The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-22 00:00:00

MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The annual meeting of this association was held
yeelerday morning at Manchester.
Mr. FLEMING, the secretary, read the following latter
which bad been received from Lord John Rowell, relative
to the subject of cotton supply.

" Foreign-ofBce, January 19, 1861.
'• sir, —The uncertainty which must necomeray exile u
to the elf ect that the preempt political crisis in the United
stake may hare on the supply of cotton, and the serious
results which might mune if that supply were to fall short,
appear to Lord John Rwwell to suggest the expediency of
making timely inquiry as to tho possibility of obtabdng
from other quartets such an amount of cotton as may corn-
pemate for any deficiency in the amount usually obtained
from the United &idea

--"In compliame with the wishes of the Cotton Allllo6lfr
um of Maseheater, the attention of her Majesty's consuls
wee some time since called to the facilities which the coun-
tries wherein they resided offered for the cultivation of the
maks pieati and much valuable information on this point
has bees, tram time blame, communicated by the Foreign
Department le the Cotton Amociatlos ; and it has bees
made appetwat that, with proper encouragement, a rad
supply of seeks might be produced for the -British market
is may plasm sot hitherto resorted to for that
purpose
"It weld se toe, that, even without more.
than the
eedisery assemegamest to industry offered by the prospect
d. sem morket, so small amount of cotton might at own
be etlaimet; and it occurs to Lord John Rummell that it
would be of great convenience and advantage to the cotton
manufacturer, of this country, in anticipation of a deficient
supply from the United States, if they could obtain • fair
estimate of the amount of supply which might at once be
procured from other °Pantries, if it were thought worth
while toerod and fetch it.

Roach, Therefore, desires to place at the
disposal of the cotton manufacturers in this country the
services of any of her Majesty's consuls residing in countries
which, from the information now in the possession of the
Cotton Association, offer a prospect of immediate supply,
if it were necessary to have recourse to them.
" Lord John Russell would not indeed think it right that
her Majesty's ennuis should be allowed to incur soy
expenditure of public money on this account, or in any way
to the government to the collectors or produoen of
within their districts that the fruit of their labours
would surely find a British market. But the oonittla might
ascertain what amount of cotton might be expected to be
forthcoming in their respective districts to meet any sodden
doomed, or what amount might be brought into the local
market if the native dealers had a reasonable amnion of
finding customers for it at a given time.
" The attention of the moguls, Lord John Russell con-
ceives, might usefully be directed to these, as well as to
other similar points which might be suggested by your asso-
ciation in communication with the General Cotton Aasocis-
tion, and also with the Chamber of Commerce of Liverpod.
" The practical knowledge poisoned by the members of
the several associations w 1 enable them at once to judge
whether any beneficial resulte would be likely to attend
such an inquiry as that which Lord John Russell, if they
choose to accept his offer, is prepared to instruct her Ma-
jesty's consuls at once to set on foot. Lord John Russell is
aware that is making this offer he is deporting in some de-
gree from the usual practice, but it appears to his lordship
that the vast amount of the interests at stake, not only as
regards the manufacturers themselves, but as regerds also
a very large proportion of the labouring population of this
country, warrants him in informing the parties who, from
their position take %%ad in such matters, that he is prepared
and anxious to afford them all the aoee more perticu-
larly at the present time, which the department under his
superintendence is able to render. —I am, sir, your most
obedient humble servant, •' f/mooing.
" The President of the Manchester Chamber of Com-
merce."

Mr. J. CIECTHAN, president of the Cotten Ripply Asso-
ciation, moved That this annual meeting ad[ __the Mali.
cheater Chamber of Commerce desires to Impress upon
the new board of directors the importance of giving special
aSteation during the coming year to the financial and cow
martial affairs of India, and suggests the desirability of
conferring with other chambers of commerce and parties
istersitad in the trade, with a view to united action.' He
found amongst thoughtful men, practically acquainted wit/
the details of Indian government, and the present panties
of affairs, a very gloomy foreboding as to the ultimate result
of continuing our connexion with that country, unless my
important changes were made, both on the principles mad
practice which at present influenced events there.
Mr. Prime. ascended the motion, which was numbest:nay
"At:Proceedings terminated with the appointment of ntli•
iron for the ensuing year and a vote of dunks to the chair-
man, moved by Mr. Baxley, IL P.