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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. Tata o )elure. □ 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I- / • FJitlCB ONE SHIIiLINO. A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR EMIGRANTS TO NORTH AMERICA, INCLU'DIXG > i^' null iHuufomiMniiii ; WITH FULL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE PREPARATIONS NECES- | SARYFOR THE VOYAGE, INSTRUCTIONS ON LANDING, TRAVELLING ROUTES, CAPABILITIES AND PRICE OF LAND, FARMING OPE- RATIONS, PRICE OF LAIiOUR, AND ALL OTHER MATTERS REQUISITE FOR THE EMIGRANT TO BECOME AC- QUAINTED WITH BEFORE EMBARKING ; Mit!) a comet i^ap of t!)c CUnitcD Statc^^ BY GEOKGE NETTLE, (late OF DEVONPORT, ) SEVEN YEARS RESIDENT IN NORTH AMERICA. LONDON : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., stationers' hall court ; T, WARD AND CO., PATERNOSTEll BOW ; DARTON AND CO., ^ . . HOLBORN HILL. "JVERPOOL: ED WD. HOWELL, 6, CHURCH STREET. m'-'- •:■' ^~ .».: 1850. JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE TWO SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE, THE EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, AND Mm (Buih for ^nintlte THROUGH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THE STATES, CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES, WATERING PLACES, COLLEGES, ETC., ETC. ; WITH THE RAILROAD, STAGE, AND STEAM-BOAT ROUTES, THE DISTANCES FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND THE FARES ON THE GREAT TRAVELLING ROUTES. I BY J. CALVIN SMITH. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.; LIVERPOOL: G. PHILIP AND SON, AND E. HOWELL; J. MENZIES, EDINBURGH; J. ROBERTSON, DUBLIN; R. GRIFFIN AND CO., GLASGOW. i X i(iwiifflff»iiiWfflWiiimiir'"Ti V A rilAGTlUAL GUIDE FOR EMIGRANTS TO NORTH AMERICA, INCLUDING €^t ^uM ItettH, l^niurr anii i^lpr Cniiak, anil WITH FULL INFORMATION RESPECTINa THE PREPARATIONS NECES- SARY FOR THE VOYAGE, INSTRUCTIONS ON LANDING, TRAVELLING ROUTES, CAPABILITIES AND PRICE OF LAND, FARMING OPE- RATIONS, PRICE or LAROUR, AND ALL OTHER MATTERS REQUISITE FOR THE EMIGRANT TO BECOME AC- QUAINTED WITH BEFORE EMBARKING ; mii\) a comci iW;ap of t|)c 5Hluitcti Stated, BV A SEVEN YEAES' RESIDENT IN NOETH AMERICA. LONDON : Si MP KIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., stationers' hall COURT. LIVERPOOL: EDWD. HOWELL, 6, CHURCH STREET. 1850. J SUE MI|l|l|l||l|i!l|l!l|Wl»PP«i'>']l!l!lilllii!i.»lilil!l^^ Kaitm f- f«MU»ravt , *»iiA', V-^i tur' yhv jMJ' % ^- i ^ Hi*?*-' jii*'"*. »> r^«^ \. /;r&« ^"*^tt>„fl % Fort ^X '\ rS/iM- /. \ V ./ -;■ /(; -4--^ I'tirmiti fulmt'r <• /1 '**«J h^ V /^it\iti • I'^M^^"^- ytuntha. ^■A, L'V/ 7: mi ~-f'" f"'^:l-¥^^<^*' '-^'^J^J^^ ^ E' >>r ~i 1 r\ •««//«/•. H^'A. i Surrhut' J .i70 . fieopraf>hir/tt St^i.ii,- .\t'l< .-• I PopulaJton i2.Hti*i OZO dtfriut^ ■' -' /" .^ inn if Mil f CofMal Waahing-ton iti.ffi?. lnh,if-it,itu< I Rfferuif, 37. 197.A.<*H th'tltU'S l>fht . Aimti 7.lt>H .itiif'ri f^3 . Ht'l i'<>n-i' I'rv.i Kf,ts.Lutfi (atfi.ifeth . 25 ^lllilMilMi!lllltllllllllll!!llt-"l l!iiliailllllillllll:lilillllil!lllim , ) ' . ww^wmmmm^mm *> ,;. ,v^ u. MvaRPOOL : «ROR«»E PRIMP AND BOH, PRINTBK8. :.»:'i!.,;'^fr >■ * . m ft f ■".','■ *' tf^ ^* i -, • i 'U t ?'f;^'; / A PilEFACE. The frequent observance of the distressed corulitiou of many of the labouring classes of emigrants, as well in the Canadas as in the North American States, either from a want of more provident care in the beginning, from being misguided, or from indolent habits, having caused many painful sensations; and witnessing, also, with pain, the miserable condition of the poor labouring classes in Eng- land, who might, with proper care and instruction, con- siderably improve their circumstances by emigration, but who, in consequence of their immense numbers, overstock the market for husbandry, mechanical, and other labour, have induced the author, after seven years' travels amongst all ranks and conditions of society, to use his humble en- deavours in guiding those who may emigrate in future into a safe and proper course, and in preventing such evils as have befallen others. •' ■ Many attempts have been made by different legislatures, no doubt from the best motives, to raise the wages and improve the condition of the labourer, but which have proved, as they ever will prove, abortive ; for no legisla- tive enactment can ever fix the amount of wages and work that may be arranged between master and servant in a free country. . . , . , . A IV. PKErACE. In some instances, the labouring husbandman has been allowed a rough piece of land by th. -.armer, to raise some potatoes for himself, which brings the land into cultivation ; and rumy men of landed property have also appropriated small pieces of land for the Hke purpose ; but with aU. due respect for their intended philanthropy, I beg leave to differ from them. It is very true that a poor labouring man, after going through the toil of the day, on his return home, observing the wants of his wife and family, is ready and willing to toil again, and to exhaust his strength for them. But this ought not to be : for if the labourer haf done justice to his employer during ten hours of the day, he ought to rest. Surely, then, this is not sterling philan- thropy. If the hundreds of thousands of acres of land in Eng- land and Ireland that are laying waste were cultivated, the evil would be considerably lessened, and the heavy and increasiug poor-rate materially reduced. Umess some- thing be done, the evil must and vnll progress ; for the poor naturaQy increase in a greater ratio than the rich, and aggravate the evil, e\ cry improvement in machinery tends to supersede manual labour. What, then, is to be done but to emigrate ? Compare the condition of the labourer in North America with that of the labourer iu England : in the former he receives at least eighteen shillings per week, and plenty of eirploy- ment, except in some cases for about four winter months in the year, whilst the necessaries of life are cheaper by one half than they are in this country. A yearly / I'RErACE. V. labourer receives about twenty pounds, and has everything provided for him in the house. In England the labourer who may be fortunate enough to obtain employment, eanrs from nine to eleven shillings per week only, for tlie same amount of labour, and has to pay more than double the price for the same description of necessaries. The consequence is, that the labourer and his family are half starved at home, whils^ the labourer in America has his table abundantly supplied. Whoever may make up his mind to emigrate, should decidedly wean himself from all the ties and endearments of home, or he will become unhappy and discontented under any circumstances, and, like many thousands, sigh to return. ' Liverpool, Aprily 1850. m mfli wmm '.< .. ^^.•l: Aii^ <-«:;i CONTENTS. PAGE. Those who ought to go — ^those who may go — and those who ought not to go 7 Arrangements for the Passage — Expenses, Provisions, &c. — Garden Seeds and Fruit Trees to be taken out by a Gardener 9 Voyage across the Atlantic Ocean — The River St. Law- rence, Ac. to Quebec — Arrival at Quebec- -Landing — Description and directions — Taking of to Garrison by Gen. Wolfe — Monument to his and the French General's memory — Remarks on the Monument at Queenston to the memory of General Brock — Market, &c 12 Journey to Montreal — Description of its locality and soil — Market — ReUgious Establishments — Shipping, Merchan- dise, &c 17 Journey to Kingston — Climate — Dock Yard — Going through the Rapids — Delightful Scenery, &c 18 Journey to Toronto — Market — Military and other Estab- Hshments — Hamilton, description of, and business in general — D i ^.das 19 Journey towards New London, d'^ ""t, or first to St. Catherine's, Thorold, Niagara, &c., opposite and near the American States— Instructions in Journeying, &c... 21 Newfoundland — Short description — Its advantages and importance to Fishermen and to the Mercantile Interests 22 Landing at New York — Instructions — Currency, &c. — • BanMng System — Journey to Albany — Crosshig to Ca- nada, if necessary — Observations on Rochester, Buffalo, Ac— Journey further West 2»'5 Travelling — Mechanical Labour — Hiring out and getting Wages — Dutch and German character — Rules and cau- tions in purchasing Land — Yankee Farmers going West — Comparative state of Prices of Produce in England and America — Caution and information to young Farmers going out — Fraudulent practices of Proprietors in selling Land 27 4'- • « Vm. CONTENTS. PAGE. Qualities of Soil — Manure — Distance from Market — Choice and quality of Land — Mode of Farming — Food of Ani- mals, EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. Those who ought to go — those who may go — and those who ought NOT to go. There are certain classes of persons, from their condi- tion and circumstances in Hfe, who are proper subjects for emigration. There are those who ought to emigrate, and there are those who ought not ; and as great and serious mistakes have been committed from a want of correct in- formation on the subject, it is considered of importance to describe briefly each class of persons. Those who ought to go. — ^America being a growing coun- try and a land lor labour and industry, the poor industri- ous labouring man, with a wife and two, three, or more sons and daughters fit for labour and of sober habits, would do weU to emigrate. Sober habits are indispensable, for otherwise, spirits and beer are ^o cheap in America, (good whiskey being only one shilling per gallon,) as to induce a gradual but ruinouo tcxidency. A labouring man and his two sons, for instance, may earn 18s. per week each, making together £2 14s., whilst the common necessaries of life are generally less than half the price paid for them - B w 8 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. in this country. This amount brought to a careful wife, would, at the end of a year or two only, place the poor man and his family almost above the world's perplexities ; and his table would be plentifully supplied with such neces- saries of life as he probably never before had the privilege of enjoying. This descripiion of persons, as well as some others of a similar class, are the objects of the author's anxious care and regard. The labouring mechanic, too, with a family of the like description, in consequence of wages being higher in America than those of a similar class of labourers in this country, would also be a fit subject for emigration. But all parties are earnestly cautioned against taking out families of small children, as, of aU things, especially in traveUing, they will be found the most burdensome and distressing. Those who may go. — The active trader or dealer : but he will probably not find an immediate improvement in his circumstances, as it will take him some time to become acquainted with the practices and chicanery of traders in America. He most probably must purchase his know- ledge of trading and dealing by a few mistakes and losses ; but after he becomes initiated, he may succeed as well as his neighbours, and infinitely better than in this country ; the profits on all trades being about double, whilst family or housekeeping expenses will be found to be less by one- half than in England. To the individual who has a small pension, or fixed in- come, which wiU not comfortably provide him with the necessaries of Hfe, emigration would be highly desirable ; and also to many others under similar circumstances. . Those who ought not to go. — Those who can get any- thing Hke a good living at home — the poor gentleman — the idler — the tipler — these, and similar characters, are very unfit Ljubjects for emigration to America, or, in fact, to any country where labour and industry are the only guarantees to success, and where its inhabitants are a plodding, industrious, and "go-a-head" description of individuals. EMIG3UTI0N TO NORTH AMERICA. Arrangements for the Passage — Expenses, Provisions^ ^c. — Garden Seeds and Fruit Trees to be taken out hy a Gardener, Sec, Wlien any one has made up his mind to emigrate, the first thing should be to count tlie cost, in doing which it will be necessary for him to ascertain the p^ice of his passage across the Atlantic Ocean — about 2800 miles. In addition to the passage-money, the sum of about 4s. 2d. sterling, or 5s. Quebec currency, for each adult, and about one-hall that sum for each child, must be paid to the cap- tain, (for which he is answerable at Quebec,) for defraying the expenses incurred by sickness amongst the passengers, for whom there is a hospital, or regular medical establish- ment, provided at Grose Island, which will be alluded to hereafter. London and Liverpool are the principal ports in this country for emigration. Steam vessels sail from these ports every week in summer and twice a month in winter, and large line-of-packet ships almost every day throughout the year, for New York and Boston. The charge in the steam \essels for cabin passage and board is £25, and in the liners £20,— -steerage from £4 to £5, in the latter the passenger boarding himself, having the use of the fire for cooking. But there are other ports from which merchant ships, principally in the timber trade, sail during the spring and summer months, to Quebec and other places in North America, in which the passage-monej charged is generally under £3 : and should a family, or a company of friends or neighbours emigrate together, the cost to each indivi- dual may be considerably reduced by contracting for the whole. This latter plan is earnestly recommended, when practicable, not merely on the score of economy, but for their mutual assistance to each other during the voyage ; as the exercise of neighbourly customs and kindnesses will add much to their comfort. - - « ^ It will be of some importance to select a berth where there is light and ventilation, and as near the middle of !■ HUP 10 EMIGRATION TO NOETH AMERICA. the ship as possible, where the motion is always the least perceptible. It is advisable, alao, to choose a ship which takes out the smallest number of passengers ; as the nuisances caused by the over-crowded state of emigrant ships have, not unfrequently, engendered fatal diseases. Having made these arrangements, it will be necessary to procure bedding, provisions, cooking utensils, and a little medicine. The cooking and table utensils should be the most simple and useful, made of tin, and in quantity according to the circumstances of the emigrant. The provisions should, by all means, be sufficient in variety, the time occupied on tlie passage being very uncertain, averaging from four to six we 3ks, and not unfrequently extending to eight weeks. The stock for each adult ought to be, at least, as follows : — Butter 71b. Mour 6 Rice 3 Oatmeal 2 Onions 4 Eggs doz. 2 Spirits quarts 2 Medicine. — 2 oz. Epsom salts, 2 oz. castor oil, \ oz. Turkey rhubarb, and 2 oz. ground ginger. The spirits may be purchased from the captain cheaper than on shore, but should not be used except in cases of necessity or as medicine. There are many other small articles which would be found useful, should it be conve- nient to the emigrant to purchase them. About £2 5s. wiU, however, purchase the stock above enumerated, — if judiciously laid out. Pc^sengers seldom feel much inclination for '^ating during the first week on board ; some suffer much from sea sickness, and make use of very little food during the entire voyage ; whilst others feel but little inconvenience. As the emigrant leaves " the lessening land," and passes over the " trackless deep," a medley of feelings and sen- sations will naturally occupy his mind : he wiQ feel that he is parting from his associates and friends, and from those Biscuit about 601b. Salt meat 25 Some dried fish Potatoes 30 Tea l\ Coffee OJ Sugar 7 EMIGBATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 11 endearing ties and circumstances of his childhood, the com- forts and enjoyments of which he was not before aware of, for the true value of friendship is never properly estimated until it becomes lost for ever. These observations arc not designed to intimidate or to create unpleasant feelings, but merely to forewarn the emigrant of what will occur before he leaves his country, that he may not regret his departure, as thousands have done when it has been too late. It will be well to provide as much wearing apparel as possible, it being both better and cheaper in this country. A mechanic should take out a good set of tools, and a gardener a good fresh lot of seeds : he would do well, also, to take out some small fruit trees and strawberry roots. The trees bein^ small will be convenient for carriage : the particular kinds are hereafter named. Heavy goods, glass, crockery, &c., should not be taken, as they would be ex- pensive, troublesome, and a great risk. If the gardener intends to go as far as Buffalo (500 miles) on the States side of Lake Erie, or as far as the Falls of Niagara, on the Canada side, (nearly the same distance,) he would do well to take the following trees, at a proper season : — Peaches. — Royal George, Newington, Teton de Venus, Early Purple, Noblesse. Nectarines. — ^Newington, Roman, Scarlet, White. Apricots. — Moor Park, Roman. Plums. — Orleans, Bonum Magnums, (red and white.) Pears. — Bergamot, (both sorts,) Beaurre, (brown,) Chau- montelle. Jargonelle, Lady's Tliigh, Catha- rine, Swan's Egg, Windsor. Apples. — ^Ribston Pippin, Golden Runnet, Nonpareil, Royal Russet, Juneting, Stubbard. Cherries. — May Dukes, Early May, Morello, Biggurreau, Harts, and Black Brandys. Gooseberries. — Crown Bob, Roaring Lion, Astons, (red,) and a few best yellows, whites, and greens. Strawberries. — Carolina,Keans, SeedHng, Alpine Pine Apple. Grapes. — ^Black Hamboro', Black Portugal, Black Prmce, '■^ New Sweet Water, Royal Muscadine, Mus* ' -'^ - cat of Alexander, • ^- • - « II 12 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. Ill With such new or improved sorts of fruit trees, &c., as the gardener may wish. As far west as the Falls of Niagara, peaches grow on standard trees in orchards, and melons in the natural ground ; but a little more to the south-west, in the State of Ohio, from one to two hundred miles, they are so plen- tiful that peaches may be had for one shilling per bushel, and melons at one penny each, and they are frequently given to the hogs. Peaches originally grew wild in America, and they are now mostly of a small and inferior description, but they have been improving for several years past, so that some good sorts may be expected. There are no nectarines. Apples, too, are generally very good and plentiful. Pears, plums, and cherries not so much so. Strawberries are generally of the wild kinds ; but they are also improving. Gooseberries do not answer very well, except in some particular soils; but red currants and raspberries bear most abundantly. '-»il L Voyage across the Atlantic Ocean — The River SL Lajprencej ^c, to Quebec — Arrival at Que- bec — Landing — Description and directions — Taking of the garrison by General Wolfe — Monument to his and the French GeneraVs memory — Remarks on the monument at Queenston to the memory of General Brock — Market^ 8fc. After being two or three weeks at sea, the passenger will feel great anxiety about reaching the place of destina- tion. On the voyage to Quebec, the first American land generally seen is the Island of St. Paul'vS, on the south side of the Gulph of St. Lawrence, about 500 miles from Quebec, wliich terminates the passage across the Atlantic Ocean. About 80 miles above St. Paul's is the Island of Anticosti, about 125 miles long and 30 broad. Shortly afterwards the River St. Lawrence is entered, several islands are passed, and, in fine weather, numbers of white ^:>^s \. ,yf, ^.: EMIGEATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 13 .:.-<^ \: ^-jf houses may be seen on the left bank of the river, occupied by old ancf new settlers. About 30 miles from Quebec is Grose Island, before named, where ships are detained and an inquiry instituted as to the health of the passengers and crews, and where the sick are generally landed. At this place, in the Spring of 1848, no fewer than 173 emi- grants, cluefly destitute Irish, died from malignant fever, engendered on sldp-board, from being over-crowded during the voyage, and from indolent ana filthy habits. It is, therefore, of vital importance to observe the most strict rules of cleanliness and order during the passage. About 15 miles onward, on the right or north side, is Montmorenci, the waterfall of which is imposing and beautiful, its descent being about 240 feet. On a further approacli, a most delighful landscape opens to view : the town of Quebec is seen on a promontory towards the river, and above it, on a lofty precipice, a strongly-fortified garri- son, in which is an armoury and equipments for 20,000 men. The river at Quebec is only about half a mile wide, (per- haps the narrowest part,) where, and for miles up and down, it IS crowded with vessels of all descriptions. Across this part, and immediately opposite Quebec, is the town of Point Levy and ferry, from which steam-boats and others are constantly plying without any restriction. By this means abundance oi agricultural and other produce is brought to Quebec. In the winter season the communica- tion is kept open on the ice. '* ' * The emigrant will now be preparing for landing and commencing a new era in his life in what is generally called the New World. On landing, he will not be so much annoyed by those troublesome pests from inns and board- ing-houses as at New York. He must look around and choose for himself ; taking care to agree about the price, which varies according to the accommodations. About the landing places and wharfs a number of boarding-houses may be found to suit the pocket of the labourer; and higher up in the town more expensive inns and other ac- commodations may be had to suit others in better circum- stances, i M II (I w |i 14 EMIGUATION TO NORTH AMERICA. .11 Althoupli the object of the present work is to assist the emif^ant in accomplishing his purpo"? and iJtimate welfare, it will be necessary, nevertheless, to tn\c him some infor- mation respecting the localities he wifl have to visit : not, however, a topographical nor statistical history and detail of all the institutions and establishments, but merely a brief sketch or account of them. To traverse the streets of Quebec, from its mountainous position, wiU be found rather a troublesome and tiresome task to the stranger. Some very lengthy and circuitous routes or roads are made for the accommodation of carts, carriages, &c., whilst the foot passengers are provided with steps or stairs to cross the streets. The ground on which the buildings stand adjacent to the river and on the wharfs, except so much of the latter as have been carried out by piers, has been cut out of the skirts of the rock at the foot of the garrison, forming a precipice like the side of a wall. From these precipices many pieces of rock have from time to time fallen, destroying life and property. The officers and others connected with the government, military, and other institutions and offices, libraries, insu- rance offices, &c., the military and fivil officers, and mer- chants and traders, form a population of genteel society, which, with a respectable oisplay of shops in the uj)per town, where business is conducted on a liberal footing, tend to give the city an appearance of business and im- portance. The suburbs of St. Rooue and St. John are also regularly built, and contain a large population. A considerable portion of this district was some time ago destroyed by fire, beir^ mostly built of wood ; but it has since been rebuilt with r nek and stone. The religious estabKshments are the cathedral, a spa- cious and nandsome edifice, (the bishop's residence and others being adjacent,) and many protestant dissenting S laces of worship of neat architecture. The Bx)man Catho- c Cathedral, now in course of erection, cannot be sur- passed in magnificence by any other building, in point of architecture and internal grandeur. Besides the old cathedral, which is handsome, and capable of containing nearly 4000 persons, there are several smaller churches. m f'l EMIOEATION TO NOBTU AllEEICA. 15 Although their rcliprious ceremonies and restrictions are to many persons highly objectionable, their nunneries are most useful institutions : their objects and y)ractices are the most charitable, and much benefit is derived from them by the distressed and destitute of all religious persuasions, without distinction as to sect or creed, — a wortliy example to some of our exclusive and narrow-minded Protestant religious institutions. Society at Quebec is of a motley description, consisting of Canadian French, who retain their language, ori^nal habits, prejudices, and the Roman Catliolic religion; English Canadians, English and other European emigrants, with some amalgamations. The Ercncli manners are lively and polite ; their village amusements and entertainments, though apparently gay, are nevertheless modest, and con- ducted with rural simplicity ; and few persons probably spend their leisure time more happily. The common and most-to-be-lamented evil is the lack of education among the humbler classes of society, and for which the priests are wholly blameable. They will neitlier afford the people this important benefit, nor suffer any Protestant to instruct them ; so that, by an imprisonment of the mind, they are doomed to dark superstitnn and ignorance. The garrison is vulnerable only from the Heights of Abraham, which adjoin the city on the west side. General Wolfe, who was appointed to the command of an expedi- tion against Quebec in the year 1759, after effecting a landinff with his troops in the night at Wolfe's Cove, an inlet about a mile above the city, mounted the rugged and steep MQs, and formed his army on Abraham's Plains at day-oreak on the morning of the 13th of September, to the astonishment of the French general. The French commenced the attack, for which the English waited and reserved their fire. The English charged, and although the enemy were garrisoned and in superior force, they were defeated and forced to capitulate on the following day. Thtj English took possession and the French troops were sent home. Thus, in a few hours, the whole of the Canadas fell into the hands of the British, — possessions which the French had been labour- ■iWP 16 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. ing to maintain during S'iveral centuries, under the great- est privations, in subduing the various Indian tribes. The conquest wjis, however, arly bought, by the death of General Wolfe, who, having been told of the victory after he had received a mortal wound in the body, exclaimed, in the agonies of death, "i thank God, and die contented." In the action, the Trench Commander-in-chief, General Montcalm was also slain. In Quebec a monument stands to the memory not only of General WoKe, but also of the French Gen^^ral, who was a brave man, and who, it must be allowed, did infinite credit to the honour and generosity of the English <^eeling. ^ The case diffei^ ver^ much, however, respecting the monument erected at Queenston to the memory of General Brouk, who defeated and drove back the American invaders, and \v ho nobly fell in the defence of his country : that monument the Americans have attempted to blow up and destroy; aid it is so disfi^'cd as to render it necessary to be taken down and rebuilt, for wliich a subscription has been entered into. - ,''f :'*.;: The market of Quebec iS mostly in the open air, and is plentifully sappled, from the surrounding country, with everything but fish. It is lield principally on Saturdays, but it is open every working day. The jargon of Canadian French and broken English,^ — the motley group of custo- mers, comprising French and English Canadians, emigrant j of all descriptions, officers, &c., cannot fail to attract the stranger's attention. There is also a market in the lower town, near the landing place, not so well supplied, but where fish may be had of inferior quality. ■ " Quebec will be found to contain loiterers and labourers, who win leave little employment for new comers. The mechanic, however, may fina some work, providing he will accept an engagement at reduced wages ; and, should his circumstances require it, it may be good policy for him to do SO for a while, to enable him to recover himself, and to loDk forward for something better. EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 17 the his to to ^ Journey to Montreal — Dcicfiption of its location and soil — Market — Eeligious enuabilHhments — Shipping, Merchandise^ ^c. |,.'. .,. .■ , ■ V ■»■ - ' I ■ t. I , - ■'■i ' : " . ' Should the emigrant not meet with the object of his pursuit in Quebec, he should immediately proceed towards Montreal. He has the choice of two routes, the one by steam vessels on the river St. Lawrence, and the other by canal and land carriage. The fonner wiU be preferable, as he wiU be conveyed direct to Montreal, one seat of Government. The settler with moderate pecuniary re- sources, as well as the poor eraiffrant, should endeavour to locate near to a thriving town : by judicious purchases, the circumstai n of the former will impro've more rapidly with the growth of the town than by any agricultural schemes or projects; and the industrious labourer wiU have a better chance of profitable and constant employ- ment, as he viU have the choice of both town and country. Montreal, not merely from being the seat of Government, but from its local and advantageous mercantile position, rivals Quebec ; and its increase of population is, coti.«p- quently, more rapid. The land, too, begins to improve, and in consequence of its position bemg a degree more to the south, its productions are superior to those of the neighborhood of Qaebec, and the winters are a little more moaerat(. The market is well arranged, the building admirabW adapted to its purpose, and it is abundantly supplied wiiu almost every agricult^iral production. The vegetable and fruit market prove the superior soil and cultivation of the vicinity : but the fruit is not wholly the produce of Mon- treal, the best being brought from the south-west. The scenery around Montreal is picturesque and beau- tiful ; its harbour and wliarf accommodations are admira- bly adapted even for the largest ships; and its public buildings and institutions are well constructed and of handsome architecture. The religious estabb'shments are s 1 18 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. (I •1, ;! ,1, conducted on tolerating and liberal principles, and the edilBces are noble. The Canadian French, as at Quebec, are a numerous body, and their Roman Catholic churches are beautiful buildings. Their largest cathedral, which was completed in 1829, is truly grand : it has seven chapels within its walls, and the whole is supposed to be capable of containing 10,000 persons. There are also several other smaller Roman Catholic places of worship. The English Protestant religious estabhshments are respectable but not numerous. The Episcopal Church is handsome, spacious, and its architecture modem. The Scotch Church is neat and respectably attended. There are also many dissenting places of worship. The Generpl Hospital, which is considered to be under the best j^ossible regulations and order, is of the utmost benefit and miportance. Journey to Kingston- Climate — Bock Yard — Going through the Rapids — Delight- ful Scenery i 8fc. Should the emigrant have failed in finding employment to his satisfaction, he ought to proceed to Kmgston, about 190 miles distant. Before steam navigation was established, the ordinary method for conveyiug the labouring classes was by canal boats, about 50 tons burden, through canals and nvers, forming a very long and tedious route, which travellers are advised not to adoLvt. A little to the westward of Montreal the Canadian French be^in to decrease in numbers, and the European settlers to mcrease. The western colonies having a gradual inclination towards the south, the climate becomes more temperate, the air more salubrious, and the soil more level and productive. These circumstances wiU naturally create in the mind of the Canadian settler a desire, like that of the Yankee, for " driving west," notwithstanding the fact that Montreal and the neighbourhood possess considerable advantages to the settler, — more, indeed, than have been ascribed to it. 1^ EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 19 Kingston is situate at the commencement of Lake On- tario, and was formerly the capital of Western Canada. From its canal and other water approaches ; its intercourse bjr steam and other Tiercantile vessels with Toronto, Ha- milton, Niagara, Queenston, and other towns west ; and having on its side the government dock yard for building large ships of war, it is rapidly increasing in importance. in goinff from Montreal to Kingston by a steam vessel, the traveller ascends the rapids, through the waves and foam, and through the various windings and turnings among the thousanc islands, as they are called. The num- ber may appear to be large, but they have been found to comprise more than a thousand. They vary from the size of a very small house to many acres in extent, and though rocky, are covered with shrubs and trees ; forming alto- gether the most picturesque and romantic sight the tra- veller ever beheld. if(' ■^ pf Journey to Toronto—^ Market — Military/ and other estahlishments — Hamilton^ description ofy and business in general — Dundas. If the emigrant has not yet found the object of his travels, let him move on to Toronto, formerly called York, which is about 180 miles above Kingston, by Lake Onta- rio, and about 40 miles below Burlington Bay, which is its head. Toronto has veir lately risen to a town of great business with aU parts of the Lake, and, through the St. Lawrence, with aU parts of Europe. It has a spacious and convenient market, lately erected, (independently of the old one,) which is well suppKed, and where fish is more plentiful than at the lower towns. The military and othcT- pubKc buildings, offices and establishments, are numerous and convenient. The Established Protestant Church is handsome and spacious. There are several other churches and many dissenting chapels. The Roman Catholic places of worsnip are not so elegant as those at the lower towns, the proportion of French Canadian in- \fe. «WH II i 20 EMIGKATION TO NORTH AMERICA. habitants not being so ffreat. The streets are spacious and laid out at right angles. There is, also, a handsome college, surmounted by a dome; and a portion of the buil(ung is used for the purposes of education. The harbour is formed principally by a long pier, or sort of wooden peniLoula, stretching out into the lake, and en- closing a small bay or basin for the safety and accommoda- tion of vessels. Here there appears to be plenty of em- ployment for all mechanical and labouring classes. The next route, should the traveller find it necessar to move on, is to Hamilton Bay, by steam-boat, distant about 40 miles. This town, too, has risen most rapidly in build- ings and trade ; and the land surrounding is generally good. Ghopkee vf* and tradesmen appear to succeed; and me- chanical ii ' is high in price and in great request. Public offices wud buildings have not yet attained the im- portance and magnitude of those of the lower towns and cities. There is, however, a handsome Established Pro- testant Church, built of wood ; a Presbyterian and other places of worship ; a ^ood market ; and a town-haQ, for transacting pubhc busmess. Its population is from 6000 to 7000. Burlinr;ton "Bay is completeljr enclosed, and the distance from its entrance to its head is about five miles : at the latter place there are wharfs for communication with Ha- milton, from which place they are situated about a nule. This bav was formerly nearly separated from the lake by a bar of land extending across, through which, however, a canal has been cut for the passage of schooners, steam vessels, &c. Immediately adjoining and on the north side of Hamilton is a chain of hign mountains, which stretch along from east to west. Looking down from the top of any of these mountains upon Hamilton and the neighbourhood, which is perfectly level, a most beautiful bird's-eye view of the surrounding country presents itseK ; and on the top of these mountains the land is again level, and, with little variation, continues so throughout the entire ranee. ^ The town of Dundas, distant about five miles, is a small place of some trade : it lies in a valley, and has a fine EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 21 stream of water running through it, capable of driving machinery and mill work, of which there are now some in operation. Prom Hamilton to Dundas there is a good macadamized turnpike road. About the neighbourhood of Hamilton there are as good, if not the best roads in Ca- nada. Independently of the above macadamized road, there has been a plant high road made, together with a foot road, stretchmg upwards of 30 miles west. V Journey towards New London, direct. Or fint to St. Catherines, Thoroldy Niagara, ^c, opposite and near the American States — Instructions in journey- . ing, ^c, ■ • ' - The settler will now have his choice, and may select his location, being in the midst of a variety, in most of which there is good level land. He may either proceed straight west towards New London, by land, about 80 miles dis- tant, through Brandtford and other towns, or proceed more south-west towards St. Catherine's and Thorold, by land, or to Niagara by water, distant between 40 and 50 miles. New London is a rapidly-thriving town, with a military estabKshment. Here mechanical and other labour of every kind is in great demand, and the land in the vicinity is of superior quality. A navigable river, called the Thames, passes through this town, and the water communications with Lakes Erie and Huron are circumstances of great importance. The town of Brandtford, and several others on the road, are in a tljriving condition. Or, should the emigrant reject this route, by inclining more to the south, towards St. Catherine's, Thorold, Nia- gara, and Chipawa, as above, he will not only be drawing towards a milder climate, but he wiQ be in a convenient position for crossing over to the States, should he desire to do so. Thorola, though small, is an increasing town, in consequence of its being near to the principal locks of the WeUand Canal ; from which circumstance, St. Cathe- -rtrrf W ilM-i 22 EMIGRATION TO NOETH AMERICA. ,; i^^^^l f 1™' i rinc's, a much larger town, about five miles below, also derives great advantages in its commerce. These locks are very substantially and handsomely built, but it is much to be regretted that they are not a few feet wider. The town of Niagara, from its being the county town, has a steady run oi business, but its progress is slow in com- parison with those places already described. It stands at the point where the Niagara river falls into Lake Ontario, and where Port George is situated, opposite to which is the garrison, or large Port of Niagara, on the American side. The wharfs at this place are a great resort for steam and other mercantile vessels. About eight miles above is Queenston, a small town of no considerable importance : it is situated at the foot of a mountain, on which is erected a monument to the memory of General Brock, who lost his life in defeating the Americans, as before mentioned. About ten miles westward are the Falls of Niagara, the road by which leads to Chippawa, a small town about two miles distant, and thence by Fort Erie, about 16 miles, which is situated on the margin of the river, nearly oppo- site to Buffalo, on the States side. !Prom Queenston to Chippawa the conveyance is by railroad, thence to Port Erie by waggon, and from Chippawa to Buffalo, on the States side, about 20 miles, by steam-boat. Newtoundland — Short description — Its advantages and importance to Fisher- men and to the Mercantile Interests. Newfoundland, of which the principal town is St. John's, is situated about 800 miles nearer to Great Britain than Quebec. It extends about 5^90 miles from east to west, and about the same distance from north to south ; ihe south part being in about latitude 47 deg. north. The land generally is by no means tempting to the agricultural settler, although the improved parts near the town might, by judicious management, be rendered profitable to the EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 23 active and skilful gardener or farmer, as the inhabitants are chiefly employed in fishing pursuits. The staple pro- duction of the sea banks and coast consists of a most astonishing and inexliaustible supply of fish, which forms the source of very extensive and profitable employment, as well as of immense mercantile traffic throughout Europe and America, in which thousands have realised large sums of money. Men, therefore, accustomed to fishing or a seafaring life, may be certain of meeting with employment through this source during the summer months. The population of the Island has rapidly increased of late years, especially from Ireland; and the mercantile pursuits add considerably to its increase and prosperity. It has been the practice many years for parties in the fish- ing trade to remain on the Island during the fishing season only, and to return home with their cargoes ; but of late both merchants and labourers have found it to their in- terest to remain, as more comfortable and convenient accommodations are now afforded. As the Island does not produce sufficient food for its consumption, during the winter season, which is severe, agricultural productions are a little dearer than at Quebec or New Bruns^vick. A passage out may be procured at London, Liverpool, Dart- mouth, or Jersey. ' v^ j* ^ - • It will not be necessary to draw the emigrant's atten- tion to a northern route through the Canadas, as he will find it cold enough in the south. ^ it , Landing at New York — : ; ; , Instructions — Currency ^ 8fc. — Banking System — Journey to Alhavv — Crossing to Canada, if necessary — Observations on Rochester y Buffalo, 8fc. — Journey further West. On the emigrant landing at New York, he will be beset and annoyed by a body of men who are employed by the keepers of inns and lodging-houses, whom he must care- c m- W 24 EMIGEATION TO NOETH AMERICA. I' 3 .1 ! 5i fully avoid ; but should ne find it necessary to remain in the city for a short time, he can inquire at some private house or shop for respectable lodgings, to suit his means and circumstances. On making the agreement, he should aocertain precisely what he is to be charged ; and when he is about to pay, he must bear in mind that an English sixpence in the States is called a shilling, and the dollar eight shillings (abopt four English.) The dollar is divided into halves, quarters, and eighths, and also into 100 half- pence 01' cents, called pence ; but the eighth makes a frac- tional part which there is no small change to meet ; this together with a variety of foreign coins, puzzles the stran- ger, which the shopkeepers take advantage of. To obviate this annoyance is to avoid the eighth, unless he can get it at 12 cents. The banking system was formerly carried on upon very defective and ruinous principles : it has, however, been much improved by legislative mterference and regulations ; yet still there have been many instances where the law ha? been evaded. To protect the public there is a peri- odical published, called "The Detector," which may be found in almost every shop or place of business, giving a statement of the pecuniary resources and condition of every bank in the Umon. (For the currency, se^ thp tabl^ at the end.) * '^ - There wiU be very little likelihood of the stranger find- ing employment in New York, the place being already crowded vrith mechanics, labourers, and loiterers. He must, then, shape his course westward, and embark on board a steam-boat, by the Hudson river, for Albany, a large commercial town, about 160 miles distant. The deck fare will be about five or six shillings, finding himseK with provisions. Here may be some chance of work, by in- quiring at the seed shops if he is a gardener or husband- man, or among the masters in his trade if a mechanic, &c. He may go on as far as Buffalo by canal-boat conveyancp, which is about 500 miles from iNew York, the time oc- cupied on the journey being about a week, and the cost about a cent or one halfpenny per mile, the passenger finding his own provisions ; or he may go by railroad in N EMIGBATION TO NOETH AMEEICA. 25 ir '» about one day, at a little more expense. Should he be desirous of crossing to Canada, he may here do so to Mon- treal, a distance oi about 240 miles, partly by steam-boat but mostly by stage coach, rather an expensive and tedious route ; or he may cross from the ports fuHher on to Kingston or Toronto, direct by steam vessel, which ply daily, for about five to six or seven shillings on deck. If the emigrant has not yet realised his expectations, he can proceed to Rochester, the next town of commercial importance, where he wiU have a better prospect of success; in fact, the further he travels westward the greater will be his chance of meeting with employment. If unsuccessful at Rochester or the neighbourhood, his best course will be towards Buffalo, also a large commercial town, which is rapidly increasing in buildings and commerce. The situation of Buffalo is most peculiarly adapted to trade and commerce, more so, indeed, than any other in- land town in th^ States, being the medium of transit for aU descriptioas of goods. It is the iulet or depot for almost all the western produce, and the outlet by trans- shipment into the Erie canal boats to New York. In like manner it is the receptacle for all manufactured goods from New York and other places east, for western export. Independently of tne large towns already named, the traveller will, in his journey from New York, pass through a number of towns and vilhtges, at some of which he may meet with employment ; and the masters of canal boats are frequently commissioned to communicate iateUigence to strangers that wiU lead to it. The labourinff man is recommended, in the first instance, especially if his means should be limited, to work for less than the ordinary wages, not only for the sake of an introduction, but he would be " going a-head," and at the same time improving hii* cir- cumstances. Some precaution is necessary as to the certainty of the real route of the boats, and the information given to strangers. A most grievous instance of this deception was witnessed some time ago at Cleveland, and which had been practised, it was strongly suspected, by the master of the boat. Some seventy or eighty Dutchmen or Grermans had l^r^ 26 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. i| been brought by the wrong route, and were landed on the wharf in the greatest distress and disappointment. « The emigrant's next course is west, by steam-boat, to Cleveland, about 190 miles distant, in the eastern part of the State of Ohio, where, or in the neighbourhood, he will most probably obtain the object of his pursuit. The town is rapidly increasing in size and importance, in consequence of its vast imports from the south-west by the Ohio Canal, (300 miles long,) and the trans-sliipments to Buffalo, besides a great western and eastern traffic. The soil in the neigh- bourhood is of excellent quality, producing abundance of peaches, melons, apples, cherries, currants, &c., though it IS subject to blight by late frosts, owing probably to its close proximity to Lake Erie. The inhabitants are kind and respectable, the locality extremely pleasant, and the roads level and in good order. On the opposite side of the river, or harbour, is Ohio city, consisting of about two or three hundred houses, &c. The land towards the river and lake is there low and flat, where stagnant waters accumulate, causing a prevalence of ague and fever, particularly among strangers : the for- mer debilitates the frame for many months, and the latter frequently proves fatal. There still remains a very large field westward for the settler's travels and choice, to which thousands of the eastern Americans are drawing for new cheap land ; and, indeed, great numbers of Englisb settlers are following their example. Should the emigrant be incKned to move in that direction, he ought to avoid settling in Toledo, about 120 miles distant ; it is a very unhealthy locality, few persons visiting there without sunering, more or less, from the effects of the climate : it is, nevertheless, a place for making money by mechanics and traders v/ho are for- tunate enough to retain their health. Now, there are Detroit and St. Clair, nearly the same distance, both healthy and thriving towns : there is, also, Milwaukie, a fast-increasing town, about 740 miles from New York, and Chicago still more so, to the prairies of which thousands of Yankees are flocking, where land is less wooded and strong for all descriptions of crops, and where .« EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 27 agriculture, consequently, progresses u])on a most amazing scale. In shori, the best land may tliere be had for little money, the one thing needful beiug manual labour, which is in great requisition. T' . r .♦ !•• •fl \ Travelling — Mechanical Labour — Hiring out and getting . Wages — Dutch and German character — Rules and cau- '■ tions in purchasing Land — Yankee Farmers going West — Comparative State of Prices of Produce in England and America — Caution and Information to Young Farmers going out — Fraudulent Practices of Proprietors in selling * Land, ,', with this difference, that the servarit will be sure t< .j high enough for his goods. In England, if a master does not pay his servant his weekly wages as it becomes due, an application to a magistrate has the effect of compelling him ; but in the United States it is not so, as the defen- dant is allowed the means of such tedious procrastination in coming to a settlement as tires out the complainant, so much so that it is generally considered preferal)le to relin- quish a just demand.* The wages of the Dutch and Germans at home being only about 2s. 6d. per week, out of which they have to provide themselves with food, which is necessarily of the poorest description, and who have lived under a rigid government, generally emigrate in companies to America, the "land of Goshen" to tnem when compared with their own homes, and soon get themselves into employment, by working at a lower rate of wages than the Yankees, which has caused a great reduction m the price of labour. One * For the rates of wages, see the end. -?*':•' <;. i. Persons of property cannot be cautioned too seriously against goin^ out hastily to purchase and improve land as a speculation, as hundreds of persons have, to their sor- row, been ruined by unadvised enterprises of this sort. As an instance, and for the sake of argument, it is only necessary to state that beef, pork, and mutton may be bought at IJd. per pound, indeed, sometimes for less, and that agricultural produce is equally cheap, whilst the labour to produce them is double the price of that in England ; so that upon an honest and fair principle of reasoning, it would appear that it is better to pay high rents and taxes in this country than to emigrate. But it may be very truly remarked, that the farmers are f:ist increas- ing in numbers in America, wliilst farms are not ; and hence the necessity for establishing new farms, or, in other words, for opening sources of employment for the labour- ing population. It is very laudah].> and praiseworthy foi young farmers .■i# r iRu: EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 81 to be anxious to be employed, and especially to have farms of their own to raanj^^e. In America there is a large scope for their enterprise ; but they may rest assured that in America they must not expect to keep riding horses for their pleasure, as they do in England : they must be pre- pared to toil, labour, and sweat by the side of their work- men, late and earl}^ or otherwise they had better remain at home and do the best they can. • There is another fraudulent practice to be guarded against, in the purchase of land from individual proprietors. It jj' not an unusual circumstance for a purchaser, after he has paid his purchase-money, and taken possession of his land, to bo called apon by a mortgagee who has a lien upon the estate, — a matter often previously preconcerted between the seller and \^\s> friend. A transaction of this description occurred a short time ago near Buffalo. The purchaser was an Englishman, who, after paying his pur- chase-money in full, had a second claim made upon him by a morgagee : being swindled out of his ca sh, he was obliged to give up the estate, and take a passage for himself and family for England, leaving the country in disgust. There are, however. Government Register Offices, both in Canada and the States, fc^ registering all kinds of con- veyances and deeds of land transactions, to which any person may have recourse on j^aying a small fee, a precau- tion indispensably necessary in purchasing of individual proprietors In 'Government or Land Company transac- tions this precaution is not necessary. v> *l :Sr :'H'*!./i^>"f Qualities of Soil — Manure — Bistanrc from Market — Choice and quality of Land — Mode of Farming — Food of An:- malSi See. ^ ' . ' The next point for consideration and investigation is the quality of the soil, for on a piece of 100 acres only there may be several qualities : so many as three kinds have been found on two acres. The best quality is that which has about one foot of black or da^k brown decayed vegetable 'uld, with a fine deep-brown loam underneath. If the top soil is of sufficient depth it will be of no importance if the bottom is c^ay, as it may be sub-soiled and allowed to remain rough uider a winter's frost. This, with good management, especially by alternate crops and intervals of rest, wiU. continue to produce well for several years without manure. After having raised crops for a year or two, however, manure will give health and strength to the soil ; but its use is objected to by some farmers on account of the seeds of numerous weeds which are brought from stables and other places where manure is usually deposited. It is a most extraordinary fact that many farmers have such large heaps of manure in and about their bams and stablcd, which na7e been suifered to accumulate from year to year from their cattle, that they are puzzled to kiow how to dispose of it, and actually cart it out of their way. It is said that the quality of the soil may be known by the quality of the trees growing upon it ; but there is a difference of opinion upon this point. The best test is the spade or mattock : and the settler should take care to avoid coarse, sandy, or gravelly soils, or low swamps. The distance of a market for the disposal of the produce is a necessary consideration. It should be within a con- venient day's ioumey in going and returning; it might as well be at double the distance, or more, provided he can purchase the land proportionately cheaper in consequence. It is not advisable for any one to purchase land in the eastern part of Lower Canada or of New York ; as the winters are so long and severe, especially in the east, as to impede the settler's exertions. In the west, however, particularly as it inclines to the south, and where the land IS more fertile, he may stand a better chance of success. Now, the mode of farming in America, for the foregoing and other reasons, is very different from that adopted at home. In ploughing a broad thin swarth, from 12 to 18 inches is mostly their practice. This is run over to the amou^it of two or three acres per day, left to lie a little while, and then roughly harrowed, not one farm in twentv having a roller ; whilst an acre well ploughed at home is consiaered a good day's work* In America the practice EMIG3ATI0N TO NORTH AMERICA. of reaping, or mowing more properly called, is with a light scythe, having a slij'ht frame atta'^hed to the handle above, called a cradle, "w ith which from two to three acres a day are taken down. Sometimes the grain is put into sheaves something like those ia this country, and sometimes it is allowed to dry on the ground, similar to barley, and then carried into the bam or stack. The stackd are seldom thatched, the top part being so managed ia laying on as to carry oif the rain. On small farms it is the practice to tread out the grain with cattle, the flail being seldom used. In the Sates, however, there are a number of thrashing machines, one of which wTl thrash out more than 200 bushels in a day, very clean. * The sorts of ^ain or grasses which should be selected for cultivation will depend on the climate and the quality of the soil. West of Montreal, Indian com, or maize, may be sown with success, and which in America is considered to be of great importance. The general method of sowing it is to drop three or four grams together, with a fe"^^ pumpkin seeds, at about three feet apart, and continued m a line throughout, leaving the same space between each row, which, being covered by drawing a little earth over them with a hoe, finishes the work for i he present. When the plants are about a foot high, they are hoeu up each way, sometimes by a hand hoe d at others by a horse, and thinned out, leaving about t^^ o or thrt;e in the hiC. When ripe, they are mowed and piled ir^ small stacks, and at the first convenient opportunity the ea s are pulled from the stalks, which generally bear one or two, and on strong land there may be found three : this opera- ion is called husking. In scattered villages, where the rower is short of hands, he furnishes an entertainment, called a "husking bee," and invites his neighbours, who soon tup i a finish of this otherwise tedious duty. In fact, wh; er any laborious work is about to be executed beyond the stren^h of the farmer's establishment, this method is practised. Indian com requires greater heat than any other, and its crops vary fj-om 25 to 70 or 80 bushels per acre, ac- cording to soil and climate. It is never very finely groimd. li mj 84 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. m and has a rough, unpleasant feel in the mouth when used alone, but when sifted and mixed with sound wheat flour, it makes very good sweet-flavoured bread. Cattle, ho^s, poultry, &c., are fed on it, and the stalks are used lor rough foddc during winter. By sowing it broad cast in the southern parts, about the middle of June or beginning of July, it will grow about three or four feet high, m sufii- cient time for mowing and stacking, and will be found a very heavy and profitable crop for fodder in winter, very much superior to the hard dry stalks which have borne the ears, and wiU well repay the farmer for his labour. ^Vheat is sown and sought after by all parties, and always brings ready cash. In the lower parts of Canada, spring is a preferable season for sowing to autumn, in con- sequence ojfthe very long and severe winters. The spring, however, in North America, being short, and so much farming work requiring to be done at that time of the year, it is advisable to do as much of the rough ploughing and other preparatory work in the autumn as possible, especially as it gives the land a kind of winter fallow, which, with the severe frost and snow, pulverises and brings it into a better condition for cropping ; and the autumns are generally very fine and desirable for the purpose. s • ? ' •' .^.vBarley in some seisons is a failure, especially in the States ; the spring oeing of such short duration as not to allow sufficient time to mature the grain before the hot season sets in to parch it ; and, as a natural consequence, the grain is very small. But some ^ood crops have, never- theless, been raised in various locahties, particularly about and above Toronto ; but the iand for this purpose must be good and well manured. Thcjre are three sorts, — the long two-rowed, the four or square bear, and the six-rowed. • Oats are generally a better crop, and more commonly sown. Buck wheat is sown in June by almost every farmer. Good family cakes are made from it, and it is excellent food for poultry. Swedish turnips are generally gro^vn^for cattle; but many other descriptions are sown, all gf which succeed. adi fo KMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 3U Mangel wurzel is not much in use, but the soil is well adapted for it. The principal grasses are Timothy, red clover, and tre- foil : the former is in general use, being of a hardy kind, and capable of enduring the severest winters. Clover is in common use. Trefoil not so general. The hardy drumhead or flat pole cabbage, the rootaba^o or Swedish turnip, and the mangel wurzel, if drawn up before the frost and covered well with straw on a dry piece of land, will be found to answer well all the early part of the winter, but they will not keep well throughout. The best method for presers ing the late kinds of hardy cabbage is to take them up with their roots, dig a deep trench on a dry piece of land, lay a board or straw along the bot- tom of it, place the cabbages in it side by side with their roots upwards, taking care to keep the large outside leaves close down to protect them from wet, exclude the air by covering the whole closely up with soil, and they may be taken out for family use in >;ood condition throughout the winter, and, in fact, until spring. Cabbages are not un- frequently kept in cellars and store places below the sur- face dunng the winter, but they mostly turn to a pale yellow after storing for a month or two. Of aU the roots or green crops the most valuable is the potato, which is a native of America, and to which the Americans are partial ; and it succeeds well, especially in the northern cultivated parts. They must be planted early in May, indeed, the early sorts in April, or as soon as the first frost is gone out of the ground ; and as soon as they appear above the surface, a little soil should be drawn over them to protect them for a short time against the chance of frost. The early ash leaf kidnev has been fuUy ripe, at Ohio, about 700 nules westward of New York, at the end of June. The large coarse sorts are good for cattle, and bring heavy crops. It is the general practice to plant potatoes in small hillocks, in each of which to put three or four pieces, and round thein up with a hoe, uke the hiUs of Indan com. This practice originated from necessity, as no drills could be made owing to the great numbers of stuL-ps of trees in the gi'ound. in a wet season they pro- f.i ' i I 1 36 EMIGBATION TO NORTH AMERICA. dnce abundant crops, especially in the drill. The hiUs occupy a large space of ground, bein^ fully three " 't apart, and the crops fall short of those in tne dnU, as j to 24. Peas are well suited to the climate of the States and Canada ; but they should be sown early, otherwise they will be prematurely scorched by the sun. Kidney beans also thrive well, and are much used by the Americans when dried like peas. The white Canter- bury is the best. In rearing cattle, it is of the first importance to provide a plentiful supply of fodder and good shelter for a long and severe winter, so as to bring them out in the spring in good condition; for if they are allowed to be much reduced, as is frequently the case, it will take most of the following summer to restore them : indeed, hundreds of them die for want of proper attention. Animals generally are badly fed, especially ho^s. Hun- dreds of thousands are fed on wash from distilleries, where may always be seen from 500 to 1000 ; whilst others are turned into the woods in summer to feed on nuts, acorns, and other seeds of trees, and iu the winter are brought home and killed. Their fat is soft and oily, and their lean so hard as to test a set of teeth. They feed well, however, on Indian com, or, what is better, milk and potatoes as a beginning, and afterwards on peas and barley. Cattle may be well fed by judicious management; as an instance, a farmer at Hamilton, in Upper Canada, about 60 miles north of the Niagara Falls, had an ox of the North Devon breed, which weighed upwards of twenty hundred weight. M b ?fu?;i m '# Crops in Farming — Curious accounts of Profits^ hy some authors — Objections to the statements of such Profits — . Destruction by Insects, Sf-c. — How Property has been ob- *'• tained and earned/ — Description of Destructive Insects, ^c. . Many exaggerated statements have from time to time been published of the crops and profits on farming in Upper Canada and the States, which are calculated to deceive EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 37 and mislead the stranger. In giving such estimates it would have been better to under-rate them. In Murray's history a return is given by Mr. Fergusson, who commences by supposing a settler to be going out with £500 ; and asserts that dv farming, at the end of the fourth year, "he will have £600 in his pocket, and his farm of 200 acres, stock, and all paid for." On this assertion a writer ob- serves, " Could this be realised, farming in Canada would, indeed, be a mine of wealth ; but the golden castle has been assailed by Mr. Sherriff, and we fear completely de- molished." About the latter there is very little doubt. Many respectable and industrious men, from having read such flattering statements, in the hope and expectation of improving their circumstances and the condition of their families, have cheerfully crossed the ocean, through its troubles and dangers, and laboured in a foreign climate in the hope of realising these golden expectations, but, alas, in vain. Let Mr. Fergusson look into the face of such a disappointed man, and he wiU there see the sad effects of his misrepresentations. This is a serious subject to give advice upon, and should be treated with a strict regard to the ti'uth. - There is, also, in the same publication another estimate by Mr. Pickering, an experienced farmer in Canada, and whose desire was, no doubt, to give a faithful and impar- tial statement. He commences with the assertion, that "twenty acres of wheat, averaging eighteen bushels per acre," whereas twenty acres are but fifteen, clear of stumps, roots, &c., allowing nothing for the risk or failure of crops. It is perfectly true that the new lands far west will produce heavy crops, but the average in Canada or the States wiU not justify Mr. Pickering's assertion : and with respect to the failures of crops, an instance may be mentioned. In the beginning of May, a field of wheat in the State of Ohio, measuring about twelve acres, was in fine condition, and about a foot high ; but in three or four days after- wards it was not worth a farthing, as every stalk was more or less infested with worms, and the land had to be ploughed up. , Mr. Pickering also gives a cash credit for the full amount .111 ^ IP' i 38 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. I; I of the value of the feom and grain, and also for 360 dollars for thirty fat hogs, in tliirty barrels, at twelve dollars each, but says nothing about the cost of the barrels, salt, &c., nor what the hogs were fed on, and which must have been the growth of a former year : neither does he say anything of the interest of the purchase-monty of the farm, &c., which ought to be considered as a rent, and deducted ac- cordingly. It may be asked, then, how is it that so much money is to be realised in America ? Not by the present prices of farming produce ; but by the astonishing rise in the price of land near to rapidly -thriving towns and neighbourhoods, where hundreds oi thousands of acres which not long since were sold for about six shillings an acre, have and are still realising from £20 to £500 an acre, and upwards ; by trade speculations and traffic, as the consequences of sucn increase and improvements, and which are still carrying on to an astonishing degree ; by canal traffic, there bemg up- wards of 2000 Doats, from about 70 to 80 tons burden each, on the Erie canal alone ; and by a variety of other circumstances. There was a time, however, when farming produce realised double its present return ; but so long as the pre- sent tide of emigration flows into Canada and the States for the purpose of farming, with comparatively so few additional consumers, and the price of produce in Europe remains at its present low ebb, together with such high prices being paid for labour in America, it follows, as a matter of course, that there can be no profitable return nor hope for improvement in the present price of farming pro- duce. By steady industry and perseverance, however, any piece of land will rise in value ; if, therefore, the settler can only retain his position for two or three years, by hard labour he may improve his circumstances, but not make his fortune. The most destructive insects are called bugs, which sometimes destroy all early tender vegetation : the most mischievous is the smallest, about half the size of the fem- web, of the beetle species, with yellow stripes on its wings ; and there is a larger black one, nearly the size of the com- ExMIGllATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 80 mon black beetle, called tlie " big bug," which, with the common grub, called the *' cut-worm," will destroy acres of melons and cucumbers in a few days. In the summer season the traveller will be much annoyed w;th mosquitos; and the lower description of lodging-liouses swarm with red bugs. These places are frequently over-crowded with inmates, several beds being in one apartment ; a practice which not only impairs the health of the stranger, but^ without proper care, frequently tends to lighten his pocket. " '" - /r i I m III • General Instructions to the Labouring Man. Supj)ose the case of a labouring man who has succeeded in obtaining employment, but who has no money in his pocket. If he has hired himself out as a servant, it will either be by the week or by the year ; if the former, at about 18s., finding his own board, &c., or if by the latter, at about £20, with board, lodging, &c., included. It is probable he may not have any weekly employment during the four winter months. In either case he wiU have £20 in his pocket at the end of the year, and, in the mean time, a superior description of food to what he had been used to at home. He will, therefore, do well to continue on for another year, at the end of which he wiU have about £36, having used a few pounds for necessaries, &c. Should he continue in service another year, he will find his cir- cumstances improving weekly, and he will have acquired, what is indispensably necessary, a knowledge of matters to which he was before a perfect stranger, and which rendered him utterly unfit to enter into any business on his own account. Should the labourer now feel a desire to become a pro- prietor of land, with the practical knowledge he has ac- quired, together with the exercise of steady precaution and care, he may now make the attempt, with every prospect of success. He should not possess himself of more than m-' I i tir 40 EMKiKATION TO NOIITII AMERICA. ■■-t-ii (ifty uores, as it would be a iisclcjss outlay of inouny, and cidculatcd to bliglit his prospects. After he is put into poss(;ssion, he must, in the spring of the year, quit his yearly service and hire himself t)y the week until the winter commences, provided he can meet with constant emplov- ment. This change will give him an op|)ortunity of work- ing on his land through the winter, winch is a good time for the pur];)ose ; and he will have earned, in fact, as much in the eight months as in the year. He will now have entered on his wild land earnestly, and, with money m his pocket, he will proceed cheerfully. In the course of the winter he wiU have cleared and fenced about two or three acres, ready for Indian com and wheat, which should be sown in the spring. This being done, he must return to his weekly service, should nothing better offer itself. At the end of the summer, in addition to his land, he will have his weekly earnings in his pocket, and the produce of three or four acres. He may then build himself a log- house of four rooms and an outhouse, and proceed with clearing about tliirty acres, leaving the remaining twenty for firewood, &c. As rough and expeditious work is necessary, he must be dUigent without regard to neatness in his arrangements. Having discovered by experience that he can earn and save more from weekly wages than by chopping and clear- ing, it maj be good policy for him to contract with those whose business it is to clear land at so much an acre, to be agreed upon for the work. When the land is cleared, it may be advisable for him to let it out for a crop, in shares, whdst he continues earning money in service. It is a com- mon practice in America to let land out to be worked in shares : when the owner furnishes seed, cattle, plough, &c., he has half the produce as his share, and where the labourer provides these things, the owner receives less, according to the arrangement. It is true that land may be purchased by instahnents : in some cases this mode may answer very well, but generally speaking it is better to pay the full amount at once. The settler should take particular care at all times to keep his land and himself out of debt, and not to enter into any engagements except EMIGRATION TU NOllTJi AMKllICA. 41 such as he can meet, without placing reliance or conGdenee in any man. Before, liowevcr, the settler decides upon farmin<]^ on his own account, believing that he is in i)ossession of sufficient funds for the ])ur|)ose, he must consider the amount of stock requii'cd, which will be something like the following : — Two heifer cows, in succession of calving () 10 Two young oxen and gear 12 One sow, in young 1 5 Oneplough 2 One harrow 1 10 One roller (wood) 15 One cart, or what is called a waggon, having - '. ■ f four rough boards round the ends and sides, and mounted on four wheels 9 One wheelbarrow 15 Axe, adze, mattock, shovel, spade, two hoes, scythe, reap-hook, cradle for mowing wheat, '- ■'''' - saw, two augers, hammers, gimblets, forks, '- ' " ( J grindstone, bags, ropes, iron wedges, nails, " "• &c., &c 6 Seed wheat, Indian corn, oats, potatoes, grass ,' . ''f^i'. seeds, buck wheat, &c 3 10 And an assortment of household furniture, according to circumstances. Having traced an outline of the poor labouring man's best course, together with a general summary of the agri- cultural process adoped in America, it may be instructive to point out the general practice pursued by those who emigrate with a little money for the purpose ol purchasing land on a small scale, and then to draw a comparison in order to show which party has the advantage. The settler, then, with a limited amount of ready cash has purchased 100 acres of wild land, for which he has probably paid from five to six dollars an acre, thus becom- \n Ml 42 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. ing a ** landed })roprietor," but be bas, of course, reserved some money for bis support, in anticipation of a profitable return for bis bibour. He walks abroad and surveys bis " domain," considering tlie most desirable site for bis dwelHng-bouse, warden, &c., and, seizing bis axe, be cbeer- fully " sings and backs and bews," tbougb it cannot be expected tbat be is a *' first-rate cliop." He may be a ^reat distance from any conveni(uit d' ellmg, tbereibre it will be desirable, especially if be bas a family, to get up a log dwelling, merely tenaiitablc, as soon as j)ossiDle, witb a small garden attaclied. Now, supposing bim to bave been very industrious, be may bave cut down, trimmed, logged, burned, and cleared about six acres in tbe vear, and bave erected tbe sbell and partitions of a log house. Wbat, tben, is bis actual position at tbe end of tbe first year P A moderate-sized shell, witb partitions, &c., of a log nouse is woi-tb about 25 dollars, and tbe six acres of land would be improved about 40, making altogether about 65 dollars. On tbe other side of tbe account, supposing he had hired himself out to labour during eight months out of the year^ at four and a half dollars per week, being tbe lowest wages, it is clear he would have earned 144 dollars, without having bad occasion to work so bard. The six acres, after -de- ducting the space occupied by the stumps and roots of trees, will not leave quite four and a half acres of culti- vatible land, and must be fenced by rails to be split out of logs about twelve feet long. But tbe purchaser will find he is "fixed," and if his cash should become exhausted, he will be compelled after all, as the only alternative, to hire himself out, and for the present to abandon his land, or to let it out in shares, as thousands have done, especially those who have had gifts of government land. It surely, then, will not require much sagacity or calculation, from these statements, to decide which of the two parties is most likely to succeed in agricultural pursuits. These remarks, it is hoped, will not only operate as a caution to the labouring man who has some kttle money and who is about to emigrate ; but if seriously consideredf, and reflected upon, may oe of infinite service to tbe settler who has a desire for larger speculative investments. EMIGRATION TO NOETH AMERICA. 4S out will isted, re, to Hand, jially from les is as a tone I ittler In clearing* land, the usual process is to cut down the tree, leaving the stem al)out three or four feet from the ground, to cut off the Hmbs and branciies, to log the tree Dy dividing the trunk into eight or twelve feet huigths, and to pile the whole and burn it. But it is better to chop the roots, also, »i'.)Out four feet from the; tree, which will cause both to decay sooner, and the root will more readily come out in plougli ing. It has been the practice to save the ashes and sell them, but for several years past, in consequence of a discovery in chemistry, their use has been in a great measure superseded, and they are, conse- quently, deteriorated in value. If kept in a dry i)lace, however, they may find a market at a reduced price, pro- bably at about threepence per bushel ; and for this pur- pose the hard kinds of timber are the best. Should there be a saw-mill in the vicinity of the land, the proprietor of it will return planks for the trees, which will be found useful and convenient. When the woodman is about to fell a tree, it will be necessary for him to observe which way it is likelv to fall, either from its natural bend or inclination, or from the wind ; but where a tree standi upright, an experienced chopper can cause it to fall in any direction. Much care will DC necessary, however, as broken limbs and loss of life have frequently resulted from a want of precaution. In- stead of chopping down the trees at once, there is a practice called girdlmg, which is to cut away the bark round the trunks, about four or five inches broad and about three or four feet from the ground, to prevent the circulation of the sap, when, in course of time, they will rot and faU, and as soon as they are dead and dry, to set fire to them : by this means the boughs and brush are destroyed, whilst the black trunks are only partially burnt, leavmg an unsightly appearance. In adopting this plan, it wiU be necessary to cut a division through the adjoining wood of sufficient width to prevent the communication of fire further than is intended. In clearing land, due regard is paid to the sugar maple tree, which is much valued in America, as it affords an ample supply of sugar both for family use and frequently P fir 44< EMIGKATION TO NORTH AMEKICA. for market. The sap of lliis tree possessing strong sac- charine properties, is easily converted into sugar by the following process. About the latter end of February or tlie beginning of March, selecting fnie weather, es])eeially after a frosty night, an incision is made in a tr(;e with an anger or axe, at a convenient distance from tlie ground, into which is fixed a pipe ii c ^nduit for running off the cap into troughs scoop -d out from short logs of wood. The sap is poured into an iron boiler and placed on a fire which is made near to the trees, and as it diminishes by boiling, more sap is added, until it becomes a kind of molasses : more care and attention in skimming is then required, until it becomes sugar. It is then ])Oured into small pans or moulds to cool and harden, when it has the appearance of hard brown sugar. The scum and di'egs may be converted into vmegar. This process, however, frequently gives the sugar a coarse brown appeai ance and an unpleasant flavour, which, with better management, might be obviated. Now, the sap in its natural state is clear, transparent, and free from any unpleasant flavour, which might be preserved in the sugar by simply boiling the sap in an inner vessel, made to fit within the boiler, taking care to keep the outer vessel, or boiler, properly supplied with water. As there is not much farming work to be done at that period of the year, sugar-making will pay very well, pro- viding the settler can do the work with his own family, but not but by employing labourers. Some persons prefer it to common West India brown sugar, on account of its flavour ; and its price varies from 3d. to 5d. per pound, according to the season and situation. " If a man has a wife and family, and is settled, it will be to his interest to keep a cow. He may purchase one from four to five hundred weight for about £3 or £4, and pasture it, as many do, on an rdjoining waste or common. When this is not practicable, the pasture will only cost him one shilling a week. To ensure her return home in the evening, it will be necessary to supply her with a little fodder ; for othenvisc, owing to nefarious practices on the EMIGEATION TO NOllTII AMEllICA. 45 part of evil-disposed persons, she miglit bo lost, if cattle are found straying on other person's lands, it is the cus- tom for the hind-owner to dt^iain them and advertise them, requiring the owner to release them by paying the costs. In the western parts, the gates and styles are few and rough, and in letting in and out the cattle a few of the toj) rails of the fence are thrown off, and the cattle pre forced to leap over the lower ones : this is a great evil, as by teaching the cattle to be breachy, they very frequently take advantage of a bad fence, and range in the woods, to the labour and vexation of the owner, who sometimes loses them altogether. . MSH. Fish is not very plentiful in Lower Canada, but above Kingston there is a great variety, with whi( h Toronto and all the harbours and towns above, on both sides, are wcU supplied. Sahnon is very plentiful and large on the Onta- rio. Higher up is the white fish, in great demand: it resembles the English bream, which is caught on the western 3oast of Devon and Cornwall, though a little longer; and, being very plentiful, they are a great mer- cantile article all over tne States, where they are mostly caught. Fresh water herrings are also very plentiful, but not very good. The mullet, and the black, wliite, and rock bas are shorter and smaller than the English salt- water bas ; trout are much larger than the English ; pike and pickerel ; a large fish, the size of a large salmon, called the masquinonge, much relished ; the Mackinaw trout, a. large and excellent fish, caught in Lakes Superior and Huron, weighing from 10 to 50 or 601bs ; and the stur- geon, also very large. The salmon, salmon trout, and some others, are salted in L rrels, in immense quantities^ and are great articles of mercantile traffic all over the vStates, in which there is great room for profitable specula- tion. Most of the fishing is by large scans adapted to the purpose, a great portion of which is carried on at Macki- naw and the neighbourhood. a lii 46 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. i I ' J): I % ' GAME, &c. ' Game is not so plentiful in America as might be expected. The deer is the principal, and is chiefly hunted b^r the Indians, who, being expert with the rifle, will sometimes return with as many as half a dozen after a day or two's hunt. Moose deer are still to be found in New Bruns- wick, where the huntsman will seldom fail to kill one or two in a day : partridges are also plentifid there. Bears are seldom or ever seen m the vicinity of towns or villages, as they avoid the presence of man. As popu- lation increase all wild animals decrease, or retire to more remote regions. The partridge, woodcock, and snipe are smaller than the European breed, and are often killed in the neighbour- hood of St. Catherine's and Thorold. Hares (which are white in win(.er) and rabbits are not very plentiful. There are large partridges, which the Americans call pheasants ; and, in the winter season, quails visit farms in flocks, when they are shot and taken in traps. Their flesh is very white and delicate, much resembling that of young chickens. Wild turkeys, verj large and of a dark colour, are veiy plentiful in some districts of Canada, and afford much sport. Ducks, widgeon, and teal, of many kinds, are in great abundance on the lakes and marshes, and there are many other descriptions of wild fowl. Wild geese are in great numbers on some of the upper lakes and marshes. Sea gulls, of various kinds, are very numerous. Prairie hens are in abundance on the prairies, about 2(X)0 miles above New York : they are easily shot and excellent food. The wild pigeons, however, are the most extraordinary birds as to numbers. They frequently assemble in millions, and the air, for a great space around, appears to be filled with them. They roost on trees at ni^ht, when as many of them may be knocked down with sticks as can be car- ried away. In size and appearance they more resemble the turtle dove than the domestic pigeon, being of slender shape and handsome plumage. Tney are, however, of late years on the decline. .?• EMIGRATION TO NOBTH AMERT'JA. 47 INDIANS. The North American Indian is a most extraordinary- character. As a nation there is, perhaps, none like them. Their warlike propensities ; their revengeful, brutai, and blood-thirsty acts and devices of torture on their captives ; and the hardy defiance with which the poor miserable wretches pass through their sufferings till death, are altogether astonishing ; but the most extraordinary and revolting fact is, that the fcDiales join in devising their acts of wanton torture and cruelty, and in them take the greatest pride and delight. It sometimes happens, how- ever, that one of these fiends may take a fancy for a pri- soner, when he is released on the condition that he joins the tribe. Although they are, when engaged in warfare, extremely cruel and revengeful, they are, nevertheless, warm and sincere in friendship and neighboui-ly kindness to their own particular nation or tribe, for should a calamity happen, whether from the effects of war, sickness, age, or from any other cause, no one is allowed to want, as they hold their necessaries of life in common. Their perpetual and exterminating wars have so reduced their numbers, that, although they were very numerous a century or two ago, there are not now, it is supposed, more than 20,000 in all the Canadas ; and about 15,000 of them are in the annual receipt of clothing, implements, and necessaries from the English govermnent. Their sup- plies of food arise principally from hunting and fishing, of which they are very fond, and those in the north procure great quantities of furs for market. Their process of agri- culture is vcYj rude and simple, which is generally per- formed by the women, who raise a sufficient quantity of Indian corn, &c., for their wants. Their dwellings are merely ground stories, covered with the bark of trees ; and their chiefs are allowed a plurality of wives, and hf^ve great influence over their respective tribes. It is generally believed that the Indians are a very hardy race of beings, and that they endure exposure to the in- I ' 48 EMIGRATION TO NORTU AMERICA. clemency of the weather : tliis, however, is a mistaken idea. In tlie winter season tliey are warmly clad in coats, flannels, comforters, boots, &c. They can, however, en- dure great privations and abstinence. Their superstitions notions and religious fancies are extravagant ; and they will not go to war without seriously consulting the dreams of their chiefs. When war is de- termined on, the hatchet is thrown up into the air as a declaration, and as a proclamation of peace it is buried. The object of these wars generally is, by exterminating the enemy, to take possession of their territory ; but it; frequently happens tliat after many drawn battles, both parties become tired, and they mutually withdraw. Their mode of warfare is to assemble in parties by night, when they craftily steal upon small villages, and murder or cany off their prisoners. Their weapons are the arrow or gun, the tomahawk, and scalping knife ; with the latter they take off the skin and hair of the head as a tropliy of war. Their superstitious notions are ratlier dangerous to the Europeans who reside among them, as their peculiarities, from which thern is no turning them, have caused many missionaries to suffer most seriously. Their complexion is brown, which they are proud of, and when whitened by the cold, they stain the skin to their favourite colour. Their hair is uniformly coarse black and straight, resem- bling the mane of a black horse, which may be attributed to the influence of the north climate, as most of the Yan- kees residing there have hair of the same description. „ j H'^ Remarks on the Causes of Emigration — Government Gratuitous Emigration — Land Companies — Winter Amusements^ ^r. — Mercantile and Political State of the Colonies, 8fc. . _ ., ,, .^ . ... Tn making these general remarks, the comforts and ad- vantages to be mutually derived by persons from the same neighbourhood associating themselves together for the v ■ I- EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 19 purpose of emigrating, camiot be too forcibly rccoinuicnded. The causes of emigration are here also reiterated, witli a few Cursory I'emarks on eacli, namely : — 1. Machinery and engines, curtailing manual labour. 2. Small estates packed into large ones, and the small farmers consequently turned out. 3. Young farmers growing up, but no estates growing up for them. 4. Millions of acres of good land laying waste and uncultivated. 5. The natural increase of the labouring classes in greater proportion to that of the rich. 1. Machinery and engines. — Although tliey have, witli- out doubt, had the effect of supersedmg labour to a very great extent, yet it must be borne in mind that the English nation has had to compete with many rivals ; and had it not been for her superior activity, her ingenious inventions, and her consequent advancement in the arts, sciences, and manufactures, combined with her natural resources, hei commerce would ere this have sunk, and with it all her envied power and greatness. 2. Small estates 'packed into large ones. — This is an unwise, unprofitable, and injurious j)ractice. If an estate of five hundred acres be divided into five farms, it is obvious that the rent would increase from ten to twenty per cent., and that five farmers would be put into respectable business instead of one, with double the number of men and women employed : they woidd, con- sequently, be better worked, and aU those extra men and women, with their families, probably relieved from the poor-rate. The general objection to this plan, how- ever, is the expense in erecting dwellings, &c., on each division ; but where there is unemployed capital, it cannot be laid out to greater advantage in the present state of its returns. 3. Young farmers growing up J hut no estates growing ^^p for them. — The packing of small farms into large ones is clearly one reason why there are no farms for young farmers ; whilst a division of the land into smaller allot- ments would find employment for ill. 4. Millions of acres of good land laying wade and uncul- tivated. — This is a most egregious and palpable error, and wm 50 EMIGUATION TO NOETH AMERICA. calls aloud for prompt and immediate legislative inter- ference, particularly with regard to Ireland. 5. The natural increase of the labouring classes in greater proportion to that of the rich. — This is an acknowledged fact, and mainly contributes to the present alarming ex- tent of pauperism and misery in this country. Although we read that " the increase of the people is the strength of the kingdom," yet we find the glaring anomaly that the industrious labourer, the true source of wealth, is com- pelled to seek a subsistence in a foreign land. Thousands emigrate annually from this country, and the number would be far greater if the people had i;he means. Now, " something must be done," as Bonapai-te said when he wanted to have his sick soldiers poisoned at Jaffa ; but what ? Certainly not to place them on a footing with convicted felons, by transporting tL )m to New South Wales, the opposite side of the globe, at an. enormous expense in freight, &c., which appears to be the practice. Now, there are government lands in Canada, a much shorter distance, where the labourer might find employ- ment, if judicious arrangements for the purpose were faith- fully carried out. Many attempts have been made, but which, having been improvidently arranged, and conducted either ignorantly or selfishly, have proved abortive. Eor instance, take the first step of these arrangements, which was to grant an individual 200 acres of wild forest land, with means of subsistence for about a year, without any other means than his own labour for clearing and improv- ing. In the name of common sense, what could an indi- vidual do with 200 acres of such land ? What was likely to be the consequence? In some instances, as long as the provisions lasted, the work of clearing went on by industrious individuals ; and others, whilst eating up the supplies, abandoned the 200 acres for a while, and liired themselves out to labour, in the expectation of realising something by the probable rise in the value of the lania. w^ ^i:.. ,..:■<.,:' h,^,-f r :^:--.'.:--'.^ The easy and safe way by which the industrious labourer in America may improve his circumstances, even supposing him to be without a shilling in his pocket, has already been EMIG1U.TI0N TO NORTH AMERICA. 51 pointed out ; and in a similar instance to that just alluded to, by industry, perseverance, and care, there would be no greater difficulty. With regard to the land companies and their specula- tions, much may be said pro and con. Monopoly is a public injury, and a barrier to general enterprise and spe- culation. The only benefit in these monopolies is the greater chance of road accommodation, without which, land or fanns would be almost useless ; nevertheless, the settler has to pay very heavily for these accommodations ill his purchases from land companies. The public roads in America are beginning to be in toler- able good order, but the new or private roads, especially in Canada, are frightful ; and a few coarse boards or logs over a river or watercourse is called a bridge. In rainy weather the wheels of vehicles are half buried, and in some places traveUing is out of the question. The frost and snow, however, obviate aU this, the latter being very de- sirable to travel on. The sleighs are called into requisition, and journeying, both on business and visiting, commences in good earnest. The jingling of the beUs which are hung round the necks of the horses to prevent accidents, are everywhere heard as the sleigh softly and rapidly glides over the snow ; and there is a law levying a penalty for using a sleigh without them. The cutters, as they are called, (a small light sleigh, similar in form to a gig,) are sometimes very handsome and furnished with buifalo robes, and may be seen whisking about in style, in every direction, especially in the vicinities of large towns. As spring approaches, the thoughts of those engaged in agricultural pursuits rre employed in considering the most speedy and effectual means of rendering its short period available ; and the most thoughtful and provident prepare and do everything that can be done in the previous autumn, when the weather is generally fine for such purposes. The English emigrant will not be a month m America before the aspect of things wiU seem strange and unplea- sant to him ; and unless the country which he has left has been " too warm for him," he will long for home, " with all its faults." He wiU see no green hedges adorned with 52 EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. sweet-scented flowers ; and, with the exception of some Irish, Dutch, and Germans, there can be no doubt but that few emi^ants would remain a second summer if they had the means of returning. If, liowever, a man with his wife and family are living as they ought to do, their best home is in any civilized country where they can procure the greatest amount of the comforts and necessaries of life, and make a provision for old age. The same reasoning will apply to the case of any young man of enterprise, whose prospects at home are not very bright, and whose home affections are not too deeply rooted in him. The mercantile state of the colonies is gradually im- proving west, but not so rapidly as in the States. Althougli the Canadas have the fostering care and assistance of England, and are afforded every facility in mercantile affairs, and although the taxes are less than in the States, there is a disaffectcdness and disunion which operates against their prosperity ; the principal cause of which is probably owing to so large a population of Canadian JTrench, especially in the lower towns of Quebec and Montreal, as, further west, where they are not so numerous, a more cordial unanimity prevails, and, consequently, prosperity. With respect to tlie political state of the colonies, there is, as has ever been between the French and English, a national and habitual disagreement and prejudice, although the conquered French are enjoying all the privileges of, and are placed on an equal footing with, their conquerors. It, therefore, requires no small amount of tact and policy, tempered by a little patience and energy, to carry on smoothly with such jarring and conflicting parties and feelings. There are, also, great numbers of Yankee in- habitants in the colonies, who are quite likely to disturb anything attached to the English government. The prices of the common necessaries of life, and also wages, are similar to those in the States ; but the habits and manners of the people are more like the English, and, by the importation of English subjects, the latter will increase, together with English feelings and attachments. . ^ ' ■; ' "' " ' ■ : ' ■' EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 53 American Character, generally — Their dislike to the EiKjlish^ and the causes — Some sorts of English characters who emigrate — Yankee Freedom — Slavery — Disgraceful F reaching to the Slaves — Anti- Slavery Meetings in the North, It may be reasonably expected that some delineation of the American character, and with which the emigrant wiU have to become acquainted, will form a necessary part of tlie present work. In this attempt, it may be premised that natural home affections may influence or mislead any one in such a delineation, however anxious he may be to do justice to aU, although it is weU known that there is no nation or community without their peculiar customs, man- ners, and faults. The outline of American character here attempted, however, is the result of seven years' travels in that country, and it is freely given, without the hope of praise or the fear of censure. On the emigrant's first interview, he will probably be accosted with " I guess you are from the old country ?" and on being answered in the alhrmative, his next obser- vation wiU be, " I guess you have brought out a little money ?" If he should receive a similar answer, he wiU be guessing how to get at it, and he wiU be recom- mending the best method of investing it, his own interest being his primary consideration. In fact, if allowed, by question after question he will pry into all your circum- stances ; but if you find him to be too troublesome and inquisitive, you may thank him for his khid inquiries, and tell him that it is not customary in England to ask such questions, by which he wiU discover his obtrusion. The conceit and boasting of the Yankees is quite absurd and ridiculous, and their notions of the English manners and constitution rather amusing to an EngUshman : but it will be prudent, however, for the emigrant to listen to their remarks, and to cull from them so much as may be of service to him in carrying out the object of his deter- 54 EMIGRATION TO NORTU AMERICA. mination. He should avoid any warra argument or debate, and by tcmperinp: his conversation and deportment with mildness and civility, lie may promote his objects and procure the informaticm he may stand in need of. Of all nations on the face of the earth, the English is the most disliked by Yankees, although it is their " father- land," as they call it, and although tliey have gained what wealth they possess, and are still gaining, by their com- merce with it. Now, it may be reasonably asked, how can this be ? In the first place, there can be no effect without a cause. The English population of the States was originally, for the most pari;, composed of convicted felons : and as punishment is not agreeable, however just, it produces dislike to the inflicter, which, in this instance, has been handed down to the present generation. Another cause of the existing animosity arises from the fact of so many disaffected politicians and others having taken refuge in this "land of liberty," where they have had full oppor- tunity of giving expression to th^ sentiments of disloyalty, vehemently disclaiming against the laws and constitution of their native land, thus agitating and perpetuating feel- ings of hatred from generation to generation. This flame of dissension has, also, been fanned by numbers who ha,ve found their own country " too warm " for them, and who have succeeded in escaping to the American shore to evade the justice of the law. The boasted freedom of the States, with such an im- mense population of slaves, who are bom in wedlock, is, to English notions of sterling freedom, a burlesque ; and the existence of an abominable law, having the effect of making the poor creatures vote at elections for the per- petuation of slavery, is, among civilized nations, scarcely to be credited. The law is, that each slave-owner is en- titled to a vote on every five slaves he may hold, which is, in effect, for continuing the practice ; and as there is a population of about three millions of slaves, out of about eighteen millions, they give nearly six hundred thousand votes for their own perpetual slavery whenever the ques- tion is agitated. In the Southern States, where the slave-owners possess EMTGilATrON TO NORTH AMEHTCA. 55 the largest amount of property and influence, there are canting and truckluig religious parsons who preach pre- destination to the poor slaves, and assure them that "tliey are most fortunate in being snatched from the dark regions of Africa, and brought under i\\c freedom and light of the gospel ;" and, calling upon them as a duty, tell them that " they ought to attend to the word of God, who has said that * he wno does not liis master's will shall be beaten with many stripes ;' and, therefore, not to be as * eye ser- vants :' that, the more hardships here, the * greater the reward in heaven ;' and that they know not how to take a right view of their real situation, or, if they did, O, how thankful they ought to be that they had no care on their heads, like their masters !" There are a few States in the north, however, which arc free from this stigma, where there are anti-slavery associa- tions, and where meetings are held for abolishing slavery, much to the credit of those individuals who compose them. But there is little r^^ason to hope for its immediate aboli- tion, as the inhabitants in the south, from their numbers and property, always have the preponderance in national affairs. im- is, and ptof per- cely en- is, IS a )OUt iand les- Isess Lawyers, Doctors, and Magistrates. The very great numbers of what are called lawyers and doctors, particularly the latter, are great pests to society. If, however, men would only exercise prudence they might avoid the former ; but the Americans in general are very litigious, and in " going a-head," they find much employ- ment for the latter. In unhealthy districts, such as in the vicinity of low swampy land, and where sickness usually prevails, numbers of quacks, under the name of doctors, obtrude themselves on the public, and shamefully impose upon the labouring population. Magistrates, also, ought to be avoided, inasmuch as they pocket fees in every case brought before them. An instance occurred in Canada, where a magistrate so in- geniously divided a case into two as to make each indivi- E 56 EMTGBATION TO NORTH AMBBIOA. dual plaintiff in one and defendant in the other, and thus obtained foca from both parties. In the Canadas, a pro- perty qualification is necessary for the olfioc of magistrate, but the law in the case is not much regarded, so that legislative interference has so far proved abortive. I V ■ 1! Neighbourly kindness in some of the Northern States — Observations on the Currency^ Src, Having described one side of the American cluiracter, it will not merely be an act of ordinary justice, but a pleasing dutv, to refer to tlie otlier. It is an unusual occurrence to DC accosted by a beggar in any part of America. It sometimes happens that a poor labounng man on a journey applies at a house to request a night's lodging, which is usualy panted, with some refreshment in the morning to carry hmi forward. There arc hospitals for the relief of the sick, where the indigent poor are taken care of ; and i? some places, in cases of sickness and distress, it is usual for the neighbours to volunteer their services, and to sit up with and assist the afflicted ; and should an instance result in death, pecuniary and other assistance are sup- plied for the interment. Such instances of neighbourly kindness redound to the credit of any community. It is much to be regretted that the Americans should foster such a groundless antipathy to the English nation ; and the arrogance, boasting, and conceit of the Yankees are at all times very obnoxious to the straightforward cha- racter of John Bull. It is, however, to be hoped that time and increasing knowledge will tend to dispel their weak prf^judices, and that an intercourse may be established between two nations so naturally allied founded on prin- ciples of amity, honour, and sincerity. The currency in Canada is as £120 is to £100 sterling. The Spanish dollar, or bank paper, is 5s. currency, equal to about 4s. 2d. sterling. The doUar is divided into 120 coppers. In dealings with shopkeepers the English shilling is generally taken as a quarter of a dollar. v. . • ^^ » = EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA. 57 In the States the currency in some instances differs a little, especially in the banker's paper. The golden eagle is equal to 10 American dollars, which is divided in*o halves and quarters, and the dollar into halves, quarters, and eighths, and also into 100 parts or cents, about equal to hallpence. The eighth is called a shilling, or 12