Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-10-19
THE GROWTH OF COTTON IN AFRICA.


THE GROWTH OF COTTON IN AFRICA.
FROM THE LIVERPOOL MERCURY.
The Board Of Trade have made communication to the
Chamber of Commerce Manchester and speci
mems Of cotton grown Lbers the particulars Of which,
given in the following correspondence, will be read with
interest by all who understand the importance Of better sup
ply Of this staple Of our extensive manufactures
OFFICE OF CoMM. OF PaIvr CouScrL roR TRADE,
WHITEHALL, SEPTEMBER 10, 1850.
SIR directed by the Lords of the Committee of Prvy
Council for Trade to transmit to you for the information of
the members Of the Chamber Of Commerce Of Manchester
copy letter addressed Vscount Pamerson by the Pre-
sdent of the Republic Of Liberia the subject Of the cul
vaon Of cotton in that part Of Africa further instruct
ed to forward you samples of cotton the produce Of certain
districts the gold coast which have been submitted the
inspection of their ordshps, and have request that you
will be good procure for their information report
the qualities and market value of the Their lord
ships informed that very considerable quantities Of cotton
may be procured from these districts if any welorganized
system Of cultivation were adopted to that end.
/ am, sir, your obedient servant,
T. BAILEY, Esq 6. r. PORTER
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, MoSRovIA,
4.3 HQ JULY 5, 1850.
MY LORD have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
your lordshps letter Of May 18TH handed by Mr. j.
d
up by several eminent mercantile and manufacturing firms in
England for the purpose Of testing by practical experiment.
the possibility Of procuring supply Of cotton from the west
coast Of Africa. This expedition, my lord is destined to
to the future welfare of Africa, only by increasing her
commercial Importance but also Of introducing
more rapidly the habits Of civilization and the blessings Of
christianity among the babaous tribes of this country There
can question: my lord the of the enter
prise, particularly in Liberia, if properly managed They
have here persons who well acquainted with the culture
cotton having had many years experience in the United
satrs These me- having demonstraed the fact by
actual experiments that cotton of good quality in the
United States be raised here and in large quantities.
persons Of sufficient pecunary will engage in cuvat
ing it. Cotton in small quantities is raised by the
tves in the interior of Liberia and encouraged and in
structed little to the best mode of cuvatng it, they may
be induced to raise in large quantities. indeed to almost any
extent beg to assure your ordshp that the expedition
shall have every protection and facility in therance Of ta
objects that this Government can possibly afford
! have, &c j. J. ROBERTS.
viscount PALmEnsros, G. C.B.
CHAmBEa OF Commerce AND MANUFACTURES,
<a MANCHESTER, SEpTEMBER 10, 1850.
Sir have to report the result Of our examination
the samples OF African cotton transmitted, BY direction
the right honorable company this chamber for opinion
thereon. The quantity is small permit the quality
be tested by actual working and had the quantity been large
enough for that purpose, another difficulty would have inter-
vned in the having been separated from the seed
which Of be whenever may be sent in
chantabe shape This latter point Of extreme import
to the cultvaor Of cotton. inasmuch difference Of
from ten to fifteen per cent in the value will arise from the
treatment which the cotton may receive in the separation OF
the fbres from the seed. With reference to the samples
sent by their lordshps fortunately in position give
nearer estimate of the market value of the cottons than
should have been under other circumstances Had been
obliged opinion from that which have sepa
rated from the seed by hand might have gone somewhat
aay, because cotton pulled from the seed by hand will
tainy show more favorable staple than passed through
any cleaning machine had however, heard Of samples Of
African seed cotton having been this town time
ago. and been the Of having portion thereof cleaned
by machine of the merits of which have high opinion,
whilst another portion passed through recently
machine which is being made in Manchester. On sp-
picaon to the party alluded to- found that the samples
transmitted by their ordships IDENTICAL in and
quality, with those which he had received and they, by
having been passed through machinery, give uster index
OF the value of the quality il may be expected to be when
Pugh TO market for manufacturing purposes, quote the
prices which he broker has this day assigned each
spectivey Accra It'd. to 3d. Abasa, 74d 7ad to SID
Secund 74d to Sid Providence, 3d. to SD per pound.
AS respects the usefulness of this cotton, nothing could
more desirable than the quality which these samples
We do not need any large increase Of the finest qualities OF
cotton most pressing want of such qualities as enter
into the manufacture of the and heaviest Of our fab
rcs and this want the coons under are admra-
bly, adapted to supply Our trade could receive any
greater boon than large import of them f sent to us free
from seeds leasems and other exaneous matters whilst
correave result would arise in Africa il such an intercourse
with this country could by any MEANS be established We
receive with the greatest pleasure the copy Of Pre-
sdent Robess letter Viscount Palmerson Of he bh of
July which you kindly sent to this chamber because we see
in the sentiments expressed therein strong grounds for hopes
that long. such community Of interests NAV arise be-
tween this country and Africa will minister to the
steady employment Of our people and provide the keest
of all means for spreading civilization there
have the honor TO be- sir your very obedent humble SER
want, THOMAS BOOTHMAN Secrearv q
g. PonTER; Esq, Secretary to the Lords Committee Of
DE- e. I'll
MILITARY BOUNTY LAND AGENCY-Tbe
Nl undersigned, notary public and commissioner Of
deeds for the District OF Columbia will attend procu-
uners and militia in the Indian Florida wars the land
to which they entitled under the late act of Con-
gress and dsposing and locating the same Term. moder
ate. NICHOLAS CAIJ.AN p street
can specially refer to w LEsoI Esq., Mayor RrcHAnD