THE MODERN histohy of silk. 177 



a quantity of silk, that they could supply the half of 

 the world. But a series of untoward events frustrated 

 the hopes of the Company, which was soon after 

 broken up by the misfortunes that befcl the colony. 

 And although a subsequent attempt was again made 

 in 1 654 by the Virginians, at the instigation of Mr 

 Edward Diggs, yet, from some cause with which we 

 are unacquainted, the silk trade never flourished in 

 that state. 



In the year 1629, King Charles I. made an attempt 

 to revive the produce of Silkworms in England, by 

 granting to Walter Aston the keeping of the garden, 

 which had been established near St James's, in the 

 county of Middlesex, for the rearing of Silkworms, 

 which had still been partially maintained. This 

 attempt was again rendered abortive, from cold 

 seasons and other causes. 



The rearing of the Worm seems to have been in a 

 donnant state, from the above period, for nearly 

 ninety years, when King George I. granted a patent 

 to John Appleton, for the producing of raw silk in 

 England. This gentleman was to raise the funds 

 necessary for the purpose, by a joint stock concern, 

 the capital of which was to be divided into five pound 

 shares. A lease of Chelsea Park was obtained for the 

 period of one hundred and twenty-two years, and two 

 thousand mulberry-trees were planted, as a small 

 portion of what was ultimately intended. Various 

 large factories were built ; but this great establish- 



