The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-05

Uew Yo,k H,,toricai Dssisty.


This society held its regular monthly meeting, o.
the rooms in the u University, on Tuesdey evening
the Hon. Luther Bradish, President, in the chair,
and IN unusually large number Of members present.
The minutes OF the last meeting having been read
and approved, the Librarian presented his report
OF several Donations
The business next in order WAS the election Of
several members heretofore nominated; after which
upwards of one hundred new candidates for mem.
bership were proposed. This is larger number
than upon any previous occasion; and upon their
election, an addition Of enc thousand dollars will
immediately accrue to the funds of the society
The report Of the Executive Committee was then
read, as to the late meeting at Niblo's, Che full
account Of which is sufficiently before the publc,)
IN which they ackno Wedge their obligations to Mr.
Niblo for the grstuitous use Of his rooms.
THE HISTORY OF COTTON AND COTTON MANUFAc-
TUREs.
] G. DUDLEY Esq, OF this city. on the con-
elusion of the routine business, proceeded to read
the paper of the evening. 1t was q volumnous and
elaborate but exces dipgly interesting, account Of
the rise ard progress Of this trade and snufacture
from the earliest mention found in history of the
cotton plant, up TO the present time, whom its
growth and manufacture form the most i'm
Portant feature IN the commerce of the United
States. The lecturer observed that there was
NO mention OF cotton in the Hebrew writings,
or in the Scriptures, first cultivation or tho
discovery OF 1t spon enecusly produced, WAS in
volved in some obsourity Heroaitus mentioned,
speaking OF India, as tho most wonderful Of all
things, that there Was y plant which, instead of
producing fruit, yielded q kind OF wool finer than
that OF the sheep. OF which the inhabitants made
their clothes MIR. Dudley proceeded to give the
early history OF the manufacture Of cotton In
Europe. particularly in England, where it proved
her most valuable article OF commerce Mt critical
period Of her history Just at the time when she
had lost her American cslohies, and during the
convusive stIug giles which folio we'd the French re-
yolutiop, England, from her insular position, was
enabled to fusier her home manufactures in Sc
curity CONNER eug with the earliest and rudess
machines for cleaning, spinning ard weaving, he
gavo o Iull account OF the various improvements
upon them up to those made by Richard Ark
wright, which were in high degree of perfection
stthis epoch ana the wealth accrung to the nation
from the advanced state ct this manufacture, en-
Reled her TO cope with all her enemies, and the
genius Of Napoleon vas insufficient to overcome
that Of AIkwrigbt, Hargrave and Compton OF
the amendments trVla tl2e TO time, in the art of
weaving and prioting, he gave an equally lucid
and interesting account from tho time when cottons
we're printed by hand blocks, engraved, which could
only apply ole color at a time, till now, when
thirty i've ards can be printed with seven or more
different shades or coors in three minutes.
England had with great Jealousy endeavored to
preserve these valuable inventions to herself by
prohibitiog the expectation of all machinery
models, drawings bns ali her endeavors could not
Tustrbte the enterprise Of America, and of late
years this country had ade more useful and greater
improvements III It's manufacture than any other
OF Whitney ana Slater, TO whom We are much in.
debted-to the latter for the introduction OF Ark
wrights machinery with improvements, and to the
former for the sss gin--hc gave brief sketches.
The extraordinary il the cotton trade from
the time when it as actually seized in Engsad,
under the suppostion that il was not the produce
of the American colonies, ia the present time, was
the most remarkable passage in the history Of COM
Aafk hynh hal
turer gave exhibited most Industrious and careful
neutrality-suspicious. comprise more matter than
We can attempt an abstract of and are to be found
published in various tables, hough not in such
collected form The application of cotton to the
manufacture Of saiicoth was originated in America,
and some English merchants had refused the gra-
tufous oher OF some as an experiment, under the
conviction that it would never answer. They were
now. perhaps. better Informed, the sails of the
yacht America, with which they became scquaint
ed in 1851, we're of Mr. Colts manufacture. Zap
plaure and laug hter) An English writer had also
said lately, that the Americans printed very little
Of their cottons for hs future information, he
(Mr Dudley could inform him there was sufiicien
printed annually in the United States, Of the fine
kinds, to cover the area of Great Britain rs with
carpet, and Of the commoner sort there would b
sufficient left to clothe all her operatives engaged
In the trade, with better garments than they wer
ever provided with Coming, then, to the history
OF the trade, in our cwn State OF New ork, he in
formed us the first factory was built by Dr. Caperon,
In Oneida county, about the year 1909; and shortly
afterwards others sprung up in Hudson, Columbia
ard other counties; but Oneida still could boast
the largest amount Of capital invested, and the bes
MANAGE ment in her factories. The factories Of
New York were no Tever, less extensive than those
in many small States in New England; ana the
trade rapidly extended to the West and the SOUTH
Georgis taking the lead The paper, which was
Listened to throughout with profound attention, was
received with considerable applause, and
DR. HAWKS, in moving vote Of thanks to the
contributor, observed upon the importance of the
subject as come :ted with our history commercially
and politically Il had also personal interest for
hin, coming from the greatest cotton growing
state (Mississippi) In addition to the able docu.
nent Just read, he stated some interesting facts
within bis own knowledge and observation, and
moved that the thanks of the society be rendered
to their colleague and that be be requested to fur
niEh copy to be deposited in the archives of the
socety-amotiop wrich vas unanimously carried.
THE LATE MEETING AT NlBLo's.
LUTHER BRApIsn, Esq, after the thread spun
from spindle yet fall, and which spun strands Of
Wit S well as INSTRUCTION, would pass to another
sutjoct and, abiding to Mr.. Niblo's handsome
conduct in granting them the use OF his rooms,
without compensation Or reward, and aitordng the
most crowded and intellectual audience ever assem-
hled in New York, an Opportunity Of hearing the
deep tones, mbje tio language, and classic eio-
suehce fthe COLOSSUS Of the day, moved that the
society tfer Mr.. Niblo . grateful aoknowiedg-
ment Of his public spirit on the occasion; and fur.
ther, tha, he be nominsted a life member
This Wac amended by motion to elect him .
life meu Der, ard the by.lnvs being, by unani-
nous vote, SUSPENDED for the purpose, it was car
ried.
INV COURSE CT LECTURES.
The Charm an Of the Executive Com nittee was
authorized TO announce that they had made pre-
palatohs for course ofectures IL aid of tho build
ing fnid, (srpieuse) ard several gentlemen had
been invited, from whose answers they had hopes
otbeing enabled, g. the next meeting, to announce
the pic gram mo which vas IN preparation.
The meeting then adjourned.
FaliHcics Respecting Liberty.
A lecture was delivered Tucsday evening in tho
Tabernacle, By the Rov. Henry Bellows, on theabovo