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(T^J^'j , I ' -^-^ >^' / / ./ ^ /, / ^'^/■//A ^^ \.\^\^c e (ccC Ti\^ T^v c <- fU ,^v '^<«'i /.^a/c^/^^-.^YnfmrwI /.'-''V. //>"■ ->■>-(.<.:»• 1 * f^ "^ V. /' ftr~ //e-x. •/c^ ^/l,M<, y^ ,''>^ . 14 4 0!4- NOVA-SCOTIA DELEGATION. DESPATCHES Laid before the Legislature in the Session of 1851, on the sul^ject of the HALIFAX, QilEBEO, AND PORTLAND RAILROADS. Published by Authority. HALIFAX, N. S. 1851. .^' %t KM ».-» i¥t9'i^ lli jn.jrt vT £*:?: ^^^!f ■ ^ " '-y^ i. tx •f>. ^.- t 'f * MJ* ^:l m •v.ijno ■ ' 1 *"; r "t«,).' ;■"■ •'.')W'),-'»' . -t S-c 37i»:'.''T,.'a;}&« h-".>^. >i yueijd'.ou 1- .i.f t'j. r'.Vfm"'' :1,t'i 11. '' ••;r"' I.VIJ f [(W 1*. >! iviiTjJ Matltoas Bei^pattljeie^. — 0- .0 .In < '\>a{ -Til ■i' The Legislatire Coancil to Sir Joha Harrey. To His ExeeUency Lieutenant General Sib John IIabtct, Knight Commander of the Moat Honorable Military Order of the Bath. Knight Commander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphie Order, Lieutenant' Governor and Comi. under in Chief, in and over Her Majesty's Provinve of Nova Scotia and its Dependencies, ^e. jfc. (fc. The Address of the Legislttive Coancil. Mat it Please Your Excrllkhot. The Legislative Council of Nova Scotia, have hfid under their consideration the sub- ject of the proposed Railroad between Qaebec and Halifax, and have passed the accompany- ing Resolution : " Resolved that an address be presented to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor re- questing him again to call the attention of her Majesty^s Government to the subject of the proposed Railroad from Halifax to Quebec, and to urge the great importance of that un- dertaking to the welfare and prosperity of the Province, and to use all the Constitutioniil means in his power to expedite its commeneie- ment" To which they pray Your Excellen'^ cy's favorable consideration. Wednesday, Siarch 27, 1850. Sir John Harvey to Earl Grey. No. 168. Government House, Halifax, Mayi, 1850. Mt Lokd— I have the honor to enclose, for Your Lord- ship's consideration, a Resolution adopted by the Legislaiive Council of this Province on the subject of the projected Railroad from Ha- lifax to Quebec. The people of tliis Province are very anxious that some great public work should be immediately commenced, and I beg to draw Yeur Lordship's attention to the Law passed on the 31st March, 1849, enacting that It should be lawful for Her Majesty to cause Five Commissioners to be appointed for estab- lishing and constructing such Railroad from Halifax to the bonndxry line of New Bruns- wick, to meet a Railroad from Lower Canada through the Province of New Brunswick ; and also giving power to the Governor, by and with the advice of the Executive Council, to ▼est in her Majesty ten miles of the Crown Land on each side of the line, for the benefit .VK ^c'-:j;.i> ■JVT'M-U'' siMiftlfit^ri of the Railroad, and to raise funds for thecca- !> struction thereof ; and lastly, that the Rail- road should be under such rules and regula- ,.^ tions as shall be established by Her Majesty's . Government. A pledge has likewise bees J giyen for the sum of Twenty Thousand PonndSk ; sterling, to pay the interest on the Capital to { be expended for the accomplishment of tlii« x « Work. The opinion is very strongly entertain«d here, my Lord, that the construction of thii Railroad would be one of the most effectual means of defending these possessions of Her Majesty, and would assist in preserving the connection with each other, and the lutber Country, and would develope the resouraei^ invigorate Trade and Commerce, and promote '° the permanent prosperity and h&ppinees of her ' Majesty's subjects in these portions of the Realm. I have, &e. (Signed) J. Habtbt. \ The Bight Hon. Easl Grbt, &c. &c. &«. Earl Orey to Sir John ilarrey. No. 224. Downing Street, I9th June, 1830. f Sra — I have to acknowledge your despatch, N«. 168, of the 2d ultimo, enclosing a Resolntiua ,^^ of the Legislative Council, that an AddreM bo .^v presented to yourself, requesting yon again to call the attention of Her Majesty's Goven- ment to the subject of the proposed Railroad from Halifax to Quebec. 2d. Her Majesty's Government have net failed to give their best attention to a subject in which so deep an interest is taken by the inhabitants of Nova-Scotia ; but I am bound testate that they are not prepared to submit to Parliament any measure for raising the fund* f^ necessary for its construction, con«idering the great amount and pressure of the exigencies which continue to weigh on the Imperial Trea- sury. I have, &e. (Signed) Gbbt. Lieutenant Governor bit John Habvbt. Sir John Harvey to Earl Grer. No. 190. Government House, 29th Auguet, 1800, Mr Lord— Your Lordship is aware, from the Corral poadence whioh baa passed between the North Anieriean GcTernmentt and the Colonial Office, that for some time paat a deep interest lias been felt by the people of these Provinces is the prcjiotion of Kailvrajs. 2. So long as hopes were entertained that Her Majesty's Government would aid in the eoastmction of the Line between Halifax and iQnebec, public attention was concentrated ■pen that. As the prospccu of its accom« plishment became less definite and assured, other projects either local or .nter-colonial were discussed, and Resolutions or Laws, hav- ing relation to these were passed during the recent Sessions of most of the Colonial Legis- lalnrea. 3. The construction of the Electrie Tele- graph which now not only connects Halifax with the Chief Towns of New Brunswick and the State of Maine, but forms the most im- portant link in the chain of communication between the old world and the new, and the Meoess which has attended that appropriation of the public funds have attracted public at- teation to the practicability and importance of placing a Rail Road beside the Telegraph, 4. This would give to Nova-Scotia and New Brunswick a noble highway through their Territory— connect them by Railway with all the principal Cities of this Continent, and secure to the Port selected for the Eas- tern terminus, commercial advantages, with which no seaport within the Republic could ever successfully compete. 5. While these views were pressing upon the minds of the leading men in the Provinces, the subject was taken up in the State of Maine, and a Convention, to which the Colonists were invited, was called to meet at Portland on the Slst of July. 6 The proceedings of that Convention I have now the honor to enclose (No. 1,) to- gether with ttie reports made by the Delegates who attended from Nova-Scotia, to the com.» innnities or coraniittees by which they were severally appointed, (No. 2.) 7. On the return of those Delegates, the public mind in Nova-Scotia became very high- ly excited, particularly in Halifax, and those Counties througli which the Road would pass. 8. Under these circumstances, my Govern- ment were required to deal witli the question thus raised, and to decide whether tlicy would stand aloof from this movement, and allow a great Highway, wliich in peace would be a thoroughfare of Nations, an J in war mi;^ht be of vast importance, to lie constructed and con- trolled by Foreign Capitnlists, or should at onco grasp the cnterprize, and by the aid of the public fundsand credit, discharge, towards the Country, tnu hig'.cst and most legitimate functions of a vigtjrous Executive. Tho latter determination was arrived at, and the oppor- tunity was afforded to ^.eclare their policy, at a public meetiLj,' held in ihe Metropolis on the 24th instant, the proceedings of which will be found reported in the papers transmitlcd by tbia mail. 9. This movement, which meets my entire approbation, has been received with great sa- tisfaction by all parties. The address of the City Council, with my answer, (No. 3,) I have the honor to enclose. 10. The details of this measure have yet to be adjusted, and it may be necessary to send to England some Members of my Government to communicate more at large with Your Lordship in reference to them. 11. In the meantime, I should be glad to be informed whether, upon such pledges as have been regarded as satisfactory in other Colonies, being given, Her Majesty's Govern- ment would be disposed to aid Nova-Scotia with its guarantee of such funds as she may find it necessary to borrow in England, In or- der to conBtrnct this Road. These would not exceed £800,000 Sterling, and would proba- bly be secured, not only on the general Revenues of the Province, but upon the road itself. 12. Such a guarantee would enable the Province to enter the market on the best terms, and effect a large saving in the accom- plishment of the work. 13. The Revenue of Nova Scotia is about £80,000 Sterling— her debt but £87,802 Ster- ling, of which £47,892 is represented by Pro- vince Paper, on which no interest is paid.— The permanent and indispensable charges are about £40,000 Sterling, leaving about £40,- 000 Sterling of Surplus Revenue available for public improvements. The Revenue has in- creased £4400 Sterling within tho present year— the increase on the whole will be proba- bly £10,000 Sterling. 14. If therefore, as I anticipate, the Legisia* ture sustains the policy of the Government, they will have the means at their disposal to pay the interest promptly on any loan they may require to effect. 15. I shall be very much gratified by an early commuuication of the decision of Her Majesty's Government on this point, and of the terms and nature of the securities required, I have, &c. (Signed) J. HAnvET. The Right Uononiblc Earl Grey, &c. &c. &c. Eail Grey to Sir John Harvey. No. 232. Downing Street, 21.s7 September, 1850. Sir— In acknowledging your Despatch No. 190 of the 29i.h ultimo, on the subject of the pro- jected line of Railway from Halifax to Port- land in Maine, I have to express my entire approbation of the degree of support and en- couragement given by yourself and the Pro- vincial Administration to this important un- dertaking. 2. I regard tho Work as one calculated to be of the highest service to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and instead of considering it as likely to endanger by competition the still n:orc important scheme wuich has been *rwf- ?f'; it :»year, is the amount of interest to be paid by the colon/, 1 feel satisfied that your Lordship will be dis- Cosed to promote any well-considered measure y which so large a saving may be effected, without risk to tne Imperial Government. I have &c, (Signed) J. HARVET. The Right Hon. Earl Grey. &o. Ac. &o. Hon. Joseph Howe to Earl Grey* 5, Sloane Street, November S5th, 1850. Mv Lord,— Having, at the interview with which I WM honoured on the 18th instant, received year Lordship's instraotions to place before von, ia official form, the arguments on which, m Representative from the Province of Nora Scotia, I base my application for the guarantee of the Imperial Government, in aid of the public works projected by the Government of that colony, I beg leave, with all respect, te call your Lordship's attention to the followiof^ statement and o\. servations. Regarding the period as rapidly approaehin jf, ii it has not actually arrived, when railroaaa mast be laid down through her most advanced and prosperous counties, east and west, Nova Scctia is called to decide, with the experience of the world before her, upon the measures to be adopted to secure for her people, at the lesBt expence, with the slightest risk, and ia the shortest time, these great modern improve- ments. Her people have been accustomed to free roads ; no toll bars exist in the Province. Her roads, made at the public expense, belong; to the country, and are emphatically the Queen's highways. In the few instances where she Has deviated from this policy, in respect to bridges or ferries, the cost and the inconveniences of monopoly have tested it* value. Railways are highroads of an improved construction. They are as essential to our advancement and prosperity now, as common roads were in the olden time. The service which the Government has performed for a hundred years in respect to the common roads, which probably measure 8,500 miles, ve believe it to be capable of performing in regard to railways. The administration is content to assume the responsibility, and the people, including an immense' majority of all political parties, are willing and anxious that they should. If our Government had means sufficient to build railroads, and carry the people free, we believe that this would be sound policy. If tolls must be charged, we know that these inM be more moderate and fair, if Governmeat reg^ulite tliGin by the coil of construction and the lea Toyngc, bj tho one route, would be manigement, than if monopolies are created, 1107 miles shorter than by tho other, and i(peculator<) regulate the tolls only with To run these 1 107 mik's by steamboat, at reference to the dividends. If there oe risk 12 miles an hour, would require Wi hours; to or loss, we are content to bear it. If the trof. run them by rail, at 30 miles an hour, would fie of the country yields a profit, we would require but 3G hours. This route would there* apply the surplus revenue to the opening of fore save, in the communication between new lines, or to the reduction of the cost oi Europe and America, 5() hc^rs to every liansportation. individual, in all time to come, who pasned Were a railroad tu bo constructed in Nova between the two continents ; tho sea-risks to Scotia, for the accommodation of internal life and property being diminished by one- traffic alone, we chould perhapH decide to lay third of the whole. a line through our western counties firMt. The States lying east of New York will be these being the most populous and improved, benefited in a ratio corresponding with their An inter colonial railroad, in which the relative distances from that city. A merchant adjoining colonies feel an interest, otTers more travelling from London to Portland, not only general advantages than a mere local line, wastes Oti huurs in s;oing to New York, but Hence the interest felt in the Quebec Railroad, must turn back and travel 400 miles on the which would have drawn to Halifax much route to Halifax besides, which will require 13 trade from the St. Lawrence, and opened up hours more. to colonization large tracts of wilderness It is clear then, that when the line across lands, both in Canada and New Brunswick. Ireland is completed, and that from Halifax This lino requiring 5,000,000/. sterling to to Watervillc (from thence the lines are con- complete it, tho united resources of the three tinuous all over the Unilnd States), this route provinces are inadequate to the work, without may defy competition. No business man will very liberal aid from the British Government; travel by a .outc which leaves him 56 or 60 that aid having been refused, the project has hours behind time, which gives to others been for the present reluctantly abandoned. dealin* in the same articles, and entering tho A railroad to Portland offers many advan- same markets with the same information, i°uch tages which one to Quebec does not. It will very decided advantages, cost only about half as much. It must run. No person travelling for pleasure will waste nearly all the way, through a comparatively &6 hours, at some peril, on the ocean, where improved country. It would connect Halifax there is nothing to see, who can, in perfect with St. John (and by the river, with Frede- security, run over the same distance by land, licton) and the larger towns oi NewBrunswick; with a cultivated country and a succession of giving to all these, with the villages and towns and villages to relieve the eye. agricultural settlements lying between them. The Americans asserrbled at the Portland most desirable facilities for internal traffic. Convention pledged themselves to make this KThe Portland Railroad would secure to line through the teiritory of Maine. Capitalists Nova Scotia tho advantages which nature and contractors in that country profess their designed her to enjoy : connecting hsr with readiness to complete the whole through the all the lines running through the American British provinces, provided acts of incorporat- Continent and making Halifax a common ion arc given to them with liberal grants of terminus fur them all. No American steamer, lahd and money in addition, which did not touch at Halifax, could thence- For various seasons, the Government of forward compete, in priority of intelligence. Nova Scotia are reluctant to permit this to be and the rapid transit of passengers, with those done, which did. They are unwilling to surrender that which From New York to Liverpool, the shortest must become for ever the great highway sea-line measures 3,100 miles, that usually between the capital of Nova Scotia and her traversed is 3,300. eastern counties, to the management and Miles, control of foreign capitalists. From Holifax to Galwoy is . . . 2,130 They believe it to be, my Lord, equal/ Dublin to Holyhead 63 sound provincial and sound national policy, that that portion of what must become a great ,*tfai.< .i.:n i.v'j 2.193 highway of nations, which lies within the 'ifl Holyhead to London . 863 territories ol Nova Scotia and NewBrunswick, Holyhead to London . 863 Dublin to tiie S.W. , Coast ci Ireland 120 Halifax to St John's . 2G6 St. John's to Watervillc 200 Waterville to New York 410 should be kept under British control ; and they believe that tho security|and defence of the maritime provinces arc involved in adher- iiuiai ence to that policy. -,.:.,, They believe that the honour of tho 1,259 Crown is concerned extent which n this question, to an calls upon them to pledge the .« ,«)yii ;' ■ .1 ' xn«' 3« 3,452 entire credit and resources of the province, lAiiking the whole land and sea distance 159 that it may not be tarnished. Having done miles more than the present sea passage. But this, they believe that the Imperial Govern- tll of of be rreat the rick, and e of her- the ) an ! the .1 nee, done ern- menl onght to take at leasit lufTicicnt interest in the question to enable them to enter the Engliih monejr''markct on the boat terms, and efibct a large saving in the expenditure nquir- ed. Money is worth, in the United States and in the British provinces, 6 per cent. Suppose this railroad to be constructed by American or provincial capi'allats, it is evident that our portion of it, which will cost JESOO.OOO sterling, must p!iy Je4f<,000 sterling, or £60,000 cur- rency, over and above its working expenses. With the Imperial guarantee, we can obtain the funds required at ;<<^ per cent., reducing the annual interest to £2'^fi00 sterling, or JK35,000 currency, The Government of Nova Scotia believe, that if British capital, so much of which flows into foreign States, where it i.s always inse- cure, and in times of trial is found to have invariably strengthened our enemies, can be safely invested in the Queen's dominions, the Impsrial Government siiould take an interest in its legitimate employment ; and they are quite prepared to invest an equal sum to that now required in building a line through the western counties of Nova Scotia, wliencver the eastern pays its working expenses and interest on the sum expended. They believe that, even if the province could raise this amount of capital, to withdraw so large a sum from the ordinary channels of circulation, where it is beneficiolly employed, and earning interest and profits, would cramp the trade of the country, and produce, on a small scale, embarrassments similar in their nature to those experienced in the parent State. They believe that a low rate of interest would lead to the establishment of a low rate of fares, of which every Knglishman passing over the line would feel the advantage. They are prepared to carry the British and American mails at reasonable rates, and to authorize the British Government to pay the amounts contracted for, to their credit on the loan, Thry believe that Her Majesty'sGovernment legitimately employed their influence in securing, by the Nicaragua Treaty, a passage for British subjects andcommeice to the East. They believe thiit to control the great highway to the West, and to secure to a British province the advantages of oceanic steam na-'igation, would be an equally legitimate objict. They believe that if Her Majesty's Govern- ment takes the lead in those noble North American enit'rprises, they will make the Queen's name a tower of strength on that continent. They apprehend that if the colonists are driven to seek sympathy and assistance from the United States, in aid of their public works, to become large debtors to their capitalists, at extravagant interest, to cmplov their citizens habitually in the besom ot their revulsion of feeling, dangerous to British interests, will be created, which itateimea should foresee and avoid. Whether, my Lord, it waa prudent in the Provincial Government to a^k for the Imperial guarantee, I would reipeclfully suggest that It is now too late to consider. The refusal will wound the pride of every Nova Scotian, and strengthen the belief that England is indif- ferent to the industrial development of the maritime provinces : that she has no policy, by backing which their inhabitants can be elevated to fair competition with their Repub- lican neighbours; and that when they ask her countenance and co operation in measures which are as eisential to the national dignity and securly, as they would bo productive of internal improvement, the reply, though courteous, shuts out hope. An impression prevails in the Lower Pro- vinces,that either from the immndiaic presence in Canada of noblemen generally standing high in the confidence of the Ministry at home, ur from the sensitive irritability with which all parties rcirort to open violence in that province, more weight is given to reprosenta'ions affecting her interest, than tu those which concern the maritime colonies. Nova Scotians, compelled to sacrifico £22,000 a year in the completion of a national work, by the refusal of the Imperial Gcvernment to guarantee to the capitalists of England the interest on this loan, cannot fiiil to contrast the relative position in which they are placed by that refusal. That they may not copy the evil examples by which a larger share of fraternal consideration will appear to them to have been secured, shall be my sincere and anxious prayer. The Canadafi, seeking Responsible Govern- ment in the French mode, resorted to armed insurrections, ,'which cost England 4 or £5,000,000 to suppress. Immediately afler the restoration of tranquillity, the British Government lent the Canadoa £1,500,000. Had the maritime provinces participated in those rebellions, every r^^'ment that marched through them in the winters of 1S37 and 1839 would have been cut ofl'. They did not. They adhered to their allegiance, and denounc- ed the rebels. They cheered the soldiers on their winter marches, and provided for their wives and children. Yet Canada has been rewarded for bad faith and the waste of national resources, by a bonus of a m'.liion and a half; and I know of terms in which 1 can describe what my countrymen will feel, if, with a surplus revenue already available to secure tiic parent State from risk, they are refused the gurantee for half that amount. In 1831', the Stateof Maine called out its Militia to overrun the Trovincc ofNewBruns- wick. Nova Scotia, though not directly menaced, promptly tendered her entire pecu- niary and physical resources in vindication of the national honour. She had no direct inter- their country, a est in tiie Boundary question. Not an ucreof hot loil wai lupnaeed ; ypt the did not hciilate Scotia wan no ■ooner completed, than Ameri- to tender her means, iiid to let an example of can mcrcliania and speoulatora in cotton sad loyal imanimily, miic!) wanted on th>> contl- corn would liavo l>ought it at any price, in nent at that moinrnt, and which, had war peace and war the command of the work now commenced, could not have failed to have propoiiod would give them grrat influ«nce. drawn it into her husom Yet now, the pro No single aiaociation in the two provinoea pie ahe would hivi> fcught tender thiir coopc- would wield lo much. If they built the trunk ration to make a ^ri^at national highway acroas line they would ultimately control the branch- hcr loil ; and I ouhmit, with all deference, my ca. The conntanl employment of Iheir own Lord, whether the iJovereign, wlin«e honor she people would lead to the diti'usion of Rcpub- waa prompt to vindicate, ahculd be advised to iican nentiinenta ; and no Nova Scotian, or rnfuat* her aid, i>nd view with unconcern the inhabitant of Now Brunawick, would deem it probable construction of auch a wotk in our worth hia while to attempt to counteract very midst, by foreiirn capital, to be aubject to tendencies to which the mother countrjr seem- for^ign influence and control. ed indiflereni, and which he saw must inevita- Wlien tiic storm blew from Maine we wrap- bly lead to but one result, ped our loyalty around us. Who can tell Should it be objected, my Lord, that to what may happen, should the sun of prosperity comply with the request preferred by Nova dhine from that (|uarter, and coldness and Scotia, would be to delay or peril the neglect appear on the otiier side ? completion of the great railwaj projected by Englai.d would not allow foreigners to con* Lord Durham, and which was designed to trol a ^^reat line of railway reaching from form a back-bone for the North American Dover to Aberdeen. Should she permit them Provinces, and to open up largo tracts of waste to control It'iO miles of r.iilway through Nova land to colonization ; we answer — Scotia and New Brunswick ! Show us that Her Majesty's Government When th'3 French propagandists menncfd seriously entertain that project ; that they are BeLiuiii, the Belgian Government controlled prepared to go down to Partiment and demand the railways. The invaders were ambushed that it shall oe realized ; and Nova Scotia will and overpowered ; and through all tlie con- at once honourably redeem the pledges which, vulsions uf JH-iH— 18.'>0, Belgium has remain- in anticipation of what she conceived to be the ed tranquil and secure. Imperial policy, were recorded upon her Wiun the mob uf Montreal seized upon the statute-book, capital of Canada, the electric telegraph was However the question may have changed in their har.da. The wires were used to com- its aspect, Nova Scotia will not swerve from municate with partisans above and below, by any line of inter-colonial policy which the which Lord l^lgin was seriously compromised, parent State regards of paramount importance, his Government hav ng no assurance that their But the question has changed its aspect, secrets were kept or their messages delivered. Whether Canada, with its railway lines, but, my Lord, it may be asked, why shou'd connecting Montreal and Quebec with the foreign capitalists make and control this road ? sea, rt'a Melbourne and Portland, and which Why may this not be done by the colonists will, by the completion of the line now propo- themselves' Because, — sed through the cultivated parts of New 1st. Capital is more abundant in the Uni- Brunswick, unite both these great cities with ted Slates (most of which have borrowed Halifax, by distances severally of 825 and 865 largely from Englandj than in the British miles, will be disponed to embark funds in provinces. another, through a comparative wilderneas, on^"*^' |;.''P«^i«"«'' °f "''^^y «"t"P7««' 'Tov^ScoK Whatever may be the predi- fh—r. , " in them are more general m jeotions of the Imperial Government, or the cnai country. determination of Canada, possssses this 3rd. A body of railway ergineers, con- advantage : The line which she proposes to tractors, and operatives, already formed in the construct through her territory, must be a different States, seek further employment, common trunk-line for both the Portland and and will take much stock in payment, if the Quebec Railroads, whenever these aro employed. completed. 4th. The interest of most of the lines south Nova Scotia, cannot be wrong in construet- and west would be promoted by extension, iiig her 130 miles. If the Portland Railroad Not only would Europeans, now reaching the only is built, she is content to share the Central States by sea, travel by rail if this fortunes of that enterprise. If the British were laid, but the population of the provinces, Government prefer, and choose to aid the who rarely go south or west, for want of facili- work originally proposed, Novd Scotia will ties, would, by the aid of the European and eitherpay her contribution, already pledged, North American Railroad, be let in on the or she will raak? that portion of the common western and southern Unes. line to the St. Lawrence which passes through 5th. The national ijiortance of controlling her territory, this railroad will induce Americans to embark We hope to see both lines finished. One in it. The electric telegraph across Nova continuous railroad communicatiou with the irekt riven tnd Uk«i of Canada, or with the principal citiea of the United Statra, would give an iinpelUH to the aocial and matorinl proaperily of Novi\ Scotia, which her people anticipate, in confident reliance upon their own reiourcRi and on the bonntiei of Provi- dence. Give thorn both, and the trunk lino through their country inuit become a nouree of profperity to the province, to its Oovernment, — only to be paralleled, in the hiiitory nfihe New World, by the oelebrntrd Krie Cannl. But, "y Lord, it may bo urged that the parent b ) hni many colonies, and that she may be jarrasscd by other claims of a similar nature, if this is granted. Admitting the soundnes, of the objection, I rospoctf ullv submit that it comes too late. The liritisli Goverroient has already eitablished the precedents of which Nova Sootin would claim the benefit. The grants to Canada have been already referred to. In ltj4vS, a law was passed by Parliament, guaranteeing the interest required on a loan fortho public works of the West Indies and the Mauritius, including railways. But we humbly conceive that no general rule of this kind ought to apply, even if the exceptions to which I have referred dla not exist. The Government of England docs not place a lighthouse on every headland, nor maintain a garrison in every English town. It does not build a dockyard in every county, nor in every colony. The prominent points of the sea-ooast are occupied for commercial security, and the most comtaanding positions for the preservation of internal tranquility and national defence. Gibraltar :s a barren rock, yet millions have been expended in its capture and defence. Bermuda, in intrinsic value, is not worth a single county of New Brunswick, yet it com- mands the surrounding seas, and is therefore occupied for national objects. In like manner, 1 would respectfully submit should the commanding position of Nova Scotia be appreciated, occupied, and rendered impregnable — not by the presence of fleets and armies — but by inspiring its people with full confidence in the justice, magnanimity and wisdom of the Imperial Government — by promptly securing to (he provinces all the advantages arising from its proximity to Europe — from its containing within its bosom the high road, over which, in all lime to come, the Anglo-Saxon race must pass in their social and commercial intercourse with each other. There are other views of this question, my Lord, which ought to have their weight with the Government and > people of England. — The position of the North American Provinces is peculiar, and the temptations and dangers which Burrround them, trust me, my Lord, require, on the part of the Imperial Govern- ment, a policy at once conciliatory and energe- tic. The concessions already mtdc, and the principles acknowledged by Her Majesty's Government, leave as nothing to desire, and Imperial statesmen little to do, in regard to theiatfrnalodministratlon ofour aflfairs. But something more than this is required by th« high spirited race who inhabit British America. Placed between two mighty nations, we some- times f^el that we belong, in fact, to neither. Twenty millions of people live beside us, from whose markets our staple productions are <>xcluded, orin VI hichthey nreburthened with high duties, because we are British subjects. For the same reason, the higher paths of ambition, on every hand inviting the ardent spirits of the Union, are closed to us. From equal participation >n common right, from fair competition with them in the more elevated duties of Government and the distribution of its prizes, our British brethren, on the other side, as oarefully exclude us. The President of the United States is the son of a school- master. There are more than 1000 school- masters leaching the rising youth of Nova Scotia, with the depressing conviction upon their minds, that no very elevated walks of ombition are open either to their pupils or lh«ir children. Protection to any species of industry in Nova Scotia we utterly repudiate ; but your Lordship is well awr.re that many branches of industry, many delicate and many coarse manufactures, require an extended demand be- fore they can be sustained in any country. This extended demand the citizens of the great Ropublic enjoy ; and it has done more for them than even their high tariffs or their peculiar institutions. The wooden nutmeg of Con- necticut may flavour, untaxed, tne rice of Carolina. Sea-borne in a vessel which tra- verses two mighty oceans, the coarse cloths ofMassachusetts enter the Port of San Francis CO without fear of a custom-house or payment of duty. The staple exports of Nova Scotia oannot cross the Bay ot Fundy without paying 3(J per cent. ; and every species of colonial manufacture is excluded from Great Britain by the comparatively low price of labour here, and from the wide range of the Republic by prohibitory duties. , The patience with which this state of things has been borne; the industry and enterprisa which Nova Scotia has exhibited, in facing these difRculties, entitle her to some considera- tion. But a single century has passed away since the first permanent occupation of her soil by a British race. During all thot time she has preserved her loyalty untarnished, and the property created upon her soil, or which floats under her flag upon the sea, is estimated at the value of £15,000,000. She provides for her own civil Government,— guards her criminals, — lights her coast, — ncaintains her poor, — and educates her people, from her own resources. Her surface is everywhere inter- sected with free roads, inferior to none in America ; and her hardy shoresmen not only wrestle with the Republicans for the fisheries and commerce of the surrounding seas, but w f 1; enter into successful competition with them m the carrying trade oi the world. Such a coun- try, your Lordship will readily pardon me for BUggestinjT, even to my gracious Sovereign's con^dcntiai advisers, is worth a thought. Not to wound the feelings of its inhabitants, or even seem to disregard their interests, may be worth the small sacrifice she now requires. Nova Scotia has a claim upon the British Government and Parliament, which no other colony has. The mineral treasures in her bo- son are supposed to be as inexhaustible as the /isherieg upon her eoast or the riches of her soil. Nearly the whole have been bartered away to a single company, for no adequate provincial or national object. A monopoly has thus been created, w!)ich wounds tho pride, wiiile it cramps the industry of the peo- ple. If Nova Soolia were a Stale of the Americim Union, this monopoly would not last an hour. If she now asked to have this lease cancelled or bought up, that her industry might be free, she would seek nothing unrea- sonable. The emancipation of our soil is per- haps as mu'^h an obligation resting upon tho people of England, as was the enamcipation of the slaves. No Government dare create such a monopoly, in England or in Scotland ; and bear willi me, my Lord, when 1 assure Your Lordshij) that our feelings are as keen, our pride as sensitive, as those of Englishmen or Scotchmen. IJreak up this monopoly, and capital would flow into our mines, and Ih? mines would furnish not only employment for railroads, but give an impetus to our coasting and foreign trade. Nova Sooliaiis have seen £20,000,000 not lent, but given, to their fel'owcolonists in tlie West Indies. They admired the spirit which overlooked pecuniary considerations in vitw ofg|[eat principles of national honour and humanity. But by that very act they lost, for a time, more than would make this railroad. — Their commerce with the West Indi s was seriously deranged by the ciianjje, and the consumption of tish, their great staple, largely diminished. If money is no object honour is at stake in the should it be in British emancipation of 800,000 obligation, to be redeemed at the cost of £^0,000,000., surely a territory, which now contains double the number of Whit'^s, nttnch- ed British subjects, and which will ultiinatelv contain ten times that number, is worth risking a million or '.wo to preserve. The national bounties of F'rance and America my Lord, also place Nova Scoiiain a false and unfavourable position. These bounties ure not aimed at our industry, but at Britisii naval supremacy. Yet thjy subject us to an unfair competition upon tho sea, as galling as is the mineral and mutallic monopoly upon tho land. For every qunital of fish a Kr-nciimen catches, his Government pays him ID franc. or 8s. -lii, sterliujj, and cviry man and boy when tho national West Indies, whj; Americn .' If the Blacks is a mora! emp'oyed receives •'SO francs for each voyage besides. For every ton of shipping an Ameri- can employs in the fishery, his Government pays him SOs. per ton. Nuva Scotia juts into the seas which the French and American fishermen, thus stimulated, occupy. If she were a French province, or an American State, not only would she participate in those bounties but she would fit out and own, in addition to her present fleet, at least 1000 fishing craft, which now come from foreign ports into the waters by which she is surrounded, and subject her people to a species of competition in which the advantages are all on one side. The manner in which Nova Scotia has extended her fishrries in the face, of this competition ; t!ie hardy race slie has reared upon her sea-coast ; the value of craft employed and of export furnished, speak volumes for the enterprise and industry of hur people. Yet every Nova Scotian fishermen ;oi!s with this conviction daily impressed upon his mind : — " If I were a Frenchman, my profits would be secure. I would be in a position equal to that o! an American ; far superior to tbit of a colonist. If I was an American, I would have a bounty suflicicnt to cover the risk of myoStfit, and besides, have a boundless free market for the sale of my full, extending from Maine to California, which is now half-closed to me by nearly prohibitory duties." The British Government could break down these bounties at once, by equalizing them. The mother-country owes it to her Northern Provinces to try the experiment, ifthey cannot be removed by negotiation. But suppose she does not; suppose that having done my best to draw attention to the claims of those 1 have the honour to represent, I return to them without hope, how long will high spirited men endure a position in which tiieir loyalty .subjects their mines to monrpoly — their fisheries to unnatural competition — and in which cold indifference to public improvement or national security, ia the only response they meet when tiiey make to tlie Imperial authori* tics a proposition calculated to keep alive their national enthusiasm, while developing their internal resources .-' Tho idea ol a great intor-colonial railroad to unite the British American Provinces, originated with Lord Durham. In the confi- dent belii'f that this work was lo be regarded as one of national iniportanf^e, Nova Scotia paid towards the survey of the line nearly jC>*000. The anticipation that the completion ol tliisgroal work, in connexion with a scheme of colonizati' ii, would redress many of the evils and ineciunlitics under \shicli the provin- ces labour, for some time buoyed up the spirits of the jireople, and the disappointment is keenh felt in proportion as hopes were sanguine. If then the British Government has abano'onod tho policy to which, perhaps to J lia.iitily, we a:isumed tliat it was pledged ; if tlie oilipiro will ir.ako no roads throii^^h its territories • and the legions of Britain might I 11 \ be worse employed) ; surely it cannot be less liend the depth and eanestness of our impa- than madness to permit foreigners to make tience to be rescued from a position which them; and it must be sound statemanship to wounds our pride as British subjects, and is aid the Colonial Governments, whenever they calculated rapidly to generate the belief, that will assume the responsibility of constructing the commanding position of our country is and controlling the great highways, no Ices either not understood, or our interests but necessary for internal improrement than for lightly valued, national defence. My Lord, f do not touch the question of If the road to Nova Scotia is commenced, Emigration and Colonization, because I have the spirits of the colonists will revive. If already trespassed largely upon your Lord- extended to Portland, it will " prepare the ship's patience, and because I do not wish to way," to employ your Lordship's own lan« encumber the subject. There is another rea- guage," for the execution of the line to Quebec, son, my Lord. 1 do not desire to enter inci- and it will contribute to the same end, namely, dentally upon a field which has yielded so that of rendering Halifax the great port of many crops of fallacies, but which, properly communication between the two continents of cultivated, may yet bear noble fruit. I wish Europe and Americn." to examine what may have been recently said I have said that the railroad acros.'? Nova and written in England, on this important Scotia will be the common trunk for the subject, before expressing my opinion. This Quebec and Portland lines, whenever these are only! may say, that if the British Islands made. The former cannot be conotructcd by have suvplus labour, there is room for it all in the colonists, unless the British Government the North American Provinces: and that the make liberal contributions. Tlio line to Port- honour and the interests of England are deep- land will be made cither with Brills !i or ly concerned in planting that labour in the American capital, if by the latttr, then, my right place-. Lord, it is worth while to inquire in what I am aware, my Lord, that it is the fashion position the British Government will stand, in certain quarters, to speak of the fraternal should they ever attempt to realise Lord Dur- feelings which, henceforward, are to mutually ham's magnificent concep;ion, and find that animate the population of Great Britain and the first link ir the great chain of inter, of the United States. I wish I could credit colonial communication is already in possession the reality of their existence; bnt I must of their enemies .•' believe the evidence of my own senses. The Americansat this moment are putting A lew years ago 1 spent the 4th of July at forth their utmost skill to compete with our Aluany. The ceremonies of the day were ocean steamers. When the railroad is con- imposing. In one of the largest public halls structed across Nova Scotia and New Bruns- of the city, an immense body of persons were wick, their boats must start from and return assembled. English, Irish, and Scotch fices toHalifax, or the competition will beat an end. were neither few nor far between. In the A rivalry, honourable to both n.itions, may presence of that breathless audience, the old still continue; but, however tiie odds may bill of indictment against England, the Decla- turn, at least we shall have the satisfaction to ration of Independence, was read, and at every reflect, that the inevitable result of that com. clause each young American knit his brows, petition is to build up a noble maritime city and every Briton hung his head with shame, within Her Majesty's dominions. Then followed the oration of the day, in which The British Government now pays, for the every nation, eminent for arts, or arms, or conveyance of the North American Mails civilization, received its meed of praise, but between England and New York, £145,000 England. She was held up as the universal sterling per annum. By this arrangement, oppressor and scourge of the whole earth, — 1107 miles of sea are traversed more than are whose passage down the stream of time was necessary. The correspondence of all Europe marked by blood and usurpation, — whose cer- with all America is delayed fifty six hours lain wreck, amidst the troubled waves, was beyond tbc time which will be actually but the inevitable retribution attendant on a required for its conveyance, when the railroads course so ruthless. As the orator closed, the across Ireland and Nova Bcotia are completed, young Americans knit their brows again ; One set of these British mail-steamers pass and the recent emigrants, I fear, carried away by our own province.^, and, to the mortifica- by the spirit of the scene, cast aside their tion of their inhabitants, carry their letters, allegiance to the land of their fathers, and even the public despatches of their Had this scene, my Lord, occurred in a Government, to the United States, to be sent single town, it would have made but a slight back 800 miles, if they come by land ; at least impression ; but on that very day, it was acted 500, if sent by sea. with more or less of skill and exaggeration, in While the nearest land to Eu-ope is Hritish every town and village of the Republic. It territory, — while a harbour, almost matchless has been repeated on every 4th ot July since, for security and capacity, invites Knnlishinen It will be repeated every year to the end of , to build up witliin the empire a fitting rival time. And so long as that ceremony turns to the great comtnercinl cities which are rising upon England, every twelve month, the con- beyond it, your Lordship will readily comprc° ceutrated hatred of Repullican America, it u &c. &c. cannot be a question of indiiTerence, whether Scotia at least be consoled by the reflection the emigrants who desire to leave the mother that her past history pleads for her on every country, should settle within or beyond the fitting occaiiion. boundaries of the empire. 1 have &c. There is, my Lord, another view of this (Signed) JOSEPH HOWB.,,. question, that is pregnant with materials for Tiie Right Hon. Earl Grey. >t. reflection, and that should task the statesman- Sec. ship of England, independently of it, though deserving to be glanced at in this connexion. I have said that the North American Provin- ces lie between two mighty nations, yet belong in fact, to neither. This branch of the subject is wide, and may be variously illustrated. — Perhaps, before leaving England, 1 may call your Lordship's attention to it again. For the present I confine myself to a single illus- tration. Whatever may be the decision of Her Ma- jesty's Government upon this claim, which, on the part of the province 1 represent, I have endeavoured respectfully to press upon your Lordship's notice, I believe, and every one of my countrymen will believe, that if presented to the magnanimous and enlightened Assem- bly where we are not represented, by a few Nova Scotians, whose hearts were in the enterprise; whose knuwledg'' of the position and requirements of British America was minute and various ; whose zeal for the inte- grity of the empire, and the honour of the Crown, trould not be questioned, the House of Commons would nor permit them to plead in vain. But, my Lord, we have no such privilege. We daily see our friends or acquaintance across the frontier, not only distinguishing themsslvs in the State Legislatures which guard their municipal interests, but enriching the national councils with the varied eloquen- ce and knowledge drawn from every portion of the Union. From the national councils of his country, the British American is shut out. Every day he is beginning to feel the contrast more keenly. 1 was not at the recent Port- land Convention, but the colonists who did attend, astonished the Americans by their general bearing, ability, and eloquence. But when these men separated, it was with the depressing conviction in the hearts of our people, that one set would be heard, perhaps, on the floors of Congress the week after, or be conveyed in national ships to foreign Embassies; while the other could never lift their voices in the British Pacliament, nor aspire to higher employment than their several provinces could bestov. Let us then my Lord, at least feel, that if thus excluded, we have but to present a claim or a case Hon. Joseph Howe to Earl Grey ^ - 5, Sloane Street, January 16, 1851. .., Mr Lord, In the letter which I had the honour to ad< dress to your Lordship on the 25th November, I argued the '^asc of Nova Scotia on its own merits, and ventured to claim the guarantee of the Imperial Government in aid of her public works, upon grounds which alTected her mate- rial interests, her pride, her enterprise, and stedfast loyalty to the British Crown. The immediate consideration of that letter I did not desire, because, while preparing it, I was quite conscious that if the single issue raised, were to bo decided by Her Majesty's Government upon the merits or claims of Nova Scotia alone, the Cabinet would have but a very inadequate statement of the rea- sons which ou^ht to secure, and the province I represent but a slender chance of obtaining, a favourable decision. The interest which the mother-country has in the elevation of North America, in the in- crease of her population, the developemont of her resources, the occupation of her wild lands the extension of her commerce, and of her means of easy internal and external communi- cation, [ believe too far transcend theinterest, great as that is, which the several provinces feel in these very important questions. Should the aid of the parent State be refu- sed, the Northern Provinces would still, but with less rapidity, complete their public works. Though not an emigrant landed on theirshores, the population they have would live in plenty, and double every twenty years. Should they change their political relations, the worst that could befal them, would be association with their Anglo-Saxon neighbours,or an indepen- dent position, moderately secure, and full of future promise. But England cannot afibrd to descend from the high position which she occupies among the nations of the earth. Having lost one- half of a mighty continent, won by the valour and enterprise of a noble ancestry, she can as little afford to confess, in the presence of all the world, her inability to wisely rule the other half, and preserve the attachment of its inhab- itants. Besides, there are within her own po- worthy ot consideration, to have it dealt with pulous cities, and upon the surface of her high- i« n fnir on^ -.„..■, r.«nar/^ui> ot^irW ly-cultivatcd rural distficts, certain evils, dis- in a fair and even generous spirit. The warrior of old, whose place was vacant in the pageant, was yet present in the hearts of the people. So let it be with us, my Lord. if the seats which many whom I have left behind ms, could occupy with honour to themselves, and advantage to the empire, are still vacant in the national councils, let Nova orders, and burthens, with which it behoves her, as a f>ood economist, and as a wise, en- terprising, and Christian nation, energetically to deal. For more than a month I have surveyed, with intense earnestness, the wide circle of her colonial dependencies, and studied in parlia- 13 •ijti, Bientary and official papers, for some assured prospect of relief from those evils and disor- ders. I have examined with care the policy of the present and of past Governments, and the plans and suggestions of public writers and associations ; and have invariaby tamed to the North American provinces with the con- viction that they present, at this moment, the most available and diversified resources for the relief of England ; the noblest field fot the farther developement of her industry, philan- thropy and power. In ofi'ering suggestions to the Ministers of the Crown, I feel, my Lord, the distance which divides me, in rank and intelligence, from those I would presume to counsel ; and yet I am not without a hope that they will givesome weight t« the position I occupy and to the training which my mind has received. If I understand the questions to be approach- ed better than many persons of far higher at- tainments— if I feel more acutely their com- manding importance, it is because, being a na- tive of North America, I have travelled much over the provinces, and mingled familiarly, and for many years, with all classes of their inhabitants ; and being a member of her Ma- jesty's Council in the province I represent, I am bound by my oath to offer my advice, through the Channels established by the Con- stitution, to my Sovereign, in matters of State, which I believe to involve the honour of the Crown and the integrity and prosperity of the empire. To provide employment for her surplus ca- pital and labour— to extend hsr home markets — to relieve her poor-rates— to empty her poor houses — to reform her convicts — to diminish crime — to fill up the waste places of the em- pire, and to give the great mass of her popu- lation a share of real estate, and an interest in property, I believe it to bo pre-eminently the mission and the duty of this great country at tlie present time. The period is favourable. The removal of impolitic restrictions has lessened to some ex- tent the pressure upon the public finances, and given to the people that measure of relief which affords time for reflection upon the means by which the still existing pressure upon industry may be further relieved. In a colonial point of viaw. the period is also fa- vourable. Thanks to the policy which the present Cabinet have carried out, the North American Provinces are relieved, so far as free countries ever can bo, from internal dis- sensions. Invested with controul over their own aflfuirs and resources, they have now the leisure, as they assuredly have a sincere desire, to consult with their brethcrn on this side of the Atlantic on common measures of mutual advantage. I think I may say that while they anticipate great benefit from tao co-operation and aid of the mother-country in promoting their public works, they are not unmindful of their duty to consider the peculiar questions in which this country feels an interest ; and to take care that while availing themselves of the credit of England, no permanent addition is made to her publie burthens. The subject" of Colonization and Emigra- tion havo b<^' ■ .ost elaborately discussed . I pau OTSi ; points in which writers and speakers dif*' ; in this thej all agree, that the British lalevAa have an interest in these snbjecta, second to none that has ever been felt by any nation in ancient or modem times. The enumeration of a few facts will be suffici- ent to exhibit the grounds of this belief. The statistical returns of 1850 will, I have no doubt, show a state of things much more favourable, but still I fear not so favourable as to shake the general conclusions at which I have arri- ved. These are founded upon facts, as I find them stated in official documents and works of approved authority. In Ireland the lives of the population have for years been dependent upon the growth of a single vegetable. But when it grew, as was stated by the late Charles Buller, uncontradic- ted, in tne House of Commons, on an average there were 2,000,000 persons who, in that is- land, were unemployed for thirty weeks in the year. To what extent famine and emigration have since diminished the numbers, I have no means of accurately judging ; but :t appears that in 1348, besides the 10,000,000/. granted by Parliament for the relief of Irish distress, and provisions sent from other countries, 1,- 216,679/. were raised in Ireland for the sup- port of the poor, and that 1,457,194, or near- ly 1 out of 5 of the entire population, received relief. In Scotland, where the population is only 2,620,000, a fifth more than that of British America, 545,334/. were expended for the re- lief of the poor in 1848, more than was spent by the four British provinces on their civil go- vernment, roads, education, lights, interest on debts, and all other services put together ; 227,647 persons were relieved, the amount expended on each being 2/. 7s. 9d.; a sum quite sufficient to havo paid, in a regularly appointed steamboat, the passage of each reci- pient to British America. In England, in the same year, 6,180,765/. were raised for the relief of the poor, or Is. IQd. in the pound on 67,300,587/. The num- ber aided was 1,176,541. or about 1 out of every 1 1 persons occupying this garden of the world. The sum paid for each was even higher than in Scotland, being 3/. 5s, lOd. per head, more than sufficient to have paid the passan;c to North America from Liverpool or Southampton. 1 turn to the workhouses of England, and find that in 1849 there were in these recepta- cles, 30,158 boys and 26,1(55 girls, of whom 8,264 wore fit for service. In Ireland, under 18, there were 60,514 boys and 66.285 girls, the aggregate in the two countries being 185,- 122. Turning to the criminal calender, it appears that in 1848 there were committed for offences in England, 30.349 ;in Scotland, 4,900 ; and in Ireland, 38,522, making 73,771 in all j of 14 whom 6,298 were traiuportod, and 37,373 im- prisoned. I find that in 1849 you maintained in Ire- land a constabulary of 12,S28 men, besides horses, at a cost, taking the preceding year as a guide, of 562,500/. 10s. In England and Wales you employed 9,829 policemen (incln- ding the London police), at a cost of 579,327/. 4a. 8d. From Scotland I have no return. — But taking the above facts to guide us, it ap- pears that, for mere pnrposes of internal re- pression, and the arrest of criminals, to say nothing of beadles and innumerable parish officers, yoH maintained, in addition to your army, a civic force double in number the en- tire army of the United States, at a cost (Scot- land not being included) of 1,141,833/. 14^. 8d. Think yon, my Lord, that when a Bepub- lican points exultingly to ffae returns, and con- trasts these statistics of poverty and crime with the comparative abundance and innocence of his own country, and which he attributes to his own peculiar institutions, that a British colonist does not turn, with astonishment at the apathy of England, to the millions of square miles of fertile territory which surround him ; to the noble rivers, and lakes, and forests by which the scenery is diversified ; to the ex- hanstless fisheries ; and to the motive power, rashing from a thousand hills into the sea.and witli which all the steam-engines of Britain cannot compete ? Driven to attribute to British and Irish statesmen a want of courage and forecaste to make these great resources available to main- tain our brethren and protect their morals, or to suspect the latter of being more idle, degra- ded, and criminal, than their conduct abroad would warrant, we gladly escape from the ap- prehension of doing general injustice, by lay- ing the blame on our rulers. May it be the elevated determination of her Majesty's Ad- visers to relieve us from the dilemma, by wi- ping ont this national reproach. One set of economists propose to remedy this state of things by restraints upon nature, which arc simply impossible, and would bo wicked if they were not ; another largo poli- tical party desire to feed the people bv a re- turn to protection and the revival of class in- terests with all their delusions and hostilities; a third look hopefully forward to the further development of domestic industry in accord- ance with the principles of free trade. All my sympathies arc with the latter ; bat while hostile tariffs exist in most of the popa- lous States of Europe and America, I would aid them by the creation of new markets with- in the Queen's dominions, by the jadicious lo- cation of those who ore a burden, upon the fertile lands of the empire, that they may be- come customers to those who remain at home. One writer, whose book I have read recent- ly, objects to this, b(!cause he says that if any part of the population is displaced, young peo- ple will marry, and increase the nnmbers until the vacuum is filled np. The young ought certainly not to object to this, or the old either If his tiiuory be sound, it answers the objec- tions of those who fear too great diminutioa of numbers, by emi<;ration ; and colonization would still have this advantage, that it would strengthen- the transatlnntio provinces, and make more customers fur Britain and Ireland, even should tlicir population remain thcsame. But it may be said there is but one enlight- ened mode of colonization, and, under the pa- tronage of the Govcrument and of associated companies, that is being very extensively tried in our southern and eastern pos.vssions. Of the Wakefield theory I would speak with all respect ; of the combined efforts of pnblic-spirited individuals, I would be the last to disapprove; the judicious arrangement* made by the Government Commissioners, for the selection of emigrants, the ventilation and security of ships, &n.\ the distribution of la- bour, and which I have carefully examined, challenge in most of their details, my entire sanction. I do not wish to check the progress, in these valuable colonies, of associated enterprise; I do not desire to restrict the growth of populatioa within them, or to supersede the functions of the Board of Land and Emigration ; I wish these rising communities God speed, and suc- cess to all those who take an interest in then. But I turn from them to the North Ameri- can field, perhaps because I know it best, bat assuredly because I believe that to people and strengthen it will secure political advantages of the very highest importance, and because I apprehend that the Eastern Colonies, however they may prosper and improve, will ofi'ar but homoepathic remedies for the internal maladies of England. In twenty-two years, from 1825 to 1846 in- clusive, only 124,272 persons went from the United Kingdom to the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. In thu same period, 710,- 410 went to the United States, to strengthen a foreign and a rival Power, to entrench them- selves behind a hostile tariff, and to become consumers of American manufactures, and of foreign productions, seaborne in Amerioaa bottoms ; they and the countless generatioa that has already sprung from their loins, un- conscious of regard for British interests and of allegiance to the Crown of England. In twenty-two years 124,272 settlors have gone to Australia and New Zealand ; about half the number on the poor-rate of Scotland in 1848, not a tenth part of the paupers re- lieved iu Ireland, or one in fourteen of those who were supported by England's heavily- taxed industry in that single year : not more, I apprehend, than died of famine in a single county of Irelanr*. from 1846 to 1850; and less, by 60,000, than the number of the young people who were in the workhouses of Eng- land and Ireland in 1849. Valuable as these Eastern Colonies may be, respectable as may have been the efforts to improve them, it is manifest that whether we regard them as extcosive fields for colooi- 15 zation, or &i industrial lids for the remoTal of pressure on the rcsoin CCS of the U. King- dom, tho belief, howti\or fondly indulged, is but a delusion and a snare. Wcie I to go in- to a calculation of the expense, to show what this emigration haa cost the Government and people of England, I could prove this by preg- nant illustrations. But two or thice simple facts are patent, and lie upon the surface. Australia and Now Zealand are 14,000 miles from the shores of England. The Bri- tish provinces of North America but 2,.'500. — Every Englishman, Irishman, or Scotchman, who embarks for the Eastern Colonies, must be maintained by somebody for 120 or 150 days, while he is tossing about in idleness on the sea. The average passage to North Aise- rica is about 40 ; and when tho arrangements are complete to which I hope to have your Lordship's countenance and support, emi- grants embarking for the North American Provinces, may reach Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in 8 or 10 days, and Canada in 12. The expense of a passage to the East, is to the Government, to the emigrant, or to the capitalist, to whom he becomes a debtor, 20/. The cost of a passage to the West rarelv ex« ceedj 3/. I0s„ and may be reduced to 2/. 10s., if steamships for the poor are employed. But mark the disproportion, my Lord, in other respects. If an Engish or Irishman with capital go to the Eastern Colonies, he must pay 100/. sterling for 100 acres of land. If he goes to the Canterbury Settlement he must pay 300/. In Western Canada he can get his 100 acies of the best land in the empire for 40/.; in Lower Canada for 30/. ; in N. Bruns- wick (where Professor Johnston declares more wheat is grown to the acre than in the best parts of the State of New York,) for 12/. 10a.; and in Nova Scotia for 10/., where, from the extent of mineral treasures, the proximity to Europe, the wealth of the fisheries, and the fa« cilities for and rapid growth of navigation, land is now in many sections, and will soon become in all, as valuable as in any part of Her Mejeity's Colonial Dominions. _ If land is purchased in the Eastern Posses- sions, it is clear that English capital must flow out at the rate of 100/. or 300/., for every 100 acres. If the poor go out they must be- gin colonial life by owing that amount, and 20/. for their passages besides, if they aspire to become proprietors. A poor Englishman, on the contrary, can got to North America for a few pounds. If ho works a single winter at the seal-fishery of Newfoundland, or on the wharves in NovaSco- tia, or a single summer in the rural districts or timber forests of New Bruuswick, he can save as much as will pay tor bis passage and his land. But it is said that these high prices are paid, not for land alone, but for the civilization without which land is of little value,— for roads, bridges, churches, schools, for religious services and the means of education. But all thtse exist in North America, to aa extent, and of an order, of which few persons who have not visited the provinces have any cor- rect idea. Nova Scotia, for instance, is divi- ded into seventeen counties, with their magis- tracy, sessions, court-houses, i.iils, representa- tives, and complete county organization. Each of these again is divided into town- ships, whosb ratepayers meet, assess them- selves, support their poor, and appoint their local ofiScers. In each of the shire tow ns there are churches of Fome if not of all the religions bodies which divide the British people. Every part of tke country is intersected with roads, and bri''ges spaa all the larger and most of the smaller streams. From SO to 100 public schools exist in every county ; there is a Bible in every honse, and few natives of the province grow up but what can read, write, and cypher. The same may be said generally of tho other provinces. We charge nothing for these civilizing infia- ences. The emigrant who comes in, obeys the laws and pays his ordinary taxes, which are very light, is welcome to a participation in them all, and may for 10/. have his 100 acres of land besides. The best criterion of the comparative civili- zation of countries may be found inthegrowth of commerce and the increase of a mercantile marine. Tried by this test, the North Ameri- can Provinces will stand comparison with any other portion of the Queen's dominions. The West India Colonies, the Australian group including New Zealand, the African Colonies and the East Indian, or the Manri- tius and Ceylon, owned collectively in 1846 but 2,128 vessels, or 42,e?0 tons of shipping. The North American group, including Cana- da, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfound- land, and Prince Edward Island, owned in that year 5,119 vessels, measuring 393,822 tons. Of these. Nova Scotia owned in ton- nage 141,093, and ill number more than tho other four put together, or 2,583. Bat it may be asserted that the climate of North America is rigorous and severe. The answer we North Americans give to this ob- jection is simple. Do me tho honour to glancef my Lord, at the hemisphere which contains the three quarters of tho Old World and divi- ding the northern countries from the south, the rigorous climate from tlie warm and ener- vating, satisfy yourself in which reside at this moment the domestic virtues, the pith of man- hood, the seats of commerce, the centres of in- telligence, the arts of peace, the discipline of war, the political power and dominion — assM- redlyin the northern half. And yet it was not always so. The southern and eastern por- tions, blessed with fertility, and containing the cradle of our race, filled up ftrst, and loled for a time the territories to the north. But as civilization and population advanced north- wards, the bracing climate did its work, ask will ever do, and in physical endurance and iatellectual energy, the north asserted the su- periority which to this hour it maintains. Look BOW, my Lord, at the map of America. A rery common idea proTails in this conntry that nearlj the whole Continent of North America was lost to England at the Revola- tion, and that onlj a few insignificant and al- most worthless provinces remain. This is a great, and if the error extensively prevail, may be a fatal mistake. Great Britain your Lordship is well aware owns np to this mo- ment one half the continent ; and, taking the example of Europe to guide us, I believe the best half. Not the best for slavery, or for growing cotton and tobacco, but the best for raising men and women ; the most congenial to the constitution of the northern European ; the most provocating of steady industry; and all things else being equal, the most impregnable and secure. But they are not and never have been equal. The first British emigration all went on to the southern half of the continent, the northern portion, for 150 years, being occupied by French hunters, traders, and Indians. The British did not begin to settle in Nova Sco- tia, till 1749, nor in Canada till 1763. Prior to the former Period, Massachusetts had a po- pulation of 160,000, Connecticut 100,000. — The city of Philadelphia had 18,000 inhabi- tants before an Englishman had bnilt a hou^o in Halifax ; Maine had 2,485 enrolled militia- men before a British settlement was formed in the Province ot New Brunswick. The other States were proportionately advanced, before Englishmen turned their attention to the Northern Provinces at all. The permanent occupation of Halifax, and the Loyalist emigration from the older pro- Tinces, gave them their first impetus. Bat your Lordship will perceive that in the race of improvement, the old thirteem States had a long start. They had three millions of Britons and their descendents to begin with at the Revolt ion. But a few hundreds occupied the provinces to which I wish to call attention at the commencement of the war, only a few thousands at its close. Your Lordship will, I trust, readily perceive that, had both por- tions of the American continent enjoyed the same advantages from the period when the Treaty of Paris was signed, down to the pre- sent .hour, the southern half must have impro- ved and increased its numbers much faster than the northern, because it had a numerous population, a Nourishing commerce, and much wealth to begin with. But the advantages have not been equal. The excitement and the necessities of the War of Independence in- spired the people of the South with enterprise and self-confidence. Besides, my Lord, they had free trade with each other, and, so far as they chose to have or could obtain it by their own diplomacy, with all the world. The Northern Provinces had seperate governments, half-paternal despotisms, which repressed ra- ther than encouraged enterprise. They had oAcn hostile tarritl's, no bond of union, and, down to the advent of Mr. Huskisson, and from thence to the final repeal of the naviga- tion laws, were cramped in all their commer- cial enterprises by tlic restrictive policy of England. In other resp' ins the SonJiem States had the advantage. >' lom the moment that their independance was recognized, they enjoyed the absolute control over their internal affairs. Yoar Lordship, who has had the most ample opportunity of estimating the repressing m« fiuence of the old colonial system, and, happily for us, have swept it away, can readily fancy what advantages our neighbours derived from emancipation from its trammels. On reflection you will think it less remarkable that the southern half of the continent has improved faster than the northern, than that the latter should have improved at all. But I have not enumerated all the sources of disparity. The national Government of the United States early saw the value and im- portance of emigration. They bought up In- dian lands, extended their acknowledged fron- tiers, by purchase or successful diplomacy, sur- vey ed their territory, and prepared for coloni- zation. The States, or public ascociations within them borrowed millions from England opened roads, laid oflT lots, and advertised them in every part of Europe by every fair and often unfair means of puffing and exagge- ration. The General Government skilfully seconded, or rather suggested, this policy. — They framed constitutions suited to those new settlements ; invested them with modified forms of self government from the moment that the most simple materials for organiza- tion were accumulated ; and formed them into new States, with representation in the National Councils, whenever they numbered 40,000. What did England do all this time ? Al- most nothing : she was too much occupied with European wars and diplomacy. Was- ting millions in subsidizing foreign Princes, many of whose petty dominions if flung into a Canadian lake would scarcely raise the tide. What did we do in the provinces to fill up the northern territory ? What could we do ? — Down to 1815 we were engrossed by the wars of England, our commerce being cramped by the insecurity of our coasts and harbours. — Down to the promulgation of Lord John Rus- sell's memorable despatch of the 16th of Oc- tober, 1839, and to which full effect has been given in the continential provinces by the pre- sent Cabinet, wc were engaged in harassing contests with successive Governors and Secre- taries of State, for the right to manage our in- ternal affairs. This struggle is over, and wc now have the leisure and the the means to devote to the great questions of colonization and internal improvement — to examine our external rela- tions with the rest of the empire and with the rest of the world — to consult with our British brethern on the imperfect state of those rela- tions.and of the best appropriation that can be made of their surplus labour, and of our surplus land, for our mutual advantage, that the poor may be fed, the waste places filled up 17 of «.nd this great empire strengthened and |^re- served. But it may be asked, what interest have the people of England in this inquiry ^ I may be mistalccn, but, in my judgement, they have an interest fnr more important and profound than even the colonists themselves. The contrast between the two sfdea of the American frontier ia a national disgrace to England. It has been so recorded in her par- llamentaiy papei-s, by Lord Durham, by Ix)rd Svdeiiliain, and by other Governors and Corn* inissioners. There is not a traveller, from Hull to Buck- ini^Iiara, but has iiripressed this conviction on "nor literature. We do not blush at the con- trust on our own account ; w« could not re- lieve it by a sin^'le sb.tde beyond what has lieon accoinijlishuil. We have done our best anlcr the circumstances in which we have bi.'cu placed, as I have already shown by rc- feroiiee to (jur social and commercial progress; but wc regret it, because it subjects us to tho imputation of an inferiority that wc do not feci, and makes us dcmbt whether British statesmen will, in the time to come, deal With our half of tlie American Continent more wisely than tliey have in times past. It is clearly tlieu the interest and the duty of Eii^Luid to wijic out this national stain, and to reassure her friends in North America, by removing the disadvantages under which they labour, and redressing the inequalities wiiich they feel. llavin;f, however imperfectly, endeavoured to show that as a mere question of economy, of relief to her municipal and national Hnan- CCS no less than (^f relii;iou3 obligation, it is the duty of EnjrJand to turn her attention to Xorth Hinerici, poriiiit me now for a moment 10 direct your Lordship's attention to the ter- ritory wbicb it t)jhovcs the people of these United Kingdoms to occupy, organiro, and reta'n. Glaiico. my Lord, at the map, and you will perceive that Great Uritain owns, on the Con- tinent of Xoitb America, with the adjacent islands, 4,000,0'JO of square miles of territory. All the States of Europe. includingGreat Bri- tain, measure but .'J.rvlS, 871 miles. Allowing 292,1 ^'J square niilos i'or inland lakesof great- er extent than exist on this continent, the lands you own are as ia'oad as tlie whole of £'A\rn\>e. It we take the round number of 4,- 000,000, and reduce the miles to acres, we have about 90 acre* tor evoiy man, woman, and ciiild, in tiie United Kingdom. Now supi-ose you spare us two milliuns of peoiile, you will be relieved of that iiuml)er, \v!io now, driven by desiitutionintothe unionsor lo crime swell the poor-rates and crowd the prisons. With that nuinl)er wc shall bo enabled, with little or no assistance, to repel foreign aggres- sion. We shall still have a square mile, or ']iO acres, for every inhabitant, or 4,480 acres for every head of a family which British Am- erica will then contain. B ts not this a conntiy worth looking after, worth soma application of Imperial credit, nay, even some expenditure of public funds, that it may be filled with friends not enemies, customers, not rivals, improved, organised, and retained ? The Policy of the Kepublic, is protection to home manufactures. Whose cottons, linens, woollens, cutlery, iron ; whose salt, machinery, guns, and paper, do the 701,- 401 emigrants who went to the United States between 1825 and 1846 now consume? Whose have they consumed, after every successive year of emigration ? Whose will they and their descendants continue toconsunie? Those not of tho mother country, but of the United States. This is a view of tho question wbieli should stir, to its centre, every manufucturii g city ir. the kingdom. Suppose the Republic could extend her ta- riff over the other portion of the continent,she could then laugii at the Free Trade policy of England. But if wo retain that policy, and the Colonics besides, Biitish goods will How over the Irontier, and the Americans must ile- fend their revenue by an army of oflieers ex- tending ultimately over a line of .'3000 miles. The balance of power in Europe is watched with intense interest by British Statesmen. — The slightest movement in the smallest state, that is calculated to cause vibraticjn, animates the Foreign t)ffice, and often adds to its per- plexities and labours. But is not the balance of power in America worth retaining ? Sup- pose it lost, how would it alFect that of Tu- rope ? Canning, without much reflection, boasted that he had redressed tiie balance of power in the Old, by calling the New World into existence. But, even if tho vaunt were justifiable, it was a world beyond the limit of the Queen's dominions. We have a new world within them, at the very door of Eng- land, with boundaries delinei!, and, undenia- bly by any foreign power, subject to her scep- tre. Already it lives, and moves, and has its being ; full of hope and promise, and fond attachment to the mother countrj'. The new world of which Canning spoke, when its debts to England arc counted, will appear to have been a somewhat costly creation ; and yet, at this moment, Nova Scotia's little fleet ot 2,5S.j sail could sweep every South American vessel from the Uacifie and Atlantic Ocouiis. I am not an alarmist, my Lord, but there appear to be many in En;:land, and some of them holding high military and social posi- tions, who consider these islands defenceless from continental invasion by any first-rate European Power. Confi lent as I am in their resources, and hopeful ot their destiny, I must confesif that the military and naval power of Franco or Russia, aided by the Sttam-fleet and Navy of the L'nited States, would maku a contest doubtful for a time.howcver it might ultimately terminate. But suppose the United States to extend to Iciudson's Bay, with an extension over the other half of the continent, with the spirit whicli aaimatcs the Republic l«MM r U; tioir i iai«gin« Qreat Britain withotit » har- boaron the Atlantic or the Pacific that (he eonid call her o«n, without a tun of coal for her ■teamers, or a spar to repair a ship ; with the 5000 Teasels which the Northern Prorin- oes even now own, with all their crews, and the fishermen who line their shores, added to the maritime strength of the enemy, whose ar« senals and outposts would then be advanced 600 miles nearer to England ; eycn if New- foundland and the West India Islands coald be retained, which is extremely doubtful. — The picture is too painful to be dwelt on Ion- ger than to show how intimately interwoven are the qnestions to which I have ventured to call your Lordship's attention, with the foreign affairs of tiie empire. I do not go into compa- rative illustrations, because I desire now to show how a judicious use of the resources of North America may not only avert the danger in time of war, but relieve the pressure upon the Home Government in times of peace. There is no passion stronger, my Lord.than the desire to own some portion of tlio earth's surface, — to call a piece of land, somewhere, our own. How few Englishmen, who boast that they rule the sca,own a singieacreof land. An Englislimau calls his house his castle, and so perhaps it is, but it rarely stands upon his own soil. How few there are who may not be driven out, or have their castles levelled with the ground, when the lease falls in. There is no accurate return, but the propri- etors of land in the wholeUnited Kingdom are estimated at 80,000. Of tlie 2,620,000 inhabitants that Scotland contains, but 636,003 live by agriculture ; all the rest, driven in by the high price of land.are employed in trade and manufactures. Evicted Highlanders rot in the sheds of Greenock; and lowland peasant's otVspring perish annually in the larger cities, lor want of employment, food and air. In Ireland, there are, or were recently, 44,- 202 farms, under one acre in extent, 473,755 ranging from one to thirty. Between 1S41 and 1848, 800,000 people were driven out of these small holdings ; their hovels in many cases, burnt over their heads, and their furni- ture ' canted' into the street. Whence corae Chartism, Socialism, O'Con- nor Land schumes, and all sorts of theoretic dangers to property, and proscriptions of new modes by which it may be acquired ? From this condition of real estate, the great mass of the people in these three kingdoms own no part of the soil, have no bit of land, however small, no homestead for their families to clus- ter round, no certain provision for their chil- dren. Is it not hard for the great body of this people, alter ages spent in foreign wars for the conquest of distant possessions, in voya- ges of discovery and every kind of commercial enterprise ; in scientific improvements and the developement of political principles ; to reflect, that with all their battles by land and een, th^ir j£800,000,oqo of debt ; their aB> iessed taxes, income (aX, and htaty im' port dtifies, their priiona full of convicts i their poor rate of £7,000,000 i that so f«w of all those who have done, and who endure these things, should not have one inch of the whole earth's surface that they can call tbeif own. While this state of things continues, proper* ty must ever be insecure, and the great majo- rity of the people restless. With good har- vests and a brisk trade, the disinherited may for the moment forget the relative positions they occupy. In periome and abroad EMioitATioN, ni9 (exclusive of cabin pa jungcrs) paid from rrivace or Parochial Funds Paid by Government Took Kates COSSTABULARY. £6,180,765 544,334 1,216,679 579,327 562,506 ). ,500,000 228,300 ;eil, 189,911 The cost of prisons, or that proportion of them which might be saved if the criminal calendar were less, might fairly be added to the amount. The prison at York cost £1200 per head for each criminal, — 1\ sura large enough, the inspector observes, " to build for each prisoner a separate mansion, stable, aud coaeh-iiouse." A large proportion of the cost of trials might also be added ; ami as twelve jurymen must have been summoned to try most of tlie 43,671 persons convicted in 1848, t he waste of valuable time would form no in- considerable item, if it were. The loss of property stolen by those whom poverty first made criminal, no economist can estimate ; nnd no human skill can calculate the value of lives and property destroyed in agrarian outrages, when wretchedness has deepened to despair. My plan of Colonization and Emigration ia extremely simple. It embraces — Ocean Steamers for the poor as well as the rich ; The preparation of the Wild Lands of North America for settlement ; and Public Works to employ the people. I do not propose that the British Govern- ment should pay the passage of anybody to America. I do not, therefore, require to combat the argument upon this point with which the Commissioners of Land and Emi- gration usually meet crude schemes, pressed wrthout much knowledge or reflection. The people must pay their own passages ; but the Government, or some national association, or public company to be organized for that pur- pose, must protect them from the casualties that biuet them now, and lecare for them chenpneM, speed, and eertsinty of departnr« and arrival. If this is done, by the enoploy- ment of steam-ships of proper construction, all the miseries of the long voyage, with its sure concomitants, — disease and death ; and all the waste of time and means, waiting for the sailing of merchant ships on this side of the Atlantic, and for friends and conveyances on the other, would be obviated by this simple provision. A bounty to half the extent of that now given for carrying the mails would provide the ocean-omnibuses for the poor. Or, if Government, by direct aid to public works, or by the interposition of Imperial credit, to enable the colonies to construct them, were it to create a labour market, and open lands for settlement along the railway line of 635 miles, th ^so ships might be pro- vided by private enterprise. By reference to the published Report of the Commissioners for 1847, your Lordship will peiceivo that in that year of famine nnd dis- ease, 17,445 British subjects died on the pas- sage to Canada and New Brunswick, in qua- rantine, or in the hospitals, to say nothing of those who perished by the contagion which was diffused in the pioviRcial cities and settle- ments. An equal number, there is too much reason to apprehend, died on the passage to or in the United States. In ordinary seasons:, the mortality will of course he much less, and in all may be diminished by the more stringent provisions since enforced by Parliament. But bad harvests, commercial depressions, with their inevitable tendency to drive off large portions of a dense population, should bo an- ticipated ; and no regulation can protect large masses of emigrants, thrown into sea-ports, from delay, fraud, cupidity, and misdirection. No previous care can prevent disease from brooking out in crowded ships, that are forty or fifty days at sea, to say nothing of the perils of collision and shipwreck. Mark the effects produced upon the poorer classes of this country. Emigration is not to thsm what it might be made, — a cheerful excursion in search of land, employment, fortune. It is a forlorn hope, in which a very large portion perish, in years of famine and distress, and verj' considerable numbers in ordinary seasons, even with the best regula- tions that Parliament can provide. The remedy for all this — simple, sure, and ■ not very expensive —is the ocean omnibus. Steam-ships may be constructed to carry at least 1000 passengers, with quite as much comfort as is now secured in a first-rate rail- way carriage, and with space enough for all . the luggage besides. If these vessels left London. Southampton, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Cork, or Galway, alternately, or as there might be demand for them, on certaia appointed days, emigrants would know where ^ and when to embark, and would be secured r from the coDsequeaces of delay, fraad, and misdiscretioD. The Commissioners report, that !ast year tiie sum spent in " the cost of extra provi* I:, ! ;, t , nnri convoyanee to the portt nt em- liarkinion, and maintcnnnco there, amonntoil to ^.•J4n,000." 1'ho coJt nf renchinR the sea- ports cnnnot be rconomixcd, but the extra fin)vi8ion!« aid mnintciinnpc at the ports of embarkation wonlt! bo niatcriallr reduced. Hnt how mnoh more wcnild be saved ? The ixveraLTO sniliii;? p:\ssn;:o from London to Qiio- boe is ^)i (liiys ; from Livcrprjol 45 } from lionrlon to New York, 43 ; from Liverpool, .■15. Tho avcrnfrc passnpe, by steam, from any of tho lorts I have named, necil not ex- ceed—to Nova Seotia 10, to New Krunswick niid Can.nla. 12 (!ays ; but nisumini; 43 days .ns tho averiine sailing pa=«aj:;o from England to Aincriea, and 13 to be the average bysleam, let us sec what the saving wonld l)eto tho poor, even taking tlic present amount of emigration US a basis. 299,4!H emijjrants left Great Britain and Ireland for Ariiorica. in 1S49. A very groat l>roportion of tlio Irish Imd n .ioiirnry and a vKVHj^c to mnke to some Knfjlish (■' 'port, be- fore tlicy cniliarkcd upon tlie Atl 'ie. But I'ass tliat over, and multiplying t number of cmifrrnnts by thirty, and we ha\ .he num- ber of days that wonld havo been sared to these poor jieople, if they liad been carried out by steam. It is clear thai they wasted f*. 984, 910 <\i.j3 at sea, in, to them, the most ]ireciiius .vonrof life, ami the most valnablc part of that year, whieh, estimating their laljdur at Is. a-dnyiu the countries to which tluv wore rei)airiiig, would amount to £44d,- 24r. Tlic employment of ocean steam-ships for the poor would save all this, and it would put an end to ship-fever, disease and death. The Government of Eni^Iand expended in Canada and New Brunswick alone, in 1847, in nursing the sick and Imryin;^ the dead, 41124,762 st'g. The occtfn omnibus, whether established by Government or by a private association, would save all this in future. Kcstrictive colonial laws would disappear ; and from the moment that there was a certainty that emigrants wntdd arrive in lienlth, however ])oor, tho colonists wnulil prepare their lands and open their arms to receivfc them. The saving of expense r.nd time on our side of the Atlantic would also be immense. These ships conld run down tlio southern shores of the niaritinio provinces, and land emigrants wlierevcr thoy were required, from Sydney to i>t. Andrews ; passing through the Gut of Ciinso, tliey could supply all the northern coasts, including Prince Edward Island. They could go direct to the St. Lawrence, landing tlie people wherever they wero wanted, from Gaspe to Quebec. Knowing exactly when to expect these tcs- Bols, our people would send to England, Ire- land, and Scotland for their friends, and bo ready with their boats and waggons to convey them off, without cost or delay, the moment they MTired. We should thus have a healthy, lilroost self* usiuiaing British emigration, to the ivM W" tent of th* existing 4cmftnd for labonr, even If no public works were rommonccd. But much wonld soon bo done, still without C08tin|{ the British Oovernincnt a pound, to extend the labour market. The moment that tho arrival of healthy emigrants, at convenknt points, and curly in the season, could be cmnt- ed upon with certainty, the Provincial Go- vernments would lay oft' and j)reparo their lands for settlement, advertising them in all the British and Iri'h sea-porls. They wnuM empower tho deputy surveyors in each connty to act as emigrant agents, and locate the peo- ple. They would cmII upon the county ma- gistracy to prepare, nt the autumn or winter sessions, returns, showing the number and description of emigrants re(iuirod by each connty in tho following spring, with tho num- ber or boys and girls iliat tlicy were jireparod to take charge of ami bin J out as appreiuiees. Proprietors of large nnimprorcd tracts wonld soon, by similar cjcertion and kindred agencies, prepare them for occupation. All this may be done by tlas employment of stcnm-ships for the poor ; and thry I am confident, might be drawn into the public ser- vice without any cost to the country. If it bo objected that to so employ them would di- minish the demand for sailing vessels. I an- swer no ; but, on tho contrary, there would be an annually increasing demand for British and Colonial tonnage, to carry on tho com- merce and reciprocal cscljanges that this healthy imipration would create. But, my jjord, I am anxious to sec these cheap steamers on another ace )unt : that they may bring English, Irish, and Scotch men and their descendants, ficm •imc to time, back to the land of their fathers, to tread tho scenes which history hallows, cr revive tho recollections of early life, to contemplato tho modern triumphs and glories of Enj^land, and contrast them even with tho.se of the jiroud llepublie beside us. This ennobling plea-iuro cannot be indulged in now.but at a cost which debars from its enjoyment the great body of the Queen's Colonial tulijecfs. Reduce tho passage to 10 days, and the cost to £5., and thousands would come over here every summer, to return with tlicirhearts warmed towards their British brethren, to teach their children to understand the policy of England, anil to reverence her institutions. So far, my Lord, you will perceive that I have suggested nothing which wotdd involve Her Majesty's Government in heavy expense; on the contrary, 1 believe that even the cost of emigrant steamers woulo be more than made up, either by a reduction of expense in the naval service, retrenchment of the cost of laKarettoes and quarantine, or by the relief which a healthy system of emigration would at once give to some, if not all the branches of the poblic service which now cost 1 1,000,000/. sterling. It would reouire but a slight calcu- lation to show that the planting of half a mil- lion of British subjects in the No^h American proTiRces, where the dltt^ ot\ Qrltish mauv 91 ftetnrei raiiget from 6^ to 13^ per cent, i and In the United Stitei, where it nngee from 15 to too per cent, wonid amount to more than the whole eom wanted to eitabliib theie steamori. To illuitrate thii, I have made a lelcctinn from the United States' Tariif', of rortnin ar> ticlei in which British manufacturcrj feol a deep interest. It embraces 110 articles and branches of manufacture, upon which tlie dn« ties in Nova Scotia, with very few exceptions, do not range iiigher than C| per cent. British Manufacture* which pap 15 per cent, in the United State*. Tow, hemp or flax, manufactured. Steel in bars, cnst or slienr. Tin plates, tic>roil, tin in sheets. Zinc or spelter. That pay 20 per cent. Acids of every description. Articles used in tanning or dyeing. Blankets. Blank books, bound or unbound. Caps, gloves, lep^^ings, mits. socks, stockings , wove shirts and drawers. Chocolate. Copperas and vitriol. Copper rods, bolts, nails and spikes, copper bottoms, copper in sheets or plates, Dressed furs. Glue. Gunpowder. Hats, or hat bodies of wool. Oils used in painting. Lampblack. Leather. Lead in pigs .hars, or sheets ; lead >■ pipes, end leaden shot. Linens of all kinds. Litharge. Malt. ' - Manufactures of flax. ■ •■ . Manufactures of hemp. Marble, unmanufactured. ^ *■• Mineral and bituminous substances. Medicinal drugs. Metals, unmannfactured. Musical instruments of all kinds. ' ''"'' '' ' Needles of all kinds. Paints, dry or ground. Paper-hangings. ■'^\ Tiles and bricks. Periodicals. . r ' Putty. '-■' '■■'- Quills. ' •'.'■■.., Saddlery. .■■>■"' Salts. .: ' ■"'• Sheathing'paper. Skins, tanned and dressed. Spermaceti candles and taper;. Steel. Stereotype-plates, type-metal, types. Tallow candles. Thread laces. Velvet. White and red lead. Wiadow gUss of all kisdt. That pay 35 p«r tent. Bottom and button- moulds of all kinds, Baizes, flannels, floor-cloths. Cables and cordage. Cotton laces, inserting*, and braids. Floss-silks. - All mannfactoresof hairofaoarifl deiovptiont. Cotton Manufactures. Manufactures of mohair. Silk manufactures. Manufactures of worsted. Mats and matting. Slates. Woollen and worsted yarn. That pay 30 per cent. Ale, beer, and porter. Manufactures of Argentine or German silver. Articles worn by men, women, or children, of whatever material composed, made up in whole or in part by hand. Perfumes. Manufactures of grass, straw, or palm-leaf. Beads. Hair manufactures of finer descriptions. • India Rubber Manufactures. Fur caps, hats, mufls, tippets. Carpets, carpotting, hearth-rogs. Carriages, and parts of carriages. Cheese. Clothing of every description. Coaeh and harness furniture. Coal and Coke. , ^ Combs. Confectionary. Corks. ! ■' i Cutlery of all kinds. . . ' Jewellery. Toys. Earthen, china, and stone-ware. Manufactures of gold. Artificial feathers and flowers. Umbrella Materials. Cabinet and household furniture, Stained glass. Glass and porcelain manufactures. Iron in bars or blooms, or other forms. Iron-castings. Japanned wares. Manufactures of cotton, linen, silk, wool, or worsted, if embroidered. Marble manufactured. Manufactures of paper, or papier-mache. Manufactures of wood. Muskets, rifles, and other fire-arms. Ochres. Oil-cloths. ' \ Plated and gilt-ware of all kinds. Playing-cards ' / Soap. That pay 40 per cent. Cut-glass. Manufactures of expensiva wood*. Tobacco manu'-ctures. Alabastar and spar ornaments. Sweetmeats. Presenrcd meats, fish, and firnits. That pay 100 p«r cent. Brandy, whiskey, and other ipirili dlitUbl from grain. It A (imilar li»t might he maclt of EMt In- dian aaillBritifh Colonial staples and produc- tions, witli the onUle»a v^lrivly ofimnli manu- fiicturc.i wliicli they itimulttto, and tu which tlicso liii!>i d^liea apply. I pans now to tlio only remaining topic, tbe formation of I'ublic Wurkx, of approved uti- lity, u!* n mcniiH of Htrcn^^tljuninp; tlio empire, — dcvoiopiiiu' tlic roourcct) of the provinces, — an 1 lis lUi niil to nioro rnpid and systematic Coli>tiiz;ition, Jdiviny;, my Lord, in my former letter, en- tcfpil Inr^tly upon tliis brunch of the general Biitiject, 1 nt'fd not repeat what that paper ciiitaiiis. I'iVery nmil lirinuR fresli cvidcnceuof tho feverish loiiijing mid iiitcnio anxiety with wiiioh uli einsscs in the provinces loolt forward to tliucHtitl'iishnient of tlio.su great lines of iftter-coioniul and coniinental communication, whicii (irc notoniy to iiind us together, and secure to tho IJiiiisii I'rovinccs great com- mercial udviinta;;e8, l)nt which would, with citenp Ntcanilioiits, reduce tho Ailantic to a Jlriti^li Clinnnel, nnd continue the Strand in a few years to Lid;c Huron, and ultinuttcly pcr- liHps tvvMi in (Jiir own time, so rapidly docs till' world ndvnnee, totho I'ncilic Ocean. The first l.'IO miles of this communication Nova h'cotia will niai»c, nnd amply secure tho liritisii Government from los.o, should the al- vantajic of its creuit bo given. We will do more — we will prepnrc our lands, collect re- turns, appoint an assent in eccli county, and repeal our taxi's on emigrants; otl'oring, on tUc best terms, a home to nil who choose to t'omo nmonj; us. Il Ilev Majesty's Govcrn- jncnt have no objections to the employment of sucli portions of tlie troops as are not ro- (juireil t ) do garrison-duty, wc will give them X fair addition to their pay, or land along the litic, to which in war their discipline would bo :i defence ; thus savin;,' to the British Govern- liient the, exjiense of bringing these veterans l.ick to lMi;4land. Tlic ability of Nova Scotia to fulfil any ob- ligations she may incur to tho Imperial Go- vornment. m.iy be estimated hy reference to )ier past progress and present financial condi- tion. Montpromcry ^fartin, in his late work, esti- mates the value of the province, in movenblo and immovciildc j^roperty, at 20.700.000/. — Without counting wild lands and property Tijionwhicli hihonr has not been expended, we nitcit at 1.5,000,000/. Tliishns been created iu a century, by the industry of a lew thou- Siiiuls of emigrants and loyalists, and their 'lofccndants. To the amount of shipping, as evidenco of n prosperous commerce, I have already referred. Witliin the twenty years fVom 1826. to 1846 tho population more than doubled, tho ton- nage rising, in the last ten years of this pe- riod, from 90,996 to 141,043 tons. The exports rose in the twenty years from 2W.277/. to 831,071/. The revenue of Nora Scotia is chieflyraised ftom itogorts^ tho rovalty oa t)M miaes^ and th« sal« of Crown tand*. There is no propcf- t]r-tax, or assessed taxes, except poor and county rates raiiie amount required is 800.000/. — The city of Kali fax being pledged to the Pro- vincial Govur iment to pay the intesest on 100,000/., tht. \* S"'3 amount thh'; would there- fore be charge^bi » .;n all «".arces of provincial revenue, il-t tolk r'- :,'■ ^ iiilroad included, would be-24,-':o/. Although Utumi; 110 «btiiorlt7 to speak ^o/th«otb«f Colonlei, I nil; obspiv:;, riber ordinary sourcaa of-MWOM, IV ts i WO.OtM of Mrtt of iinirritnlV'l tan.li. Hh* mlihl pMf* tn hrr Mnjiittv'i UoMrnniflit Itio |iro<'i>«ili of M ma- tj mllliiiiii ofarri't iif iht^n land*, along tli* linn 10 bf fipi-iiH ai miflil h« nvrrntHTf, In arlilll on I" Iha uleilii* of hrr pul>i|i' fmirti) to H'riirp thii counlr)r frum [(>*%. Till' trmipi niijlii 'ix i>in|il(itr(l, and kftilt Mn llii> prculni'i^ al-'i, I'lii* Uiicli pip ntsl rinll t>« lolil to i-niliiriiiil*,— lh>* tlrl.Mi iiikiN iind tiilillr ulld bt IranMi""*"' »' f«''' pfi'"'''. anl ihr mnoiim- .lubtbA vnrrlnl til Ihr crvillt of till- luiiri. 1 lii>lir*ii th«l Ntw 111 iiiisMiicli iMiiilil.if iiI'mIi'I'jiI.'Iv Hlilcil.iiltlni -.Ifly m'ika biT (real lliif*, ji'-Hnrli i ml iirci.'l o fnrmn fur mllliniia of »nil»raiil«,--ln.iii.' 'iip hoini' n'Hrkrt for Hrll- l»li Riinila li* til ' .'iiiiiiKil iiiiiiiii'.it iif ilii'lr conoiinptlan, —•ml, In n rnj fi'iv ymw, pijr hiiv loan ulir may ra- (|iilrp lo contra!.'', m il'mht I'oktinR Crglm il n fi>rtlilii(, Tli» rNoiircei of Canada are wi ratoil.Hlid miiAl lie grculy i>fili»n(' 'il l>v the uppruiirh Mw cmU la MalnMla tlw 0«opl* •U*«k#r«. Th» Colony whar* Ihay mrtt •iiiplay> 4 nuiild («i ih* dif. faranea bat.iaan tUp^nea par day and iha ordinary rata of wagM lo ramp*nr any rlik It inlthl run, anil would liaddaa ulilmalrl} v ma vuiioinrra Kt mild land*, and many u^rfiil irltlurt In riini-liKlon, my Lord, prrmit in# tw eri>f t yocr Indillnaoca for ihr IfAfth « thm rommu' 'railon.whirli Would ba an linptrdonalili iiiiiKinu iiitun jri'H' I. <>•■<< •hip'itlnta ir Iha '.opic* tu lie ilu ^ad •art ra.u Au' maroua and Important r havr, rit, (^Ifntd) JUSBPII H(/Wt» Tht nifht Hon. Kjrl Rroy. •to. tie. MC. IloOt Joseph Howe to Rnrl (•rey, 5, Sloant Street, 13 iHr't at . i ■«» nnmiM hi.r hy iii,^ ifcn. Adverting to the point rniipu hy Your thir ).r<.vinco', un. «rMi,.. Lnrdship yoiicrday, I hasten to furiiiili an xplnnalion, which 1 truat maj be aatiarao- ii.fi ill !ip««on< of the yi>«r i niiinic itliin w'.ih nil tli>> < mntlipr-nuiiitiy ; iiri'pirlnif tlic »iiy fr * till), It' not A iiolltunW iiion, iif irh .ii< nil. Qiii'liei' wmilil iilti'iuitily Imni 'I.- rlri" Til ill I; r torv. (idn-riiinitii -MiuM sci. nd iii.y piMiy 'vr whirh lii i Aaitimingf that Nova Scotia make*, with lh»» mk.i,t II.. »<,i,mpii»i. ■.!, ih.r,. 1, „,, . „,, louiii, ,„B,nn,ee „» n,^ u,i,i,|, Government, a llaiS Mv l.oril, tli'Ti- iHonr '.tiic of ejitreiiK didlcacy , ,, . l n» . j !i . pnrh'iipi, 1111(1 ypt. o f^r n n own iirnniic In con- »*o'»a ncro»« her lemtory, and tlint an uTiit'd, I Hill vi'nMiri' ' . I'.n. .1 ii without hi-Kitntinn rxtension through the other Provincea for Hompi.fih.. nn'isii (.!,.» .iM'irp III oi.iHiiiniitori- national or inter-colonial ohjecta bt-comeH rtv, jmt O'lir, li\' siiuniinj iriini thpjr lio"im- thnorl- . j' . i . _ . , j ■ ii -.i i tirimN niKii. md, uiHinui moii-stiy r .iiiprnhfring imtnfdiaiely or remotHjy deairaMe, either by that soini- of iiipni. «t U'Mst, iiwf iiii'iror (itnnl prniipe- the Governmenta of Canada or Now Bruni- ritv tiiju'i i>nii«niiif, nmi ih it ihnKiimu are annu- wick, by the British Government, or by any ally tompti ! or drli i-ii liilo crimn i" ii.i" ^n.i,-,t,« i,« .- . » . if _ . . .. . ' . / till' al'SiMirn of fniiilii sure which llip sliu .... _ . . nrtiiicial Rtiitoof 'iiii !v iri .ti'K. I ip'.Icvi' that ivmoni? claim to retain the revenue* of thnt whieh the IS 000 p,.rsi,n» .i-t. , in ihi. rnMntry In i8«s, ^-^^^ ,,6 the moat profitable part of a Ions :",:;;,n."::;v'';hr;.::;','r;riZ t^^»l»ni»l or Brit..h company under their iit-t ill rung! inrnt in thi< hiifhiy patronage, the question IB, would Nova ScH tn Ihn Tn1»irriinh ia .iimiied; 8miii..in.t.nnsi.ier«tiea«toneofthem«i. 1 lio_ principle applied to ine leiegrapn IS ef.ciors unwufiliy of Heaven tthoworo hung Ueiido ^''^U Simple, and Works satistactorily to all !)""• States and Companies extending between ithn«heen»nceest.H,tiiMoonvictsmiolithefldraii. Halifax and New York. The tolls for messages tnueously empliivivl on a liiriic veiile, tn North AmerU , . , ... j j ■ l. m o ?• e,i. for the coi stru iinn ..f ,. ri.iinind to the lacifi.: - which originate and end wilhin Nova Sootia, I siuiuM like in seethe I vpiTiiiMT.t iri-ii upon a small New Brunswick, or Maine, for instance, are scale lirst ; and do iiou-eiieve tinit if a judicious se- retained by those who send ihem, but the tolls lection were made r>t Ihn e whose nlfences were. siiner- » .i i. u- u induced hypoveriy and ix.m me distress, orofilinsb for through messages, which pass over a com- whose conduct in Hiine pri 111! miiary course of punish mon liiiie, are shared by mileage, and the T.ier' had b en exem^hnv. thi Vnrih American Colo- common account is checked Old the balances r.c. MioM object to sieh » tHI, if.n appnpiiate ■ . ^.-jj Clio wei-.-raa.le of s ,.,.■, .;,i,iy iilnnR a great line .P"*. ^ J'" ^'^^'^y ^*'*' , ,. . ,, , In I hi.. feel no ii , -i, nod if the men employ. I ihmk 1 may ejo even further and say, that •i jperly ofTicer. d ai d controlled by stringent should our portion of the line pay, fr»m excess i„mm,ar"J';,r;^=.nwT.i,'n •'•';" '."'«^', I'' f°'.'r'j-«''''jm of local traffic, and that through New Bruns- to military organizition and discipline, with the usual , . , ' r.. , , m ci •• u prospectofpromotiontnsul.ordinalecommnndsifthey WIck be less prohtable, Wova HCOtia WOUld behaved Well. Summary ti mi and punishment should not on'y lend to her Sister Province any excess fiLT"'.''^ '^u'* o i"' "'7n"""'""'"'*'"' ' 'olit^yc""- which mi?ht accrue, but would take her tineraent in ih« Colonial iVinteniiaries would be an , , .., ' ,_ .„. '• „ i.-. ♦i.^ .i^ ^P k.. appropriate punishment If ihey deserted or commuted debentures up and give Jier the aid Ot her any new offence. Ifap.rtion of cuoiparativeiy wii- public revenues father than that even s tem- derneas country were selected for the experimcDt, the nnrarv demand should be made Upon the men might hare MX pence per day carried to their cr«. i ,.,„". -i TeAn.nrw ditfrom colonial funds, while they laboured, loac. l">perial Ireasury cumulate till it w*s juilicieiii to purchase a tract of land upon the line, with seed and Implemenla to en> •ble them to get in a 6rat crop when the period of ler- vlea had expired. f hit experiment wbuld.l iieli««ve, lUcceed. Tt wobM Mat tbe linporial Covernmeat nothing mors than U 1 have See (Si^ed) JOSEPH HOWE. T^e Right Hen. Bam. Omt, 4k«. &«. A9, B. Hawes.Esq, toHon.Jos. Howe. Downing Street, March 10, 1851. Sir, — I am directed by Earl Grey to inform you, that he io at length enabled to communi- cate to you tlie decision of her Majesty's GoV' ernment 0:1 the application for assistance to- wards the construction of the projected railway through Nova Scotia, contained in your letters of the 25th of November and I6ih of January last. Yon are already aware, from the repeated conv. "sationa which you have had with Lord Grey, of tho strong sense entertained by his Lordship and colleagues, of the extreme im- portance, not only to the colonies directly interested, but to the empire at large, of providing 'or the construction of a railwR}' by whicli a line of communication may be esiab- lished on British territory between the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunawick, and Canada, and that various plans which have been suggested for the accomplishmonl of this obj'Ct have undergone tiie most atten- tive consideration. It appears from Sir John Harvey's Dispatch of August 2II1I1, 1850, as well as from your Iflters and the verbal communications you have made to Lord Grey, ihat the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia, frlly relying on the concurrence of the Legislature, is desirous of undertaking the construction of that part of the projected line which would pass through that province, and prnposps to obtain for that purpo«^e a loan of £300,000, which is the esti- mated expense of the work. The assistance which Lord Grey understands you to apply for on behalf of tiie province, is, that tho pay. mcnl of the interest nf a loan to this amount should be guaranteed by the Imperial Parlia- ment, the eft'ect of which would be that the money might bo raised on terms much more favourable than would be otherwise required by the lenders. i am directed to inform you that Fler Majes- ty's Government are prepared to recommend to Parliament that this guarantee should be grant- ed, or that the money required should be ad- vanced from the British Treasury, on the conditions which 1 will now proceed to state. In the first place, as Her Majesty's Govern- ment are of opinion that they would not be justified in asking Parliament to allow the cre- dit of this country to be pledged for any object not of great importance to the British Empire as a whole ( and they do not consider that the projected Railway would answer this descrip- tion, unless it should establisli a line of comniu- nication between the three British Provinces) it must be distinctly understood tuat the work is not to be commenced, nor is any part of the loan, for the interest on which the British Trea- sury is to be responsible, to be raised, until arrangements are made with the Provinces of Canada and New Brunswick, by which the construction of a line of railway passirg wholly throDgb Dritiib territory, from Halifax to Que- bec or Montreal, shnll be provided for to the •ntisfflction of Her Mnjesty's Government. In order that such arrange. nents may be made Her Majesty's Government, will umJertske to recommend to Parliament that the like assist- ance shall be rendered to these Provinces as to Nova Scotia, in obtaining loans for the construction of their respective portions of the work. If it should appear that by leaving each Province to make that part of the line passing through its own territory, the propor- tion of the whole cost of the work which would fall upon any one Province, would exceed its proportion of the advantage to be gained by it, then the question is to remain open for future consideration, whether some contribution should not be mad*^ y the other Provinces towards that part 01 he line; but it is to be clearly understood that the whole cost of the ? is to be provided for oy loans raised by the Provinces in such proportions as may be agreed upon, with the guarantee of the Impe- rial Parliament. The manner in which the profits to be deri- ved from the Railway wlien completed are to be divided between the Provinces will also remain for future consideration. You will observe that 1 have stated that the line is to pass entirely throu:|h British territory; but Her Majesty's Government do not require that the line shall necessarily be that recom- mended by Major Robinson and Captain Henderson. If the opinion vphlch is entertained by many persons well qualified to form a judgment, is correct, that a shorter and better line may be found through New Brunswick, it will of course be preferred, and there will be sufficient time for determining this question while the earlier part of the line is in progress. It is also to be understood that Her Majesty's Government will by no means object to its forming part of the plan which may be determined upon, that itjshould include a provision for establishing a communication between the projected railway and the railways of the United States. Any deviation from the line recommended by Major Robinson and Captain Henderson, must, however, be subject to the approval of Her Majesty's C-overnment. It will further be required that the several Provincial Legisla'ures should pass laws mak< ing the loans which they are to raise a first charge upon the Priivincial Revenue, afler any existing debts and pnymentson account of the Civil Lists settled on Her Majesty by laws now in force ; and also that permanent taxes shall be imposed (or taxes to continue inforoe till the debt shall be extinguished^ sufficient to provide for the payment of the interest ar..d sinking fund of the loans proposed to be raised after discharging the above prior claims. It will further be necessary that the expenditure of the money raised under the guarantee of the Imperial Parliament shall take place under tbr tuperiBtendenc* of Coauniauontn appoin- m ted by Ilcr Majesty's Government, and armed with suHicicnl power to sf cure the due appli* cation ofllie funds so raised to thgiir intended ohjeot. Tlie Coinniia-iotiiMs so appointed are not however to interfi-re wii i thearrangenttents of the i'rovincial Uovenimfnls, except for the aljovo purpose. The ri'iiit of sendinfr trorpa, stores, and mail.', nlonn; tlie liiica'L reasonable rates, must likewise be secured. Jf ( n Ihe i)nrt f)f tlio Ctnvernment of Nova Scotia you t-liould cx'iiress your concurrence in tlie abfive ])iopo.sals. Lord (irey will im- mediately direct tlie fioveninr General of the IJriiisli JN'oi-tli Anierii'.aii Provinces to commu- jiicale witli (lie Lienonan!. (iovernora of New Brnnswicli and N)va Scolia, wiio will also be directed to brinjr the ssiiiiject under the consideration of liieir respective F-.\ecutive Councils!, ill order tiiat if tiiey should be ]irej).ned to joii in Ciirryina' the undei taking i'lli) eifect on tile terms ))ro|)Ose(l, the dettiils of llie nrranireiiMiit jietween tiie I'roviiices may be settled, and tiie siuciion cf tiie Legislature obtrined lor tli- plnn, ho that it may with as little dr>lay na ]i i.s-iiile be submilled for the a])proval of Parliament. Jieibre, however, the proposed measure can be so submitted to I'arliainent, it is proper to observe tliat there are sonio other (juestions aileclinfr the ]ieciini.'.ry relatlHiis between Ihe mollier country and ilie obiiiicfi which will require to be considered, but as these questions hnve little, il'aiiy, relerruce liiiNova Scotia, it is not iieces^sary ih.it ll.ey should be iurther adverted to iu ihis letter. 1 am directed to add tliat Lord Grey thinks it Uiineteysary tlial any nieasere should be taken by Her Mnjesty's (Jov^rninent to en- coiiiaiie the eslabli-hnient ot tJlenm vessels for the accomodaiion ol'tiniirrants of the humbler class, wh cli is f'lie of the subjects to which yon h"ve called lils altentini. If there should be a deninnd for such ves- F"ls. Lord (iriyhas no donlit lliat they will speedily be si.pplied by private enterprise ; indeed he has b^en informed that ships of kioo size intended for the conveyance of emigrants, and furnished with auxiliary steam power, are alrefidv liiilding both in this coun- try and in America, and if by undertaking the projected raiKvay a demand I'oi labor is created in the ikiliijh Trdvinces and a large extent of fV'rtile land is opened for the occupation of settlers,- these ciretinistances cannjt fail to lead to an extensir)ri and improvement of thn means now afforded (or the conveyance of emigrants to these I'mvinces. Lastly ; witii reference to the suggestion contained in your letter, that convicts might be employed in th ^ construction of the Railway, 1 am to inform you that though Her Majesty's Government entertain no doubt that the ex- pense of the work to the provinces might thus be greatly reduced, while at the same time by judicious regulations all risk of serious incon- venience might be guarded against, they would not be diiposed to take any step with a view to the adoption of this suggestion, unless on a distinct application from the Colonial Legisla- ture ; but if such an application should be made. Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to make the necessary arrangements for the omploymeut of a moderate nun.ber of convicts on the work, without any charge for their custody and subsistence to the Province which may have applied for them. I am &c. (-Signed) B. HAWES. Hon. Jos. IIowo to B. Hnu'es.Esq. r> Sloane Street, March l^th, 1S51. Sir,— I have Ihe honor to acknowledge your let'er of the lOlh March, conveying to me by direction of Earl Grey, the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the questions raised in my letters of the 25lh November and IGth January 1 beg you to assure his Lordsh'p of the satisfnction with which 1 have retid that com- muniealion,and of the sinceri'y of Ihe belief which I entertain that the Governments of the North American Provinces will cheerfully, and to Ihe full extent of their means, exert themselves to secure upon the terms proposed, the completion cf the great national highway, for the construction of which Her Majesty's Government are prepared to propose to Parliament to advance the funds, or pledge the National credit. Should anything occur to delay a g"neral arrangement, ( which 1 do not apprehend,) beyond the period when Nova Scolia may be jirepared to execute her part of the line, for local or other purposes, it will be time enough then to submit whether that portion of tho work which will run through her territory should not be commenced, either with rr with- out the aid of Her Majestv 'h Government. As the rapid sale and settlement of Ihe waste lands of the three provinces will now become very desirable, in order that their annual revenues may be increased, and the country on both sides of the Railroad settled as the work proceeds, i hope to be iible, in a few days, to submit a plan by which these objects may be attained by an o'ganized association, acting under the countenance of the Imperial and Colonial Government, hut witlmut any aid from their public resources. 1 have, &c (Signed) JOSEPH HOWE. JB. Hawks, Esquire. Hon. Jos. IIoAve to W. H.Keiiting, Esq. 5 Sloane Street, London, 13/Ai>/«rt/i, 185L Sir, — I had the honor to report to you on the 14th of February. On the evening of that day a Debate occnr* red in the House of Lords, which you will find in the Newspapers I now enclose. In that House there appeared to be but one opinion as to the importance of tho 'Sox\\x m American FroTinces and upon the sontadnesi of the Policj of aiding them to complete their Public Works. The personal references to mvnelf will conrey to His Excellency the best evidence that I can otfur as to the mode in which my Public Duties have been discharged. Prior to the occurrence of that Debate I had been honored with two very interesting interviews by Lord Stanley. On the 13th I had addressed to Earl Grey the letter a copy of which is enclosed. On the 21st of February, I was honored by Earl Grey with the perusal of the draft of a communication, which His Lordship pro- posed to address to mo, and by an appoint- ment for the following day, to adjust any points which miijht be raised by an examina- tion of that draft. On the 22nd of February, the Cabinet resigned, and no further progress could be made in the r.cgociation until their (I'Tuptancc of the Seals again on the 3rd of March. I have now the honor to enclose a copy of a letter iiddressed to mc on the IGth instant, by Mr. Kawcs, in which the Lieutenant Gover- nor will be gratified to perceive that my mis- sion has resulted in the determination of Her Miijesty's Government to propose to Parlia- ment to advance or guarantee the fundswhich may I)e required by the three North Ameri- can Provinces, to make a Railroad from Hali- fax to Quebec or Montreal, including a line of connection across New Brunswick, with the Kailroad Lines of tlie United States. I have reason to believe, that, if the pressure of public business will permit, copies of this letter v\ ill be tranfmitted to His Excellency the Governor General, and to the Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotiaand New Brunswick by this Mail. You will perceive th.nt all our great Lines are to be provided lor. the provinces through whicli they pass pleilfjing their revenues to the Lnperial Government, which will advance or guarantee the funds required at the lowest rate of interest. This cannot be higher than 4, and will probaldy not exceed .3^ per cent. No American or Colonial Company seeking funds in the Money Market here, could obtain even a moderate amount at less than 6 per cent. I could make contracts for completing our own liine, in sections of 50 miles, paying the parties in nur Provincial Debentures at H I^Tcent, but, from all the information I can gather, even the Provincial Government could not depend on obtaining any large amount of funds at a less rate of interest than what Ca- nada pays forthelast loan effected here, which is 6 per cent. Tlio value to ns, then, of the Imperial Gna- rnntee, cannot even be over estimated. You will perceive that Her Majesty's Go- vernment leaves the Provincial Governments free to select a shorter and mor6 profitable line than that chosen by Major Bobinson, if one can be found. As regards construction and management, vc are not to be anduly controlled ; the Im- perial Commission being limited (0 snch ne- cessary jurisdiction as may prevent the appro- priation of the funds raised to objects not con- temphtted by Parliament. You will also observe that the Provincial Governments are left free to make the most they can of the lands through which the Rail- roads are to pass. My present impression is that, by making a judicious use of these, Colo- nization may be carried on extensively in con- nection with the Railroads, so that as many people may be added to the population of each Province as will swell its annual con- sumption and revenue beyond the charges which may be assumed for the construction of the lines. If this can be done, and I believe it may, wemay strengihen the Provinces, and permanently advance and improve tlicm, ad- ding to their wealth and population, flanking the Railway lines with tliousands of indus- trious people — and giving the Provinces, in a few years, an elevation which we are all anx- ious that they should attain. To carry out this policy there must be mu- tual co-operation between men of influence here, and in tlie Provinces, acting with the general concurrence of the Imperial and Co- lonial Governments. The ground has, I trust, been prepared for such organization — and I shall spend the rest of the month in drawing together those interests and influences on which the North- ern Provinces may most securely rely to aid them in filling up their waste lands, andcom- pleting their Public improvements. My present intention is to leave England by the Boat of the 5th April, and I cannot an- ticipate that anything will occur to occasion further delay. I regret that it has not been possible to bring these matters into a shape to be passed upon by the Legislature during the present Session — but, on reflection, it will perhaps appear to His Excellency better that questions of such deep importance should be gravely propounded to the country for its deliberate decision, than that they sliould have been bur ricd through, or hastily riyected in the last Session of an expiring Parliament. I have the honor to be Sir, Y'our obedient Servant, JoS£PU UOWB. W. H. Keating Esq., Deputy Provincial Secretary. Earl Grey to Sir John Harvey, Dotoning Street, 14th JUarch, 1851. Sir — I have received your despatch, No. 204, of the 25th of October lust, informing me that the members of your Executive Council had deputed one of their own body to repair to this country for the purpose of representing to Her Majesty's Government the views gene- rally entertained in Nova Scotia on (he subject of the projected Halifax and Quebec Railway ; and I have now the honor to transmit to yoo tht aeoompanying copy of a despatch which I b( have thii day addresaed to the Govarnor lar aaaiatanoe, to eonatraet ths 6a«ala by General of Britiab North America, in the which ahe haa lately completed the moKt endoaures to which you will find a Latter extenaive and perfect ayatem of inland navi* which haa been written by my direction to gation which eziata in the world- Although Mr. Howe, containing a full explanation of Her Majeaty'a Government are of opinion the viewa of Hf Majesty's Government aa to that grnat caution ought t6 be observed in the mode by which it is to be hoped the funds pledging, tlie credit of the British I'reasury for necessary for the proposed undertaking may aid of loans raised by the Colonies, ibey regard be raised. the work now in contemplation aa being (like Referring you to tliat despatch for general the Saint L&wrence Canals) of so much information, I have only to add that it will be importance to the whole empire, as to justify proper that you should at once place yourself them in recommending to Parliament that in cr mmunication with ths Governor General some assistance should be given towards ita on this very important subject. conatruction, nor is there any mode of aiford- I am, &c. ing such assistance which has been hitherto (Signed) GREY. suggested, which apppears on the whole so Lieut. Governor Sir John Habvey, K. C. B., little burthensome to the mother-country, and Nova Scotia. at the same time of so much real service to the Colonies, as that which io now proposed. 3. In coming to the decision that Parliament should be mvited to give this support to the Erojected railway, Her Majesty's Government ave nut failed to bear in muid that by enabling Earl Grey to l.or(l Elgin. Downing Street, March lith, 1851. Mr Lord — From the correspondence which 1 have the North American Provinces to open this already had with your Lordship on the subject great line of communication, it may tairly bo of the projected railroad from Halifax to assumed that a powerful stimulus will be given Quebec, you are well aware that altliou^h Her to their advance in wealth and population, Majesty'u Government have not hitherto been and that the increase in their resources will enabled to take any steps towards the execu- render it possible for thcni to relieve the mother tion of that work, it is an undertaking which country sooner, and more completely than they have long earnestly desired to see would otherwise be practicable, from charges accomplished, as they believe it to be one now borne by it on account of these colonies. calcijl»ted very greatly to advance the com- In another despatch of this dale, I have mercial and political interests both of the informed your Lordship, tiiat in the judgment British Provinces in North America and of of Her Majesty's Government, the British the mother country. It is, therefore, with colonies ought to be required, as they become 5.reat satisfaction thai 1 have now to acquaint capable of doing so, to lake upon themselves your Lordship that 1 have reason to hope that not only the expenses of t.'ieir Civil Govern- the time is at lenglii come when this great ment, but a portion at all events of tiioae national enterprise mny be undertaken with incurred for their protection ; and I have advantage,ifttiere still exists (as lamassured pointed out to you, that the British Nonh there does) as strong a desire to promote it, on American Provinces, and eep. ciuliy Canada, the pnrt of the inliabitanis nf Canada and have now reached such a stage in their progress New Brunswick, as they fcrnierly expressed, that the charges for which Parliament is called and as the people of Nova Scotia have recently upon to provide on their account, ought to be manifested. rapidly dimmished. The construction of the 2. I inclose fcryour Lordship's information proposed railway would greatly contribute to a copy of a despatch addressed to me in the promote this important object. By opening course of the last autumn by Sir John Harvey, new districts for settlement, and by the demand introducing to me Mr. Howo, -a member of the for labor which would be created during the Government of Nova Scotia, and also copies progress of the work, the projected railway of two letters I have received from that gen- cannot fail to increase the wealth and populu- tliman, and of the ansi^-er which has by my tion of these Provinces, while by affording direction, been relumed to him. Your Lord- a rapid and easy communication bei ween theai, ship will perceive from these papers, that the it will enable them to afford to each other lar proposals made by Mr Ilowe, en behalf of greater support and assistance than they now the Province of Nova Scotia, and to which can, in any difficulty or danger to which they Her Majesty's Government have thought it may be exposed. their duty so far to accede as to undertake on 4. Your Lordship will not fail to observe from certain conditions, to recommend it, for the the letter which has »een addressed to Mr. sanction of Parliament, is to the effect that Howe, that the assistance which it is proposed the credit of this country should be employed to grant to the Provinces towards the construe- to enable the Provinces of Canada, New ''on of the proposed railway, is to be contin- Brunswick and Nova Scotia, to raise upon gent on provision being made for opening a advantageous terms the funds necessary for complete line of communication from Halifax the construction of the proposed railway, just to Quebec or Montreal. It is necessary, as Canada has already been eoabled by siim- therefore, to ucerttia whether Canada and S8 New Bruniwick are ready to join with Nora Scoiia in railing the cnpital required for the work in the manner propoied, and if so, in what proportion each Province ii to become responsible for the expense incurred The question whether it will be advisable for these two Provinces to join in the construction of the projected railway, if they should be enabled, by the assistance of Parliament, to raise the required capital, at a low rate of interest, is one for the consideration of their respective Legislatures; but so fHf as 1 have the means of forming a judjfment upon the subject, I should anticipiile thai their decision would be in favor of doing so. 1 infer that this is probable, not less from what 1 have learnt of the actual stale of public opinion on this sub- ject in the Provinces, than from the view wiiich I take of their interest in the work. Though 1 can believe that there would be much room for doubting whether the railway would pay as a mercantile speculation to a company looking to traffic only for its rei '•• neration, the case is very different when ii regarded as a public undertaking. \Vh>... viewed in this light, the various indirect advantages which cannot fail to arise to the Provinces from possessing such improved means of communication, must be considered, as well as the very grtat additional value which would be conferred on a vast extent of public lands whif h are now comparatively worthless. This is a source of profit from which no advantage can in general accrue to the constructors of railways in countries where the soil has long been appropriated by individuals ; on the contrary, in these countries the purchase of land is not one of the least important items of the expense to be incurred in such undertakings; but where, as in parts of Canada and New Brunswick, a great part of the territory to be traversed by a railway is slill unappropriated, and the land may be sold by the public, the increased value given to it by being thus rendered accessible, may render it advantageous to construct a railway, though the traffic is not expected to do more at first than pa>/ the working expenses. 5. If these considerations should induce the Legislatures of the three Provinces to combine in undertaking the projected railway, the terms on which tliey are to co operate wiih each other for that object will have to be settled ; and in coming to such an arrangement various questions of great difficulty and impor- tance will require to be considered. For instance it is probable that when the line is completed, the traffic will be far more remun- erative at the two extremities than in the more central portion of it; while at the same time the expense of construction would, from the nature of the country, be precisely higher where the iratFic returns would be the lowest : so t!.at if each Province were required to pay for the formation of the line through its own territory, and to receive the returns from the traffic through the same, it would follow, that while the expense to New Brunswick would be the greatest, its receipts would be the smallest. On the oiher hand, as 1 have just observed, one of the most important sources of profit from the construction of such a ■"•iUvay as that now in contemplation would arise from the sale of land of which the value would be increased by the work; and it appears from the papers before me, that New Brunswick would probably derive a greater profit from that source than th>» two Sister Provinces. — Whether the res.ilt upon the whole would be, that each Province, considering these various circumstances, ongiit to take upon itself the construction of ilie railway through its own territory, or whether, on the coiurary, any one should be ;if sisted by the others, is a point on which I have not the means of forming a judgement; ;ind I would su^'gest to you, that the best course, with a view of iiriiving at some practical result, would be, tiiata depu« tation from the Executive Councils of !lie two Lower Provinces should proceed to the seat of Government in Canada, in order to confi?r with your iiOidship and with your Council for the purpose of con>ing to some agreonioiit upon the subject, which, alter bein;; apjjroved by the Leirislatmes ot the sevt'ral I'rovinces, might be subuiilleJ lor the sanction of Par- liament. 6. It does not appenr to me that if such a confierence .should be held, it need occupy anv V"ry gri';ii lenath of lime, er that much dilHculty wouh'. arise in coming to an arrango- ment for thf construction iind working of the projected railway, by wliich the ex jC.ise of the undertdkii ;i on the one ham!, and llie advantages to li' deiivet! from it on the other, miirht be faiily upporiioiieil between the different Provnn:o3. Hereafter I may probably be enabled to oner nome bUu'gosiii ns. as to the manner in wliii'h this might be accom- plished ; but at prej't'nt 1 have o.,ly to add, that I shall transmit copies- of tlii.s desjiatch to Sir fjdiriund HiikI aod lo Sir Joha ilurvey, with inslructions to ilieni to communicate with your l.. 'Kl.sliip without delay en the important subjitto wliich it relates ; und it will give nie tbe iii^lif.si saiislaction il' tho result of tlie^ie conununications bhuuld be tho undertakiniT of a work, vvliieh, if completed, cannot, I believe, f'.il to add gieaily to the prosperity of the .Biiti>h Provinces in North America, and at the same lime to give additional slreiif.f'li to the tiis which connect them with each other and wiih the BrUidh Empire. I ain. ChJi'i'ned) ■) Ac, GREY. The Rl. Hon. the Eurl ofKIgin and Kincnrdmei ■'in i/>