RAW-SILK. 



31 



No. 2. 



Extract Letter f7^om the Court of Directors to 

 the Governor-general in Council^ Bengal, dated 

 the 2d June 1812. 



Para. 17. The importance now attached to the ^^f^^^^ 

 silk investment, has led us to consider whether the 2 June 1812. 

 system under which it is furnished may not be 

 susceptible of improvement. In the present very 

 increasing demand for cocoons which we find pre- 

 vails in all the silk districts, it is peculiarly desir- 

 able to ascertain, whether the provision of the 

 material in this early state is secured for us on a 

 plan the least liable to failure or other objection. 



18. The purchases of cocoons, as now made 

 through the medium of native agents, may pro- 

 bably be the most advisable mode, under the 

 present circumstances of the mulberry culture in 

 Bengal, and it has proved hitherto equal to the 

 demands of the present factories. It is, however, 

 evident, that we are exposed by it to all the 

 inconveniences of competition, by which the price 

 is enhanced, and that we possess no powers of 

 control, either as to the selection of the insect, or 

 of the species of mulberry on which it is fed ; on 

 both of which points the quality of the silk must 

 ultimately depend. 



19. It may be well worthy of serious enquiry, 

 whether it might not be practicable to establish, 



to 



