lengthy and valuable paper on the consumption of cotton in the Zollverein, furnished to the Department of the Interior by Dr. Schleidin, minister from Bremen. It is needless to say that this report is meagre, when we consider that Mr. Claiborne spent but three or four months in Europe; but so far as it goes we have found it well considered, accurate, and of great value, and have no doubt that it will lead to more elaborate publications in the future. The points to which Mr. Claiborne's attention was called by his instructions from the Department, were to— 1. Ascertain the amount of cotton consumed in the manufactories of each city, district, or country, either in Europe, or any other portion of the earth where cotton is manufactured; the amount of capital invested in such manufacturing establishments; the number of looms and spindles; the number of hands employed, and the average rate of wages paid to the employés. Aggregate results for each country or district are desirable, as far as practicable. 2. The immediate sources from whence these establishments actually procure their raw material; the nearest seaport where they might be furnished direct from the United States, and the diminution of cost which might be effected by any change in the course of trade. 3. If direct trade were established, what are the commodities we should receive in exchange. Would this be sufficient in amount to furnish adequate return freights for the vessels employed in the transportation of cotton. 4. What proportion of the supplies furnished to these establishments is in the shape of yarn, and what in the shape of raw cotton. Ascertain the price of each, in order to show what profit is made by the manufacturer of the yarn. 5. What is the quality, grade, or number of the yarn principally used, and is it such as could be produced by the unskilled labor on plantations, or in the Southern cities. 6. To what countries do the manufacturers of Europe generally send their yarns and goods, and what diminution of expense would result from manufacturing or spinning in our own country, and shipping direct to those countries. 7. What duties are levied on cotton or yarn respectively; their effect on the consumption of each; the feasibility of procuring their remission or modification, and the probable effect on consumption of such remission. 8. What are the agencies in each country which are now tending either to advance or check the consumption of cotton. 9. What new modes of applying cotton to the use of man are now in use in Europe; to what extent is it used for mixing with wool in making cloths, cordage, or for any other purpose. 10. What proportion of the cotton goods consumed in each country is imported, and what supplied at home. 11. Examine the subject in its financial aspect; inquire how, in the actual operations of commerce, a merchant could have his orders for cotton executed, and pay therefor at the ports of exportation. Examine also into the nature and course of exchange operations that would thus arise, and the practicability of avoiding the necessity of English or French banking credits. 12. Direct some attention to the subject of the production of cotton in foreign countries, with a view of ascertaining whether our planters may apprehend any formidable competition from any such source; what are the obstacles in the way of such foreign production, and are they such as are likely to be removed hereafter. FRANCE. This nation ranks second to Great Britain in respect to cotton manufactures, and second to no country in the taste and beauty of her tissues.. It is but sixty years since this industry was attempted in Paris. The French yarns are SURVIVORS OF THE WAR OF 1812-'15. 49 67 esteemed to be ten per cent. better than those of England. The pure cotton tissues, of French manufacture, are calicoes, indiennes, percales, ginghams, madopolain, jaconet, organdie, and fig'd muslins, printed muslins, handkerchiefs, and shawls, tulles, bobinets, laces, bonnetine, and fringes and nankins. M. Moreau de Jonnès, in his late very valuable work, "La Statisque de L'Industrie de la France," (Statistics of French Industry,) has a chapter on cotton which abounds in interesting facts and speculations. After giving a rapid sketch of the rise and progress of the manufacture in France, the author proceeds to show its influence upon the industrial and commercial wealth of the country, as it at present exists. According to this high authority, the value of the production of cotton tissues, and its relation to the population, was, in the year 1812, 176,000,000 of francs, or $32,736,000, being 6 francs, or $1 12 to each inhabitant; while in 1850 it was 334,000,000 of francs, or $62,124,000, being 10 francs to each inhabitant. By the census of 1851, the population of France was 35,783,170. Says M. de Jonnès, p. 76, "The 62,000,000 (kilogrammes) imported for the spinneries, being transformed into tissues and other fabrics, worth at least 334,000,000 of francs, the industry of our manufactures quintuples the value of the raw material, and augments it four times; or, in other words, gives it an increased value of 250,000,000 of francs." Estimating the total consumption by Great Britain, Continental Europe, and the United States, at the time he was writing, (probably 1855,) at the round sum of 502,000,000 kilogrammes, or 1,104,400,000 pounds, he says: "At 1 fr. 50 centimes (the kilogramme) here is a value of 753,000,000 (or $140,058,000.) If the raw material should be everywhere quintupled, as in France, the annual industrial production of cotton would be near 4,000,000.” M. de Jonnès gives tabular statements as to each branch of cotton manufacture in France, which are embodied herein as well worthy of attention. For convenience sake, the French weights and values have been reduced to our own standards. His estimate of the number of spindles is considerably below that of several other authorities-M. Audiganne placing the number at 5,000,000. Number of hands employed... 63,064 (of whom, 22,807 men, at 37 cents; 23,531 women, at Raw material per centum.... Salaries, general expenses, and profits, do.... .65 .35 NOTE. The rate of wages given here is at least one-third. Mr. Claiborne says, below those which, I was informed by proprietors, were paid at Mulhouse and Rouen. They had probably risen meanwhile. THE following statistics will show the receipts of cotton into France, from all countries, and the markets which are furnished for her manufactured tissues: EXPORTS OF COTTON TISSUES FROM FRANCE OF HOME PRODUCTION. FACTORIES OF SWITZERLAND. 69 From his review Mr. Claiborne arrives at the conclusion, "that the condition of cotton manufacture in France is highly prosperous and remunerative, and there is no reason why the consumption of cotton should not go on increasing. The comparative dearness of fuel for manufacturing purposes is more than counterbalanced by the abundance and cheapness of labor, and the monopoly of the home market, with a demand for cotton tissues and stuffs for clothing or luxury, which is daily augmenting. Nevertheless, the cotton manufacturing interest is at present in a nervous and excited state, owing to the exertions of the advocates of greater freedom of trade, and the abolition or radical modification of the prohibitory system. That a modification-the greater the better--of our commercial treaty with France, would be followed by an increased consumption of our cotton, wool, and other products, and would tend to the increased prosperity of both countries, does not admit of reasonable doubt.' SWITZERLAND.-At Zurich a leading merchant and cotton buyer informed Mr. Claiborne that at least nine-tenths of the consumption of cotton wool in Switzerland was of the growth of the United States; there being but a small proportion of Fgyptian, and still less of Brazilian or East Indian, called for. The Swiss manufacturers, with whom capital is generally abundant, have availed themselves of all the latest inventions and improvements in machinery, both for spinning and weaving; and their establishments are, for the most part, models as to neatness, order, and skill. As for the future prospects of cotton manufacture in Switzerland, it may be said that though it is an inland country, without seaports or coal beds, and therefore obliged to pay an increased price for the raw material, as well as for the necessary fuel to convert it into yarns or tissues, there is, nevertheless, to be found abundance of capital and cheap labor, whereby those disadvantages are overcome to a considerable degree. The general diffusion of skill in handwork, aided by the system of popular education, the frugal habits of the people, and the winters of eight months' duration, compelling the inhabitants to remain within doors, all contribute to make up for the disadvantages under which it otherwise labors; the influence of new inventions in machinery, and methods of saving fuel, must also be felt there as they have been elsewhere; while the more liberal modern systems which dispense raw materials and manufactures from it, in transitu, from the payment of duties to the countries through which they pass, place Switzerland more on a footing with maritime countries than might otherwise be the case. A still further increase in her importation and manufacture of cotton-wool seems therefore altogether probable. BELGIUM.-In Belgium, from 26,000 to 28,000 people are engaged in the manufacture of cotton. "Traverse the country in whatever direction he may, the traveler scarcely ever loses sight of the tall chimneys of the factories, and he is frequently at a loss whether to admire most of its evidences of high agricultural advancement of those of manufacturing activity which meet him at every turn." In 1855, the importation of cotton into Belgium amounted to 26,809,760 lbs., of which 12,530,126 lbs. were direct from the United States. Of this, 3,926,921 lbs. were in transitu. "The entire importation of cotton yarn in 1855 amounted to 3,656,948 lbs. of the value of 1,273,002 dollars. Of this, 428,391 lbs., of the value of 292,448 dollars, were consumed in the country, and 3,316,851 lbs., of the value of 1,015,268 dollars, was in transit. Much the greater part of these yarns were sent into Prussia." Statement of Cotton Wool imported into Belgium during the years specified. THE HANSE TOWNS.-Although none of it is consumed in their territories, the two free cities of Bremen and Hamburg receive annually a large and rapidly increasing amount of cotton, which is distributed thence into the States composing the German Custom's Union, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, and Sweden. All classifications are quite ready of sale, but middling to middling fair are the most sought for. In fact, Bremen and Hamburg import more American cotton than any other country, except Great Britain, France and Spain. In 1856, 45,539,585 lbs. cotton were imported to Bremen, valued at $5,432,615; of this 42,757,210 lbs., valued at $5,173,343f were the productions of the United States. The United States, therefore, furnished almost the entire supply, and |