Cotton-Cotton Seed-Cotton Gin-and Cotton King (March, 1862)

Source: The Friend, Honolulu, March, 1862, page 24. 

[Correspondence of the Friend]

Boston, 4th December, 1861. 

Mr. Editor: 

Dear Sir—l am very glad to hear from the Islands that an effort Is being made to encourage the cultivation of cotton as an article of export, and I have no doubt but that the effort will be successful if persevered in. I have been amused at the remarks of some of the verdant writers who speaker the first cotton seed having been carried to the Islands between twenty and thirty years ago. Samples of cotton, of native production, were sent to China by Kamehameha 1st, forty-five years ago, and other samples were sent by Kamehameha 2d, about the year 1828, (38 years ago,) the seed having been extracted by hand. These samples were there pronounced by competent judges, a very excellent article, very fine and of a long staple, and have been compared to the American Sea Island. The old seed may be improved by cultivation, and become as good as ever it was In former days; but to improve the quality, and for the benefit of all interested, Mr. Charles Brewer has now on the way out, in his bark Arctic, a barrel of the best seed that could be procured, and at a great expense. The great facilities for raising cotton on our southern virgin soil, with slave labor, and aided by the cotton gin, our "King Cotton" has had almost a monopoly. He grew rich, foolish, and finally ran mad, and set about his own destruction. The first shot fired against the walls of Fort Sumpter, aroused not only a rival but a nation to arms against King Cotton, and the world as his rivals, and they are cultivating cotton in all parts of the world, and in no part can a better article be produced than at the Hawaiian Islands. Having had a personal knowledge of your soil, and climate, and the goodness of the article raised there, as soon as our troubles here began, I commenced writing about It, and knowing the importance of the Cotton Gin, in clearing it from the seed, I sent out one in the Raduga, which arrived out safe ; but I have not heard one word about the Gin, but by advice I have sent out two more Gins In the bark Arctic. They are such as I thought best adapted to the commencement of the cultivation, and shall be glad to hear that the crops require the greater article to clean it from its seed. I have also sent the printed description of them to Messrs. C. Brewer & Co., and beg leave to send a set of printed circulars and description of the gin to you, which please cause to be placed where they will be useful to the cultivator of cotton. Any persons wanting Gins, If they will send me the funds, I will purchase and send out for them any size, free from charge on my part.

Very Respectfully Yours, 

JAMES HUNNEWELL.