England and the cotton crop.
We give place with pleasure to the following, from a Mississippi gentleman:Richmond, May 13, 1861.
Editor of the Dispatch--Dear Sir: I noticed in your paper this morning some reasons why England and France should interfere in our behalf. In addition to what you stated, I beg leave to offer the following information:
Being cut off from the supplies of grain, &c., from the West, the planters have been compelled to diminish the usual amount of land planted in cotton, and have planted in grain Thus the cotton crop for the next season will be shorter by at least one -fourth than it was last year. This estimate may be too great, but I do not think it is, as I noticed during the last ten days, on my way here, that a very large portion of cotton land was in grain, which looks unusually promising England will feel this diminution very keenly, and the Southern States are not allowed to raise this unusually short crop in peace, England must suffer fearfully. Have not we, then, the right to expect the interference of England?
I will thank you to contradict the report of a faminein Mississippi. I passed through the portion said to be suffering, and I never in my life saw finer crops or more cheerful people.
Mississippi.
