136 COTTON IN THE MADBAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



that the Agents were at last stipulating for a well- 

 cleaned article, which was the great object to be ob- 

 tained as regarded the Indigenous Cotton. The people 

 therefore in the neighbourhood of Sevacausey and 

 Aroopoocottah no longer required such constant per- 

 sonal attention from himself; and he consequently de- 

 sired to extend his system over the length and breadth 

 of the land. As a first step in this important work, 

 he proposed to extend his supervision to Coimbatore ; 

 where he promised not to come in conflict with Dr. 

 Wight, but to devote himself to persuading the people 

 to extend their cultivation of Cotton, and to clean it 

 by the means already at their command, in a manner 

 more suitable to the wants of the purchasers. Mr. 

 Minutes of Minnie, however, was informed that the 

 Son S i6th Governor in Council was not disposed to 

 May, 1849. accede to his application ; and that pending 

 (iss^^soi 1 cer ^ aui measures which were in contempla- 

 tion, and which would be communicated in 

 due course, it was thought best that he should confine 

 his operations to the districts of Madura and Tinne- 

 velly. In other words, the Madras Government had 

 already determined on bringing the Cotton experiment 

 to a close, and dispensing altogether with the services 

 of both Mr. Finnie and Dr. Wight. Indeed in the fol- 

 lowing October, Mr. Finnie appears to have been on 

 his way to England ; but before noticing the circum- 

 stances which immediately preceded this event, it will 

 be necessary to glance at a few particulars which are 

 best narrated in a separate chapter. 



