The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDN'ESD .',VENIN% APRIL 16, 1862.

of half a century Government have desired,
and have endeavoured, to promote the im-
provement of Indian cotton. During this period
the hope that India might ultimately replace the
United States, as the source of cotton supply, has
vaguely existed in Great Britain, rising into eager-
ness in moments of distress, and sinking into in-
difference on the return of abundance. For upwards
of half a century Indian cotton has occupied the
unsatisfactory position of a mere pie-aller for the
American growth, reluctantly purchased when the
latter has been dear, and instantly abandoned when
it has become cheap. From the similarity of actual
circumstances, and the very slight change which
has taken place in the character of the staple, there
is no reason to suppose that the present appetite
for Indian cotton will survive the American block-
ade, or that the present demand is less fickle than
that which preceded it. The position of Amercan
cotton is not shaken in the English market by the
present scarcity, and the Indian staple is not estab-
lished on any more solid basis, because necessity
has driven manufacturers to use it. The excep-
tional nature of the demand gives an exceptional
importance to the Indian growth, but when the
usual course is resumed, Surats will return to their
usual level." Notwithstanding all which—we
must still protest that we remain altogether uncon-
vinced. Let the Cotton Culture be systematised in
Bombay and other parts of our Indian Empire—let
the ryots be duly instructed—let the nefarious
doings of some, at least among their overseers, be
put an end to—let the means of transit between the
inland Cotton Fields and the remote sea-shore be
improved—let the native cartloads of this produce
be reasonably sheltered from dew, and dust, and
mud, and water, no less securely than from the
muzzles of the draught bullocks harnessed to draw
them—let the Cotton cultivators throughout India
then, under those altered circumstances, be allowed
for some little time " a clear stage and no favour "
—and AFTERWARDS we will talk about the com-
petition with the Americans t The responsibility
of affording them this opportunity devolves still
upon the Government. Whenever it may be
afforded to them, we doubt not that, to a consider-
able extent at any rate, our Indian Cotton growers
will be enabled to hold their own, even in opposi-
tion to the skilled Cotton growers of the Southern
States of America.

All our ladies remember the introduction of the
Alpacha manufacture into this country; and the
magnificent manufactory of Mr. TITUS SALT, late
M.P. for Bradford, at Saltaire, three miles from
that town, is the splendid trophy to its success as a
commercial speculation ; the princely fortune of
Mr. SALT, having been, we believe, chiefly the re-
sult of his taking the lead in the new fabric. The
last accounts from Australia give us an interesting
account of the success of the introduction of the
Alpacha and the Llama, two varieties of the same
species, into that country,:where there is now the
evidence of fact that will both breed and thrive.
Both New South Wales and Victoria have
small flocks, and both are doing well, and
are likely soon to make their peculiar wool one
of the great staples of these colonies.

Already the colonists are calculating the quantity
of wool to be expected from them in a few years. They
increase fast. Notwithstanding several deaths in
the process of acclimatisation, one flock had in little
more than a year increased from 276 to 360. Ac-
cording to Mr. LEDGER, who has been the active
man in introducing them to the country, a flock of 200
females and 50 males should, in 50 years, amount:to
9,760,000, and should yield 68,320,000 lbs. of wool.
At two shillings per pound this new article of agri-
cultural, or pastoral export, should therefore be
worth nearly seven millions sterling. The writer
seems to think that in the old country we shall
scarcely credit such a calculation; but he reminds
us that, in 1810 Australia sent home its first
clip of merino wool-167 lbs. In 1860 it sent home,
by the Ist of October, 55,270,776 lbs. All things,
too, seem favourable-500 more alpacas are already
purchased for importation—every exploration re-
veals frQsh places for pasturage, where it had
before been supposed there was nothing but stones
or sand ; and there is no limit to the use of the pas-
turage but the means of water conveyance for the
produce.

Altogether the accounts this time from the great
island continent are cheering. The land
question appears to be approaching a settlement by
a compromise, thought fair,in the country itself with
the great squatter interest. What may seem singu-
lar, we are told, at the same time, of a prodigious
increase in the cultivation of the vine, and of
sobriety. Adelaide seems to be the favoured
and of Bacchus, in Australia, in regard to
quality. But the cultivation in Victoria has in-
creased so rapidly that in 1859 the number of vines
planted was 1,896,939, next year it reached
2,833,114, and it is believed that last year the num-
ber reached four millions. Mr. GLADSTONE will
be pleased to observe that all this is followed by
the remark that, in a colony which had been re-
markable for drunkenness, " sobriety has become
normal." The wines are said to be "light and rich
flavoured," and if the cultivation advances at this
rate, they must also soon become cheap.

The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor arrived
at their residence at Princes-gate a few days since from
Calverley Park, Cheshire.
Lord and Lady Henniker have left town for
Thornham Hall, Suffolk, for the holidays.

Lady Clinton and Sarah Countess Spencer
arrived at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, on Monday, on
th eir way to the Continent.

Lady Aftleek has left Maurigy's Hotel for Dur-
ham Hall, Newmarket.

Sir Frederick, Lady, and Miss Hervey Bathurst
have left Maurigy's Hotel for Clarendon Park, Salisbury.
Mr. Jones, of Pantglas, M.P., and Mrs. Jones
entertained at dinner last night, at their residence in
Eaton .square, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Countess of
Fife, Lord Edward St. Maur, Lord Campbell, Lady Pan-
inure and Mr. Power, Hon. Mrs. George Campbell, Mr.
and Hon. Mrs. Granville Vernon, Sir George and Lady
Otway, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair Aytoun, Mons. Fechter,
Madlle. Parepa, Mr. Benedict, &c.
Mr Robert Burton and Miss Burton have
arrived at Maurigy's Hotel from Longness Hall, Shrews-
bury.

THE 78TH HIGHLANDERS.—The monument, in
the form of a Celtic cross, which has been erected on the
Castle Esplanade, Edinburgh, to the memory of the officers
and men of the 78th Highlanders who fell in India during
the time of the mutiny, was inaugurated with military
ceremonial yesterday. The 26th Cameronians in the Castle,
the Scots Greys from Piershill, and the Royal Artillery
from Leith Fort, with their Armstrong battery, were
paraded on the Esplanade previous, and formed into three
sides of a square. The monument was unveiled by Gen.
Walker, commanding the forces in North Britain, who
afterwards addressed the troops. The spectacle was very
interesting.

GOVERNMENT COTTON.—Nearly every steam
transport from Port Royal brings a small lot of confiscated
cotton. The whole amount of seed, or unginned, cotton
sent to New York, from the Sea Islands of Georgia and
South Carolina up to this time is about 1,100,0001 b., and of
ginned cotton 600 bales. Upon the seed cotton 23 of the
Marcarthy gins and half a dozen of the Brower machines
are constantly engaged. These are the only varieties of
gins employed ; and between them all the cotton to arrive
will be divided in such proportions as the Government
agent may determine upon. Small consignments of confis-
cated cotton are expected from those portions of the Florida
coast which have been reoccupied by the Union troops.
Hitherto none has been received from that quarter. Among
the trophies of the Union victory at Fort Donelson were
about 30 cotton bales which had been used by the rebels for
strengthening their defences. This portion of the rebel
ramparts has been sent to this city for sale by the Govern-
ment.—New York Journal of commerce,

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, APRIL 16.

The Illoniteur of to-day says :
"The journals speak of a journey of the Emperor
to England and Prussia. We are authorised to
declare that up to the present his :Majesty has not
formed any plan for such a journey."

ARRIVAL OF THE ANGLO-SAXON.

LIVERPOOL, APRIL 16.

The overdue Canadian mail steamer Anglo-Saxon
from Portland on the 29th ult., passed Point Lynas
at six this morning, with only one engine in use.

THE BRAZIL MAILS.
LISBON, APRIL 15, EVENING.
The .lessageries Imperiales steamer Navarre,
with the above mails, arrived here this evening.
The Royal Mail Company's steamer Magdalena
arrived at Pernambuco on the 29th ult.
RIO, MARCH 25.
Exchange on London, 25k, 258 ; on Paris, 370
to 375.
Coffee—good first, 7,200 to 7,400 ; shipments'
since the departure of the last steamer, 42,900, in-
cluding 14,700 for the Channel ; stock, 16,000 bags.
Freight, 555.
At Bahia exchange on London was quoted 251
to 26. Sugar, 2,600 to 2,800. Cottons, 11,000 to
11,200 reis.
Exchange on London at Pernambuco, 25-3- to 2511.
Sugar, white, 2,700 to 2,800 reis ; brown ditto,
1,980 to 2,300 reis. Cottons, 11,000 to 11,200
reis,

BUENOS AYRES, MARCH 15.

Exchange on London, 655, 6d.; ounces, 405;
W. S. ox hides, 47 ; dry- hides, American, 44 ;
wool, 80 to 95; tallow, 16i.
MONTEVIDEO, MARCH 16.
Exchange, 41d.; W. S. ox hides, 67 ; dry hides,
American, 55 ; wool, 4i; to 6 ; tallow, 20.

TURIN, APRIL 15.

To-day, in the Senate, the Minister of Justice, in
reply to a question from Signor Chiesi, proposed
that all the landed property which had been con-
fiscated by the late Duke of Modena for political
motives should be restored to its former possessors.
This proposition was put to the vote, and ap-
proved of by the Senate.

the confiscated estates in Oudh, to the ancient settlement
of that province, the suppression of that most infamous
practice of infanticide, or the abolition of the ban which
was laid upon the princes and magnates of this land, in
the exercise of their right of adoption, according to their
own religious views—whether you look to the administra-
tion of justice, the two universal codes—civil and criminal
giving a security of life and property to the rich and poor
alike ; the encouragement given to the cause of educa-
tion, or the impetus given to the development of the re-
sources of this country by the influx of European capi-
tal and enterprise on sound and just principles; or
whether you look to measures adopted for equalising
the expenditure and income of this vast empire w ith
those for the redemption of the revenue and the sale of
waste lands, you only see and invariably find that the ad-
vancement of India's interest has been foremost in the
thoughts of his lordship. It is, gentlemen, by these and
similar measures that Lord Canning has secured for the
Government of her Majesty the Queen the tranquillity,
the contentment, goodwill, and attachment of all India.
It is to render homage to this personage, to mark substan-
tially our sense of his servises, to perpetuate the memory
of his wise and liberal acts, that we have met here this
day ; and it is to be hoped that you will show to the
world, by what we do and resolve at this meeting, that
India is not backward in justly appreciating and gratefully
acknowledging the eminent services of her rulers."
The Hon. Rajah DINKUR RAo supported the resolution
in the following terms, delivered in Hindostani:—" I offer
my thousand thanks to his Excellency the Viceroy and Go-
vernor-General Lord Canning for his goodness and kind-
ness towards me personally. But it is a more gratifying
thing to me that, by admitting me into his own council for
the most important and confidential business of State, his
lordship has testified how much confidence has her most
gracious Majesty the Queen in his Highness the Maharajah
of Gwailor."

A large national meeting, attended by all classes, pre-
sented another addre-3 to Lord Canning prior to his depar-
ture.

JHE NAVY.

The Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admi-
ralty, accompanied by his private secretary, Capt.
J. Moore, C. 8., and Rear-Admiral R. S. Robinson,
Controller of the Navy, paid an official visit to
Chatham dockyard yesterday. Their object was
to inspect the iron ships now under construction at
Chatham, in order to ascertain the progress made
with them. On arriving at the dockyard the Duke
of Somerset was met by Capt. Fanshawe, superin-
tendent, Mr. Lang, master shipuilder, Commander
Pope, master attendant, and the other principal
officials of the establishment, who accompanied him
to the dock in which the Achilles, 50, is building,
where he spent a considerable time in the inspec-
tion of the works. After leaving the Achilles he
proceeded to the extreme end of the building sheds
to inspect the armour-plated frigate Royal Oak, 50,
which is now waiting to receive her shield plates.
Instructions were given for every exertion to be
used in completing this vessel, which, provided no
delay arises in plating her, will be launched in
August next, about a month before the period for-
merly calculated upon. The works adjoining the
Royal Oak shed, in which the machinery re-
quired to be used in preparing the armour-plates is
to be erected, were then inspected, after which a
visit was paid to the Bulwark, 91, and the Belvi-
dere, 51, ordered to be converted into armour-
plated shield-ships. His Gx ace returned to the
Admiralty in the afternoon.
The Diadem, 32, screw, Capt. Scott, C. 8., and
aide-de-camp to the Queen, was paid out of com-
mission at Portsmouth yesterday.
The Black Prince iron frigate was undocked yes-
terday at Portsmouth, and berthed alongside the
Duke of Wellington, at harbour moorings. This
morning, weather permitting, the Black Prince will
leave the harbour and test her steering qualities
wsth her temporarily enlarged rudder outside the
Isle of Wight.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Samuel Winnicott, master, to
the Adventure ; H. Birch, first.-class assist.-engi-
neer, and J. Cameron, second-class assist.-engineer,
to the Fisgard, for the Shamrock; Thos. L. Vinall,
paymaster, to the Adventure; George A. Rowe,
assist: paymaster, to the Adventure ; William F.
Maxwell, master's assist. additional, to the Fisgard
for the Shamrock.

The following appointments have been made in
the Royal Naval Reserve :—To be Lieuts.—John
Henry Jones, Charles Lemon FraserDaniell,Stephen
Jarman, Samuel Harry Wright, and Charles Edwin
Pryce. Honorary Lieut.—George Wm. Jackson.
Sub-Lieut.—Fredk. Archer.

The hired screw transport Adelaide, Capt. A.
G. Froude, Lieut. E. H. Blake, R.N., Admiralty
agent, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday morning,
from St. John's, New Brunswick, and Halifax.
She sailed from St John's on the 30th ult., arrived
at Halifax on the 31st to coal and discharge Go-
vernment stores, and sailed again thence on the 2d
inst. She has brought to England from Halifax
Staff-Assistant-Surgeons Ferguson, Walsh, and
Watson, together with two sergeants and six
men of the Army Hospital Corps, one naval and
six military invalids, all of whom were landed from
the ship yesterday afternoon. One death occurred
on the voyage home. On the sth and 6th instant
heavy gales were experienced from the northward.
She spoke the following vessels on the voyage home
from Halifax :—On the 2d inst., off Halifax, the
ship John Bradshaw ; on the sth, in lat. 43 N.,
long. 50 W., the screw steamer Caledonia, of Glas-
gow; on the 9th, in lat. 47 N., long. W., the brig
Ann Johnston; on the 13th, in lat. 47 N., long. 10
W., the bark John Fielding. The Adelaide is or-
dered into Portsmouth harbour to clear out stores
and pay off out of the transport service. The troops
and invalids on board were landed from her yester-
day.