Throughout the entire work, the most diligent care has been used in the collation of the numerous authorities cited, as well as a rigid regard paid to their veracity. As a work so elaborate in its character would necessarily have to depend, to a considerable extent, for its facts and illustrations, upon the labors of previous writers, the author deems no apology necessary in thus publicly and gratefully avowing his indebtedness to the several authors cited in order at the foot of his pages; but he would especially mention the eminent name of Mr. Yates, to the fruits of whose labors the present production owes much of its novelty, attractiveness, and intrinsic value. _New York, Oct. 1st, 1845._ CONTENTS. PART FIRST. ANCIENT HISTORY OF SILK. CHAPTER I. SPINNING, DYEING, AND WEAVING. Whether Silk is mentioned in the Old Testament--Earliest Clothing--Coats of Skin, Tunic, Simla--Progress of Invention--Chinese chronology relative to the Culture of Silk--Exaggerated statements--Opinions of Mailla, Le Sage, M. Lavoisnè, Rev. J. Robinson, Dr. A. Clarke, Rev. W. Hales, D.D., Mairan, Bailly, Guignes, and Sir William Jones--Noah supposed to be the first emperor of China--Extracts from Chinese publications--Silk Manufactures of the Island of Cos--Described by Aristotle--Testimony of Varro--Spinning and Weaving in Egypt--Great ingenuity of Bezaleel and Aholiab in the production of Figured Textures for the Jewish Tabernacle--Skill of the Sidonian women in the Manufacture of Ornamental Textures--Testimony of Homer--Great antiquity of the Distaff and Spindle--The prophet Ezekiel’s account of the Broidered Stuffs, etc. of the Egyptians--Beautiful eulogy on an industrious woman--Helen the Spartan, her superior skill in the art of Embroidery--Golden Distaff presented her by the Egyptian queen Alcandra--Spinning a domestic occupation in Miletus--Theocritus’s complimentary verses to Theuginis on her industry and virtue--Taste of the Roman and Grecian ladies in the decoration of their Spinning Implements--Ovid’s testimony to the skill of Arachne in Spinning and Weaving--Method of Spinning with the Distaff--Described by Homer and Catullus--Use of Silk in Arabia 500 years after the flood--Forster’s testimony 1 CHAPTER II. HISTORY OF THE SILK MANUFACTURE CONTINUED TO THE 4TH CENTURY. SPINNING, DYEING, AND WEAVING.--HIGH DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE ATTAINED IN THESE ARTS.