-that of the Kroo blacks-we can see no sufficient reason why precautions might not be taken on the African coast as well as at Demarara, to protect the blacks who might willingly enter into these engagements, from the possibility of wrong or injury. To no higher practical end could the naval force which excites Mr. Hut's antipathy be directed, and, under judicious regulation, the moral and physical condition of the laborers, instead of being deteriorated, would, in reality, be improved and elevated, by the boon which the West India Association solicit at the hands of government and the country. If the experiment were tried in British Guiana, it might, if successful, be extended to the West India islands.

"In the mean time, the southern planters of America, stimulated by the prices which now prevail, have every inducement to extend the cultivation of cotton with, if possible, increased power and capital. Probably the next crop may, in its amplitude, compensate for the shortness of the last one, and the outery which now exists for other fields of cultivation in various quarters of the globe, would, in the event of such a result, correspondingly abate. But at the same time they will read the signs which are every day passing around them very imperfectly, if they do not perceive a fixed determination, on the part of the merchants and the manufacturers of this country, and its government, to rely less exclusively than heretofore on the cotton of the United States."

COTTON-BRITISH COMPETITION IN COTTON. The following view of this subject is taken by a leading London journal:

The supply of raw cotton for our manufacturers is every day becoming a subject of greater interest and anxiety in this country; and it is really extraordinary-where cotton is known to grow almost spontaneously in so many regions of the earth, where so many soils and climates are suited to its cultivation-that we should still be dependent upon a small portion of the United States for the greater part of the supply which we require. It is strange that neither Southern nor Western Africa have ever been thought of as countries where this shrub could be cultivated to almost an unlimited extent. Only a few days ago, a specimen of the wild cotton plant of Western Africa, which was plucked within fifty yards of the shore, with full bolls, was exhibited in the Exchange-room, at Liverpool. The Liverpool Journal says: "The quality is fine, and this specimen shows that there would be no difficulty in cultivating cotton where it was gathered." We quite believe

it.

We believe in the possibility of growing cotton ad libitum in this district of Africa; indeed, we have reason to think that both cotton and coffee are indigenous along the

whole line of coast from 15 deg. N. lat. to the equator. In Prince's Island, lat. 1o 40, and in the Island of St. Thomas, which lies under the equator, coffee grows abundantly, and we think it will be found that the climate, which is suitable to the coffee plant, will also grow the cotton shrub. Indeed, the former island produces not only coffee, but sugar and rice.

The pertinacity with which the manufac turers of Lancashire continue to look to India as the only country which can relieve them from their dependence upon the United States, is, in our opinion, injurious to the object they have in view, as it withdraws their attention from other countries where they would have fewer difficulties to contend with than have hitherto met them in India. It is, however, quite time that they looked more extensively abroad, for there are many reasons why their reliance on America should begin to be on the wane. According to the Liverpool statistics of the cotton trade, which will be found in a recent number of this journal, it appears that the deficiency of cotton in that port, compared with the corresponding period of 1849, is estimated at 100,000 bales, and that an equal deficiency exists in Man. chester. The Liverpool Albion, from the sta tistics it presents to its readers, comes to the conclusion that we are beginning this year with a considerable deficiency in the known stock of cotton, while at the same time there is a short crop in the United States. It is certain that, as the manufacture of cotton is annually on the increase in America, there will be a greater home demand for the raw material, less of the article disposable for exportation, and, consequently, an enhanced price put upon it in the country. We think it is evident that the present executive of the States, and the party in office there, wish to encourage their own manufactures. Something of this kind is hinted at in the annual statement of the Secretary of the Treasury, which has lately come to hand. In this document the system of ad valorem duties is strongly objected to as injurious to domestic industry, and it is recommended as highly necessary that the present rate of duty should be increased on a variety of articles. Whether manufactured cottons will be included in this category remains to be

seen.

We would not discourage the manufactu rers from looking to India as one country from which they can be supplied with cot ton, but we certainly would discourage their looking to it as the only country for this pur pose. The report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, which sat in 1848, to inquire into the growth of cotton in India, leaves everything in doubt and uncertainty. It does, indeed, conclude with a paragraph expressing an opinion, "that under the con tinued encouragement now afforded by the

government of India, and by taking full advantage of all the resources which are stil! within reach, there may eventually be opened to the manufacturers of this country a large and regular supply of cotton, of a quality largely consumed by the British manufacturer, which will, by giving them additional sources of supply, render them more independent of the failure of crops, and thus have the double effect of equalizing the price of the raw material, and of lessening those fluctuations in the market which have occurred for some years past, and which have acted 80 injuriously on the energies of our manufacturing population." There is nothing very encouraging in this, particularly when it is known, as the report says, that—" For sixty years past the Court of Directors have taken an interest in this question, and have expended considerable sums in various at tempts to stimulate the growth of cotton in the countries subject to their rule." This may be very true, but, at the same time, it very depressing. Sixty years, and considerable sums have been almost fruitlessly spent; Americans and American gins have been sent to India; experimental farms have been established there: notwithstanding which, our manufacturers are still without a supply of cotton from that country. The Court of Directors still adhere to the opinion that the obstacles which are supposed hither. to to have retarded the extension of cotton cultivation in India, may be overcome." We are of the same opinion, but it promises to be a work of time and difficulty, unsuited to the exigencies of the trade, and the anxiety of those engaged in it.

is

We

We have said that there are many other Countries where cotton may be grown; why, then, wait for the eventuality which is promised by the report of the committee? should like to see the energies of the manufacturers directed to a country where they would meet with no difficulties, and but litthe delay; that country is our Australian colonies. In these colonies they have sphere for action which no other country offers, nor even India, to the same extent, and it is a country to which American cultivators of cotton could be easily induced to betake themselves. We believe that the government of India will give every possible encouragement and stimulus to the growth of cotton in that country, but the natives are a people with whom agricultural improvements are of slow growth; nor, in our opinion, are they at all likely to be stimulated by any exertions which our manufacturers can make. In Australia they will have to deal with our own countrymen and our own territory, and we think the rest may be safely left to British energy, aided by British capital: all that is required is to set the machine in motion, when it will be found to work well.

COTTON-GROWING FACILITIES IN CEYLON.-A communication from Badula, in Ceylon, dated 8th July, 1850, gives the following sketch of the cotton growing facilities there: "I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your kind letter of 18th March, hoping to have sent you samples of the various qualities of cotton grown in the island, but at this season these are rather difficult to be got, and I must defer sending them till next or following mail. So little is known of the productions of this island at home, that, I dare say, I may as well begin by telling you that the natives have cultivated cotton from time immemorial, but the production has been barely sufficient to supply the native manufacturer. It is grown over the greater part of the island-principally the northern and eastern portions of it. As to cultivation, it gets none, being sown by the natives along with their grain crops, and receives no care or attention; they simply content themselves with plucking the crops as they come to maturity. Samples of a superior quality from Bourbon seed have been raised at Jaffna and Batticalou, but the cultivation was abandoned, and it was found to interfere with that of the cocoa-nut tree. A par

cel raised at Jaffna, sent some years ago, sold for, I believe, 6d. per lb.; and a sample I grew at Batticalou was valued in Liverpool at the same price. Mr. Fennie, one of the American cotton planters, who is in the service of the East India Company, with a view to the improvement of the production in Hindostan, and who some time ago visited this island, says, that in every essential-in soil, temperature, and climate-this island is calculated to produce cotton equal in quality and cheaper in price than that of the United States. His words are I am of opinion, from what I saw of this climate and soil, that Ceylon will produce the article of cotton equally well, and, when the comparatively small amount of capital required is considered, I doubt not it may even produce the article cheaper than we can in America, where a large sum must be laid out at once for labor, and where the expense of food and clothing is much greater than the imported labor of Ceylon costs, besides the risk of losing the laborers by death after they are purchased.' If any of your friends should think of doing anything with cotton cultivation here, I shall be happy to give them every assistance. I have lands of my own well adapted for its cultivation; and I have no doubt government would be disposed to give every facility for acquiring lands for such a purpose. I believe that more than onehalf the island is, by soil and climate, adapted for it; so that there is field enough, the island containing about 24,700 square miles, with a population of only 1,500,000. One great advantage of this island for carry.

ing on cotton cultivation with English capital would be the facilities for obtaining both land and labor cheaply and easily. The former cannot be obtained in Hindostan, where there is a population, at anything like a reasonable price, as there is no unoccupied land, and the natives devoting their fields in the first place to the cultivation of grain, will on no account allow any other cultivation to interfere with that which supplies them food; so that it is only to a comparatively small extent that they cultivate cotton, indigo, or other produce for sale, to enable them to purchase a few superfluities. Now, where plenty of land is to be got, there is no population, or the soil and climate are also unpropitious; and the inhabitants will not emigrate from the rich and over-populated grain districts, to work for a less rate of pay than they can obtain in Ceylon or Mauritius; neither will they cultivate cotton any more than sugar or indigo, unless they obtain advances before even the land is plowed; but in no tropical country can any dependence be placed by European capitalists on the indigenous population, for steady work; for, being all possessed of paddy fields and other lands, they will only work for European capitalists when their own fields do not require their labors. From what I have myself seen and I believe it is generally admitted--both soil and climate of Ceylon are superior to that of India; whilst from the facility of its communication with China and the east coast of Africa, it possesses the advantage of obtaining cheap and abundant supplies of labor from those countries, as well as from India, from which they emigrate in great numbers, and can at all times be had to work for 15s. to 18s. per month."

JA

COTTON-PRODUCTION OF IN MAICA-I think I may announce to you now, that cotton cultivation has been commenced with an earnestness from which I augur great success. The press is almost universal in advocating the propriety of it. A company has been formed, including among its members the Chief Justice, with a capital of £2,000, in order to test the question. I have little doubt of a favorable result. A newspaper on the north side of the island, the Trelawny,-whose proprietors speaks from practical experience, stoutly asserts, notwithstanding counter statements have been made, that the article can be produced ready for shipment at two pence per pound, and we have two crops a year, whilst, I believe, in the States they have There is now here a gentleman from Georgia, who is said to understand well the cultivation of the cotton plant, and he has readily afforded information wherever it is sought of him. His name is Williams, The encouragement given to the undertaking

but one.

by the British press is not without its beneficial effect.

COTTON AND COTTON MANUFAC-
TURES.

“First, with nice eye emerging Naiads cull
From leathery pods the vegetable wool:
With wiry teeth revolving cards release
The tangled knots, and smooth the ravel'd fleece,
Next comes the iron hand with fingers fine,
Combs the wide card, and forms the eternal line;
Slow, with soft lips, the whirling can acquires
The tender skeins, and wraps in rising spires;
With quickened pace successive rollers move,
And these retain, and those extend the rove;
Then fly the spokes, the rapid axles glow,
While slowly circumvolves the laboring wheel

below."

DARWIN.

That the ancients were well acquainted with cotton, and used it extensively, cannot be disputed. Theophrastus, the Greek philosopher of Lesbos, wrote a work on botany, entitled Hepì purŵv ioropías. "On the History of Plants," in which he speaks of ra devopa epiopopa the wool-bearing plants, the cotton plants. Herodotus also speaks of Epia ra dzo ¿úλov, which evidently means cotton. He is speaking of India, and the whole passage reads as follows: " The wild trees in that country bear fleeces as their fruit, surpassing those of sheep in beauty and excellence; and the Indians use cloth made from these trees. (Book 3, ch. 106.) Also in chapter 47 of the same book he says, that the thorax or cuirass sent by Amasis, King of Egypt, to Sparta, was adorned with gold, and with fleeces from trees." What, however, Herodotus says of India, could not be from his own personal observation, since he did not, probably, extend his travels farther eastward than Susa, on the banks of the Choaspes. It is barely possible, too, that the cotton alluded to in the last quotation from that author, was only the down of the bombax* ceiba, a tree allied to the cotton plant.

The testimony of Theophrastus, the pupil of Aristotle, leaves no room for doubt. The expedition of Alexander the Great into India, furnished Aristotle and the Greeks with much exact knowledge of that distant region. The entire passage in Theophrastus reads as follows: The trees from which the Indians make cloths have a leaf like that of the black

Greeks made use of muslins or calicoes, or at least of cotton cloths of some kind, which were brought from India as early as 200 years B. C.

In a work entitled Periplus Maris Erythrei, supposed to have been written a little before the time of Pliny, by an Egyptian Greek, named Arrian, who went on a mercantile expedition down the Red Sea, and along the whole extent of the coast of India, he tells us that the Arabian trading vessels brought India cottons to a port in the Red Sea, called Aduli; and that the port of Barygaza, now Baroche, near the north-western coast of India, was a mart of cotton goods of many kinds, whence common cottons, calicoes and muslins, plain and flowered, of Indian manufacture, were exported to various countries. It appears, moreover, that Massalia, in India, now called Masulipatam, was then famous for its cotton fabrics. Bengal muslins were then celebrated among the Greeks, under the name of gangitiki, because they were made near the banks of the Ganges.

The oriental custom of using cotton cloths as a protection from the sun's rays, was adopted by the Romans, cotton being not only more common and cheaper than silk, but better adapted for this purpose from its lightness, beauty and fineness. It is supposed by some learned commentators, that the "white, green and blue hangings," mentioned in the book of Esther, chaps. 1, 6, as adorning the court of the royal palace at Susa, on the occasion of the great feast given by Ahasuerus, were of cotton. Cotton, though cheaper than silk in ancient times, must have been very costly; for Cicero, in enumerating the expensive novelties which contributed to the luxury of Verres, when prætor in Sicily, charges him with using "tents with coverings of cotton" "tabernacula carbase is intenta velis”— -as something very extravagant. At a later period, according to Pliny,* Lentulus Spinther first introduced cotton awnings at Rome, in the theatre at the Apollinarian games, in the year 63 B. C. Afterwards, Julius Cæsar covered with awnings the whole Roman forum, and the Via Sacra, from his own house to the ascent of the Capitoline Hill. Marcellus, the ædile, nephew of Augustus, also covered the whole forum with awnings, to protect from the sun the lawyers and others engaged in law-suits. Lucretius alludes to the cotton awnings, thus:

Carbasus ut quondam magnis intenta theatris Dat crepitum, malos inter jactata trabeisque. The poets of the Augustan age, and many subsequent writers, make frequent mention of cotton. The wars against Mithridates

* Pliny, lib. xix. c. 6.

and the Parthians, in the first century before Christ, contributed to make the Romans more familiar with cotton and its use, although their chief supply was through Egypt, more than through Persia and Babylonia.

Apuleius mentions carbasina in connection with bombycina and other kinds of cloth, meaning to designate calico and muslin.

The best account, probably, that has been given of cotton by any ancient writer, that of Julius Pollux, who wrote about a hundred years after Pliny. He says:

"There is also Byssina, and Byssus, a kind of flax. But, among the Indians, and now also among the Egyptians, a sort of wool is obtained from a tree. The cloth made from this wool may be compared to linen, except that it is thicker. The tree produces a fruit most nearly resembling a walnut, but three-cleft. After the outer covering, which is like a walnut, has divided and become dry, the substance resembling wool is extracted, and is used in the manufacture of cloth for woof, the warp being linen.”

Theophilus Presbyter, who wrote about the year 800, A. D., describes the use of cotton paper for making gold leaf. He calls it "parcamena Græca, quæ fit ex lana ligni” Greek parchment made of tree-wool. We might quote Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius; and Virgil speaks of cotton five times incidentally in his works; and also add a host of other quotations from a great number of ancient writers, to show that cotton was well known to antiquity; but this will suffice. Those whom we have omitted only allude to cotton incidentally, and often in a manner that leaves one in doubt as to the exact use they intended to make of the terms denoting cotton.

From the travels of the two Arabians who visited China in the ninth century, we learn that, at that time, the ordinary dress of their countrymen was cotton; for they remark, that "the Chinese dress not in cotton, as the Arabians do, but in silk." From this, we may infer that cotton was in general use in most of the countries of Western Asia.

The question, so long agitated by the learned, whether cotton was or was not cultivated in Egypt in ancient times, seems to be put to rest by the discoveries of the microscope. Until this instrument was brought to bear upon the subject, the greatest division and uncertainty prevailed among all. The great difficulty was to determine whether the cloths in which the mummies were wrapped were of linen or cotton. All chemical tests failed.

The character of the wrappings of the mummies, that for more than two thousand years had been accumulating in the catacombs of Egypt, was never questioned until about one hundred years ago. All writers,