The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-15 00:00:00

SUBSTITUTE FOR COTTON.

(From the Times' City Article.)
With regard to the supposed discovery of a cheap
and abundant substitute for cotton lately announced
on behalf of a client by Messrs. Phillips and Sons,
solicitors, the subjoined communication has been
received direct from the discoverer, or, as he desig-
nates himself, " the inventor"—a term which im-
plies that the material, whatever it may be, is not
available in a crude state, but requires to be put
through some peculiar process. Thus far all who
have entered into communication with him on the
subject seem to have been impressed with the con-
viction that, whether the discovery be really of im-
mense value or entirely worthless, the good faith
of the inventor and his total freedom from even a
single sordid consideration are beyond question, and
this feeling will be confirmed by the fact that he
now offers to make it known to a properly consti-
tuted committee, without reserve or stipulation of
any kind:—

" COTTON FAMINE.
" Thus far the problem of a suitable, sufficient, and pro-
fitable employment for the quarter of a million people want-
ing it in Lancashire and the surrounding districts has not
been solved, or been near solution. It is a case of precious
material—for what is more precious than human labour?
—lying in a vast heap, useless, spoiling, and threatening to
produce a pest instead of a crop. Who will tell us what to
do with all these willing hinds ? In the face of such an
exigency, who will say there is no opening left in this age
or this country for great and heroic achievement ? We are
not without hope that the case is within the reach of in-
genuity, stimulated by strong patriotism; but that hope is
all we can ourselves contribute."—The Times Leader, Sep-
tember 12.
S"

Jir,—A correspondence has recently taken place in your
Money Article, originated by Messrs. Phillips and Son, of
Abchurch•lane, in reference to my discovery of a substitute
for cotton. Every step already taken has been substan-
tiated; the length, colour, and fineness of the new material
have been certified by Mr. Wrigley, of Southport, and yes-
terday the material was submitted to three of the best
judges in Manchester, who tested and approved the other
quality requisite—viz., strength. I send you, for your pri-
vate information, the names of these gentlemen.
" A committee is now being formed in Manchester for
the purpose of complying with my letter in the Money
Article of Monday last, but the words of the Times leader
recall to my mind my own first impressions of the course
which I was bound to adopt, from which I was deterred by
the advice of friends on whose judgment I am disposed to
rely, and I reluctantly consented to require some guaran-
tee before disclosing the nature of my secret.
"My motives in requiring this guarantee have been
somewhat misunderstood. In order to remove this, and
still further, because I feel in my conscience that the course
I am adopting is that which those who have the truest and
best interests of the nation at heart should pursue, I now
publicly relieve my committee from any guarantee what-
ever, asking them to act merely as a committee of investi-
gation, and 1 throw myself entirely upon the sympathy
and support of the nation to award to me whatever in their
opinion my discovery may be worth,
"I firmly believe that I shall be able to establish.—
" 1. That my substitute will answer all the purposes of
cotton.
" 2. That a present and sufficient supply can be procured,
and the operatives at once set to work,

" 3. That the future supply of the material may be ob-
tained by cultivation in the United Kingdom, without dis-
placing from other purposes one acre of land, and thus be
the means of developing a new staple industry of the
Country,

" If I fail, I shall at all events have the consciousness
that in England's hour of need, and in the full belief that
my discovery would relieve that need, I have discharged my
duty, and I most sincerely trust that Be who, in His in-
finite wisdom, has permitted the present evil to fall upon
the nation, may, in His boundless mercy, show now to the
people that in their deepest distress He is at hand to suc-
cour them, and to do so frcm sources whence they least
expected help. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
THE INVENTOR.

" 11, Abehureh-lane, Sept. 13."
Again a large number of persons particularly in-
terested in the cotton question visited the counting-
house of Messrs Robinson and Fleming to-day to
see the patent-prepared jute. Among these were
many cotton-spitners, several of whom mentioned
that jute prepared in the old form has been for some
time mixed with cotton to make the commoner
form of cloths. All admitted that the jute now
shown is far better adapied for use,
and that by
being made with the fibre or staple shorter it can
readily be mixed and spun in the cotton machinery.
As regards mixing with wool, there seems to be DO
material.
difference of opinion whatever
of the on the adoptability
One broker said it might be sold
as a coarse form of wool, ao much does it resemble
it in appearance.