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210 HISTORY OF LACE. assuring him that the establishment will not be wanting in assist ance from the town and from himself. Again, 011 the 1st duly of the same year, he writes that the Sieur Pierre Chardin, a French man, who has lived a long time in Venice, has arrived with his wife, three sons, and two daughters, and has been made director of the establishment, He has now in the house 5 Venetian women, 22 Flemish and 30 girls of this town, without counting the servants. There have also lately arrived 7 girls, sent from Paris. So the director is sanguine of success ; and, besides, the work has the additional merit of being whiter than elsewhere. In three months and a half the establishment had 120 workers. In a previous letter to Colbert, from a nun who undertook to watch the workgiils, she writes there has been a calamity fallen upon the manufactory. Several girls had been attacked by illness, which the grand vicaire attributes to witchcraft; but when the house had been properly blessed, no more cases had occurred. They now amount to 140 good workwomen, and they have sent an “ envoi ” this week which the entrepreneurs will be satisfied with. Of the Cliateau-Tkierry manufacture, we hear nothing; and Sens is incidentally mentioned by Colbert, 1670, in a letter to Auxerre, in which he expresses his surprise to hear the lace- workers diminish, while at Sens, a town in which he had not the same interest, they are satisfied with the advantages it pro cures them. Most of its lace-makers being Protestants, they emigrated after the Edict of Pevocation. Chateau-Benaud and Mezieres were chiefly employed in the manufacture of footings (engrelures). 36 The laces of Donchery were similar to those of Charleville, but made of the Holland thread. They were less esteemed than those of Sedan. A large quantity were exported to Italy and Portugal; some few found their way to England and Poland. Up to the Kevolution, Champagne employed from 5000 to 6000 lace-workers, and their annual products were estimated at 200,000 fr. During the twelve years of revolutionary anarchy, all the lace manu factories of this province disappeared. 3 “ Savnry.