Poole's Hole is a natural excavation underneath an hill, about half a mile from Buxton, into which the curious visitor is conducted by some hideous-looking old women, with farthing candles stuck betwixt their fingers, and when the pale lights gleam on their haggard countenances and tattered garments, they really appear most disgusting figures, "so withered and so wild," that even the witches of Macbeth might be accounted beautiful upon comparison. This dark and dismal cavern is reported to have been the abode or hiding-place ofa noted robber, of the name of Poole, who must have lived many centuries ago, and whose rocky bed, parlour, and kitchen, widely differing from the luxuries and conveniences of modern times, are pointed out to observation; as like wise an huge column of rock, called the Queen of Scot's Pillar, in honour of that unfortunate princess, who visited this cavern on the way to her confinement at Chatsworth, a seat of the duke of Devonshire, and distant from Buxton about sixteen miles. Though the entrance to Poole's Hole is low and inconvenient, it is yet visited by all the gay and fine-dressed folks who resort to its neighbouring baths; but I have rarely seen any person who appeared to be much gratified by a view of its dismal recesses, or thought themselves repaid for the trouble of exploring its damp unwholesome cavities, by any thing they saw in them. The various colours of the spar, or congealed waters, that hang on the roof and sides, are seen to great advantage from the exclusion of external light, and the uncertain blinking of the pitiful luminaries within. In admiring these, one may however pay dear for the gratification of his curiosity, as they may chance to have a tumble and a severe bruise in consequence, from the slipperiness of the rocks, which are constantly moist by the wet droppings from the roof; and it behoves the admirer therefore to take good heed to his ways, ere he ventures to look around upon the beauties of the place, if, in fact, he can discover any in this chilling region, where I was benumbed with cold and damp, and with pleasure hailed a return to the scorching rays of the sun, in one of the warmest days in June. This cave is said to be about half a mile in length; but I am of opinion it is not BO much. It is also said that it communicates with other caves, at many miles distant, but this too I imagine is an exaggeration; for the guides took me, and the person who accompanied me, as far as they appeared to deem it prudent to explore. Having now conducted you out of this dismal place, I shall for the present take iny leave of you, and remain, my dear friend, your's, with esteem and regard, THE WANDERER. For the Monthly Magazine. OBSERVATIONS on the PRESENT STATE of the COTTON COLONIES. (Concluded from p. 5, of our last.) Uvious to 1808 (the two succeeding PON an average of three years pre years being omitted on account of the American decrees and the unusual shortmess of crops) the plantation expences or those incurred before shipment came to 7d. per lb. The mercantile charges, including the duties (or those between the shipment and the sale,) amounted to 74d. per lb. So that the whole expence upon every pound of cotton, which must be deducted from the gross proceeds of the sale, is 1s. 24d. But during the same period the ave rage sale price has never exceeded 1s. 11d. per lb., which leaves after ali deduotions, only 81d. as the receipt of the proprietor. Now it will readily be granted that, in speculations in which there is scarcely any risk, 10 per cent. upon the capital, after payment of all expences, is the reward expected, and usually received. Mercantile people know this too well to require conviction from argument. Whenever the hazard is increased, the premium to the advantages is proporti onably augmented. Mr. Lowe, in his excellent pamphlet, has well insisted on the point. It will not be denied that speculations in transatlantic property, are precarious in an eminent degree. The uncertainty of crops, risk of health from climate, of property from the enemy, and various other causes, all render it so. Ten per cent, then, as the lowest reward of speculation, may be assumed, as the minimum of return due to the cotton-planter. This will be more easily conceded, as it is the general admission that this is the proper per centage of the sugar-planter, and it is well known that sugar crops are much less affected by contingencies of weather, &c. &c. than those of cotton. Assuming then ten per cent. as the reward of the planter, the value of each acre to be 1401. sterling, and the quantity of cotton produced, to be 200lbs., the net receipt of the planter on each pound of cotton wool should be 1s. 5d. but the actual sum he receives is 84d. a certain loss to him of 84d.; for if it he once euce granted, as it undoubtedly must, that 10 per cent. is the fair premium, all below it may be considered as taken out of the funds of the proprietor. Such is the state of the British cottonplanter. That of his North American rival is much superior. Situate in the midst of the necessaries of life, he depends on himself or his neighbours for support. He purchases land at cheaper rate, and imported his negroes at an inferior expence. Every thing diminishes the intrinsic cost of cotton properties in the United States, and the regulations of Great Britain increase a the value of the produce. The limits of this essay do not permit further details; but should circumstances allow, they may perhaps be laid before the public. At present, it may suffice to state that if the North American planter nets 6d. per lb., he can afford to cultivate cotton. Now the expences of cultivation, of navigation, &c. are very trifling. Hence he can always undersell the British planter. Similar local adventitious advantages operate in favour of the Brazil planter, and his receipts from the greater fiueness of his produce, are still higher. TABLE of the PRICES of the best COTTON WOOL, per lb. Those of inferior quality sell from 28. to Sd. per lb. less." (A.) PRICE. PRICE. PRICE. Year Low. High. Aver. Year Low. High. Aver. Yea Low. High. Aver. TABLE of the several DUTIES on every 100lb. of COTTON WOOL, since they were first imposed. S 1 2 8 -10 1 5 2 1 (B.) In British surps it pays the same as British produce. + 11.5s. when direct, 211. 1d. indirect, 11. 5s. d. in British bottom. Turkish cotton pays the same. TABLE "TABLE of COTTON imported annually into GREAT BRITAIN, from 1797 to 1310. The condition to which the cottonplanter is reduced, as well as the nature of his claims, having been already stated, the next object of attention is his former situation, which is best learnt from the preceding tables. The most superficial observer must be struck with the first of these, containing the prices of cottonwool from the year 1781 to 1809. Although the annual average fluctuated very considerably from the commencement of that period to the year 1788, it never was less than 1s. 11d. per ib. while, on a majority of years, it exceeded 2s. making a total average of 2s. 2 d. per lb. During the next eight years, (from 1788 to 1796) the political derangements of Europe produced severe consequences to the colonists. In 1789, cotton-wool fell to an average of 1s. 5d. In the subsequent years it rose as high as 2s. but was very unsteady. The average of the whole term, was a fraction more than 1s. 6d. per lb. The horizon of the planter seems to 'have been illumined for the next five years (until 1801); for the minimum of the annual average was, during that time, 2s. 7d. and the maximum 3s. 1d., and the total average 2s. 74d. In the year of peace it fell to the average of 2s. From that year to 1807, it fluctuated between 1s. 104d. and 2s. 24d., averaging, upon the whole, 2s. per lb. The prices during 1808 and 1809 were better, but cannot be admitted into a general statement, as they originated in causes so novel and unnatural, that a recurrence of them cannot be expected during another century. The average of the current year is below 1s. 10d. and will probably be This head comprises East Indian cotton, of which considerable quantities have been imported likewise in the years preteding 1805, and in 1810, but we have not any documents at band, shewing the quantity in each year. The extraordinary diminution of these two years, arose from the cession of the colonies of Demerary, Issequibo, Berbice, and Surinam, to Holland; and from the war, which confined the importation to our own produce. On the re-capture of the above-named colonies, the quantity immediately increased. still still less, as the quantity imported of foreign cotton is rapidly encreasing. The natural consequence of which, is a diminution of price. expence, and by the non-imposition of duties, as the gross proceeds of sale averaged a fraction more than 15. 8d. per lb. The clear receipt was therefore about nine-pence. Had the planter not been favoured, as he fortunately was, the fate which now seems to impend over him, would have been then accomplish During the first term marked out, (from 1781 to 1788, inclusive) cotton wool, as has been already remarked, sold on an average at 2s. 23d. At that time, no duties were levied. Every arti-ed, and with less destructive effects to cle required by the colonies was much cheaper. Navigation charges were equally small; and the peace which then existed, favoured the manufactories at home, which benefited the planter. The actual expenditure was, of course, much inferior to what it now is, while the price was higher. It may be assumed, as a broad and incontrovertible fact, that the price of every article is double what it was in 1781. The plantation charges may therefore be stated at one-half of what they are according to a preceding statement, that is at 34d. per lb. of cotton wool; and supposing the mercantile charges to have been the same as they now are, they, after deduction of 2d. for the duties, are 54d. per lb. Thus, the gross charges upon every pound of cotton wool, would then have been 9d. which leaves 1s. 5 d. of actual receipt to the planter of that time. Lest this mode of estimating be not admissable, let another be adopted, and the results will be found nearly the same. Among mercantile people, fourpence per lb. was generally supposed sufficient to cover all the difference between war and peace charges. This, it must be remarked, was previous to the present war, since which the duty has been nearly doubled on British cotton. About one-penny per lb. may therefore be added to the estimate of the merchants, which increases it to 5d. per lb. When this is deducted from 1s. 24d. the present expences, 94d. will remain as the real expence of the former period; and the additional half-penny inay be considered equivalent to 'the enhanced price of every necessary for the estates, though it is in fact below it. The cotton-planter of these eight years received 1s. 55d. which, from the diminished value of money, was equal to at least one-half more than it now is. The second period, though less favoured in point of actual receipt, was equally so by the inferiority of every description of the state. It has been his lot to have his hopes raised to the highest pitch, and then, by a refinement in cruelty, to have the dashed away with the rudest violence. The expences were somewhat en creased during the third series (from 1796 to 1802) about the middle of which ( 1799) a duty of 8s. 9d. per 100lbs. or of a fraction more than 1d. per lb. was imposed on British cotton wool; while, strange to tell, 6s. 6d. per 100lbs. or about ad, per lb. was laid on American produce in American bottoms. average price was 2s. 74d. If the whole expence amounted to 1s. 2d. which it certainly did not, the planter netted 1s. 54d. which was quite equal to his wants or his wishes. The The diminution of charges during the short-lived peace of Amiens, remedied, to a certain extent, the smallness of the price, which was only 2s. per lb. They were about 10d. per lb. which left 1s. 2d. for the propriétor. From the renewal of hostilities to 1808, while 2s. per lb. has been the average price of cotton wool, every thing has happened to diminish the planter's funds. For, immediately on the break. ing out of the war, a duty of 10s. 6d. per 100lbs. or 144. per lb. was laid on British, and 7s. 10d. per 100lbs. or 2d. and a fraction, on American cotton in American bottoms. In 1805, this highly improper distinction in favour of the latter ceased, and the duties were increased to 16s. 8d. per 100lbs. or 2d. and a fraction per lb. on British, and 17s. 8d. per 100lbs. or about 24d. per lb. on American produce. Both, however, are on equal terms when the latter is imported in British bottoms. The duty on British produce was in the following year raised to 16s. 10d. and has continued steadily the same; that an American cotton was first (in 1808) raised to 17s. 10d. per 100lbs. or 24d. per lb. and lately to 20s. 5d. per 100lbs. or about 24d. per lb. when imported directly, and 21s. 14d. per 100lbs. or a fraction more than 24d. per lb, when indirectly. The former inequality, laequality, when imported in British shipping, is still retained. The Brazilian cotton growers enjoy similar privileges, when they employ British vessels; but pay 11. 53. 2d. per 100lbs. or 3d. per lb. in their own shipping. The British cotton proprietors have therefore been receiving only 10d. per !b. during that period, which, however inadequate, is superior to his present receipt, and would not have been so high, had the average been made only for the three last years, excluding 1808 and 1809 for the reasons already assigned. It has been shewn, in a preceding page, to have been no more than 1s. 11d. Before this part of the subject is closed, it may be worthy of attention to refer to the Table C. in which a statement is given of the quantities of cotton imported into this country. From 1804 to the present time, the British have steadily averaged about 20 millions of pounds, while America vacillated from 104 to 47 millions, as caprice dictated. The increase is going on; and early in May, it was th more than it had been last year. The Brazil cotton has suddenly increased from 7 millions of pounds to about 234 millions. That from India, &c. from about 44 to 144 millions of pounds. These facts need no comment; they speak for themselves on terms too unequiVocal to be misunderstood. For the Monthly Magazine. LETTERS DESCRIPTIVE of CHELTENHAM, and its VICINITY.-No. V. UNS Cheltenham, August 10, 1808. NSATISFIED with the cursory view which we had already taken of Sudeley Castle, I eargerly hastened thither on the following morning to take a solitary survey of this beautiful pile. The dilapidated remains of that exquisite piece of Gothic architecture, once, alas! appropriated to sacred uses, soon rivetted my attention, and while I mused on the instability of all earthly things, I bestowed a tributary sigh upon the ashes of the illustrious dead, that even now repose within its shattered walls. I entered it with an indescribable feeling of reverence and of indignation; and as I lingered with pensive pleasure over the violated grave of the hapless Katherine, the melancholy aspect of the surrounding objects insensibly diffused over my mind its gloomy influence. On the right, the MONTHLY MAG. No. 203. dismantled niches that were once decorated with the sepulchral memorials of the noble family of Chandos, are still visible, in one of which, the mutilated trunk of a female figure yet remains. On the left, a large block of alabaster points out the probable situation of the monument of Katherine Parr. The page of history presents few par➜ ticulars respecting this exemplary woman. A dreadful detail of intrigues and factions, of rapine and slaughter, allows but small space for the delineation of characters that have added to the lustre of eminent stations--the practice of vir tues that ought to have endeared their memories to the latest posterity. I shall therefore refer to my portfolio, and collect, for your perusal, such brief notices of her life, as my desultory reading may have casually furnished. It is hardly necessary to premise, that Katherine was the eldest daughter of sir Thomas Parr, of Kendal, in Westmore land, who carefully heightened her personal attractions with the irresistible charm of a well-cultivated understanding. At this period, the learned languages were the only avenues to literary knowledge, and an intimate acquaintance with the writers of antiquity was the most fashionable female accomplishment. The fine talents of Katherine, thus hap pily improved, shone conspicuously forth at an early age, and she soon acquired considerable celebrity, both for the superiority of her sense, and the extent of her learning. Indeed, the sixteenth century produced more women eminent for erudition, than any subsequent period; and I most cordially agree with the ele gant author of the Persian Letters," that in a country where women are admitted to a familiar and constant share in every active scene of life, particular care should be taken with their education, to cultivate their reason, and form their hearts, that they may be equal to the part they have to act:" and I think it may fairly be questioned, whether the solid attain. ments of the old school are not better calculated to produce this desirable end, than all the superficial frippery of mo dern accomplishments. Katherine is said to have been twice married before she was advanced to the throne. Her first husband was the son of Edward lord Borough, who died young, and of whom little is known, Her second was John lord Latimer, who had been previously married, and of whom I only know that he was seQ lected |