vi 



REPORT ON 



Report. information respecting the cultivation of that 

 article and the state of the trade in it. This 

 was diligently performed, and a copious selection 

 from the reports received by the Court in 1790, in 

 compliance with these orders, is annexed. These 

 papers shew the principal districts of several pro- 

 vinces in which the cultivation of cotton was then 

 carried on, and record facts and observations 

 which perhaps may be useful to succeeding cul- 

 tivators. 



From this period great attention was bestowed, 

 with a view to the production of a larger and 

 better supply of cotton in the provinces under the 

 Company's government, as well for the advantage 

 of the native cultivators and manufacturers, as for 

 the benefit of Great Britain. Endeavours were 

 made to prevent adulterations in the cotton pur- 

 chased from the native merchants ; and in order 

 to reduce the expense of freight, screws for com- 

 pression were brought into successful use, and 

 subsequently carried to great perfection. 



The importation of the years 1800 to 1809 was 

 on an average 12,700 bales per annum; and this 

 trade being influenced by the effects of the Ame- 

 rican embargo in 1808, the quantity brought over 

 in 1810 amounted to 79,000 bales. 



