Imatges de pàgina
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"The American saw-gin, and the wonderful discoveries and inventions in England in the operations of carding, spinning,* and weaving cotton, gave birth to the cotton-husbandry in the United States. The application of steam to the propelling of the cottonmachinery, and for purposes of navigation; the improvements in ship building, which enable vessels that formerly carried only 900 lbs. to the ton of register, now to carry from 1500 to 2000 lbs. to the ton, separate from the skill and industry of the cultivator, have materially contributed to its unparalleled extension.

66 In consequence of its abundance, and the facility with which it can be twisted into a thread, cotton is the cheapest of all the materials for clothing; and what, perhaps, is of scarcely less importance, it is in a high degree conducive to health. For these reasons, it is gradually supplanting flax, silk, and wool, as an article of wear, or forms a component part of all of them. From its exchangeable value, and constituting as it does more than onehalf of our exports,† it has greatly accelerated the growth and flourishing condition of the plantation states; aided to build up the prosperity of their political associates, and added vastly to the wealth and greatness of the union. Nor has its benefits been confined to the North American republic. The enlargement of our cotton husbandry, by arousing the energies of the British artists, created many of those extraordinary mechanical improvements, which have essentially contributed to render England the most powerful nation of which history furnishes an example. The community of interests existing between that sea-girt isle and our highly favoured land, owes its strength and maintenance to the downy fleece of a long-neglected shrub, which, by the unexampled skill and ingenuity of the one, and the untiring industry and perseverance of the other, has become the wonder of agriculture in the United States, and the miracle of manufacture in Europe.' Without attempting to show the manifold blessings that cotton has conferred on the political and social condition of other nations, it may, perhaps, be only necessary to remark, that everywhere society feels its friendly and invigorating influence. All classes and occupations, though its culture and manufacture, on an extended theatre, are of modern date, already acknowledge, that the 'vegetable wool' is among the greatest gifts of God to His people.

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"The grand revolution which has increased the production of cotton wool in this country over 5676 times in half a century, has been brought about not by governmental patronage and the influence of monopolies, but against the unceasing plunderings of the one, and the resistless and unrelenting fiat of the other. The history, indeed, of no pursuit affords so extraordinary a result from the isolated labours of its followers, and under circumstances so oppressive and discouraging, as that of the cotton grower of the United States. He sows, and endures the heat and burden of the day, but others riot in the harvest. A juster and nobler policy, it is hoped, will ere long direct the federal councils. England now pays to America 35,000,000 dollars per annum for a single product of our fields. To keep her in this position is a task of easy accomplishment, if commerce be free, and the planter be released from the shackles of pernicious and unwarrantable enactments. As an exporter of the main crop of both countries, Texas can never be the rival of the United States, unless the spirit that has so long swayed the constituted authorities of the latter shall unfortunately continue in the ascendant. Under the guidance of a patriotic home legislation, and international interests, these coterminous communities would constitute the region, which might abundantly supply the nations of the globe with its great staple commodity, and at a lower rate, too, than ever was done by the labour of man."-Mr. Seabrook on the Cultivation of Cotton.

In 1791, about 2,000,000 lbs. were grown in the United States-of which about 1,500,000 lbs. was the produce of South Carolina, and about 500,000 lbs. of Georgia. In 1801, the cotton crop of the United States was about 40,000,000 lbs.—of which about

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Of the inventions of the water frame' by Arkwright, the 'spinning jenny' by Hargreaves, and the mule jenny' by Samuel Crompton, the two first occurred a short time before the American Revolution-the last in 1779. Of the four great divisions of the globe,' remarks Mr. Baines, Europe was the last to receive the cotton manufacture, and England was among the last to engage in that branch of industry."

"The total value of the exports of the produce of the United States, during the year, ending on the 30th of September, 1841, was 106,382,722 dollars. Of this, cotton furnished 54,330,341 dollars, or more than one-half. South Carolina, as her share, contributed 8,011,392 dollars."

20,000,000 lbs. was produced in South Carolina, about 10,000,000 lbs. in Georgia, about 5,000,000 lbs. in Virginia, about 4,000,000 lbs. in North Carolina, and about 1,000,000 lbs. in Tennessee.

In 1811, the crop of the United States was estimated at 80,000,000 lbs.- of which 40,000,000 lbs. in South Carolina, 20,000,000 lbs. in Georgia, 8,000,000 lbs. in Virginia, 7,000,000 lbs. in North Carolina, 3,000,000 lbs. in Tennessee, and 2,000,000 lbs. in Louisiana.

In 1821, the produce of the several cotton growing states was distributed as follows,South Carolina, 50,000,000 lbs., Georgia, 45,000,000 lbs., Tennessee, 20,000,000 lbs., Alabama, 20,000,000 lbs., Virginia, 12,000,000 lbs., North Carolina, 10,000,000 lbs., Louisiana, 10,000,000 lbs., and Mississippi 10,000,000 lbs. Total crop about 170,000,000 lbs. In 1826, the total produce of cotton in the United States was about 348,500,000 lbs. Georgia produced 75,000,000 lbs., South Carolina 70,000,000 lbs., Tennessee 45,000,000 lbs., Alabama 45,000,000 lbs., Louisiana 38,000,000 lbs., Mississippi 20,000,000 lbs., Virginia 25,000,000 lbs., North Carolina 10,000,000 lbs., Florida 2,000,000 lbs., and Arkansas 500,000 lbs.

In 1833, the cotton crop of the United States increased to about 437,750,000 lbs. : viz., Georgia 88,000,000 lbs., South Carolina 73,000,000 lbs., Mississippi 70,000,000 lbs., Alabama 65,000,000 lbs., Louisiana 55,000,000 lbs., Tennessee 50,000,000 lbs., Florida 15,000,000 lbs., Virginia 13,000,000 lbs., North Carolina 10,000,000 lbs., and Arkansas 750,000 lbs.

In 1834, the crop increased to 467,500,000 lbs.: viz., Mississippi, 85,000,000 lbs.; Alabama, 85,000,000 lbs.; Georgia, 75,000,000 lbs.; South Carolina, 65,500,000 lbs.; Louisiana, 62,000,000 lbs.; Tennessee, 45,000.000 lbs.; Florida, 20,000,000 lbs.; Virginia, 10,000,000 lbs.; North Carolina, 9,500,000 lbs.; and Arkansas, 500,000 lbs.

By a report of the secretary of the treasury to congress, compiled from the returns of the weight and value of cotton cleared at all the custom-houses of the United States, the average prices of cotton were as follows:

1791 to 1800, average price was 33 cts.; highest average, 44 cts. in 1799, lowest average 23 cts. in 1793.

1801 to 1810,

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1811 to 1820,

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1821 to 1835,

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in 1810. 10,, in 1812.

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9,, in 1831.

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GROWTH of Cotton brought to Market in the United States for Fifteen Years.

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THE Exports of Cotton grown in the Plantation States of North America.

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* From 1784 to 1790 inclusive, the number of bags exported was respectively 8, 14, 6, 109 389, 842, 81, which are estimated as weighing 150 lbs. each.

+ Some foreign cottons included.

+ The bags from 1833 to 1842, inclusive, are estimated to weigh 330 lbs. each.

For the nine months ending the 30th of June.

EARLY IMPORTS OF AMERICAN COTTON, FROM THE UNITED STATES

INTO ENGLAND.

The first arrival of cotton-wool, the produce of the United States of America, took place at Liverpool, on the 20th of January, 1785, of one bag, per Diana from Charleston.

An account of the import of the first cotton brought to the port of Liverpool, the growth of the United States of America, 1785. January 20th, Diana from Charleston, one bag; February 17th, Tonyn, New York, one bag; July 21st, Grange, Philadelphia, three bags; November 17th, Friendship, Philadelphia, nine bags. Total, fourteen bags.

1786.-May 4th, Thomas from Charleston, two bags; June 21st, Juno, Charleston, four bags. Total, six bags.

1787.-April 5th, John from Philadelphia, six bags; June 7th, Irish Volunteer, Charleston, one bag; June 14th, Wilson, New York, nine bags; June 28th, Grange, Philadelphia, six bags; James Appleton, two bags; August 2nd, Henderson, Charleston, forty bags; December 13th, John, Philadelphia, George Goring, thirty-seven bags; Order, seven bags. Total, 108 bags.

Total import of cotton into Liverpool during the six years from 1785 to 1790, inclusive, was 1441 bags. Though the above statement shows a progressive increase, it appears that the demand was neither uniform nor extensive, the import, in 1789, having exceeded that of the following year 731 bags. From this period, however, the trade, especially as regards Liverpool, has increased with astonishing rapidity.

NUMBER of Pounds of Sea Island Cotton Exported from the United States.

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The recognised distinctions of cotton on the continent of Europe, are as follows:— -1. The North American; 2. The West Indian; 3. The South American; 4. The East Indian; 5. The Levantine; 6. The African; 7. The Italian; 8. The Spanish.

The relative value of the above cottons is as follows:-Sea Island, Bourbon, Egyptian, Maragnan, Bahia, and Pernambuco; Motril, from the kingdom of Grenada; Cayenne, Surinam, Demerara, and Berbice; Superior West Indian, New Orleans, Upland Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Inferior West Indian; Levant-European and Asiatic Turkey; Italian, Madras, Surat, Bengal.

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COTTON CROP OF THE UNITED STATES.

STATEMENT of the Total Amount and of the Growth, Export, and Consumption of Cotton, for the Year ending the 31st of August, 1843; derived from the New York Shipping List.

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