ON SILK MANUFACTURE IN THE EXHIBITION. 233 



serves with an almost idolatrous care the Divine types of the beautiful, 

 so important to such textile and other manufactures as are objects of 

 luxury — produces a raw material of silk of superior quality to that of 

 China, or even of France, and commands the shores of the Mediterranean 

 and the Adriatic. Assuming, then, the complete eradication of the 

 worm disease, the introduction of foreign capital, the application of 

 steam power, and other improved facilities where practicable ; the en- 

 larged means of commercial intercourse with England, France, and Ger- 

 many, which the sub-alpine tunnel now in course of construction under 

 Mount Cenis will open up ; the increase of population, and therefore of 

 demand, which always results from a lengthened state of peace and of 

 high civilization ; and, finally, the security to life and property which 

 constitutional government affords — assuming the realization of all or 

 most of these conditions, it may safely be predicted that a career of hap- 

 piness and prosperity, such as already dawns on Italy, will in due time 

 reward the patriotic devotion by which it has broken the fetters of 

 tyranny, emerged into a state of freedom — that first necessity of national 

 regeneration — achieved for itself a moral if not a physical supremacy, 

 and risen to the dignity of true manhood in the comity of European states. 



The number of exhibitors is 99, being, therefore, 40 more than those 

 of England, and only 76 less than those of France. Of these 99, medals 

 were awarded to 38, and Honourable Mention made of 40 others. 



Eussia. — This country, occupying in square miles greater space 

 than all Europe combined, enjoys at some parts a climate so genial, 

 that not only are cereals grown in sufficient abundance for internal 

 consumption, but, whenever the crops fail in this country, we generally 

 look with confidence to Russia to supply, partially or wholly, as the 

 case may be, the deficiency. Silk also, which requires a still more 

 delicate and uniform atmosphere, is grown (the technical word for 

 " bred ") successfully as to quantity, in various extensive districts. In 

 quality, however, it cannot yet compete with the productions of more 

 favoured climes. Hence out of twenty exhibitors of raw and thrown 

 silks, only three have Medals awarded to them, and Honourable Mention 

 made of two others ; of the remaining eight, who exhibited manufac- 

 tured silks only, one is Honourably Mentioned and two have Medals 

 awarded to them. 



It is to be feared that, until the Eussian Government entirely 

 abandons the repressive theory of protection, now so generally exploded 

 elsewhere on the continent of Europe, any important progress towards 

 perfection cannot be expected. 



Spain. — In the silks exhibited by producers in this country, some 

 progress is apparent since 1851, when only one exhibitor received the 

 honour of a Medal. On the present occasion, however, out of twenty- 

 six exhibitors, three have achieved that distinction, and of eleven others 

 Honourable Mention is made. This advance may, perhaps, be assigned 

 vol. in. x 



