rless.

But he had not the necessary money wherewith to proceed to Italy.

His half-brother Thomas, however, was doing well in London, and was
willing to help him with the requisite means. Accordingly, John set
out for Italy, not long after the failure of Crotchet.

John Lombe succeeded in getting employment in a silk mill in Piedmont,
where the art of silk-throwing was kept a secret. He was employed as a
mechanic, and had thus an opportunity, in course of time, of becoming
familiar with the operation of the engine. Hutton says that he bribed
the workmen; but this would have been a dangerous step, and would
probably have led to his expulsion, if not to his execution. Hutton
had a great detestation of the first silk factory at Derby, where he
was employed when a boy; and everything that he says about it must be
taken cum grano salis. When the subject of renewing the patent was
before Parliament in 1731, Mr. Perry, who supported the petition of Sir
Thomas Lombe, said that "the art had been kept so secret in Piedmont,
that no other nation could ever yet come at the invention, and that Sir
Thomas and his brother resolved to make an attempt for the bringing of
this invention into their own country. They knew that there would be
great difficulty and danger in the undertaking, because the king of
Sardinia had made it death for any man to discover this invention, or
attempt to carry it out of his dominions. The petitioner's brother,
however, resolved to venture his person for the benefit and advantage
of his native country, and Sir Thomas was resolved to venture his
money, and to furnish his brother with whatever sums should be
necessary for executing so bold and so generous a design. His brother
went accordingly over to Italy; and after a long stay and a great
expense in that country, he found means to see this engine so often,
and to pry into the nature of it so narrowly, that he made himself
master of the whole invention and of all the different parts and
motions belonging to it."

John Lombe was absent from England for several years. While occupied
with his investigations and making his drawings, it is said that it
began to be rumoured that the Englishman was prying into the secret of
the silk mill, and that he had to fly for his life. However this may
be, he got on board an English ship, and returned to England in safety.
He brought two Italian workmen with him, accustomed to the secrets of
the silk trade. H