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the Duke of Newcastle the expediency of issuing directions for giving publicity to the facts contained in this document, as proposed in the letter of the President of the Chamber.

I have, &c.,

JAMES BOOTH.

The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.

Mr. Ripley to Right Honorable T. Milner Gibson, M.P., Board of Trade,

Bradford, Yorkshire, 11th March, 1861.

DEAR SIR,—At the request of our Chamber of Commerce, I write to ask if the Board of Trade will have the kindness to disseminate through Her Majesty's Consuls and Governors at all places from which wool is exported to this country documents similar to the inclosed, with samples of wool, which have been prepared for the purpose, and also that instructions may be given for the document to be translated into the languages of the countries where such officials are resident; the object being to furnish information as to the qualities of wool most valuable for consumption here, and that such information may be as widely spread as possible amongst the growers of wool in their native tongue.

The samples of wool will be forwarded in a few days, and on hearing that you kindly assent to our request on a matter of vital importance to a large branch of industry, (certain classes of wool being unprecedentedly scarce,) I shall be glad to suggest the proportionate quantity of samples to be sent to each country.

I have &c.,

HENRY W. RIPLEY.

P.S.—Will you please to address reply as below, where I shall be for a week or two.

Montpellier Lawn, Cheltenham.

The Right Honorable
Thomas Milner Gibson, M.P.,
Board of Trade.

Sir F. Rogers to Mr. Booth.

Downing-street, 12th April, 1861.

SIR,—I have laid before the Duke of Newcastle, your letter of the 18th ultimo, inclosing a copy of a communication from Mr. Ripley, the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Bradford, and with a printed copy of an address from the Wool Supply Association of the Bradford and Halifax Chamber of Commerce to all parties interested in the growth of Colonial and Foreign wools. Mr. Ripley requests that the address may be disseminated through Her Majesty's Consuls and Governors to all places from which wool is exported to this country, and that the statement may be accompanied by samples of wool which have been prepared for the purpose. You also suggest to his Grace the expediency of issuing directions for giving publicity to the facts contained in the document referred to.

In reply, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, that if you will procure the transmission to this department of a sufficient number of copies of the address, together with the samples of wool which should accompany them, he will forward them for the purpose contemplated, to the Governors of such Colonies as produce and export wool; but I am to observe that the only British Colonies connected with this Department which produce wool for export are the six Australian Colonies, New Zealand, the Cape of Good Hope and Natal.

I am, &c.,

F. ROGERS.

James Booth, Esq., Board of Trade.

Sir J. E. Tennent to Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

Office of Committee of
Privy Council for Trade,
Whitehall, 16th May 1861.

SIR,—With reference to my letter of the 18th March last, I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, to transmit to you to be laid before the Duke of Newcastle the inclosed parcels containing circulars and samples of wool, together with the list of places to which the Chamber of Commerce of Bradford are desirous that they should be sent for distribution in the surrounding districts.

I have &c.,

J. EM. TENNENT.

The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.

LIST.

Cape Town, Port Beaufort, Port Elizabeth, Port Natal, Montreal, Quebec, Wellington, Auckland, Lyttleton, Tasmania, Australia, South, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales.