Wool is exported chiefly in the raw material ; and the provinces of Italy, particularly those of the south, with every advantage for the manufacture of broad cloths, de pend almost entirely on the foreign market for most wool len stuffs. Formerly, the woollen manufactures of Padua were in a very flourishing state ; and its cloths are still esteemed the hest in Italy. Manufactures of woollens have been recently established at Rome; and that named St. Michael is famous for its fine cloths, but are all undersold by the English articles. The cotton is also exported in great quantities; but, in several provinces, especially that of Otranto, is manufactured into a variety of valuable com modities. In Gallipoli, muslins of all kinds, and cotton stockings, arc made in considerable quantities; and at Nardo and Galatona, in its vicinity, are wrought those famous cotton coverlets which arc exported to all parts of the world, and bring in a considerable revenue to the crown. At Taranto and Fraocavilla, a sort of Manches ter, not so fine, but more durable than the English, is pro duced, and also a peculiar kind of cloth, calledpelle di dia volo,. with several other articles ; but the former of these towns is chiefly celebrated for the extraordinary beauty and fineness of the cotton stockings which are made by its in habitants, some of which cost on the spot not less than a guinea a pair. • A singular manufacture of thread from the leaves of the aloe, which was introduced by the Spanish soldiers who served in Sicily when that island was subject to the crown of Spain, is still prepared in the south of Italy. The white, smooth, and tender leaves which cover the stem, after being soaked in running water eight or ten days, and then bruised by beating between two stones, are stretched upon a table, and scraped with a blunt, smooth iron, to remove the coarser fibres, leaving the fine yellow filaments, which are again soaked, washed, and beaten, to soften and whiten them, and then made into nets, night caps, handkerchiefs, &c. which, with a little improvement in the preparation of the thread and_ dyeing of tne stuffs, might be rendered at once a cheap and valuable article of clothing.
At Teramo, in Abruzzo Ultra, is a manuf.cture of pottery-ware, remarkably hard and fine, for which there is a considerable demand in Germany by the way of Trieste ; and the porcelain made at Naples and Milan may vie with any in the world as to elegance of form, and beauty of design. The mosaic manufactory at Houle, and that of tortoise-shell and musical strings at Naples, may also be noticed as both of them distinguished for their superiority. The king of Spain attempted to introduce a variety of ma nufactures into the Nevilolitan territories; but all those branches, which required nicety and patience, entirely fail ed. A Jnanulactory of ffie•arins in the vicinity of the capi tal, succeeded beyond all others ; and the Italian atuficers speedily equalled, in this handicraft, the skill of their Ger man instructors. Naples excels also in wol ks of embroidery, in confections, and liqueurs. The velvets and damasks of Genoa and Venice still preserve their ancient reputa tion ; and rich silk stuffs are manufactured to a considera ble extent in Lucca, Florence, and Milan. There are II1L1.•
nufactures of hats in the Ecclesiastical territory, where they possess a remarkable fine black dye for the purpose ; and at Civita Vecchia are several establishments by the go vernment, for making sail cloth, cordage, and different kinds of cotton stuffs, which are succeeding well, but still very inferior to those of France and Britain. There are also several glass-works in these states, which the govern ment use every exertion to encourage and protect.
Commerce.
The commerce of Italy, both between its own provinces and with foreign nations, is extremely limited and fettered. Along the coast of the Adriatic, where the towns, though numerous, are all jealous of each other, restricted by their privileges, and averse from friendly intercourse, trade has long been in a very languid state. In the Neapolitan ter ritories, it is still more severely cramped by feudal prero gatives, revenue exactions, and impolitic taxes; while nothing is done for its encouragement by the improvement of roads, harbours, or other public works. It is chiefly along the coast of the Tuscan sea that commerce can be said to possess a free scope for its operations, arid that sonic remains of its ancient vigour in these quarters are still found to exist. The particular branches of traffic in the different towns and districts must be referred, with many other topics, to the separate articles in this work devoted to these places,* and the present short account be confined to the more general views of the subject. The principal exports of Italy are, silk, wool, and cotton in the raw state, cattle, corn, wine, fruits, and a variety of native products.
Consisting of books, drawings, &c.; barilla, brimstone ; cork ; cream of tartar, essence of lemons, manna, senna, liquorice-juice, and other drugs ; juniper berries ; per fumed oil ; argol, galls, madder, sumach, valoina, and other dye-stuffs; anchovies; almonds, figs, prunes, nuts, cur rants, raisins ; ordinary and sallad ; cheese, 439 (. wt. ; chip and straw hats ; silk, raw, thrown, and waste ; tags 692 tons ; lamb-skins, undressed; goat and kid skins, law and dressed ; brandy ; marble; cotton ; statues, valued at 13o81.
The value of its imports from Great Britain during the same year was Consisting of alum ; wrought brass, iron and silver; plated ware ; woollen goods of all sorts ; cotton goods to a considerable amount ; a few linens ; earthen ware ; glass ; hard-ware ; tinned plates ; pilchards, 32.881 hhds. ; red and white herrings ; dry cod ; tanned leather ; wrought leather. Foreign goods ; namely, cochineal, indigo, fustic, logwood, and other dyestuffs; cinnamon, cloves, pepper, ginger, &c.; cocoa; coffee, sugar; bar and plate iron ; Indian piece goods; ox-guts; rum ; tar ; tobacco ; whale bone.* There are imported also from F;ance great quantities of ribbons, laces, and embroidered silks, particularly from Lyons and Tours, besides wines from Languedoc and Pro vence. A considerable part of the traffic with that coun try is carried on by means of mules over the Alps ; and a new communication has been opened between Trieste and \Iesola, to facilitate the commerce with Austria.