39 



children. We may hope that such will not be the case, and there- 

 fore I thought that the subject of cotton-cultivation in Peru, and the 

 probable restoration of those once vast plantations; would be worth 

 at least your hearing. We are informed by the last mail, through 

 The Times of Jan. 14, that the cultivation of cotton in Peru is now 

 being carried on to a great extent. The shipments made to England 

 this year are more than three times what they were in 18G0, and 

 next year the export will be much larger. In 18G0 there were 

 exported 10,000 cwt. ; in 1862, 15,000 cwt. ; and in 1863 there 

 had already been shipped 31,500 cwt. It is said, from the area of 

 land now planted with cotton throughout Peru, the export of 1864 

 should be 60,000 cwt. A small quantity from the eastern parts of 

 Peru has been sent down the Amazons, but the expense attending 

 this route is as yet too great to encourage exportation to any great 

 extent. Now I know that even 60,000 cwt. are but a few threads 

 in comparison with what is needed by the 28 millions of spindles of 

 England, to say nothing of those of France. But there can be no 

 doubt that this free-grown cotton will extend its supplies till the old 

 plantations of the Incas are restored, and these, added to those of 

 British India, not only make the cotton supply inexhaustible, but 

 cotton slaves as great an impossibility as a slave chain rouud a white 

 mans wrist. The cultivation of cotton then in Peru, one of its 

 original sources, is, though of no local interest to us, of intense 

 interest to those who watch over the cultivation of the earth's sur- 

 face. I believe that the azequias, or canals of the old Incas, will 

 be restored, and that they will fructify millions of acres of free grown 

 cotton. I believe that the Meta and the Amazons, the Plata and 

 the Magdalena, will soon bear down their free streams many thou- 

 sand bales of free-grown cotton every year. I believe that the 

 amazing ocean of cotton trees which stretches from the confines of 

 Atacama to the foot of the Andes will soon be made to yield their 

 wealth to us. I believe all this, because I have seen it partially 

 accomplished ; and because science, in the hands of practical men, is 

 every day convincing the world more and more that to replenish the 

 earth and subdue it is the service which the Creator requires at the 

 hand of man, and the only service by which the earth shall yield 

 her increase, and the " centuries behind " us their fruits of peace. 

 It is owing to such societies as this that cotton cultivation has been 

 pushed forward with such proud success, not only in Peru and the 

 East Indies, but these colonies also ; and I have ventured to broach 

 this subject to you, who are labouring in the same cause, though 

 not from the same pressure of circumstances, that you may be 

 encouraged, take heart, and keep to your work, undismayed by any 

 failure, undaunted by any sneer. 



