considerations; our future American supply, and our supply from the rest of the world. If the American war continues we shall probably, within a year or two, gradually draw mixed supplies from other countries sufficient for our consumption, unsatisfactory it may be in price, and perhaps more so in quality. India, as yet, places no reliance on our continued demand; her energy, I fear, will only be kept up, unless otherwise stimulated, by the American war. I may quote a very recent opinion from a letter received from one of the best informed writers on the subject, to whose exertions and practical knowledge on Indian cotton matters we owe more than to anyone I am aware of. Mr. Shaw, formerly resident at Dharwar, says :-"It is a significant fact, that the present enormously high prices, four or five times the ordinary price, have only slightly increased the area of cultivation, and because the growers know that there is no permanent demand for Indian cotton on account of its inferior staple." Mr. Shaw maintains that this difficulty might be overcome. If, then, the unhappy war in the United States should cease, her cotton fields would hold out very great temptation, in high prices, for renewed cultivation, either by free or slave labour, and she will doubtless, through her well-known energy, throw them into work again. What her future supply may be, or how she may be disposed to let us share it at first, is a mere matter of speculation. Under either prospect-American, or the rest of world's supply -our population, workers or masters, have for a long period, I fear, only the prospect of a most unsettled future. The real question is, I think, an eminently social one. Does the importance of the cotton trade, in connexion with Imperial interests, justify measures on its behalf for securing by legislation, in fact, the safety and progress of the trade, and thus keeping up the physical and moral health of the workers? Or is it economically sounder to leave a large population to sink for an undetermined period, before it can be parted with, either by costly emigration, or absorbed into other employments at a much lower rate of wages? Common humanity, common political prudence, would suggest at least a much fuller inquiry than any yet instituted, into the future prospects of a population employed in an occupation so important, I venture to think, even to the continued prosperity of the nation. It has been said, very lightly said, that the trade has been shown not to be so important to the country at large as was supposed. What share it has had in helping on the prosperity now so richly enjoyed by all other trades and classes, might surely be a question worth more than a mere passing inquiry. lbs. lbs. lbs. £ £ £ 74,019,790 639,000,371 52,849,445 22,681,200 ...... 98,893,508 656,575,504 102,469,717 | 561,107,144 63,596,025 26,775,135 8,977,805 71,367,885 28,257,401 4,709,120 ...... 74,448,722 1851 596,638,962 122,626,976 757,879,749 111,980,394 645,399,355 39,073,420 6,083,266 18,650,223 10,773,258 15,106,597 4 to 5 millns. Table of Exports of Cotton Goods and Yarns, in Comparison with those of other Principal Articles of British and Irish Produce. 663 On Provident Institutions. By T. Y. STRACHAN, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. WE purpose by this paper to direct attention to the various provident institutions established by and for working men. Sick Benefit Societies. As the first care of a prudent man dependant on the produce of his labour is to provide for a continuance of his income, at a period when by sickness he may be rendered unable to follow his employment, so sick benefit societies, with or without funeral funds attached, naturally occupy the first place in our investigation. In every town and village the public-house has its club or box, which, for a long time, was the only sick society available to the prudent man, and for years was his prudence taxed to support the "good of the house," while often his good intentions were entirely frustrated by the strong temptations forced upon him during his necessary attendance at the public-house club. With an eye to this danger, similar societies have been instituted at mechanics' and working men's institutions, school-rooms, chapel vestries, and similar places. Unfortunately, almost all these societies are of the crudest kind, and seek nothing further than to collect, during the year, an uniform contribution from each member, of whatever age he may be (say from 18 to 60), and after paying the sick claims during the period, divide the balance that remains, and begin anew, thus disposing of the reserve fund, which should have been retained to meet the increasing claims attendant on the advanced age of the members. When a member reaches the extreme age, he is probably refused re-admittance, or when a large proportion of the members become aged, and consequently are heavy claimants, younger men decline to join with them, and the old men, who have contributed to successive societies for years, find themselves deprived of the contemplated benefits at an age when they are most needed. We must not charge this as a fault upon the younger men, as is sometimes done, by blaming them for not supporting old age in its infirmity. Members join such institutions with the idea of buying the benefits at their fair price, and they naturally will go where they can get the best return for their money. Friendly societies are not charitable institutions, and when they become so, they are deprived of much of their utility. To develop the principle of union so necessary to friendly societies, various orders have taken advantage of the inherent inclination of men towards display and titles of rank, and the insignia of rites and ceremonies, guarded by the secrets of each order, and have by these means extended themselves into the large bodies which, on gala days, we see turn out with their music, banners, and regalia. These orders include Odd Fellows, Foresters, Druids, Mechanics, and various smaller orders. Although each of these orders exists under one united name, and meets, perhaps, in grand assembly or council at stated periods, acknowledging a supreme board or head, yet, for the purpose of a sick benefit society, each lodge, court, or tent must be considered as a separate society, regulating its own payments and benefits, keeping its funds separate and distinct, and being registered or not, as the majority of each may determine. First in importance is the "Independent Order of Odd Fellows," having 343,000 members, and probably receiving from £300,000 to £350,000 per annum in contributions for sick benefits, two-thirds of the lodges being registered under the Friendly Societies Act, the remaining one-third declining to register. In most of these the entrance or initiation fee progresses with the age, while the contributions are uniform at all ages. Lodges are united in districts, for the purpose of burial or death funds. From an able and elaborate report of the order, made in April, 1862, we learn that there is an increasing disposition towards the system of graduated payments, and doubtless a few more such reports would make such a disposition almost universal. If this were done, and the funds of all the lodges joined in one common fund (although this does not appear to be contemplated), this society would occupy a very high position. Their members are at present sufficiently numerous to give the law of average its full play, and thus determine the rate of sickness and death experienced, while the public spirit of the managers is sufficient to collect and publish this data, as in the report alluded to. The Ancient Order of Foresters numbers 224,000 members, and is in most respects so similar to the Odd Fellows that most of our remarks apply here. The entrance fee varies with the age, while the sick contributions are uniform; they also have a sick fund common to each district, and in addition have a widows and orphans fund. We may estimate their annual sick contributions at about £210,000. The Independent United Order of Mechanics, although confined to the north of England, with a district in this city of Edinburgh, appear to have 6,229 members, whose sick contributions will amount about £4,000 per annum; their sick fund now amounts to £15,220. They are not registered under the Friendly Societies Act. The Druids, Gardeners, and other minor orders are similarly constituted, while the Rechabites, Sons of Rechab, and Sons of Temperance are composed of teetotallers, who anticipate a reduction of one-third in their sick claims, as compared with those who indulge in intoxicating drinks. Prominent among the various sick societies which are spread over the kingdom are two large societies which seek to extend themselves in every town, and are now doing extensive businesses. They are the "Friend in Need" of London, and the " Royal Liver" of Liverpool. The former has lately added general assurance business to its objects, and the latter is registered in each of the three kingdoms. They are both enrolled under the Friendly Societies Act, |