^. ><^^s^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 I 1.25 I^|2j8 12.5 m ^^ ■■■ ■tt Li 122 ^ 1^ |2.0 ^ I. % kinrl, Lumivu. i^ ^1 % 1 j ujMiw V iwi ^ idi * i| i iirirn> * > ii W)) i >t.> i)» wii r.ENERAI. INTnonilCTION i TO STATISTICAL ACCOUINT M OF Bpptv €^ansLim, COMPILED WITH A VIEW TO A GRAND SYSTEM or E>nGRATIO\, IN CONNEXION WITH A REFOpi OF THE . I il POOR LAWS. BY ROBERT GOURLAT. " Thy jpirit, IiKlrpriKlpticp, let me sh«rr, " Lord of »hi: liou-liisiil diid caglc-cyc !" I. ' ^rf^ *^. ILonHon: PUBUSUED BY SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL. STATIONERS* CUUItT, MSU J. M. KICHAaUSON, rORNHlLLi. J* 18-22. /// - r Vj<^'>;i/. J^ M I- i li I '*■*» ' »^i / J r < OC(\H ^ • • 1 6^7 I t i it _^^ y 'li ' .»t ». 4|^/. .^.^ *»'V IV- 377/3 EXPLANATION i)» THE MX v. Tiiii Map froiiliiif? the title-paj^o of this vohjine was t^ii^i^ravoil ill Octuber, iH'2i), as a mere sketch, iUnstrnti*.; of what 1 was then writiiii; on the .suhject of the Cirand ('anals of Canada. My political friptuls in the Upper l*iovince had then been reported by newspa])ers, r.s inaking- the jufreat majority of members returned to the new parlia- ment; and I was sanguine, that they wouhl insist on havinj; a cominiNsion sent home, to invite the supreme {government to inquire into the state of public aflairs. T hoped that a new order of things might be introduced: — management for inis-rnle, artivity for slotli, and prosperity for wretched- ness. 1 was disappointed: — mis-rule, sloth, and wretched- ness continue their reign over the lovelie.st country upon earth; and, with utmost reluctance, 1 have laid aside, for the present, my schemes for its improvement. To make the sketch still useful to this work, I have now had engraved upon it the roads, names of principal places, &c. Sooner or later. Lakes Erie and Ontario will be con- nected by a canal, and I may take this opportunity to throw out a few leading hints, to engage conversation on the subject. No plan, on a small scale, should be thought of. The canal should be such as to admit schooners of ?)la\5 V' w KXHI.ANATION OP THK MAP. !'. 100 t(tns bunion, hikI steam-boats of 500;— vessels sufli- cirMit to tarry on the whole trallic, without unloadins?, IVoni Quehet; to the remotest shores of Lakes Michigan and Superior. If eternal peace shall reign between the United States and Canada (and such is my hope), the course of the grand Niagara Canal should he nearly that by A, B, C, 1), E. The mouth of Niag:ara River is, and probably ever will be, the best hnrbour on the south side of Lake Ontario; and considerable advantage is to be gained by conducting the canal to some distance westward on Lake Erie shore. Vessels taking^ departure from Fort lilrie and Buffalo, not only have insuflicient room for tacking, but must labour to av(»id the current which draws into Niagara River ; and are often wind-bound for many weeks together. The advantage of gaininj^ a good point of departure, con- joins with others to decide that the junction of the lake navigation must proceed through Canada at all events. Should any apprehension of vvar continue, that course marked by dotted lines would be the best Other courses are laid down, chiefly to shew that man} are practicable ; and that nature calls loudly for the assista )e of art. Let not the eye be withdrawn from le spot now in view, without serious rellection. if the? is one on earth intended for a paradise more than anotl r, it is this. In point of climate, soil, variety, beauty, gi ndeur, and every convenience, I do believe it is unrivalK '■ yet we are told by a late writer (HoAvison), that the '^depravity'" of the inhabitants of this earthly paradise " has been conlirmed and increased by the circumstances in which they are now placed," — What circumstances l On the face of this map we may observe, that the sword has been drawn lor bloody strife in no less than eight places. What circumstances caused this i VVliencc came these fig-htings .' — from the depravilij of the inhabitants i 1 think not. Gentle reader ! say rather, from the depravity of government. b ;•» ' ■ / TO JOSEPH HUME, ESQ. M. P. Sin, Lunilcn, 26//t Januarij, 1822. You have had good opportunities, and v\^Qi\ them well. Better opportunities await you; and, having now gained public confidence, much is in your power. You may indeed immortalize your name, simply by continuing that calm, correct, and busi- ness-like course, Avhich happily you have chosen. Retrenchment has hitherto been your principal aim ; but should your attention be directed to the state of our North Ameri- can Colonies, you may discover a double object: you may perceive, that while a vast expenditure could immediately be saved in that quarter, a considerable revenue may be ac(j[uired merely by good management. r ■ . ,, Newfoundland, wretched state of that island, cccxli. and note, Simcoe, General, remarks on his character and measures for the improvement of Upper Canada, cccclx:^vii. Stuart, Captain, his reply to Mr. Gourlay's fourth address to the land-owners of Upper Canada, cccclxxix. Answer by Mr. Qourlav, cccclxxxviii. United States of America, statement of their finances, ccccxlix. 7ioU. Increase of population, in the last thirty years, ccccliv. Twte. Not owing to emigration, cccclv. note. Wild land, the chief bane of Upper Canada, ccccxiv. Estimated quantity in the province, ccccxv. Plan for its taxation, ibid. Benefits which would arise from this, ccccxvi. ccccxvii. Supposed case in illustration, ibid. GEiNKKAL INTRODUCIIOR 'I CIRCULAR To MEMBERS OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. SIR, Lo-ndon, June 10, 1820. The following Statement^ with Do" ctimentSi »^'rt* offered for ptthlication, last Jamuiryf to several Newspaper Editor Sf both in Edinburgh and London. Immediately ajlerwardsy the King's deathf and consequent dissolution of Parliament, delaying the principal intention, the publication was not pressed. y\ „ > ... , On reviewing this Statement, after it has been written Jive months, I see nothing material in it to correct, and think it the best brief introduction to the business to which I now most earnestly solicit your attention. The importance which I myself attach to tfiis business may be estimated by the solemn assurance that I crossed the Atlantic for the express purpose of submitting it to the Prince and Parliament of Britain, and that I am now come up to town from Scotland solely with this view. It is not my indi- vidual interest which has urged me thus far. I, m W -J'T'.'WW'W- rl r I r II GENERAL INTRODUCTION. f 1 I! douht^ shall be qratijied if this can he adroneed^ or if / can have, an opportunity of rripivg o(} the stain so crttelly cast upon my reputation; butj he/ore (wod, I declare that these are comparatively small ohjecfs when placed beside that n-hich aims at mainfaininy, in my person, the abstract riyhl and honour of a na tire-born British Subject. On this account ^ Sir^ f am free in addressiny you, and sanyuine ofhaviny your assistance. The Documents here produced will, J conceive, sufficiently put you in possession of the case; but I shall, with yladness, wait upon you any where, in town, to converse on the subject, or receive commn- nications thereon, addressed to me at Cooper's Hotel, Bouverie-street. The Sketch of a Petition to the Commons House of Parliament is not that which I may ultimately adopt. It is here exhibited partly for the purpose of explaininy my views and aryuments — partly toyive a lead to those who may be so friendly as to correct my errors or assist my endeavours. For like pur^ poses 1 have also annexed a Sketch of a Petition to the Kiny in Council. . , , You will observe in the Statement some bold asser- tions made by me as to the capabilities of Upper Canada ; and, althouyh I am desirous, in the first place, to Imve my particular case discussed, 1 wish it to be clearly understood that up to this moment 1 flinch not from any thing I fiave said, and shall be willing, if called on, to give explatiaiiom as to the Ci4<;Mi:il,\ h I N TROD t;CTION. UJ ii^i I jtrnctivdhle fHlfihnent of m>/ assertions at the bar of your House. . / ./ \S it From iIh- Morhiuff Chrouivlv of '2S)th April last, / vopff the falloniiifi comevsotion held in the House (f Commonsy the day prerediny. ** I^ud A. Hamilton notdd suyyest an emiyratioii to our colonies in North Ameriva, as the most ejj'eC' tual means of mi tiyatiuy distress. " The Chsdirellor of the Kxcheqvier saidt His Majesty's Ministrrs were disposed tit adopt every measure which could really contrilmte to the relief of the distresses of the lahouriny classes. Above 5000 persons had embraced the offers of Go- vernment, and sailed for the Cape of Good Hope. With respect to the proposal of emi- gratiny to North America, the Noble Lord was, perhaps, not fully aware of the present condition of persons who had actually yone there. So far from findiny increased meflns of subsistence^ the last aC" counts proved, that they had experienced a want of employment fully equal to tJmt which existed in the most distressed manufacturiny districts of this country. Government were disposed to yive every facility to any practicable scheme for mitiyatiny the distresses of the people ; but, before they consiyned them to a foreiyn shore, it would be prudent to ascer- tain how far their condition was likely to be im- proved. The North American provinces of Great Britain had been so overloaded with emiyrants, that the government of Canada had made the stronyest a 2 il ;f !l *. i '■ i^ 1 IV GENERAL TNTRODUCTION. remonstrances to this Government on the siihjevt. He was not prepared to stihniif onjf plan to the HoHse^ and he repeated that l>rfvrv the proposition of the Nohle Lord were entertained ^ it would, he wise to wait for some account of the pror/ress of the colony at the Cape of Good Hope. *• Mr. Finlay said^ that hc^ as well as the Mohle Lord^ had received applications from persons who were extremely anxious to emiyrate, hut who were wholly destitute of the means.'* Now, Sir, I do assert, that BY rilOPEH MANAGEMENT, THE MISERIES EX- PERIENCED BY EMIGRANTS GOING OUT TO CANADA 3IIGHT BE AVERT- ED; AND THAT EVEN PEOPLE " DES- TITUTE OF MEANS' COULD BE COMFORTABLY SETTLED THERE: IN SIIORT,^ THAT PLANS COULD BE ADOPTED TO REALIZE EVERY BE- NEFIT TO CANADA AND BRITAIN WHICH YOU WILL FIND MENTIONED BELOW, Having said thus much, it remains for me only to subscribe myself, ^ , t '1 Your fellow subject and client, ROBERT GOURLAY. :\ lJ»j'jiimH!Blirt**i ^"^^^^^^^^i^^^^^'-^V- ■' T»**2 **«•«« ff GBNfiRAl. INTRODUCTIOW. STATEMENT. TO TFIE EDI rORS OF BRITISH NEWS- PAPERS. (jentlemkn, Craigrothle, Fifeshire, Jan. 3, 1820. I LANDED at Liverpool, from Quebec, the 2d December, and have since learned, that, during the last two years, my name has frequently appeared in your columns, connected with certain political movements in Upper Canada. By consulting the files of various newspapers, I have discovered that very great mistakes have prevailed as to Canadian affairs, and that calumnies, both false and malig- nant, have been propagated with regard to me. As a specimen of these, it has been published that I was " One of the worthies who escaped from Spa-fields ;" and attempts have been made to impress a belief on the public mind, that my ope- rations in Canada were connected with the schemes of Messrs. Cobbett and Hunt in England. The very contrary of all this is true. In consequence of unavoidable change of fortune, I went out to Upper Canada, where 1 had many friends, in the summer of 1817, solely with a view to ascertain whether it would be prudent to re- GENERAL INmODirrTION. II f t i I, move my family ihitlirr. My intfMition of going then* was auiiouiict'cl more than a year lu'loic I set out, ami my wish was not to bv. more tiiaii six months from home. Though a sincere friend to parliamentary reform in this country, 1 had repeatedly published, before going abroad, my opinion ot the uupropriety of holding large irregular merlings for that purposr, and particularly reprobated th(»s»' ot Spa-fields. No man can shew that I was ever connected in politics with a single individual in ISritain ; and it must be well remembered in VViltshiri', that I stood forward in opposition to Messrs. Cobbett and Hunt, at the county meeting held there in 1816, when their object was to run down the property- tax. So very decided and serious was ! on that occasion, that I caused to Ik- stuck up in every corner of the county a placard, declaring, that, " bi/ a rvell modi/ied property 'ta,i\ and In/ that alone, cotdd the country he preserved in peace." In Upper Canada my efi'orts had no view what- ever to a retorm of parliament. I'he people there have a perfect representation, iind biliore long tlicy will make abetter use of it than they have hitherto done. Soon after my arrival in that country, [ viewed it as the most dtsirable f)laee of r« fuge for the redundant popidation of liritain, and [ con- ceived schemes tor promoting a grand system of emigration. Nothing could be more palpably innocent than my first proposals, yet ihey were, opposi.'d, and from reflections springing out of the nature of this opposition, I became convinced,' that !■ • -f v' . ' m > > .■ ■- ww » .i >ifc M ai r * i *'t i * ^' f % f » >it i^ C4ENEIIAL INTRODl CTION. Vll • I)'l without pmliaiiuntarv imjuiry into tlic state of the Province, tvery cllort towurds libt^ral improvement woiihl be tutih; und vain. I prolonged my stay till the meeting ol" the Provincial parliament, timt I might press a reference of certain matters to the Prince and Parliament at home. A vote of in({uiry was carried in the Commons House of Assembly ; but immediatc'ly afterwards a dispute having arisen between that body and the Legislative Council, the parliament was suddenly prorogued, its business unfmished. At this juncture, and without the slightest idea of evil, I advised the people to raise a subscription, and send home Commissioners to intreat attention from the Throne to the affairs of the I'rovincc It was necessary to hold a meeting of Deputies for the purpose in view, and to this meeting I inad- vertently gave the name of Convention^ a name in everyday use over America, and applied to all sorts of meetings, both civil and sacred. On this occasion, it proved to be — ' ■ " A word of fear, Unpleasant to the guilty ear." The Executive of Upper Canada took alarm. In some districts, where the people had little in- formation from newspapers, the most outrageous opposition was set on toot by creatures in office ; and, to cause a general panic, 1 was twice arrested, and held to bail for appearance to answer charges of seditious libel. Notwithstanding all this, respectable Deputies • " ?i Wv iii j!n i f fcw* M Ill' I Vlll GENERAL INTRODUCTION. i i n ' w-ere chosen throughout the greater part of the Province, and they met openly in Convention at York, the capital. By this time, the Duke of Richmond and his son-in-law had been announced as Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of tlie Ca- nadas. I conceived favourable impressions of their liberality, and judging that the agitation excited, could not fail to impress serious notions of the importance of inquiry ^ advised the Convention to refer its cause to the Lieutenant-Governor and jGeneral Assembly. After this, I stood two trialsr and was twice honourably acquitted. The people were now sanguine that all would go well, when, to their astonishment, the Lieutenant-Governor having me*^ the parliament, hinted that sedition existed, and procured a law to prevent, in future, meetings by deputy. The discontent created by these measures, libelling the most loyal men, and without any proof of necessity circumscribing ge- neral liberty, was universal; yet, nothing more was resolved on by the people, but to clear the House of Assembly, at next election, of members who had balked their expectations. Tome, who indulged the anxious hope of being allowed to develop my views, and point out a practicable plan, by which many thousands of the idle poor of England could be annually transported into Canada, with profit to the nation, and comfort to themselves, the dis- appointment was cruelly provoking ; but it was far from rendering me hopeless of ultimate success. I had resolved to establish myself in the Province as a land-agent, &c. and was now treating lor a -■w*«''^*?^:r '"" ^^. ■•"--! * jr-^ ; P j^Hg r y T^tggyfy . GENERAL INTRODUCTION. IX house in which to commence business, when, lo! 1 was nrrested by the Sheriff, carried before a party of my most virulent political enemies, and served with an order to quit the Province, merely because a wretch was found base enough to swear that I was a seditious person. To have obeyed this order would have proved ruinous to the business, for which, at great ex- pense, and with much trouble, I had qualified mvself: it would have been a tacit acknowUdo^- ment of i::uilt, whereof I was unconscious ; it would have l)een a surrender of the nol>lest British right : it would have been holding light my natural alle- giance: it would have been a declaration that he Bill of llights was a Bill of Wrongs. I resolved to endure any hardship rather than to submit vo- luntarily. Although I had written home that I meant to leave Canada for England in a few weeks, I now acquainted my family of the cruel delay, and stood my ground, tilt 1 was a second time ar- rested, and forthwith committed to remain in jail for eight months, without bail or mainprize. The impressions made on the public by this strange proceeding were such, that it was intimated from various quarters, that if I chose, the jail should be pulled down for my relief, a step which, of course, I opposed. My enemies, now feeling that they had gone too far, laboured, by artful addresses to the Lieu- tenant-Governor, to impress an opinion upon the public mind that some of my writings were sedi- tious; but this conduct only exposed to fuller i 1 1 'TWTf?^ I i %■ .' < ; ( ! I ;.< / ! X GENERAL INTRODUCTION. view the malovoleuce by wliicli thoy were actu- ated. All hope of convicting me of crime seemed to die away, and after three months continement, it was whispered that I should not be tried for sedi- tion, but, simply, for not having obeyed the order to quit the Province. This I could not believe possible. In the mean time, I instituted a suit for false imprisonment, and wrote off to various quar- ters for legal advice. From ^Montreal — From Edin- burgh — from London, the replies of most respecta- ble lawyers were uniform, that my imprisonment was illegal ; and the late Sir Arthur Piggott declared, that not only should the Chief Justice of Upper Canada have granted my liberty, applied for by writ of Habeas Corpus, but that a good action lay against the magistrates who had imprisoned me. Among the matters which the Convention had in view was one, to call the Rv.yal attention to a promise held out to the Militia during war, that grants of land should be made to them in recom- pense for their extraordinary exertions. It had been the policy of the United States to hold out offers of land to their troops who invaded Canada, — offers, without which they could not have raised an army for that purpose, and these offers had been punctually and liberally fulfilled, the moment that peace was restored. On the British side, three years had passed away without attention to a promise which the Canadian militia kept in mind, not only as it concerned their interest, but their honour. While the Convention trusted the con- sideration of inquiry to the Lieutenant-Governor ■^¥ i Jv ' ii»t!JiH iili nfij yaW ' -'. ^ «>i ' .u i .ii ! »»- t> i * i i >> »* ^' ^' . i j w o y i MM i a^oMi wi m i i ii g GENKRAL INTRODUCTIOV. XllI which, from its natmc, the author alone was com- petent to rep(>l*. My trfutment was still more wantonly cruel. After two months close confinement in one of the cells of the jail, my health had begun to suffer, and, on complaint of this, the liberty of walking through the passages and sitting at the door was granted. This liberty prevented my getting worse the four succeeding months, although I never en- joyed a day's health, but by the power of medi- cine. At the end of this period, I was again locked up in the cell, cut off from all conversation * Since the above was first published, I have observed it stated in the newspapers, that the editor has been liberated from prison, and is now again carrying on his business. Before his trial, I in- treated him again and again to traverse, and let me have an oppor- tunity of defending my own writing; but it was in vain. I then begged of his lawyer, to defend his client on the argument used by Mr. Erskine, in the case of Cuthell ; but all was to no purpose. They were sanguine of success, and perhaps ambitious of appear- ing champions of the preHS ; but a weak jury headed by a petty magistrate, gave that away, which the people in the United States, who have, for twenty years past, disclaimed the very notion of political libel, would sooner have lost their right arms than have parted with. No one would punish slander on private character more severely than I would: men in power should always be entitled, as well as others, to redress in a civil suit : but, to make due reprobation of mal-administiation in public attairs criminal, ia what I shall protest against while I have breath; and my first wish, on returning to Upper C^nadu, shall be to obtain a trial, and give the people of that country, by dispassionate argument, a clear view of the truth. I hate in my poBsessiou a speech which wasj written in expectation of being ftirly tried, and thftt speech shall be preserved for the purjKwe. ' I i : ■■ - ;! ^1 I I XIV GENERAL INTRODLCTIOy. with my friends, but through a hole in the door, while the jdiloror under sherilf watched what w«s saiti, and tor some tiiue hoth my attorney and ma- gistrates of my acquaint, ince were denied .ulmis- sion to me. 'J'he quarter sessions vv»Te held soon after this severe and uncoiistitutioual treatment commenced, and, on tiiese occasions, it was the custom and duly of the grand jury to perambuhde the jail, and see that ail was right with the pri- soners. I prepared a memorial for their consi- deration, but, on this occasion, was not visited. I complained to a magistrate through the door, who promised to mention my case to the chairman of the session ; but the chairman happened to be brother of one of those who had signed my com- mitment, and the court broke up without my ob- taining: the smallest relief. Exasperation of mind now joined to the heat of the weather, which was excessive, rapidly wasted my health and impaired my faculties. I felt my memory sensibly affected, and could not connect my ideas through any length of reasoning, but by writing, which many days I was wholly unfitted for by the violence of continual head-ache. Im- mediately before the sitting of the assizes, the weather became cool, so that I was able to apply constantly for three days, and finish a written de- fence, on every point likely to be questioned on the score of seditious libel. I also prepared -^ »br- mal protest against any verdict which migJu pass against me, as subject to the statute, under colour of which I was confined. - i . •i V f U i ^l t mimrrHm i ta fiai i GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XV It was tigain reported, that I slioukl he tried only as to the tact of refusing lo leave the province. A state of nervous irritability, of whicli I was not then sufficiently aware, deprived my mind of the })ower of reflection on the subject : 1 was seized with a fit of convulsive laughter, resolved not to defend such a suit, jtnd n'as perhaps rejoiced that I might ho even thus set at liberty from my hor- rible situation. On being called up for trial, the action of the fresh air, after six weeks close con- finement, produced the effect of intoxication. I had no control over mv conduct, no sense of con- sequence, nor little other feeling but of ridicule and dissfust for the court which countenanced such a trial. At one moment I had a desire to protest against the whole proceeding; but, forgetting that I had a written protest in my pocket, I struggled in vain to call to mind the word protest, and in another moment the whole train of ideas which led to the wish had vanished from my mind. When the verdict was returned, that I was guilty of having refused to leave the province, 1 had for- got for what 1 was tried, and affVonted a juryman by asking if it was for sedition*. Gentlemen, these are melancholy particulars, and i '.I \ I * The jury, in this case, was notoriously packed. To guard against the effects of this as much as possible, 1 had, in the ex- pectation of trial for libel, obtained lists of inimical jurymen, and had people willing to appear in court to swear that many of them had prejudged me openly in the rancour of party dispute. These lists were handed to m© through the door, before and during the I* t',<«w..MH#afl0(*^ XVI GENERAL INTRODrCTlON. SO far n8 tliey coiicorn myself only, I certainly should be inclined to conceid tliem. As they concern the legislation and spirit of govern ins^ in a British province, I have thought it my duty to offer the consideration of them to the public, prior to submitting the same to the Prince and 1} i J. assizes; but all caulion and care fortiok me in the time of need. My fate, I believe, was determined by a misconslriiction of the judge of the word " Inhubltanty To the best of my recollection, this was defined to mean a person who had paid taxes, or per- formed statute labour on the roads I Will it be believed that an Englishman started the question as to this simple word of his mother tongue, which, in law, has no peculiar meaning, and which, in common sense, as well an by derivation, means simply a dweller in ? The reader will find it applied in this book to wild beasts of Canada. The Englishman spoken of had dined with mi> at the same table for weeks together, had lived with me in the same village for months together, and knew perfectly well that I had dwell ia the province more than a year before my arrest; but every thing is sacrificed when prejudice, pique, or self-inte- rest take the sway. This man's name stands in my lists for having prejudged me ; yet, Judas-like, he came to the door of my cell, and shook hands through the small aperture, a few days before my condemnation. As to the sheriff of Niagara, he has been a half-pay officer ever since the American war ; and though his half-pay could be received only on oath, that he .enjoyed no office under government, he has for a long series of years drawn a handsome salary as his majesty's sheriff. The chief-justice Powell enjoys posts and pay out of my count, and at tha will of the king, (i. e. the governor j may, on the shortest notice, be turned off the bench, and. deprived of his pay. These truths will throw light upon my shocking trMtment, and the state of Upper Canada. ''**'**'Mrini t tail mKHAL INTRO 1)1 CTION. XIX An Act for fhfi hot tor securim/ this Province againat ail seditions Attempts or Designs to distnrh the Trantjuillifi/ thereof. (Passed \Uh March, l«04.^ Whereas it is neocssary to protect his Ma- Preamble, jcsty's subjects of this Province from the insidious attimpts or designs of evil-minded and seditious persons; and, whereas much danger may arise to the public tranquillity thereof, from the unre- strained resort and residence of such persons therein : Be it therefore enacted, by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Let;islative Council and As- sembly of the l*rovince of Upper Canada, con- stituted and assembled by virtue of, and under the authority of an act passed in the Parliament of Great Britain, intituled " An Act to repeal certain parts of an Act passed in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign, entituled, ' an Act for making more eflbctual Provision for the Government of the Pro- vince of Quebo^c, in North America, and to make further Provision for the Government of the said G over- Province,' '* and by the authority of the same, That, nor, &c. empower- from and after the passing of this Act, it shall and p<' to au- 7nay he larvt'ul for the Governor , Lieutenant- Go- certain ^ persons to vernorj or person administering the government of ^^^^^^ ^^^' this Province, for the Members of the Legislative Jj5g'jgj, imd Executive Councils, the Judges of h*s Majesty'u h 2 I 'i 1 - I ! ! ; f XX t;ENKR.\L INTRODtrCTION. Court of Km(/'6' Bvnvh.for the liiiw hvhuf^ resjyec- lively i or for anj/ person or persona authorized in that behalf, />// an instrument under the hand and seal of the Governor, Lienlvnant-Gorernor, or per- son administering the government for the time being, or ant/ one or more of them, Jointlg or separately, hg narrant or warrants, under his or their hand and seal, or hands and seals, to arrest any person or persons not having been an inhabitant or inha- bitants of this Province for the space of si.v months next preceding the date of such warrant or warrants, or not having taken the oath of allegiance to our Sovereign Lord the King, who by words, actions, or other behaviour or conduct, hath or have endea- voured, or hath or have given Just cause to suspect that he, she, or they, is or are (dmut to endeavour to alienate the minds of his Majesty's subjects of this Province from his person or government, or in any wise with a seditions intent to disturb the tranquillity thereof, to the end that such person or persons shall forthwith be brought before the said person or pei'- sons so granting such warrant or warrants against him, her, or them, or any other jyerson or persons ^^^ ^ duly authorised to (pant such warrant or warrants Offenders '^ the **C ^^ *'*''^«« ' ««f^ if such person or persons ViH^l^^^ **^^ ^^^^K9 *«^'* inhabitant or inhabitanis as afore. «ty, &c. ^^^^i^ ^j, ,^^^ having taken such oath of allegiance, •''«'9W9»^'t'rf]Ket«3tft yi P i; hl'rT[0?J. order or orders so delivered to him, her, or them, is or are required to depart this province witliin a time limited by that ouler, should, by sickness or other impediment, be prevented from paying due obedience to the same, it shall and may be lavvfuJ for the person or persons who hath or liave issued such order or orders as aforesaid, or for any other person or persons as aforesaid authorized by this act so to do (the person or persons acting under the authority hereby given, being first sa- tisfied that such impediment by sickness, or other- wise, ought to be admitted as a reason for such order as aforesaid not having been obeyed), by an indorsement in writing upon the said order or orders, or otherwise in writing, to enlarge the time specified in the said order, or orders, from time to time, as occasion may require ; and if any person or persons so having been required or ordered to quit this Province as aforesaid, and not having ob- tained an enlargement of such time, in manner iJiuif*" herein before specified, shall be found at large 80( folT'elre t^^^'J'Gin. or return thereunto, after the time limited suspect ^y ^"y" ^^ either of such orders, without licence from the Grovernor, Lieutenant-Governor, or per- son administeririg the government for the time being in that behalf, or in case anv person or per- sons who shall have been served with any or either ftWl TK*'HlM«W H i W W m i *| i>'»Mi ii i»i j i GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XXUl of such order or orders as aforesaid, or who shall have hcen permitted to remain in this Province, upon such security as albresaid, shall by words, actions, or otherwise, endeavour, or give just cause to suspe(;t, that ho, she, or they, is or are about to endeavour to alienate the minds of his Majesty's subjects of this Province from his person or government, or in anywise with a seditious intent to disturb the tranquillity thereof, it shall and may be lawful for any one or more of the said person or persons so authorized by this act as aforesaid ; and he and they is and are hereby re- quired by warrant or warrants under his or their hand and seal, or hands and seals, to commit such person or persons so remaining at large or returning into this Province without such licence as afore- said, or so endeavouring or eivinfj cause to suspect ""'''* r> o o I person to that he, she, or they, is or are about to endeavour ^J^"™* so to alienate the minds of his Majesty's subjects of this Province, or in anywise with a seditious intent to disturb the trantjuillity thereof, to the com- mon jail, <;i to the custody of the Sheriff of the district, in s'uch districts in which there shall be no jail at that time, there to remain, without bail or inainj)rize, unless delivered therefrom by special order from the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or person administering the government tor the time y * l*t| w.' ' ." w« » ««", «« iiii » nimTnimi»i i iMH»»nm M| Ma i iiriiw iii.i » i i i J lit i I u XXIT GENERAL INTRODUCTION. being, until he, she, or they can be prosecuted for such offence in his Majesty's Court of King's Bench, or of Oyer and Terminer and general jail delivery in this province, or under any special commission of Oyer and Terminer tr, be issued by the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or person ad- Punish- ministering the government of this Province for the ment if convicted, time being ; and if such person or persons, not being such inhabitant or inhabitants as aforesaid, or not having taken such oath of allegiance, shall be duly convicted of any of the offences herein- before described, in either of the said courts respec- tively, he, she, or they shall be adjudged by such court forthwith to depart this Province, or to be imprisoned in the common jail, or be delivered over to the custody of the sheriff in such districts in which there shall be no jail at that time, for a time to be limited by such judgment, aiid at the expiration of that time, to depart this Province; and if such person or persons so convicted as aforesaid, shall remain in this Province, or return thereinto, after the expiration of the time to be limited by the said judgment, without licence from the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or person administering the government for the time being, in that behalf first had and obtained, such person or persons, on being duly convicted of so remain- GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ing or returning, before either o^ the said courts, shall be defined guilty of felony, and shall suffer death as a felon, without benefit of cler^^. 1 ro- vided always, that if, in the execution of the powers hereby given, any question shall arise, touching or concerning the space of time during which any person or persons shall have been an inhabitant or inhabitants of this Province, previous to any warrant or warrants having been issued against him, her, or them, or touching or concern- ing the fact of any person or persons having taken such oath of allegiance, the proof shall, in all such cases, lay on the party or parties against whom any such warrant or warrants shall, in virtue of the powers hereby given, have been granted or issued. III. And he it further enacted^ hy the authority aforesaid. That if any person or persons, at any time shall be sued or prosecuted for any thing by him or them done in pursuance, or by colour of this act, or of any matter or thing therein contained, such action or prosecution shall be commenced within three calendar months next after the offence shall have been committed, and such person or persons may plead the general issue, and give the epecii.l matter in evidence for his, her, or their de- fence, and if, upon trial, a verdict shall pass for the \ir Proof to lay on the Itorson charged. If any person su- inar under colour of this act heoonie non-suit- ed, (Sec. ^^vi GENERAL I>iTU0DlT'T10N. defendant or defendants, or the plaintiff or plain- tiiTs shall become non-suited, or shall discontinue his, her, J i M. i iw i* »fci ai m j i' «iW#«w i ( f't: GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XXV 11 one of the members of the House of Assembly, OR oath made before the said William Dickson, that one Robert Gourlav, now in the town of Niagara, in the County of Lincoln, in said Pro- vince, who, the said Isaac Swayze believes to have no particular or fixed place of residence, is an evil- minded and seditious person, and that the public tranquillity of said Province may be endangered by the unrestrained residence of such a person, and that the said Robert Gourlay, by words, actions, writings, and other behaviour, hath endeavoured, and is endeavouring to alienate the minds of our subjects in this Province from our person and government, and that the said Robert Gourlay, if in his power, from his language, words, and writ- ings, IS endeavouring to raise a rebellion against our government in this Province, and that Isaac Swavze verilv believes that the said Robert Gour- lay has not been an inhabitant for six months pre- ceding the date of said information, and had not, at the time of said information, taken the oath of allegiance to us : and, Avhereas, a warrant was grant- ed and tested in the name of the said William Dick- son and William Claus, dated the 19th dav of December, now last past, and directed to the She- riff of our district of Niagara, requiring him to arrest the said Robert Gourlay, to the end, that he might be brought before the said William Dickson and William Claus, or either of them ; and, whereas, the said Robert Gourlay was accordingly brought up before the said William Dickson and William ¥M XXVlll GENERAL INTRODUCTION. Clans, on the 21st day of December, now last past, and being examined, touching the said infor- mation, and of and concerning his words, actions, conduct, and behaviour; he did not give full and complete satisfaction to the said William Dickson and the said William Claus, that his words, actions, conduct, and behaviour had no such tendency ; on the contrary, that these were intended to promote disaffection to our person and government; and having given no satisfactory proof that he has been an inhabitant of the said Province for the space of six months preceding the date of such warrant, nor did he prove that he had taken the oath of allegiance to us, as by the said act is mentioned ; and, whereas, the Siid William Dickson and W^illiam Claus did thereupon deem it inexpedient, under the provisioris of the said act, that the said Robert Gourlay should be permitted to remain in this Province ; an ' did adjudge that the said Robert Gourlay should depart this Pro- vince of Upper Canada, on or before the first day of January next ensuing thereof, and he was required so to depart this Province, by an order in writing to that etfect, and personally delivered to him, at the Court House for said district, on the said 21st day of December, now last past. And, whereas, information hath been given, that the said Robert Gourlay hath not departed this Province on or before the 1st day of January instant, the time limited in the said order in writ- ing, but still abides and is at large therein. m GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XXIX These are, therefore, in pursuance of the said before recited act, to autliorize and require you, if the said Robert Gourlay shall be found at hirge in your district, to commit him to the common jail thereof, there to remain without bail or main- jprize, unless delivered therefrom, as the said act directs. Witness, William Claus and William Dickson, Legislative Councillors as aforesaid, under the hand and seal of each, this fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hun- dred and nineteen, and of our reign, the fifty- ninth. (Signed) WILLIAM DICKSON, WILLIAM CLAUS. 'i M SKETCH OF A PETITION To the. Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland^ in PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED*. THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY. HUMBLY SHEWETH, That your Petitioner is a native of the parish of Ceres, (and) TN the county of Fife (North Britain), IN SCOTLAND, and thence conceives himself en- i • The words printed ia capitals were added, those in small type, and enclosed in a eircuniflex, were omitted in the real peti- tion. it- *' "TjSrW ■ W'-J*^' wwrtW^^T'l'l^' -*«M*MMiMltMiMMBH XXX GENERAL INTRO DtTCTIOW. titled to all tlio constitutional privileges of a Bri- tish subject. That your Petitioner was born to the inheritance of considerable landed estates, and did entertain, till the year 1815, fair hopes of independent for- tune: — that then, in the 'J8th yearof his age, being married, and having five children, he found him- self, by causes which he could neither foresee nor prevent, sunk into a state of j)recarious depend- ence : — that, after more than a year's reflection, he resolved to visit Upper Canada, where he had some Janded property and many friends, to ascertain whether he might not, with propriety, remove his family thither: — that, after a few months residence in that COUntr}'', he (became enamoured of) WAS PLEAS- ED WITH the natural excellence of its soil and climate, — saw prospects of providing comfortably for his family, and cherished schemes for render- ing Upper Canada a comfortable refuge for the redundant population of England : — that, to qualify himself the better to represent at home the true state of the province, he resolved to prolong his stay, and by extended inquiry did greatly increase his knowledge of the actual state of its affairs. That he then discovered political restraints on the prosperity of Upper Canada, which rendered it altogether inferior to the United States as a place of settlement, and such niisman^^#iwti»,HMii.KM''Wi J I XXXll GENr.RAL INTRODICTION. power not only succeeded in exciting prejudices in the mind of the Lieutenant-Governor against, your Petitioner, but wantonly libelled a great portion of the inhabitants, and had a law enacted, abridiring public liberty, equally uncalled tor, and odious to the great body of the people. That your Petitioner was after this on the point of setting oft' for England when a conspiracy was formed between three of his most notorious poli- tical enemies to ruin his character, and prevent his ever returning to tipper Canada. For this purpose they pretended that your Petitioner was subject to a provincial statute, [« copi/ of which is hereunto «nwp.rer/,] which can only apply to aliens and outlaws, and one of them scrupling not to perjure himself to afford grounds for procedure, they presented him with an order to quit the pro- vince, upon his disobeying which they had him arrested and committed to jail, [// THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY, Esq. Humbly Shewetu, That your Petitioner is now a prisoner in the Jail of Niagara District, by virtue of a warrant of Commitment, whereof a copy is annexed. That your Petitioner, humbly apprehending he is not a person of that description against whom such warrant can legally be issued, as he believes will fully appear from the affidavits annexed, and, inasmuch as he has not heretofore been called upon, or had an opportunity of shewing the fact, prays for a writ of Habeas Corpus, and, as bound in duty, will pray. Dated at the Jail of Niagara, the 13th day of January, 1819. (Signed) Robert Gouklay. Witness, Wm. Kerr, ^ John Moffat. ) fum^: GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xli ti AFFIDAVITS. Districlof\ Peter Hamilton, of the township JSiaijura,^ o{ Niagara, in t i' province of Upper viz. 5 Canada, nriaketh Oath and saith, that he hath seon Robert Gotjrlay, Esq. Jately in the Jail of tliis district, and that he knew the same person and his connexions and friends heretofore in Britain ; and that he was there respected, es- teemed, and taken to he a Britis > subject; and that he is so this Deponent verily believes is no- toriously true in this district. (Signed) P. H. Hamilton. Sworn before me, the 9th" day of Jan. 1819. Alex. Hamilton, J. P. Niaqara\ Robert Gourlay maketh Oath and Districts ^ii\i\\, that he is, by birth, a British sub- viz. )ject, that he hath taken the Oath of Allegiance to our Lord the present King of Great Britain, and that he has been an inhabitant of the province of Upper Canada now more than a year preceding the date of the warrant first issued against him by the Hon. William Dickson and William Claus, Esq. and referred to in that, whereof a copy is annexed. (Signed) Robert Gourlay. Sworn before me, this 13th; day of Jan. 1819. (Signed) Wm. J. Kerj lis ISth^ 1 I! ■I'll il xlii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. District of^ Robert IlAMiLTON,ofQneenston ?iiayara, ? in said district, Esq. rnaktlh Oaili viz. /andsaitli, that Robert (Jourlay, Esq. who is now confined in the Jail ot this dis- trict, has been domiciliated at Queenston, in the province of Upper Canada, more than nine months next preceding the date of this deposition ; and this Deponent further maketh Oath and saith, that he hath always understood and verily believes the said Robert Gourlay to be a natural born sub- ject of Great Britain. (Signed) Robert Hamilton. Sworn before me, this 12th day^ of Jan. 1819. (Signed) James Kerby, J. P. WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS. ^George the Third, by the Upper Canada^ I Grace of God, of the United Home District^ \ Kingdom of Great Britain and to wit. 1 Ireland, King, Defender of the J Faith, &c. To the keeper of our Jail of Niagara greeting. — We command you that you have the body of Robert Gourlay, Esq. detained in prison under your custody as it is said under safe and secure conduct, together with the day and cause of his being taken and detained by whatsoever name he may be called in the same, before the Hon. Wm. Dummer Powell, our Chief Justice of our Province aforesaid. Ti'i< Hw) ; ;M; « i/ ll| tfl lM WjU I »M i t'» . M, i W*M'l>> l !i*l > B I Wla» W! JJ' ' jnM> I H I >tf GENERAL INTRODUCTION, xliii at his Cliami)ers, in York, in the Home District of our said Province iniini diatcl}' after the receipt of this Writ, to do, submit, and receive all and siniijular those thinsrs which our Cliief Justice shall then and there consider of him in this behalf, and have then there this Writ. — Witness, the Hon. DuMMKR PovvELi,, our Chief Justice aforesaid, at York, the twentieth day of January, in the filty- ninth year i ' ur reign. Per statiUum Iricesimo prima Caroli Sectindi regis. (Signed) Wm. Dummer Powell, C.J. REMAND. (^Indorsed on the hack of the above Writ,) The within-named Robert Gourlaybeingbrought before me, at my chambers, at York, required to be admitted to bail*, as not being a person subject to the provisions of tlie Act of his Majesty, chap. J.; and the warrant of commitment appearing to be regular, according to the provisions of the Act which does not authorize bail or mainprize, the said Robert Gourlay is hereby remanded to the custody of the sheriff of the district of Niagara, and the keeper of the Jail therein, conformable to the said warrant of commitment. (Signed) Wm. Dummer Powell, C. J. York, 8//i Febmary, 1819. * This is not correct. The process was managed by an at- torney, and was, verbatim, as above. I made no request to be admitted to bail. I xliv GENERAL INTKODl CTIOX. SKETCH or A PEirriON. ^i 1^ To His 3Iost Exvellvnt Mnjcshj OFOIWE the Fourth, Sovereiyn of the L'nited Kiiujilom of Great Britain and Ireland, ^'c ^c. ^'c. in Council. THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY, Esq. HUMBLV ShEWETH, That your Petiliontr is a native-born British subject ; and did, uiore than twenty years ago, receive from his late Miyesty a couunission to act as captain of volunteers, the confidence in- dicated by wiiich he never betrayed ; neither has he ever been tainted by conviction of crime. That, nevertheless, your Petitioner being in Upper Canada, in the montfi of December, 1818, was served with an Order to depart that Province, upon refi!sing to obey which, he was committed to jail by a second Order, issued by the same per- sons, under colour of a statute of the Provincial Parliament fa copt/ of which, with the Order, being hereunto annexed J. That your Petitioner applied to the Chief Jus- tice of Upper Canada, by Writ of Habeas Corpus, for enlargement, but was remanded to jail, and detained there for nearly eight months fthe Process being hereunto annexed): That, at the end of this period, he was so weakened by confinement, and GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xlv SO exasperated by cruel tn atment, being* for some time denied free conversation not only witli friends, but magistrates of his acquaintance, and attorneys employed to transact his Ihw business, that he su tiered a trial to be brought on merely as to the fact of his having refused to leave the Province, which fact being established, he was banished by the same judge who had detained hiai in prison, and was obliged to take refuge in the United States of America, twenty-four hours after the sentence was pronounced. That your Petitioner has now come home for the express purpose of submitting his case to your Majesty and the Imperial Parliament, trusting that due inquiry will be instituted, and that the con- stitutional rights of a British subject will be main- tained. Your Petitioner believes, that, upon inquiry, your Majesty will find that the Provincial Statute, under colour of which your Petitioner was im- prisoned and banished, never was meant to apply to untainted British subjects; but, in fact, was framed with a view to exclude from Upper Ca^ nada certain outlawed and expatriated persons, who fled, or were allowed to depart from Ireland^ after the rebellions of 1798 and 1803. Your Petitioner is assured that, on the first blush, your Majesty must be impressed with hor- ror at the idea that an untainted British subject, confiding in innocence, and jp'oud of his constitu- tional privileges, should be immured in jail upon the mere oath of an individual, and at last be :J| t xlvi GENERAL INTRODl'CTION. thrust out of your Majesty's dominions into a fo- reign land, without even the shadow of crime being proved against him. But your Petitioner is still more assured that, setting aside ail regard to natural justice — all re- gard to expediency, or any construction which can be put on the Provincial Statute, that, that Statute cannot possibly be applied to an untainted British subject, without encroaching on those sacred principles established at the revolution, which placed your Majesty's family on the Bri- tish throne, without weakening the sacred bond of natural allegiance, and exposing to ridicule the rallying words of American loyalists — " The Unity of the Empire.** Your Petitioner cannot avoid taking opportu- nity, on this occasion, to protest against attempts which have been made to make your Majesty be- lieve that a disloyal and seditious spirit prevails among the people of Upper Canada, Your Peti- tioner, during a residence of nearly two years in that Province, had better opportunities of ascer- taining facts upon this subject, than any other person, and most solemnly declares that he never could perceive the slightest symptom of such a spirit. With regard to your Petitioner, individu- ally, who has been branded by a party in power with the epithet of " factious," he can declare, before God, and he does so declare, that his whole conduct in Upper (jjtinada was guided by senti- ments and impulses of a nature the very reverse from sedition. He beheld, in that Province, -jg^f^ffl^s!' ". ' i r. 's ,' GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xlvii public mismanagement stallcing abroad, — rendering abortive the most abundant offerings of nature, and trampling down the best blessings of a liberal and free constitution, lie found weakness going out in aid of mismanagement, and giving birth to events which, accumulating, cannot fail to en- danger the dominion of your Majesty in that quar- ter of the world. He deplored this tendency. He saw simple means by which Britain and Canada could be indissolubly bound together for mutual benefit. He was zealous, — he was enthusiastic in the cause; and, though now suffering most bit- terly from the eff'ects of injustice and persecution, would exert his last breath in calling attention to this subject. He, now, therefore, most earnestly solicits that your Majesty may be graciously pleased to order the law officers of the crown to consult, and report as to the liability of British subjects to be impri- soned in and banished from Upper Canada, as your Petitioner has been; and that your Majesty, in council, will take into consideration the whole state of that province. And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. I do not know that my book could be introduced better than by the above circular. It comes briskly upon the ground ; and, here, we find one member of parliament proclaiming '< the distress xlviii GENERAL INTRODfTfTrON. of fhe coHUfn/^'' and Hirim.stiiis^ as a nMiiodv, *' an emif/rafion to our colonieii in North America;'^ while aiiotlic r statt's flow '* crtn'w^'hf an.vt')vs the jxiopte were to cmigralo ;'' hut thai ** thetf iro.re destitute of means.'' Tliu Ch:»ii('( lior oi' ilic h\- cht(|iier dfclares, that " his majeshfs luiuis'ers were disposed to adopt everif meftsnre n'h>i h f-ou/d realhf vontnlmte to the relief of the distresses of the labonrinif classes ;*' btit htptcs, that *' the Ao/lh American eohnies had been so orerloarled vith end- ij/rants, that the f/overnment of Canufla h(i»t ntade the stronffest remonstrances on the snhject. lie ims not prepared, to snhmit a plan^ hnl said it wotttd he wise to wait for some acconnt of the pro(/ress of the colony at the Cape of (rood Hope.'' I then **tep in, and assert, that, ** hi/ proper manaf/ement^ even people destitute of means could he conifortahh/ settled m Upper Canada f and, hy a tuimal and solemn declaration, in a petition presented to the House of Cominons, undertake to *' set forth practicable plans J 1)1/ which ten times the number of people who have ever, in one year, emiyrated to Canada, may be annually transported thither, and comfortably settled'^ This is my position, and it is this which the present work contemplates to maintain. More than three years of my lite have heen devoted to this subject. My fortune, my character, my healtli, have sufttred in the cause ; and ail that I now want is a patient hearing from the British public. My book is not one of amusement. Bu- siness is its aim ; and that business surely of the •'■■•^ly'r— Trr "^•^•■"^WVM^f^' ' -iit;tftfic ag» »fta—i GENKRAL INTRODI CTION. xlix most pressing import. All paitijs allow that emi- gration is one way by which rlistross may he miti- gated ; but a specific plan is wanted for rendering it practicable on a great scale, which will not put the country to expence. My plan afiects to ac- complish this even with n profit to the country. As the CIRCULAR was not intended for its pre- sent use,--as it narrates some of my proceedings, and so far discloses my situation, hut does not^ complete what is now necessary, — as the lapse of time has given rise to remarks and redections, — as various occurrences have happened, but, above all, that extraordinary one which has arrested the at- tention of the whole world, and deafened the ear of this country to every other subject,— -I trust the reader will be indulgent while I bring up my nar- rative, illustrate and explain what may be doubt- ful, or is imperfect, and add what may be necessary to a full and clear understanding of the nature and object of this work. I left Edinburgh the 2d June, trusting that my petitions to Parliament and to the King in coun- cil, being presented, and this volume published, I might return to Scotland in a month at farthest. On the 6th, being pat down at my accustomed lodging-house, in Bouverie-street, the first words of my landlord were *' the Queen, sir, has landed at Dover, and is expected in town tliis evening." A few days were wasted in anxious expectation that the royal quarrel would be prudentially settled ; but every day lessening the hope of this, I resolved to economize, by taking a private room in the d K' i \4\ f }.,m m *itf'*mt'ifr%'-^^>-»^f^*>-t ^ ip»»'!r ^•^•-^>\.ff-r'-^'V'n'^rr^^^f'^ •vwuaflmt 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION. i I suburbs, and sit down with patience, till the issue of the mighty contest. Four months having gone by, 1 still sit in patience ; for why should any one fret, when the whole nation is subjected to the same calamity? Calamity! No: let us think better ot the ways of Providence, under which, if we resolutely strive to do our parts well, good will invariably follow. My persecutions — my trials — my most grievous fate, never would have called attention to the cruel, the filthy, the unrelenting conduct ot wicked ministry, — to the horrid system of combi- nation, falsehood, treachery, which old established power has generated, — to the sickening, heart-rend- ing, humiliating degradation of humanity, had not common sense, prudence, decency, feeling, justice, honour, religion, been all sacrificed for vengeance against the queen of England! Oh my country! Oh my countrymen ! how blessed will be the event, if cautious, peaceful, manly conduct takes advantage of present experience — of present union — of present superiority over power, and influence more potent than power ! — if the respectable people of this country hold together, and with one voice call for inquiry, not merely into the mis- management of a province, but into that of the empire * nearly * These two pages have, by accident, stood a month in typo, and were written immediately after the witnesses, who had sworn to the most filthy slanders against the Queen, were proved wholly unworthy of credit, — when one important witness for her excul- pation was let slip from Cotton-Garden, and others, stiJI more es- " ''^*?*S^^^f « W« lWi |W''ier, have published an extract from Quebec and American prints, which will best satisfy my readers, as to th^^ true position of political strength and opinion in Upper Candida, wl»ich will best con- tradict a gross falsehood, which, among many others, has been published in this country, as I have been credibly informed, under the authority of the Lieu- tenant Cjovernor and Attorney General of the province, thit " the numbir of his (my) followers are reduced to a very few persons." *' Canadian Affairs: — We learn that the " late election for Members of Parliament for " Upper Lanadtty has terminated in the almost una- ** nimous choice of persons who are the polilicat it friends of Mr. Gonrlay. It wowkl appear from ** thisy that the popular voice is against the admi- •* nistration.'^ 'i'his document should add some weight to the importance of my present endeavours, — give addi- tional interest to my book, — and satisfy F^ord Hol- land, and Sir James Mackintosh, that I have not been trifling with their valuable time. Although I am very confident that my friends, now constituting the great majority in the Cana- dian parliament, will not neglect my advice, yet with their best efforts they may not be able im- mediately to send home the much desired commis- sion. They have the power of withholding sup- 1 mi ■i t 4 if Ix GENERAL INTRODUCTION. plies for public service, but they cannot raiso any without the concurrence ol the Lieutenant Gover- nor and Legislative Council; and their predecessors, monstrous brutes ! took from the people their natural right of meeting, to raise a subscription for sending home a petition to the throne. By private correspondence, 1 have been inform- ed of the desperate struggle made by the executive, to prevail over my friends at the late election, and they succeeded in some of the more benighted districts, so as to get seven lawyers returned*; who no doubt will confound reason, and retard the progress of common sense with all their might: still, sooner or later, the imperial parliament must be consulted ; and I am sure it will serve no good purpose whatever, for oufc home ministry either to aid procrastination, or to oppose a full and fair investigation. This book, I trust, will clear the way, and sufficiently demonstrate not only the need for investigation, but give a view of the blessed consequences which may result from it. Grossly and falsely as my proceedmgs in Upper Canada have been misrepresented, no candid reader will, I am sure, attribute bad motives to me, if he patiently peruses the following pages. As to the people of Upper Canada, they are loyal in the extreme, and their desire to continue in connexion with Britain, was verified by the free offering of their properties and lives. If they choose, they * The Upper Canada Assembly of Represent ativeu now con- gists of 40. 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION. Ixi cannot be held for a moment in trammels. They are not circumstanced as wc are at home. Why then should any thing like wanton contradiction be opposed to their wishes? — why should minis- ters provoke to passion, when reason dictates for- bearance, when necessity phjads for mild and libe- ral measures, and when the right hand of fellow- ship is held forth, — when nothing more is wanted but inquiry, and nothing but the good of both countries could result from it? Sir James Mackintosh has not pledged himself to call the attention of parliament to the afi'airs of Upper Cvmada, but he has said that it is highly pro- bable he will, and he may depend upon it, that my^local experience, and whatever else opportunity has furnished me with, shall be at his service for the occasion. He may depend upon it that the ■lulyect has treasured within it a rich reward for that man, whose love of doing good shall equal a sufficiency of talent to unfold and advance it to notice. Fifty years ago, when the first misunder- standing between Britain and her American co- lonies began to grow serious, what a world of mischief might have been prevented by timely notice, and by thorough investigation ! — seven years war! — the loss of our fairest possession in the west ! — the disgrace of our arms ! — the engendering of an age of rancour! Surely, if the conqueror in war merits a triumph, benediction is due to the peace-maker, — to him who prevents animosity, and establishes a basis for harmony and Christian love. As this volume proceeds, the reader, I am con- 1 ■:■,!: i| ■*-^i»^"(* ? y »« -j wM g n ^'' tyj y'^ Ixii c;CNERAL INTRODl'CTION. fidcnt, will be moroand more satisfieri, that no wan- ton or mi8('lii('V()ii8 pnliticaj int rri-nnc*', — iio little, selfish interest ban had sniv roncrrn with ni\ pro- ceedinLfS in Upper Canadii. Me will find thai I had before ine a vast scheme of practicable benevoh nee, and that 1 have substantial grounds tor luy zeal, — that my scheme, with the countenance of govern- ment, may easily, effectually, and speedily be put in execution, — that it would make good all that I have said above, — that it would for ever bind together Britain and her colonies. My popular influence in l^pper Canada could, were I willing, be so directed as to give even un- necessary trouble but every principle which guides iny conduct — every feeling which Hows from my heart, wo*'' be in arms against anything of the kind. I cat not a farthing for popular in- fluence ; nay, by itself, I despise it, but as it may invigorate the progress of virtue and civilization. Saving a desire of having opportunity to maintain my fionour, which a vile conspiracy unfairly deprived me of, and saving a wish to force on, by every lionest endeavour, my scheme of benevolence, I have little care about Canada. Indeed 1 repeat- edly signified to the people there, that my chief efforts were made, neither for them nor myself, but for the poor of England ; and should govern- ment adopt my plans, or what part of them the liberal public shall approve, 1 am ready to stay at home, or go abroad, as they may choose— to be active or passive, just as may be required for the general good. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. Ixiii It grieves me exccedincly, thtit the stron^»' and luckless sitUHtion iii wliich 1 have been plnced, lias made it necessary to interlard my accounts of Uppir Canada, and strictun-s on its political state, with any thing personal, as to myself or others, but there is no help for it. A mass of filth has been flung in my way, and I must, in duty, tread it down. However forced to digress, however irri-'guinr my progress may appear, the reader will still be able lo perceive that iny main object is never left behind. Sir James Mackintosh has questioned whethe. the Canadian sedition act was not of itself an ob- ject of parliamentary attention; and, I suggested this to Sir James. 1 said, that tl)e mere view of that act, — of its monstrous features, afforded suffi- cient ground for inquiry int ' state of the pro- vince, hs mere existence speaks volumes, as to the spirit which has hitherto been at the bottom of Canadian policy, and though it may now be repealed, as I have heard it is, the very shade of its departed villany is worthy of study, that the future destinies of Upper Canada may be directed for good. Jt is worth while to inquire into the circum- stances which produced such an act; — what spirit could so long sustain it in existence, and what more vile spirit could apply it, contrary to every constitutional principle, to a British subject? Can it be supposed that when such an act was passed, there was a single Canadian representative alive to hia duty, or fitted for his post ? No; not i^ m Ixiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION* one. Had there been a single man among them with eyes, or brains, or heart, at liberty, he would have proclaimed to the country its hazard of coming to disgrace by such enactment, even as applicable to aliens. Though we know that pub- lic spirit never would have permitted such filthy legislation to be recorded at home, we have suffi- cient evidence at the present time, of the dire spiiit of our ministry ; and there can be no doubt but the provincial statute before us was framed in the cabinet of London, an*.! sent abroad to be palmed on the poor sycophantish witlings of the province, by some pawkie, well paid-politician, per- haps trebly installed in power, with a seat in the executive council, a seat in the legislative coun- cil, and on the bench. Yes, yes, a provincial judge pang-full of ministerial influence, and knoW' iiig in the secrets of his calling, was equal to such a task ; and another, when occasion required, could, easily, with the instrument of tyranny pre- pared for him, with the aid of an unprincipled, callous-hearted sheriff', and having the advantage of packet, ignorant and spiritless juries, consummate any degree of wickedness,— could ruin, by it, any liege subject of the King, and put in disarray the proudest boast of our constitution. Had the Canadian representatives been simply fools, —simply blind and heartless, they would not have enacted such a law ; but they were stupid, and blind, and unfeeling, from their whole thoughts being, under the system which controlled them, intent only on self; and what else is it which, at this very time, is moving on our ablest statesmen, our bi judges of itlfj: before of En^ such a\ at the < ness ! r exclain tious, tage of li ear ted by coiKv other, e govern ni with go be vexe doubt tl ment is We k and cou by circu above te that noti ledge, ce For tv and civili gained sc soniethini thing vf i gave mot advanced GENERAL INTUODl CTfON. IxV our brightest orators, our noble peers, our grave judges, and our right reverend bishops, in a course ol' infatuation and madness, vvliich no age ever I)efore witnessed ? Tliank (jod, tlie prevaihng spirit of English tuen, has revolted at the experience of such awful proceedings, and uiinisterial power has, at the climax of its fury, broken down in weak- ness! may we hope, in despair? Oh! let me again excLiim, how blessed will be the event, if cau- tious, peaceful, manly conduct takes advan- tage of present experience,- -if the most generous hearted pe^ople upon eartii hold together, — if they, by conceit, moderation, and charity towards eacli other, ensure a thorough change of system in the government of our country, ^\'hat do we want with government but utility? Why should we be vexed with non-esseutials ? Why should we doubt that the desideratum for perfect govern- ment is CHEAPNESS aud SIMPLICITY ? We know that human nature is, in every age and country, the same, ruled and diversified only by circumstances. We have no proof of its being above temptation ; and edl experience demonstrates that nothing but general interest, aided by know- ledge, can hold down individual selfishness. For two hundred years advances to freedom aud civilization have been sure, though slow. We gained something at the reformation: we gained something at the revolution: antl we have some- thing yet to gain. The progress of British liberty gave motion to liberty all over the world. It has advanced throughout Europe : it has prevailed in e I 1 ■ \ I ' ;' Ixvi GENERAL INTRODUCTION. America; but here we may c<»i»rK''Mji)v hone for its fiticst display ; for here sii|»' r!'»r kiiouliidge aiul refinement ean give lustre to ni-. I'Muin ti ht. I he counlrv, which i-< the snhj. ct o! liiis work, has af- forded striking proof of the weakness ol mere in- stitiilion. Ejuhosomed in the United States — in the very arms of independence, it has become degraded and enslaved;— it has become contempt- ible by the contemptible conduct of the people's representatives. The boon which Britain gave to Canada, in her constitutional act, was pure and efficient ; but the influence of undue [)atronage and power in the ex- ecutive government were forgotten, or winked at, in the midst of poverty and ignorance. The people of Upper Canada, with a perfect representation, had all that could be desired, had their representa- tives been wise men, and proof against temptation. They were neither. They not only allowed the act before us to be recorded on their statute book, but several others of the most nauseous character ; and, latterly, while I was among them — when the utmost servility to the governor was aided by personal pique towards me, were guilty of mean- ness and treachery altogether beyond example. They not only sanctioned a permanent law for pre- venting the most peaceable description of meetings, without even a green bag apology ; but justified the governor in sending home, to the foot of the throne, documents libelling the great mass of their constituents, and impressing a belief that they only " waited for the moment of their strength as OENERAI. iNTRODtTCTION. Ixvii the moment of revolt.'* I ropcat, with all due sense of delicacy and decorum— what brutes ! nay, they are even more vile than the beasts of the field, who make barter of publir liberty. Before going out to Canada, no one was more heartily sick of boroughmongers than I ; but since my experience of crown influence among a be- nighted people, 1 feel inclined, with a sort of instinctive yearning, like tiiat of the dog to his vomit, to throw myself, not only with hope, but transport, into tiie arms of our dear boroughmon- gers. Knavery itself has charms, when bedecked with talent, and graced with gentlemanly manners ; but when low-bred storekeepers, pettyfo^jging lawyers, and stupid clodhoppers, enter into con- spiracy against truth, common sense, and modesty, no man should boast of temper and patience, for that species of oppression is generated, which, Scripture tells us, '* makes a wise man mad." The more to attract attenticn to the Canadian Sedition Act, ! have caused it to be printed con- spicuously, and I would have ihe reader again to peruse and study it, that he may have a just sense of the narrow-minded, weak, and abominable poli(*y which has hitherto guided our provincial government. The act commences with setting forth its object, viz.: the protection of his Majesty's subjects from the insidious attempts and designs of evil-minded and seditious persons ; giving, by-the-bye, in the very distinction of terms, no small proof that it was never meant to make his Majesty's subjects liable e 2 I i , '' m ''"mm ■ *ktt^\,t£j»,. I Ixviii GKNERAL INTRODUCTION. to its controul. The local situation of Upper Canada exposes it to the inroad of aliens of all nations, vvho^ having no lie of allegiance or affec- tion to Britain, may thence be suspected of evil designs ; and for that reasoij terrors may hi held out to ktep iheni at a distanet;; hut for British subjects to be suspecteit^ anicion, is contrary nt once to iia^Mire, and the spirit of our constitution. It is more es- pecially absurd, vvhc-n w*; consider that the law was expressly made for thar protection ; and that for their benelit, generally, the province received its consiiiution. But, liovv shocking is it that any man, even an alien, should be exposed to slander and arrest, at the mere capricious uill of others ? " Just cause'* of suspicion is, indeed, alluded to; but no rule is laid down bv whicli the justness of the cause can be ascertained. An individual is scandalized, he is arrested, and a process goes on which, in spite of the utmos*^ purity and innocence, consigns him to ruin. Think, for instance, of my aggravated case. It clearly appeared at my trial, that William Dick- son had a consultation with Swayze the day prior to that wretch making oath that I was a seditious person ; and Dickson's spite towards me was noto- rious. Swayze is so thoroughly ignorant (he can scarcely write his name) that, of his own accord, he never would have thought that tlie law in cpies- tion could, by help of his swearing, be made an instrument to my hurt ; and I hold in my posses- sion a printed paper, which was manitestly publish- ed as a the fare entraj) n son, my accessar a large c was a m; nothing particuhi ments, i Only thi decency, Canada honoural of pul)lis had gooc himsell^ subject man, ai plete sat and beh; courag'e mouth, ing wit hand th and the that ten But add insi condem thought main in M I I GENERAL INTRODUCTION. Ixix ed as a lead to the perjury. Now, only think of the farce; after all this studicMl coiirrivance to entra|) me, of my being brought Itefore Wni. Dick- son, my inveterate personal tnemy. who had been acce^ssary to accusation, and who had not only told a large company present, that •' in his opinion, I was a man of desperate fortune, and would stick at nothing to raise insurrection;*' but had some of his particular friends ready to declare similar senti- ments, upon his formally putting the fjuestion. Only think of the monstrous insult to reason and decency, that 1, after having resided in Upper Canada for more than a year, — after being twice honourably acquitted from most wanton charges of publishing seditious libel, the first of which 1 had good reason to believe originated in Dickson himself,— that 1, well known to be a native-born subject of Britain, should be brought before this man, and be obliged to give liim "• full and com- plete satisfaction that my words, actions, conduct, and behaviour were not. intended to proniote or en- courage disaffection."' Before I can open my mouth, the stomach of this mv judge is overflow- ing with gall and bitterness. He holds in his hand the aflTidavit of his own insidious intrigue, and then bids me prove a negative, when he knows that ten thousand negatives would go for nothing! But mark how this odious statute proceeds to add insult to iujury. After its victim has sufTered condemnation under it, he may be "permitted^'' if thought expedient by the tyrant executor, to re- main in the province, good and sufncierit security it Ixx GENERAL INTRODUCTIONT. being required to the satisfaction of the said tyrant for the good behaviour of the condemned; but after this security is given, shoiild the envy, the jealousy, or the caprice of the tyrant revive, all se- curity to the condenujed goes for nothing. ITe is still subject to be scandalized, arrested, sent out of the province, or imprisoned, without benefkof bail, only for the purpose of being subjected to a mock trial. Having thus far commented on the Canadian statute, I shall present to tlie reader the British Alien Act, which vSir James iVlackintosh is reported to have broui^ht into comparison with it, saying that the Canadian statute " uerit somewhat fur- tlur'^ The British act became law lOth June, IBIS, with continuance till 25th March, 1819. It was thence continued, by bill, til) 25lh June, 1820, and tljen again renewed until 2oth March, 18i^2. It stands thus among the statutes at large: 58 Geo. TIL Cap. 07. An Act to prevent Aliens, until the 2oih Day of March, 1819, from hecomincf naturalized, or being made or he- coming naturalized, or being made or becoming denizens, except in certain ceases. lOlh June, 1818. WiiKREAS it is expedient that for a time to be limited, Aliens should not be, or become naturalized, or be made or become denizens, except as hereinafter is provided : Be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with tlje advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons in this pre- sent parliament assembled, and by the authoritv of th«^ GENERAL INTRODUCTION. Ixxi same, that from and after the passin*^ of this Act, until the 25th day of March, 1819, no Alion shall become a na- turalized subject, or be made or become denizens, or be- come entitled to the privilej^es of a nutuializ(!d subject or denizen, in any other manner, or by any other authority than by any act which may hereafler be passed by the parliament of the united kingdom of (jreal Hritain and Ireland, or by letters of denization, hereafter to be granted by his Majesty, his heirs and successors, any law, cust it cont mv str incffcc and m exertio indiguf give pr percept sacrific perienc does n purity nor th; I a ted n cheern mistir)rtJ luckleJ for reni the ab(i Thef statute one vvt| in the I was of Upj that tH I was! (tVf^ »! <^ V v^*' ■^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WKT MAIN STRIET WiBSTIR.N.Y. M5S0 (716)872-4503 Ixxri GENERAL INTRODUrTIOX. imprisonment. Having long before made np my mind, and heard it acknowledged, tljat a British subject could not lawfully be afll'ected by the act*, I never thought of critically examining its letter, far less of searching in it for (juibble. 1 had been accustomed to regard with reverence all written law, so far as good intention was concerned, and never for a moment doubted it. I sufl'ered myself to be imprisoned, in the full hope that 1 was to have opportunity of pleading against some speci- fic charge, constituting the ground of Swa^ze^s oath ; and an alien might, from a similar impres- sion, have resisted an order to depart. Under all circumstances, and with such impressions, it was not only prudent, but incumbent on me to * Sir James Mackintosh enquired of me if the act bad ever before been put in force against a British subject, and certainly it never was, thongh often resorted to for the purpose of frighten- ing alien Americans out of the province. The distinction of right, between aliens and British subjects, in Canada, is strongly marked. An ahen, for instance, cannot open a shop without first having the oalh of allegiance to the king administered to him, and many have left the province, because of this being re- fused. A tkitish subject, on the contrary, may not onlycommence business, but be elected as a member of the Canadian parliament, by right of birih, and natural allegiance, provided lie holds landed properly in the province, to the extent of 400 acres. He must take an oath, prior to taking his seat, as members of the Imperial Parliament do ; but this in no way affects his general claims. la the same way, a British subject must go through the ceremony of taking the outh of allegiance, prior to receiving a grant of land. A British soldier takes the oath of allegiance ; but is equally before and utter entitled to all coostitutioual protection. . . « GENERAL INTRODLTTIOX. Ixxvii submit, rather tliim to leave the province in dis- grace ; and 1 still thought so, even utter being refused liberty on my suit of habeas corpus. I was not indeed sanguine of success in tliis way, believing that the con-spiracy against uie had been formed with the connivance and will of the higher powers of the province, and vvitli a view of mak- ing me stoop to the governor. However false, however infamous the charges against me were, still they were olFicial : they were made before the public, with all the parade of form, after 1 had been arrested by the sheritV, and forcibly carri-^d before my enemies. There was no alternative for me but to suffer imprisonment, in the sure hope of a third honourable acquittal ; or to give up all my fond hopes of settling in the province. The nature of tlie business which I was to follow (land agency), was such, that the mere acknowledg- ment that I had obeyed the order to go away, would have been a bar to its practice : for under such acknowledgment, 1 could not invite a single individual to emigrate from Britain to Canada. My hope of a trial, for alleged crime, was so thoroughly riveted, that 1 declare before God, when the course which was ultimately adopted, was first spoken of, some months after I had been imprisoned, my mind so revolted at the idea, that I never was able to reflect on the subject ; nor did I know the verbal quibble upon which my indictment was founded, till six weeks after trial, it was pointed out to me by a gentleman of Men- treai, on my way home. It was then, for the first tU ) j !! ' i 'it I ^ il i d I '■'■I m ii lliii i. t Ixxviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. time, that 1 loarnecl tliat the word " offence,*' used in the statute, could, at will, he apjjhed either to an act of sedition, or to th»; mere refusal to obev an order. As 1 do, and shall continue to protest against the whole proceedinjj^, so do 1 maintain that *ome- wUeir. I. ought to have redress. As a British sub- ject I never was t'airly liable to the operation of the Canadian statute. Every step taken against me was illegal and unconstitutional — my arrest — my imprisonment — my trial. It is absurd to suppose that 1 should fjuietly suffer myself to be imprison- ed, with any view but that of having my cha- racter cleared from aspersion ; and as to consenting to trial, it is what J never should have done in health, and with my mind untroubled. iSuch a case as mine can never be subject to ordinary rules. The common course of law pro- cess can never in justice be regarded, if that course has in the first |)lace been grossly misused, if my right of freedom, on application by habeas corpus, has been denied, if all was illegal and un- constitutional, and if undue rigour was used, so as to cut off the hope even of a formal protest being taken against the proceedings of the court. And, here again, is a difficulty attached to a strict adherence to the course of law, for I know not if the most regular protest could have availed. What would it avail for a murderer to protest against his trial ? When an indictment is found, the trial must proceed, and the jury has only to declare as to the fact alleged. It is impossible, I think, that Lord 1 GI2XERAL INTUODtCTION. Ixxix Jfoiland, should he take inv case into serious con- sideration, will still j;iveme no hope, luit in " the common course of law." lie must consider it as one every way erjtitled to parliamentary interfer- ence; and this interference 1 shall petition for, if 1 am deni d redress by the King in Council. The redress which 1 want, is to l)rin2: me no sure bene- fit: it is to give me the liberty of returning to Upper Canada, with a declaration of the law offi- cers of the crown, or parliament, that 1 was not subject to the Canadian sedition act : it is only to give me what is fair, an opportunity of challeng- ing trial, and of prosecuting those who have mal- treated me. This 1 shall have, or consider myself no longer bound by allegiance, or in any way pledged to perform public duties, otherwise in- cumbent upon me. The British parliament can undoubtedly control the errors of the Canadian parliament. They made the law under which it is held : they can amend or repeal it : they can declare the principles of that law where there is doubt, or undo what is done contrary to such principles. Having set forth the extreme wickedness and deceit of the precious morsel of legislation before us, towards the objects of its wrath, it is worth while to note how carefully it has guarded its executors from harm. In British statutes we find a similar clause to that which, in the Canadian statute, awards treble costs to be paid by a plain- tiff, suing against an executor of law ; but in these there is no difficulty thrown in the way of prose- Ilia 1:' 1 ^ ■\ :! :l i « m III 5::f| ! Hi ■> « | S i!l| r«il J il* i -fWJp i ti'g gl WIW ' M < ^ i!i i«| i m; »i ff'mfiy; ^ ; '^ i • 1 V 4 \ h i ■ ; 1 : 1 1 ', ■ 4 ■li 1 .j«j ■b Ixxx GENERAL INTHOD tXTION. cution, nor any prrplcxity as to the point of law ; while it is v«ry rii;ht to punish severely, wanton opposition to the clearly expressed duties of exe- cutive authority. By the Canadian statute, a person must hasten out of the province, or be im- prisoned before he can complain of injury: he must commence his suit in prison, or banishnitmt ; and he cannot commence it with corlainty, that it is commenced within the limited jjeriod of three months; for thi- on'ence charged, may, at the will of the deftMidant, be t?ither that of refusal to leave the province, or some other ofl'ence ('ommitted, more than three months j)rior to laying the<'iiarge: it may be an ollenee too, such as lihel, merely depending upon oj)inion. If the plaintitf has comnunced prosecution for false imprisonment within the limited time, and the opinion of the jury on tlie libel process goes against him, then to banishment, he must add the payment of treble costs: or his trial may not come on to ac(]uit him from a groundless charge, till after the time limited for his prosecuting for damages is expired, during which, unceitainty may have rendered it prudent to abstain from commencement. Knowing, as we do, the violence of human passion, we often fmd excuse for crimes of the most {lao;rant nature ; but w hen we survey the act of parliament in question, and consider that passion had no concern in its fabrication : that it was the result of cool and slow determination : that it should have emanated from a pure mind, and have breathed the true spirit of our religion ORNERAL INTRODUCTION'. Ixxxi otid coijstilution, wiih what horror do we mark) almost ill (vtry liiu', something unchristian, un* co^istitutional, wicked, deceitful, atrocious ! If it is necessary to guard any country against seditious attempts, if it is necessary to give extra- ordinary powers to executive authority, why have recourse to false swearing ? why have any form of trial, as to undenied fact ? why suffer even an alien or outlaw to be wantonly assailed with unproved charges of crime ? why not have a simple law, em- powering magistrates to take suspected persons at once into custody, and fling them, like so much dirt, out of the country ? Such a law, clearly pro- claimed, would be honest; and they who came within its reach would have themselves to blame ; but here is a law which muffles itself up in ambi- guity, and which has dived into hell for snares to entrap the innocent and unwary ; which has arrayed its hypocrisy in pretensive forms — provisions for the safety of its executors, and mock provisions for redress to its victims. I say that the mere view of such a law, even though it may now be repealed, is quite sufficient to induce inquiry into the causes which produced it, and kept it staring from the statute book of Upper Canada for fourteen years. Its mere remembrance is sufficient to prove the vicious policy by which the province has been ruled, and was ruled up to the period of my quitting it. > Weakness is the almost uniform concomitant of vice; and most glaringly does this appear in the Canadian statute, whether we consider what it con- . 1 i- M h! ! l' i ! , 1 } i I 1 1 1 t t j 1. 1 b- I L 1^1 Ixxxii GENERAL INTRODrCTION. |. s ii * I M 1 templates, or has efTectod. How easily could thoti- 8ands of aliens, or others, having seditious designs, steal into the province, and, by renting tenements for six months, unknown to government, yet be- yond the action of this law, and free of the bond of allegiance, remain to design and attempt what they choose. As to removing me, what has been gained by it ? Even without licence from govern- ment, I can yet take my stand at Montreal or Que- bec, and cautiously conduct more deadly machi- nations against colonial administration than I have yet done: nay, were I an enemy to Hritish rule, circumstanced as I now am, and robbed of that protection to which natural allegiance entitled me, I might, without the guilt of treason, place myself on any part of America, opposite the Canadian frontier, wage a war of words, in time of peace, against British interests; or advance, in the event of war with the United States, into the provinces, and have the indisputable right of assailing them with fire and sword. What good has the zeal of Messrs. Dickson and Co. done to Upper Canada ? Has it increased the value, or strengthened the se- curity of property ? has it rendered the people more contented or happy ? has it tended to attract to the province wealthy and respectable emigrants ? Quite the reverse ; nay, even to themselves it has laid up no enviable store of consolation. One ad- vantage to the public has been gained by it; and it is this, that we are now assured that no law can be so villanous as not to tind villains for its execution. OP.NBRAL fNTROnUCTlON. IXXXiii /'' The printinff of this Ornprai introdnclion was suddenly broken «// ike hef/inniu" nf JieremheVt 1820, hi/ a melancholy occurrence^ of which an ac- count will he yiven below, li is recommenced this I>iy, the ^%d of September, \%)l\J Having discussed a subject of the most odious kind, but which could not be passed over either in duty to myself or the public, I shall now proceed to develop the principal design of this work, and must entreat the reader's indulgence, while I re- count some circumstances of my own history, which led to the conception of it. Through life, I have been enthusiastic in my pursuits ; and for the last twenty years my mind has had a leading regard to the greatest evil which overshadows the fate of Fngland — the system of the poor laws. When a young man, having time and money at command, I travelled over England for fifteen months together as an agriculturist, and during that time becair acquainted with the late secretary to the Board . Agriculture, Mr. Arthur Young. One day, in conversation with him, we hit upon a subject to which each of us had devoted peculiar attention. My father, and indeed my grandfather, had been in the habit of letting out small portions of land on a kind of perpetual lease, called in Scotland a /cm, to labouring people, whereon each man might build a dwelling-houso, and enjoy the convenience of a garden. I had marked the wonderful influence which the pos- session of such a little projierty had upon the f 'i ^ i \ \ 1 Mil li !i!l Ixxxiv fiKNFRAL INTHODirCTIOPf. rliaracters ol the pcofik', .i^ivini; them a superior degree of considoralion ainoiijj their neighbours, more steady habits^ and more persevering industrx . I liad noticed with wliat ''orene dehght a hibourer, especially of t\\r sedentary class, woidd occupy himself in his garden at hours not ilevoted to ins trade, and I hatl calculated what an addition, as well to individual as to national wealth and hap- piness, such economical arrangements, generally adopted, might produce. Speaking of this to Mr. Young, he mentioned to me a scheme he had in view, to provide the people at large with a little Uind, and descanted on the great advantages which the poor in some parts of England derived from the occupation of such a portion as enabled them to keep cows. A general inclosure bill was then in contemplation, and Mr. Young was anxious to have his views so far realized, by introducing into the bill a clause by which a portion of land suffi- cient to keep a cow should be secured to each man in lieu of his ancient common right of pasturage, &e. To establish the fact that labourers really derived benefit from keeping cows, and that those who had the benefit, required little or no assistance from parish funds, he asked me to make a journey into the counties of Rutland and Lincoln, where the practice prevailed of letting the poor have land and cows. I went, but after a little inquiry and reflection, being ashamed of plodding about merely to prove a truism, retraced my steps, and expressed a desire to relinquish the undertaking. Mr. Young, however, was now inort? k<>en than ever that 1 f:PN15RAr INTROnirrTFON, Ixxw slioultl U!te his deaigii. Nothing else, he said, wns wanted to make good his jjoint but the au- thority of names, and certain simple facts well mithcnticated. 1 complied, and spent two months much to my own satisfaction, having access, by a giMieral introduction, to all, from the pauper to the peer; but obtained nothing for the Hoard of Agii- culture which could do me credit, or strengthen any hope of success for the grand and benevolent purpose of the secretary. As to the claim of poor people to a suitable por- tion of land, or other equivalent on the inclosure of a common, whereon they or their fathers had en- joyed rights of pasturage, &c. timeout of mind, it was positive and clear, independent of any special benefit which they derived from these; and to liavc passed a general inclosu're bill without a pro- vision in lieu of such ancient rights, would have lieen a dangerous experiment. With respect to the introduction generally through the kingdom of Mr. Young's scheme, there were obstacles which I was assured would never be overcome by the nerveless faculties of the Board of Agriculture, even though the scheme were of itself unobjectionable, which it was not. Although I collected for Mr. Young abundant evidence to substantiate his simple position, and so arranged it, as, at one glance, to exhibit satis- factory results, my anticipations of what would bo done, were too truly verified. The general inclo- sure bill was indeed brought before parliament by. Lord Carrington. the president, but this bill speed- !i ii if r T^W^pP"^ i It ■■ ' i t '.' i . Ixxxvi r.ENRRAL INTRODUCTION. ily went down to rise no more; am] jwrliaps the dread of bringing into public discussion any (jues- tion as to the common rights of the poor bad no small weight in sinking it. Since that period the process of inclosurc has gone on by bills for indi- vidual parishes and commons. Year attex year, multitudes of these have been inclosed, without regard to the claims and complaints of the poor, who have been robbed of tlicir rights, and who, from various causes, have been sinking gradually into a state of abject dependence on parish aid, deprived of property, and finally careless of its enjoyment. Year after year, and at this place and that, the poor, seeing themselves unjustly de- prived of advantages which they had inherited from time immemorial, grumbled, rioted, and were put down. The process stealing gradually on, the strength of the mass was subdued piece-meal ; and, finally, a change was effected, in the condition of English labourers, through a variety and suc- cession of causes, but little reflected on or noticed by political economists and writers on the poor laws. While I despaired of seeing any thing effectual accomplished by the Board of Agriculture, and was justified in my opinion by results, impressions as to the necessity of changing somehow the sys- tem of the poor laws became mor^ and more ri- veted in my mind. My experience in Lincoln- shire and Rutland — my conversations with the poor themselves — with the farmers and land-owners every wh«re throughout England my inspection ", ill GENERAL INTROOITCTIOK. IXXXVJii uf parish records ; and obHorvations made on the liahils and manners of the peopU^, altogether con- sidered un1i « » w » ieW«^ «» W)*W f»' i ' " '' i" ' *i 'u r' ,m" iv«f i i ^!>j«jts.y.i"mLmlm m ■M XCll GENBRAL INTHODtCTlOM. Mr. Malthus, who so ably rcfiitcs nil tlie silly oh.icctions to his theory of the principle of popu- lation, and shews the inconsistency of Mr. Young's writings on the question of giving land and cows to the poor, says, ** I have indeed myself ventured t I hard-working, diligent, sober, and iiulustriuus labourers who have had land and cows, and a numerous meeting of farmers signed their entire approbation of the system. In the abovementioned parishes, rates are, on an average, 174 d. per pound; and but for exceptions of some families who have not land, imd of certain cases and exponces foreign to the inquiry, they would not be one penny in the pound. '• In nine parishes, where the proportion of the poor having cows amounts to rather more tlian half the whole, poor-rates are 3|d. in the pound. " In twelve parishes, where the proportion is less than half, but not one-tliird, poor-rates are ft^d. in the pound. '* In ten parishes, where the proportion is something under a fourth, poor-rates are Is. Gd. in the pound. '• In se\en parishes, where the proportion is but nearly one-sixth, poor-rates are 4s. Ijd. in the pound. «* And in thirteen parishes, where few or none have cows, poor-rates are 5s. lid. in the pound. *• The poor in this considerable district being idde to maintain themselves without parish assistance, by means of land and live stock, and to do it at the same time so much by their industry and sobriety, and consistently with an honest conduct, clearly marked by Ike entire approhaiion of the system hy the farmers, Ssc. their neighbours, is a circumstance which, well considered, does away a multi- tude of those objections and prejudices which wc so oftea hcar%i conversation." CSKIVERAL INTRODHrTION. xcin lo recoinniGiul a geiiGiul improvement of cottages, and even the cow svslcm on a limited scale; and Farmer's Journal, IGtii Suptkmbkr, 181(>. Sir, Oh ilie Stale of the labouring Poor. Bradficld Hall, Sept. 2«1, 181G. Thf.re never was a period in which the condition of tlie lal)oiirinjj poor in atf^riculture demanded more particu- lar attention than the present. The difficnlty of finding- employment with farmers who can scarce pay their rents, and among whom there are many who cannot pay it at all, is such, that the distress is not only great, but general: much has been spoken and written upon this subject; many ideas suggested and plans proposed for relief, which are either impracticable in themselves, or too difltcult to be adopted : probably the truth is, that no plan whatever is well calculated to meet the evil under all its aspects: every variety of situation may demand a variety in the means of relief, and therefore the more numerous the proposals the greater th« probability of their being applicable in specific cases. It is astonishing to me that in the various publications which have issued from the press on the sub- ject of agricultural distress, irone of their authors appear to have searched for cases exempt from the common cala- mity :--are any such to be found? Now, Sir, it is with great pleasure I have to inform you that such cases do exist at present, have existed for many years past, and stood the test of the two scarcities. A most minute de- scription of them was published in the Annals of Agricul- ture (vol. 37, page 514), by a gentleman employed by the Board of Agriculture, expressly for the purpose of ex- aiuiuiug minutely into every circumstance atteiuliug such !' ! I 5* 111 XCIV r.ENKRAl. INTHODICTIOX. perhaps with proprr precnntions a rntaiii portion ofhuid might he i^iveii to a coiisiderabje body ot" civses, iuiti who Iruvcllod through an extent of nearly one hnnshirc. The man who wishes to I CRNEhAL INTRODrmON. XCV the labouring claasos. If the law which ontitlos the poor to support were rrpeaird, 1 should most marry saves his money to buy cows ; and pfirls wlm desij^n to have husbands take tiie same means to procure them : sobriety, indiislry, and economy, are thus secnred; mid children are trained trom their infanry to the culture of a giirden, an• y 'f ;t \\^ M^ XCVIII ORNEIUL INTRODICTION. lation ; and of all hiK disci pies, no one, 1 believe, ever eujoved greater satisfaction than i did on the first perusal of his hook. 1 had for years been em- barrassed in my stndies, on the sul)ject of perfecti- bility, and could not reconcile results in nature with the attribute of perfect goodness in the Divi- nity. The theory of Mr. Malthus dissipated all my doubts ; and though a few pages made clear what had puzzled mc, such is the nature of truth, that I can, again and again, read over the illustrations of the important one, established by the Essay on Population, with renewed pleasure. 1 can go back with Mr. Malthus into ancient times : 1 can ac- company him over the globe, from Britain to China, or from the frozen north to the torrid zone, de- lighted to find that the law of nature is just and invariable ; requiring of man only virtue to roach the highest degree of sublunary bliss, and making misery as surely the concomitant of vice. Balmy, indeed, are such truths ; but how strangely have some been led astray into reflections of the most opposite kind, from the perusal of the Essay on Population ! Mow strange, that the man who has earned the immortal honour of having happily illus- trated a principle so essential to individual peace, and so admirably fitted to be a corner-stone for the erection of a sound and liberal system of political should b^ pj pserved for ever, to give just conceptions not only of the commencement of the French lievolution, but of the great nee J for it. f GIIKERAT. INTRODUCTION. XCiX economy, should have become the butt of acri- mniiioiis censure — should have been accused of desi^njs utterly at variance with the whole scope and ttmdency of his reasoning ! Can we suppose that Mr. Young, Mr. Godwin, and a swarm of inferior note, who have been the virulent and blind opposers of Mr. Malthus, were urged on by mere petulance or spite, — were wanting in liberality ? Certainly not. Both Young and Godwin were be- nevolent men ; but they caught up a wrong scent, ?wid gave tongue to an erring pursuit *. ♦ The above was written in September, 18'JO, and flhortly afterwards Mr. llodwin's last work appeiired on tbo subjty;! of Population. I immediately perused it, und conld iK)t help exciaiiiiing, Alas ! poor Godwin. Such a compound of weakness was certainly never presented to the public ; hut strange to say, the public entertamed for it respect. I hai prtrpared an expose. Th« Edinburgh Re iew bos saved me the trouble of producing it. One of Mr. Godwin's animadversions on Mr. Malthus is correct} that which regards tho rapid increa3< ? i «int ^i Tn tf m >ii IIK.VKKAI. INTROniCTION may r virions insti- tntions : \w tJinost seuius t(» dout on the idea that xUr condition ot nuui is hopt>l(.'S9 : lie cliecrs us too little witli tlic view ot iniprovcinent ; and lie is too rash, ill asserlinu' that tlie poor should be dvprivod ot their rh//U ot niaiiiteiiance tor children, — a right which eiieuMisfaiices have riealed and time (•on- firmed, — without duepreparation and t"airr(|nivalent. W'hi'n Mr. ISlalthus speaks of denying to the poor their rii'ht to public suj)port, he reflects not a mo- ment oil rights, both natural and acquired, which liave been gradually filched from them, and in li( u of which the rirjlit which they now enjoy is the wretched substitute. If Mr. Malthus will make a fair Ijargain with the poor, not only for what has been stolen I'rom tlienjj but which the progress ol' lioine when she is conlin^d — not in the straw : for till tluj second yi-ar nothing so comfurtabU; as straw cau be procure d :-- she ia confined on a misfrabli' stump bed, most scmtily furnisheil, while an ill-made earthen floor is damp from morn to night ; whilu muskitoes are buzzing in every direction ; and a!) the noighbour- liood is infected with an aguish efTluvia, ^drawii forth by the sun's heat, acting for the first time on the crude vegetable matter of the new cleared land. Such situations are not the best nurseries. It is the old settlements which produce and rear most children, and Old England, if all was right, could fulfil Ofni's romuiands — could multiply and replenish the earth as fast as \ew Eoj^land does. ill 1 4 i ^ t ;i!l ( ^' ^^iM 7^iIiW.^''^WMiW*'^^" "'' ■ > ' iii* ' »)m^ti'M^f . !i^ l l^M t fM ' ^^ ^ ^ di GENERAL IXTRODUCTION. civilization has shewn to be necessary and proper for them to possess, I, for one, shall admit the sternest adoption of his proposal. I would cut off their claim of right to public support, both root and branch : I would not only do this, but enact a law, by which charitable foundations should be erased, and erring benevolence kept in check : I would suffer no societies to be formed for relieving distress ; nay, were the streets strewed with the victims of vice and misery, I would say, *' let the dead bury the dead*." * At once to shew that I have been long a steady disciple of Mr. Malthus, and that my eye has not been suddenly bent, either on a narrow, or too rigid reform of the poor laws, I shall here quote two passages out of a book, published by me in 1809. ** Last winter I was delighted with the perusal of Malthas on Population. That work lias set tied all my doubts, after eight years' search for the boundary of human hope ; and if, under the grand law of virtuous restraint, I can say that I am perfectly contented lo live ; — if, under this law, I feel my dignity as a man more complete ; — if, from its most thorough elucidation, I find myself quite at ease, both in my political and religious principles, I trust that Mr. Malthus will consider it no flattery in me to declare my opinion, that he is worthy of the highest honour of his country." — Page 20. Again, '* If the people of England are not educated, misery and the poor-rates must continue to increase among them ; and Mr. Malthus's recipe for bringing back the people to industry, will be vain ; for the people of England, I am certain, would not allow Parliament to declare the right of relief void. That right is one, not founded by law only, but by nature. Every society is bound, in honor, to take care of certain unfortunates: it is the business of society to reduce these in number as nmch as possible by fair nieaua : whatever happens iu the woild, the abstract virtue GENFRAL INTRODUCTION. cm There are two grand principles wliich rouse men to action, necessity oncl ambition; and in ii truly civilized age, when all men shall have fair udvau- taj^es, these will be found sutticient of themselves to admit of all public charities, and of every thing like poor-laws, being set aside. The public chari- ties and poor-laws of England have, indeed, been its greatest curse. They have weakened the efforts of nature: they have blunted the spur of neces- sity, and taken from ambition its lure. It is impossible for any man fully to conceive the mischief which has arisen from the poor-laws of England, without having put in comparison the condition of the labourers in that country with that of those in the sister kingdom. It was from ample practical experience in both countries that I made up my mind as to the causes of difference, — the causes which have brought on England a worse than useless expenditure of eight millions a year; — causes which must be removed before any great advance can be made in the improvement, moral or physical, of this country. The expendi- ture of eight millions annually by no means indi- cates the amount of evil generated by the system of the poor-laws. While that sum is squandered, of this law must remain the same." Pages 123 and l'2t. This last quotation will take the edge from the stern declaration in the text : nor does it contradict so much as it may at first seem to do, the principle on which that declaration rests. Mankind have claims upon each other, of dulij as well as nghl; and this may give a text for discussioa upon wiothur occasion. ,, > , • . f !^ -■iiiftlMMMi ii CIV ^KSERAL INTRODICTION. n\ double that is lost by its degrading the people, and lessening their exertions. Having travelled far and wide, both in EngU.nd and Scotland, since my return from America, 1 have had occasion to notice a striking difference in the respective countries under the present agricultural distress. In Eng- land- this is felt far beyond what it is in Scotland. Petitions for relief pour into Parliament from all pnrt^ of England, while few or none have appeared from Scotland. This srreater uraencv in a great measure springs from the growing evil of the poor- laws. Markets are equally bad every where; but in Scotland the exertions of labourers increase, with the pressure. There, the labourers share with the farmer his distress. They become more obe- 6.' ' dient to his will: they enable him to do more with smaller meuus ; and their wages fall*. In England it is all the reverse. Here there is no spring for industry. In hard times the poor have no increased stimulus to toil; but tall heavier and heavier as a load on their employers, while their employers become less and less able to support hem. Farming in England, from 1809 till IS 17, I could hire an English ploughman for .iM 2 and his victuals, while the current rate in Scotland was from c£l8 to ctSO; and such was the superiority of, the Scotch in point of sobriety, steadiness, and fidelity, that I could atford to bring them from the * Ploughmen's wages have fallen in Scotland from £iH and £20 per annum to £9 and ^10 since the peace. m/^< f *mimmti0ii*^h¥ GENERAL INTRODICTION. «(fi north, and pay tliera even upwards of £^20 per annum : nor would I have limited my number of im- ported hibourers, but for the necessity of em ploy in,^ ' parish poor, who, whethe*; employed or not, 1 was bound tomaintain*. Thisdifferenceclearlyarose from the ditferent circumstances in which the lal)ourer.s of the respective countries had been trained up. In the one country they received education, were inspired with feelings of independence, and cne- rislied hope of gettin.? on in the world. In the other, without education or laudable ambition, they jiad no inclination to exert themselves either for character or gain. To better their condition, one only shift was left them — to marry, and procreate children, in proportion to the number of whom their proportion of parish-pay was increased. While I marked the real diflerence in point of economy, which sprung from the mere training of labourers: while 1 observed the effects of this better trainiiijr in improviusj: the moral qualities, the enjoyment, and respectability of the Scotch, I had the fullest conviction from experience, that the natural dispo- sitions of the English were superior to those of my countrymen; and I more and more deprecated the infernal system of perversion and debasement. What such a damning system would ultimately come to, has been ionj>- evident; but only now begins to be impressive, from its consequences ; * I have heard it stilted as a fact, tliat four out of tivo non-com- missioued officers in the army are Scotcli. It cau readily be ascertained; and is truly worthy of r^Hection, >l\ C' - .>ii i I i : I m CVl GENERAL INTRODUOTION. !;* i and well will it be, if present consequences force on a remedy, while worse h.rvo not ensued. The grand question is, How can the system of the poor-laws be chanu:edP Mr. Malthus having made good his abstract po;- :tion, — having allowed that " the St/stem of ike poor-larva is an evil, in com" parison of which the national debt, with all its terrors, is of little moment^'* and being alarmed v/ith " the prospect of a monstrous deformity in society,** proposes a law, by which the children of the poor should cease to be relieved ; and that to render this law palatable, a sermon should be preached on the subject at the solemnization of marriages. How strange, that a man should have a head so clear for abstract reasoning, and eyes so dim to the consequences which would certainly ensue tipon the very first attempt to put such a law in execution! As well might Mr. Malthus, after a train of abstract deductions, propose to do away, by mere law and ceremony, with kings, whom the madness of the people, superstition, ty- ranny, habits, and prejudices, have confirmed on their thrones. Most certainly, civil war and bloodshed would be the consequence of any such attempt, as well in the one case as in the other. The poor of England might not have had an inherent right to maintenance for children ; and if a clear under- standing had been held in bar of such right, un- doubtedly it would have been well to have main- tained it ; but now, that both law and practice have made good this right ; — now, that circum- stances have rendered it necessary, the case is en- ■ .M ))w , ii> i i / i» n ' #-iii i >* i h' wjt ii wOiH i i i Mn ii' gb;nkiiajl introduction. evil tirely changed. The right of the poor for main- tenance can no longer be done away with by mere words. Substantial have been taken from the poor, and substantials must be returned, if further sacrifices are to be required of them; nor can even this change be effected without cautious prepara- tion and liberal treatment. Though my main pursuit in removing from Scot- land to England, was to examine into the causes, and contrive remedies for the evils of the poor-law system, it w^as several years before I could make up my mind on any point. For two years I inter- fered little in parochial management ; keeping, however, a watchful eye over those who did in- terfere. The third year I became one of the over- seers, and gave minute attention to every particular. In Wiltshire, and some counties round, a system of regulating the wages of labour, was completely matured and acted upon. Nine shillings per week was declared to be the pay of a labourer in Wilt- shire, though in Fifeshire, from whence I had come, twelve shillings per week, and often more, was the customary rate. As nine shillings per week could not maintain a man with a family, the rule was to allow him to apply to the overseer, when he had more than two children, for additional |yay, which was thus regulated. First, the man's wages were set down, viz. : . . . . 9s. Od. Then a value was put on the labour of his wife, say . . . .30 I ; ; j ,1. . . - " Carried over l:?s. Od, . m m ■ i i i rr j i j r i ,i|ii' i i; i| : i i| t ' »i i . >j)i;r i 'l ii l. i ii i)i > iiy(l (ja' ^ ^ ; j|7; i ^ i, ;0 ii| ^ w CViii GENERAL INTKODUCTION. -r.iiuu 1 w ■.^"'a MJt h? Rrought over Then an inquiry was made, as to how much eacli child, above seven vears of age, earned, and tliat was set down ; say .'3,v. for one, '2s. for another, and \s. per week, for a rhird — in nJI 12a. Orf. ) /V":UC>I ". ,"■ !jr;// « xs;. .')lK''i r:'*«il .;').'.. ■ I ■!■•.. i » ,r. i 13 ■ i .;*; ;)^ /,• !'l -ll! tj., Then the whole family was nujnhcred;' say man, wife, three children above seven years old, and three under that aoe, — in all eight persons j for each of whom the selling- price of a {gallon loaf, with 3d. in addition, was allowed. If the gallon loaf was 3s.* then there was to.be reckoned 24s. ^ .•^iivM.ji for loaves, and the 3d. to each of '■'•''•'^■«- '' eight persons, 2s. making '^'.'/ in all 26 From which sum the earninsfs of the '^•^''-•■'' "^ family were deducted, leaving a ba-'^' ' ""••"^"•' lance to be paid by the Overseer, ■'^' 8 The glaring error in this part of the system was setting the wages of the labourer too low. In England the habits of labourers were not so eco- nomical as in Scotland: in England, labourers really required more money to maintain them; but here in England they had greatly less: here a nominal price was set upon labour, 3s. per week below what it was naturally N^^r^ii in Scotland. * With the aboye example, the rule will be sufficiently iridf r- stood. The gallon loaf fnllinfif to 2s. 6d. or 2y,, lowered parish pay in proportion. ■"•ir*" ! \ lif'lNEUAL INTRODUCTION. CIX There was no difficulty in corrcctinjj^ this error. As soon as 1 got to be oversecif of tiie poor, I reckoned tlie hibour of every ahle-bodied man at i^s. ; and thus, at a single stroke, not only h;ssen- ed pariah pay and poor-rates, hut tlid infinite good otherwise. The poor themselves were quite pleas- • ed with this change: not so the farmers; who as t-oon as I was out of olHce reduced wages to i^A*. per week. Tiie farmers had a reason for thjs; but it was founded on ignorance; and to ignorance and had reasoning we niay safely ascribe a full half of all this world's misery. By holding down the nominal wages of uiarrled men witli more than two children, the iarmcrs had chiefly in view to hold down the real wages of single men, and those who had less 'than three children; and they really made good their point,, to the great injury both of themselves and labourers. Thus, while statute- laws have been framed to .prevent manufacturing labourers from combining to raise their pay, a most powerful combination, ratified by the magistracy of England, was at work to keep down husbandry labour below its proper level ; and tlins it was that 1 could hire an English ploughman for £\'2 per annum, while 1 could not hire a Scotch ploughman of the same aj)pearance at less than £I8. It will naturally be asked, why shoulil an unincumbered English ploughman submit to this? And the, question must be solved by looking to a variety of points; and gathering causes from all of them. The whole of the south of England was subjected to the cursed, artificial system of which apart now ii; i i i at OKNRWAL INTRODFOTION, appears. A spirited young man might travel a hundred miles before he could get beyond the limit of the agricultural combination ; and there were few spirited young men in a country where the mass of the people could not read and write. The want of mental energy, consequent on the want of education, aided by attachment to the place of birth, relations, friends, and still more to habits of indolence, caught from what they saw around them, all conspired to enslave labourers, and to enable farmers to trinmph over them in » most pernicious victory. With a few sensible people 1 could prevail by reasoning, avid obtain confession, that keeping down wages by artifice, was wrong and unthrifty; but there was no getting any body of farmers to act in the face of established practice. While in Scotland, I was in the habit of adverti- sing for labourers when pushed by extraordinary need. By the simple means of a dozen or two printed notices, stuck up at public places, 1 have had a hundred reapers come immtidiately to my aid ; and, by such timely aid, I have repeatedly saved my crop from destruction, and harvested it at the very best moment of time. In England, being in want of an extraordinary number of hay- makers, after a tract of wet weather, 1 wrote out a few advertisements, and had them stuck up in the neighbouring villages ; but what ensued ? — My advertisements were pulled down by the farmers : they were exhibited next market-day, in order to disgrace me ; and some men, whose ignorance was backed by bad temper, were actually sulky. Here '2 IS 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CXI is scope tor useful reflection. English labourers, I have siiici, have, nalurally, better dispositions than my countrymen. 1 found the same of Enp^iish , farmers, where not immured in the mud of bad practices, or accustomed to lord it over the poor. .Just in proportion, indeed, as men of all sorts are independent of eaeh other, so much more will they be well disposed and kindly to each other. In Wiltshire, the farmers, in many respects, were ex- cellent men. 1 remember them with the warmest regard, and have the felicity to know, that I am not forgotten as a friend in that county ; but I must say that, to the poor, some, even of the best of them, were totally without feelmg. How ditfe- rent did 1 find it in Lincolnshire twenty years ago. There, farmers were, for their labourers, the warm- est advocates. I shall never forget the occasion alluded to page xcii, where it is said, "a numerous meeting of farmers signed their entire approbation of the system.** While dining with a large party at Brigg, I made known my errand into Lincolnshire. 1 said that Government had in view to make arrangements throughout England, for providing every poor man with the means of keeping a cow, and that I had been sent to inquire whether the practice in Lin- colnshire and Rutland had been attended with good effects. 1 shall never forget the burst of approba- tion which instantly proceeded from all present, and think I yet see the kindly flashes which were darted from eye to eye. Being loth to lose so good an opportunity of giving satisfaction to my em- iWll'H !l " " J'l i !!i i . ' H? W l* >.l ' ■' ?l ' . ' . i « '«' ' i "> ^ i' »> , i)«' -^" \ii ' H i P A..^^ k..dd ^^ d i cxn GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ployers of the Bonrd of Agriculture, I ciillid for pen, ink, and paper, and wrote out a eertififvite, which was instantly signed by every man present ; and which I shall here produce. .,,.,• , ;. m.jIj.j ' ■ • Brifjg, Lincolnshire, H)tl' Feb. li^Ol. ■ We, the undorsigiHid, farmers in the luiguhourhootl (•!" this place, where it is very common to allow Cottaj^tMs land for the keep of a cow, &.c. give it as our opinion that, enabling such [)eople to keen one cow, &o. is a measure fraught %vith excellent ellocts. To the families of tliH cottiiijers it udds ninoh comfort : lo the country, contented people ; and to ourselves, better imd mure contented labourers...!! ... Rob. Holgale T. (ronlton Wm. Sarffeant lioh. Smith John Nicholson John Firth John Jiroiv/t J. Lawrence Thos. Marres Wm, Bennard ■fi'.j Theo. Kirk Jos, Dudding Geo. Soivderh/ Wm. Ihilter Geo. Maw Wm. Richardson Wm. BotieriU Thos. Brooks Jos. Atkinson J, Parkinson Thomson Citrtwright Math. Mate John jV'irshall Rich. Roadie y , John Upplehy Wm. liar grave Win. Brown Thos. West Martin Prankish i" I hope the greater part of these worthy men are still alive, and I doubt not, would be still, and equally, willing to speak in favour of the poor. Looking back to the parish rtekoning for the pay of labour, it may be observed, that while 9s. per week was the nominal pay, labour was in fact high. A Scotch labourer got 12s. and was left to his shifts, whatever was the number of his children. Supposing his wife and children only earned to r; V. K R n \ r. I NT R 01> I ' OT ION. CXIM liirn as much as tlid those of the English pauper, he would have 6s. less to hve upon, or .5.s\ would be saved to the public directly; but this visible and direct saving to the public of .5a\ was very far from being the actual saving. While the Scotch labourer was paid a fair price for his labour, being a freeman, he did more for that 12,9. than the Eng- lish labourer did for 9s. in proportion; and every memluT of his family, left to thems<>lves, were more profitably employed than those of the Eng- lish [Xiuper, who had not the slightest interest in the quantity or quality of the work they performed. The wife and children of the Scotch labourers would fully make up, by their greater labour, the amount of 8.s., paid out of poor-rates ; and thus it may be seen, that by a pitifuiyc/c/i, to make wages ap]K^ar low in England, for the base purpose of diminishing the wages of those not entitled to parish aid, the price of labour was actually increas- ed, and every farthing of the parish pay — the Ss. was merely wasted, while the Scotch labourer had 1 2s. ])er week, the English labourer would have required 14*. owing to his less thrifty modes of living ; and I know, that if they had been allowed to draw in this much, they would not only have made no complaint to the parish ; but every man, woman and child, left free to earn subsistence in proportion to exertion, would have been not only contented, but have done more for themselves, and more for others. In the parish of Wily, under the factitious system there established, it was truly disgusting to sec consequences. One family, with a weak and h m f :■■' CXJV GENERAL INTRODUCTION. good-t'or-iiothiri'^^ croaturc at thchmul ot it, not vvortli 45. per week, yet valued at 9s. and rendered as )rtahl( his li th< d best conitortaDie in nis iivin|T; as me strongest man, whose labour was worth 14."*. Tlje ditJerenoe between the natural and factitious system was best proved in cases where piece-work could l)e agreed tor. In doing piece-work 1 had linglish labourers, who surpassed any Scotchmen I ever employed in the same way. In this piece-work the labourer was paid according to his exertion, and then, in- deed, he did exert himself. My English mowers did their work belter and cheaper than Scotchmen could do, and they earned more for themselves at the same time. An industrious Englishman, left to himself, will work harder than a Scotchman, for this reason, that he desires to live better ; but as a pauper, all that stimulates to toil is set aside ; and' the heads of families impoverished and dispirited, communicate to all below them a greater and a greater degree of hopelessness, indifference, and las- situde. Besides raising ' '» W"* :>>J*» »i '»" ' 'W^ ^ i ^^fll cxx OKM!:KA|i INTliUftUCTlON. ■■ \ cousitlorabljf under the bare allowance which the district regulation has api-ointed for the minimum of misery — viz. a {gallon loaf, and three-pence j>er week. Mr. Dyke, a truly worthy Magistrate, was alone on tiie l)ench at Salisiuurv, when Bet Beunam appeared. IIo patiently heard her case, and was on the point of or- dering- Uer relief, when two reverend Justices anivod. The first asked at cncc of Mr. D. if there was any thin<;j dne, which he answered in the anirmativo. The other, however, Mr. Marshy immediately assumed the M'h(»le au- thority. I assured him it was a petuhar case, and required explanation : that I had explained matters to Mr. Dyke ; and if he wonld permit me, I should again give hiin the particulars. The Rev. Mr. Marsh was much too dictato- rial for this: he would settle it himself by interrogatories. How much did you get last occasion from the Overseer' and how much the time before when \ou applied I and you made no complaint of what you got? then, if you did not, there is no relief for you. Sir, said f, will you but allow me to speak for the poor woman : will you let me state her case? No. Will you not allow me to state her peculiar case? No. Then, Sir, we are at issue. — And thus poor Bet Bennam had her coming for her going to Salisi>L! riY. Englishmen! You are making a mighty bustle about bread, but there is more than bread wanted : we live not for bread alone. If the loaf were at six-pence, it would make no difference to the labourers of England, while the poor laws remain as now, and are thus administered. You do not know the iniquity which has reduced the king- dom to pauperism; — which has stolen upon you, like a thief in the night. It is not your magistrates that are to blame so much as yourselves, who have tacitly confirmed the acts of your magistrates. It is not the laws so much as arbitrary power, which you have permitted to grow up and Overshadow the views of benevolence, and the sub- stantial ends of justice. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CXXl Perhaps you would be displeased were you loused from your slumbers. Perhaps you would disdain to hear of the conspiracy, which has risen up ayainst independence, under your L/\NDE]) OLIGARCHY. Perhaps you would be jeuhuis of a witness born on the opposite side of Ihe river from yourselves. Kut, English- men! you nuist either learn, or be tauj;ht by dire expe- rience ; for out of your present system of parochial juris- diction can come nothing but ruin. - I will be bold to say this, if you will give me your con- fidence, that peaceable arrangements might be formed, by which this system might be entirely done away : by ^vhich in ten years your poor-rates would not be even a tentli of their present reduced amount: by which pau- perism would be annidled ; and by which England would return to its ancient prosperity — return to prosperity, and outmatch the world in the greatness of its virtues. If you deign to bestow on me this coniidence, these arrangements shall be submitted to your judgment. ROBERT GOURLAY. Dep/ford Farm, WiLj, Wills, March a, IHlo, 1 1 1 'I The above little expose was only but printed, when a thought struck me, that it should have a wider range, that it should be published beyond the limits of Wiltshire; and 1 resolved to send a copy to every English peer and member of the Commons House of Parliainent. This requiring a second edi- tion, I flung together some thoughts with regard to the education of the poor, a subject which had all along engaged much of my attention. Among the regulalions which I wished to have established, was n. t A II CXXll GENERAL INTROPUCTION. this, that during winter months, all children under twelve years of age, should be excused from la- bour, provided they were sent to school. It will scarcely be credited, yet, nevertheless, is true, that this regulation was not only abandoned, but all children, above seven years of age, were sent out to labour, for no purpose whaiever but to pre- vent their getting to school *. To attract notice to a practice so very abominable, and to excite addi- tional interest to the subject of poor laws, I accom- panied the above sad story of oppression with the following address. . ^ TO THE LABOURING POOR OF WILA' PARISH. My poor Neighbours, I HAVE now lived among you upwards of five years; and my heart has often bled for the wretchedness of your situation: but, alas! what can a single individual do to alleviate general calamity ? Tlie purse even of the wealth- iest couiJ comparatively do nothing- tor the poor people of England. They however are most welcome to what my pen may effect. Fourteen years ago, I was employed for some months by a branth of government, to inipiire into the state of the * The poor people of Wily were always anxious to have dieir children educated ; and with great pleasure I record a striking proof of it. J^ast April (1S21), while on a visit to Wiltshire, I had scarcely saluted one of my old servants (Sltiphen fVhite) when he hastened to tell me that ho and Thomas Wickhavi, another of my old servants, had established a school for the poor children, in spite of opposition from the farmers. Good God I should such people not Le aided by Governniout ? GENERAL INTRODUCTION. cxxiii poor ; and a celebrated character, (Mr. Young), who had suggested the inquiry, in order to stimulate me then to ex- tend my ideas on the subject, flattered me by saying, that 1 had more knowledge of the j)oor of England than any man bi it. Had the sclieme proposed been practicable, or even hopeful, I should have required no flattery to have lent it mv best aid. As it was, certain ideas were then fixed in my breast, which 1 have cherished ever since. They concern the greatest subject which can engage the atten- tion of Englishmen, — the reform of their parochial economy. After travelling, chiefly on foot, for many months over England, and having the best opportunities of knowing the real situation of the labouring poor, I returned to Scotland, and was eight years there M'ithout losing sight of my object : often brooding on the mighty contrast •which the two kingdoms afforded, — the contrast of gene- ral happiness and general misery : and all too the result of a few simple regulations ; for the poor laws of Scot- land and England are fundamentallv the same. It was always my intention to settle some time in Eng- land, to mature my knowledge and forward my views on this great subject. At the time 1 did come among you, my health also had rendered a change of climate neces- sary ; and I promised myself much from the patronage which might result from connexion with a great man, seemingly so patriotic as the noble duke, who desired to improve English husbandry. My mistake and consequent sufferings are known to you all. Though they have, in some respects, interrupted and retarded my prospects, they have taught me, more and more, to feel for others, who labour under tyranny ; and »iv case mav shew you that this is an evil to be expected by all those who are under the power oi" others. The de- sire to tyrannize indeed is the master passion of the human \ I 1 fl ^ili ^1i CXXIV GENERAL INTRODUCTION. S™. breast, nud it is tliat which g^ood laws should lubonr most to restrain. Riches will always bestow power and foster tyranny, but there is a degree of independence in this country, which wouhli cannot ellbct. You, poor lahourers of England, have lost much of this degree of independence, and of course you are subject to tyranny, and to misciries greatly multiplied. To recover for you independence, shall be my objtjct ; but this can only be eflected gradually. Even with every aid, it might take ten years, as above mentioned, to rescue you entirely from your present de- plorable situation. Instead of being confnied to particular parishes, ns yon now are : instead of ha^ ing your wages kept down by rule, and having to apply at church for part of that pay, as if it were charity, and not the hard earning of your in- dustry: instead of poor infirm women, like Bet Beunam, having to put up with misery itself, rather than bear the scowl of an overseer; or having to travel twenty-two miles for but a slender chance of redress : instead of old men who have wasted their days in hard labour, having to crawl at last into some cold, damp and dreary habitation, with scarcely a blanket to protect them from Ihe piercing wind of winter, anplo of I'itif^'iaud ies to several members of parlia- ment; and the following letter, which I received from Mr. Horner, may, I hope, still assist in fixing attention to it ; for, still, it may he looked to as of importance, and as setting forth one simple mean of granting relief to the poor of England. Sir, " Lincoln's Inn, May 27, 1815. *' I am very much obliged to yon for sending me a copy of the Petition, which is intended lo be presented to the House of Commons, on the part of the inhabitants of your j)arish. The paper is drawn with much ability and propriety, and makes a very forcible and faithful exposure of what I have long thought the greatest practical evil m the system ofEnglishinstitutions, though one of very recent introduction. To remove it altogether, or, even, to check its progress (for it is the very nature of the evil, if not stopped, to go ori increasing), will be found an undertaking of vast difficulty ; not merely because many prejudices, and some corrupt interests, stand in the way ; for these may be surmounted by persevering discussion; but because the correction of this fatal error, must, I am a .id, be attended with some tempo- rary injury to th< • immediate comforts and enjoyments of the very people whose happiness and moral improvement it is our object to secure. This consideration, at least, has always deterred me when I thought of calling the attention of Parliament to the subject : for in all our late discussions about the artificial state of our monev, as well as about th ; regulation of the corn trade, I have insisted, that one of t'le worst consequences of this factitious condition of things was the modern practice among our English farmers, of paying part of the wages of labour out of the poor's rates ; and if 1 could have satisfied myself, that a practical li! ■ \ ] \ !iii • CXXXIV a DSVAWJ. I N TKODUCTION. rorroc.tivo might he devised, that would not impair, for a moment, the livelihood of the labourer, I should, h)ng since, have proposed it to the House as a subject of special incjuiry. It [is with very great satisfaction I see it cast upon the atteriti(Mi of parliament, by a call from the country : (he interest that belongs to such an incpiiry will insure it a very patient and fair attention ; and it is to bo hoped, that by bringing the miuds of many dillerent persons to the examination, and giving thein the aid of others who arc practically informed, some plan may be struck ont, wbi<'h the legislature might adopt with a reasonable chance of success. If you happen to know, therefore, when the Petition is likely to be presented in our House, I will thank you to give me notice of it; for though nothing more can be done this session than to announce it as a proper object of investigation for the next, it may be of great advantage to direct the previous attention of men, both in and out of I*arliament, to the subject." * * * * (Continued on another subject J. =* * * * ** I have the honour to be, Hit, Your obedient humble servant, F. HOlliSEK.' Mr. Whitbread proposed to have the poor of England educated, but he failed. Mr. Brougham has now espoused the cause: will he succeed } — t say he will succeed tor good, only by making his plan part of one for the abolition of poor laws. He has corresponded with lo,000 parsons on the subject : will 500 of them lend honest assistance, and admit of liberal measures ? Mr, Brougham has eyed " the Lion of the Ex- OENEUAL INTJIODUCTION, CXXXV Kxchcqucr, '*(hia speech on tlie Education Bill,)* as if lie would growl at thr cost ; but I am afraid we have much more to dread than mere niggard- liness of expenditure. Parish schools were esta- Idisljed in Scotland during the seventeenth cen- tury, when the poverty of the nation was extreme; and the reader will see in this volume how liberal Canadian legislators have been to this first essen- tial for the improvement of society, the strength- ening of moral restraint, and the bracing of every virtuous energy: he will see that £23 per annum is allowed lor a school-master's salary, wherever twenty scholars can be collected togetherf, \yere * It must be observed that the above was wrilleii in September, 1820. Since then Mr. Brougham's Bills for educiiting thepoor,&c. have beea brought into the House of Commons ; and I have given the heads of one of them in vol. II. page 378, It was said that Mr. Brougham had relinquished his undertaking. I am now most happy to liear that he lias not. He will be the greatest of benefactors to England if he succeeds ; and simplicity only is wanted in the plan. For mnplicity^ see vol. If. page 277. + While travelling in the United States, I conversed ',vith a lady on the subject of education, and told her that it was at so low aa ebb in England, that in the adjoining parish to where J resided, there were only three persons who could read and write; the 'Squire, the parish olpvk, and another (there was no resident parson). Her astonishment 1 shall never forget. She said she would begin a subscription among American ladies, for odticating the English poor. Since this note was fu'st written, the lady alluded to has been named in Miss Wright's Tour through the United States and Canada ; and 1 may therefore take the liberty of naming her, whirhjl do with the highest respect; Mrs. Wadsworth of Gencseo. Every child in America is educated— can read and write. ;:if n^n i M l 'i lB> Wj ' W il!i A'WWI»' l « i'>y ii'" P|iH'' cxxxri CiKNEIlAL INTRODUCTION. \ i h i the cost of education the sole difficulty in the way, such liheral provision from the taxation of the poorest people in America, should shame into libe- rality our wealthy borough-mongers j but I repeat, we have much greater obstacles to contend with than niggardliness, and the thraldom of poor laws is among them. I am convinced, indeed, that the abolition of the poor laws, and the education of the poor, should be jointly considered. They should make part of a vast scheme of national re- generation, in which the more simultaneous every operation proceeds, so much the better. We are arrived at that crisis, when the gravest members of society seriously anticipate revolution, and when public attention has been fluttering over specifics, for the prevention of such an awful catastrophe, till it has become almost careless of its object — almost distracted and hopeless. I have been called a reformer, a radical, and a radical reformer ; and, provided my notions of reform are rightly under- stood, have no objection to any one of these ap- pellations. From those who would bring about any change by violence, I certainly stand as dis- tant as possible; and for this reason, more espe- cially, that I believe simple and peaceable mea- sures may be made effectual for procuring any rational change. Twelve years have gone by since my mind was made up as to the mode, by which the people should proceed to obtain any great na- tional end, It was, and is, by systematic petition- -by every parish petitioning the king or par- timcnt for a specific and well-defined object ; by mg GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CXX\Vli keeping registers of parishes and names : by caus- ing respect tlirough consistency of purpose and perseverance. The presentation of the above peti- tion, which records the strange predicament, in which the poor of England have been placed, and whereby the hope of their receiving the benefit of education rests entirely on the caprice of others who have dominion over them, was meant not only to record so strange a fact, but to lead on the poor to speak for themselves on my plan of sys- tematic petitioning It is with great pleasure I can produce such testimony in behalf of my petition, as that of Mr. Horner, whom every Member of Parliament must remember with esteem and admi- ration ; but i was not so sanguine of gaining at- tention to the cause as he. I complied with his wish, and sent him notice of the day on which the petition was to be presented ; but nothing was done. The vis inertia:, the selfishness, the per- versity of mankind are all against simple and truly virtuous proposals. I wrote no less than three letters to Mr. Whitbread before this petition was presented to Parliament on the subject of edu- cation, and enclosed him a copy of my petition, without even being honoured with the slightest notice. These things I take quite coolly. Poor Whitbread had, by this time, laid aside thoughts of educating the poor, which might have embalmed his memorv for ever in the affections of mankind : he had laid aside such virtuous thoughts, and devoted his greatest efforts to the erection of a play-house. Alas! within three months of the date f: : ]• 1 ■5 .li! I CXXXVIU GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 1 ■' ] ' v|. of mv last letter to him, he left us ! — It has amused me to observe, that Mr. Malthus, in the filth edi- tion of his Essay on Population, has comphniented Mr. Owen for petitionino^ Parliament in favour of poor mauufactuiing children, as I did for all poor children. Mr. Owen's petition was got up, after I had served seven hundred members of Parliament with a copy of my little tract on tiic Tyranny of Poor-Laws, wherein the intention of presenting my petition was announced ; and, to the best of my recollection, Mr. Malthus had a copy of that tract sent to him. Perhaj>s, from that tract it was known that '* the poor laws of Scotland are not materially different from those of Englatul* .'' Shortly before my departure for Canada, 1 had a second petition presented to the House of Com- mons, to record what was farther required for the relief of the poor from oppression ; and to give them practice in the only peaceable mode of pro- ceeding for that end. Th/e following is a copy oi' the second Petition, , . '^ To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament aasemhled, The humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Parish of Wily, in the County of Wiliy>, {the 6th of February, IS17.) '■ Shkweth, THAT on the 31st of May, 1815, a Petition from this parish to your honourable House, was presented by Paul ■' I * See page cxxiii of this Introduction, and page 120, Vol, 11. of Muahus's 5th Edition of the Essay on Population ; ^Iso pag9 274 of th« same volume. 2 GENEKAL INTRODUCTrON. CXXXIX Methuen, Es(j. member for tliis county, on the subject of the poor laws, to which your Petitioners beg leave agaia to call the attention of your honourabU; House. That your Petitioners undtrstood, that, at the close of the last S^'ssiou of Parliament, your honourable liouse had appointed a committee, to take into consi pressure increases as the strength to bear it is diuiinished. Your Petitioners hoped that time and approaching ruin would not only have opened the eyes of all to the real situation of aifairs, but have made it thti first duty of ministers, to have declared the truth, and to have quieted the public mind, by an assurance of instantly altering the scheme of taxation. With utmost dread, however, have they now heard the Royal speech proclaiming, that the evils, which assail the country, spring from temporary causes, and from the transition from war to peace. Your Petitioners deem it their most sacred duty to oppose such sentiments, to deprecate su(;h advice to Royalty, and to declare it to be the very extreme of infatuation to rest under such impressions for a moment. Your Petitioners, being mostly labourers and poor men, have comparatively little interest in the fate of property ; but as sincere friends to peace and good order, they wish to see that which regulates all the commercial transactions of men, and which is necessary to give excitement to industry, kept in its pro- per place : — tliey wish no longer to see real property swal- lowed up and endangered by a bubble, whose increase, under existing circumstances, must rapidly tend to explo- sion, and whose explosion can leave nothing behind, but wretchedness and woe. With a change iii the scheme of taxation, your Petitioners have persuaded themselves, that certain proposals, if adopted, would co-operate imme- diately to revive the industry of the country, and, in a .short i i t \ ii (111 cxiii GKNTllAT. TXTRODTTrTTON. II 4 1. tim**, do away all necessity, both for poor law» and poor Thpsp proposals aro : \st. Thai in wen/ parish twt rnmprcheiiiUd ///, nnr tvntaimnf:; a ttmii of morr than one ihousaml inhahitunti, Cnwernmnit shall lake posxexsion of one hundred anrn of land, hcins^ the nearest clear land to the resp/ loan, so calculated^ as to be liquidated brj rents and purchase-mona/, mentionea below. 3d. That eaeh hundred acres sh,ill be divided into tvo equal parts, as to extent, and in such a manner, as shall b^\st suit purposes in viera 4th, That one of these parts, in each parish, shall be en- closed, and otherxdse in the best manner improved, for the purpose of a common pasture, to remain so for ever. 5ih. That the other half shall be divided into half-acre allotments^ 7nakins^- one hundred allotments in eaeh parish. 6th. That the present inhabitants, male parishioners, of such parishes, shall be allowed immedialeh/ to occupy the allotments, one each; the choice of ' allotments to proceed by senioritj/. ^ 7th. That where the present inhabitants of parishes are not snffidenth/ numerous tooecup/j all the allotments of their respective parishes, oth^er persons shall have a choice, senioritf/ and proximity friving a preference, while any allotment re- mains unoccupied. Bth. That each person, when he takes possession of an •* mimjv ^ if>y . f < w # "i!y' Ca:NKIlAL INTKOnVCTION. cxliii allnfnirnt, "hall (hi'rrht/ hind hiiuulf to pm/ /br/y shilfings II f/ear,ns rent for the same ,- tinrl i i«.» 't* " ' '**" iliXfl' I It cxlvi GENERAL TNTRODUf TlOX, unilerstood by universal siiUVnge. They feel tlitit tlte mass of the people never could be competent, sufliciently to estimate the comparative merits of persons aspiring to a seat in parliament; a'lthough they could well judge, which of their felloAV parishioners were most wortliy of oliices and trust within their respective parishes, and which of them might be liest qualitied to act as parish deputies, at district or county meetings, whether assembled for parliamentary election or other business. ■ .i Your Petitioners therefore most earn<.'stlv entreat that your honourable House will immediately withdraw all taxes on malt, svdt, soap, candles, leather, bricks, and tiles ; contract no more debt ; pay all national chiuges unprovided for, by an assessment on rents and interest of money, increasing the ratio of assessment upon great incomes derived from the same: — That, having done tli^s, your honourable House will take into most serious consideration the above proposals ; and parti(jularly that you will so enact, that every British subject, grown to man's estate, shall have an opportunity of occupying half aa acre of land for its value^ whereon he may establish his fret>- hold : and your petitioners shall ever pray. .. ,, . (Subscribed by Robert Gourlay, and niuety-seven others, of Wily parish.) This Petition had so much to struggle with, be- fore it was presented to the House of Commons, that I published an account of its struggles. (Poor Laws, No, 4.) Seven weeks before it was pre- sented, I sent to every Member of Parliament a circular containing that part printed in italics; stat- ing, at the same time, that such was to make the ground of a petition to the House of Commons a* "S\ ill GRNEUAL INTRODUCTION. cxlvil soort as it assembled. Application was made to both the county members of Wilts, to present the petition ; but neither of them ^ifoing to town im- iiiediately on the sitting of Parliament, it was olFered to three popular men : Sir Francis Burdett, Loril Cochrane, and Lord Foikstone. Sir Francis curried it to the House, read it there, seemingly with great care, and then returned it to me by the hands of his brother, saying, " he liad not time to read it." Lord Cochrane objected to the language, as ** too strong," and Lord F'olkstone spurned it as being *' an act of legislation.*' After this, it was put into tne hands of Mr. Methuen, member for Wiltshire, presented, read, and ordered to be laid on the table of the House of Commons, the 28th February, 1817. > ^ Now, that nearly four years have gone by since this Petition was presented to Parliament, I hope the reader will grant me indulgence in giving a little explanation as to it. F'rom the moment that our courtiers took for granted, that public distress arose out of a mere *' transition from war to peace,'* and that our landed interest relied on a Corn Hill to uphold their rents: — from that moment it seemed well for every one to enter his protest against such mad- ness, were it only to enable him, by a future day, to exclaim, " Thou canst not say that 1 did it." — F>om that moment, it was clear as day, that we were doomed to distress, if not to destruction. The crisis has not yet arrived ; but what thinking man is free from the impression, that we are now every ky < ■ M^-t^co— wi . «*-n .. ^. . ^*-f.. ,. i|.,, ^ ,..i„„ <<*■■««••»»-» V" 'rt'-t Ill GENKRAl. INTRODICTIOM. eli moiiicd interest rising on their ruin; and while they can still purcliasc ease by mortgage, or hy *!' i i l i i i ^iii ( i n 1 1 1 n^W^yi m i i»t . _„ ,, ,„- parishes, gives . . , , J ' ii" ^ ' The quotient h not a Imudrccllh part . , 109 OENEKAL INTRODUCTION. C Iv ncconn)lishc(l, 90 much the better. It is not the intention to mai interior ot" ihi; highlands of Scotland; hut till the Hpringof 1820 was not 30 far north uHGlengiiry and Lochalwr. There I witnensod the wrctchednosH of the crofters ; and wished, most heartily, that govcrnineut might allow me, or some one else, to remove every one of them to Upper ('anuda, that their room in the bighlandw niight be occupied entirely by -shepherds, and they themselves rescued from filth. I cannot yet call to mind the turf hoveU, with smoke spewing out from every pore, without feeling itchy all over. These people would, most of them, willingly emigrate. At least a full half of those I talked with, were keen Icr it ; but, for want of union and nrrttngement, few can move. * While composing this Gkneuai, Introduction, September, 1820, and studyin* the above subject, I began to consider what would bo the consequence if there was no restraint put upon the l^'OAtitioning of cottage allotments; and I wrote to Fifeshire, to ascertain how it had actiudly turned out with the /Vus upon my father's estates in the parish of Ceres. I sent a /'orm under which to range the information required; and have now to present a table, from which the j)olitical economist may draw more than one conclusion. The table was filled up by Mr. Martin, land surveyor in Craigrolhie, a man of great accuracy. • • ■ •"";»i'»(*^l'-^ii'V^Pil>ipii(i|'j|('.' "- -i )i>i| W M >i " C.RNK.UAI. rN'rnODl/CTfOX. civil ll because; vv<; oamiot reach tbc North poU;, \vc should uDt venture ro far as Grccnhuicl. Were STATE of I he FKt S nn Ihr EnnHg of BaUilli/, Seotitarvtt, and Craiffiolhit;, in lite I'arUh vf Ccrm, t'mtnly of Fife. . NAMKS nr OKUaNAI. CRorr DvKt;, flALTiixv. Alex. M'Lacldiin. .lAmo* DonalcUnu Wm. Mite hit 11 ... Kxtdit of (Jriiiiiiil ll'Udcl. A. K.F Utie nf •Ion. i AuArew Dotnlre. M . ClMNCBlNW, 8i|,l Win. HiiTnoii IV III. Mafoii Unit. VVallHCti ... .Iri. Tiiriii« Win. Tliaw , David OUuk .... HcUmi Thaw .. . . , Juini-^i noiialiUou .Fnii. F«'rg:ii!fiia.. .. , Uiiv'ul OoniUiUiiii Wm. Mitclii.ll.... Jiiliii MUcUell Mary Urnid .... W 111. Diiiinlilioii.. Wm. WhI-iOU .... KUz. Piicuirii .... Kbeii. Tur|>lo ,. . . .lotin LawNOit .... Kiipli. Sandemnn Win. I'oat Afrnls Wllkid .Ian. llnnDo Jan. Allan I I I 44 AU>x. Cuiiutiiglinm Katli. I.oiii« Win. lloiiilMrHoii . ,K)bli HiKlpf; .lohn Scolt John M'Konzin .. . John Fm-renter .. . Tho«i. Mitchell Wm. Briinton Alex. M'K.eiizlc ... Andrew Scoil David Nairni; Oco. Brown Andrtiw Scott Wm. Strachau . . . Chas. nirrfil JaH. He an Andrew DiMf<;waU . Auiv Dewar iiabfl M'ljirejyor Jame*) Hiilfuur .. John Blyth May Clark Jail. Reekie .,,.., !l A ^TJ 15 ?• ii « A.ILF. i i 7 6 I 181 () i 10 U 4 IH n lu 0ft 10 (I « 10 1 (t 1 1 17 I 17 •» « 1 i a la Ifl u< ♦ u 10 10 1 I iO «0 •i '4 10 4 9 t «) 5 14 6 I lit I 4 30 1 1 2 H 3 6 0* 9 'i 18 4 «S I i m c Iviii GENERAL INTKOUUC TION. ten thousand country parishes acconimodated with fifty acres each, no inhabitant of a town need be in N\Mrs OF ORKilNAt IFIJEKS. )'.\ICIlt (iroiind leirRcl, Joliu Marshall A.K.F IS ■> ■iH 'J V David lUc H I Wm. MarsUaU | o 1 15 David Seth I 10 I Aiiilrew Spears ■lobnGourliiy .. , John 0(Mir)a.v ••■■ Jainca VVat^im.. .. Wm. Watson . . , , Watiev AdninNoii Tbos. A damson. . ,, John Yiml Win. Adanisoii.. ., David Alarl.iii ,. .. Wm. ("uiiiiiiijrluini Jaun Urylirouph David Wallace liite of Ifi 1 •) »7.?n IS noft 10 iTr. .'4 !i»i Wm. Mai-tin ... Wm. A damson. .Tohii Adnmsoii • ■<•■ 31 M I .ih I 1 I!) (> .'jy 1 I Alex. Hodpe Alex. Olipliiint Win. Mnlthfw (» JohnYi'd ., I 3 H 1 il ii WF.I,UN(,.||0I)5tS. Wm. Marsliiill .. . I David M.uslmll ... ! Rol)t. MarsliHll U'-incaii Adainsou .. .las. Mori.son ...... Uolcii t'orliet .Iiiliii Ailam<«)n .... .Jdltii Moiiri) ,)as. .Si>tli Bi'tty Hrabeiier .fas, Allan .(aiiet Tiawsou W in. Loudeu .las. Blyth Jas. Webs'.er .4iin MCulldoh Ku|)li.-in Ireland .. .. I't'ter Maxiui Ann Airtiu't F.I.S(>ct.lj Carstiwell.. .lolui M.irsliall David Wall.ici: .liilin Ctoiirl.i V KIspeth Uall .ToUn Hlyth Jdliii Mason David Sinrlair ,. . . (j( 7 :{ !> I 7 k A I 1 4 6 3 (> C G 7 7 2 10 A 1 'd 5 ■j 5S k 4 »-9 OS lis £ •<= !-■ Z 's, w S3 r- A.R. r. I to 10 1) 30 J 1 » 1 15 10 D > :{2 d ^ 2 i K) t) -i i) 'i •! i 9 1 1> U IS in t) n 1) \^ \f. n I) 7 7 l» f> I 35 t) 1) u 1 i(t 1 "HI 9 10 at> U 10 1 1) w <0 1 i u 1 91 sir «3 I 1C i'O (1 ini i& 'i 101} (» I GRNERAL INTRODI CTION. cHx wiint : and if inhabitants ot towns were tempted out of them, to have the enjoyment of a garden and common right in the country, so much the better. It nmst be observed thai iho hind measure in the above tabic is' Scotch, which is oiie-fifth part hirgcr than Kiigliah measure. F stands for fall, c([n\vn\cut to pole ; 40 of these making a rood. Feus, not built upon, have beon omitted. Thirty-six original feuors aj)poar to have among them '26 acvea, 2 roods; or about 2 roods, 37 A falls each: O/nd U)6 sub-feuer.-* and li;i jUts luivo exactly 1 rooad. They are unfavenrable to morals, to healtli, to national eco- nomy. In villages of from fifly to one hundred fami- lies every good of combination can be obtained. I n sue!) villages every species of manufactory could find suilicient hands for supplying labour in all its divisions. ' " • c - • , I am at a loss to understand what Mr. Malthus means, by the " improvement of cottages." If he means the improvement of dwelling-houses, there is a rule to be attended to, and it is this; that, every house, to contain a family with decency and comfort, should have a kitchen, parlour, and three sleeping apartments: one for the parent pair: one for male ; and one for female children. The plan and elevation of a Jog cottage, introduced page — *, has this much accommodation ; and is one, in the contrivance of which, I have bestowed considerable thought. Such a one, finished plainly, and furnished with every wooden convenience, could be aftbrded in the wilds of Canada for £30. In England, a cottage, built of brick or stone, and finished as I would wish to see it, substantially and elegantly, would cost .£S0 now; and four years ago would have cost £lOO. Requiring such a cottage to be erected by an individual, before he couUi claim the rights of a cottage-holder, is proper, on various accounts. The difficulty of * The reference is to a plate alivady engnivwd ; and which will iippear m vol. iii. GENERAL INTRODUf^riON. c\x\ acquiring privileges would make these privileges be more esteemed, and would bring into the possession of them, superior merit-, while the after-enjoyment of a handsome plaee of residence would, in no small degree, assist in \jpholding laiklaiiie pride and self-respect. It may be thought, that a common labourer could never accumulate, out of bis wa;^es, the sum requisite for the erection of such cottaue ; but he certainly could, if the rate of wages was fair. It has already been stated, that before the peace, a Scotch ploughman had £20 and his victuals : the half of this could, with eco- nomy, keep him in clothes, and the other half, regularly deposited in a savings bank, might amount to ,tIO() by his 96ih year. Although I have an absolute abhorrence of the spade husbandry, as proposed by the benevolent Mr. Owen, I perfectly agree w^ith him, that moral training may greatly improve the human character. Before AT '. Owen came before the public as an au- thor, 1 hac' publislied my opinion, that " circwm- slances and siluaiion" could mould this ; and in America I have seen it so far verified. Man, in- deed, is a ductile animal, and a good one, when not crossed with tyranny, or ruined from bad ex- ample, lie is more hopeful than Mr. Malt bus would have us believe ; but his training must couuuence before the wedding-day, — it must com- mence from the cradle. As to the "• Cow si/stem,** there is no possibility of introducing it, generally; but so far as a com- m()u adjoining every village would admit ; antl i •I oikii «'KNE R AT. 1 N ril(>T)UO'i I ON', trust that my plan Ik at once economical, sate, anitive right to it, looking back to these last 30 years of spoil, under acts of enclosure. The land, unjustly taken from them, uUder these acts, has amounted to more than would bo required to establish the Village system allover the island. Yes! much more than 500,000 acres have been thus unfairly taken from the poor; and, in another way, they have -also been gradually and ruinously deprived of their property. Ry prevailing regulations, no person is entitled to parish-relief while he has any real property, li^ he is put to it, he must, swear that he is' poor ; — that he has neither cottage nor gar- den, cow nor calf; that he has nothing but house- hold furniture and wearing apparel. What has ensued from this kw ? Why, that not one in a hundred of English labourers has now a sheltering place which he can call his own. Almost univer- sal!} the poor have been obhged to part with their 'cottages and gardens.. The infernal poor-law sys- tem forced them to make this sacrifice. The stout- est, most active, and most willing labourer, could not inaintain his familv, after the combination to keep down wages was formed. There was a posi- ■ ■.»HI&* fc i»**' ^ | GENERAL INTIlODrCTlON. (! Ixiii tivc necessit^'^.for his applying to tlio parish for relietjund this rehef lie could not have till rot- tage, garden, and all was surrendered. For many years sore struggles were made to maintain inde- pendence, and keep possession of th<' little spots which, since England, was, had descended by in- heritance from father to son ; but it would not do: indeed, it was foolishness to hold out ; and it be- came a common saying, that '• a coUage and (jar- den was the icorst thing a poor man could haue" Let the reader pause, and reflect upon this: let him think ol' consequences, — heart-sickenin<^-, appalling, ruinous consequences. What is pro- perty good for.^ for what has God created it? what, but a desire to possess property, can spur on the mass of mankind to exertion ? what would we be but for this desire ? yet liere are millions of til ^ English people in whom that desire h^s become extinct,' — who must pass through life, ani^l never enjoy ^he delight of having a home which they can call ineir own. VV hat does Mr. Malthus say, to this ? Is there a single word on the subject in his whole book on population ? When we look to the index of that book, and run over iiie many heads, under which the poor and poor-laws are spoken of, dp we find a sin file word retiarding this? Do we find anv thing of this in the chapter which treats of " /he only effectmd mode of impromng the condUion (^' the poor P*"^ No: not a word — not a syllabj. ; yet, ii) this, is the grand secret; \n this is the germ of hope; in this is the one tbiny uetdful. Let but clxiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION. f I the poor have a little property to befj:ia with — m little stock ill trade; let them have a home, which they can call their own, with the hope of indepencf- ence, and all will go well. God instituted property, and clearly tells us that, by the proper use of it, we can rise to excellence ; but without proi)erty or, the chance of acrpiiring it, no good can be expect- ed of us. I have rapturously expressed my joy in accom- panying Mr. Maltlius from eai-lier t'> later times: from north to south, and from west to east; anon, musing on the abstract truth, that, in proportion as men are virtuous, so are they happy: but am I to dream only of this abstriict truth ? When J have obtained full information as to " Ihe checks to papula tion^ in the lowest stage of society," — " among American Indians," — " in the islands of the South Sea," — '' among the ancient inhabi- tants of the North of Europe,*^ — " among modern pastoral nations,'* — " in different parts of Atrica,^' — " in Siberia, north and south," — *' in the Turk- ish dominions and Persia,'* — " in Indostan and Tibet, ^^ — •' in China and Japan," — " among the Greeks,*' — " among the llomans," — " in Norway,'* — " in Svve(^en,'' — " in Russia," — *' in the middle parts of Europe,*' — "in Switzerland,'' — ''in Fran.'e,"- -" in England,"^ — '" in Scotland and Ire- land,'' — when 1 have obtained full intbrmation as to the checks to population, in all these countries, ancient and modern, and in every stage of society, am 1 to fall asleep, and give up all inquiry as to th(^ means 1)V which moral restraint may l)e l)racefP CGNEUAL INTIIODUCTFON, C Ixv Ara 1 to make a jumble of crude ideas, and satis- fy myself only of this bare abstract proposition, tliat all checks to population are "resolvable into moral restraint, vice, and mis<. ry '!>> Am I to rest satisiied with the belief, that the ])auperH of Eng- land may be exalted in character and conduct bv a »d th< mere sermon ; and ttiat, too, on their wedding- day ? What! lecture a young couple on that day, against intemperance during the honey-moon ! ! Really, Mr. Malthus, there is no wonder that you have stirred up indignation. Nature should not be so provoked — so wantonly outraged. With all my admiration of the theory of population, I must hold your practice in derision. You make me think of an astronomer fixing his eye so intently on the milky-way, to discover its specks, that he forgets that there are stars of the first mag- nitude in the firmament. That " population must always be kept down to thelevel of subsistence," — that "^vhen unchecked," it may " increase in a geometrical ratio," that ** po- pulation, could it be supplied with food, would go on with unexhausted vigour;" and that " the in- crease of one period would furnish a greater incr\}i;;»e to the next, and this without any limit," &c. ui- all truisms, which any child may understand, 1 am convinced, with Mr. Malthus, that a nation's^ strength does not consist in the mere multitude ol' its people ; but in the moral and phy&ical strength of the individuals who compose the multitude; and, most assuredly, there is great room for improve- ment in this vvav. Bred to farming, I clear! v conj. clxvi OI-IXl^.RAr. INTttODtJCTrOX. i preheiid Mr. Malthus, when he speaks of having good stock, instead Of bad' stock, oi>a"farm; but the example which I have given, from experience, of the ditTerencji between Scotch and En£:lish la- bourers, one earning ^20, while another earned but .£12, renders all resort to figurative comparison unnecessary : ii is direct to the point. And when it clearly appears by what means an English pauper may be madq as good a man as any Scotchman whatever, why should he hesitate in resorting to the means for delivering one-half of the nation from misery, and another from the burden of poor- rates ? The simple means is to give the Englisli poor a chance of acquiring property, a ho])e of- in- dependence ; and see the effects. Do but this : edu- cate the young, and free the old from vassalage. Only I.5O years ago the Scotch tvere very brutes — the basest rabble on earth; but the institution of parish schools wrought a miracle : I may, indeed, quote my own words on this subject, written, in 1815: *'The Scotch, in one centiify, were the most unprincipled and desperate ma^raudtrs ; in the next, they were examples of sobriety and peace*." As soon as the poor rascally Scotch got the rudi- ments of education^ they began to work their way to independence ; and th(3y sought for it all the world over. Let ♦he Englisli have the same ad- * Hifiirr TO Church Property secured, page 2i. Who- ever ■wishes to see a true picture of the Scotch, prior to the Refor- mation, should look into Limdsay of Pittbc^ttib's IIistouy of that time; The chanfje of cluiractef siiice is truly stfikiiig. (;ENUKAL INTllODtCTlOX. clxv i,i :iM vaut.igc, and they, in like manner, will prolit by it Hut I have said, that '* snbstantials liave l)een taken tVoni the poor (of England), and that su'o- stantials must be returned." Even with education^ the poor of England cannot hdya suck a chauce as the Scotch had ; and that, because of the existing state of property. 1 do not know il' there is a siiiglc parish in Scotland, where the labouring classes do not ])ossess considerable property in houses and land ; or, where they cannot find plenty of cottages and gai dens to purchase, or take on lease, in Eng- land, it is all otherwise. \ cj[.uestion if the poor of Wiltshire, were they emancipated to-morrow from parish bondage, and in the way of making money, could, in one parish out of teq, get land to pur- chiise in small lots, op even have cottages for rent ; aiRl that veady accommodation, in this way, should liC furnished them, is of the first importance. I have said that at least ^500,000 acres have been unjustly taken from the poor within the last thirty years; and that in this time, too, they have been obliged to surrender their cottages and gardens. However unjustly and impolitically all this has come about, no restitution can be made of the very commons, — the very cottages and gardens, that have been taken from the poor ; nor is it desirable that this should be attempted. Assuredly, how- ever, the general right — the abi>tifuct right, to resti- tution, is good. WiW Mr. Malthus deny it? VV ill he deny the propriety, .justice, aud good policy of restitution ? or can he find fault with my lUode of icstitution—my plan fur execution ? J^auded pru- i clxviii (i£Nb;UAL INTUOUtCTlON. I: perty is often seized upon, paid for, and applied to public purposes, under acts of parliament ; and, if a hundrodth part of each parish was so taken for the accommodation of the poor, it would he no great encroachment on the rights of private; pro- perty. Some seven or eight years ago, the Jiath Society gave a gold medal to the write r of an essay for proposing to purchase up land all over the king- dom, to be given to the clergy in lieu of tithes. This proposal was monstrous in a variety of views, but still it shows that people can bear with such a proposal. On the enclosure of commons, it has been customary to set aside one-seventh for the tithe-claimant, and, if we suppose tithe-claimants, throughout, to be entitled to half as much, here would be afourtetnth of the whole kingdom to be purchased up, and appropriated, for the mainte- nance of 1.5,000 parsons; not more than a thou- sand of whom are effective in the vineyard ; — if we can listen to such a proposal with patience, how readily may my proposal be entertained of purchas- ing up a hundredth part of the kingdom, for the accommodation of a million of families; and for the removal of*' an evil, in comparison ofivhich^ the na- tional debt, with all its terrors^ is of little moment,*^ It is of no avail for Mr. Malthus to be sending into the world edition after edition of his Essay on the Principle of Population,*and gradually entrenching himself for more than twenty years within fast- nesses of logic, if he does not come to some point: It is of no avail to be arguing nice points in poli- tical economy, or registering truisms, if no prac- nUhli i« C';1i:m:k.\i. introdictioin. c l\ix tlral issue is reachV*! : it is of no avail to l)c vpn- turiuf; *' to recommend a t;cn«^rnl im[)rovem<*Mt of cottages, and even the cow-system, on a limited scale," if nothin<; is dune. Mr. Malthns has said, diat lie ** should most highly approve of any phm which would tend to render audi repeal (the ri![)eal of the law for public maintenance to the poor) more palatable on its first promulgation." Well then, I submit my plan, and challenge Mr. Mal- thus to find fault with it. My plan was laid on the table of the House of Commons, before Mr. Malthiis published the 5th edition of his Essay on Population ; and 1 do not suppose he was igno- rant of it ; yet not a word is said of it. Now it will bv better known : and now I challenge not only Mr. Malthus, but the whole world, to say in what it is wrong ; or to state what ditliculty lies in the way of its adoption. Mr. Malthus hints at building cottages and leltiruj them to the poor ; but this would be a mighty expensive and com- plicated matter, vi'hile it would produce no grand efFect. He also speaks of Mr. Estcourt's plan of providing for the poor, — of letting land to the poor, at Long Newton, in Gloucestershire, (North Wiltshire) ; but this is all trifling. 1 have repeat- edly been at Long Newton, seen Mr, Estcourt's provision for the poor, and inquired into his plan. It is nothing more than a second edition of the cottpr-rigs Of old Scotland; and its continuance rests with Mr. Estcourt's will and pleasure. Mr. Estcourt can deprive his poor tenants of the ridges now let to them; on which they grow a little ■ ij«i«'^miiipi <^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WfST MAIN STRUT WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0 (716)872-4503 >^;of man. But though it be necessary, yet, in its *excess,iit is. the great malaily of civil society. The *«ceumulation»f^hat power, which is conjivmed pi/ wealth in the hmvds of the fetv, is the perpetual ' sotirce of oppression and neglect lo the mass of ^mankind. The power of the wealthy is further concentrated by their tendency to combination, 'IfVom which numbers, dispersion, indigence, and ignorance, equally preclude the poor:" and again, he says, ** There never was, or will be, iir civi- (I ■ in ^ clxxti UGNERAL INTRODUCTION. lizcd society, hut two grand intereytts^ that of the Rich, and that of the Poor." If Mr. Malthus is ** 51 Christian indeed:" if he is an impartial philan- thropist, he will start from such premises as these, on his pursuit after truth and happiness ; and not suffer himself to be biassed in his career, beggared in his con., l''-i ';)/^" 1 1)1 i> U I mM , oi INTRODUCTION ' .' • - TO ' ■ • ' SKETCHES AND TOWNSHIP REPORTS ->;<©':•. OF ',!: i\- lir';,< .'•) « I .n;;m UPPER CANADA. >> J r luu U n] (•■.<>11 •" -).Hi: ^4^,iiit:>'r;)l(?' The Sketches were prepared for publication in 1811, but laid aside in consequence of the war which broke out in 1812. _^ -^cf, ,j, ,A ■. f. ,, ^ On the re-establishment of peace, the writer revised his Sketches, and inserted accounts of battles, &c. of which he had the best opportuni- ties of being- correctly informed, again intending to publish, but, for reasons not communicated to me, that intention was relinquished. In 18 hS the manuscript was offered to me, as a fund of ma- terials for my Statistical Account, and I had a writ- ten order to receive it from a printer in the United States on my way to England. When shut up in Niagara jail, it occurred to me, that I might beguile some dreary hours by pub- hshing in Upper Canada the Township Reports, with a general Account of the Province, from my own knowledge, so as to have the whole improved on the spot, by additions and observations of the inhabitants, for rendering the publication in 4 ^ iS ■ is 4 ■ill ^ll ill clxXXvi GENERAL INTRODUCTION. England more complete. I took steps towards this, and had the Sketches sent to me; but they did not arrive till after 1 had t'ourid it impossible to accomplish my purpose, and I did not give them an attentive reading till my return home. Here I found the work so perfect, the style so good, ami the statements so candid and impartial, that I judged it wrong to pull it to pieces. 1 conceived that as a whole, it was better than any general ac- count [ could draw up, and would be more pecu- liarly interesting, as coming from the pen of a na- tive American, and one who had been long resi- dent in the province of Upper Canada. tu * To assist the writer's description of the falls of Niagara, I have introduced a ground sketch, which, together with the vignettes in the title-pages, will, I hope, be serviceable; but uo description, however assisted, can convey an adequate idea of nature's most splendid scene. . The Township Reports need no other intro- duction than the following Address, which called them forth, n ^w ^^tvj tt u*j: ijn* *f..?' Uwr>r;uuh?*« .'•ff Thk Kksiuknt jLANn-OwNMHs Qv Ui'PJiH Canaua. ^^jiKjil,r'a-.rtf» fpr Queenslon, Ocioher, 1817, ft ■. -1 Gentlemen, 1 am a British Airraer, and liave visited this province to ascertain what advantages it possesses in an ugriciiltural point of view. After three months residence I am con- vinced that these are great, — far superior indeed io what GKNKHAJL INTUODtCTlON. cUxXVii ■■|i the motiicr cuautr^ hus €VLr hold out, either as Ibey cuu- com speculative purchase, ur tiie proiits of preseut oci!u- putiun. '.,...).', t.. .,.^. ; Under such impressions, it is my purpose, as soon as fircumstances will permit, to becouie a settler ; and iu thr; meantijue, wonld \vilJin<^ly do what lieat in lU) power to beuuiit the country ot" my cht)ice. ,.i, ^, jr .«^i^ \Micii I speiik in this isauguiue manner of the capabilities of Canada, I take it for granted that certain political restraintjs to impiovemont will be speedily removed. (»ro\v- inj^ necessity, and the opinion of every sensible man with whom I have conversed on tl\e subie<;t, gives assurance of this. My present Address, tlierefore, waves all re-jard to political arrangements : it has in view, simply to o[>en a correspondence between you and your fellow- subjects at homo, where the utmost ignorauc e prevails with respoct to the natural resources cf this line country. .^^ , Travellers have published passing remarks, — they have told wonderful stories, and amusyd the idle of England with descriptions of the beantiful an u lUl m vv I I i \ V '■' clxXXViii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. tress, but can produce no important good to the country. Canada is worthy of something better than a mere guidance to it of the blind and the lame : it has attractions to stimu- late desire and place its colonization above the aids of ne- cessity. Hands no doubt are necessary, but, next to good laws, the grand requisite for the improvement of any country is capital. Could a flow of ca[)itul be once directed into this quarter, hands would not be wanting, nor would these hands l>c so chilled with poverty as to need the patronage of charitable institutions. At this moment British capital is overflowing; trade is yielding it up: the funds cannot profitably absorb it: land mortgages are gorged ; and it is streaming to waste in the six per cents, of America. W^hy should not this stream he diverted into the woods of Canada, where it would find a still higher rate of interest, witli the most substiintial se- curitv^ -'3'i.iW-« w^^'^^-^-y iyi■^i^;rvt. * Mr. Home, the Editor of the Upper Canada Gazette, w^1en he was first setting up the types of this Address, wished me to substitute the word no for small, which I would not consent to. Mr. Home, I dare say, will recoUwt this; and, I h«ve reasons for keeping it in mind. .*i>''^'t(,i ■♦ b V^^ ,;u'^■■:^<^■i■^ !*iJ> 1' jcv'n Ml GKNERAL INTRODUCTION. CXCl government has end«»avoured to foroo h settlement, satis- tied 1110 as to the CHHses of the too notorious faiiare there. It convinced me that the fault by no means rested v^itii the incapacity of the settlers, but resulted from the system pur- sued. I have since spent a month perambulating the Genesee country*, for the express purpose of forming a compari- son between British and American management. That country lies parallel to this : it possesses no superior ad- vantages : its scttiemont began ten years later ; yet I am iuhamed to say, it is already ten years before Canada, in improvement. This lias been ascribed to the superiutr doK- terity of the American people, bat most en-oneously. The art of clearing land is as well understood here as in the States : men direct from Britain are as energetic, and after a little practice, sufficiently expert with the axe, while they are more regular in their habits and more persevering in Iheir plans tJmn the Americans. >^'i'{«'^ .'«i •' u/i jrj« i,«t?. No improvement has taken place in flie Genesee conn- try, which could not be far exceeded here, under a proper system. It was indeed British capital and enterprise which gave the first grand impetus to the improvement of that country: much of its improvement is still proceeding under British agency; and one of its most flourishing townships is wholly occupied by men, who came, with slender means, from the Highlands of Scotland. In the Genesee country, the government pocketed mach, but forced nothing, and charity, there, has been left without an object. ii'l •ii i«t< I. ;*u f -4xt ,it.t>>i • i.*H*f^lt \i \",\. *w»pt il UJ.,-^I.f ♦ The Genesee country^ contQining near five "millions of acres, extends eastward from Niagara river about 100 miles : is bound- ^ cd, on tho north, by Luke Ontario, and on the south, by Pennsyl- vania. The river Genesee nms through the middle of it ; and that word, which is Indian, means in English, pkasavX mUey. , ^„ 6 Jh= '.» fc* -., 4 »* »■- .---.f i-tUf Hi- I |J.:| |! I il CXCII t;RNKRAf. INTRODtrTfO.N. GentlbMEN, — The iuquiries nud observations wbich I \m\e recently made on the Rubject of settlement, assnre me, that neither in tliose Provinces nor in tho United States, has a proper system heen pursued. The mere iiliinjir iff tlm world with men, should not be the sole object of political wisdom. This should regard the filling of it with beings of superior intellect and feeling, without which the desert had better remain occupied by the beaver and the bear. That society of a superior kind may be nursed up in Ca* nada, by an enlarged and liberal connexion witii the mother country, I am very confident; and its being realized is the fond hope which induces me to come forward with my pre- sent proposals, and which, if these proposals meet with sup< port, will continue the spur of my exertions to complete the work which I have now in view. Many of you. Gentlemen, have been bred up at home, and well know how superior, in many respects, are the arrangements and habits of society there, to what they are on this side the Atlantic. Such never can be hoped f(»r here under the present system of colonization, which brings out only a part, and that the weakest part of society — which places poor and destitute individuals in remote situations, with no object before them but groveling selfish- ness — no aid — no example — no fear either of God or man. Is it not possible to create such a tide of commerce as would not only bring with it part of society, but society complete, witJi all the strength and order and refinement which it has now attained in Britain, beyond all precedent i Surely government would afford every facility to a com- merce which would not only enrich, but eternally bind to- gether Britain and her Provinces, by the most powerful sympathies of manners and taste and affection. '-'■•^ Government never can too much encourage the growth of this colony, by a liberal system of emigration. When we come from home, we are not expatriated ; our feelings as British subjects grow more warm with distance, and our Il GENERAL TNTUonrmoif. rxcm greater experienoo toaclios ns thr inf»r« to vonernte the principles of our native l.uid — the country wheroin the scit^nctjs hrtv€' in.ule the grimtest progress, and where ulono are cultivated to perfection the arts of social life. At home, we have experienced evils: we know that inHnenccs nro there, which war against the principles of the constitu« tion, and counteract its most benevolent desists. J (ere, we are free of such influences, we are perfectly contented, and u Hue field lies open to us for cultivating the best fruits of civil and religious liberty, hihtk^ uair iwt nf'*n' •»i|Oftt An enlarged and liberal connexion between Canada and Britaii*, appears to me to promise the happiest results to tho cause of civilization. It promises a new jera in the history of our species : it promises the growth of manners with manly spirit, modesty with acquirements, and a lovo of truth superior to the boasting of despicable vanity, {u r J The late war furnished the strongest proof of the rising spirit of this colony, oven under every disadvantage; and pity it would be, were so noble a spirit ever again exposed to risk. The late war showed at once the aftection which Britain bears to Canada, and the desire which Canada has to continue under the wing of Britain. When a connexion is established between the two countries worthy of such ma* iiifestutions, all risk will cease. Britain will no longer have to expend her millions here. This country will not only be equal to its own defence, but the last hope of invasion will wither before its strength. While Canada remains poor and neglected she can only be a burthen to Britain : when improved and wealthy she will amply repay every debt, and become the powerful friend of the parent state. : • What I conceive to be the lirst requisite for opening a suitable communication with the mother country, is the drawing out and publishing a well-authenticated statistical account of Upper Canada. This cannot be ellectcd by a single hand: it must be the work, and have the autiiority of * • ■wvl i .|» i { 1 txcir GRNRItAl. INTRODICTION. .'■; ( 1 i I", f 'i I Humv. To H:ivii it voinmcncenuHit, I Nuiiniit tor your t-oii- siderfttion the auiioxed qanriOH; wui cuuld tUc-so be n^iilicd to, from livery township in thu Provincti, tlm work woiiUi be tar tulvttnc«*d. Thtv^t; ({uericH havo lie<^n shewn to many of the moiit reHpectMlde individutilM in the |>f<»vint:e, and the Hcheine of coUoctin^ omterialM in this way, lor u statiHtictU account, hiiA, by every one, been upprovid. Some have doubtetl wb^her there e\i.4t!i Huflirient energy and public spirit in the remote townships tu reply to them. I hope there is; and certainly no urji^iiiiiod townihip i.s destitulo of individuals quaUiied for the tusk, y Uiey wUl but lake so much trouble, » *«» <*'«< •?•« ^v--^**''.. m^Uul Some |«t nilenien have mot my ideas so cordially as \o offer to c;(dU'Ct information, not only for their own, Imt, for other townships. Correct informatio:!,. however, is not tlie only requisite: autliority is aUo wanted of that Kpecics viilikth will not only oarry weight with it to a distance, but remain answerable on the spot for wluit is advanced. The desirable point, therefore, is to obtain replies ttepdnttety from eueh township, and to have these attested by the sig- nature M' as many of the I'espectable inhabitants as possi- ble. To nocom))Msh this in the speediest and moHt elfectual manner, a meotinfv might bii bdd in each township, anJ in the spacie of on honr or two the basiness might l)e perfected. Hjw yitif.Kfi miH'' .■iKi #»fu:'iH«u i-Sat h**->HA'i ».» The Queries have been drawn out as simply aH possible, with a view to the practicability of having them answered in this general way. They embrace oidy such matters as it must be in the power o<' every intelligent farmer to apeak to, and the information to be obtained by them will be suflicieut to assure farmers and othei-s at home who have money to engage in adventure, that adventure here, will ttot only be rational and safe, but that they themHelves tnay sit down in Canada with comfort and independence, n^ < Although, to prevent confusion in the general fulfilment ■ ■ ■ 'i : . < II • . ■• • .' . • I ORNRRAL 1WTIU>I>1;GTIy iimv liHTit niMde oonovruing- ttte i-)i- mutt>, noil, or cu4livuUoii ol'Uie province. 8iiould uuy correiipondi;ut dislike my iisiiip^ Mn nuiM pnblioly, ho need oiily give a cantiou, and it slmll h*> ob* siiivod *. If tiie Qume.H obtain ntilice, and suflicicut documontH aro forwarded to me, 1 shall arrange and publish thtnu in England, "whither I am soon to return. Had this tank re- quired superior ability, .such an ofter wtmld be prontimp- tion. 1 think it requires industry alouu, and that I Mhall contribute nio.st willingly. Whouvor thinks well of the scheme, and feels a desire to promote it, let him not hesitate or delay : prompt assist- ance ^ill be every thing; and, as to trouble, let individuals compare their's to mine. Though I gnituitously Tm\k« offer of my time, I must he relieviad of ex|)eDse as uuoli ai poiutible, and bUmH »xfact vUl commuLiucativus to be pu«t pa^d. No pertion, I thiiMd who intti^-e&tti hit^sclf at 4fU in the waiter, will jgr^^a hia^ item in this way. Divided amongst many, such charges will be trilling, but accumulated upon one, tl.cy would be senous. ^* 4a-A 'H*^ .. •v^t'vi.V-'^ !ftV»>\ ♦Ai '. • 'iVK-t.^'i i»V' -i,* * "^ * These lines were thrown in at the suggestion of the printer at York, who thought few people would choose to give their names, as authority. So very different was the issue, tjiat I have received only one communication out of nearly a hundred, with a feigned signature. I mention this to the honour of the people of Upper Canada, while I express my regret for admitting of a supposition that any one would hei*itate or withhold hi^ name ill support of the information required. '\ \ fi I p 1 1 '■I -. i i CXCVl GENERAL INTRODICTION. Should the work sdcceed to my wish, I would propose not only publishing- it in the English, but German language. It is well known that the people of that nation are most desirable sottlers, and it is a fact that many of them have not the means of conuuunicating- to their friends the very superior advantages of this country. One of them, who has been in Canada 13 years, lately told n)e, that *' ton- " sands and tousands would come over, did they but know *' how good a country it is for poor peoples." , ^ n^ tv^< i.:>uf.;.|. i, ; ,, :r.; ROBERT GOURLAY. N. B. Address all communications for me, to the Post Office, Queension. 'It, 'V 5 J-.i^! t '','.j-i-' ■ wU ';l J2. G- [See Queries, page 270.] "" »•' .'fi'...; .>.■•■,( j.>t iM,' .?. a ^. v: ;; 'v'-' TO THE PEOPLE OF UPPER CANADA, 'r IS'; .. ^ (^Among whom m^ myfurioiis Foes andfneble Friends.) Iriiui » .>'? >''!. ?:> ^ •»•>'*<- ; ■■. Canadians, ■' " '■ Had this book appeared twelve months ago, as it might, but for accidents, my intention was to have dedicated it to you, in the hope that your representatives would do nothing in parliament till a commission of inquiry was sent home. Your representatives have played the tool; but, of this, elsewhere. "^rKsi tv» "V!;'; "t.i'r .L'»i^'i;inmV* ^ i - '-^^f* t«^|fM»**^ < "< n' f»> J ^ Ill i I I!: I' f CXCVIll GRNKHAL INTROBCt'TION ccmber, 181<). Arriving at Kdinhurgh theotliofthc same uioath, I heard, tbr the first time, that my lather had breathed hiz last, and proceeding to Fifeshire, devoted a month to sympathy and con- dolence with my afflicted mother. Towards the middle of January I returned to Edinburjfh, and im- mediately waited on an eminent bookseller, to ofl'er him for publication, *' A Statistical Ace 3U«t OF Upper Canada, written by Tiifc Inoa- ui.TANTS." He informed me that he had bad lying by him for some weeks a Statistical Account of Upper Canada wr>ttei> by Dr. Strachan of that province, which had been sent home recommended for publication by Sir Peregrine Maitland and the Attorney General : that he had, vvithiw the last two days, returned tbi$ to Abt^rdecn, refusing to l)e its pubUsber; i..jd, hftving refused Dr. Stracban's work, he could not, Uesi«id,in{>ropriety publish any tbing of tine same kind for me. I theu entered .into tireiily with another bookseller, aiid flattered my- self that I might not o»ly ^et the Statistical Ac>- count published, but have petitions presented to tht: Prince and Parliameot lespectiwg my treatment at Niagara^ sa as to- sail for Quebec by the spring ships. At this moment^ the Kind's death, and cotise(iu^nt dissolution of Parliament^ dissipated these sanguine expcctatio»s, a ad made me thiek ot' dedicating some time, now of less coiwjequence, to the restosation of my health, which was indeed wretched ; to th€ pleasure of viisiti»g Hay friends ; and th« cjijoynient of viewing, once again, the varitjd and charming scei^ery of my nativ*' laud. Mi-.i..'.,. tr.^^ <.»£NFiltAL INTMOplJCilON. CXCIX On such errands I made u pedestrian excursion ; first westward, through Lanark, Renfrew, and Ayrshire 5 and then to the north so tar as Peterhead, Inver- ness, and Fort William ; having the additional ob- jects, in these quarters, of inquiring into the situa- tion of the Highlanders, and ol their inclination to emigrate; as well as of inspecting the Caledonian Canal, that I might the better make up my mind ns to that of the St. Lawrence. It was the beginning of May before I got back to Edinbura:h from this second tour ; and here I found Dr. Strachan's book advertised under the title of "A V'isir to Upper Canada, by James Strachan,'* a brother of the said Doctor ; the adver- tisement setting forth that the book <;ontained " A brief account of Mr, Gonrlay^s proceedings as a reformer in Upper Canada : the whole being care- fully drawn up from materials furnished by the author's brother y who has been twenty yean in the country f and « member of' the Government." Although I never heard of Strachan till 1 was in Upper Canada, I had no difficulty in getting a correct history of him. "About the year 179.3 this, now, Honourable and lleverend personage strolled south from Aberdeen, where he had received a little college learning, and was for a white preceptor to the children of a farmer in Angusshire. Aftclf this he got to be schoolmaster, first in Duninno, and then in Kettle, parishes in Fifes hi re, attending St. Andrew's Col- lege at the same time, as an irregular student. ..-. The Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of Gladsmuir, in East JHl 1 |ii:| 1 ■ i > cc GKNKRAL INTRODUOTION. Lothian, my \vife'» undo, Imvinu; a commission from a friend in Upper Canada to send out to him a person qualified lor a family tutor, offered £.30 a year to procure one ; and Strachan agreed to go out. Ife went ; and after teaching privately for some time, became again a schoolmaster. In this situation he married a widow with some money and good connexions: got orders to officiate as a minister of the church of England : was appointed to tlse rectory of York, the capital of Upper Ca- nada ; and, finally, became, in addition, honorary member of the executive council of tho province*. All this was certainly creditable; but our Dominie would not rest with the performance of his many duties of schoolmaster, parson, and councillor. He was not contented wrth ^whipping children ; but attacked an ex-president of the United States, in a virulent newspaper article, to which he set his name as " Rector of York," and published a pamphlet abusing the late Lord Selkirk for his at- i !i * Since the above wus wrluen, I have seen it announced in a newspaper, thai " the Mono.irable, and Reverend, and Doctor Strachan is appointed MomVier ol'tho Legislative Coundl," and I doubt not wo may, by and by, hear of his being BJHhop of Upper Canada: so my hero i? not a little man in every respect. The roj>der will fiud in thia firat volume repeated allusions to him, made -while I yet. intended to withhold hia name. My changed plan of publishing has brought it forth in this place: has introduced it in tlie Appendix ; and most conspicuously in the Explvnation of TiiK Map prefixed to volume II. which the reader nould do well to pl' tlie imjst eomnion «pecie« uf information ; and what is still worse, the handful of idea:) he bus, iure buried under a niuuutain luad of prejudiooi). Indeed, the only thing' new in the book is the superlative ignorance that runs tJuough it — an ignorance wliic-h charity might luive overlooked, had it not been acconipaiiietl by n<) small share of [)resumption. Mr. Strachan has been niove;*<>. j Ml M»iJ.>r» 'vjii rtt f »*^ Though the reader will not learn (unless hy inference) f;KNKRAL INTRODUCTION. fCIII that llio rigour of the rliniuto MUispend.H the oportitton« of litiftbiindry, Jiearly iivw morttJH of tlw yoar, in I' ppor, and nix months, in Lower Ciinadii ; or, Ihut the whole ctmntry is roniirnMl inuicoitisi!)Ie lor ul>o>it on<' hall" of the year, by sea, iVoiri \\\v, ice : ami llloll^il he will look in vain lor other I'autJ 1)1' iu iniiiih in)|>f>rtanco, we »ro iar from xayin^ that he wUl find notiiin^ in it wlticii he Ikvi .seen before. On Iho ly intprove; but Ihi.s improvement forlnnntoly slopK at the boundary- lino; rthd If we ftdvance. a little farfher In flw; same direc- tion into tho I'liitcd ytaten, natajr«> kladly revorse.i tlic coursti of thin^4, and hetufcu fruvfntt upon democrats and luvellerH, in a Htiarilki sod vuid pe»tiloiitial atmotiphere. Hi- th(Tto it hu.s beiui suppiiiied, that Canada had it» shore of niavsh fever.s, because it has its shm*e of the hot summers and .stagnant waters that produce them ; but this, our auUior says, is a mistfike, and these causes ol' disea.so oj)eratb only in the United Sfates, and su.spend their ui- flu(;nce in favour of the loyal Canadians. So perversely Ig- norant, however, are emigrants, that fla^ enc(»unter all these evils, and pay a. high pri<;e for worse lands in the United States, than they could gel in Canada for lujthing. ft had been often stated, that a [)oor man might better his <,irc,umstauces by going to thi>» c<^ony ; but it was reserved for Mr. Strachan to discover^ that tlwue is no place in the world equal to Canada for men of large capitids; and anu)ng other advantages, by which he allurt.s tlw^m t4> Icftve Britain, he says, they will b^ able lo tnUmate their ohil- dn-n.: though be did oot (ind the colony in a stale; of fusur- jifection, as he expected, he found i1 haiWr«pwrti'< i mift i ! | i>i- ' . jp ' ■ \ I .il ,^ ^ ■ i % ■ I CCIV CENERAL INTRODUCTION. principal menibers of opposition were unworthy in private life. But "we have said more than enough of so poor a pub- lication, whose absurdities will be a sufllicient correction to its errors. :-• >' » /'ti, -'..., U " The reader must not forget, that the hook here spoken of, was '* wrilten by Dr. Slrachan^ and sent home., recommended for publication by Sir Pere- grine Maitland and the Attorney General.^* This makes it of consequence : this stamps it as a docu- ment — an expose of church and state; and because of this, I have considered it worthy of notice. After perusing the twelve pages of scandal, in- tended to injure me, I had the curiosity to read over these pages a second time, to note with my pencil the falsehoods, untruths, and misrepresent- ations, therein contained : and how many does the record make of them? " Thirty-ticio falsehoodst thirty-eight untruthst besides misrepresentations throughout.'' So much, at present, for the work of the Honourable^ and Reverend, and Doctor Strachan*. .■H;\.iiJ?ii"A.\ } )ii'/ ,^i M \U yfiA »U .*if'*-''>^tl'i * Although twelve pages of the Visit to Upper CANAPiV are devoted to abuse of me, I am not the sole object of its .scandal. " A Montreal auctioneer" is attacked in the management of his private affairs ; a man who had sinned publicly, by manly con- duct in the Lower Canada Parliament. He is known to me only by some of his speeches, published in newspapers, which ap- peared very good indeed. Then, again, the feelings of the family of Capt. Brant, the celebrated Indian Chi(!f, are wantonly and cruelly injured. Capt. Brant is spoken of as a *' miseriible man," of " savage ferocity," — " puffed up with his own im- portance," as having " frequently discovered a want of gratitude to the British goverameut," and ao forth. I never heard Capt. . ^ '* fe » J W» ^ l Knrt »l lW■ '> v W 'liMiJBii n >i Hiii i ni i i t*i g * a » ite »^itMiiiaiiw > fi i *w '^^ ^lun i fa I m u I I I miMnvmn ' KW j OKNERAL INTRODUCTION. ccv ' The first parliament of the new reign beinj^ now met, I was anxious to get to London to pre- Bmnt spokon of in Upper Cnnadabvit in tenns of respect ; and on visitin<^ his son uiul (lauglitor, rosiiliMit at Wc'llinj^ton Sijuaro, in the district of Gore, had the sati-ifactlon of fiiulint!; them in inai»- nersi, conversation, and conduct, equal to the best bred people of our own nation. I record the fact with peculiar pleasure, ns a proof that North American Indians require only education and good habits, to elevate them from the savage state; and that thero is nothing in the breed (though wo may bo partial to our own) to prevent their being civilized. In the sequel it will be found, that I distinguish these people by difToront appellations. Some distinction was necessary. Those residing within surveyed bounds I call l.idians; those still ranging the wilderness, navage^. I do Tiot wi?h the word savage, however, to be taken in the bad sense. The poet, who sayp , , , - '* When wild in woods the noble savage ran," did any thing but mean, that this hv'xng was brutal, cruel, and remorseless; and, in fact, the North American aborigines were noted as being brave rind generous. I deprecate every attempt to alter the condition of the Indian, as long an he itt a hunter. In that state he should be left alone: in that state he is happy and useful in bis vocation. The middle state — that of half-hunter, half-cultivator, is the worst ; and I have recommended that Go- vernment should instantly make an effort to advance those Indians, who are surrounded by settlements of white people, by education and training to industry. The half-hunter, half-cultivator, is uni- formly lazy, mean, dirty, and altogether a worthless memb?r of society. . ^ ^, _ , >2.t. 4 -*W( J--, i-i.^^i'^r , 4^5, < •■ But to return to CJapt. Brant : it Is worthy of record, that he was not oven present at the destruction of Wyoming, as fancied by Mr. Campbell, in his beautiful poem of Gertuude of Wyoming. Several respectable persons are .still alive, in Upper Canada, who can testify as to this; and it would be well if Mr. Camjbell, iii his ne.\t edition, would note this, to correct wrong impreisions, which his poetical licence, in speaking of " the monster Brandt," may create. The name is Branl, not Brandt. ( ' 'I i iii ■ T ; i i ' »!< g ! !;i!#^i!i J ,Wi ' | ! f^* y iB!i«g '' \\ CCVI GENERAL INTRODUCTION. I': sent to it a petition, witli regard to the state of Upper Canada ; and also to proceed with my pub- lication. I was unexpectedly detained in Scot- land a few weeks, owing to the death of u family connexion, and only got to town by the ^»th June, as mentioned above, page xlix. On the 2tith July this volume was put to press ; Jind soon afterwards was advertised for publica- tion. I told the publishers that it would be ready for dcliverv in a few weeks ; but was little aware of the delay which might be occasioned by the preparation of plates. Three, then in the hands of the engravers were not ready till tbo. 1st of Novem- l>er ; and three more, found necrs^ary for illus- tration, were still unfinished the 2d of December. On that day I received a letter from my wife, in- forming me tliat she was taken ill ; and her con- cluding page too clearly indicated tbe progress of decay. For three day^ I remained in London powerless with solicitude : a letter from my daugh- ter inspired hope and resolution : I departed for Edinburgh ; but arrived there only in time to beai- the mortal poxt of my dearest frie«d to the grave. Ever since my horrible treatment at Niagara, I have l>een the victim of nervous malady. 1 had so far conquered this before coming to London, by extraordinary efforts; but my great and unex- pected affliction now thrust me down, and sub- jected me to the most deplorable weakness. During three months' stay in Scotland I was wholly unable to go on with the work of publica- tion. I invited a gentleman, well gualified, to iT'-"ilii-iriii>;i»»l»*»« , Hl |iii ie sent out forthwith to Canada; l)nt after sitting with him Tor some hours, I found myself wholly unahle to direct his endeavours, [ could not then, in- deed, sum up four tigur.!,? i » lie suggested that I should oiler to accompany Sir R. Wilson to Naplcjs, in the cause of independ- ence. I was a sincere friend to the cause ; but Sir U. Wilson had disgusted mo with his book on Egypt ; and thence I had believed a story (which 1 now discredit), of his having played the eaves- dropper, by attending a conference between the Emperor Alexander and Buonaparte, disguised as a livery servant. What I said of him, under this belief, required explanation. I spoke of it to my friend, and it was resolved that I should communi- cate my intention, aud explain afterwards. Upon this, I addressed two lines to Sir Robert the 24th March; but in two days more it was an- nounced thai the Neapolitan people had shrunk from their enterprise. They were, indeed, betray- iM •iH m ■i H^ Ih 1 •:\ ! CCVlll GRNRRAI. INTRODUrTIOPf. eand giving in to be one, at a time of absolute feebleness, has led me to confirm the declaration of Ciibbon, the historian, that ** the courage of a sol- dier is the cheapest commodity in nature.'* 1 started ot!*, westward, the "3d of Ap^il; but on the second day's march was knocked up; and had to reach Devizes by coach. Here a worthy old friend readily accommodated me with a pony. 1 visited Bath, Warminster, Salisbury, and returned to Devizes; shaking hands, as I journeyed on, with dozens of my brother farmers and other friends ; not forgetting the poor ones of Wily parish. Not only the people, but the very soil of Wiltshire, re- mains dear to my remembrance, — its bournes and its downs. Seven years of ray life were spent in Wiltshire ; — most interesting years of isunshine and cloud. Wiltshire gave birth to five of my children; — to one of them a grave, — a grave over which the niggard church refused to perform its QCNr.R.VL INTRODUCTION. rcix rites, — rites which f liohl nt nought biit for np* pearances ui' dfccncy ; ami ilwsv arc set aside Hhere superstition iuis coittroul • ! ! Cheltenham watcrH restored mc to licalth six years ago. 1 rode to Cheltenliain, and tried the wa- ters a second time, without avail. I then returned to Devizes, delivered up the pony to my friend; and niarcheil to London, now somewhat strengthened in body, but still unfit for any continued mental eftbrt : I had, in fact, lost the power of eombiuiuii- my thoughts, and iiad to rest under such grievous affliction. '^ -'!^ '^''J ■'' • ."'^ ; • i On the 7th of May an article appeared in the Morning Chronicle, seemingly prepared to draw attention to the true principle of reforming th? poor-laws, for which Mr. Scarlett had given notice that he intended to brin^; a Bill into parliament. In this article authority was quoted from my little publication on tlie subiect, Thk Tyranny of Poor-Laws, in oppositio!i to the sentiments of Mr. Cobbett, and, on the 8th, Mr:. Scarlett's Poor Relief Bill was- brought into the House. This could not fail to be highly interesting to me; and it proved electric : it had considerable effect in rousing my still feeble mind to action. It was in- } i 1 1 * I had a poor baby which died suddenly, during her third night, while unchrislened ; and, because of the ceremony being thus accidentally neglected, the parson had to obey the Ilubrir, and deny his presence and prayers at the fifneral. I woulit write black over such Rulrric. O . ^y'vif 1 1 'i ; t J. i: i 'I ■' 'I » I ^ ! . 1 ■■ ■ i ' ' ft ii ^ s 1' I I ccx GFiNRHAt INTRODIXTION. deed curious that my little tract, which, six years before, had been presented to 700 Peers and Com- moners of Parliament, and obtained for me thanks only from two, should, at so eventful a mon^ent, be thrust forward by an unknown hand to mv aid. This little incident, together with a hope that .i commission would, before the end of the session, arrive from Upper Canada, to call for inquiry into the state of the province, made me every day more and more anxious to recommence my work of pub- lishing the statistical account; and after the second notice of Mr. Scarlett's FJill, on the 94th May, I at last resolved to be up and doing. 1 had doubted, from the bt^ginning, if one volume could contain the mat- ter jjrepared for it. My hope of gaining increased public attention, because of INIr. Scarlett's motion, added to the expectation that a commission tor Jn« quiry might immediately be expected home from Canada, gave me courage to put a second volume io press, and to lay the foundation for a complete deve- lopment of colonial affairs. The parliamentary de- bate on the Constitution of Canada, in 1791, seemed peculiarly worthy of being brought into view, upon the occasion ; aiid the prmtiQg of it requiring no eflbrt from me, i, thereby, made a beginning. Be- fore that and llochefoucault's account of Simcoe*s government were printed off, I became afraid of being unable tQ make necessary coiHiments ; but was fortuna^te in getting a friend ^o- carry me to Jirighto«„ where, for a week, in the beg^inaiiog^of July, beinef refreshed with air and exercise, 1 made out to- write, as it is, the Review which follows these GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCXI transcripts, in Vol. II. and whicli, I trust, m^>' assist my endeavours, however imperfect the pei- formance, got up by feebh?, feverish ♦ and dis- tracted cogitations. During August and Sep- tember, my health was such, that I became wholly unfit for the work on hand, which was now inter- rupted for weeks together. To>yards October f found it necessary, a third time, to fly fVom town for relief. I spent a week nt Margate for the be- nefit of sea-bathing: made an excursion round the coast of Kent ; and but that I was now assailed in London and Edinburgh, with infernal torments in the courts of law, should have been vigorous. Thank God, I have, at this moment, been able to. set at rest every care ; and, at this moment, am better in health than I have been since the day on which I was illegally arrested, and confined within Niagara jail. , This narrative must not be taken ami^s. It U necessary for my protection against calumny to re* gister all my movements — where i have been, and how employed. You will remember that when in Upper Canada, 1 was accused, in consequence of an infamous elander, piubiished by the London Courier, of having been engaged in the riotous meetings of England, and of beih^ a promoter of insurrection: you will remember ot a poor mad* man declaring before a public company, in Little York, that / and Hunt had been accessary to the death of Cashmanj and, very probably, you would learu from the Albany and New York nevcspapei^, that, after leaving you, I visited Mr. Cobbett. o2 i\y. Ml\\ .^^^^ m f i» y>n.« iw«— ■" ■f' ■J ' ''t«7^««vtM^«iw^■ 11 ^r 11 f i « i J .■ '. i '( . f: — i! I ecxu GENERAL INTROl5tJCTrONr. Perhaps Stories are now circulated among you, that I \Tas at. the bottom of the Cato Street conspiracy : headed the rebels at Uony Mnrr ; or am now plotting- -insurrection with thvj radicals of London. My good friends, England does not contain a more rosoliitefoe to riot than myself; or a |>erson so completely alone in political concerns. Hefore I had connection wiiii you, I had, in inany publications at home, deprecated such meetings as those countenanced by Messrs-. Cobbett and Hunt ; and there is not, of the thou- sands in this country who have been acquainted \i^ith me, a single one, who would not laugh at the verynsound of tny being a participator in confusion and nvurder. I frankly confessed to you in Canada, that i was acquainted with Messrs. Cobbett and tJurvt: that in many things I admired the former; and that 1 had seen the latter most shamefully mal- treated at a public meeting (at Devizes], only a fewlweeks before I left home for America. All this was qurite true ; but my acquaintance was slight and accidental J and still I was opposed • to their piiWic measures for obtaining reform: indeed; at this.day^,! think they have greatly injured the cauae; It: was quite true, th?tti I visited -Mr. Cobbett att New York. I went from Albany to Nf?w'r¥iork,, because of ii: report that my brother was^ther©,;' andi remained there five days in search oft hihi; : During that time I read Cobbett's Year's Residence, in which Mr. Morris Birk- bv?ck is so severely dealt with. Mr« Birkbeck was, for several years before he emigrated to Ame- rica, my most intimate friend: he was " a friend indeed." When misfortune came upon me in GENRRAr. INTRODUCTION^. CCXIU England, am my all was in jeopardy^ Mr. Birk- beck (who, by the, by, is called by the villain Strachan, '' a bad man") ofVt- red to carry me ^nd my family to America : ofl'ered to give me a farm there: to stock it; and supply money, till I could find it convenient fo repay him. Was, thi& the act of " u bad man ?" It was such an act as 1 shall feel grateful for while I have existence^i (r.".f) 1 ■f /' irk- 3ck m * Few men have boon more scandaloualy misrepresented ar.di .ibused than Mr. Bifkbeck. When he crossed the Atlantic to America, he performed what he had contemplated for years; and what he conceived to be a duty to his family — liis most amiable family. He was sanguine in his expectations, and he wrote as he' felt. It was natural for him to wish many emigrants to follow him, altogether independent of pecuniary gain. The idea, that, lie was chieily actuated by this, in giving favourable accounts of. Illinois, is absurd. The very first flight of emigrants, who foU lowed him, could soon expose delusion, or stai to others theic disappointment; and nobody, who got there with money, could be under any necessity to purchabe land from him, while millions- of acres were for sale at the pul)lic land offices. Other people, who have gone to Illinois, besides Mr. Birkbeck, have been high- ly pleased with the choice they made ; although, for my own part, I should wish to settle further to the nortli. I have con- versed, since I came home, with an Euglishman, who Imd settled, in lUinois, and found him quite delighted with that country ; and I have heard the same from the correspondence of others; besides, liaving a series of letters, all in unvaried strain, from my friend. Mr. Birkbeck was bred a quaker; but, by an' by, rose above, the rigid. discipline, which requires attention to non-esseutials of religion, and left the Society ; though certainly not its good , moral habits. I never, indeed, knew, a man more; correct as to, these, — more pure in conduct and conversation ; and of this, the . Society, 1 beUeve^ is sensible. One of the most rigid of thie So-' V' m i .! CCXIT AiKTHHRAh INTRODUCTION. Ahhougb, by the failure of my father, I, was de- prived of my stock in business, 1 had still annuities and provisions for my wife and children, I was not altogether deprived of the means of living. My wife was delicate: my children were young; and upon the whole, it was advisable not to accept of tiie kind offer of my friend. When I read Mr. Cobbett's attack upon Mr, Birkbeck, it was impos- sible for me not to feel pain ; and a passage con- cerning Ellenborough and Gibbs filled me with horror. I called upon Mr. Cobbett, to remonstrate against such writings; but Mr. Cobbett, by this time, despised every thing which stood in the way of destroying the boroughmongering system of Eng- land. Emigratioii to America had, I conceive, appeared to him a lessening of that pressure which, at home, might tend to his favourite object; and therefore nothing which could check emigration seemed to him sin. Ou this subject there was i^o reasoning; and we talked of other matters. The .'.S'JOi?',- SiiU\ 1 '-'■.!". i,yj. ' vti.'tttf'- ■* rwi i.'^^/I.i J i'l: ! iwi r« j • i'<;t;-:K: tilETV OF Friends, speaking to me of Mr. Birkbeclc, weed these words, •* We are sorry for him, but love him still,*' -' •• t- - . One bad habit Mr. Birkbeck got into, which was, using the word religion, when he spoke of and meant hjjjocristf; and in hk Letters prom Iu.isoi«!, he has stirred up prejudices, owing to the too careless use of this word. In one of my letters to him, I expressed my regret for this, and bo thus wrote to me, in reply, nnder date the 1 1th March, 1819: " I have been ready to wisk I had not written just as I did ; or, rather, that I had expressed my reverence (that reverence which I cherish in my heart), for Religion itself, when I spoke lightly of sfmn religion."' t^BNfittAL iNTKODtTCtlON. CCXV Manchester massacre had recently been heard o^. Nobody reprobates that transaction of our magis- tracy more than I. Mr. Cobbett felt as 1 did: he extolled the bravery of his friend Hunt: he talked most warmly in favour of England and its comforts ; the beauty of its hills and dales; the excellence of its people. I told him how I had been treated in Canada. He magnified to himself, a dozen times over, all that I said of provincial villany. He got into an agony of wrath against despotism ; and finally, though I had gone to rebuke, I shook hands with Mr. Cobbett at departure. He asked me to sail with him to England; and, but that I had made previous arrangements for coming home by Montreal and Quebec, 1 should certainly have availed myself of so good an opportunity of getting better acquainted with an extraordinary man — a man with whom I never in all things agreed, and to whose principles I would now, less than ever, subscribe; but whom I, as assuredly, "adiwire in many things # if ( ^'.Jivi r p * The reader wiU excuse tliis digression about Mr. Cobbett, when 1 have stated, tliat, ray frankly acknowledging that I knew him constituted the leading charge for which Mr. Wrn. Dickson had xne arrested, ordered out of the province, and committed to jail. His questions and my anavers, when brought under arrest into hid presence, were these; " Do you know Mr. Cobbett?" — " Yes." — " Do you know Mr. Hunt'i"—" Yes."—" Were you at Spa Fields met'tiug?" — " Yea." — *' Were you ever in Ire- land?" — " Yes." — " Were you lately in the Lower Province?" ^" Y«8."— •< \V?re you lately in the United Stales .'"— " Yes." i1 i«>i('i( ii i I ' l i rfiu n mn [ii«i iiii-W '|i . * i iM . ' .v6^ « * m \m:j«. ■»>il W»!* )f* "( Tr' 'h 'r ' GENF.RAL INTHODIJCTION. CO XV 11 In the years l^l4 and 181.5, Cobbctt's Uogistor, which .1 always read, untV still read, seemed to be been at Spa Fieldd mcf^iing — that I hiew Mr. Cobbett, and " ad- mired liim in many things," — that I also linew Mr. Hunt; and had seen him very ill usod at a Wiltshire county mooting, a few woeks borore 1 left England for Canada, Good God! for these frank acknowledgments wan 1 cast into jail; detained thero till both my body and mind were a wreck; cast out into a foreign land, 40tX) miles from homo ; to come home, and liad tho sad consequences to be, that my whole aftaira had got into confusion, from my detention in Canada, and that I was too late to have u parting conversation with my aged parent, which of all things I desired. 1 was a couple of days in Ireland, during tho rebnllion of 1798. Mr. David Melville, now writer to the rtignet in Edinburgh, then a boy, was my companion. Wo vvero travelling together through Wigtoushiro, when, urged by curiosity, 1 proposed crossing to Ireland, and we Imd passports from the conunander of the forciis to proceed to Blaris camp, and view the ground where a battlt; had just before been fought — tho battle of Antrim : so much for my being in Ireland. After I was honourably acquitted a second time, on a trial in Upper Canada for false charges of sedition, I hurried olF through Lower Canada to New York, to dispatch intelligence of my deliverance to my wife, and to make arrangements for a longer stay in Canada, having written polite and conlidmg letters to tho Duke of Richmond and Sir Peregrine, Maitland, thinking my- self sure of civil treatment from them on my return to Canada. I dispatched my business at New York, and forth- with returned to his majesty's dominions j but, inits ii,ii ^ ■ ' .( l\ \ ' \ CCXVIIl GENERAL INTIIODUCTION. falling very low, and, indeed, had become unplen- sant from interterences with religious feeling. Re- ligious feeling, I conceive, should never be nuul- dled with. Religion is a matter between every individual and his God : a matter quite distinct from politics, and with which politics should never clash. Paine had just credit for writing his KiGHTS OF Man: he received just condemnation for his Age of Reason; wherein he makes mockery of what was sacred to the feelings of the million. The publications of Hone and Carlilc are objectionable in the same way, and they are injurious to the great cause of reform. Thoy dis- gust many of its well wishers : they involve weak men in vain disputatious: they generate rancorous feelings: they stir up animosities. They ought ne- vertheless to be leftto free circulation. In the United States, where there is perfect freedom in this way, I never saw any thing like those rank publications, which it is the oVyect of the despicable and suppi-ession of meetings by deputy, I excUiimed, " Gagged, gag- ged, by jingo,'* and wrote down some doggrel, jingling to these words, to sustain good humour on bo melancholy an occasion. A magiBtrate, to whom I read the doggrel lines, laughed heartily ; and, as a French comic author (MoHere) ti«ed to let his wit go io the public, provided it made his old housekeeper smile on the first rehearsal, so in making some remarks on the gagging act of Upper Canada, I headed these remarks with my doggrel rhyme of "gagged, gagged, by jingo;" vulgar enough, I acknowledge; but, really and truly intended to keep the Canadians somewhat in humour with chains clenched by their own representatives' in par- liament: so much for being in the " Lower Province," and '* the United States ;" and so much for, " gagged, gagged, by jingo ! !" CF.NRRAJ. INTRODUCTION. CCXIX Left senselesH Bridfi^e Street Gang to hunt down, to themselves, they speedily disappear. Mr. Cobbett occasionally attended the Wiltshire county meetings. In 1815, I called upon him, in Salisbury, while attending one of these meetings, to remonstrate against the admission of articles in his Political Register, which were offensive to religious feeling; and, I hope, he felt the propriety of my remarks. Towards parting, I expressed, Vehemently, my abhorrence of the cruel treatment he had received (fine and imprisonment) because of a mere exclamation of feeling for British soldiers, Jashed under the guard of German hirelings. Mr. Cobbett felt the sincerity of my declared abhorrence, and most warmly did he advance to shake me by the hand. It is well known, that men of the first rank once coveted the company of Mr. Cobbett ; and men of the first-rate respectability, intimately acquainted with him, have told me that they never knew a more pleasant man, nor a better father of a family. A strong sense of the corruption of go- vernment, great knowledge of the selfishness and sycophancy of mankind, and dear-bought expe- rience, from persecution, have tended, perhaps, to harden his feelings, to render him regardless of ordinary rules of conduct, and to make him vain of himself ;-*-.nor is his right to be vain small. He is a remarkable character; and his name will be as lasting as English history: if not as a great man, at least, as a curiosity. Since coming from America, I have never seen Mr. Cobbett. On ^^e 7th of October last, I passed It! II! i ' ! i \ i ccxx CiENKRAL. INTRDDUCTION. through Kensington, and having just before read (Joubett's Cottage Kconoaiy, No. J, in which he announced iiis intention to write upon the ** keeping of cotvs^*' I called upon Mr. Cohbett to converse on this subject ; but, being unwell, he could not see me; and 1 left a note, saying that I should call again, which I shall do, to present to hiin my plan of eow-keepiny ^ for comparison with his, which 1 have not yet seen. On my note, left at Mr. Cobbett's, I wrote the word, " /)Wf«/(?," Tor this reason, that my merely calling on him, if publicly known before explanation was given, would tend to my hurt ; and ten days ago I had a striking proof of the need for such caution. A person wishing, to have cause of quarrel, thus accosted me: *' You are a friend of Cobbett and Benbow : 1 was told about a week ago that you ^vtere in the habit of frequenting Benbow's shop, and, sitting down there to read Cobbett's writings/' Now it was a truth, that in the month- of June, 1890, on coming up to London, I did call at Ben- bow's shop, where Gobbett's Register was sold, and asked for the file that I might glance qyer the heads of subjects treated of, to ascertain whether Mr. Cobbett had taken notice of my statement of the 3d of January, a copy of which had been de- livered to him, as well as to the editors of the Courier, Times, and Morning Chronicle, the files of all of which I examined with the same view. As to Benbow I should not know him if now be- fore me. The curious fact is, that I had been dogged by some busy-body or spy, and that this very wor- • — fl > |JM iW II< ii' H -* *r* ^ '' - HI ji GRNERAL fNTROniU'TlOM. CCXXl thy character had, after sixtoon months possession of his secret, taken advantage of it for a malicious purpose. He rjuite succeeded: the person to whom the information uas conveyed, worked himself into a passion with the thought of my associating with Benbow ; and he may call upon the busy- body to assist him out of his passion beforo I take furtlKT trouble about the matter. About a" mo)ith after I landed in England, from Quebec, a Glasgow mmisterial newspaper, (the Herald) which was regularly received by my mo- ther at Craigrothie, contained an article copied from a New York paper, which had been copied from one of Albany, published by Messrs. Web- ster and Skinner, stating that I had called on Mr. Cobbett, and that I had found him so and so ; which was not correct. Having occasion last year to write to Messrs. Webster and Skinner, in Al- bany, I mentioned the circumstance; and, in a letter from these gentlemen, dated 5th February, 182 1, they say, " It never entered our thoughts that a little gossip article in the Albany Gazette, should have been seen across the water, or in the least affected our worthy friend Mr. G. ;*' now it did affect me. Messrs. W. and S. meant me no in- jury ; but, probably, the Glasgow newsmonger did. Just about the same time, the Edinburgh Courant, which my mother also received regularly, gave publication to an article still more evidently in- tended to injure my reputation ; and you, Cana- dians, will be best able to judge of it. The Edin- burgh Courant stated, that by a letter from their < I » CCXXll GUNF.AAL IMTaODUCTIOX. n ^i: ll f i private correspondent^ they Imd learnetl that *' tlip radicals of Upper Canada had been all quiet since Gourlay had left that country.'* Now, niy Cana- dian ftiends, you will rememher that when 1 left you, the term *' radical" was not even known in Canada as au appellative ; and till 1 landed at Liverpool from Quebec, I never knew of its bjing used to distinguish a political partisan. 1 am (juite a radical : but I am one of my own sort ; and up to this day, am not connected with a single individual in Great Britain in any political party. I am known both in England and Scotland, be- cause of my peculiar opinions^ and these opinions are by many misunderstood. In the fcMregoinj; pages you have had an opportunity of observing some of them ; and you may there see that my eiforts to maintain thase opinions have been sin« gular — have been such as I am proud of. No in- dividual can produce more creditable testimonials of consistency ;.nd perseverance, in so good a cause, as that to which I have been devoted nearly for twenty-one years ; and if I live twenty-one years more, I shall not de^iert it. In the year 1808, I was first driven — most cruelly driven, to defend my principles in politics. 1 then declared in print that I " would be happy to make it appear, that au indiindttal ma^ act independent of party '^ ;^^ and most assuretily up to this time 1 have stuck to my text* Since 1808 I have written and pub- .i,'luv; tV)X' ijuii ; jiciiwi^v; ,i:;-i'i. -1^ t Jv^r^) 'n n\ * Ldtei to the Earl of Kellie, pHge 10. GENERAL INTHODUC'TION. CCXXIII lislicd more than a do/rn of pamphlets ; and many dozens ot newspaper articles, all dattnl and signed with my name, making loa:eiher a complete and aiitiientic history of my opinions and conduct since; and on these 1 shall rejoice to be fair hf tried, either east or weat of the Atlantic. With regard to the radicals of Upper Canada being '* all quiet," it is with special satisfaction that I hid you call to mind, how very quiel and orderly I was, from first to last. You will remember that brutish magistrates, madmen, and creatures in the pay of government, endeavoured, by insult and otherwise, to lead me into brawls : you will remember that 1 was twice actually attacked by armed ruffians countenanced by magistrates; and while I had not the least means of defending myself: you will remember that I kept my temper in every case, and that at all your meetings I enjoined order and peace. And, a-propos of your convention; how did I behave there ? The young man who forgot himself an that occasion has repeatedly met me since then ; and the instant that it was told to me that he was sorry for what had happened, and wished to be frieiuUy with me; — that moment I de- clared myself willing to take him by the hand ; and we did shake hands. The greatest enemy I ever had on earth, I would shake hands with and forgive in the same way ; even William Dickson, whose conduct to me was diabohcal. I never yet met with a perfect man : I am any thing but per- fect myself; aud shall never be backward in making allowances for human frailty. As to the 'I' ■ 1 1 ft CCXxiv ^KNERAL INTRODUCTION. young man alluded to, I never was so much as angry with him. I believed that he was blinded and set on by the villains of Little York ; and I was only vexed with the convention for suffering the annoyance. The very first day of meeting, the convention should have taken the young man to task, and the second, should have proceeded to the extremity .- When they neglected this and suffered one annoyance to succeed another, where all should have been submission and solemnity, I gave up hope of my intended measures, and was glad to, wind up matters in the best way I could. I saw that your representatives in convention, though as good as the country could afford and perfectly loyal, were fit for nothing. I saw that I " could not make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.*' But for being bound to appear at your assizes, under a penalty of .€l,«500, in case of absence, and hut for clearing my honour from false and infamous charge;?, laid against me by that poor creature your Attorney General, I should have turned my back on your convention the very second day of its sitting, and left it to get out of the mud of Little York by its own shifts. I, to the last, kept my humour among you ; never was severe from any low per- sonal feeling; and, even when driven to delirium with disgust and cruel treatment, laughed at the miserable scoundrels, who, alike ignorant of the laws of their country and hard-hearted, threw me into jail, /or not having the province ! ! ! The influence which 1 gained in Upper Canada, by two months writing in your newspaper, is alto- ': A\ GENERAL fNfnODXrCTlON. CCXXV getlier unparallelled. The organization which I formed was perfect. The meetings and conven- tion were not only legal, hut prafse-worthy ; and when all is; looked back upon some years hence, the poor creatures who lent aid to your Governor to scandalize and suppress such meetings, will be glad to crawl into the earth, out of the view of contempt. Meetings by Deputy get quit of mob- bing. They characterize human from brute action. They are the genuine means, by which knowledge can be concentrated, union obtained, and lasting peace established. They are the means which must naturally occur to every well-ordered mind. In the winter of 181 i- — lo, \ circulated a paper all ove^ Great Britain, to lead on the farmers to choose Deputies, and hold conventions in London aqd Edinburgh, with a view. of getting something sub- stituted in the place of the Corn Bill, then pro- posed, as a palliative against approaching distress. The farmers were heedless of my call ; but it is no small boast for me to iiave my paper still to pro- duce, as evidence of mv sfood endeavours for their salvation. Had they met in Convention, i should have proposed to have petitioned Parliament for a law to make rents payable according to the average price of wheat, to remove from industry the load of taxation, and fix it on rents and interest^ and, also, that an ad valorem duty should be imposed on imported corn, gradually to be withdrawn, to in- troduce, at last, free trade. This would have kept every tiling in its* proper place; and for ruin, we should, at this moment, have had prosperity. This .iw i i M > HM i n i» i . j « i i*i a,i »ii^''<»M>iiit' li i f i 'V V i ! CCXXVl GENERAL INTRODUCTION. i I i t I; ( ■ ' would have saved to the farming interest of Britain at least one hundred millions, of poun.is sterling. The farLiers were regardless, and they are ruined, or nearly so. With good conduct on the part of your Convention, 1 could have carried my points also for you ; and, at this moment, not only should your losses, sustained in war, have been reimbursed*, but * On the 26th of June, 1821, Mr. Ellice rose in the House of Commons, when I was present, and made certain statements, with regard to Canadian claims; but nothing decisive was done. Mr. Ellice said, that 2884 claims had been put in, amounting, in the ^g&''*^g^to> *o ^400,000, of which 600 had been rejected, whose amount was j£'171,(XX), and that there were allowed ^229,000. In page 406 of vol. II. I have still set down Canadian claims at nearly ^^400,000, and protest against the above deduction. Mr. Ellice observed, that "supplies furnished to the troops, should be considered as a valid debt." The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, ** that such claims as were authenticated, should be satisfied." Now, I wish to apprise Mr. Ellice, or any other Member of Par- liament, who may take part in the consideration of Canadian af- fairs, the ensuing Session, that, fundamentally, there was irre- gularity in ascertaining the validity of claims for losses sustained by the people of Upper Canada during the war. If Mr. Ellice had a claim against Government, or any other party, he would not, I presume, relinquish that claim upon the ipse dixit of a person or persons appointed, without his consent, to examine into the vali- dity of his claim. He wou\d have a right to appeal to an open court of justice; and the validity of the Canadian claims should have been ascertained by jury trials, immediately after the war. I gay this on behalf of the poor people of Canada, who have been gulled and trifled with now for six years. On the part of the peo- ple of England I say, that not one penny should be paid out of their taxes, to make good losses sustained by Canadians in war, while it is a fad, that, with managcynent, these losses can be paid out of the mIb of wild lands in Up'per Canada, Ltl Mr. Ellice, *"d others, mark this. >• GENERAL INTRODUCTIOW. ccxxrii Upper Canada might have been (as 1 said the 2d of April, 1818, vol, II. page .587) ^^ the most flou- rishing mid secure spot on the habitable glooe." Below I shall copy in my scheme for organizing British farmers j and you will find that it proceeds on the same principle as that which I resorted to in Upper Canada, for jour organization, which was at once legal and effectual, had it been duly fol- lowed up*. — < — — — . , . < — . •■ ■ . * INSTITUTION ■:-c .-u. =:r, For the Benefit and Proteclion of the Farming Interest, Tho progress of society, and the peculiar emergency of the times, conspire to render proper and necessary, union and effort among the cultivators of Britain, for their important common interests. With this view it is proposed, that they arrange therasejves throughout, with such order and regularity as may create respect, and se(Mire permanent co-operation. It is proposed, that every market town, where ten individuals shall embody themselves and remain steadily to conform to the general arrangement, shall be considered a district, within which certain transactions may be matured, and others have commence- ment. •■ • , ' ■ ■■ -. ,.,... v .:; ( . • It is proposed, that the follow ; towns shall be 'die heads of respective provincial divisions, where representatives from districts, viz, one for every ten members, shall meet quarterly for dispatch of business: ' ,. , r ,- , , Exete}\ /t;.' ; Gloucester, Newark on Trent, Kelso, Sidisfjuri), Carnarvon, York, ... ^.^ Dumfries, Guildford, Shrewsburt/, Manchester, Perth, ^^ , , Buiij St. Edmunds, Northampton, Appleby^ ,., , Ri frew, . ^ Inverness. It is proposed, that these provincial meetings shall choose re- presentatives, one for every ten of their numbers, to meet onca a,^ year at London and Edinburgh. Those from the first •l«T«n» at J. ' ' (I ; i n II I ^ If ;S 1 1 .' f ', i ! ! i in !i I i f c^tirni OfiNARAL t^thoduction. Canadians! the Christian religion enjoins ** clia- rity above aU things;" and says, that " with faith the former, and those from tho six oUiera, at lh« latter plaoo, — lo coTrrmutticato with each olhor when necessary ; and upon extra- ordinary occasions to coabsco, by niouna of comaussioners for- mally appointed and qualified. , ,.,. , , .. ., ,, , , . - , It is deemed needless to dilate on the vaat cortsequence of su'cli an association ; benevolence, patriotism, property, right, indepen- dence—all are in view. No class of men has been, or ever can be, more loyal or useful than tho cultivators of thi^J inland. No class employs such a weight of capital, or such a multitude of produciivo labourers. No class of men can boast a higher character for integrity, or clflim a stronger right to independence; yet no class enjoya so little political privilege, or has so weak a voice aihdng thei public interests of the empire. ' P*^' '' '^'' ^^ .a /r.-rii! '1 1 '::r ;i.vitv-s ;•«? The causes ard obvions; — their scattered tesidence, tmd a re- Hance on great landlords. Systematic arrangement may overco!tt& the first: experience should dissipate the sdconcl. '*'' i s :;:"•• tm:. The ititerest of the great landlord has ever been too remote for delicate fbeling; hence he suffi^red the Work Horse Tax, the Sugar Distillation, and the Farmers' Income Tax, of all impositions the most unfair and degrading. The great landlord, having his family portioned from the spoils of war and taxation, could sport v^ith the immediate interests of his terr?tnts, the fee of his estate, fahd the real welfdrd of the nation. Fllessed, indeed, shall be oiir pre- sent flebessiti«?B, if they rout from its fitrong hold the last cohort of feudal power. Till cultivators have combined their genuine strength, it is iv- commterided not to commit themselves by signing petition!^. Trt the present dilemma, which involves and threatens their dearest intere8t«!, and with these, thr p;osperity of Britain, tlje utmost caution i9 requisite. Partial efforts will produce nothing but discrepancy, weakness, and detbat. Wisdom must first gather from the multitude of fcounsellors, and then go forth in the »trength'"of' unity. ffiO't i»^cri"i f4^^^K:>■■b'i ,1.!:- .vt, ..;.< oJ tir^w,' GENERAL INTRODVCTION. CCXXIX wc may remove mountains/' I could have done all I promised among you, had your taith and chanty been sufficient ; but iliere was lack of both : there was neither faith nor charity to be .depended upoQ in Upper Canada. ,, , .^ ,^ ,,, ^,.,, . .,,,j,,jf. "u . nv .ri M! , f I ; Deceniber IMh, 1821,,^ ^,, Bince the above was written aud set in type, I have had the curiosity to purchase and peruse CoBBETx's Cottage QIconomy, Nos. 4 and 5 ; and the subjects there spoken of are so intip mately connected with what is my chief tim, that I cannot forbear enlarging on the character, con- duct, and sentiments of the writer. Although, '. ' It is proposed, that a moetinn; be held as soon us poseible, at the CjiowN ANP Anchor, Sdranu, London, to give the tirat iorm and i^\petu^ to this 3c:hemai to conaujt of those wJiose principal busi- ness 18 farming ; who do not occupy less ,thHn to the value of ^100 per annum; and who do not let off more than one-third in proportion to what they occupy. This limitation iVill ensure rospeot?^bility and freedom. It will distinguish the Farminfr from the Landtd IntereM. The forraeir ^illujm at immediate advantage ; the lattar can have no just ground of jealousy ; for every gain will be its inheritance, and the nation's aggrandizement. Individuals desirous to promote this Association, mny enter their names in a book, now lying at the bar of the above tavern, personally, or by meana of tlu.i friends in town. And it is hoped, tliat a respectable number, tjuHlciimtly zeaious to take the lead in trouble, will got together immedmtely, so as to fix and advertise the first day of General Meeting. ' V. ' ■ ' RGFDWFOPF. "^ Whiokf Iteifig interpreted, means Robert Gourlay, Farmer, Dept^ ford, PViUs, fornwrlif of PraliSf Fifeshire, _ ^^ ^ K :) ■ KW w Hw i JMW i WM M majiMiii - - ■ ii {.i. ' V# j^iya' «>»jrv 'i»!#«*<^iv-»»j*^' r i t}>m 'i >** !' i^ r ccxxx GENERAL INTIIODCCTION. j'f " I admire Mr. Cobbett in many things,'^ I, as assuredly, in many things condemn him. Many people dislilce Mr. Cobbett, because of his coarse and cutting language, and because of his person- alities ; but in these respects, as long as he con- fines himself to public men and public affairs, he has acquittal from me. No language can be too severe, coarse, or even vulgar, which presents to us a true picture of vice: no language can excite too much disgust in our minds of wicked minis- ters: no language- can be too cutting, when used against tyranny. Tyranny makes use of bayonets; why then should its enemies be restricted in the use of words? What words could sufficiently characterize the late transactions against the Queen ? The dictionary does not afford any commen- surate with the deserts of the mean, filthy, persecuting, and remorseless conduct of ministers on that occasion. In the former part of this Gene- ral Introduction, printed more than a year ago, I have given way to feelings excited by this horrible conduct, and you will find me throughout my work repeatedly giving vent to such feelings. What were they on the last occasion, when the poor per- secuted Queen, who arrived in London to claim a fair trial, the same day that I did, bent on a similar errand ! — what were my feelings, when this poor persecuted woman became heart-broken, and ex- pired, worn out with never-ending insult ! Good Heavens! and when wrath was not satisfied even then; but would go on to insult her earthly re- mains^ — when the supplications of the people of i^ GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCXXX-I this proud metropolis, to have the funeral proceed by the best and nearest road, were disregarded, that the body might be dragged through narrow, dirty, and round-about ways!! It is peculiarly essential for you, Canadians, to reflect upon these things, and to mark the iniqui- ties of arbitrary power. It was the fell spirit of arbitrary power which for seven years of war denied to America the most palpable of rights — the right of the people to tax themselves: — it was this fell spirit which split off a noble limb from the British empire, while some of you, silly Caradians, lent aid to despotism ; and it is the same obstinate, un- blushing, and demoniac spirit which, till this day, holds Canada in a state of corruption, weakness, and woe. The conduct of the English ministry, towards the Queen, has placed in the strongest light the ruthless madness of men in power; and I trust it will in times to come steel us, in the formation of governments, against putting the slightest trust in any one. For long I was anxious to believe that one at least among our ministers would, in the end, give in to a charitable course. While it was possible, I hoped that Lord Liverpool would escape from among the band of assassins; but I was sadly mistaken. It fell to the lot of this very man to consummate iniquity — to evince the most hardened, most wanton, and most unchristian con- duct of all. No, my good Canadians, words cannot be too keen, or coarse, or vulgar, or vile, to mark the ac- tionsofmen holding" arbitrary sway. And pity it 1 1 i '' ! - i . ■ ' ' i .■f.wwfc«.J«^..AM*a>*a-'^" »■<■'*' *^'« CCXXXIl G£NE1UL INTRODUCTION. r , J. i.!; is that impressions made by them are but too vola- tile. Cobbett's deience of the Queen was excellent. 'III. ^*' His expressions of disgust with her treatment; his strictures on the conduct of her advisers, aiid the speeches of her lawyers; his contempt for the co- ronation scenes which succeeded ; his singular mode of public mourning; and his minute descrip- tion of the last scene of all, the funeral procession to Hanover, are valuable rot^ords; and mark the man of keen feeling, just observation, lively de- scription, and strong reasoning powers. It is im- possible to deny all this to Cobbett: and our chief look-out should be to guard against him as a man of power; for power he has over a multitude in this country — a multitude too apt to be led astray ; and which it is possible may yet have the guidance of our destinies. * ' , - In this book I have used harsh words, and some- times contemptuous ones; but I have uniformly been rulec^ by principle in tlie choice of these. You would observ^i above, that I spoke of the men who could fabricate your sedition law, and en- slave you as a nation, by depriving you of the power of meeting by deputy, as brute'''. You would observe that I guarded the second applica- tion of that word (page xvii), by saying that I re- peated it, "with all due sense of delicucy and de- corum;'* I did so : I looked not to the men with unchristian rancour ; Ilooked to their deeds which it was duty strongly to pourtray, tor the sake of good; and I had iScripture authority for my Ian- CJBNEKAL INTRODUCTION. CCXXXUl guago. IS^cbuchadnezzar, wbo speut his time in feasting, wliile the children of Israel, under his cruel bondage, dropt their unavailing tears in Uabers stream, was not only mentally a brute, but by the figurative langaage of the sacred historian, he is actually represented to us as one bodily, that a due sense ot his wicked deeds may be more strongly impressed on our imagination and memory : and in the same way, Jesus Christ called llerod, the pro- vincial Governor, a Fox. You will remember when that poor weak man, Captain Stuart of Amherstburgh, attacked me in jail, for speaking of your Lieutenant-Governor as a " hahe" (meaning thereby an innocent weakling), how I referred to this Scripture authority; and my reasoning upon that occasion, may here be fitly extracted from the Niagara Spectator of July S, 1319. .. *' When Mr. Stuart would blind us with making it ap- pear, that a provincial Governor has the special counte- nance of God, and would abash tlie freedom of speech to- wakA& him, he forgets what language was used by Jesus Christ towards Herod, a more poweiful Governor than Sir Peregrine Maitland. When told to depart out of the couTitry, lest Herod should kill him, " Go ye," said he, *' and tell that fax, behold, I cast out devils, and I do outfes to*day, and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected," (Luke, Chap. 13,) In this speech llorod is Ukened to u brute, noted for being cruel, ciiuning, and thievish: — a brute, whicli prowls about, under the cjond of niglit, to break into sheep-folds, and commit depredations on the property of man, even to his very threshold. How admirably does the similitude apply to the general disposi- tions and habits of provincial Governors, who, in all ages, have proved the most deceitful, crueh and rapacious ty- I 4 I T^ 1 1 1 I' I t I t. m M :.l|j CCXXXIV OENERAL INTUODUCTTON. ■J 5 :{ > it- rants ! This speech could not be the ebullition of passion ; neither will Mr. Stuart dare to pronounce it as proceeding from " the tongue of insolence." It is a s|)eech made and handed down to us for edilication and example ; and when provincial Governors give way to wicked iuiaginalioufi ; when they cunnin<;ly darken counsel, and hind on more firm the nuisk of initpiity ; — when they threaten the inno- cent, and abuse discretion; such example sliould be fol- lowed as a Christian duty, and nothing should daunt us in the performance : neither imprisonment, nor death.'* Not only the bitterest words, but the most di- rect and pointed personalities, are justifiable in the exposure of public crime. I once said, that "re- form should be the people's watch-word, and per- sonality, their creed :*' and I was perfectly correct. Meddling with the private aflairs of our fellow- men, and wantonly injuring feeling, is detestable: pointing to public delinquency, and exposing its aiders and abettors, is quite the reverse, — is the most sacred duty; and while we only do this, and adhere to good principle, we shall never be weighed and found wanting. Mr. Cobbett, I conceive, has sinned in both these respects. In his attack upon my friend, Mr. Birkbeck, he departs from matters of public interest, and throws out insinuations on a subject, with which the public had no con- cern ; nay, while he could not give proof that his insinuations rested on truth, he resorted to italics to inflame scandal. Can Mr. Cobbett answer this? — I call him to answer it in behalf of my friend, 5000 miles removed. Some one, last summer, sent to the Morning Chronicle, an extract from a letter of Mr. Birkbeck, saying *' that Mr. Cobbett is •n GENERAL INTRODUCTION. <;cx\xv IS known to he wholly indifferent to truth.'' Mr. Cob- bett was offended with this, and in his Register of July 7, 1821, addressed a letter to Mr. Birkbeck, and asked, " by what rule known among men, are you justified in imputing to me an attack upon you ? What do you call an attack ?" 1 answer for my friend, if ever there was an ""attack" Mr. Cob- bett's letters to Mr. Birkbeck, dated the 10th and l^th of December, 1818, are of that character; and Mr, Cobbett himself will not say, that if f^uch letters had been addressed to him in Mr. Birk- beck*s situation, he would not have felt sore. No man could be addressed " Dear Sir," and " My Dear Sir," as Mr. Birkbeck is addressed in these letters, and not feel that insult was added to in- jury. It is of no use to dwell upon contradictory as- sertions, as to the produce and profit of land, build- ing expences, and the like, while d distance of .6000 miles lies between the disputants, and years must be wasted to come at precise facts ; but I would throw down Mr. Cobbett's letters to Mr. Birkbeck, before any dozen honest men, and call upon them to say, if, upon the face of these, there is not proof of their being unfriendly and unfair, while, for myself, I would maintain that they were scandalous. I say this, writing within six miles of Mr. Cobbett, from calm conviction ; and I say it in behalf of my much injured friend. Mr. Cobbett lias been often accused of inconsistency, and never did he afford better proof of it, than in his letters to Mr. Birkbeck. These letters not only con- tain contradictions, but clearly show that the I' ■ ^ ii il! ,,Bt. »' .i.i " I f i »m u. CCJCXXVI GRVKRAL INTJiODIJCTlON. ; k I '; 1 i ■ ■ I * H : g i» III s writer in unfriendly aud untair to him to whom they are addressed. Jm the letter, dated the 4th of July, 1821, it is said, *' Uui alUick was not written to be circulated in Europe, uo that you might have no chance of answering, till it had produced its eifects. It was written in America." It was ahuost instantly piihlished at New York, aud 1 remained in Long Island for nearly a twelvemonth afterwards." Now, what is this to the ptir|X)se in the way of apology ; or, rather, how completely does it militate against Mr. Cohbett r The " atluck," at leas,t the first letter to Mr. J3irkbeck, was dispatched as soon as written to England, as we find from the second letter, which commences with these words," being, when 1 wrote my first letter to you, in great haste to conclude, in order that my son William might take it to England." Now that letter, which in a preface Mr. Cobbett says, was *' intended principally for the perusal of Englisluuen," could not be replied to in England, by Mr. Birkbeck, for many mouths after itss publication here. His reply was not, in- deed, published in London, till the latter eiid of 18J19, aud about a year after the date of Mr. Cob- belt's attack, by which time much injury was done to the reputation of Mr. Birkbeck in England, where, chiefly, it was important for him, that his reputation should be sustained. How, then, after getting forth, that the letter wius intended princi- pally tor the perusal of Englishmen ; and that he was '* in great haste to conclude,, in order tijat|his son William might take it to Enghmd," could Mr. Cobbett tell us, that " it was not written tor circu- nr^NEnAf/ tNTRoniTrTiON. roxxxvii lalioii in Kurope," or pretend, that Mr. Birkbetk had a fair ohanct* of answering- it. O, ficf Mr. Cohbrtt; you never, in »o littlo a space, and for HO iiltlenn ol)jt!Ct, betrayed yourf^eUso palpably. But of all thingH, how very ridiculous is your saying to Mr. Hirklteck, in your Intter to liiin of tho Vth of July, 1891, "I never would have given such an niYront U) iicuerahtpinion.'* '* Merey on us! who ever aff'ronU'd ffrmral opinion so much as Mr. (■(►bbctt! Go, Cobbett, and .vm no more; go, and bo true to the great cause of reform, by rigidly ad- hering to truth: go, and be charitable ; and I shall still " admire you in mavy things.*' Having said this, I shall leave my excellent friend Mr. liirk- bck^k to be honourably acquitted, at h'ast, by every reader of this book. - m • . .. j ,'■.* i. .: • * .;j; ?;.> ' Mr. Cobbett's letters to Mr. Birkbeck were not only injurious to him, but to thousands. The^e letters, and '* Fearon's falsehoods," to use the words of Mr. Cobbett^ were instrumental in stem- ming the tide of emigration, which was begiruiing to flow from Britain to America, and which would have been highly beneficial, at once to the emi- grants and the world at large. There is a prevail- ing vulgar and nan\>w-minded notion, that emigra- tion from this country is hurtful to it: but there cannot be a greater mistake. Emigration never can take place but from pressure, and the sooner that such pressure operates in throwing off redun- dant population, or in relieving distress, so much • See Cobbett's Rejistor, July 7th, 1851, Vi>l. SB, Page s'S',': i *i n e w fw w ii |i i > w i Wy, w «WPiWJ%iWf « *>i*K»<< l |ifr^ p ^? ■• CfXXXVllI GENERAL INTRODUCTION. the better. Three j'ears ago, tlicre- were many thousands of farmers who had capital remaining which might have settled them comfortably in America, but who have not now a sufficiency to carry them across the Atlantic. What has be- come of that capital ? Can we find its solid worth in the funds, or in the coffers of landlords? — Does it exist in any substantial form? — No, it has dis- solved in thin air: it is gone for ever, while its late owners remain only as useless dross in the crucible; a mere burden on the land, which they once cultivated to profit. Had a sufficiency of farmers emigrated three years ago, they would have saved themselves and families from ruin, and brought their leaden-hearted landlords sooner into life and action. Mr. Cobbett's publicaitions, aiding Fearon's falsehoods, checked the natural flow of emigration, and did infinite harm. Why should Mr. Cobbett be surprised with Mr. Birkbeck's declaration as to his being " wholly in- diflerent to truth,'^ when he writes such contra- dictions as I have pointed out; or, still more, af- ter standing out against the plea of Wright ? His assertions written in America, and pubhshed in England, respecting Wright, I could have passed over as words of heat. Mr. Cobbett appears to me to write sometimes under the influence of pa- roxysms of feeling; and feelings stung with the exposure of a private letter, touching those of a female, should have had my utmost indulgence ; but persisting to hold out after mature considera- tion, and to the still greater exposure of what '^*f» r'*»''<' it >'*«#1Hi > 1t* i ) iiii,>>i, ,j GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCXXXIX should have been hid, merits no excuse, and makes it widely heUeued^ ii not ** known, that Mr. Cobbett is indifferent to truth." A professor of the most northern college told me that he never could endure Cobbett after his attack upon potatoes. I relished that attack exceed- ingly. It was an innocent display of fervour in the cause of the poor. The writer could bear no malice to a vegetable root ; but he saw that the borough-mongers were reducing the poor to the *' minimum of misery," — were beating them down to subsist on potatoes alone; and not a few have indulged the thought that the poor should be en- slaved for ever by such Machiaveiism. Cobbett's attack on Shakspeare and Milton I accounted for, somewhat in the same wav. I looked upon these as ebullitions- of feeling, because of sense being sacrificed to sound, and nonsens being substituted for reason. 1 hope Mr. Cobbett (who has been said to have an antipathy to music) had no grudge against the departed spirit of our great dramatist, because of these oft quoted lines: • . Hi " The man who hath no music in his soul ** Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and crimes : „" Let no such man be trusted." Mr. Cobbett's famous proposal for " hlowing up" the paper-money system, by sowing forged notes, was published in the Niagara Spectator, while I was in durance vile; and, but for an accident, I should have written a burlesque, to shew how, i*! I . Mi i«*i i «ii M lii l> iM T>H » i : 1 , 1 2 I n ; ccxl GENERAL TNT KODrCTTON. without any " long arm," I could blow up the system merely with the aid of nineteen trusty tailors. 1 meant to shew that I could do this by dispatching my trusty tailors, provided with a dozen phosphoric matches each, to J^ineteen of the largest towns in the United Kingdom, while I re- mained in London, with a sufficiency of ammuni- tion ; and, that, by all hands using due diligence in and out of the metropolis, half the real property of the nation could be consumed in a single night, while paper-money would fall to no price: nor do T see, barring principle^ and coiild nineteen trust?/ tailors he got, what difficulty thefe would be in executing such a scheme — a scheme sufficiently modest to be set beside that of Mr, Cobbett ; sim- pler in execution, and much more certain of prov- ing effectual. Such schemes, so long as they can be laughed at, or are fabricated only to outmatch extravagance, do very well; but when we find that the world contains Wretches sufficiently weak to be urged on to such plots as that of Cato Street, others so wicked as to lead such wretches on, with the knowledge of ministers of state, and Mr. Cobbett, asking his son, if Ings, the assassin, was " an immoral and impious man,'' (Cobbett's Re- gister, May 6, 1820), there is enough to make us be cautious with sporting even unprincipled pro- posals. Mr. Cobbett, in his second tetter' to Mr. Birk- beck, says, " I am happy to tell you that JSllai- horongh and Gihhs have retired! Ill health is the pretence. I never yet knew ill health induce K.W-ri.«J*>;^» i .< > ,' j l<>'« J '' « t *« > * l«!^''^*'''*'*''***' *'! I ^) -' I ' I. ccxlii ttENERAL INTRODUCTION. against tion ; and 1 think we have cjet'ence tyranny, indep*?ndent of " these feelings." The best defence against tyranny is a strict adherence to Christian morality; and when that becomes general, tyranny must fall without a stroke or a struggle. Mr. Cobbett looks back to what has been and what is. I would look forward, and put trust in peaceful change, to be expected from increasing knowledge. ^ ' • - * I would not only appeal to acknowledged prin- ciples of morality, but would point to practice, as it has been successful, on several occasions, with various religious sects. The Quakers, it is well known, made good points of high importance by nou-resistance. They endured^ till government it- self had to give up persecution — had to set aside some of its sternest laws for their accommodation ; and it is a fact, that this same sect never had their early settlements in Pennsylvania disturbed by the Indians, merely from their adherence to peaceful maxims. Here, then, we discover that Mr. Cob- bett*s premises are groundless : we discover that we Iwve defence against tyranny, without giving way to feelijjgs which make us shudder, even be- fore they are tested by argument. Yes, to rejoice in the pains and the death of fellow creatures, and to trample with pleasure on their graves, is abhor- rent to all that is good — is, most assuredly, sinful. Although ** it is the aggregate of individual injury that makes up national injury,^' and although " it is the aggregate of individual resentment thai . * GENERAL INTRODlJfJTfON. rcxiiit makes up natioh^|^(|i'|l«Wf^^ffW i1*'^"T '■^■'#*ifcf.vt*'-^*^'"»'' '-"■** ^^^^'•^?■*■^V■'^■tl^^>» ■■•*,• ,tm.»i" h'--,^ • i..>- y.'-j ccxliv QEN£RAL INTRODUCTION. < I I of individual resentment would die away ; while peace and happiness would proceed with less and less interruption and alloy, I should be glad if Mr. Cobbett would peruse this simple train of reasoning with a serious mind : acknowledge his error, and publicly make atonement for an outrage on truth and decency : — that he would cease to disgust those who might otherwise be inclined to *' admire him in many things/' . ,. , , ^. ' .; . Sir James Mackintosh has said, in his Vin- dicio! GalliccB, " No important political im- provement was ever obtained in a period of tranquillity. The corrupt interest of the Gover- nors is so strong, and the cry of the people so feeble, that it were vain to expect it. If the efl'er- vescence of the popular mind is suffered to pass away without effect, it would be absurd to expect from languor what enthusiasm has not obtained. If radical reform is not at such a moment procured, all partial changes are evaded and defeated in the tranquillity which succeeds ;" and again, " What- ever excellence, whatever freedom is discoverable in governments, has been infused into them by the shock of a revolution, and their subsequent progress has only been the progress of abuse. It is hence that the most ei, lightened politicians b-^ve recognised the necessity of frequently recall" ing governments to their first principles. '* »- He afterwards sayvS, that " all the governments that now exist in the world, except the United States of Anienca, have been fortuitously formed.'' H«re are undeniable truths and sentinjents very GENt.RAL INTRODUCTION. cc xiv clearly expressed ; but, nevertheless, let us pause and reflect. The moment that any one admits that nothingbut force can bring about revolution, and that nothing but the shock of a revolution can pro- cure excellence or freedom in government, that moment he resigns the hope which our religion in- spires-; and that moment, the man who can sto- mach the principles of a professional soldier, has free range. Did I give up that hope, and could 1 sell my free will, and my chiefest honour — could I submit to ffo forth and kill, 1 shall forbear to sav murder, at the nod of a superior, I would at once subscribe to Mr. Cobbett's record of his wrath against EUenborough and Gibbs. I would scruple not to sow forged notes, nay, my highest ambition should be to give command, and set example, to my troop of trusty tailors. Rather would I be an active devil than a passive agent of death. I shall not, with Sir James Mackintosh, yet think it *' vaiii" to expect " important political im- provement in a period of tranquillity." If there is " languor'^ on the part of Sir James, there shall yet be " enthusiasm" on mine ; and even next session, I shall hope for the " i^adical re- form" of Upper Canada. Sir James did not "pledge himself" to move for it last session ; but the third session is at hand, since I left myself pledged to do my utmost in the cause ; and J shall not yet despair, even with my " feeble cry," that ** the most enlightened of politicians will recognise the necessity of recalling our colonial governments to their first principles.*' By and by I shall have \ 1 !u ; \ t ll'l I ?ii I .1 ^i \^ cc<1vi QKfiKiiAL INTRODUCTION. occasioii to remark on the practice as well as theory of Sir James: but let uic now proceed with Mr. Cobhott. \i\ the spring of 181J, Mr. Cobbett published in his Register that, though he and oSl indivi- duals, had required of the Sheriff of Hampshire, to call a county meeting, the requisition was not complied with ; for which reason Mr. Cobbett an- nounced, that a meeting should be held for public business, at Botley, where he resided, on the 95 di March, 181J. Curious to know what would be done at Mr. Cobbett^s meeting, and willing to ad- vise as to tl)e effectual course for the people to pursue, 1 wrote to Mr. Cobbett, and dispatched a Bervant with my letter to Botley, forty miles dis- tant. I wrote to Mr. Cobbett that, *' I believed, without systematic petilioning^ all expectation of good would be nugatory j but, with which^ 1 sin- cerely believed, all good might be obtained. I 3aid that 1 should have every parish registered, with the number of its inhabitants — each parish ranged in itp proper hundred, and each hundred in its pro- per county ; and when petitioning was on foot, every name should appear in its proper place, alphabetically arranged ; and that in this form very little expeuv e would exhibit the whole in print," &c. — My servant, on his return, told me that he saw nothing like a pubhc meeting at Botley; but he brought me a very polite and even flattering letter from Mr. Cobbett ; tVom which, as it con- cerns public business, I m&y here give an extract : "After tormenting myself for many years, in vain, ' 1|.i ^ UBNBKAL INTRODUCTION. CCXlvii I find it the wisest course to l«»ave reformation to the force of events. We are unable to urge along the public mind. Il must imve its time; and if the people do, in the end, and for ever, really choose the present system, as the French people chose that of Napoleon, why, we must acquiesce, and let them have what they choose. — It is with this sort of feeling that I look on yo\ir proposition for petitioning ; very good ; very simple ; very fair ; but demanding, toset it on foot, more time and trouble than an individual like me can bestow. I really think, while I honour your zeal, your ta- lents, and your motives, that you are taking more trouble than you are, by any means, bound to take under circumstances.-—! wish most sincerely for the good of the country, and tl^ie stability of the King's throne ; but I have grown less warm, and less disposed to make sacrifices than I formerly was," Now, let me call to mind what Mr. Cob- bett has done since writing the above. In these last six years he has, certainly, not grown less warm, and less disposed to make sacrifices than for- merly :\ he has not left reformation to the foroe of events. In these last six years Mr. Cobbett has boasted of doing more for reform than any other man, and he has certainly been truly active. Un- fortunately he has not acted wisely. He and Lord Cochrane got 'up a great mob meeting, on Ports- down hill, and got some thousands of the people to sign their names to a petition in the course of an hour or two, by means of tables set out in order, with paper, pen, and ink, all regularly disposed. ill ];■ ill ''.II ccxlviii OKKEUAL INTHODICTIOX. I was in the House of Commons wher the peti- tion was presented hy Lord Cochrane, and wit- nessed the contempt with whicli it was received ; nor did it deserve any thing but contempt — a peti- tion signed by thousands, without any reference to their places of abode, by which their idem it}' could be proved. — How pitiful!!! The meeting at Fortsdown was to send up cheers to answer cheers from the meetmg at Spa-fields ! ! Could Mr. Cob- bett countenance such proceedings withouta blush !l — Mr. Cobbett also attended a convention of de- puties, in London, for purposes of reform. These deputies were chosen by irregular rabbles, in dif- ferent parts of the country, without order, or even the appearance of itj and only Mr. Cobbett, Mr. Hunt, and a few more, were privy to the organ- ization of this general convention!! I never heard of it till it was over; and, surely, Mr. Cobbett will not deny, that it was an absolute " affront to (jeneral opinion .**' Mr. Cobbett has now announced that he will meet two persons from each county, next January, in London, and expects that this will be called " Corbett's Parltamisnt" ! ! ! — Let Mr. Cobbett only read the above extract from his letter to me ; think upon his doings since, his boastings, and his present project, and blush. For my part, the thought of all of it makes me melancholy ; and now, despairing of any good from Mr. Cobbett, I shall give up my intention of calling upon him at Kensington. If I had hope, I would call upon him with pleasure ; but Cobbett's Parliament extinguishes every , I GENERAL INTKODIJCTION. ccxlix spark. In the 4lh and 5th Numbers of Cobbett's Cottage (Economy, I have read some sensible re- marks. I seldom peruse any thing of Mr. Cob- bett's without reaping some pleasure, if not profit. In one of these numbers I have reaped pain. Mr. Cobbett, like Franklin, grudges that Sunday should be set apart from labour. Me would, at least, have cottagers employ that day in dressing their gardens. 1 am no bigot. Though I was, for many years of my youth, brought up under the eye of a Presbyterian clergyman, and taught strictly to keep the Sabbath-day holy, I am not rigid in this respect. I can see it employed as a day of recreation under the Church of England, or as a day of solemn devotion under the Kirk, with equal regard. 1 am equally averse to connect religion with levity and austerity: I would wish to see men cheerfully religious every day of the week : I would wish to see every day employed for the glory of God; but Sunday, I would hold especially sacred to the poor labourer. I would, on no account, allow him to dig his garden on that day. An enemy to too much legislation, 1 would, in this, be a pertinacious law-giver. If the poor once habituate themselves to cultivate their gar- dens on Sunday, most assuredly the rich will, in course of time, have them, labouring in the fi'elds on that day also ; and Sabbath and Saturday may become alike devoted to toil ' It has been noted, page cxcvii, that the General Introduction was so tar prepared for the press, December 1820. Two amendments, however, I I •-! < (:'{ I ■ I i III 1 f I ccl OENKRAL IWTRODIXTION. WLTC made aftcT the printing wus resumed itj Sep- tember last. The reference nuule to my little tnict, of the Tyranny of Poor Laws, in tho Morn- ing* Chronicle, induced mc to proitiice it, and from rtiading Coiiuett's Cottage (Kconomy, No. 3, 1 came to be more decided as to limitincf the ex- tent of a cottage hold, to a quailer instead of half an aere^ ahont which 1 was in suspense. I make liiis acknowledgment, to induce Mr. Cobbett to come out with all he thinks on the subject. He evidently thinks that ever) man would be the better of a garden; but he says nothing of the means by which this good is to be obtained. I would ask him if there is any chance of its being obtained by any other peaceable means but that of syslenuUiv petitioning }* In locating ground for cottage hol(J[s, 1 would not be pertinacious as to having them all in a cluster to make a village; though that, with a common adjoining, would be most desirable. I would insist only on the neces- sity of having a liberty grarited, that claims for cottage allotments should be g(X)d to a certaiq ex- tent and proportion in every parish throughout the kiiigdom; and 1 am certain poor-laws cannot be abolished withoui this. Dividing the kingdom into 10,0()0 parishes, the average e3i;tent of each would be 64:04< acres. Parishes of this extent would then have to furnish neat iJ5 acres, or 60, if a common was allowed, and so, less or more, as the parish was of greater or less extent. In Scotland, where there are abundance of cottages and gardens, I should not expect that many allotments would \i Ui^NllKAL INTRODVCTION. c'cli be demanded out oC the i)ublic provision at i\w high rate 1. have set upon the huid: viz. £\. per acre rent, and £['20 purchase-money. Tne grand point is to secure a sufficiency of free possessions, that labourer.^ may h.»ve the power of locomotion — and the chance of independence froai their in- dustry. Mr. Cobbett gave out that if lie was elected member for Coventry, he would do (;ven/ thing for the country that was required; but why not publish his .scheme? let him be frank, and make specific proposals, and I shall,' if 1 like them, endeavour to get a seat even in " CobbciCspariia' mentf'* to support him. •■ > »• « ' Having said this, I shall take leave of Mr. Cobbett ; to whom, indetMj, too mucli of my paper has been devoted. If, however, 1 have cleared a friend from scandal ; if I have proved to you, Canadians, that though [ have *' admired Mr. Cobbett in many things," I am not his humble admirer in all things; and if I have, at the same time, brought my readers to reflect on the monstrous iniquity of my being imprisoned and ruined, merely because of a frank acknowledgment that 1 knew Mr. Cobbett,&c. the paper may not be misused. To prevent further rambling in a hmited field, I shall now lay out the remaining work of this General In- troduction, under distinctheads, and confine myself to as brief narration as possible. I shall speak of the Poor-laws; Correspondence with the Colonial De- partment ; Publications on Canada ; my Appeal ; my Pause; my Scheme of Colonial Govunment : make a few observations, and be done. - . ■' ' J ! II 'i' \ I Mijiij/ii t!"irf":'T M cclii GENERAL ^NTRODLCTlOlV. POOR-LAWS. :) I The reform of the Poor-laws being a principal object of this work, I shall h'^^re transcribe from the Morning Chronicle, the dt ites on that sub- ject, during last Session, and shall follow these with a few rennprks of my own. A more impor- tant question never was before Parliament. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 8, 1821. Mr. Scarlett said, he should state the grounds of the bill which he intended to introduce to amend the poor-laws, as shortly as possible. He was aware of the great magni- tude of the subject. No subject, indeed > could call for more deliberate consideration. Any measure, on a subject so important, was certainly deserving the support of a libe* ral and enlightened Government, and he was not with- out apprehension in bringing forward the present bill, without previous sanction or countenance of Ministers. If he had thought that the measure, or an^' thing like it, would have been brought forward under the sanction of Govern- ment, he would not have obtruded it on the House. The evil was one of the most alarming kind; an evU which ParUa- meut would be anxious to remove, unless in removing it the country should be exposed to still greater danger. The evil consisted in an unlimited provision for the poor : the obvious remedy was to limit that provision. The lirst measure, therefore, which he would wish to sulnnit to the House, was to declare a maximum : the rates of the last year, though not the Inghest, were nearly so; and it was, perha()s, the best period to select, because the nominal \ i GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ccliii value of money had more nesirly approaclied its real value than iu the })receding years. He would therefore pro- pose to fix as a tnaxiiiiuui the rates of the year ending the 2Sth March, 1821, and accordingly to declare it to be un- lawful CO pay any larger sum for poor's-rate than was as- sessed ofl' the land for the year ending-- tiie 25th March, 1821. The next question was, the propriety of en- forcing a difl'erent system in administering relief. It never was the inteuticju of the Parliament, that passed the statute of Elizabeth, to relieve persons who v'ere able to wori<;, and who preferred a life of idl jness. The object of the statut was to relieve those who by age and in- firmities were unable to labour. That wise and hu- mane principle was departed from in modern times, and incalculable mischief wa.s the consequence. At the pre- sent moment, persons who were married, and had large fa- milies depending in some degree on parish relief, could not be fairly deprived of that relief. Time shviuld be allowed to enable those persons to recover themselves; but the evil had been carried to so great an extent, that persons marry- ing-, look(!d forward, as a matter of cours;^ to have their second child supported by the parish. He would be glad to know, why such persons ought not to practise those in- dustrious and economical habits which all other persons in society were compelled to practise. It was for the pur- pose of stopping the progress of this evil, that he proposed, as the second part of the bill, that, after passing' of the bill, no parish oflicer or justice of the peace should be au- thorized to give relief to any person who, at the time of passing of the act, should be unmarried, either for him- self or for any member of his family, t dest, tuch person should be afflicted with infirmity of body, or old age. The poor and industritjus man was now obliged to provide for the idle, and the natural otfect was, that he was inclined also to become one of the idle class, whom he saw often better provided for than himself. His third measure was one, M !Cl rciiv GKNERAL INTROOtCTlON. i .1 I i ' • ■ t 1 ! respecting' wliirli there was likely io be a great difference of opinion, though he had "iven it go much consideration, that he did not think his own mind conhl he shaken respecting; it. It was to i-epeal the laws, authorizing the removal of persons charg'eable or likely to become chargeable to a j)urish. (flear!) The present system ori- irinat.ed with the l;ith and 14lh Charles II. the effect of which was to restrict the free circulation of labour, and subjected the lahonrer, if he could not, from any tempo- rary cause, find bread in the parish where he resided, to be removed to the parish where he was born, or where his father or grandfather was born, though, perhaps, there was a certainty that he could not find employment there, and that he must remain a pauper all the days of bis life. A more oppressive law was not to be found in any code in Europe. (Hear! hear!) It, in fact, made poverty a crime. If a law was now proposed, specifically and avowedly subjecting a man to be banished from one place to another, because he could not get enoogh to feed his fnmily, from the dearness of provision, the man would be deemed not only mad, but inhuman. (Hear!) Yes, this, in reality, wast the law, as it existed under another name. (Hear ! ) This law had been found so oppressive, tliat many attempts had been made to modify it by exceptions — as, for instance, when a man bad been hired for a year in a parish, or rented a tenement of jg*10., or paid parish rates, or served parish offices, ft was said by Dr, Burn, that there were more decisions on this Act, than, on any law in the Statute Book. The Doctor might have said — more litigation. (Hear!) there was, probably, more litigation created by this law, than by all the laws, from Magna Charta downwards. An artificial, absurd, and oppressive system had been created, and it became half the business of society to execwte it. He (Mr. lS.), therefore, proposed to make a |)Tovision, that it should not be lawful to remove any man from the parish in which he resided, on the ground of his being 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION. cclv chargeable, or likely to be me cbargcable. He expected that the manufacturing tovas would (bject to this, as they had done to the provision for making two years' residence a settlement. Under the present system, when there was any cessation of employment in a manufacturing town, the labourers were scattered all over England. From Manchester, for iustanc.% he had seen loads sent to Lon- don by the coach, and some even to the west of Enjifland^ The effect on that town was that the rates we''e less in Manchester than in any agricultural parish in England, &c. &-C. Ixft'd Londonderry gave hia thanks to the honourable and learned gentleman, for bringing the subject before Parliament; and hoped that, because he (Lord L.) now ab- stained from giving a decided opinion, it would not be thought that be wanted zeal on the subject. The House would be better able to form a judgment, when the mea- sures were before them in the shape of a Bill, which, he hoped, the honourable and learned gentleman would bring in. Sir R. Wilson said, that though he must acknowledge the good intention of his honourable and learned friend, he must deprecate my proposition to take Irom the unem- ployed industrious ^ioor a subsistence, to which they had just the same »*ight iis every gentleman had to his estate. If they wished to red'ace pauperism, they should reduce taxation. Mr. Caicraft thanked his honourable and learned friend for having brought the subject forward, though he did not agree with his views in all respects. The tirst proposition of his honourable and learned friend was to lix a maximuvi of rates. This had been tried in local bills, and failed, Sec. &<5. Mr. Bourne congratulated the House, that the subject had been taken up by hands so able as those of the honour able and learned gentleman. As to the proposition of a m«a,i- mvm, It had been tried in the Isle of Wight : yet they had i- \ cclri GENERAL INTROBUCTIOX. been obliged to apply to Parliauieut, to remove or alter the vKixinmm, &c. &c. . ■' Mr. Monck said, the poor-laws, if they went on as they had of late, woukl, in fact, establish an agrarian or Spen- cean system, making the landholders merely nominal pro- prietors; but, previous to any reatriction on the right of 'demanding relief, the taxes which pressed upon the poor, as the malt and salt taxes, should lie repealed, as well as the corn law, &c. &c. Mr, Mansfield disapproved (as we understood him) the proposal for a maximum, Mr. PhilUps observed that, although there were some pai'ts of hig learned friend's bill to which he should object, if taken separately, yet to the whole united, he had no ob- jection whatever. On the contrary, he augured great good from its adoption, and thought it right to take this occasion of bearing testimony to the salutary effects of the Act passed upon the proposition of the Right Honourable Member for Christchurch, some years ago, especially in those districts of Lancashire, with which he was more im- mediately acquainted. • • Mr, Ricardo expressed his surprise that any apprehen- sion should be entertained of the tendency of his learned friend's bill, to create any embarrassment in the law of set- tlement, as the great object of that bill was to remove all difliculty and litigation with respect to this law. It had been observed that labour, instead of being paid in wages by employers, had been paid out of the poors-rates; and if so, why then should not the amount of such payment be de- ducted in fairness from those rates I This was one of the objects of his learned friend's bill, because that bill pro- posed to have the labour paid in just wages by his employ- er, instead of having him transferred to the poor's-raie. The effect, indeed, of his learned friend's measure would be to regulate the price of labour by the demand, and that was the end peculiarly desired. With respect to the pressure :f I r,fiNERAT. TNTRODITOTTON. cciva of the taxes and the national debt iipon tho pot>r, that pres- sure could not he di.sput(>d, especially as it took away from the rich the means of employing- the poor; hnt he had no doubt that if the supply of labour were reduced below the T)Ur!TIOX. (H' \\X wtu Uulv alanniug. They amomiied to a sum U8 grumt tii was necessary for carrying on the purposes of the British Government on tiie accession of the h\t6 King, He feared, that unless something was done to stop the evil, that the entire property of the country would ultimately ha taken out of the hands of the ancient proprietors* Mr. F. Palmer contended that in several ingtanooti the poor's-rate, during the present year, had been lowered in some places four shillings, in other places live shiilinga in tlie pound *. VAlien he had been lately in the coimtry, he did not meet with a single person who was not dis- posed to support the principle of the bill, though they did not wish that it should be pressed during the present session. Mr. ScarleU said, that if the subject had not fre(|uently been brought under tlie consideration of Parliament and the public, he would, no doubt, have been more ready to acxjede to the wish of some of his friends, to postpone the bill. But as the principle of the bill had frequently been discussed in that House, if he found the House disposed to accelerate the measure, he could see no rest- son for postponing it. With respect to the objections from great towns, he was prepared to hear objections, though he thought they were founded in i3rror: it weu», however, his intention to introduce a clause in the bill, for the purpose of providing u remedy against the posr. sible and prospective inconvenience apprehended by great towns. As to the country, and tiie agricultural classes, his object certainly wa« not so much to lower the rates as to improve the moral condition of the poor: that, above all others, was his great object. If the bill should * This is a delusion. Rites have fallen nominally. l>ec!msft the gallon loaf has fallen; but the evil han incrras**/!, and is in- «r«as»ing;. ' . , ^Y-, r *> t..ifc-Mifci w " .*y^w-' •w'-nwii .1 « H .» M ...I' * »f«'t^»*yW>'- T" orrix GENERAL INTRODl ,000 a year, was, on ateount of the poor-rates, ex- pended in litigation alone, the llonse would n«»t he at a loss to see, tiiat a multitude of perions had a personal interesl in or nosinj; the bill. The petition was then bron«;h1 up, and ordered to be printed. Mr. ScurkU rose lo move the second reading;- of the Poor- Relief Bill, lie said he did not intend to accom- pany the measure in lliat slaj^e with any matter of detail; but he had, in presenting- the bill in its simpler state, re- served to himself the oj>portunity of olfering- certain clauses, to obviate objections some U(mourable iVIembers entertained towards it, leaving it to the House to in.sert the clauses in the bill, or form them into a separate one. There were great evils and various calamities, attendant on the consideration of the poor-laws, and he found them to consist in three principles. The fust was the compulsory and unlimited provision for the poor: the second, the dis- tribution of that provision was not reserved as a reward for g-ood conduct, and an alleviation of the miseries of sick- ness, old age, and inlirmiiy, but by administering to those who preferred to live by the charity of others, although capable of obtaining- sul)sistence by their own exertions. The third, was the principal sonrce of the evils of which he complained, and that vo'* the restraint which now ex- isted on the free ci.culation of labour. (Hear!) The far- mer, finding- that he was called on to pay heavy poor-rates, resorted to the practice of diminishing- the wages of la- bour. They thought it best to pay only to men who had families which must receive a certain sum from the parish ; and allowed them such wages as would barely allow them ca GF.NKRAl. INTIIODUCTION. cclxi to exist. 'Vim tanner said, it the [)ariHli pay 5.s'., and ho could get liis work do)ic lor J)a„ why should he give more than l).v. i The unmairie this {undition, tiiat ho imist enter into eoniprtitioii with the other, and iinist go williont employmenl unless he worked lor the same wages. Thus the |)oor man who was working- ahiiost his bUDr<'T10N. rights. Thut ho utterly denied. He denitid thut (he Hoaite oujt^hl to consider thatorany other law on tht'snbject, as one which they were not perfecly justified in amending, according; to the demand oi" the time, or their altered view of the circumstances of the case.— The basis of the con- Mtitntion was tiie Kecurity which it gave to alt persons, in the enjoynient of whatever ^ roperty they had acquired, or honestly come by. It was utterly in vain to set up any other principle as one of rio^ht. If it could be shewn that the principle of the poor-laws was subversive «»f that by which property was protected, then it would be evident that such an antagonist principle ought not to be allowed to prevail. Th<' meaning of the Statute 43d Klizabeth, was to intlict compulsory labour, by way of punishment, not to afford labour for the mere purpose of maintenance. ItwaH any thing but in the nature of giving the poor persomU property. Mr. Bennett observed, that the greatest evil of the poor- laws was, that it i-endered the poor man dependent on hi8 superior, and made him an abject wretch, that had no olyect i« acquiring property, or maintaining a character in smjiety. But although that was a great evil, yet, by its removal, there would be danger of inflicting a still greater eru^ty on the poor. There cuuid l>e Utile doubt, that if the existing poor-laws were suddenly re|>ealed, tlie elFect woidd be g'jneral starvation, &c. &c. Mr. Courlenay thought it desirable, that the bill should go to a committee, and receive the ntoditications which the honuurable and learned Gentleman proposed, to intro- t4uce into it, with an understanding, that when it should come o«l of the committee, it should be discussed by the House, &c. Lord Milton entertained, 1^ the bill generally, tlie most friendly feeling. The most important part of it — ^that which went tt> repeal the l*w of settierat«t, had his warm- fbt support. At :9ame time, he could by no meatis itgiee iSRKRKAL INTKCDUCTION. cclxiii with the {Mjbilion of the Honourable iVT^Mnber, that the basis uf the Cunstitutidn wa^ Ihc protection ol the eiijoy- me»t of pr<)pt'rty. The busis of the (.'oustifntion was (hi; protbctioii of rights. a>iitl tiic rights uf tlie pour ought to be protected as well as those of the rich, &c. :. ' . . I *^. The MarqiUH of Londonderry repeated his grulitude to the hono\ual)U^ and leurufjd Gentleman, for having be- stowed so nuuh of liii> time and attention, in bringing this important subject uuder the consideration of Parliament. Mr. ScarleU said, ho should have no objection to go inlu the Cooiinittee Instanlcr; but a,s he was not prepared with aJi thie clauses, he hoped the House would consent to read the bill a second time thai night ; and to euter into the C'oiiimit.tee oa Monday. \V ith respect to the iuiluence otf the present system upon marriages, he would mention the case of a young- person under twenty, who paid for a licence to be married in one of the counties, and went the next day and demanded relief and residence from the ma* gistrute. -, .-<-: ■.< >• >.■ :■■ ■■■ ■ ,/- ■ .■• ^ •• i',,,, , , , ^ i Tiie Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed ou Monday. , , ■ , 1; ,. , ^ ._ .. ,■. :.. ■ V , Maj/28. I Mr' Scarlett moved foj the committal of the Poor-Relief Amendment Bill, with a view to propose the clauses which he had mentioned upon the last consideration of tlus measure. , - < Mr. Mansfield expressed a hope that the learned CJentle- nian would not press the adoption of this bill within the present session. The clauses proposed by Mr. Scarlett were adoi)ted. , Jutie 6, Mr. Scarlett preseaitod petitions in favour of tJie Poor- Relief Araeodment Bill, from the parishes of St. Fancras, Middlesex, and Northiara, in Su««cx. ii ! ! *l ■— — --jf-V - ■ ' ■■i-.*rt.i*.*'«»j^'' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1^128 |25 ■so ■^" mi ■^ lii 122 2.0 us m u I.I L25 11 U I .6 Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.r. MSSO (716) S72-4503 ^ cdxiv C;HNnRAL INTKODUCTION'. >& The further consideration of the Report of the Poor- Relief Amendment Bill, was fixed for Thursday, Itith June. June 7. Mr. Curteis presented a Petition from the parish of Robertsbridge, Sussex, in favour of the Poor-Relief Amend- ment Bill. Mr. Ifobhouse presented a Petition, from some indivi- duals in Liverpool, ngainst the Poor-Relief Amendment Bill. The petitioners, ho stated, objeclfnl to all the clauses, except that regulating the law of settlement. Mr. Hobhouse said he feared he should be obliged to vote agaiinst the bill, his opposition to which, should rest on the ground that forms the present state of the laws against the poor, against emigration, against combination, and against begging : a compulsory provision for the poor was rendered necessary. ' "• - """ " -' •'^'''^' ■'"^' Mr. Brougham concurred in opinion with the Honour- able Member for Westminster, to a certain extent, and he was willing lo say, that if such a measure as the bill before the House, or any thing like it, was passed, a great alteration would be necessary in all the laws concerning the poor. The subject was attended with great, though not with insurmountable difficulty. The system could not begin and end with the bill intro * »' •'-' ; -•' > M}\ S. Jiourne (;oncurred in the observations of the honourable and learned Gentleman. lie dtumied it a great oversight, that by a clause at the end of the Poor- Relief Bill, the vagrancy laws were left untouched. When the funtis were limited, as they would bo by the bill, it would be impossible to leave them subject to the nnlimited demands of magistrates. Mr. Ilarhord observed, that the doctrine on which the alteration of the poor-laws was proposed, was chiefly that of Mr. Malthas, according to which, a certain quantity ot vice anil misery was necessary as a check upon population. This doctrine had been,, in the opinion uf many people well qtialified to form an opinion on the subject, shaken by the elaborate work lately published by Mr. Godwin. Mr. Malthus's theory was founded on the supposition of vapid ratio of increase of population, which Mr. Godwin had, in the opinion of many, disproved*. . .. , . ., ., After a few words from Mr. Brougham, Mr. Maxwell observed, that in every part of Scotland, where machinery was introduced, a compulsory provision 4iad been found necessary, and he believed such a provi- sion would be found necessary, till machinery was taxed f. * Thr thhoratc u-nrk lately published by Mr, Godwin ! ! ! t Macbiucrvtttxed: ! ! - . ' -- ■* - - ' "■ '^ I 1 ■MM**- p i'l fclxvi «EKERAL II^TRODIJCTION. Th« Pettiioa wat ordered to be printed. i\ rings' ,■--"■ >' ' • ^' ^ jk I.: JuneS. Sir U. Wilson presented u petition from the freeholders and leypayers of the township of Hag-get, (we bedieve) in JjancaKhire, ogainst tJve Poor-Helief Bill. Sir R. Wilsoa siroii^ly touinettded the langim^e und arguments of the petition* which he recapituluted ; and icoUjcUided by observ- ing, that as there wm »o much alarm at over-population, he sliould re(;oiiimenil (e the notice of utembers an elaborate treatise of a very learned, thoug-h he could not say, grave, divin£« he luueaut the " modeist profKtsiai" of Dean Swift. (rLear !) •"•'' '•'* ■ »•• -V .ri,it ^ w*i.,..v Mtu '■•k -i'- •i^^*- The petition was read, i . ' * •;.. .*4. . .»^ < < Mr. Br^n^hwn fiakl, he bad hoped that Members would have abstained from the introduction of topics, which conid do no possible good to tlie poor. (Hear!) The objections to the bill, contained in the |»etitioo, proceeded upon a mistake very fatal to o dispatant, tlie total misapprehension of the argument to which they were opposed. No one had over sud, that tbepoorJaws operated as an incentive to mar- riages, but that they removed the check to improvident mar- riages, which would be otlierwise supplied by the fear of abso- lute want. (Hear !) He thoughtit unwise too, for the sake of die poor them.selves, to be continually holding- out to them the doctiine, that they were mortgagees upon the land, nay preferable mortgagees ; for though, as the law stood, this was perhaps true, it necessarily had an operation injurious to the poor themselves. The ope.ratiQn of such a system, it jaeeded no speculatist, ai Mr. Malthus was represented to Imb, thoagh, on these objects, no one was more plain and prtkotical (hear !) to shew. The doctrine of Mr. MalthuEi was, that nothing 'was more prejudicial to the oommunity, and to the iudividuaU themselves, than that persons, without kno^ledg« Jhow ka maintain a faouly, shauldput tliemseives in a situation, in which they were sure (o prodiu^eaiamily* OJKMERAL INTRODUCTION. Ctixvii (Hear!) There was, surely, nothing itbNtruse or apeculative in this; when, out of such a fund as the poor' s-rates, they were sure of being supplied with support, without reference .*o the state of the country, to the times, and almost, he might say, according to the present administration of the poor-laws, Wthout any reference to the disposition of the individual to work. (Hear! hear!) The proper restraint on marriage was fiiken away, at the moment when it should operate. The poor were prevented from thinking twice, when they had to decide on the question, whether they flhould marry or not. It should be impressed upon them, that to put themselves in the situation to get a family, without the means of mainudniiig it, was as bad as to go into a shop and buy goods without having means of paying for them. (Heiir ! hear 1) Mr. Malthus had very properly said, that itshould be impressed on the people, that to rush, into marriage under sucli circumstances, was neither honest nor politic. CoionM Wood said, that the honourable and lentrned Member s bill had not had fair play ; for, though he (Col. Wood) agreed iu wiiai had faliea from the Honourable Gentleman who had spoken lastetition was ordered to lie on the table. ^* ' ' Sir Robert yVilsoii depretated any deg;rce of haste in the progress of this measure, M'hatever might he, as he knew, the expeditionary powers ol" the Jiouse. lor it was a mea- sure re<|uirin<>' the most deliherati? lonsiderutioii. As to the remark of his learned friend (Mr. Brou^-hani). tJiat no poor man shoidd marry, unless he were able to support a family, he agreed in the principle of that remark ; but it was to bo considered, laat a poor man might be able to support a family at the time he married, while ii the very next year he might be deprived of that ability, through a new Corn Bill, or some further taxatioji, eidiancing the materials of subsistence. (Hear! hear! hear !) The gallant officer forcibly commented upon the exceptionable cha- racter of the bill in various points of view, and especially in compelling a poor man to travel about in search of em- ployment, while, if he failed in his search, he was liable to punishment under the Vagrant Act. h^J . ' ? ufm«ttt 4^ "»• Mr. Gurney thought it his particular duty to oppose this measure, and that the passing of it would be u llagraiit act of insanity*. I'i^-"* wi -'«' aa ordered to be printed. J line V^. A. petition against the Poor Laws Amendment Bill, was presented from Stockport, which was ordered to lie on the table; a« were petitions to the same efl'ect from liceds, Hudderslield, and St. George the Martyr, Southwark. The last petition contained a statement, that persons being induced to come to that parish, as well as to other parishes in the vicinity of the metropolis, under the idea of getting employment with advanced wages, these parishes would be subjected to considerable incumbrances, should the pro- posed bill be allowed to pass into a law. 1 ■ ■ cclxx GBNGRAL INTRODUCTION. \\l li I, This petitiou was orUere^l to be printed. i; Mr. Curleix pretented a petition in favour of this bill, from the select vustry of the parish of Burwash. in Sussex. The petitioners, with whom the Hunourubio Member said that he fully concurred, further prayed that personid pro- perty might be subjected to the payment of poor's-rate* as well as property in land or houses. i^ ,j t i.< .< , Ordered to bo printed. ., n , - ; June 20. Mr, Scarlett moved the farther consideration of the Poor- Relief Bill. Mr. Calcraft thought it would bo desirable tliat the de-> bate on this important subject shoold not be gone into without a chance of contludinr^ it. Mr. Scarlett did not wish to press on the debate against the pleasure of the House. Lord Londonderry said a few words in favour of tiie con- tinuance of the discussion. Mr. Calcraft saw the necessity of some measure for t!ic amendment of the poor-laws; but he did not therefore think himself bound to support one, which, he was convinced, would not be salutary and useful. He should attempt here^ after to show, that the evils, and even the burdens of the poor-laws had betsu considerably exaggerated *; though he owned they were evils, and though he felt the weight of the burdens : as to the rt^medy now proposed, he was a friend to the principle of the poor-laws, which was that of unre- stricted compulsory provision for the relief of the indigent. His learned friend would cut up this principle. He ftxed a maximum, which, under no circumstances, should be exceeded. This, at least, was the oniginal enactment of this Bill: he had now modified it by exceptions, which woold entirely take away its etl'ect. This would show the I * They Tipver wpf* oxn^^eratM) : th*y are fncdcHlable. v t„ . n t T |, - . ti ^f , a . ■ ... I . . . Hm ^Li iH T^^ M4f , ^i i ^tB u p H> *»IW«*i>>^>* '^ UUNIfiRAL INTRODUCTION. ccltxi House bow cautiously iUey should proc^d, wfacm ti gen- tlonmn of m much kiiuwlcdjri* as his Irarned friend, after only H ftiw days' exptMicinc of a iiunwurt! \w had proposed, Uioufjht It necessary entirely to chai»jj;e it, &c.. &o. * Xir H. WiLson moved that the Houso do now adjourn. Mr. Nolan seconded the motion for adjournment. Mr. Scarlett had no ohjei tion to tliu |>ropo.sition of his honour- able and g'allant. friend, fur it wai his interest as well M his anxious wish, that the ipiestiun iihouid receive aU poc* sible discussion. . July 2. Mr. Scarlett rose, not,, he said, at tlio close of the ses- sion, to press any discussion on the bill: indeed, from the outset, he did not express a hope that the bill wotdd be carried through tlie ilouse that session. He would not enter at present into any discussion whatever, but v?o . ' reserve himself lor a further opportunity to answer the - gumenLs that had been urged against the bill. It would, in particular, be necessary for him to brush up his law, in order to meet the opposition of his honourable and gallant friend (Sir R. Wilson). Whether they would meet in private contest, or otherwise, he hoped his honourable and gallant friend would not prove more fortunate than he ought to be. He (3^ , Scarlett) was aware that mnoh had been written in ore. to inflame the public mind on this subject: for himself, he would say, that his attention had been directed to the state of the poor-laws for the last thirty years, and he always was of opinion that they were aw» most ii:yurious to the community, and most oppres- sive to the poor. He thought they were lawB which went to degrade the lower classes. He withdrew the bill for the present; but be proposed next session to renew the measure. He would not pledge himself to words, but in 1. :i * Very just, UMl««d ! i if'i*'i h. iri; nv-i^ ill , • rclxxii GUNRRAL INTRODUCTION. principle it would be 8ubstantially the same. If iiu filiould meet the samo .sort of Hupport which hn had received, he would propose another hill lor greater discrimination be- tween the moral claiins of persons Meeking for relief, and for the purpose of ( liecking- (he expenditure, which was now a subject of general complaint, lie should also pro- pose, that the fathers of families should he n(» longer bal- loted for the militia, but that single m«!tt should be com- pelled to serve. — « r ■-'— - Sir R. Wil'Son said, that when the nieasnre should be brought forward, he w ouhl o^)pose il ca ery inch. In order to qualify himself to meet the threatened contest with his honourable and learneir. < ;U . ,.>; Mr. Brougham seems to eye Mr. Scarlett's Hill with contempt; and any child is entitled to do so; but Mr. Brougham, 1 suspect, would blink the one thing needful: lie does indeed raise a reek about matters of no importance comparatively. He speaks of the subject being " attended with yreat r/i/^!c«%," uid points to *' the laws against emigration, coml nation, and begging ;" but what would all t' ese be, W(!re the people edu- cated, and had tl? y a chance of gaining property and civil rights Every difficulty would dis- appear before tl ^•^ benefits granted to the poor; and if these are not granted. Parliament may debate till doomsday without removing the great- est national evil, — the wretched system of Eng- lish poor-laws, i, . . i < :../ if.i ^' » Mr. Scarlett speaks of the '* intention" of the 43d of Elizabeth ; and Sir Robert Wilson calls that statute the Magna Charta of the poor!! The Mid of Elizabeth laid the foundation for all the present mischief, etpially the curse of poor and the that TFie the and fiRNKIlAl. INTKOI)li(?TION. rclxxvii ricli. TIk; 4. id of KlizalxMh was fniinrd in nil iin- liirky hour, and from false notions of policy. After the sup[)ressi()n of monasteries, and the seizure of church property, which had for a^es fed multitudes of poor, and was, indeed, by law, in great part expressly intended for that [lurpose, swarms of indigent and idle persons spread them- selves over the country, and induced legislators to provide for them by this statute. Great as the necessities of the poor were under circumstances, ut that time, much better would it have been to have left nature to cure the evil. The act of Eli- zabeth provided work for the industrious, and pri- sons for the idle; but all should have been left to their shifts, save the old and impotent; there is no cure so good as hunger for idleness. Similar causes, soon after, introduced poor-laws into Scotland. By an act of James VI. indigent children were bound to work for masters till past thirty years of age, and afterwards this law was ra- tified with additions by the Scotch Parliament in the reign of Charles II. empowering masters of manufactories, with the advice of magistrates, to seize vagabonds and idle poor persons, to employ thein in their works, and exact of parishes sums of money to assist in their training and mainte- nance for three years, and after that to retain them seven years in service for meat and clothes. It was also enacted, by the Scotch Parliament, that overseers of the poor should be appointed by justices of the peace; and that poor children, and vagabonds, and idlers, should be taken hold of, and I I i ': V ill 111 CcixXViii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. instructed to fine and mix wool, spin worsted, and knit stockings. In Scotland all this officious le- gislation did little harm, for education was intro- duced, and completely did away the necessity for its operation. In the year 1616, an Act of Council first established schools, and this was afterwards rati- fied and improved by the first Scotch Parliament of Charles I. It is truly worthy to mark this. The Scotch became enlightened, and got out of the bondage of their poor-laws. The English were kept in ignorance, and at last fell victims to un- thrifty benevolence and mistaken notions of policy. For any thing I can see in the debates before us, there seems a strange confusion of ideas with re- gard to the riifhts of the poor ; and I question if Sir Robert Wilson, who has set himself forward as the champion of these rights, has very clear no- tions of the prize for which he is to contend. His calling of the 43d of Elizabeth the Magna Charta of the poor, justifies suspicion. The effect of tax- ation too, is, I suspect, but indifferently under- stood by some of the orators, particularly as it af- fects the poor of England. Were taxation reduced to-morrow, 1 know of no change for the better that it would make in the condition of the poor labourers of England, subjected to slavery by the system of the poor-laws. That taxation is now out of hounds, and that the evil is greatly aggravated by the wretched policy pursued by our present minis- ters, is too obvious. The distress of the labouring classes of Scotland is too good proof of that, though we had no other; but to the poor of England it M CENKRAL INTRODUCTION. OclXxix makes no ditrereiice whatever. Mr. Cobbett, who launched forth into verv free remarks on these de- bates on the poor-laws, and sees through the whole system as clear as any body, has continually bawled out against taxes und paper-money beings the sole cause of misery. I entirely differ with him in this. 1 am not only a friend to paper-money, as a refine- ment of commerce, and as it is the grand bond for confidence in adventure,— indeed, the only means of extensive dealings among men ; but the holding it on at the present time, I do consider a matter of sacred importance to the interests of the poor of England, in procuring for them a gradual, genuine, and valuable deliverance from their present state of degradation. - «. Mr. Cobbett somewhere asks, '* what rational man expects reform without a blowing-up of paper-money?" 1 am certain that Mr. Cobbett is not more keen for reform than myself. I have rationally weighed the question of paper-money, and these are my opinions. If the blowing-up of paper-money would blow up borough-mongering alone, much should 1 rejoice to see the explosion ; but if such blowing-up would set loose the poor of England from all restraint before their present habits were improved, and before the rancour which has been generated between them and their masters was allayed and forgotten, God pre- vent every thing like such blowing-up. It has for many years been my decided opinion, that a well-modified property-tax would at once secure to us all the advantage of paper-money, and rid us f, '' 'i 1 ■;; i i! * ! : ^ ' ij S^ |{' »' ,■ 8' ' f : 1 1 f ,', <«IXXX . CSRNRKAL INTIIODUCTION. of every disqnietiKlo as to its proving our ruin. W^ilhout recurrence to this, our risks arc great indeed. Mr. Scarlett has declared it to be his wish •* to im- prove the^noral condition of the poor." This is the grand point for the poor and for the nation, lie is to resume his endeavours next session; and 1 have to hope that, hy that time, he will give attention to themc^anjrof attaining his object. His ** attention,*' he says, " has been dijrected to the state of the poor- laws for the last thirty years, and he always was of opinion that they were laws most injurious to the community and most oppressive to the poor.'* 1 have devoted unceasing attention to the poor-laws for twenty-one years. 1 have not only saidf but done J and 1 am as sure as that 1 am in existence, from much experience and practical knowledge, that if Mr. Scarlett does not greatly improve upon his principle of last session — greatly enlarge his views of the subject ho has on hanUCTION. (X'lxxxi 27th June; and as Sir Jlobert Wilson had spoken up for the rifthts of the poor, I sent him a copy, that he might understand my notions of what was required to establish their rights*. * 35, Abchurch Lane, ^Ist Juno, 1821. jge his can ea- sing ing ry AH is to lia- the the the Sir, In March Inst, while oxpoctation wuh high roj^iirding NaploH, I nddressoil to you a lew linens + on th(! suggestion of n friend, and afterwards thinking that I had made too free, my friond sought you tt) give explanation, but you had changed your place of retiidence : I had gone to the country, and, before my return, the game was up. > . I You have asserted, on the question of tlm poor-lawa, that the poor have rights which others deny, and in the abstract there may be doubt. I handed to Sir James Mackintosh, t'other day, a Pe- tition, wherein I assort, that real and substantial righls have been taken from tlic poor, and that thi^y ought to have compensation. An (he subject is now indiscuHsion, and as I observe you continue to keep it in nund, I take the liberty to accompany this with a copy i)f my Petition, which I hoiu; Sir Junjes Mackintosh will this day present. Should you honour it with perusal, I flutter myself you may find nuilter for serious and important considttration. Trust- ing that you will excuse this liberty. I have the honour to be, Your's, &c. Sir llobtrl PViUon. I 1 i .1 ■>,' t Liiiidon, 2llh March, 1821. SiK, HftvinR hoard that you aro to proci-nl to Italy, in aid of Ncapolilaii initopnidenre, and having; 8om»' inclinaiioii to ffo Miithi-r, on ihr bjihic errand, I shonld be huppy to havr thi' honour of ronvorHing with you on thesMbject. Should yon admit of thin, you will havr, the «;oodne8a to nay, when and where I may aec you. • . 1 am, your's, Hiv. ROBERT (iOURLAY. ZHf Abchurck Lane. Sit Robert Wxlioit, ' i.k. I i i- I I it f i. 1 || ; * ill CclxXXii GKNRRAL INTRODUCTION. To the Honourable t/te Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY. m ^ i-i "■: SHEWRTH, That your Petitioner had presented to your Uonoura- blo House on the 11th day of July, 1820, a Petition pro format the object of which was to call attention to the state of Upper Canada, as it concerned emigration. That your Petitioner would again and seriously have moveil in this business at an earlier period of the present session, but for an expectation that a Commission might come home from the Province to strengthen his suit. That this expectation having now vanished, yonr Peti- tioner begs leave to state to your Honourable House, more particularly what was his prime object in soliciting attention to the subject of emigration. Tliat with this view your Petitioner has to say that for more than twenty years he has made the subject of the English poor-laws a peculiar study. That his attention was first riveted to this study, from being employed by the Board of Agriculture in the years 1800 and 1801, to make inquiry in certain parts of England, as to the condition of the labouring poor, and into a prac- tice which prevailed of giving them land for the keep of cows, by which they could live without parish aid. That the inquiries oi' yonr Petitioner completely esta- blished the fact in question, according to the shewing of the Board of Agriculture itself, published in 1816, under the title of «' Agricultural State of thk King- dom." That the object of the Honourable Board, in ascertain- ing this fact, was to have introduced into a bill, for th« OBNKRAL INTRODUCTION. cclxxxiii general enclosure of commons and waste lands, a clause, by which all poor people, who had rights of pasture, &c. upon such commons and wastes, should each have secured to him a portion of land, whereon he might keep a cow, and thereby be enabled to subsist without public relief. That this general Enclosure Bill was laid aside ; and *.hat since then many hundreds of commons have been en- closed by local bills, without any attention to the claims of tho poor; many thousands of whom have been ai\justly deprived of their ancient rights of pasturage, 8cc. ; and that this, among other causes, has contributed to the pre- sent dependence of English labourers on parish aid. That your Petitioner, though he did not coincide in opinion with his employers, in 1800 and 1801, as to the particular mode of proceeding then proposed, for the bene- fit of labourers and tlie keeping down of poor-rates, was so much struck with the necessity of making great changes, to avert the evils springing out of the EngUsh system of poor-laws, that he resolved to shape the course of his life, so as to have opportunity fully to investigate the subject; and, in order to gain practical experience, did remove from Scotland, his native country, into England, chiefly with that view, and in the hope of being able to devise some remedy for tho greatest of national evils. This he did in 1809, and for upwards of seven years devoted much attention to the subject. That after due consideration, your Petitioner became assured that the first essential for a radical reform of the poor-laws . was the education of the rising generation. liliat however necessary this was, your Petitioner found that the system of the poor-laws had already completely formed a bar against the possibility of its being accom- plished without the special interference of the legislature. That your Petiticmer, to gain attention to tltis sabject, had a petition presented to the Honourable the House of Commons the 30th May, 1815. " W I cclxxxiv r.RNRRAL INTRODUCTION. ill "■J \ i i That your Petitioner t'urttier (iiscovercd, that throiigii the action of poor-laws, labourers had been (le[)rived ui all property in house:* and land ; and being thereby render- ed incapable of locomotion, were completely subjected to the will and caprice of farmers, overseers, and others. That your Petitioner, in order to attract notice to this part of thu business, and to other matters essential for the cure of the greatest of national maladies, had a Petition presented to the Honourable House uf Commons the 28th February, 1817. That your Petitioner still saw, that though all his pro- posals were adopted, that sometliing more might be required, safely and effectually to accomplish the grand object of abolishing the system of the poor-laws, and that an artifi- cial vent would be required for redundant population, during a series of years, while the process of reform was proceeding. * , r *' < ... • That at this very time an unexpected and extraordinary change of fortune drove your Petitioner abroad to Upper Canada, to look out for a place of refuge for himself and family. • ^ • ' > ■ , .^. ; * That your Petitioner, being in Upper Canada, disco- vered that that country could afford the vent required for the redundant population of England, and upwards of three years ago he did send home u communication, to be laid before Lord Bathurst, intimating what he had then in contemplation. . .' • That a singularly unfortunate train of events detained your Petitioner in Upper Canada, involved him in political discussions, exposed him to the most groundless scandal, subjected him to the most cruel persecutions, finally ending in imprisonment and banishment from the province ; nut only unmerited, but palpably illegal and unconstitutional. That your Petitioner, notwithstanding that his health has suffered beyond all hope of repair, from ungracious treatment abroad, and that bis spirits have been sunk witli iO- red lad led leal lal, lUil GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CclxXXV file most muuriit'ul culamitieH wi luimo, \\m devoted all the eflbrts of a weakened mind, up to the present time, to ad- vance the vast object at which he has been so long aiming, and still aims. ,..•.« That your Petitioner has become more and more solici- tous lor attention to iiis proposal and schemes fur the reform of English poor-laws, and the giving vent to redun- dant population, since he has seen a bill introduced into your Honourable House, clearly drawn up without prac- tical knowledge of the system of the poor-laws, or a due consideration of circumstances. That your Petitioner has long considered the principle of population, as laid down by Mr. Malthus, and on which Mr. Scarlett's Bill seems to be founded, to be sound in the abstract: that he has long wished to see all need for poor-laws done away; and believes it perfectly possible that they may be entirely done away, with advantage as well to the poor as to the rich. Yet, as circumstances stand, he is still more assured that substantial benefits must be granted to the poor; — that they must have oppor- tunity given them to acquire property and civil rights, be- fore their present rights of applying for public relief, are encroached upon, or taken away: — he is assured, that Mr. Scarlett's Bill, as it now stands, would at once be inefficient and dangerous in execution: that it would certainly, if made into law, engender discontent, and lead on to general insurrection. Your Petitioner most seriously entertaining this belief, filled with anxiety and alarm from the aspect of public affairs, and conscious that wise and liberal measures may not only retrieve the country from jeopardy, but lay a foundation for its glorious security, in the improved morals and better worldly circumstances of tlie lower orders of society, does humbly and earnestly entreat your Honour- able House to pause, and reflect well on the subject of the poor-laws. Your Petitioner is willing to be called to the bar of I !•■ n M ^(' ih IE i y .1 CclxXXti ORNERAL INTKODUCTION. yoar Hononrable House, or before any Committee, to sab- stantiate what he has set forth, and to enter into any required explanation of his pretensions, principles, and proposals. He would more particularly entreat, that the state of Upper Canada may be immediately taken into consider- ation, that preparations may, this year, be made to admit of a grand system of emigration being commenced by the following spring, in unison with a plan for reforming the poor-laws. -■' • ■ j And your Petitioner will ever pray, June 16, 1821. . ROBERT GOURLAY. It will be observed, that I conclude my Petition with entreating, ** that preparations may , this year f be made to admit of a grand system of Emigration^ being commenced by the following springs in unison with a plan for reforming the Poor^LawsS* In summer, I8S0, when communicating with Sir James Mackintosh, as to the objects I had in view, for strengthening the connexion between this country and Upper Canada, I informed him of my wish to prove what might be done, by a practical experiment, in settlement. When I put this last Petition into his hands, I again called attention to this subject ; and, for some days, I am afraid, must have teased him with my written notes on the subject. My anxiety to have the matter spoken of before the House, when Sir James presented the Petition, was excessive ; but not a word, I believe, was said. My anxiety could not rest; and, how- ever little chance there was for a liberal hearing, from the Colonial Department, I, at last, resolved to address myself to Lord Bathurst; and the following correspondence ensued. , GSNBRAL INTRODUCTION. CclxXXVii CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE COLONIAL OEPARTMENT. J' London, September 9d, 1821« My Lord, Having a purpose to collect together a number of people willing to emigrate to Canada, aud to proceed to that colony for settlement, under the best cir- cumstances for the comfort of all, it becomes desirable to know, upon what terms government will grant land in aid of such purpose. It would therefore be obliging, were your Lordship to order information to be communicated to me on the subject. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's obedient servant, Robert Govhlay. Earl Bathurst. Letters find me, addressed to the care of ' . '-ii . ■ 35, Abchurch Lane. Sir, Downing Street, Colonial Department , 5th September, 1821. In reply to your letter, dated the third in- stant, I am directed by Lord Bathurst to acquaint you that his Majesty's government no longer give encouragement to persons proceeding as settlers to his Majesty's possessions in North America, beyond a grant of land which they will receive on applying to the governor of the province, propor- tioned to the means of cultivation, which they may possess, on their arrival in the colony. Passages are not granted by Government. • > ^ (. V, I 9Lm, Sir, your most obedient servant, Henry Goulburn. Mr. Robert Gourlay. I li li ii^l O I \ Pi rdxXXviii [W fli l <. l iiilil'Wi > il M «lr y * » 4»- >« l* Wll M»>f«. . GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ccxci rf. of the lement ; a change of rule. It may be, by next year, determined to grant no more land, or to grant it on such terms as to render it not worth the fees, or price put upon it. By correspondence with various parts of the country, I am assured that I could get a large body of people to go with me by next spring, and it is now time to ba making arrangements for an undertaking so arduous and decisive of fate and fortune. Your Lordship, no doubts has controul over all rules for granting land in Canada, and can therefore assure me upon the subject of my . inquiries. May I therefore beg the favour that your Lordship will take matters into serious consideration, and in an- other communication give me those assurances which are requisite for my plans being carried into execution, with- out risk of such disappointment as I have above sup- posed possible. I have in view to settle towards the higher part of Lower Canada, and should wish a grant of land out of that still in possession of the Crown, which lies nearest to Montreal. It may be in your Lordship's power to determine as to the location in this country, and the comfort which settlers would have, from such determina- tion, would be very g^eat indeed. It would enable them to have preparations made on the granted land before they got out to take possession of it, very essential both for comfort and economy. I am, your Lordship's obedient servant, Robert Gourlav. Earl Bathurstr Address as before mentioned. No Petition can be entertained, unless accompanied by a written character, or a satisfactory reason shewn for such not being produced. JOHN SMALL, Qk.En.Com, tS -'A 'l H CCXCIl Sir, gbnc:ral introduction. Downing Street, September l^lh, 1821. In reply to your letter of the 7th instant, addressed to Lord Bathurst, I am directed by his Lord- ship to acquaint you, that it is impossible to give you any more definite answer than what you have already received, respecting grants of land to individuals proceeding to the North American Colonies, the local government being the only fit judges of the means which a party may possess for cultivating lands in the province, and of the extent which it may be proper to assign to them. I am. Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, Henry Goulburn. Mr. Robert Gourlay. Margate, 2d October, 1821. My Lord, Mr. Goulburn's letter of 15th ultimo, in reply to mine of the 7th, addressed to your Lordship, reach- ed me in course ; but ill health, which has induced me to come to this place for recovery, has caused me to delay again troubling your Lordship on the subject of emigration. I have, indeed, hesitated a little, whether I should continue this correspondence, being very unwilling to make unavail- ing trouble. On mature reflection, however, I feel that 1 should not be satisfied with myself, without more particu- larly communicating my views ; 'dnd your Lordship will, I trust, listen to explanation, whatever be the result. Mr. Goulburn says, in his last letter to me, ** It is im- possible to give you any more definite answer, than what you have already received, respecting grants of land to in- dividuals, proceeding to North American colonies." Now, what I wish to treat about, does not concern me as an in- dividual only. As an individual, I could readily procure, on going either to Canadn, or to the Unived States of •« *■ . ^.... < — .f-.^^....^^..^^. LH«MliMlll*itliiMI 11 ill, I 9 m- ow, in- ure, s of GENKKAL INTRODUCTION. CCXciii America, more la)id than 1 could myself cultivate. It is now four years since I first proposed to conduct to Canada a large party of settlers, and, indeed, to mak* a continued business of promoting emigration. I studied the subject in ( 'anada, found that my scheme could be put in practice, at once to my own and the public benefit, and took every means to qualify myself for the undertaking. I sent home three letters, to be presented to your Lordship, all witli one uniform and settled determination ; and, as I have more and more retlected on what I had, and still have in view, the more am I inclined to proceed. The letters alluded to, were dated 3d November, 1817; February 7th, 1818; and 24th March, 1818; and, no doubt, were shown to your Lordship, through the medium of Sir Henry Torrens *. In these letters, I spoke of a contract, which I was desirous to make with Government, for the settlement of Canada with British subjects ; and it is this contract which I would still willingly engage with. Under this contract, I could pay to Government a considerable sum of money for the land, and greatly promote the comfort and prosperity of settlers. Although the value of land has, of late years, greatly fallen in America, I could afford to pay Govern- ment one dollar per acre ; say, for one million of acres to begin with, by three instalments, at the end of five, six, and seven years, and so on for an indefinite term, re- ceiving more and more land from Government, to settle as the process went on, and payments were made good. Could your Lordship come to a resolution to promote a liberal scheme of this sort, within the present month of October, 1 could go out to Canada, have arrangements made for settlement, and be back before April next, to <'onduct settlers to their destination. Nothing more would be required than your Lordship's countenance, to enable every thing to be managed to the best advantage. This * See thtiSG Letters, page 450, vol. II. CCXCIV GENERAL INTHODUCTION. coantry coald spare 50,000 people annually, to be thus conducted abroad; and I should have no difficulty to pro- cure 10,000 to go out in one body by April next. When your Lordship has entered into a thorough investigation of the subject, these numbers will not appear at all extra- vagant to reckon upon, nor will there seem any difficulty in managing the concern. The distress throughout the country, for want of work, is general; and, after the en- suing term of Michaelmas, will be greatly increased. No rise in the price of corn will enable farmers to employ la- bourers so liberally this winter ensuing as they did last winter, and curtailing employment in Government works, as is now done by throwing labourers idle one day out of six, will, I am afraid, greatly aggravate misfortune. Emi- gration to the fullest extent would not much abate this dis- tress, as it proceeds from extraordinary causes, which re- quire special remedies; but a timely disposition on the part of Government to promote any species or degree of relief, would assist in lessening discontent. My hope of establishing a liberal system of emigration, does not rest on the present emergency, nor any temporary distress. Emi- gration could be carried to greatest extent, and with best effect, were the country flourishing. In the mean time, public calamity ought certainly to plead for its encourage- ment, and I hope yjur Lordship may still take serious thought of the subject. Your Lordship must, no doubt, have the fullest information from every quarter, as to the state of the country, and can need none from me. Hav- ing viewed both England and Scotland, however, all over from north to south, and from east to west, with my own eyes, within the last two years, and, having from time to time, information from intelligent correspondents in va- rious quarters, I cannot resist expressing anxiety and dread of consequences. On the subject of emigration, I shall here beg leave to transcribe part of a letter from one of my friends, dated 23d August, 1821, ♦• You may get GENERAL INTRODfTCTION. CCXCV as miiny people as you please, to go from with you to Canada. More than half of tlie farmers have been thrown out in the late bad times, and will not require much persuasion to emigrate. There is one family tliat I have spoke to, (I mean one of the sons) that will gladly go, and, as he was bred to the dairy system, he might make a figure in that capacity. He would soon get a dairy-woman with him for a wife. They rented a firm within a mile of at £617 of rent, on which tliey had thirty-eight as fine cows as were in the country. They failed, and were turned out with great severity. Their stock sold at less tlian half-price^ and the farm is now let at £200. They paid rent five years, (I set them the land myself) and lost at least £1000 by the con- cern : of this £500 by the harsh roup (sale by auction) of their stock." '* Every season great ship-loads of people emigrate from Greenock to Canada. There is a cargo of 600 or 800 mak- ing up just now by a Greenock vessel, but loading at Fort William. But from Greenock itself every ship carries out emigrants, chiefly country people from the counties of Renfrew and Ayr. Were I twenty years younger, I would go myself." How noble and generous would it be, my Lord, to set about arranging plans, by which such poor distressed people as those above spoken of, could have something like certainty and comfort to look forward to in the colonies, whither they are desirous to proceed. Emigrants now go out to Canada, only upon a chance of getting land worth acceptance. A thousand doubts torment them: a thousand difficulties and disappointments wait upon their movements. From their native country, and the society of friends, they have to enter into gloomy solitude : they have to cut out the road before them into the wilderness : they have there to take up their abode, while yet unskilled in the art of settlenieut, and unprepared by experience, to guard against I! i *■■ 41 ^H ii ^ i CCXCYl G£NKBAL INTRODUf TIOX. numerous and frightful accidents : they have uften to strive, at once^ against poverty and sickness. Xot one in ten of those who go out to Canada, have, within themselves, the means of making comfortable commencement; and not t})e half of these can put even suflicient means to speedy and economical account, for want of plan and arrangement. Public arrangements for emigrants were miserable, when I was abroad. They are yet alto- gether defective, and every account sent home gives proof of consequent misery. All this can be prevented by your Lordship's endeavours, if seriously and strenuously applied. It was reported to me, on coming home, that your Lordship had said, on hearing some representation which I had made, as to the distress of emigrants, that " I should take care of myself," and, no doubt, it would be well, could I do so. Could I do tliis, and benefit tens of thousands of my fellow creatures, surely it would still be better. I have suifered mure disappointment than, perhaps, any man alive, and hold no enviable situation at present ; yet, my Lord, such is the consolation from good intention, that the balance of enjoyment may not, after all, be greatly against me. It is in your Lordship's power to set on foot a scheme of benevolence, beyond any thing yet witnessed by tlie world: it is my delight to reflect even upon the possibility of such being realized. There is not a man who is desirous of quitting ihe country, that it is not politic for government to aid in his getting out of it ; at least if he is willing to settle in a British Colony. There he can be so placed as to reimburse every charge incurred by his removal from home. It would be wrong in me to attempt going into any detail for your Lordship's information, as to plans of settlement, on this O'^- i,>lon; but, I shall, at all times, be ready to wait upjn your Lordship with every particular, if required. Last year the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that " His Majesty's Ministers were disposed to adopt every measure which could really Ml CiKNEKAL INTRODUCTION. CCXCVll very the fere iallv contribute to the relief uf the labouring classes," and that "Government were disposed to give every facility to any practical scheme, for mitigating the distresses of the labour- ing classes*." Now, my Lord, I declare myself ready to lay before you a practical scheme for mitigating distress, by emigration, with reflection on the above quotation. Your Lordship must be sensible, that more than the labouring classes want relief, " more than half the farmers have been thrown out in the late bud times, and will not require much persuasion to emigrate." These are the words of my friend, a man oi" the lirst-rate intelligence upon such a subject. These words should seriously be considered by your Lordship, and they may be submitted to the Chancellor ofthe Exchequer, with my offer of a scheme for mitigating distress. His Majesty's Ministers can determine imme- diately as to granting land in Canada ; and all that would be required at present, would be an assurance that, as ramiy people as were willing, by April next, should be allowel to settle down so compactly together as best to promote the general good. Your Lordship must know, that one-seventh of all the wild land in Canada, when it comes to be surveyed forsettlemei\t, must be set aside, and approj)riated for the maintenance of a protestant clergy ; aAd, this being settled by law, cannot be altered but by the interference of the Imperial Parliament : my plan could proceed without any alteration in this law; but were it shewn that it would be for general good that the law should be changed, this, I doubt not, could readily be accomplished during next session of Parliament, in time to let settlement in Canada proceed free of all obstruction. I have not supposed, that your Lordship is ignorant of my peculiar situation, connected with Upper Canada. Did your Lord- ship labour under any prejudice, or inisappr^^hension as to this, it would still be wrong to allow any thing of the * Soc page in. 4 1 ■!^ ;■ it ii I CCXCVlll GENEBAL INTRODUCTION. kind to intercept schemes of public beneficence. If my schemes can be shewn to be angelic, your Lordship is welcome to believe me diabolical. My schemes can be executed very well, even without my personal engagement in the performance of them. I have spoken of going out to Canada forthwith, to prepare the way for emigrants ; but any other person might go in my place. I have spoken of it, rather to shew my zeal for public good, than with any particular relish for winter voyages ; and more than a year ago, I told Sir James Mackintosh, that I should submit to go out in chains, rather than that the cause of well* conducted emigration should fail. If a million of acres seem too many at once to contract for, or to ^alk about, a township of 64,000 acres would give room sufficient to make an experiment in. To arrange for the settlement of a single township, I should go out to Canada, if required by government without a farthing of emolument, and merely upon payment uf my expenses. The important point is to have matters determined on within the present month of October. I shall be again in town by the end of this week* and shall be happy to have a definite reply to my suggestions by Monday or Tuesday n^t, addressed to me as before. I am^ your Lordship's obedient servant, ROBT. GOURLAY. Earl Bathurst. Sir, Downing Street, 11th Oct. 1821. I am directed by Lord Bathurst to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d instant, stating, in reply to my former communication, that it is not your object to settle individually in Canada, but that you are anxious to enter into ^ome contract with Government, for conducting emigrants to that colony, on a very large scale; and to acquaint you, in reply, that from what is stated in your jutter, Lord Bathurst cannot encourage any expectation of (21. Ithe to to to to )ur ol GKNKRAL INTRODUCTION. CCXCIX i i I 1! hi8 giving his sanction to the measure which you have in contemplation. I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, HENRY GOULBURN. Mr. Robt. Gourlay. Although the above correspondence has proved of no avail either to me or the public, it is never- theless valuable for record. It shews how com- pletely indiiferent Lord Bathurst is to the duties of his office — how callous to distress at home — how regardless of the interests of Upper Canada. I asked him for no favour : 1 made a proposal advan- tageous for the public: I offered to effect what Ministers have pretended that they wished to be effected. While for many years, under his admi- nistration, the land of Upper Canada has been thrown away for nothing, and worse than nothing, to beget misery to the actual settler, and no good to the favoured drone — to reward sloth and iniquity, I offered him for it a dollar an acre, and this to be put into the British treasury; nor should I require any thing but the patronage of Government to make good the contract proposed to any extent. I offered to contract, or merely to assist in doing good ; but the Minister disdains every proposal. He will neither do nor let do. Like the dog in the manger, his sole object is to prevent enjoyment. What does such a man get enormous salaries for, out of the taxation of England? But every body knows ; and it were pity to lose time with useless inquiry. \ I < 3 \ I \ ' 1 1. ITC CJKNKRAL INTRODlTTIOr. Since the end of the war, Ministers hiivo prated over and over again about relieving distress, by promoting emigration. They have squandered considerable sums of public money, to make show of their good will to emigration ; but their words have been deceitful, antl their schtnics and efforts alike delusive — mere pretences of hypocrisy, in the garb of charity and benevolence. In April, 1890, " Lord Archibald Hamilton sug- gested emigration to our colonies in North America, as the most eflfectual means of mitigating distress," (see page iii) and he had a tuivate conference with Ministers on the subject. The result was, that money was privately allowed to assist emigration from the west of Scotland. Nothing like a plan was laid down for the economical application of this money : no clear idea was formed regarding the art of settlemetti in the wilderness, which is the grand desideratum, and which should be understood before a penny more of public money is wasted. It is by my knowledge of that art, or shall I call it a science, after studying it in all its bearings, its practical process, and its results, for more than four years, that I could, with the mere patronage of Go- vernment, fulfil a contract like that above proposed ; and it is by that knowledge I speak with confi- dence. I suspected that the trifling suggestions of Lord Archibald Hamilton, privately listened to by Ministers, and carried into etfect in an underhand and partial way, would come to nothing. I in- quired into its progress, and could hear no good of it, either here or in (panada ; nay, in Canada, I kjiovv that it was productive ol misti y ; and iiov\ ,i ij^ ) H (i»iiy w »'.'f "rii4 ' • i^» : »we!»**^***« ' i>' i> i-«' n *¥ ' '(ii*y** (a^NEKAL INTRODi;CTI(». CCCi we see the schomo U ahandonrd, from an article which has just appeared in most of the I^ondon newspapers, extracted from an lUlinburgh paper: — "EMIGRATION TO CANADA ' ^ " We learn, that notwithstanding the earnest and reiter- ated entreaties of the gentlemen of Renfrew and Lanark- jihire, avIio promoted the recent emigration to Canada, that Government have decidedly refused giving future emigrants tlie pecuniary bomity of\€10 to each, which has been en- joyed by those who went out during this and the preceding year. Grants of hmd will be given to settlers as before; and they will be gratuitously furnished with husbandry im- plements, but nothing further." Here we see the policy of (Jovenmient tip to the last moment of time, and two months after I ofiered to give my advice and assistance, by which any number of people might be settled in the North American colonies, not at a loss even of '•* hus- bandry implements," but to a very great joro/?^ for the country ; not with miser}/, but comforl to the emigrants ; not on a small scale, which can effect no good, but on a large one, which would be every way advantageous to individuals and thi' nation. PUBLICATIONS ON CANADA! Since I first proposed in Canada to publish a Statistical Account of the Province, and had that proposal made known to Lord Bathurst, through direct communication, and to the British public, through newspapers here, no less than seven pro- ductions have issued from the press, regarding Up- per Canada, and chieflv with a view to promote ii 1 ' il i Ii 1 .i': ■ 1 • ' -% i. ' ■^• ii ■.-»fH-«» Cecil GENEIUL INTRODUCTION. \ . i fV emigration thither. Not one of these has given any thing approaching to a true statement of what they affect to discuss; and upon the whole, they have done any thing but good to the province, or the nation at large. Several of these abound in such misrepresentations, as no child could fail to detect; extolling the government of Canada, ut- tering execrations against that of the United States, and slandering all who have connexion with, or regard for, that country ! ! Nay, making a river the boundary between a healthy and pestilent at- mosphere — a rich and a sterile soil ! Had such stufi'been published only by the Honourable, and Reverend, and Doctor Strachan, whose weakness is so well exposed in the above extract from the Scotsman, it would have been less worthy of no- tice ; but we have a series of these trashy per- formances, obviously cherished with the counte- nance of government ; and for this reason it will be of consequence to glance at the whole of them in order of their dates. The first was the production of " Charles E. GiiECE, Member of the Montreal and Quebec Agricultural Societies, and Author of Essays on Husbandry, addressed to the Canadian Farmers." This person seems to have come home from the vicinity of Montreal {where he appears to have a farm), a few months after the arrival of the Duke of Richmond in Canada as Governor-in-Chief ; and one might suspect that he had received a com- mission to eulogize a man who never, to my know- ledge, either did good in the province, or knew ■■iii^Mmwumiwu ' Wj 'i ii.o i- f-ffV. .ES dec on rs." tlie a of Ind Im- |w- CP.NRRAL INTRODirrTION. CCciil how to do it. lie (Udicates his book to the Go- vernor-in-Chief, with these, among other fulsome compliments : " Tiw justice and humanity of your administration, and the fostering care and zeal for the welfare of these provinces, which you have ever manifested since you wert; fust appointed to thtt high office which you now hold, are the strongest characteristics of true greatness." The " true greatness'* had by this time shewn itself no where, that I ever heard of, hut in the tennis-court, on the turf, or elsewhere. And *' the justice and huma- nity,'' was then suffering me, a native-born British subject, to remain in prison, contrary to that con- stitution, which it was the special business of the Governor-in-Chief to have understood and main- tained: but, all this, a sycophant can pass over, and try to shut his eyes against, by such words as these, *' My confidence is increased by the per- suasion that your liberal and comprehensive mind will duly appreciate the motives that have led to its publication," and " indeed the chief honour to which he aspires, as the author of this work, is, that he may secure your Grace's approbation, and have the privilege of subscribing himself, Your Grace's most obedient, And most devoted humble Servant, Charles E.Grece. Xomfon, March 25, 1819." The main part of Mr. Grece's book, seems to have little else in view, but tx^ scandalize Mr. Birk- beck and the Illinois territory; and I would almost [•!! •:!l rcciv OENERi^L INTRODUCTION. H 1 i : 1 H suspect, was written for him in London. It greatly resembles the virulent stuff which appeared in the Quarterly Review, intended at once to throw a damp on the spirit of emigration, and to scandalize Mr. }3irkbeck. Mr.Grece is ashamed of Mr. Coh- bett ; but cannot resist to borrow his darts for the destruction of my friend. Mr. Grece says, *' venemous reptiles are found in the States, though not in Canada ! ! ! — nor are the Canadians disturbed by that worst kind of venemous reptile, so com- mon in the States of the Union, a rancorous spirit of party. It is true, a feeble attempt has recently been made to introduce among us the spirit of reform^ which is only another phrase for a spirit of anarchy and misery.*' The chief part of the book being thus empM^ed, an Appendix is added, to give it more the air of being a farmer's book, made up of various disjoint- ed materials; among which Mr.Grece seems to pride himself for having, under the patronage of societies, attempted to grow hemp in Canada ! ! He says, " unfortunately political events obstructed that effort.^' Now, what obstructed that effort was simply this, that hemp can be raised in Russia at a fifth part of the expense that it can in Canada, from the difference in the price of labour: but I am impatient to have done with a stupid man. *' The Emigrant's Guide to the British Set- tlements in Upper Canada," followed the work of Mr. Grece. The editor (for this was a compilation) speaks of '* the excellent letter of Mr. Gourlay to the Gentlemen of Canada,'* meaning my first ad- iM i umm i t>ir» « » : ^m m*. ' *.! < i rrt' ^ 1^. cccv GENERAL INTRODUCTION. dress to the resident land-owners ; and then intro- duces it, shorn of its most excellent part, which affirms, that " England alone could spare 50,000 people annually, while she would be refreshed and strengthened by the discharge, &c.*' The com- piler leaves out this passage in the address, and fritters down my assertion in his title-page, where I am made to say, that *' England could spare 5000 people annually,*' and there, too, the com- piler thinks proper to quote from another author, and makes his sentiment appear to be mine; viz. that " the only ties which ought to bind men to their country, are the benefits they receive from it, and this is the on\y genuine and ra^wmi/ patriotism." This book was printed for T. Keys, Coleman- street, Bank, (London), 1820, and edited by a farm- er, settled in the London District of Upper Canada, or his friend. After this Guide, came Torth "The Emi- grant's Guide to Upper Canada, by C. Stuart, Captain of the Honourable East Indiu Company's service, and one of his Majesty's Jus- tices of the Peace for the Western District of Up- per Canada." The Captain is one of the evange- lical, and, many a time over has recourse to the words grace, mercy, and providence, to get him out of difficulties. He cannot decide whether Dur- ham or Canadian boats are best; but, "under mercy,'* determines that the one kind is as safe for the navigation of the St. Lawrence rapids as the other. The Captain inveighs heartily against clergy reserves, and is for "throwing open tosettle- u ' ii i N CCCV! GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ment the deeded lands," without having the slightest conception of what he would be at. The Captain says of these lands, that " like rocks in the ocean they glare in the forest unproductive them- selves, and a beaco*^ of evil to those who approach them." As the Captain's motto is " deliberate, decide, and dare,'* perliaps by this time he has made an assault on " the deeded lands,*' and, in that case, we may expect to hear that his success has been somewhat similar to that of Don Quixote when he assailed the windmills. The, poor Captain, in fact, does not know the drift of his own ravings. He wrote the first part of his book on the voyage home, and at landing, hearing for the first time of the term " Radical," gets into agony, and proceeds : . ' , ■ ■ - »-. . . . " Thus far had I written before I reached England. On my journey to the sea from the Upper Province, I heard, with alarm and aftliction, of the disorders at home, and ray steps were hastened, and my heart throbbed for my country, and my arm (little as it was) longed to be raised in defence of her august authorities. But the term " radical" had not yet reached my eai', and a happy veil was spread over ray eyes." The Captain, still in agony, goes through six pages, and by and by, doubting if the term " radi- cal'^ may not be a very good one, says, " I hail the term as a badge of the brightest honor, and blush only that I so little merit it." This poor creature, after getting, as it was said, a slice of the *' deeded land,'' on which his <* little arm" will never let in f ll SIX radi- lil the blush iture, pedtd et in GKXIIRAL INTJIODUCTION. CCCVii a ray of light, was suflered to attack mc when shut up in Niagara jail, cut oft' from all communication with the press, by tht; most virulent nrticiea in th pollutions of Little York. You will remember thai he was thought friendly to inquiry, and at- tended one of the first meetings; that he after- wards, when all was going on in the most orderly and peaceable manner, deserted the cause, and distracted attention from the one thing needful^ by keeping up a silly correspondence with the major, who is now made sheriff of Niagara dis- trict, no doubt, as a reward for his zeal against the cause of inquiry. You will remember that Dr. Howison said that I had *' disgraced*' myself, and that your chief failing was " false pride." Let us see what he says now, speaking of the farmers between Queenston and the head of Lake Ontario. ** They are still the same untutored, incorrigible beings that they probably were, when, the ruffian remnant of a disbanded regiment, or the outlawed refuse of some Eu- ropean nation, they sought refuge in the wilds of Upper Canada, aware that they would neither find means of sub- sistence, nor be countenanced in any civilized country. Their original dopra^ ity has been confirmed and increased by the circumstances in which they are now placed." After hearing that Dr. Howison had come home, and was to publish Sketches of Upper Canada, I sent him my compliments, through a merchant of K '■ 1 :l 'Mil 'I > c. « cccx GRNft^RAL INTKOOrCTiON. Niagnra district, now lit-re on business, wishing to forget the disappointments which ho had pro- dnced in (.'anada; but since the Skctclies have appeared, I am glad that my compliments were not delivered. The above quotation is too biul. It is not true: it is not lair: it is not discreet. The first settlers of Upper Canada, in my own opinion, were wrong-headed men as to politics; but they were far from being bad-hearted men, and any thing but " the ruitian remnant of u disbanded regiment." They were soldiers who hud done their duty: who had regarded with reverence their oath of allegiance: who had risked their lives a hundred times over in support of their principles: who had sacrificed all which the world in uenerul holds dear, to maintain their loyalty and honour. They were any thing but " the outlawed refuse of some European nation :" they adhered to the laws of Britain; and for the laws of Britain they bled. They did not " seek refuge in the wilds of Upper Carjada, aware tlmt they would neither find means of subsistence, nor be countenanced in any civilized country." It is a libel on the British government to say that they sought refuge; and a libel on common sense to say that men, who re- solved to earn their bread by labour, under the worst circumstances in the wilds, could not find means of subsistence any where else. The whole passage is uh^rue — is shameful ; and Dr. Howison should apologize for it in the public prints of this country. These very farmers whom he scandalizes so cruelly, stood up i'or British goverument most " W I ' ' 4ga i g?s .'!.' iiyaiuiinjM t »i'«»i ii i > i i * i .. CiKNEHAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXl 1^ liing pro- luive e not It is nioii, they I auv iinded done i their ives VI ?,iplcs: ;eucral oiiouc. refuse to the I thev ilds of lor find in anv Jritisli and a ho rc- er the t find whole vvison f this hzes It most nohly during the hite war. Many of them lost their all at that time; and to many of them the British government is now deeply indehted. Their claims, well authenticated, were laid hefore the home government, at least five yeara ago; and not a penny has been paid to them. V7hat now have these men to say lo Dr. Howison, wiio hiis slan- dered their character, and injured their credit at hoaie? What have the farmers of Niagara dis- trict to support their loyalty, should another in- vasion of the province ensue? Their treatment is indeed a reproach to British government. The mass of first settlers in Upper Canada were *' true men," and to this day there is a peculiar cast of goodness in their natures, which distinguishes them from their neighbours in the United States. There were among them rufiians of the very worst description ; and Isaac Swayze stands forth as a specimen. His Majesty's ministers needed spies, and horse stealers, and liars, and perjured villains; and America furnished such characters, just as England can furnish an Oliver and an Edwards. Why should a vdiole people be slandered, because of a few? The Canadians have indeed degenerated from the date of their first settlement. They have been debased by provincial government : they have been polluted by a mixture of bad fellows from all quarters, taking refuge among them ; and to use the words of Dr. Howison, " depravity has been conjirmea by the circumstances in which they are now placed," Still the great mass of them are well meaning, honest, sober, and industrious men ; m rcTXii oenkhal introduction. and it will bo the fault of the Ikitish government it' tliey are lost to this country as loyal subjects. Simplicity is the prevailing characteristic of Ca- nadian farmers ; and this springs from ignorance. It is not the farmers who are the depraved of Canada. It is the councillors, the priests, the magistrates, and all who depend on government; and among these men there is depravity of the most odious kind, it was to root out this de- pravity that made me enthusiastic, when writing in Canada, on public aflairs. Before I began to rouse public attention to the causes oilabomination in that country, I had privately communicated to Dr. Howison the speech of a magistrate, which should have sunk deep into his reflection — a speech so horrible, that it cannot be repeated. From this, and other speeches, and conduct of the higher classes (if I may, for distinction sake, make use of the term) there was no hope of mo- rality gaining ground in the province among the lower classes. Some of those who set themselves up for the respectables — the (jentlemcn of the country, were, in fact, the most ignorant, mean, disgusting, and infamous characters that ever came under my observation. I saw into the seat of disease ; and as a surgeon thinks it no disgrace to foul his fingers with cutting out a cancer, so 1 thought it duty to expose the gentlemen of Upper Canada, while Dr. Howison was trifling with a creature who had not sense to be a gentleman even in appearance. Dr. Howison wrote in Canada only to trifle; and now wc see the consummation. l lU l l l l ^ uJ_Mu^ l!l M^^ ll l» l ■Jltll|WluJ^[^ « l^ l l l ft l|l ll l ^ll »^^ ^P'M ^||«l »>'^ « ^ll l i l^^ l l iril l ^ l | l m ^» ^ GKNERAL INTRODUCTION. cccxm ;ase ; I his :ht it lada, it lire n in only tion. Wf sec a book very well written ; very readable as a romance — the tale of a sentimental weak man ; but, as it afl'ects men and their serious affairs, worse than trifling — scandalous. To say all the ill he could of Canada, and no good of it, is unfair, — is deceitful. To speak as he has done of the people of Niagara district, who were favourably disposed towards him, and from whom he expe- rienced many civilities, is indiscreet, is ungenerous, IS ungrateful. Dr. Howison accompanies his Sketches with *' practical details for the information of Emigrants of every class ;" but, after reading his book, who would be inclined to emigrate to V'pper Canada? who would choose to associate with a " mffiaH rem- nant,** and '* outlaws," whose " dtprai)ity' has been " confirmed and increased'^ ? Who would not laugh at his parting exclamation about the " happy shores of Upper C'anada" ? Scandalous as Dr. Howison's book is, I have yet hope that it may do some good. It is well written, and will be read with some degree of relish, which none of the other works spoken of have been, or can be. If it does not make the people at home in love with you, Canadians, it may yet excite a desire in their bosoms to better your condition. The seventh, and latest publication, is a very slender affair of twenty-five pages, intitled, " Sketches of a plan for settling in Up- per Canada, by a Settler." It takes up my notion of connecting emigration with the reduction of poor rates: but it is manifest that *' the Set- \ il-li CCCXiV GKNEUAL INTKOOIIC'TION. tlkr'* has not very deeply 8tudied the sii1)ject of settling ** an ahuost unJimited number of the unemployed labourers of England." He must study hard, and a great deal more to be ready to start with advantage by " the 1st of February, 1822." Let it be the 2d of April, (for 1 would have none go oiV for Canada till after tool's day) and perhaps i may go with him and assist. But I forget; Lord Bathurst would not patronize me. Perhaps he is going to make a shew of doing some- thing for *• the settler,^' and we must only watch that it may be no humbug; — nothing like that of the Perth Settlement in Upper Canada, or the more expensive experiment at the Cape of Good Hope! The subject of settlement is one of vast importance. It never has been understood ; and it is pity that it should be trifled with. It is now upwards of four years j,ince I was convinced that the Americans themselves, who have been the greatest settlers in the world, did not understand the art. It will be observed, that 1 said so in my first Address to the Resident Land-owners of Upper Canada (page cxcii) ; I have, since the date of that Address, devoted to the subject my days and nights ; and if I shall be so fortunate as to gain public at- tention, it shall be my greatest joy to make known my plans. Hitherto the settlement of the wilder- ness has uniformly been accompanied with a low- ering of human character. I contemplate, at once, the improvement of man and the land, which the Creator of all meant that he should occupy and improve. ^..f» It r :>■?'?! 1t?»rx-'f GKNEllAI. INTUODUCTION. CCCXV I havp now, under tliis head, to say a little of my own work. My first proposal to publish a Statistical Account ot Upper Canada, was con- nected with my immediate private interest. It would have assisted greatly my project of establish- ing a land agency. C'anada oOtred peculiar" advantages m this project. I could recruit for emigrants to Canada all over the United Kingdom, which I could not do to the United States, because of our emigration laws*; and the publication of a Statistical Account, well au- thenticated, was the best and simplest mode of making Canada known. The opposition of a priest, to this simple proposal, should never be forgotten ; but it was not his opposition which had any thing to do with my change of measures. Tt»e discovery that your Governors neither understood nor paid respect to the laws, whereby property had value, induced me to pause ; and greater experience gave assurance that it was right to do so. 1 could not honestly invite settlers to a country, while gross mismanagement subsisted in the Government; and now, 1 believe, vou are all sensible of the mischief which has ensued. We should never repine at the events of life; we should improve upon them ; and this 1 shall say, that after tl>e gayest visions, which ' ! I i m * Some years ago, a pewoa was arreHtcd for enticing away people iVom the Highlands of Scotland to America, and impri- soned for inonth.s. Orders have, of late years, been issued to suspend tbo rigour of law; but still there is no certainty of froe- doia to isniigrants. Emigiation laws should be abolibhed. ^^ : :H fCCXVl GENERAL INTRODUCTION. first prosontt'd tliemselves to my mind, of settlinj^ ill Canada, fled : after ill siu'ceeded ill ; and, np to this hour, misfortune seems to have no end; still 1 am hopeful that all is tor the best. * * '" My political warfare in Canada brought out se- crets, and displayed characters which it was of utmost consei|Ucnce to have i |«V'l < .'>'»q| l !! <> i>WWi>iM » iWll»M > fwft W li «» / iti N W«iii> | i W^^^ ^ ^ "--f—— — - — - GENERAL FN VRODUCTION. OCCXVli to do it lasting good : no nv.in mshes better to it, even up to this hour, than me; hut I must not, and shall not, prefer C'auada to truth. , o i 'I- '•'f ; APPEAL. ti In the outset of tliis General Introiluctiou, I have exhibited my case as a banished HritiHJi sub- ject : produced documents : stated what course I was pursuing, and about to pursue for redress. In the body of my work, I have completed my reason- ing on your monstrous sedition law, and proved to demonstration, that that law never could, and ne* er was meant, to apply to a British subject ; and never slould have been applied, as it was, to me. While in Scotland last winter, I wrote to the gentleman in town, who has charge of my appeal business, to procure, if necessary, the assistance of counsel, to draw up my petition to the King in council. He laid my printed Circular before Mr. Adam, an eminent counsellor ; but Mr. Adam entirely mistook the object which I had in view. Looking back to the first part of this Introduction, printed more than a year ago, you will observe that I never trusted to redress by the ordinary course of law. My complaint is not only that I was illegally imprisoned in Canada; but, that by cruel treatment, I was deprived of my natural powers of defence ;— that I was incapable of it ; and, indeed, had the court which tried me put me to death, instead of mocking me with a trial, cir- CCCXVlll GENERAL INTBODUCTION. cumstanced as I was, its conduct would not hnve been a more fit subject for parliamentary inquiry. My appeal is, and always has been, against vio- lence ; and violence of such a nature as cannot be taken cognizance of by the usual forms of law. J have been willing to follow out every course of law, and to leave no stone unturned within the precincts of ceremony and form; but, from the beginning, I had no hope, save in extrajudicial in- quiry. It was conviction of this which induced me to write to Sir James Mackintosh, as to the newspaper report of his speech, (page liii), to pro- cure from him a contradiction of that report ; and the opinion of Mr. Adam makes it still more ne- cessary for me to guard myself from error. I shall here produce that opinion, with its sentences numbered for clearer reference. M 1st. I have read Mr. Gourlay's statements, and tlie act of the Legislature of Upper Canada, with the greatest attention, and tlie only remedy that is open to him, if the conduct he complains of is illegal, is, in my opinion, (o brinji- an action in the courts of Upper Canada, or in this country, (if any of the persons who acted in or contributed to his imprisonment, are to be found in the country), to recover damages for the imprisonment he undei*went, and his forcible removal from the Province, supposing he has sustained any injury, and that the conduct of those who have so injured him, was not justifiable by tlie local law. 3d. Mr. Gourlay has a <'-lear and distinct remedy by ac- tion ; but tlie King in Council can aflbrd him no rehef for the personal wrongs he has sustained ; nor can he hope for any compensation by petitioning; the House of Commons. i)d. It is, undoubtedly, open to Mr. (ifoiirlay U) petition 2 GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXIX the to this uted to and has who iiw. ac~ for for ■ans. ion the King- and tlie Parliament, either on the score c^ his individual grievances, or the general ill government of the Province ; but, it is quite hopeless to expect any personal remedy, except by pursuing the only course the law points out, an action in a court of law. 4tli. With respect to the legality of the proceeding- against Mr, Gouvlay, in Upper Canada, it must not be overlooked, that the statute con- tains a clause, (now become not unconmion), by which the burthen of proving- that a person accused is not in the situ- ation pointed out by the statute, is thrown upon him — a severe provision, and in direct opposition to the general rule of law, Avhich imposes tlie necessity of proving; the whole case upon those who allege the lact. 5th. It seems cleai* Mr. Gourlay did not do so, nor does it appear that he offered to do so, either before the magistrate, or on his trial. 6th. Indeed I had collected from \>agc6, (Petition to the House of Commons), that he had not taken the oath of allegiance before his commitment. 7th. It is true that it appears from his affidavit, 13th January, 1819, that he had taken the oath on or before tliat day. 8th. But it does not state when ; nor does it appear that that affidavit was ever used judicially. 9th. 1 apprehend, therefore, that it must be taken, that Mr. G. was amenable to the act. W.G.ADAM, _ . Lincoln's Inn, 24th Feb. 1821. -ii^^'^'i^'r' -f . Before making remark on the above opinion, let uie again state, that 1 only wanted the assistance of counsel to dram up my petition. Writing to my solicitor, from Fifeshire, 7th February, 1821, I said, '• Lest assistance of counsel should be re- quired to draw up the petition, I beg leave to in- close a bill on London, per £lO, to account.*' I had not only got the opinion of Sir Arthur Pi^gott i ) 4 -li !il I cccxx 6BNERAL INTRODUCTION. I 1 I specially, and that of other lawyers, generally, that my confinement was illegal ; but I had made myself thoroughly acquainted with the subject; and I defy all contradiction to the facts and rea- sonings thereon, which I have in this work pro- duced, to shew that the Canadian sedition law is not applicable to a British subject. I wanted no opinion as to this ; but behold here is an opinion, and one which decides that I was " amenable to the act" ! ! ! Such an opinion having come into my hands, it is necessary to expose and criticise it; and, without wishing to be personally disre- spectful to Mr. Adam, merely for my own salva- tion, and to maintain my great and valuable right as a British subject, I shall not scruple to be free. The opinion before us is an excellent specimen of the misconception, shallowness, confusion of ideas, and bad reasoning, which constitutes " the glo- rious uncertainty of the law," and by which law- yers ** take away the key of knowledge." I shall examine it in regular order. Mr. Adam sets out with saying that he has read my statement and the act " with the greatest attention :** and yet he passes over the chief thing complains d of — the se- verity of my treatment, which rendered me unfit for trial, and which. ought to annul the whole pro- ceeding, whether I was subject to the act or not. The act itself does not justify undue harshness, even to an alien ; and had even an alien been treated as 1 was, it might have been becoming in the British Parliamei»t to have taken his part, and to have addressed the King on the subject, not I GENERAL INTRODUCTFOX. rrcxxi only to make amends to the suffering individual, but to maintain national honour. Harsh treatment to any one in a jail is criminal j and upon proof of it, most assuredly, the sheriff, or whoever else has been criminally concerned, may be punished : but to proceed. The whole of the three first sentences only lead to confusion and mistake, I never could have doubted, for a moment, as to my remedy by- action, against those who imprisoned and mal- treated me in prison. If all had been regular ; if I had been able to orotest against the trial, or keep up to the forms of lav/, and have appealed to a higher court under an arrest of judgment, or bill of exceptions, all might have been managed suc- cessfully. In the course of law my sentence might have been reversed, and then in the course of law I could have prosecuted for damages; but under sever iti/ of treatment I lost these advantages, and till this severity of treatment is inquired into, and the unjust consequences removed, al! hope of my obtaining redress must be small. It is, indeed, perfectly astonishing to me how Mr. Adam couid think for a moment on iie subject, and suppose any doubt existed as to «,his. I mean yet to peti- tion both Houses of Parliament, besides the King in Council, but expect no " personal relief," as Mr. Adam expresses it, directly from them. I expect them to determine that the act was not ap- plicable to British subjects, and they can easily do so; and I expect them further to listen to evi- dence that I was, by severity of treatment, ren- dered unfit for fair trial. This done, I expect that. iill !5 m CCCXXii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. they will address the King to interfere and restore me to my just rights — to have the sentence of the court annulled, and a liberty granted me to com- mence and carry on prosecution against the par- ties by whom 1 was imprisoned and mal-treated in jail. 1 may not succeed : my expectations may ,be blasted. The Queen of England was wronged : her enemies failed in their persecution ; but still she was denied her rights ; and mine will have much less strength to support them : nevertheless, I think it duty to persevere ; and, while 1 have life, I shall do so. In his fourth sentence, Mr. Adam comes to con- sider the legality of my imprisonment, and instantly gets within the body of the statute, to make out omens from its entrails. How perfectly absurd ! The statute either is or is not applicable to British subjects, altogether inc'epeudent of its garbage. Blind to this great truth, Mr. Adam, in his fifth, sixth, and seventh sentences, runs on to question matters of no importance whatever; and from these comes to a conclusion ! Mr. Adam rests im- portance on my not having taken the oath of alle- giance as prescribed by the Act, when it was not necessary for me to take the oath of allegiance at all. My natural allegiance was protection enough. I never thought any thing more was required for procuring my enlargement, but the fact that I was a native-born British subject; and onl}^ allowed the attorney, who conducted the process, to take what other steps he chose, as they could not injure my plea, and seemed to give less excuse for my l-_ GENrRAL INTRODUCTION'. rrrxxin detention in jail. The fact that I was a native-born British subject was notorious ; Dickson knew this well : Chief Justice Powell never pretended igno- rance of it; and upon the knowledge of this alone he was bound to vset me free. Canadians ! [ wish you to understand that any delay of my return to the province, after all the forms of appeal are gone through, will not proceed from want of success. When it suits my conve- nience, I shall tread again on the soil of Upper Canada, even in the face of imprisonment and death. I put this whole affair on record, not as it concerns myself as a private individual, but as it concerns the most sacred right of a British subject. >ugh. V\ for was )wed take hjure Ir mv PAUSE. It has been stated (page ccx) that I put a second volume to press, in the hope that a commission would come home from Canada last summer. I was not only disappointed in this; but in much more than this. On the 10th September a packet reached me, containing the Report of a Parliamentary Committee, and a Gazette of Upper Canada. I had been previously prepared to hear that my friends in your Assembly were foiled iu attempts to procure inquiry — that they were ou t- voted ; or that the measure had been thwarted by the Legis- lative Council or the Governor ; but what was my astonishment to find that not one of them had moved in the matter, and' that a Parliamentary ^*»mt m m» » mt[m i m:mv ) m»- ' mi'r' ' 'm»'*''^'* '^' ^^ ' ^'*^ npiLwiijinii ^«m* M n ' CCCXXIV GENERAL INTRODUCTION, Committee had been sitting only to excite coij* tempt, with a pensioner of Government in the chair, prating about things which should be left to themselves, reflecting on the corn laws of England, yet fostering corn laws in the province, and desiring the adoption of them by Lower Canada ! ! Holding talk about a grand navigation, and appointing Com- nnissioners, without thinking for a moment as to the means of execution ; in short, trifling with every thing, and wholly neglecting what was most needful — a submission of your whole public atfairs to the consideration of the Imperial Parliament. The moment that I read the Gazette and Committee report, every sanguine hope vanished. 1 felt dis- gusted : expressed my disgust; and soon after resolved to make a complete pause in my operations here, which I had trusted would be profitably brought to a close, by at least some encouragement and countenance from Canada. Finding that uot* one of your representatives had done you service, and that from the gross ignorance which prevailed hi your Parliament, that any thing but good could be expected from its endeavours, I flung aside my plans for settlement in the wilderness: 1 relinquish- ed my sanguine hope of seeing the grand canals of the St. Lawrence and Niagara executed through provincial wisdom : I resolved to narrow my views, at least for a time, and rest my remaining hope with the people of England, who have so long been put to enormous expense in nursing up a colony, only for disgrace and degradation. About two months after this resolution was taken, the people GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXXV of England had a sample of what soured me with your parliamentary representatives served up to them. u. . , f :^ ...r. ': of I Mornhuj Post, Novemher 15, 1821. - f)u the 28th September last, a meeting was held by the inhabitants of the county ot Ualton, in the Gore district of Upper Canada. The chair was filled by James Crooks, Esq. M. P., and the following resolutions were adopted : — 1. That it is tlie opinion of this meeting, that the re- strictions and regulations at prcvsent existing in Great Britain, with respect to the importation of grain and ftour from these provinces, are such as amount alnost to a pro- hibition ; and that to their operation is to be attributed, in a great measure, the present distress of our agriculture and comraerce ; and unless means he devised for our speedy and effectual relief, the certain ruin and bankmptcy of the entire farming and c-ommercial interests must ensue. 2. That though a nominal market for grain and flour, the produce of these colonies, is supposed to exist in the southern parts of Europe, yet such are the systems pursued in those countries, and so great the disadvantages under which we labour, from the competition and rivalship of othejr countries more favourably situated, and who, from prox- imity of situation, are in possession of greater facilities, that our efforts to obtain relief therefrom must be totally una- vailing. So evident indeed are these advantages, that it is not known that a single shipment has been made to any of them the past or present years. 3. That notwithstanding the apparent advantages of a trade with the West Indies, it has been found, on close inspection, and indeed from actual experience, that they are but few in number, and doubtful in effect. The indi- rect trade encouraged between them and the United States, tuider the autliority of tlie Free Port Act, and the in- m I CCC.WTl UKNKUAL IMHOiiUCTlON. creased expense of bringing our produce to market, in con- sequence of our remote situation and the difficulties occa- sioned by the obstruction of our navigation in winter, ren- dering it impossible for us to enter these markets with any thing like a fair competition, or reasonable chance of success. 4. That the interests of the two provinces of Upper and Lower ('unuda are so mutually interwoven, that it were to be wished some measure could bi' devised (in concert) to remove existing obstacles, and facilitate new arrvmgements, more likely to contribute to the general welfare. 5. That the existing regulations in Lower Cauudu, which admit the importation of Americun produce, to be there consumed, without any duty being imposed upon it, are directly in tlu' face of that reciprocity which ought to exist between the two provinces in their commercial inter- course with each other, as it not only tends to depress the price of Upper Canada produce, but renders nugatory the laws thereon existing for its protection. 6. That the want of on outlet for our gnvu, and the con- sequent depression of prices, has an immediate tendency to encourage its conversion into spirits, the increasing con- sumption of which is destructive alike to tbe moraU ijiud industry of the inhabitants. 7. Tbnt a great proportion of the wants of the inhabit- ants of this country has been hitherto supplied from Great Britain, by way of barter ; that such trade must entirely cease, from the impossibility of making payments, unless our grain and Hour be admitted there Tor consumption. 8. That altiiough our distresses have been piogressive, yet their approach has been so steady and uuremitteil, as to have overwhelmed the inhabitan s with consequences the most ruinous, and with a rapidity which no caution or fore- sight could guard against. In these appalling circum- stances, we see but little prospect of relief, unless by a direct application, by petition, to the justice and generosity 3 1 GBNKRAL INTHODrrTION. rjxxxvii of his Miuesty's Government, and the Imperial Par- liament> 9. That with this view a Committee, consisting: of twelve persons, be appointed to prepare and forward such petitions ys may he deemed necessary to [)romote ihe objects recom- mended in the foref tlie |)arislies of Montreal, which formerly sold great (|uantities of wheat for exportation, farms partly cleared, with a log-house and barn, had been .s
—r^^ pf Ct'CXXX nrNKRAL INTRODfirTION. ]H)ly erected in tlieir favour, nnd he invcstmJ with the ex- clusive eoinmunil uf the iniirkt;( o( thoir noighhuurit ! A modest demand, truly ; but (|uite in tlw tuste of thr practi- cal Statesman of tlic JJoard of Trade." *^ I*. Here you see, Canadians, what the people of pjigiand think of your Township Resolutions, countenanced by James Crooks, Esq. M. P. Tlie extracts, here produced, are from newspapers of the very first respectability, and all of them noted for their hostility to the Corii fiUvvs of England. They ai'e the very new8paj>crs which most heartily would have taken you by the hand, had yon come home with liberal demands; but you se(i how they pity and despise you, when on the same paper you exhibit impertinent comments on English legis- lation, rnd the most grasping selfishness. It was this, and more than this, which turned my sto- mach the tenth of September., one thousand, ci()ht hundred, and ttventy-one years ; (see vol. 11. page 5()0) and 1 am, indeed, hapjjy to shew you that similar causes have produced a similar eifect upon the minds of men of tlie first-rate talents and respectability, in this country. Of all men, you had least reason or right, to complain of the Eng- lish Corn Act. To you it is most liberal. Al- lowing your wheat to be sold in England, when prices rise here to 67s., was a mighty favour; and of that you complain ! ! No man was more op- posed to the Corn Bill of England than myself. I posted the Bath Society, in 1815, as infi\mous, for proposing that bill to parliament; declaring I l i.t-Li il UMl i l l liMI "IN. I M.IW1 II' • f. 8' (iUNIuUAL IMKODt'CTIOV. ilCXXxi tlie measure to he •* seljishy futile, and impolitic;^* but in your place I should have said nothing against it. Your prosint distresses may be traced toother causes than the Corn Laws of F.ngland. This is not the place to enlarge upon these, but a glance at one ot thciu will be sutlicient for my purpose. The Ilaiton petition speaks of the ** certain ruin and hankruplcy of the entire farming and com- mercial interests;'' but the "justice and generosity of his Majesty's government" cannot now liolpthat, and be otherwise consistent and fiur. Your debts, contracted when wheat sold readily among you at 8s. per bushel, cannot be soon paid when the price is two shillings; far less when there is no price at all. But why did you contract debts? It did not follow, because money was made plenty and cheap by the immense issue of government during the war, that you were to be more and more extravagant. Let any one of you look back for ten years, and say if he might not at this mo- ment have been clear of debt, had he taken ad- vantage of the precious opportunities which have now fled. You were extravagant: you went on contracting debts when you might have paid them off; and now you are unable to pay. Your plan, now, is to become bankrupt at once, and bid adieu to ruin. There is no dishonour, under certain circumstances, in becoming bankrupt; and justice, as well as prudence, often plead for it. A Cana- dian farmer has not much to fear in bankruptcy. He can support himself and family with four hours li m\ cccxxxu GENERAL INTRODUCTION. labour a day ; and with eight hours labour he may have luxuries and fine clothes, all from the growth of his own farm, and by domestic industry. With so fine a country as you possess, and the right of tax- i ng yourselves, it is even impious to be sending home petitions like that before us. You may be happy and contented without foreign trade, and though the mouth of the St. Lawrence were frozen up for ever. What, think you, became of A dam and Eve after be- ing turned out of Paradise, without a soul to trade with ! ! You are slothful, and, of course, poor. You are grossly ignorant : and Mr. James Crooks does not blush to subscribe to it! Dr. Howison tells us in his Sketches that nobody can prevail with you without '•* flattering your vanity,** I never did and never shall flatter your vanity; for out of vanity nothing can be expected but vexation of spirit. It was for very different objects that I wished your parliamentary representatives to send home a commission from those which appear on the face of the Halton petition. I wished to see glaring obstructions to improvement removed : I wished to see your just claims on government satisfied out of means well used in the province : I wished to see a liberal system of government introduced, the pride of power humbled, and business attended to: I wished to see Canada become profitable to England, instead of hanging upon her as a burthen : I wished to see you throw aside all taxes, but one, upon land, by which you might in time correct the wretched state of pro- perty now existing, which smothers you up llli'f.iiili.riritWlin ■Mk^M tH rlMi K M Ii »fl ilH i M »»i u >i » iii iiH i fl>l> i > ii W ii» i iiiiil» M l i> i i t>i m i »M iiiii« m ii n ii " n ii m iw u ri i i i i i GENERAL INTRODUCTION. occxxxni among reserves, and unoccupied grants of drones and absentees. I wished to see you obtain a loan from England for the execution of great public works, on the security of such a tax. 1 wished to see dOjOOO emigrants annually settled on the waste lands of the crown. My ideas were great, and good, and practicable ; but ignorance and vanit}-^ have, for the present, blasted thorn. There is not a single clause of the Halton Resolu- tions that does not contain. something foolish or offensive. The second and third expose the natural disadvantages of Upper Canada, while her manifold natural advantages are forgotten, — advantages which, if improved by good government, would quite outbalance the disadvantages so peevishly dwelt on by the inhabitants of Halton. Upper Canada cannot meet the United States of America in West India markets, not because of her " remote situation, and the difficulties occasioned by the obstruction of navigation in winter," hut because of the inferiority of government ; and because of the bad state of property above spoken of, which renders it impossible for the Canadian farmer to cultivate ^vith economy and profit ; which indeed retards all ^ >.\ m * People from the United States even supply vegetables to Kingston market; and newspapers are half the price in the States that they are in Canada — all from the bad stale of property. Upper Canada contains about seven people to the square mile: the State of New York thirty people. Here is a simple cause, and in the course of this work I have again and again pointed to it. ! I X M I I i }\ ■ crcXXXlV GENERAL INTRODUCTION. improvement, and makes every thing dear*, — which beastifies society, and insults us at home with the publication of the Halton Resolutions! The expense of sending produce to Quebec, and thence to the West Indies, is a mere bagatelle, to the expense and waste sustained by bad manage- ment within the province of Upper Canada, The ()th -lause of the resolutions cants about injury to the " morals and industry of the inhabit- ants," from distillation in the province; while it is a fact, that the province has all along stunk from end to end, with West India rum ! ! In the 8th clause, little prospect of relief is seen, " unless by a direct application, by petition, to the justice and generosity of his Majesty's Government and the Imperial Parliament ;" and this application, forsooth, must be made through such a medium as a County Meeting, w^ith a Member of Parliament ill the chair, who had neither the ingenuousness to countenance the Convention of friends to inquiry, nor manly resolution to stand up in his place in Parliament last session, and insist on a commission being sent home!! It is quite sickening : my pa- tience is exhausted with such a display of ignorance and vanity. I had reflections to make on the general perversity of mankind: I had designed to cast my eye back on the foregoing pages, and make some remarks on the conduct of my Lord Holland, Sir James Mackintosh, Sir Robert Wilson, &c. : besides having once more at Mr. Cobbett, the cleverest fellow of them all; but really, my good Canadians, the rcsohitions of James Crooks, Esq. •>> T M-v««p>fft*t a w"- GENERAL INTRODUCTION. rccxxxv M. P. and his neighbours of Ilalton, have quite cloyed my desire for criticism and censure upon the conduct of any man, woman, or thing on this side the Atlantic. — Adieu. ■ COLONIAL GOVERNMENT, ^^'-h On this subject T shall address myself To the People of England. Since the United States made good their inde- pendence by the sword, North American Colonies must have cost us little less than fifty millions of pounds sterling; and 1 question if they have returned so many farthings for our governmental care. Till of late the annual charge could not be much less than half a million ; and this fact I shall maintain, that instead of throwing away money on these colonies, we may draw from them a con- siderable revenue, merely by the economical dis- posal of waste lands. At the present time, when the bonds of society are ready to burst with over- strained taxation, surely, such a consideration ought not to be thought a trifling one. Our North American colonies are not yet ripe for independence, or that should be granted them ; — not independence of the crown, but of ministers. The colonies stand in need of kind nursing for ten years to come ; at the end of which period they might be allowed to meet in Convention, and i m l>B WW> » » >f JI | l » *l ' «V ' 'y ' ^H» l ' »l . fi|>! «l#"- * ■ « ' «''' " ' - ' I »*< ' "*' ' i 4 i - CCCXXXVl GENERATE INTRODUCTION'* choose a government for themselves. It is their interest to remain for ever connected with this country, and there is not tlie slightest reason to suppose that they would ever harbour a wish to throw off its sovereignty, or deny us the right of disposing of waste lands to the best advantage. Set free from the wretched controul of haughty, ignorant, and capricious governors, they would most assuredly cherish a pride in their affinity to the parent state : they would remain for ever our friends, and fellow-subjects. Were a liberal sys- tem oi" government established in the Colonies, li- beral minded men would spring up there; and, thither, liberal-minded men would emigrate from Britain, [t is from liberality alone, that Britain can retain and derive benefit from her colonies. Let us then at once have liberality. Looking back to the history of America, how simple do the means appear by which we might have retained the United States, Good heavens! what madness was it to drive free-born Americans to rebellion, by denying them the rights of men ! What folly to imagine that we, islanders, could coerce the people of a continent, 3,000 miles re- moved ! Had Americans been permitted, in due time, to govern themselves, they never would have denied to this country the right of disposing of waste land ; and by the judicious disposal of that we could not only have drawn home a consi- derable revenue, but have planted the new world with a superior race of men. Surely we may now be taught by experience; — surely, in this more 51- d W GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXXXVii enlightenerl age, we may learn how to turn to pro- fit the immense territory which we yet possess on the continent of America. Let the eye only glance over the map, from the Atlantic to the Pa- cific, and from the St. Lawrence to the Pole; and, then let me a^sk, if it may not be for the ho- nour of England, holding profit apart, to consider by what means so vast a region may be tenanted ivith civilized men — with happy souls and loyal subjects. Four years ago the charming possibility of this being realized dawned upon my mind ; and I said that " England could spare .50,000 people annually, and be refreshed with the discharge." The truth has grown more and more obvious, and I now repeat it with perfect confidence. The vision of quickly and thickly peopling the earth with our species, brightens in my imagination day after day ; and most earnestly would 1 intreat every benevolent mind to give serious attention to the subject. The idea may be easily realized. It re- quires but systematic arrangement, and the judi- cious application of capital which we have in abund- ance. It will pay : it may be resorted to, not only for the performance of the first great command to multiply and replenish ; but for our individual ad- vantage and our national aggrandizement : it r ay be looked forward to as the peaceful means of establishing a new and a better order of things in the world. Hitherto men's chief employment has been to butcher their kind. They have gone on from age to age, destroying and depopulating : they have striven to give aid to vice and misery. Why y ill t u 'Vi- .'■,(* ..f;\- .4, . wPijT- 4f^l! rCCXXXVin <3KNKRAI. INTUOnrCTlON. should it be so? Merciful God! What cause have we to quarrel with the people of the United States; or these p)eople with their neighbours in Ca- nada!* la there not room lor us all, and should we not first consider how that room may be filled up ? One i\nd all of us may, for centuries to come, have po- sitive and great advantage in settling the wastes of nature to their remotest verge. Engl md alone could, in prosperity, rasili/ supply /j(),l)()() recruits annually, for emigration and settlement ; and the United Kingdom 100,000. Yes! by the simplest arithmetic it can be j)roved, if proof is called for. Our North American Provinces should be con- federated. They should hold congress in the month of June, at Quebec, Lower Canada: Upper Ca- nada: New Brunswick, having Gasp/^ and Prince Edward's Island laid to it : Nova Scotia, having Cape Breton laid to it; and Newfoundland, might constitute five independent, but confede- rated provinces. Labrador: East, South, West, and North Hudson, might fall into the confederacy as they became civilized and sufficiently populous; and, in the course of time, those parts of the United States, whose waters issue by Quebec, (never to be gained over by conquest), would, 1 doubt not, join the Northern Confederacy, r \ swell the Government of the St. Lawrence, to its natural size. The best Constitution for a North American Province, while at nurse, would, in my opinion, be this : to consist of an Assembly chosen by the people, as in Canada; a Governor and Council. GRXKR/\L INTIIODIJCTION. CCCXXxix r - I the iicil. The Ciovernor might he a military man, and have the commissioninu: of militia oflictirs, while lie and the Council appointed judges, uuigistratus, &e., who should he suhjtot to removal on the applica- tion of a certain lart;e portion, say four-fifths of the people, among whom they were appointed to act. The Council might consist of ten memhers or more ; one hali" to he chosen by tlie people eli- gible to hit in Assembly ; the other half to be real men of busmeKs, sent from Kngland on salaries for service. These men, besides doing duty in the (vonncil, as advisers and legislators, might form a land-board, altogether independent of the Pro- vincial Cjovernors or Government, and be subser- vient, in that capacity, to a grand land-board at liome. The grand national land-board, with its branches in the several Provinces, might dispose of waste lands on strict business principles ; and bv system, every way defined and adjusted, ma- nage in the best possible manner for public good. Accurate surveys and maps might be made, and ex- hibited both at home and abroad, for theexpediting of business, either in purchase or exchange ; and under the auspices of the land-board and its branches, a grand system of emigration might be organized and maintained in (;onR*ant operation. There is nothing in mere magnitude which should frighten vvs. Magnitude in generid may be made to contribute to success; and with systematic ar- rangement, and adecjuate means, may be turned to its utmost account, without diiiiculty, cor>fHsion, or faihice. 1 avoid partioulars. The subject ©f y '^ .1 i .imt^-m(tm*f' cccxl GENERAL INJUODUCTTOy. profitable emigration and settlement, is one to which I have devoted part of my third volumey and should the public happily conceive favourable opinions of schemes now hinted at, it shall be my utmost ambition to go on to practical rllustration and detail. A few words on the fundamental principle may not be thrown away : they may assist in arresting attention. Land is valuable, ac- cording to the degree of convenience attached to it; and other things being equal, increases in value as the density of population increases. A single family planted down on a square mile, as is the case in Upper Canada, can have no convenience — no sufficient strength to make head against obsta- cles to improvement; and while the settler is held in misery, little value is added to the land he oc- cupies. Plant down two families, twelve, twenty, or more, on the same extent of ground, and each addition, up to a certain proportion, insures greater and greater comfort and convenience to the whole, while an instant and great value is given to the soil. One solitary family, settled on a square mile, must pine for years, become poor, dispirited, beggarly, and brutal, while twenty fa- milies wi'I not only retain their strength, theii spirit, Mid their manners, but instantly flourish, feel consented, feel happy, and be more and more ambitious to excel in activity and skill. England has thousands of people to spare ; and for her thousands of people she has millions of acres to settle and improve. She is the greatest land- owner on the globe, and she has the greatest com- OENERAL INTIIODI'CTION. cccxli fa- theii risli, laud ikiil. for Icres md- >m- vnand of capital. That capital is now running to waste; or worse than waste, it is running on to iiKTcase pauperism and idleness ; idleness botti among the rich and the poor. While this capital fs yet at command, Kngiand may do vi'onders, by sotting in motion a vast mac^hinery at home and abroad ; but let this capital waste itself, as it is now doing, and a little time only uiU see its end, — a woful end ! Newfoundland now contains 70,000 permanent inhabitants. They are sending home petitions, to obtain a free and regular constitution of govern- ment. Let experiment be made there. Refore the chartered constitutions of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, or those of Canada, framed by Act of Parliament, are pulled to pieces, let New- foundland have one framed without delay ; and when that is found perfect, the older constitutions may be new-modelled, to correspond with it. Aji immediate experiment may also be made in rightly laying out and disposing of land in New- tbundland. In general, that country is unfavour- able to cuUivation ; but still it contains immense tracts, which, under good management, may be brought to value, and be occupied at once to the advantage of individuals, and the nation. At pre- sent, the people oi' Newfc undland are not allowed sufficient land, even for potatoe gardens. How monstrous * ! And this too, because of an absurd, * While the above was printing, the following article appared in Thk Times newspaper, 28th January, 1822. It will shew the 3 i i I cccxlii . GENERAL IN ruouucvrioN. antiquated notion, that the cultivation of llie soil there, would injure the fishurios. It would assist the fisheries: it would enable us to cope wiili the people of the United States, in that trade, along the North American shores, where they are striv- ing to rival, and, by all accounts, only require time to go beyond us, notwithstanding tliat our natural advantages are superior. But colonial po- licy is every where at war with nature. The peo- ple of Newfoundland would, no doubt,- be willing to give a fair price for land, to suit their conveni- ence ; and a judicious mode of laying* out, and disposing of land, as it came to be wanted, is of the utmost consequence to insure that convenience, and make it valuable. The North American Pro- vinces might choose three or more members each, to attend congress at Quebec ; and one of these for each Province, might be allowed to come home, result of preventing the inhabitants of a country from cultivating *' We are sorry to learn that advices are in town from Nmv- foundland, which describe that colony to be in a state of extreme distress. Among the lower ord.Ms, it is said, tliero are few able to support themselves; and the members of the opulent part of the community are so small, (hat relief was impracticable. Many, it was feared, must perish from want. Meetings of the inhabitant- had been held, for the purpose of raising subscriptions, and tlu? Governor had inumated to thern, that a sum tHjual to the whole raised by the colonists would bo contributed by the government. Memorials have been sent to England, to claim the interpo.^ition of the legislature. The advices are to the 6th instant, the vessel which brought them to Liverpool having performed the voyage in the short space of sevenleeu days." i >*> J|i > l i itJl''»!lJ I' W.W!l.« ll l i > l «ii i'i ilwWIM < ». a«>^.' Vmv- roiiic c to ilu) \y, h the lolo nent. ilioii ft" in CJUNKliAL INTltODtCTIOW. CCCXliil and have a seat in the British Parliament, with liberty to speak, but not to vote. These members might, lioni the Congres.s being held in June, an- nually visit England, and return to perform their duties at Quebee ; and thus a direct, social, lively, and watchTul intelligence might be manitained be- tween the home and the colonial governments : all would be simple a«id efficacious; friendly and in- dependent; active and harmonious. If desired by the provincials, one of our l^rinces might reside at Quebec, as Viceroy, to be directed by ministers, subject to impeachment ; and to the Viceroy might be given a power, much wanted abroad, to par- don offences of" every kind : indeed, saving ac- knowledgment to the Sovereign of England, the Viceroy might be clothed with every royal prero- gative. At Quebec, too, a supreme Judicial tri- bunal might be established, to supersede the ne- cessity of appealing to the King in Council at home; — a palpable bar to justice. The mere skeleton of provincial government is sutlicient now to have exhibited. It is now onlv meant to attract notice to the subject, and to lay the foundation for mature discussion. Never did necessity call more loudly for investigation into colonial policy, than now. We cannot, indeed, afford longer to trifle with this most important subject. Our colonial policy over the whole world is abominable ; but in iNorth America it ought most speedily to be seen to; for there it cannot be much longer endured, even though our Ministers had still means to riot in folly diid extravagance, in holding colonies only Hi \]\\t ccoxli? GENERAL INTRODUf TION. for the portionintf of th«3ir friends and relatioiiH. Bickerings between provincial assemblies and their governors arc now conti:>ually heard of; and even the little island of Berm ida has for years been in a state of distraction and discontent, from arbitrary proceedings*. The cause is obvious. Colonial Go- vernors are all of tlioin armed with too much power, which, almost to a man, they abuse. They are blinded by the sycophants who surround them ; and invariably become cither stupid or mad. Our North American colonies alford, in their history, not a single trace of common sense, discretion, or eco- nomy. Mismanagement and misrule have prevail- ed, and are prevailing. Not only do they yield no revenue, but, as consumers of British manufactures, the inhabitants are not half so advantageous to us as any like number of people in the United States ; for this clear reason, that colonial policy has kept them spiritless and poverty-stricken. By the sim- plest and safest measures, all may be changed for the better. We may speedily lessen our expendi- ture, and, from improved management alone, we may at once have a direct revenue and flourishing people to deal with in trade. My pen mast not be laid down without noticing the opposite sentiments of politicians in and out of power. Ministers seem to have no idea of holding * " The littlf island of Bermuda ia now involved in the Very lompest, torrent, and whirhvind of contention, between the Gover- nor and the governed ; between the Legislature and the inhabit- «ut9 of the colony.''— Englishman Newspaper, I'Uh Oct. 1821. GENERAL INTUODUCTION. (Ccxiv / Cnnada, but by eufcebliiig the people; ruling over them by a wretched system of patronage and fa- vouritism; and guarding certain pointsby ships, and fortifieations. Most ixpensive works have, within the last two years, been commenced at Quebec and Isle-au-Noix, for military defence, while neither the one nor the other post could have a thousandth share in maintaining the provinces to Britain, in the event of invasion. In fact, all that is wanted for this, is the good will of the people to defend them- selves, and witli liberal treatment, that would never be wanting. . • . -. Our Opposition men run to another extreme. They are for abandoning Canada, or selling it' to the United States. This is worse and worse. 1 can answer for the loyalty of the Cana- dians : it abounds; and their desire to be inde- pendent of the United States is strong, from one end of the country to the other*. All that they mg of lery |i>r- iit- * Perhaps I r-annot do better than quote, upon this sub- ject, an article which appeared in a Canada Newspaper, M'hen I was residing in the Upper Province. Quebec Gazette, Feb. 1818. " The following extract from Bell's Weekly MesstMiger, a pa- per of very extensive circulation, pijb'ishecl in London, appeared in several papers in this province. I subjoin an extract from the EdivJmrirh Review of Augtist last, a Literary Journal of the greatest merit and most extensive circulation in Great Britain, as a suitable accompaniment. Extract from JieWs London Messenger. : " Our reUtioiis with America hava become so important, or, ■ '. ) . cccxlvi GENERAL INTRODUCTION. want to continue and ensure this forever is, the pro- mise of independence now, and the reality after a I. at least in a progress of becoming so, that we shall defer our consi- deration of them to an opportunity when we can discuss them by themselves. — Mr,. Monroe is a man of great talent and activity, and his movements are not withoiit an object. We think the point of difference will be, the affairs of Spanish independence. We conceive that we feel aa strongly as any one, for the true glory of this country; but it always has been our opinion, and we know it personally to be that of one of the greatest statesmen this country ever produced, that Halifax, Canada, &c. are not worth what they would eventually cost England ; and the true point of wisdom would be to make the best bargain we could for them to the United States. Go they must ; and it is better to let them go, before another debt of eight Ivun ^d millions be added to this country." ii From the Edinburirh Reviev.. of August, 1817. *' When discoursing, iu 1778, of the terms on which England should make peace with the Colonies, he [Frauklin] recommends at once giving up Canada, not merely aa a measure of concilia- tion, but as the best means of removing a bone of contention, and a fertile cause of future wars. Unpopular as the suggestion may now appear, we suspect many years will not elapse befonj we see reason to Avish that this course had been pursued. Already we have sacrificed largely to Canadian interests, by commercial losses in other quarters j we shall, in all likelihood, sustain a long con- test for that unprofitable colony, and end by losing it, after add- ing many a milliou to our debt, in attempting to ]ioep it. The experience of the American war vvill prove to have been thrown away upon us; and we shall lose the opportunity of honourably terminating the political connexion between the colony and the mother country, and substituting for it one of mutual conimercial advantage, until our pride gets up ; and being attacked, wo feel it impuasible, with honor, to yield before we are beaten." .' Wni« i)ii n>ij i i u iiii il > ii m i|i! H] H I « w ;| » i | i I >|i[ |iLi| ii m i |H| ».. c i'»*»,*,»* t GENERAL INTKODUCTION. cccxlvii given period of years. To attract notice to this most essential point, I have twice repeated the word in my " The politics of the Messenger are sometimes one thing, some- times another, but, generally leaning to the side of power. The Edinburgh Review is decidedly in the opi)Osition. In its political articles, a party bias is frequently discernible. With respect to America, it often shews a want of information which could hardly be expected in a work of such acknowledged merit. Its articles relating to this country have been vinpardonably incor- rect " That two British publications like the Messenger and Re- view, should agree in the doctrine, that the British possessions in North America should be given up to the United States, is unac- countable. Is the state of the public mind in Great Britain, pre- pared to receive such a proposition ? Are the high-minded people of England prepared to retrograde in the path of power and em- pire? Then "farewell, along farewell to all their greatness." In the language of their favourite bard, they may " doff the Lion's hide, and hang a Calf's skin on their recreant limbs." Their wealth will not long survive their power. It will only aug- ment, for their subjugation. " England has many brave and loyal subjects in her Americaji provinces, who pride themselves in being British subjects, and glory in their connexion with the country of their forefathers; men, who envy neither the boasted liberties of the American Uniou, nor the frothy honors of its rising reputation. — To be haudeU over to the United States, like so many Russian serfs or German boors, is an insult for which they were not prepared, so soon after la- vishing their property, and exposiiig their persons in the cause of Britain against these very U. S. Was At :o heighten the puce at which they were i be sold, that they were called upon to meet the enemies of England in battle t No ; the proposition of the Messenger and the Edinburgh Review can have few partisans among the p».'ople of England. They have their origin in tluJ brain of some miserable stockholder, trembling for the loss of his , i cccxlviii GENERAL JNTITODIJCTION. ergraved title-pages ; and, by accident, the sun lias been made toshiue from the north, to emblazon it. The moment that the promise of independence is granted, that moment all chance of discord and war between the United States and British America will cease, and England may forthwith begin to reduce her military and naval establishments in that quarter of the world. At Kingston and Sackett's harbour immense ships of war are upheld, reproaching at once humanity and common sense. In a very few years these ships will be rotten, and why should not each nation, while the materials are yet fresh, have them disposed of for useflil pur- poses? These and the Govenmient stores, at ill-golten wealth, from an increase of the national debt ; or they are the offspring of a mind adulterated by a factious oppoHitioa to Government, to the extent of losing sight of ihe honour of the fairest and most powerful empire in the world. " But, leaving every other topic out of the question, let us see what would be the political consequences to Great Britain of handing over the North American colonies to the United States. Wounded feelings are never healed. A loyal population, basely delivered up to those they had so recently met in the field, would ever after be the bitterest enemies of Britain. She boasts, and justly boasts, of a navy ; but could she thmk of protecting with her navy her Newfoundland fisheries, if the St. Lawrence and the coasts of Nova Scotia were the safe resorts of American privateers ? With the main land she must abandon the islands ; with the islands, the coasts and the banks. She must abandon one of the best nur- series for her seamen, an extensive emj)loyment for her shipping ; she must abandon the essential supply of fish for the West India Islands. With the whole coast of America, from Davis's Straits, (I beg pardon, the Messenger and Review, perhaps, in- l GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXUx Kingston and elsewhere, would go far to make good the navigation of the St. Lawrence ; and nothing more can be required to have these safely disposed of, but a plain agreement with the United States, that the breaking up shall be mutual and simul- taneous. The late invasion of Canada by the people of ihe United States, was a burst of madness, of which these people are now ashamed, and which never would be repeated, were Canada independent of British Ministry. All of us rejoice in the inde- pendence of South America, now secured by years of civil war; and with that country there is now every reason to believe we shall cultivate a most friendly and profitable intercourse. How glorious would it be for Britain, while opportunity yet re- Id tend to keep possession of Hudson's Bay), — with the whole coast then from Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico, in the possessicn of an enemy, she might as wtU abandon at once the West India Islands and he whole trade to Terra Firuia, north of Cape Roque. Perhaps the iloqueul writers of the Edaiburgh Review will be able to persuade Russia to suiFer her to trade to the Baltic. Franco and Holland will not annoy her coasts ; and Spain, Italy, and Turkey, particularly after Russia gets a free pasjsage through the Dardanelles, may allow her to go to the Mediterranean, As to the trade to India, America will be able to look to that, once thai she has possession of the West India Islands. " But go they must," says the magnanimous writer of the Messen- ger : "let us make the best bargain.'* Go it must then, your national honour, your national security. Make the best bargain with your conquerors, with a world that envies and hates you, and take good secunties. )> " A. B." -i .i.l cccl GENERAL INTRODUCTION. mains, to grant independence to North American colonies ! how glorious for her to enjoy the immor- lal honour ot' being the first nation upon earth to do justice to her progeny, — the first truly entitled to the endearing appellation oi' parent State! .' .( ; :'. li ; POSTSCRIPT, (Chiefly for after litfertnce and Discussion.) t f =asr -i HERE is sometliing in the foggy atmosphere, the monotony, or, 1 know not what, of London, uncongenial to one who has been accustomed to a country life — to air and exercise in the fields. Since the day on which i was made prisoner at Niagara, my health has not been so good as in November last. In December it declined, and by the middle of that month, beset with vexations, such as I ho))e no other individual has experience of, I became totally unfit for business, and could have no relief but in a fourth flight to the country. My plan was to devote a week to this, and Wilt- shire presented objects of attraction. I have still a farm there, which, in duty to others, I must look after: there my acquaintance is extensive; and there, the interests of the poor recur to my recol- lection, as connected with the chief destiny of my life. At Salisbury, Devizes, and Warminster, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, I calculated on conversing with the farmers, and seeing how it went with them. I could inform myself as to the situation of the poor of Wily on Sunday.; and re- turn to London within the week ; leaving behind mtf^ wKimn wmw '^^ t I M ccclii GENERAL INTUODUCTION. ine an Address to the people of Wiltshire for pub- lication in the Salisbury Journal, respecting my character and conduct, during a residence of seven years among them, that notoriety might aid me in petitioning for inquiry, as to my treatment abroad, and for my return to Upper Canada. Thus 1 had contrived ; and all seemed well contrived for di- verting the mind from unprofitable cares. After a week's delay, from incessant rains, I set off on Christmas eve. An accident arrested my course: laid me up by the way ; stiffened me with rheu- matism: deranged all my plans; and detained me three weeks, instead of one, in the country. Thus, to use the words of our Scottish bard : " The best laid schemes o' mice and men •' Gang aft a-gly." The prolonged time was not, however, entirely lost. Perhaps it was all for the best ; and that is a maxim which unfortunate man should continually recur to. With more time I saw more, and con- versed more ; and thought more of what 1 saw and conversed about. Alas, the farmers ! How many of them, even in Wiltshire, where they are most substantial; with great farms, and great flocks, and great ricks, and great barns ; even in Wiitsliire, how many of them pant with the dread of losing their all : how many, indeed, have already lost every thing ; and now only hang on the mercy of landlords, themselves hanging by a thread — amort- gage foreclosing!! Rents behind: trade'sman's bills unpaid : a bad sample to go to market with ; GHNERAL INTUODUCTION. cccliii and even with the best, the market had. These are now auhjects of retlectioii for the English far- mer, while he lavs himself down to rest, and can find none. How infinitely more to he pitied is he, than the Canadian farmer! He eannot rise from ruin by mere mannal labour: down once, and down for ever: this day lording it over the poor; to-morrow a pan per. But who were so regardless in times of prosperity, as English farmers? who Iiad so little public spirit, or feeling? and even now the mass of them only despond ; or worse than de- spondency, at thesuggestion ofstupid landlords, sign irregular petitions for increased duties on imported corn ! 1 saw this actually going on at Warminster. 1 saw a good sort of a man runjii ng about among the market tables with a great parchment, soliciting signatures. Imported corn has not affected our markets for years; but no matter for that. Corn Bills must be amended!! While part of our far- mers sign petitions for duties, others are for no taxation whatever!! One Lord (Chichester), bids farmers trust to individual exertion on their farms ! ! Another (Fitzwilliam), lets down his rents 35 per cent.*! I While Mr. Cobbett enjoys the madness a; id '* On the subject of renis^ the following letter, which I h»d published in March, 1815; will speak for ine: To the Editor of the i^alisbury Journal. SIR, 111 your last Journal, aa article under the head Corn Bill z . ■ *. fl|'lfy t M fff^iB W w '■ y j iiX . 11 ^ i^ _ i y |hi|^M W i ^ www' H "".A">v-vtr!'fe";'*.iV'- .'•'^i.ftf^t^^ri'tw: HAiair^-^-s.*' I cccliv GBNr.RAL INTRODUCTION. confusion : in Sussex to-day : in Norfolk to-mor- row; and next day in Huntingdon. To be sure, appears, as setting forth your own opinions and arguiuenU ; and in the same paper Mr. IJleek favours ns vviili lii'-i. Botli of you, I coneeive, are fundamentally wrong. Botii, however, have written in that ^erious and argumentative style, which, while it entitles you to respect, demands investigation and exposure the more. You do not want the Corn Bill anjended : neither do I : but the reasoning is very different upon which wc rest our opinions. Both of you treat the question as if it lay between individuals, I'he mere sinking of rent, you think competent to relieve the country. This is a very dangerous error; and the more so, as it inveigles the passions of a numerous body of men. TJiose in possession of money naturally think this money will be greatly increased in value with the lowernig of bread; and this will certainly be the case, so far, with money sccuicd on land mortgage. Not so that capital which is invested in the funds ; and which is out of sight the greater proportion. The security of this vast capital must rest on the present factitious state of things; and rv.nt is part of the material which maintains this state. The partial fall of rent would weaken this security : and a great fall would occasion a convulsion, which might blow up the very foun- dation of funded property. Rent is a substantial prtiperty ; not optional, or relying on credit. Uemove all the machi- nery which draws from land so much wealth to the public- remove the tenantj his stock and labourers, still a handsome rent or increase may remain to the landlord. In many cases, even while markets were high, landlords found more protit from their lands in grass than they could obtain by the inter- ference of a tenants skill, capital, and industry. The public, therefore, may be greatly mistaken if they take ■T GKNF.H M. INTRODUCTION'. crciv imachi- )ublic : idsome cases, I? piorit p inter- tuke the ensuinj^ session must aUbrd ua a lively scene of conflicting interests. The landed interest at it for giaiitod that rent is subject tj such lowciiug, as to reUevu the general pressure; or, that lamIIt)ril>J uuiy be driven to b<'at under, for the aggrandjzoincnt of others. They may for a time not reaKue their accustonuxl incomes ; but landed pioperly will over remain valuable, even ainid.-it the wreck of every other; and would bound, perha[)s, above its present pitch, if any convulsion should throw off iho national debt. The grand practical question, I conceive, for all who would not look with an envious eye on the pro})erty of others, nor desire to see the bonds of society broken up, nor public faith violated, is to consider lu)w the causes may be removed which have accumulated our burdens, and repressed our industry. In my opinion, we have here such scope, that the people want but virtuous resolution to put all to rights. Down with all taxes wdiich affect industry, ami let them rest on rents and idle capital : conunu'ic tithes ; and devise measures, which may be very simple, for the abolition of pauperism. These would be virtuous and eflicieut efforts ; and I shall ever be ready to assist you and Mr, 13. in bringing them to bear. So far from our national debt disheartening us, we shoidd look to it as the pledge of what our national industry can effect; for not one farthing of it was created but through the means of industry ; and the same industry, continued and husbanded, may discharge it honourably at no distant 'hiy* Why then run foul of each other? Why talk of levels, while an inguUing surge unfairly beats us down f Why look back to form odious comparisons between* landed and funded projierty ? , Iliul not every one a constant c'iioice in the investmetit z 2 :^ \^ \ ' ccclvi OENKKAI. IN I'HOIUCTION. death's door, coming alive, and getting turiotis. The mouied men still conlidont; and nrmisters at i 1 ^ I of his property ? The question is for the futuiu time, aiul prompt liecisioii is the very soul of our delivery. A maim- facturer turns the ^later from his mill wheel, and in one in- stant his motion is r ^t : he discharges \m hands, and each has a parish to turn to : he balances his books ; putj his capital to interest, and retires to politics, and olium cunt dignUale. Different, indeed, is the farmer. His capital is aunk in the soil, and upon stock which must remain for years to reproduce it ; and if he failw at a single term, his landlord may take advantage of embarrassment, and reap the harve&t which he did not sow. He cannot profitably withdraw. He cannot safely proceed, '^ and half a tillage stints the sntiling plain," For God*s sake, let no one think that agriculture can be sported with. A year's ruin among farmers may derange the ecoHomy of many after it ; ami lay the foundation of a thousand troubles. If all the wealth, which it has afforded the nation of late years, has been extorted by taxation, and Hung to waste, that should not beget prfjudice against agricul- turists. The devouring fiend sliould be slain, but the indus- trious producer protected and cherished. The blow up of the nefarious Warminster meeting, gave, I believe, general satisfaction even among farmers ; and as 1 was absent from the county, at that time, I seized the earliest opportunity, after my return, to thank Mr. 1?. for his well-timed aid in the public cause. I also enjoyed his first letter. His second does not coincide with my ideas. Had I the farm he instances, which by fajlen prices may not] now be worth half the rent I had agreed to pay for it, I should contract my cultivation, or, perhaps lay the farm entirely down to grass, so that if 1 did lose upon the rent, my loss should not be increased by voluntary labour, vvhich could r.ENF.iiAL iNTRoniJCTioN. crclvii 9. non-plus, 01 only putting oH the ovil cJay with follow expedients. How like to the time spokeu not be balanced by ailditioiial produce. This is very dif- tc'ient from " lnUiiig it lay waste, prodiioing only docks and lliistley." I am sorry ho should havo said any thing about ^rtiticial scarcity having arisen out oi' increased capital, and thrashing rnai hitiea. My opinion is quite the reverse. Had it not been for the. increased capital of late years applied to agriculture, and the facility of meeting, by thrashing ma- chines, the sudden demands of a Mar time, prices would have been higher than tliey were. Notwithstanding the increase of capital^ it never yet has been sufficient to do the general business of the country, as it oitght to be done; and the dispatch which machines gave to farmers in bringing their t '-^^ GENERAL INTRODUCTION, :Cclix the poor-laws, connected with a grand system pf emigration. What I said above as to English farmers holding out in tliese trying times worse than Scotch far- mers, I lind confnincd. What lias been reported in newspapers about poor-rates diminishuig, 1 can again say, with greater conlidence, ia a wretched delusion. The burdeu is every day increasing. It cannot be otherwise. The paupers are breeding amain, and so it must be while the premium is continued for the breeding of paupers. Salisbury, containing less than 9,000 people, has i2,000 poor maintained by a rate of 125. in the pound. The whole of the Hannel weavers once kept busy by sup- plying the Spanish market, are now entirely out of work: to be sure, because Spaniards are now siraking oft' incumbrances, which repressed their own industry ; — priests and a world of abomination. With Lord Bathurst's good will, I could relieve Salisbury of its burden, and make independent men of the flannel weavers. I could remove them to Upper Canada, and make them llourish there ; but what will rouse Lord IJathurst to any thought of benevolence ! how shall we get the camel through the needle's eye ! I attended a vestry meeting at Wily, and saw the poor have their fortnight's dole. Mercy on us! what a group of poor creatures! It is greatly worse with them now than five years ago, when I resided in Wiltshire. Before gorng out to Canada, 1 spoke lo my friend Wilkie about making " Pay- ing iHJi I'ooR OF WiLY,'^ » subject for his ' r ' iikitiMimammmttiimm^mimittiiltmmKiimKiff jcclx (GENERAL IM'UODUCTION. k 1 pencil. I thought of thus getting attention to the t'fi'ect of the poor-laws, in degrading our species, in diminishing the stature, and worsting the ap- pearance of God's iinnge. Were the system of poor-laws to continue thirty years longer, the la- bourers of Wiltshire would scarcely have the ap- pearance of men : they would bo shrunk to no- thing: they would not only grow up, as now, without calves to their legs, but they would be dis- torted — diseased — downcast. Perhaps they would prove Lord Monboddo's hypothesis to be sound*. If the writer on poor laws in last Edinburgh JRe- viewy did but see the progress of the evil as I do, he would not coolly admit of a poor relief bill being put off for years. An effort must be made for deliverance from this frightful evil, and the sooner the better. I have found Mr. Scarlett's proposal for a max- imum every where scouted ; and the assertion of my petition (page cc'xxxv), that refusing relief for children without making up to the poor some substantial advantage in lieu of it, woidd certainly lead on to insurrection. 1 have found, what 1 am glad of, that there are, even Wiltshire farmers, who now approve of my plan of granting a little land to the poor. They are yet, however, opposed to education. In Wily, there is a school with twenty ♦ Lord Monbodilo, a Scotcli jiidgo, maintained that men had improved from monkeys: that they had once t.uls; and said that on« of his own doniestita still had a btuaip itMnaining. ■■|f««t « |>l »M » |>lHII%ji ' "" lii , i tl . W* en had id that fJENERAL INTRODUCTION. ccdxi children ; but thoiii^h the farmers were willing to let poor children attend, many of the parents are unable to pay the charge of 6d. a week. The in- formation which I '•eceived in April last (see note, page cxxii), as to the school established in Wily by labourers, I have now got corrected. Stephen White, Joseph White, Philip liennet, labourers; with the assistance of Mr. Brandis, schoolmaster, and a person from another parish, have the merit of upholding- this school, in spite of opposition. It is a Sunday's school. Nearly 100 children attend regularly, and receive great benefit. I again ask, " Should such people not be assisted by go- vernment?*' .Select vestries have been established in a good many parishes in Wilts, under the act of 59 Geo. III. chap. 11, 12. There is one at Wily. The farmers find them convenient. To be sure they are now made judges in their own can "^ ; and there is no summoning of overseers. Convenient, indeed ! The tyranny ol the poor-laws has been strengthened by it; but better is the absolute power of the farmer over the poor thaii the wretched vacillating- will of magistrates, especially reverend ones, which used to decide in petty sessions. A /i7//c improvement on the f/reni badst/slem^ has been made since I was resident in Wily parish, by paying the poor by what is called " the scale.'' In- stead of each member ol a family getting a gallon loaf and threepence: a man is allowed the loaf and sixpence: a woman, and children above twelve years of age, the loaf and fourpencc : children from ' '1 ' ■ I \\ m m mmtrnhM t p ' ^ w m I li poor, and of a benighted province of tlie British Empire. . ' Since my return home I have twice petitioned Parliament on these joi'it subjects, and during the ensuing Session shall resume my suit, besides mukiiig appeal as to my in- dividual sufterings in Upper Canada, which has been delayed for want of witnesses, now happily within reech. In such cases, before a British Pailiament, an individual can have little chance of hearing without the aid of public notoriety and fervor iu his behalf, ?»nd I shall not hide my anxious desire to be thus assisted. In Wiltshire I am sure there arc many who wish me well. A suitor at once in r ^reat public cause, and for my birth- right, as a native Briton, perhaps I may even take advantage of an incident, which otherwise, so far as I was concerned, might have rested in silence, — an incident which will testify that I can feel for another as well as for myself — that 1 am not destitute oi sincerity. Coming hither from London on the night of the 24th ult. in the Old Salisbury Coach, a poor man was found drowning in the flood near Stuines. I hastened to hi.>i! relief, and plunging thrice to the neck, rescued him from a watery grave*. May I hope, from this incident, to strengthen belief, * The accident alluded to, page ccclii. — About two miles from Staines, a gravel pit runs for some distance alongside of the high way, unguarded with post and rail. This was tilled with water, and overflowed to sodic dititunce round by the flood * in 11 MMlMMMr*' t rccixviii (;enkral introduction. when I declare, that for twcnty-oiie years I have been de- voted to the cause of the poor ut England; and that in then rwiiig, which in u few days afterwardH inundated the wliole country in that (junrlor, to a degree unprect'dj'ntcd. A London pORtbuy, lost in the «lark, hnd drove liis currinpf o(Vth<' road, and overturned it in tht'prnvel pit. Part of two wlioelnonly were vi»i- ble above tho water's Hurface, nnd the poor iniin, upheld by the pole or horses, beneath him, stood immersed to th»' lipa, and had mo ntood for about half un hour, roaring out most piteously. Our coach drawing up, I hastened out of it to get to the man ; but linking into tho pit beyond my depth, and beiug no owimmcr, I escaped with difllculty ; thou secured from fatal consequences by the coacit traces tied together, and round my body, I suc- ceeded in dragging the man ashore. Hearing that the Road Commiasionera had often been unavaiiingly complaiuedof for their neglect in leaving so dangerous a place unguarded, I wrote to a friend in town an account of th^ alTair, calculated to uttraet notice to this neglect, bidding him give it for insertion in the Newspaper, but withholding names. The account appeared in the Morning Chronicle of 29th December, and beim* itnme- diately copied into other papers, had the desired effect. On re> turning to town, I found the following letter published in the Statesman of 3d January, 1822. Sir, To the Editor of (he Statesman. Having observed in your paper of last night, an account of an accident to a carriage and horses, and the driver, which hap- pened near Staines on Christmas t vej I beg leave, as proprietor of that equipage, to return, through your means, my most grateful acknowledgments to your correspondent, the gentleman passen- ger by the Salisbury coach, to whose humane, prompt, and per- severing endeavours, I am indebted for the recovery of the car- riage and one of the horses; and my servant, the driver, for his rescue from the perilous situation into which he was thrown, by the shameful neglect of the Commissioners of Roads, of that r.RNRKAL INTROnrrTION. rcclxix Upper Ciiitadn I nevrr cntcrtaiiu'H u dcKirr cither diMlnyu I or in uny way iiupurc— ihai my every effort there wns bent le nnoeii< on making tliut country u profitable und honourubl dage to the parent State, instead of a burden and reproach, which, hitherto, most asiturodly it has been. ROBIUtr GOURLAY. Wily, Wills, \)th J anutn'j/,\Q^eal to the public as to uprightness of principle and conduct, the aifair should certainly not have been repeated widi my HigUiiltire. a a \ u, i .% ■ II IMl Wl l l| »L «li W*« l|i H) i 'Wi ' »W - I I- ','■^ ccclxx GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ' The resolnt'ons of the meeting, set forth certain opinions, in language |j. aited and strong. The petition disavows the principles of these resolutions, and stigmatizes the supporters of them as factious men. ••^f wi ' Having, at the county meeting, openly expressed my dis- approbation of part of its resolutions, 1 conceive that my right of animadverting on this petition, to which they have given rise, is so nmch the better; and I do not hesitate to say, in the face of all who may have signed it, noblemen, clergymen, gentlemen, and freeholders, that if the county resolutions were in any thing wrong, this petition is infinitely more censurable. 1 am not one who have either much relish for county meetings, or much hope of good from them ; yet, as they are constitutional, and have for ages afforded the chief op- portunity for the expression of public opinion, 1 must say it omens ill, to see individuals, whoever they may be, running from these meetings fo arrogate to themselves superior virtues, and presuming not only 'o throw discredit and ob- loquy on the combined sentimen j of their follow subjects, but loading deserving characters v^ h insidious and reproach- ful languagf. Who, 1 would ask, is entitled ' fix the standard of sen- timent ? Or rather, who are facti' is men ? They who attend to the call of the sheriff, and e )ress, under his auspices, their opinions ? Or they who f to all the corners of the county to fin i »mi0mr!i! t n' 'fi m ■■ '* ' W ii H Mui n l ii K i ii i»«i i i ]» ■ GICNKRAI. INTUODLCTION. Cccixxi individuals to call for the expression of public opinion, it was so in Mr. Hunt. If the public duties of a county are neglected by those who should be foremost to perform them, surely such persons should be the last to complain wheu these duties are peifornitd by others. What is it that makes Mr. Hunt popular in Wiltshire, but the advantage he liuds in neglected duty i He and Mr. Cob- be.tt do not deny this. The latter declared at the meeting-, that he would not trouble himself in this quarter if the gentlemen would do their duty. Have they done their duty ? Are they now doing it by vamping up this counter petition ? Quite the reverse. If they had aoy public opinion, the county meeting aflorded tlie genuine opportunity for the expression of such opinion; and, after neglecting tJie fair opportunity, all opposition is clearly unbecoming and fac- tious. The county meeting was open to all : whoever set it on foot, whoever attended it, made no diiVercnce, — it was still the county meeting ; and wheu past, its dcttrmiiiation re- mains that of >he county, and as such should be reapectod. If the gentlemen of Wilts wish to oppose the opinions of Mr. Cobbett or Mr. Hunt, why should they be afraid to come forward r If they had done bo upon this occasion, most assuredly the present resolutions would have been negatived, or at least gicaiiy modified, and a cluick would have been given to the sway of Mr. Cobb«^tt and Mr, Hunt. How has it been in Hampshire ? There tliey have icipeatedly made their appearance, but they have been opposed — con- stitutionally and successfully opposed. Jn VVilUshire they carry all before tbem; and for their opponents m political opinion, there seems no consolation but in ibe prostrations of a passive spirit to one party, and the disgorging of spleen towards another. ' ' These frank declarations may give ofFence; biU I speak for myself only, and wish to command no coovictioD but what reason and reflection can approve. a a £ li a I > (II : 1 - i I i . f s , i il ri ccclxxii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. I do not hesitate to say, that in many things I cordially agree with Mr. Cobbett : in some I would oppose him with all my might. He cannot wish more than 1 do for par- liamentary reform ; he cannot express too strongly for my taste an abhorrence for military despotism; hut when he comes forward with a scheme for relieving the pecuniary embarrassments of the nation, which is to take a retrospec' live view of transactions, and call for the refunding of pro- perty out of the peculation and waste of times that are gone, not only my faith in his sincerity is lessened, but my blood runs cold with the imagination of such dangerous fallacy. While his scheme would be inefticient for the end in view, it would subject thousands of the innocent to misery : it would introduce a reign of terror. . Mr. Cobbett has, for months past, in his Political Re- gister, engaged the attention of his readers with the subject of national remedies; and here he has displayed his usual acuteness and penetration in exposing the errors of others. When it conies to this his own wii's-end on the subject, with w!>at niclancholy sensations of every kind must we be in>- pressed ? ' Mr. Cobbett's idea of refunding is not of recent date, though only now formally declared. He has hinted at it for years ; and it is truly astonishing, that a mind so superior could have so long harboured a thought so delusive. No man knows better than he does the vast resources of this country ; and how easily the burdens of the people could be lightened without any retrospective law, merely by just and economical arrangement. He knows that the very ex- ister."'* of our enormous debt is the best pledge that we have resources for paying i! off; and he cannot be ignorant that, with stable credit, price would rise to equalize so far the present ruinous disproportion between real and fictitious property. ; ' V : c*'^' •' My notions as to the remedy for national distress have been long stationary. Last year, in a printed letter^ I con- ;- .. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCclXXlH densed them wiihiii this short sentence: " Down with aU taKes which affect industry, and let them rest on rents and idle capital; coininute tithes; and devise measures, whick may be very simple, for the abolition of pauperism." This year, I read at the late meeting, from a printed hand-bill, the following scheme, which, as something very extraordinary must soon be done, is as practicable as any other equally efficient: — " A property and income tax is that and that alone by which the country can be preserved in peace. While it is withdrawn from the fields of industry, let it remain on the \va8tes of idlene«8>-~let it atFect only rents and interest, and let incomes proceeding from these be further taxed, in the ratio of their ii.c-nase. Lei such incomes at 1,000^. per annum be charged with one per cent. ; at 2,000/. wilii two per cent.; and so upwards to UX>,000l. per annum, where the ratio of increase may safelj/ terminate. This scheme would admit of all taxes on malt, salt, soap, candles, leather, bricks, tiles, Sec. &c. being withdrawn. It would sustain the national credit, check immorality, give spirit to industry, and make the poor man's face bean» with joy." ROBERT GOURLAY. Deptford Farm, March 28, 1816. fN ss have I con- One reason for my here inserting these news- paper extracts is, that my Canadian friends (for such I boast of having, notwithstanding my seve- rities to them as politicians) may read the simple document which an illiberal, up-setting Attor- ney-General would nol suffer to be read iu court; and see that I r:an challenge scrutiny here at home ; but my chief object is to draw attention to these words, '■'• price would rise." To point to these words now that price has fiUlen, aud M !i I CCclxxiv G£NEIl4fi INTRODUCTION. Mr. Cobbett, with Lord Fitzwilliam and others, have made up their minds that it will fall still lower, may seem wanton folly; but I shall stick to my text, and if no malignant star, to borrow a provino from Mr. Francis Moore, comes in the way, shall prophesy that they will even rise. There was no person more thoroughly convinced than I was for many years before the peace, that price would not keep up so high as it had been ; but I am as thoroughly convinced that at this moment it might have been kept up much higher than it now is; and the question is vit-ally important. Price de- pends much upon demand, and demand upon con- sumption. The price of an article too, is often re- gulated by the strength to hold. A needy man can never obtain so high a price for his goods as a man at ease in his circumstances. Well do I know it. What has made the price of a farm in Canada with a log-house, as spoken of above, in the extract from the Times newspaper, '* less than the usual law expenses incurred to aflect the sale ^* ? That is not the natural price, and cannot continue as it is. The absolute pbverty of the holder has gone so far to produce the effect; and want of demand, from stagnation of trade and general poverty, has summed lip the poor account. Ever since the funding sys- tem and paper money had existence, theni has, I presume, been stagnation, and the price of land and its produce has fallen at the terniination of war. This happened to a great extent after the American revolutionary war, and now to a gteater degree, clearly from a too sudden stop being put to .^^)!tl^^ GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ccclxxv activity. 1 would have the reader pause, and fix this very word, octimtt/, in his mind, as important. The activity of war has destruction tor its main object: yet in spite of this destruction, — this waste, such is the virtue of activity that a surplus of gain may be secured by it. At the end of wars, ac- tivity, stimulated by the violent passions which make and maintain them, is too hastily checked. It is checked from the subsiding of passion, when it should be excited more and more, only having its direction changed from destruction and waste to profitable production. The fall of price was great- ly owing to the lessening of Government transac- tions with peace, and the consequent diminished issue of Government paper. Suppose Government had continued transactions and expenditure to the full extent in peace as in war ; only with this dif- ference, that those to whom they paid out money, had been employed profitably instead of wastefuUy — had been industrious farmers and mechanics, in- stead of soldiers, and officers of soldiers, what now would have been the issue? Certainly, among other effects, price would have been kept high, and all would have been prosi)crous. Every thing, on the contrary, has l>een done to lower price: trans- action and excitement have been lessened; con- sumption has decreased ; industry has pined : \ " '^^ ''■ '■' ' ■ - •' « It is icUesse all ; ' ' i " Knight, and Page, and household Si^uire," ' • ■ " Loiter I" loiter! loiter! We may keep up an immense army in peace; we may pay away forty miUions of interest of debt, to , i f^ 1,1 i \ i.H ; il" ■I • ■ ecclxxvi GENERAL INTAODUCTION. maintain idlers ; but we cannot do it by idleness ; and now more than halt' the people of England arc idle ! Price has increased in modern times, not merely from the issue of Government paper, but from the trade of banking. That trade will im- prove ; and as confidence gets established, will more and more furnish means for rational and well-digest- ed adventure. Though taxation and Government were put down together, and for ever, paper money would circulate and circulate more and more freely, as men became more and more worlhv of confi- dence, by greater intelligence, and more steady habits. Paper money has not caused the present distress; but the cessation of that activity which kept it afloat. This is truly worthy of attention, and yet it has been entirely kept out of view, or never thought of. Let profitable employment be found for all that are willing to work : let Govern- ment again issue its paper in every direction, where it can yield a certain return, and, undoubtedly, mankind may flourish in peace, as well as in war: undoubtedly we may keep faith, and fulfil our engagements with public creditors. When confined in Niagara jail, I addressed the Representatives of the people of Upper Canada, about to meet in Parliament, with a view to attract notice to the principle which 1 ht;re but poorly do justice to. I shall, now that the British Parliament is about to meet, copy in my Address, as it was printed in the Niagara Spectator newspaper, and let it be exposed to scrutiny, in a country where there is no want of mental discernment, and at a time 3 the jnada, [tract lly do Imeiit was id let It he re I time CENfiRAL INTRODUCTION. fcclxxvii wheii the s\t'iT\t oi' activUi/ should he roused, even for the salvation of the empire. 1 purposely let my ideas go loosely before the public. I have full con- fidence in my fundamental principles, and when I am attacked, I shall be ready to defend. I have written below the title posTScaiiT, ^^ chiejlt/ for after reference and discussion" and I have done so, inviting challenge. . NIAGARA SPECTATOR, .JUNE 10, I819. TO TllJi PARLIAMENTAUY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF UPPER CAXAJ)A. Niagara Jail, 7th June, 18 19. Gentlemen, It is a lanicntubie fact, that men will isonietiines continue to hate those wlioni they have injured, for no other reason, but because they themselves have already done so much wrong. Having n)ade this remark, I shall not apply it to any particular case, but wish that all of us, for the fifture, may be guarded against a propensity so very dgtestable, and ruinous to human felicity. You are this day meeting together, to legislate for your country •, and I, driving from my memory all past occur- rences, looking anxiously to the eventful moment, and keep- ing only one object in view, viz. the general good, have con- sidered by what means, and lo what end, your labours may be most beneficially directed. With a mind thus abstracted and serious, knowing that you are not prepared to go so far as cs^juld be wished, it seems prudent to confine myself to that which is most likely of being accomplished. - * in my earliest reflections upon the political condition of this province, I saw restraints which greatly retarded its im- provement, and which seemed so obvious, that 1 could not doubt ihey would be speedily removed. The greatest im- ■ ■ i II' I CCcUxviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. mediate restraint seemed to arise out of tiie state of property, to which there appeared a simple and eft'ectual remedy in the adoption of anew system of taxatiun. To this subject my attention has been very often directed; and to this I would now beg leave to call paiticular notice. It is not vanity to sny that I have, for many years, devoted much reflection to the subject of taxation, generally. It is merely stating n fiict ; and liberal minds will admit of my frankly comminiicating some of the results, without being moved by this or any other passion. My reflections have led me to believe, that the chief per- fection of Government is to Lc looked for in the adoption of a correct and just system of taxation. This, I am convinced, may be so regulated, as not only to contribute sufficiently to every public enterprise, but to connnand the destinies of pow' :• and property, every way to good. Mankind have looked with astonishment to the mighty achievements of England. I'hey have seen her, single- handed, contending with Europe, — nay, almost with the world besides; and they have seen her rising in strength as effort was required; — they have seen her unexpectedly ]iicvail over innumerable difficulties. Whence has she derived her strength ? Erom her system of taxation. In former ages, the energies of our species have been called forth to war, as furiously as we in our day have, witnessed. In former ages, we have seen those energies sometimes elicited by superior genius, and sometimes impelle^»WI * «WI— * '*-^'r-r- 4 I l.'i r. 1 ■ CCCIXXX GENERAL INTRODUCTION. of tniiliuiis, but the moiiied means bvcaiiie more and mure ready at command. In all this, there was no miracle. A lull inspection of the materinis and luacliinery, is suflicient to ac< count for the wonderful results. Mere population, however great, will do nothing without excitement; nur will wealth alone continuully suatuin exer- tion. China swurnis with luiman bvings ; but they are things without passion, — feeble, and tame — loiterers in the paths of improvement. Spain had her treasury long rcplenisiied from ^lexico and Peru; but her wealth served, ultimately, only to enervate; and her body politic, as well as her people, be- came plethoric and dull. England has wealth, directly pour- ed into her from the West and East indies, besides the gene- ral profits of trade ; but this wculth Hows not iinmediatoly into the Treasury. Its course is belter directed. It first spreads out anion^ the people ; gives pleasure to the rich, au aim to the ambitious, and employment to the poor. An in- ward flow of wealth so very great, would be ruinous to so- ciety, had it no vent : it would tend to repletion, and reple- tion would induce disease. The war afforded vent to llie vast surplus of Knglish wealth, as well as for her spare po- pulation. In one sense, it created health and vigour. The cessation of war has, in some respects, already produced lan- guor and disease : it has diminished consumption, and .slopped up the ducts of beneficial waste. War and waste were, of themselves, to be deplored ; but so far their effects w ere good. The desideratum now is, seeing that such agents have promoted beneticial action and production, to draw forth activity, and thence have production by peaceful means, and for peaceful ends. I have not lauded, and shall not laud, the English system of taxation, as one which I approve, or should wish to see imi- tated. It has rested on oppression, and has begotten oppressors. 1 have spoken of it only as it has displayed the wonderful efforts which mankind ci n make, with sufficicuit excitement. The English system of taxation would never have been made ;, OENKHAL INTItOnrCTION. CCclxXxi so productive, but by a corr«j>t roprcscntntion of the people. With the people, Boroughnioii^ers have no coninioo feeling : nay, their interests run counter ; nnd, ns touls of the Minister, they are altogether perfect. They arc the handspikes >vhich squeeze from the gra'.)e the wine which itself would not yield. No system of this kind can be established h«'re. The people, fairly represented, will not endure that degree of pressure which is required, to put industry to its full stretch ; and while there is not sufficient necessity to goad, there is a want of ambition to lead on. Still, however, nature presents here most inviting objects for exertion, and when the course is fairly open^*^, the race may not be slack. In cor.uiving the system of taxation which now lia«, place in this province, no thought, I am convinced, was bestowed on the effects which might be produced from one system more than another. It was only considered how the required means, for Government purposes, C(Mdd bo most directly pro- cured. At first, money was only seen in shops and taverns ; and a licence upon these was adequate, for a time, to afford the little wanted. By and by, the farmers' stock increased, and the principle of tLxiucr property, according to its value, was adopted. As a burden, taxes are here trifling; and it is a saying, that without challenge, all is well. The wild lands of absentees being untaxed, first gave rise to complaint. To tax the lands of absentees, has been the object of repeated motions in Parliament ; and a Bill, fortius purpose, got so far as to be printed. The order of the day now is, that they must, at least, be made to contribute to the improvement of roads. I am to propose that they shall do more. In fact, I mean to strike at the root of the present system of taxation, and exhibit an entire new one for adoption. I shall first briefly sketch out my scheme, then pull down the old one ; and, lastly, set forth what effects may be produced by the other, when substituted in its place. My proposal then is to have but one tax for the collec- tion of revenue in this province — a general land tax, making 'i ' :! J ( III f J Pf r .5 ! CCClxXXli GENKRAL INTHODIJCTION, no diitinctioii whatever between wild and cultivated land, public or private prupt;rty, timt of renideiitH or absvDleus ; the lule of csliinaling value to be ^^tveriied by one cousi- deration, the rate of population of the towntthip in w hicli the land IN situated, taken in conjunction wilh that of the neigh- bourhood. A few examples will bctt illustrate wiiat 1 mean. Let us take it for granted that the average value of land throughout the province is ^Oji. per ucre, and the average rate of population, 1,000 souls to a township of ()(),(XK) acres. Say that township A has this prccibe population and extent, is bounded niue nulcs by the lake or river, of which no ac- count shall be takiMi, nine miles hy Tuw iisiiip li, containing 1,600 souls, nine miles by Township C, containiu};!; 1,500 souls, and nine miles by Township D, uninhabited, or, by unsurveyed.laud. Township A being within itself ut pur, and, thus bounded, remains at par, viz. £0s. per acre. Say again, that Township E, of equal extent as Town- ship A, contains 1,600 souls, is bounded nine miles by b, contahiing 1,000 souls, nine miles by (i, conlaiiiing 8(X) souls, nine uiiles by 11, containing 1,B00 souls, and nine miles by I, containing 2,000 souls. Thus situated, the land of E shall be reckoned worth '28s. 4?^^, Again, say that Township U, of equal extent as the above, contains no inhubilant», and is bounded by Townships S, T, W, and X, containing, respectively, 500, 4(X), SOO, and 200 souls. This will make the land of R worth fjs. 7\d. Again, say that Township W contains 500 souls ; and is bounded by Y lor nine miles, contaming 1,(X)0 souls, and on the other three sides by uninhabited land. This will make the land of W worth 6s. per acre. These examples sufliciently shew the principle upon which I would have the value of laud estimated. A Town- sliip may contain more or less than 60,000 acres, or it may be bounded by more than four townships, and perhaps irregularly. In such cases a little more calculation only is wanted to give an equally fair result. The ide» of raising all I I' nENRRAL rNTRonrnTiON. ocdxxxiii taxes from laiiil, is not new. It ti:i> often been the subject of political discussion; und oltcu have I mused upon it before my acquuiutnuto with thii country. In im old coun- try, many objections start up against its adoption; here 1 know of none. 'I'hioughout the whole province nature has uonderfully equnlized the value of land. What is better in point of qualit), is i^cuerally worse in point of local si- tuation ; and, at this early stage of settlement, minute dif- ferences in this respect are of very little conseciuence. 'J'he sim[>Iicity of such a scheme — the economy and ease of management are highly to be prized. If the owner of land is out of the country, or tardy in paying his assessment, an entry of debt can forthwith be made against him, his account to become chargeable witli compound interest, a half per cent, above the ordinary rate; the law declaring this d«'bt inseparable from the laud, and prefeiable to every other, while it gave a power of sale for recovery, at the termina- tion of a given number of years, say 10, 15, or 50. The perfection of a land tax, in a new country, is obvious, so far as specidators must either settle, sell, or pay for their profits. Having said thus much of what 1 propose for adoption, let me briefly state wherein the present system of taxation is erroneous and impolitic. ' ■ In the first place, rating all wild land at the same value of 4s. per acre, is glaringly wrong. Some wild land in remote situations being worth less than even 4*., while other wild land is worth ten times as much. In the second place, it is very unfair to rate a lot of wild land one farthing less than a It of cultivated land, to which it is immediately adjoin- ing. The wild land rises in value merely from the labour bestowed on that which is cultivated, and, in strict justice, ought rather to be rated higher, from the coiisid«;iation of its being a nuisance. The revenue from Town lots is a baga- telle, which should be left to the controul of the inhabitants of the towns respectively, for their immediate comfort and convenience. Taxing houses, and their fire-places, in a new 1^ ■t' ': i CCf'.lxXXiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION. country, is a sin against nature : good houses should rather have a preniiuui. Taxing mills is damnable : taxing shops and storehouses is nearly as bad ; but, when we get among the taxed horses, the taxed milch cows, and the taxed horned cattle, what can we do but laugh at the monstrous absurdity, and think that the whole scheme was contrived by an ass ? Suppose a mechanic, whose daily bread is earned by his ten lingers, has a certain weight continually to bear about with him, I should think that, if he could not distribute the burden equally over his body, that somewhere between the shoulders njight be an appropriate situation for the mass of it ; but certainly, not a single grain shoiihl be allovve; ^i' • ^.K/L^ Kf.} ;o .sw ■t*?*, -ir.e- Before proceeding to consider the use and effect to be b b ^ ; ! .< , 1 1 \ ( s ; I • ! i \y ■ . f*r<3^\lmA;m m*M U U* „ It !> - ; ccehnxri gicneral introductioic. made and produced by condensing all taxes into one upon land, let me sweep down the remaining lumber of the old system. There are all the trashy duties upon importations from the United States, which should fall by the lump, not excepting that upon salt, imposed by the wisdom of your very last session. To go to the cheapest market, wherever it may be, is economy : to punish ourselves, that others may suffer, is wretched policy : to give scope to free trade is noble: to beggar custom-houses is delightful ; and, looking to moral improvement, there is more hope in the end of smuggling than in the beginning of preaching. The tax upon whiikey stills is merely a premium upon rum, a less wholesome beverage, and a drawback Arom the profits of the CauacUan farmer, in favour of the West India planter. To tax billiiu'd tables, which might give exercise in bad weather to idle gentlemen, and perhaps draw them off from drinking " One bottle nsore/' is a foolish conceit, especially when dice may be rattled at will, and a dirty pack of cards makes part of the furniture of every cobbler's stool. Lastly, and here I shall have opposition from every bench of worshipful magistrates, there should not even be a tax upon taverns. All — alt should be free of taxation but land* To tax taverns as m palliative against debaucliery is delusive : to tax them in order to make advantage of travellers is ungenerous and un- wise : to tax them, at the discretion of magistrates, is giving an inlet to favouritism aud arbitrary power: to tax them merely as a source of revenue, is altogether unnecessary. Off- — off, with all taxes but one upon land; and then, the heavier that is made by large and Judicious expenditure on public workij, so much the better : — then, indeed, Gatiada shall flourinh. >■ :\i.-L'V- vJ»V-*' i ^,^'l w lj.~ ttA> » 1 Let us take it for granted that the province contains one hundred townships of (30)000 acres each, on an average, va> lued at 20s. per acre, thus giving a total value of £6,000,00(^: one per cent, on wliich, viz. jg60,000, we shall a^jsurae as tht fir^t required annual n^venuo. How simple and fair le upon the old Drtationa rap, not idoin of market, ves, that ic to free Ful; and, pe m the ig. The ira, a less its of tbe Iter. To i weather I drinking ]ly when dar makes istly, and roTshipfiU [1 taverns. ix taverns X them in I and uu< is giving tax them lecessary. then, the iditure on , Gauada tains one ;rage, va- lXX),000f: ssumfr as and fair GEiNERAL INTR01>UCTT6N. CCCh«»Vii becomes the business ryf voting the yettr\y supply in futttre. An estimate is made out of whart is reqnifed ; and ^afci^ei* it is, double, treble, a half, a fourth, or a sixteenth, more ol* less, becomes the sole consideration. Out of this 9fip)^y P should propose to defray every public charge whatever: ihe* charges of the civil list—of making and repairing roa*>«, canals, 8lc. As to roads, they should rank under three' descriptions. Provincial, being those great leading roads which connect together the remotest points, and which' should draw from the public fund an absolute sufficiency' for their being made and kept perfect. Secondly, district roads, being those connecting less distant points, and which' should' have support proportionate to the assessed value of die districts through which they pass; and lastly, township! roads, which shduld have their proportion aft'ordied on the sante* principle. It ought to be allowted, al all hands, that good foaids-ai^e of the first consequence in the ittiprovement of any eo«l»' ti'y; and it is cle*** that if a fair principle' is once fixed' updtV (6t the making and suppoirt of these, the haitd' to extort' means to such ends may- be at once rellendess and just ; fdf, the' greatei^ the expenditure, the greater, ceitaiuly, will' be' the gain. But, Gentlemen^ T now proceed to the gmtid' pUfpofses- which tarxation, oivthe proposed plarty w4iiopted, and put iw spirited action, rtay accc^mplilh— ^ ineiaffi its appticaftoil' to the improvement of thte' St lja#-' retlce ntFvigati6kl ; aiAi ifs beihg miade a bohd of coiHIbKio^ betweert C^nadJt' and England— a bond by whicfh bb# coUtttrtfes' may reap infinite advantage". Let md first, hoi^.' 6^ety rid ilWyself of a M\e hH^t contetttpt, by laugMng otetright at the grave resolutfons of your last session, to- apply to His Royjil Bi^httess the Prince Regenf fof d kundftd thntsaiid aires of kind, to be intrusted to a c(f&i^ mmte for executing this great wdi% out of tJite sales ^&h^fi Grod h^elp^^us!' v^hat will dhesale of such a quantity of lanfd^ fetch> 89 thin^v ai« now managed'? 'TtvAy, perhaps 9!i rtSodk bb i Mfc »^ . ««W*t i «»»>IM»*<.*»M * i »| i>i !) l» i'T' ii ' IS W > i 'i * ''' 1 i > » ' > ^'i * ' ' i ! \i ,'!:■' i; i = I- I ! i f CCclxXXviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. an, added to the pittance (jga,000) voted out of the taxes of the province for defraying the expenses of a survey, might complete that object respectably with plans and estimates. Very truly, my clodhopping brothers —most august legislators, 1 am ashamed of you : so do be so good as wipe oft this nonsensical concern along with the ^'gging act, that we may all be friends again ; and, in the issue, recover some little claim to the possession of common sense. You can- not think how anxious 1 am to get home to England, and report you all in a sane state of mind, after the damnable alarm you have given to John Bull. — Well, hoping the best, let us proceed. .;, »r,.,. >!>» -...; ^.-..u ■^i-s.-.-^r.v. . *u -i/'vc s^' Gentlemen, the St. Lawrence navigation should be looked to as a great national object ; this province affording security for the repayment of all charges, and Britain promoting the work vjith a loan of money, and the supply of hands. Was the affair properly represented to the imperial par- liament, there would neither be difficulty nor delay in the accomplishment. Permit me to give you a slight sketch of ways and means, for the sake of illustration. Now that there is peace, Britain could spare out of her popu* lation, annually, 100,000 souls with advantage ; but they who would willingly emigrate, have not the means of trans- port. My very first fancy towards Upper Canada, burned forth from a desire to effect the vast object of finding a vent for these poor people, with whose circumstances I have been peculiarly well acquainted /or near twenty years ; but, here I am, for my zeal in the cause. Under the wing of wealthy farmers, many thousands of them might before now have been comfortably lodged in the province, had all gone well; and by next summer many thousands may still be at work on the St. Lawrence navigation. I have taken the present value of the settled part of the province to be 6,000,000/. Suppose a navigation for vessels of 200 tons could be opened from Montreal to Lake Ontario, in the course of live years from the present time, and that duiing il KCS of might mates, lators, ft' this tat we r some lu can- id, and inuable te best, looked security imoting ' hands, ial par- in the sketch Now popu* ut they f trans- burned Ig a vent I have |rs; but, wing of re now U gone still be ken the to be 00 tons in the duiing UENKRAL INTRODUCTION. CCCIxXXix the same time there was an influx of 20,000 souls annually into the province, pray, may we not fairly calculate that from 6,000,000^. value, the territory settled by the end of that period, would be fully Morth three times as much; and that an expenditure of 2,0(X),00()/. might very easily be repaid out of the taxation of the province before the end of ten years ? , , . Let us exhibit a jotting of how things might go on; 5,000 able-bodied mer could be transported from Britain, at the rate of 10/. each*, and be at work on the canal by the 1 St of June, 1820 - - - . jg 50,000 Transport of 10,000 women and children, sup- posed to accompany the men ... 50,000 Pay of 5,000 men at work, from Ist .Tune, till 1st December, 1820 — six months - - 100,000 Ditto, till Ist April, 1821, four months - - 30,000 Ditto, till 1st December, 182 1, eight months • 130,000 T'^nsport of 5,000 men, with 10,(XK) women and children, 18tl 100,000 Pay of these second year's men, from 1st June, till Ist December, 1821 - - - - - 100,000 Interest and contingencies - - . - 40,000 (500,000 At this period discharge the first year's men, who refund their transport, and have in pocket \0L per man - 100,000 Total expenditure up to 1st December, 1821 500,000 * By personal inquiries made at the ports of Glasgow, Leith, and Aberdeen, spring, 1820, I found ^7. was the common charge for a man. On contract, and after a grand system ol emigration was set 00 foot, the charge would b« greatly lowered. 2 i . iiilii i|»iwiftw» lj ecember, 1B22, eight months Transport of third year's men, with women and children ----.- Pay of these men from Isl June, till Isl December, 1822, six mouths - - » - - Interest and contiugeocies . . ^ - 30,000 130,000 100,000 100,000 40,000 'k\ \^r'i '' :.♦ J .ft',>'»l ! ,^w ^ . ^ ''■'-''* ' » 900,000 D«duct, refunded by the second year's men, now •» » discharged - - , - . - 100,000 Total expenditure up to 1st December, 182£ - 800,000 r M t.rx-. It would serve no purpose to go farther with such a sketch. M.y meaning is abeady clear; and the practicabi- lity of the proceeding is obvious. I suppose the men to contract at home only for the labour of two seasons ; and titicy are above represented as entirely qnit of the work at iht end of the second season. One half however may be Mipposed to return, and make engagements for labour, the third, or even fourth summer, so as to give any required acceleration to the business. To employ the hands during the four months of their first winter, wouhl require a little arrangement ; but with this, jobs sufficient could be foynd wbiie so great an undertaking was on foot. It will be ob* served, that there are never more than 5,000 men to be thus provided for ; and being free by the commencement of the second winter, witli a sufficiency of cash for present wants, they ujight either spread themselves "vm the country, in itifi service of others, or they might umlte a b<^nning in clearing land for thet^selves. By this jtiiuC) not only reconciled to tlie novelty of their situation, but pretty weJl informed as to the various modes of n)anagement, and taught M i mt l t<^i i»> mW ll »* itiiill ' II I I'll GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXCl to handle the axe, they would be free of all that gloom and awkwardneM, which is so heart- breaking to old country people, when they have to go directly into tlie woods after their first arrival in this country. .,, Gentlemen, could I be assured that there was to be ii s;>eedy end- to all illiberal and triHing proceedingii, how joy< fully should [ continue to write on this glorious theme. ROBEH.T GOURLAY. ■ Irfi! Vi.c I ->l. In the same Newspaper, there appeared a report of proceedings in the British Parliament, re- specting distresses in Ireland. I shall here copy in part of this alluded to in my next week's commu- nication. r :v HOUSE or COMMONS, . ... , Tvesdai/, Aprii 6i \H19' Sir John Newport rose, to call tlie attention of the House to the state of disease in Ireland, and to move for the revival of the Committee of last Session, with a view to make further uiquiries upon this subject. It would be recollected, that in consequence of the Report of the Committee of last Session, « legislative measure was adopted; and one of the objects of the proposed Committee would be, to inquire into the eftect and operation of that measure, whethsr it had served, and in what degree, to mitigate the disease which had so long afflicted Ireland. That the measure alluded to had done good, he. was ready and happy to admit ; but, unfortunately, the ravages of disease still continued. Its rage was indeed such, in the district with which he was more particularly connected, that, within the last twelve months, bq less than 3,500 patients were admitted into the fever hospitals of that district. But the want and misery which prevailed among the poor, and which promoted the violence i4 the l«ver| wa» really such, that the uufortuiiiatf il Vinr f ! I i i CCCXCll «ENEHAL INTRODUCTION. sufferers were better off, even in the hospitals, than else- where ; for out of doors they were condemned to endure the aggravated distress which too often drove them back again, to seek relief, in thehonpitals, from that disease which distress main- ly engendered. Of the spread and violence of that disease, the House might judge from this fact, that in the counties of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Walerford, no less than 43,000 patients had been admitted into the fever hospitals, within a period of fifteen months. After stating this melancholy fact, he hoped the House would not think he asked too much, in calling for the appointment of a Committee, to consider the means of providing some remedy or mitigation for such an alarming evil. If the House should agree with him, in think- ing that this Committee should be appointed, it was his inten- tion to move an instruction for that Committee to inquire, not only as to the state of disease in Ireland, and the means best calculated for its remo« i\ or mitigation, but as to the state of the labouring poor, and the means of enabling individuals to provide employment for them. Upon this last point, he hoped the Committee would exercise the most diligent inves- tigation. It was not his object to propose that the people should look for the means of employment from the public purse, but that private individuals, or associations of indivi- duals, should not have any obstacles in their way, towards providing employment for the labouring class. He trusted the House would feel that, where such obstacles existed, they should be immediately removed, and that whatever could be effected by general regulation, towards facilitating the em- ployment of the poor, ought to be promptly 'adopted. It was known that, according to the opinion of the Commissioners for surveying bogs and marshes of Ireland, there were no less than 2,063,000 acres, wl.ich might be converted to purposes of agriculture. One million of these acres had indeed been already surveyed, levelled, and reported upon by the Com- missioners. What scope, then, did such an extent of land afford for the employment of the labouring poor I But the -. .:t— .-^..-....ii— y. jx.-x-.i.i -•«MM«Mtt-«i«|lirfta GKNKRAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXCIII fnct WHS, that tliis property was so intermixed, and belonging to such a number of persons, that it was found impracticable to render it so available as could be wished. To provide a remedy, then, for this deHcicncy, and to enable individuals, or associations of individuals, to furnish employment to the poor, was one of the great objects to which it was proposed to direct the attention of the Committee, who would naturally be led, in the progress of their inquiry, into a consideration of the means by which the labour of the Commissioners, to whom he had alluded, might be rendered most productive to the country. As far as the census now in progress had pro- ceeded, it was found that out of a population of 3,840,000, in certain districts in Ireland, the proportion employed in agriculture, compared to that engaged in manufactures and mechanical professions, was as 488,000 to 164,000. Such a comparison, then, clearly demonstrated the necessity of providing every possible employment for the labourers in agriculture, especially as it was found, that without such em- ployment, the labouring poor must be destitute of the com- mon means of support. Without additional employ- ment, indeed, a great mass of the labouring poor must be reduced to absolute beggary. There was no district in Ireland in which the population, employed in agriculture, were not considerably more than those engaged as manufac- turers and handicraftsmen. This was the case even in the principal manufacturing counties of Antrim, Down, Armagh, and Derry, where the proportion of agriculturists to manu- facturers and handicraftsmen, was as 288 to 83. Hence, then, it was obvious that nothing should be left undone which promised, in any degree, to augment the means of employ- ment for the labourers in agriculture ; and hence ht. was in- duced to think the point to which he had adverted, as of vital importance to the interests of Ireland. Therefore he hoped and trusted it would engage the most serious consideration of the proposed Committee. ^ ^^-'^ '^ . ; : .- *uir- "* The Motion being read by the Speaker, 'ifliftt! U I CXJCXCl? OMJSmUJJL INTBODUCTION. Mr. C» Grant rose to second Uie motion, whicb lie did, ke declared, with peculiar ttfttiifaction. He lamented that, upon iiie discussipn of such an important subject, the House should happen to be so thin, because he wished that tlu: people of Ire- land should be impressed with u high opinion of the interest which Parliament felt in their conceiuii, and also tlmt the peo- ple of England should be fully apprized of the 8utlurings \v!iich their Irish felloW'Subjects had underguiie fur some years back ; ^coniirms what had been said by Sir J. Newport, as to the severity of sufierings, though they were dii^iiniahiug, &c. but still an advocate for the motion, &,c.) In the melancholy pnsvalcnce of disease, in the years 181G and 1817, notoriously owing to the scarcity which atHicted Ireland within that pe- riod, the poor suffered especially from want of food and fuel : they were indeed so much distressed for food, timt numbers were absolutely obliged to feed upon such esculent plants as they could find, such as potatoe tops^ turuip tops, and cab- bages. The depression of spirits and debility of body wh'^^h must be the consequence, naturally extended the ravages of the fever ; but numbers of the poor were the victims of those very amiable qualities which so p.irticularly characterized their country — that hospitality Jwhich always opened their doors to distress, and that affection for the dead, which dis- tinguishes them in a peculiar degree, served to spread the cont;^gion, by exposing tiie poor to its influence. £ut it was to be hoped that some advantages would be found to result lu^reafter, from the experience which the lower Irish had, duri^ this melanpholy period — tliat they would be again more prepared to guard against the extension of such calamity — that they would take the precaution of being more cleanly in their domestic habits— ^of fumigating their houses, of sepa- rating the healdiy from the sick, of changing their bedding and their clQthes, In these respects they had been heretofore lamentably negligent, and hence the general suffering had been more severe. The sufferings of the poor had, indeed, been most severe, and nothing could, perhaps, be nigi'e ad- - ' -%&^^Mi^:iiS**i^ iSia.^.i. r-^-^M&-^EL%Ui»»^1;flWMil»'rBtt'H.ft^ .,:^.^.»-.-i..Mii.~^.^ rStlrtH^jA, l liKNJ^aAI. INTAOJ^UCT^ON. cooxcv miraljle than the piitieucc with which they tiufi'ei¥tl-"(ilflary hoar, hvar !)->-for, ulthough pJAced m sach a slate o/desp&> rate dislresit, »h, uccurdiog to a great hietoriau iu hu coininent« upon similar misery in uncicut AthtniH, might be suppoaed tQ relax the morals of men, or render lliem iudignant to thf obligations ot law^ or to Uie ilJHtiiictioiiH oi' right and wrong, the Irish poor were peoceabie and ordii«rly> Tlus meritorious peopUi were, iiuiecd, uuMt reli^ovuly resigned to Uial fati?, which, however, all that were ^ich and benevolent fought tQ mitigate by uU the memta in tbeii po>vcr. JSothing was, in I'aict, left undone tjiat couid^erve to relieve dislie»«, or mitigate disease ; and the uftiicted were unbounded in the cordial ex- pression of gratitude to their kind benefactors. Thoie bene- factors jc.omprehended every class of persons in tlie country. One iujpulse directed ».ii. The l^lergy, of ^11 persuasions, took the lead in that work of charity, which they so diligiently preached — (instances of benevolence noticed.) JLs to the plans of relief for the poor, proposed by the Riglit Hon. Baronet, he was gUd tp find nothing ty coMuteoaucie the i4ea, tjbiat any legisliuive measure was contemplated in that House for extendujg to Ireland that system of Poor JUw^, the prpisr cure of which was so generally, so loudly, pnd so JHstly cofii- plained of in this country — (Hear I) — He spoke thus emph^v tically, because 8j*ch w ide» was held ^Vt)» by some indivi- duals, who h^d, of course, but imperfectly cpM^jdered the subjecjl. As tp aMy legislative interposition, fur providing ewtp'loymenit for the l»bpurii»g poor, l}c coujd only be fayour- «ble to such measunes 98 serv/sd to remove any ohstiicles to that eniployment. if thp Hon, jB^oucit had that renioyal puly in view- — if it y/crti Uis object iporely to facilitate the appji* cation of capital through the operation, he sluouid, of coufpe, he res^dy ip co-9per?t;e vyith him. The ilight Hon, Gentle- man, after apologizing for having so long occupied the at- tention of the House, sat down amidst loud and universal cheering, ' a:.- i a jii M n ;u^ii! # « s The Ho»). Mr. Huichmou wd, iherp was a subject to i l» f t n i• tm '^^^^f^ ^ ,, ^ yf(J^,^ ^■y ^^ t .^ • ,^^m^^^ ff p^ ^ m l l•fm iK m»^' M bi. ^ ><*«ii .i wt i '>r^i y* '«< W '* •-^■^--t-.- * 1 CCCXOTl OENKRAL INTROnrCTION. which he b«Kged to call particular attention, as one upon which much real good might be done for Ireland: he meant that of ab^ienteefl. If some measures were adopted by which, at least, some part of the suuim which abuentec landlordH drew from their tenants were spent upon their estates, it would ail'ord employment and food to a great majority oi poor. ' Sir John Stuart rejoiced that the interests of Ireland were committed to an individual at once so able and so well informed. He was of opinion, that the fever originated in general impoverishment, from the want of food, raiment, and fuel, in the hard winters. The great evil was, in his view, a superabundant population. • ►> • - *' •• Mr. Blake observed, that the disease was produced by dis^ tress, and the distress arose from the want of work. Govern- ment would, therefore, do well to afford every encouragement to the improvement of estates in Ireland, by extending the grant from the consolidated fund, applicable to that pur- pose. Mr. Alderman Wood said he found, in his visits to Ireland, that the great cause of its distress consisted in want of capital. He had himself, in the course of last session, introduced a Bill, the object of which was to encourage the introduction of English capital into that country. Sir John Newport replied briefly, and expressed a hope that the stamp duties on advertisements for charitable purposes might be taken oflf, as they operated materially to reduce tlie amount of collections. In his own city (Waterford) the charges for printing and stationary amounted to £B4, out of which ^60 went for advertisements alone. He concluded with a com- pliment to the Society of Friends, for their charitable ex- ertions in the cause. The Motion was then agreed to, and a Committee appoint- ed accordingly. By a gentleman who left York yesterday morn- ing, we (the Editor of the Niagara Spectator) have ■>'I JW li WW i W W toMmW1liWCT >il l WII I I(l l »l lrililM i yiiMiiiUu'M GKNBRAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXCVII been politely favoured with a manuscript copy of his Excellency the LieuttMiant-Ciovcmor's speech, at the openinp; of the Provincial Parliament, which met on Monday, the 7th instant. '#.^. t Honourabie Gentlemen of the Legislative Council^ and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly ^ Many considerationa having determined me to call you to- gether before the close of the year, 1 decided on the present season as probably more convenient to you than a later period. Since you were last assembled in this place, little alteration appears to have taken place in the .state of his Majesty's in- disposition. In that interval, his august consort, the Queen of the United Kingdom, has closed a long life, illustrious for the exemplary discharge of every public and private duty. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in behalf of his Majesty, has authorized the Governors of both Canadas to bestow lands on certa'ui of the provincial navy and the militia, which served during the late war. Recent purchases from the natives have been so far effected, as will enable me to set apart adequate tracts in the several districts, to accommodate Mich of their respective inhabitants, as arc within the limits of ^ Royal instruction. i do not con8idkk myself juitiiied in extend- inc thii mark of approbation to any of thk Individuals who composed the late Convention OF Delkoates, the proceedings of which were PROPERLY THK SUBJECT OF YOUR VERY SEVERE ANI- MADVERSION. The Royal Assent has been given to the Bill for the esta- bhshment of a provincial Bank, but, from some delay, it did not arrive in time for promulgation, within the period limited J; I! ccexevia GBNEHAI. INTRODUCTION. 1 I i I J- '*■■ ' • I'. by law V the form of an enactment' will, therefore, be neces- sary, to render it available. »'r r * >,' At the termination of the last session, it was recommended you to bestow your attention on an amendment of the Road Law ; at present, after a nearer acquaintance with the state of the country, I am more deeply impressed with the import- ance of thaf subject. It is painful to O'bserve, how serious an evil the neglected grants, of an eiiriy date, are presenting to the actual inhabitants of the province. The exemption of any land, belonging to individuals, from the operation of the Assessment Law, is found to be detrimental : a new Bill, so modified as to protect the land ' on) sale by distress, until due notice can be given to the proprietors, will receive his Majesty's Assent. Gentlemen of the House of Assemblj/, I iiliall direct the proper ofikers to lay before you the pub- lic account of Receipt and Expenditure, with JE!' '■■ i it I here beg of the reader to pause for a little^ and GENKRAt INTRODUCTION. CCCXCIX reflect on the words printed above in capitals. It was these words which were alluded to in this Gerte- ral Introduction, page xi. ; and I ask, had Sir Pere- grine Maitland the right to use them ? Had he the right to interpose his will between that of the Prince and some of his most loyal subjects ? Was it expedient? Was it prudent? Many of these individuals, who were members of the Convention, are now Members of the Commons House of Par- liament. By and by, I shall lay before thereasder the whole record of the Convention, which brought down upon them the malediction of their fellow- subjects, representing them in Parliament, and cut them out of the token of their Sovereign's favour, for three years' faithful service in war. At present, let the question be judged of from what is here dis- played. Hoping that the Parliament then in session would not give countenance to the Gover- iK)r's purpose, I again addressed myself ijt.iiii ■■\ }f. SPECTATOR, JUNE 17, ISIQ. TO THE PAHLIAMBNTAKY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ,J,:j PEOPLE OF UPPER CANADA. • I^iagara Jaily 14/ A Jime, 1819.! i Gentlemen, It was a remarkable coincidence that my communication of last week, setting forth how easy it would be for the redun- dant population of Britain to be transported into this coun- try witlb profit to themselves and the nation, should be ac- companied witli a report, in the same newspaper, of proceed- ings in the luiperial Parliament, exhibiting the dreadful con- dition of the Irish poor since the termination of the war, — ?! .'1 ^ I CCCC !/ GENERAL INTRODUCTIOX. diseased and dying by thousands, and stating that " without additional employment a great mass nf the labouring poor must be reduced to absolute beggary." Genliemen, I have again and again informed the public of this country, that my opportunities of know ing tlie history and condition of the poor at home had been very peculiar ^ that I had not only been employed Ly government to make inquiries on this subject ; but for many years had made it my favourite study. I have over and again given assurance that my first zeal to make Canada known in England, arose from a conviction that it couhl be made a place of refuge for millions in distress ; but, alas ! the more 1 have urged to great and rational measures, the more 1 have been persecuted and abused by ignorant and narrow-minded men ; the more I have been held back from getting accomplished the grandest scheme of benevoltnce that can possibly be con- ceived. . ''-'■• ^•- Y*'''" >''*.Si'H .lay-^i'^j.^i' V ■ I ask if Britain and Ireland can spare ] 00,000 souls an- nually, and be better of the discharge i — if such a multitude can be transported annually into British America, not only with comfort to the individuals but advantage to the nation, if the scheme for accomplishing this is not worthy a thought i 1 ask you if by such a scheme the value of this province could be increased ten times in as many years, and be made the envy of the world, if yon, as representatives of the people of Upper Canada, are not bound to take steps for its accomplishment; and, [ shall stake my existence that if you shake yourselves clear of delusions^ and send home a com- mission to gain due attention to the business, that it shall be put in execution. Many of you put on at least the outward garb of religion ; and the Lieutenant-Governor has gone forth in the streets, sounding the trumpet of faith before him; but let us have liberal proceedings for a testimony, and faith shown to us by works that are charitable : let us be done with '^ indig- nation," and severe " a>iimadversions," which never can be " proper" without cause. , •• i - • a EN F;R A L I N T R OD JJ C T I ON . CCCCl oithout g poor iblic of history culiar ; o make made it gurance d, arose f refuge jrged to secuted le more thed the be coii- louls an- tuUitude not only ! nation, hought i rovinc* >e made of the s for itf it if you a corn- shall be loutward me forth ; but let hown to I" indig- can be I have already given you a sketch of what may be done with less than a uiillion money ; llie commencement of a great public work, which would certainly pay well for the charge of exectition, and the introduction of 45,000 settler* into the provn\ce in the course of three years. I was pur- posely moderate in this fust expose, not to startle redcction too much at first ; but on the same principle, twice this num- ber of people could be brought over in a single year, and twice the advantage gained. So much am I an enemy to war, that I would wish eteti its name blotted out from memory, were it not to illus- trate what may be performed in times of peace by the skill and activity of mankind ; and never did the conduct of any war afford such excellent data for reasoning as that lately carried on by England. 1 have already glanced at the pe- culiar circumstances of England, the influx of foreign wcahh, as well as the direction ami effect of this on domestic indus- try. I have shewn that it was necessary to draw oft the spare produce of action so highly stimulated, under these circum- stances, and that the power of taxation being absolute, en- abled the minister to do this, and waste such produce on war. What was wasted on the late wars from the commencement in 179^, was perhaps double the amount of thtj existing na- tional debt; but let us say that it was only eight hundred mil- lions, and stand amazed at the power of production ! Aftei' our wonder hi's hud sullicicnt rest, let us ask what wottld have been Uie arjiount of production if, instead of throwing away this vast sum on war ; if, instead of maintaining mil- lions, of men, for the sole purpose of murdering other men, it had been employed in cheiishing the arts of peace, in clearing away the wooils of America, and gaining more and more food, to sustain more and more artisans and cultivators; what, in tlmt case, might not now have been witnessed ? Why, nothing more than may still be witnessed by ihe end of the next twenty-five years, by adopting rational plans, and creating excitement to industry. England J!^ a« p6wer- ( c J. ? ■; ;l; / 4 '■ , '*:■ ^ - 1 < i T- ''' , mm^iimif^mtmtHlfmmimm w wmw. i!ipiiiii»ii r i -• ccGen DRNERAL INTR01>rCTI0N. M- 1 1 'i;i 1 1 ■. i ! * It i i. 1 jfi: M' »-^ fill now as ever, was her vast machinery again put in nio- tlon ; and were it pnt in motion for pcaccl'nl and productive purposes instead of war and waste, liow delightful it vvojdd be ! There is nothing in war itself inviting to the mass of in- dividuals employed in it. A few monsters, perhaps, lind a pleasure in bloodshed and carnage, but these are few indeed : not one, it is to be hoped, cut of a thonsaiul. The sailors of a man-of-war would almost invariably prefer the merchant ser- vice : the soldiers of an arn)y would be more happy at the loom or the plough, than loitering about in tedious idleness ; while all employed in furnishing these men with anmiunition, clothing, and food, would be equally willing to supply their M'ants, were they engaged in peaceful professions. They all look to the immediate n)eans of living, and the profits of their calling ; not to the remote object. Good heavens ! how the mind sinks down in sorrow with reflection on the past, and how it might bound aloft, could the hope of futurity be brought to rest on the decisions of wisdom. To the millions who look back over twenty years of war, and have still to mourn the bloody deaths of their nearest friends, what poor consolation is it that a Bour- bon is re-established on the throne of France, and that the be- loved Ferdinand holds dominion in Spain ! for this is the amount — this is the gain to Europeans : — a gain, which Uie accident of a moment may wipe out, and perhaps, happily, for ever. But if there is such a thing as necessary war, and such there was to the loyal inhabitants of Upper Canada, what a glorious aim is it to endeavour to remove, for the future, every chance of such necessity. This blessed end, Gentle- men, could be accomplished by a little exertion on your parts ; for who would dare to invade Canada, were it com- pactly settled ? Look back to the efliorts made by England for the protection of this province from conquest : reflect on the lavish expenditure on your little war, not less than fifteen or twenty millions of money, and say why England should GCNBRAL INTIlODlCTIOvr. cccnn u 11) mo- xluctive X would IS of iii- I, tiitd M indeed : lailors of hant sei - the loom 9 ; while imnitioii, ply iheir They all ts of their row with :)ft, could cisions of twenty deaths of a Bour- at the be- is is the ,vhich the happily, and such a, what a le future, , Gentle- on your e it corn- England eflect on tan fifteen id should Uolbe viilling to aftV.rd what is wanted now, to be speedily it'paid, in order that all tuture war and wa^te may coase in this quarliir of ilic world- -why you should not, at least, send home a commission, to ask such assistance, and huve every obstacle removed. It was desirable that Fiance shuuld repay the charges of the Allied Sovereigns for placing Louis iho XVIlllli on the throne. A London bunktr attended, and immediately ad- vanced the reqmred sum. The banker considered only the goodness of the secuiity; aiul if yon will pass an act, during the present session, and gel it con(irnied by tlie royal assent, giving security on a land-tax of the province, twenty London bankers will be ready with cash for your purposes. JDo, my good friends, get over prejudices, and try the experiment. Vour constituents will thank you, when returned home, for voting five thousand pounds of their money to defray the charges of a commission to England. You know I pro- posed ten thousand dollars for the Convention Commission; but double the sum would do better. Surely you need not be envious of a little ciedit accruing to me, from the success of the experiment. It will require not a /ittie credit to make up for what I have lost by your holding me up to the world as the " One factious individual," and by these months of igno- minious imprisonment: indeed, I think you will make me u present of the *' hundred tlunisand acres of landy'' with consent of his lioyid Highness the Prince Regent, when you have got jQ'2,000,000 lent you, for nnproving the navigation. At all events, do, I beseech you, send home the Commission- You will observe, from the debate in the Imperial Parlia- ment, that Sir John Newport, Mr. Ciraut, and othois, pro- poseil to relieve the poor of Ireland, by finding work for them in the bogs, and by taking olf the duties on advertisements for charitabh^ purposes. Alas ! alas ! how cold is charity^ and how blind are they who idll not sec. The landed gentle- men of England and Ireland have been going into commit- tees, and making most feeling speeches, for years^ u\\ lh« c (• <2 .; ;:' J • I. ■ I ccceiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION. question of relieving the poor; but the things needful they v.ill not do, though both they and tlie poor should together be brought to starvation. I have yet said nothing of the funding system of England, an ally to that of taxation ; but these parliamentary speeches lead me to notice it. The system of borrowing money for government purposes and funding was first introduced, I think, by King William the Hid. and the practice gradually increased till it reached perfection under the administration. of Mr. Pitt. Long befo*" ' his time some of the wisest of men, and among them tlume, the historian, predicted that this system would ultimately tend toconfusiou and ruin. 1 hope that no such conseqnence will ensue ; and certainly it need, not. The funding system, by generating a fictitious capital, strongly secured, yields advantages not only to government,, but to individuals. It economises every process of Icidiug, and exchange : it gives latitude and ease to adventure : it moderates the swing of political violence; and atFords strength and security to executive power. So far it is well ; and when a nation ir Tairly represented, 1 cannot conceive how danger should result from it. In England, where this fictitious capital has swollen up till it exceeds in amount, the value of the land, and the substantial stock of the in- dustrious is seized at will, to make good the dividends of ar. over proportion of idlers ; then, indeed, there may be risk. At the end of the late war, two things required attention, the employment of the multitudes, whom war had kept in a state of action, and some alteration in the system of taxation. Had government looked out over the wide range of British dominion, for great objects upon which industry could be bestowed to profit, such as improving the St, Lawrence navigation, and the like, not a man might have pined at home in idleness, and continued action might greatly have assisted in keeping at once distended and secure, tlie bubble of fictitiousi wealth; but with every such precaution, »««**^***IM(H«|fc-*:i-.iPSi;-. w.„ • i m :f;f rccoi caiNI^KAl. INTUODl <;TI()\. stock really onpaged in pioiluction, more lliuii u half; and what is worst', the profits of the siime stock nr»; greatly lessiMud, merely from the eircmnstaiiec of \\h (JiDiiniition : for, who does not know the diftVrenc*; in irailc, which results from n powerful capital, and a capital feeble and insiifHcient i Itesides providiuj;; employment for the hands whom the cessation of war threw out of employment, had a few taxe» which bore innnediately on the agriculturists, been taken off, and the property-tax continued on land rents, and the inten jt of money in the I'unds, and otherwise, Mngland might have stood the change from war to peace with the greatest ease : real and fictitious property woidd have retained a fair relative proportioik to each other, and the nation would have started before all the world in renewed and enlarged efforts of in- dustry and commerce. What do we experience now but the very reverse r' What do we hear of but another proposal in England, to raise the price of corn by legislative enact- ment; and what do we see in these fnie speetlies of the Iniperial Parliament, but strained nieasures to improve the bogs of Inland, after farming capital is extinguished; and a magnanimous resolution to relieve distress, by taking ort' the stamp duties on advertisements for charitable purposes!!! Gentlemen, the miserable policy pmsued by England since the peace, has created evils beyond all conception; — evils not only to the people at home, but to all. It is this, nniinly, which has clogged the wheels of industry, and deranged all the transactions of comujerce ; — which has shaken the credit of the world, and with universal peace introduced universal poverty. At the bottom of all this calamity was the landed interest of England. The Duke of Devilry, my I,ord Lubber, and Sir John Sinecure, at the end of the war called a council of Uicir land stewards, and found that exisimg rents could not bc.paid under rxistmg eircumstances, except the price of wheat was kept up to 10^. per bushel. '* Rents must be kept up," said the Trio: "that's flat; and nothing but a ^'gin l^ill can do for us," Willi all the aid of raised duties, ..«M ••••-w«M*-H«io<*.-*.-»r*'-w^— «M«'«kMMi4«y«4t;4ii«*MHVw. »A«AiMM».* -.>«Ato4» i^ (JKNKH \l. INTKOIII f TION, C«CCV1I H t>i) iiiipoiUil grain, rents wore not !>ii<)(aiiie(i ; but llu; great iiiiMlIord.s felt litlle |)crMv)nul incoiivt iiienco. The duke had only t<» reduce his estahhshnteiit from 4i?8(),re removed are indivninaU fiom the syn)puthy of those who have it to wield. 'I'he first question in political econoiiiy i^hould be, can the iTiUHs of the people live comfortably under this or that ar- rangement? but this most necessary question was forgotten, and many of thi; people have perished. In the; commercial world the consequence of raising, by forced means, the price of grain in England, is obvious. America cannot pay for the manufactures of Kngland but in produce; and when England luyi^ duties on the importation of grain, the natural consequence is, that tratle must he diminislied, even though America did not lay countervailing duties on Eng- lish goods; and we now see two nations, whie.h ought to b« reciprocal customcrvS and friends, become nuitual destroyers of each other s gain. y\meriea retires within herhclf, and calls bands to the anvil and the loom, who, otherwise, would be better employed with the axe and the {;lc»ugh. England yokes her weavers in gravel-cart harness, and Ireland con- trives work for her ruined farmers in the bogs, when wheat 19 10.?. per bushel — the bogs! which did not Icmpt cultivation when the average price was 15s. Far generations, nay, for centuries yet to come, the crowded population of the old world must naturally make Ubour cheaper there than in America; and there goods will b ; manufactured upon easier terms than on Uiis side of the .itiarita, Heie, again, fioin the cheapness of laud, food will I ' i I ■■V ' ., I 'i 1 ■i i 1^ 11 (•J: t n ! CCC('.¥II1 1;|s:NKRAL INTlKlDK '|'|<)\, be mure rt'iulily obtatiiod. Intercourse ainoiig iiini \» ile~ Nirable, of itself; but bow Mtrongly iIouh uatiire tliiii eiicoii- lagt! it ; (ind wiiat pity is it ibat tiu! ^bghte^l ubstucle nbould bo lliruvvii in the wuy. In fuiniitbiug goods to Aiiieiica iluriiig tbu latu vnuls, England bad udvantugeM which «*h<; is not bki'ly agtiin to posseM^. The people of tbu ICuiopean coiitiuent, vtbo can uironl labour even cheaper than the peo- ple of England, were tiiou held back from competition. They will now qnickly engage in the arts, have the same advantages from machinery as the people of England; and, rid of many of their old feudal restraints, may soon be up* sides with our fellow subjects in the production of every ar- ticle now re(|uired by Ameiica. When the landed interest of England were aelbshly de- voted to their fuvomite policy, to raise artificially the price of grain, they ovei looked one beautiful principle, which, with a little forbearance ut first, would soou have come to their relief. IJadthey allowed provisions to be cheap, the popu» lution of the island would rapidly have increased, and the value of land being always greatly ruled by local situation, they would have gained from convenience more than they will obtain, in the end, by checking the natural growth of popu* lation. Gentlemen, my last communication was abruptly termi» uated; but ilhad Hutiicienlly displayed the ease and rutionalily of the sclieme for inlroilucing settlers, and improving the navigation of the St. Lawrence. Let me now call your at- tention to the ejects upon industry and improvement, gene- rally, which would ensue from the adoption of such a scheme. The farmeiii of Upper Canada have, for the two last years, had but a sorry market for produce ; and when that con* tinues bad, their efforts get, of course relaxed. Were lliey as- sured by your conduct this session, that the St. Jjawrence navigation was to be set about next summer, and that 16,()00 consumers were to be imported, besides the usual inHux of set- tlers, wliatu spur woiild be giveu to exertion! This very autumn (iUNIIHAL INTUODIICTION. CGCCIX tli'JUiiuiuls of addiliunul acres would bis sown widj wht^ut, in the ct-rlainty of a riiiiij; uiHiict, and the hope of better tiiiicH would iiispiru every one with coidldciice. Coididcmt! would beget credit, credit wouhl begot tuouey ; and iiiouey would begot more. The dischmge of I5,()()0 8ouU atiuually, or J00,0()(), if you wdl, out of the hos)|iitals of Ireluud, und out of tile poor liou.'ies uud gravel-cart Iiurneti8 of Miij<;latid, would aiford no uinall ease to the»u countries. The poor emigrants would soon be able to replace tlieir rags with good raiment; and increa-^ing orders from Montreal would re* double the advanta<{e to England. Doch it not warm your hearts to think oi" such a glorioub scheme of charity i' Does it not extinguish every groveling idea when you fcnow that you can bring it to bear r" Does it not awaken you to duty and to honour? If it does not, then bow atill lower to your idol; give prai»e to him whose first breath itt the province wuk tainted with ''indignation/' and whose. revenge, at the end of eight nionthd, cannot rest in his bosom without acts of injustice, without extolling tlu; rash and unwarranted ex- pressions, wljich, you well know, gave oflence to nine-tenths of your constituents. Be assured that the landed oligarchy of Jilnglaud have but little cure for the farmers of Canada, when they sutfer their own tenants to be ruined, and their ju)or labourers to be starved. Be assured that while gover- nors are scut out from among this class of men, and more particularly if their stomachs have been charged with mili- tajy hauteur, it is your duly, as representatives of the people of Upper Canada, to be steeled against slavish dread — to be guarded against puling language, and, as Brilisli subjects, to cause to be loudly proclaimed iu Britain, wh:)t beiits the interests of this province, instead of trusting to the court whisperings of a governor and ids imps. I tell you once for all, that the lauded interest of England is hostile to Canada, not the sovereign and the people ; and 1 tell you that there are evils wluch nothing but the open and dignified front of u commissiou will get removed at home. Il is not mere vice I ' : J r ^ 4 fi:f H^f I 4- ; e mother country duly cultivated. You have a relation stored with every thing you want for pros- perity; but, by a sheepish bashfulness, you hold back from a frank and open comnmnication : you trifle away your time with governors, while you should be shaking hands with the sovereign and people of England. It is now precisely two years since I set my tirst foot on the soil of this province. Two years before that, British newspapers had been filled with proclamations, for the en- couragement of those who should incline to come out here as settlers, upon very liberal terms. Anxious to know what had been the issue of this scheme^ i made it my first business to repair to the new settlement of Perth, in the Johnstown District, where I staid several days. Of the Scotch settle- ment I took a most particular account, visiting the house of every individual, and getting from each a narrative of ail that had occurred since his leaving home, Re. 1 further ^-utered in a table, prepared fur the purpose, the following c; !•: N r, u \ l i n r iio d i ( ti o n . cccixi s» of ivorld iarted all is ty of t has ictivi- roer- plod- >eoplc ruined y, the t)t may :heri8h )f past d. he vast re the You pros- frora ir time ith the particulars: 1st. Srttler's original profession; 2d. sister or wife; 3d. sons; 4lh. dauj^hters; 5th. from what county; f)th. from what pari-sh; 7th. date of leaving home; 8lh. date of embarkation; (J\.\\. date of disembarkation; lOlh. date of taking possession; 1 Ith. buildings ereetcd; I'^llh. number of acres chopped ; l.'Uh. nund)er of acres cleared ; 14U1. num- ber of acres in wheat ; 15th. number of acres in oats ; Kith, number of acres in potatoes, garden, &c.; 17lh. number of pounds of maple sugar made; 18lh, number of cows and horses. When each man had furnished me wiUi these par- ticulars, he sitjned his name, attesting the correctness of the statement, and declaring that he was '^wcllsatisjitd,'' meaning with the country and his farm. This table, together with an explanatory letter, I sent home to be published in the news- papers. The letter I shall here transcribe; and extract out of the table as much of those columns, relating to the depar- ture from home, embarkation, disembarkation, and getting possession of the land in Canada, as wdl demonstrate the strange mismanagement of this concern. 1 have, in my for- mer comnninication, stated, that men could be transported from home, and placed at their labour on the St. Lawrence navigation, by the 1st of June each year, for £*20 per man, with wife and chiKI, which charge could be refunded from the profits of labour, at the end of the second season. The Perth settlers were kept idle a whole year, at an enormous cost to government; to say nothing of ihe vexation and anxiety to the people themselves. Only mark the difference : 1) ark the wide difference between management and misma- nagement. (Here w'as inserted the letter and table which appear in vol. i. page 5'22, and onward.) There are about fifty settlers thus entered in the table, but the above extract is suflicient for the present purpose. About six months after I sent home my account of the Perth Set- tlement for publication, I read here an extract from the English newspapers staling, that the Government plan ot }, ,'i i :■! .^ t II !■ I?': ' v| ccccxn GENERAL INTRODUCTION. promoting the settlement of Canada having failed, no more encouragement was to be given to emigration. Novi', 1 ask if any means could have been contrived more eiFectual, for throwing cold water on the spirit of emigration, than this clumsy and expensive phui, especially when followed up with a provincial act, to restrain public liberty. Truly those nar- row-minded oligarchs, who would rather see the poor reduced to beggary at home, than permit them to have a safe conduct to America, find in such plans and acts most charming assist- ants. Let me make this concluding remark, that at the end of the war, there were some people at home who had good wishes to the Settlement of Canada, and that the Prince was quite propitious to the scheme, however ill digested ; but that there are other people altogether adverse, and who turn a deaf ear to every correction of error, and every rational pro- posal of encouraging emigration on great and liberal princi- ples. Those whom I propose as settlers, are farmers with capital, and the real labouring poor of England; but I know not if a single individual, of these classes, has yet seen the province. The farmers will not come to be gagged or impri- soned; and much will their landlords rejoice in their being held back. The real labourers again cannot move for want of means. Those who were brought over in 1815 had to de- posit £u6. per man at home, for their passage, Sec. to be repaid at the end of two years ; and all who have yet arrived, are people of the same description — people who have been little accustomed to hard work, but who have carried them- selves from home with the poor remains of a reduced capital in trade. I trust that by this time some of you have bestowed a little rertection on the proposal of substituting an equalized land tax, in the room of every other. Permit me to say a little more on that subject. Mankind, besides being creatures of imitation and habit, in extemiil acts, are so even in their mental prejudices. Uudei GBNERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCCXiii the despotic Governments of the old world, taxation kasbeen mainly imposed to support the ambition of rulers, and to add to the trappings of state : it has hitherto only been considered as an engine of oppression ; and thence the very name has become odious. To conduct only the necessary aiiiiirs of a Government, really virtuous, very little uideed is required; but there is, beyond this, a use to be made of taxation, which might redound greatly to the advantage of all. This province is peculiarly adapted to illustrate what I mean, and to receive benelit from a liberal system of taxation. Its internal navs- gation is the most invithig object for speculative improvement which nature presents. Take up the map of the world, and you will not find upon its whole surface aiiy thing to com- pare, in point of interest and grandeur, to the waters of the St. Lawrence, whether you consider the millions whom the genial sun and fertile soil of their borders 'nust speedily rear up, to hold communication with each other, or the more ex- tended idea of these waters being united to those of the west, and forming a highway for commerce between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Other rivers, subject to the mutiny of inundation, rushing through the valleys of a mountainous country, or discharging themselves into the unhealthy regions of the torrid zone, frighlen, or mock, or enfeeble every desire to improve tlicni, for the purposes of man ; but in the regular majesty of their tlow through plains stretching between a happy temperature, the waters of the St. Lawrence speak confidence to adventure, and give security to the figures of the most sanguine calculation. NIAGARA SPECTATOR, 24tii June, 1819. IContinued from our last, j Had 1 capital suftkientto improve the St. Lawrence navi- gation, and competent authorities would say — " Take it into your own hands, and from henceforth have the benefit of a toll froni those who choose to prefer your canal to the present I ' »1 1 I I = ! I I I Hkk.MAHiBNyMiMWV'^MMl i» t i i iiiii » > > iP i.']n. i ii i J i n i ' i ji i . i n.'.uu' i iW i WM Illli*^" '] I CCCCXIV GENERAL INTRODUCTION, If i \ course of navigation," certainly I slioulcl think it a fin«.i ciianc« of laying out my money to atlvantagc, and not sparingly should I lay it out. The more completely llie vo k was done, so much the better should I expect to be repaid. But were I made proprietor, not only of this navigation right, but of the province, with how much greater conlidenoe should I proceed ! Estimating my landed estate at -jpO,000,0()(), should I stickle at borrowing two millions, to improve its value three times over in five years, which most certainly would be done with proper management. On the same principle, and with equal confidence, as an individual would proceed, so n>ay a conn- munity, and the individuals of a whole nation may yield as cheerfully to taxation, for promoting the general interest, as any company of traders contribute shares to the common stock. The chief consideration, as to taxation, rests with the principle upon which the means are to be exacted, and 1 maintain, that what has been chalked out by me is perfectly fair; nay, not only fair, but such as holds out the highest in- ducements for its being liberally and resolutely put in action. Such is the peculiar situation of landed property in this pro- vince, tliat I am fully convinced, were £'200,000 or £300,000 raised annually, by taxation, on the principle proposed by me, and thrown into Lake Ontario, it would tend to good. Though at first it would be pinching, by and by it would be less felt, the effect being to force on settlement and cultiva- tion, by rendering wild land less, comparatively, profitable to hold than cultivated land ; and, through this effect, the tax, iu the end, wouhl bo drawn out of such an increased value iu the aggregate, as scarcely to incommode individuals iu the least degree. It never should be forgotten, that wild land is the chief bane of this country, and no fair means should be left unemployed to lessen it. In my former communication, I stated at random that farmers, your constituents, possessed, on an average, 400 acres of land, and that a fifth part of that, 80 acres, might be in cultivation. I have since had the cu- riosity to examine an Assessment roll, and find that frtrmers. --:'^a\nient cr has a lis wild o book ; lof living lillustra- further. )n, was, loyed in GEN Kit AL INtRODlJOTION. (•cccxvii brin<2;ing poor people out of I'.ngland, where there are 3,000,000, who have not one shilling in the world to rub on another. Snpj>ose that these people were kept two years enii)loyed in mere idleness, say heaping up stones one day^ and casting them abroad the next ; by this policy, nnich more would be gained to the province, than by throwing the cash into the Lake. It vvouhi create a market for produce, give circulation to money, and stinudate the industry of farmers and others ; besides all which, it would add greatly to the strength and value of the province by the increase of aettlers. But if by the raising, and thus foolishly squandering away so much money, so many advantages are to be produced, what w ould be the mighty triumph of economy, when the money and labour was expended on useful public works ; above all, on improv- ing the St. Lawrence navigation, which I have already said presents the noblest object for speculation within the wide compass of nature. Oh ! it is delightful to muse upon the conse- quences of such a scheme being put in execution : to think of the profit! — the utility! — the sum of relief to the poor of England! — the security to Canada! — the gh)ry to the nation! — 15,000 souls annually rescued from distress, and fairly (established in the high way of vigour and enjoyment ! ! ! But when it has been a few years in action, let me visit Little York: — let me inquire for our old friend Jyand-lubber. He was for the first year of the tax, really disagreeable ; sulky to a degree, and from time lo time wouhl bellow out, '• Damn that wretch Gourlay*, who first proposed this cursed coercion act." By the second year, Land-lubber could not help, in the course of nature, being better tem- pered, as the thrifty scheme of living had considerably less- ened the dropsical swelling in his ancles, and he had not half so many twitches of the gout. The third year I^and- * Language of an assonihly-muu n< |);ivliamoiiu dd ■1! i .) i ^ I: CCCCXVUI GENERAL INTRODUCTION. lubber walked out daily, and inquired as to the price of land, which had nov risen I'roni two to four dollars an acre. The fourth year it was really pleasant to see him: clean in the shank ; and with a face full of glee, it was hard to say whether he or his cane would win the race, as he bustled about asking the news — the progress of the navigation — the arrival of emigrants — the price of land, the price of land! One day, as I stood at Forest's hotel door, he could not help, in the joy of his heart, bursting the fetters of an old grudge, and made up to me. " Well, Sir, the weather is very fine indeed : have you heard any news to day f" " It is just reported, Mr. Land-lubber, that the Grand Canal will be finished next month, and that the good ship Britannia, of 300 tons, is fitting out in style at Quebec, to bring up his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief to make the first debut on Lake Ontario, by the canal : land has risen another dollar an acre this last month ; and 10,000 emigrants of respectability are now on their way from Europe, to make purchases here, and become settlers." *' Mr. G. that is really excellent news — glorious news I Will you dine with me to-day ? I hope we shall all be good friends again." " Indeed, Mr. Land-lubber, I never was your enemy: only a plain-speaking counsellor, and a little impatient, at times, with those who would not look forward to the rising grandeur of the province ; who soured every hope with unfounded suspicions, and low jealousies." " Well, well, it is all over now : all's well that ends well: you must certainly dine with me, and give nie some more news about lands and emigrants. Oh, charming weather! Oh, fine times I Our rising grandeur ! Our rising gran- deur! ! !" " 1 shall dine with you most willingly, Mr. L., but you must now promise to assist me in blowing up Little York." ** Oh I certainly, my friend : I swear I shall have a torch ready for you at command. These narrow streets, and miserable, dirty, unpainted clap-boarded huts, will never suit our rising grandeur : even that groat gawky-looking brick house must come down : aye, garrison and all must be blown up. Well, 1 UENERAL INTRODITTIOV. cocrxix •, r laud, acre. Dan in ,0 say uslled 1 — the d! ,ld not an old ther 13 " It is nal will nnia, of up his St debut :r dollar ctability les here, int news lope we lubber, nselior, uld not e ; who ud low .veil that give me harming ng gran- 1, but you York." ch ready iserablc, ur rising se n)ust Well, we shall talk more of it after dinner ; so good bye— good bye. Ha! ha! ha! I.atid up I Houra! Our rising grandeur! Our rising grandeur! ! !" The execution of such a work as iho St. Lawrence navi- gation, hy the scheme proposed, settles the question of ex- pense as one of no consequence. I spoke of a scale to admit vessels of 200 tons burden ; and in doing so I con- sidere'^ Soth as to what woidd brave the ocean, and what wouj.; » .)t be iiu;onvenientiy large for internal navigation. Should it be deemed advisable to have larger vessels in the trade, any additional expense should never for a moment be thought of, as an objection. The La Chine canal is to admit only of boats. This may suit the merchant of Mont- real, but will not do for Upper Canada. Indeed I am doubtful if our great navigation should at all touch Montreal ; and rather think it should be carried to the northward. Here, however, I am without personal knowledge. As to the line within llie province, my mind is made up, not only from inquiries commenced on my first arrival here, but from considerable personal inspection of the ground, as well be- tween Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, as below. My opinion is, that the navigation ought to be taken out of the river St. Lawrence, near the village of Johnstown, in Edwardsburgh, and let into the Ottawa, somewhere below the Haukesbury rapids : probably in that part of the river called the Lake of the two Mountains. Hy a bold cut of a few miles at the first-mentioned {)Iace, the waters of the St. Lawrence might be conducted to a comnrand of level, which would make the rest of the way practicable, with very ordinary exertion. The idea which has been started by some, of raising the navigation by two stages, first into Lake St. Francis, and thence to the higher level, may do for boat navigation ; but for vessels of a larger scale, it is greatly objectionable. Any benefit to be gained from the lake, considered as part of the canal already formeC!:<'tl)(T riidiciiJ, led on l»y udMc L«ir»N. J\iili;niu'iil is now luot ; iiiiil \\v arr all ii|)on lip-t<)<^ tlii'V WiMC to iiu'i'l no icli(>r, iind that llu'ir romplainls Wttiild !»«' iliHrr;'jai»lfil ! Ill' dill niil mi])|hi'i' llial llic priilioiit ol ihc |ii'ii|iUi woiilil 1)0 iilti'tiilnl to liy tlial lluiist , hut In- rrrlMinly , rornipl as It was, prollit^nK.' a- it was (loiul ciios of " ( )idi«f"). It v\a« )nient'H HO T relli'tilioii would shew the hunoiirablo ineiiilur lliat hi' hail trans- gnv^sed llie litnils ol lair di'b.ite. il/r. Co/.-c apolo';;i/.ed lor liavin^ said what was lonsidered im- proper. Ho knew ihal lie was warm, and it was natural that he sliould be so. It was iindeistoinl, however, ihat ihe pelilionern it hkely to oblain redress from that House (lu'ar, hear), tilion would perhaps better explain ihtr view whiel; he were m Tl Iti Ml perlui} rntertaiiK'd with ri'jjjard to the coiistitnlioM ol' that Houso than hu fould iiiniM'ir. It slated that retreuchnient would do mueli l<>- Ward.s (lie relief ol' all elas:iis ol the coinnuiuity ; and lie must remind tlieni, that allhoU{i;li an hon. uiendur of that House (Mr. Hume) had shewn last session Ihat there was no hraneli ol" thu expendiliiio, either loreii^n or dinuestie, in wliiih reduction luij'hl not be made, yet. laii^e majorities had always bceu round to rejcrt hirt propositions. " Therefore," saiil the petitioners, " it is our ileeided lonvieiion, that the rorriipt and del'eelive stale ol' tlio vepresenlatiiMi, is the true seuiret> of the prevailiu;^; distres-i, and lliat until the people shall be fairly re])ivseiiled in parliament, no relief is to be uxpeeteil." T/u Tiinca, Htli h\h. IS'2'i. Mr.Vi^ki'.. \\'aslli(>e(Uintry to be told by a liaid-liearti;d and callous government (hat no relief would bo jL!;iaiiteil '. Not that he haii deceived his constituonta by .sayin^^ that he hoped their ptdition would be attended to. He had not told them any such thiiiji; ; for, constituted as tlu) House was — corrupt as it was — profligate as it was (ord er, on lor). The Speaker said that tho hon. member in\ist bo ^^ensiblo that those expressions wore hi{j;hly disorderly and improper (hear, hoar). Mr. Cofis. It is known to bo so (order, order). The Courier, Vcbrmrii 8, 'iSI'i. Canadians! "Toll it not iit Hath:" Yoti must ho all very fionsible how improper Avas the above language of Mr. Coke; but I would druw your allcnlion to the oxtroujc fully of pelilioninfij (iKNKKAf. INTIiODI CTION rcvrxxv ti) It '.irn wliat is (o he doiH r. AIiiuHtns, it im siiid, !irr ahoiif lo hoirow liv*- millions l(» lend to land. lord^ aiK I I imicis, to I vt'cp pL>!tc:«< 111 ih'm IS iliiiid; wliilf |)(iiid laws and niililary torn' is applied lor to furt' distiiil»anc('.s in Inland!!! Mr. Cobhrtl liavinn raised a ery al)ont INcl's Itill, (a most ex- - luMt's parliament," wliich is put oil, situ (lie: s(», alter .ill, oiir late is left ^Mo I In* force ot roviti- <'ial parliament mel on tlu; .iOth of Xovemher : that it was t;xpeeled ih it the session would he short and lran<|uil ; also, that llu^ presented to tlie King alone; and tliey wliould Ix! sys- lematio. 'I'liey hIiouUI pray for boniethiiig specific ; for instance, that every houHcholder «ho ii il l!if rovinces favoured for a few years in the corn trade. I should \\\bh to see vour corn and flour admitted for sale here at all times on a certain duty, to be diminished year after year, till the trade was free to you ; and, after being free to you, for some time, to be made free to all the world. An ad valorem duty would be the thing; but for illustration, say that vour wheat should this year be admitted to sale, on paying a duty of 3*. per bushel, next year 9s. 6d., and so on, diminishing 6d. every year till the duty was extinct. The Halton petition, and your parliamentary proceedings of last year, plainly manifest your wish to bar out your neigh- bours in the United States from trading through Quebec with England on equal terms with your- selves. This is a selfish and narrow-minded no- .-trr-T-v— ..f^^r-r "W'fl^ j"f. A>7*- •■.-■ ^ ^^^•^^■■■■.-^"■WiiifTU'ryyr^w-^TyfV^r GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCCXXvii I tllC lit as } sent i fling I (see ) unci ■n the 3ur of Id be given I'ound e dis- -mills, come ncii)lc vinccs le. I nit ted to be s free timL>i. Emancipate the catholics: let not one-fit'th of tiic nation lord it over Ibur-fit'ths. If clergy arc to he paid by government, let catholic clergy be paid as well as protestant clergy, on con- dition of their allowing the people to be educated: let tithes be commuted; and let emigration beassisted. All this would be reasonable ; but ministers are etjuipping an army to make war against the poor, ignorant, distracted, starving Irish; and Lord lloden has just told us in parliament, that the great evil is to be traced to " the non-residence of gentry and landowners" ! ! ! In England we have much to gain by mere legis- lation. Tithes could be commuted by an act of the simplest kind, merely to make them payable at a fixed rate, depending on the price of grain. This would instantly ensure peace and harmony between tithe-holders and farmers : it would instantly give the rein to the spirit of improvement ; and it would free the clergy from a world of reproach. But the clergy, who, of all others, would be most benefited, who would indeed secure to themselves, as a bodv, a chance of lengthened possession of church pro- perty ; — the clergy set their faces against this ! ! ! In five years, five millions of annual expendi- ture on the poor coidd be saved to England by re- forming the poor-laws; and at least five millions more would be added to national wt^alth by greater industry and better conduct on the part of the poor themselves ; but, will the poor-laws be reformed ? This session they could be reformed, as well as in any other session ; but the last Edin])urgh Review >h ccccxxx GBXEUAL INTRODUCTION. is for delaying that most necessary of all reforms for several years! ! ! Since autumn, 1813, farming has been unpro- fitable (since then I calculate that 200 millions of money have been lost to the farming interest) ; and though the present low prices could have been guarded against, it was clear that war prices could not be kept up : it was clear that something should have been done to tjive farmers relief from contracts formed when prices were high, which could not possibly be fulfilled when prices were low : it was clear that an act of parliament, to allow them to pay rents according to the price of grain, would have })rotected them from ruin better than a corn- bill ; but their landlords could not think in time of lowering rents; and they now do it partially, only to increase mischief! ! ! Had landlords, who rule this nation, — the landed oligarchy, seen, and they might have seen, had they opened their eyes ; — had they seen that rents could not be paid in peace which were contracted for in war; — had they seen that even the Pitt systenij^M- diciouslt/ aciGd upon in time of peace, could not uphold war prices, after our monopoly of trade was at an end, after other nations enjoyed domestic peace, and could supply themselves ; after they were freed from ancient encumbrances; and, with '* cheap labour and removed absurdity, could afford the productions of the soil at one-third of our price* :'* had our oligarchy seen all this, * I have quoted these words I'rom my Lktter to the Earl op Kelue, published in 1808, to give opportunity of further proving e was jnestic I* they with la fiord >f oiir this, kRL or hroving^ - ■« CENEUAI. INTRODUCTION. CCCOXXxi and it was quite visible ;- had they seen this, and liberally proposed lowering their rents according to the fall of corn prices ; — had they thus lowered rents, and insisted at the same time, which in the omnipotence of their power tliey could have done, that fnndholders should be paiij in the same ])ro- my long-osta])lished opinion as to what would happen after the- war. The Lktteji was written, to expose the indifference of landlords at that time to the interests of their tenants, and to show how unprincipled was the farmer:?' property-tax : I shall here give an extended quotation : " In the property-tax bill, what class of men is so strangely, so unfairly used ? (aluiding to the farmers.) One paying a moderate rent, fairly setUed in his possession, and able to spare from his profit?, assessed in a moderate proportion : another, who has just got s\ifficient stock, adventures (perhaps he liad closed his bargain immediately before the act was passed) with a farm at a very high rent, which for several years, if he be a spirited cultivator, positively will not pay the expence ; and by tlio end of which period peace and cheap markets ensue : this man, at a time when all is outgoing, from the price of everything being raised by the war, is greater than ordinary ; this man has to pay at the rate of 30 or 40 per cent, of the interest of his capital, sunk for years, and which may rise in limes when reduced prices will only give it breath to see its end widi the termination of his lease This is no fancy : it may yet be practically evinced. The farmers, good souls ! have of late yeart* found they could not go wrong in taking land ; and if their purses were able to pay, y. did not matter to them what injustice reigned above, or how their dignity as a body was affected. If the experience of several years has settled them into a purring contentment and confidence, it would be a pity that they should open their eyes and disturb their quiet by'looking to the markets on the continent, where, not- withstanding the ravages of war and unsetUed credit, cheap labour and removed absurdity can afford the productions of the soil at ono-third of our price." — Lltteh to riiE Earl of Kei.lib, p. 58, ,! ( If If ■ It; I' I ' i\ ill fiS m CCCCXXXll GENERAL INTRODlJCTrON. portion ; that ali government ofiiccrs should he paidin the same proportion, &c. &c. : — then, incited, with peace we should have had plenty and pros- perity. What is to prevent this to he done now:* What is to prevent a general arrangement througii- out his Majesty's dominions, that all contracts may be paid on a certain scale of reduction ? Suppose your august parliament, Canadians, was to enact that all contracts were to be coinj)onnded for at a certain low rate, which would save vou from uni- versal bankruptcy among yourselves ; which would enable the inhabitants of 1 lalton to get out of the books of James Crooks, Esq. M. P. Your pro- vincial law could not let him out of the books of the merchant in Montreal ; nor could an enactment of the Lower Province let the Montreal merchant out of the books of the London merchant; but if the British Parliament were to set about the work; — if the supreme government were to admit of debts being extinguished at dO,or 40, or 50 per cent, dis- count at home, and our governments abroad were to act in unison, we should be ali able to start afresh, hale, sound, and unincumbered ; and with the dire experience of what has happened, avoid in future such scrapes as those in which we are in- volved. All this could be easily efiected, had reason the controul ; but I must confess, that my hope of reason guiding our destinies is not very saiisjuine. Again, aaieu. " ^?*''' -" ' . * ' 1''t^ ' . '**'efi? w * ^^MV-^ ^'wi n in >^ypi» ).mj' w vr Pallia- lilt! con- branches nescrviug Where, t House, ? 'Hiis upon to n of the , thus to aiice Jii- uents: it ! wish of arbitrary . (Hear, Jonas ig, 1 had ne home, oiujd near his opi- kvas there Jones, of Brockville, lawyiir, M.P. and Ksquin*. You've " screwrd," at last, " your courage to the stickiug-placc." 1 hope you won't vote a far- thing for the existing civil Government, and, I hope, not one farthing will be voted this year*, to- wards it, in the British Parliament. Then, of necessity, the governors, themselves, will cry out for inquiry. This Irljow, Jones, (T am intitled to spoak plain; this /t7/ow; was reported, hy word, to have used the languiig'e noted in pagi^ eeccxvii, and I have writ- ten evidence of |)art of it, see Vol. ii. page ()65), you will remember, had the chief hand in gagging you, and I shall give the following extracts from the Upper Canada Gazette, to refresh your me- mory, respecting the pretty proceedings of your As- sembly, and the spirit with which your present Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland, be- gan his reign. The following clause made part of Ids speech, on the 1 2th October, 1818 — hh maiden speech when opening Parliament. ** In the course of your investigation, you will, I doubt not, feel a just indignation at the attempts which have been made to excite discontent, and to organize sedition. Should it appear to you, that a convention of delegates cannot exist without danger to th^ constitution, in framing a law of pre- vention, your dispassi(jnate wisdom will be careful ihat it shall not unwarily trespass on that sacred right of the sub- ject, to seek a redress of his grievances by petition." To this the Legislative Council replied on the 14th October, in these words : * Upwards of ^7,000 was voted last session of the British Parliament to the civil hst of Upper Canada, and upwardtt of j^lOjOQO the sessiofl before— altogether abaurd. ''4 CCCCXXXVni GENUKAL IN rKOJJltTlDN. " VVf .shall, at all times, feci a just indirii-.ition at every attempt which may excite diseoiitejit, or organize sedi- tion; and if it shall appear to tis, that a convention of dele- gates cannot exist without danger to the conhtttution, in framing a law of prevenliun; we will be careful that it »hail not miwarily trespass on the sacred right t)f the subject) to «eek by petition a redress of giicvances." On Monday, the 19th October, a Committee of the House of Assembly presented an Address with the following clause : ** We feel a just indignation at the systematic attempts that have been made to excite discontent, and organize sedi- tion, in this happy colony, while the usual and constitutional appeal, for real or supposed grievances, has ever been open to the people of this Province, never refused or even ap- pealed to ; and deeply lament, that the designs of one fac* tious individual (me) should have succeeded in drawing into the support of his vile machinations, so many honest men, and loyal subjects to his Majesty. We remember that this fa- Toured land was assigned to our fathers, as a retreat for suf- fering loyalty, and not a sanctuary for sedition. In the course of our investigation, should it appear to this House, that a convention of delegates cannot exist without danger to the constitution, in framing a law of prevention, we will carefully distinguish between i.rinriple. is suffi- cient to cause inquiry to be made by yo\u' honourable House, into the state of (. pper Canada ; but be asserts tliat not only this act of violation has lieen « ommittrd in iln; IVevince, but others, by svhicli ■fcoth person an4 ptxjperty have been rcudcred iusecuie.' ccccxivi GENERAL INTIlODUrTlON". honourable House on broader grounds. He would now call attention not only to the state of Upper Canada, but to that of our North American colonies in general ; colonies, which, since the revolutionary war of America, liave been main* tained at an enormous expense to this country, without yield- ing it a farthing of prolit. That, at the present crisis, when it is allowed by all that economy und retrenchment are essential to the salvation of the empire, the mere saving of expense must be deemed matter of in»poitance ; but, your petitioner asserts that, not only may all expense in governing North American colonies be saved, but that these colonies may, if properly governed, yield a considerable revenue to Britain. Thatj your petitioner's opinions on the subject have been formed, not only from personal observation during a resi- dence in Upper Canada, but from a continued correspon- dence, since then, with that part of the world ; a constant attention to occurrences connected with the colonies ; and much reflection on the constitution thereof; the state of property, and state of society therein. That, your petitioner assumes it as an almost self-evident proposition, that North American colonics cannot be retained to Britain for juany years, on principles less free and inde- pendent than those which govern the adjoining country. He is assured, that before many years go by, these colonies must either be dechued independent, and be held in conn(>xion with iirilain by liberal treatment and the interchange of fa- vours ; or, ihey must fall into the arms of the United States, and become part of that already too extensive and aspiring republic. That, your petitionee is most positivel) assured, that the latter alternative would not be agreeable to the wishes of the colonists ; that the former, on every account, would be pre- ferred, and 18 therefore worthy of countenance from the Im- perial Parliament ; as the result equally concerns the honour and the interest of the nation. Thai your petitioner is aware that the colonies are not yet . i juv t vn n u t sxn vn 'r^- iT-rrr *ft ' ii i-ii ii i|(r "^"-"Ti'>TT'~ — '-^---- GENERAL INTllODUf TION. ccc cxlri ripe for independence, — that they are yet d<'ficient both in physical strength and mental ability; but, were the mere promise of independence, at the end of ten years, granted to them, he is assured, that all chance of war would cease in that quarter of the world ; and were certain nnangenients niade with the government ot the United Stales, an inunodiate and great reduction of our niilitary and naval establishments might take place, while a vast quantity o( warlike stores might be spared for other useful purposes*. * 2. " That in a moral point of view, it in groady to be de- sired, that our North American colonies should be reared up into Th« a nation apart from, and independent of, the United Status. people of theie States have not evinced that pure and mtnlv spUit which might have been expected from them, enjoying so many blessings. Their shallowness has betrayed itself: their vanity has bitcome proverbial : they have idolized military glory : they have sanctioned the deeds ot a murderer : they have blighted the hopes of liberty : they have sullied the fair page on which uhe had written her name, sanguine of an asylum in the west. The his- tory of the world has told us, and the system of nature seems to require, that mankind must be truly virtuous before all come into union ; — 'that nations must remain apart, while the finger of scorn can point with effect to each other's crimes, — till the adoption of sound principles is complete, and uniform good conduct has left no occasion for a blush." This will not please Americans, but I cannot help that No man ever crossed the Atlantic with better feelings towards them than I. After travelling in the United States, I saw reason to check some of my fondest hopes, and, till the approval of Am- bristei's murder (it should go by no other name) is erased from the Journals of the American Congress, I shall be sorry, indeed, to see the slightest addition made to the power of the great western republic. America will, probably, divide into several governments : that of the Sea Board, the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, &c., as common interests require. The most doubt- ful point, for speculative opinion, respects the slave states. The Convention which has lately sat, for altering *he constitution ol ,» CCCGxlviil GENERAL INTRODUCITfON. Tliat, tliere are two great objects wliich demand uttentiuiif — objects quite sufticieiit to form the cement of a laiitii'g con- nexion betwcen'jBritain and her North American c >lonies, M'ithont intert'ercuce on the part of British MiuiHters with their internal government. The first regards the disposal of pubhc and unappropriated laud ; the .second the regulation of connnerce. That, the first of these objects, viz, the disposal of land, is, of all things, perhaps, most worthy of attention from your honourable House. It is an object which never before has been brought fairly into public view; but which, when duly considered, must appear of great importance, not only as it may tend to national aggrandizement, but also be instru- mental in advancing the limits of civilization, and in improving the condition of man. That, hitherto, public land has been disposed of in a way which has at once sunk its value, and prevented its improve- ment. No consideration has yet been bestowed on a most important principle, which not only rules the value of landed property, but which may be studied to advantage, for the comfort and prosperity of those who are to occupy and cul- tivate. In Canada large portions of land are set aside for the future purposes of government : large portions are set aside for the maintenance of a dominant church, which has not even a chance of being established ; and large portions are given away hi favour and for fees of office, to individuals who never think of cultivating, but who depend on sales at a re- tne state of New York, has allowed of Blacks participatiug in civil righto. This will not soon be concede* iu the slave states: nor W43uld it be proper, without previous preparation. That, it ie to bo hoped, will speedily be set about- The approval of Ara- brister's murder must not be ascribed to the nature of the Go- vernment of America, but to the low character of the people. It was their representatives iu Cougress who approved. • The Senate, compos-ed of better educated Andividuals, disapprovod ; this is matter for imporlaiit roUecliyu ; it is 4ihccring. 2 I » CJENKUAL INTUODlCTiOX. C(:c< :xlix htftte.s ; it, it ie f A ra- pe Go- The Id ; tlus mole period of time, while actual sttliois are, in con- seqiience, removed so far apart, tlist it is iinpossiblc for them to cultivate with ecouoniy and profit. The bad effects of thus disposint; of land is clearly evniccd by contrasting Canada with the contiguous parts of the United Statesu 'I'hese have been settled many years later than Canada, but already they are three times more populous, and land there is four times more valuable. These results have mainly sprung from the different modes of disposing of public lands. In the States it is exposed to free sale, at the rate of one dollar and a quarter per acre ; and, by the official returns of last year, produced a revenue of one million and bix hundred thousand dollars*. In Canada, the very process of disposing of land by GoveniracHt, i« attended wuh loss tu the public. * The above is c|uoled from an article iu the Traveller, of January, 1829, which is altogether w«ill woithy of a place here; " The Report of the Secretary of the United Slates Treasury to the House of Repn.sentatives, has reached this couiUry. The following is the account of American iinaiicea, under ilie heads of receipt and expenditure. IlECEIPT. Customs — Saleki of land — Other receipts — HOLLARS. ' IXPENDITUBE. 14,000,000 1,600,000 510,000 16,110,000 Debt Army — Navy - Civil (ixpenrtes DOLLARS. 6,72'2,857 3,108,097 '2,4d'i,4l0 1,664,297 14,947,661 Balance 1,162,3^3 16,110,000 Converted into sterling money, the United States income amounts to £3,624,750, and its LApenditure to X'3,363,221. The ex- penditure of the Umled Slate;., including the iaterwt of the debt, f f 4CCL' I i;it:Nli:KAL INTUUUUCTIOfC. That, llie most melancholy cft'ect of ilie unlhilfty (li«- posal of land in Upper Canada, is that of degrading ihe peo- ple. Scattered over the province at the rate of seven lu tlie square mile, they have not only been unable to co-o[ierate m rural economy, but have retrograded in civilization and moral worth. The British I'arliament liberally conferred on the people of Upper Canada a free constitution- -liberty to make laws for themselves, and to upltold the purest prin- ciples of freedom ; but in ignorance * and degradation they is thus about onc'thirdoi tho charge iti Gruat Britain for the army including tho military part of the onlnaiice) a'oue. Excluaivo of the charges of the dobl, the whole civil and military expense of tho United Slato3 is about ^£,^'2,075, 579, nearly ilie sum which is frittered away in this country in what are called MisceUaneouti ser- vices, that is to bay, expenses exclusive of the chaige for the army, navy, and ordnance, the allowance to the royal family, and tho expenses of iho admiiiislratiou of justice. The civil expenses of the United States are ,j(;^370,000: those of England, which come under the head of Miscellaneous Services, and charges on liio consolidated fund, generally amount to four millions. * Since the above petition was presented to the House of Commons, a notable proof of the ignorance of the legislators of Upper Conada has been laid before the House of Peers, Let it first be read as extracted from the Times jNewspa})er of March J St, 1822 ; and then 1 shall make remarks. " HotsjE OK LtiRDs, FhriHi \i<^ 28111. Ul'l'Un. CvNAD.A. " Karl IJatliurst laiti on the tabic, an Act of the Lt>i;ilative \ss(iin« biy of Tppcr Canada. Ue understood tlit- Noble Earl, who spoke in a very low tone of voice, to state that this was done in conse- quence of an Act of Parbament, according to whidi, when a JJill, uuder ceitain circumstances, passed the Assembly of Upper Canada, it was necessary, beibre it received tbe royal assent, to lay a copy on the table of both Houses of Parliamrnt \i\pv lying^ on the table thirty dajs, without any objection biiing^niade by either House, GENU lUJL (NTHO I) L CTlOf . eoocli have ubuMcd ihrse incntimablo privileges : lliey Iinvc sutfcred ihe best of laws lo be counteracted by lliC arbitrary power of I 1 Asscin- k(» spoke conse- a J?ill, Jaiifula, a copy on tilt- [House, his Majesty would then giv«! the UiU the effect of a liiw, imh>ss ho slioiih) think iit to vvitlihoht his asticnt. Thn pruscMit h-^islutivc inea> sure of tlie AHSCinMy of Tpper Canada, has rcfcHMice to a foimer «ot of that Assemhiy, by which oni-stvi-nth of tlie hinds, in «'very tounship Avas appiopiiated to th«' nso of thf Protostnnt. rhiirch- This portion of hind uus intended fur th« uiaintenanr*? of the church; hut notvvjthNtunro|>crly must improve in value as population becomes more dense, and where judicious settlement is made. Hence there is scope for mutual benefits. Colonies may grow strong from au increase of people ; and the mother country may go Ml i k ccccliv GENEDAL INT^IODUCTTON. on for ages reaping profit from the land she settles out of her redundant population. That, it would be vain for your petitioner to enter at pre- sent into any detail as to his plans of emigration and settle* ment, a subject to which he has devoted his attention for several years. He reff rs to the fact now more and more the subject of conversation ; the great increase of population consequent on good living and peaceful pursuits*. He points * The increase of population in Great Britain ^vill nppear from the following table : 1801. 1811. 1821. £ngland «...•• Wales Scotland Army, Navy, &c. Totals 8,331,434 641.546 1,599,068 9,538,827 611,788 1,805,688 11,260,555 7 17,1 OS' 2,092,014 10,472,048 .470,598 11,956,303 640,500 12,596,803 1 14,069,677 310,0001 1 10,942,646 14,379,6771 Increase of population in tha United States. 1790. i - ■- .< 1800. 1810. 1820. 3,929,326 6,309,758 7,239,903 9,625,734 In my last letter from the United States, dated November 10th, 1821, replying to queries concerning population, &c. it is said, " The four years immediately after the lata war with Great Bri- tain, brought us about 100,000 from Europe, or 25,000 person* GKNP.RAL INTRODI'C TION. cccclv lo the vast expan»(> of unoccupied land over which it has pleased Providence that the British sceptre should sway. He points to Ireland overflowing with a wretched popula- tion: to England getting more and more crowded with paupers ; and to Scotland whose moral energies have sent forth her mil lions of industrious and respectable people to replenish the earth ; he asserts, that our whole redun-^ dant population may be disposed of to individual as well as to public advantage : — that IJritain may combine the etTorts of her children, and direct a mighty and constant stream of emigration into her colonies: that she may set on foot a scheme of benevolence heretofore unparalleled : that a new source of wealth and happiness may be laid open — a source at once pure and abundant. That, the second great object soliciting attention from your honourable House, viz. the regulation of commerce, M'ould go hand in hand with a grand system of emigration ; mid might be established on principles equally simple, natu- ral, and permanent. Tliat, your petitioner holds in his possession official docu- ments sent home from Upper Canada, by which it appears, that legislators of that country aim at imposing provincial duties throughout both the Canadas, on grain, &c. produced in the United States ; and a similar desire has been evinced in resolutions of a county meeting of Upper Canada. That this disposition of the legislators of Upper Canada betrays equal ignorance of the policy which should be pursued, and of the impracticability of executing their wishes, seeing that 1^ annually. Some years since, the emigration would probably fall short of 10,000." During the last thirty years America has not probably recaired from Europe 8,000 emigrants annually. How absurd, then, are Godwins assertions about America owing its rapid increus* of population to tmigration. \ rccelvi OKNKRAL INTRODirCTIO!ublic *. 1 1! If: it • On thist subject the following nrlicle appeared in the Tra- veller, 24tu January, 182'i. '• A regular file of American papers havp. been received this morn- ing, to the. yist December, from wbich we copy tlie following' : Kingston, Dec. 2, 18'21. " Our reacTers will rcrollect, that in tlie abstract we lately made of (he evidence taken before the Itrilish Parliament last winter, relative to the timber trade, it was stated that certificates of orit^in would be required ou sbipnients froi a the colonies, and that all timber thus shipped, if not proved to be tSie jfrowth of his Majesty's colonies, would be subject to the duties exacted on timber imported dii-cclly from a foreign state. " Though this regulation has been in force only diiring tlie |)rr- sent season, we understand that schemes have been already devised to introduce timber from the United States into the lower province, and to export it from thence to England, with certificates declaring it to be the growth of Canada. To check tliis species of fraud, which, if unmolested, would rapidly increase, it is in contemplation to form an association for the purpose of employing several trusty individuals along the frontier and elsewhere, whose business it will be to watch the introduction of American timber into the province, and to detect and punish every person who may endeavour, by perjury, to procure certificates that it is of Canadian origin. This association i.s, wc un- derstand, already numerous ; and it will, doubtless, prove beneficial in guarding the British revenue." The nssociation will have full and worse than idle employment in my opinion. There is one place where tlie timber, coming: from the United States, can be guarded out or taxed ; that i*', where tlie boundary line crosses Lake Champlain ; and, from that I k GENKRAT, INTRODI'rTION. ccrrlvii » That, the be.si policy of Uiitain, is to receiv«; land produce, tit Quebec mid otlier Biitisli American ports, in exchange lor our nianut'uctuies, viihout qucslion as to origin. Tlie gram! benefit to be deriveil IVom possission of these ports, rests in securin<^ a monopoly of trade, and, m ith liberal h'gislution, this may be carried to an extent, hillurto neither experienced nor contemplated, By libi ral measures, the port of Quebec may speedily becon\e the jjjieatest in America, if n(»t in the world — a port where we may i^'ve and receive to an unlimited extent — a port iiolding out to us the power of reaping the utmost advantage Iroin American frade, without any ofticious meddling with the domestic politics of that country, — a port through which the parent state would be for ever able to nourish her progeny and supply her customers, — where the people of Britain and America would meet in the enjoyment of reciprocal accommodation. That, the late change in the law, which regulates the tim- ber trade, renders it more immediately necessary to attend to our colonial and shipping interests. Were liberal prin- ciples admitted ; were the corn law amended, and free sale of grain and t^our coming from our colonies, allowed in this country, on payment of a tixed duty, an instant revival of trade would be experienced ; and by and by we should wit- iake there used to be very large quautities of timber sent to Quo- bee. At a thousand other places it can be hauled across >nii,i: ii) Upper Canada I published four Ad- dresses to the Resident Landholders. My first has appeared above, page clxxxvi, iny seeond and third will be found in vol. 11, pages 471, and 581. To complete the set, I shall here produce the fourth and last, and add a reply and liirply as a specimen of the political warfare vvhicli I had to wage in the Province. These extracts may give rise to some useful ideas now, and shall be afterwards referred to. NIAGARA SPECTATOR, May 27, I8iy. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAGAllA SriiCTATOH. Niagara Jail, Mai/ 22, 1819. Sir, In your paper of 17th December last, I announced my intention of being at St. Catherine's on the 2Gth of that month, there to consult with those who should honour me with a meeting on the subject of Instructions to be put into the hands of Parliamentary Representatives, prior to the sitting of their next session, intending to take my departure forthwith, for England. In the mean time, being arrested and served with an order to quit the province, it became necessary, in defence of my honour, to delay departure; and I informed the people who met at St. Catiierine*«, t \ 1 m I CCCdxvi CiENKRAL INTROniTCTION. that it might be better, under changed circumstances, to del:iy entering on the subject of Instkuciions, and that I shouKl iirst deliver my sentiments through the medium of the news- papers, in a series of communications on the consiitution and political circumstances of Upper Canada. Shortly after this, being arrested and committed to jail, I judged it proper to allow some time for the public mind to retlecl on that extraordinary occurrence. Oidy a few weeks luul elapsed when the whole magistracy of the district appeared w arms against me ; and in the number, many of those who had shewn the greatest zeal in the cause of inquiry, prior to the arrival of Sir Peregrine Maitland in the province. It was impossible not to feel damped with such experience ; and 1 must confess, that for some time a degree of melancholy rested on my spirits. Truly, it may be said, " If the salt hath lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted r" Seeing that parliament is now summoned to meet on a very early day, my pledge to the people of St. Catherine's has been called to mind, and 1 have set about an attempt to redeem it. 1 have addressed a communication to the Resident Landowners of Upper Canada (herewith sent you for pub- lication) and would fain continue it ; but, in resuming my pen, I find my health so much impaired with conlinement, that there is a want of energy to do justice to the subject, and I am doubtful of being f.ble to complete my wish. Tlie whole drift of my endeavours, tirst and last, has been to induce inquirt/ into the slate of the province, and to have a commissien sent home, thai the whole may he openlj/ and fairly submitted to discussion in the British Parliament. V/hat 1 would now ask of those, who ever were sincere in support of my measures, is this, that they should immediately meet in their several townships, and address a letter to their respective representatives in parliament, expressing a wish that the subject of inquiry should be the tirst consideration of the ensuing session of parliament, after the iiifaniou» ■ m' n y.V ' W K "! "f'^^il^fyrfHtrK'-' CENKRAL INTUODUf'TIOV. rccclxvii resolulions sent home to the foot of the iliioue, are erased from the journals, and tlie gagging act repealed. ROBERT GOURLAY. I if I I :ll I TO THE Kl SIDENT LANDOWNERS OF UPPER CANADA- Niagara Jail, May 20, 18 19. GisNTLEMEN, I have thrice before now addressed }oii : always in sin- cerity, and never without considerable efVect. My first Address was so simple, and in its purpose, so palpably Lent ficial to the province, that it must remain to excite sur- prise, hov.' -* siiiule ^dce could b« raised in opposition. My second Address was urged by in)perious duty, on becoming better ac((uainted with the political state of affairs. The object of tiiat Address was to advise parliamentary in- quiry into the slate of the province, and the appointnumt of a comniis-Dion to carry home the result. My third Address, holding the same object in view, spiung from a momentary impulse, occasioned by the sudden anil extraordinary break- ing up of parliament. Wherever the light of information reached, this Address was electric, and thousands of the most loyal hastened to conform to its dicta. Horrible to relate, there were found among your own representatives, men, who, belying every preconceived notion of character and conduct, shewed thenjselves, in brutal opposition to the quiet and peaceable exercise of couiititulional right, and who have finally, in their public capacity, made party against the cause of truth and liberty; who, losing sight of that dignity which should ennoble them as statesmen, have stooped tu the abuse <>f individual character, soiled the par- liamentary journal's with the record of untruUis, and bereaved their constituents of the most valuable privilege— that of employing rational means for carrying a petition to the foot of the imperial throne. gg2 ■ ;« ; i t \i Wl l\ CCCclxviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. Gentlemen ! by the acts of your own representatives, you can DO longer boast of freedom : you aie, in fact, ihis nio» mcnt slaves. Alas', am not 1 myself a striking uitness ol this truth r a prisoner, without trial, after two honourable acquittals ! — a prisoner, locked up at the capriciotis mandate of my personal enemies ; as which of you may not be ' And is there now an honest and independent man among you who would raise his voice agaujst inquiry, who would prefer dark- ness to light, who would sit in ignominious silence while such things are? Was it to be enslaved that you came from the States of America, from Britarn, and frotn Germany ? Was it to be enslaved, that you here supi)lanted the native Indians, noble and free.'' Was it to sow the seeds of despotism, that you lifted the axe to clear away these woods: Was it for the growth of tyranny and oppression, that you let in the solar rays to warm and fertilize the teeming earth ? Forbid it, Heaven ! Deny it, grateful man ! Why was America reserved to modern days for settlement ? Why were thou- sands of years suftered to elapse, and yet half the world un- known — unoccupied? O! it was most consistent with the designs of a Providence, ever benignant and kind — a Provi- dence, who zcills to give a secoiid chance to virtuous liberty. These thousands of years were clearly meant to prove how vain are the struggles of man against the power of despotism, when once contirmed. Look to the old world : look back on the pages of history, and say what has there been exhibited — what is there recorded, but one continued tissue of misery from priests and kings, and superstition and tyranny? What! are we in this »-eserved and unpolluted land, to make no advantage of lessons so costly, and of experience j^o dear? Are we to shut our eyes to (he so glorious designs of Providence? Are we to give way to natural weakness, and n»ake no eflort, while yet it may so easily be made to brace up the cause of reason and of truth — to smite in the bud the earliest germ of despotism? Are we to suffer our own children to grow up in rebellioD, and our I t GENERAL INTRODUCTION. cccclxix I es, you his mo- nesH ol lourable luuidate f? And you who er tlark- lilc such loni the - ? Was Indians, ism, that k^as it for ct in the Forbid America ere ihou- vorUl un- with the ■a Provi- s liberty. o prove lower of Id world : as there lontinued tiou and polluted and of the so way to may so truth — Are we and our own servants to bind us about, unresisting, with chains? No, even I, a prisoner, >vill protest against it: a prisoner, deserted, betraye inquiry ? •~Why so jealous of the liberty of the press? — Why do they love darkness rather than light? — Why? because their deeds are evil: because there are yet in this part of America seen ». and vicious intiuenccs at work : because the interests aid passions of men in oflice are yet at variance with justicj and truth. When the question of giving a conslitution to Canada was before the British Parliament, not only had experience proved 'S it that c. most biliary iquiry ? o they r (lee(ls sccr*'c its 111(1 C'j and ia was )rovcd GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxxili how vain it would be to withhold from people in this quiirtcrof the world the rii^lit of laxiii}; themselves, but there was a clear necessity for being liberal in every respect, both from view- ing the local .situation of this country and the spirit of the times. The indepenciciice of America was already manifest- ing its glorious consc(ineiu;cs, and the French nation was then in the very act of burstisig the bonds of feudal oppres- sion. Mr. Burke, who already foresaw the horrors likely to arise from the French revolution, did not hesitate to say, that the people of Canada should be presented with such a con- stitution as would leave them nothing to envy, when they surveyed those in the states of Auieiica, One noble Lord (Sheffield) objected to the policy of at all cherishing the set- tlement of Upper Canada. " ^Vhy," said he, " shoidd we rear up a nation of larmers in the heait of America who will only become rivals to our tenants at home— "'h.) will onlv pro- duce what it is our interest to have produced on our own iields ?" His idea, though miserably srlrish, deserved, never- theless, cedit lor open avowal ; and, should be treasured up by yon, the resident landowners of Upper Canada. Lord Sheffield said he would only encourage settlements along the sea coasts, where the people might be raised to man the British navy, and yield wealth tp F^ngland from their industry in tishing ; as in the case of Newfoundland, where this villanous princi- ple is carried so far as to delay the culture of the earth : the earth given by God for tillage, is there kept altogether unproductive, that the landed oligarchy of England may better afford to sustain their riot and their rank with enor- mous land rents ! One proposal made in the British Parliament was, that the people of Upper Canada should choose a constitution for themselves ; but it was very properly suggested, that they Mere then too few and too unskilled in such matters to be able rightly to estimate what was best for their advantage; and fi- nally, it was agreed, that nothing could exceed, as a boon, the offer oi the British model. How to form a House of Peers was I n i l H I 'j iii n ir n i w ai' i i i i i i n mt l ' c w Miw.ywo i aM i jw rccelxxiv (;knkual intuoduction. W I \ i > ' ... I . • L1' I , tlic ditKciilty ; and lioiicNt Ciiarles Fox could not help laugh- ing, when he thought of the hrood of nobility which was to be hatched in the wilderness. His opinion was, that the Upper House should be elective, as are the senates of Ame- rica; but Mr, Pitt iiud it settled, that the nomination of legis- lative councillors should be hi the crown, while the propriety of breeding nobility might rest as a matter of discretion in the same power. The fact is, that all comparison between the British Con> stitution and that of this Province, is absurd ; or, at best, it is a comparison uiudogous to what may be made between a man and a lump of clay, having two legs uud a head : your lump of clay being, in some respects, the preferable commo- dity ; for, if it should be found to stand more erect upon one leg than two, the spare leg may be cut oft' without danger or bloodshed. What comparison is there between a king, or prince, living at home in the midst of his people — born there, and to die there: — what comparison is there between a person who can do no xtroug^ and who has no object in life but the pure enjoyment of seeing himself elevated by the virtues of his people — a person who is responsible for no act of govern- ment, but whose ministers are most strictly watched, and must answer with their heads for executive crime, — a person whose very conscience is in the keeping of another : — what comparison is there between this pure and exalted personage, and a provincial governor ? — a man appointed through court intrigue, and who goes abroad for the express purpose of bettering his fortune; here to-day and gone to-morrow; certainly without local experience or knowledge ; probably without talents, and most probably without principle ; placed in the very threshold of temptation, and surrounded with sycophants ; yes, with sycophants, who at his slightest nod will debase themsei 'es and enslave their country; yes, were an ass, a real corporeal ass, sent out to govern a province, 1 do believe he would iind worshippers ; and it would be ORNKKAL iNiKonrc rioN. orcrlxxv cnllc*! lilx'l to piiblnli ilu« most iioloriouH trulli, that liis ears were long. Wliat diil I say was tlie opinion of Mr. Burke ? IJnrke! the luminary of Ins ajj;o, and whose oracular truths still rise and brighten from the tomb. Was it his opinion that we in Canada should see nothing to envy in the United States ? And must wc shut our eyes to the splendour of Clinton and Monroe r Must wc throw aside llivir speeches, rharged with the balmy and invij^orating light of truth and civilization, breathing patriotism, and blazing with elo(|uenee, to bedim our eyes with staring on the blank and lieart-.nck- onin^ iccords of provincial weaku'jss.? () God! compari- sons are odious. All things must be judged of in coniuixion with circnni- stauces. The JJritish constitution is to be admired as n bappy cotnpromise for the general good between great contending parties, which through many ages had struggled in violent opposition : the King, the Nobles, the Priests, and the People. When we read the history of the world, and trace the fate of nations, callous indeed must be the heart which swells not \,il!i gratitude, when the revolution of 1688 bursts upon view ; — when we behold, for the first time, monar- chical power rendered innocuous, the pride of aristocracy humbled, priestly arrogance laid low, and the people free. Well indeed may the British nation triumph in having first established such a compromise : justly are they entitled to boast of the glorious revolution; and, cautious ought they to be, at hotne, in venturing on further change. Here in Canada, the case is altogether ditVerent: here re- straints are few, and the jeopardy of change is comparatively nothing : here no tyrant ever swayed a sceptre : here no feudal lord ever looked down contemptuous on humble serf: here no priest has yet bent the human mind beneath super- stitious fear : here the people want but discretion and firm- ness to establish the happiest freedom for themselves and pos- terity : here indeed tlu y had it in virgin purity, but it is already gone ; yes, even already have the people's own jeprescnlalivcs \' .. ) i ,.iTiti.«. j iiM t ti|r»l»( >< i*>w« ^ *< j »*< w » , ' » ^ T 'i^'ft* ^<' *'> » ' » y » *ft' w w w— I rrcrlxwi oenkral iNTRontTTiox. (It Howered the darling iiiingt*, and bartered it nwav ! A Bii- tisli iiidiject ill U|)|Kr C^aiiadu no longer trcadx Innoatii tlu; proifcling privilege of habeas corpus, nor dure the people choose a tonnuission to carry home a petition to the 'I'hronc ! ! The degrmlation of this colony does not originate in the iVainc of its constitution. In tlio deniocrutic branch of their i:onstitution, the Canadian people are favoured beyond the lot of their fellow subjects at home. These have but a sha- dow of representation in parliament, those a reality. In Cannila, tlie purse strings are truly in the iiands of the people : in England they arc held by a wretched knot of Borough- mongers ; but two causes have operated in C'anaila to render of no avail the ()mni{«)tent power of the |)eople — simplicity and igiiorancc on one .side, and the enormous patroiiag«^ pos- sessed by the executive on the oilier. Thus circumstanced, Upper Canada liad better to the present day have never hud an Assembly. No mere Uovornor and Council would have had the ellVoniery to issue edicts so disgraceful to civilized times, as arc many of the acts of the Provincial Parliament. (Jentlemen, 1 juw into the liorrible state of your public afiairs at an cai ly period : 1 saw many of the causes which held this Province in povei ty, and have been steady to my purpose of cflecting a change. At lirst I had uo view what- ever to any change in the frame of your government ; 1 thought only of correcting abuses in its internal management ; but hesitate not to say, now my cxjierience is enlarged, that it would be well if change, in every respect, was accomplished. My eye was, at an early puiod, caught with the monstrous influence in the hands of the executive; greater than is to be found in any other colony, and inrinitely greater than any thing of the kind at home. 1 saw that the Governor had not only the disposal of every civil ofllicc, of every civil and mili- tary commission, but of land to boundless extent : I knew this influence had been misapplied, and witnessed the lament- able eflects : 1 saw public duty neglected, and the whole face of the country pining wiih disease: I saw nature every UKNKU.VL IX IHODK TION. (•«•('« IxxmI sorrow oivi- xvhcrc strug^lin*,' wiili h.imuIc ; nml licluld wiili ]i/:ltirin ilM'lf (III tlic (l*>( litx.-. 'I'lic tunslitiilioiial st.itule i-xliibits no chii«.c for llic rxist- nice oJ" tlii.3i! evils ; nor was any HppiclKndetl l»y llu' virtuous nuinbei-, ol" the Ikilisjli Kniiauitiii wliiii this ua«i umlt;r Loiisidtialioii. To }>;ivc to (.'aiiada llio Urilis.h Coiislituiimi, — tlu; i^loiioui liiiiish Constilutioii, sttinorl all iii ail; and " litre it i.s," t'Mliiiuicd ilic j^fiu-rous spirit urSinicoe, to the lirst ('aiiadiaii AssiMiibly : •• iicrc- it U, the vnj/ iiuage uiui transcript." (luiieral Simcoc was, I bt licvo, a truly siuglt;- lieaitt'il iiKU), and IkkI but one view, liial of pcopluig the rounlry. \iu lined out j>;t« at roads, and be-jran to open tliein by actual settlenienl aloii}; the tiaels: he issued prodanui- tions, iuvitin«5 .settlers to come in : he olVered whole town- ships on liberal terms to euttrprisiiij:; men ; and enterprising men were instantly at hand with axes and o\ chains, |)l(iu^hs and harrows, to tuKil his design. IJut what then ? Why, the landed oligarchy of Englaiul conceived that " the nation of farmers" was likely to pri)sper too wtll in the heart of America, that they were likely to pirtdute such abundance of grain as to cheapen that article in the home market, that their own tenants, in thai case, would find it hard to pay their rents ; and hearing perhaps how well their brother farmers in Cana- da got on, might take a longing to emigiate, and so more and more reduce the land rents of KnglanH. Such consequences were appalling to little selfish minds; and the landhjids of Eng- land took the alarm. They had not sufficiently studied the doc- trine of Lord Sheffield when the Canadian Bill was digested ; but they had abundant interest in the cabinet, and could yet so order matters as to mar all the fine effects of the boasted constitution. Simcoe must be recalled: his plan of road making must be given up : his offer of tow nships must be quashed ; no more encouragement must be held out to en- terprising men : only lots of two hundred acres must be allowed to poor settlers, and these men must be kept down in poverty, by blocking them up and holding them apart with ccrclxxviii general introdifction, large grants to non-residents, lialf-pay oflicers, and llio liki*. Then it will be easy to t'orni a Ltgislativii Council wliicli shall bo altogether subservient, and a majority of the pcopU;'H njpresentatives being constantly held in check by donationn of land, places, or pensions, the beauty of the constitution can quickly be transforni'^d, its bulwarks levelled to the ground, and the prosperity of the piovince completely blasted. Gentlemen, I sincerely believi' that such inlhienccs have been in operation, and such trains laid, to produce theeilectH so visible in every quarter of Upper ('anada. Up to the present time they have completely shut you out from the substantial benelits of the constitution, and from havinp; v.ealthy emigrants from home; nor will such ever be in- duced to come into the province, while things rest as they are. Those who emigrate from England will, in preference, go to the States ; but thousands would start from home for Canada, were things as they should be, who will not, at all, move to resiile under an alien government. The sclieme which I set on foot by my fust Address, was the best possible for making this cijuntry known to the far- mers of England. That Address was sent home by me, alto- gether vviiliuut suspicion, to be presented to Lord Jialliurst, and published in the newspapers. So early as February '2B, 1818, it was stated in the Montreal Herald, that " fron» recent intelligence, Mr. Cionrhiy's plan will not be comite- nanced by his Majesty's ministers, aItiion;;h it would, in our opinion, be difficult to assign just motives for such conduct." i\s soon as this article appeared, 1 began to guess at the inotivei. His Majesty's ministers did not, I was convinced, choose that farmers, with capital, should be withdrawn from home; and besides, I believe, there is a jealousy, that if an independent and enterprising class of men should get into Canada, the ))rovince would be less easily kept in subjec- tion to the mother country. Now, I am assured, that the selfish dread of ministers; as it concerns the emigration of CiENKRAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxxix Wealthy fannois, would ncvrr go to such extent as to lower the land rents of England, although it would mightily assist Canada in a variety of ways ; and 1 am still more assured that Canada woidd he longer retained in connexion with Britain by a liberal than narr<»w-mii\ded policy. Centlcnicn, should health permit, 1 shall resume this sub- ject. J wish, for my own credit, to throw upon it the great- est possible light; but nothing can be expected of conse- quence to the welfare of this country, till the j>eople bestir themselves ; and urge on their representatives to serious exertion. 'I'his Parliament will do as well as another, if pressed from all sides to the great measure of inquiry, and to submit the whole alTairs of the province to the inspection and review of the Parliament at home. ROBERT GOURLAY. il i was NIAGARA SPECTATOR, July 1, 1819. To the Editor of the Niagara Spectator. Silt, In your paper of the 27lh ultimo, I find an Address from Mr. Robert Gourlay to the Resident Landowners of Upper Canada, dated Niagara Jail, 20lh May, 1819, and as a resident landowner, I wish to offer some observations in reply. In doing so, 1 do not address myself to Mr. Robert Gour- lay. I know him not personally, and I mean nothing per- sonal to him. 1 grieve for his present situation, and would rejoice could 1 alleviate it. Placed at a distance from the immediate facts which have led to his confinement, 1 have lamented it, because, on such information us 1 have, it ap- pears to me that the common course of the laws was abqii- dantly sufficient for the public good, and that the extreme resort, therefore, to which recourse has been had against hill), was equally haish and injudicious ; but with all these v^\ M i i., ', I ! oroclxXX GENERAl. INTRODUCTION. iindisguifscd sentiments of regret on public grounds, ami ol unfeigned comnuseration for the personal suft'erings of the individual, 1 most uneiiuivocal'y assent to the lawful power legalJ)' and essentially vested in the united branches of the Government for establishing such a resort (wofuliy liable as it is, from the universal guilt of our nature, to abuse) when- ever requisite. 1 assert, that without such a resent, no well-constituted society could exist; and regarding Mr, Gourlay as in the hands of the laws, and a? secure in their progress of as fair a result as the general experience of hu- man nature in any state would warrant him to expect, I com- mit him to them; as, in such circumstances, I would myself wish to be conuiiitled. But it appears essential to me, that the false and perni- cious impressions which I think his Address calculated to ex- cite, should be controverted. Into his motives 1 desire not to penetrate : to them, in what I propose saying, 1 have no allusion. 1 know, for the history of human nature supplies the proof, and 1 myself have most mournfully witnessed it, how cgregiously the conscience of man can deceive itself. I know, for the disgusting fact has been forced upon my knowledge, that a self-applauding idea of rectitude may exist, even wl.ere, with all the bitterness of malice and ungoverned passion, the most dear and sacred duties and affections are sacrificed and spurned. 1 know that this question, as it relates to Mr. Gourlay, is one between God and his own soul ; and that all human interpretation of it, must be at the risk of that censoriousness and arrogance under which our nature is so willing to screen its own wrathful tempers, and the direct tendency of which is (except in extreme cases) to scatter bitterness and discord. The diffuse style (according to my judgment) of Mr. Gourlay's compositions, as fur as 1 have witnessed them, com- prising a straggling meaning under a mass of declamatory words, renders it difficult to meet him at all points with effect. This cotuse must be .-ibau»k>iK;(l : in which cast GKNERAL INTRODUCTION. t'CCclxxxi Some of his matter may appear unanswered, or, a similar progress must be followed, and a similar indistinctness may probably be the result. This is an evil more or less expe- rienced in every argument; and I sulyect myself, no doubt, to a share of the same defect. I offer this remark, to ac- count for the degree in which 1 may fail. I ihull, howevef, proceed with ihe same freedom which he uses, with an intention, which I profess to be as honest and disinterested as he asserts his to be ; with a direct denial of the remotest degree of any thing like personality, and, I trust, in more tem- perate langn-age (and as far as may be judged by language, with more temperate dispositions), to i)fler to my brethren, the resident landowners of Upper Canada, the free opinions of anolhs'r of their members. Mr. Gourlay tells us, we are at this moment slaves ! I abhor the idea, probably as much as he does. I have an arm and a heart to resist tyranny as deliberately, as actively, as fir.iily, and as constantly, probably, as he. I am not willing to sup- pose n)).seU a syrfipliant more than he; and I do not be- lieve a seiiish or private interest would warp me more fiom the strictest path of duty than it would him ; but I can per- ceive no gromids for such an assertion, esccpt tempers, which probably deceive themselves, as much as their tendency is to exasperate and betray others. He thinks we are slaves, because he is in prison, or at least that this is an evidence of our slavorv. 1 think not (though I liir.ient his being in prison), because he is there in the regular and legal (though extraordinary) couri>e of the laws; and because he must thence be relieved in the due course of law, unless lawful cause, on open inquiiy, prevent it. To the inconvenience which he at present suifers, every member of society, in extreme cases, must be liable, "^rhis is one of the penalties which we must pay, in return for the security and conveniences of society ; and that security and those conveniences, are well worth every such liability Mhich th«y may require. In every well-regulated slate, I h h ' i : \ ! ■' ^1. ? ! I |i CCCClxXXii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. repeat, a final constitutional resort must be established, (and, I believe, no happier resort could be established, than that which exists in our Government) for the extraordinary de- mands of the public welfare; and to call the constitutional exercise of this indispensable prerogative, despotism, is to belie language, and to breathe sedition *. In one sense, all rulers are servants of the state : it is the light in which they ought to regard themselves : it is the light in which the voice of familiar affection ought to address them. But the tongue of insolence betrays itself, when in the vein of its abuse, it presumes to call those so whom God luis placed over it. That unhappy tongue requires to learn that its rulers are those to whom God expressly commands it to use deference, respect, and obedience: — that they are those, to whom the sword has been connnitted, both for protection and correction; and that such language, turned towards an upright, enlightened, and pious Governor, though it may breed confusion, or obscure for a time the truth, is but infamy and evil to him who uses it. Mr. Gourlay goes on to say, (oh, it is a disgusting con- trast!) " How is it that Americans are free ^ and Canadians slaves f* And is this a voice to be sounded in Canadian ears ? I wish not to do the Americans wrong : in the little scale of human nature they are a great and a growing people. in many things 1 admire them ; and in the people of Ca- nada many things may be found to condemn ; but compare their state with our's, (exoipt in its wealth and- power) and Canadians may well blush at the comparison. Would he make us subjects of that Government, which has so recently * One reason for exhibiting this letter is, that I think it a cu- nosity. It is a singular example, not only of weak reasoning, but how far such reasoning can go in hood- winking, confusino;, and misleading the weak mind from which it emanates. Lot the reader think of this before he goes further, or r^ads my reply. ■ ■"'*T?*'tr:«mMWM,- •* m m \ * ' MM ■'M MW M W* -!'" ■ , (and, I lau that nary dc- jtutional nj, IS to it is the 1 the light ess them. I the vein God has earn that unands it they are both for ;e, turned ir, though J truth, is iting con- \mad'ian$ iCanadiau the little Ig people. le of Ca- comparc »wer) and ould he recently Ik it a cu- [easoninij, l-onfusing;, Let tlie bply. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxXxiil sanctioned the murder of two of our fellow-citizens ? Would he make us the soldiers of a Jackson; a military despot, whose hairs are whitening for the grave, but whose eye ex- ults in blood f Would he introduce us into a state of so- ciety, abhorrf it to those manners, on which many of the proprieties and decencies of social life depend ? Would he have us blinded by the odious comparison which has ranked Monroe and Clinton above the pure and elevated mind with M'hich the gracious providence of God has blessed us?— a mind grieved, no doubt, by insult; harassed, perhaps, by clamour ; but still pursuing an active and beneficent course of pohcy, and controlling, with dignity and composure, the factious tendency of such writings as those to which I now reply. If these be his views, he acts consistently; — his means are in some measure adapted to their end; but this I will not suppose ; and I mourn over the delusion, which thus hurries an active and apparently dauntless, and profess- edly honest mind, into declamations, as unsound and as per- nicious as the spirit of anarchy and discord, abusing and falsifying tlie truth on which they rest, (but deriving a dan- gerous colouring iVom that truth, though falsified) can, with such materials, and such talents, make them. A British subject, in Upper Canada, Mr. Gourlay says, no longer treads firm beneath the protecting privilege of habeas corpus !" What does he mean? Did he not apply for and obtain a writ of habeas corpus P Was he not taken to York, and, upon lawful inquiry and decision, remanded to pri- son, to take his trial at the first subsequent court of competent authority ? And, if so, what more does he want ? Would he have the term gifted with some charm, by which a person accused, in the eye of the law, may evade the regular course of law, and erect himself into a licentious member, of scat- tering, without controul, around him, the ebullitions of in- temperance, abuse, and confusion i If so, an assembly of delegates, exulting over the ruins of the constitution, might h h 2 i 1 s X f ! t t ^ I ^ I I 11 11 ■? tCCclxXxiv UENERAJL lNTROI)l'( TIOK. suit him ; but we, at present, nre ineiciinlly preserved (mm such. The people, he says, dare not choose a conniiission to carry home a petition to the foot of tlu; throne : that is, they cannot choose it in his way and in h\s words. But other- wise, why dare they not do so ? I know of no in»pediment ! On the contrary, the very Act which put down Convcnlionsy (that most dreadful and dangerous implement of aniuchy — an act which mus* be hailed by every lover of order, as a new bulwark to our liberties and happintss) that very act unequivocally asserts the undoubted right of tree pttilion. There is no impediment to our acting, in this respect, as we please, as long as our conduct is consistent with the public safety and happiness ; and whoever, beyond this sacred boun- dary, would advocate, or encourage, any pretence to such a right, can be but an enemy to those soleuni interests which he may suppose it is his wish to advance. As one of those landowners, whom Mr. Gourlay ad- dresses, I thus publicly declare, that I see no grounil for any such commission or petition. 1 know that abuses and evils exist every ^vhere, aud that it is lunacy, not wisdom, vihich expects to escape them. I know that the existing evils of a stale cannot be rectified at once, aud that it is anarchy, not order, which calls for the knife, instead of the balm, to remove them. I know that a beneficent spifit of improve- ment exists, for I witness its operations ; and, I am per^ suaded that this system has been as little produced, or aided by the light, which, in some respects, Mr, Gourlay 's pro- ceedings have thrown on those evils, as it has been impeded by the insulting, anarchical, and delusive nature of his pub- lications. Under these convictions, with respect to the evils which do exist, I am silent: their cor--. ( li.-n is in the hands of the organized and lawful authorities of the state. If the voice of the people speak not loud enough, througb their present representatives, the period is fast approaching, when, fl tiRMiUAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxXXV l»y a new clioico, tliey may speak more openly. Meanwiiile, casting my ryes ovtr the world, and viewing the states which I have St « n, 1 hesitate not to dechire that I know of no peoph', who, in evt ly temporal coticern, have such abundant causes for giatilufie, and such lively sources of hope, as the inhabitants of Upper Canada; and that to this, no effort, no view, no voic, no change, no improvement whatever, is necessary, beyond the estahlislied resorts of the existing Cnnsliti.iion of the Province in subordination to the parent state. The disinterested and cultivated iniml which preside* over us, is a guarantee beyond all general experience and hope ; and I can think of no other dispensation of Provi- dence, in the common course of things, by which our hap- piness, and all our wise and lawful desires could so well have been consulted, as by the invaluable gift to us, of audi a niind. In one point of his inforniation, 1 can positively correct Mr. Gourlay. He says, the offer of townships is quashed, and no njore encouragement held out to enterprising men. Though totally devoid of interest with Government, and un- known to public life on this side of the world, when I was in London, a lillle more than two years ago, I was credibly informed, that I could have obtained a township, had it been in my power to have brought out an adequate number of settlers. 1 have every reason to believe that this power still exists in the Secretary of Slate's office. Priest M*,Do- uald, of Glengary, was my audiority. Mr. Gourlay adds, only two bundled acres must be allowed to poor settlers. If he means by this, that poor men, who have not means, perhaps, to improve fifty acres, cannot obtain more than two hundred, every candid mind must allow the Govern- ment credit for its wisdom, instead of reviling its folly ; but, if he mean that settlers cannot, in this Province, obtain more than two hundred acres, he errs ; for a power exists and is in operation in the local Government, for granting to tlie amount of twelve hundred acres, according to the meant \ 1; ■•B!(|V«eiMfl^.)pr^»H'»((A»-ir«r-fTf»"7'fl*W*t«^" ■ --■r B ft yjwy. 'yi | i!|i ^jj|u^iW|tJ <r signed C. Stuart; and thinking that an cxposun; of its delusions and t'lTois nniy tend to conrnni and foi tit'y the publit: mind, shall iioNV heslow upon it part ol" my iiih; timi;. This Mr. Stuart, I havi; been told, was in the East India service, and has of hile been studying divinity, lie was in the lower part of the province when the Lieutenant-Go- vernor first arrived; and, I conceive, 1I that time he might be making interest for a church living : jut in these matters Mr. Stuart can correct nie, if mistaken o'" s^nsinformed. Last snn-.mer he wiote a letter on (he subject of ad- dressing the Prince Uegcnt, for the consideration of the Convention. It vas very well written; and imp.essed me Avith an opinion that he was a man of amiable ili^positions. We could make no use of Mr. Stuart's assistance for im- proving the published Addicss to the Prince Regent, as our plans had, by that time, been changed, on account of my prosecution, and the violent opposition set on f<.>ot by petted members of Assembly: but I moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Stuart, for the kindly good will he had shewn to the cause of Inquiry. Mr. Stuart says, " I do not address myself to Mr. Robert Gourlay." This, as a declaration of the fact, was totally unnecessary, for the letter is unequivocally and substantially addressed to you: but this declaration served to introduce another, viz. that Mr. S. was " not acquainted with me, per- sonally," which was not essential to his " meaning nothing personal." It occurs that he was induced to make the two first declarations, lest Sir P. Maitland (the grand object of his adoration) should suspect, from seeing in the printed (5ENKUAL INTnODlTTIOV. C'CCclxXXix transactions of llic Convention, tliiil I hud moved liini tlmnks, lli;U we were personally inlinialr, a circumstance uliich might tend to inj\uc his views of favonr. No doubt there was ««o:nc reason ; and if Mr. Stuart can otherwise explain why he threw in a declaration, cf itself altogether useles.s, he may do so. It is a case, which juslilles a surmise as to motives, which shoiild nevi r he (piestioned without good cause. Mr. S. " desin.s not t(i p«;nelrate into ujy motives;" but 1 challenge the whole world io give oven so much evidence of my motives being mean, as the above, which leads me to suspect tiiose of JSlr. Stuart. IVly motives have often been so clearly stated, and as so chaste and great, that no honest mincl can pret»;nd ignorance of them for an instant. Mr. Stuart makes many liberal professions, but as con- stantly reiitlcMs iliem of no avail, ile lluee or foi/r times protests against personality, and as often slides intoreriections and expressions as obviously directed against me, as if he had made the charge direct. This is much worse than any kind of personality. Sunmion me to trial by name, and let facts be the grouml work. If any thing about my person, or connected with my history and writings, can substantiate these facts, let all be told out. Set me up at once, and eye me all over. If I am accused of theft or mmder, look me hard in the face to sec if my countenance belokens guilt. Or search my pockets for stolen goods and the bloody knife; but be not so rude as to take the slighiosl liberty till there is some fact to proceed upon, or palpable ground of sus« picioH. In the midst of Mr. Stuart's palaver (he will excuse me for throwing myself within a circumflex, as he so often does to apologize for a vulgar worti) he admits that my conduct must be tried between " God and his (my) own conscience ;" yet he surrounds the question with such hideous pictures, that it is clearly his intention that these should seem retlected from my image, so that men may think that my *' conscience 6gregiously deceives me' —that with " an applauding idea 1 i ccccxc GENKRAL INTUOnirCTION. I / of rectitude," 1 uiii cliokc lull of " nialicu nml uiigovt rued pussioii :" that I " sacrifice and spurn the moat dear and uacrcd duties and airectioiis." Then again, " all human interpretations of it must be at the risk of that censorious- noss and arrogance, under which our nature is so willing to screen its own wrathful tempers, and scatter bitterness and discord." Pray, what did Mr. S. undertake ? Was it not to oft'er some observations in reply to my Address of '20lh May ? Then what is all this preaching (it me for ? The matter of my address warrants no such preamble ; and when we come to Mr. Stuart's actual charges and criticism, we find them altogether pithless and absurd. One would think that he raises a mighty smoke to frighten me, before coming to the real attack, conscious of his own weakness : but, Mr. Editor, your readers arc pretty well assured that mere powder will not put me to the rout: so let us advance to the charge. Mr. Stuart fnst disputes my assertion, that *^ we are this moment slaves :" and he thinks my imprisonment no proof of it \ because 1 am in prison by regular course of law. I won't be driven in this way from my position. There is no person whatever in this province who may not be imprisoned as I have been, whenever two or three persons choose to sacrifice truth and decency to malice and party spleen \, and it is quite correct to call people slaves who are subject to such treatment, whether in the course of law or not. The inquisition in Spain has the authority of law, but the people subject to it may well be called slaves : nay, the slavery of the poor negros in the West Indies, and Southern States of America is countenanced by law. The shameful con- sideration attending my imprisonment is, that it is notoriously false and illegal ; for the law never was hitended to be applied as it now has been. In my case the law has been most scandalously abused ; and this, in due time, I trust to be able to shew, to the smart of those who have imprisoned CiCNKIlAL INTKODICTION. CCCCXCI mc. So much boing said, look back to Mr. Stuart'H second para^rapli. Tlitro, hu first cornniiicrales my ailuution, ami then plrads for the law n*t tiuc without which " no well con- Htitutrd society couUl txiHt." This law, like to which there is nothing to he compared in any other country ! so being satisfied that all is well, he coolly tomm'Us me ; " a.i in huch circumstances he, would wish to be coiuniilled" ! ! ]\ly opinion has all along been made up, that the atrocity of the proceedings against me, would in the abstract justify jmy degree of violent opposition; and so strong wa;j the feeling among the country people, that I was called upon by several, from various (piarlers, soon alter my confmcment, who told mo that if I inclined, the prison should be pulled down to let me out. J said in reply, that 1 should shake hands with those who entertained such generous sentiments ; but on no account would wish to see them acted upon. 1 resigned myself to a most cruel fate, in defence of my own lionour, and with a hope that n»y case would be the best proof of the necessity uf what had so constantly been urged by me, viz. of inrjitirj/ into the state of the province ,• and all the language I have used, has been to keep the people steady to that object. I hare called them slates, not to aifront them, but to urge them to the recovery of their freedom ; and not merely for their own sakes, but that the province may not continue to be scandalized with laws and measures which must withhold from it respectable settlers. Mr. Stuart is disgusted with my question, " fiow is it that Americans are free and Canadians slaves t^" and asks if this is a voice to be sounded in Canadian ears ? To be sure it is. Canadian ears should ring with it constantly, till the dis- gusting truth is removed by the people here being made as free as Americans ; — not restrained as to holding meetings, and not subject to arbitrary imprisonment. Mr. Stuart seems to think Canadians not yet ripe for freedom. I think their loyalty so firmly lixed, that they may safely enjoy the utntost measure of liberty, i think nothing can shake their :i ccccxcu fJENERAL INTRODUCTION. loyalty, if not grossly insulted and abused by the ministers of covernniont. Mr. Stuart auks if I would make the people here soldiers of a Jackson — a nulllary despot: but he will see from the same paper which contains his letter, that before it was pe- rused by me, I liad declared myself as strongly as he had against Jackson's conduct; and I have steadily done so ever since that unhappy aft'air was heaid of, both here and in the States. The question as to being " introduced into a state of society abiiorrent to those manners on which many of the proprieties and decencies of so* lal life dej)end," must be further explained by Mr. S. before an answer can be given, for, at present, it is incomprehensible. As to ranking Monroe and Clinton above " the pure and elevated mind with which the gracious providence of God has blessed us ;" I did nothing of the kind. 1 conipared the speeches which we read in the newspapers of Monroe and Clinton, with those of provincial governors ; and it is but too notorious how infinitely superior the former are to the latter. I drew the comparison, to rouse our Governors to think of the difl'erence, and to make better speeches, both for llieir own credit, and thai of the people they govern. I have since compared the conduct of Sir Percgrme Maitland and General Jackson in the same way, without having any view to contrast, or expose the individuals, but to shew how a departure from jirst principles, m hich should never be lost sight of, leads to error and to evil. If Mr. Stuart would make believe that Providence has more to do in the appointment of our Governors than those of die United States, he sports an idea which deserves the most severe reprobation. If there is a scene upon earth on which the eye of Providence beams with peculiar love and approbation, it must be that where a free people are as- sembled together for the purpose of raising to honour him Tvhose individual merit has won their regard and confidence. OENKUAL INTK01>UCTlOxV, CCCCXCllt If, again, there is a scene wherein the devil makes himself particularly busy, I should think it lay within the purlieus of a court when every sclliish and filthy desire could be insti- gated to the utmost, in making interest for the appointment of a provincial governor. Mr. Stuart would raise our ideas of Sir P. Maitland's in- dividual excellencies, lie speaks of hin) as *' the pure and elevated mind." Pray, upon what does he rest this extrava- gant compliment to a mere man ? 1 myself entertained hope of Sir P. Maitland being of a noble and generous disposition, when I iirst heard of his being one of Wellington's generals ; and when I understood he was son-in-law to the Duke of Richmond, I most unhappily conceived that this duke was the great man who once stood at the head of reform in England. Under this impression, I recommended the Con- vention to place confidence in Sir P. Maitland, which led to all our misfortunes. About three weeks afterwards it was reported, that the present i3uke of Richmond was not the man we had taken him to be ; but it was nearly two months before I was assured of this, and knew all the truth. I heard that this duke had wever signalized himself as a lover of freedom; — that he was very poor ; and i,hence needed a provincial Government to improve his fortune; — that Sir Peregrine Maitland had run away with the Duke's daughter in Trance, and thus got himself elevated; that the Duke of Wellington had interceded for him with his father-in-law, so as to reconcile hint to the clandestine marriage, and thus Sir Peregrine was made pure. Let Mr. Stuart contradict these facts if he can, and then establish our confidence in *' the pure and elevated mind" upon proofs, not upon ful- some cofnplinients. When Sir Peregrine Maitland passed through Kingston, 1 was abiding my trial at the assizes there, and addressed a respectful note to him. 1 again wrote him from New York, in the fullest confid'nce that after two honourable acquittals from charges of sedition, that he would then consider me pure, and, at least, worthy of a civil reply. 11 1. \- It ccocxciv GENERAL INTRODUCTION. I had not returned to Up|>er Canada three da^s when the Gazelle announced the existence of sedition, and blasted the purest hopes of good. At no moment could passion have so operated upon me, yet I resisted passion, and followed the resolute and calm course of my duty. Both at Kingston and onward to York, while I was pressing the people to protest against the existence of" sedition, I uniformly ad- vised them to look to the Lieutenant-Governor only as an ill-advised man, and still to treat him with respect. 1 spoke publicly to many thousands, and not one can say they heard a disrespectful word How from niy mouth towards the Lieutenant-Governor. At York 1 found he had wilfully offended against constitutional right — agaujst *' enlightened manners, and tlie beneficent influence of religion." I found that he was worshipped as an idol, and from that moment considered it my duty to lessen such mischievous adoration. No one but Mr. Stuart has explicitly avowed the principle on which adoration should be paid to Sir P. Maitland. lie sets him up as a person especially placed over us by God. He speaks of our Rulers as those " to whom God expressly commands the tongue to use deference, respect, and obedience.'* Now, 1 do most earnestly intreat attention to this subject, for it is one upon which the clearest light should be thrown : it is a subject which should be thoroughly understood by every well wisher to good government. God, no doubt, directs every event; but J deny that Rulers have more his favour than the least creature in ex- istence. As long as Rulers virtuously dischfirge their duties to those whom they rule over, they deserve deference, respect, and obedience ; but no longer. It was for many ages insisted on by the king? of the earth, that they reigned over the people by a divine right, and under this plea the world was subjected to the grossest tyrannies. Soon after the Bible became known to the people, by the art of printing, they read in it that the first king was granted to the Lsraelitcs on their own request, proceeding from their own filthy lusts, which tempted them to prefer a king, as a ruler, instead of in ex- dutics [ispect, ages \d over world r tlic lilting, lelites lusts, )ad of GENERAL INTI{ODi;rTION. CCCCKCV (fod himself, who had hitherto directed their aflairs, throu.'h the medium o: judges; and who now granted Uieir request, that therein tluy might be punished, ordering a protest, however, to be lh.si made to Oicin, agai.ist their folly and wickedness, in desiring a king. (1 Samuel, Chap, iii.) The world groaned for thousands of years under the reiartans, who died for their country, at Thermopylie; but the drift of Mr. Stuart, is to cement patriotism with loyalty, through the n)e- dium of the Scriptines, and he thus deludes himself more anid the laws. ■ Mr. C Stuart resembles, so strongly, the second Juines, that I cannot help thinking him a lineal descendant. It is truly worthy of remark, as characteristic of human weakness, how this man, while he is preaching up what he thinks (^diristian doctrine, is evidently frying with passions to which the spirit of Christianity is most expressly opposed. 1 ask the readers of the Spectator to study his letter over and over again. They will more and more perceive, that ,while he is bowing to, and flattering Sir P. Mailland, his soul is bursting with wrath and nncharitableness towards uie and my opinions. I say, bursting, because the passion seems to be beyond his controul. He makes shew of the cup of charity. He says, that he grieves for my situation, and commiserates my sufterings ; he pretends not to pene- trate into my motives : he protests against personality ; while unkindness, cold-hearted indiflerence, and accusations most pointed, accusations distorted with misrepresentation, and blackened with the tints of a distempered imagination, burst forth at every pore. 1 hope he will yet be conscious of the «vil spirit which moves within him; and, in the mean time, bid 3 ii flii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. him take back, in his coiichidiiig words, '^ the malice and falsehood which madly struggles to brand me.'* HOBERT GOURLAY. N. B. On looking over my papers, I have found copies of two notes, addressed to Sir Poiegrinc Maitland, and the Duke of Richmond, on their iirst arrival in the Province, whicli may not be altogether nnwurihy of notice, to shew how very little suspicious 1 was, at that time, of being re- garded as a seditious person. To Sin P. Maiti.and, StC. Si,c. Sfc, Kingston, Aug. lOth, 1818. Sir, Laying, as I do at present, under a charge of libelling the Government of this country, it would be unbecoming in me, at present, to present myself before your Excellency ; and, at any rate, it is little my disposition to be obtruding. As, however, circumstances have brought my name into notoriety, in connexion with the political concerns of the province, I beg leave to say, that should your Excellency have any desire to have an interview with me at a future period, I shall be happy to have that honour, and shall be most willing to reply to any question which, after more than a year's research in the province, you may suppose me ca- pable of answering to satisfaction. Most anxiously desiring the welfare of Upper Canada, and that a liberal policy may yet bind it more and more close to the parent state, I shall sincerely rejoice if these great objects can be effected, under the auspices of your .Excellency. And, with all due respect, I am, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient Servant, ROBERT GOURLAY. 0r in Chief, is to be here to-day : Mr. C embraces the opportujiity of offerinj^ his sincere congratulations, on the arrival in Upper Canada, of a per- sonage who has before hin» the ftnest field iu the world, of improving human happiness, and extending in reality the bounds of the British empire. Mr. G. takes the liberty of presenting the Duke of Rich- mond with four pamphlets, connected with the present poli- tical state of the province, which his Grace may, on his journey, perhaps, have time to peruse. NoTK. — Four days after the above was published, I was shut up a close prisoner, and not allowed to oommunicate with the press. My friends, even magistrates, aiui counsel, were for some tiine denied access to me, and, till the 20th August, when called up for trial, T was not allowed to step across the threshold of my cell. I was tried, and honourably acquitted, at Kingston, on the Iftth August, five days after the date of the above letter to Sir Peregrine Maitland. I was tried, and honourably acquitted, at Brockville, on the 30th August ; and two days afterwards wrote the above to the Duke of Riclimond, oa my way to New York, where I was to determine, by letters waiting me there from Eng- land, whether I could remain longer in America. My letters en- couraged me to remain, and I addressed the following. TO SIR I'F.HEOIUNE MATTLANO, K. C. B., &C. &C. iNVw York, September 18, 1SI8. Sir, You would receive from me, on your way throufrh Kingston, a note, intimating, that, laying, as I then did, under a criminal charge, I could not with propriety preM'nt myself before your Excellency. From that charge I was acquitted, as well as from another of the same kind, at the Johnstown Assises. My detention in Canada, in consequence of these prosecutions, had deranged all my plans, and I had to hurry off to this place to receir* * :il r-A ■1 > i]\ friiri» y° coiuiiniiii had l)i-ok(!ii iit^'liniii. iirtliMitli to re advisciJ ; I, stfc ^-ochI «;t; shoiilJ lan to rt'iifw ; and with It, I trust, II ire no iti- iie, or ina^ (Oil to your <, or had to ve no wish difllfult to t piiblk'd- <'V mo tlie nunity to oi" order- to be for- INDEX. jreiieiatfr iiowledg- Queenis- le to have 'ork, and It. [7lh Or- the 15 th 3 spoeoh vith the ccccvii. quittals, am-Go- tre.ited, speech : y ; and nui bu- •''S W^t!LW I giM ' p iii >ir ii > i» i iii 8i l l M * i »i iii »» > .« « i . » <J procUmatioii of martial law was unconstitutional, i. 16. Constituted by tho act of 31 Geo. III. 190. Number of its membera, lfi'2. Their qualifica- tions, 196. Its duration, 200. Speaker elected by th« members, and approved by the Governor, '201. Its n'o-hts and powers, in general, analogous to those of the British House of Commons, ibid. Debate and resolutions on th» claim of the Legislative Council to alter money bills, ii. 670. Assessment, form of. ii. 355. • . - ^ Altorney-G«uerai, the, ii 71. . ^ B. Baker, Mr. ii. 4K ' Bauk, one established at Kingston, and two at Montreal, i 427, note. Bankrupt law, none in the province, i. m a vfft^i )Axd since Boersler, Col. surrenders to an inferior British ant! Indian force, under a false impression of their numbers, i. 84. Boiindaries of Upper Canada, i. 17. Bourne, Mr. Gen.Int,cc\v. cclxv. Boyd, Gen. defeated by the British under ('oloriel Morrison, i. 125. Brant, Capt. the Indian Chief, wantonly attacked in Dr. Strachan'* Visit to Upper Canada, Gen, Int. cciv, note. Injustice done to him by Mr. Campbell in his poem of Gertrude of Wyom- ing, ccv. note. Bricks smaller in Canada than in England, i. ^71. Bricks, price of, i. 277, 281, 286, 292, 333, 467, .50-1, 512, 5(50. Bridgewater Mills burnt by the American troops, i. 65. A burn- ing spring on the site of one of them, ibid. British Alien Act, Gen. Int. Ixx. Difference between it and th« Canadian Sedition Act, Ixxii. British impost duties, collected at Quebec, i. 218. Appropriated to his Majesty's use, ibid. British naval force on Lake Erio captured by the American squa- dron under Commodore Perry, i. 53. Brock, Major-Gen. Sir Isaac, president of Upper Canada, i. 15. Pursues Gen. Hull to Detroit, and forces hinn to surrender that place and the whole of the Michigan territory, 45. Killed at the battle of Queenston, 78. Statutes pnssed during his administration, ii. 251 — 254. Brockvilie, i. 126. Account of, 500. Brougham, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxiv. cclxvi. Brown, Gen. takes Fort Erie, i. 56. Makes a sortie at the h«ad of 2000 men, and destroys the British batteries and entrench- ments, 58. Dismantles the fortifications after the retreat pf Gen. Drummond, ib.. Wounded at the battle of Lundy'a - Lane, 74. Commands the American troops at Socket's Har- " bour, 105. Defeats the attempt of the British oa Ogd^ns- burgh, 112. Browne, Mr. D. Gen, Int. cclviii. Brownstown, a detachment of American militia defeated ther« by a party of Indians in thf British service, >. 48. Buckingham, township of, i. 606. ,1 ^-ra i fct«.«»««.-ij'*nw*'.n i»"*Lr»n --; .■•■flfBWUfr**' ."«rfvyi*»i»s4Mi^*-«rt|M!ii|^^id*u#«Ai|-*Sf^- INDKX. ': o .1 tak«^ti and burnt Buffalo, villago of, state Ci{ New y< Riall, i. 60. 8po«diIy rebuilt, ibid. •— >— -^ -, an animal moru common than the bison, ii. 1A8. ' Building, style of, less elegant m Upper Canada than in the United States, i. 261- BusJding stones, quality and cost of, i. 276, 281, 280, 303, 312, 315, 320, 322, 326, 333, 341, 358, 366, 368, 370, 372. 382, 389, 394, 398, 407, 410, 418, 422, 427, 442, 449, 473,483,486,498,504,512,518,560. ., Burdett, Sir F. refuses to present the petition of the inhabitant!) of Wily on the subject of the Poor-laws, Gen. Int. cxlvii. Burford,- township report of, i. 311. i •• . . •' Burlington Bay and the surrounding country, a very romantic aituation, i. 88. Heights fortified during the war, i. 88. Burke, Mr. his speeches during the debate on the Constituting Act of Upper Canada, ii. 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31, 32, 39, 56, 67, 73, 88, 100. Remarks on his character, 293» noU. Ob- servations on his speeches on the Quebec Bill, 306 — 309. Butter and Cheese, price of, i. 279, 282, 287, 293, 328, 334, 348, 398, 468, 506, 512, 519, 562, Caistor, township report of, i. 462. , ^ ■■'■ Calcraft, Mr. G«7i. J«<. cclv. cclviii. cclxx, Camden, township of, i. 130. Township report of, 291, Canada discovered by Jacques Cartier in 1534, i. 2. Colooizedl by Champlain in 1608, 3. Surrendered to England in 1629, and restored in 1632, ibid. Conquered by the English, 8. Limits and form of government prescribed by a royal pro- clamation, ibid. Limits extended, 9. Divided into Upper and Lower, 14. " ■ " •-) Upper,, settled by American loyalists, and a few British .and German ioldiers, i. 10, 11, 12. Divided into four dis- tricts, 116. Thair naroe;< altered, ibid. Agaio divided into eight, and .Hubntquantly ioto ten district*, ibi4. »nd 121, Hot<. INDEX. 9 if^lrfitch of the progresa and preaont state of tlie nettloments, 124. Popalation, 139. Climate, Ac. 140. Water, 146. Soil, stones, mineralH, Sec. 147. Production3, natural and cultivated, 150. One contiiiuod forest previously to 1784, ibid. Fruit-trees, 15.1. Medicinal rootH, ibid. Grasseit, 154. Various kinds of grain, ibid. Vegolables and rootH, 156. Noxious weeds, ibid. Animals of the forest, 1 57. Domes- tic an. mals, 169, Birds, 171. Fishob, 175. Amphibious animals, reptiles, and insects, 183. Constitution, 1S9. Pro- vincial Parliunient, 190. Executive (jovernment, 204. Ju- diciary, ^05. Money, 215. Uevonuo and taxes, 217. Com- merce, 224. Militia, 229. Ileligiou and ecclesiastic institu- tions, 231. Profession and practice of law, 2.14. Physic and surgery, 236. Trades «-\nd apprenticeships, 230. Im- prisonment for debt, &c. 238. Gradual abolition of slavery, ^40. Price of land, and encouragement to settlers, 241. State of learning, 244. Character, manners, and customs of the infiabitants, 247. Township reports of, 269. Ita in- finite advantages over every other British colony, as to emi- gration, 548. ■ A V .* .. t ii^w . » : - . T, Canada, Lower, account of, i. 584. How dividerl, ibid. Selguio- riea, ibid. Townships, 604. Canadia.nfl, when enlightened, will he free, ii. 301, Canadian School Act, i. 245. li. 277—283. Its excellence, 376, 385. ■■- — - > «■■ Sedition Act, Gen. Inf. xix.' Analysis ©f its pirovf-' i>(ions, Ixvii. Remarks on its wickedness and deceit, IxxiV. Ixxv. Ixxx. Care with which it protectB its axeculors, Ixxix. Ease with which it might be eluded, Ixxxu. iu 452, 463. — porcupine, ii. 166. hare, i. 168. ;: ■ v t. ,..; . ■.. hogs, of good si/e and quality, i. 171. ' ■'•'-' . robin, i. 173. ' « ■ f - * cuckoo, i. 174. "^ • "' dog-fish, » 180. .: ^ r '■ > »» :». . m i ».^ « »** vs- «r Canborough, township report of, i. 45*. <* ;♦" - t:< * -"i" -. "nt iiaiiinn «ll .i l i i >lir WW' | l i (i < « l»» l l ''»i#< l*lrt l >' .W ' l | ' '< »" >N'> W ''? 9 ♦ 10 INDWX. Cape of Good Hope, emigration to, unfortunate results of it, i. 643. Two letters on this subject, 544, 546. Contrast in th« uentimonts of the writers, and thoae of the settlers in Upper Canada, 646. Cape Vincent, or GraveHy Point, stores and buildingfi at, burnt during the war, i. 100. Carlton Inland evacuated by the British, in consequence of iho treaty of 1794, i. 24. Carp, two species of, in Lake Superior, i. 180. • C/'arriages, very few in Upper (/anada, i. 250. Cartier, Jacquet^, discovers Canada, i. 2. Explores a part of the River St. Lawrence, 3. Cit-fish, i. 179. Catamount, or tiger cat, i. 162. Catholic religion legalized in Canada, i. 9. Cham[)lain forms the first French settlement at Quebec, i. 3. Chancery, court of, not yet established in Upper Canada, i. 200, Charlottenburg, i. 125. Township report of, 659. Charlotteville, township report of, i. 323. , Chatham, (L. C.) township of, i. G04. j(U. C.) township report of, i. 291. Chauncey, Commodore, makes a successful attack, in conjunction with Gen. Dearborn, on Fort George, i. 81. And on York, 89. Takes York a secoild time, and burns the barracks and public sto.ehouses, 93. Chases the Koyal George into King- ston Harbour, 08. Cheapness and simplicity the desideratum for perfect goternment. Gen. Int. Ixv. ., Chereverreeing, a singular custom in Upper Canada, i. 264. A similar custom in some parts of England, 266, noL, Chrysler's Field, battle of, i. 125. .. , Church of Upper and Lower Canada, ii, xcvii. Churches or meeting-houses, and professional prer ".hers, number of, i. 275,281,285, 294, 303, 314, 328, 332, 338, 366, 371, 382, 385, 389, 397, 409, 412,417, 422, 467, 471, 482, 486, 488, 490, 494, 498, 603, 610, 569. Circulating specie of Upper Canada mostly gold, i« 228, »* Civil list of Upper Canada (1818), ii. Ixxxix. , ,.. INDKX. U Clans, Hon. Williiim, legislative ronncillor, Gen, Int. xxvi. Ixtiii. and ii. 487. Clay orvario\»«i kiiida found in the province, i, !19. Clark, Hon. Thomas, legialative councillor, ii. 468, 470, 504, 508, 574. FIh addrena to the public against Mr. Gourlay, 588. Clearing and fencing wood land, cost of, i. 577, 'iSt, 287, 29?, 310, 319, 326, SCJfi, 350, 386. 413, 418, 42.1, 447,453, 467, 474, 486, 499, 504, 518, 561. Clergy of Upper Cunadii, of the Church of England, one-seventh of all lands reserved for thpir support, i. 332. Six in Upper Canada, ibid. Their salaries, 233. Clergy Reserves, i. 231. Leased by government, 232. Impo- licy of them, 555 — 558, &c. Climate, Sec. of Upper Canada, i. 140. Favourable to health and longevity, 144, and note. Cobbett, Mr. visited by Mr. Gourlay at New York, Gen. ItU. ccxii. Occasion of this visit, ccxiv. Remarks on his charac- ter and writings, ccxviii, ccxxix — ccxxxii. Censure of his attack on Mr. Birkbeck, ccxxxiv— ccxxxviii. His proposal for " blowing up," the paper-money system ridiculed, ccxxxix. F'urther remarks on his writings, ccxi. His " Parliament," ccxlviii. (^'ochrane, Lord, declines presenting the petition from the parish of Wily, Gen. Int. cxlvii. Coins, current in the province, their value, i. 215. Cold, 1«S3 severe in Upper Canada than in corresponding districts of the United States, i. 143. College, none in the province, i. 244. Any effort to found one at present would be abortive, ii. 388. Commerce of the Province, i. 224. Conjmissions of Assize and Nisi Prius annually issued, i. 206. Common Schools, an act passed for the establishment and en- couragement of, i. 258. Its provisions, ibid. Commons, the ancient, in England, cf great importance in pro- moting the independence of the poor, Gen. Int. clxxi. Concessions and lots, how formed, i. 122. Conditions of settlement, i. 241. Constituting Act, a legislative charter, i. 189. 1 i i n INDEX. Con8titulio)i of Upper ('anada derived from acts of th* Brhiih Parliament, i. 189. Dobated and settled in the House of Commons, ii. 1 — 109. Contracts for personal service limited to a period of nine years, i. 240. Convention of Upper Canada, its numbars, ii. 570. Its pro- ceedings, 579. Corn, this word in Upper Canada always means Indian corn or maize, >. '■■195, note. Corn Bill, observations on, Cen. hiL cxlvii. cl. cU. , - Cornwall, a flourishuig town» i. 124. Cotter rigs, a kind of tenure in Scotland formerly, explained, Gen. Int. civ. Counties, Upper Canada divided into nineteen, and subsequently into twenty-three, i. 116. Their importanct* almost annihi- ;"? lated by the formation of districts, 1'21. , .. , * ,., Court ol Appeals, its powers, i. '206,. of Probate, i. 208. Couits of Requests, i. 207. Their jurisdiction extended, 267. Courtenay, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxii. Cow, price of a good one, i. 277, 282,287, 292, 468, 499, 50i, 561. . system cannot be generally introduced. Gen. Int. clxi. Cradling, meaning of the word, i. 273. Cramahe, township of, i. 132. Croghan, Major, successfully defends Fort Sandusky against the British army under General Proctor, i, 50. Cropping, ordinary course of, on new lands, aud afterwards, i. 279, 282, 287, 303, 309, 310, 312, 316, 319, 321, .123, 326. 328, 330, 334, 339, 341, 343, 345, 348, 350, 359, 366, 370, 372, 386, 390, 395, 398, 408, 410, 414, 419, 423, 427, 442, 449, 453, 474, 483, 485, 487, 488, 491, 506, 562. . Crosby, Soxith, township report of, i. 518. Crowland, township report of, i. 446. Currency of Halifax and the two Canadas, the same, i. 216. of the state of New York in general use through th» southern and western parts of the province, i. $17, Curt»>i3, Mr. Gen. ht, crrlxiv. cclxx. INDEX n D. Dace, the, larger in the lakes thnn \n the brooks, i, 180. Dairies, large, not frequent in the province, i. 170. Dairy produce, quantity and quality of, \, 278, 308, 310, 314, 321, 323, 334, 330, 343, 345, 348, 349, 36fi, 3d8, 308, 410, 413, 419, 423, 427,474, 478, 483, 505, 562. Damages suatained by the Canadians during the war, ii. 406. Shameful neglect of compensation for these, ibid. Address to the Legislative Council and A.ssembly on th»'s\)bj«ct, 407, The Lieut.-Governor's answer, 408. Remarks, 409. Dancing, a favourite umuHemcnt, i. 250. Date of the first settlement of each township, i. 275, 281, 285, 291, 332, 347, 349, 375, 385, 412, 417, 455, 4fi7, 471, 49tJ, 494, 499, 603, 509, 512. 513, 516, 520, 659, 580. Dearborn, General, assisted by Commodore Chauocey, taketi Fort George, i. 81. And York, 89. His kind treatment of th« inhabitants acknowledged by Chief Justice Scott, 92. Debtor's land liable to execution, if his personal estate be insuffi- cient, i. 239. Declaration of several farmers of Brigg, in Lincolnshire, on the advantage of allowing land to the poor for the keep of a cow, Gen. Int. cxii. Deer, the forests of Upper Canada abound with them, i. 163. Delaware, township report of, i. 302. Deputies chosen by the people of Upper Canada, meet in Conven- tion at York, Gen, Int. viii. Advised by Mr, Gourlay to refer their cause to the Iiieutenant-Governor and Assembly, ibid. Order an address to be sent home to the Prinze Regent, xi. The royal grant of land withheld from them by the Lieutenant-Governor, ibid. De Rotteuburg, Major-General Francis, president of Upper Ca- nada, i. 15. Issues a proclamation, declaring the province under martial law, ibid, Detroit, evacuated by the English after the treaty of 1794, ». 24. I I 14 INDEX. m ^r [ i Surrendered to (it>aerul Broik, 45. Uciakeii by tite Anittii* Tiins, ibid. Dickson, Hon. W. legislativ*) councillor, (Itn. Inf. xwi. Iwiii. Ixxii. ccxv. note. The first prompter io Mr. (Jourluy's pro- uecution, 577. H'm charactur, ii. 297, 4U2. Auecduteti oi him, 317, 467, 468, 470, 4«4, 487, 4y4, 573, 674, cv. ' note, ' *' Directions (u few pUin) to Sottlcra in Up)ior Cuuada," account of, Gen, Int. cccviii, i^ , Dispute between the Legislative Council and llouao of AHsembly, „ on altering money bills, ii. ;)67. Resolutions proposed by Mr. Dickson on the subject, ibid. DiHsenteri of all denominations tolerated and protected by law, i. 233. Those called Calviuists exercisie the power of mar- riage, ibid. The most numerous are tha Methodists, ibid. JJistresses in Ireland, debate on, Cc.n. Int. cccxci. Districts, how many L'pper Canada is divided into, i. 116, and 131, noie. Have almost annihilated the importance of coun- ties, 141. District, the Eastern, i. 116. ... ■■ " ' of JobnbtowQ, I. 117. Meeting of representatives, u. 636. , the Midland, i. 118. , ,- .- ,, . • - ■- of Newcastle, i. 118. , the Home, i. 11 9. ' — of Niagara, i. 119* How first settled, 135. Meeting of representatives, ii. 609. • , . . of London, i. 120. How first settled, 135. .jthe Western, i. 120. Meeting of representatives, ii. 62L of Gore, i. 121, note. Formed from the Niagara and Home Districts, 267. Meeting of representatives, ii. 623. of Ottawa, i. 121. note. Composed of the northern part of the Eastern District, 257. ' courts, i. 207. ——— judges, their poweid, i. 207. . . « taxes, i, 222. Ixviii. I^A pro- lolea of 74, cv. account isembly, oaed by by law, of mar- , ibid. lie, and of coun- bitives, ii> Meeting iLives, 11, lura anil j. 623. Iieru part INDEX. 1.^ District schools, i. 445. If well managed, might produce much good, ii. S87. Plan for their improvftmiit, ibid. Dorchesti-r, lownahip rrport of, i. 3(W, Dover, village of, burnt by n party of American militia, without * • orders from their government, i. 62. — ^-, East and West, township report of, i. <191. Drumniond, Ijeuloniint-tienerHl Sir O. prt.sidenl of Upper (Ca- nada, i. 15. llevokos (leneral Do Rottenburg's proclamn- tion of martial Inw, ibid. Appointed HtlminiKtrator of the two provinces, Ifi. Besieges I'Virt Kric, .'ifl. Attempts, ini- auccesifuUy, to curry it by artsanll. iind. Heliiuniishes tho siege, 58. Wounded at the battle of Limdy'H Lane, 7-4. Burns the barracka at Fort Oawcgo, 102. Statutes pasHod during his administration, ii. 269 — 2f)fi. Dudley, (volonel, defeated and killed in an atlempl to relieve Ge- neral Hurri^on, i. 60. Dumfries, town«hip report of, i. .'J83. Duncombe, Mr. ii, 106. r DuDdas, Mr. ii. 104, 100. Dunwich, township report of, i. 346. Durand, Mr. ii. 631. Ordered by the Mouse of Assembly robe committed to York gaol, for a libel, 644. Extract from his publication, 647. Expelled from the House, 66T. Re- elected by his constituents, ^58. Hia subsequent history, 661, 662. Duties, British import, collected at Quebec, i. 218. --, coUtKJted by Lower Canada oa goods consumed in Upper Canada, i. 318. collected in Upper Canada on goods imported fronj thu United States, i. 219. Dwelling-house?, plan for, and cost of erecting suitable ones for poor families, den. Ini. clx. £« I Eardley, township of, i. 608, Eastern District, i. 116. iiii t ji»i »< »a »Mn w> 16 INDEX Education formerly neglected in Upper (-'aaada, and wby, i, 245, IndjcatioiiK ot a favourabl« change, 246. Pltu for an improvement in the present system, ii. 317. _>_——. of the poor, Geii. Int. cxxi. Petition to the Lord? on this subject, from the parish of Wily, cxxii. Observ«tion» on Mr. Brougham's bill, cxxxiv. &c. »Siriking effccti of •du- ration on the character of the Scotch, clxvi. i Eel pout, a singularly shaped fish, i. 179. > ., • ,,,, Elections, mode of proceeding at, i. 199, contested, how decided, i. 199. Electors of members of the House of Ausembly, their qualifica- tions, and disqualifications, i. 192. Elizabeth Town, i. 126. Township Report of, 507. Elk, the largest animal of the deer kind, i. 158. Emigrant's Guide to the British Settlemeats in Upper Canada, account of, ccciv. . r Emigrants from Great Britain, the neglect which they experience from the land-granting department at York, ii, 418. Instanc* of this in the treatment of Mr. Gourlay's brother, 419. j • Encouragement to settlers, i. 241. By Government, 628- Episcopal church supported by Government, i. 231. One-seventh of all lands granted, reserved for its maintenance, ibid. Equipages, no splendid ones in Upper Canada, i, 250. Ermine, or white weasel, i. 168. Ernest Town, harbour of, i. 96. Township of, 129. Academy there, 246. Deetroyetl during the war, and not since revived, ibid. note. Township report of, i. 482. Executive Council, appointed by the crown, to adviae the Lieu- tenant-Governor, i. 203. Executive government of Upper Canada, i. 204. Exhorters, or teachers, although laymen, not admitted to a »ot&t m the HousR of A»s<;mbly, i. 197. Exports from the province, i, 225. Extracts from Forster's Crown Law, on tiie subject of allegiance. Gen. Int. xxxix. . — from Wakefield's Statistical Account of Ireland, Gen. Int. Ixxxix. note. I I »y, I. 245. lU for «u I Lordf? ou >ierv»tion» cti of •dtt- r qualifi ca- )er Canada, f experienc« J. Instance 14\9. ne-sevcnth ibid* \cademy not since je the Lieu- to a wet '" allegiance, id, Gen. Int- INDEX. ir Extracts from the " Agricultural State of the Kingdom," Gen, Int. xci. note, ' — from the Upper Canada Gazette, detailing the close of the session, 1821, including acts of the Provincial Parlia- *>"* ment, regulating the coramercial intercourse between the • ' province and the United States, making provision for the improvement of internal navigation, and constituting several new townships ; regulations of the Assembly as to the dutios on imports ; addresses to the Lieutenant-gov>.'ruor, &c.ii,68l —704. P. Falls of Niagara, description of, i. 64 — 73. Farmers in Upper Canada kaep too many horses in proportion to their oxen, i. 170. Farmers of England, dreadful situation of, at the present period. Gen. Inf. ccclii. Farm-house, melancholy picture of one, on th« road from York to Kingston, i. 462. Fees of office, on granting lots to settlers, i, 241. Gen. Int, cclxxxviii. First Report of the Select Committee of the House of Assembly, on the internal resources of the province, ii. 666 — 680. Fisher, or black Fox, i. 165. Fishes, tlie Canadian, i, 175. Fishing, a common amusement, i. 251, Fita-Gibbon, Lieut, commanding a small party of regulars and Indians, captures a superior force of Americans, by deceiv- ing them as to his numbers, i. 84. Flamborough, East, township report of, i. 369. — — — — — , West, townsiiip report of, i. 371. . 'ax, the soil of the province adapted to the cultivation of it, i. 155. Folkstone, Lord, refuses to present a petition from the inhabitanta of Wily, Gen. Int. cxlvii. Forest trees and shrubs of Upper Canada, i. 160. Forgery of bills on banks in the United States, not punishable in Canada l>elore 1810, i. 228. B ^ ■i V 1^ III i>iMi|--|illlilft ■ 1^ INDEX. Fort Frontennc built by tlie French colonists to wjcure thcitiseWes againfet tho Iroquois Indians, i. 4. Meigs besieged by Oenenil Proctor, i. 49. Tho aiege raised, 60. NiHf^ara, evncuated by the British, conformably to the treaty of 1704, i. 24. Takeu by storm, and teluiued by the Engliuh till tbe coucluaion of tbo war, 83. Saudusky besieged by Qotiaral Proctor, without succesH, i. 60, Erie, abandoned by tho Briti«li, and occiipiod by the Ame- ricans, i. ftf). UeocL-npiod by the Britinh, 5(5. Snrrendora to General Brown, ibid. Bc8iefi;od by Uoncrul Drununond, ibid. Disniuntled by General Brown, alter tho rtlreat ol" tho British, bH. ., . — — - Eric, village of, nearly destroynd during the war, i. 59. Schlossor surprised by u party of the Canadian militia, i. ()2. George, attacked and taken by the American military and naval forces, i. 81. Invested by the British troops under General do Ilotlenburgh, 82. Abandoned by the Aiueri- caus, ibid. Fox, three spoeies found in the province, i. 164. Fox, Mr. his ttpoocbeH in the doba o on the bill for granting a Constitution to Upper Canada, ii. 5, 6, 22, 28, 32, S3, 4S, 63, 66, 70, 73, 77, 79, 96, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 106, 107, 108. Francis, Mr. ii. 76. Fredericksburg, township of, i. 130. Free schools, none in the province, i. 244. Freedom of trade, absolutely necessary to the prosperity of Eng- land, Gen. Int. clxxix, Benelits which would result from it, ibid. Freestone, a quarry oi; on the bank of tbe Thames, i. 148. French colonists of Canada, in 1022 consist of only fifty per- ■ons, i. 3. Impvudoutly engage in the wars of the Indians, 4. Build Forts Frontenae, Ni (Jfinadian, i. 187. Fruit trees of various kinds, i. 15J. ' 19 •H «; fJannnoqiii river and town, i. 110. Its barraclks and public stores hurni early ill the war, 111. The river might easily bo tendered useful ha a water communication, 550. General snnimary of population, &c. t. (i\% Godwin, Mr. remarks on his work on Population, Gen. Int. xcii, note. Gore, Hon. Francis, liieut.-Governor of Upper Canada, i. 15. Statutes passed during his government, ii. 234—250, 267 — 286. Prorogtiea the parliament Ruddenly, 287. His speech on that occasion, 288. Addrons to him from the inhabitants of York, on his departure for England, 440. Goulburn, Mr. lettern from him to Mr. Oourlny, on the subject of emigration, Gan. Int. cclxxvii. ccxcii, ccxcviii. Gourlay, Mr. his Circular to Members of the Imperial Parliament, Gen. [nt. i. Statement of his case, v. Goes to Upper Canada, ibid. Conceives a scheme for a grand system of cmigratioa (o that country, vi. Recommends a subscTiption for sending home commissioners to intreat inquiry into the state of th« province, vii. Is twice arrested on charges of sedition, ibid. Advises the Convention to refer its cause to the Lientenant- Oovernor and general Assembly, viir. Is twice hononrably acquitted, ibid. Is arrested, and ordered to quit the pro- vince, ix. Is again arrested, and committed to jtril for eight months, ibid. Institutes an action for false impTisoftmant, x. Is cruelly treated in prison, xiii. When bToaght ap for trial, is wholly incapable of defending himself, from weak- ness occasioned by his close confinement, xv. Found guilty of having refused to leave the province, ibid. Pledge* him- self to show that Upper Canada, instead of costing England a large sum of money, could yield annually a handsome '*•- veime, xvii. Order for liis commitment to jail, xxv''- *»•• B 2 I 30 INDEX. petition to the House of Commons, xxix. To Chief Justice Powell, for a writ of habeas corpus, xl. Affidavits of his being a British subject, xli. His petition to the king, xliv. Reflections on the cruelty and illegality of his treatment, Ixviii. Ixxv — Ixxviii. and ii. 393. His design in the pre- sent work, Ixxxiii. Recounts some circumstances of his own history, ibid. Makes a journey into the counties of Rutland and Lincoln, to ascertain the advantages of granting a portion of land to the poor, Ixxxiv. Con- vinced of the necessity of changing the system of poor-laws, Ixxxvi. Resolves to devote his life to ihis end, Ixxxvii. A steady disciple of Mr. Mallhus, with certain modifications of his system, cii. note. Becomes overseer of tho parish of Wily, in Wiltshire, and employs himself in correcting errors respecting the wages of the poor, cvii, cix. Account of his reception by a party of farmers, at Brigg, in Lincolnshire, cxi. His pamphlet, entitled, Tyranny of Poor Laws ex- emplified, cxvi. His address to the labouring poor of Wily parish, cxxii. Petition to the Houses of Lords and Com- mons, on tho poor laws, education of children, &c, cxxix. Second petition on t)ie same subject, including proposals for supplying thp poor with land, and thus obviating the ne- cessity for poor rates, cxxxviii. Explanation of its object, cxlvii. Ease with which tliis might be accomplished, and benefiits which would arise from it, clir. Remarks on Mr. Malthus's Essay on Population, dxiii. Mr. Gourlay's con- stancy in the course which he has adopted, clxxii. Con- nexion of his plan for abolishing poor-laws, with emigration to Canada, clxxxii. His first address to the resident land- owners of Upper Canada, clxxxvi. His address to tlw people of Upper Canada, stating the reasons for delay in the publication of the work, cxcvii. Makes a pedestrian ex- cursion through the Highlands of Scotland, cxcix. Returns to London, but prevented, by unfortunate occurrences, from proceeding with the publication, ccvi. Sinks into a state of despondency and gloom, to arouse himself from which he offers to accompany Sir R. Wilson to Naples, in the cau«e of independence, ccvii. Prevented by the submission of tho I^*»Dolitans, ibid. Makes an excursion to the west of Eng- INBF.X. 21 i land, ccviii. Resolves \o commence a second volume, ccx. Apology for narrating his proceedings, ccxi. Refutation of the infamous slanders propagated againathim by the Coorier, ccxii. Account of his examination by the Hon. W. Dickson ccxv. note. Defence of his political conduct and opinions, ccxxii. Circulates proposals for a meeting of deputies from the farmers in every nr.rt of the United Kingdom, ccxxr. Benefits which would have arisen from the adoption of this proposition, ibid. Extract from hi.s letter in the Niagara Spectator, ccxxxiii. His remarks on the debate on Mr. Scarlett's Poor Relief Bill, cclxxiii— cclxxx. His letters to Sir Robert Wilson, cclxxxi. note. His petition to the House of Commons relative to the poor laws, cclxxxii. His cor- respondence with Earl Bathurst, on the subject of emigration to Upper Canada, cclxxxvii. Object and nature of his " Statistical Account of Upper Canada," cccxv. His ap- peals, cccxvii. His remarks on Mr. Adam's opinion on his case, cccxx. His disappointment as to a commission of Ca- nadians to solicit inquiry into the state of the province, cccxxiii. Observations on the resolutions of a meeting of the inhabitants of the county of Halton, cccxxx. On colo- nial government, cccxxxiii— cccxlii. On the policy of grant- ing independence to Canada, cccxlii — cccl. His journey to Wiltshire, ccclxii. Address to the people of Wiltshire, ccclxiii. Letter to the Editor of the Salisbury Jour- nal, ccclxix. Reason for reprinting these documents, ccclxxiii. Address to the palrliamentary representatives of the people of Upper Canada, ccclxxvii. Second address, cccxcix. His queries to the inhabitants of Upper Canada, i. 270. P]xplanatory notes, 271. Remarks on the state of the Home District, 458. His letter to the editors of British newspapers respecting the settlement at Perth, 522. His remarks on the encouragement held out by government to emigrants in 1816, 539. Arts of his enemies to prejudice the people against him, 653. Draught of a proposed address to the Prince Regent, 671. His review of the contents of this work, ii. 292. Observations on the character of Mr. Burke, 293, note; and on the absurdity of giving to Canada the British coB8tiiution,294, 299. Remarks on th« ii I f- n TNDEX. debasement of the people of Upper Canada, 303. Various niodee in which their represeutatives aro corrupted by tho governor, 305. Observations on the statutes of Upper Canada, 336. His treatment in Niagara gaol, 393. Letter on the situation of the felons con6ned there, 397. Letters to Sir Henry and Lady Torrens, 459 — 466, note. Address to the resident land-owners of Upper Canada, 471. Reflections on the cruelty and injustice of liis treatment, 491. Addi- tion to his address to the resident land-owners, 554. His letter to Governor Sherbrooke, 567. Causes which delayed his departure froir Canada, 665. His third address to the resident land-owners, 581. Extract of his letter relative to the proceedings of the Canadian convention, 598. His pro- posal to publish a newspaper in Upper Canada, 613. Letter to the editor of the Niagara Spectator, cii. Second letter to the same, cxxvi. Graham, Sir J, Gen, Int. cclxvii. Granti the Hon. A. president of Upper Canada, i. 15. St^itutes passed during hia administration, ii. 231 — 233> , , , Mr. C, Gen. Int. cccxciv. -. ,. , . ,;,, — — , Mr. W. ii. 72. ^i^v - .. ,^ -,.i,.,i, ^ .. , Grantham, township report of, i. 421. -> ,' - r; - .•• Grasses of Upper Canada, i. 154. . > , • , . '. k. Great Britain, reflections on its present situation, Gen. IiU. cxivii. Variety of schemes proposed for its deliverance, cxlviii. Me- thods by which thi^ object may be effected, cxlviii. No benefit to be expected from a revoluion, cxlix. Qrece, Mr. acgount pf his work on Upper Canada, Gen. Int. cccii. Qrenville, township of, i. 605* .,. , ,<, Gwy, Mr. ii. 29, 30, 32, 46. Qrimsby, township report of, i. 429, Second Report, 430. Qfinding, rate of, i. 271. Quvney, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxviii. cclxxii. cdxxiii. Qutbne*a Geographical Grammar, extraordinary mis-statement in that work, as to the ¥?olve^ of Uppet Canadi^ uoti<;^d and refutttd, i. 160. - Qypsmjj vbt^MftQU ia, Ifirge f .^-.vr rjrrf«rrtrfi-iT i rftW ii ri1' i lt i n l -f i "" frr '"trt ^ 'II I* | i | pf ^F I '''f^ fr f " ' " 'f ^T" >' ** " "* " M 30 INDEX. Metionistsi, conditionally exempted from serving in the miiitfe, i. 234, 619, 7iole. * '" Michigan, territory of, surrendered to the British by General Hull, i. 45. Miehilimackinac, given up by England to the United States, i. 24. Captured by the British troops, 25. Unsuccessfully attacked by the Americans, 26. Middleton, township report of, i. 329. Midland District, i, 118. General report, 492. Meetings of represenuitives, ii. G17, 618. Military settlements rarely succeed, i. 530. Militia of Upper Canada, grants of land promised to them during the war, but neglec^.d on the restoration of peace, Gen. InL X. Composed of the male inhabitants between certain ages, i. 229. Formed into regiments and battalions, ibid. Their officers, ibid. Annually reviewed, and trained, ibid. Nu- merous in proportion to the inhabitants, 230. Pensions allowed to those disabled during the war, and to the widow* and orphans of those killed, ibid. MA\e Islesi, seigniory of, i. 600. Mills of various descriptions, and charge for grinding, sawing, carding wool, &c. i. 276, 281, 286, 291, 295, 312, 315, 322, 333, 342, 347, 371, 382, 385, 389, 407, 409, 417, 422, 426, 429, 441, 445, 452, 467, 472, 482, 486, 488, 490, 493, 498, 503, 511, 513, 517, 518, 559, 580, 622. Milton, Lord, Gen. Int. cclx.ii. Minerals and mineral springs discovered or indicated, i. 276, 286, 295j 303, 308, 310, 312, 315, 318, 320, 322, 324, 330, 333, 338, 341, 342, 347, 349, 358, 372, 382,, 383, 386, 389, 394, 397, 407, 410, 413, 418, 422, 426, 435, 442, 447, 449, 453, 473, 483, 488, 490, 493, 498, 509, 511, 613, 516, 518, 660. Mink, a small amphibious animal, i. 165. Mistake, a curious one, as to the boundary between the United States and I^ower Canada, i. 23. Mocking bird, or brown thrasher, i. 174. Mohawk land, i. 132. Money of the province, i. 215^ Value of current coins, ibid. 4 oC INDEX. d( Monck« Mr. Gen. Int. cclvi. cclxix. Montreal, first settlement of, by the French, «. 3. Taken by General Amherst, 8. Two banks established at, 227, note, , seigniory of, i, 592. Moose deer, i. 159. ■ j Moravian towns, battle fought there, J. 42. Mosquenonge, a rare lake fish, i. 176. Motise, I 169. Field mice more numeroue in Upper Canada than in the United States, ibid. Mowing, reaping, and cradling, price of, i. 277, 282, 286, 292; 319, 320, 368, 370, 398, 413, 418, 427, 429, 438, 442, 447, 449, 453, 4f<9, 504, 561, 622,, Mullet, the, not plentiful in the lakes, i. 180. Murray, L.eutenant-General Sir G., Provincial Lieutenant-Go- vernor, i. 16. Musk rat, or mas^uasb, i. 165. N. ■■ V ■ t , I 1 United bid. National character, principally Anglo-American, i. 247. National debt, means prqiosed for its extinction, Gen. Int. cxlviii. Not an evil in certain circumstances, cxiix. Nelson, township of, i. 134. Township report of, 365. Newcastle District, i. 118. Newport, Sir John, Gen. Int. cccxci. cccxcvi. Newton, townahip of, i. 6G9. New York, state of, fnrnishe.s a fair example for Upper Canada, of the advantagef'. of emigration and settlement, i. 243, Niagara river, account of, i. 60., , falls of, described, i. 64—73. , town of, taken by the Americans, i, 81. Burnt by Gen. M'Clure, of the New York militia, 82. . .- District, i. 119. Completely organizrxl under Mr. Gourlay's plan, ii. 5/ J>. Meetings of the representatives of its several townshijts, 609. Nichyl, township report of, i, 375. 32 INDEX. I ,■ ! f Nichol, Mr. proposes certain resolutions in the House of Assem- bly, ii. 287. Cornea to England to submit documents on the state of the province to ministers, 485. Sketch of his proceedings, 628. Procures the committal of Mr, Durand to prison, for a libel, 644. Remarks on hia conduct on that occasion, 646. His history, 662. North-west Company, account of the, i. 31. Produce of their trade for one year, 33. Manner in which their business is conducted, ibid. Norwich, township report of, i. 331. Notes, explanatory of Mr. Gourlay 'a queries, i. 271, 300. O. Ogdensburgh xnisuccessfuUy attacked by the British, i. 111. Again attacked, and taken, 112. Onslow, township of, i. 609, Order in Council relative to the commercial intercourse with the United Stales, i. 259. ScJiedule of duties to be received under it, 261. ___„ — — .~ to lessen the tonnage duty imposed by a for- mer order, i. 265. Orford, township report of, i. 291. Oswego, its situation, i. 101. Taken by the French in 1756, ibid. Retaken by General Amherst in 1760, ibid. Given up to the United States after the treaty of 1794, 102. Cannon- aded without much effect by a British squadron, ibid. Tha barracks burnt by General Drummond, ibid. Ottawa, or Grand River, i. 114. An inland navigation might easily be effected between this river and the St. Lawrtaco^ by locks and canals, 127, Otter, not properly an amphibious animal, i. 164. Owen, Mr. Gen» hit. cxxxviii. clxi. Ox, pnca of a good one, i 277, 282, 287, 292, 468, 499, 505, 561. a for- TTiight 9, 505, tNDEX. 83 Oxen and cows, oTa good stock, i. 170. Oxford, (ownsliip of, i. 136. Township report of, 308. P. Palmer, Mr. F. (Im. Int. cclix. »dxix. cclxxiii. Parliament House at York, burnt by a party of American sailors, i. 90. Parliament and the People, ii. 5.39 — 704. Partridge, the, called in Pennsylvania, the pheasant, i. 173. Pasture, quality of, and what an ox of four years old will gain by a summer's run, i. 178, 282, 287, 29.3, SO."!?, 308, 310, 312, 319, 321, 323, 326, 328, 334, 339, .343, 34.5, .348, 349, 359, 372, 394, 398, 408, 410, 413, 418, 423, 449, 433, 478, 483, 48G, 490, 500, 505, 362. Pelham, township report of, i. 441. People and inhabited houses, number of. In each township, i. 275, 281, 285, 291, 385,467, 471, 482,493, 498, .503, 510, 559, 580. Perch, a finh common and easily caught, i. 179. Perry, Commot'ore, captures the British naval force on Lake Erie, i. 53. Treats his unfortunate rival with the most deli- cate attention, 64. Phillips, Mr. Gen. Int. ccl 'i. Phipps, Colonel, ii. 26,28, 31. Pickerel, a species of pike, i, 178. Pike, the Canadian, i. 178. Pitt, Right Hon. W. Ch.;ncellor of the Exchequer, introduces the act granting a constitution to Upper Canada, in 1791, ii. 1. His speeches on that subject, 2, 13, 30, 31, 33, 59, 65, 66, 69, 76, 77, 78, 84, 102, 103, 105, 108, 109. Places of worship generally plain, i. 255. Indecorous practice in some, ibid and note. Not so i umerous as might be wished, but increasing, 25f>. Plain, signification of this word in Upper Canada, i. 273. Ploughing, usual time of commencing, i. 278, 282, 287, 308, 310, 359, 360, 408, 410, 468,474, 499, .505, 561, 621, C i I 1 i 1 I 1 (i>*«ienM>:ikt»(i«a*^. y/.. -j^. INDEX. 35 iot pro- states, ;U over- Incon- ciii — cv. )itants of U lor the the do- , cclxxvi. bid ; and 'heir mis- the estab- e been ro- Inl. cIku. Jl*rinci[)lt»s and proooediiigs of tlio inhubitanls of Niagara District, ii. 51!). Proctor, General, abandons Ainherstburgli, i. 47. liesieges (Jerj. Harrison in Fort Meigs, 49. Raises thu siege, unil wifh- druws hi.s army towards Detroit, 50, Atteni[)ts to take Fort Sandusky, but is repulsed, ibid. Profession and practice of law, i. 234. Progress of political discontent in Upper Canada, ii. 313. Provincial Parliament, how constituted, i. 90. Sep Les^islaliv^ Council and Aase.mhly. Provincial revenue, amount and sources of, i. 220. Publications on Canada, account of, (Un. Int. ccci. Pugilism onco considerablv provalcut in the province, l)iif uow declining, i. 2.viJ. Q. Inhabit- Ito him for li>on, xliii. respect e L, 126. In SacV:"t'nt for (h.'bt, insolvi-nt hiws, nnd liability of land for debt, 238. Sketch XXX. Ciradual abolition of slavery, 240. Sketch XXXI. Price of land, and eacourngement to settlers, 241, Sketch XXXIl. State of "aiming, 244. Sketch XXXIII. Character, manners and customs of the inhabitants, 247. Appendix to the Sketches, 257. Introduction, (leu. Int. clxxxv. Sketches of a plan for settling in Upper Canada, account of, Gen. IrU. cccxiii. Skunk, a species of pole-cat, i, ld7. Skylark, not found in Upper Canada, i. 174. Slaves, the number of them in the province very small, i. 241. Sleighing parties, i. 250. Sleighing eeason, i. 273. Its ordinary enlurancc, 278, 282, 287, 292, 308, 310, 359, 36G, 408,410, 408, 474, 499, 505,,5iy, 561, 021. Smart, Mr. a missionary, his letter to Mr. Gourlay, containing ac- .' counla of various townships, i. 507. His excellent character, 558. Mr. Goiirlay's visit to him, ibid. Smith, Colonel, president of Upper Canada, ii. 540. Lonely situation of his house, 541. His speech on closing the ses- sion of parliament, 545. Remarks on it, 540. Smoking, a very common habit aitiong all clas'-cs in the province, i. 251. Snakes, not numerous in the province, i. 186. A double-headed one, 187. Sodus, village of, burnt by the British under Sir J. Yeo, i. 100. Soil of the province, component parts of, i. 147. Not so favour- able to grass as to grain, 154. Adapted to flax and hemp, 155. Soil, general character of the, i. 276, 281, 280, 291, 303, 308, 310, 312, 315, 318, .320, 322, 324, J28, 330, 333, 338, 341, 342, 344, 347, 349, 358, 366, 368, 370, 371, 377, 382, 383, iNDiti^X. 41 lie ses- Ivince, leaded 100, livour- hfiup, 308, [,341, I, 383, 380, 389, 394, 397, 407, 40y,4l2, 417, n% 426, 429, 441, 445, 4 If), 449, 452, 4(57, 472, 482. 485, 4H6, 487, 490, 493, 498, 503, 500, 513, ibid. Slfi, 517, 518. ibid. .WO. Sopliiu.sburg, townsliip of, i. 131. Township report of, 48ft. Suul.iiigc, stiiguiory of, i. 58G. Hoiithwold, township roport of, i. 344. Speaker of th(; Legislative Council, appointed, and may be re- moved, by the governor, i. 191. Squirrel, four species found in the province, i. 168. , the flying, a rare species, i. Ifih. Stamford, township report of, i. 4l6.i Statistical tables, i. 306, 336, 352, 354, 402, 404, 45^5, 624, 526, 610. Statute labour on the highways, i. 223. Extended in the session of 1816, 266. Statutes passed in the first session of the first Provincial Parlia- ineiit of Upper Canada, ii. 113. In the second session, 117. In the third session, 120. In the fourth session, 122. In the fii'st session of the second parliament, 125. In the second session, 203. In the third session, 211. In the fourth session, 213. In the first session of the third parlia- ment, 215. In the second session, 218. In the third ses- sion, 220. In the fourth session, 221, 224. In the first ses- .sion of the fourth parliament, 228. In the second session, 231. In the third session, 234. In the fourth session, 237. In the first .session of the fifth parliament, 241. In the second session, 244. In the third session, 247. In the fourth ses- sion, 251. In the second session of the sixth parliament, 255. In the third session. 259. In the fourth session, 262. In the fifth session, 267. In the first session of the seventh parliament, 284. Review of the statutes, 336. A new and improved edition of them proposed, 337. Steam-boats on the lakes, i. 108. Stones, a scarcity of them for common uses, in several parts of tho province, i. 148. Store, synonymous with shop in Upper Canada, i. 271. Stores, number of, i. 276, 281, 286, 291, 314, 333, 409, 467, 472, 493, 498, 503, 510, 517, 518, 559. ^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) X-«« ^ 1.0 I.I iai21 12.5 ■tt Itt 12.2 ^ aiA mil ^ |£° 12.0 L25 IIIU il.6 - 6" ^ 7] Sciences Corporation ^.V 33 WIST MAIN STMET WEBSTER, N.Y. U5S0 (716) •72-4503 '^ ..*% 42 1ND£X. J ! W Straclian, Ilev. Dr. account of his life, Gen. Int. cxcix. Autlior of a " Visit to Upper Canada," published by his brother, cciv. , Mr. publishes a ♦* Visit to Upper Canada," (len. Int. cxcix. Infamous character of that ivork, cci. cciv. Cri- tique on it, from the Scotsman^ cci. Street, Mr. ii. 504, 506, 507. Stuart, Ciiptain C. account of his " Emigrant's Guide to Upper Canada," CScn. Int. cccv. , Sir John, Gen. Int. cccxcvi. Sturgeon, the largest fish of '.he lakes, i. 175. Sucker, two species of this fish found in tlie lakes, i, 180, Sugar, maple, common in every district, i. 151. Summary of population, &c. in the Western district, i. 298. London District, 356. Core District, 405. Niagara Dis- trict, 454. Newcastle District, 468. Midland District, 41)5. Johnstown District, 520. Eastern District, 565. Summer heat, sometimes intolerable in Canada, ii. 393. The evenings in summer delightful, 401. Sun-fish, i. 182. Surrogate Court, i. 208. Swan, the, a rare bird in Upper Canada, i. 174. Swayze, Isaac, member of assembly, Gen. Int. xxvi. Ixviii. Ixxiii. His character and employments, ii. 297, 498. Systematic petitioning, the mode by which any great national end may be obtained, Gen. Int. cxxxvi. % Taverns, number of, i. 276, 281, 286, 291, 315, 333,467, 472, 498, 503, 559. Taxation, all power of as to Upper Canada, solenuily and ex- pressly renounced by the British Parliament, i. 203. A general spirit of contentment and satisfaction on this subject in the province, 204. — . -., not an evil, so far as it stimulates to industry, Gen. Int. cxlix. Tuxes, no direct provincial, except the diblrict tax, i. 222. INDKX. 43 l7, 47'2, Ind ex- Li. A |subjcct en. InL I. 222. Aniomit of this for one yeiir, ibid. No \vhere less burden- some, 223. Taylor, Mr. M. A. his speech on Mr. Scarlett's Poor Relief Bill, Cen. Int. cclvii. On the Quebec Bill, ii. 23, 87. Tecumseh, the Indian chief, slain in the battle near the Moravian towns, i. 43. His body treated with indignity by the Ame- rican soldiers, 44. Tcnipleton, township of, i. 6Ufi. Terrebonne, seigniory of, i. 598. Thistle, two kinds of, known in the province, i. li)6. Thorold, township report of, i. 445. Thurlovv, township of, i. 132. Township report of, 489. Thorpe, Mr. Justice, persecuted by Governor Gore, ii. 322. His subsequent treatment, 335. Timber, kinds produced, i. 270, '281, 286, 291, 303, 308, 310, 315, 318, 3iO, 322, 324, 328, 330, 333, 338, 341, 342, 344, 347, 349, 358, 366, 368, 370, 371, 377, 382, 383, 386, 38!>, 394, 397, 407, 409, 412, 417, 422, 426, 429, 442, 445,446, 449, 452, 467, 472, 482, 485, 486, 4h8, 490, 493, 498, 504, 509, 514, 517, 518, 560, 620. Toronto, township of, i. 134. 'J'ortoise, fresh water, or turtle, three species of, i. 183. Townsend, township report of, i. 318. Townships, I'pper Cailadp originally divided into 158, i. 110, 'J'heir number since increased, 121. Their extent, and the manner in which they were laid out, 122. Township meetuigs, ii. 587, 591, 594, 695, 590, 602, 603, 604, 605, 600, 608, 615, 616, 620, 622, 623, 624, 625. reports, i. 269. Some withheld and others withdrawn by interested persons, 567. Trade of the province, much of it a species of indirect barter, i. 226. ' and apprenticeships, i. 236. Trafalgar, township of, i. 134. Township report of, 358. Travelling accommodations, very indiflerent, i. 250. Tree toad, or frog, i. 187. Trees, the Canadian do not exactly resemble the same species in Britain, i. 465. r ,,c v , 1 M INDEX. Trolling, a favourite manner of fishing in the lake«, i. 182. Trout, the common brook, i. 177. Tunkcrs, enjoy a conditional exemption from militia duties, i. 234, 619, note. ^ Tyranny of Poor Laws exemplified, a pamphlet by &Ir. Gourlay, Gen, Int. cxvi. U. V. U. E. loyalists, persons adhering to tlio royal cause la the Ame- rican war, rewarded with land to themselves, and to their children on attaining the age of twenty-one years, i. 13. Their rights violated by the government of the province, ii. 466, note. Vaudreuil, seigniory of, i. 589. Vincent, General, attempts to prevent the landing of the Ame- " rican troops at Fort George, i. 81. Is compelled to retreat, 82. Retires to Burlington on the arrival of a part of Ge- neral Harrison's army, ibid. Surprises the American army in their camp during the night, and takes Generals Winder and Chandler prisoners, 84. W. Wages of blacksmiths, masons, and carpenters, i. 277, 281, 286, 292, 312, 318, 326, 330, 333, 338, 341, 343, 345, 368, 366, 370, 376, 398, 410, 423, 442, 447, 453, 467, 473, 483, 490, 499, 504, 512, 560, 622. of c jmmon labourers, and of women servants, i. 277, 282, 286, 292, 368, 370, 372, 390, 413, 439, 447,449, 463, 467, 493, 499, 504, 518, 560. • *-' -t^hi^. ■ > — ^ Wainfleet, township report of, i. 449. Wakefield, Mr. Extract from his Statistical Account of Ireland, Gen. Inl. Ixxxix. note, >< •■ ■ ; ' *" Walpole, township report of, i. 320. Walsingham, township report of, i. 327. INDBX. 4r* Waler of the provinct generally impregnatgd in a slight degree with limestone, i. 145. Water conveyance, I. 280, 283, 288, 293, 304, 309, 311, 321, 328, 334, 339, 345, 348, 350, 360, 367, 373, 377, 382, 387, 401, 408, 411, 414, 419, 424, 427, 435, 448,450, 454, 476, 484, 486, 487, 489, 492, 600, 601, 503, 681. Waterloo, township report of, i. 382. Wutscu, Mr. Alderman, ii. 73, 109. Wea.sel, i. 168. Wellington Square, part of the townBhip of Nelson, report of, i. 368. Wentworth, township of, i. 605. Western District, i. 120. Meeting of representatives, ii. 621. Westminster, township report of, i. 302. Statistical table, shew- ing the commencement of improvement in this settlcmeaty 306. Wheat, the staple of the province, i. 154. Should be sown, early, ibid. , ordinary season of sowing and reaping, i. 278, 282, 287, 292, 308, 310, 359, 366, 408, 410, 468, 474, 493, 499, 505, 619, 661, 621. T -, tpantity required to sow an acre, and the average crop, i. 278, 282, 287, 292, 315, 372, 390, 394, 413, 429, 468, 493, 499, 505, 561, 622. Whipper-Will, or Whip-poor- Will, i. 174. Whitbread, Mr. proposes to have the poor of England educated, but fails, Gen. Int. cxxxiv. White fish, i. 177. Wilberforce, Mr. ii. 101. Wild cat, or Canadian lynx, i. 162. — — turkeys, i. 172. geese, i. 172. ducks, i. 172. Wilkes, John, sketch of his history, ii. 652, cxxx. Willcocks, Mr. persecuted because of his political principles, ii. 315. Account of his case, 665—662, note. WilliamEburgh, beautifully situated, i. 126. Battle of, or Chry»- ler's Field, ibid. 46 fNDKX. f ; ■ f Willoiighljy, townnhip roport of, i. 412. Wilson, Sir R. (ien. InL cclv. cclxi. cclxvi. cclxviii. cclxxi. cclxxii. Letters to liim from Mr. Qourlay, cclxxxi. note. Wiltshire, mfthod of regulating the wages of labour in this ami the adjoining counties, Gen. Int. cvii. Great error of tliis system, cviii. Wily parish, in Wiltshire, metliod of regulating the wages of labour there, (ien. Int. cvii. Petition from thence to the Houses of Lords and Commons, cxxix. Second petition, cxxxTiii. DilficuUies with which it had to struggle before being presented to the House of Commons, cxlvi. cxlvii. Explanation of its object, cxlvii. Sunday school established there by the labourers, ccclxi. Windham, township report of, i. 314. Winds, the most prevalent, of Upper Canada, i. 141. Wolf, a very common animal in the province, i. 1(50. An extra- ordinary niis-statement on this subject in Guthrie's Geogra- phical Grammar, refuted, ibid. Wolford, townt?hip report of, i. 498. Additional Report, 601. Wolverene, or carcajou, i. 162. Wood, Colonel, Cen. Int. cclxvii. , Mr. Alderman, (iin. Int. cccxcvi. Woodchuck, or ground hog, i. 166. Woodhouse, township report of, i. 322. Wool, average quantity yielded by a sheep, and its price per pound, i. 278, 282, 287, 292, 382, 468, 499, 50.5, .061. Worsley, Lieut, captures two American schooners, by stratagem, i. 26. Y. ,,*■ * r^ -SSf'-% — Yarmouth, township report of, i. 342, Yellow ochre, i. 150. Yeo, Sir J. L. burns the village of Sodus, i. 102. Raises the blockade of Sacket's harbour, after the defeat of an expedi- tion up Sandy Creek, 103. Yonge Street, a military way, laid ont by General Simcoe, •- i 93. Its great advantages in facilitating the comtnuaiontion INDRX. 17 «..l. ,W „„r,l,.„„,, ibid. ,M„onc, of „pi„i„„ „, ,^ ,„ iron, y.|. iownslup report of, 512. » orli, i|i„ sent of tlie provincial government i R<| I, ■ Ihi.i /• ■ ,. . '""«^m, I. HS. lis ,111,11, 1 iM. Garrtson and harbour, 89. Taken b, ll,o A,„ ■'"<•• The paHi„.„„, bon,e, *c. bnrn. by V r.^ H"'"' n<:an,ail„r,, go. Again ,.ke„ by Co.nLdor?.; " ana Colonel S™.., „,. Desoriptio!: of .hoTotT.^^'T -crab e ...,e „f .„„ ,„rrou„ding conntry, «». si-ppo,,^ ,^' I'ulai.on of (ho town, 483 '^^ '^ Youn,, Mr. Arthur, hi, .hon.e for providing .h. poor „i.b . portton of and. Cc„. l,u. U..W. Publisher „J„„jil^! 0.0, o .Mr. Oonria,'., without hi, c„n..„, l^^iii."^: y attach, to h„ ,,cho,no of giving land to .ho poor, ,c " J. (.. UAKNARD, •7. Skitinrr sirtei, Luiidoit.