James E. Harvey to William H. Seward, May 19, 1864

Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward.

Sir:Her Majesty’s government has just published a decree (of which I enclose a copy in translation) intended to promote the culture of cotton in the province of Angola, one of its African colonies.

The soil and climate of that country are well adapted to the production of the plant, but it may be doubted if the mere inducement of prizes will serve to advance an object which the temptations of high prices and short supplies have failed to attain.

With a system of skilled and organized labor the Portuguese possessions in Africa might be made immensely valuable, but this requires more capital, enterprise, and energy than the country can now furnish, and hence there is no serious prospect of immediate competition in the production of cotton from that quarter.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,