Miscellanies. 383 



1 . That American silk is superior to any other ; and that eight 

 pounds of American coccoons will produce one of raw silk, while 

 twelve pounds of Italian or French coccoons are necessary for the 

 same purpose. 



2. That although silk has been long manufactured in some parts 

 of the United States, and particularly in Connecticut, it has not 

 been done in the most profitable manner ; for the sewing silk of 

 Connecticut is made from the best silk, while that of France and 

 Italy is made from the refuse silk, and still is of a superior quality. 



3. That the proper reeling of the silk is indispensable to its being 

 duly manufactured into the finer fabrics. 



4. That the climate of the United States is in every part of the 

 country adapted to the culture of silk, as the hatching of the eggs is 

 accelerated or retarded by the variations of temperature, so as to suit 

 the putting forth of the leaves of the mulberry, which is easily cul- 

 tivated from the seed, and grows in almost every soil. 



5. That the United States, in the year ending Sept. 30, 1828, im- 

 ported silk to the amount of |8,463,563, of which ^1,274,461 were 

 exported, and that the export of the materials for bread in the same 

 period amounted to only f 5,414,665. 



6. That silk may in a few years become an important article of 

 export from this country ; for even France, although she raises much 

 silk, annually imports to the amount of ^20,000,000. 



The report of the committee is sustained by an interesting letter 

 from Peter S. Du Ponceau, Esq., a gentleman equally eminent for 

 his talents and learning, for his private excellence and for his patriotic 

 views towards this, his long since adopted country. 



Mr. Du Ponceau strongly recommends the establishment of a 

 course of instruction in the filature or reeling of the silk ; and to this 

 end he proposes that the government should afford the necessary pat- 

 ronage to a young man who is represented as everyway qualified for 

 the undertaking — namely, M. D'Homergue, who has already ap- 

 peared advantageously before the public in his Essays on the culture 

 of silk, in which he has been aided by Mr. Du Ponceau. These 

 essays are highly interesting and instructive ; and granting that the 

 facts are as stated, (of which we cannot entertain a doubt,) they es- 

 tablish a very strong case in favor of the culture of silk in the United 

 States. It is proposed that the course of instruction shall be given at 

 Philadelphia. It will require two years from July 1 to Nov. 30 ; 

 and sixty young men can be instructed, and may begin on the 1st of 

 July, 1830. 



