Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-16

and tits probable will increase, tor where
ever civilization is, time is precious ar
ficle; and though the Turks may not be
our equals in the cultivation ofthe arts
and the application of time, yet as they
fray al five stated times every day watch
es must be both necessary and econoni-
cal.
In the numerous articles of silk manu-
trade in Greece and Turkey, and they
have maintained it against all competition
from the reign of Mahomed III. in 1853,
when the arts were banished from Greece
to Italy, and took refuge under The
house of Mcdicis.
The celebrated FIorentine sattins Of all
colours, the Florentine taffe,as, and Man
tuan silks, known by the name of 1tauf
M; the damasks of Genoa. which with
gold fringe, form the furniture of the Tur
kish apartments, the coverings OF sofas
and the hangipgs of their arcades; the
silk gauzes of Bologna and Venice the
galloons and embroderIes which SO into
the composition of scars and tuibans,
and those square and oblong piesces Of
ornamental dress which are Improperly,
because il is the peculiar name of the
CdShimirean garmen) called shayis; but
the manufactures of Lyons, before the re
vo,u,ion, had entered into a formidable
competition with the silk manufactures of
Italy the wo kInanship of Lyons was
superior 10 all but the sattins OF Florence
and abe Cenoese damasks, 10 which no
thing can be superior of the kind. In
e a l..
part but in the raw article which she car
ries from Smyrna, and upon which, until
the importations were made from China,
the English silk manufacture wholly de-
pended.
The uefvets of Italy properly belong to
Observation-Disclosures of Genoa, Lucca, ard
Pisa, surpass the whole world the vel
vets of these cities are lighter, closer il
grain, softer, and have brighter lustre;han
any others, their colours have never been
euuaIled, though various efforts have been
made in France & England to rival them
the Italian veiyets are besides cheaper
han the inferior velvets of other countries.
Fagon celebrated Lyonnese maDufactur.
er, said, that if they could equal the vel
vets and damasks Of Genoa, il would be
necessary TO build another city along side
the old one. The l:,me consumption of
velvets in France before the revolution,
amounted to million of dollars, and the |
pageantry of the French imperial court,
appears TO por,end extravaganza in dress |
equal 10 any former period. The sale of
TO 100000 dollars.
The competition of the Russians in the |
Levant. in the articles of Ueiues and other |
silks, With the south of Europe, is Cir |
cnmstance SO curious that we passed the !
general trade of Russia over in our review,
in order that we might pursue the gene.
raj trade which differs from all the rest !
of Europe, after we had touched this |
branch in which they are rivals.
The Russian empire furnishes silk Of
every kind taffetas, gauzes, galoons, Per.
slams, gold thread and gold lace there
come also Uefvets, and which approach
the perfection ofthe Cenoese, closer than
those of any other nation. Russia owes
these riches cf commerce TO her inroads
on the borders of the Caspian, and The
looms of Telflis and the whole range to
The borders of Hindostan may be said 10
furnish these resources. The silks of
Cassan, Aslracban, Ghlan, and Mazan- |
derau, which formerly found their way
by the Caravans Of Erzerum and Tetflis to
Smyrna, have ,latterly found their way
by Russia, and in their manufactured state
by the Danube and the Euxine to Con-
stanlinople. The goods deposited at the !
capital entered the Levant, o,her portions !
passed into Romeia by the provinces Of
Wallachia and Moldavia, and so south Of
the Danube by the markets of SELMA and
OzongoYia. But let it be observed the
GreekS arc the sole agents in this COM
merce. The Russians are too stupid to
take any part in It. The Russian trade
in silks and velvets in the LeYant, is COM
poted at 100000 dollars.
Furs arc the chief staple Of the Russian
commerce in the Leyant, as well in
Greece as in the whole Turkish empire.
The various articles Of this commefce
would require separate essay, and they
are sufficiently familiar TO as, TO render
detail unnecessary, at the Same time that
this article does not come wllhin the scope
OF cur immediate discussion there be
ing no competition in these articles with
the nations OF Europe.--The fur trade OF