The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-10-13
The Fair OF the American Instituto.

than either OF the preceding ones and the day was
as favorable as heart could wish. We perceived a
great addition to the articles for exhibition, and the
delay in bringing in the articles proracts the print
ing of the catalogues, without which we cannot
satisfactorily commence our review. We have
made copious notes during our visit, but we shall
postpone their publication to a future day.
SILK CONVENTION
| This convention was organized yesterday NOR
ming, at the repository OF the institute in the Park
There was very good attendance OF persons lnte-
| rested IN the production and manufacture OF silk.
Mr. Stebbins, OF Massachusetts, was called to the
| chair, and Mr. Harrison, OF New Haven, appointed
| secretary. Messrs Barbour, Smith and Megs were
| appointed committee TO nominate officers OF the
convention, who reported the following ticket,
| which was elected:-
| For Prssdent-GeneraJ James Talmadge.
Vice Presidents-John w. Gill, of Ohio DR.. d. steb-
bins, OF Massachusetts,; H. Pitkin, OF Connecticut; g.
w Murray, Of New Jersey
SeeretGries-James Harrison, Connecticut; Jacob C
Parsons. New York.
| Messrs. Barbour. Smith, Gill, Conant and Dam
orlh were apLointed the business committee.
GENERAL IALLMADGE rose, and on taking the
chair, thanked the meeting for the honor they had
conferred on him, and would use his best endeavors
to so hi the office as to render him worthy of the
choice Of his silk growing friends He the proceed.
ed to remark hatthl the first national conven-
ton assembled in America to take into consideration
| the capabllty OF the country tor producing, and OF
our citizens tor manufacturing silk, and had no
doubt but great good would result from its labors
He then proceeded to describe the process used in
the several European countries to raise the silk
worm. Everywhere artificial means were necessa-
ry except in this country. Natural facilities, in
atmosphere, soil, and every other appliance,
abound with us, and are solely and exclusively
furnished by Providence to this country. All that
| is needed is the enterprise and industry OF the
people OF the country to bring Silk into the list OF
American Staples, by acquiring the fullest know
ledge OF the means OF feeding the worms, and all
the other facilities for the production Of Silk. The
end and aim OF this Convention the Speaker In
ssted Is kind which ought to recommend 1t to
the favor OF all American citizens. Instead OF send
ing money out OF the country and for the purchase
of what we can easily make ourselves and then
sitting down, wondering where our circulating me.
dunn has gone, the General would advise his coun-
rymen to enter into this enterprise with vgor, to go
to work like patriots, and to improve the advantages
which God aRd Nature had put into their hands for
the production OF new staple and one that 1t was
fully demonstrable, must eventually turn out rich
source OF national wealth.
The Business Committee then presented great
number OF letters from persons engaged in the silk
business, from large majority Of the States in the
Union, containing host OF very instructive and
liable facts, based on the experience and observa-
ton OF the writers In the prosecution OF the work.
A communication from large New England Con
vention, recently held at Northampton in Massa-
chusetts, tending to produce the same Impressions
the public mind, was also read by the first Vice
President There had been no failures in any of the
attempts that had been made throughout the land,
TO cultivate the worm and make the silk
The General, then, In the name and on behalf OF
the Institute, invited the Convention 10 visit the
fair, and accordingly the Convention adjourned TO
meet again at half past four
AFTERNOON SEssIoN-The members OF the Con-
vention met at half past four, and after some bye
conversation, President Tallmadge called the
meeting to order, and presented to them DR.. Gleb.
bins OF Massachusetts, ploneerln this important
branch of American industry who gave very in
terestins report of the history of two cocoons, the
one grown by hired laborer, and the other by a
family, at so much per pound. The laborer had
every thing ready to his hand, nothing wanting to
iced the worm or protect 1t IN lis growth while the
family had to procure the mulberry leaves from a
distance, yet the difference between the hired and
the voluntary labor was astonishing. The first was
scarce half the size. He then made some valuable
susg ,stons on the feeding OF the worms, the state
of the leaves, recommending young shoots in the
room or old leaves, which are not healthy tor the
worms The manufacture of paper from the
leaves of the Multicaus, was subject OF
Infinite interest to the country, and specimen
exhibited which had been submitted to the press
and pen to test Its fitness article for general
use. The paper not of first rete quality, but
| 1t possessed hrmness and wearing capabllty, which
must render 1t important object in papers intended
Tor deeds, lawyers records, state documents, &c,
! recommending partially dried in the room OF the
| fresh or green leaves His remarks are highly in
teresting, but we have not room TO give them al
length.
Inc COmmlttee OF business next reported a series
OF resolutions which were carried UNANIMOUSLY,
and which we may give In our future reports OF the
Convention. The object OF the resolutions was te
show the feasibility OF growing the silk, and the
| pedency OF adopting such measures would bring
| the subject properly before the community and the
several State Legislatures aud Congress. some IN
terestlng information was given by the President as
| to the manner In which our French Importers gel
over the tarft, which imposes duty OF 30 cents
| the silk in the gum, and So on the manufactured
silk. Ii appears our not over scrupulous French
friends reel the silk from the cocoon, without sub
ectlng It to the cleansing operation of warm water.
and IN this way twist II sewing Silk and thus II
enters our market at only 30 cents duty instead OF
$2,as intended by the Tariff. Much information
of Importance was elected from the members, and
at half past six o'clock, p. M. the committee ad-
Journed to meet again to-day, at half past ten A.
| M. at the rooms of the Institute in the Park.
| The GARDEN in the evening was thronged with
vsltors-and at half past seven, agreeable to pre-
| veus arrangement, General Tallmadge introduced
| the speaker OF the evening, Mr. Barbour, of Mas
| sachusetts, staunch and sterling New Engander
| and silk grower, who thus addressed the WISH
tors
| LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-W Without apology word OF
introduction will proceed TO the task assigned me- and
endeavored, truthfuy and faithfully, to transfer to
your minds the we'll assured fact which exists in my
namely, the feasibility of the culture of silk in America
(cheers) Yes, make silk in this country, as su
perior and as durable as any ever imported The word
fail is unknown to the silk grower Of ls43 Can we make
silk Yes have an ndispuable answer IN what has
been done it is fact well authenticated. Nor is Of
tinent, beyond one hundred years agons, silk
cultivated in Georgia, Virginia. South Carolina, and in
Pennsy ana previous to the revolution, item
of no importance in the products of that
State. Men, whose memories are like landmarks in our
nations history have foreold the history this branch
Of national wealth. The arseeing Dr. Franklin and DR..
stiles, President OF Yale College, entered into the silk
question with heart and s0ul-and now it had
grown to mighty growth, had not the tone Of public
feeling the startling events and the glorious issue
events of their day completely the culture
OF the silk worm nation rocked in the cradle OF free
DOM was not fully prepared to take up thoroughly the
less mporent subject Of the silk worm To perfect their
institutons'o erect more glorious monument to the
more immediate object and this in devising
equal flaws, wise regulations. and establishing name
for the Republic Of the United States which should
mand the respect the homage Of kingdoms whose exist
| ence had BEEN marked by centuries (Cheers) When
the young Republic reared its infant head among nations
manufactures not paatable to citizens Agri
culture the iavorite the sturdy Yeoman having