Lancashire is seriously disturbed by a " corner " in
cotton. A Jew speculator in Liverpool, aided by some active brokers, has contracted for all the cotton to arrive, and in a few weeks will be owner of the whole of the staple available in England. He has already raised the price a penny a pound, and may go much further unless the manufacturers can tide over the interval till the arrival of the new crop. They desire, therefore, to work half-time, and even to stop for a fortnight, so as, if possible, to "break the corner," or at least greatly diminish the consumption. The operation is, however, ex- ceedingly difficult, as it irritates the workmen, who suspect that manufacturers are anxious to clear off stocks, and the smaller joint-stock mills are unwilling to take part in it. Would it not be possible in future for the large millowners to form a Syndicate of Cotton-Buyers, with contracts covering the dangerous months ? We should have thought that would have paid, and they could then, by letting stocks loose, send any cornerer into the Gazette. We hear that a " corner " is going on in quinine, and expect one from day to day in Turkey rhubarb, which would almost justify an Act of Attainder. Some day or other these speculators will lay their hands on something that men will not forego, and then they will have a very rough quarter-of-an-hour. As it is, they had better not murder too many people by regrating necessary drugs.
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