The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-09 00:00:00

COT TON FROM JAMAICA.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in obtaining
an increased supply of cotton was held yesterday
afternoon at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce,
to hear a statement of the views and prospects of
the Jamaica Cotton Company from Mr. Stephen
Bourne, formerly resident magistrate in that island.
Mr. BAZLEY, M.P., presided, and, in introducing
Mr. Bourne to the meeting, briefly referred to the
present perilous position of the cotton trade. The
trade at large was at this time working four days
a-week, but the losses were by no means indicated
by that mere diminution of time, because the
labourer was deprived of the means of subsistence,
and while many establishments were only working
three days a-week, and a large proportion were not
working at all, the loss to the employers was very
heavy indeed, from the cost of the raw material ex-
ceeding the price at which their manufactures could
be sold. The present losses to the cotton industry
were perhaps .£1,000,000 sterling per month ; at all
events not less than at the rate of £10,000,000 per
annum. The trade now seemed to be fully convinced
of the impolicy of dependence on one source for
supply of cotton, and one of the remedies suggested
was the renewal of its cultivation in Jamaica, which
formerly supplied a considerable proportion to Lan-
cashire. Protection to sugar and other circumstances
had driven the cultivation of cotton out of the cal-
culations, and from the attention of the owners of
land in Jamaica. After the negro emancipation in
the West Indies, no doubt there was momentarily a
revulsion in the labour market, produced very much
by the lack of generosity or discretion on the part of
the owners of estates. Previously the price of slave
labour, when hired, had been fairly established at
from 2s to 3s 6d per day. But after the emancipa-
tion many of the owners, not content with their
share of the Parliamentary grant, desired to obtain
the free labour of those who had been their slaves,
at a greatly reduced rate—sometimes 7d and 9d
a-day. Many of the labourers therefore preferred
to become " squatters ;" and while, no doubt, the
act of emancipation greatly contributed to the
prosperity of the negroes in the West India
islands, and also, as he believed, essentially contri-
buted to the prosperity of the estates generally in
those islands, so that a larger quantity of sugar
had been yielded than in the time of slavery,
Jamaica had been an exception. Mr. Bourne
had for three or four years past been calling at-
tention to the cotton capabilities of Jamaica, and
had shown him at different times cotton of most
excellent quality which had been grown there. He
(Mr. Bazley) was perfectly satisfied that the island
was capable of growing a very large quantity of
excellent cotton, and the question to be determined
was, how industry should be resumed there. He
believed that English capital and European exer-
tion must be called forth to give an impulse to the
industry of Jamaica. The Jamaica Cotton Company
had received some support, but not to the extent
deserved. He had that morning received from a
friend in London a sample of cotton from an
island in the West Indies (he could not now say
which island), which was worth ls. 6d. per lb. Mr.
Bourne could vouch for the general healthiness of
those islands to Europeans who lived temperately;
and probably the:alleged unwillingness of the negro
to labour would be overcome when he found there
was no disposition to stint his reward or depreciate
his social condition. Englishmen should not with-
hold their capital from British possessions under
British security. Probably £100,000,000 was in-
vested in securities in the United States, but he did
not think the capitalists of Lancashire had sent a
single million to support the cultivation of cotton
in British possessions. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BOURNE said,—The samples of cotton on the
table were picked from stray trees in St. Thomas,
in East Jamaica. The land on which the trees
grew is now uncultivated. There are at least a
million acres of land in Jamaica suitable for the cul-
tivation of *such cotton. The late census shown
that there must be at least 100,000 persons out of
employment in the cultivation of exportable pro-
duce in the island, and a clergyman who spoke at
the Newcastle meeting on the 7th of September,
from the island of Barbadoes, stated that at least
20,000 labourers could easily be obtained from that
island for the cultivation of cotton in Jamaica,
without at all inconveniencing the sugar growers
of Barbadoes. In the United States there are at
this moment large numbers of free blacks who
would gladly migrate to Jamaica, if fair and liberal
arrangements for their passage-money and employ-
ment were proposed to them. On the Jamaica
mountains, where cotton grows luxuriantly, as
well as coffee, tobacco and the surgarcane,Europeans
might live without danger of more sickness than they
would be exposed to in Europe. It is only in the low
and uncultivated swampy lands that fevers prevail.
The harbours, roads,and other adjuncts of civilization
which are wanting in India are to be found without
any cost or delay in Jamaica. The language and go-
vernment are the same as in England, and the
authorities there are amenable to the Government
and Parliament of England. In less than a month
cotton picked in jamaim may be transported to
Manchester. It being so, why do not the mill-
owners of Lancashire obtain supplies of cotton from
Jamaica ? Would it not be better to take effective
measures for so doing than to close their mills or
work short time ? 27 years ago I went to Jamaica
as a special magistrate. I remained in the West
Indies for 13 years. On my return I saw the mem-
bers of Parliament for Manchester—Mr. Bright and
Mr. M. Gibson, and asked them to call the attention
of their constituents to these facts. In 1856 I went
again to Jamaica and remained there till April,
1857. In August and September of the same year
I brought to Manchester cotton picked from trees
on the Jamaica mountains, 2,500 feet above the level
of the sea. I first showed it to Mr. J. B. Smith,
M.P., then to Mr. Bazley,`M.P., Mr. Turner,
Mr. T. Clegg, and many others, and left it for some
days at the Exchange. It was said to be equal to
Egyptian cotton, and worth at least 9d. per lb. By
circular, by letters in the Manchester papers, by
conversation with a great number of Manchester
gentlemen, I endeavoured to arouse attention to the
several important facts connected with this question
of cotton from Jamaica. I never was in Manchester
till I came for this purpose and exhibited this cot-
ton; but since I have been seven times, always in
the hope that I should arouse attention to this ques-
tion. Mr. Hardcastle, Mr. Emmott, Mr. Ogden, and
Messrs. M'Connell have seen the importance of it,
and have associated themselves with Mr. Bazley,
and Mr. Clegg, the Messrs. Gurneys, Governor
Hinekes, Admiral Sir C. Elliot, Major-Gen. Good-
wyn, Lord Portman, Lord Fortescue, Mr. J. Penn,
Mr. Fowler, Mr. Glyn, and many other persons of
equal respectability and good sense, in order to en-
courage the growth of cotton by means of free
labour in Jamaica. And why should not every
other person who has at heart the welfare of
Lancashire on the one hand and our free labour
colonies on the other—why should he not do
the same ? From time to time we have made
public the delarations of our agents and nittnY
gentlemen of undoubted veraciZ obserTatiC

From such persons I appeal to the thoughtful and
reflecting. I ask them to read these letters and to
examine this cotton, and then to say Yea or Nay to
the proposal that they shall assist in this under-
taking, and enable those who desire to promote it
to extend their operations so as to render them
really effective. For the purposes mainly in view—
viz., to prove by an experiment or two that cotton
may be grown of excellent quality and at a very
moderate price in Jamaica, and that from so grow-
ing it a very handsome remuneration for capital
may be obtained, sufficient capital has been sub-
scribed, but the quantity so produced can scarcely
have any effect on the market. It is for those who
need cotton to co-operate with us and to extend the
capital of the company so as to bring a large quan-
tity into the market if they sheuld see fit. The
same or nearly the same expense for office, rent, and
general superintendence will be required for `two
establishments as for five, and all may be made
successful by the application of so small a capital
as £20,000. From the general desire evinced by
the small settlers in Jamaica to obtain cotton seed
there can be no doubt that if an establisl,mer,t such
as we contemplate could be set on foot in five difre
rent parts of the island, at least 10 times as much
cotton as that the company propose to grow will be
the result ; and when once the cultivation is thus
proved to be profitable, and the quality of the cot-
ton found to be superior to either American or East
Indian, the owners of land in the West Indies gene-
rally will turn their attention to the subject, and
either themselves grow cotton, or extend still fur-
ther the capital and thereby the operations of the
Jamaica Cotton Company.
Resolutions were unanimously passed recognising
the capabilities of Jamaica for production of cotton
and the Jamaica Cotton Committee as deserving of
support.

INFLUENCE OF THE IRISH MEMBERS

IN TILE HOUSE OF COMXOIVS.

The annual festival of the Hull Loyal Orange-
men's Association took place on Tuesday evening,
the 6th of November, when there were present Mr.
Whalley, M.P. for Peterborough, Mr. Somes, M.P.
for Hull, &c.

Mr. WI:TALLEY, in the course of a very forcible
speech, said that the influence of the Roman Catho-
lic members of the House of Commons was so great
that Parliament had condescended not only to efface
from the Prayer-book the services appointed to be
used in commemoration of the sth of Nov., but, that
the feelings of Roman Catholics might not be hurt,
had even made it penal for persons to sell fireworks
to any one under a certain age. Alluding to the
Catholic Emancipation Act, he said that the pre-
dictions of Lord Ellenborough with regard to the
measure had been most strikingly verified. Lord
Ellenborough said that it would be impossible to
carry on any Government with any degree of cer-
tainty if Roman Catholics were admitted into Par-
liament, because if they were true to themselves,
honourable and consistent men, they would set
aside, when once admitted within the sacred pale
of the constitution, all other principles, and vote
with the Government, and, in the way which
would best promote the interests of the Pope ;
and so it was found now, each Government
in turn was supported by the Roman Catholic
members, without the slightest regard to any
public question. If the question were whether
Louis Napoleon should succeed Queen Victoria on
theithrone of England, for that they would vote if
by so doing they thought the interests of their
church would be promoted. Our own House of
Commons was the only platform in Protestant Eng-
land where such atrocities as had lately been heard
of at Palermo and other places could be vindicated.
Such, however, was done; and there was no put-
ting of the Irish members down, as there was of
Protestant members of the house. No, they ob-
tained a patient and respectful hearing; and so ba-
lanced were parties always in the house that in the
hands of this 30 or 40 Roman Catholic members
lay the destinies of Governments and the policy of
the empire. Nunneries, monkeries, and Romish in-
stitutions were found springing up throughout the
country, and they were carried on with more secrecy
and less supervision on the part of the Government
than was the case with all other institutions of the
, country, yet he believed that there might be greater
atrocities enacted within the walls of these Romish
institutions in this country than, he believed, any
other country in Europe, excepting only Rome
itself. In 1829, when the Catholic Emancipation
Act was passed, men's minds were convulsed with
alarms and terrors at what had been done. Men
had been admitted into Parliament who by their
oath, by their affection to their God, and their con-
sciences were bound to do all they could to over-
turn the constitution. In 1845 they saw the in-
fluence of these men brought to bear upon the Go-
vernment of the day so far that the grant to
Maynooth, which was up to that time under the
control of the House of Commons, was taken from
the control of that body by being put into an Act of
Parliament; so at the present day this grant stood
distinguishable from all other public grants. They
witnessed the effects of that measure. From 1845
to nearly 1851 Ireland was in a state of chronic re-
bellion, and then came that great agitation through-
lout the country, greater than anything of the kind
since 1829, when Cardinal Wiseman came
from Rome with a portfolio of episcopal ap-
pointments, and declared that the Pope had
not only a co-ordinate jurisdiction with Queen
Victoria, but that his laws were to be en-
forced in this country to the full extent of the
power of the Roman Catholic priests to enforce
them, and that they were to be supreme over all
temporal laws ; and what had happened since then ?
Why, that they had been supreme. One of the
most sensible and practical speeches delivered in
the last session was by one of the Irish members,o
who said, " What can you mean by keeping upon
Titles Bill,
which u
your statute-book the Ecclesiastical
Howprothiebeietstittoempan
Catholic
es n you,Bishops
n-
assuming
h
anddare
keepActupon youracknowledgethethus
impotence of Parliament in comparison with the
power of the Pope?" They openly defied the power
of Parliament in every possible way, and Romish
institutions had increased throughout the country
during the last 10spimyeoeipalarlers some threefold what they
the
ed donepro in
Protestant
ty
seriously. He understood
ceortnihoere was in one school
sdiaereldt wthaseshie ghthtiinmges
very one of whom would be
taught to be disloyal to Queen Victoria, and sub-
servient to the teachings of the Pope. He would
ask, how long was England to be degraded in the
eyes of Europe by abetting and pampering this
Romish power ? how long were the people to be
silent, and when were they to arouse themselves if
not now ? The Maynooth grant was merely a
fraction of the money taken from the pockets of the
people for Romish purposes. The object Sir Robert
Peel had in putting that grant into an Act of Par-
liament—viz., to prevent discussion—had entirely
failed, as the matter would be discussed annually.
until the Act was repealed. He in the next session
would ask Parliament to repeal that Act,
in
nhave
that the House of Commons might once
movee orderr
other
the control over the grant as they
bettod
agitate this
question in the house, and
grants. It was known that he
p
him,Why disturb the happy some people
g_
eaceful state
had said to
"
of Ireland by what is deeme .a needless agitation P
which depended upon
that_ peace, His reply was,
b tantial—that the men who
not be sound and su s
the quiet retention of this ileeh, grant
ha rteos Maynooth, no o ostphe, a
rs could
if
this grant were w
would turn
withdrawn were not worthy
their ploug s
to be trusted with the additional power it
conferred, and that nothing could be more
disgraceful than to sacrifice to present ease
and tranquillity those principles of right
and truth which were the very foundation of 6.0,,
and national independence.

NEW R OYALTY THEATRE,
Dean-street, Oxford-street.
Under the Direction of Mdlle. Albina di Rhona.
TUESDAY, NOV. 12, 1861,
POSITIVELY THE OPENING NIGHT.
The Box-office open daily, under the superintendence of
31 r. 8. Nugent, from 11 till 5 o'clock.

RU Y AL

ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN.

Under the management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. Wm.

Harrison, Sole Lessees.

THIS EVENING, THE MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE.
Miss Thirlwall and Mr. A. Corri.
Alter which, at Eight o'clock, RUT BLAS. Miss Louisa
Fyne, Mesdames Susan Pyne, Thirlwall, Jessie M`Lean ;
Messrs. Santley, A. St. Albyn, Patey, and W. Harrison.

Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON.
Commence sit Seven o'clock.

The Box-office open from Ten to Five daily. No charge for
booking, or fees to Box-keepers.
Stage-Manager, Mr. Leigh Murray. Acting-Manager, Mr.
Edward Murray.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Manager--Mr. Edmund Falconer.
THIS EVENING, will be performed (first time) the new
and original Drama, entitled PEEP O'DAY ; •or, Savourneen
Deelish. Messrs. Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles
Selby, Edmun i Falconer ; Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara
Weston.
To conclude with GONE TO TEXAS. Mr. Walter Lacy,
Mrs. St. Henry.
P*lces as usual. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at
7 Box-office open daily from 11 till 5.
Acting Manager—Mr. F. B. ChAtterton.

THEATRu.IWYAL, HAYMARKET,
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Backstone.
For the Benefit of Mr. Edwin Booth.
TATS EVENIN t 4, the performances will commence with
RIC HELIEU. Richelieu, Mr. Edwin Booth ; Julie, Kn.
Charles Young.
Followed by LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS.
And THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE,
Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Harris.
HIS EVENING. JEANETTE'S WEDDING. Miss M.
Barris and Mr. H. Widdicomb.
A iter which. a new and original comedy, in five acts, writ-
ten by John Brougham, entitled PLAYING WITH FIRE ;
characters by Mr. John Brougham, Mr. oder, Mr. IL Wid-
dicombe, Mr. G. Jordan, Miss R. Lelolercq, Miss Angle, and
M. Weston.
'i'o conclude with a new Transatlantic Extravaganza,
PO-CA-HON-TAS. Mr. John Brougham, Mr. A. Harris,
'c.

TNI Ew THEATRE-RO VAL, ADELPHI.
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.

This Theatre will be CLOSED THIS EVENING (Satur-
day) for a scenic rehearsal of Mr. Boucicault's new Drama.
On Monday, Nov. il, an entirely new and original Drama,
fn 5 acts (played in three acts), entitled THE OCTOROON ;
or, LIFE IN LOUISIANA ' • written by the author of "The
Colleen Bawn," and in which Mr. and Mrs. D. Boucicault will
appear. A New Musical Introduction has been kindly pre-
sented by Signor Benedict, and will be performed by the
Orchestra, which has been re-organised, and will be con-
ducted by Mr. Riyiere, by whom the incidental music has
been selected and composed. The following artists will make
their first appearance :—Mr. G. Jamison, from the Winter-
garden, New York ; Mr. Delmore Grace, from the Broadway
Theatre, New York ; Miss Latimer, from the provincial thea-
tres - and Miss Denvil, from the Lyceum. The other prin-
cipafcharacters in the drama will be performed by Messrs.
Emery, Stephenson Billington, Paul Bedford, Romer. Mrs.
Billirw,ton. Mrs. Marston, Sze., &c. Entirely new scenery by
Messrs. Dalby and Thompson. The drama to commence at a
quarter before 8. Other entertainments will commence and
conclude the performance.

Doors onen at half-past 6—Commence at 7.
Box-office open from 10 till 5, No charge for booking.

CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS
AND FINE ARTS GALLERY.

Great success of N. r. SAM COWELL'S New Song, " THE
HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT," which will be repeated
every evening,

Grand Selections from
STRADELLA, LA TItAVIATA, and DINORAH
By Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, Mr. Herbert, and Signor Tivoli,
with a powerful Chorus.

Solos on the Cornet-a-piston by the renowned performer
Mr. LEVY.

The Comic department comprises Mr. Sam Cowell, Mr.
Marshall, Messrs. Harvey and French (the Nerves), and
Miss Harriet Coveney
Musical Director, Mr. Jonghm ans.
Admission—Hall, Bd. ; Stalls and Balcony, ls.

T H E 0 X F ORD
6, OXFORD-STREET.

EVERY EVENING.
Anber's New Comic Opera, " LA CIRCASSIENNE," and
Verdi's new Grand opera, " Simonßoccanezra," by the entire
Company. Babe's new ballads by Miss Russell and Madame
E.derssohn (composed expressly for them). Mr. Levy's
Solos on the Cornet-a-piston, and varied Comic Entertain-
ments by Miss Harriet Coveney, Messrs. W. Randal:, Harvey
and French (The Nerves), E. Msrshall, and SAM COWELL.
Hall, 6d. ; Balcony and Stalls, is ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d.

HIGH *ATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.I
THIS DAY.—Morning, 6h. 35m.—Afternoon, 6h. 58m.
To-Moßßow. -Morning, 7h. 38m.—Afternoon, Bh. 4m.

THE WEATHER.—Surr OFFICE, NOVEMBER 9, 1861.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
43-7.ighest since noon yesterday.
32—lowest this morning and during the night.
42—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-29.56.
Wv(D—Northerly; light, with fine frosty weather. It
is a beautiful day for the Lord Mayor's Show, which looked
grander and more chaste than usual.

"?.
41, • c-c,t
(4-." 4 •‘, -
zk\V •
• c. 4,
'ft- , • " r
- • it hr:011
4 Is 4,

THE SUN.

LONDON, SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 1861.

A circular has been forwarded to us, issued to
their friends by the well-known house of NEILL
Brothers, dated New York, Oct. 27, on the probable
future supplies of cotton from America. One of
the brothers, it is stated, recently went to New
York to make special inquiry on the subject, and
the letter contains tho result of his investigations.
His conviction is, after conversing with all the
classes of persons most likely to represent correctly
American opinion, that the war is likely to be
fought out, and with bitterness, to the end. He
thus shews how he views the subject as a man of
business, desirous for trade purposes to come to a
sound conclusion. "In inquiring," he says, "into
the probable duration of the war, the main ques-
tions to be considered are, firstly, the
nature of the issued or issues between North
and South. Are they slight and superfi-
cial, or essential and profound ? It is not neces-
sary to go into any lengthened argument to establish
the position that they are the deepest and most
irreconcileable which can divide two peoples. One
section has gone to war for separate independence
and the maintenance of a system of slavery, with
the right to its extension, and at the same time to
establish free trade and unrestricted commerce
with all the world. The other party has gone to
war to preserve the unity and integrity of a great
country, willing enough (except a small portion) to
tolerate slavery, but determined not to let it con-
tinue supreme in the government as it has been of
late, and not to let it aid the wealth and pros-
perity of the South alone. And while they assume
this ground, and expect in it the sympathy of the
anti-slavery and commercial nations of Europe, they
adopt a narrow, prohibitive, commercial system,
altogether ignoring the world's commercial education
for the past twenty years. It is manifest that
upon the union with the South the power
of the north and its commercial prosperity mainly
depend. The cotton, rice, tobacco, and sugar crops
of the South are five-sixths of the whole exports of
the country, and constitute the chief payment to
gn imports of the
whole country,
and commerce, but also of
Europe for the foreign
and are consequently the sorce, not only of trade
revenues as the sole
revenue is derived from duties on imports. The cut-
ting of the North from this trade, while destroying
domestic prosperity, would force the Government
to direct taxation, at a time when the
People,
always
averse to it, would be more than ever so. There_
fore the North cannot give up the conflict till con-
vinced of its utter hopelessness. Every new loan is
a further pledge that the war must continue till
success or destruction result. The South is of course
impelled by similar motives, and if conquered, all
they have spent is lost; and moreover they would
be saddled with an enormous debt incurred for
their own subjugation."

His account of the views and objects of the North
is not the most flattering ; it is, however, identical
with that which we have reluctantly been obliged
ourselves to present. The sum is that the North tole-
rates slavery, and hunts negroes for the slave States;
that the Soath holds slaves, but does not hate them
more than. it does its horses and dogs. That the
I%hilli*lziP"ell a narrow, selfish obsolete commercisl I