1849.] TIEWS OF SIE HENKT POTTINGEE. 155 



or any other description of Cotton, we see no objection 

 to its being tried on a small scale. It appears to us, 

 however, that much information bearing on this point 

 will be obtained, when the resulta of the experiments 

 which you have authorized Dr. AVight to institute 

 through the several Collectors of land revenue, with the 

 view of ascertaining the most advantageous time for 

 sowing American Cotton, shall be reported." 



VIEWS OF SIE HENEY POTTINGEE. 



Minute of Sir Henry Pottinger, May, 1849.— Sir 225 



Henry Pottinger arrived in Madras on the 7th April, 

 1848. On the 15th July he penned a Mi- Sir Heni^ 

 nute upon the Cotton experiment, which Sinutfr'^ 

 was chiefly confined to approving of Dr. isthjuiy, 

 "Wight's offering an enhanced price for New Eetum 

 Orleans Cotton grown in India; and to (1857), p.a97. 

 sanctioning the establishment of five small threshers 

 and presses in different parts of Tinnevelly and Madura 

 for the use of Mr. Finnie. At the same time. Sir 

 Henry Pottinger expressed a confirmed opinion that 

 however satisfactory the apparent out-tiu-n of public 

 agency might be, — whether through Government Parms 

 or through purchases on behalf of Government, — that 

 out-turn would form no criterion whereby to judge of 

 the future ; because the moment the public agency 

 ceased the stimulus would be exhausted, and every trace 

 of it would disappear. He added that Government did 

 alL that could be done to obtain the desired object, when 

 it encouraged the people to exert themselves, and 

 placed amongst them qualifi.ed persons to advise and 

 instruct them in cultiva;ting, cleaning, and preparing 

 their CottoB. Shortly after penning this Minute, the 

 Court's despatch of the 4th July must have arrived at 

 Madras ; but Some delay arose from the necessity of 

 considering what arrangement should be made on the 

 cessation of Dr. Wight's functions as Superintendent 

 of the Cotton Farms.* At last on the 4th May, 1849, 



* It will te presently seen tbat the Madras Government partly 

 misunderstood tne terms of the Court's despatcli. The Directors 



