nature with the Rocky Mountains, where their retreat can inches in diameter, and two feet long, with an iron socket, be safely covered, without a strong force to oust them; pointed at one end to penetrate the earth, and at the other and behind their natural fortifications, they have their end a band of iron to prevent its splitting, should be proold friends, the British emissaries, preparing materials for vided, to be used when in the prairies, with the halter rekindling the war fires, should it become necessary. If last described; this stake, when well set in the ground, these Indians should ever be again disposed to raise the will hold any horse. tomahawk against us, (and I have not the least doubt of it,) they cannot desire a more eligible position than they now occupy.

In the organization of a party of-say from sixty to eighty men, four of the most confidential and experienced of the number are selected to aid in the command; the rest are divided in messes of eight or ten. A suitable man is also appointed at the head of each mess, whose duty it is to make known the wants of his mess, receive supplies for them, make distributions, watch over their conduct, enforce order, &c. &c.

The facts generally herein enumerated are not stated as information coming from others, but from my own personal observations. The conclusions which they have led me to, must, I think, appear reasonable to all who will properly consider them. If so, it must forcibly appear that our Western frontier, and our citizens engaged in The party thus organized, each man receives the horse their lawful and laudable pursuits in that country, want and mules allotted to him, their equipage, and the packs the protection of the General Government; and that not which his mules are to carry; every article so disposed of less than five hundred troops, equipped as proposed, will is entered in a book kept for that purpose. When the afford that protection. Our citizens immediately interested party reaches the Indian country, great order and vigiin the country in question, ought reasonably to expect lance in the discharge of their duty are required of every this protection as a matter of right; and the Government man. A variety of circumstances confines our march very ought, in my opinion, to feel the reasonableness of their often to the borders of large water-courses, when that is claim as a matter of course. the case, it is found convenient and safe, when the ground

The military command, as proposed, should not be will admit, to locate our camps (which are generally laid stationary at any one point, but traverse the country off in a square) so as to make the river form one line, from place to place, wherever the good of the service and include as much ground in it as may be sufficient for may seem to require. In this way, the officers might the whole number of horses, allowing for each a range of acquire a knowledge of the country in which they would thirty feet in diameter. On the arrival of the party at the have to operate, and also the Indian character, where it camping ground, the position of each mess is pointed out, could be done leisurely, and without injury to the troops. where their packs, saddles, &c. are taken off, and with The latter would be necessary, and the former almost in- them, a breastwork immediately put up, to cover them dispensable, because such is the situation of the country, from a night attack by Indians: the horses are then waterthat the safety of the command might, in some degree, ed and delivered to the horse guard, who keep them on depend upon this information; for instance, there are sec- the best grass outside and near the encampment, where tions of the country for fifty to one hundred miles in ex- they graze until sunset, when each man brings his horses tent, in pursuing certain directions, entirely without water, within the limits of the camp, exchanges the light halter and other portions of it almost equally destitute of subsist- for the other more substantial, sets his stakes, which are ence for men or horses. There are also inaccessible moun- placed at the distance of thirty feet from each other, and tains, offering appearances of easy access, which would secures his horses to them. This range of thirty feet, in cause great fatigue and delay in attempting to cross them; addition to the grass the horse has collected outside the while others, of much more rugged appearances, can be camp, will be all-sufficient for him during the night. After easily penetrated, when their avenues are well known. these regulations, the proceedings of the night are pretty These, and numerous other circumstances of equal im- much the same as are practised in military camps. At portance, require that the officer commanding troops in daylight (when in dangerous parts of the country) two that country should have a knowledge of them before ex- or more men are mounted on horseback, and sent to expeditious movements through the country should become amine ravines, woods, hills, and other places within strikindispensable. The troops, too, by moving about as pro- ing distance of the camp, where Indians might secrete posed, would be daily acquiring a knowledge of their themselves, before the men are allowed to leave their duty, having so frequently to harness their horses, cross breastworks to make the necessary morning arrangements large and difficult rivers, securing camps on different situa- before marching. When these spies report favorably, the tions, and in a variety of ways become much more efficient horses are then taken outside the camp, delivered to the in the service. When it might not be necessary for this horse guards, and allowed to graze until the party have command to winter elsewhere, they might take up their breakfasted, and are ready for saddling. In the line of winter quarters on our Western frontier, where they march, each mess march together, and take their choice could be subsisted cheap, and, if necessary, afford pro- of positions in the line according to their activity in maktection to our frontier. In compliance with your request ing themselves ready to move, viz. the mess first ready to in relation to my manner of equipping and moving parties march moves up in the rear of an officer who marches in of men through the Indian country in the course of my front of the party, and takes choice of a position in the general excursions to the Rocky Mountains, I will observe, line, and so they all proceed until the line is formed; and that, as mules are much the best animals for packing heavy in that way they march the whole of that day. Spies are burthens, each man has charge of two of them for that sent several miles ahead, to examine the country in the purpose, and one horse to ride. The equipage of each vicinity of the route; and others are kept at the distance horse or mule consists of two halters, one saddle, one of a half a mile or more from the party, as the situation saddle blanket, one bear-skin for covering the pack or of the ground seems to require, in front, rear, and on the saddle, and one packstrap for the purpose of binding on flanks. In making discoveries of Indians, they commuthe pack, and a bridle for the riding horse. One of the nicate the same by a signal or otherwise to the commandhalters should be made light for common use, of beef hide, ing officer with the party, who makes his arrangements dressed soft; the other should be made of hide dressed in accordingly. In this way I have marched parties of men the same way, or tarred rope, sufficiently strong to hold the whole way from St. Louis to the vicinity of the Grand the horse under any circumstances, and so constructed as Lake, which is situated about one hundred and fifty miles to give pain to the jaws when drawn very tight. The down the waters of the Pacific ocean, in seventy-eight rein of each halter should not be less than sixteen feet days. In the month of March, 1827, I fitted out a party long. A stake made of tough hard wood, about two of sixty men, mounted a piece of artillery (a four pounder)

on a carriage which was drawn by two mules; the party have made during the last five years for the promotion of marched to or near the Grand Salt Lake beyond the Rocky the important branch of agriculture to which we owe the Mountains, remained there one month, stopped on the rich material of which this flag is composed. way back fifteen days, and returned to Lexington, in the I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir, western part of Missouri, in September, where the party your most obedient, and most humble servant, was met with every thing necessary for another outfit, and PETER S. DU PONCEAU. did return (using the same horses and mules) to the moun- Hon. ANDREW STEVENSON, tains by the last of November, in the same year. Speaker of the House of Representatives. With great respect, I have the honor to be your obedient servant,

W. H. ASHLEY.

Gen. A. MACOMB, Commander-in-chief of the Army of the
U. States, Washington City.

CULTURE OF SILK.

Mr. SPENCER, of New York, from the Committee on

Agriculture, to which was referred the letter of Peter S. Du Ponceau, Esq., presenting to the House a flag of American silk and manufacture, made the following report:

PHILADELPHIA, December 13, 1830.

SIR: The bill for promoting the growth and manufacture of silk, which was reported by you, in the name of the Committee on Agriculture, to the House of Representatives of the United States, at their last session, having been unavoidably postponed, in consequence of the pressure of other business, I have availed myself of the opand collect as many facts as has been in my power, in order portunity of the recess to cause experiments to be made, to throw as much additional light as possible on a subject which may be considered, in a great degree, as new in this country, and on which, at least, very little practical experience has been yet obtained.

The Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred the letter of Peter S. Du Ponceau to the Speaker of the I thought it my duty so to do, in order to justify the House, announcing his presentation to the House of a confidence with which the committee were pleased to silken flag bearing the colors of the United States, made honor me, by giving implicit credit to the statement of of American silk, reeled from cocoons, and prepared facts which I laid before them, and by adopting and reand woven by John D'Homergue, silk manufacturer, commending to Congress the plan which, at their request, the entire process in the manufacture of the same hav-1 submitted, as the best calculated to promote the importing been performed in the city of Philadelphia, report: ant object which they had in view. In many respects I That they consider this specimen of American industry, rejoiced that that opportunity was given me by the postI have proceeded at my own risk, applied, for the first time, to the production of a fabric in ponement of the bill. as if the bill had been actually passed, and one year has such general use in the United States, in the purchase of been gained of the three years which its enactments rewhich, in foreign countries, several millions of dollars are quired. annually drawn from this country, as highly auspicious to the agriculture and arts of the United States; and that two hundred copies (one hundred in the English, and as I began with causing to be printed, in a pamphlet form, Mr. Du Ponceau, for his patriotic exertions in promoting many in the French language) of the report, in part, of the culture of silk, and in his efforts to excite the atten- the Committee on Agriculture of the 12th of March last, tion of the people of the United States to that important with my letter to you annexed, which I transmitted to my branch of industry, deserves the commendation of his country. The committee have received a communication elicit opinions and obtain every possible information. correspondents in different parts of Europe, in order to from Mr. Du Ponceau, detailing various important facts and remarks in reference to the bill entitled "An act for They made their way as far as Vienna, in Austria, whence promoting the growth and manufacture of silk," which and manufacture of silk. I have lately received a valuable treatise on the culture they have appended to this report for the information of elsewhere, will be mentioned in the course of this letter. What effects they produced the House; and the committee report a resolution, and I then went with M. D'Homergue to the State of Conrecommend its adoption by the House. necticut, where the culture of silk has been pursued for the last seventy years. We remained five days in the town of Mansfield, where the greatest quantity of cocoons are raised, which they make into sewing silk. There we of riches. It abounds in mulberry trees of the best spewere much surprised to find the country poor in the midst cies, which might feed, according to M. D'Homergue, a much greater quantity of silkworms than are raised there. The soil is excellent for the production of that

Resolved, That the flag bearing the colors of the United States, presented to this House by Peter S. Du Ponceau, of Philadelphia, made of American silk, and prepared and woven by John D'Homergue, silk manufacturer, in the city of Philadelphia, be accepted by this House, and that it be displayed, under the direction of the Speaker, in some conspicuous part of the hall of sittings of this

House.

The cocoons

PHILADELPHIA, December 7, 1830. tree, and silkworms prosper there, though they are raised SIR: You will receive with this letter a silken flag, bear-without any extraordinary degree of care. ing the colors of the United States. This flag is made are very fine, and their silk excellent; yet, the people of entirely of American silk, reeled from the cocoons, pre- that district are far from being rich, and money is very pared and woven by Mr. J. D'Homergue, silk manufac-scarce among them. The chief advantage that they apturer. The coloring has been done by the best artist he pear to derive from their sewing silk is, that it serves them could procure in the city of Philadelphia, he himself not as a kind of circulating medium-skeins of silk of a size professing to be a dyer. regulated by their acts of Assembly supplying the place

The staff of this flag, with the eagle, measures about of coin and bank notes, through a pretty large extent of fifteen feet; the flag itself is twelve feet and a half long, country. If they knew how to prepare their silk for and six feet wide. It is woven all in one piece, without a exportation, or for the manufacture of those light stuffs that are so much in use through the United States, their

seam.

I

I beg, sir, you will be so good as to present this flag condition, I think, would be much improved by more promost respectfully, in my name, to the honorable House fitable sources of gain, and a greater influx of money. over which you preside, as a sample of American indus- found in that State a disposition to extend the culture of try, thus applied for the first time to the most valuable of silk; and large orders have even been sent from thence to American productions, and as a result of the efforts they this city for the purchase of mulberry plants.

that women are to be instructed, so as to spread the art in the required degree of perfection through the land.

On my return home, I caused ten reels to be made on ruin those who undertake them. It is in large filatures an improved plan of M. D'Homergue's, much simplified from that of Piedmont, and which were found to work extremely well. I also caused a convenient shed to be erected for the filature, under which the reels were placed, with their furnaces and other necessary apparatus.

It had been my wish to have made at least one hundred and fifty pounds of raw silk, in order to make a fair trial of the respective markets of England, France, and Mexico; On my leaving Connecticut, I had left orders to an but I soon discovered that it would be impossible in the agent to purchase a large quantity of cocoons. From first season, and therefore I determined to put the silk to some misunderstanding, it happened that that order was another test. It was evident that, if it could be manufac not executed in time, so that I obtained from thence a tured here into fine stuffs, to an equal, or nearly equal, much less quantity than I expected. degree of perfection with those imported from Europe, it

By means of advertisements in the newspapers, insert-might be also manufactured elsewhere, and therefore there ed, however, too late in the season, and not extensively could be no defect in the mode of reeling it. I therefore enough, I obtained cocoons, in various quantities, from the engaged M. D'Homergue to weave several tissues out of States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, part of the silk that he had reeled, and the result was perVirginia, and North Carolina; a few were sent to me even fectly satisfactory. As a sample of that result, I have had from the States of Mississippi and Louisiana. From the last the honor of presenting the flag of the United States to of these States, and from South Carolina, I would have the honorable the House of Representatives; as it will be received some considerable quantities, if the rivers had no doubt accessible to the public eye, it does not belong been navigable in the interior. On the whole, I could only to me to pass judgment upon its workmanship. Part of collect, during the last season, about four hundred and the machinery with which it was woven was made on a twenty pounds of various qualities; but I have no doubt, model imported by me from Europe for the purpose. that, next year, by taking proper measures in due time, a Thus, sir, while I only meant to show to the nation the sufficient quantity may be obtained for any reasonable pur-importance of the art of reeling, and the ability of M. pose, and that quantity will be increasing every year. Al- D'Homergue in that branch of the silk business, circumthough the reeling season is over, I am still receiving stances, which I had not foreseen, have led me to demonsome from different parts of the Union. The last I have strate also the possibility, nay, the facility, of introducing purchased came from the vicinity of Richmond, in Vir-among us the manufacture of those fine stuffs for which ginia, and I expect every day six bushels from South Ca- we pay so large a tribute annually to Europe; so that our rolina. I found no difficulty in procuring women to work citizens will have the choice of exporting or manufactur at my experimental filature; they offered themselves in ing their raw silk, as experience shall show to them the abundance, and those whom I employed were well pleased advantage of either.

with the business: they like it much better than working Nothing proves better the excellence of American silk in the cotton factories, because the labor is lighter, and than that the various webs which M. D'Homergue has they have the advantage of the open air; for silk cannot be woven out of it, have not undergone the operation which reeled to advantage in a close room. That work must be is called throwing or throwsting, and yet that their texture done under a shed, into which the air has full and free ac-possesses the necessary evenness and strength. To undercess on all sides, except where the sun shines with too much stand this fully, some explanation is necessary; and I beg power; and that is provided against by curtains or sliders. to be excused for briefly stating the different processes I employed, at first, six, and gradually, afterwards, so which silk undergoes in Europe, from the cocoon to the web. many as twenty women at the reels, who have acquired 1. The first and most essential operation is that of reelmore or less skill in the art of winding silk from the co-ing. It is performed by women, either by themselves, in coons, and, in general, did very well under direction. M. their domestic filatures, or in large filatures, under the inD'Homergue praises very highly the adroitness and intel-spection of men capable of directing them. The ren ligence of the females of this country; and has no doubt but never reel, but merely superintend the work of the wothat they will, in time, make excellent reelers. men, to make them produce, in their highest perfection, the various qualities of raw silk required for the different manufactures.

With the aid of these women, M. D'Homergue made, in the course of the season, about fifty pounds of fine raw silk. When we consider the small quantity of cocoons 2. From the filature the silk goes to the silk throwster, out of which this was made, that a large portion of them to be thrown, as it is called. The throwster, partly by were bad ones, and the considerable waste that must have the aid of women, and partly of men or boys, winds, cleans, resulted from the want of skill of women just initiated in doubles, or unites more than two threads together into the art, it will be seen that the superiority ascribed to one. These operations are performed by means of a comAmerican silk is not imaginary, but has a real and solid plicated machinery, called a throwsting mill, to which are foundation. added, as parts of its necessary apparatus, winding, cleanWhile these operations were going on, every decent ing, and doubling or tramming engines. Silk, thus preperson who wished it, was admitted to see the filature, pared, is called throwing silk. If the silk has been badly and the manner in which the women were proceeding in reeled, the greatest part of it goes to waste in the opera their work. Nothing was done in secret; it was, on the tion of throwing; for the twisting machine, operating with contrary, the wish of M. D'Homergue, and my own, that the same degree of force through the whole length of the every thing should be open to the public eye. Nor were threads, if they are unequal (which is the common defect our women bound by any kind of engagement, to make a of silk unskilfully reeled) the same force which only twists secret of the knowledge they acquired, or not to hire the strong parts, breaks the weak ones, and thus the silk themselves to others if they thought proper. They were is wasted, and great loss follows. By these operations the left perfectly free, and are so still, now that the season is silk acquires consistency and strength, and becomes fit for at an end, and that they are no longer in our employ. At weaving after being dyed. the same time, sir, it is but fair to say, that they have not 3. From the throwster the silk goes to the dyer, to reyet reached that proficiency in the art which would enable ceive the impression of colors. The dyer begins with them to profit by their labor, without being under the di-boiling the thrown silk, in order to free it from a quantity rection of a person skilled in the business. The time will of gum which still adheres to it; that done, he plunges it come when they will be able to set up for themselves into his vats or kettles, to give it coloring. From the dyer small domestic filatures; larger ones must always be car- it is sent to the weaver, who manufactures it into different ried on under the inspection of men; otherwise, they will stuffs.

Culture of Silk.

[21st CoNG. 2d SESS.

No silk in Europe, as I am informed, is boiled or dyed, which he threw all possible light upon the subject: those without being first thrown; otherwise, it is said, it would essays have circulated in America and Europe. The Lebecome furzy, and unfit for weaving. The silk manufactured by M. D'Homergue has been particular attention; and yet no reeler, except M. D'Hogislature of the Union have thought them worthy of their boiled, dyed, and woven, without being thrown; and it mergue, has appeared in the United States, while silk madoes not appear at all deficient in evenness or regularity nufacturers, of other descriptions, have come here in numof the threads. I do not mean to say, however, that Ame-bers from various parts of Europe. rican silk will not be improved by passing through the hands of the throwster; still, it is a remarkable quality that it possesses, that it can, without it, produce such stuffs as M. D'Homergue has exhibited. It proceeds from the strength and nerve of the material, which are the great characteristics of the silk of this country.

States have all the arts at hand that are necessary for carThus, sir, with the exception of reeling, the United rying on silk manufactures, for which they only want the raw material properly prepared. I should add that the men who profess those various arts are all in search of For all the operations above mentioned, except that of facturing foreign silks, to the great detriment of that of labor, and that there is danger of their taking to manureeling, there is no danger of competent workmen being our country. at any time wanting in the United States. silk manufacturers, such as throwsters, dyers, weavers, they manufacture a very great quantity of sewing silk, A number of ing example of what may happen here. The republic of Mexico offers a strikand even machine makers, have arrived in our seaports, besides shawls, and some other articles. They have imIn that country, in the course of the present year, from various parts of ported foreign manufacturers, who taught them their arts; Europe, but chiefly from England, expecting to find here but they neglected the planting of mulberry trees, and encouragement for their business. Several have inquired raising silk worms, although their soil and climate are adof me where they could get employment; and finding none mirably calculated for these purposes. for want of raw silk, most of them have betaken themselves nufacture is imported from abroad, chiefly from China, to the cotton manufactories. There is no doubt that many and a great deal of it passes through this country on its The silk they mamore will come in consequence of the general excitement way to them. This sufficiently explains the large importwhich the culture of silk has produced in this country, and ations of raw silk which annually take place in the United also because it is well understood that the silk manufac- States. tories are in a declining state in England, as well as in France, whereby many workmen are thrown out of employ. This was asserted to me, as to the former country, by the English manufacturers who arrived here in the course of the last season.

year which ended on the 30th September, 1828, raw silk It appears from the treasury reports, that, in the was imported into this country to the amount of $608,709, which amount, converted into silk stuffs, would produce several millions, but would, at the same time, destroy the As to France, I need only refer you, sir, to the me-silks, the Mexicans encourage their manufactures and hopes of our agriculturists. By manufacturing foreign morial from the merchants of Lyons to their Government, commerce at the expense of agriculture. I am told, which I had the honor of communicating to the committee however, that they are beginning to plant mulberry trees during the last session of Congress, where the fact is clear-in the neighborhood of Acapulco, on the Pacific; but it is ly and distinctly stated; and you will recollect that this probable they will not succeed for want of good reelers, decline is chiefly attributed to a great deal of silk badly and because bad habits, when once fixed, are with diffireeled being brought to the market. Another very re- culty laid aside. I think there is danger of the same thing markable fact will corroborate this assertion. I am in- taking place in this country. Some coarse articles have formed by my French correspondents, that, as soon as the already been made in New York, out of foreign silks, and report of the committee of the 12th March last, with offered for sale there and in this city. my letter to you, reached Nismes, (a considerable silk manufacturing town in the South of France, in which the manufacture of silk, although their country does not The English, it is true, have enriched themselves by there are several extensive filatures,) the Chamber of produce the raw material, which they are obliged to imCommerce of this city called a meeting of the merchants port from abroad; but there is no doubt that they would be of the department of Gard, in which it is situated, to con- much richer if they raised it at home. sider the expediency of petitioning the French Govern- very sensible, and it is evident from the efforts they made ment to adopt for France the plan which that letter sug- to introduce the culture of silk into the United States Of this they are gests, to wit, the establishment of a school for the instruc- while British colonies. They raise a great deal of it in tion of young men, to enable them to become directors of their possessions in Bengal, which is said to be the finest filatures. The meeting was appointed for the first of Au- in the world, but it comes to Europe badly reeled and gust last. The revolution which took place at Paris at the otherwise ill prepared, and therefore is considered inferior latter end of July, and which was attended, at Nismes, to all others. with considerable disturbance and bloodshed, by compel- thority of the House of Representatives, in 1828, p. 172.) (See the Manual published under the auling the peaceable inhabitants to fly the city, prevented In addition to this, and in support of the importance of good that assembly from taking place; but I am informed that it reeling, I beg leave to insert here the statement of an Engis not lost sight of, and that the plan will be resumed as soon lish silk broker, communicated in a letter from the respectas possible. In the mean time, my letters also inform me able house of Rathbone, Brothers, & Co. of Liverpool, to that an eminent lawyer has been employed to draught the a gentleman of South Carolina, who published it in the intended petition, and the cities of Lyons and Avignon Sumpter Gazette of the first of May last: "Although," have been invited to join in the measure. great, and this trade of vital importance to our successful the writer, "our importations from the East Indies are says competition with the continent, it is to be regretted that neither the East India Company nor the private merchants have hitherto employed any competent persons to superintend the reeling of the silk; if that was done, I have not the slightest doubt but that silks of the Eastern producItaly; for it is an established fact that silk of the best tion would render us altogether independent of France or quality can be produced in the East Indies at a lower rate than in Europe.

Such is the importance that is attached in France to the art of reeling silk; and I ought to mention here, that, notwithstanding the great influx into this country of silk manufacturers, of every description, not one reeler has appeared, either male or female; and this comes in support of what I have stated in my former letter respecting the difficulty of obtaining such.

Eighteen months have elapsed since M. D'Homergue arrived in this country, at the instance of a society who well understood the importance of the art of reeling. Almost immediately on his arrival, he published his essays, in VOL. VII.-N

It is also an established fact that America produces silk

Hon. AMBROSE SPENCER,

PETER S. DUPONCEAU.

Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture of the

House of Representatives Ū. §.

ASSAYS OF FOREIGN COINS.

GOLD COINS.

of the best quality; and experiments have shown that M. can be obtained here from the ingenuity of our workD'Homergue possesses the necessary qualifications for di- men. recting a filature, and for giving instruction in the art of I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration reeling. In addition to the evidence which results from these and respect, sir, your most obedient and very humble experiments, I beg leave to state that, in the course of last servant, summer, some small samples of Philadelphia raw silk, reeled by M. D'Homergue, were sent to Lyons and Nismes, in both of which places it was much admired. At Lyons, the Chamber of Commerce caused the samples to be submit. ted to the proper tests by a sworn assayer, who pronounc ed it well reeled; and in the account of these proceedings, which was inserted in a Lyons newspaper called the Precurseur, it was said to be worth there twenty-six francs MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, (five dollars) a pound. At Nismes it was estimated at Philadelphia, January 31, 1831. thirty francs. I have no doubt that it will produce at SIR: Conformably to general instructions from the least those prices in our seaports, to which it is under- Treasury Department, assays have been made of the folstood that orders will be sent from France as soon as lowing foreign coins, the result of which is now respectit is known that it may be obtained in sufficient quan- fully submitted.. tities. In England, the prices of silk follow pretty nearly those of France. In Mexico, our raw silks of the second From the assayer's report, it appears that the gold coins and third quality are most in demand, and will produce of Great Britain and Portugal contain 22 parts of fine gold good prices. It is a remarkable fact that they lay heavy in 24 parts; those of France 21 19-32 parts of fine gold in duties there on the importation of raw silk, which they 24 parts; and those of Spain 20 63-64 parts fine in 24 manufacture and do not produce. With this system, they parts. are not likely soon to rival us, if we should adopt one capable of bringing our native resources into full activity. The only system, in my opinion, that will produce that effect, is the introduction of a good method of reeling silk, and its equal dissemination through the United States. This done, every thing else will follow. The agriculturist will raise cocoons, because he will find purchasers; and These results are very nearly conformable to those of the raw silk will be purchased by the foreign agents, or our previous assays of the above coins, except in regard employed by the manufacturer at home. I have received to gold coins of Spain, which, in this instance, give a vaseveral letters from North and South Carolina, informing lue slightly above the average of those usually obtained. me that a great many cocoons are raised there, but that, It may be confidently inferred that no reduction in finefor want of a market, they are devoured by rats and insects. ness has been made in either of the coins mentioned. A lady writes to me that she has lost this year, in that way, In addition to the above, assays have been made of the near one hundred bushels. A general desire is expressed, gold coins of Mexico and Colombia, issued in 1829, and from one end of the United States to the other, to see this of Central America, issued in 1827; being the latest dates rich production turned to a profitable account. I have procured. The result indicates an adherence, on the part received numerous letters to that effect from almost every of those Governments, to the gold standard of Spain; the State in the Union. The excitement in favor of the silk greatest deviation from that standard not being greater culture appears to me to be general, and numbers are pre-than Spanish gold coins frequently exhibit. The gold paring to apply themselves to it. coins of those new States may be estimated at 84 25-100 It remains now with Congress to take such measures as cents per pennyweight, which corresponds with the avethey shall think most proper for the attainment of that ob-rage value thereof, ascertained by the assays of 1826. ject. In making experiments and collecting facts, in order

The value, per pennyweight, of the gold coins of Great Britain and Portugal, deduced from the above assay, is the same as that of the gold coins of the United States, viz. 88 8-9 cents; that of the gold coins of France is 87 1-4 cents; and that of the gold coins of Spain 84 78-100 cents per pennyweight.

SILVER COINS.

to throw some more light upon the subject, I have done Of Spanish milled dollars, no latter dates have been promy duty as a citizen, anxious for the welfare of his coun-cured than those heretofore assayed and reported on, viz. try. The committee will please to recollect that I have of the year 1824. The fineness thereof may be stated at not obtruded upon them my opinions or my advice; and 10 oz. 15 dwts. 12 grains of fine silver in 12 ounces, conthat, in addressing them at the last session, I only yielded formably to previous reports. The value per ounce corto the most flattering invitation. At present, it is a duty responding thereto is 116 1-10 cents. Standard silver of that I owe to them, as well as to myself, to support, by the United States contains 10 oz. 14 dwts. 4 5-13 grains of facts, the theory that I have advanced, and which they fine silver in 12 ounces, the value corresponding to which have sanctioned by their approbation. is 115 38-100 cents per ounce.

I have only to add, that M. D'Homergue persists in the Specimens of the Mexican and Peruvian dollar of 1830, offer he made of his services, and I in that of my gratui- the Central American of 1829, and that of La Plata of tous assistance. Should the bill proposed by the commit-1827 and 1828, have also been submitted to examination. tee be brought again to the consideration of Congress, it The three first mentioned are found to be of the full is to be observed that three years are no longer required, Spanish standard; they even incline to a fineness slightly and that M. D'Homergue will be ready to begin the in-superior to the ordinary Spanish dollar, but not such as to struction of the sixty young men on the first of July next. indicate any authorized appreciation in this respect. BeThis will require an alteration in the terms of payment of ing of recent emission, their weight exceeds that of the the forty thousand dollars. He suggests four equal half-dollar of Spain now in circulation. The intrinsic value of yearly instalments, the first to be immediately after the these coins may be stated at 116 1-10 cents per ounce. By passing of the act. tale, they may be estimated to average 100 cents 44 mills.

It is with pleasure that I mention that M. D'Homergue, The specimens of the dollar of La Plata, examined in having inspected several of our manufacturing establish-1826, were found equal in fineness to the Mexican, though ments, has been astonished at the proficiency that this of less value by tale, by reason of their inferiority thereto country has made in mechanics and the mechanical arts, in weight. On an average, they were not found to be which will, in a great degree, supersede the necessity of worth more than 100 cents each.

importing machinery from abroad, when the same effect The latest dates then examined were of 1813 and 1815.