34 LICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL 



most materially from her area of arable land, and although 

 the Chinaman holds the first rank of all nations for his 

 ingenuity as a cultivator, and the government of China 

 the first rank as patrons of agriculture, and of the indus- 

 trious poor man ; yet, if the area of land in cultivation, 

 as stated by Gutzlaff, and repeated by Martin, from offi- 

 cial returns, be correct, as being but 141,119,347' of 

 English acres, and the population to be 367,632,907 

 souls. It is only to be wondered how they can export as 

 many articles as they do, especially silk and tea. There- 

 fore China may be a mart always for the sale of cotton, 

 and perhaps it may not be an improper deviation from 

 the subject to hint at the desirability of considering what 

 might be the result of opening a grain trade from the 

 west of America with China. 1 believe, already Ameri- 

 can rice has been shipped from the eastern ports to 

 China. 



Smyrna and Egypt, in their cotton movement, will 

 be but gradual. However, railroads, and the present 

 awakening spirit, stimulated by exertions of the English, 

 may advance their cotton cultivations, and an advance on 

 the present prices, would be the greatest auxiliary to pro- 

 mote the wishes of the present rulers, and of the English. 



However, to pass over the Brazils and West Indies, 

 and consider what are the prospects of East India. In 

 the first place, it is necessary to start with the knowledge 

 that there are two parties in England, to all outside ap- 

 pearance, exerting and straining every nerve to promote 

 the cultivation in East India ; while in fact, both parties 

 are doing little or nothing beyond casting blame on each 

 other. Individuals, upon whose exertions alone the growth 

 of the cotton plant would be extended, are not in the 



