The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-22

America Is likely to be n very short one, and
in the face of the fact that not single bale
OF IL has yet reached any of the cotton ports,
nor will do so during the con tinuance OF the
present war. whose termination cannot he
foreseen by the most far-sighted politician.
As the year rolls on, this cotton supply
question forces itsrlf more and more npou
our attention; and though for many months
past we saw the approaching evil, while
many of our contemporaries ridicuied our
fears, we really stand aghast at the terrible
reality OF dearth of cotton which is now
confronting US. When the stock of Aneri-
can is brought down to 200, 600 bales, az we
fear 1t will be in less than six weeks, then
l'rices of that description of cotton Will be
forced 70 a point which Will compel spiuners
either to enormously curtail their conSump-
tio,. or TO use Eist Indian cotton, against
which they entertain so strong prejndice
w are convinced that, even at this moment
few realize the extent of distress which r.
Tearth Of cotton must bring on this country
especially.
The substitution, without further delay, of
East India for American cotton, and an i'm
mediate general resort to short time, can alone
enable lis to tide over tbs coming winter with
com p3ratIVe safety. Strange that those II ost
deeply interested are 50 blind to their own
interests as To perseyere In using American
cotton almost exclusively, End in working
their mills full time, while IL is impossible t.
forecast the duration of the cotton famine.
The American crop Is stoTed away by the
p.an ters In the seed TO facilitate its destruc
rstrafs io .ha spizsstsssffrs. This is by no
means an impossible, CT even very improba-
bic contingency. Naval eX peditiOus against
The South may bring it ali to pass sooner
than amy of us imagine. snd If such expe-
ditions should effect a iandirg and penetrat.
IN land, The only allies they would meet
would be the negro population of the Con-
tederate States. Terrible allies those Such
expeditions, II successful, might result not
merely i'll he destruction of the prasen, crop,
but might prevent the planting of another,
aud SO deprive us for years to come Of our
American supply of cotton u calamity
which can only be estimated by calling 10
mind the fact, that in 1860 we drew So per
cent. OF orr total supply Of cotton from
America alone.
We are no alarmsts all we have hitherto
toreshadoWed has too surely come to pass
But we sincerely hope that the Federal Gov
ernment Will pause in their mad career be-
fore they intiict such q terrible calamity on
the industrial population OF the world. In
view of such appalling danger we care not TO
have recourse TO the figures of the cotton Ia
bles to show how rapidly our stock OF the
raw material Is being used up by our manu-
fdCturers with Il reckless pTodigaiity.
Eyen the advancing prices OF goods and
yarns in Manchester serves for the time TO in
erase our danger, because it causes many of
The mills to continue working fun time.
GENERAL TRADE.
The trade of the country has undergone no
very material change since our last report
Dullness is still prevalent, and while il is
evident that the trade generally is not worse
1t Is difficult 10 say that it has improved.
AT bradford there has been n moderate de-
mand for home requirements but as regards
tha continental trade, the result of I.eipsc
Fair Is ", tied for before it is considered pru-
dent to enter upon large transactions.
The iron trade of Wolyernampton is but
partially supported, although the probability
OF an early demand from North America is
generally indulged III.
The Nottingham market for goods and
yarns has advanced considerably, and the
demand for hosiery has been very brisk.
Il very active demand in the Leeds WoOler
cloth market is noticeable. Il is said that
london houses received large orders from
country tailors and drapers.
The French treaty has had the effect OF Civ
ing rise to considerable shipments of Man
chester goods on French account.