Britain, Brazil, and the trade in printed cottons, 1827-1841
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The Potiers Diary is a letter-book that contains hundreds of excerpts of
correspondence written by members of British merchant firms operating in Brazilian
ports and sent to a central warehouse in England. The letters document the trade in
British printed cotton textiles between 1827 and 1841. In addition to the text, the letterbook
holds samples of many of the textiles discussed in the correspondence. The Diary,
located in the Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera at the
Winterthur Library, reflects the concerns of five firms operating in three Brazilian
provinces: Townley and Jackson of Bahia, 1827-1829; James Cockshott and Company of
Pernambuco, 1828-1829; Stewart Brothers of Pernambuco, 1830 and Bahia, 1830-1831,
1835, and 1838; Harrison Latham and Company of Bahia, 1839; and Bradshaw Wanklyn
and Sons of Rio de Janeiro, 1828-1841. The Potiers Diary offers insights into a number of historical questions. Brazil
declared its independence from Portugal in 1822. The Diary’s discussions of trade
regulations, monetary exchange rates, and political conflicts within South America reflect
the country’s development of an international identity. England had been the colony of
Brazil’s most significant trading partner, a position it retained following Brazilian
independence. British exports to Brazil, especially cotton textiles, occurred at a high
volume: In 1834, when cotton goods made up nearly half of Britain’s total exports, Brazil was the single largest market for English printed cottons. The Potiers Diary provides the
perspective of individual merchants seeking to maximize profits against this background
of political and economic significance. The English firms in Brazil provided detailed
information about local market conditions and the popularity of various types of cloth
and designs.