The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-02 00:00:00

Cotton supply Association.

At the meeting of the Executive Committee, on Tues-
day, a letter was read from Dominica, West Indies, en-
closing specimens of the cotton grown on the island, and
stating that the writer's crops present a more promising
appearance this year than last. The weather has been
much more favourable, though a gale of wind a short time
since did some damage to the trees, blossoms, and pods.
It is expected that larger shipments will be made than
last year, and some bales will shortly be consigned to the
Association. A letter was received from Tobago, West
Indies, enclosing several samples of cotton, and stating
that the soil and climate are in the highest degree suited
to its cultivation. Large tracts of land might easily be
obtained, and sufficient labour is available if the requisite
capital could be procured for the establishment of this
branch of industry. It is suggested that an English
company should be formed, or that parties willing to sup-
ply the requisite funds should appoint an agent to make
the desired advances, and to receive and ship the produce.
A list has been furnished of persons ready thus to under-
take the growth of cotton with the extent of land which
they offer as security. The writer is most confident of
success, and would greatly regret that so promising an
opportunity should be lost. In addition to an estate of
100 acres, which can be had for £2OO, or rented for two
years at £l5 per annum, and at £2O afterwards, situated
close to the sea, there is also an estate of I,OOC acres,
which could be purchased or rented, in every respect
adapted to the cultivation of cotton. A despatch, for-
warded by the Colonial-office, was received from the
Governor of the Bahamas, containing a report from the
police magistrate of Long Island, in that colony, describing
the progress of cotton cultivation during the past year.
Between 900 and 1,000 acres have been planted, and the
island is represented as literally covered with cotton
fields of various dimensions. A large proportion of the
crop is shipped direct to New "York. A company has
been formed for growing cotton, called the American
and British West Indian Cotton Company; and appre-
hending that a sufficiency of labour would with difficulty
be procured, they have secured labourers from New York,
together with the necessary appurtenances for carrying out
their object. Several shipments of cotton have already
been made by the Company. The cotton crops through-
out the island suffered greatly for want of rain from June
to about the middle of September, but they have since re-
covered, and present a promising appearance. Papers for-
warded by the India-office were received, containing a
comparative statement of the extent of cotton cultivation
and the probable out-turn of the crop, for the present
and previous years, in the central provinces, Kat-
tywar, the north-western provinces, and some other
districts in India. In the central provinces the area
under cotton in 1865 is represented to be nearly 15 per
cent. less than in 1864. The estimated total out-turn is
about 235,987 cwt., of which probably two-fifths will re-
main in the country to meet the demands of the large local
weaving trade, and three-fifths, or 141,592 cwt., will be
exported ; high prices may cause a larger exportation.
The previously reported decrease in the north-western
provinces is also confirmed. The experiments made
with American and Peruvian seed in the Madura and
Bellary districts of the Madras Presidency are repre-
sented to have proved unsatisfactory.—A letter was
read from the East India Cotton Agency Company,
Bombay, accompanying two small sample bales of the
new crop of cotton produced in Candoish, from
fine seed, introduced by the collector of that
district from the neighbouring talooks around Akote, in
r,
the
revenue
dcvoennfiurme
department,in gthe statementsßombay, revs
to the
u
previously
d f fromra h
the experiments thus made. A greatly
im-
provedarWecceeesiet B
vses oequality has been grown, and the cotton is worth
at least double the price which the inferior mixed kinds
hitherto produced in Candeish would have obtained.
The collector, Mr. Ashburner, has been ably assisted by
Mr. P. W. Hewitt, and deserves the highest praise for his
judicious exertions. It is estimated that about 20,000
bales, Bombay weight, will be picked this year.—A letter,
received from the honorary agents of the Association,
Bembay, contains several applications for exotic seed, for
experiments in different parts of that presidency, with
which it was resolved to comply.—A translation of the
treaty concluded at Berlin, on the 16th of May last, between
the various states of the Zollverein, providing for its re-con-
struction and prolongation, was received from the Foreign
Office ; also a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's
Consul at Barcelona, containing a return of the quantity
of cotton received at that port during the year 1865, viz.,
94,000 bales.—A letter was read from the Vice-President
of the Imperial Cotton Commission of Anatolia, reporting
that the Ottoman Government has awarded gold medals
to several English subjects, including Mr. William Sand-
ford, of Bath, who has done so much to promote the cul-
tivation of cotton in Turkey. It is stated that the growth
of American cotton has become permanently established
in Western Anatolia, and that next year a large propor-
tion of this description will be cultivated in all the great
districts of Turkey. Notwithstanding the progress made,
and the good intentions of the Imperial Government,
great abuses still prevail, and great obstacles are en-
countered; while on the part of the district and local
authorities, cotton culture meets with neglect, and often
with serious obstruction, from private interests. Four
cases of Italian cotton, the Siamese and the herbaceous,
wore received from the International Exhibition, Dublin,

and may now be seen at the rooms of the association.
There was no further business.

How CASUALS ARE RECLAIMED.—Not a night
passes but amid the foul scum of blackguardism
and worthlessness which drifts into the casual ward there
is a percentage of undeserved misfortune and innocent help-
lessness. How much can be done towards distinguishing
and assisting the latter, is seen from the records of the
refuges ; how much more might be effected by an efficient
staff of officers, whose sole duty it should be to take charge
of houseless wanderers, can only be understood by those
who have mingled night after night with these poor people,
have heard and tested their stones, and been at the pains
of examining into their past, and, in some instances, watch-
ing their future career. The casual poor are a distinct
class, with subdivisions, nice points of distinction, pecca-
dilloes, and idiosyncracies, peculiarly their own. To deal
with them effectually, to restore some to the ranks of honest
labour, to cope with the abandoned profligacy and vicious
indolence of others, and to mete out justice and ensure food
and shelter to all, it is absolutely essential that the official
machinery should be carefully adopted to its purpose.
There are numberless subtle difficulties connected with the
treatment of houseless wanderers, which can only be mas-
tered by patient, unwearying effort and self-devotion.
Many instances have occurred, within my knowledge,
where a little painstaking and a fow kind and judicious
questions have resulted in the rescue of an abject wretch
from a life of misery and shame, and in restoring him to one
of decency and repute.—J. C. Parkinson in " The Fort-
nightly Review."