212 THE llOEEUN lIl'TOUy OK SILK. 



once so flourishing, was almost totally destroyed by 

 tlie efl'ects of war. Before the French Revolution, 

 it employed, at Vienna alone, six thousand looms. 

 In 180.'}, it was reduced nearly one-third. In 18 It, 

 many establishn-.ents had been given up, and others 

 were on the decline. Since which time, it has again 

 assumed more importance, although it is believed it 

 will never reach its former state. Many most beau- 

 tiful articles of rich embroidered silk are to be found 

 in the palaces of the wealthy, or the museum of the 

 Emperor ; but this ftibric has been discontinued, and 

 the looms, since 1812, have been chiefly employed 

 in weaving shawls, to which all the females of the 

 capitalcontinucto give great encouragement. Vienna 

 is the chief, but not the only, seat of silk manufac- 

 ture in Austria^ other principal towns participating 

 to a small extent. 



The V/hite Silkworm of China has been suc- 

 cessfully introduced into Murcia in Spain, a province 

 which is favouraljly situated for the cultivation of 

 that insect: its southern boundaries being the Medi- 

 terranean, and presenting a salubrious climate. The 

 produce of this species is superior, both in quantity 

 and quality, to that from the common worms. This 

 important improvement is due to the zeal of Don 

 Thomas Serrano, who, after a life devoted to the 

 happiness of his country, was forced to seek, at 

 Gibraltar, an asylum against the persecutions of the 

 servile factions. 



