Exhibition Addresses. 185 



years ago, Spitalfiekls was the great center of the silk trade in 

 England. 



Still, England had no machinery for the throwing of silk or spin- 

 ning it for the weaver ; and as other European cities had to send to 

 Bologna for their silk threads, so England had now to send to France 

 for hers. By force of frand this difficulty had to he got over. 

 Accordingly, a skillful draughtsman and mechanic went to Italy, 

 disguised as a common workman, and, by bribes, gained access to a 

 silk factoi'y. What he saw there during the day he committed to 

 paper during the night, and at length escaped with two Italian work- 

 man. The three got safely aboard an English ship ; and although 

 they were pursued by an Italian vessel, they landed safely in Eng- 

 land. The daring adventurer, on his return, established a large fac- 

 tory at Derby for silk spinning. lie was, however, shortly after poi- 

 soned by Italians sent over for the purpose. The workman died, but 

 the work went on ; and soon English-made silks sold in Italy at higher 

 rates than Italian-made silks. 



The English protected the silk trade by heavy duties and restric- 

 tions, and before the close of the eighteenth century the annual pro- 

 duct of the silk industry in England amounted to $17,000,000, giving 

 employment to from 80,000 to 100,000 people. 



Although the attempt to raise silk in England failed, the English 

 government was not unmindful of its great importance, and therefore 

 turned its attention to silk culture in the colonies of America, which 

 will be spoken of more at length hereafter, 



China raised her own silk, and the countries of Continental Europe 

 raised theirs, and England wanted to raise hers. ISTow she was 

 obliged to import it from India, China, Italy and Turkey. 



Xutwithstanding this, the silk trade grew in England, until, in the 

 early part of the present century, the Englisli silk looms numbered 

 40,000, and in 1855 they had increased to 110,000, consuming 

 ^,500,000 pounds of silk, and producing goods worth $1:5,000,000. 

 This royal industry is now prostrated, and the cry of distress isdieard in 

 the places which were heretofore the great centers of the silk industry. 



Hear a voice from Macclesfield, a silk town in the county of Che- 

 shire, once employing 12,000 weavers : 



Macclesfield. — Past. 

 Sir : In the year 1825, and for years preceding, Macclesfield was 

 a rising and prosperous town. The weavers of that period enjoyed 



