AO4 
China silk is principally used in stock-_ 
ings, gauze, and mbbands, and is pre- 
ferred on account of the firmness of its 
texture, and from its taking a more bril- 
lant dye than the Bengal. 
The imports from India, were formerly 
only of the kind known by the technical 
term of Bengal-wound, or sitk reeled in 
the rude ane artless manner, intmemo- 
rially practised by the natives of that - 
country. As the silks of this description 
are suited but to few articles of home 
manufacture,.the principal consumption 
being i in sewing silk, buttons, twist, and 
other articles of haberdashery, of com- 
paratively limited demand, there seemed 
to be no prospect of bringing the article 
into further use, but by introducing into 
Bengal the method: of reeling the silk 
direct from the cocoons, as practised in 
the filatures of Italy. The measure was 
adopted ; and although, for a time, ap- 
pearances were unpromising, it has even- 
tually been found to answer every ex- 
pectation that had been originally en- 
tertained of its success. Extens:ve pub- 
lic undertakings are séldoim carried into 
effect without exciting jealousies, espe- 
cially if they have a “tendency to clash 
with individual interests. The silk iner- 
chants of Loudon, took analarm. They 
pronounced the measure to be not only 
ill-judged- but impracticable; but the 
event has shewn completely the fallacy 
of thosé opinions. 
The first parcel of Bengal silk wound 
after the Italian method arrived in 1772; 
nd so rapid was the progress of this im- 
provement, that “in 1792, there were eight 
principal silk factories belonging to the 
company in Bengal; and in every fila- 
ture or factory there are employed, ac- 
cording to its size, froin 3, 000 to 10,000 
people: and if to. these are added the 
mulberry planters, worm feeders, &c. &c. 
from 10 to 40,000 men, women, and 
children, are attached to each filature.” 
The quantities of silk imported into 
Great Britain in twenty years, from 1781 
“to 1800 inclusive were, cn an average per | 
annum, as follows :— R: aw silk, from Ben- 
gal 442,300ibs.; from China 157, 235!bs. ; 
fromItal y 236, ,029lbs. — Thrown silk, from 
Italy 390, 063lbs.—Total 1,225. 627 lbs. 
Of the thrown silk imported from Ita- 
ly, about one-half has been Pek ee froin 
Piedmont, and the remainder from Ber- 
gamo, Bolocna, Brescia, and the Vene- 
tian States. . 
- From the year 1772, to 1804, there 
were imported when the first parcel of 
Account of the Silk Frade in England 
[June 1, 
: ) 
Bengal ‘silk, wound after the Italian me- 
thod, arrived, not less than eight millions 
and a half of pounds weight, and of Ben~ 
gal wound abcut one-third less, making 
together two thousand nine hundre 
bales per annum. The quantity of Ben- 
gal raw silk imported, from 1775 ta 1794 
inclusive, was, On an average, per annum 
§,100 bales, and since that time the im- 
ports have averaged: only 2,128 bales 
perannum. For the year 1793 was very 
discouraging to the East India Company, 
the large quantity of 5200 bales had been 
transmitted from India, and, owing to 
the war and other causes, the article 
fell so low in price, that at the sale in 
1794, they lost near £5000. It was ap- 
prehended that similar losses would fol- 
low: the company therefore, for the pur- 
pose of rendering the commodity, which 
was 10 encreasing mn quantity, more mar- 
ketable, and, at the same time, creating 
employment "for some thousands of the 
industrious poor, in working an ar ticle, 
the growth and produce of ‘British terri- 
tory, resolved. to make experiment to 
ascertain whether Bengal raw silis might 
not be thrown into organzine after che 
Italian manner. 
Upon consulting with some intelligent 
persons in the silk line, there secined 
good reason to conclude, that Benga 
raw silk, if thrown into orgauzine, might 
be found sufficiently adapted to the warp 
of ribbands. An experiment was made 
mm 4795, and the issue was, in every 
respect, encouraging and’ satisfactory ; 
many of the porsons engaged im the silk 
trade were, however, decidedly hostile 
to the undertaking, aha confidently pro- 
nounced it was impossible it could ever 
be brought to answer. Among various 
objections it- was urged, “ That Bengat 
raw silk, when worked mto organzine, 
could only be used ina few articles of 
the silk manufactory : and that in most 
others, from its irremediable deficieucy 
of staple, it could jot be substituted for 
Italian oS nzine.” | viel 
Plie object was, however, too impor- 
‘tant to be hastily abandoned: Further 
trials were made, and in proportion as 
the article became better known, and 
the views of the Company were better 
understood, wsuch of the prejudice that 
has been exeated aralust the measuare— 
subsided; and in 1798, many cimmené 
houses in the silk line, expressed their 
unqualified approbation of it. ‘They 
took, measures for the improvement of° 
the raw materials which were attended 
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