232 ON SILK MANUFACTURE IN THE EXHIBITION. 



Italy exceeds 300,000,000f., or 12,000,000/. The evidence of this may- 

 be found in the following summary, calculated at an exchange of 25f. to 

 11. sterling, and the kilogram at 2lbs. of our weight, which is sufficiently 

 near for the present purpose. The actual quantity of cocoons produced 

 per annum is said to be about 49,212 tons, which, when separated from 

 the outer coat, is thus divided and accounted for : — 



4232 tons raw silk, which, at the price of 26s. per lb. 



English, would produce £11,180,000 



Besides, 



197 tons of double cocoons, which, at 8s. the lb., 



would be 160,000 



984 tons of refuse of cocoons after reeling, for which, at 



4s. per lb., could be obtained - 320,000 



The throwing into organzine and tram of, say — 



1970 tons of native silk, and 984 tons imported from 

 China and India, should produce, at the rate of 



2s. 4jd. per lb. 720,000 



And lastly, 



344 tons of silk consumed by the looms of Italy (the re- 

 mainder being exported to foreign markets in the 

 raw or thrown state) would produce, at the rate of 

 11. per lb. '- 350,000 



£12,730,000 



From this, however, we should deduct the silk imported from India 

 and China, but principally from the former, and always in cocoons — viz., 

 984 tons at 2s. 4|d. per lb., or about 24,000/., leaving a net probable 

 produce of 12,400,000/. 



In Italy, then, this trade is by natural advantages the laTgest, and 

 should be the most remunerative, of all in that kingdom. Silk is 

 grown, thrown, and woven without the necessity of having recourse to 

 any external assistance, except such mechanical appliances as the inge- 

 nuity of the foreigner may supply. Such was the Jacquard, which pro- 

 duced, as is well known, a complete revolution in the fancy trade by its 

 economic adaptation, but to which, from inability to avail themselves, 

 the silk manufacturers of Italy may attribute their position in the rear 

 of progress as compared with their competitors in France and England. 

 No longer, however, exposed to the chilling influence of these difficulties, 

 they ought to recover the relative rank amongst foreign producers which 

 they occupied from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries. Why should 

 it not be so ? Italy possesses the same genial climate as heretofore — 

 enjoys greater facilities than any other country for the cultivation of the 

 purest taste from the atmosphere of art its inhabitants breathe from the 

 very cradle — is not deficient in genius and the inventive faculty — pre. 



