80
HISTORY OF LACE.
Point d’Espagne was likewise made in France, introduced byone Simon Chatelain, a Huguenot, about 15 ( J6; in return forwhich good services he received more protection than his advancedopinions warranted. Colbert, becoming minister in 1062, gua-ranteed to Simon his safety—a boon already refused to many bythe intolerant spirit of the times. He died in 1675, havingamassed a large fortune. 18 Colbert, in 1669, writes, “En dentellesde toutes fapons, la France fait grandissime commerce en Espagneet aux Hides occidentales.” “ France,” says Anderson, “ exportsmuch lace into Spain.”
Towards the middle of the eighteenth century, the Spanishmanufactures seem to have been on the decline, judging from theconstant seizures of vessels bound from St. Malo to Cadiz, freightedwith gold and silver lace. The Eagle, French vessel, taken byCaptain Carr, in 1745, bore cases to the value of 150,000/. 19 In1789 we also read that the exports of lace from the port ofMarseilles alone to Cafiiz exceeded 500,000f. 20
Gold and silver lace are made at Barcelona, Talavera de laKeyna, Valencia, and Seville. In 1808, that of Seville wasflourishing. The gold is badly prepared, having a red cast.
The manufacture of blonde is almost entirely confined to Cata-lonia, where it is made in many of the villages along the sea-coast,and especially in the city of Barcelona. In 1809, it gave em-ployment to 12,000 persons, a number now augmented to 34,000.There are no large manufactories, the trade is in the hands ofwomen and children, who make it on their own account, and asthey please. 21 Swinburne, who visited Spain in 1775, writes:—“The women of the hamlets were busy with their bobbins makingblack lace, some of which, of the coarser kind, is spun out of theleaf of the aloe. It is curious, but of little use, for it growsmucilaginous with washing.” He adds, “ at Barcelona, there is agreat trade in thread lace.” 22 The manufacture of silk lace orblonde in Almagro (La Mancha) occupies from 12,000 to 13,000
i* “Eighty children and grandchildrenattended his funeral, iu defiance of theedict of 12 Sept. 1(J(H, and were heavilyfined .”—La France Protestante, par M.M. Haag. Paris, 1846-59.
10 “ Gentleman’s Magazine,” 1745.
20 Peyron, 1789.
21 “ Ilineraire do l'Espague,” ComteAlpli. de Labordo, t. v.
22 Peuchet, “ DictionnaireUniversel dela Geographic Commerijnnte” (An. VII. =1799), speaking of Barcelona, says theirlaces are “fa«;on de France,” but inferiorin beauty and qunlity. The fabrication isconsiderable, employing 20l'0 women inthe towns and villages east of Barcelona.They are sold in Castile, And«lu s ia, andprincipally in (lie Indies.