86 THE CALIFORNIA 



severence will alone accomplish it. Do I mistake the 

 signs of the times, when I predict, as I here publicly do, 

 the speedy and triumphant success of the silk culture 

 in our beloved country. To my own mind, the prospect 

 before us is bright with promise ; I look forward but a 

 little, and my fondest anticipations are more than real- 

 ized; I behold this single product flowing to all our 

 ports through a thousand channels, and peace and plenty 

 pervading all our borders, with no second in the mag- 

 nitude of its results. 



An eminent senator, on a memorable occasion, prom- 

 ised all our farmers silken purses filled with gold shining 

 through their meshes ; but, alas ! the worthy senator 

 gave us nothing with which to procure either the purses 

 or the gold ; but here is the silk to make the purses, 

 and here is the gold the returns of silk to fill them. 



[The foregoing discussion shows the importance of 

 silk culture, and its benefit to our nation ; and I hope 

 it will serve to convince as well as please the greater 

 portion of your readers.] 



Respectfully yours, 



L. PREVOST. 



