The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-04 00:00:00

writing from Dominica on the subject, says there
is nothing to prevent every sugar estate devoting
some portion of land to cotton. It is no great
wonder that the plant should thrive, several
varieties of it are indigenous to the soil, and those
kinds naturally suit the climate better than the
imported one. The long-continued drought of this
season which has been felt even in the West
Indies, has proved somewhat injurious to this year's
crop, but it is nevertheless expected to be a very
satisfactory one. It is seldom that dry weather
lasts for many months without at least some occa-
sional showers, but fortunately the refreshing in•
fluence of the rainy season has restored the plants.
It is to be hoped that our West India planters will
take up this scheme energetically, since if the cot-
ton grown in the islands is of good quality it need
not fear competition with the older plantations ; and
the fact of having another resource besides sugar
will be most beneficial to their prospects. It they
can succeed in getting enough labour to cultivate
their lands we may yet find good to result out of
the great evil of the scarcity. In the other Indies
affairs are not so satisfactory—for assuredly, from
one cause and another, the most is not being made
of the opportunity. The Government Inspector of
Cotton for Scinde has furnished the Association
with some interesting particulars in a letter dated
from Kurrachee. He has been endeavouring to
substitute a better kind of cotton in the province
for the dirty and inferior kind which is indi-
genous to that part, and is at present the only
variety grewn there. The climate is very different
in Upper and in Lower Scinde. In the former it
is very dry and well adapted for Peruvian seed.
In the latter it is moist, and it is thought that
Brazilian and Egyptian seed would thrive best.
As a proof of the capabilities of some parts of the
Indian soil, and the little heed that has been taken
of this important cultivation, we learn that the
committee have received a sample of Bourbon
c rtton grown indigenously 200 miles south of
Bombay on the sea coast. The plants are of several
years' growth, and have-reached a height of five or
six feet, yet during the three years that the gentle-
man who forwards the sample has resided there
nothing whatever has been done in the way of, cul-
tivation. Had the plant been actively cultivated
for the last three years what profitable results
might be now derived from it ! But it seems that
the experiment is to be pushed on with more vigour
in remote and poor places, where it is really an ex-
periment, than in India with so much wealth to
back it, and the absolute certainty of ultimate
success. In South America there are very
flourishing prospects so far as the plant itself
is concerned, but the lack cf population, and
consequent want of labour, are very serious
hindrances. In the district of Jaffe, how
ever, it is very promising, In 1863 about 5,000
acres were planted, and in 1864 about 30,000. In
the former year the produce was over 12cwt.,• and
this year it is thought it will amount to between
70,000 and 80,000 c wt. It is calculated that a price
of sevenpence per lb. would under ordinary circum-
stances prove remunerative, aril should the preju-
dice of the growers against the introduction of
exotic seed be overcome it is believed that Jaffa
will take a first rank as a cotton exporter, both for
quality and quantity. From Scutari, Trebizond,
and Smyrna we hear good accounts, and there is
ground for a cheerful anticipatiem that our cotton
supply, far from diminishing, will rapidly increase,
until, after some inevitable fluctuations, the market
settles down into its old steadiness.

It is sad to reflect upon the many disgraceful I
spectacles which are nowadays presented to the
view in the transactions of foreign nations. Se
far as the Russian credit is concerned, it has been
a fortunate thing that the conduct of Ptu3sia and
Austria has of late attracted universal attention,
and in some respects so engrossed the minds of all
that there has been little leisure to bestow upon the
iniquities of other people and places. Perhaps,
however, far from looking upon this respite from
observation as a benefit or blessing, the CZAR and
his myrmidons have been vexed and disappointed.
At all events they have hit upon a plan for recall-
ing our notice which is almost original in its assur-
ance and its inconsistency. The anniversary which
was celebrated on the 9th of September may rank
as almost unparalleled in the annals of nations, and
must surprise those who are well accustomed to the
tactics of Russian oppression, and the amazing
arrangements which a refined barbarity delights to
carry out. Because the attempt to associate Gene-
ral DE BERG had failed, there could be no earthly
reason why such
pomp and parade should cele-
brate the circumstance and zeal afterwards ; but to
persist in making the city of Warsaw the theatre
of such a ceremonial was barbarous in the extreme.
It was adding insult to injury, in a man.
ner that can never be accounted for in any
way, except but as an intentional and deliberate
re3olve to crush the spirit, and trample on the
feelings of the chivalrous and patriotic people who
have so long stool up to defend their rights and
rescue their beloved land from the tyrant who
denied it the rights and privileges of a State. The
whole affair of this anniversary ceremonial was
absurd in the extreme. In the first place the
Russians might have had the decency to confine
their rejoicings, whether real or simulated, to

themselves; but no, the Poles must needs join in
the efflir, and hence a le Deum was sung in all
churches of every creed. Surely this was going a
little too far, even for Russian supremacy. The
despotic ruler cannot, under any protest, carry his
command beyond the confines of his earthly pos.
sessions, and he need not have added to the sins
which axe already so heavy against him that of
blasphemy, taking Heaven to witness a false and
untrue expression of feeling which was wrung from

:he afflicted at the point of the sword. Really it
would almost seem as if the Russians endeavoured
to surpass themselves in their attempts to violate
the opinions of civilised nations, and strove with
all their might and main to distinguish themselves
by ne w devices of a strange and startling chat
ratter. They are, perhaps, afraid that the Poles
will believe their masters are at laet returning to
reason and animated by feelings of compassion, if
they relax in their persecutions and cease their

torments. Be this as it may, the results are scan-
dalous, and it is difficult to say whether they most
provoke one's indignation, scorn, or regret. After
the wicked mockery at the churches, the authorities,
both civil and military, and various other persons of
note, assembled at the Palace to offer their felicita.
tions to the hero of the day. The Russian army
must be badly cif for great results when such a
small one was thus made the theme of comment and
the oecaslon for rejoicing. It is not usual for the
most distinguished Generals to commemorate their

escapes, and chronicle their safety in such a wicbed
manner, but General BERG, it seems, is to be the
exception to the rule, and to prove that
his life is a special blessicg vouchsafed
to the people under his charge. If
his course bad only not been so particular in its
cruelty, more allowance might be made for this
prepared demonstration and this made.np affair;
but when we reflect upon what this year has
brought forth, it is too much to consider that any
rejoicings have been offered up that a human being
has been spared to commit more sins, and to outrage