The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-07 00:00:00

THE PRODUCTS OF INDIA.

On Wednesday Dr. Forbes Watson, reporter on
the products of India to the Indian government, attended a
meeting in the Civil Court, at the Leeds Town hall, for the
purpose of occomunioating some interesting ioformation on
the products of India. The meeting was convened by the
Leeds Chamber of Compare*, and DuurroN Lti roN, 'keg.,
melded

The observations of Dr. Watson were illustrated by a
series of diagrams, and specimens of Indian fibres, the prices
in Landon being attached.
The Penmen briefly introduced
Dr. WATSON to the meeting, and that gentleman, after
some introductory remarks, proceeded to the subject before
them. It was one of hie functions, he said, to introduce
to the public various Indian products of interest, but he
should confine himself on that occasion to those products
which affected the textile fabrics of this district. The
menu of the textile trade of Great Britain consisted in the
obtaining of those raw materials which were required in the
manufactures of the country, and it was therefons of interest
to ascertain what wan their present position with regard to
the supplies at their command. In the cotton and woollen
trades, the supply had increased pro rota with the demand,
the imports having risen fr0m132,5313,6201be. and 9,794,6201 b..
in 1821 to 1,725,989,0721 h.. and 133,284,634 N. in 1859 ;
but in flax the supply had not risen with the demand,
for though there had been an increase, • much larger supply
could readily be consumed, and the question was
whether, under the special eircumstancee, special
effort add not be made to inertness the supply.
There was also this important considenstiou with regard
to the supply of cotton and flax, that Great Britain wan
dependent for the former upon the United Slates, end fee
the latter to Russia, and in both cases there were strong
reams, social anti polities!, why this should not be so. As
to colitaion, thentema no doubt that India maid ampnly the
demand of this country to almost any extent. He was
aware that it had hitherto been objected that Indian cotton
could only be used for certain goods, owing to the short.
net of the staple, but it was now proved that it would
answer for 75 per cent of their manufactures, and he
held in his band a diagram of the relative lengths of
staples, which showed that cotton could be grown in
India equal to the beat Aea Island cotton, and that
generally it was only one-tenth of an inch shorter in
the staple than American cotton. In tact he was pre-
pared to maintain that India could produce cotton in any
quantity and of any quality. Theo, as to wool, their im-
porta from India had increased from 20,000 lb to 40(1,0001b.
in seven years, and though there had been • slight de-
crease last year, now that Mr. Wilson bad taken off the
duty, he had no doubt that in • few years the imports
from India alone would increase front twenty to twenty-five
million lbs. per annum. The quality was not such at
prineut as to recommend it generally, but this arose from
circumstances which might be overcome. The sheep weft
clipped twice in the year, which necessarily involved short
wool, and in the south it was not only short but coarse. In
the north, however, it was fine if they would only allow it
to grow longer, and as the price improved this would no
doubt be done. With regard to the prospects of establishing
• trade for English cloths in the north of India, the govern-
ment was about to present to the different chambers
specimens of all the manufactures of the sevens' die-
tncta, sad aruougst these they would find many samples
of woollen articles, and the imitation of these goods
in the looms of the West Riding would no doubt he pro-
ductive of mutual benefit and lead to an increased trade
with those districts from which they might hope to receive
further supplies of the raw material. Then as to the
question of flax, which was perhaps the meet important
of all; inasmuch as the supply had hitherto fallen so
far below the demand, the productive power of India
in this respect was is mooted point, but he held that India
was capable of supplying them with any quantity, and is
practice' illuatratiou .1 that opinion he might refer to the
specimens before him. Two of those specimens were spe-
cially worthy of their attention. They were of good
length of staple, and were worth GIL per too. They were
not drawing-room specimens, but had been recently grown
in the Punjaub under rather unfavourable circumstances.
The geed had been too sparely mown, and there was no
doubt that they could generally obtain • flax in the Pan-
jauli ful equal to the specimens he had with him. In
the north of India the climate wee moist, and an analysis
of the soil showed that it possessed all those constituents
which were found in the most favoured flax-gmwing sou-
ffles. In the Punjaub the natives had already been in-
duced to grow flax tea elit extent, but if it could be
shown to beprodtaida he had no doubt that its cultiva-
tion iniOt be ootiacrably extended. There were many
other d.triets equally suited for flax cultivation. In Addi-
tion to fax there wee* many other fibres which might be
aucceedully introduced. The hissers. bluebell had tried •
great number of experiments with the fibre of the Mesa
plant, and though those experiments had shown that there
wan a difficulty, owing to the roughness of the filwe, is
working it up with flax, there were various fabrics, such
us the Wadford goods, and that class of goods hitherto made
of alpaca, where smoothness and Boum@ weir not an
essential, in which it could be used advantageouelv.
There was a fibre, however, of which he had a ramPle
in his hand, that ouuld be used an a substitute for flail, as
far as the supply would allow. That was the liedolee tint*
• creeping plant found in Assam. It had a fine silky appear.
mice, possessed great strength, and the fibre was remarkably
free from asperities. There was also the Neilgherry nettle,
which would scribble up with wool, and might be used
advantageously for the purpose of giving body where
shoddy was used. The only fibre which could be used as •
substitute for fiat was the Beloit/ Butts, which, however,
could not at present be produced in any very large quan-
tities. With regard to hemp, they could not import it to
any extent, but jute was very largely imported, especially
into Dundee. He had thus shown that there were buds
the lutenist and the soil for producing it in lathe, and
the aunt question was as to the beet means of encouraging
the production. The government had spent large sums in
endeavouring to stimulate the cultivation of flax, hut the
result had not been satisfactory. The government had
done all that it could fairly be called upon to do, and what
was now required was an extended communication with the
producing districts. That connexion could only be obtained
by *ending out agents whose attention should be speclally
directed to the cultivation of these products. The cir-
cumstances were special, and they must nee special EMUS
to 'stimulate the supply of that material of which
they were so much ii want. A company had been formed
with this object, and, though he had no great attachment to
public companies, he believed that much good might be
done by it. The means of internal communication were
rapidly improving, and he bad no doubt that in ten years
India would be able to furnish them with the various pro-
ducts which they might require, but it was for thorn to
consider whether it was advisable to wait ten years. In the
case of cotton, so strongly were the manufacturere of Lan-
cashire impressed with the necessity of taking special mea-
sures to overcome the difficulty, that they wore clout to
form a company to stimulate the growth of cotton in
various parts of India. The Jame principle held good with
respect to fist. If the manufectitren would assist in the
formation of those airomercial arrangements necessary to
convince the cultivator in India of the advantages of grow-
ing flax, be had nu doubt that as a speculation it would be
successful.

In reply to a series of questions by Mr. John Boyle,
Dr. WATMON said be had art himself been in the Pm.
daub ; that the rummer temperature varied from 110 to 121
in the sun, and from IV to 102 ia the shade, but that Aix
was grown in the cold bettSoll, when the temperature would
not, on the average, be more than 75 ; that the climate was
dry, the mine being uncertain, but that there were heavy
deem, and ample means of irrigation ; that the soil was
alluvial, averaging about nine feet ia depth ; that there
were no sprinp, the water aiming down from the moan-
talcs along the channels of line rivers, four of which were
uarigoble • that the water was soft ; and that beneath
the sod there were sand and gravel.
In reply to • question by Dr. Ludoif, Dr. WArsow midis*
thought it would be disadvantageous for companies to buy
farms for the cultivation of flax. They might buy 50 or 100
mem for experiments, sad that would be all that wan reels-
Nary. The great thing was to convince the native cultivates'
of the advantage which would accrue from flax cultivation.
Mr. TILABDALL asked whether it would pay the native
mower, an well as to grew for Mx, as to ;prow for seal?
Dr. WATION replied that in some districts it would, and
in some districts it would not.

Mr. Jowrrr then moved a vote of thanks to Dr. W=
which was seconded by Mr. JONA WILISON, and .
unanimously.
Dr. WATIION replied, and the proceedings terminated,
but the specimen/ were left in the charge of the secretary of
the chamber for examination.

A merles of festive demonstrations, to extend
over the whole of We and Into neat week, in celebration
of the majority of the Marquis of Bowmont, eldest, eon of
the Duke of Roabarghe, are at present taking place in the
cleanly awl thriving town of Kelso. The arrangements, so
far an the townspeople are cow-crud, have been entrusted
to various local committees, ombnming the magiatrates, the
clergy, sod the principal inhabitants, and have been marled
forwanl in the most cordial sad enthusiastic spirit by all
ermeernenl. On Tuesday week, a Digitate ,70 forth igh, in-
tended to hear n finely-wreught union jack, 24 feet by 12,
I was erected in Sheddempark by Mrs. Robertson, of Edema-
hewn, and ou Wednesday the Meg was hoisted fur the first
time. Wednesday being the aeolveraary of the birth of '
the noble marquis wan, of course, Um principal day of the
file, when schlreases were presented to Lis lordship, and to
the Duke and Duchene of Roxbarghe, within tho beautiful
grounds around Pietas Castle. The event was also role-
brated by • public dinner in the Town-ha, while the
tenantry on the Roxburgh/ estates, along with the
friends and acquaintances of the family, were trivial?!
sumptuous banquet in en immense pavilion, erected on the
lawn near the castle. Substantial entertainments W 41141
also given by his giro's orders to the children at the
itozbumbe School, and to the in-dour end outdoor poor of
the town,

PRIVILEGES TO FRENCH VESSELS UNDER
THE NEW TREATY.

At a meeting of the Newcastle Town Council on
Wednesday, the Town Clerk read the following letter, re-
ceived from the French consul in that town, relative to cer-
tain privileges and immunities to French vessels under the
new commercial treaty with Prance :
" Newcastle, Bird August, 1800.
"Sir,—By • letter, dated the 17th inst., my friend, Mr.
J. Iladdwio, collector of her Majesty's custonw at this port,
instructed me that, on the subject of a claim at present
made on the part of my government, on behalf of French
vessels to certain local immunities and privileges iu several
ports of the United Kingdom, my upplicution must be
addressed to the River Tyne Corneal/Amin, and the Cor-
poration of Newcastle. I beg leave, therefore, to submit
to your consideration the following stitement, and to
solicit of you the kindne+s of placing it before the mem-
bers of the shove-mentioned honourable bodies The
treaty between France and England, signed or, the Bird
of January last, provides by article 10, that `in all that
relates to local treatment, the dues and charges in the porta,
basins, docks, roadsteads, harbours, and rivers of the two
countries, the privileges, favour'', or advantages, which are
or shall be granted to national vessels without exception,
or to the goods imported or exported in them, shall be
equally granted to the vessels of the other country, and to
the goods imported or exported in them.' 2. In a despatch
which I have received from his Excellency the Minister for
Foreign Affairs at Faris, it is expressly stated that the
terms of this article secure for French vessels trading be-
tween the two countries, not only the same immunities, '
privileges, end advantages as are enjoyed in the ports of
the United Kingdom by its own vessels, but likewise all
those various, special, anal private local exemptions, which,
in many of them, are made in favour of vessels
belonging to them, or to their respective corporations.
/n the pelt of Nevares, there mei, I bow -berm ht.:
formed, exacted several town dues upon goods imported or
as well u quay dues, charges on ballast, &c., from
lvtli6ersesels belonging to freemen and goods carried by
them are exempted, but which, notwithstanding the treaty
between the two countries, still continue to be levied upon
Preach vessels and their cargoes. It has consequently
bums* my duty, in accordance with the instructions of his
excellency the minister, to claim of the Honourable the
Corporation of Newcastle and the River Tyne Com-
missioners, in the name and on behalf of my go-
vernment, the concession to the French vessels and their
cargoes of a fall and equal participation with the
freemen of Newcastle, and the mod privileged vessels
in all such local privileges, immunities, and exemptions.
May I bope to be honoured, at your earliest convenience,
with the gratifying information that you have had the kind-
ness of duly submitting this representation to the aforesaid
honourable authorities, and with the decision to which they
may come, which will, I treat, prove satisfactory to my
government! May I further beg of you to favour me with
the particulars, in detail, of the privilege', granted in this
port to freemen, and, at the same time, of the duties or
charges which British vessels not entitled to these privi-
leges are liable to pay '—l have the honour to be, air, your
obedient servant, Is Consul de France, "1* PIANELLL
"To J. Clayton, Req., Town Clerk, &c , Newcastle."
The Town Clerk was authorised to reply to the docu-
ment