I extremely regret the circumstance which so long delayed my receipt of your letter of 16th July, to which I now reply.

[446]

Enclosed I send you a copy of the draft of communication addressed by me on the 6th July, severally, to the Cotton Supply Associations of Manchester, and of Liverpool. These papers were taken out and would be delivered in person to the Secretaries of the associations, by Mr. William Neill, one of our largest Cotton merchants, dealing with Manchester, and the editor of a weekly Cotton circular, much quoted by the English journals. Mr. Neill sail’d from New York on the 8th. You will perceive that my object has been thus far to secure a proper consideration of the subject, and that in these papers I have treated it simply in the Cotton Supply aspect. By the same mail however I addressed letters to individuals, with whom I have had a little correspondence, previously, treating of the political and moral bearings of the project, stating the general principles on which I thought it would be best to proceed; fortifying my suggestions and statements with documents and in two instances—to Lord Goderich M.P. from the West Riding and C. Fowell Buxton M.P., who has much influence in Manchester—requesting that the proposal of my letters to the Cotton Associations meet with due consideration: I addressed a short note also (continuing a conversation I had last autumn on the agricultural capabilities of the United States) to the editor of the Times. Colonel Hamilton, who has the most encouraging view of the project, promised me to write to Lord Stanley and friends at Liverpool by the following steamer’s mail.

I trust that what has been thus done (previous to my receiving any intimation that you had thought of soliciting money in England) will have prepared the ground favorably to Mr. Padelford’s arrival. It is a most fortunate circumstance that a competent person will be present to meet objections and take advantage of various circumstances in the discussion, if one should occur, in which facts likely to be familiar to Mr. P. will tell happily.

With regard to the proposal to be made by Mr. Padelford, if any, and the information most desirable to be furnished, he will of course be guided by circumstances, but unless met with much greater favor than I can anticipate, I may venture to say that I am confident in the judgment that it would not be best to urge much more at present than careful enquiry, in some such manner as I have done in my letters. We shall find, I apprehend, a strong influence against us in East India and other colonial interests, and also in a narrow patriotism. From Lord Goderich’s letter to me, I am sure that the American political relations of the project should be kept out of sight as much as possible in England. The name of the N. E. E. Aid Society should not at present be mentioned, because the Society has a certain political notoriety and English gentlemen will generally feel it to be their duty not to listen to a proposal which seems likely to connect their names with the internal political affairs of [a] foreign government. This is not only somewhat reasonable but with the class represented by the Times, it happens now to be a fashion. They may be drawn into it gradually, as they gain knowledge of the true character of the society, perhaps, but the dread of lending their aid even indirectly to what might turn out to be a merely political scheme (in the narrow sense), would be likely to [447] prevent their giving the subject a fair hearing. Everybody knows who has had to do with Englishmen, that it is peculiarly true of them, that it is the first step which costs. The great point at first is to get them to listen. If they will go so far this autumn as to send out an agent to obtain information, I shall feel quite sure of our leading them from that to the most valuable co-operation [. . .]

I enclose papers put into my hands last night by Mr. Kapp which must be used with discretion. I promised to return them in course of the week. They contain offers to sell lands of the choicest unimproved character in the vicinity of the northernmost German settlements of Texas and precisely in the line we wish to occupy and evidently at unusually low prices. I think some encouragement should be offered to the owners, who are Scotchmen-the merchants mentioned in my book at Neu Braunfels, who bought the free labor cotton. I know that they have made their land investments with great care. I have another offer of choice, selected lands in the same region and to the northward of it, 20,000 acres at 90 cents an acre. Another of 2,000 acres same district, selected lots at 50 cents or one half in alternate lots, for nothing, on condition of occupation within three years: another of 2 leagues on the Brazos, Milam County (6,000 acres), $1.50 an acre, another on the Nueces 35 miles north of Corpus Christi, 20,000 acres, in one body, at $1.00 an acre. Large tracts of cotton land can be best got, however, by dealing with the Railroad companies.

I am obliged to close suddenly and will probably write further by next mail.