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TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
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1
2
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6
EN
lESEN"
H
'UBi
ENGLISH EMIGRATION MISSION.
REPORT
lESENTEO TO THE WIEETING OF SU8SCBI6ERS
HEL.i> Q4tii a\JL.Y, isra.
I «•» ■
'UB LI SHED A T THEIR REQUEST.
[printed at the OPPICK OF THE " SHBRBHOOKE NEWS."
si
It would add too much to the length of thif
Report, to ai)])eHd lO it copies of all the Corres-
pondence referred to ; I >ut if there are any who
take a sufficient interest in the subject, the cor-
respondence itself is open to inspection, and will,
I think, well repay a perusal.
J. H. C.
ENGLISH EMIGRATION MISSION-
of thi^
Corres-i
jiy who I
the cor-
,nd will
H. C.
'o the subscribers towards the fund for defraying
the expense of My Emigration Mission to
England, on behalf of the Eastern Townships
of Quebec; and to the Hon. the Commissioner
of Public Works atid Immigration lor the
Province of Quebec.
ENTLEMEN :
In presenting to you a Report of the proceediniis of the
nigration Mission to England, which you did me thvi honour
entrust me with, I need not dwell on the pi-eliminaries
hieh conduced to my undertaking the important duties it in-
(Ived, further th^n to state that for the purpose of defraying
►me portion of tne necessary expenses, and as manifesting at
le same time the deep interest taken by the public in securing
|respectable anoksi^stantial class of emigrants a local snb-
feiption was SSflS^Tof $432 00
|d this the Colonization Society of Quebec (No. 1,)
% contributed , 25 00
r, i^etorson, of Drumduan near Lymington, ir Eng-
land, (my brother-in-law) also subscribed ... 100 00
id the Eastern Townships Bank allowed on the
temporary deposits for interest 4 00
taking a total subscribed fund of 561 00
hich the Pvovlncial (rovfrnmnnt supplemented by
two grants of $200 each 400 00
961 00
from this must be deducted, Leakage... 30 00
pst of collection, &C 24 00
fassage and other charges of journey to
and from England 175 00 224 00
leaving available for the direct purposes of the Mis-
sion ir England the sum of. 737 00
On the 5th of Judc, hint year, I loft Qucboe in trie Steam-
phip '' Thames," of tlie London (Tenipeiley) line, arrivint>; on
the 20th of that montlt ; and I t-aiKd again by the same steam-
er from London on the 4t]) of ,h\m\, of tlie present year, reach-
ing Quebec on the 22nd ; thus being engaged in England abt>ut
twelve months in disseminating the information resjiecting the
Townsliips, that was the special purpose of my visit. How far
the efforts I have been enabled to make will be practically
manifested time will show, for it is not by the immediate re-
sults that such work must be exclusively estimated — it is rather
''bread cast on the waters to be found after many days." The
Deputy Commissioner oi" Public Works and Immigration, Mr.
Lesage, expresses, I believe, a most justi and sensible apprecia-
tion of what is to be e: pected Irom such efforts when in writing
to me under date of 19th July, i872, he says : — '' As I have
" told you already, the work you intend to perform is not one
" which will tell a great deal at once ; but I think that by the
" course you propose to adopt, you will reach an important part
" of the population which has never had any good opportunity
" offered of learning something reliable on our Province. No
" matter if there are only a few who come (at first), they will
" be of the best stamp, and they will succeed, and later on
" others will follow."
On my arrival I remained some little time in London in
order to confer personally with the Editors of the leading agri-
cultural preSvS (,a the subject of my mission. Noticeably
amongst these were Mr. Morton, one of 'Her Majesty's Com-
missioners on the River-pollution inquiry, who'for nearly 30
years past, has edited the Agricultural Gazette ; Mr. Algernon
Clark, Secretary to the Central Chamber of Agriculture, and
the editor of its journal ; and the able editor of the Field, all
of whom promised me assistance, and subsequently afforded me
every facility, through the medium of their respective publica-
tions, for making the object of my mission known. We were
also specially indebted to the editor of the Standard and of the
Globe for like courteous facilities through their columns, that
gave to the mission, not only the advantage of the publicity of
their general circulation, but at the same time a status and signi-
ficance that were of essential service. I had also to pay my res-
pects to Mr. Dixon, the Dominion Agent, to whom I was fa-
voured with an introduction from the Department in Quebec,
requesting him to furnish me with a supply of the official pam-
phlet for distribution amongst my correspondents. These
arrangements made, I took up my headquarters at Loughbo-
rough, in Leicestershire, at the residence of my sister, from
whence, as a central point, there is ready access by railway to ;
all parts of the country.
lie Stoam-
rriving- on
imc steam-i
ear, reacli-
land about
ecting the
How far
practically
lediato re-
it is rather
ys." The
ation, Mr.
apprecia-
in writing
As I iiave
s not one
lat by the
)rtant part
jportunity
ince. No
they will
I later on
jondon in
iding agri-
Noticeably
sty's Corn-
nearly 30
. Algernon
Iture, and
Field, all
flForded me
re publica-
We were
and of the
limns, that
ubiicity of
land signi-
»ay my res-
1 I was fa-
in Quebec,
Rcial pam-
t8. These
; Loughbo-
ister, from
railway to
It had been, a8 you are aware, uiy original intention to avail
Imyself, as mucli as pof^^-ible. of the meetings of the several
farmers' Clubs to speak before them of the advantages of our
{Townships ; and the agricultural papers, in alluding to my mis-
sion advocated this course, and suggested that the secretaries
)f these clubs should confer with me on the subject; but un-
[brseeu difficulties interposed, and with two or three exceptions,
found it better to abandon my intention and confine myself
the opportunities through the press, that were constantly pre-
sented from various quarters. From a short conversation I had
ni\\ the secretary of the London Farmers' Club, which as-
funies to take the lead of all the country clubs, to whom T was
itroduced by my old friend and drainage coadjutor, Mr. Bai-
ley Denton, of the General Drainage Company, I was fir.-^t lead
fear difficulties migl'.t arise, for lie said with some warmth on
earning the object of my mission, and oji my asking hinj if the
iondon Club would give me a hearing — '• sf) then you want to
|ake our best men away from us !" And this finally proved to
a prevailing apprehension, very unjustitiably as many
ilknved ; but at the same time it was not policy on my part to
dck against the pricks of such a feeling, however absurd,
(rhen there were other equally desirable sources open to me for
fisseminating information. Indeed, as the purpose of my mis-
pon had more especially in view people of respectability uud
leans, rather than the labourer. I purposely abstained from
Entering into any discussion on the vexed labour questions of
he day, and I believe you will concur in thinking that in so
ioing I exercised a wise discretion. Another consideration that
pduced me the more readily to give up the idea of personally
i^ddressing the Farmers' Clubs was that having regard to the
l^ture and importance of the mission, I believed, on reflection,
plat it would be much more likely to be effective if it partook
lore of a persistent than of a transient character. That, in
fact, with the limited amount of means at my disposal, more
leal and enduring good would be accomplished by judiciously
prolonging the work, and so give time for inquiry and discus-
ion, than by a hurried run of a few months through the
mntry, which would very quickly have exhausted my funds,
jen probably a nine days talk and as soon forgotten. By the
Jlan I followed I was enabled^ as opportunity offered, and as
iospitality was kindly accorded me, to visit many parts of the
|ountry imparting information, both in public and in society
nthout drawing so heavily or so constantly on my means as I
lust have done in making a round of the clubfi. I believe,
therefore, in this you will consider I acted for the best ; and
pat whatever im] ressiou was made, it had time, couipairatively,
fix itself in the public mind. iaisafcaskJ /li \ikm^
iff
J liavL' till' pKastrre to lay bcfoi't! you, aiJHlii^o.l in ali>luibe(
ical ordor. (Nos. 1 to (J inclu«i\c) tlu; Kttei'rf of iuqiiiry I re
ceivod Iroin various corrchpondiiitH, most o\' wliicli you wil
observe aro from {h'oj)1(' of rcsjtcciability, with iiusaiis, citti'T a
iijcoino or capital or botli, to live in comfort hero and bo an ac
(luisitioii to our connnunity. As my time was pnitty i'uily oc
cupi'd, I did uut tl)ink it necessary to koep cojjies of all myH
npli'^s; bnt in a lew of the more special instances I did so, and
you will sou from them the inforn)ation it was necessary touivcJ
In every case my reply was accoui}»ani(.'(l by the Liovornmeiitf
pamphlet on the province, and a copy ol' my own paj)er, and!
on the map in the former I made }ij[)oint of always indicatin
by a separate colour the East(;rn T()wnshij):% 1 think it ri^h
to mention that tiiis official paaiphlet was written by Mr. Li:
saue, who in describiii^u' th.e Townships has d(Mie the districtl
ample justice.
It is my duty also to submit to you the C(»rrespondcnce with
the Department, and with tlu; Hon. the Provincial Treasurer
How far this correspondence bears out the expectations of co-J
operation from the Provincial Government which, as I think
you were justly entitled to form, is i'or you t(» jud.',''. It must
be borne in mind that your subscription was, I believ*.-, the tirst
effort ever made in this province, by dirt et contributions, td
promote iumiiizration. It. was a significant expression of th;
deep inter(!Ht you took in the .stibject, designed to strengtheii
the hands of he fj-overnment, but by no means to lessen or su-
persede the application of a fair proportion of the parliamen
tary i^rant.
I have further to ask your attention to a short corret pond-
ence with Mr. Dixon, the Dominion Aj^ent in London, involving;
features in our immiojration policy not yet adopted, but which.
are nevertheless essential to success. Wishing, if possible, te
provide for the passage of some labourers families that had ap-
plied to me (and amongst them that of a working smith, the
brother of a farmer in this district, and who besides his trade
was accustomed to farm work.) I wrote to Mr. Dixon to ask
if he had any means at his disposal for such a purpose ; in re-
ply to which he informed me that he had government warrants
for passages at reduced rates, and added, " the season is so late
I do not expect other funds for assistance this year." On my
informing the people what could be done for them I found, what
in the majority of instances is the case, that a passage at £4.
5s. 0. per adult is practically as impossible for such families to
raise as the full fare of six guineas. By a recent Act of th«.
Dominion Parliament, equitable contracts made in England
with emigrants are legally binding in Canada, and it would
enable many more respectable families of this class to come out.
ii' avail!
['(•r the I
;llli;.:rMn
In the
tite p
K'sidet-
f lability
roiiM g
lower,
:lr'-(t()ll
[ill'iUllt
|)tn>n
loiicy
1) the ei
list sat
finn; iiit
d'Mie
PTtiriea
hiiajii-n
(u- go\t
l( nts.
^rre th;
Muing I
ISO to
lews ol
I'ess to
of m^
ertion
preva
erate.
with y
season
and I
the iin
feel sa
siiall \
Whih
allud(
ich a
is mainl
counr
to in
prohi
Ml, and
ir into
the 8
jc, the
T
I :(l{)li:ibc!l]
(juiry I re]
It you will
.s, cith'.T a j
[1 bo ;in ac
ty i'uHy oc
■< of all 111}]
(lid Ko, aiici
ivy tojiive]
•oviininiciii
papoi-, aiulj
iiulicatin;
Ilk it ri^ii
)y Mr. Lv
lio district]
douce witli
Troat^uror.;
tions of co-
as T think.
It mu.-(
>'c, the ririit
butlons, to
ion of tli:
.-••trcngtheii
Hsen or su-
parliaiuon
orrof ])ond-
, involving
but wliicli
)osiiible. to
at had ap-
smith, the
s his trade
xun to ask
)8e ; in re-
t warrantis
1 is so late
On ui)
lund, what
age at £4.
amiiies to
^ct of thi
England
d it would
come out.
II iivailinii t)ioinsci\eH of tM.- law, arriui;;ein( iits wero mado
rcrthc ['uyineiit of the wiiole pasf^airo money, taking from each
uii-irnnt or luad of families a writti'ii undertaking to loniain
In the country and to repay by instalments such a prop<»rtion
if the passage money as thof^ovi'rninciit might see Ht to charge,
osidc' enabling many to emigrate tliat are now ];rovented by
lahiiity to tind even part of the passage money, this plan
(tidd give to the Dominion -Agent a very desiiabie controling
)Wor, which at present he does not possess, viz: that of
Irrfinn. Under the present system, if an emigrant pays the
iii'iuiit rc!({uired for his assisted pjtssage the Agent has no
jticn but to give him his passage warrant ; whereas, if no
loney was tak«in from him at th(^ time, the "Agent would say
[) the euii,.irant — before your application is entertained, you
ust .'•ati.sfy me by a note fromycKir clergyman, or minister, or
lUio liitting antiiority. of yonr )"':-peetability. and when this
dune you shall be immediateiy furnished with a passage
:'.rtirieatc for yourstiif and your faniily un .'signing the rcqnired
ageuieut. Financially this plan would, in the end, involve
le go\ eminent in no more expense than t/ie present arrange
n iits. but it would secure a better class oi' emigrant.i, and
irre than this, it would be tin; means of preventing many fr(>m
niing of whom we have already a superabundance. Wishing
Iso to learn how far his exjierience concui red with uiy own
("ws of .^eason agencies, I ventured, as you will see, to ex-
ress to Mr. Dixon a conviction of the comparative insufficien-
of mere transient eiforts, and the necessity for persistent
ertions ; and moreover that error eous impressions had hither-
prevailed as to the most suitable season for our agents to
lerate. His reply was: ''My experience exactly coincides
with your own, that winter (and the late autumn) is the best
^season to work for thone we most urgently need in Canada ;
and I have more than once pointed it out. This is, however,
the iirst year a systematic principle has been adopted, and I
feel sanguine from the changes making in (.anada, that we
shall work well in the future."
Whilst on this part of the subject it may be useful, perhaps,
allude tu the very scant share of the general immigration
ich apparently settles in the Province of Quebec, and which
is mainly to be attributed to an internal influence that can only
counteracted by direct and active eyertions. It is impossi
to interfere with the interests of the Grand Trunk Railway
prohibiting them from selling through tickets whenever they
n, and so carrying emigrants either altogether out of or as
r into the Dominion as possible. Hence, whilst the majority
' the steerage passengers are, as a rule, booked beyond Que-
!c, there are many who have no lixed destination, and who
6
would tliiinkliiily I'f guided by Jiuy infornuitloii jr'veii thonj
either on board or by Agents on i.-nding. A great de;ii of gooj
would, 1 believe, be done by distributing on board the ste.uneij
li-hort |nij»pliiets. v^th full inrornmtion about the To\^•n^hiJ^
which would be re.id and considered during the vrjyagc, anj
would, iu many iuf