worm eggs, Mulberry trees, 

 and printed directions were early sent to Vir- 

 ginia, to encourage the silk culture, and as the 

 king had "understood that the soil naturally 

 yieldeth stores of excellent. Mulberries," he 

 gave special instructions to the Earl of South- 

 ampton, to urge the cultivation of silk in the 

 colonies in preference to tobacco, " which 

 brings with it many disorders and inconve- 

 niences." In accordance to which, the Earl 

 wrote a letter on the subject to the governor, 

 and council of Virginia, in which he desired 

 them to compel the colonists to plant Mul- 

 berry trees. In 1 623, the colonial assembly 

 directed that they should be planted; and in 

 1656, the culture of silk is described as the 

 most profitable commodity for the country, 

 and a penalty of three pounds of tobacco is 

 imposed upon every planter who should fail 

 to plant at least ten Mulberry trees for every 

 hundred acres of land in his possession. A 

 premium also of 4000 pounds of tobacco was 

 at the same time given to a person as an in- 

 ducement to remain in the country, and pro- 

 secute the trade in silk; and the following 

 year, a premium was offered of 10,000 pounds 

 of tobacco to any one who should export 

 200 worth of the raw material of silk, and 

 5000 pounds of the same article to any one 

 who should produce 1000 pounds of wound 

 silk in one year. The act coercing the plant- 

 ing of a given number of trees was repealed in 

 1656, and renewed two years thereafter; but 

 the system of bounties and penalties was con- 

 tinued until 1666, when, owing to the success 

 of the culture they were deemed unnecessary ; 

 but in 1 6 1 9 it was again renew ed ; and subse- 

 quently entirely ceased. 



While Sir William Berkeley was in Eng- 

 land, on the occasion of his reappointment as 

 governor, in conversation with the King, his 

 majesty strongly recommended the culture of 

 silk, and as an inducement to the colonists to 

 attend to his advice, mentioned " that he had 

 formerly worn some of the silk of Virginia, 

 which he found not inferior to that raised in 

 other countries." 



The encouragement given by the colonial 



Legislature, had the desired effect, a spirit of 

 generous enterprise and emulation was infus- 

 ed into the minds of the agriculturists of the old 

 dominion, Mulberry trees were generally 

 planted and the raising of silk worms 

 was made a part of the business of many of 

 the farmers. Indeed, so zealously did the 

 larger planters and farmers enter into it, that 

 many were found to come forward and claim 

 the premium offered by the Legislature; and 

 among these was a Major Walker, a member 

 of that body, who produced satisfactory testi- 

 mony of having 70,000 trees growing in the 

 year 1664. The eastern part of the state 

 abounds with the White Mulberry trees at 

 present, thus offering the inhabitants the 

 means of promptly taking up the silk culture, 

 as a part of their system of husdandry. 



In that excellent and scarce work, entitled 

 " The trade and navigation of Great Britain 

 and Ireland, by Joshua Gee," published in 

 1760, there are numerous evidences of the 

 deep and pervading interest which was then, 

 and had been long felt by the government of 

 England, to introduce the culture of silk into 

 their colonies. One of these relates to the in- 

 terest taken by James I., and as it is a little 

 different, rather in form, however, than sub- 

 stance, to the version already given, we will 

 transcribe it. 



"King James the first concerned himself 

 much in trade ; yet in imitation of Henry IV. 

 of France, (who was wonderful assidious in 

 promoting all sorts of manufactures, and 

 among the rest, that of planting Mulberry 

 trees, and raising silk,) made some essays to- 

 wards such a design here, and he and his 

 courtiers seemed to be very fond of the under- 

 taking, and letters were writ to Virginia to 

 promote that manufacture. Some small pro- 

 gress was made there and letters passed be- 

 tween the planters and gentlemen here; but 

 as soon as they thought they had engaged the 

 planters to begin upon it, instead of promoting 

 it heartily, and sending some able and skilful 

 persons to direct the undertaking, they threw 

 all upon the planters, and that noble design 

 came to nothing, whereas that of France suc- 

 ceeded to the immense profit of that king- 

 dom." p 3. 6th ed. 



If any proof were wanting of the adaptation 

 of our country, in climate and soil for the silk 

 culture, it is to be found in the pages of this 

 work, the edition of which now before us is 

 75 years old. In page 20, in a chapter on 

 " Trade between England and Carolina," Mr. 

 Gee remarks: 



