APRIL—JUNE, 1857.] Observations on Cotton. IIS 
** would have defied the competition of our own fabrics ; and re- 
*' ceiving the raw material in return, upon better terms than she 
" could have obtained the growth of our own Southern cotton 
" lands. The Acquisition of Texas, therefore, makes her greatest 
*' interest (the most important branch of her manufacturing system) 
" dependent upon us. Jn the same proporcioii, of course, it gives 
** us every advantage in competition with her. The AcQUisiTiotr 
** of Texas thus puts us in possession of almost all the best lands 
** in the world for the growth of cotton ; and this is decidedly one 
*' of the most important staples, in every respect, than can be cul- 
*' tivated by man. If we do not hold the monopoly of the av tide, 
" yet we produce it of better quality, and in greater quantity, than 
" any other country. Thus it becomes an unfailing? source of 
" wealth and abundance — of prosperity in peace, and of power i:i 
" war." This assertion brought several communications to the 
Times, md. Manchester Guardian ivom. \i appeared that, 
though the American seed had generally failed, from excessivo 
drought or neglect of local irrigation, yet it; had succeeded in 
several districts, especially at Dharwar ; was progressing among 
the natives; that the American Saw Gin had been adv:intageously 
applied, giving all the benefit of celerity, cleanness, and superior 
* London rimes, 30th Oct., 6th and 10th Nov., and 2oth Dec. 1845. Man- 
chesUr Guardian of the 27th Aug., 8th Nov., and 6th Dec. 1845. The Munches- 
ier Guardian of the 1st Jan. 1842, and following, has a valuable letleir from the 
Chamber of Commerce at Bombay, on iaiproving Cotton cultivation of India. 
Since the above communication was made to tbe Society of Arts, much va- 
luable information has appeared in the Public prints, &c. 
Besides the Parliamentary Report of 1848 on the Growth of Cotton in India, 
two articles in the Manchester Guarciian of 5th June, 1S47 fiom the " Bo7nhay 
Telegraph," and the " Calcutta Englishman," would show our f:iends of the 
"Washington Union that si'pplies of free grown Cotton from American Seod rr3far 
from a hopeless attempt. If restrictions on Land, and internal crfnmercc are re- 
moved in the forthcoming renewal of tie East India Ccmpauy's Charter ; the 
progressive opening of Railways through the three Presidencies, may persuade our 
transatlantic customers that successful competition ia Cotton will be soon main- 
tained by Free Labour ; and Great Britain is morally and pecuniarly interested 
to encourage the United States by every fair compensation to a like attempt. 
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