IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 2.2 2.0 ■yuu IE '^ n V '/ w Sciences CorpQraSoil 23 V.iST MAIN STRilT WBtSTEI>. N.Y. 14SM (716) t72-4903 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical IVIicroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquaa at bibiiographiquaa T t( Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha reproduction, or which may significantly change the uauai method of filming, are checked below. D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covera damaged/ Couverture endommagte Covera restored and/or laminated/ Couverture reatauria et/ou pellicula Cover title miaaing/ La titre de couverture manque Coloured mapa/ Cartea giographiques en couleur Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured platea and/or iliuatrations/ n Planchea et/ou iilustrationa en couleur Bound with other material/ ReliA avec d'autrea documanta Tight binding may cauae ahadowa or d'rtortion along interior margin/ La re liure serr^e peut cauaar de I'ombre ou de la diatortion la long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during reatoration may appear within the text. Whenever poaaible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certainea pagee blanchaa ajout^ea lore d'une reatauraiion apparaiaaant dana la texte, mala, lorsqui* cela 6tait poaaible, cea pagea n'ont paa AtA filmtea. Additional commenta:/ Commentairea aupplAmantairea: L'inatitut a microfilmi le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a At* poaaible de se procurer. Les ditaiia de cet exemplaire qui aont paut-Atre uniquea du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mAthoda normale de filmage sont indiquto ci-dessous. D D D D D Coloured pagea/ Pngea de couleur Pageis damaged/ Pages endomrnag^as Pagea reatored and/or laminated/ Pages reataurtea et/ou peiiiculAea Pagea diacoloured, stained or foxed/ Pagea d4colorA«iia, tachetAes ou piquAea Pagea detached/ Pagea dAtachtea Showthrough/ Tranaparance I I Quality of print varies/ Quality InAgaia de I'impreaaion Includea supplementary material/ Comprend du matAriai auppl4mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Mition diaponible Pagea wholly or partially obacured by errata siipa, tiaauea, etc., have bean refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Letn pagea totalement ou partiallement obacurciaa par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont M filmAea A nouveau de fag on h obtenir la meilleure image poaaible. T P o fi b tl si o fi si o Tl si Tl w M di er be rll re m This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce documem eat fiimi au taux de reduction fndiqui ci-deesous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y II 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Th« copy filmad her* has baan raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Library of tha Public Archives of Canada Tha images appearing hare are the best quality possible considering the condition and iagSbility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies In printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or Illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. Ail other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or Illustrated Impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated Impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — »> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaninu "END"), whichever applies. Mmps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included In one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grfice A la ginArosIt* da: La bibll >thAque des Archives publiques du Conada Las images suivantas ont 6t4 •. ^roduitas avac la plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition et de la nattet« de l'exemplaire film«, et en conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmage. Lea exemplairas originaux dont la couvarture en papier est imprimAe sent film«s en commenpant par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autras axamplaires originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la darniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivantt apparattra sur la darniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols —^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, ate, oauvent Atre fiimte A des taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le docunient est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir de i'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imagas nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iiiustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 t-LV"^'^ ■*,J-J'^^>r» ■ wn A PLAN 9r SETTLEMENT & COLOOTZATION. ADAFTED TO AIL TM« BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN PROVINCES CONTAIKBD IN A SERIES OF LETTERS FROM JAMES FITZGERALD, ESQ., TO A PRIKND IN IRELAND. WITM TH« COWUESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE AUTIIOR AND Till SfTEP.NOR ««NEIUL, THE PROVINCIAL Ag'rICULTURAL ASSOCIATiON OF UPPER CANADA, AND THE NIAGARA DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIJETr. «.-\rt/N.^^«.-.'V'^ ■%.*»/».-■. vsyV^.. PnCNTMSD FOR TI7E AUTHOR, BY JOHN G. JPDD, KING STREET, TORONTO. M DCCC L. ■^.::i THE AUTHOR'S ADDRESS. Ca.vadi.vVs— men of my iulopted coiinlrj', twenty-four years liave now clapsod since 1 detorniiued to cast in my lot amongst you. During tliat timo 1 have not been an inattentive observer of the political, physirul and inorul con- dition of this great Northern Region. 1 have hud an anxions and alii(liM;< wish for its prosperity and progress in all arts and acijuirerai-nti? calculated to raise tiie condition of its inhabitants in the scale of civil Society; in further- ance of which 1 laid before our Provincial Government dining the last two Sessions of Parliament, my views of a sound system of Colonization as ex- ]ilained in the following work. 1 acknowledge to you, that the ruinous >.ys- teni pursued in the Land Dei)artment, taught me to expect but little or iw assistance from the Executive Government in the premises. 1 now publish the work for your con;:ideration individually and collectively, and 1 doubt not but that jU12,U()0 in cash, to be expended in the course of one year in each County, (which sum increases every succeeding year) where one settlement ran be made, on lands public or private, will enlist y( ur earnest attention. 1 therefore turn to you Canadians, in confident expectation that you will embract' M ivstcni pregnant with blessings to you and your remotest posterity. 1 have the honor to be, Your obedient, devoted, And humble Servant. JAMES FITZGERALD. ■ t ^1 PREFACE. To the Presidents Officers and Members of the Provincial and Niagara District Agricultural Associations^ Gentlemen, Your kind reception of my humble endeavour to pro- mote the prosperity of our common country, impels me to the conviction of the truly honest motives which actuate you in behalf of your fellow man ; and I feel grateful for the permission allowed to me, to inscribe to your Societies a publication intended to prove the facility with which suffer- ing in the British Empire may be converted into comfort and prosperity in this Province, by carrying out the system which I had the honour to submit for your approval. The difficulties which appear in the minds of some in- quirers to impede a system of colonization carried on upon a scale worthy of the British Empire, have originated in misconception, and have been greatly exaggerated. But were those difficulties still greater, the real question to be considered, is, the proportion which they bear to the national advantages to be obtained, and to the national duties to be performed. It undoubtedly behoves practical statesmen to ascertain the obstacles which impede their policy, but it is the glory' of a great state to overcome such obstacles when national interests are involved. In submitting a proposal for improvement to Cromwell, a man of practical science* asked " can anything of this natiure seem difficult to a state resolved to do good to its people ?" "Difficulties are the bonds of narrow minds ; but such is not the heart of a state." Successive Imperial Governments B ; I I if '^i « and successive Iiiiperiiil Parliamenls have considered this subject, but luive shrunk I'roiu the pi i rorniunce otlhe great practical duties wliicii their investigations ought to have enforced. For many years I have tried to urge these arguments on my friends in Ireland and in Canada. Reflection and ex- perience, as well as a practical and continuous system of Agriculture from my youth, for many years have confirmed the principles which 1 intend to lay down. If I now bring the subject before the public ; If I have presumed to solicit the honour of inscribing my publication to your Societies, it is because I am convinced of the neces- sity of adopting an enlarged and generous system of Colo- nization for the purpose of promoting the best interests of this country, and of strengthening the connection between these Provinces and the parent Empire. I have the Honour to be, Gentlemen, Your much obliged, and Obedient Servant, JAxMES FITZGERALD. City of Toronto, July 12, 1850. To the Right Honorable James Earl of Elgin and Kin- kardine, Governor- Genera^ of all Her Majesty's Pos- sessions in North A?nerica, t^T., «^*c., i^'c. My Lord, The importance and the magnitude of the measure which I respectfully beg to lay before you, would very naturally induce a suggestion, to men of much experience, great talent, and consummate skill. The necessity of ob- serving great caution in approaching and praying Your Excellency's support, and advocacy in its behalf, but with me, my Lord, there is no other feeling. No motive but what Your Lordship will find expressed in the measure itself. And when I declare that those motives are my sole rule and guide, I look with confidence, to be held free from all mercenary views. To carry out in practice, the theory advanced, is my sole and only ambition. The package marked B, containing hi a series of letters, the 3 jiian and system of Coloniziilioii, and mode ol'sottlomeiit of the waste lands of Canada, tog(!tl)er with the report of a highly respectable and intelligent body of agriculturists, and educated persons, on tlic practicability of the system, it is anxiously hoped Your Excellency will forward lo the Imperial Legislature for their consideration, with such recommendation from Your Excellency as you may deem advisable. And I have strong presumptive reason to hope that from Your Excellency's solicitude for the advance- ment of the welfare of our country, you will be induced to a careful scrutiny of this, or any other design, calculated to confer Jiappiness on many, regardless of the source from whence it may emanate. With regret I must say, as the system of Colonization is in itself more lengthy than itmight be in the hands of a more competent writer, and my anxiety to ex})lain all its prominent features, so as to dissipate doubt as to its practicability is such that I am therefore called on to trespass on Your Excel- lency's precious time, but briefly as possible, in recommend- ing its great utility, and shall feel honoured in giving any explanation that may be required of mo. That the unnatural agitation now going on in the Pro- vince, will have a tendency to keep capitalists from coming xmd living amongst us, may be very true, and as this injury will have a powerful eflcct in the wrong direction on the minds of men, who can only give car to men of capital set- tling permanently in the country. To those persons and all others who may be so short sighted, I will beg to call their attention to the contemplated prolific growth of one single settlement which I have made out, and which accompanies the plp.n of settlement, and allowing all those persons to be as sceptical as my Lord Chesterfield, I very much doubt, notwithstanding, whether they would realize in any legiti- mate business way, an equal profit from capitalists, as they would by the residence among them, of an industrious yeo- manry ; a nation's pride. The allusion made to disaffected parties in Canada, I can- not better illustrate than by comparison to the elder son of a large family, who being indulged in waywardness for years, and finding that justice is about being done to his more helpless brethren, fires his father's house, and has the temer- ity to remain amidst the general ruin he has himself created, .still having confidence in the result of his criminal deed. m. \M As tho points in connection with tho plan and system of Colonization are, I fear, tiriiigly explained, it only remains necessary for me to inform Your Excellency that my friend Bourke, to whom I have addressed myself in In^land, is a British officer, and the cousin of the latcJSir Edmund Nagle, referred to in one of my letters. I also now beg leave to submit to Your Excellency a copy of my Application to the House of Assembly last Ses- sion , audressedto a Member of the Government, and mark- ed P, from which Your Excellency will observe that the system is the same as the one at present submitted, and ask- ing at the time, only half the amount at present applied for, the present application being for a loan ot JC200,000 Cy. from the Imperial Governmem. Sincerely hoping the system may be favourably considered by Your Excellency, and that action may be taken on it at Your Excellency's earliest convenience. I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedient and devoted Humble Servant, JAMES FITZGERALD. Toronto, April 29, 1850. To the Hon. James H. Price, Commissioner of Crown Lands, ^c. ^c, ^c. Toronto, 7th March, 1849. Sir In taking the liberty to address you, I beg to assure you that I am solely actuated in the hope of doing a general ^ood, and if I secure your answer approvingly on the sub- ject of disposing of a portion of the Crown Ijands in Canada, in furtherance of a healthy system of Colonization, I am sanguine in hoping I am capable of submitting, and of show- ing a legitimate way for the consideration of the Govern- ment, and by which system the people of Canada and the Parent Empire may commence the grand foundation of a long and lasting union, in prosperity and mutual happiness, which should be sought for by every possible legitimate means. The system I would propose embraces so many good re- suits, tliat I (.list it will rfroivo r,omc roMsidomtioii. It will not cost tli(! ( .'olouial (Jov;'rnniciit a nionny outiiiy. It will settle the wasti; lands, and will iiWr food and cniploynuint to the (lostitnt(! ; create a liealtliy system ot' resident agri- cultural laliour, the want of wliioh system heretofore has periodically drained the (.'anadas ol'Uicir acUial capital, and Great Ihitain of many thousands, erroneously supposed to have henctitted this country. It will give; a home consump- tion for a lar^'c portion of the agricidlural produce and manufactures of the country, j m ■7 l;&< 10 assistanc3 of the settlers and the cultivation of tiio lot also. I believe Sir, it is only necessary to state, that should the succession of crops with the proper remuneration from the settlers, for services rendered to them, not prove sufficiently remunerative to cover the outlay, the Government would by the sale of the 500 acre lots, at the expiration of five years, put themselves in the possession of a handsome bonus after paying all incidental expenses, and 1 might with safety say, that at the termination of ten years, the four lots of 500 acres each would disburse the largest part of the principal first advanced. In my last letter I remarked what I thought would mar the success of the late Honourable Petur Robinson's trial of settlement in 1823. That trial, however, was in conformity with a system which has for a series of ^-ears been pursu- ed towards Ireland and her people, and I now repeat the same views I then entertained and expressed. I know of no more fruitful source of reckless idleness and indifferentism than those kinds of gratuities, and had the hardy yeomanry of my ill-fated country been trained in an early day to de- cline with manly pride those periodical charities and de- mand justice, that country would long since have filled her legitimate rank among the nations and be the strongest arm of England to boot. And of the actual recipients of those charities how much better off are they now. They shame- lessly skulked behind the poor industrious man and again and again oppressed him. There are but few men so long out of Ireland as I am who better know the cause of destitution of that people and country. I therefore take upon myself to say, that there are so many good reasons for granting a relief loan for a time, that I cannot, will not, doubt it. To help to raise the people from their present prostrate condition, and to endeavour to soothe the harrowed feelings of the nation is a duty paramount to all others, and devolves especially on the prime minister ; and as a statesman, he will readily perceive the effect of sending out her 4,000 healthy families; and the prospect your colonial government will hold out to him of having a like number sent out annually for several years, cannot fail to have the most salutary effect, and will tend to keep from crime and violence an expectant people. * In conclusion, I take leave to offer my services, and to say, that if I receive 2,000 healthy families, I will undertake their direction and superintendence ; the more destitute of means the more welcome. A chaplain, a physician, and surveyor, with the force al- ready mentioned is all that I will require. My motives for thus offering my services are known ; 1 am now in my fifty and fourth year, and if I am spared, 1 think there are yet seven years of good hard work In me ; this I am willing to barter : for the labourer is worthy of hire. At the termination of the above period, I may consider my services deserving recompense. My practical knowledge of agriculture in Ireland, can be favourably reported to any address, from highly respectable men, who were my neighbours and intimates. I am. Sir, Again your hopeful and obedient Soinersetshire in England, you were kind enongli to iuvile me to yonr oflice where you put me in jmssession el' your system of eolonization, and the settlement of the waste lands of Canada. 1 now beg leave to thank you for your very kind notice of me, and I take leave to say that from the papers you were pleased to hand me for perusal and }our oral explanation of them, I have no hesitation ill siA'iug that your plan is so novel and so every way (talculatcd to iu.sui(> the most signal success, that 1 would most cheerfully be, and now propose to become the very first settler under the provisions of your system, fairly and honorably caniod out ; and I will iurther venture to add (although but iluee weeks in Canada) that if your sys- tem is made known generally in this country and in Eng- land, there will be; no furtlier need of inducements to per- sons to emigrate, being fully satisfied that many of the Ag- ricultural Yeomanry, and 1 doubt not many of that class of your own country, Avill gladly avail themselves of a boon so fortuitous and so every way calculated to promote happiness and unboiuidcd ])rosperity. You will perceive, .Sir, that 1 see furtiier into your system than you would be led to give me credit for, from two hours interview with you on the .subject, and 1 need scarcely add that I wish you every success in your laudable and humane undertaking, and most sinci'rely do 1 wish that your long and untiring perseverance may be crowned by the consumma- tion of your philanthropic design. 1 resided in England and emigrated to the States in 1848, D 18 where I have resided till three weeks ago (when I came into Canada) and intend to return there soon to take advantage of D. Webster's liberal policy, which will give 160 acres of land in the Western States to any actual settler, which un- less your plan or some such system is very speedily adopted by the Canadian (iovernment, will have the effect of drawing both from your old country and from mine many, yes, very many, of those honest and hardy yeomen who form the strength and stay of any country, and who would rather come here, even to have less land, provided they could have the opportunity of settlement under some good sound system such as yours, (which gives the advan- tage of well directed associated labor, where everything is turned to the best advantage, and the best markets of the world opened to the produce of the settlers,) but if not, will most assuredly flock to the States to the increase of their wealth and strength, and your loss and ultimate ruin, (by your loss I mean of course that of Canada.) Hoping soon to hear from you that the Government have done, what they ought to have done long ere this, brought this measure before the country, and that it has become a law — and con- sequently I be called on to fulfil my promise of being the first settler. I remain yours, sincerely obliged, rEllCY WOLLASTON. LETTERS TO A FRIEND IN IRELAND. Toronto, 27th December, 1849. My Dear Burke : You will readily believe me when I declare to you that I have taken no part in any of the numerous Emigration projects which have been put before the public here, during my residence, now about 23 years, as they appear to me indigested and injudicious. The intended plan of an Irish association on colonization to Canada, p'f blished in 1846, and their letter to the Right Honorable Lord John Russell, of which I must have in- formed you, or L. Armstrong, of Cork, at the time, from my often expressed solicitude to enlist the sympathies of some of our numerous and influential relatives in behalf of our suffering people, came so near the views which I always entertained since my arrival in Canada — of a sound sys- tem of Colonization, that I addressed their secretaries Messrs. O'Cormell, Godley and Grogan, at London, giving them the benefit of my opinions. My letter to them, to which I never received an answer, was dated 22nd May, 1847, but, oh, how woefully did we suffer from the influx of the mass of human misery heaped upon us during that year. What a bad requital for the unbounded charity of the people of Canada. A letter published in the Dublin Nation newspaper, of 15th Sept. last, fdgned J. S. L. of Bantry, has led me once more to hope that something may yet be done for Ireland. You must, therefore, allow me to call on you to arouse and act in her behalf. The subjoined extract from a pamphlet J; ■f ■■ :Il f 20 11^ m m.. Ki;' . I cf tho Right Ilonoiablo Sir Robort Wilmot llorton, pub- lished in 1839 which only lately lull into* niy hands, will, I doubt not give an additional siiinnhis to your best exer- tions in this most laudable undortal .r 3* " Nothing but the conviction I feci of the imperative necessity at this moment for the adoption of vigorous measures, could induce me again to brave the inditference, to use the mildest term, with which the subject has been hitherto i eceived. The certainty with which I look forward to the change wliich must sooner or later take place in public opinion, and of wlii'.-h there have been ah'eady some symptoms, also encourages me to attempt, uniicr the high auspices of which I have been pennittetl to avail myself, again to urge the im- mediate ad( ',tion of tlie only mi ans by wlncii not only immediate ^e•^ lief can be obtained, but tho on'y means l)y wliich we may be enabled aft,ei wards to carry into effect boneliis not yet dreamed of in either hemisphere." I will beg leave to remark that if there was an impera- tive necessity for the adoption of those measures in 1839, that it is doubly imperative in 1840. and I will here remind my Lord John Russell, and the landed [proprietors of Ire- land, that the opportunity which yet presents itself of set- tling the waste lands of Canada with a British population, may not long remain in abeyance. The face of Europe is directed to our Western world. I am happy, sincerely hap- py, to be able to say with truth that in 1837 — 8 and 1849 during the disturbances (twin abortions) of those periods, the Irish Catholics of Canada were among the very first to iake the side of law and order, and of true and unpur- chasable allegiance ; and let me here again impress on you that the present is a time, aiid adiappy, though melan- choly time, when England by uniting with Tieland sincerely can do more good towards strengthening their union, than at any former period of their hi tory, by the performance of an act of wisdom and justice to the oppressed. It has always appeared unaccountably strange to me that so many highly informed and good men, who it cannot be doubted intended to promote the condition ana prosperity of the immigrant as speedily as practicable, could leave i.ntrifcd to this period, a system, by the adoption of which, the im- migrant is at once put in the position to commence the payment of a dividend of the money laid out for his benefit, together with the immediate advancement of his own wealth and prosperity. And whon I can inform you without fear 1 21 • of contradiction, tliat a good laborer wlio understands chop- ping and clearing the land to advantage, will be able to chop, log, burn, clear and fence 15 across of well timliored land, commencing in the fall, — say in the month of Octo- ber — it will be all completely done and ready for a crop of wheat the following season. If the season should be a favorable one, the average yield would be from 20 to 25 bushels per acre, very often more, but never less than 15 bushels if proper means be used in due season. Such men can be employed at from £30 to £35 per annum, and boarded. I must observe here that a pair of oxen, with some additional help (four men,) would be wanted when the log- ing and burning commenced in the spring of the year. A sufficient quantity of the land w aid be prf'parod in season for the spring crops, such as corn, spring wheat and oats, with all kmds of vegetables, ample store for home con- sumption, and with a favorable spring, a surplus which may realize from ten to fifteen per cent of the entire outlay from the time of locating the land. I wish you to understand here that the experienced men by their training of the im- migrants, will enable them to prepare at least eight acres of land the first year, and if they be active and tract- able they will exceed this quantity. Should the occupiers of the land find it more advantageous to dispose of the ashes of the wood on their land, they cannot fail in finding parties who will cut down, log and clear all incumbrances in the way of timber, and will fence it in due time for a crop of wheat, requiring the ashes only as a consideration, and the heavier the land is timbered the better for them. — This operation would be more beneficial to the owners of the land, as a succession of crops would soon put them in possession of a much better description of manure ; and the advantage derived from the land from any benefit the ashes may be of, cannot at all be put in competition with the de- fraying of the expenses of clearing, so that the most skep- tical person must admit that I have underrated the net pro- ceeds of the land the first year. I am decidedly of opinion, however, that this department of the agriculture of wood- land should be performed by the occupants themselves, as it will at least pay the fifteen per cent before alluded to fhould the agricultural products fall short of the expecta- tions I entertain-of them. 22 ii January, fyth, 1850. The landj in tho Western Districts, for many reasons, are those I would recommend being iiist taken up, 50 acres to be given at the present valuation, being from eight to ten shillings per acre, 25 acres to be held as a guarantee for the advances given to immigr^.nts, but nothing must be given here gratuitously. I have always entertained the opinion that gratuities are the most fruitful sources of demoraliza- tion, and my countrymen want them not, thoy have never nhvunk from the performance of their ducy, or from work- ing for an honest competence for their families, when they could obtain it — no man in health can receive any provi- sions, on my plan of operations, with(tut working tor them. Had this opinion been acted upon when I first mentioned it to the Earl of Kingston, and the Honorable Peter Rob- inson at Mitchelstown, in the year 1823, and since followed up I would not have much to contend with on this subject here. I have always been met by objections in consequence of the extraordinary expenditure incurred at tl at period on emigration to Canada. When I wrote to Messrs. O'Connell, Godley and Grogan, in May 1847, there were then 130,200 acrei of wild land for sale in the Western District, part Clergy Reserves, part Crown Land, and the only sale of any consequence that I have any knowledge of being made since, is a sale made to an Association for the social and religious improvement of the Coloured population of Canada, in the township of Raleigh which fronts on Lake Erie, — you will find their advertisement in the Globe of the 3rd of January, 1850, which I will send to you with other papers. A large number of wealthy farmers in Cc-iiada have edu- cated their sons for the learned professions, and as a medi- cal man would be required to attend a settlement of immi- grants, I would consider those young men, when duly qualified, the very best auxiliaries we could have in the wilderness, as they have generally a thorough knowledge of agriculture, and the services of such persons can be obtained for about £150 per annum, as they would be wil- ling to advance with the settlement. Oas maol Coughlugth Agon Braorha, Oas mohrig thac vcen Agon Drahar. The r.bove is no doubt Dutch to you, but as I have for- 23 gotten niucli of my Irish la)nin<>; and spelled the above correctly, 1 leel 1 am the translation. have not bound to I believe give you The coiiiinunity without a Pastor is bare Man regrets bcino; without a brother. The paramount necessity that I am certain would exist for the Clergymen of the ditferent denominations accom- panying the emigrants to this country, and to be located with them, is to me so obvious, that all the good I have herein stated can be performed, and all which I would stake my reputation to perform ; yet without their assistance, re- sidence, and co-operation with us, I would not take the responsibility. And I perfectly recollect that in the letter which 1 addressed to Messrs. O'Connell, Godley and Gro- gan, in 1847, I stated distinctly the necessity of the Clergy- men attaching themselves to the coming emigrants, and by all means that each religious community should main- tain their own Pastor. And tell me not that the Coloniza- tion of Canada — the happiness of her people- and the prosperity of the British Empire, can fail under a proper system of arrangement, and I claim for this the prece- dence. My dear friend you have a true and faithful outline of what can be done for our poor countrymen here. I there- fore call upon you in the name of God and your country to put yourself forward. I will stake my reputation that emi- gration and the colonization of Canada on my plan, will be the richest boon to Ireland together with the innnediate change in the condition of those who may be sent, and the consequent prospr'rity of Canada. I entreat of you, there- fore, put yourself prominently forward, and if any of my old friends who know me intimately, will ^'o-operate with you, believe me they will have cause to x^Joice in being instrumental in assisting to relieve the helpless and prostrate people of Ireland, should I be spared a few years longer, and assisted in carrying out this enterprise. Would to God the Statesmen of England possessed the same clear sighted views, on this great and important mea- sure, that prompted the noble minded Sir Robert Wilmot Horton. I would feel happy in knowing that this good and amiable man was living and possessing the same energies of mind that he did ten years since. t%i- 24 I might say much more on this great subject, and of the cause of tlie noncontinuance of productiveness in the differ- ent experiments that have been tried, and of my motives in not taking any part in any proceedings here on that subject. 1 will answer all this by sending to you per next mail (if I receive it in time) a copy of my last application, having sent it to the OfFicers of the Niagara District Agri- cultural Society for their opinion. I have been their Sec- retary for several years when I lived in that District. I will now give you an idea of my plan of settlement and location, as no plan that has been devised or acted upon, has been yet productive of the great end that I have in view, viz. : assistance and provisions must be given to the settlers for oii.c year, which will put them in a position to commence paying up such assistance by annual instalments until the whole is paid off, and you will see by the annexed account what I would require ; and as I am only calculat- ing the expense of one settlement, it may be well to observe that should there be more settlements than one, the quota of salary to the Clergyman and Physician would be de- creased accordingly. Fear not for widow^s and orphans, I have measures de- vised for them should casualties on the settlement require it. Widows were never turned olF my fathers property. — Also the head money required should not apply in this case which would be 7s, 6d. to each adult. I must hero request you will at least have my motives done justice to by sending a copy of this to the Tablet and Nation newspapers, with a certificate of my agricultural pursuits, &c., and signed by those who know me, as I am perfectly Avilling to pledge myself on the issue of my sue cess in this undertaking. I am, Dear Sir, Ever sincerely, JAMES FITZGERALD. Plan of tScltlcnient and Location. 300 men and their families, averaging five in each, to "Coni[)Ose a settlement, and to be subdivided into twelve tiompauies of twenty-five to each, and to each company, who should form one dietary or general mess for all hands, at least for the your, to be attached four pr.i; tised laborers, 25 one cook, 2 pair of working oxen, with the necessary ap- pendages, cost of which with provender for cattle, may be rated as follows : 4 Working men at £35 per annum each . £140 1 Cook 15 Board for five at £12 each ... 60 2 Pair working Oxen, Chains, Harrows, &c. &c. 50 Cooking Stove and apparatus . . 10 4 Tons of Hay for Cattle at 50s. per ton . 10 Quota of Clergyman's Salary £150 . 12 10 Do. Physician do. 150 . . 12 10 Do. Book keepers do. 100 . S 6 Do. Superintendent do. 150 . . ^2 10 Seed Wheat and other seeds for 260 acres to be clear supposed 8 57 3 4 £388 This would make the proportion to each set- tler £15 10 4 Amount allowed for provision for each family 22 10 AH incidental expenses . . . 1 19 8 £40 Erecting an ashery capable of manufacturing from 700 to 1000 barrels potash of 4^ cwts each £60 JAMES FITZGERALD. 26 r m Si'' Toronto^ 28th January ^ 1850. My Dear Burke : In my letter of 27th December last, I promised to transmit to you copies of my last application here on Colo- nization, but have yet received them not. I put off writing until the last hour, nnd as I intend giving you my opinion as to the capacity of our Colonial Ministers, it would not be fair without the accompanying evidence ; anil that evidence 1 promise you I will send if possible per next mail. You must know the mail leaves this for England during the winter (or four months) only once a fortnight. But in the absence of other matter at present, I mus- say; something to keep your mind on this great subject, nor can I better preface it than by informing you of the hapmness I felt yesterday in our church on hearing the Gospel of the day read (Septuagesema Sunday) taken from St. Matthew 20tli chapter commencing with the first and ending with the sixteenth verso ; were you with me at that moment, though in a Catholic church (one of the finest on the Continent of America) and looked round at the happy Irish faces, between two or three thousand that were there congregated, you would I am sure pray fervently, that our rulers would go out even at the eleventh hour and send the famishing poor men to work in their vineyard; or would be led to say in the words of Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, " I see a remedy provided at once, natural and delightful, relieving the country in which even civilized instructed man becomes a burden, and transfering him to regions prepared by their fertility and want of inhabitants, and to such regions alone should the excess be kindly and carefully transferred for receiving the labor and skill which may happen to be redundant, thus converting them at once into blessings of per- manent and immeasurable value." I am grateful in being able to inform you that the plan of settlement which I sent you per mail of 14th inst. has been entirely approved of by one of the most competent and practical men in this section of Canada, his only objec- tion being that I did not allow more funds for incidental expenses, but having explained my views more fully than can be done on paper except at the risk of its becoming tiresome, I found he Concurred with me. I will also ex- plain to you some points and herewith send you a copy of I mnmiffi 27 the plan of settlement, lest the one I sent with my letter of J4lli instant may now be in other hands. In the first place, as my object is to do- good to my fellow man and to promote the general welfaie of this my adopted country, I would sooner first reduce my salary to the stand- ard of the laborer ; and knowing the zeal of the Catholic Clcrgv of Ireland, I believe any of them who may be sent woula do likewise, nor need I except the salaiy of the Book- keeper being brought to the same standard^ if necessary, therefore should any deficiency occur, what I have above alluded to will amply suffice for any casualty that may happen. It is not for salary that men should work on such an occasion : disinterestedness should be the motto and i for one adopt it, leaving my services to be compensated for when I can prove that I deserve it. I may be also asked if I allow £12 per annum for the board of one class of working men ? How can I reduce it with proper regard to the maintenance of the immigrant and his family? I will best reply to this by saying, if the immigrant requires a certain course of tram ing to make his labor valuable to himself, I consider that the Irish im- migrant and his family will require a prudent and very careful course of dietary training, with proper regard to their health. The necessary supply of medicine will also be required, which I have not heretofore mentioned. I consider it material to inform you that emigrants com- ing here at any season of the year in good health, may in accordance with my system be profitably employed. I proposed to our late Bishop in 1847, that I would take charge of 1210 families and attend to them, if they would get a promise of 25 acres of land each, and be provisioned duiing the winter, but unfortunately for them, the Bishop died before we had time to make an application to the gov- ernment here, and the thing dropped, with some thousands of the j)oor emigrants. Grood bye, Ever sincerely, JAMES FITZGERALD. as f If., Wi^ !.i 'ft I, , . Toronto, iSt. Valentines Day, 1850. My Dear Burke : In addition to my former statements, I have further to observe that the cost of survey has now to be taken up, this I can dispose of summarily by informing you that I have the word of honor of a higlily respectable Irishman, and a competent judge, that he will give such instructions as that the survey and division of the land for 300 settlers must not cost more than £93 15s., or Ijd. per acere, and those instructions with every other information I can receive of this gentleman, will be cheerfully and generously given. This is the person of whom I wrote in my last. You will now ask how are immigrants to be housed ? and how are they to be disposed of after the first year, when a clearance of 260 acres will be made 1 These are most ne- cessary inquiries and most requisite to be understood per- fectly. The men who are intended to be attached to the settle- ment for the improvement of the immigrants must be em- ployed a month or six weeks before they arrive, for the pm-pose of erecting the necessary buildings and procuring the necessary supplies of water ; and it must be borne in mind, that although each settler is to get 50 acres of land, he must be put in possession of 25 only, during the first three years, or until thirty per cent of the principal incurred from the time oi his being located, together with thirty per cent of the price of 25 acres of land be paid up, and by {)aying- which — by annual instalments of ten per cent — the and being 10s. per acre — it would make the payments £5 5s. per annum for the first three years, then the settler should get the remaining 25 acres, and commence the pay- ment of the residue, and of the last 25 acres, at the rate of 20 per cent per annum, until the full amount without in- cluding interest, would be paid up ; which would make payments £9 17s. per annum, thus clearing off in eight years, a sum, which again goes to the benefit of those who are every year coming and requiring the same protection and assistance. Who is that man that would not work diligently to enable his suffering fellow to escape from starvadon, misery and death ! Although every settler who on paying 30 per cent, could require to be located on his own lot at any period before the three years expired; yet the great ■!»1 29 advantage to be ilorived, by remaining together rs first settled for the full term ot three years, would be so much more beneficial, and would leave so much of each man's time for the cultivation of the soil, and otherwise lessen ex- penses, and promote the general good, that I am persuaded when the settlers would see those great advantages, very few, if any, would be found to change their quarters. It may now be time to wind up with the most important arm of this system, namely, the necessary funds to carry out to a successful termination this great project. It must be admitted that the growing prosperity of Cana- da, and the annual increase of the population, necessarily calls for an increase oi" the circulating medium also, for the purpose of affording employment on public works, so much is this want generally felt, that I do not hesitate in hazard- ing the opinion, that a measure proposed in our House of Assembly for a loan for any public undertaking, would meet with general concurrence, and pledging the Province for principal and interest. I will ask, then, can any rational person be found in Canada or elsewhere, who on under- standing this system of colonization could think of direct- ing to any other purpose the investment of £200,000, or could suppose that any other outlay of this sum, would cause a benefit to the same extent, as the settling of the waste lands by a resident rural population? Beside the advantage of the'increase of population — their requirements annually — the vast increase of the products of the country — the increase of its revenue — and the general benefit that would be derived at home and abroad, the Province would have the peculiar advantage of not being obliged to pay one penny of this large loan, which so directly and contin- ously would benefit the country. Also an army of men women and children would be sent to us who would ferti- lize our wilderness, and become a happy portion of our com- munity, and repay by their industry all the wealth that might be laid out in this way, and from which we would have the sole benefit, as it is the agricultural produce and the stock and labour of the country that would be required. And let it be remembered there should be no hesitation in adopting some course at once, being satisfied that nothing better could be done at present for the benefit of Canada. — I therefore trust sincerely that our Legislatures at home and abroad will look to it, and that £200,000 will be forthwith f^ 90 III;/ HP J- m appropiiaU;d to this national benefit. j(^ 192,000 is the iiitioutit that sixteen settlements of 300 families would require. Eight settlements for Eastern Canada, and the same num- ber for Canada West, £8,000 would very appropriately re- main, us this sum would be required for the erection of mills where necessary or other improvements, all which should be proportioned in strict accordance with the relative industry and conduct of the diftcrent localities. I also wish that you should understand that the price of the land wliichis mixed up with the first 0 brings out 127 families. £5,089 13 Seventh Year, 1857. — 127 families in addition to 199 fifth and sixth years, begin to pay £5 5s. 326 families at £5 5s £1,711 10 Fifty families of fourth year in addition to 384 of first, second, and third years, begin to pay £9 17s. i3i families at £9 17s 4,274 18 Total, ..... This sum divided by 40 brings out 149 families. £5,986 8 Eighth Year, 1858. — 149 families in addition to 235 of sixth and seventh years begin to pay £5 5s. 384 families at £5 5s £2,016 Ninety-one families of fifth year in addition to 434 of first, second, third and fourth yearp, begin to pay £9 178. 525 families at £9 17s. . . 5,171 5 Total, .... This sum divided by 40 brings out 179 families. £7,187 5 Ninth Year, 1859. — 179 families in addition to 276, seventh and eighth years, begin to pay £5 Ss. 455 families at £5 5s £2,388 15 108 families of sixth year in addition to 525 of 1 2 3 4 & 5 years, begin to pay £9 l7s. 633 families at £9 178 6,235 1 Total, .... This sum divided by 40 brings out 215 families. F £8,623 16 34 Tenth Ykar, 1860. — 2 .'.5 families in addition Lo 328 begin to pay £b 5.s. 543 families at £5 5s. . . £2,845 15 127 families of seventh year in addition to 633 of first, second, third, fovirth, fift xnd sixth years, begin to pay £9 17s. 760 famiHes at £9 17s. Total, .... This sum divided by 40 brings out 258 families. 7,48 6 £10,331 15 Elevei^th Yeau, 1861, — 258 families in addition to 394 begin to pay €5 os. 652 families at £5 5s. . . 3,423 ' 149 families of eighth year in addition to 760 families of first, second, third, fviurth, fifth, sixth, and seventh years, begin to pay .£9 17s 8,953 13 Tc^tL £12,376 13 Here then on the eleventh ^'•ear is a sum sufficiently large to pay off the amount first loaned a;.d leaving a surplus to th3 settlement of £376 13s. the .xumber of famines being at this period 1561, and occupying 78,050 acres of the pre- sent be-.utifully wild and uncultivated lands of Canada. — And all this from the one fiettlement of 300 families. Cas- ualties of different characters may be reasonably counted on, but from the general complexion of the system, little or no doubt caii be entertained of filling up vacancies with avidity. I further wish to remind all whom it may concern that the very large sums of money which are being sent home from year to year to enable the friends of the parties so sending to come out will form a very considerable aug- mentation of money and forces, and in my opinion will be the means of turning the present annexation scale the other way. I am well aware that very many of my coun- trymen who had to leave Canada in consequence of malad- m^'iistration, and by keeping the lands, the only disposable inducement out oi the reach of the very persons most com- petent to make a proper and profitable use of them would gladly return to their friends here, and live on British soil again. I wish to be perfectly understood, I esteem a^d respect the people of the United States foi their very many amiable traits of character, and particularly so for their vaior and love of justice, but wishing a repeal of all the faults, I love the British Constitution. As £12,000 is the l^gal interest m 38 of the £200,000 loan required^ tliis sum v ith wear tear and taxes, will, 1 hope, be considered a full price for all lands belonging to the Crown in Canada or elsewhere, that the Imperial Government may please to send settlers to by this system, so long as the British Government allow the prin- cipal to re. 'ain with tlie settlers for the general benefit of the coimiry. All wliich is most respectfully submitted, JAMES FITZCiERALD. Toronto, February 28th, 1850. My Dear Burke : I have anxiously expected the return of rny papers, from my frien<^ in the Niagara District. Indeed I fully thought he -i '^Id make his personal appearance at a meet- ing of the Provincial Agricultural Society which was held here on the 20th instant, for the purpose of determining (with other duties) where in that old and well settled District, the next exhibitioii of Cattle, Agricultural products and Mechan- ical works, and works of arts, would be held and although the directors of the Society were unanimously of the opin- ion that the vicinity of the Great Falls would be the most eligible place for holding the next fair, Edward Thompson Esq., requested information from a few gentlemen who at- tended the meeting, who from their knowledge of that section of country, would be able to give the directors every necessary information on the subject. After the resolution was moved and seconded to hold the next fair at this mag- nificent plp.ce of attraction, I begged leave to offer a few ex- planatory lemarks which had the effect of changing the opinion of the whole of the Directors, with one solitary exception, a gentleman who resides in the immediate neigh- bourhood of the Falls. It was decided that the fair was to be held in the old and beautifully situated Town of Niag- ara. I was happily supported by a Mr. Boulton, a Barrister who resided there for some years, but is now a resident of this city. You may judge of the importance of this great Provincial show, when I inform you, that when the ae.(. 36 I M I '*, '■ Directors decided that the town of Niagara was their unan- .imous choice in consequence of the explanations which they had heard, the gentleman who was delegated by the inhabitants of that town, said that he was authorized by the people of Niagara to contribute in their name £300 in aid of the funds of the Society, and much to this gentle- man's credit, he did not say a word about this offering of the people of Niagara, during the discussion of the relative merits of the two places, he allowed the decision of the Directors to rest solely on the explanations given which went to shew the convenience to the Province generally, and the facility of ingress it afforded the inhabitants of the United States. I will continue to send you all my papers, and particularly any that I may find to contain any informa- tion on this coming exhibition. I am the more particular in saying so much on any subject thus conaected with the section of Canada West, Niagara being a natural and safe harbor and at the head of the finest tract of country on the Continent of Ainerica. You will scarcely credit the fact, when I inform yob Ihh there are yet untouched by the hand of man, thousaii*. si ■:■' I. ■ ■, I I t:|i ■: m Toronto, March lUh, 1860. My Dear Burke : On looking over the Irish Tablet a few days since I was attracted by the heading "Mr. Bright on Irish plicy," and surprised on reading some statements of Mr. Bright's relative to Ireland. He is made to say respecting emigration and colonization, "That it may benefit the persons sent, but would not benefit Ireland." This is indeed a strange assertion which you can flatly contradict. I believe Ireland's best income is from her faithfu[,_and dutiful children who emi- grate to all quarters of the world, notwithstanding Mt, 41 Bright's assertion to the contrary.' The Colonization of Canada would be the best boon to Ireland that she ever got, for indeed she has had but few, except as a mendicant nation. And I would ask Mr. Bright if part of the idle Navy of England were employed in sending colonists here and expending one tenth part of the sums that have been given in charities by the British Government for the last twenty years, what would the result be ? I will answer the question for Mr. Bright by referring him to my last letter to you, where I say, " Canada would be the admiration of the world if this system happened to be adopted since my first arrival in the country," and I will now add : Ireland would be our Treasurer, Scotland our Secretary, and England — happy England, would be our President. Oh ! what a noble Republic would we be. May I ask Mr. Bright if England sent that portion of Irish treasure here which for the last four years were permitted to be devoured by that agent of death, the most horrible, that Almighty God in his wisdom allowed the angel of destruction to make use of, would not Ireland be benefitted and enriched? Would not this living treasure send back the fruits of the earth and the dross of this world to the land that gave them • Number and amount of remittances made by Canada Com- pany on account of settlers in Canada West, to assist their friends in the United Kingdom to emigrate during the years 1844 to 1848 inclusive : Nurnher, Amount. Yecurs* !i 549 £4,611 10 11 1844 790 7,532 10 2 1845 1,101 9,744 3 5 1846 2,081 15,742 13 2 1847 1,839 12,547 8 5 1848 £50,178 6 10 Average/or five years £10,035 13 4 remitted by Canada Com- pany at the port of Toronto. I have been told on reliable authority in the Canada Company's OflSce that £27,000 was remitted in 1849 —making a total of £77,178 6 10. G f 11 M k HI pi w 42 birth ? And would not tho boon bo accompanied by k prayer 1 Yes Mr. Bright, — The fervent prayer then sent on high Would call a guardian angel here, To watch the ship from foe or fear, And solace Ireland's heavy sigh. And I will ask this good Mr. Bright (I believe him a good man) in the name of God and ibr the welfare of the Realm to give his powcjrful aid, and the aid of his party to this measure of immediate relief I warn him not to induce tho people of Ireland to hope for a speedy change or a re- generation of their country that could be made available of immediate relief. The people ask this sum as a loan not as a gift. And I have no hesitation in asserting that the Imperial Government never made a hotter investment of £200,000. I would beg to call Mr. Blight's attention to the remark of Sir Robert Wilmot Horton in my letter to you of 28th of January last, and hope that he would consider his opinions on Emigration and Colonization, and that he will not allow this land purchased with the life blood of the gallant and noble hero Wolfe, to be torn and distracted between conflicting and undignified parties. — That chivalrous Wolfe for whom England mourned, Ireland wept bitterly, and Scotland in her wanted thoughtful mood deplored; I willingly persuade myself that he who spoke so feelingly on the miseries of his fellow, will not, cannot suf- fer the children of Erin to remain houseless at home. This good man's blessing will accompany them across the deep, and how anxiously do I hope that he may cheerfully co- operate in forming the nucleus of lasting happiness and contentment in our Western world. It must not be said that the British Government does not wish to interfere with the maritime commercial department of the Realm, this cannot be allowed a justifiable plea, as the parties to be sent must thereby remain until the most appaling death release them, nor can I consider it strictly correct (with my notions of justice) to employ merchant ships On such occasions, if the Navy of the Realm could without detriment to the public service perform the duty. The people of the Realm maintain the Navy, and any por- tion of that people requiring aid as in this case, should be attended to. How nobly did the United States Governmeiit mi 43 let a brilliant example on ii recont occasion ; and how many volunteer merchant ships could they have got to perform the duty. Unfortunately for the \V(!lfuro of our hoaufiful country, men are found sulliciontly capable, but so selfish of power, or so bigotted and wedded to party, as to sacrifice the hap- piness and welfare of the country to their shortlived ag- grandizement ; and unseemly as it may ripj)car, [ say boldiy and without fear of contradiction ; that until our statesmen throw all religions from on board the ship of the state, and cling honestly to the general advancement of the mass of the people, contentment, happiness, and subordination, can- not, will not be realized. I have not read the speech of Mr, Bright, I only read that part of it which I have alluded to. I l.ave read my Lord John Russell's on Colonial policy intended to be pursued, very attentively and entirely concur in the views of the Government towards Canada. It must be gratifying to the Government to know that every honest man in Canada concurs with the British Government in the policy intended to be pursued. But I humbly hope his Lordship will move to "gild the dome of the invalids" by sending my poor countrymen out here. I must now in conclusion say, that I have written to you all through this subject as if you could do everything in it that was or would be necessary. Had George the Fourth and Sir Edmund Nagle >)een living, I would say at once, go to England on behalf of your country, but as it is you will not, must not fail in putting those letters in such hands as will do them justice in the proper quarter. I must observe that my last letter to you of 28th Febru- ary, was very hurriedly, and perhaps disjointly written, but as I purpose sending all the letters to the Governor-General for his Excellency's consideration, and through him and the Government for transmission, I will hope that my Irish blunders will be mercifully considered. I send herewith the long expected report of the Niagara District Agricultural Society, with my reply, and the Mayor of Toronto's certificate, &c., &c., and will send you the copy of my application to the Honorable J. H. Price referred to in my letters by next mail. I must now inform you that I have received a note from the Honorable Chief Justice Robinson, this day, kindly re- i ' I' m IJ^: 14 plying to my inquirie* on this subject,— who informs me that there is an emigration board in London one of the de- partments of the Government to which he takes it for granted your papers would be most properly addressed. I sent per same packet via Halifax, a long letter, enclosing the report of a large and respectable body as any in Cana- da, and my reply thereto, with the certificate of the Mayor of this City. Be sure to follow the direction kindly given by the Honorable the Chief Justice Robinson. I beg you will lose no time in forwarding the different documents transmitted to you, in propter order to their address, in the hope that we may not again have to deplore the miserable and destitute plight in which our fellow beings have for so long a period, been mercilessly pawned upon us. Be prompt-— diligent and successful, is the prayer of Ever sincerely, " And most truly, JAMES FITZGERALD. ¥>'i 1? I? Ill- Pi ■.■| Ai EXPLANATORY REMARKS Given to the Members of the Provincial Agricultural At- sociation on 20th May last, at their request ; and subsequently submitted to the consideration of His Excellency the Governor Gensral. Ibt. To provide for the due observance of proper Civil and Religious discipline, it is necessary that com^^tent in- structors in the clearing and management of lands should be appointed^ and that Clergymen of the different reli- gious denommations should accompany the settlers. 2nd. To seciure the regular attendance of the working people at their respective labours, and to prevent the im- provident use of food, a general mess is recommended. — The other members of the family to receive their provisions cooked in the shape of rations. 3rd. Another advantage of the dietary system is the opportunity it affords for the training of young persons to become good servants which is the best passport to certain and profitable employment. 4th. The manufacture of the ashes I consider of great importance ; potash having always assisted the early set- tlers in this country. Of the maximum or minimum profit as a percentage, I cannot, however, be certain from the variation of its price in England, but its manufacture by a Body or Company must always be more profitable than by individuals, and. can therefore be continued under cir- cumstances that would stop its manufacture generally, un- til the reaction in price. The saving of Hemlock and other barks for tanning purposes, the making of standard pipe and other descriptions of staves, spars and handspikes ; — plank of suitable timber for home and foreign consumption, also the growth culture and manufacture of tobacco, hemp, <.j^ f m fl r 41 flax, &.C., Ac, all afl'ording umplo eniployniont tor the various classes ol the population will be found profitable sources of revenue. 5th. I consider it prudent that only 25 acres of land be given to the settlers for three years, or until thirty per cent bo paid up, the contiguous 25 acres to be reserved for their occupation on the fourth year. 6th. It would be desirable in order to extend the sys- tem through the country that one settlement be located in each county or district, where lands can bo procured and as contiguous to water connnunication as possible. 7th. I beg to refer particularly to a paragraph from a pamphlet of the Right Honorable Sir Robert W. Horton, m my letter of 28th January last. I have no doubt that if the class of persons therein alluded to, would undergo a thorough system of discipline and training for three years, the advantage of an education would at this period fit them for the performance of instructors, book keepers, and super- intendants. 8th. Having informed myself that a sufficient niunber of the mechanics' now in Canada would be found j ^st anxious to become settlers under the provisions of thi tem, I can entertain the strongest reasonable presun ^ ..i that the settlements conductod by this system, would prove to be a self-sustaining system. 9th. It is quite obvious tq me that when an active in- dustrious settler is aware that he may be employed at £35 per annum and his board as soon as he fits himself for the performance of those duties, which, being required every year, he would not be inclined to separate from his com- pany to incur an unnecessary expenditure by building on his own lot, a privilege which he is, however, entitled to, when 30 per cent of the cost on his account and 30 per cent of the price of his laud is paid. 10th. The very satisfactory testimonials of highly re- spectable agriculturists in favor of this system of Coloniza- tion, will, I hope, be sufficient to induce the Canadian Qov- ernment and Legislature to be unanimous in the applica- tion for £200,000 from the Parent state, as by a unammitjr i 47 of action here wc may reasonably anticipate a favourable consideration. 11th. Establishing agencies and storage places at Que- bec and Toronto, for the benefit of the settlers, and for the purpose of transmission of produce to the best markets, in connection .with agencies in England, Ireland and Scotland, cannot fail to be of the utmost importance. This will be sufficiently obvious by considt^ring the vast drain on the actual capital of the country from the immense sums of money transmitted annually to the Parent State by the working classes. Some idea may be formed of the mag- nitude of the total amount, by the fact that £77,178 6s. lOd. cy., has been sent within the last six years from one agency in Toronto, exclusive of all other contributions from other parts of Canada. What consideration do we receive for this vast outlay, appropriated as it is at present? We receive our fellow men in destitute circu mslances ; some of them in compa- rative health are employed by the farming portion of our community, for a few months in the harvests at high wages, and we hear no more of them or their earnings. Others debilitated by various infirmities avr thrown for support on our charities, until again restored to health, or sent to that bourne from whence no traveller returns. Shall wo then (knowing the existence of those great evils so destructive of the best energies of the country) shall we not devise and point out a remedy for those long continued and glaring abuses ? The remedy is, in doing unto others as we would have others do unto us. The employment and training of those immigrants will give to the country a new and varied capital. Here at Toronto and at Quebec we will have stored for the best markets every growth and produce of our fruitful country, waiting only for advices whether they may be sent. The parties now sending the circulating medium of this country all over the world would, be better and more cheaply accommodated, and their intentions carried into effect, with a far greater degree of certainly. 12th. To illustrate in some degree the benefit that would have been derived in pursuing a course such as my system of colonization points out, reference may be made to the .ii !j, 48 i fact, that last year between eight and ten thousand pounds of the pubhc money, beside innumerable private charities, were expended in the City of Toronto, for the sole use of the immigrants of that season. This sum has pasiied away without leaving the least trace of beneficial influence on the present condition of the recipients. How different the result had this expenditure been applied in accordance ■vrith my system. The immigrants knowing that they were to be placed under suitable instruction and supervision would go rejoicing on their way to their respective d'^stina- tions, and enter with aU.crity on those employments calc ilat- ed to procure for them and their families competence and pros- perity. They would perceive that iiiey may after the first year realize a sum anaually increasing from £377 6s. 8d. to i&2,433, — on the eleventh year for each settlement, live hi happy social intercous^ , elevated in the scale of civil society, and not as under the heretofore rniserable fortuitous mis- management, remain scattered, peeled and prostrate on the face of the wilderness of Canada. it 13th. The longer the settlers continue paying by their produce the better as they are thereby saved all the incon- veniences of making market and providing horses, waggons, anctioned by the Governor General, whose sanction may be withdrawn as circumstances may require. 18th. That said Board of Directors should meet once in each month, where such settlement would be located, each member so attending to receive tcju shillings per diem for thr( e days only, at each settlement of 300 families, with the necessary travelling expenses, such traveling expenses to be awarded by the Warden of the District and the Pre- sident of the Provincial Agricultural Association; and that a monthly report in triplicate be made out, one o^ which to be transmitted to the Governor General, and a copy to be given to the superintendent, — the Board of Directors to retain the original until the final settlement at the termina- tion of the year, IOth. That advertiscrrents for necessaries for settlements be issued by Directors and that the District in which settlers may be located, shall be entitled to a preference on all tenders for supplies. 11 ii': !(-->*: - »0 20th. That the inhabitants of each District tax them- selves with the cist of the necessary expense incurred by Directors for advertisements, and all other incidental ex- penses necessarily incuned for and on behalf of such set- tlement or settlements as may be located in such District. But no part of such expenses, or tax of any description shall affect the new settlers during the space of three years after their first location. 21sT. That no settler can be eligible to vote, until after such period of three years, and not until thirty per cent apportioned on his lot of fifty acres be paid in full. All of \vhich, Is respectfully submitted, JAMES FITZGERALD. 1 I fU 1 '.'^.?- ♦:• Toronto, June 13, 1850. To the Right Honorable James, Earl of Elgin and Kin cardiney Governor General of all Her Majesty's Possessions. My Lord, ► Haviiig attended the meeting of the Provincial Agri- cultural Association, held in this city on the 20th May last, and after explaining all the principle points connected with the plan and system for the settlement of the waste lands of the Crown in Canada, which I had the honor to present to your Excellency on the 29lh of April last. I applied to the meeting to name a deputation who would be in readiness to wait on your Excellency in conformity with the note which I had the honor also to address to your ExceJlency, and ac- companying the plan and system of Colonization alluded to, wheigit may be your Excellency's pleasure to command the attendance of such deputation. After deliberation for some timf' the meeting deemed it proper to move a resolution on thr nl^ject, explanatory of their views, of the great benefit to ;o expected from the measurt}. However satisfactory tome to have received this approval of the Provincial Agricultural Association on my system of Colonization, I felt anxious from the importance of the subject to receive the favourable opinion of the Agricultur- ists of the Niagara District, with whom I have been inti- mately acquainted for many years. I repaired to that Dis- trict last week, and had the pleasure of receiving the entire sanction and cordial approval of John Gibson, Escl, (and others) late President, and officers of the Niagara Distrif ' Agricultural Association, and one of the best practical ag riculturists in that district. These appvoyals on the differ- .«( 4 : f It 52 cnt points proposed for the conduct of the system, I here- with enclose to your Excellency, sincerely hoping the Government will be persuaded to take the necessary action on them. I have the honor to be. Most respectfully, Your Excellency's obedient, And bumble servant, JAMES FITZGERALD. i w ifV i Resolution of th% Provincial Agricultural Association of Upper Canada, Passed on the ^Oth of May, 1860. [copy.] Mr. Fitzgerald a member of this association having laid before the meeting a scheme for Colonization, it was Resolved, — That this meeting highly approve of the plan and most cordially recommend it to the attention of the Government conceiving it to be exceedingly comprehensive and a very efficient mode of settling the waste lands of the Grown, and when carried into effect in the way proposed, will prove highly beneficial to the country by filling up the waste lands with a hardy and useful race of people, that will long remain faithful and loyal subjects of the British Crown. — Carried unanimously. (Signed; J. B. Mi^'-ks, Chairman. George Buckland, tSecretary. 53 >re- thc ion of {50. laid Ian the live the led, the hat ish ing in Having written twico to the Provincial Secretary, cnclos- my last commnnication Mr. P. Wollaston's letter, which appears in the preface, urging upon him the neces- sity of innncdiate action on the subject ; and showing the importance of the measure, I received the following reply : Sir, Skcuetary's Office, Toronto, June 28, 1850. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th inst, making inquiries relative to certain documents upcr. the subject of Colonization, submitted by you for the consideration of the Govrernor General, during the last four or five weeks. And am directed by his Ex- cellency to inform you that the documents in question have been, by His Excellency's command, laid before the Exe- cutive Council. I am at the same time to state that it is not the intention of the Executive Government to introduce any measures on the subject of Colonization during the present session of the Provincial Parliament. The package of papers marked " private," submitted to His Excellency by you is .i jrewith returned. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, J. LESLIE, Provincial Secretary To J. Fitzgerald, Esq., ) Toronto. \ P. S. Your letter of the 26th instant, with its enclosure has been received. '1J «;f i THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE PRESENT WRETCHED CONDITION OF IRELAND. It . V'' li ' li- Few men would lie found sufficiently bold, supposing ihcm to possess the power, to voluntarily invite upon them- selves an immediate and assured affliction, because of their oxpectation from it of a contingent future good ; yet all men ought to be prepared to turn to advantage and account those leading accidents of life, whether adverse or propi- tious to them, which occurring without their interposition, and progressing independent of their control, govern tlieir destinies and regulate their fate. So should it be just now with us. The blight has come again. The food on which so many millions used to hope, again has failed, and this afflicted, sinking land is called upon again to meet a fearful drain upon its all-but-spent resources. This looks like doom. God wastes not such prodigious chastisements as these, or sends them unintentioned to some end, not to be reached by means less trying. Justice and mercy may be here combined, the latter being paramount. In other lands great agencies have worked, by other means, producing great reforms. Here all human efforts of redress, however varied, up to now, have failed. God has, at last, approached with His. This scourge has come, perhaps a kind and merciful Redeemer, a harsh, but just, reformer, to quench oppression, and to lift up to man's estate and privileges, a crushed and prostrate people. As such I hail it. Alas how steeped in misery must that nation be, which needs and hails, so fearful a reformer ? How woven into, how inbeinged with its system, must those evils be, which only can be reached and dealt with, by tearing up its weft, and breaking into fragments its long existent materials. — 55 Yet such a case is ours. Reform, or change, with us to be effective must be most complete and radical. In order that its name may represent its functions, it must be termed re- volution. Yes, revolution ! An usurping, hard-dealing, un- sparing revolution. A revolution ot orders and of classes a revolution putting up the lowly, dragging down the proud, taking from those who hitherto themselves took all, and giving to those, who hitherto themselves gave all. A revo- lution giving poverty protection and privileges at the cost of property — invading property and its rights — breaking them down should they resist — turning in fact, when need may be, property into poverty, and poverty into property, making as it were, " the first the last, the last the first." Undoing and annulling, quickly and at once, the long constructed social misery of ages, and sending upon the world, if other- wise It cannot be secured, even though it should send them beggared, humbled, and unpiticd, those instruments of former mischief, who, during their long career of guilt and heartlessness, lorded it over their ruined vassals, heedless what mass of misery was heaped upon the earth, provided that it ministered to their lust of rule, or fed their lust of mammon. This is not the language of hate or prejudice. It is the truth, and that, too, told by one who, in his heart of hearts, Gould wish it was not so. But truth must out, and now or never is the time to speak it. Why shut our eyes ? Does not self-interest call on us to use them ? " Ignorance," is no longer " bliss ," to bo " wise " no longer " folly." Oh staad we not upon a fearful precipice ? The past is break- ing up, not bv degrees, quietly, or in detail. It is a rush, an outbreak, a convulsion. Systems are splitting, stations moving, dignities and orders arc being loosened, dragged down, and prostrated ; property rent assunder, abrogated, nine times out of ten abolished ; public confidence and credit alarmed and banished, claimants upon us clamorous and not to be appeased ; ruin close at hand, redress or re - trievement hopeless. Here is revolution, one of a new but most effective order : lawful, legal, just, bloodless, merciless, We have earned it, we have forced it. We would not " re- pent and live ;" therefore " we must die." Our crimes, our oppressions, our neglected duties, have pierced the heavens, and now the judgment conies. But judgment to the oppressor comes not alone, with h 1 1 It; 6« 1^ r- ft comes mercy. Mercy to the oppnjssod, iiieicy unhooked for, Uiigivou by man, soiit from a higher, jiislcr, holier hand. Dare we seek to mar or stop it? Can wo 7 To whom comes this mercy f There stood not upon the earth of tiod a people more debased and wretched than llmt to which it came. None other wliose condition more re(j[uired it. — Their social state was one great lump ai d heap of misery. In every way were they miserable and neglected ; in mind and body more beasts than men. Objects of plunder and of traffic to friends and foes ; a blot m nature, all but a alur on Providence. To think of ihcm with kindness argued weakness ; to plan from them redress bespoke a fool. To let them Uve in dirt, in want and ignorance, ill- clad, ill-housed, half fed, allowed like beasts to multiply, to labour and to die, that was their privilege. To grant them that was deemed to treat them generously and well. It was a boon, and they were grateful for it. License to live was their prosperity. Yet all this while this wretched race had clamorous advocates. Rights and privileges too were theirs. For them great etforts had been made, great victories achieved. They often met to liear of them. Sometimes they shouted and huzzaed for them. Money they paid for them. A hut — a pig — a squalid olfspring — rags and pota- toes — these were their achievements. Hcie was a state ol being. What generous, useful virtues could wc look for, from such a state as that ? Yet such it was. Emancipation found it so, and left it so. So did Reforn. Such had it been for ages, and such for ages yet to come, had it remained, but that there came for it, at last a justificr, a vindicator, a staunch and stern reformer. One that will place it upper- most — giving it precedence over wealth, and rendering pro- perty subject to it, forcing from j)ropcrty, and with no niggard hand, the payment of its vast arrears of unper- formed duties. Famine is that reformer. tO^ Look back a bit and understand this mercy. Mercy to those wretched sufiering men, so long uncared for, so long the victims of the cruel code of property. Oh ! what a code it was. Draco's, which slew, yet only slew, was mercy to it. It harrassed, it debased, it monopolised, it (en- couraged ignorance, scared away knowledge, ridiculed im- provement, threatened innovation, })unished reformation, — Complaint or remonstrance it dealt with, as with crime, bringing the law itself in aid to crush and silence them. It I. I 67 sat within its citadel of guilt, I'eorloss, careless, conscious of its strength, and thorelbre scorning all assailants. There it had ruled for ages undisturbed, unquestioned, and there it had ho})ed to have ruled for ages yet to come. Opinion assaulted it in vain. The law itself dared not approach it. At last came Famine. Down she sat before its gates. There she has been for three disastrous years — th«re is she now again. Her truimph is assured, complete. The code must go — is gone, once and for ever. The rights, so they are called, of landlords, must be touched, reformed, reduced, and made amenable to com- mon sense and justice. Exercised as heretofore and now, these rights are wrongs, the wrong endangering the right — the drownmg wrong clinging to the struggling right, and dragging it under water. The law, which boasts its right and power to cure all wrongs, declares it cannot reach this greatest wrong ? liut why / Has not the law pronounced the doom of property? Can it but kill not cure ? Why not reform, correct, and save ? What ! touch the rents ! the law to touch the rents ! Why not ? Has it not touched these rents before, aye, and taken them too } Look at the rates. Has it not taken the land ? Look at the new Com- mission. The incorporeal abstract right it will not touch, though working desperate wrong ; the corporeal, real sub- stance, the produce of this right, it takes and forces. Was ever mockery like this ? Not touch or meddle with the rights of rent ! Was not the lay impropriate tithe, and sub- stituted rent-charge, each and both of them, rights and pro- perties quite as much as rent ? yet both of them have been touched and taken by the law, regulated, cheapened, re- duced, and regardless of all vested rights, despoiled. But that was done to save these rights ! Precisely so. Another boon or sop to vigorous agitation. Tenants hear that, and learn from whence redress must come. Let then the law come forth and save the rent as it has saved the tithe. — Something must touch and save it or it will soon destroy itself. Rents must come down, or down come rights. Landlords must re-adjust their contracts with their tenants, or lose their rents and lands. To struggle against a thing so plain is vain and ruinous. What can the landlords do, it is asked ? Can they reduce their rents and pay their creditors ? Nay, can they keep them up, and hope to do »o? Can entries in books, old balances of account, and long ar- :l ■ l|«MMPI4pmf< 5h rearages of rent bo coined into gold wherewith to pay them ? If landlords hope to pay let them reduce ; better secure an honest something than lose all. Their very poverty should make them wise. The opulent may allbrd to err and lose, not so the needy. This wrong of rent has been with us prodigious. This great reforming scourge, the blight, has come to end it. End it, it must and will. This blight must take away the pedestal and basis on which the evil system stood. What was this thing called rent in Ireland ; how struck, admea- sured or ascertained ? Was it a fair and just proportion of the products of the soil, given to the owner, having de- ducted first, for labour and for capital, their proper shares 1 Who says so? Not it, indeed. No, rent was the all, the whole entire produce of the land, save one — that one, just now no more, gone, and perhaps for ever ; the potato. — Rent was a spoiler, taking all, forcing it away, forbidding those to live who dared refuse to give it. It took the fruits of labour, the gains of capital, the rewards of skill. Owner of a barren soil, it lent it out, not to support the man who worked it, but to enrich the man who owned it, snatching it back again with a relentless hand from its improver, so soon as tyranny or law could force it. Nothing could es- cape the fangs of rent — nothing could prosper, but for it nothing grow. Rent took the corn, the wheat, the oats, the barley. It took the butter, it took the milk, it took the cat- tle, " the lean kine, and the fat kine." It shared scarce one of all those things it took, with him who had produced them all. Although thus taking all itself, it paid tor no- thing, expended nothing, allowed for nothing. With insano avarice it grudged the very land, whose fruits it took, the means for exercising its reproductive powers, unless it could secure the outlay from some exchequer save its own. Here was a spoiler indeed ! But then how ma^iaged it to get all this, how could it bully into terms like these, the party so'contracting with it? Thus it was. The Irish landlord owned that one, that only thing, on which men lived — the land. Here was no trade, no commerce, nothing on which men's skill or capital could work, save land. To land all therefore came to seek the means of outlay, the road of enterprise, the field for labour. None other was there for them. He who asked and he who gave, knew this full well. The price was 60 asked, and given, accordingly. Ilut he who asked and got, knew more. For him, ho know th(!re was a ready market, plenty of bidders — bidders nnskilled in nice distinctions; Didders who never heard or cared for capital, or skill or out- lay, or ever dreamt of sc(3king compensation for them. — Potato-fed, cabin-housed, rag-garmented, all-giving and no- thing getting Celtic bidders, these had the Irish landlord in reserve, and knowing tliis he raised his price to meet it. Besides all this, there came in aid to him that fatal Irish curse, difference of creed and .-iect, that subtle fluid, prevad- ing every thing, alas, with us, everywhere present, even where least expected, regulating all intercourse betwixt man and man, the badge of servitude or ])ower. What cared the dominant favored owner of the soil, how he might deal with that humiliated and suspected class, which hold his land. The blight has changed all this, even the last. — Such was that past, which we have now to deal with, such the potato-founded contracts we have now to re-construct and alter the potato-admeasured rents which come to be re- vised and lowered, the degraded social state which we must seek to raise. Not that the blight alone has forced these changes. Look at our fallen markets — what are the prices there '} What can the tenant get for wheat, or oats, or bar- ley, for butter, pork or beef? What though he sell them all and pay their proceeds, can he pay his rent ? Yet pay it he is told he must ; was ever such insanity as this ? What ! prices down one-third, and rates and charges raised all but another third, and yet the rates kept up 7 Had but our Irish landlords been timely wise and just, they might even against those pressures, have secured their present rents ; but avarice, covetous as it was with them of even the uncertain future, has shut them out from that. Owners of a soil possessing powers latent and unused, quite equal by its increase of produce ; to redress the now intolerable burthens placed upon the land in its present half productive state, they refused to grant to those, who would and could have thus improved it, such interests in the soil, and such a tenure of it, as would have brought their capital and skill to work upon it. Had such a wise and self-preserving policy been theirs, now would they joy- fully reap its fruits. Rents would be paid, fully as well, nay better far, than they had been in times, when, though the products brought a higher price, yet there were less of t m i>-^ ' 60 them, and Irishmen might now po.siioss und own that soil, which now must pass to other hands. Here is another judgment growing out of crime. See how those cherisliod rights, on every hand, have worked destruction. How radical and scivcrc niusl that reform be, wJiich would correct them .' Who can dtisire to see rights, thus misused, preserved '} Who censure those who would enhst thcmsolvos to stop their wild career? — Must ruin, wrong, and desolation tlow out on millions, that some few desperate men, hnadloss, heedless, heartless, should be allowed a desperate license to do wrong/ Do madmen get their rights, arc thoy not seized upon, confined and manacled^ even in mercy to themselves? Prudence, the public peace, humanity and justice, a})peal against these ill-used rignts, and claim their rororniation. Who will reform them, who can ? The law ? It says it can't. The landlord class ? It won't. Public opinion, reason, a prudent necessity ? No, these can do nothing. Whence then redress, for come it must ? The suli'orers must redress themselves, They nmst combine and coalesce to do so. This is no new idea ; no firebrand doctrine, no unsafe advice. No less a man than Lord John Russell, and that not very long ago, pronounced the same. His words can easily be seen. The law, ho said, the parlia- ment, or the executive, could not control the landlord, the tenants could. Let them. A minister of state has so di- rected them. Let them go in, and do it, their safety needs it. Will they succeed ? Beyond all doubt or question, if they but try it, and try it wisely. Let but legality, mode- ration, justice, govern them, and their success is certain and assured. Even without these attributes, some six and twenty years ago, our southern landlords were compelled to strike, though strong, and rich, and vigorous, to an ill-di- gested ill-directed pressure upon them. Much later still the church, fenced round by law, aided in all its eiforts by the hand of power, our courts of justice straining every point to serve it, could not maintain its ground. Humbled, subjugated, starved, it struck. Negotiation and concession aided by the facile folly of its assailants, saved it. Then add to this, that England too is up, on the same question. Scotland has also much in this same struggle to contend for, for there, although the land is not, as here, reclaimed, but only used by those who rent it, yet is the landlord 61 pressure most severe und selfish. The Irish suflerers and t[iosc have yet a cuinmon, though not quite an i:i[uA cause. iSuch being the case, the dilference of country or creed is nothing. Let them unite, what could resist thut union ? What say the landlords? Will they be timely wise and save all this ? Will they, themselves, reduce their rents, assure their tenants, renuer this active seige upon their rif^hts uinieedod ? Can they endure, or stand enfeebled, harrassed, weakened, as they are, if now assailed? Who will aid them f What hand uo up for them ? How many up against them ? Cannot they see how each and every class except their own, cry " shame upon them T The law, so long their slave, retires from them, England, so long their friend, renounces them. The government, by which so long they had been duped and used, oppresses them. How can they .«5tand ? Only by this, that they be just and wise, and self-corrective. That is their— our — only hope. This rapid sketch omitting of necessity much which might be said upon this, now most urgent question, comes from no hostile hand. J. S< \j. In a work intitled " L' Acadia," or seven years explora- tions in British America, by Sir James Alexander, K. L. S. and K. ST. J., on the staff of the Commander of the Forces in Canada, in the 5th chapter of this work, page 101, we find ihe following paragraph : " Though New Brunswick is about the size of England, its population only then numbered (in 1844) about 170,000 souls, yet there are very many highly enterprising men among its Merchants and Farmers. " The staple exports are of fish and timber, besides hemp and pork, salt, hides, coals, and furs. The exports may average not far short of 1,000,0000 sterling , and St. John's # ^:^ll iiiifiiirii^;!iq;_^i|pi«i|i! 62 city alone imports about the same amount of tlie iiecessn- ries and luxuries of lite irom the mother country. It is incalculable the advantage which would be derived by England if a population of millions instead of thousands occupied the uncleared forests of this fine Province, and to which no long land conveyance, and inland navigation is required ; but a short run accross the Atlantic brings the emigrant at once to his location, withont ruinous expenses." -» v.'v-w^v w\*>*N»'>»"V>» * m TO THE PEOPLE OF CANADA. sM The wisdom and justice of British legislation has lately been extended in behalf of the suffering people of Ireland, and the men who have abused the poor as you have been truly told, are now obliged by law to support them. We had no share in this wrong doing, and should not be made to share the consequencies. have we not witnessed enough in 1847, yet do we not know, that the men capa- ble of acting^e'niescribed in the foregoing letter, will not spare us. Canadians, you may be startled on learning that Mr. Godley, one of the Secretaries of the Irish Colonization Association, who applied to Lord John Russell in 1846, for a large sum of money to assist Colonization to Canada at that period spent the winter of that year in Canada. I may here ask the parties at home, and here, who demurred to their coming at the time, did the refusal of the monies by the Prime Minister prevent the poor from being sent in the most destitute condition 1 Do we not know that the tax imposed on immigrants coming to Canada in 1848 has been pa;id by poor and enfeebled and destitute persons since that enactment, and will continue to be paid for this description of people, who can be of no service to the country but beget a heavy incumbrance on it? How cruel to transport the super? ^nuated poor, who spent a long 63 life of toil in tlicir native land in th(j service of their task masters. The ablobodiod laborer and his family with means to settle on the unimproved lands, public or private, of our beautiful country, arc the class of persons we require, and who cun benefit this country and those who send them thus provided. The poor rate payer, the Government and the philanthropist who may advance £40 io one family, consisting of five persons, will find that by a system of management this sum will also provide for five times the number first relieved by this loan, and will furnish them all with happy and comfortable homes, and the loan will be paid back at the expiration of eleven years. The neglected duties of the British Government and their melancholy consequences, and the practised cruelties of the landed proprietors of Ireland we have no share in, and therefore should not have to bear any portion of the burthen, but as a portion of the same Realm and people, and enjoy- ing every blessing, our duty is to assist in providing a re- medy for this great calamity. We can do so and benefit ourselves. Canadians, will those lands which are now waste and unproductive be allowed to remain until some speculators come, and buy them up to be rented out Irish fashion i'^ the poor and destitute? No ; I cannot believe it, following the suggestions in the foregoing work, you will rather act a wise, just, and merciful part, you will promote the improvement of the country, relieve thesuflferingsof an ill-governed people, and diffuse universal happiness and prosperity through all ranks and classes of society. I have the honor to be. Your obedient. And devoted, Humble servant, JAMES FITZGERALD. ig ■■■f:- I