In 1820, Germany was the best customer for both our plain and printed cottons. The next largest customer for plain cottons was Italy; then followed the Brazils, United 'States, Russia, Portugal, East Indies, Holland and Belgium, West Indies, etc.; and for printed cottons—British West Indies, United States, Italy, Holland and Belgium, Por tugal, East Indies, Brazil, etc. The Netherlands were the principal buyers of our laces and small wares; then Germany, British West Indies, Central America, Brazils, United 'States, East Indies, Portugal, Russia, Italy, etc. At the present time, the East Indies take nearly one third of our exported manufactured goods. For plain calicoes, our next best customer is China; then follow Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, United States, Portugal, Italy, Germany, etc. ; of printed and dyed calicoes, Turkey is the largest purchaser; then follow India, Brazil, Germany, United States, France,West Indies, Central America, etc. The United States take nearly one half of our exports of lace and patent-net; then follow Belgium, France, Holland, Germany, etc. The United States take over one third of our exports of stockings, and one half of our shipments of other sorts of hosiery; then follow Australia, the Argentine Republic, etc. One fourth of the sewing-thread exported goes to the United States; then follow Germany, Brazil, Russia, etc.
Subjoined is an estimate of the weight and value of the total production of cotton manufactures in Great Britain, with the cost of cotton consumed, and the balance remaining for wages, all other expenses, interest of capital, and profit for the years 1870, 1872, and 1874 (000's omitted; 1,071,770 = 1,071,770,000): In round numbers, therefore, it may he said that one third of the total production of C. goods is exported to the east, one half to other countries, and one sixth consumed at home.
With the great improvements which have taken place in the mechanics of the trade, and the reduced price of the raw material, a gradual l at considerable decline has taken place in the cost and price of the fabrics produced. The price of 1 lb. of yarn contain mg 100 hanks, in 1786, was 38s.; in 1807, 6.s. 9d.; in 1829, 3s. 2d.; at the present time, 2s. 6d. The cost of weaving during the last GO years has been reducod upwards of 60 per cent. A. species of calico, selling at as. per yard towards the close of the last cen tury, can be purchased in our day at as many pence! The average price per yard of goods exported in 1815 was ls. 51-d.; in 1825, lOkd.; in 1833, 6id.; in 1845, 31W.; and in
1839, In 1864, the price rose to Gd. per yard, but in 1874 it fell to 3id. per yard. The average price per lb. of yarn exported in 1815 was 3s. 71d.; in 1823, ls. 11id.; in 1835, ls. 44d.; in 1845, ls. Old.; and in 1859, lad. In 1864. the average rose to 2.s. 41.d. per lb.; but in 1874, fell to 1s. 31d. per lb. The most profitable years for spinners aro said to have been 1845, 1848, 1859, 1860, and 1871.
The earnings of the work-people are higher at the present time than they have ever been before. The following table furnishes the rates current in 1839, 1849, 1859, 4nd 1875. It will be observed that the proportionate advance during the past 16 years has been much greater in the lowest than in the highest paid hands: Except Bengal, prices at the end of Sept. and Dec., 1875, were lower than since 1860.
The Caton American civil war broke out in 1861, and in 1862 our import of cotton fell to 524 million pounds, against 1257 millions in 1861, and 1391 mil lions in 1860. Increased supplies from India and other sources brought the arrivals up to 669 millions in 1863, 893 millions in 1864, 978 millions in 1865. The war closed in 1865, trade with America was resumed, and the imports in 1866 rose to 1377 million pounds. and the cotton industry shortly afterwards resumed its former dimensions. At the crisis of the famine the mills were not working more than half-time, and in Dec., 1862, 247,000 cotton operatives and others connected with the trade, were out of employ ment, and 165,000 others only partially employed. In the same month, 234,000 persons, or 24 per cent of the total population of the districts affected, were in receipt of charita ble relief. In 1863, the average number of persons out of work was 189.000, and that of those only partially employed, 129.000; in 1864, the figures were 134,0110 and 97,000 respectively; and those for the first five mouths of 1865, 107,000 and 68,000. During the course of the famine, the losses of the trade amounted to between £65,000,000 and £70,000,000, including from £28,000.000 to £30,000,000 loss of wages to operatives. Of the later amount about one fourth was recovered in the form of relief, or in wages for • employment in public works, etc. The total sum distributed in charity alone was about, £3,000,000. In some districts in 1863, the poo•-rate rose to nearly 6.s. in the £. In the same year, the average rate for the whole of the cotton districts was 2s. 21d., against only 70. in 1861. See also COTTON FAMINE.