with fat; and others that it was the produce of a worm which built nests of clay and collected wax.

Why is it said that we are indebted to the bigotry of former times for our present improved silk manufactures?

Because, in the year 1686, nearly 50,000 manufacturers fled from France, took refuge in England, in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantz, by Louis XIV. who thus, as Pennant observes, sent thousands of the most industrious of his subjects into this country, to present his bitterest enemies with the arts and manufactures of his kingdom: hence the origin of the silk trade in Spitalfields. It appears, however, that there was a company of silk women in England so early as the year 1455; but these were probably employed in needleworks of silk and thread. Italy supplied England and all other parts with the broad manufactories till 1489. In 1620 the broad manufacture was introduced into this country; and in 1686 the company of silk-throwsters employed above 40,000 persons.

As a specimen of individual enterprise in this branch of manufacture, we must notice Sir Thomas Lombe, who, about the year 1724, erected in an island on the Derwent, near Derby, a curious mill for the manufacture of silk, the model of which he had brought from Italy, at the hazard of his life. This machine was deemed so important, that, at the expiration of Sir Thomas's patent, parliament voted him 14,000l. for the risk he had incurred, and the expense attending the completion of the machinery. This contained 26,586 wheels; one water wheel moved the whole, and in a day and night it worked 318,504,960 yards of organized silk. Such, however, is the march of ingenuity, that Sir Thomas's famous machinery has not been used at Derby for some years, but improved machinery, which performs twice the work, in less room, is now adopted.

Why is silk one of the most important of manufactures?

Because it furnishes subsistence to several millions of human beings; since there is scarcely an individual in the civilized world who has not some article of silk in his possession.

The perseverance of our manufactures has enabled them to ship British Bandana handkerchiefs for India, a circumstance which was triumphantly mentioned by the late Mr. Huskisson, in the House of Commons, about two years since. They have also been exported to France, in considerable quantities.

C

In the printing of silk handkerchiefs there has been considerable improvement during the last few years. Most of the India handkerchiefs are now printed in England. Some of the blocks display first-rate ingenuity; the patterns or subjects having all the at tions of engraved prints. Thus, it will be curious, a few years hence, to see the wonders of our times, as the Thames Tunnel, &c. and the political characters of the present day, treasured up in the cabinets of the curious, on pocket-handkerchiefs. Yet the idea is only a refinement of the old plan of printing the alphabet, and cuts of nursery stories, on cotton handkerchiefs, for children; the silk prints being but for "children of a larger growth." We believe the public are indebted for these amusing embellishment to the ingenious Mr. Applegath, of Crayford, Kent, whose patent improvements in block-printing, generally, deserve more space thar we can here devote to them.

END OF PART X.