112 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1 3 T. SEASON. 



CHAP. Minimum price at which American Cotton could 

 IV ' be produced, four pence per pound. As an illustra- 

 158 tion of the cost at which Cotton was produced in America, 

 Mr. Finnie furnished the following interesting data. ^Some- 

 time about 1840, when the question of a Cotton supply 

 from India was seriously agitated, a meeting was called of 

 the most intelligent and distinguished Planters, in order to 

 determine upon the best method of counteracting the efforts 

 which were being made in that direction. It was then de- 

 cided that so long as the American Planters could get eight 

 cents (4d) per Ib. for their Cotton, delivered at the nearest 

 market, they could afford to produce it ; but that if a supply 

 from any other quarter could be obtained for less than that 

 sum, they must then turn their attention to the cultivation 

 of other commodities. Thus by adding Id. per Ib., to the 

 4c. for expenses to England, we have the minimum price, 

 5d. per Ib., at which it is said America can produce the ar- 

 ticle. All therefore that remained to be done in India, was 

 the production of an article of an equal quality but at less 

 cost. 



159 Prospects of India : labour in America and India 

 compared. Mr. Finnie believed that the consumption of 

 Cotton would increase in the same ratio as the production ; 

 that under any circumstances all good American Cotton, 

 and all good Indian Cotton, would ever find a market. Ame- 

 rica could not be easily supplanted, whilst she retained all 

 her advantages of enterprise, industry, climate, soil, rivers, 

 steam-boats, and rail-roads. On the other hand, India pos- 

 sessed a territory, that would produce a pretty good article 

 of " New Orleans Cotton," and that was equal in extent to 

 the whole Cotton growing region in America ; but then to 

 render the cultivation successful, the people must carry it 

 on themselves. Here however, in the matter of cheap labour, 

 India possessed a decided advantage. The interest of the 



