The meeting of the Lancashire Relief Committee, held on Monday,
in the Town Hall in Manchester, was, on the whole, a cheering one. The report showed that at the end of Sep- tember there were 267,962 cotton operatives in full work, 104,198 on short time, and 160,835 out of work. Only 184,626 in all were receiving relief of any kind either from guardians or the Relief Committee, while in January last the number so receiving relief was 456,786. Mr. Ashworth also presented a studiously moderate and, on the whole, very favourable report, bearing out fully the last estimate of the cotton prospects of 1864, —showing that while the average consumption of cotton should be about 45,000 bales a week, and the supply estimated for 1863 is a half supply of 22,000 bales a week, the supply for 1864 may reasonably be expected to be 33,000,—or enough for four and a half days per week. He estimates the excess supply of 1864, as
compared with 1863, as follows :— Bales.
Turkey • • 200,000
Italy, Sicily, and Mediterranean 10,000 India 350,000 Egypt 100,000 Brazil, West Indies, and other sources 150,000
810,000 Excess Export from Liverpool 200,000
Excess for 1864 610,000 —which gives a weekly extra supply (beyond this year) of 11,700 bales.
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