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Lower Oaoada. Extenfr— DiT:uoiiB— Natoml Feft- ' ' tiin0'-42iiebeo— Montreal, Sect 3. Lower GaiiKia, eonHmued, Gec^onr— -Soil-- Pto- dnetioiui — Popolatioii — ^Edneatio'^uu InrtitntionB, Sect 4. Ufrper Canada. Boandariei—IiihabitaiitB— Divi- sions, . . . . . Sect. A. Umer Canada, otmUnued* Toronto— Kingston'— Umab, Sect. 6. Ulster Canada, oofMfmtr0«7. CJeoIogy— 49oils, Sect. 7. I^^per Canada, contmuetU Popolation'— Educar' ^onal Institutions, . . > . Sect 8i Canada. Climate, . . . . Sect. 9. Canada, cotdmued, Commerw, Sect 10. Nova Scotia and Cape Breto^ Sect 11. New Bnmswiok ana Prince Bdward*s Island, Sect. 12. Newfoundland, .... Sect 13. Advice to Intending Emigrsnts* Who may ISpti- pateP . • . . Sect 14. Advice to Emigiants, eonHmied, Ptasi^ Charges — ^Yictuallinff, Orauons regardingProvirions. Sect 15. Advice to Ea^faaiiMj ctrnHnued, Best Period for Saiting-fitB on Oraring— Til- Iaf»— Expense of Erecting Houses— Wages of La- bourers, . . . . 80 Sect 17. Advice to Emigrants, oDN/wtfed, . . 71 Sect 18. Aefloants given of these PM)vinces hy Settlers,, 76 Sect 19. Condiision. Endgalion to British America, 101 1 6 10 14 17 19 23 27 82 34 41 48 48 i;V,,,,,-,...>,-^,-, I i / \:v *'^'**^* •^"»^,. ..a r^ ^mmtmm THE EMIGRANT'S HiND-BOOK OF FACTS. &c. CHAPTER I. BRITISH AMERICA. Section 1.— Canada. Boundaries— Provinces— Oovernment, and Inhabitanfj. 1. This valuable portion of the British Empire forms part of the contment of North America, and lies north of the United States. It is distant about 3000 miles, west of Great Britain, on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean. On the east, it is bounded by the Atlantic, the Gulf of St Lawrence, and a part of the Labrador coast — off which, separated by the straits of Belleisle, lies the island of Newfoundland; on the north, by the Hudson Bay territory ; on the west by the Pacific Ocean ; and on the south by the United States, by part of New Brunswick, and by unexplored territories of the Indians. The line of division on the south, from the grand portage on Lake Superior, runs through the centre of the great lakes down the St Lawrence river to latitude 45°, and thence along that line to Connecticut river, from whence it follows the high lands which separate the waters running into the St Lawrence and the xitlantic, till it reaches due north of the St Croix river, the boundary between the United States and New Brunswick. The latter part of the boundary between the United States on the, one 4 S IMIOBANT*! HAND-BOOK 07 FACTS. hand, and Canada and New Brunswick on the other, has only recently been settled and adjusted. 3. This eztenaive tract of country is divided into two provinces. Upper and Lower Canada, each of which, until lately, had its own local government. By a recent act, however, of the British legislature, the two provinces have been united under one general legislative council, and House of Assembly, whose acts require the consent of the governor. Since the union, the two provinces have been respectively styled Western and Eastern Canada. Lower (Eastern) Canada lies next the sea coast, was originally a French colony, and the greater part of its inhabitants are of French descent; — the laws resemble the old laws of France, on which they are grounded ; the French lan- guage is very generally spoken, and the religion chiefly catholic. Upper (Western) Canada, which is divided from the eastern province, partly by the Ottawa or Grand River, lies to the west and south- west of it. It is inhabited chiefly by persons of British descent, many of whom are from Scotland. Here the English law and church are established, and there are numerous presbyterians and dissenters. In both pro- vinces, there is perfect liberty of conscience, and as great security for life and property, as in the mother country. Section 2. — Lower Canada. Extent— DivUfoai— Natural Featurei->Quebe<>— Montreal. 3. Lower (Eastern) Canada has been estimated by Mr Evans, and Mr Montgomery Martin, to contain, exclusively of the surface of the river, and part of the Gulf of St Lawrence, 132,000,000 of acres. The whole territory is divided into three principal districts ^-^Quebec, Montreal, and Three JRivers, and two in- ferior ones, Gaspd and St Francis. These districts are divided into 40 counties, with minor suibdivisions con- risting of seignories, fiefs and townships, &c. — the land comprised in the seignories is upwards of 8,000,000 of acres! OCCU| tion. of CI land 118,1 2,73^ the 6,( tion 18391 4. Cana tremi magi alter tiful parts taino the n (the far u] the c totb norti St J( coasi plac( tent Fori how The of ¥ are is a con and 6,01 tha \ the other, nded into > each of ment. By Biture, the B general 7t whose Since the Bljjr styled Eastern) a French ts are of ]aw8 of inch Ian. religion M^hich is by the i south- r British lere the liere are 3th pro- and aa mother eai. ted by [>niain, of the The stricts v6 in- »ts are s con. eland MX) of BRITIfH itllEEICA. — LOWER CANADA. • acres, and bai been all granted by the crown. It it occupied chiefly by the French portion of the popula- tion. From a return made by the survey or-general of Canada, (5th March, 1842,) it is considered the land remaining unsurveyed may be estimated at 118,980,000; that the surveyed land amounts to 2,734,735 acres ; and that the* quantity available for f the settlement of emigrants is estimated at from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 acres. In 1831, the popula- tion of the province amounted to 501,438, and in 1839, it was estimated at about 700,000. 4. '* The natural features of the territory of Lower Canada/* says Mr Montgomery Martin, " are ex- tremely picturesque — mountain ranges, noble rivers, magnincent cascades, lakes, prairies, farms and forestiy alternating in every direction, with sudden and beau- tiful variety. On the ocean boundary, the eastern parts of the river St Lawrence are high and moun- tainous, and covered in most parts with forests. On the northern side of the St Lawrence, the mountains, (the Alleghanies) run parallel with this vast river, as far up as Quebec, when the range quits the parallel of the capital, and runs in a S.W. and S.E. direction in- to the United States.*' Of the portion of the province north and east of the Saguenay river, and the lake of St John, little is known, except the appearance of the coast, which is bold and mountainous, though in some places the mountains recede from the bhore to the ex- tent of 10 or 15 miles, leaving a deep swampy flat. Forty miles east of the Saguenay, and at other places, however, the shores are of more moderate elevation. The whole tract is well watered by numerous rivers, of which, however, scarcely anything is known. There are no roads along the coast, and the only settlement is at Portneuf, a trading port of the Hudson*s Bay company. The country around the lake of St Johiu and at the head of the Saguenay has an extent of aboilt 6,000,000 of acres of land fit for cultivation, and fine- ly watered, while the climate is said to be milder than that of Quebec. West of the Saguenay, to the river psppp wnm 4i '^mioraiit's hand-book of rACTS. St Maurice» forms another natural division of the pro- vince. The city of Quebec \» situated half-way be- tween these two rivers. From the Saguenay to Quebec runs a bold range of mountains, forming a very marked isoast border, beyond which the country is flat and undulating, and well watered with lakes and streams. North west of Quebec* the coast line is not so bold, the shore rising more softly> and pre- senting a picturesque appearance of water, wood, and rich cultivation. Still keeping on the north side of the St Lawrence, we have the tract lying between the St Maurice and the junction of the Ottawa and the St Lawrence. The aspect of this district|_at a few miles distance fron; the river, is slightly elevated into table- rid^es with occasional abrupt acclivities and small {)lains. Of the interior district bounded by the Ottawa ittle is yet known ; but it does not appear to possess the boldness of character of the greater part of the province already mentioned. On the south of the St Lawrence, on the east, and bordering on New Bruns- wick is the district of Gaspe, a large tract which has been but slightly examined. Its surface is uneven, consisting chiefly of a great valley lying between a ridge of mountains which border the St Lawrence, and another range on the bay of Chaleur. The district is well wooded and watered, the soil rich, and yielding abundantly when tilled. West of Gasp^ to the river dhauderie, the land is not so mountainous as on the north side of the St Lawrence, but is hilly, with ex- tensive valleys. The district, west of the Chauderie, is a highly valuable tract, consisting of 17 counties, and inhabited, in 1831, by a population of about 200,000. Here, in many places, are seen fruitful fields, luxuriant meadows, and flourishing settlements. . 5, The citv of Quebec is the capital of Lower Canada. It is situated on the extremity of a rocky cape on the north bank of the St Lawrence, and is so strongly fortified, as to be considered impregnable; and thus may be looked upon as giving the mastery both to Upper and Lower Canada. The city is divided into the attl appel strikj amoi the dralsl mom stitut and FreH 6. islan( bank I oroy east south! isolat heigh Thei fog a tivate farms are p' right built sheet tures extei her I ance weal polit inl( islan toti weal finei chai the^ /-■ >f the pro- If-way be- ruenay to forming a e country i^ith lakes 3oafit line and pre- rood, and ide of the sn the St id the St few miles to table- id small » Ottawa > possess *t of the >f the St Bruns- lich has uneven, ween a ice, and district ielding le river on the ith ex- uderie, unties, about fields, BRITISH AMERICA.-^LOWBE CANADA. 6 the upper and lower towns, the latter being situated at the base of the cape, level with the water. The appearance of the town from the river is particularly striking. It contains many fine public buildings^ among which are the castle of St Louis, on the top of the rock ; the Roman Catholic and Protestant Cathe- drals; the barracks, hospitals, Quebec bank, and a monument to Generals Wolf and Montcalm. The in- stitutions are many of them of a French character ; and the language of the inhabitants is English and French. 6. Montreal is situated on the southern point of an island, bearing the same name, lying upon the north bank of the St Lawrence, at the mouth of the Ottawa or' Grand river. The island is SO miles in length, from east to west, and 8< miles in breadth, from north to south. The surface is flat, with the exception of an isolated hill at the western extremity, which rises to a height of 500 or 600 feet above the level of the river. The river from the top of this hill is very fine, exhibit- ing all around a vast extent of densely peopled, cul- tivated and fertile country, enriched with wood, water, farms, cottages and churches. The streets of Montreal are parallel with the river, intersecting each other at right angles. The houses are for the greater part built of a grayish coloured stone, roofed either with sheet-iron or tin : many of them are handsome struc- tures, and would be considered so in Britain. In the extent and importance of her trade — in the beauty of her public and private buildings — in the gay appear- ance of her shops — and in all the intrinpic signs of wealth, Montreal has gone far a-head of the metro- politan city. In 1825, its population was 22,357* and in 1831, 27,297~in 1889, it was above 35,000. The island is comprised in one feignory, which belongs to the Roman Catholic clergy, who are consequently wealthy, but act with great liberality in exacting the fines — called lods et ventes — due to them on any change of the proprietorship of the land, for which they usually compound. mmnfft^ 7^'"^ 6 * eugrant's hand-book of facts. Section 3.— Lower Canada — Continued. Geo^ ^y->Soil— Productions— Population— Educational Instltutioni. 7* So far as has been ascertained, the general gco* logical structure of Lower Canada is granitic, but presenting, in various places, calcareous rocks of a soft texture, and in horizontal strata. In the GaspS dis- trict indications of the coal formation have been traced ; and numerous beautiful specimens of a great variety of cornelians, agates, opals, and jaspers, have been obtained. Among the mountains to the north west of the St Lawrence, iron felspar, hornblende, native iron ore, granite, and a peculiar species of lime- stone, resembling granite in its fracture, are found. . Marble is in abundance, and plumbago of the finest quality. The iron mines of l^t Maurice have long been celebrated; and there is no doubt that Canada is rich in copper, lead, and tin. Limestone, useful to the agriculturist, is almost every wherefound. The quantity of good soil in Canada, compared with the extent of country, is equal to that of any part of the globe; and there yet remains sufficient locality to accommodate many millions of the human race. '* The best lands," says Mr Montgomery Martin, "are those on which the hardest timber is found— such- as oak, maple, beech, elm, black -walnut, &c., though bassf a great )ers, have the north >rnblende, !s of lime- fe found, the finest lave long Canada is iful to the B quantity extent of ae globe; ^mmodate 8t lands," Dn which :> maple, ►od when lean and lie cedar mingled ich soil, B in the Canada, \i\y pro- ich pro- ot been »^r acre bushels [n some on the ' Along the Ottawa there is a great extent of alluvial soil, and many districts of fertile land are daily brought into view which were before unknown.*' 8. The following table shows tho particulars of the population census of the province for 1831* COUNTIES. Qudtec District. eauce^ „ ^ellechatse^ .... kircheiter^ Islet) Kamouraska)... Lotbiniere) iMegantic) Montmorencif.. Orleansf. Fortneuff ....... guebec-f imouaki^ ...... iguenayf ....... Total ... Montreal, Aoadie) Beauharnoist ... Berthierf ......... Chambly) La Cbennyef ... La. Prairie )...... L'AHomptionf. MiMiaqui( Montrealf ....... pttffwaf Ritibelieu) ...... RaufiUe) .St Hyacinthe).. IShfAbrd) Terrebonnef..... Two Mountainsf VandrcuUf Vercheres^ Staiutead) Total... s a 3 .9 i i .a S u. s o I 1987 1775 348 3044 43S0 73S 1465 7396 69 8640 14240 8840 7509U l?7949 250 717 8410 211 299 238 5008 960 197 3ie69 373 429 477 749 3IU9 1086 330 h)8 632 2156 2045 1943 1952 2040 1461 374 536 600 1916 4911 1424 1573 22931 2039 1763 1599 1265 1594 1963 290 451 397 1790 3214 1450 i e I a I 17215 1046 lilO o.C ^«8 3845 2456 1712 8068 1993 1418 6204 775 2866 2918 254S 854 9049 3859 2149 1888 17^6 8718 1480 1201 8145 1549 925 8331 562 1086 8>43 2067 562 2360 2603 1628 1219 825 12920 10363 10125 12618 6098 204 3517 4022 10636 88683 7400 7783 11900 13529 11946 13518 14557 9151 3743 4349 1235U 35173 10061 8385 123052 15ig{i5 9032 14851 15935 15000 8544 19259 1 1*313 (1951 37085 1496 15896 13028 11781 2294 15597 10700 11144 11573 7088 11419 16857 iom 15483 9461 18497 18767 8801 43773 4786 16149 18115 15366 5067 16623 20905 13111 I23I9 10306 305 4 183 15 32 312 952 365 5580 20 a a a 1 7858 54808|48323|32572|245367[2g005e 1162 1551 390 SOI 344 538 633 4426 5888 607 269 1808 358 876 681 1651 807 3 156 92 12113 I 13526 13 11747 18 13484 10 14514 8722 343 3742 4340 11902 27872 8365 81 459 S3 2181 2807 S2 •26 li 119609 34 2027 19 68 71 134 139 48 3643 315 34 449 43 451 1527 552 3 35 0990 0340 19796 14673 8992 17591 11830 757 38539 8060 15834 14830 14761 218 15998 16438 11021 12316 114 21 231 1 1 337 591 II 3 1 25 186 48 163 437 901 407 8 42 55 32 20 1884 517 898 2 636 61 IW 4 478 5 468 230 2160 52 99 16 208 100 384 1005 1888 1 868 80 75 56 838 18 I 1701 21952 10192 229293 6044i700l ifPPHPW«iWWP""W 8 emigrant's hand-book of fact*. COUNTIES. Three Rivers. Charaplainf .... nruniinond& .... Nicolet^ St Mauricef Shcrbrooke§ .... Yamaaka^ ....... Total ... Oaspi. Bonaventurel... Uaspl \ &C....... ToUl ... Summarpqt Lower Canada. Montreal hree Rivers ... Total ... I a 7 .9 I 783 1674 487 0810 S786 283 1&8S3 4108 3281 7389 .54802 >27g49 15823 7389 205963 I 1084 591 1984 29S5 1766 9379 999 865 1804 483S3 22931 9379 1804 1037 379 1913 8248 684 1392 7653 776 500 1276 32578 17815 7653 1876 .9 I 5891 1325 11776 15979 4703 8355 47729 4317 8108 6425 245367 I830a8 47729 6485 88497158716 488573 51 1917 8 mm II 1 & 6991 3566 12504 16909 7104 9496 56570 8309 5009 13318 890050 151985 66inro 13318 98 905 143 486 ilOl M 8784 880 1806 2086 81958 7858 8784 8086 34680 6 86 842 8 60 120 42 494 1446 50 1496 10192 8887 494 1496 15069 6863 8063 18879 16340 747 9394 47786 8982 9708 6684 289299 119809 47786 6684 403472 160 30 172 970 14 14 6044 501 970 14 7019 84 11 89 800 9 999 7 31 38 7001 437 935 3fl 781J \ Thus marked are on the 13. side of the river St Lawrence. Thus marked are on the ff. side of the river St Lawrence. — s^ .' 9. The report of the Canadian commissioners for 1836, gives the following return of the Institutions for the instruction of youth in the province. * I. Protestant. — Royal Grammar School, Quebec; 200/. a-year, and 90/. a«year schooUhouse rent, from Jesuits* estates. Twenty free scholars, 11 pay for their tuition; all dav^ scholars. Terms* under 12, 8/.> above 12 and under 13, 10/. per an.* above 13, Idf. per an. French and English taught ; course of in. stniction as ha the grammar-schools in the United- Kin^'dom. y"t. >y •• i 81 U S9 00 9 E 7 SI 38 )1 37 35 18 ^••^^Wfc^ ,.^%^ BRITISH AMEBICA. — LOWER CANADA* 9 II. Royal Grammar School, Montreal; 200/. a-year, and 54/. a-year school-house rent, from Jesiuti* estates. Twenty free scholars admitted, 15 scholars Eay for their education; all day scholars. Terms, ighest 10/., lowest 8/. per an. ; instruction as in gram- roar-school at Quebec; and this school is in possession of an extensive apparatus for experiments m natural philosophy. III. Seminary at Chambly? contributions of stu- dents; a private institution lately established under the patronage of the Lord Bishop of Quebec. Board and tuition according to age of student, 40/.f 50/L, and 75/., per an.; day-scholars, 15/. and 20/. per an. There are 17 boarders and 9 day-scholars. Those who pay 75/. per an. are young men studying for holy orders, and others finishing their education. Catholic— I. Seminary of Quebec; no revenues specifically appropriated to the purposes of education, but possessed of several estates. Value made many years agG« computed at 1,249/. a-year, besides legal c;^atributio.is in grain, and the lods et ventes on mu- tations of property, which amount to a considerable sum. Attended by 188 students; the terms for tuition and board, 17/. ]0«. per an.; for tuition only, I/, per an. Poor children instructed gratis. The seminary of Quebec was erected by letters patent of the French crown, dated in April 1663. II. Seminary at Montreal; in possession of estates valued many years ago at about 2,000/. a-year, besides large contributions in grain, and lods et ventes. on mu- tations of property, vrhUh in the seignory of Mon- treal, comprehending the whole of the town, must amount to a large sum. Attended by 260 students; terms for board and tuition per an. 21/.; for tuition only, I/. I5t. Instruction as at the seminary of Que- bec. The ecclesiastics of St Sulpice, at Paris, were authorized to establish a seminary at Montreal, and allowed to hold tiie Island of Montreal in mortmain, by letters patent of the French Crown, dated in May 1077. 10 EM lORANT > HAND-BOOK OP FACTS. III. Seminary at Nicolet; supported jprincipally by private contributions. The number oi students, or the price paid for tuition, not known. IV. Seminary at St Hyacinthe; as No. 3. V. Seminary at Chambly; as No. 3. VI. College of St Ann; -^« No. 3. Numbers 4, 5 and 6, receiye legislative gTauts^ A Committee of the Canadian House of Assembly thus reports on^the subject of education in 1832: — ' In 1830, there were 981 schools; in 1831, 1216; teachers in 1830, 947; in 1831, 1305; scholars in 1830, 41,791; in 1831, 45,203. [In 1829, the total number of children leported as receiving elementary education, was only 18,410, of which 3,675 were under the Royal Institution.] The number of scholars, taught gratuitously, has increased from 21,622, to 23,803. Those who pay, from 16,591 to 18,016. The whole amount of expenses for elementary schools, paid out of the public chest, in 1830, was about 20,000/.; in 1831, it will be about 26,000/., giving an average for each scholar in 1830, of 10«. 4 ^TW^ 3 -rfp , ■«- mm '^"on H B«,0«*HT'. HAMD.BOOK or TACT.. the interior, .nd. 'fVf"^ It^^'^f^^l about one hundred «'*™\y,etf into Lake St Clair, nearly south-weit. *»«'»«8'M*~" j nmoh of the land TWsVtion i. ''*»P^'?^;eUa,S5e room for new under cultivation; «dy^tter^»„j Wen-ive '«ter settlers. I' >>.»» *^,^^^ numerous roads. J- frontage, and » '>»»«'»*^'^ ^ot completed, between railroad is oonatructvng, tf n<>. F^^^^ thence. to Chatham on the "'«' ^^t of Lake Ontario, which Hamilton on *e broad waters oti.a ^^ "^connect lakes H?^'^' S* P^'^'ian pU, but it has Iondon.in this ^^"ff'.^^^^Ur^<&hr.<^^'^''^ , '^^'yyPXTeart of a fertile Country. ""^ on the , Kof'atSriver-the Thames. S.CX.OH 5.-Urr.a C..^^^.-C in looking about for a purchase. He is sure at this place to meet with numerous offers of farms, reg^arding which he will do well to act with caution ; and he will be able to inspect the plans of public lands in the government land office, under the •uperintendetice of Mr P. Robinson, a gentleman able and willing to afford him every facility. The rich and heavy land of Upper Canada is not to be found, in general, upon the immediate banks of the lakes and rivers. It lies for the most part from 12 to 20 miles bacw, and thus comoensates the enterprising settler for plunging into the torest.** 15. Kingston is situated on the north bank of Lake Ontario, at its lower extremity, and at the head of the river St Lawrence. It is distant 184 miles east of Toronto, and 189 miles west of Montreal. Its har- bour. Navy bay, is the chief harbour of our navy on the lake. The dock-yards, storehouses, slips for building ships of war, naval barracks, wharfs, 8ec., are all on an extensive scale. Next to. Quebec and Hali- fax, Kingston is the strongest British port in Ame- rica, and next to Quebec and Montreal, the first in commercial importance. In 1828, its population amounted to 3,528,— in 1834 to 6,000. 16. The Rideau Canal — which is, more properly speaking, a collection of raised water, by means of dams, with natural lakes interspersed — opens a water communication between Kingston and the Ottawa, a distance of 132 miles, by connecting together several Eieces of water, viz., Kingston Mill Stream, Cranberv lake. Mud Lake, Rideau Lake and River, the length of the cuts not exceeding 20 miles. The difference of level between the two extremities of the canal is 445 feet. There are 47 locks, each 142 feet long, by 33 feet in breadth. I'he total expense of constructing this great work is said to have been about one million sterling. The Welland canal connects L%ke Erie with 'mmwfjf^^'^frm ■^f 16 BMIOEANT*! HAND-BOOK Of FACTf • Lake Oatarlo»and it conducted over the range of hilli forming the barrier of Lake EriOf at the fidli of Niagara. The length of the canal is 41 miles, its width 66 reetf and its depth 8^ feet ; the summit level is 880 feet. lu cost was £500,000. The Grenville canal consists of three sections, one at the Long Sault on the Ottawa — another at the fall, called the Chiite k Blondeau, 60 miles from Montreal, and 218 from Kingston ; and a third at the Carillon Rapids, 56 miles from Montreal, and 222 from Kingston, opening into the Lake of the Two Mountains, througn which an uninterrupted navigation is practised by steam-boats to La Chme, nine miles above the citv of Montreal. This canal renders the navigation of the Ottawa be- tween the Rideau and Montreal complete. All the locks on the Carillon, and on the CnQte k Blondeau are of the same size as on the Rideau, but on a part of the Grenville canal, which was commenced before the large scale was adopted, some locks and a part of the cuttings will only admit boats 20 feet wide ; the locks on la CShine are also calculated for boats only 20 feet wide ; the navigation for boats above 20 feet wide is interrupted at the Grenville Canal, and if large boats be used on the Rideau, and on the higher part of the Ottawa, all goods must be unshipped on arriving at the Grenville Canal, and be either conveyed by portage, or removed to smaller boats. 17. The Montreal communication with the Ottawa, by the canal between the former place and Lake St Louis, at La Chine, near Montreal, is termed La Chine Canal ; it is 28 feet wide at the bottom, 48 at the water line, has five feet depth of water, and a tow- ing path ; the whole fall is 42 feet, with the locks; the length is about seven miles. It is the property of a company; was begun in 1821, completed m three years, at a cost of £137,000, which was defirayed by the company, slightly assisted by government, and for which the public service is exempt from toll^ By means of the great and useful works just mentioned, a liirge extent of country is opened up to the industry / ♦•, ■'■^^ ^■^ BRITISH AMERICA. — UPPER CANADA. 17 h y ♦ ^4 I I of the British settlers ; there is continuous steam- boat comjiunication in Upper Canada of about i60 iiiilesy yiz., from the GrcnTiUe canal, on the Ottawa* to Niagara. Section 6.— Uppsa Canada, — Continued. Geology— Soili. 18. The geological structure of the country border- ing on the great lakes is better known than that of Lower Canada. The whole south-east shore of Lake Superior is a secondary sandstone, through which the granite on which it rests occasionally appears; and in which chalcedony, cornelian, jasper, opal, agate, sardonyx, zeolith, and serpentine, with iron, lead, and copper are found. By the subsidence of the waters of Lakes Superior and Huron, beds of sand 150 feet thick are exposed, below which are beds of clay, en- closing shells of every species now found in the lakes. Amygdaloid occupies a large tract on the north shore of Lake Superior, from Cape Verd to the grand Port- age, intermingled with argillaceous and other porphy- rons sienite, trapoze, greenstone, and conglomerates. Part of the north and east shore is the seat of an older formation. Copper abounds in various parts of the country; in particular, some large and brilliant specimens have been found in the angle between Lakes Superior and Michigan. At the Copper-mine River, the copper, which is in a pure and malleable state, lies in connexion with a body of serpentine rock, the face of which it almost completely overlays — it is also disseminated in masses and grsdns throughout the substance of the rock. The chasm at Niagara- Falls indicates distinctly the geology of the country.* The strata are first, limestone, then fragile slate, and lastly sandstone. The upper- most and lowest of these compose the great seconaary formation of a part of Canada, and nearly the whole of the United States, occupying the whole basin of the * According to Mr Schoolcraft, one of a government expedition flrom New- York, \ r 18 EMIGRANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. Mississippi, and extending from it between the lakes and the Alleghany ridge of mountains, as far eastward as the Mohawk, between which the slate is often in- terposed, as at Niagara, and throughout the state of New York generally. At Niagara, the stratum of slate is nearly 40 feet thick, and nearly as fragile as shale, crumbling so much as to sink the superincumbent limestone, and thus verify, to some extent, the opinion that a retrocession of the falls has been going on for ages. The subsoil around Lake Ontario is limestone, resting on granite. The rocks about Kingston are usually a limestone of very compact structure, and light bluish gray colour, a fracture often approaching the conchoidal, with a slight degree of translucency on a thin edge ; and, after percussion, the odour of flint rather than that of bitumen. The lowermost lime-^^ stones are in general more siliceous than those above them ; and so much is this the case, that in some places, a conglomerated character is given to the rock by the intrusion of pieces of quartz or hornstone. It is re- markable, that both angular and rounded masses of felspar rock, which usually underlies limestone — or, if absent, is supplied by one in which hornblende predo- minates — are imbedded and isolated in the limestone, demonstrating the latter to have been at one time in a state of fluidity. 19. The soils of Upper Canada are various ; that which predominates is composed of brown clay and loam, with di£ferent proportions of marl intermixed ; this compound soil prevails principally in the fertile coun- try between the St Lawrence and Ottawa ; towards the north shore of Lake Ontario, it is more clayey and extremely productive. The substratum through' out these districts is a bed of horizontal limestone, which in some places rises to the surface. The New- castle district, lying between the upper section of the Ottawa and the St Lawrence, is a rich black mould, which also prevails throughout the East Riding of York, and on the banks of the Ouse or Grand River, and Thames. W' / X BRITISH AMERICA. — UPPER CANADA. 19 X 20. The limestone is stratified horizontally, its dip being greatest when nearest the elder rock on which it reposeS) and by which it seems to have been upraised* subsequently to a solidification ; for its thickness varies from a few feet to a few inches. Shale occurs as amongst most limestones ; and, in some places sa blended with it, as to cause it to fall to pieces on ex- posure to air. The minerals noticed in this formation, are chert or hornstone, basanite, chlorite, calcareous spar, barytes, sulphate of strontian, sulphuret of iron, and sulphuret of zinc. 21. At Toronto, the soil is fertile, but stones are scarce for common use, which is also the case in some townships, bordering Lakes Erie, St Clair, and the Detroit, thus demonstrating the alluvial nature of the territory. A light sandy soil predominates round the head of Lake ^ntario. 22. The predominating soil of the east shore. Lake Huron, is said to be a meagre, red, or yellow, ferruginous, sandy loam, varying in depth from feet to inches, often not exceedmg three of the latter dimension, and not unfrequently absent altogether, leaving the rock bare but for its hoary covering of lichen ; clay, or clayey loams, were rarely seen, and when noticed, their usual position was either in some of the swampy valleys between the rocks, or forming alluvial deposits on the banks of rivers, often deeply covered up by a siliceous sand. Section 7. — Upper Canada, — Continued. I Population— Educational Institutions. 28. The population of Upper Canada was estimated in 1806 at 70,718; in 18 11 at 77,000. The war with the United States, however, tended much to check the prosperity, and consequently the increase of popula- tion in the province. In 1821 the population was estimated at 122,587. The following table will show the increase of the population at the periods men- tioned, and the extent of land occupied and cultivated in 1832 :— '—'^"^TfifiiiaiifiritnTT '• • 20 i i -•"OB.KX-S „..„.,„„, „, ^^^^^^ f^r r'; \ BRITISH AMERICA. — UPPER CANADA. 21 ,.''fc. ■ 24. In each district there are boards of education, trustees -^ f public schools, and government school- masters. Return of the number of Schools in Upper Canada. Name of District Where situated. Remarks. Eastern Ottawa Johnstown Bathurst Prince Edward Midland Newcastle Home Niagara Gore London Western Cornwall Hawksbury Brockville Perth Hallowell Kingston Cobourg Toronto Niagara Hamilton London Sandwich Salary of district schoolmasters ^690 sterling. The ave- rage number of scho- lars in each school is from i5 to 60. There are school fees which may average £4 or i.5perannum. Each district furnishes a school-house, and keeps it in repair. 125. Upper Canada College, and Royal Grammar School, city of Toronto, — Principal 600/. ; first class master 300/. ; second ditto 300/. ; third ditto 300/. ; mathematical ditto 300/. ; French ditto 200/. ; writ> ing and arithmetic 200/. ; asustant ditto 100/. ; mas- ter of preparatory school 175/. ; drawing-master . 100/. The masters have all houses in the College. There are upwards of 100 scholars in the respective forms of the college. The terms are 30/. currency, per annum, for board and tuition, with some extra college fees. At the York National Central School, which gave instruction in the year ending April, 1 833, to 402 boys, and 235 girls, the terms for instruction to those who are able to pay, is one dollar per quar- ter, and no family is required to pay for more than two children, no matter how many there be. 26. Of the common schools throughout the pro- vince, no regular return has been made. They amount howeve: to «ieveral hundreds, and educate at least 20,000 children male and female. In addition to 90/. sterling, provided by the legislature for the salary of a 22 emigrant's hand-book of facts. } classical master in e^h districU-thus ensuring in each a school in which the ordinary branches of an aca- demical education are taught — 225/. sterling per annum are allowed for the maintenance of common schooU in each district. This last sum haying been found in- adequate^the legislature has made an additional annual - grant of 5»085/. sterling to be apportioned among the several districts* according to their extent and popula- tion. By instructions from his majesty William lY., dated 13th February, 1836, an instrument was com- pleted under the great seal of the province, incorpora- ting the Upper Canada Academy, at Coboui^, in the .district of Newcastle, for the general education of youth in the various branches of literature and sci- ence, on Christian principles, and appointing certain Wesleyan ministers and others to be a board of trust- ees for managing the same. The territorial appropria- tions, with a view to provide means of public instruc- tion are truly munificent. The number of acres of land originally reserved in Upper Canada, for purposes of education, amounted to 467,675, of which 170,719 acres were alienated by grants to individuals, and in lieu thereof, 27*2,600 acres were appropriated to a similar purpose, giving a surplus over and above the quantity deficient of 101,881. There were also alienated, as a per centage to surveyors, 19,282 acres. Since this reservation, 225,944 acres have been re- invested in the crown in place of scattered reserves granted as an endowment to the University of Kind's College, and 66,000 acres have been set apart for the ber.efit of Upper Canada College; after which, there yet remaii.^ 258,330 disposable acres for the benefit and extension of education. All this is besides the annual grant by the legislature for the purposes of education. In 1836, the grant voted was 8,055/. w -^ y Ml BBITIBH AMBRXCA. — CANADA. 23 Sections. — Canada. Climate. 27. Few countries exhibit greater extremes of heat and cold, than Canada, and the change from the one to the other is extremely sudden. The frost and snovir of winter break up, and the spring begins about the end of April, and by the beginning of May» the fields are covered with a rapidly advancing vegetation. Ac- ording to Mr Evans, the range of the thermometer in Canada during the summer months of June, July and August, lis from 9&^ 83' to 58° 83', the mean heat of these months being 77° 57 ; and in the upper pro- vince, 99° 66' to. 57° 33', the mean being 77° 87'. Spring, summer, and autumn, continue from the month of May, till the end of October— ^ that is, one half the year, the winter extending over the othier six months. In November, thick fogs and snow storms betoken that winter has set in, and by the middle of December, the ground is covered with several feet of snow, and the frost becomes intense. The rivers are all frozen over, and even the St Lawrence is covered with ice from Quebec to Montreal. " All the feathered tribe," says Mr Montgomery Martin, " take the alarm ; ev2n the hardy crow retreats, and few quadrupeds are to be seen — some, like the bear, remainin|f in a torpid state« and others, like the hare, ie^ngptng their colour to a pure white.*' During this seiison, the thermometer it> often from 50 to 60 degrees below the freezing point. The dress of the inhabitants is now completely changed, and caps, dresses, and gloves of fur, are put in general requisition. The country presents one continued plain covered with snow, and nothing is visible but trees overloaded with snow and ice. Within doors, the Canadians are well secured from the cold — the apart- ments being heated with stoves, and kept at a high and uniform temperature. The severity of the winter — although it stops the navigation of the St Lawrence * Treatise on Canadian Agriculture. 24 EMIGRANTS HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. ! i and Other rivers, and the cultivation of the soil — is no obstacle to either out or indoor amusement. The Canadians, laying aside the cares of business, commence for a time a season of joy and pleasure. Sludges ttnd carioles, carriages fixed on a kind of skates, are now got ready, and a system ofvisiting and pleasure drives, fills up the forenoon, while dining, supping and dan- cing occupy the evening. Indeed, in few countries is the season of Christmas more joyously spent. Not- Mrithstanding the extremes of heat and cold, and the rapid transitions from the one to the other, the climate of Canada is healthy, and upon the whole, well fitted to natives of Great Britain. 28. The severity of the winter is not so great in Upper or Western Canada, as it is in the Lower or Eastern province. The climate of the Western province can- not be better described than in the following state- ment taken from the Report of one of the British Agents in Canada to Government:—" The climate of Upper Canada is considerably milder than that of the lower province, and the winter shorter in the same proportion. In both these respects it improves as you proceed westward,— so much so, that although the irost generally commences in November at its eastern extremity, and continues in that neighbourhood till the middle of April, it rarely commences on the shores of Lake Erie before Christmas, and it usually disap- pears between the 25th of March and the Ut of April. On a comparison with the climate of Great Britain, the heat in the Summei^ months is somewhat greater, but never oppressive, as it is always accompanied with light breezes. There is less rain than in England, but it falls at moire regular periods, generally in the spring and autumn. The winter cold, though it exceeds that of the British isles, is the less sensibly felt, in conse- quence of its dryness, and seldom continues intense for more than three days together, owing to the con- stant fluctuation of the wind between the north,?west and south-west points. As the forests disappear, the climate improves." On this subject we may farther X iTnti'f T^-( d M i» *"'* *i Wt ii|i-<^ • S 1^ ^2»"o 5'S S 'r (*4 --r^ _ a ^ si ^ & *n>o>^a4SaaDt t- *" o 04 ^ GO w QP r* ^ CM iiiiiiiP i ■-^t o>^ o5«e e t»-^ "^ ■•^ai a>i (H 88 01 »i Si « «« ^ 41 SSJ '^ as «^Sq«eo 80 bmiobant's hand-book of facti. // 3 < H o g o n 09 SB o I OB I I I ^1 s I ili§i I l< 1 ssSsSS 3)«i**9 91^04$ . 'Si '• '• I I i t & t t^oDeowj* dB - « OD H i: :S:^§ I : : :| : sS !•] • • • vj • • • • 1 • • • •( ggSi ^ •"SSSKSJ P4 ■s < i ^ liil § P 11 S£:E3S5|3 SSS^SS a><«(p-i 2 aS28l 3 :i2 ii s CO 09 y liiiHiiitiiiiyiiiff n" ■-'■■■■r^' iaif: '""'"'ff '"^T^ ppi British America. — Canada. 31 \ 83. The principRl exportable articles hitherto, are timber and ashes. The produotioD of timber is very ^ greaty and capable of beinff continued for many yean to oome. An idea may be formed of its extent) from the fact, that the capital employed in the lumber (timber) establishmenti and saw-mills in the neighbourhood of Quebec, is 1,1^«000/.| this sum is laid out in erecting saw-mills throughout the country, forming log-ponds, building crftft for the transport of deals, and forming a seeure riding for the ships in the strong tide- way of the St LHwrence, while loading the timbers. The lumber-tfade is of the utmost yalue to the poorer in- habitants, by furnishing their only means of support during the seyerity of a long winter, particularly after season! of bad crops (frequent in the lower provinces), and by enabling young men and new settlers most readily to establish themselves on the waste lands. The American ashes contain a larger proportion of pure potash than those of Dantzic or Russia. Th^e are manufactories of different articles estab- lished at Montreal and Quebec; soap and candles are now being exported; in 1831, soap 81,819 lbs., and cahdles 31,811 lbs., almost entirely to the other northern colonies, and the corn and flour trade of Oanada promises to be a great source of wealth to the Gblonists. A manufactory for making cloth is situated in the township of Ascot, which keeps in cdnstant employment 20 persons. The number of domestic looms in the province is supposed to be 13,500> which, it is computed, manufacture annually of coarse cloth 1,500,000 yards, flannel 990,000 :^ards, linen 1,370,690 yards. The number of mills in the pro- vince is, Carding, 90; Fulling, 97; Paper, 3; Grist, 395; Saw, 737. Whisky is distilled to a considerable extent, but there are not any means of ascertaining the quantity. Sugar is made in large quantities from the maple-tree, but the quantity cannot be ascer. tained. Iron works are carried oq to a very great extent at St Maurice, in the district of the Three Rivers. There is one iron foundery in the district of Quebec, and six in the district of Montreal. ■nna 32 EMIGRANT S HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. Section 10. — Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton. \i 34. Nova Scotia is a peninsula connected vinth^that part of the continent of North America called New Brunswick, by a narrow isthmus. It measures about 300 miles in length, and is of unequal breadth. The area of land may be estimated at 8,000,000 of acres, of which about 5,750,000 acres have been granted; and of the remaining 2,225,000, not more than 280,000 are supposed to be fit for cultivation. No part of the land is morei;han thirty miles distant from navigable watt-r, and everywhere it is intersected with fine streams and rivers. It has been permanently posses- sed by the British since 1712. It is divided into ten counties, including the island of Cape Breton at its eastern extremity. The chief towns are Halifax, Truro, Londonderry, Onslow, &c. The capital, Hali- fax, is agreeably situated on the declivity of a rising ground, in front of a spacious bay, which forms a fine harbour on the eastward or seaboard side of the pen- insula. It contains about 25,000 inhabitants, and is a central point for the fishing trade and foreign com- merce. 35. The soil of Nova Scotia is very various. By hr the largest portion of the good land is situated on the north-western portion of the fieninsula. Towards the Bay of Fundy in particular, there are many thou- sand acres of alluvial land, made by the deposit of the tides from the soil brought down by the rivers and streams. This has been dyked in, so as to exclude the waters of the rivers, and is of extreme fertility. In the neighbourhood of Windsor and Truro, this land yields three tons of hay per acre, which it has contin- ued to do for the last fifty years. Immense tracts of land have been enclosed, and gained from rivers and shores in this manner ; for instance> at the head of the Bav of Fundy there are 70,000 acres in one connected body. The next best quality of land is found in tho valleys, on the banks of the fresh water brooks and BRITISH AMERICA. — NOVA SCOTIA, CAPE BRETON. 38 y streams, and is also alluvial. Great quantities of this land is found in every part of the province, forming fine meadows, covered with natural grass several feet in length. The upland varies much, but there is one tract, commencing at Cape Blomidon, and running in one continuous ridge for upwards of one hundred miles towards Digby, and seven or eight miles in breadth, which is of excellent quality. It is a strong soil, pro- ducing wheat and other grains in abundance. The mineral productions of the province are valuable^ and of these coal is certainly the most important. It is found at Pictou* in the northern part ot the peninsula, and also at Sydney in Cape Breton. Iron ore has also been found in several places. Limestone, freestone, slate, and clay for bricks, are also in abundance. In the rivers, salmon, trout, and other fish of the finest kinds are plentiful ; and the sea-shores yield large supplies of white and shellfish of various kinds. The fruits produced are numerous. All the British fruits are in abundance and of fine quality, besides a great variety of wild fruits. Culinary vegetables, such as potatoes, artichokes, cauliflowers, cabbages, beans, peas, carrots, onions, parsnips, beet, celery, and cu- cumbers, are plentiful. The grains raised are wheat, rye, buckwheat, barley and oats. Pumpkiu. and Indian corn are extensively cultivated. The natural wood consists of elm, cherry, white, black, yellow and grey birch, red oak, beech, white and yellow pine, white, red, and black spruce, maple, &c. The climate is healthy, but like Canada is cztremely hot in summer, and cold in winter. Snow generally covers the ground from Christmas till the 5th of March. When vege- tation commences, it is very rapid ; and the summer is short but powerful, and the crops are quickly brought to maturity. 36. The island of Cape Breton lies close to the east- ern extremity of Nova Scotia, from which it is separ- ated only by a narrow strait called the Gulf of Canseau. It is one hundred miles in length, and about sixty in breadth; but its shores are indented by numerous '-■•« mm ^' 34 EMIGRANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. bays. The productions of the island are similar to Noya Scotia, and its minerals, particularly its coal, are valuable. The possession of this fossil must yet prove of vast importance to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. It is remarkable this source of wealth which the coal must yield, has been hitherto so much over- looked, considering its value in the United States; but the increase of steam-navigation in these seas^ has now begun to call it forth. I \\ Sbction U. — New Brunswick and Paincb Edward's Island. 37* On the mai^^land of North America, northwest of Nova Scotia, and south of the eastern portion of Lower Canada, lies the province of New Brunswick. On the south-east it is bounded by the Bay of Fundy, and the isthmus which connects it with the p'^ninsula of Nova Scotia ; on the east by the Gulf of St Lawrence ; on the north by the eastern extremity of Lower Can- ada, which separates it from the river St Lawrence ; and on the west by the United States. The area of the province is about 1 6,500,000 acres ; of these, 13,817,573 acres remain still ungranted by the crown. About 1 1 ,000,000 of acres are considered fit for culti- vation. This extensive province, it is said, is capable of maintaining 3,000,000 of inhabitants, but it is as yet very thinly sckled, and the population but small. The greater portion is slill covered with dense forests, but the soil is generally fertile, and excellently adapted for the settlement of emigrants. The climate is healthy, and very similar to that of Nova Scotia, both being milder in winter, and cooler in summer than Lower Canada. The natural productions are nume- rous and valuable. The rivers and lakes abound in fish, and the sea coast is prolific in cod, haddocks, salmon, &c. Cutting and exporting timber is as yet the principal trade. The chief rivers are the St John, which falls into the Bay of Fundy, and the Miramichi, which empties into the Gulf of St Law- .1 igteM ■taMrim BRITISH AMERICA. — NEW BRUNSWICK, &C. 35 to et pe sh r- »; 3t )f I, r» )f f - rence. The banks of these rivers are the seats of the timber trade> and the principal settlements are on the former river and its lakes. On the northern side of this river« where it enters the Bay of Fundy, stands the town of St John, the largest in the pro- vince, and a place of extensive trade. About ninety miles above St John, on the same river, is Fred- ericktown, the capital of the province, but a mere village. The only buildings of importance it contains are the government house, and a college. The Mir- amichi is navigable for large vessels for about forty miles, and on its banks are seen the huts and houses of settlers, who, however, attending chiefly to the timber trade, the staple of the district, show but small advance in the cultivation of the soil. The village of Chatham is on the south bank of the river, about twenty miles from its mouth. Here merchants have settled, stores and wharfs been erected, and many ships are loaded. Extensive veins of coal, lying a few feet above the level of the water, and running hori- zontally, are found on the shores of the Grand Lake in Queen*s County. An excellent vein has been opened on the banks of the Salmon river. Iron ore is abundant. Copper, plumbago, and manganese, have also been found, and gypsum and grindstone are in inexhaustible quantities near Chignecto Basin. 38. As to the abundant natural resources of this fine but hitherto n^lected colony, we quote the fol- lowing remarks from the St John's Chronicle, of a recent date: — " This province possesses many resources infinitely superior to her trade in timber, that have been lost sight of in consequence of the timber mania. Her agri- culture, fisheries, and mineral wealth, have all been heretofore rather matters of theoretical speculation, than practical and profitable operation; against the first of which, a prejudice based in total ignorance of the capabilities of both soil and climate, haj existed. These prejudices, however, we are happy to find, are giving way to conviction of their fallacies, from unre- I W il li riri i i >aiMMi iWi iiiirriwllii 36 emigrant's KAND-BOOK Of FACTS. I \ futable proofs that are daily making their appearance* We will quote one instance only which will set the matter quite at rest. In the Stanley settlement, per- haps the finest wheat ever grown on the face of the globe has been produced under the fostering hands of the English farmers — the grain is both beautiful and perfect in its kind, and w^eighs 70 lbs. per bushel. Had the agriculture of this province been pursued with a hundredth part of the vigour that has been mis- applied to a fluctuating, and as it now proves to be a profitless business in timber, this province would not have been in the state it now is. Our fisheries, too* have been fairly neglected, or carried on in such a listless, and, as a natural consequence^ profitless man- ner, that little or no benefit has resulted from them ; and while we have nearly the whole of the fishing ground in this quarter of the globe, and the markets of the whole world open to us, we have made nothing of it; ' :tile the Americans, who first unlawfully take the fish from our waters, and labour under high duties (to which we are not subject, in our West India ports), undersell us, and make it a profitable business. As to minerals, if we take that of coal only, we find it in inexhaustible beds, and of undoubted quality; and while we have so many steam-boats on the move, and it brings so good a price in the United States, we are at a loss to discover why it is not made a profitable source for investment. Indeed, the resources of this province are both varied and vast, and with industry and capital, are capable of making this country one of the most wealthy in the world, if we should never build another vessel nor export another ton of tim- ber." S9. Mr McGregor gives an instance of what can be done here by energy and industry, which it is to be hoped will yet be extensively imitated, as there is ample room and verge enough for hundreds doing so ** On coming down the south-west branch of the Miramichi," says he, *Mn the autumn of 1828, from where the road from the river St John joins the y BRITISH AMERICA. — NEW BR0N8WICC, &C. 37 •■ -^ ^ :' Miramichi, about eighty miles above Chatham^ I was astonished at the unexpected progress made during so short a period in the cultivation of the soil. Near where the road parts off for Frederickton, an Ameri- can, possessing a full share of the adventurous activity of the citizens of the United States, has established himself. He told me that when he planted himself there, seven years before, he was not worth a shilling. He has now (1829) more than three hundred acres under cultivation, an immense flock of sheep* horses, several yokes of oxen, milch cows, swine, and poultry. He has a lar^e dwelling-house, conveniently furnished, in which he lives with his family and a numerous train of labourers, one or two other houses, a forge, with a powerful trip-hammer, worked by Water-power, ful- ling-mill, prrist-mill, and two saw-mills — all turned by water. Near these, he showed me a building, which he said he erected for the double purpose of a school and chapel, the floor of which was laid, and on which benches were arranged so as to resemble the pit of one of our theatres. He said that all preachers who came in the way were welcome to the use of it. An English parson, a Catholic priest, a Presbyterian minister, or a Methodist preacher, should each, he said, get something to eat at his house, and have the use of the chapel,, with equal satisfaction to him. He then showed me his barn, and in one place a heap, containing about ninety bushels of Indian com, that grew on a spot (scarcely an acre) which he pointed out to me. This man could do little more than read and write. His manners were quite unpolished, but not rude ; yet he had wonderful readiness of address, and, as far as related to his own pursuits, quick powers of invention and application. He raised large crops, ground his own corn, manufactured the flax he culti- vated and the wool of his sheep into coarse cloths; sold the provisions which his farm produced, and rum and British goods, to the lumberers; kept a tavern; employed lumberers in the woods, and received also timber in payment for whatever he sold. He made ,1 .:1 % ri^iiriMitiiiiiBiMWittf mf 36 £IIIORANT*S HANO-BOOK OF FACTS. i; the axes and other tools required by the lumberers at his fo^5re; he ate, gambled, and assodated with his own labourers, and with the lumberers^ and all others, who made his house a kind of rallying point. He ap- E eared, however, to be a sober man, and a person who ad in view an object of gain in everythmg he en- gaged in. He talked much in praise of the rich in- terior country, and how rapidly it would be settled and cultivated, if possessed by the Americans." 40. Prince Edward's island is situated in the Gulf of St Lawrence, betwixt the Island of Cape Breton, on the east, and New Brunswick on the west. It is separated from Nova Scotia by a narrow sea about nine miles in breadth, called the Straits of Northum- berland. The island is about 140 miles in length, and its greatest breadth is 34, but, being much in- dented with bays, it is in some places connected onlv by narrow isthmuses only a few miles in breadth. It is divided into three counties, called King's, Queen's, and Prince*s, counties. The area of the island con- tains about 1,360,000 acres, of which only about 6000 remain at the disposal of the erown. The capital, Charlotte town, is situated on the south side of the island on the noith-west bank of the river Hills- borough, the ground on which it stands rising in gentle slopes from the banks of the river. The har- bour, which is capacious, is considered one of the finest in the Gulf of St Lawrence. The island is governed by a lieutenant-governor, council, and house of assembly, the members of which are chosen by the people. "The colonists are chiefly from Great Britain and Ireland, mih a few Dutch and Germans: and are described by Mr M'Gregor as an hospitable, kind, obliging people, and generally moral in their habits. The island is rich and productive, the soil being fertile, and yielding good crops of wheat and other grains. Potatoes, turnips, and all other green crops, succeed well. The climate is somewhat similar to Canada, but the winter is shorter than that of the Lower pro* vince, and the atmosphere is free from fogs. Spring BRITISH AlfEl^ICA. — NEWFOUNDLAND. 39 grains are sown in the beginning of May, and the harvest is usually reaped and secured by the end of October. The island has been recommended to those who combine a knowledge of agriculture^ with that of curing fish. The bays and shores are rich in fish of various kinds, and the Magdalens,a small group of islands to the north-east, which have been added to the government, are chiefly occupied as fishing stations. y Section 12. — Newfoundland. 41. This island lies on the north-east side of the Gulf of St Lawrence. Its whole eastern shore is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean ; and on the norths east and north, it is separated from the coast of Lab- rador by the Strait of Belleisle, which is about 50 miles in length, and 12 in breadth. The island is bounded on the north-west by the Gulf of St Law- rence, and on the south-west, at Cape Ray, it ap- proaches Cape Breton. The extreme length of the island from Cape Race to Griguet Bay, is about 420 miles ; its widest part from Cape Ray to Cape Bona- vista is about 300 miles. Excluding its broken and rugged shores, the circumference may be stated at 1000 milesy comprising an area of 36,000 square miles. It is the nearest portion of America to Europe, the dis- tance from St John*s in Newfoundland to Port Va- lentia, on the west coast of Ireland, being 1656 miles. Little is known of the interior of the island, the settle- ments made being all upon the coast ; and even but a portion of this is occupied by the British. In conse- quence of a claim made by France to a right of exclu- sive fishing, (which, however, is contrary both to the meaning and words of every treaty made between Great Britain and the French government on the sub- ject,) the largest and best half of the coast has been virtually ceded to the French ; for, from Cape Ray to the Quirpon islands, not tien British settlers are to be found, although the land is exceedingly well adapted m emigrant's hand-book op facts. both for cultivation and pastutng^e. Hitherto New- foundland has been chiefly valued for its extensive fisheries, and has been little, if at all, looked to for Eurposes of emigration or colonization. Although, owever, a large part of the island consists of plait. , studded with rocks, and termed " barrens/' there is a large extent of alluvial soil capable of growing wheat and other grain. Springs of fresh water everywhere abound, and the island is well adapted for the pas- turage of horned cattle on an extensive scale. The climate is milder than that of Canada, and the salu. brity of the island is best shown by the longevity of the inhabitants. In no country is old age attended with greater bodily vigour and mental animation — there being instances of fishermen 100 years of age being still actively employed in the arduous duties of their calling. Coal has been found on the banks of the Humber; and the oldest inhabitants assert that Conception Bay contains mines of several sorts. At Chapel Cove there is a coal mine, and a limekiln was erected there several years ago, and worked with suc- cess. There is said to be an iron mine on the northern side of Belleisle, and another at Harbour Grace, and it is affirmed that th ^e is a copper mine near St John's, which has actually oeen worked. The attention of the present settlers has been turned to the subject of emigration, the capabilities of the island are therefore likely now to be brought before the public, and to be- come better known, and its agricultural and mineral wealth turned to account. Its fisheries, the only source of wealth at present cultivated, are exceedingly valuable. In 1836 they amounted to £808,066 ster- ling. The total trade of the island has been estimated at £2,000,000 sterling per annum. In 1 828 the popu- lation amounted to 60,088. The affairs of the island are administered by a resident governor, with a legis- lative and executive council, and a House of Assem- bly, consisting of fifteen members, chosen ^y the people. ^^ mm RMP wmmmm BRITISH AMERICA. — ADVICB TO EMIGRANTS. 41 ( ( / Section 13. — Advice to intendino Emigrants. Who may emigrate ? 42. The question of who may with advantage emigrate^ is one worthy of very serious consideration. The life of a colonist settling in Canada must neces- sarily be, as it unquestionably is, one of toil and pri- vation for a time. Even those possessed of capital, must be reconciled to labour with their own hands* and all should remember that they are to settle in a country covered with extensive and dreary forests, with inter- vening settlements often distantly scattered, and rude in their appearance. Where the emigrant is most likely to be obliged to locate himself, the absence of the refinements and society to be found in the old country must be submitted to without a murmur ; and he must be content to place his happiness in the know- ledge, that although his lot in the mean time is inces- sant toil, he is with ordinary prudence laying the foun- dation for almost certain success, and for the future in- dependence, ease, and comfort of himself and his family. It is obvious that some classes of people are much better fitted for emigration than others ; but all who have strength for out-door labouv, joined to energy of character, and a determination not to shrink from temporary difficulties, may safely turn their attention to western Canada, or some of the other portions of British America. To persons therefore of this descrip- tion, who can find the means of vemo /al, and who are pressed with difficulties they see little prospect of over- coming at home, emigration to these settlements can hardly fail to be highly beneficial. ^* The persons," says Mr Howison, *' who may be inclined to emigrate to Upper Canada, are of three different descriptions, namely, the poor peasant or day-labourer; the man of small income and increasing family ; the man pos- sessing some capital, and wishing to employ it to ad- vantage. Persons of the first class never would re- pent if they emigrated to Upper Canada, for they could hardly fsdl to improve their circumstances and ■^P«^"'w 43 EMIGRANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. condition. The poorest individual* if he acts prudently and is industrious, and has a common share of good fortune* will be able to acquire an independence in the space of four or five years. He will then have plenty to eat and drink, a warm house to reside in, and no taxes to pay ; and this state of things surely forms a delightful contrast with those hardships aad privations which are at present the lot of the labouring popula- tion of Great Britain. 43. It is evident that some descriptions of emigrants will succeed better in Upper Canada than others. Those who have been accustomed to a country life, and to country labour, are of course more fitted to cultivate land, and endure the hardships at first attendant upon a residence in the woods, than artisans or manufac- turers, whose constitutions and habits of life are some- what unfavourable to the successful pursuit of agricul- ture. But every individual, who, to youth and health joins perseverance and industry, will eventually pros- per. Mechanics cannot fail to do well in Upper Canada ; for when not employed in clearing lands, they will find it easy to gain a little money by work- ing at their professions ; and they likewise have the advantage of being able to improve their dwelling- houses, and repair their farming- utensils, at no ex- pense. Weavers, being ignorant of country affairs, and unaccustomed to bodily exertion, make but in- different settlers at first, and their trade is of no use to them whatever in the woods. Married persons are always more comfortable, and succeed sooner in Can- ada than single men ; for a wife and family, so far from being a burden there, always prove sources of wealth. The wife- of a new settler has many domestic duties to perform ; and children, if at all grown up, are useful in various ways.'* 44. Every intelligent traveller in Canada concurs in these views ; and it may be observed, that they are equally applicable to our other settlements in North America. ** Of this, I think," says Fergusson,^' there can be no doubt, that either the moderate capitalist, or y BRITISH AMERICA. — ADVICB TO EMIGRANTS. 43 * the frugal, sober, anil industrious labourer or artisan, cannot fail of success. Fortunes will not be rapidly or even readily acquired; but it must be the settler's own fault if he does not enjoy, in large abundance, every solid comfort and enjoyment of life, and rear around his table even 9, forest of 'olive plants,' without one anxious thought regarding their future destination or provision." Section 14. — Advice to Emigrants, — Continued. PaBiage.Chargea — Victualling.Cautiona regarding ProvUioni. 45. The passage to Canada may be made either direct by Quebec and Montreal, or by New York and the Erie Canal. By the former route, the voyage is longer, and the passage of the river St Lawrence is tedious and troublesome. It has however the ad- vantage of being cheaper than by New York, and this to many will be a consideration of great importance. The passage to Quebec may be engaged either includ- ing provisions, or exclusive of them, in which latter case, the shipowner besides supplying water, fuel, and bed places, is bound by the recent Passengers* Act (see Appendix) to issue at least twice a-week to each passenger at the rate of 7 lbs. of bread, biscuit, flour, oatmeal, per week ; one half at least bread or biscuit, and potatoes may be issued for the other half, at the rate of 5 lbs. of potatoes, for I lb. of bread, &c. The charge for children under fourteen years of age, is one half, for those under seven years, one-third of the full fare ; and for children under one year, no charge whatever is made. The charge from London, and other ports on the east coast, has usually been 3/. with- out provisions. From Liverpool, Glasgow, Greenook, and other places on the west coast, and from the prin- cipal ports of Ireland, the charges are usually less. Next spring, the passage-money will probably be 2/. lOs. without provisions, and 20/. including provisions. Without reference to saving of expense, which is con- siderable, we strongly recommend emigrants to take their passage from the west coast, as saving much time Xi illlillifaiilni- .■. * .. .n il> M . fi>» i «tfiiiifliii-iiir,.A ..^f^u / »!' ./ i 44 EMIGRANT S HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. and trouble ; and the voyage being considerably shorter. Whoever resolves to supply his own provisions, must be careful not to lay in an insufficient stock. Fifty days has been recommended as the shortest period for which it is safe to provide ; but as the emigrant on arrival, can sell whatever he may have over, we urgently advise that a safer provision than this be made. Of the vessels sailing from British ports, in April, 1841, although there were instances of some making the voyage within 30 days, the longest passage was 78 days, and in the month of June, 7^ days. The misery and loss of health to the emigrant being on short allowance, under such circumstances, where he is in want of funds, and the expense incurred by those who have, in purchasing at an extravagant rate from the captain, may well be conceived. We would urgently recom- mend therefore emigrants sailing with the ordinary ships advertised, not to victual for less than 10 weeks, Mr Buchanan, government emigrant agent at Quebec, gives many instances of the danger arising from being short - victualled, in his reports to the governor during the year 1841. '*In the brig. Lady Hood from Stornoway," he says, "were 14 families, 78 in number, all very poor ; and landed here after a passage of 70 days, in great distress, from want of provisions. They had expended all their money in purchasing supplies from the master during the passage." ** 139 passengers in the Cumberland Lass from Belfast, were 66 days on the voyage. Many of them landed in great distress, from want of provisions. They pur- chased from Captain Smith as long as their money lasted, and he had to support from 40 to 50 of the Eoorest for the last three weeks. When he arrived ere, all his ship's stores were exhausted, besides sup- plies which he obtained from different places in the gulf." We would also impress upon the poorer class of emigrants, the danger of trusting to potatoes as an essential article of food. The liability of this valuable root to become rotted, is apparent ; and under any circumstances, great care should be taken of their BRITISH AMERICA. ^ADVICE TO EBII0RANT8. 45 1 1 stovtrapfe. Mr Buchanan, in one of his weekly reports says, '* the passengers per China, from Limerick, were ] weeks on the voyage ; their supply of provisions falling short, they were obliged to purchase from the captain at high rates. They stated that their supply of provisions was sufficient when they left, for three months, but that their potatoes, which constituted their chief stock, owing to the wet and heat in the vessels hold, soon rotted, and became unfit for use, Mr Buchanan adds, "several cases have occurred this season, in which this most essential, and - 1 may say principal food of the Irish emigrants has been destroy- ed from neglect and improper stowage. I should re- commend, if considered practicable, that this article of provision should be placed in charge of the master of the vessel, and be issued by him to each individual twice a week, or oftener, if ne thought proper. At present, they are brought on boai'd in sacks, and thrown into the hold on the wet ballast, or on the water casks, and in the course of a few days, owing to the thoroughfare made over them by the crew and passengers going for water, and other provisions or baggage, they soon become so trampled on, and bruised as to be unfit for use.** The safest way to keep po- tatoes is in a barrel having a lock. The passenger has them thus under his own charge, and the danger of heating and rotting from wet is thus in a great measure prevented. 46. Oatmeal, beef, eggs packed in salt, tea or coffee, and sugar, ship-biscuit and loaf-bread hard baked, are all indispensable to making the voyage with anything like comfort. Milk, boiled with loaf sugar, a pound to a quart, and bottled, will keep during the voyage — an e^^ beat is a good substitute for milk. A supply of porter and ale will be found useful. Rice and sago for puddings should also be taken, and dried fish and red herrings. A Scotch emigrant, in a letter from Upper Canada, published in the Counsel for Emi- grants, gives the following list of provisions for four persons sailing as steerage passengers : — '* 16 or 18 r i f • ■,^ . •«iPi 46 emigrant's hand-book of facts. pecks of potatoes in a barrel with a lock on it; 40 lbs. of good beef, well salted in brine; 16 lbs. of butter ; 3 lbs. of coffee ; 3 or 4 dozen old bottled beer, which has less chance of flying than if new ; some dozens of eggs packed in salt; half a dozen cod-fish, cut in pieces for boiling ; some dozens of Buckie haddocks, well dried for keeping. Milk does not keep well ; no sweetmeats are relished at sea. A few oranges, which at times taste very pleasant to the parched palate ; some cheese ; 8 lbs. of treacle in a flagon ; 1 stone of barley; a good deal of pepper and mustard ; plenty of carrots, turnips, and )nions, for Lroth — they will keep all the voyage ; 28 lbs. of flne ship bread ; 8 or \0 quartern loaves, baked hard; 1 boll of oatmeal, 6 pecks baked into bannocks and cakes, very well fired, and flat for packing; some white puddings; some suet for dumplings ; a few candles, and a white-iron lantern with horn ; 1 bottle of vinegar, to use in water on shipboard ; 1 bottle of castor-oil ; 2 or three doz- ens of colocynth and rhubarb pills ; 6 lbs. of Epsom salts, and 1 lb. of senna — these medicines are very dear here ; tin pan to fit the stove of the ship, and it is convenient to have one for hooking on the ribs of the grate when the top of the fire is occupied ; kettle for making coffee, &c. Use no crockery, but instead, jugs and bowls of tin ; broth pot, frying-pan, and tin kettle.'* 47. ** There are some things which are requisites," says the author of the Mechanic and Labourer's Guide to America, ''and essential ones also, and not always paid sufficient attention to, on the part either of the voyager or the supplier, and others which would materially conduce to his comfort and even perhaps his health, which are omitted altogether. Acids of all descriptions — that is, those used at table — are not only highly serviceable at sea, but par- ticularly grateful also to the palate. Of vinegar, therefore, as the most common, there should be an ample store ; pickles likewise of various descriptions ; but, above all, lemons or the juice of them. For this y I wmm BRITISH AMERICA. — ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS. 47 l» / kind of acid, there can be no proper substitute : it counteracts the effects of salt diet, allays sea-sickness, and forms occasionally a very refreshing and invigo- rating beverage. About two or three dozen of these will be found sufficient, which, if obtained fresh and wrapped separately in paper, will keep good through- out the voys^e. Two or three pounds of figs also should be taken to be used medicinally, and a box or two of soda-water powders. A small hamper of porter likewise, and a bottle or two of spirits, not omitting a little brandy.* A few good keeping apples and some oranges also, managed in the same manner as directed for the lemons, may be provided ; and of vegetables, besides the potatoes supplied with the stores, onions, carrots, and turnips, which will keep nearly the whole of the time, and are highly serviceable for soups, &c. Two or three pounds of portable soup, and about the same quantity of preserved meH should be taken, if the voyager's means will permit." 48. "In place of hard bread or biscuit, for which in most cases there is soon a disrelish, loat-bread should be substituted, prepared in the following manner :-— For immediate use, a few stale loaves may be re- baked, that is, put a second time in the oven in order to take out all the moisture from them, and in this state they will keep good for at least a fortnight ; but to last well for a longer period, the loaf must be cut up into thin slices and toasted slowly on both sides, until they become perfectly dry — on a gridiron over a slow fire perhaps is the best way of preparing them — and then let them stand separately on end until perfectly cold. If these be kept in a dry place, they will continue in a good state for months, and all that is necessary previous to use, is to moisten them with a little water and hold them a short time before the fire, or else immerse them in any hot liquid, as tea, soup, &c. If bread thus prepared be put up in a tin box with a tight-fitting lid or cover ; and when used * This is the more necessary to be attended to, as shipmasters are now (>rohibit«d, tinder penalties, Arom selling spirits to passengers. ^mmmmmmm ■pimi t:.' k 48 EUIORANT*S HAND-BOOK OF FACfS. treated as directed, it will be almost impossible to dis- tinguish any difference between a toast of this descrip- tion and one from a loaf only a day or two oM.** 49. The tin articles required are, a water-can to hold the supply of water, the quantity being a gallon per day to each individual, a wash basin, baking dish, a tin pot to fit into the ship*s stove for broth, &c., a can for drinking from, a pot to hang on the stove for heat- ing water, tin plates for meals, small tin dishes for tea or coffee, table and tea spoons, and kniv«s and forks for each individual. All should be marked, and all packages should not only have locks, but be kept locked, and the keys taken out. This cannot be too carefully attended to, as loss of articles on shipboard are not unfrequent, and such losses cannot unfortu- nately be supplied. Section 15. — Advice to Emigrants, — Continued. Best period for sailing— Cautions as to the Selection of Vessel— Emi. grant Agents— Arrival — Directions regarding Landing— Conveyance up the country. 50. The shortest passages are made in the begin- ning of the season, consequently the best months for leaving this country, are April and May. For the poorer class of emigrants, it is absolutely essential to leave early. In the report for the year 1841, Mr Buchanan says, '* it is of the greatest importance that the advantage of arriving in the colony at as early a period in the season as possible, should be impressed on the labouring portion of the emigrants who come out at their own expense, and also or the landholders who wish to give assistance to their poor tenantry to emigrate, as everything depends on the time of their arrival here. Those who sail from the United King- dom in the months of April and May, arrive in time to take advantage of the spring and summer work. They have thus time to look about them, and secure a home for their families, against the coming of winter. On the other hand, if emigrants arrive at a season ,. s ""■■■"■pplil BHITISH AMERICA. — ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS. 49 when nearly all employment ceases, the winter ap" proaches before they can get themselves and their families into the interior of the country, and they are thrown on the benevolence of the colonist, or have to drag through a long and severe winter, depending on charity for support. This is equally an injustice to the poor emigrant, and a serious tax on the colonist, which might be avoided in a great measure by leaving their homes at a proper season. By sailing at an early ■m, pcfiodin the year, they can calculate on a more ex- peditious voyage, which is an all-important considera- tion.- To the unprovided state, and late arrival of emigrants in the province, and to the other causes which I have alluded to, many of which are set forth in my weekly reports during the past season, I must attribute, in a great measure, the expense incurred by the different agencies in the province. 51. The names of vessels to sail being advertised, in the proper season, the emigrant can always have a choice. The conveyance of passengers to the British colonies is regulated by Act of Parliament, (5 and 6 Vic- *> toria, chap. 1070 ^^ which an abstract will be found in the Appendix. This should be carefully read by the in- tending emigrant, und he should not sail unless he finds that its provisions are strictly attended to. The agents appointed by government attend no doubt to the enforcement of these, but in a matter of such vital importance, the emigrant cannot be too careful in seeing to this himself. The most necessary for him to be assured of is, that the proper quantity of water bo ^ on board, and that more passengers are not taken than the tonnage of the vessel allows. The character of the vessel for swift sailing, and her sea-worthiness should be strictly inquired into ; and if at all within his reach, the emigrant should not embark except from a port where government has an emigration agent, or where there is an efficient custom-house establishment. The professional skill, habits, and manners of the captain should also as far as possible be ascertained. A tyrannical or rude and boisterous B m h i..l 50 EMIGRANT S HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. master of an emigrant ship, has it in his power to make the voyage very disagreeable to the passengers. On the other hand, passengers for their own sakes should be careful not to give annoyance, or thought- lessly to complain of matters, which are unavoidable in a sea voyage. The emigrant should put himself in communication with the emigrant agent of the port at which he means to embark, and be guided as much as possible by his advice. The duty of this officer is thus described by the Times newspaper, at the time these were first appointed. 52. ** The agents will be instructed to furnish all par- ties wishing to emigrate (before they quit their homes) with information relative to the ships fitting out for passengers at their respective ports, the probable period of their sailing, and such other intelligence as may be required. Thus the poor emigrant may, by timely caution, avoid the abominable impositions too often practised upon him. Passenger-brokers as they are termed, for the ship-owner has rarely any thing to do with the matter, frequently promise the immediate departure of a ship, and subsequently on some pretence or other detain whole families until their slender means have entirely passed into the pockets of a set of low lodging-house keepers, to be found in every seaport, in whose profits it is not impossible that these brokers may in some way or other participate. Farther assistance will be afforded to the emigrants on their arrival at the seaport, by the agent's advice, in case of difficulty, or by a more direct interference when frauds are attempted, of which the law takes cogniz- ance. In short, the agent is to act as the poor man's friend and adviser, whenever he is deserving of pro- tection, and to relieve him from those innumerable embarrassments to which he is liable, at a time and under circumstances which render it peculiarly difficult for him to help himself. To see that the provisions of the Ship Passengers' Act are complied with, will be another and most important duty of the agents ; and as they are selected from the half-pay list of i /' BRITISH AMEBICA. — ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS. 51 <^ naval officers, they will be peculiarly able to judge of the quality of the provisions in store, and of the general arrangements for the comforts of the passen* gers " 53. On arrival; the emigrant ou^ht not to be in a hurry to land. If the vessel is bound to Montreal, and he intends proceeding to Upper Canada, he should on no account leave the vessel at Quebec,.except it be to go with the long boat direct with his luggage to the steamer for Montreal ; and not unfrequently the steamer comes alongside the emigrant ship, and thus facilitates the re-embarkation of the emigrant. The captain of the ship can easily arrange this with the steamer. If his supplies are run out, a few hours at Quebec will suffice to provide the necessaries of life. The emigrant should wait till the vessel is at the wharf, or comes to anchor in the river, if she cannot immediately get a berth. He is entitled b/ the Pas- senger Act to remain on board for forty-eight hours after the vessel has arrived at the port to which he has contracted to be taken, and it is illegal for the captain to force him sooner ashore ; and he will do well to make use of as much of this privilege, as will enable him to have his luggage all arranged, to land himself and his family without hurry or confusion, and as it will prevent the necessity of going into lodgings where he disembarks. His luggage should be put into as small compass as possible, if he intends proceeding farther, and the barrels and boxes in which his provisions were carried, now useless, are not worth the expense of transport. He should boil a few pounds of pork or beef, before leaving the ship, to serve him for a few days ; in a few minutes he can procure fresh bread, and he can with ease get hot water in the steamer in which he is to embark to make tea on the way up. The passage by the steamer from Quebec to Montreal, 180 miles, is usually made in twenty-four hours. When the emigrant has got all arranged for leaving the ship, or if he has come by the steamer from Quebec, he should immediately get his luggage trans- MiigiMiiiii u ^ 52 emiorant's hand-book of facts. ported to the barges of the forwarding company. He will always find carters ready to transport them^ but care must betaken not to be imposed on; Is. 6d. should be sufficient for taking all his things to the station of the barges. The same barges continue all the way through to Kingston, the luggage need not therefore be moved till arriving there. In the barges he will find utensils for cooking, and the females and children will find shelter in the cabin. In case of foul weather, the emigrant can get his family on board the steamer at Lachine^ where the barges are taken in tow to Carillon, about forty miles from Lachine. The barges here take seven or eight hours in getting through the locks, and getting up to Grenville. Oi^ the way the emigrant can buy a icw potatoes from the farmers on the canal; and pork, butter, flour, tea, sugar, eggs and butcher meat, can all be obtained. From Grenville to Bytown the barges are towed by steamers, and reach the latter place in fifteen or six- teen hours. On their arrival at Bytown, the barges have again to pass through locks, which causes a delay of some hours. The passage from Bytown to Kingston is rather tedious ; but as it afibrds to the emi- grant various opportunities of seeing the country, and many of engaging as a farm servant, he should not look upon it as altogether lost time. At Kingston, there are steamers for Toronto, distant 170 miles, and for Hamilton at the head of Lake Ontario, distant from Kingston 210 miles. The entire distance from Qu '^bec to Toronto, is 606 miles, and the time occupied in performing it, in the year 1841, about ten days. 54. The expense of this journey may be calculated thus in the currency of the country : — Fare from Quebec to Montreal, at one time, Ts. 6d., is often reduced by competition to 5s.; in 1841, was reduced to 2s. 6d., say •.... 5 No charge for luggage. Carting luggage at Montreal to Barge station, , 16 Fare from Montreal to Kingston 10 ^ \ BRITISH AMERICA.— ADVICE TO EMIQBANTS. 53 6 X Allowed for luggage 1 cwt. or lUh cwts.; 2s. 6cl. per cwt. charged for all extra. Fare from Kingston to Toronto, 7 6 £14 This is exclusive of provisions. 55. Children under 12 years are charged half-price^ under 3 years nothing. Families, on arrival at Mon- treal, who are unable to pay, or unwilling to incur the expense of lodging, will find shelter in the emigrant sheds at the entrance of the Lachine canal. Lodgings can be had at from 4d. to 6. CO CO «5 *0 I up y i 00 OS S CO CO F-« 57. A great error is committed by the labouring emi- grant in asking exorbitant wages on his arrival ; he should content himself at first with Ss. or 4s., and take the first employment that offers. The following ex- tract from a Report from the chief Emigration Agent at Quebec, to the Governor-general of Canada, dated 81st July, 1841, should be carefully attended to by emigrants. " The most imnoi tant measure is, first, to endeavour to undeceive the emigrants in the very er- roneous ideas which they almost all entertain as to the remuneration which they will receive for their labour on arrival in this country. Instances occur almost daily of persons who, in their own country, (Ireland) were glad to work for lOd. to Is. per day, refusing employ- ment here at 3s., and they do not consider that, for the first season, until they become acquainted with the labour of the country, their services are worth little more than one-half to the farmer. Many, to my cer- tain knowledge, have been offered advantageous en- gagements in this neighbourhood, but refused perma- nent employment, preferring to proceed in hopes of better wages, bat in which very many are disappointed. 58. '* Wages, for agricultural labour in the eastern townships, and in almost every section of the western division of the province, are higher than in the neigh- bourhood of this city (Quebec), or Montreal; six to seven dollars per month is as much as farmers will, or can afford to give to newly arrived emigrants, with board and lodging. Good hands, after a year or so of residence, will generally command from ten to twelve dollars, and found. Labourers who board themselves receive here from twelve to fifteen dollars per month. Day labourers always get 2s. 6d. to 3s., and at this season oftener the latter than the former, but if they possess the means of proceeding further, they will seldom work for this. 59. " It is most desirable to impress on the intending emigrant the necessity of their being in possession of sufficient means to enable them to proceed to where a demand for their labour exists, and it is extremely 3Z M,[Lim k I 1 56 EMIQRANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. difficult, I may say impossible, when from 2000 to 3000, and in some instances 5000 people arrive here in a week, (as was the case this season for several weeks in succession) that employment can imnuediately be found for all who stand in need. 60. *' Facilities have occurred this season which were not formerly to be obtained in the neighbourhood of this city (Quebec) and Montreal; viz., immediate em- ployment to all classei) of emigrants on the public works and road improvements. This, however, can- not be relied on in future beyond another season." 61. Many emigrants, on arrival at Quebfjc and Mon- treal, have not the means to carry them forward^ but they find no difficulty in getting work at the coves at Quebec, and are very soon enabled to lay up sufficient to carry them up the country. They should on no account remain in Quebec cr Montreal during winter, as they will assuredly have much privation and hard- ship to contend with. However high the wages m?iy be in the busy season, the winter presents to them a barren field indeed. 62. If the destination of the emigrant is westward of the head of Lake Ontario, he will proceed from Niagara by the Welland Canal to Fort Erie, near the eastern end of Lake Erie, from whence he will find steam con- veyance to the western district or the southern portion of the London district, and other parts in the vicinity of Lake St Clair. If intending to settle on the lands of the Canada Company on Lake Huron, or in the vicinity of Lake Simcoe, he will proceed from Kings- ton to Toronto, as directed in the preceding section, and from the latter place he will find conveyance to the northern and north-western districts. On the other hand, should his object be to settle in the eas- tern districts, he may have occasion to leave the barges of the Conveying Company before he arrives at Kings- ton. If bound for Bytown^ Grenville, Hull, Horton, or other places on the Ottawa, he will proceed by that river by the ordinary conveyance from Montreal; and, if for Perth or New Lanark, he can go by By town or Vi BRITISH AMEUIGA. — ADVICE TO KMIQKANTB, 57 by Prescot. Those bound for the Newcastle district, should, after leaving Kingston, disembark at Coburgh or Port Hope on Lake Ontario; and, for Seymour, the best route is from Kingston by the Bay of Quinte to the mouth of the river Trent, whence there is a good road of eighteen miles to that place. In a country so rapidly advancing, however, as Canada is, new facilities of conveyance are every season opening up. Wherever his destination may be, therefore, the emigrant should consult the government agent, either at Quebec, Montreal, Bytown, or Kingston, as to the best and cheapest route, and he should carefully note down for his future guidance the information he may receive. If time at all permits, and a short time will ..^^^ suffice, this information should be obtained from the ^^( government agent at Quebec ; and if the emigrant has tio fixed destination, it is of course absolutely necessary that he should, before proceeding farther, get all the in- formation here necessary for his direction. The emigrant should also be careful in listening to the statements of private individuals with whom he may come in con- tact. He cannot tell the motives from which any ad- ^ vice he may receive flows ; and many have been much misled and seriously injured from the ignorance of their informant. The cafe course is, in all such mat- ters, to take the disinterested advice of the government agent, 63. And here it is necessary to warn the poorer classes of emigrants against an erroneous impression which Mas last season, and we fear is yet too prevalent,— that the poor emigrant would, on arrival, be supported s^ and forwarded at government expense to any section of the province they wish to settle in. This, however, is not the case. Many sailed last season under this impression, conceiving that if they could only reach Quebec all their wants would be provided for, and that they would be enabled to go to the locality, where, from the previous residence of friends and relations, they wished to settle, without further expense. The con- sequence of this error was much disappointment to the illiftijiiiigyiyjiiMiiifiiaia^^ 'WMm 58 EMIOBANT*S HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. poor emigrant, and much unavailing regret. All that the government agent can do under such circumstances, and all that the government undertakes, is to put the emigrant on the way of obtaining employment in the neighbourhood of QuebeCi when they must depend on their own industry for their support; or, if employ- ment cannot be obtained there* to assist them in going to situations where he knows it can be obtained, and where labour is wanted. It must be obviousi however* that, under such circumstances, emigrants cannot have their own choice of locality ; and they would do well* therefore! at once to put themselves under the direc- tion of the government agent, and be guided by bis advice* taking the employment whioh can be obtained, till they have time to look about them and judge what is best to be done. 64. During the season of 1840, 663 emigrants from Glasgow and Paisley, chiefly weavers and mechanics, were landed at Quebec, in very poor and destitute circumstances, and depending on immediate employ- ment for the subsistence of themselves and their numerous families. They were members of Emigra- tion Societies; had been enabled to emigrate, partly from the funds raised by these Societies from the contributions of their members, and partly by pub- lic subscriptions; and all had left home under the erroneous impression to which we have alluded. Several families, numbering about 60 persoi.s, by the advice of Mr Buchanan, the agent, remained at Quebec, and worked for two or three montha on the roads at 2«. 9d. and 35. per day. They were soon settled on land in the flourishing townships of Leeds and Ireland, about 50 to 60 miles from Quebec, and were then in a fair way, from their own industry, of being, in a few years independent " I have," says Mr Buchanan, in 1841, "the gratification at present to know that their families are above want. Their success has been promoted by some influential Scotch gentlemen in this city, who, seeing their willingness and industry, have assisted them with provisions and a ^ t_ ii» '^mmmmfmmm'i^^im, mmmmm mm wmm y BRITISH AMERICA. — ADVICB TO EMIGRANTS. 63 hemlock, &c. ; which^ however, is reckoned the best description of land. The following statements give the cost of clearing twenty acres of heavy timbered land in the London district, in the manner usually adopted in Canada, with an estimate of the value of the crops produced during the first three years after clearing :• First Year. — Chopping, clear. ing and fencing 20 acres, so as to leave it fit for sowing, 4/. per acre. Seed, I ^ bushel wheat to the acre, say 80 bushels, 58., Sowing and Dragging at os, per acre. Harvesting at 7«. 6d, per acre. The value of the straw tailing, wheat hulls, &c., on the farm are supposed to be equal to the thrashing and cartage to the barn. By 20 bushels of wheat per acre, 400 bushels, at Ss. 9d,, Second Year. — To timothy and clover seed at 2s. 6d. per acre, .... Mowing and taking off hay at 7«. 6d. per acre, . By H ton per acre of hay at 6 dollars per ton. Third Year. — To mowing and taking off the hay at 7s. 6d. per acre. By 1 i ton per acre of hay, at 6 dollars per ton, . Balance, . Dr. s d. 60 7 10 5 7 10 2 10 7 10 7 10 47 10 165 Cr. £ 8. d. 75 45 45 165 By balance brought down. £47 10 64 EMIGRANT S HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. 68. The same quantity of land cleared by slashing;-*— Dr. Cr. £ 8, d, £ 8» dt First Year. — Slashing 20 acres, at 4 dollars per acre, 20 This is to be allowed to lie three years. Interest on 20/. for three years at 6 per cent., . . S 12 Burning, clearing, and fenc- ing, at 8 dollars per acre, 40 Ploughing twice at Ids, per acre, 7s, 6d, each time, 15 Dragging and seed, . . 12 10 Harvesting, . . . 7 10 By 25 bnshels wheat to the acre, 500 bushels, at Ss. 9d. 93 15 Secon D Year of Cultivation.— Ploughiiig once, at 7s, 6d.t 7 10 Sowing and dragging, at 5s., 5 Seed, 11^ bushels rye per acre, at 3s, 9d , . . 5 12 6 Harvesting, . . . 7 10 By 20 bushels rye per acre Ss, 9d, Rye in Zorra al- ways brings an equal price with wheat for distilling, but say, to be quite certain, 3s. \^d., 62 10 Third Year. — To timothy and clover seed, at 2s, 6d. per acre, Mowinsr a 78. ed. taking off hay, By 1^ ton of hay per acre, at 6 dollars per ton, Bdluuce, . By balance brought down, ^ * 2 10 7 10 45 67 6 201 5 201 £66 6 \- — V.ilMl.M^. •MR* mmm \ BRITISH AMERICA. — ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS. 65 69. On his arrival, the emigrant can at once ascer- tain, by application at the proper office^ what crown lands are surveyed and open for sale. Lists and plans are kept in the offices of the crown land commissioners, and also of the surveyor-general. Crown lands open for sale in Canada, are, besides, regularly advertised in the Gazette, The Canada Company i^sue printed lists, from time to time, of their lands on sale, which are distributed throughout the province, and any detailed particulars can be learned by application to their com- missioners at Toronto, either personally at the office, or by letter, which will be answered in course of post. No lands belonging either to the crown or the Canada Company, can be purchased or occupied by any set- tler until they have been first surveyed. In the case of the crown lands in Canada, it would be impossible to order a survey of land on the application of an in- dividual ; but should a number of persons be desirous of settling together on an unsurveyed tract, a survey would immediately \e ordered to be made. In New Bruniswick, however, a survey would be made instantly on application ; but in Prince Edward's Island, the land, besides being surveyed, must be advertised for thirty days, and then sold by public auction. When the price is paid for crown lands in Canada, the pur- chaser will receive a patent as soon as it can be pre- pared, and is then entitled to take possession. The Canada Company grant licenses of occupation upon the first instalment of one-fifth of the purchase-money being paid, and grant a complete title-deed immedi- ately on the whole being paid. No delay, therefore, in obtaining land in Canada need take place. In Prinde Edward's Island, there is no delay after the purchase in getting possession ; but in New Bruns- wick, there may be a delay of from a week to a month. Measures, however, are in progress to ob- viate this in future, by surveying and laying out loca- lities in favourable situations. In Canada, the crown reserves the right of making roads, bridges, and erect- ing buildings for military purposes^ but must indemnify ^ipp^ 66 XMIGRANT^S HAND-BOOK OF FACTI. * ;: ■I: the proprietor for land taken from him. Gold and sil- ver mines are also reserved, with the right of working them, and all white pine timber, but the latter right is never enforced. In New Brunswick and Prince £dward*8 Island, all precious metals and all coal are re- served to the crown. There are no government taxes in Canada, nor any impost except local taxes, appli- cable to the general purposes of the district in which the land is situated. These amount to 58. 5d, per an- num on each 200 acres of wild land, and Id, per acre per annum for cleared land. In the other provinces there are no taxes but those made from time to time for local purposes. 70. In purchasing land from government, they give considerable accommodation regarding payment of the price where this is required. One instalment being paid down, three years are given for payment of the balance— an instalment being paid yearly with interest at six per cent. Even should the settler be unable to fulfil this contract when due, government is seldom urgent for some time; but the sooner he is enabled to get his land cleared of the burden, and his title com- pleted, the better. The Canada Company give four years for payment of the price of land purchased from them — that is in five instalments, one paid down, and the other four at intervals of twelve months. Neither will they be over urgent on an industrious settler, if the interest is regularly paid, but will give a little ad- ditional time if circumstances should render it neces- sary. It is extremely dangerous, however, to pur- chase land, payable by instalments, from a land dealer. The settler may rest assured that if his instalments are not paid when due, he will be turned out, losing all the money be has paid as well as his labour. There are too many land-jobbers in Canada who make a trade of getting emigrants into their power in this way, and turning them out of the land after draining them of ail they possess. As a safe rule, the emigrant who purchases from a private individual, should pay the price in full at once, and get his title. If he is ;:.: N sag: BRITISH AMERICA. — ADVICE TO EUIOEANTS. 67 id sil- rking right *rince re re- taxes appli- v^hich er an- r acre krinces time IT give of the being 3f the terest ble to eldom led to com- e four from 1, and either tier, if le ad- rieces- pur- ealer. ments losing There ake a a this iining igrant d pay he is W N enable to do this, let him have nothing to do with the land. Indeed, it is extreiaiely dangerous for a settler to get into debt at all in Canada, and we advise him never on any account to take credit from a store. A poor land-owner will readily obtain credit from the store-keeper, but it is almost certain ruin to accept it. By the laws of the country, a creditor can attach land for the amount of his claim however small it may be ; and as cash may not be easily raised at a moment*s notice, the settler may be speedily stripped of all he possesses, and the store-keeper become the owner of the spot on which he had hoped that he and his family would have become independent. Prudent settlers will suffer almost any privatibn rather than run the risk which getting in debt to a store-keeper entails. 71. In Upper Canada there are no farms exclusively devoted either to tillage or to grazing cattle. Gener- ally speaking, in the older clearings the greater por- tion of the farm is under grass, &c., to provide food for the cattle during winter. On new farms on which the clearings are not extensive, the greater part is in tillage ; the farmer usually first raising such crops as he may require for his own consumption, or that will meet with a ready sale. In Lower Canada the great- est proportion in the Seigniories is under tillage — in the townships in pasture. Throughout the eastern townships of this province grazing is yery general, because it affords the easiest method of sending farm produce to market under the present means of communication, and as avoiding the heavy expense of labour. In Prince Edward's Island the great pro- portion of the land is in tillage, the properties of the soil being considered better fitted for that species of husbandry than for grazing. In New Brunswick there are no farms where grazing is exclusively pur- sued ; but in many situations a great proportion of the land is appropriated to the growing of hay ; and after the hay harvest the cattle are turned on the meadow land. The present mode of farming adopted in Up- per Canada being very imperfect, and grazing exclu- 68 BMIOBANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. I sively having never been tried, it is not easy to speak as to the comparative profits of tillage and grazing. Many farmers, however, are of opinion that the ad- vantages of the latter are not sufficiently understood or appreciated, and recommend its adoption. There can be little doubt, that one effect oi the present British tariff will be to increase the quantity of land kept in grass or green crop, and to encourage the rearing and feeding of cattle. 72. MrWidder, one of the commissioners of the Canada Company, has furnished the following statements of the profits upon grazing, which he gives on the au- thority of a respectable and intelligent individual re- siding at Zorra. The value of stock in that township is as follows: — " Sheep (store), after shearing, lOs, a piece; work- ing cattle, per yoke, 50 to 60 dollars; year-old hogs, 12«. 6d, to \5s, each; horses, from 30/. to 40/. the span; cows, 16 to 20 dollars each. It appears that stock farms are much more profitable than merely grain farms, on account of the great increase in the value of cattle. In the first three or four years the following is a fair statement of what may be done with them. In the fall of the year ox-calves, calved in the spring, may be purchased for 20s, currency per head; generally at something less. The next autumn the same calves are worth 40^. each. The succeeding autumn, when two and a-half years old, they are worth 60s, each, and the spring following are fit to break in, and then are worth 51, each, or 10/. per yoke. The stock farmer should not keep them longer, as they will not continue to incre^ise in the same propor- tion. Heifer calves are equally profitable to keep.** The profits on tillage we have shown in p. 63. "The profits on grazing," Mr Widder says, "are very considerable ;'* the deniai>ds for cattle for the use of the colony cannot be supplied except by importa- tions from the United States, where considen^ble numbers of sheep are raised for the wool. In the Huron tract, and Wilmot, the pasture afforded to tl\e y warn y BRITISH AMERICA.— ADVICE TO liMIGRANTS. 69 cattle in the woods i« so excellent, that without any assistance they get remarkably fat, and fit for slaying. In Wilmot, the Huron, and Waterloo, the number of sheep is much on the increase, and large flocks are seen. In Waterloo, several fulling mills are erected, and large quantities of woollen yarn spun by the women and children, which is made into a durable flannel, stockings, and coatings. 73. It is not usual to take farms on lease in Canada, land being so cheap that farmers generally prefer pur- chasing land to renting it. In the Upper Province, rent, when paid in cash, is from 10«. to 20«. per acre, for good cleared and fenced farms, having the necessary buildings, and near a principal market ; and from 5s, to lOs. per acre, for land farther back and more re- moved from a market. The most common mode of letting land, however, is " farming on shares," the proprietor receiving either one-half, or generally one- third, of the produce, without reference to the cost of production. The system of leasing by government having been found inconvenient, has been discontinued for some years. Where land is let in the Lower Province, it is generally on condition of receiving half the produce, the proprietor supplying half the seed, and all the implements and stock. Land, in the wild state, is let in Prince Edward's Island on lease for from 40 to 999 years. The latter is most common at an annual rent of 1«. to 2s. per acre, with the op- tion of purchasing the freehold at 20 years' purchase. The tenant or settler is always at the cost of clearing the land. In New Brunswick land is usually let on short lease, from 3 to 5 years, sometimes for a money rent, but generally upon shares of half the produce. The erection of a good log-house costs, in Upper Canada, from 35/. to 60/.; a frame-house, about 90/.; barn and scabies, from 30/. to 40/. Stables for three horses, including sheds for cattle, 30/. Many houses, however, occupied by farmers of the country, cost much less. The Dutch farmers attend more to the comfort of their cattle than that of their families, and TO £UiaBANT S HaNO-BOOK OF FACTS. their barns and sheds are their first consideration. Their dwelling-houses are quite out of character with their offices. In Lower Canada the house costs about 20/. sterlingf, the barn about 20/., and the stable about 10/. In New Brunswick a comfortable frame-house costs from 150/. to 200/. currency, (135/. to 180/. sterling); a frame-barn from 30/. to 50/. currency, (27/. to 45/. sterling). In Prince Edward's Island a suitable house for a small farmer, may be built for 120/., a barn for 40/., and a stable for 8 horses, for 25/. sterling. The usual rate of wages paid to a labourer, is in Upper Canada, from 25/. to 30/. per annum, from 2/. to 2/. lOs. per month, and 2«. to Ss, per day, with board and lodging. During harvest from 48. 6d, to Bs., with board and lodging. In Lower Canada the wages are rather less. The wages of a labourer in New Brunswick average about 21/. 128. sterling, per annum, or S6s. sterling per month, with board and lodging. Day labourers, with- out board, 25. Sd, sterling per day, but in harvest 3«. 7d, sterling. In Prince Edward's Island, with board, 16/. to 18/. per annum, 30^. to 40s. per months and 28. per day. 74. We are unable to state of our own knowledge, nor although we have taken some trouble in the matter, have we been able to ascertain precisely the rate of profit on farming operations in Canada. In the answers to the queries by the Emigration Commis- sioners, it is calculated at 30 per cent, on the capital laid out. No data, however, are given from which the correctness of the estimate can be ascertained. It seems quite sufficient for the emigrant, however, to know that farming, if conducted with prudence and industry, is uniformly successful. An industrious farmer is sure of securing a comfortable living, parti- cularly if he has sons and daughters to assist him in his labours in the field. The instances of farmers are numerous who commenced with very limited n^eans, and who are now independent. The same observa^ tions apply to the other British provinces. There is V, u. \\ BRITISH AMERICA. — ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS. 71 one agricultural product for which the soil and climate of Upper Canaaa arc well adapted, and which, al- though important in a national point of view, has been hitherto neglected. Ttiis is the cultivation of hemp. There is a great deal of rich land in alluvial bottoms or valleys, which is too strong for the growth of wheat in the first instance, but which, after a crop or two of hemp, would be well fitted for grain crops. In remote districts hemp would be a much more pro- fitable crop than wheat, as it is more valuable in pro- portion to its weight, and would cost, as a matter of course, less in the carriage to a market. The great want for this crop is a mill for its preparation. It would, therefore, be highly advisable, where the land is fitted for the growth of hemp, that a number of neighbouring settlers should join in the erection of a mill, and enter into an agreement, each to raise a cer- tain quantity of hemp. The profit would be certain, and the advantage national in rendering Great Britain more independent for this staple article, of the northern nations of Europe. Flax would also be a profitable article for cultivation, but there is not we believe a single flax mill in the province. Hitherto all that has been cultivated has been dressed and used for domestic purposes in the family of the grower. Section 17. — Advice to Emigrants, — Continued, 75. For the information of emigrants of th^ labour- ing class, we have also condensed the following infor- mation from the queries already alluded to, adding what we consider useful from our own and other sources. In emigrating to the Canadas, or New Brunswick, it is not considered desirable that the labourer should take with him any implements for the ordinary occupation or clearing of land. All such implements can be purchased in the colony, and any advance on the price is balanced by the expense and trouble of carriage. Besides, after arrival in the colony, the emigrant knows exactly what he will require, and 72 EMIGRANT S HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. can purchase them better adapted for the purposes re- quired than he can do in this country. In emigrating to Prince Edward's Island, however, spades, shovels. West India hoes, and scythes, will be found usefiil. For convenience of carriage, we would advise the. iron part alone of these articles to be taken out. Artisans^ on the other hand, should take with them the tools of their trade, which they already have in their posses- sion, where these are not too bulky; and, indeed, carpenters have been disappointed in getting work in Lower Canada from not having tneir tools with them. But all such tools can be purchased in the colonies at no great advance of price. 76. It is advisable that emigrants should take out bedding, and warm blankets, to all the colonies, parti- cularly if they leave home late in the season. Warm clothing is also indispensable, and the labourer and artisan will do well to take out as good a supply as his means will afford. In all the colonies, however, coarse woollen stuffs can be had, made in the country, which, though dearer, are more durable than those made at home. No fujrniture, or cooking utensils, ex- cept what may be required for the voyage', should be taken out. . Indeed, as a general rule, the emigrant should be as little encumbered with luggage as possible. Persons with means may, however, after they have selected their farms, or the land on which they intend to settle, bring with them many articles which will be of great convenience. Yet even this is not ab- solutely necessary, as almost all their wants can be supplied in. the provinces at an expense not greatly exceeding t^e cost at which they could carry them out. In addition to ready made clothing and bedding, persons in circumstances may take out some crockery, saddlery, carpets, &c., which can be procured cheaper and better in Great Britain. But, even ^f these things, they ought not to take too much, aslthe freight on bulky articles is higH. Furniture, for thiis reason, should not be taken, and especially by the labourer or artisan. . wmm BRITISH AMKKICA. — ADVICE TO RMIOftANTS. 78 I 77* The class of labourers most in demand are those acquainted with agriculti re, but all able for out-doof bbour will find employment. As we have alreadr stated, However, labourers unacquainted with agricul* ture must not expect such high wages at first as are given to those who are more experienced. Yoong men vrithout families more readily find employment than married men, as the employer generally provides them in boarding and lodging. Good house servantSf espedally females, bringing with them satisfactory tes« timonials as to character, are much in request, and will also quickly find employment. It is not so com- mon in any of the provinces for women to be employ- ed in field labour, as it is in this country. A married labourer must not trust, therefore, to his wife's labour as any assistance, especially in the Ctnadas. To a certain extent, however, they will find employment during the summer, and children above twelve years of age will readily find some employment during that sea- son. In the western districts of Upper Oanada, where tobacco is grown, women and chilaren are regularly employed in weeding and hoeing. During the win* ter, women can be usefully employed at home, in spin- ning and preparing wool and fiax for home-made cloth, and the children can go to school. When a labourer settles on land of his own, his wife find children can be of use to him in many ways, and will be found of great advantage. Mechanics and artisans of all kinds, except weavers, readily procure employment at their trades. It is difficult to say which are most in re- quest, but if any distinction is made, bricklaygrs, stone^ masons, carpenters andjoiners, cabinet-makers, coopers^ millwrights, millers, blacksmiths, shoemaker^ ship" Wrights, boat-builders, tanners* tailors, and wheel- wrights, are most required. The labourer or arti- san will recollect, that all money is calculated in cur- rency, and not in sterling — U. sterling being equal to I«. ^id., or l«. Sd, currency. His wages, therefore, he will find not really so great as they nominally are; He will soon, however, become accustomed to the dif- a 74 EMiCiRANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. ference. But in the far back and newer settled dk- ^ricto, where money is scarce^ wages are often paid la goodSk and not in money. When this is the case, he would reqidre to know the prices of the goods in which he is to be paid, a^ well as the nominal wages, or he umj find himself a considerable loser. 78* In Canada there is a capitation tax of 5f . cur- rency on each adult emigrant. All above 14 years %re considered adults ; and below 14 and above seven, two reckon one adult ; under seven, three children are reckoned as one adult. The money raised by this tax is applied, under the direction of the governor, in af- fording temporary medical attendance and relief to diseased And destitute emigrants on their airival, and in assisting them to reach the places of their destina- tion. In New Brunswick there is the same tax of &s, on each adult, two children under 14, three under seven years, or one under 12 months, with its mother, being dassed as one adult. The fuxtds thus raised are applied in a similar manner as in Canada. In Prince Edward's Island there is no such tax, and no meams of relieving the destitute emigrant. Vessels arriving in Canada, having thirteen or more steerage passengers pp board, are reqi^red to stop at the quarantine sta- tion. The detention, however, does not on an average exceed two days, and healthy emigrants are allowed W joroceed immediately after the vessel has been detti^ed. The expense of the quarantine establish- ment is borne by government, and convalescents are forwarded to Quebec free of expense. The rules are much the same as in the other colonies. As soon as a yessel with emigrants for Canada arrives at the miarantine station, about thirty-three miles below Quebec, printed hand-bills are circulated on board, informing them where and to whom to apply for in- formation as to their future proceedings, and the go- vernment emigration agent boards the vessel as soon as it arrive^ at Quebec. Every information as to land, where employment is most likely to be had, and mode of transit, can be obttuned from him, or will be afford- / jga BRITISH AMBEICA.—- ADVICA T0 EMlQBANTS. 7S ed at the goyemmeni offices. The emigration agents at pf'esent ai^e^ at Quebec, A. C. Bnehanair, Esq., chief agent ; Montreal, James Alison* Eso. rBji'towny George Biirke> Esq. ; Kingston, A. B. Hawke, Esq., chief agentfor Upper Canada; Toronto, I>. K. Bradley, Esq* ; and Hamilton, Major Arthur Bower. There are also agents for the sale of crown lands on the diffefenlt districts, who will furnish emigrants with informatioii of the lands for sale. The Canada Company, besidcfA iheit agent at Toronto, haTe also one at Quebec, to afford information for emigrants. In New Brunswick^ every information will oe afforded at the offices of the emigrant agents at St John's and Frederickton, and also by the committees for emigrant societies. In Prince Edward's Island there is no government agent, but advice is readily afforded by the agents Of the pro* prietors, who reside in Charlotte-town, to the emi- grants, as to the best means of obtaining employment. TQf. In New Brunswick the expense of a journey from any of the sea-port towns to the neighbouring settlement districts, will not exceed from l&s, to 27«. sterling, for an individual; and even should he go first to the seat of government, Fredericton, to select land, and then to the situation chosen, the actual trayelling expense will not exceed from 1/. 16«. to 4/. lOt. ster<« ling. This province is intersected by numerous rivers and rapidly improving roads, by which the settler can with facility transport himself and his family to the interior of the province. In Prince Edward's Island the emigrant, on landing at Charlotte-town, can go to any part of the colony at a very trifling expense. We have already stated the charges of moving up the country in Canada, from Quebec and Montreal; and we need here only add, that in the lower province a waggon can be hired at the rate of about 3«. sterling per cwt. for 50 miles. 80. We have given, in the Appendix, the rate of wages usually given to artisans of different kinds, and to labourers, to which we refer the reader. The wages paid by government, to labourers employed on ^R' fa faMkaEANT^S HAND-BOOK OF fACTi. r id public works, are nearly the same as those paid by t farmers. Labourers in goyernment employ are always ^ paid in money, he. providing himself with board and j lodging. A labourer thus employed, however, learns nothing of the country, or of agricultural occupationSj and is much more tempted to g^ve way to intemperate ; habits. In general, government labourers put up tem- porary buildings for themselves and their families near the works on which they are employed ; but sometimes the contractors of the w^ork provide houses for them* FariP labourers are sometimes hired by the year, but generally by the month, receiving higher wages during the summer months^ In none of the provinces is beer the common drink of the labourers, but it is coming more into use in Upper Canada, where it can be had 0f excellent quality at Is. per gallon. All farm pro* ^uce is cheaper in settlements remote from a market, than in the towns, but groceries are proportionally dearer in consequence of the expense or carriage. The expense of erecting a log-hut varies from about 3/. to 10/., depending on the kind of dwelling required. An usual mode of putting up buildings, by small set- tlers in the country, is to obtain the assistance of all their neighbours, which is called a Bee, — the settler providing provisions and liquor for them while so en- gaged. Section 18,— Accodnts given of these Provinces BY Settlers. 81. We quote the following from ** Memoranda by a Settler in Lower Canada,'* published in the Quebec Mercury. This settler was from Scotland, and emi- f rated v/ith 300/., his portion of his father's property, lis elder brother having the same sum, after visiting Canada, settled in the United States, attracted to the Illinois by the descriptions of the late Mr Birkbeck. 82, ** When I reached Montreal, (to this port emigrants should always take their passage, if they possibly can at the same rate as to Quebec, and more IS seldon^ asked), I put my money, which h^d suffered BRITISH AMBaiCA.— ACCOUNTS GIVKN OF IT. 77 ■^ i^ but a trifling diminution, into the bank at five per cent* interest, and immediately went out into that part of the country inhabited by English settlers. After tra- velling about forty miles, through the intricate mases of Canadian roadis, I reached the settlement I was in search of. As it viras too late in the season to com^ mence upon land of my own, and as my little capital would have suffered no small diminution had ! gone abodt the country hunting for a farm-— a practice as common as it is ruinous— ^ter making some inquiries into the character of the inhabitants among whom my lot had thus accidentally been cast, I attached myself to the family of one of them, a substantial farmer, a native of the country. I did not actually hire myself as a labourer, but, bv making myself as useful as I could, was to pay nothing for my board ; this was oer* tainlv a foolish bargain; but, as I hap^ned to fall into gooa hands, suffered no loss by my imprudence, for he gav6 me, in stock and seed-grain, as much as I could nave expected, had I stipulated for regular wages* 83. " In the following spring I purchased, in that neighbourhood, a farm of 300 acres, about 50 of which were cleared, with a log hut, as a dwelling-house, and a good frame bam upon it ; the price was 300/., 100/» of which was paid at the time, and the remainder I was to pay in annual instalments of 50/.» with interest after the first year, which was free, at six per cent. This mode of payfng for land is very comm'm, and not unfrequently in the end, turns out to be more ad- vantageous to the seller than to the buyer; a« farms 80 8old, after a yearns labour or more in improving them, sometimea revert back to the original proprietor from the purchaser's inability to complete his pay- ments ; when he loses, besides, all he may have paid, such being a general condition of the bargann. I now bought a yoke of oxen for Id/, or 60 dollars; three cows for 15/., ten sheep for 5/., and a horse for 17/.* several implements of husbandry, some little furniture^ a few kitchen and dairy utensils, pigs, poultry, &c. 84. " The first summer was spent in getting in a J 78 BMI0BANT*8 HANO-BOOK OF FACTS.! Httle crop, putting up fences, and in clearingf up three and a>half acres of woodland, which I sowed with wheat in September, after my earliest crops were saved; the rest of the autumn was occupied with my late oats, potatoes and Indian corn. I then hired another man, and commenced clearing away the under- brush, and as soon as the snow came, I cut the trees down, and into lengths of from twelve to fifteen feet, for piling in heaps to burn; this work by the 10th of April was completed upon about thirty acres, besides several hundreds of rails cut, split, and hauled out of the bush, as the woods are called, as well as my winter and summer fire-wood. The produce of my farm, this year, did not amount to more than was sufficient to pay its own expenses, and keep me and my family, until the followmg harvest, nor hardly as much, as I had so ne provbions to buy. 85. *' In the spring I began to feel rather uneasy about inv prospects, my money wasting away very fast ] I had only about 50/. left, and still owed more than three times that sum for my farm; and the thirty acres, my chief dependence for a crop, looked like any thing rather than producing one ; covered as it was so thickly with felled timber and heaps of brushwood, as to preclude the possibility of passing through it ; and to add to my apprehensions, the rain fell in tor- rents for nearly a fortnight, soaking it so completely that I thought it would never dry again, not at least, in time to be burnt over for a crop; and to perplex me still more, my horse died, and two of my sheep were killed by the bears or wolves, or perhaps by mv neighbours* d(^ ; but what annoyed me more than all these, — perhaps because it was the last misfortune that befell me, or probably because we are most apt to be distressed at trifles, — a ravenous old sow that I had, getting into the place where my goslings were kept, and crushing them all up. I immediately went to my old friend, the farmer I have mentioned, and laid be- fore him all my misfortunes. The whole family felt due commiseration for my distresses ; but when I mentioned BRITISH AMERICA. ACCOUNT^ GIVEN OF IT. 79 y my last, the old man said I was rightly served, as I could not expect better luck, without a wife to look after such things. He might, possibly, I thought after- wards, have been in earnest, for he had a daughter that he would naturally like to see married in the neighbourhood ; be that as it may, in less than three months, I had some one to take better care of my next brood of goslings ; but before this important event took place, the weather cleared up, and my prospects brightened with the brightening sun, as it shed its *~ scorching rays upon my Slash, — as the timber I had cut down, is here significantly called, — for it was soon dry, when I set fire to it, and had an excellent burn< All the brushwood and branches, as well as the scurf, formed by the accumulation of leaves, small roots, and weeds, were completely consumed, and nothing left but the heavy timber. I then planted Indian corn among these logs on about twenty acres of it ; half of the remain- ing ten acres — for it will be remembered that there were thirty in all — I cleared for oats and spring wheat, the latter of which was sown before planting the Indian eorn> and the other half I left to be cleared for fall wheat. 86. " Other crops uron the old cleared land, though of little consequence compared with those in the new, were all well got in, and while they were growing I commenced clearing up the five acres for wheat, in which work I spent the remains of my last 50/.« de- pending upon the sale of my produce, together witb some potash I had made, and intended to make, to meet my next instalment, which would become due ih the following spring ; and in order to subject myself to ^ as little risk as possible, and my mind to the less anxiety, I turned my oxen into good feed, (after my wheat was sown in the beginning of September), to fatten them for the Montreal market by the latter end of winter; but my crops were good, my potash brought a good price ; in short, I succeeded so well in every- thing, that I was able to purchase another yoke of oxen, in time to get out my fire-wood and fencing timber, before the expiration of the winter. :^ 80 EMIGRANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FACTS. 67. " In the midst of all my difficulties and dis> tresses, I received the following letter from my brother, who had settled at Carlisle, in the Illinois State, whidh tended, as may well be supposed, not a little to increase them. * My dear Brother, — Your letter of last March only reached me about three months ago; I am extremely sorry to learn from it that you have purchased a farm, but sell it again immediately, at almost any sacrifice, and com^ here, where you can get as much land as you like, and of the very best quality, for a mere nothing, and what is better still, perfectly frea from wood. We can raise upon it, without any other ex- pense than fencing and ploughing, upwards of one nundred bushels of Indian corn to the acre ; the cli- mate is rather too warm for wheat, though we do raise it in small quantities; but grazing is our chief depen- dence. I have already upwards of one iiundred head of cattle, which did not cost me much more than half as many pounds. The climate is not so unhealthy as your fears have made it. Europeans, fpenerally, how- ever, are subject, on their arrival, to slight attacks of ague and intermittent fevers. And in order that you may not be disappointed, if you should come, I will give you a faithful account of the few disadvantages we labour under, which you can balance against those of the country you now live in. The price of farming produce is certainly rather low, while clothing and what you have to buy is very dear; but then an economical farmer will make his own clothes, and live within himself as much as possible. Labour is also very high ; indeed, such are the facilities for a man to set up the farming business himself, it is hardly to be had at any price. We have also some few taxes, but where is the country without them ? * You have certainly one great advantage over us, in having a church in your neighbourhood, as we are, in this respect, totally destitute, and the demoralized state of society* I confess, is dreadful ; but, recollect, we have none of the severities of your hyperborean ^«pi BRITISH AMEaiGA.-^ACCOONTS GIVEN OP IT. 81 vUroate to contend with ; and if our produce fetch but a small price, it costs but little to raise it, and the market is at our doors, for we find a ready sale for everything, in the vessels as they descend the river to New Orleans ; th^'efore, sell everything and come. ' I have written for Henry, in Ohio, and James^ in Upper Canada, and have little* doubt but they will a!so come, as they both seem a little dissatisfied with the part of the country they have settled in^ I rejoice in the prospect of our being again united and living comfortably together in this fruitful and happy country ; in the full anticipation of so desirable an object, I am, &c., l- * George W * ** What a paradise, I said to myself, and what a fool I was to be so stubbornly bent upon coming to this miserable country ; and, had I met with a pur- chaser, at almost any sacrifice, I should certainly hleive taken my brother's advice, had there not been cir- cumstances that prevented me from exerting myself to accomplish an object otherwise apparently so de- sirable. 88. ** Shortly after this eventful period in my little history, I was informed that two of my brothers, Robert and Edward, who were also in the far west, had died of those diseases, which George mentioned in his letter, and, that I may not subject myself to the imputation of putting a construction upon it, twisted into accordance with the change in my opinions — I must give his own practical illustration, which I re- ceived from him five years afterwards, in the follow- ing letter from the same place : — * My dear Brother, — I have not written to you now for a long time, sorrow, and sickness, and misery, and disappointment, must plead my excuse ; and as they must have formed the only subject of my letters, you may the less regret my silence. Indeed, I could not find in my heart to mar, with a detail of my own sufferings, so much comfort and happiness as seem to have fallen to your envied lot: my continued silence } 82 SlIIOBANT 8 HAND-BOOK OF FAOTd. should still have saved you from the painful commis- eration I know you will feel for m^, had not the tfar .^ht struck me that you might posHibly be able to find some one in your neighbourhood Who #ouId ex- change farms, &c., with me here, if the rage for coming to this fine country has reached you, of which I nlake little doubt» as it seems to have reached everytirhere. ' If I cannot ctispose of my property in some such way (selling it is out of the question), I am doomed, I was going to say, to live in this country, but rather to die— I have had more than a hint of this during the summer— I have suffered dreadfuUy^you would hardly know me— I am literally and reaJly an old man-— but this is not all — my farm has been totally neglected, as I could do nothing, and hiring being impracticable; I have consequently no crops, no hay saved for my cattle, of which I have more than 150 head; and I cannot sell them, not even at lOs, a-piece— 'bread com I can get for my own consumption, as much as I want for nothing, as everybody who has not been sick all summer like myself, have more than they can sell, even at 7^d. a bushel, I mean, of course, in the ear. Last year, when it was a little more saleable, I had to give fifteen bushels for common cotton cloth, enough to make a shirt. We have no money in the country, and our bank notes but ill supply its place ; some of them are at 75 pe? cent, discount, while others will not even pay a hopeless debt. I offered three bushels of Indian com to the postmaster in payment of the postage of your last letter, which he refused to take, and I had to pay him Is, 3d. in hard cash. I was at first entirely carried away with the fruitfulness of the country, the fineness of its soil, the cheapness of land, cattle, &c.> as all Europeans are, without duly con- sidering that they must also sell at such low prices ; but the difficulty of selling at all is the principal ob- stacle. * I have lately beard from Henry, in the Ohio country, who had just returned from a visit to James in Upper Canada; they both complain of the uii^ though few are desti- tute of the labours of a minister of some persuasion or other; and I would strenuously advise all well dis» posed emigrants not to overlook this circumstance in deciding upon their location. Few there are> if any, who come to this country, having never been so situ- ated as to be unable to attend the public worship of God, however negligent they may have been in avail- ing themselves of the privilege, that would not feel most poignantly if they were deprived of the oppor- tunity; nor would they see, without some annoyance* so little respect paid to that day, set apart for relaxa- tioj^ and rest from the cares and labours of life, even admitting they forgot the nobler purpose for which it was intended, and to which it ought to be devoted, because it would at least be a constant witness to him, on its weekly return, that he was, if not a houseless exile, a stranger, in a strange land. Every emigrant may feel assured, that however anxious he may be to leave his native country, and however much it may be to his advantage to do so, he will retain a painful re- collection of it to the latest hour of his existence; no one brought up in a country like England, where such order and regularity prevail, can form any idea of the demoralized state of society in many portions of the United States, whereas the part of the country where I had located myself, might challenge the whole vrox;\d for its superior in orderliness and morality. *'":;! 91. " My brother mentions, as a disadvantage, somo few taxes; I never heard from him a detailed account of these taxes, but I can give one from my other brother, in the state of Ohio, where they are lower than in almost any other portion of the Union. There is first a tax for the support of the United or General Government, then a state tax, and a town tax, exclusive of the road duty, which must be a tax everywhere ; besides whieh, he cannot well avoid paying something towards the salaries of the minister fit t. BRITISH AMERICA. — ACCOUNT! GIVEN OF IT. 85 rch, and a iinent — not ' are desti- rsuasion or i well dia* instance in tre, if any, in so situ- worship of )n in avail- d not feel he oppor- innoyance« for relaxa- ' life, even )r v^hich it i devoted, ess to him, I houseless |r emigrant may be to it may be gainful re- itence; no vhere such dea of the ms of the itry where hole woi^ld • lU giUi-Jti ;age, some id account my other are lower e Union J e United iXt and a I must be vi^ell avoid e minister and schoolmaster, amounting, without the last, to about one per cent, upon his whole property* or two shillings in the pound upon his annual income, supposing his property brings him ten per cent, upon his outlay. I leave it to the emigrant him- self to compare this with the taxes he pays at nome. In Upper Canada the taxes are much lighter; but in Lower Canada, the case is very different. At this moment I have increased my property, by care and industry, under the blessing of an over- ruling Providence, about ninefold, as I consider it worth little less than 3,000/. — and I might have made it much more, if I had not remitted in my exertions to increase it, and indulged in- more of the comforts and luxuries of life than were absolutely necessary ; yet in all the course of my progress to wealth and indepen- dence, I never paid one farthing neither of direct taxes, nor to ministers* nor schoolmasters* salaries, which are provided for from other sources, and all the indirect taxes would hardly amount to a moiety of what is thus paid by the inhabitants of any other civilized country upon earth." 92. The following extract is from a letter from Matthew Houston, a Paisley weaver, who emigrated to Canada about two years ago. It is dated Carlton Place, Beckwich, Nov. 29, 1841, and addressed to James Houston, weaver, 24, Queen-street, Paisley:—. '* I am very sorry to hear of your distress at home — so many going idle, and have no work to do. We may be thankful that we have left the place and have come here. We have all plenty of work to do here. I agreed to work at the oat-mill for the winter; my wages, are 10«. per week for board, and 8 dollars per month. I am to act as foreman of the mill. My wages run to ids. 6d, per week, by the spring it will rise to 11 or 12 dollars per month, and no outlaid money out of it. My house rent is 58. per month. I do not rue (regret) of coming to this country as yet. The people who are settled in this place for some time are quite happy. They have all plenty of work and H IMAGE EVALUATrON TEST TARGET (MT-3) /j 1.0 I.I I^WIA |25 ■^ Itt 122 11-25 III 1.4 I 1.6 PhotDgrapiiic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WiBSTH.N.Y. 14SS0 (716)«72-4S03 4. ss 'Q ,V »> 'f^.^ •^' & ppa TT mmmmmimiim 96 BMIOftAMrS HAND-BOOK Of fAdtt. pleiitir of proviaiom. For my part^ we have thr«ie mantaa* provision! oa hand, and we know of more when we need them. You mar know the state we were in when we left yoa<^we nad neither meal nor moneyrbnt we hate plenty of every thing that we*nc^ At presenk How long it may last we do not know; bill I *m not afraid of dull trade as long as I am here. The prorisiobs run not so Ingh as at home. Butcber^s meat is 2 Sfiiw per harrel, or fiOO lbs., tobacco is 1«. 2d, to 4lf4 6 1 kft my' family at the house of Mr James Holms, from Beith,,and set out on a tour to the west, resolvlag to have a view of those fine prairie lands de* seiibed by Stewart and others in snob a flattering way. I travelled by the Erie Ganal, passing through many ^If iapp towns . to Buflfklo. This is also a busy place, and rising fast From ihence I took a steam-boaft to develaad, in Ohio» and travelled through that state, aomettmes on the canal to the Ohio river. Qn my route, I saw some excellent land and fine thriving towns I but the land where 1 travelled, in a general way iraa raiher broken and r»,tfaer poor, wad apparently not tery good for wheat, but good pasture, aiid In general the cattle were good. Saw eome places th«e that pleased me wuU i but tbey were rather dear^^ me to purchiae, rating from SD to 100 dollars per acre. . On wmm mmm BRITltn AMBRICA.«i»ACC0UN'r8 aiTSX OF IT. 3t wrrvr'mg at the Ohio rivcr» took a tteam^boat for C^ «innati» whidi ia a fine dtj^ and rmng imU From Ihenoe sailed down the river for LouisTille, the pret- tiett little dtjr I have seen in Ameriea ; but the emie oipttayery is there. . . . From theaee sailed for St Louis, in Biissonri, on tiie banks of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The hmd is very rieh> hot the people look nnhealthr; and I found tlmt failioai fever and ague prevail in those flat places a good deal. 8t Loais if an excellent city for bttsiness» hot inhabited by i rough people. I was much disgposted'with the practice that generally prevails ia these slavehdldlng states, of cttrrying what are called bowiehUvea and it if not at t^ uncommon that fights take place, and peofde are killed. The common people wear those knives in a sheath at their side. They ere hke those used by fleshers, but mther sfaarfier at the point. Thjse carried by gentlemen are similar to pocket* knhes, and have « Made about rix inches long, which, when opened, will not shut without pressinr a ipriag on the back. From St Louis I sailed up tne laissis» nppii passing the mouth of the Missouri and llUnds rivers and the dty c(P Alton, which stands on a rugged limestone height, or bluff, as they are called, im ^e Illinois side of the ^ iver, and near the mouth of it. Alton is increasing rapidly. Numbera of the houses are built of stone, whien is not the case im many places I have seen in America, where they are generally built either of brick or wood. I kept sailing up the Mississippi upwards of a hundred miles faruer, and then travelled across the state of Illinois a consider- able distance. The quality of the soil, and the gene* ral appearance of the country, pleased me much, except in places where the land is flat and swampy, which is often the case near rivers; and, in general, so fiur as I travelled in Illinois, the land is rather level ; h>ki still these pi^airies were inviting to the eye oi* pec^ aecus- tomed to live in an open country. Wages for work- men of all kinds are very high, and people mav get a living with the half of the labour they win do in ^rr 88 BMIOBANT 8 HAND-BOOK OP FACTS. Scotland. In the neighbourhood of Jackson ville, fine land in cultivation could have been eot, for from six to ten doUant an acre. The principal crops raised in these western states, so far as I traveUedf were Indian corn, some oats, and a little wheat now and Ihen. Potatoes also grow well ; but the farmers depend most on cattle, hogs, and corn. Some of the farmers have several hundred hogs, pait of which they iatten with com in the fall, and dispose of for slaughtering, i had the ofibr of an excellent farm of 600 acres, for six dollars an acre, 400 acres of it prairie, and the rest woodland-'250 acres of it fencea and improved, and situated in a good place for markets, being not more than twelve miles from the Illinois river, and about the same distance from a town of considerable extent; but the sickly appearance of the people frightened me. They appeared either to be indolent, or unable to labour, and, so tar as I saw in these new countries, they had a very bilious appearance ; and from what 1 have since learned from people that have resided in them for some time, my conjectures were right. Although I cannot say that Stewart has exaggerated the beauty of the country and goodness of the land, he has not told all the truth — he has not alluded in the way he ought to the sickliness of the country, ^ever and ague prevailed to a considerable extent in Illinois last fall, so much so that the medicines used for the cure of the disease became scarce, and rose to an enormous price. Stewart gives too favourable an account of the American people. I admit there are many very intel- ligent, respectable people in the United States; but, generally, the working people I fell in with were haughty, proud, and insolent ; and if you asked anything of them, the general answer was, '* I don*t know;*' in a manner not to be misunderstood. Considering the unhea^<^hy appearance of the people in the new states, where land could not be got at a price to suit me, and not yet being so much of a repubUcan as to wish to live in a country where the mob govern, I made up my mind to settle in Canada, as I there found the i BRITISH AM BR1CA.—-ACC0UNT1 GIVEN OP IT. 80 ^people and tnannen more agreeable to me than in most places of the States. On the morning alter my arrival at Toronto, I was aocosted by Mr Jc^n Soner- ▼ille, from Betth. He kindly invited me to his hoim, where I was treated in a very friendly way both by Mr and Mrs Somerville. Mr 8onierviile appears to be getting on well, is a man of go^^l alnHttes, and well qualified for the sitoation he fills in the bank. I remained in Canada about ten days. Before ieayl^ it for the States, I saw some fine rarms for sale, wbi^ would have suited me well, and were selling for two* thirds of their value. ^ Numbers of the people that were disaffected to Iht' government, and suspected of having a share in the rebellion, were anxious to eell their property, and go to the States ; but, after ,all> nothing would -satisfy me till I had abetter view Wthe States. I went to Hamilton, from thence to Paris, a distance o^ about seventy miles, and staid two nights with Dr M^vJosh. I also staid a night with a Mr Dickie $ he and his family have 400 acres of ^ood land, and sav they have done much better than ihey could have clone hi Scotland. On returning to Canada, I got a kacm ihat pleMes me very well ; al» thought had I had the sense to have purchased a fhrm which was offered me when I if^t arrived in the conn.- try, I could have had a property worth iSOO/. more, f^ the samo money I pud for the one I got. Still, wehaveuot much reason to complain. Farms have sold since we came here that would let to pay ,10 per cent, interest. The general rate is from two to three dollars of rent per acre for the kusd cleared on the farm ; and if the tenant chooses to clear more of the woodland, he may do so without paying any more rent.'* 94. We quote the following from a letter written by a settler in the township of Nichol, Upper Canada, to a friend In Scotland, and which appeared iu the Aberdeen Herald: — ' ** From the experience of myself and friends, I give my pkin eacdid opinion on this matter, when I say to •"W TT 90 BMIOaAMT • HAND-IOOK OF FACTS. the fosigrtnt newly conaeaiuQngsi ut, beiware of at- Ifeemptiiig: to clear more than you have a rational pros- .peet of Btdilhing in time for the seaion of towing or ^plantii^.' . Two acres wdll; cleared are wftrtb five ao^es indi^rently finished ; and if you can set aibdut it by tfaeJrstior second week in July, you may get two jH^iretneftliy ready to receive fall wheat, ^boulfiyou iittenipt seven acres, unless you have a f^trc^ng foree aAi4ipienty of dollars, it is ten to one but you will&il. efbeii^g ready in time; And if the spring is as backward asri .have seen it^ you would be too late for ck*opping tbem^ ; , Now, if you can get two or two and a half acressQwnwitH fall, wheat the.first autumn you are in ^|iQ wdo4«» tt4id get^ half an acre cleared for potatoes by the ISth^^or 20th of May^ which may be quite prac- ticable* and perhaps another half acre cleved for tor- nips- by the l^Oth of June* I maintain there is a'fational prospect of your eating the produce of .your own farm during the second y«ar of your settlement, and; have ||,s much as bring you to the r^ext crop ; but bear in ipind that during the first year you must buy in your provie^ns .or : work. liof . them. .. Go on cleaiing for fall .if^jieat during the summer* and perhaps yoii may get ji^ur or. five, acres ready by the second autumn ; and if you can get the stubble burned ofF« when your first crop of fail wheat grows* by the 20th or: 2Mh of May, next vear you may^et in %; crop of barlev wichout ploughing* and Umothy-grasa^ seen grown along with ^t, to give you a crop of hay during the third yelir.i> If you can get another acre or so cleared for potatoes* ^Qu will haveso^e of them to dispose of -after, supply- ing yourself j and where turnips and potatoes grew ;the previous year, ^roiiinay get^sprimg wheat or oats sown the next. This may be a rational prospect of the fruits of your industry at the end of your, third Autumn or second bATvest, and.thusyou may begin to feel yourself in A thriving way. This, however* brings me to speak upon the next matter for the emi- grant's eonsideration^ltvei-stook. If he can p<^8stbly afford it, he must endei^ypur to procure a cow to begin y\ BRITIbH AMIKIGA.-^ Accounts aiVKM or IT. 91 the world with. Duiing the auiniDer months, a coiir geU her meat in the forest without costing ^e own^ a farthing lor keep; and for the other six months straw and turnips' will be advantageous, but topa of treesb felled down for the purpose, seem to be the, fooa th^y are instinctiTely inclined to prefer. The 1^, "of course, costs the farmer the trouble of jcboppi^g 'thdm down, but as he may be engaged deans so fbr the purpose of clearing, he thus * kills two dogs with on6 bone.' Clearing can scarcely be Carrie^ on without the assistance of a yoke of oxen y but unless the emigfant can buy food for them* I would not re^ ^immend him to purchase thes^ during the first au- tumn, but rather hire a man and a yoke to assist him When and where necessary; and he may have som^ ii|ore encouragement to buy a yoke during |he fQlIj6>w- Ing year, with thepi^pectof having some food grow- ing forthem. You will understand that i have becM* writing about the bush farming^ as it is called, apj taking it for granted that I am addressing an inteiiil- ing emigrant who is possessed of a moderate, supply of money. In fact, supposing he had a coiniaerabl^ amount with him^ still he' will be nothing ihe worse for adopting the plan V have laid down. Were it possible to get a small dekred Csurm to commence upon, «t would perhaps be morei a ference to one completely wild, unless |4e is careless of what sort of neighbours he may be likely to have about him." 95, Extract from a letter dated Sandwich, We^t* •k ElflOBANTS HAND-BOOK OF FACT!. era distriet, Upper Canada, which appeared in the ** In this distriet, after mature coMideratioii, I hBve 6na]Iy settled. Hating at a very early penod beeo colonized by the French, and since that timp yasily iMprored by its numerous proprietary, it has all the eoinmevdal advantages of the mother country, with infinitely greater capabilities of supplying the raw map terials. The fertility of our soil is even here prover- bial, and OUT produce supericHr in quality ; so much so, that our wheat is uniformly a shilling ahead of any other. Alottg the sides of the isthmus on which we are planted, (^hr with^ the Laice St Clair on the om hand, and Erie on the other, it almost is such,) there is ready nnd cheap eonveyanoe by steam ; while the Thanies, a noble and majestio stream that intersects the interior, opens up the inland parts. Not even a tree is lelled in the remotest parts of the country, biit may be conveyed by water to market. That of Detroit, on the American side, is flocked to from all parts of the Union and of the British possessions; aiid, bcyth firom the numbers that attend, and the qua<- Hty of the articles producec^ is among the best 19, the l^ouhtk'y. There is abundance of woodcocks, snipes, and deer in the district. But what chiefly fixed my deterniination was the salubrity of the climate, which^ cbmpared with that of Lower Canada, and qiost parts of upper. Is immeasurably superior. We have abun^ dance dP room for settlers. Were you to sail down the Tbamesi for instance, and see the country along its banks sttidded with cultivated farms, and closely shaded bi^nd with the ^ tall trees of nature's growth,* waving their majestic foliage to the breeze of heaven, and ^ming to court the hand of man to remove them from the situations In which they have so long flourr ished untouched ; were you to meet the steamrboats as they ply their couf)ie upwards^—their decks crowded with emigrants, driven perhaps from the land of their fathers, and now come to seek a home 'be^'ond the BRITISH ▲MBmiCA.-^ACCOUMTB OIVBN OF IT. M wettern wave/ you would* as I have often done, heave a siffh for the wretchedness in other climes that here might be relieved— for the starving inmates of many a hovel that here might have ' plenty and to spare/ 96. Extract of a letter from a settler in Zorrt;., Up* per Canada, to his brother in Aberdeen :— " Dear Brother><»Bring what money you have in gold or silver. If you do not get more than 2d«. 9d» for sovereigns^ bring them to Zorra ; and be sure to take no United States notes ; get Upper Canada notes. By the time you reach this place, I espect to have my harvest home ; if I have >'good luck** as the saying is^ I will have plenty of wheat* pease, potatoes, Indian corn, &c. I have eight head of cattle and five pigs. I am busy felling down tiie ' big cumberers or the ground ' and getting retidy my spring seeds. When yciu come out, bring 4 lb. of red clover seeds, 4 lb. of rye grass seed* and 4 lb. -^f tares* along with you. This is a fine country* it is increasing fast in popular tion, and the conveniences of life are getting more easy to be obtained. I shall just say* that since I came here* which is now about ten months* I have not had a single day*s sickness* but have been able to con- tinue closely engaged in cutting down large trees, and Ereparing the ground for producing the necessaries of fe. This will, no doubt* astonish you, considering the poor state of my health for two years previous to my coming to this country. The sugar season ended about two weeks ago, and a season of very hard la- bour it *!'as ; it requires to be watched night and day for about a month. I have made about 12 cwt. of sugar* which brings about 2/. per cwt. 97. 'Extract from a letter, by a settler at St Clair River* Upper Canada :=— " We have all experienced excellent health since our arrival in this country* notwithstanding the nu- merous hardships we had to encounter during a tedious and stormy passage to Quebec* and an inland journey of 1200 miles to St Clair River. Any person coming B M 94 BMIORANT*t HAND-BOOK 01* FACT!. to this western distrlotf I would most decidedly advise to come by New York, as the safest, shortest, and, to fnany a great consideration, cheapest way* From my stay in the country, and mv travels through it, I can, without hesitation, say that it is excellent. There is no fear of making a iivelihood i nay, an inde* pendence in a short time. The climate is rery mode« rate ; we have had only one snow storm all winter^ and that not by any meano severe, as we have not been prevented for a single day from following our out-door occupations. Here cattle are never housed. Good beef brings 8 dollars per barrel of 200 lbs. ; best mess- pork from 12 to 14 aollars } very best flour, about 6 dollars, varying according to the distance it has to be conveyed from market. Labourers receive from 8«. 9d, to a dollar per day— tradesmen much more. About Quebec, Montreal, Halifax, and St John's, Nova Scotia, the winters are dreadfully severe. If ever you intend to c^migrate, go not, I beg, to any of them. In my worldly pursuits I have succeeded be- yond expectation, considering the low state of my funds when I left Leith. And, believe me, when we lirrived at York, I had but a single shilling in my pos- /session. However, I sold several articles to good advantage, on the produce of which we subsisted for two months. We keep a few boarders, Scotsmen, from near Edinburgh. My wife washes for nine or ten gentlemen in the neighbourhood, and bakes bread for nearly the same number, so that, when she has con- staht employment, she can earn a dollar per day. I work to a gentleman of the name of M*Crea, from whom we have our house free. I lately made a spe- culatipn in purchasing 1200 acres of land near To- ronto, my friend J—— L— having advanced me money, and by the (iftemoon of the day on which I received it, I was enabled to repay him, by my selU ing 1000 acres of my purchase ; by which transaction, I still retain 200 acres, and have pocketed 22/. cur- rency. Urge my brothers to come out, if ever they BRITISH AMBRi~-A. — ACCODKTt OITBIf OF IT. 05 wish to free themselves from bondage ; this is the lind of independence to the indostrioas— the soil that will repay tne labourer for the sweat of his brow.*' 98. Extract from a letter by a clergyman» at Perth* Upper Canada, to a correspondent at Quebec :— '* A great many Scotch bonnets are sold in Perth. U.C* Boys' bonnets sell for about U. 3d,, and men's from If. 8^., to 2f. 6d., according to the sise. I am informed* however, that there is reason for supposing that these articles can be imported and sold at a lower rate than thev can be roanuf&citured here. Govern^ ment has no land in the township of Drummond to dispose of, that is worth taking. Land, however, may be bought at any time from private individuals, vary^* ing in price according to its distance from the town. As to farming, with a family able and willing to work> your friend may live very comfortably. Without as* sistanoe, however, he could not attend both to his business and his farm, and labourers' wages are very high. I do not like to take it upon me to adviseyour friend either to come here or not to come* Tiiere are few people accustomed to comfortable circumstances at home who like this country at first ; but most set* tiers become fond of it after a short residence." 99. ^tract from Report for 1841, by Mr Bu* chanan, the Government Emigration Agent at Que<* bee:— " By a report received from the agent at Bytown, wludi will be seen at page 25 of the Appendut, I be^ to direct your Excellency's attention to the fiivoilrable and advantageous condition which those emigfrants en- joy who have been induced to settle in that highly advantageous (but Ml to the emigrant imperfectly known) section of the Ottawa country. I consider that no portion of the province possesses greater facUitieSy or offers more encouragement to the indus- trious Immigrant than the Ottawa river. This bdng the great lumbering depot of the country, the farmer is eertain to find a ready sale and a good market at his door for all the surplus produce he may be al^e to mmm /T u P BMlOf ANT S HAND-BOOK Ot f ACTf. raise. To the poor but industrious labourer, it also presents %^ure and certain field for employment at all seasons of the year— a most important consider- ation. The thousands of settlers throughout that section of the country in prosperous circumstances are living proofs of the truth of this fact. It hav- ing come to my knowledge that labourers were in demand in this district, I forwarded in the month of October, eleven poor families, in all eighty per- sons, who had been employed during the summer on the public works ; but owing to their large families, coula not, living in town, do more than support them- selves; and who were dr^irous of proceeding into the country to seek employment for the winter. I sent on these people to Bytown at government expense, and furnished them with recommendations to influential persons who took an interest in the establishment of immigrants in that part of the province. By the accQuuts which I have received, all these families who CoUpwed the advice given them have done well, hav- ing procured immediate employment on their arrival. They are chiefly settled in Clarendon and Litchfield, about 70 miles west of Bytown. Any facilities which government may afibrd poor immigrants to proceed to settle in the Ottawa country are well bestowed, as they are certain in the course of a year or two, to become permanent occupiers of land. Nor are they likelv to be seduced or imposed oq by the alluring, though raise reports circulated by those who wish to lead them to the United States. And it may be stated here, without fear of contradiction, that every immigrant family settled in this prpyince, after the second year, becomes a con- sumer of British manufactures to a gretiter or less extent." 100., Extract of letter from the Emigrant Agent at Bytoy^n, referred to in the above extract:— '- *\ I am in receipt of your favour of the 27th ultimo, requejiting information concerning several emigrant femiU^ nfinied ther^. i Accompanying this, 1 beg leave to trc^nsmit a statement showing the places tO) which they have been forwarded ; and aUnough I BRITlllt AMIftlCAi^^AOeOUNTt OITIN OP IT. 97 > it also Qent at msider* ut that istances [t hav- vere in month ty per- imer on amilies, t them- into the I lent ixpense, fluential . naent of By the liea who i\\, hav- arrival, tchfield, 8 wliich )ceed to as they become ikelv to gh false n to the out fear settled a con- »tent/> gent at ultimo, migrant 1 beg places lough I y cuk give you no partieular information as io the sue* •■ ceil they bare met with, yet 1 am perfectly saliified that those who went up the Ottawa rif er to the plaoea to whiob they had been previously advised to proceed bv younelft Mr Kerr, and gthers, could not fail in obtainbg immediate employment, provided they used the necessary exertions to procure it. The only ob^ staole in the way of those who came up btterly, waa the lateness of the season at which they arrived : but from the accounts I had from persons resident in the settlements to which most of the femilies alluded to make their way, I am convinced that they did not 8uff?r from that cause. If similar exertions were made at an earlier period of the season, a great many more could be comfortably provided for in the settlements^ on the banks of the Ottawa, above this. ' ■<* jt > > i'---^ <* You could not p9ssibly serve poor emiffrants ihoire, (I mean» of course, a reasonable number of them) than by encouraging them to try their fortune up the Ottawa ; for in no part of Canada can they nave m better, or indeed so favourable an opportunity of speedily bettering thdr condition, there being in all tnis section, thousands of settlers in prosperous drcum^ stances, living proofs of the fact. The immense lum* ber*trade going on, causes wages to be high ; and when, after a shorter time than he could accomplish it ih any other part of Canada, the emigrant is enabled to settle on land, (which is easily prqcured, and that of as good quality as ai^ in the province,) he has a market at his door for all the extra produce he cam spare, at prices which are nowhere to be exceeded." 101. Letter from William Anderson, one of the mem- bers of committee bf the Glasgow and Gorbals Emi-^ gration Society, who, last year* in company with the members of several other societies, sailed from Clyde in the barque Renfrewshire : — ^ i ''DuMFaiEs, Upper Canada, Dec, 1842. *' Archd^ Edmiston, Esq., Glasgbw, N.B. < •' Respected Sir, — I deem it now about time to redeem my pledge to you» I would have wrote you 1 «^9 II BMIOEAMT f HAND«>BOOK OF >ACTS» w sooneiv bttt I wiihed to have somei U|tle knowledgie of thefcotuitiy: and aianneir»'of the^pedple, fO' Asvl bould gfive YOU my opinion of itw [Here the writer givtet^ « detail <»f tllet voyage to Qiiebeci< mhich irB liav^ omitt^ ted.]' Weiefk Quebec upon thettltii, in'a ftoamMboati to Montreal ;i we mt a nree'pa88age» with a UttleMtU lowanoe of oatmem and biscuit In Montreal* we got some oatmeal and a free passage to KinvBton for Our- seWest but had to pay 2«. per cwt. for luggage; At Montr^, we got the start of all the other societiev^ as I put in our list to the government agent early. Those of UB that wished up the country made as little stay as possible in the towns* We then? got a free passage from Kingston to Toronto, and from that to Haanltoni Mere»^ I and some others left our families,, and went out through- the country in* search of work^ and I> got engaged in a saw miU at 112 doUarifper ■oathi with a free house and a cow»> and my own boiird from my employer, but I soon found out that he was'oneof the American i^uesdcs that are apt to take' the advantage of stranvers, sind I made no second bargain with him. I then went* to hay>cutting and harvesting, with idl which I got on tolerabbr well.) Harvesting is; all done here by theaeythe* aoid.a rsuU itag upon' the sued* which ^ey call here a^ cradle. Those who are' accustomed to it here can- cut down from' two to three acres? per day With one cradle* and it take* another man to nak and bind it. Thcf» are : but few old country pec^le: that can come up with the people here* at first* at this kind^ of Work* but I was deternuned not to be beat* and I wfts able to keep up my part upon the third day. For lu^r^uttingi at man hfis S«. per da^* and harvesting 4«. do.* with their , board from their employer. At the epd of harvesti- I engaged with a man in this placie, to work his saw mill, for 16 dollars per months and > at the end of the firdt month he spoke to me to stop with him all winter* to which I agreed^ but the mill required some repairs after I had been about two months with him, for which time I was at home preparing ledge of Ibould givie»» ir6 omit* ittlet aU for bar- ge; At ocietiev^ t earlf. as littie t a free thai to families,. Df work, Uarir pier Diy awn t that he i' ta take^ I seeoiKt ting and iljr well; Ida riuU I cradle, ut down dle> and henrare with the it I was keep up ^ atman ;h their harvest, his saw end of ith him ■equired months ^eparing BRITISH AMBRIC4.— ACC0UMT8 OIVBN OF IT. 90 '^ewood for winter, and by doing so I have -met with rather a aerious «oddent. As I wai one night taking A piece of wood upon my shoulder, nw left foot jAip- iped and broke thcsmall bone of my left leg, and splin- tered 'the main bone, but althoogh it is nort much over •two weeks since I got it, I am now able to^ out of bed, and I expect to be able to resume my work in a i&ort'time* But stltbough this misfortune has hap- pened me, I am la no way hadly off, for I hare in <»lie house a barrel of flour and a 'leg of iMef, and 20 dollars to lift, so you see I am no way airaid for win- ter. The system of their >saw mills here is one per- pendicular saw, 7 feet long, and an 8th and ]/6th thick. She takes out one-fourth of an inch each cut, and goes with great velocity ; only one man aUends her, and a fair day *« work on a mill is 2600 feet. If a man takes in two logs Into a miill here, he gets one cut for the other, or whatever :iumber of Ic^s, iie gets the one-ihalf of the boards. Inch boards sell as foUows**- the best St. per 100 feet ; coarse from !^. to As, per 100. Now, Sir, I shall give you an account of wi^es and provisions :-^Mason8, 5f . per day ; wrigbts, 5f . per day; labourers, 9s. per day; a journeyman black- smith, 40A per year ; a ploughman, BOL-^fi good hand. Tailors and sboemaikers make excellent wages, and country weavers can make 68, per day in ^he winter. A master blacksmith is the best trade in this «eountry, if well employed. Wheat, 12s. per bushel, and by taking it to tl^ iniiil we have 40 lb. of CORCLUSI0N. 103 are de- % surpassed; and the success which has already followed but a partial, colonization is abundant security, how glorious and glowing the results would be from an ex- tensive* well-arranged, judioiousy and continued emi- gration. Many parts of the Newcastle, the Home, the London, and the Western districts, were peopled by the deserving indigent population of the United Kingdom, who, having drawn forth the dormant re- sources of a noble country, are themselves participators of the blessings they called into existence. In the year 1832, the immigration of Upper Canada was nearly 52,000 persons ; and 180,000 acres of land were sold, principally, to actual settlers. The rise of property was very considerable in consequence. More ship- ping was employed from the parent state — more schooners and steam-boats plied on the lakes and rivers — and the; whole country seemed animated with enter- pride and occupied with business. And when it is remembered that from the Gulf of the St Lawrence there is nearly 2000 miles of internal navigation, ajofd 6000 miles of frontier— that there are fisheries bf fui 105. *< Desirous/* says this Society, *' of promoting, to the utmost practicable extent* the interests of our emigrating countrymen, we must* at the same time, endeavour to avoid* by timely precaution* any evil consequences . which may arise from mistaken or exaggerated conceptions of our capability to serve them. With this view we have determined on laying before you the predse objects of our association* the sphere of duties to which its operations are limited, and such advice, relative to the important subject of emigration, as diligent inquiry, attentive observation, and information, recently received from various parts of the Union* enable us to afford. Ours is entirely a benevolent association. It possesses no property, no influence* except the moral influence arising from the conviction which we trust prevails among our country- men in America, that our motives are disinteresteid* and our method of carrying them into execution pru- dent and hitherto successful. We can only assist the emigrant by advice and information. By ad\'ce we arc able to ))rotect him against the imposition, by BRITISH AMKRICA.— C0NCLI7I10N.' 105 IV whidh the unfortunate strong^ hjfyequenilypinntkr^ of his money, or induced to test it fn some tfiiM|/lf cnI tottering buainees : or enticed away, if a labours, to eome unwholeeoms tpot, where, after a brief career of toil and vain regreti, Liid linavailhig complaiiit, he ftilU a victim to the malaria. Tliere it a comideriible flortion of our countrymen who have no chance of sue- ceiSB in the United States of America. This is em- phatically the land of labour, and although tdo many etch here eat the bread of idleness, yet their speedy and inevitable fote is contempt, disgrace, and want. Numerous and ingenious indeed are the contriTabete by which the indolent and worthless strive to apjf>ro- priate to themsielves the fruits of labour. We allude the more particulariy to this subject, in' consequence of )be!ng Obliged to witness for many years past the cruel sufferings and disappointment of hosts of inter- esting young men« who nave been induced to visit these shores without a single qudification for success. Never were persons in aland of strangers so utterly helpless as the persons to whom we allude. Brought up in the lap or comfort, perhaps luxury, in their na- tive country, uilable to work, without a trade or any vocation, and completelv ignorant of the most ordinary details of business, it Is easy to anticipate their fate in the land of labour. Their fate has been in many cases deplorable. Time would fail us in recording the hapless history of the many noble-hearted, well edu- cated, and tenderly reared young men, who, incapable of providing for themselves in this country, have rallen victims to penury in its direst forms, we regret to say that a large class of our countrymen at home, pos- sessing small incomes, and engaged in no regular dc- tsupations themselves, bring up their children to no business, habituate them to no pursuit, and indulging the disgraceful prejudice agunst labour, encoursige them in lounging and idleness; and yet they think they provide for them, if thev furnish them with an outfit, pay their passage to the United States or the colonies, and give them money enough to last a few I i lew SMIOMJiT't HAND'BOQC'Or VACTS. wMlM«A^r their arrival. . To the fide^dp lM>d fNireniitp idT . «iioli fwraooff. duty (oompeli i>» rto , siiy« that ^hii cPUTM If.in^the higheit.^re^tWtiel^ AA4,Q0t^«erif^ 4Mit#re, WKiiild extoiM^ tth^ aaine advice tp^^^^o^ •ttMMliiiili^ aiKif iCfl|}fi^>.ap4 all who aeek % emiplq^ jnenV in ithe <$fMiii<«i^9WPf of m^ekm^t fnr iU 4^Sk^ 43f /at()Sf^4* AU isuieh iOpcpippft^pps are ;over^ etoffilied. Feif imu9yyej»rji»Miiepq9eqnei^ceHof ;the gr.^ flMAi^S'igi^ew jto ira#, ^heie mi^ ,a ejcws^t .ri^Jh h»miH ^igpmMm^ ilUlffiel#l9 the tpvn«,aiid^lf%all ^•twvifljgrrtp iivQifl 4hi8 wjflfffdfty f>f «am^ lahow j p^ -1^1^ Ahe ewes m^ -vwa^P pf a ^onwierqi^ life ¥9ll8g wen 111 p^lt^ui^p jBh^vdoned j^h#r paternal ■iafmi wheFe th^y i!i^Qul4 havie heephljeiiM wUhJh^Ithgr 'i»flQpe»deiiee ha4 ^ey iiot a8pise4 jto,the$ctitiou» i^ 4^fwept in^d ^eaHh j»f f^itie?. Many obtained titwi- jl^psripd heeapie th^infelyfes prinoipamii nercantUe .ee^P^naf b^ the TieviWsl^ cape* and ,while nuiD^rp ff the €i)rip^ iFer,e th^ow;ap\it of employ ment, seveiral of th?: ' latter jiirftreri^dujeed .to ,hppeles9 bankruptcy* The, coi^s^uei^p; ?8y tbart all joopupnercial jplace9 9i:e q^owfted <^iiji Jpim n^n nat^v^s of ithe UWted Stateii^ f^fily de^^uMl of supjiort, and ¥fhp> when a vacaApy p|^r^ f^'e j|)ys^i^h}y prefP'^red* Maiiy pf them now r^fT'^he ^lys^iti^ tihat' enticed jtheip laway from the v;vho%pfi\^ ^i ^djBp^ndent avooailions of their jp^ "]li> s^prt, ^ep^npot with coiifid0jp>jpey4Miyi9e any fiefsi^ns tp 'empve to kj^^jp^i^ e)(Cept labpiirers* mk- \ , wovild ^U all to ^Tpid jthe 4.^1a9tip pltios> aii4 to' di^ trijbMt^ thip^eLvp9 thTP»gho«^ the Unr#8,i)[^ce i;he^4e(M|jrturek wi^h foDiptthinpr ™Pf ^ th^o ihe priipeof ^the^r p^t9«$ige and pupplj^, t*h9V»ands qpn- ttiiu^y lan4 fWtjirely ijpppy^^p^ swd are at on^ in a p^e ofde^l^tuition; wApr^^ ,f;^ch pp;»oi| shoMlabare BRITItH AMIRICA^^^CONCLUBION. 107 ittfeepiitioii a]dl)ad¥h^tfllOi»]#(jie iMMli>artblii offiS lettel> ^nteeoiammdtHk&ti*. His k^ all, eventsi primd facm dvideiioe. ii»> ftttour) cf the ; emig^nt.*' _ ■ ., .^ , \y\^-,.. \%' h %i%*^i \ ^^ ^■■.> h •jff.:*."-/ o.^f f'vt^' •' It ul -^^'ri-^'j *m tol :>»ot.«»if.KJv? f Kjl*™^rj v.n\.! pur^iiQl I^Hiiigranto ipIio left^jQIi^^ ;f?:;f . q^pl^y^ 4i iilMj ipoileii on our han4» iNd we Ipaijdi^t t WlHl>Mi ,0K Ikfm* I wottlid deiadedly advise Emi^j gfanti iMtlo bvinf many of these rootil with, them ; anUow the Advice of the Hand^hoohfor Emigfanifi, pmbUehed by 3PPhun of Glasgow, in regard to the kmd of Provieume to take. We felt the want sadly <^ many of the things stated there, as during the whole time we could get Uo variety, but a fresh cod which we caught on the banks of Newfoundland. . . k (Signed) JOBN KiBKPATL !CK, SeC,** THE END. OfaMeow^-E. Khull, Frinttr to the VtArnAtj, Dunlop StrMt. I ■ ' ' * e land of dftj after ftpttoidir ifant.iof, ■liieh we >e8 were fhein('¥l|> aerBmUu sm; Und ligrdntt, d to the iit ladly le whole d which H. ^■1 Sec:* i^ street.