The Daily Dispatch: March 6, 1861., [Electronic resource]

---

---

Direct trade between the South and great Britain.

--We see that British enterprise is already preparing to take advantage of the policy which has driven the cotton States out of the Union. At a meeting held at the Bank of Charleston last week, proposals were received from Mr. A. M. Weir, a large London capitalist, and Messrs. Laird & Co., the well-known ship-builders, offering to raise in Great Britain half the amount necessary to secure the establishment of a direct line of steamships between Charleston and Liverpool. It is proposed that a joint stock company shall be formed in England under as limited liability act, in which the Charleston shareholders will be placed on the same footing with all others. The company once formed, three iron screw propellers are to be built and run as a regular line between Charleston and Liverpool. It is intended that they shall be of 1,800 tons measurement, and horse power, with capacity for 4,000 bales of cotton, taking the bale at 440 lbs. The total cost of each steamer, it is calculated, will not amount to more than $235,000, or $705,000 for the three, the proportion to be raised by the people of Charleston being $235,000. The proposal has been warmly taken up by the leading merchants of that city, and a committee has been appointed to solicit subscriptions.