COLTIVAZIONE DEL COTONE
   examining ali the measures that ought to be adopted; and as the cultivation of cotton and the general system of irrigation are two questions so closely connected with eaeh other in Italy, it would be useful to create a Oommission which should occupy itself, at one and the sanie tiine, with these two most important inquiries.
   Oommissions, whether royal or parliamentary, amongst free people are the most powerful organa of government, securing, as they do, the co-ope-ration of the greatest portion of the intelligence and euergy of the nation for the administration of public affair*. But in order that such Commis-sions may rise to the full height of their task, they ought principally to endeavour to ascertain, by ali means, the opinions most commonly beici in the country, and the views of the men best known for their special studies, and to give the greatest pubblicity to their inquiries.
   I feel assured that you, who, on more than one occasion have exhibited to me your convi-ction of the great benelits that would accrue to Italy from the cultivation of cotton, will take into immediate consideration the subject of the above report.
   London, 30th October, 1862.