RAW-SILK. 



IX 



The result of the exertions of the Company was a Report, 

 considerable increase of their importations ; but as 

 the measures adopted for the purpose of introduc- 

 ing better modes of preparing the silk had been 

 but partially successful, the market became over- 

 stocked. 



Experience having shewn, that the sales of 

 raw-silk imported from India could not be much 

 extended without a decided improvement in its 

 quality, and the complaints in England of the 

 inequalities and frequent breaks in the threads 

 continuing unabated, a plan was proposed, in 

 1769, for introducing into Bengal the exact mode 

 of winding practised in the filatures of Italy 

 and other parts of the Continent. By the adop- 

 tion of this method, it was thought that the 

 consumption of Bengal raw-silk might be ex- 

 tended, and that it might ultimately displace a 

 portion of the silks of Italy, Turkey, Spain, &c., 

 in various branches of manufacture, to which, 

 under the ancient mode of winding, it was wholly 

 inapplicable 



The opinions of the most considerable dealers 

 and manufacturers were taken, and it appeared 

 in their judgment that the staple of the Bengal 

 raw-silk was equal to that of the Italian or 



Spanish, 



