Litchfield enquirer., 1829-09-17
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE

| Providence, June 26th, 1899.
Hon. William Dr0yton
Sir have taken the liberty to send you
small sample of cloth manufactured in
Rhode Island by Messrs. Charles Jackson &
Co. Of ths tagsees Gents bber ylta." It sells, al
retail, for 90 cents. At these prices under
stand this manufacture can be sustained bv a
| fair profit.
] do not believe any nation on this globe,
other than the U. States, can at this time, fur
nish the ina terial, the machinery, the skill and
labor, for such fabric, at such cost. 1t is
not rccollected by me, that any other region
produces the Sea Island cotton of a staple
equal to that of the Islands of your state and
Georgia. The material Of this cloth is ofthat
kind, though very fac from being the best of
that kind Of cotton.
We know you of the south produce shat
kind of that material but we of the north
have not hitherto been enabled to put in ope-
ration the appropriate machinery, or America
might. at this time, exhibit to the world such
fabrics rs neither Europe nor Asia ever pro-
duced. Although do not rank weaving.
even aspractised by the fairest hands Of anti
guilty, among the fine arts, yet must be per-
nlitted to believe that such products of that
art, whether in their own native wilderness, or
which can give various beauty to their color
would form drapery, giving to animated in
telligent beings a more Interested appearance
than the happiest pencil Of antiquity could
have conferred on the fairest form of muse
and goddess, produced and adorned by the
painters imagination and skill.
Ii the plantations, spindles and looms of
our country could never have produced, it
will nevertheless be allowed that they can
nightly strengthen our political fabric
These physical do in some degree resemble
moral cords of union: they increase in
strength as they progress in fineness.
So long as those feelings which in the rev.
dictionary war, united the mechanics of r..
Island with the planters of S. Carolina, can
be continued in fair operation. the production
of your plantations and our looms will be as
useful and ornamental to the people of this
generation, as those "iron harvest of the
field" were beneficial and illustl ious to our
fathers.
pray to you, sir, to accept this little sam
pie of our national skill. It's, confess, but
very inadequate expression Of the very high
estimation entertained here by me aud my
friends, ofthe patriotism and candOr Of him to
whom It is presented.
/ have the honor to he, sir, with the highest
respect, your Obedient servant,
TRISTAN burgess.
Charleston, LIST August, 1899.
DEAR SIR: In consequence Of my having
left New-York for CharlestOm, before Mr.. |
Hayward had received your letter and parcel, |
they did not reach me until day or two ago, |
or should have done myself the pleasure of
answering your friendly letter, and Of return
ing to you my thanks for the specimen of the !
skill OF the Providence looms, which you had
the goodness to send me. Not being Judge
OF any species Of cloth, asked the opinion of
those who were cOnversant upon the subject,
% to your sample. They tell me. that Cor
The price at which Il 10 sold in Providence
(eo cents the yard.l It 10 strong. fine and cheap,
Due that cotton Of the same quality. could not
% purchased here, for less than IS TO so cents
ne yard. difference. as you viii perceive Of
rom so TO s. is per cent. Entirely accor-
ling with Won In the conviet;on ,,e Shn a.