The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-24 00:00:00

COTTON PROSPECTS.

The Liverpool Daily Post has a long letter from
"A British Merchant," dated from Vicksburg on the Ist
inst., as to the cotton prospects in the South. The writer
says : "The policy of the Federal government, however,
appears to be to crush the rebellion first, and not to obtain •
present supply of cotton. Hence, instead of seeking to re-
tain possession of the interior cotton district, they merely
occupy the principal points on the Mississippi military
pasta, reservinx the great body of the army for further ag-
gressive operations. Thus, the only chance of a supply of
' cotton is the voluntary bringing of it in by the planters to
the various military posta, where it ia taken possession of by
the government and sold, and paid for at an indefinite
period, when the owner can give full and satisfactory proof
of his loyalty—an operation which few planter can pais
through with safety, or one which not many of them will
be anxious to attempt. The government, however, I have
been sawed by General Grant, are determined to pursue
this course until peace arrives, for were they to do other-
wise they would only be opening markets for the sale of
rebel produce, the Fineman of which would go to strengthen
the enemy and increase his resources. To look, therefore,
for any important supply of cotton from the Mississippi
districts is quite out of the question ; for, what with the
stringent regulaticns of the government and the danger
from guerillas and their Confederate neighbours, to
those who otherwise might feel disposed to bring in
their cotton, the receipts must continue to be on • very
small scale. That which was readily available was received
last year ; and I was told by • merchant at Cairo the
other day that their firm alone received and forwarded
from that place last year over 60,000 biles of
cotton, whereas this year they have not had lea
. At Memphis, where last year • good deal of cotton was re.
; ceived, the stock at present is not over 250 bales, and the
daily receipt' are only a few balm; for although the city
hassow bees in possession of the Fedsrah over 18 months,
neither life nor property is safe five miles outside ankles
under military protection, and the seisms and burning of
cotton by guerillas are of frequent occurrence. At Vicksburg
there livery little cotton,cart•inly not more throat Memphis,
though there will be perhaps 21.10 or 300 bales yet to receive
from the fortificatioes. As regards going into the interior
from Vicksburg, I found it quite as difficult and daemon@
an operation as at Memphis ; for although the Federah
have a railway communication to Bilcßlack River, 13 miles
distant, and • camp there, the di ultras of bringing in
cotton, owing to the guerillas and Confederate syrups-
! thetas, are as great as at Memphis and other places; and
I believe that such is the bitter and determined spirit
still =adenoid by the planters, that even if the govern-
• meet uunfiecation of all cotton belonging to other than loyal
men were withdrawn, they would not let their cotton cane
out Besides, lam well informed by officers who
have been all through the country, that. all the way out to
Jason, 40 miles distant, and in the country round about,
all the cotton has been burnt by either Confederates or
Federals. I have just seen in • Northern pipe
' that advises have been received at New York of the
capture of 100,000 bales at Natchez. Bach • report has
; nut the slightest foundation in truth, for I have
been informed by • gentleman who has beeni
• there some time, that the government may have secured
altogether about 1,000 halm, but nothing room
notwithstanding that several raids have been made from
I Natchez into the interior of Miesiselppi ; pliztundars of one
of which, showing the destitution and poverty of the coun-
try, I enclose you. Thus until peace is somewhat nearer
at hand than present appearances indicets, you must not
expect any supply of cotton whatever from this side the
Athotic, for whet little may be obtained will not be suffi-
cient to meet the requiraneuts of the Northern States;
and eves when the strife is over the supply beoce will be
a mere pittance as compared with what it was before the
war, as from one end of the Confederacy to the other the
slaves are unsettled, and, as feat as opportunity offers, are
slipping away in thousands from the grasp of those who pre-
viously claimed them as their goods and chattels."

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