1862.] A Plea for Co/ton and for Industrj/. 521 



finest and best cotton ever produced has been artificially grown in 

 Manchester, why should not the mere trifling difficulties of the colonies 

 be surmounted where soil, climate, and natural advantages exist? In 

 the East Indies the policy under the rule of a nominally commercial 

 company has been absurdly political and despotic. The material pros- 

 perity of the people was neglected ; navigation, by improving the rivers, 

 has been discouraged ; few canals have been formed ; roads have 

 scarcely existed ; ample means for irrigation have been withheld ; 

 quays are almost unknown ; and the land held by Governmental feudal 

 power has been largely unproductive. By the small M'ater supplies of 

 Colonel Sir Arthur Cotton, immense benefits have been derived in 

 Madras, and by the recent changes in land tenure great improvements 

 will doubtless result. Railways are now being established, and the 

 general indications of the great dependency are becoming favourable 

 for the extension of cotton and other agriculture, and for trade and 

 commerce. For many years the improved navigation of the Godavery 

 has been a subject of contention and of hope deferred. This river 

 ought to connect the great cotton-fields of Berar with Coringa, and 

 other ports, in Madras. The rocky barriers of the Godavery should 

 be either removed, or they should be avoided by the aid of short links 

 of canals or by tramways. To what extent the works of the Godavery 

 have proceeded we are ignorant, but the advantages which would 

 accrue from their completion cannot be overstated. Its fertile valley 

 would yield immense supplies of excellent cotton and other products, 

 the markets to ten or twelve millions of people being opened would 

 yield double advantages alike to a home and a foreign trade. On the 

 banks of that river, at Ingelhaut, cotton of most acceptable quality to 

 the British spinner is already grown ; and in its vicinity, as also in 

 Berar, cottons could be cultivated which would equal, if they did not 

 surpass, the productions of New Orleans. Of the power of the East 

 Indies to produce superabundant supplies of most excellent cotton, no 

 doubt need be entertained. The communications within that vast de- 

 pendency being effectively extended to its sea-board in every direction, 

 its agriculture being industriously conducted by the aid of practical 

 science, and the government of it becoming wise and just, benefits 

 would flow from and to it, fructifying and enriching the whole empire. 

 In 1860, the imports of cotton from the East Indies were 561,200 bags, 

 of which two-thirds were exported, and in 1861 there came 986,600 bags, 

 or nearly double the previous year's supply ; but though the importers 

 of this enlarged import have derived very great profits by the advance 

 which has taken place in the price of cotton, the ryot, or farmer, in 

 India, has not yet importantly obtained any advantage from the in- 

 creased value of his produce ; but if the communication with the 

 interior of India, both as to intelligence and the conveyance of cotton, 

 be facilitated, then the ryot will be stimulated by compensating and 

 increased rewards to extend the cultivation of cotton, and to improve 

 the quality of it. As now stated, ample proof exists that India can 

 grow most excellent cotton, and many supplies of very useful qualities 

 Vol. III. (No. 36.) 2 n 



