The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-18 00:00:00

THE SUPPLY OF COTTON.

A special general meeting of the Manchester
Chamber of Commerce was held at the offices, Town-
hall-building, at eleven o'clock yesterday morning, to
take into consideration whether any course be open
whereby an enlarged commercial intercourse with
India can be promoted, and especially an increased
supply of cotton be obtained.
Mr. B izley, president of the Chamber, occupied
the chair, and among the gentlemen present were—
the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, M.P., Mr. John
Bright, Mr. William Brown, Mr. James Pilkington,
Mr. James Kershaw, M.P., Mr. Lewis Williams,
vice-president of the Chamber; Mr. Salis Schawb,
Mr. P. Lucas, Mr. W. It. Callender, Mr. T. Ashton,
Mr. H. Ashworth, and Mr. W. M‘onnell.
The proceedings were opened by the President,
and the following resolutions were proposed by Mr.
Henry Ashworth, seconded by Mr. Lewis Williams,
and supported at some length by the Right Hon. T.
M. Gibsor, M.P, Mr. John Bright, Mr. William
Brown, Mr. James Kershaw, M.P., and Mr. W. P.
Clarke, and were unanimously adopted :
" I. That the fact of the continued dependence of the
great industry cf this district fJr the supply of its raw
material, mainly from a single source, calls for the
serious consideration of all who are interested in the
security and prosperity of the cotton trade.
"2. That notwithstanding the many proofs that the
climate and soil of large portions of British India are
well su;txl to the growth of cotton, and the many and
costly experiments made by the East India Company to
promote its growth within the territories subject to their
rule, this Chamber is reluctantly compelled to believe
that up to this time no sensible progress has been
made towards procuring for the manufacturers of the
United Kingdom a supply of cotton the produce of
British India, and that proof is altogether wanting to
show that efforts hitherto made by the East India Com-
pany have resulted in any increase in the production of
cotton in India.

«3. That this Chamber is led to believe that the eco-
nomical condition of :many parts of India is unfavour-
able to the extension and permanence of that industry,
without which large and steady exports of cott m to this
country cannot reasonably be looked for, and that it is
-essential to the security and well being both of India and
of the cotton-trade of England that a searching investi-
ation be instituted into the causes which have so long
baffled the efforts which have been made to stimulate the
growth of cotton in India.
" 4. That this Chamber, contemplating the early ex-
piration of the East India Company's charter, is of opi-
nion that a special commission ( f inquiry should be sent
forthwith t') India to cxatnine into the condition of the
country, especially within the Presidencies of Bombay
and Madras, with a view to ascertain what are the ob-
stacl?s to the growth of cotton, and to the extension and
permanence of a profitable industry in the cultivation of
the soil; and the Chamber is also of opinion, that the
report of such a commission would furnish invaluable
information to the Legislature and the public before the
consid, ration of the future Government of India is again
brought before Parliament.
"5. That the directors of the Chamber be rcquest?d
to prepa-e a petition for presentation to the House of
Commons, and a memorial to Lord J. Russell, urging
the appointment of such a commission of inquiry; and
to take such steps as to them may seem desirable to ob-
tain the co-operation of all parties concerned in the
cotton trade in the promotion of this important object."

IMPROVED WATER SUPPLY.—PARISII OF CLERK-
ENwELL.—This parish contains 60,010 inhabitants, and
is the central position of water nionopoly, the reservoir
( f the New River Company being situated within its
boundaries. The orishioners have declared themselves
in favuur of the general movement for placing the man-
agement ( f the water supply within the control of the
ratepayers themselver. At a meeting of the ratepayers
held in vestry last evening to Consider the present supply
of water to this parish and tne !oo!e of the metropolis,
a series of resolutions were ut animcusly passed, appoint-
ing tiv.i gentlemen to represent the ii.t >rests of the parish
as members ( f the ' Parochial Water Supply Associa-
tion," which has been formed by the principal metropo-
litan parishes. Ile proceedings 1, ere characterized by
a unanimity which is seldom exhibited in this parish. It
was declared that the quantity of the present supply was
very insufficient, that the quality was very impure, and
that the charges for the tame were very exorbitant. A
"Parochial,. Water Supply Asso-
ciation of 251. was voted by the vestry in aid cf the a4ita-
tion now going on throughout the metropolis for securing
a better and cheaper supply of this first aliment of life.
theconsisti.ng of MessrP.
A deputation taiot
attended,
iflrdtetnl,Cobb, Paine,
and ( ther gentlemen; and it was stated in the course of
the proctedings that the association already consisted of
representatives appointed by the vestries of metroplitan
parishes containing upwards of 800,000 inhabitants, and
that various sums, amounting to 8001., had been sub-
scribed and placed at the disposal of the association.