Agricultural Prospects of Georgia-Sea Island Cotton. 509

to regard Georgia as his abiding place. as this country. The intelligent London The result of all this is, our people have correspondent of the National Intelligenbecome attached to the soil, and conse- cer remarks, that the " rapidly increasquently they are now improving their ing consumption of this article in the farms, embellishing their homes, laying United States, the improving condition off pleasure grounds, planting orchards, of the social relations of Europe, and the and establishing homesteads to be hand- augmenting wealth of Great Britain, ed down and kept in their families. and her Oriental and Australian empire, combine to indicate that consumption in the aggregate must continue to increase, and occasion serious considerations to all connected with the cotton trade, respecting the future supplies of the raw material. The Economist estimates the consumption of cotton for the year 1852, as follows:

portant than any theories by which they sult from periodical meetings of persons might be explained.

Southern Central Association-History of the Cotton Gin. 511

and aggregate interests of the Slave- its long grated windows, as in the time holding States to meet us in an Agricul- of Whitney. The cotton house makes a tural Convention, in Montgomery, on large and commodious barn. Mr. Talthe first Monday in May next. Your at- bot says that Allison or Ellison, who had tendance is respectfully and earnestly been connected with Whitney in busirequested. ness, told him that the latter got his first idea of the invention from a gin used to prepare rags for making paper, and which he saw on a wrecked vessel.

W. C. Daniel, De Kalb Co.; George R. Gilmer, Lexington; Thomas Stocks, Greensboro'; J. Hamilton Couper, Darien; James M. Chambers, Columbus; Asbury Hull, Athens; John P. King, Augusta.

The following highly interesting communication from the Hon. Garnett Andrews presents some facts connected with the early history of the cotton gin in Georgia, that cannot fail to be interesting, Cotton having become of such vast importance, not only to the producers, but to the world, every thing relating to its history is of interest. Therefore, I am induced to give a little information I lately obtained in relation to the great staple.

On the place sold by Whitney, was erected, in 1811, a cotton factory, and, I presume, the first in the state. The prime mover in the enterprise was a Mr. Bolton, of Savannah, a merchant, who spent his summers then in Washington. Mr. Talbot had four shares. The factory had one hundred and sixty spindles, cost $1.700, and made fifty yards of cloth a day, which sold from fifty cents to one dollar per yard. The weaving was done by hand-loom weavers, who were obtained from Long Cane, in South Carclina. The factory proved an unprofita

ble affair.

In this connection, it may be interesting to say, that during the war of 1812, cotton was hauled from this country to Baltimore and Philadelphia, and the wagons loaded back again with goods. Wagoners are now living in the country who used to drive the teams engaged in this service.

I rode, a few days since, six miles below this place, to see my old friend Thomas Talbot, and his kitchen and barn. Mr. Talbot is eighty-three years old, in full possession of his faculties, and is living where he settled sixty-two years ago. Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin, settled a plantation adjoining him, on which he placed one of I cannot close this communication his gins, the first that was used in Wilkes without a word about my aged and county-perhaps the first in the state. highly respectable friend, in his characHe and his partner, Durkee, erected a ter of planter. Some of the land now in gin house and a large cotton house-the cultivation by Mr. Talbot, was old when latter to hold the cotton they expected to three-fourths of Georgia was in the posreceive from customers to gin. The session of the Indians. Originally of a gin house was grated, so that visitors strong soil, as Wilkes county generally might look through and see the cotton was, Mr. Talbot, by paying some attention flying from it without seeing the gin. He to improvement, has not only preserved suffered women to go into the gin house but much improved some of his old lands. to see the machinery, not apprehending But that to which I wish particularly to that they could betray his secret to direct attention, is his regret that he had builders. Lyon, who lived some eight not commenced hill-side ditching long or ten miles above this place, by dressing ago, before the creeks and branches had himself in women's clothes, procured ad- carried off the best of his soil. The mittance, and came out and made his walnut, locust and other shade trees in improvement, the saw gin. Mr. Talbot his yard, planted by his own hands, have says that Billy McFerran, a little Irish the appearance of aged trees. His serblacksmith, who died a few years ago in vants, some as old, or older than himself, this country, made the saws, the first with their generations of children, that ever were made. Durkee, Whit- grandchildren, and I do not know how ney's partner, being dissipated, and in- far to go in the great-grandchildren attentive to business, sold out his line, give to the white-headed citizen place, and the gin and cotton house the appearance of a patriarch at the coming into the possession of Mr. Tal- head of his tribe. He has had born on bot, he moved them to this place. The his place one hundred and nine children, former is now his kitchen, and still has but has kept no record of deaths.

ART. XIII-MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS OF WEALTH AND PROGRESS, ETC.

CLOTHING FOR NEGROES-SLAVERY AS A PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME-POPULATION AND RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA-SLAVERY AS AN ELEMENT OF SOUTHERN STRENGTH-MOUNTAIN REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA-FINANCES AND GROWTH OF MICHIGAN-SHIP CANAL AT ST. MARY.

The following is recommended by ishment of these negroes has been ameMr. Johnson, of Concordia, La., as a liorated under our statute in favor of their cheap mode of providing waterproof sacks for negroes, in their exposure on

our southern estates:

"For a plantation of fifty or a hundred negroes, take twenty gallons of linseed oil, into which mix three pounds of litharge, after the oil shall have been boiled a few moments. The litharge should be pulverised before being incorporated with the oil, and well stirred in. Previously an overcoat, or sack, should have been neatly made from common cotton cloth, called domestics, long enough to reach below the knees, to be closely buttoned up in front. When the mixture of oil and litharge is boiling hot, immerse the garment, wring it as dry as possible, and let it hang in the sun for three days, when it will become completely waterproof, an overcoat for the negro, secure against storm or tempest, impervious to the wintry winds, or the chills of the nights. It will cost less than sixty cents per sack, and last one or two years."

color. For the same crime, in almost any state of Christendom, they would have been punished capitally-and this would have been the punishment in our state of Texas, had they been white, or they would have been sentenced to the penitentiary for life; whereas, now, these free negroes are allowed all the out-door liberty consistent with their due punishment, and by good conduct they may confidently expect to enjoy a large share of personal comforts. Indeed, in this respect, their physical well-being will doubtless be improved by their change of condition. One of the ne

groes frankly expressed this opinion, and preferred to be tried for kidnapping, and sold as a slave, if convicted, than to be tried for the larceny, with the penitentiary in prospect.

"The 5th George IV., c. 84, gives to the governor of a penal colony a property in the services of a transported offender for the period of his sentence, and authorizes him to assign over such offender to Whilst upon the subject of negroes we any other person. And in this way hunare reminded of an argument made by dreds and thousands of British subjects, Ashbel Smith, of Texas, upon the right convicted of crimes, are annually as of influting slavery as a punishment for signed as farm and domestic servants in crime, as has been done in Texas, in the the penal colonies of that country. Accase of free negroes convicted of stealing cording to the official memorandum, layslaves. We intended an earlier notice of ing down the duties of a convict in asthe very able paper. Mr. Smith says: signment, he is required to devote his "The whole system of penitentiary whole time and his best services to his MASpunishment is the practical carrying into TER.' 'Flogging, solitary confinement, effect the doctrine that by the commis- and labor in a chain-gang,' are the punsion of crime the personal services and ishments authorized by law for miscon personal liberty of the criminal are be- duct by a convict in assignment, and come forfeit to the state. The state re- these punishments are not a dead letter tains the ownership of the convict, the among neglected rules and obsolete regkeeper is the state's overseer; the con- ulations, but they are inflicted with a vict is wholly deprived of all liberty, and frequency and severity that gives us an all his labor is owing and paid to the appalling idea of a British penal colony state; he barely receives the common-SLAVE colonies they should be called, est food and coarsest clothing. And this everywhere in Christendom is deemed a fitting punishment for crimes of much less heinousness than that for which the free negroes of the Billow have just been sold into slavery. The truth is, the pun

for such in fact and in form they are. 'A fixed but limited ration of food is allowed, and clothing of the commonest description.' This is the British system of to-day-it is slavery under the name of transportation." "

California Census-Agricultural Resources-Mineral Springs. 513

CALIFORNIA.-A census of California of the latter. It is to be regretted that has recently been taken by agents ap- the census returns do not, in most of the pointed by the Governor, under authori- counties, distinguish between foreigners ty of the Legislature, which furnishes from different nations. In some counsome interesting statistics. The entire ties, however, the Chinese have been population of the state is 224,435, exclu- separately classified. In Yuba county, sive of El Dorado county, which is sup- for example, there are 2,100 Chinamen; posed to contain about 30,000, and in Nevada county, 3,886; in Placer which, therefore, makes the entire popu- county, 3,019; in Sacramento county, lation about 255,000. It is evident, how- 804. We think it would be within ever, that the population of the state bounds to say there at least 25,000 Chigreatly exceeds this number. The mi- namen in California, whilst the number gratory habits of the miners, and the of French is probably much greater. vast numbers who have no settled abode, Indeed the emigration hither from but go from place to place in search of France is far greater than from any othemployment, or in speculating adven- er European nation. Within the last tures, render it altogether impracticable few days a vessel from France arrived to obtain reliable statistics as to popula- here, having on board two hundred fetion. We are satisfied the population of males, chiefly unmarried girls, who the state is not less than 300,000, and our drew prizes in the great lottery which impression is that 350,000 would be came off at Paris some months ago, and nearer the mark. According to this in which many of the prizes consisted census, San Francisco county contains of a free passage to California. 36,151 inhabitants, of whom 34,876 reside within the city. Of these there are white males 29,166; and of white females 5,154; the proportion of males to females being nearly six to one. This inequality in the sexes, however, is daily diminishing, as every vessel that arrives brings a much greater proportion of females than heretofore. But when it is known there are in San Francisco over five thousand females, those who contemplate bringing their families here will readily perceive there is no lack of female society. The population of this city, however, is doubtless greater by several thousands than is shown by the census returns. Our impression is it is The census returns also furnish some between thirty-five and forty thousand, very interesting statistics as to the agriand is daily augmenting in a ratio which cultural resources of the state. In Los almost startles belief. Next to San Angelos county, for example, there are Francisco, Sacramento City is the largest 105 vineyards, containing in the aggretown in the state, and contains between gate 450,000 grape-vines, each vine proseven and eight thousand inhabitants. ducing on an average five pounds of Next to this is Marysville, with a popu- fruit, equal in the whole to two millions lation of 4,500; then Stockton, with a two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, population of 3,000; Nevada City about of which about one million of pounds are the same, and numerous villages num- annually shipped to San Francisco, and bering from 300 to 2,500 inhabitants. the remainder is manufactured into wine One fact in reference to San Francis- and brandy, of which there arc produced co is very surprising, to wit: that of its about 2,000 barrels of each. This, be it population nearly nineteen thousand, or remembered, is the product of one coun more than one-half, are foreigners, of ty, and there are several counties in whom 16.144 are males and 2,710 fe- that section of the state altogethmales. These foreigners are composed er as well adapted to wine-growing, chiefly of Chinese and French, of whom though none of them have, as yet, the former are much the more numer engaged so extensively as Los Anous, though there are also large numbers gelos in the business. The grapes are of

From the census returns it appears there are in the whole state only 315,000 head of beef cattle. When it is remembered that the daily consumption is between 500 and 1,000 head, it will be perceived that the supply must come from abroad. A few perhaps will be imported from Lower California and Sonora, but by far the greater number must come across the plains. On several occasions we have adverted to this subject, and each day but renders it the more apparent that the demand for stock will continue unabated for several years to come, but especially during this year and the next.