The mountain Democrat., 1864-12-10

THE FIRsr SILK MILL IN ENGLAND. We
give below the history Of the first silk
mill in England, and the circumstances
nnaAe. U"i'-D. Il ~$H S~e~%SA(. 1t ,EW be
Seen tnst one hundred and sixty years
ago there were no silk mills in England.
1t is probable that the new ta1if viii In
duce some OfoHr entsrpriSing count9ymen
to try silk manufacturing F; and a. skillful
workmen may be had either in France,
England, Italy or Germany, In any mum.
Der, we shall not be surprised to see
many silk mills in operation before the
war is ended:
"The Italians had been long in the
exclusive possession of the art of silk
throwing, when about the year 17l5, n
young mechanic and draughtsman, named
John Lombc, undertook periious task
of visiting Italy to procure drawings Of
the machinery necessary for the under
taking. He remained their some time,
and obtained access to the silk works by
corrupting two Of the workmen, through
whose assistance he inspected the ma
chinery in private; and whatever parts
he obtained a knowledge of in these clan
destinc visits, he recorded on paper before
he slept. When his plan was just com.
plete, his intention was discovered, and
he was compelled to seek the safety Of his
life by precipitate fight to England,
where he arrived in safety with the two
Italians who had favored his scheme
Fixing on Derby as proper place for his
design, he agreed with the corporation
for an island or swamp in the river on
which he then erected and established his
mill, at an expense Of nearly ESQ, 900,
Q50,000,) which charge he enabled him
self to pay by the erection and employ
ment of machines in the town hall and
other places, before the completion of his
work. In 1718 he procured patent for
fourteen years, to secure the profits aris-
ing from his address and ingenuity. But
his days vcrged to close, and before half
this period had elapsed, trcachery and
poison had drought him to his grave
The Italians, whose trade began rapidly
to decrease, were exasperated to vengc.
ance, e,and were resolved on the destruction
Of the man whose ingenuity had turned
the current of their business into another
channel tfis they accomplished through
the Vaccinations OF an artful woman. sent
from Italy for the purpose. But though
suspicion was almost strengthened into
certainty from Ihe circumstances that
transpired on her examination, yet, the
evidence being indecisive, she was dis
charged. The death Of this lamented ar
list did not, however, prove fatal to his
patriotic scheme; for the machinery was
in full action, and the business became
every day more successful. John LoInbe
was succeeded by his brother William,
who committed suicide, on which the
property dcvolved to his cousin, Sir
Thomas Lombe, who, previously to the
expiration of the patent, petitioncd Par
Lament for its renewal; but the Legis!a
ture, wishing to reward the promoters o
national benefit, and at the same time Il
spread the knowledge Of SO useful an in
vention, granted him ETA, 900 ($70, ,000) il
lieu of new patent, on condition that HI
would suffer q complete model Of The
work to be taken and Deposited in the
Tower for public inspection, which was
accordingly done. The extensive fabric
occupied by the machinery stands upon
high piles Of oak, doubly planked and
covered with stone-work, on which he
turned thirteen arches, that sustain the
walls. The whole length is one hundred
and ten feet, its breadth thirty nine feet
and its height fifty-five AMI half feet i
contains five stories, besides the under
works, and is lighed by four hundred anC
sixty-eight windows. The whole Of thi'
elaborate machine, comprising aGe0t "A,
900 wheels, is put in motion by water
wheel twenty feet diameter"