The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-24 00:00:00

A female of peculiar appearance, and who appeared
about eighteen years of age, whose name was given as
Ellen Bramham, of 17, Netherfield-road North, was
placed in the dock on the following extraordinary charge.
The girl was deseribed as the daughter of a late relieving
officer of the West Derby Anion: She had a young
child in her arms, but it was stated that she is not
married: She was defended by Mr. Cobb. Detective
officer Wilion said, on Sunday Mr. Gough, the govern'or
of the Weit Derby Workhouse, called at the police
office, and produced this letter, which he had received
that morning addressed to him :

•
' "Everton
"My dear Sir;—As lam unable teso out, I want to
ass a fat oiir of you: My niece is
,going to begin
busidesS,' and I dm going
,to rend her £3O; bUt I have
only X2O by the at present. lArmild Yon oblige me by
lending me ten ; you shall have it as soon as,' am able
to go out. It is, tniltndwo. to My wife, s,o'Seti'd it to_ this
address-L-Ifiss Roberts, Tort .llotel, Netherileld,road
..Soith.-Reliein nib to reiliain, dear sir, your humble
ana obedient servant, OWEN ROBERTS.
_

P.S.—Please to' send it as soon As you ean,.and I
'will be, at the -board on 'Wednesday next, when I will
SSC you. 0. ROBERTS."

Wilson continued—l went to Mr. Roberts, one of the
-guardians, and found it was a forgery. After some
'consultation, Mr. Gough put 3s. worth of postage
stamps, and a threepenny piece, into a letter, and
directed it as stated: Scat% and I then, went to the
place to *eta; and sa* the prisoner come to the
hotel, and ask for a letter for Miss Roberts, of Seacombe-
street. We saw her get the letter, and followed her
into the street. She opened the letter, arid took out
the postage stamps, and put them into her pocket, and,
put the threepenny• piece into her purse.. She then.
went on beyond Seacombe-street about thirty yards,
and eve took hei into •btisto4; and thole the letter
fresh sail a voting *Man Whom
.she did hot i:noW, the het in the morning„ and
requested her to go for the letter. • On the way to the
:station the prisOner threw some papers away from her,
and in a drawer that her mother and. sister stated
belonged to her, we got paper and envelopes, the same
as were .sOnt'tO Mr. Gotigh. In rePly,tO Mr.' Cobb, the
officer said: The York, Hotel is in Netherfield-road,
North. We saw her go into the bar, and get the.
setter. Scacynbe-street is about one hundred and twenty
yards fronctliat, ''She had gone beyond Seacombe.street
some thirty yards before we arrested her. I plainly'
saw'her open the letter and take out the postage stamps.
Scsilfe got the coits in her purse. Mr. dough 'Was ex-
amines], and said I received this letter on Sunday
morning, and thinking it a chtmsy attempt to extort
money from mei I Went tb Mr. Roberts, maid foUnd it
was a forgery ; so I pat the police on the scent about it,
I then directed a letter, and put three shillings worth
otStainps and a three-peany-piece into it,'and sent it as
directed. Mr. Raffles : Do you know her,? Mr. Gough
said : I know her to be the daughter of Mr. Bramham,
late a relieving-officer, and saw her sometimes at the
gate. Mr. Cobb : What is the charge in this case
against het Mr. Raffles i 'The charge is for uttering
a forged letter. Mr. Cobb : There is no proof of the
'forgery, and none certainly of-the uttering. Mr. Raffles :
The evidence of uttering is inferential, certainly, but
such as would warrant me in remanding her. Mr.
Roberts, one of the guardians of the West Derby *Union,
was examined, and said : , This letter purports to come
from me, but is not my writing, nor do I know anything
Whatever about it. • Mr. Cobb : Is' there not more
Roberts in Liverpool than one ? Witness ;. Judging
from the Directory, I should say so.
.(Laughter.) Mr.
Cobb : And more Owen Roberts than one ? Yes, but
not many. Mr. Raffle: Is there any other Owen
Roberts a guardian ? Not that I ant aware of. Mr.
Cobb contended that there was no charge made out
against the prisoner, but his Worship ultimately re-
manded her for a week. There were several strange
letters found with the prisoner, in which the names of
many, first-class merchants, professional gentlemen, and
people in trade were mentioned, but- as these did not
Come fairly before the court, we do not: give any of the
particulars at present.

THE TRANSIT B ETWEEN LIVERPOOL

AND MANCHESTER.

. Mr. George Picton, of the Duke's Dock, here,
has written to the London Times under date 21st
January, as follows :

Six,—ln your publication of Saturday last is a para-
graph on the above subject. Tle writer has made him-
' self acquainted with one part of the above subject, in
reference to the difficulty the two railway companies
havein getting forward the cotton that has been offered.
.to them for transit, and the consequent detention of the
teams which were compelled to wait in the streets until
such times as they were prepared to receive the goods
offered to them., All that is thus said on that part
of the subject is quite true. The writer has evidently
fallen into an error as to the cause of the very great
excess of traffic that has been sent for their lines. He
says "the entire suspension of the canal by frost is the
cause, thus throwing an inordinate as well as an unex-
pected demand upon the traffic resources of the rail-
way." -Upon this part of the subject your correspondent
has not been correctly informed. The fact is, in the
article of cotton the frost has had very little to do with
the great influx that has been required to be sent for-
ward as between this town and Manchester and its sur-
rounding district. Any one conversant with, the very
great demand there has been for cotton during the last
five weeks will have observed that the sales have been
about double the usual weekly demand ; it is to this
cause mainly that the railways are in the state above
referred to, their rolling stock of trucks, sheets, &c.,
hot being sufficient to meet the required, demands. I
-fielieVe-thiricoone diSposed to attach any blame to
the managers at this end, both of whom are personally
known to me ; I am quite sure they are not only
desirous, but are. competent, to do all that any one can
accomplish with the same means at their disposal.
Now for the canal between Liveipool and Manchester,
Your -correspondent states that this conveyance be-
tween,Liverpool and Manchester has been entirely sus-
pended. It may be requisite to state that there are two
separate-and distinct water conveyances between Liver-
pool and Manchester, both owned by and managed by
the Bridgewater Trustees. From Runcorn, one of than-
passes through Preston Brook, Lynn, &c., and is a
canal the whole distance ; this portion has been partly
stopped 'by frost. The other line frofn Runcorn
passes through Warrington, &c., and is partly a large
canal and partly a river navigation, commonly called
"The Mersey and Irwell Navigation," or " The Old
Quay. Company." There are nine separate and distinct
large carrying concerns regularly in ordinary times
traversi,ng the above routos—say five vid Preston Brook,
and four vie/ the Old Quay. With respect to this latter
navigation, I beg most distinctly' to state that it has not
been closed during the late severe frost ; on the contrary,
the whole of the boats belonging to the above nine car-
riers,—say about 120 in number,—have been going to
and fro during the whole time ; that they (the carriers)
have during the same period continued to receive and
forward all cotton that has been sent to them. They
have all, I believe, performed the work to the satisfac-
tion of their spinning. friends, and without any detention
of the carts on arrival at their various wharfs. Speaking
for the firm I represent, neither merchants, brokeri, or
spinners have any cause to complain either of delay of
their cotton, or detention of carts, &c.
The community in this part are very much indebted
to the Bridgewater Trustees for the efforts they have
made, and the expense they have been put to, in keeping
e
the Old Quay route open. During the last three
weeks
they have had on the line daily upwards of
150 horses
breaking the ice and hauling all the boats through it;
and, in addition, they .have had upwards of 200
men
daily employed in lifting the ice out of the water.
At
this time the navigation 4 quite free from ice and all is
going on as usual.
Ilad the Bridgewater Trustees not done as above
stated, the line would have been closed, and the two
lines of rail also ; such would have been the rush f
cotton to their stations that they would haveheen effectually stopped.
I may here observe that I have been over forty years
intimately connected with the water carrying between
Liverpool and Manchester, also in connection with rail
carrying during the last eighteen years, and I can say
from my own knowledge that the Old Quay navigation
has not during that period been entirely stopped by frost.
I fear I may have trespassed too much upon yotir
space. I could not very well say less on so important a
subject.--Your obedient servant,
Duke's Dock, Liverpool, San. 21.

GEORGE PIXTON.

* The aveiage sales under ordinary circumstances will be
about, 45,000 to 50,000 bales per week; the average sales
during the last 'five weeks, ending Jan. 18, amouut to 89,705
bales per Week:

INLAND BONDING.—AII the necessary arrangements
for bonding foreign produce, at Bradford, have been
completed to the satisfaction of the authorities at the
Custom-house. The town has now, at the Midland
Railway station, a warehouse suitable for the purpose of
inland bonding, and there is also a custom-house conti-
guous to the warehouse, Mr. Grieve having been
appointed chief officer, of. Customs. • The traders of
Bradford have made terms with the Midland Railway
Company which the dealers in articles chargeable with
Customs duties deem satisfactory.
DEATH OF TILE COUNT AND COUNTESS OF MONTE-
uoLIN.—A Trieste letter gives some details concerning
'the sudden deaths of the Count and Countess de Monte-
Tulin :—" The Infante Don Ferdinand and the Count
and Countess de Montemolin went on Christmas-day to
the chateau of Brunsee, the residence of the Duchess de
'Berry. On the 26th the Infante fell ill, and on the
following day a 'fearful eruption made its appearance,
which terminated' his existence at, half-past six in the
evening. On the sth of January the Count and Countess
de Montemolin left the Duchess de Berry's residence,'
taking with them•tbeir brothees body, which was after-
wards inhumed at Trieste. On the 7th the count fell
ill; by the 11th he was thenght out of all danger, but
on the 13th a second and more violent eruption appeared,
which carried him off. He expired at four in the
morning of the 13th. The countess, who had also been
seized with the same disease—typhus fever, and not
scarlatina, u had been stated--died at midnight."
,/

IMPORTANT MEETING AT MANCHESTER.
On Tuesday a crowded meeting was held in the large
room of the Town-hall, Manchester, for the purpose of
ascertaining to what extent spAiners and manufacturers
were favourable to the Cotton Company (Limited). The
ilayoi. of Manchester (M.' Curtis, Esq.) presided, and
there were present, amongst others, Lord Alfred
Churchill, M P.; Captain Gray, MX. ; J. A. Turner,
rsq.; T: Bailey, Esq.i`M.P. 3 Aldermen Mackie
and right Turner Messrs: lleairy A§hltortil; ThortaaS
Clegg, Edmund -Potter, John - Cheetham, hdraind
Ashworth, Hugh
.Mason, John fender, John Platt,
Harold Littledale, J. C. 011erensbaw, Thomas Mosley,
W. Wanlyn, Bell (Madras), R. R. Davies, Stolterfoht,
Dadabhai Naoroji, Jamsetjcc Pallorji, R. Rtimney, A.
Reyner, J. Radcliffe, H. Birley; T. M. Mackay, and J.
Marriott (Liverpool), John Mayal (MosSley), J. S.
Mickley, li. B. Jackson, T. Barten, tr. Emmott, A.
Christie, James Dorrington, H. Buckley, George
Andrew, G. It. Hay*ood; &t::

The Mayor; hating stated the objects of the Meeting,
said the supply di getteri as a itiesliertofgreat ittiott:
ante, not only to the cotton trade, but to the country at
large.—(Applause.) At this period it was not a matter
which could be left to' chance or mere caprice. Suppose
the supply of cotton to be diminished by a third or a
half, what results would follow ? The manufacturers
would have to work only half their machinery, or work
the whole on short time. The workpeople would con-
sequently be reduced in numbers, or their hours of
labour would be shortened. The wages in the aggregate
would ,be prOpottionably fedtreed; .and att. amount' of
misery, which it would lie fearful to contemplate, *ould
ensue. If the pfoduaidng of the Manufaeturers were
diminished, immediately tile bleachers add dyers; and
others engaged in the the guishing of the manufactured
products, would be in like manner seriously rdeCted.
Our merchants, agents, and shippers *otild at the seine
time find their btisifiess . materially reduced. The ships
would not find so maCh empioyment ; and the railway.
trafge would be like*ige diminished. It wag; therefore,
not a mere local, but a national question ; and it de-
manded the serious and earnest attention of all classes
in this district. It might be asked : "Is there any
probability of any such events happening ?" Looking
at the present state of things in the United States, We
could ' hardly expect but that some falling off in the
supply of Cotton would be experienced. Even the
most sanguine would not deny that,' even in conse-
quence of the events which had already occurred in
the United States, the crop of cotton during the en-
.
suing' year must fall short of the usual quantity.
This must happen, supposing that the American ques-
tied *as settled amicably ; huts now that the first drop
of bleed had been aliud~ the dispute was not likely to be
settled till after lengthened suffering by both parties:
Where, then, must the country look for cotton supplies
for the removal of the evil ? Looking at the countries
which supplied the raw material, India especially
claimed their attention.—(Applause.) There were also
the West Indies and Australia, to whom a helping
hand should be lent ; there was Africa, well qualified to
furnish a large quantity of cotton ; and in proportion as
cotton was grown in Africa, so was slavery prevented.--
(Applause.) . The
_question not only affected Manches-
ter, but it would also affect the trade of the Liverpool
shipowners; and this being •so, a deputation' ought to
be sent to Liverpool, soliciting their aid.--(Applause.)
If the cotton supply was diminished, the ships at Liver-
pool would not be employed, and the warehouses there
would not be filled. It was also a question of very con-
siderable importance to the government of the country,
because, if the labouring Classes were seriously deprived
of labour and wages, their power of consumption of
articles paying duties would be lessened, and thus the
revenue derived by the govermitent 'from those duties
would ho greatly affected.—(Bear, hear.)
Mr. Um Cheetham moved :

" That this meeting deeply regrets the present depen-
dence of the cotton trade upon one, chief source of
supply for its raw material, the production of which is'
now alarmingly imperilled by the disturbances in the
Southern States of the American Union ; and recom-
mends that efforts commensurate with the impending
danger should be called forth to prevent the calamities
thus threatening capital and labour; as, unless cotton
adequate to the existing large consumption be provided,
loss and diStress Will' result fearful consequences."'

The principle he asked the meeting -to adopt was that
we should not be dependent mainly upon one source for
our supply of cotton. In the straggle for the abolition
of the corn laws the same principle was the only one at
stake—it was *not then a question of price but abun-
dance, an ample supply at any time. The 'supply of
cotton was no less important than the question of the
supply of food. The population could not exist without
employment any more than without food; but the cotton
supply question was surrounded with greater difficulties
than the question of food was. There were fifty markets
for the supply of food ; but for the supply of cotton we
were mainly relying on one country. It might be
replied that we relied on one country for our tea, but
then we always had a stock of from eigthteen to twenty-
four months' consumption on hand ; but of cotton the.
average stock on hand during the last eight years had I
never exceeded fifteen weeks' supply During 1860, the
world supplied us with 5,524,000 bales, of which Ame-
rica supplied 4,675,000 bales, or equivalent to 84i per
cent. of the whole. During the last eight years, too,
the stock on hand had been lower than during any eight
years previously. The present time justified graver
considerations of the wisdom of the principle which had
hitherto been relied upon, than had yet been given to it ;
and they ought not to permit the question to be trifled
with any longer. (Applause.) The course to be adopted
would be proposed by others. Some lirould object that
the Cotton Company would be departing from the sound
and.acknowledged principles of free trade, and that the
matter should be left to the law of supply and demand ;
but could the loss of 700,000 bales 'be replaced by any
amount of money which might be offered for it ? It was
incumbent upon those interested in the trade to do some-
thing to prevent the impending disaster; but, if they did
not come forward, and choose rather to leave the matter
to general public subscriptions, then the promoters of
the company would withdraw their scheme, and take
their individual chance of passing through the calamity.
(Hear, hear.)—Mr. John Pender seconded the resolution.
He believed that Lancashire was now become aware
of the perilous position in which she was placed, and
he had great faith in the energy of Lancashire men
when that energy was properly aroused. The history
of cotton growing in America afforded the greatest
possible encouragement to them to go and do likewise
in India. (Cheers.) Seventy-five years ago labour
was imported into America to grow cotton. That
labour was directed by Anglo-Saxon intelligence and
energy ; and he believed that that energy was not yet
exhausted, and that, if proper facilities were afforded, it
would produce the same results in a much shorter
period of time, for they had in India land that only
required to be tilled and labour that only required
encouragement. They wanted a joint-stock company
of factors to find money for the cotton planters. India
was the best consumer of the industry of this district ;
and if they could avail themselves of India as a source
of, supply for cotton they would also largely increase
the market for consuming their fabrics. The advantage
was, therefore, a mutual one. He called upon them to
look at the question as one of self-preservation, not only
socially but politically. If the supply of cotton failed.
the prestige of the country was gone. It was the wealth
which had been created through the industry of the
country which had given them in the scale of nations
that high position in their diplomatic intercourse with
nations, and that moral power which enabled them to
look on with calmness, while other nations had been
convulsed. When the Government was calling their
attention to the subject, he was sure that Lancashire men
would show themselves alive to their own interest, while
they at, the same time maintained the glory of their
common country.—(Cheers.)—Mr: Baxley, M.P., in sup-
porting the resolution, said he was impressed with the
feeling that the great industry upon which they all sub-
sisted was imperilled. He regretted that the trade had
not appreciated the propositions that had been promul-
gated for obtaining supplies of the raw material; which
would make them independent of the United States.
For twenty years he had been impressed with the neces-
sity of the trade ministering to its own wants ; and in
1851 he had urged this view in a lecture he delivered
before the Society of Arts, Ruder the presidency of the
Prince Consort. Public opinion had been very much
in advance of the trade, and the Times and Daily News
urged them to action. With such encouragement the
trade ought to rouse itself and vindicate its position, and
not be dependent upon the eleemosynary contributions
of capital from wealthy sources, independent of their
own rich treasures. From the midst of Lancashire and
Lanarkshire should arise a firm phalanx of individuals,
not only determined to maintain their position, but to
vindicate the rights of humanity, and to command for
their great industry a supply of cotton, without which
they must sink as a commercial nation. Last year the
consumption of the [raw material was 48,543 bags per
week. Of that supply 85 per cent came from the United
States, the consumption of Americ.an cotton being
41,195 bags weekly. From Egypt, Brazil, and other
independent countries; the consumption was 3,968
bags per week, or 8 per cent; whilst from British
East and West Indies the consumption was 3,461 bags
per week, or 7 per cent. For five out of the six work-
ing days they were consuming American cotton, and for
the sixth alone they needed all they got from foreign
and British sources. This was their dependent position
while they had more land capable of growing cotton
than any other country on the face of the earth pos-
sessed. The capabilities of the East Indies were im-
mense. Some of those present were endeavouring to
promote the improvement of the river Godavery, with
its 500 miles of adjacent cotton growing country. Upon
the banks of that river was a population of twelve
millions, all of whom might become customers for the
produce of this country. The ob6taeles in the way of
communication must be removed, and an effort made to
support those members of the House of. Commons who
contended for the regeneration of India. (Cheeri.) A
thousand men, who would advance Xl,OOO each, would
' give them a capital of a million sterling ; and surely

they could spare one-half per cent. of the £200,000,000
of floating and fixed capital for what would be an insu-
rance for their trade and a protection for their work-
people. (Cheers.) Mr. bailey- Ceteltidiad b' saying he
had received a letter from Lieutenant Glover, 13..\'., arid
from another gentleman, stating that cotton was ready
in Afiica and the Gold Coast, and only wanted facilities
for its shipment.
The resolution was unanimously ad'opted.
Mr. Hugh Mason (Ashton-under-Lyne) proposed :
. " That, in the opinion of this meeting, the emergency
demands that prompt, liberal, and ample support should
afforded fel- the fortriation of a powerful joint-stock
limited liadilitY Corripany, to promote air increased cul-
tivation of cotton, by offering to Aiiirdhat,e it in India,Australia, Africa, or other countries r arid that capital
of one million sterling, in shares of £lO eich; sitbMcl te
raised for this purpose."
It took a great deal to rouse the British Lion ; but,
when he looked around the room, he thought the British
Lion was aroused to the importance of the cotton ques-
tion. (Laughter.) The importance of joint-stock com-
panies was so well known to Manchester men, that he
need not say much upon that question, except to ask
ithelt our railways, waterworks, and banks would be
withoift thrq principle He was glad to find that Lord
John Russell had*.titteii a letter Von the cotton-supply
question; but he did not *ender that 'Me tiovetntneut
was alarmed when so much of the refeae of the
country depended upon the taxes paid by the cotton
trade. (Hear, hear.) He had not much faith in
what governments could do ; but he had faith in
what Lancashire men could do, when roused as they
had now been ; • and he looked upon it as providen-
tial that the Cotton Supply Association had existed
no* for setetal years, and had thrown opon cotton
fields on efery part of the globe. The spinners and
Mani:Wadi/refs must follow rip *hat the Cotton Associa-
tion bad began: India bad 6.84 million acres of cotton-
gfoWing dotintry, Whilst the United States had only 600
millions; and it Was l'fot a question of 'ebb& in India,
brit a question of a selfish oturtictite gotetiirrient. Our
own subjects in India might deluge rYs with cotton, if
they were only shown the way.—Mr. T. M. Mackay,
shipoWner, of Liverpool,. seconded the resolution. He
had dtteraded the meeting at the instance of a Liverpool
cotton broker. (Applanse.) Looking at the hand-to-
mouth condition in which they *ere living, and to
affairs in the United' States, he thought they were like
a person sitting upon a barrel of gunpowder with a
match in his hand. (Applause and laughter.) He had
paid some attention to the cultivation of cotton in Aus-
tralia, from which place he returned about 18 months
ago; and he had since received.a letter from Sir Charles
Nicholson, describing the capabilities of Queensland for
growing cotton, the river Fitzroy being the largest navi-
gable stream yet discovered, with several tributaries,
and without any bar at its mouth. The only wants were
d sufficient stlrtplyof Indian or Chinese coolies, and per-
sons to instruct thern.—Mr: Nadabbai Ifaoroji, a Parsee
merchant, supported the resolution, in a speech which
was frequently. applauded. He said that, though a native
of India, he was proud of being an English subject. They
were taught in their colleges in India that the English
were the wealthiest, most enterprising, and most civilised
people on the surface of the earth ; and they believed it
too. As to the wealth and enterprise he had only to
look round that room, and to think of the Great Eastern
and the. Atlantid telegraph. He believed also that Eng-
land was the most civilised nation of the earth ; but
when he said that, it was not simply because the people
were better clothed, better lodged, and better fed. They
could defy the world in intellectual exertion as long as
they could claim a Newton, a Bacon, and a Watt.
(Applause.) But, besides the body to work and the mind
to think, there was also a heart to cultivate; and had
Englishmen attained the greatest amount of civilisation
in that respect ? It was a right appreciation of the
duties and rights of man, that made man a civilised
being ; and as long as man did not know his duty
towards his neighbour he was no more, or rather he
was less, civilised than the savage who traversed the
wilds of South America. It was, therefore, often a
puzzle to bim, when he considered' England's civilisa-
tion, to find out why the children of those men who
paid millions of money to emancipate the slave, should
now pay ten millions a year in order to make those
shackles stronger, -and more rivetting. (Applause.)
With the faith he had in' Englishmen, he hoped when
the time came they would gird up their loins and
vanquish the foe altogether. (Renewed applause.) ' Con-
sidering what England had done for the slave, he could
only'come to the conclusion that the emancipators were
the noblest of men, presenting to the world the noblest
spectacle of maintaining and defending the rights of
humanity, and that their children were degenerate ; or,
that the children were wiser than their fathers, and that
their fathers were fools for their pains. (Cheers and
laughter.) The prestige of the English nation might
rest on the one • act of emancipation; but now. look at.
the spectacle of men, the emancipators of slaves, becom-
ing slaves to slaves ; for what were we .but slaves to
those very slaves-in America, because we depended upon
them' for our supply of cotton ? (Applause.) Whence
was the supply to be obtained ? India should be the
nation to which Englishmen should turn their attention.
At this moment India produced many millions of bales.
The question was very often asked why the demand
often did not bring forth the supply ; but they forgot
that other laws besides those of political economy
governed the world: There were often obstacles in the
way of supply. ' These obstacles in India, it would be,
the duty of the Cotton Company to remove; for India
only wanted machinery and management for the pro-
duction of cotton, and means of transit.—The resolution
was adopted unanimously.
Mr. Edmond Ashworth moved—

"That this meeting cordially approve the initiatory
efforts of provisional directors of the Cotton Company,
Limited,' and is of opinion that at the present crisis, the
basis of their action should he greatly enlarged, and
hereby strongly recommends that the exertions of that
body be vigorously renewed, its permanent directors
appointed. the company registered, and operations com-
menced without delay."

He held in his hand papers showing what could be done
by the company, but at that late hour be would not
trouble the meeting with all of them. In 1862 there
would be a scarcity of cotton, and the company wanted to
show how the difficulty might be met. If Lancashire
would entrust a million of money with the company, it
would raise a large amount of cotton to supply the defi-
ciency. Letters had been received from all parts offering
to cultivate cotton if the money for the purpose was sup-
plied. What had the Cotton Supply Association done ?
The association were forbidden by their rules from
becoming traders ; they were merely to sow the seed, and
supply the implements ; and that they had done. From
Africa her Majesty's Consul wrote that cotton was wait-
ing there to be shipped away ; and, the merchants in
India said, " Give us orders, and we will fetch you cot-
ton." A princess of one of the independent states of
India, having heard of the want of cotton and the Cotton
Supply Association, had called the British Commissioner
and her own Council together, and, after consulting,
had sent a letter to the Association offering to supply
cotton, and improve the growth of it in that district if
the Association would send out seed and machines.
What he proposed was that a million of money should
be raised. Ten per cent. should be paid down this year
and ten per cent. next year, making £200,000, with
£BOO,OOO to back it with if required. If the supply of
cotton was not in some way increased, the mills would
be losing three months of time in 1862. The lose of a
single week was the loss of two millions of money. He
therefore wanted every manufacturer and spinner to
gauge his loss of money by the loss of. time, and then
to give to the Association the value of two weeks'
wages ; while the merchant should give a per tentage
upon his turnover. (Applause.) The company could
do what private individuals could not. The com-
pany could afford to lose money in sending out agents
and teachers, and the shareholders must not expect divi-
dends, but must be content if they got half of their
money back again. It would be better for Lancashire
to spend a million now than lose ten millions in 1862.
Every man should be honest to himself, and work in
the cause, so that cotton might be fetched from all
parts of the world. (Applause.)—Mr. John Platt (Old-
ham) seconded the resolution. He said any disaster
which affected the cotton trade of Lancashire also
affected other trades, and amongst them the iron trade,
with which cb was connected. The annual increase of
spindles in England and on the Continent, and in
America, was so large that the statistics would take
many by surprise. From calculations he had made, he
had no doubt that in this country, for the last two
years, the average production of mule and throstle
spindles had been at the rate of 3,000,000 per annum.
Then he calculated that 1,000,000 were produced
annually on the Continent, and 2,000,000 in the Northern
States of America; which gave a total of 6,000,000 spin-
dles annually produced in the world. To furnish this
large growth of manufacturing power with the requisite
supply of the raw material, would require an annual
increase of upwards of 400,000 bales of cotton.—Lord
Alfred Churchill, M.P., supported the resolution.
Referring to the letter of Sir Charles Nicholson, he said
that he had also received intelligence from Queensland
and the North of Australia, where it was believed that
by the employment of Chinese labour the country might
be made productive. He hoped they would soon hear
of every settler having, in addition to his sheep-runs, a
small patch of land devoted to the cultivation of cotton.
(Hear, hear.) The resolution was passed unanimously.
Mr. John Cheetham moved, and Mr. J. A. Turner,
M.P., seconded a vote of thanks to the Mayor, in
putting which Mr. T. Clegg. who occupied the chair,
said he had expressed his cordial approval of the Com-
pany, which he thought was absolutely necessary. If
gentlemen thought they could do good individualy,
why not try; for there was room enough for everybody.
(Applause.) The Mayor having acknowledged the
vote, the proceedings (which lasted two and a half
hours) terminated.

ITALY.—A "Narrative of a recent Tour through
Italy, Sicily, and Malta," was the title of an interest-
ing lecture delivered by the Rev. J. P. Chown, of
Bradford, in the school-room under the Myrtle-
street Chapel, last night. The chair was occupied by
the Rev. Hugh Stowell Brown. The meeting was
largely attended.