342 
THE ART OF REARING 
gree of value, principally owing to its defective cul- 
tivation, and the imperfection of the art of rear 
ing silk-worms, and the errors constantly commit- 
ted by the various Italian administrations. 
During late years, the government which has 
lately ceased, by a confusion pervading all ideas 
of political economy, thought fit to load the silk- 
trade with enormous taxes, customs, monopolies, 
prohibitory systems, &c. It appeared as if the in- 
tention had been to diminish production by im- 
peding exportation; reason, calculations of expe- 
rience, and the knowledge of enlightened and 
scientific statesmen, were all in vain, and had not 
power to destroy this absurd system. 
I had occasion, in 1812, to explain, in the gene- 
ral council of arts and commerce, my ideas relative 
to the importance of this commodity. 
These ideas, which were adopted by my col- 
leagues, produced no beneficial advantage, al- 
though represented to the government. Thus it 
was evident, that by erroneous calculations, the 
views of administration were in direct and mani- 
fset opposition to the dearest interests of the 
state. 
There is no enlightened nation which does not 
employ every means to carry its surplus of annual 
produce to foreign markts, and there cannot 
exist an intelligent administration which would 
not facilitate this beneficial operation. In Eng- 
