On the Culture of Silk 279 



that the same anxious spirit for the general adoption of the culture 

 of silk is also extending throughout all ranks of our fellow citizens. 

 This country certainly possesses all the elements for advancing this 

 rich branch of agriculture, and we are gratified by the numerous 

 attempts already rewarded by flattering success, especially in the 

 states of Connecticut and Ohio. 



After the general government at Washington had published and 

 distributed the valuable Manual on Silk,* there appeared in 

 this country several essays or treatises relative to the promotion 

 and extension of the culture of silk. These were eUcited chief- 

 ly from the pens of several respectable editors of [periodical and 

 agricultural journals 5 Vernon, Fessenden, Gideon B. Smith, &/-C. 

 but within the last year our attention has been called to some more 

 considerable works from different quarters : Essays on Silk by d'Ho- 

 mergue and Duponceau, and the last from Felix Pascalis, M. D. a 

 physician originally from France, but long a resident citizen of Phil- 

 adelphia and New York. We look at this production as very im- 

 portant also, in relation to fundamental principles, and to the philoso- 

 phy of the author's proposed improvements. f The first volume of 

 the Practical instructions opens to us the ancient and classical history 

 of silk, which, as an animal and vegetable production can be traced 

 to the most remote ages of heroic or mythologic fables. 



" The Golden fleece of the ancients is so far connected with our 

 subject, that Hager the author of the Pantheon Chinois, conjectures 

 that it was raw silk in its natural state, resembhng so many flowing 

 threads of gold. In addition to this authority we beg leave to re- 

 mark, that Colchis, a region on the east of the Euxine sea, cele- 

 brated for the expedition of the Argonauts, was the Emporium of the 

 Seres or Chinese, who brought there their silk, which according to 

 custom they displayed under the flag of their nation, representing a 

 dragon. The hero Jason must then have commanded an expedi- 

 tion for plunder or for commerce. There are other analogies in this 

 fable, especially that of Medea his wife, punishing her rival Glauce 



* Document 358. 



t Our acquaintance with Messrs. Duponceau and Pascalis, whose scientific rep- 

 utation, and writings are equally distinguished in this as in their native country, 

 has commanded a great degree of our confidence ; we understand that Dr. Pas- 

 calis has had much experience in this branch of industiy and natural hislory ; and 

 the Linnajan Society of Paris have shewn their confidence in his knovt-ledge by mak- 

 ing him president of their American branch. 



