of Beauchamp, in a voice tremulous with hardly suppressed emotion, there was not a dry eye among all that rustic concourse of honest hearts from far and near in the old churchyard. And I own I shuddered (in superstitious awe, as a reader may think), when my eyes fell upon two saplings which Roland himself had planted in my presence some time before, in his own words, "to overshadow my grave when the curse is fulfilled!"

I saw the coffin of him I had known so short a time, yet loved so well, borne to the grave of the Maskelynes, and I know that while the beautiful ritual of our church was being read by the Rector

THE COTTON TRADE.

A PARALLEL instance of rapid advancement cannot perhaps be found in history to that between the rise and present position of the cotton manufacture in Great Britain. Weaving is among the earliest authenticated facts; Eastern countries still retain much of their original superiority, and it is difficult even in this day to equal, or even rival some of the finest muslins of India; certain it is that among the higher ranks in that part of the globe their own productions of that peculiar description are still preferred to our own. In other countries, however, the taste for English goods has become so rooted, that they have a monopoly, though it is

THE COTTON TRADE.

connected with this subject and with the previous remark. On a fine, clear summer day, off the coast of Sussex, in sight of several spectators, a ship was seen to go down suddenly; the crew landed, and were relieved, upon the representation that the accident had occurred through a leak. The circumstances which led to her being raised are immaterial, but raised she was, and the cases in which printed calicoes had been shipped were then found to be filled with rubbish. The captain and merchant were tried together for the offence, and so clear was the evidence, that they were found guilty without hesitation and sentenced to death. An arrest of judgment was however obtained, upon the ground that the court had no jurisdiction to try the case. It is unimportant whether it were at the General or Admiralty Sessions, at the Old Bailey, London, but it was at one of them. The point raised was, "when was the offence committed; at the time of agreement to do it between the merchant and captain upon land, or upon its completion by the latter at sea." If the former were the correct view, the Admiralty could not try the merchant, who had never quitted the land, for that which was done on the sea. If the latter were right, then the captain could not be tried by a peculiarly land tribunal, for an offence which had been done solely at sea. Lord Erskine's arguments were sufficiently potent to save his clients, but before they left Gray's Inn Hall, where the case was heard, they received an admonition from their advocate to be cautious of appearing before him as a judge, or they would assuredly encounter the fate from which he had just saved them, and which, as he told them, they richly deserved. One of his lordship's earliest subsequent acts was to amend this very law.

first known establishment of the kind was at Rich-
mond, in Surrey, in about 1690. At that period
Indian muslins and cloths alone were operated upon,
and the demand for them interfered so materially
with the consumption of silk goods, that, after
several serious disturbances in consequence, the
government of the day took the matter up, and
placed an excise upon print works, by way of
protection, very shortly afterwards-although,
originally, the use of these articles was absolutely
prohibited, under heavy penalties. Subsequently,
financial considerations rendered the revenue thus
derived of too great importance to be given up, and
thus the tax remained until the general revision of
the tariff some years since. To the imposition of
this tax was added the vicious system of drawback
upon exportation, by means of which enormous
money frauds were perpetrated upon Government,
to the injury of the fair trader, great loss of
morality to the persons engaged in the traffic, and
the infliction of a most serious blow to merchants
and mercantile credit in foreign markets. If a man
required money, it was an every day transaction to
purchase a parcel of printed goods upon credit,
ship them somewhere, obtain the drawback, and
so get into possession of capital for other opera-
tions. Their ultimate destination was doubtful.
They were either sent to an unsuitable market
upon chance, or disposed of unfairly. If the
former plan was adopted, legitimate traders found
themselves forestalled, with unsaleable goods it is
true, but still with sufficient stock to destroy their
profit, and militate against future consignments of
really useful fabrics. If the latter mode of dis-
posal were selected, one of two methods of carry-
ing it out was chosen ; both consisted in smug-
gling the goods on shore, and substituting other
packages in the room of those landed. But if it
were actually necessary to procure consular certifi-
cates as to the goods reaching their destination, in
order that the bond given at the Custom House
in this country might be cancelled; then the com-
mon expedient was to sink the ship-precaution,
of course, being taken to preserve the lives of the
crew. Salt, chintzes, and such goods as were en-
titled to drawback were selected as cargo, which
was run" upon some concerted spot upon the
coast. When at a distance from that place,
another convenient place was chosen, the boats
hoisted out, a few augur holes in its sides and
bottom sent the ship into deep water, and the
poor wrecked mariners landed amid the commis-
seration of the villagers. The underwriters were,
of course, victims, and considerable sums were ob-
tained from them also. Though the penalty, upon
conviction, for this offence was death, few were
found guilty, on account of the difficulty of pro-
curing legal evidence of the facts; at present the
law has been improved, and evidence would be
admitted now which would not then have been
deemed to be sufficient. The last case which the
late Lord Erskine argued as a barrister, previously
to his elevation to the bench, contained a point

It is upon the southern states of America that we now depend for our supply of the raw material. Previously to 1790 we imported none from thence, but the increase in the demand, and the abundant supply of slave labour stimulated cultivation to such an extent that, in 1831 we received nearly 220,000,000 lbs., and in 1856, 780,000,000 lbs., while the imports from other countries, except India, have been variable and decreasing. Any one description of machinery is not adapted to spinning every description of cotton, and, therefore, it will not answer the purpose of a manufac turer to adjust his machine for a few bales, unless he be certain that a sufficiency can be procured to keep it regularly employed, hence one great reason why the general cultivation of cotton has not gone on in other countries as in America on an increasing ratio. Some years since importations from Manilla were frequent, which realized high rates, but for this reason they have almost wholly ceased, though the quality was much appreciated in Manchester and its neighbourhood. In 1831 the West India Islands sent us 2,400,000 lbs., in 1856, 462,824 lbs.; the Brazils contributed 31,700,000 lbs. in 1831, and 21,830,000 lbs. in 1856, the importation

having fallen as low as 14,700,000 lbs. in 1816;, the contingency. The discoveries of Dr. LivingTurkey and Egypt forwarded 8,000,000 lbs. in stone in Africa fully demonstrate the possibility, 1831, and 34,616,000 lbs. in 1856. This also has and, under proper management, the certainty of an varied materially, though it has been a steadily abundant supply from that continent. The climate increasing source, for instance the 8,000,000 in and soil are alike propitious, while labour is com1831 had steadily advanced to upwards of paratively worthless. It will, however, occupy a 14,000,000 in 1846; in 1847, 4,800,000 lbs. only long period of time before the natives become sufcame in; the next year, 7,200,000 lbs.; in 1849, ficiently civilized to grow it steadily. Excellent. 17,400,000 lbs; then in 1850, no less than close samples have been produced at Port Natal, but upon 49,000,000, an immediate drop to 17,000,000 immigration is necessary to develope any one of lbs, in 1851-and not half-only 8,000,000 lbs. in the unbounded resources of that settlement. In 1852. Since the last year, however, the supply has very many other places, in various parts of the been more steady, having been 28,000,000 lbs., world, the cultivation of cotton has been success32,900,000 lbs., and 34,600,000 lbs. respectively. fully attempted, but in none on a scale sufficiently There are a few other places from which cotton large to do more than to show clearly the certainty comes, but in so uncertain quantities, and in that the land produces this staple. The subject so small a proportion to the aggregate, as not to has attracted the attention of the French Governdemand particular notice. In 1831 India sent ment also, and it is intended to extend the growth 25,800,000 lbs., in 1856, 180,496,000 lbs., but in of the shrub from Egypt to Algeria. Judging by the first of these years is included a small quantity what has been done with wheat in that province, from the Island of Bourbon, from which place a it is thought that France, before long, will set her large portion of the seed originally planted in manufacturers, in a great degree, free from their other places was procured. With the exception present sole reliance upon America. of Egypt, Hindostan is the only quarter in which an increased production has taken place; and it would appear to that country alone can we confidently look for a permanent supply.

That India possesses everything required for the growth of cotton may be deduced from the augmentation which has taken place in the quantity exported. The great drawback to the Three things appear to be essentially necessary extension of planting in India, seems to be a want to the cultivation of the cotton tree-namely, a of irrigation, and means of conveyance to the searich soil, climate not below a certain temperature, board. Much has been done by the Government to and an abundant supply of labour. Since the remedy the former, not on account of this one parabolition of the slave trade, the production of ticular article, but for improving the land generally. those countries which were dependent upon that Very much remains yet to be accomplished, and, method of planting has fallen to almost nothing, before any system can be fully carried out, a more and it is considered very doubtful if the maximum economical distribution of the revenue of India erop which can be raised in the United States, must be brought to bear, in order that larger sums under existing circumstances, be not nearly reached. may be appropriated to public works than have been Much of the old soil has been already exhausted, paid hitherto. Private enterprise is working hard and the present large yield has only been raised by to overcome the other difficulty, and were a certain extending the confines of the several estates. rate of interest generally guaranteed, for any One negro cannot attend to beyond a certain feasible project, British capital would readily flow zumber of shrubs, and from the agitation, now of to the East for the construction of railroads, and serious moment, which prevails between the Nor- other works. From such as have been constructed, hern and Southern States, upon the question of it is evident that, comparatively, the cost is but Marery, many years must necessarily elapse before, small, while, from the reports of those already in the natural state of things, any great increase operation, it appears that the natives eagerly avail as be made in the number of cotton-producing themselves of this method of locomotion, both for labourers. The confines of the district devoted to themselves and for their merchandise. Where on in the United States has the peculiar disad-railways could not be formed without a heavy extage of being subject to frost at uncertain pense, or in inconvenient positions, a new plan of periods, by which much damage is done, and travelling has been recently projected--that of the net quantity is reduced by an extent sufficient tram-roads. Their expense is trifling, and they cause an influence upon prices. One halfpenny will be formed with so much facility, that not only per pound on the price of the raw article appears will means of communication be provided in a short to be but a small advance, but it must be remem- period of time, but at a cost which will prove rebered that it really represents a sum of £1,500,000 munerative to the shareholders. The "Endless Traction Engine," which formed so important a feature in the London civic procession last year

added

The

to the cost to the manufacture.
disadvantage of so great a trade

enormous

its existence, is stimulating discoveries in other goods upon common roads in that country. In teng wholly dependent upon a single country for may, perhaps, furnish an idea for drawing heavy egions. Many of these will, doubtless, in the Texas the same difficulty of transportation of meraces. But manufacturers cannot afford to risk India, only, perhaps, in a much more formidable ene of a few years, become large producing chandise presents itself which is experienced in

W

354

THE TESTIMONY OF THE ROCKS.

degree, inasmuch as it is necessary there to pass
over a long desert, parched, barren, and of volcanic
origin. The Americans, however, set us an example
in the way of overcoming difficulties. It will not
answer for them to allow the rich lands in the in-
terior to lay waste any longer, so they have intro-
duced camels from Arabia, for the purpose of
raising beasts of burthen, whch may be capable of
passing the track in question. One other difficulty
to an almost unlimited supply of cotton from
Hindostan, though of consequence, might be
more easily removed-that is, the jealousy on
the part of the Company to leasing land
for a long term, or to selling it. Expe-
rience of other articles has proved what can
be done if European skill and capital be
employed. Castor Oil, for instance, not long
since was one of the most nauseous drugs imagin-
able, requiring a large capital and time to be em-
ployed here to make it at all fit to be dispensed
by the chemist. Two young men went out to
Calcutta as druggists; one of them found it profit-
able to instruct the natives in the proper way to
prepare it, and the result has been that for many
years the article has come here perfectly pure, and
so tasteless as occasionally to be used for table
purposes. Indigo, Lac Dye, and Sugar, all bear
in the market a great distinguishing feature be-
tween native and cultivated, the latter equal, if
not superior to, any produced elsewhere, the
former bearing a much lower price; and so with
very many other articles which might be enume-
rated. It was found profitable a short time since
to cultivate the growth of oil seeds; and India has
now completely superseded all other countries in
the quality sent to Europe.

for obtaining a regular supply of cotton. It is proposed that a small annual subscription shall be raised to distribute machines, seed—and in fact everything that can conduce to a better and regular receipt, no matter from what quarter it may come. The Liverpool merchants also have lately taken the matter up, and with all the facilities which we possess at home and abroad, the only questions for solution appear to be, shall this extensive manufacture be at the mercy of one single country, and the profits be abstracted and turned over to foreigners, for the encouragement of the slave trade, which is now going on vigorously; or shall a much smaller amount of money be devoted to bringing out the resources of our own empire, to the real advantage of every one connected with it? Violent scenes have recently taken place in the Cortes at Madrid, and a long diplomatic correspondence is now going on in reference to the payment of interest upon the Spanish debt. Symptoms of repudiation have again been manifested on the part of a rich city on the other side of the Atlantic. No profit has ever accrued either to individuals or to the country at large, from any of these loans. A glance at the official list of the Stock Exchange will give a slight idea of what has been lost by lending to other countries. True, losses have been sustained in forming railways and other works at home; still there is the satisfaction of knowing that it has improved, and not impoverished, the nation; and now that experience has been gained many of these undertakings are becoming remunerative to a certain extent. This experience will not be better applied than in bringing it to bear upon such of our own possessions as require it, and where a An association has been formed at Manchester certain return can be obtained.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE ROCKS.

SECOND NOTICE.

We noticed the general character of this work in the May magazine, and particularly the lectures, or sections, in which the author propounded the theory that the Mosaic narrative of creation was founded on a series of visions; stated his plan of reconciliation between science and Scripture, and his views regarding certain arguments belonging to, in his own language, "metaphysical theology." No evidence exists in favour of the supposed visions of Moses, who is in reality, perhaps, the most distinct and the plainest of historians; and no necessity for any of the schemes of reconciliation, ancient or modern, between science and Scripture ever existed; so that the new is neither better nor worse than the old, and either is supererogatory, while the metaphysical theology has not been intelligible to its critic in this instance.

His researches within his own field were vigorou and voluminous, and his descriptions of the labo and its results are beautiful and vivid, because b illustrated a happy blending of imaginative an industrial powers not often united in nearly equ proportions; but all these achievements we built upon an external foundation of the thin seen and tangible, and he seems not to have be equally qualified for what he termed metaphysic reasoning. Through all his geological works same grasping after a "reconciliation" of matte that he might have seen required no reconciliat for they evinced no difference, is traceable. 1 unfortunate peculiarity in this line of though almost consequential upon the "thinker's" adm tion of a particular study, without the developm of those strictly reasoning powers that might h