is the capital. The province of Pechely extends to lat. 41 N.; the cold is more severe there, during the winter, than in our most northern departments. "The rivers in the vicinity of Pekin," say the missionaries," be The culture of cotton is of the utmost im-gin to freeze about the middle of November; portance, and undoubtedly deserves to fix the attention of government, as well as of those citizens who desire the prosperity of French agriculture, manufactures, and industry. We have enquired into that subject, and have written this chapter, with a view to enlighten the public opinion on this matter, and to direct the operations of those agriculturists who would wish to pursue this cultivation. Experiments have been made, for these 40 years past, in France, Catalonia, the Milanese, l'iedmont, Tuscany, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Saxony, &c. for the purpose of introducing the culture of cotton. the thaw commences at the end of March. During that time, whatever the weather may be, there is no danger in walking on the wa ters The lands in winter time are 'frozen, three or four feet deep, and when they are once frozen they remain so till the end of March. The spring is much later here than in our provinces which lie farthest from the south, and its operation in reanimating the country, is incomparably more slow." This correct statement of the temperature in the province of Pechely, during the winter, shows, that the intensity and continuance of cold cannot be an obstacle in France to the culture of cotton. We have, even in our southernmost provinces, a signal advantage in that respect over that part of China, since our springs being much more early, the cotton may enjoy a more protracted vegetation, and consequently its fruits have more time to come to complete maturity. These trials, always adduced as proof that the culture of cotton may succeed on a large scale, and be profitable in such or such a country, are, in my opinion, inconclusive; they may be considered as indications, but not as proofs. A fact of such a nature cannot be ascertained in an incontrovertible manner, until after at least five years of successive har- This last advantage may be a compensation vest. In fact, it is necessary to know pre- for the degree of heat which, in summer, is cisely the average and clear produce of a num-greatly higher, and more fixed at Pekin than ber of crops, to be able to judge whether a in our southernmost provinces. culture is more profitable, or less productive, than those already in practice. This has not been hitherto ascertained, in any of the abovementioned countries; those who made the trials having desisted from them after pronouncing it a sure and lucrative speculation. But, this is not the only proceeding that is required. It is important, before this is undertaken on a large scale in France, to know exactly the facts which may encourage the zeal of French agriculturists, and offer them a just probability that their labours will be crowned with success; nor is it less important to show them the obstacles they have to surmount, and the chances they may run. Therefore, we shall inquire what are the most northern situations in which this culture is practised, in Asia and America, as well as in Europe. Asia seems to be the native land of cotton; there also its cultivation is more general, and extends most to the north. The Chinese, who use very little wool in their dress, consume a great quantity of silk and cotton. This last article is generally used by people of all ranks. Out of ten persons, in the lower classes, nine are dressed in cotton. The French missionaries in China say, that cotton is cultivated in every province of this vast empire, even in the more northerly. They affirm, also, that it is in high cultivation in the neighbourhood of Pekin, and in the province of Pechely, of which that town VOL. IV. [Lit. Pan. April, 1808.] Our opinion is sanctioned, also, by that of the missionaries, who say on this subject, "None will ever think of planting the cotton-tree in France; it requires a much warmer climate, than that of our southern provinces. As to the cotton-plant, which is the most common in China, it is such a resource for some provinces, that they call it their substitute for wool and silk. Were even our French provinces in which it can grow, to reap only a sufficient quantity for their own consumption, it would nevertheless be a great profit, for them and for the realm." The culture of cotton has extended still farther northwards, in the parts of Asia which border on the Caspiar sea, on Caucasus, and the sea of Azof. We have valuable informa tion on this subject from three naturalisttravellers, who wrote in German: Tales, Gueldenstadt, and Gemelin. The first (vol. iii. pag. 503 and 521) de-' scribes the culture of the annual cotton-plaut," as practised on a large scale by the inhabitants of Great Boukary and of the country of Chiva. These countries ie from lat. 40 southward. It is sown in the beginning of the spring, and three crops are reaped. Gueldenstadt, who principally sought after the vegetables of the countries he visited, gives, in his first volume, an enumeration of the useful plants, wild or cultivated, which grow on the banks of the Terek, especially between the fortress of Mordok and the Caspian sea. E He speaks, on that occasion, of plantations of the yearly cotton-plant, which were not numerous at the time he travelled, but succeeded very well. These plantations are mostly near the north bank of the Terek. This river, after running in a line almost parallel with lat. 44, discharges itself into the Caspian sea, below Kislar. Macedonia, very much cools the atmosphere. I have seen, in Salonica, the thermometer lower than it has ever been observed at Marseilles. It is not, therefore, to be doubted that cotton may be regularly cultivated in our southern departments. If, we examine the new continent, we find the culture of vegetable cotton established in several states of America. We shall not speak of the culture long since practised in Mexico, Louisiana, the Two Floridas, and Georgia, Our inductions from those countries would prove nothing in favour of France. We take as a line of partition the states which lie in lat. 33°, and farther north; among these are the South and North Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and the Delaware states. think it unnecessary to observe that the number of mountains, lakes, rivers, woods, and waste lands of North America, greatly increase the intensity and continuance of the winter cold, and make the summers less hot than they are in Europe, in the same latitude. The difference in that respect, betwixt these two continents may be estimated at 6 or 8 degrees. The soil of South Carolina may be com❤ We Gemelin, in vol. iv. of his Travels, p. 37, gives a more detailed account of the culture of cotton; he informs us, that it is cultivated on the banks of the Kourus, which rises in lat. 44 runs down to 45°, and discharges itself into the Caspian sea, in 44° 50'. He considers that country as very fit for the culture of the plant, and he thinks it may and must, one day form an important object both of agriculture and commerce. This able and judicious observer is convinced, that cotton might be cultivated on a large scale, in the south of the Ukraine, between the Manitseh and the Kouban; i. e. from lat. 44 to 48, as well as in the fruitful countries which border the Volga, from Tschernoiar lat, 47 to Saratof, towards 51. Cotton is sown in those countries at the end of March, and in the course of April; it is gathered in Sep-pared to that of our Bourdeaux Heaths. It is tember. If we consider the temperature of the coun tries we have just mentioned, we find, from the reports of the most intelligent and correct travellers, that the cold in winter is more scvere, and more continued than in our southerly departments, and that the heat in summer, though more active, is not more intense or continual there than in those departments. If there be a difference, it is hardly observable. It is proper to remark, that during the season of the great heats which prevail in the countries between Caucasus, the sea of Azof and the Caspian, the hottest days are always succeeded by very cool nights. From these several circumstances, we cannot doubt that the culture of cotton may succeed as well on a large scale in our land, as in the Asiatic countries, lying under the same parallel as our southern departments. Several countries in the Levant, which furnish a great quantity of cotton, are greatly similar in respect to climate to the southern departments of France. There are even some, in which, according to travellers, the colds are as keen, without the heats being more intense. Such are Macedonia, and Natolia. Mr. Felix Beaujour, who resided for several years at Salonica as French consul, says in his Tableau du Commerce de la Grèce:"-It is certain that the climate in Provence is milder, and more moderate than that of Macedonia. Here the vicinity of the Athos, of the Pangea and of the Olympus, occasions frequent changes in the temperature. The air which descends from these high mountains, and circulates in the vallies of | generally light, sandy, covered with pines, and wild, like that tract of land which extends from Bourdeaux to Bayonne. Cotton is most successfully cultivated in that part of America which extends from 32' to 35'; here they also rear the orange tree; the fruit of which, it is true, is of an inferior quality. In North Carolina, between 33° 50′′, and 36 30", the soil is more fruitfu!, and cotton is more cultivated. They sow it every year, because its stem is destroyed by the cold. Higher up towards Virginia, we find a climate less warm than those we have spoken of. That country, which on the west borders those high mountains the Allaganys, lies from 36° 30′′ to 40° 30". The land, though unfruitful, still yielded good crops of tobacco; but the inhabitants who have begun within these few years, the culture of cotton, have found it so profitable that they encrease it every day, and quit that of tobacco, and even that of corn. Indeed, it has been calculated that the first culture brings much more profit than the other two; and that it would be advantageous to continue it, were the price of cotton no more than six pence per pound, in the country. The quantity of cotton which Virginia now produces makes it au important branch of trade. The profits derived from this culture by the inhabitants of the south part of the United States, have encouraged the proprietors of lands further north; and experiments have been made within these three or four years past in Delaware, and Maryland; the first of which states includes from 38° 29" to 39° 54"; the latter from 37 56" to 39° 44", The soil in these states is low and watery, very fruitful in some parts, and sandy and indifferent in several others. Our informations on the probable success of the cultivation of cotton in this part of America, are too incorrect to enable us to speak decidedly; yet it appears to prevail more and more every day. From these facts we learn that the culture of cotton in North America extends to lat. 40', and from a comparison of the climate of the two countries, it must also appear that we can introduce the same culture into our southern departments. Experience alone can show how far it may be rendered easy and profitable. If, quitting America, we enquire which are the countries in Europe, where cotton is cultivated? we find, that it is between lat. 36° and 41°, viz. in the islands of Malta, Sicily, and Lipari, in some parts of the kingdom of Naples, on the sea coast of Spain, and in several islands in the Archipelago. It is difficult to ascertain the epochs of the introduction of that culture into these several places; it was probably brought by the Saracens, who enlightened in more than one way, the Christian countries which they conquered. The Arabian writers assert that it was constantly produced in Spain when that country was governed by the Moors. More modern authors state, that towards the eleventh century cotton was extensively cultivated in Sicily, as well as in Spain; and it appears that its culture still prevailed in this latter country in the beginning of the scventeenth century. Father Martin de Koa relates, in his history of the city of Else, that in its neighbourhood, it was generally cultivated in 1629. Yet, Herrera, who wrote his Treatise on Rural Economy about that time, does not mention cotton. That culture acquired a fresh vigour in the first year of the French revolution, and lately it has spread considerably. I have seen vast cotton fields near Motril, Elche, Malaga, Velès, MalagaTorros, Almunécar, and in other places. But modern Spain has not nearly given to the culture of cotton that extent of which it is susceptible, and she will not for a long time be able to cope with the Moors in that branch of rural economy, I have also found cotton in some parts of Sicily and Calabria, But its culture is trifling there, considering the extensive tracts of lands in which it night succeed. Malta and the Lipari islands reap abundantly more cotton in proportion to the extent of their territories. All these last-mentioned countries enjoy a warmer climate than France; yet the difference in their comparative temperature with that of our southern departments is not considerable enough to deprive us of all hopes; it seems, on the contrary, to prove, that with a good mode of culture, our labours will be crowned with success. Besides the trials made in several parts of Europe, which we have mentioned in the beginning of this article, we find that the culture of cotton has been attempted in Cor sica and Sardinia. It seems that it succeeded very well in both countries; but we do not know in what condition it is at present. To all the probabilities which we have adduced, and which might be considered as approaching towards certainty, we shall add two facts which we understand are not to be doubted, but which if correct, peremptorily determine the question, and clearly show that the culture of cotton must succeed in France, since it has already been extensively practised there. The first of these facts we have found in a book that is rather scarce, printed in Toulouse in 1566, intituled, Recueil, et discours du voiage du Roi Charles IX de ce nom, à present regnant, accompagné de choses digres de memoire, &c. by Abel Jouan. In that kind of journal the author says: This day the King entered Yerres, a large and good city. Around this town there is such a number of orange, palm and pepper trees, and other trees which bear cotton, that they look like forests." The same fact is certified by Peter de Qui queram de Beau-jeu, Bishop of Senez, in the curious and scarce work which he published in 1606, entitled, La nouvelle Architecture, on instruction générale pour ensemencer toutes sortes d'arbres fruitiers, avec l'usage et propriétés d'iceur. In the 24 book of the 52d chap. which is entitled Des cannes de sucre, du poivre, COTON, girofle, canelle, we read the following sentences, p. 426. "Have we not enough to admire in the rarities of our Provence, who shows herself so kind and liberal as to grow most successfully the sugar canes, planted within these late years. We equal now-a-days other countries, and possess like them a great quantity. of cotton plants." The testimony of these two authors is confirmed by J. Bauhin; who informs us, that in his time cotton was grown in France, and that it had been brought from Italy. Hoc jam in Gallia nasci ferunt ex Italia delatum. (Historia Plantarum, lib. III. p. 143.) These instances are clear enough to prove, that cotton has been extensively cultivated in some districts of Provence, two centuries and a half ago. The causes which interrupted that culture are not easily discovered. Fashion, fancy, the extension of commerce, the severity of seasons, and exorbitant taxes might be so many obstacles-which opposed the success of this species of agricultural industry. * The schinus molle, L. is meant here. But, the taste, the wants and circumstances of the present times, require new contrivances, and commercial as well as agricultural speculations, unlike those of a century ago. If the climate of the southern departments of France be favorable to the culture of cotton, the resources of art, by aiding the cli, mate, may render that culture more easy, extensive, certain, and profitable. These resources we shall hereafter endeavour to unfold. If the departments in the south of France are capable of producing good crops of cotton, Corsica and the river of Genoa offer still better chances. The plants indigenous to hot countries, which grow freely there, remove all doubts on this subject. There are in Corsica many extensive tracts of waste land, which, with little labour and expense might be planted with cotton, and yield great profit to the proprietors. Abstract of an Apology for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, stating the Grounds for declining to print a Chinese Manuscript, in the British Museum. Circular, to Members of the Society, in conformity to the Resolution of a General Meeting, held Dec. 1, 1807. Some strictures on the proceedings of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, having appeared in the notes subjoined to a sermon preached before the University of Cambridge, on May 10, 1807, by the Rev. Francis Wrangham, &c. an old member of that society submits the following apology for their conduct to the public, and to every supporter of the extension of Christianity in India. The charge of Mr. Wrangham occurs p. 38 and 39, and consists of the following passages: He (Rev. Henry Brunton) has already published in the Turkish language, but in the Arabic character, at the Karass press, a tract against Mahometanism, in which the quotations from the Koran are translated into that language, and has likewise made considerable progress in a Version of the New Testament. See Third Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, App. IX. This had long ago (and, therefore, perhaps, more inaccurately) been effected, chiefly at the exfense of Mr. Boyle; and the bible likewise, to the great chagrin and alarm of the Mufti, had been translated into the same language early in the last century by command of the Grand Signor, in order to be confronted with the Koran. (Mill, ii. 518.) For the printing of this new Version, however, the author has been obliged to wait for paper, at a high price, from Petersburgh or Moscow. In the mean while, the Turkish Doctors study the Arabic New Testaments sent from England, that language being far more familiar even to their literati. Well therefore may the Eclectic Reviewers, referring to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge with an income exceeding £8000 per ann. in a tone of laudable indignation inquire: Why is it, that the New Testament does not circulate, in Arabic and Persian, through Mohanınedan countries; and in modern Greek, over Turkey, the Archipelago, and a considerable part of the Russian empire?'" In the Rev. William Moseley's Memoir, on introducing the Christian Scriptures_into China, occurs the following passage: From China a door would be opened to all the dependent and surrounding kingdoms-to the trackless country of the Tartars, on the north; to the extensive kingdom of Tibet, on the west; to the populous states of CochinChina, Tonquin, Laos, Ava, Pegu, Siam, and Malacca, on the south; and to Corea, Philippines, on the east. and the islands of Japan, Formosa, and the This vast field comprehends nearly one half of the human race!' Mr. Barrow informs us, that the of Siam to the Tartarian sea, and over a Chinese character is understood from the gulf very considerable part of the great Eastern Archipelago; and that the Cochin-Chinese use no other writing than the pure Chinese character, which is also the case with the Japanese.' (Travels in China, p. 615.) What the above-mentioned society however, with all their wealth, have abandoned-probably, as too expensive (see Buchanan, App M.) it is hardly to be hoped that the poorer societies of recent establishment should adopt with effect. Accordingly, the very important project of translating the scriptures into Chinese has been bandied from Mr. Moseley to Dr. Gaskin, from Dr. Gaskin to Mr. Scott, from Mr. Scott to Lord Teignmouth, &c. The Christian Society give it up; the Society for Missions to Africa and the East think it more within the ability and province of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and it would most likely have fallen to the ground, had it not been undertaken, at the private expense of individual members of the College of Fort-William, by a single native of China, assisted by a Chinese munshi! Some chapters of Genesis and of St. Matthew have already been printed off." The substance of this charge may be considered under the following heads: I. That the society has an income of £8000 a year, and ought to employ it, or a portion of it, in promoting translations of the scriptures. II. That they have not only failed in this, application of their funds, but have shuffled off the applications made to them, by bandying the important project from Mr, Moseley to Dr. Gaskin, from Dr. Gaskin to Mr. Scott, and from Mr. Scott to Lord Teignmouth. I. In answer to the first part of the charge it may be observed, that the society, as appears by their annual account this year, 1807, is possessed of a revenue amounting to £13,494, besides a benefaction, accruing in the present account, of about £10,000, expressly for the support of missionaries in foreign parts! with £1075 to the missions, will account for £11,434 out of their revenue of £13,494, and the remainder of their expenditure may be seen in their annual account. On examination of the Chinese manuscript in the British Museumby Dr. Montucci, it was discovered, that it was not 'a translation of any one Gospel, but a collection of the Gospel History from the Evangelists; and probably a composition by a Romish missionary, or native Neophyte, for the use of the Chi nese converts, and that the expence of printing 500 copies, according to Dr. Montucci's estimate, would have amounted to £8000. Whether it would have been advisable for the society to adopt such a composition, derived from a source so suspicious, and in a language which admitted not of correction, and in which they had no means of discovering erroneous doctrine, is a consideration of great importance, more particularly when the sum required to effect the purpose, would The original design of the institution had have engrossed nearly two-thirds of the annual not in contemplation the extension of the provision for the standing and appropriate obGospel in foreign parts, but the promotion ofjects of the care of the society. christian knowledge at home; and as the poor either could not, or would not purchase books of instruction,' the first object was to circulate bibles, prayer books, and religious tracts, by such means, and on such terms, as were most likely to be effectual. For the expenditure of this large revenue, the society hold themselves bound, as trustees for executing the purposes designed by their original institution. If they neglect this duty, if they conceal an item of their receipt or disbursement,they are worthy of Mr. Wrangham's reprehension. This, with the encouragement of charity schools, was their primary design at their establishment in 1698; but the Danish mission at Tranquebar falling into distress, the society in 1710 undertook the management of such contributions, as should be put into their hands for the support of that mission, Thus commenced their conne, ion with the East Indies;-and since that time, other missions have been established in that country, wholly relying upon the society for sup. port, till the amount of the annual supply is more than £1000, besides the expence of obtaining and conveying u.1.sionaries to that Country. In 1720, a further attempt was made to promote the same laudable purpose in Pa lestine, Syria, Egypt, &c. by publishing 6000 psalters, 10,000 testaments, and 5000 catechetical instructions in the Arabic language, at an expence approaching to £3000l. Thus commenced their connexion with translations, and since the commencement, the same good intent has been followed by up printing three very numerous editions of the scriptures in Welsh, and by assisting the Manx and Gaelic translations. So far then the society has not been negligent in promoting christian knowledge; and, if it is asked, how their ample funds are now applied. The distribution of 177,506 bibles and tracts, at an expence of £10,359, * £798, part of this sum charged to The society could not know whether they might not have disseminated the doctrine of transubstantiation, or the worship of the virgin, instead of genuine christianity'; and if we were to judge of the Jesuits' doctrine by the specimen given in Kircher's China Illustrata, there would have been reason to doubt at every step that was to be taken towards receiving any thing that passed through a medium so corrupted. That specimen consists of a programma affixed to the door of the Jesuits' church in Pekin, which contained the substance of such knowledge as would be communicated by the teachers in that college; but in detailing the precepts of the decalogue, it omitted the second commandment, in the same manner as we have lately seen the same commandment suppressed in the French catechism, published under the authority of Buonaparte. But in China this was more necessary than in Europe, for the Jesuits had images in their churches, and the devotions practised before a crucifix, or an image of the virgin, must have struck the mind of so acute a people as the Chinese, without having the means of distinguishing between Axλɛ and Λατρεία. Let any man produce a Chinese translation of a single Gospel, and let it be authenticated as genuine by any competent judge of stores, consists chiefly of gratuitous supplies to the royal navy. This omission has been long sanctioned by the church of Rome, and to make up the number of the commandments a deca logue, the tenth has been divided into two. E 3 |