The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-04-29
NUMBER 1Ol.

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quantity OF the raw material to manufacture them;
not more at the outside, would suppose, than
thirty thousand bales; that if every yard of cot
ton goods consumed in the country was made a,
home it would only make that addition to the
quantity of cotton already consumed by our owe
manufactures. What, ask, is 10 be done with
the residue, which is five or six times greater, and
now finds its market abroad Do you suppose we
are such simpletons as to assent to high duties on
all We consume--to be highly taxed in all we eat,
drink or wear, for such patry consideration! But
suppose we should be simple enough 10 be gued
! by so shallow device, what security have we, if
| the East India cotton should prove 10 be cheaper
than ours, as You allege it will that the duty which
would be laid on it might not be repealed, just
you have repealed that on indigo, raw hides, and
many other articles, which mi hi be supplied from
our own soil You must pardon me. | canno,
take your word after the ingenuity you have shown
in constituting away :he compromise act You
must excuse me i'll am little suspicious aud jeal-
Gus after what have Witnessed. You must re-
deem the existing pledges before you ask me to
accept of another,
! But is the danger really so great as gentlemen
represent Are we in reality about to find
successful rival in the cultivation of cotton? If
such be the lcl-r the cultivation of cotton is to
be lost-we shall have at least the poor consolation
that we will not be the only sufferer. 1t would
work revolution in all our industrial pursuits
What would become orour foreign and domestic
commerce What of our tonnage and navigation!
What of onr finances What OF the great INTERN
al exchanges of the country; | will not UNDER
take TO offer an opinion on the capacity of the Hin
boston to produce cotton. The region is large and
the soil and climate various. The population
great and wages lows but must be permitted to
doubt the success of the experiment Of driving US
out of the market, though backed and patronized
by English capital and energy. Nor am alone in
doub,ing have taken from late English paper
! ('The Manchester Guardian) an article which
speaks with great confidence that the experiment
has proved a failure will thank the Secretary
to read it,
Cultivation Of Cotton in Ladia-Since the
publication ofihe letter on this subject, addressed
by the Bombay Chamber OF Commerce TO the In
dian Government we have learnt, through tho
letters received by the last overland mail, that
the efforts Of the American planters who sent TO
the westerly side of India TO raise the American
cotton, have so far entirely failed. Indeed, so far
as we can learn, there has been very great neglect
and mismnnagement on almost every point con-
nec,ed with their operations 1t would seem as If
the directors of the East India Company had
thought it was qnte enough to send men TO India,
and that all further care about them was quite un-
necessary fol- on their arrival in that country they
found that no direction respecting them had been
i given; and they were absolutely losing their limo
for two or three months, until instructions could be
received from the Government. Then, instead Of
letting them survey the country, and choose the
situation and soil which appeared best adapted for
the culture Of cotton, when instructions were re-
| ceiyed they were taken at once to Breach and
there placed under the direction of gentleman
who felt no interest in the matter, but who took
upon him TO choose soil and situation for them
he allotted them what was considered very good
cotton land-lhat is, land of strong and tenacious
quality. exceedingly well adapted for the growth
of the NATIVE cotton, but which former expert
ments had shown TO be very unrayorabc to the
American plant, which has a large tap root, and
tlrives as badly in the still black soil in which the
native cotton is grown, as carrots would thrive in
stiff clay in this country. As II matter of course,
their crop of upland cotton has failed, with the ex-
ccption Of very small patch which they had
planted on piece of light sandy soil, which the
tap roots of the cotton were able TO penetrate and
on whichth plants were exceedingly luxuriant,
and covered with large pods Of cotton. From the
strong black soil, it was now supposed tina, they
would be able to pick Il pound per acre of good
cotton. So Gar therefore. the cultivation of Amer
lean cotton in Upper India has made no progress;
nor 90 we Imagine that it is likely 10 do so hereal-
ter. From all we have read upon the subject of
Indian cotton cultivation, 1t seems 10 us that the
best chance of success is to be found in careful
and discriminating growth Of varieties, and a care
iul gathering and cleaning of the produce. This
was one of the objects towards which the attention
Of the American planters was TO be directed, but
hitherto, we find very little has been done. Atthe
date of the latest adyiccs from Breach Qhe 2iih Of
| NJ ,har \ thnv n FIJI
ginning native cotton but owing 10 the great num-
Der of obstacles necessarily experienced in such
country as India they made very slow progress with
their works and it was feared that the growing
crop would be entirely over before their gins were
ready. Up to the date mentioned, no satisfactory
experiments had been made "a 10 the capably Of
the native cotton TO stand ginning. Some trials
were about TO be made with handgin, which one
would suppose ought have been the first step TAX
en-, before mourning large expense in erecting
machinery, which may prove useless. On the
whole, we fear the prospect OF receiving any large
supply of superior cotton from India is at present
very fiattering. In order TO overcome the Difficult
ties presented by the habits of the people. and by
other causes. great energy and perseverance, on
the part Of the agents Of the Indian government en-
trusted with the control Of the experiments, is abb
soIutely necessary: aud those qualities cannot be
expected from parties who do not feel strong in
terest in their success. Hitherto we believe the
governments agents have felt but cold and indif-
feren aid TO the experiment; and II Is therefore TO
be feared, that unless the matter should be put in
to other hands, there does nor seem to be much
chance of any good result from experiments FROM
which so much expected
Manchester Guardian.
In confirmation of the opinion Of the wr-
Ter of the above article, that Of intelligent ir-
diylduals, well acquainted with The country, might
be added, who speak with confidence that take
price and quality into consideration, we have
nothing serious to apprehend. We might, indeed,
have something 10 fear during the continuance Of
the chinese war. That country is the principal
market for the cotton of llindoston, and while it
remained closed, the cotton intended for its mar
ket NAV be thrown in such quantities on the Euro
pean as may materially depress the price. But the
present relation between Great Britain and China
cannot long continue. II can scarcely be doubted
that the former will at last succeed in opening the
market of China TO the commerce Of the world In