The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-16 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—l am requested to forward you the enclosed
copy of a letter just received from Mr. G. R. Hay-
wood, secretary of the association, detailing the re-
sult of his interview with the Viceroy of Egypt,
and other information relative to cotton culture in

that country. The committee trust you will deem
the communication of sufficient interest for insertion
in the columns of 71te Sun. At present the letter
has not been published in any shape.—l am, sir,
respectfully yours,
S. 0. SUTTON, Assistant-Secretary.
Cotton Supply Association, 1, Newall's-buildings,
Manchester, Aug. 14.

" Alexandria, Aug. 1.
"My dear Sir,—On the 26th ult. I landed here. On the
afternoon of the same day, accompanied by Dr. Forbes, I
waited.upon Mr. Colquhoun, her Britannic Majesty's Diplo-
matic Agent and Consul-General, residing about two miles
from Alexandria, to whom I presented the letter of intro-
duction furnished to me by Lord J. Russell, and requested
that, in accordance with the terms of that letter, he would
oblige me by ascertaining as soon as possible on what day
and hour it would be agreeable to the Viceroy to grant me
an interview. Mr. Colquhoun at once wrote to the private
secretary of his Highness, and after the lapse of three or
four days it was arranged that I should wait to .day upon
Said Pasha at his Palace at Mariout, 12 miles from Alexan-
dria. The Consul-General accordingly called upon me this
morning, and, accompanied by Dr. Forbes, we drove out to
the Gabarri railway station, whence a private line be-
longing to the Viceroy has been eonstructed for his sole
use. On reaching the station we observed a flag hoisted at
a Palace which is close to the station, and which takes the
name of the Palace of Gabarri. A messenger was waiting
here to inform us that the Viceroy had just arrived from
Mariout, and would receive us at this place. Nubah Bey,
private secretary of his Highness, having introduced us,
Mr. Colquhoun stated the object of the interview, and I
presented to the Viceroy the memorial from the Associa-
tion, his Highness having been previously informed of the
contents of the document, in order that he might be pre-
pared to express his views upon the subject. He has but
an imperfect knowledge of English, and the conversation
was therefore carried on in French, through Nubah Bey as
interpreter, the Viceroy speaking that language most
fluently. He stated that he was fully alive to the great
importance of this question of cotton cultivation in Egypt,
in which so many of his subjects were deeply interested, and
expressed himself gratified that the Association at Mon-
chester had placed itself in communication with him. He
was afraid, however, that he would not have it in his
power to do much directly to induce an extensive cultiva-
tion, for the following reasons. The Government of Egypt
under Mohammed Ali formerly monopolised the cultivation
of cotton as a source of revenue, aad the lands were culti-
vated by means of forced labour. The system is now aban-
doned, and the fellah is allowed to cultivate his land as he
pleases. The Viceroy cannot, therefore, do anything to
urge the increased cultivation beyond setting an example
on his own estates, which he expressed himself willing to
do as a landed proprietor. He said that when the fellah or
cultivator found cotton to pay him better than any other
crop he was now ready enough, from self-interest, to grow
as much as possible. But there was one very great drawback
in this country which he thought an association in England
might do something to correct. At present the fellah was
in the habit of receiving advances upen security of his
coming crops, corn or cotton, &c. ; but he was not only not
allowed a fair price for the cotton which he grew, but was
charged an exorbitant rate of interest for these advances—as
high as 30 per cent. (I am informed that the rate is often
as high as GO or 70 per cent.) He would recommend that
the rich capitalists of England should make such advances,
charging a reasonable interest and giving the cultivator a fair
price for his cotton. This, he said, might be done to pay
the capitalist well, and the people, finding a sure return for
their labour, would extend the growth. But,' I said to
his Highness, ' how are the capitalists in England (sup-
posing them to be disposed to adopt this suggestion) to be
secured against the failure of the people in fulfilling their
contracts, or what authority exists in Egypt for this pur-
pose P' His Highness replied, I would recommend that
these contracts be made under the cognisance of the Go-
vernors of the districts, who have power to enforce their
fulfilment ;' and he stated that if some association for this
purpose were formed on this plan, it should have his full
encouragement and support so far as the authority of the
Viceroyalty was concerned. In calling his attention to the
question of an improved system of agriculture, he said he
could not speak practically just then to this question, but
would throw out this suggestion—that the Association
should send out from England a practical agriculturist,
and one well acquainted with cotton cultivation, This
man should study the system pursued in this country, and,
if possible, establish a model farm. If successful, his sys-
tem, he had no doubt, would be imitated by the fellahs,
but it must be a work of time. The Viceroy dwelt ex-
pressly upon the desirability of English capitalists, particu-
larly those interested in cotton, employing capital in the
way he suggests, inasmuch as they were as much interested
in obtaining cotton for their mills as the fellah in obtaining
a market for his cotton. The question of seed to be sown
whether American or otherwise, was one upon which he
could not offer an opinion, as the only instance in which
American seed has been cultivated it Egypt, as far as I
can ascertain, was in the instance of an experiment on the
estate of the late El Hami Pasha. This seed was sent out
by the Association some 18 months ago, and I have the
pleasure now to forward you by this steamer a sample of
the produce, which has been valued in Liverpool at Bd.
per lb. I purpose writing further on this subject hereafter.
"His Highness did not allude to the question of labour.
It is supposed by many persons that the population is being
seriously drained to supply labour for the construction of
the proposed Suez Canal; but, from information which I
have been careful to derive from high and reliable sources,
there are not more than 5,000 or 6,000 men employed upon
these works, which are only yet in a very incipient stage of
progress. This can be no very serious draught upon the
total population of Egypt. On the other hand, the Vico-
roy, who is at the present moment engaged in an extensive
series of financial retrenchments, has within the last few
days disbanded a large number of his troops, sufficient to
make up for the few thousands employed upon the Suez
Canal ; and, judging from the earnest intelligence he dis-
played in his remarks upon the question of cotton agricul-
ture, it is to be hoped that he is becoming alive to the great
fact that, as England is the best customer of Egypt for her
cotton and other produce, her prosperity is more dependent
upon Great Britain than any other Power. The interview
was on the whole satisfactory, showing as it did the lively
interest taken by his Highness in the interests of his sub-
jects, as well as the sound views ho entertains as to the right
of a people to act for themselves in pursuit of their own
commercial interests, and to do so with freedom. _

" After he had disposed of the subject of the memorial,
the Viceroy gave instructions to Mustapha Effendi to render
every assistance to myself and Dr. Forbes on our intended
visit to several of the cotton districts of the Delta, to accom-
pany us on the journey, and introduce us to the Governors
of the districts and the sheikhs of the villages, and also to
place the means of conveyance at our disposal when re-
quired, with a view to our acquiring a hatever information
may be obtainable as to the system of agriculture and pre-
paration now pursued by the cotton-gro avers of this country.
Having thanked his Highness for the attention with which
he had listened to our representations on behalf of the Asso-
ciation we withdrew, the interview having lasted about an
hour. I may state that his Highness received us with
great cordiality, and with the usual courtesies of chiboque
and coffee. His manner was agreeable, and he appeared to
be not only familiar with the topics he discussed, but dis-
played great earnestness in their discussion. I hear that a
few days ago he issued an order for the abolition of the bas-
tinado.

"After our journey into the interior I shall again write
to you. If possible, I shall do so before we embark for India
by the next steamer.
"In conversation with some of the merchants of this
place, it has occurred to me that it would be useful for the
association to make up about 20 packages of 201 b. each of
American seed and send them to Messrs. Peel and Co., our
honorary agents, who should be requested to address them
to the several Pashas of Egypt, or other large cultivators.
A letter, with our treatise on cotton cultivation, should be
sent with each parcel, requesting the favour of an experi-
ment being tried on their several estatest not omitting to
state the fact I have mentioned as to the experiment on El
Hami Pasha's estate of last year. One of the improved
hand-gins might also with very good effect be placed in the
hands of each of these persons, and Messrs. Peel and Co.,
to whom I have named this matter, would undertake to for-
ward them. It would also be well to call their attention to
the new power-gins male by Mr. Platt, as most of the
princes here are cotton growers, and have a considerable
number of cotton-gins employed on their estates.
" The crop for next year will begin to be picked at the
end of September. All last year's crop is well out of hand.
I did not therefore see any when I paid a visit to the cotton
market, which is about a mile from the centre of the town,
on the banks of the Mahmoodieh Canal.
"So far as I have been able to see or learn anything of
the productive powers of this country, it appears to me there
is scarcely any limit to its resources, Mr, Ross, of the firm
of Messrs. Briggs and Co., of this city, informs me that in
1856-7 the export of Egyptian cotton during the season
amounted to 91,572 bales, according to his estimate ; in
1857-8, to 114,331; in 1858-9, to 119,388; in 1859-60, to
119,013 ; and in 1860-61, to 142,759 bales, showing in four
years an increase of 51,187 bales. The population, or rather
the extent of available labour, does not appear to be go 11.