The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-06
THE DAILY DISPATCH
Csrsespoudeuee. sf the Dispafch.
March Weather and iss Accidents--A Sketch
ofthe History Of Cotton Interesting State
nsenfs.


NEW YORK, March 4.
The March weather has made its mark in
slippery pavements and broken heads and
limbs. The day has been very disagreeabIe,
and liable to induce sickness, but tonight is
pleasant and moonshiny, and restores our
good humor.
The monthlg meeting of ike New York His
torical Society was held this evening, at the
University, andas the subject oftke evening was
one of peculiar anterest, which will attract the
attention Of Sosihern readers, yyou will par
don me for Introducing brief sketch Of the
main points Of q capital paper, read by Mr..
John G. Dudley, Of ;his city. apon the "Histo-
~ ofCoiton and the Cotton Manufacturer
Astounding in statistical and historical, as we'll
as biographical information, this paper will
have permanent value. / will only ci:e few
passages.
The early history efeot;on is invoked in
considerable obscurity. Il lie no, mentioged in
the Hebrew writings, nor il the Bible. Its
first notice by The ancients ia by Herodatus, in
his History Of India. Its use afterwards OK
tended through Persia and the Chinese En-.
pre-. Paper was first made OF cotton by the
Chinese, and knowledge of the manufacture
was conveyed to Europe by Saraccus. Then,
machines fez spinning cotton were invented,
aud applied with great success. Many of these
Inventions were curious and remarkable. The
Inventor Of the spinning jenny" an English
man, named Hargraves, continued to construct
machines until the year 1890, when he died.
At thisperod, commenced the era of England's
great manufacturing Interests. Richard Ark
for mechanics. His natural disposition was
ardent, earnest and obssinately persevering.-
Poverty did not allow him TO prosecute his
first invention. Fearing repetition of the per-
eecutions which had befalen the attempts of
Hargraves, from the narrow.m;pded annimosi-
~ Of the working GLASSES, who feared that
their employment would be restricted BY his
machines, Arkwright retired from his resi-
dence at Pfesbar, and prosecuted his investiga-
lion at Nottingham. In IVA, Parliament made
the first Legislative acknowledgement of Eng
iish manufactures, consisting entirely of Cot
Cardiz was imperfectly known until 1775,
when Arkwright obtained patent. The
seutching machine was introduced in Man.
chester in the year 1908. Arkwright COM
bined all the inventions of q series of machines
which now perform oil The labor of preparing
cotton, without hand-labor, and to him we are
largely indebted.
The next inventor of distinction, was Rich.
ard Crumption. The selfacting mnle, ma
chine received with much favor, was the in
vention of Mr.. Roberts, of Manchester. In
l1o5, was invented power-loom which was
Inc model of those now In use; the inventor |
Mr.. Cartwright, received from Parliament a |
gratuity of 10000 as a reward for his inge- |
nuiiy. Machines for the manufacture of laces, |
present an interesting field ofinquiry; the value |
of the cotton annually employed in this branch |
of labor in England, amounts to about $l3, 000,- |
GOO. The art of bleaching was long mper-
;ectly known, until Swedish chemist dis
covered the chemical agents necessary to the
process. 1t is believed that the practice of
calico-printing was not introduced into Eu-
rope until the seventeenth century, and it was
unknown in England until the year 1876
The cotton manufacture arose in England al
a critical period of her history. She had lost
her American colonies, and was embroiled in
wars with France. By her insular position,
she was enabled to prosecute and protect her
manufactures. The profits Of her looms and
mills, added to her other sources of increase,
produced the means of pushing forward her
cOnquests on the continent. The energy of
Napoleon was no match for the genius of Ark
wright, Hargraves and their compeers. The
present statistics of the cotton manufacture in
England indicate rapid and healthy growth.
The number of cotton factories in that coun-
try, is 49,, containing 2O,977 ,Ol7 splndles,
immense number of power looms, and fur
nlshlng the means OF support to not less than
l,OO0. 600 persons. So the manufacture enlarg.
es and enriches the British Empire.
To our own country, however, the cotton
manufacture owes most of the benefits and
arts it has received. The early inventions of
Eli Whitney, the inventive genius of Samuel
Slater, the valuable discoveries which have
from time to time taken place, were sketched
in very interesting manner, by Mr.. Dudley,
The author OF this paper. The growth OF
Lowell and the manufacturing towns of the
country, was spoken of at length. This part
OF the history is better known, and need no, be
here recaptulated.
Your readers will fnd much interesting
matter in the essay of Mr. Dudley, it will re-
pay perusal and preservation.
Yours, nj.
Correspondence of the Dispatch.