19 On examining statements of the imports of previous years, we find the annual value in manufactures of silks to be about.. $27,500,000 Of laces................................................................................................ 1,500,000 Of embroideries.................................................................................. 4,500,000 $33,500,000 Of wines, over................................................................... $4,000,000 Of spirits, over.............................. 4,000,000 Of cigars, over................................................................... 4,000,000 -------------- 12,000,000 Making........................... $45,500,000 This large amount consisted of articles of luxury which were neither necessary nor useful, and added nothing to the wealth of the country. As gold was sent abroad to pay for them, the country was poorer for the importation of those articles. The annual export of specie has been about $60,008,000. The export in a single recent week of $2,000,000 in gold from New York, and the import of more than $7,000,000 of merchandise, is a striking illustration of the extravagance of our people. Far better would it be for the industry of the country, if that gold were thrown into the sea, than to send it abroad, as we are now doing, to pay for useless luxuries; the ladies would then dress in the beautiful fabrics of our own manufactories, and the gentlemen dispense with the use of imported wines, brandies and cigars. Entertaining these views, we have no hesitation in saying that just so far as the ladies abstain from the use of imported silks, satins, velvets, laces and French millinery,-and gentlemen abstain from the use of imported wines, brandies and cigars, they are discouraging habits of extravagance in dress and living, stimulating American industry and skill, in many departments, diminishing the foreign debt, and increasing the ability of the country to meet the expenditures of the war. We are, ladies, with great respect, Very truly yours, S. HOOPER, ALEX. II. RICE. Mrs. Cornelia Loring, Mrs. Anna P. M. Rogers, Mrs. i Mary J. Quincy, Miss Abby W. May, Boston. J
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