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Lorsque Ie document est trop grend pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir de I'angle supArieur geuche, de geuche A droite, et de heut en bes, en prenent Ie nombre d'imeges nAcesseire. Les diagrammes suivants iiiustrent ie mAthode. 1 2 3 "^ n. 1 2 3 4 5 6 :> \-i>> THE lUUTlSH PROVINCES IN NORTH AMKRICA [i« .., _. ,..:. ,' •., - , « ; ... Colonial Land and Emigration Office, Sir, ^ November 1847. I. compliance with Earl Grey's ilirections, we have carefully perused the various communications from Canada and New Brunswick on the sufferings which have attended the immigration of this year. We now proceed to furnish the Report required from us upon them ; and in so doing, we shall not confine our- selves to proceedings belonging to this Board, but shall equally mention in their place the measures of (jovernment, and any facts requiring to be generally known, in order that, as we understand Lord Grey to desire, the whole subject may be brought under review together, in a convenient shape for the infonnation of the Provincial Legislatures, and for consideration in this country. Representations on the sickness and distress in British America have been received from public bodiea, which, even if the gravity of the occasion was not in itself apparent, must have commanded attention from the weight due to their own authority. The Crown has been addressed by both Houses of the Canadian Legislature, as well as by the Corporation of Montreal. In New Brunswick the Legislature was not sitting during mr>st of the immigration, but an earnest appeal has been received from the Common. Council of St. John, the great port of arrival in that province. All of these addresses agree in representing, that not only has the recent immigration introduced disease Which has spread to the resident popu- lation, and in various ways swelled the amount of distress, but also that it con- sisted to a large extent of destitute, vagrant or helpless classes ; and'wbikr every disposition is expressed by the authorities to receive their fellow-countrymen hospitably, they insist upon the necessity of devising m^ns t^ prevent the recur- rence of this year's sufferings. We trust we may be permitted, at the outset, to express the deep concern with which we have read these accounts of the ravages of disease amongst bodies of people about whom our duties had necessarily engaged us in much c(»Tespondence, and for whose protection we can truly affirm that, during the trying season which has elapsed, our time and thoughts were constantly occupied in endeavouring to secure a faithful and vigorous exercise of such powers as the law aflbrds. But, instead of dwelling on sentimects of regret, which must be shared by every person of humanity, we shall proceed at once to the practical questions which anse out of the subject. Two topics, it will be observed, have to be considered ; vis;:.,^ the sickness^ and the destitute or helpless condition of the people who emigrated. These grounds of pomplaint appear distinct from one another. For should the former admit of being more effectually opposed in future years by any new regulations, it miglit still remain a question wh( I'her persons of unsuitable age or habits could be suc- cessfully prohibited from effectihg, or proprietors be prevented fVom assisting them to effect, thf ir remDval to the colonies. Both evils, we belieTe, to the extent to which they prevailed in the recent season, will be found traceabfe to the extra- ordinary state of suffering in Ireland. Tiio chief questions that will suggest tliemsc'lvps are probably, what were the causes of these misfortunes, whether they could have been averted this year, and whether they achnit of prevention hereafter. Before proceeding to mote general considerations, theie are two preliminary statements which api)car to us essential to remove niisconceirtion. In the first place, we would point to the enormous extent of the emigration. In 1846, which was a year of larger eraif some of the officers of the largest experience in British America. Mr. Buchanan, as Lord Grey is aware, has for several years discharged the office of Chief Emigration Agent at Quebec with much credit. Mr. Perley has had the same opportunities of observation in New Brunswick as Mr. Buchanan and Dr. Douglas in Canada. Now from Mr. Buchanan (who, we regret to say, has suffered from a dangerous attack of fever), we have not yet any general comments ; and he merely remarks in one place that', as we have above said, the ship's allowance is nqt in itself a sufficient amount cT food. In a letter which we have recently seen from Dr. Douglas, he writes as follows : — It has been said "by " people not informed on the subject, that the frightful mortality and sickness was " caused by the over-crowded state of the passenger- vessels, and the want of proper '* food and medical attendance. Now, however much these might have mitigated " the evil, it could be easily proved that it was not caused by their want. The *' thousands of German emigrants who arrived this year, all came in good health, " and they were more crowded in consequence of their greater quantity of " baggage. The transports * Blenheim ' and ' Maria Somes,' with pensionera " and their families, from Cork, were just as sickly as other vessels, yet these " had plenty of room in well ventilated vessels, good staff burgeons, and were *' regularly supplied with good wholesome food, animal and vegetable, daily. " The disease was in all cases brought on board the vessels (not generated there),. " and it found fit subjects in the half-starved miserable wretches who com- " posed the mass." Mr. Perley, whose intelligence and zeal are favourably known to Lord Grey, also concurs in chiefly attributing " the greatly increased mor- 0.3. " tality Orrat licknfst in the bevt tbipi Irom iufccted porta. Remarks on the •hip'a ailowaace of brMd-ttnfi. Opintoni of the principal officers in America on the causes of «ickness. r^if ■nw 40] PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION TO Diictiarge of their duty by the emi- gration officers. " tallty to the debilitated state of the emigrants iMjfore embarking, and their *' inability to bear the Attigues of a sea voyage after long fasting and other " privations." Of course we do not mean that if the nature of the case admitted of potting the people under strict discipline and control, or if their circumstances were such that they oould be better provided with clothing, more cleanly in their habits, and better fed, all these favourable elements would not greatly improve their chances of health. On the contrary, Sir William Colebroolte and some of the agents often justly point attention to the superior condition in which vessels arrive, when the masters have fortunately been able to enforce attention to any of these points. But this circumstance has been common to the emigration of eveiy year. AH we have wished to show is, that no serious misfortunes having occurred in former emigrations, the cause of the great Hiffbrence between them and the en\igration of this year, has been the state of Iremnd. Next comes the questicm, whether there has been any neglect of duty by the officers employed to enforce tlie Passengers' Act. We trust that this will not be assumed agair .»t them merely be«ras» misfortunes have occtirred, of which we have just shown how comprehensive and how j)owerfV»l were the causes. Circuni- stanoes beyond their control have this year produced the most deplwable sufller' ings, in the midst of which the only just question, as far as resards these officers, is whether they have IkHhfVilly discharged such powers lis they have at their disposal. In support of the hop© we entertain that they will be found to have s»> acted, we might partly rest on the nature of the correspondence in which we are daily engaged with them. We might also relw to the opinions which we often find expressed by gentlemen of station who have occasion to pass through the places where these officers are emplojred, and to see the manner in which their duties are perforated. And at some of the hirgest ports in the kingdom we have good reason to know the satisfWetion feU by the merchants and resident public anthortties with the oonduet of the Government emigrant agents. But vre will not dwell on any of these topics, because we thfnk that the most direct evidence how the duty is dificbaigeil is to be fbund ts the reports which arrive from the other side of the Atlant^. Every e»i)g^nt ship is vioited and examined immediately on reuehtng theBrftish provinees by officers speoialty a{^inted for the purpose, who report each violiatiioR of the Act, which if it be of a kind that could have been, prevented' or detected b^reband, is then made a subject of inquiry in this country. Now we will not lay any stress on the circumstance that no returns have yet arrived from Canada, pointing out defects or reporting the necessity of prosecutions there, because under the extreme pressure of tliis year it i» very possiMe that it n»y have been found impracticable to observe the usual rrgour, or that the dietarled returns may still' be incomplete and may arrive at a later date. But vre beg leave to point out, that throughout the more gen^nl official reports whidi have been received fron* Canada, there is not the remotest intimation that tltere appeared any signs of njegleot of duty in the circumstances under which the ships liBve saifed. If there had been reason to 8uj>pose that there were incrientions that the fever was in any degree traceable to defects tor which the Passengers' Act afforded « remedy, it is ineonceivable that the principal officers in Canadia, who were witnesses of such lamentable sufferings, wouM not have mentioned the tact. Bufr, on the con- trary, we have shown already that they ascribe the sickness to \evj dtflerent causes. And i¥om New Bninswicfc we are able to supply some information in detail. iKeturos have been received for 81 shipK ; in five of which tljere was a very limited excess in the number of passengers, mainly occasioned by differences in the mode o(f Gomptttation, and far too small to alftict the people's health. With respect to two of the vessels, it was eomplaincd that they had only a deck on temporary beams *, but many of the vessels in the North American trade have no permanent beams or decks, and it Ims been judged that the officers in this kingdom are not at liberty to object to the others, if they aie securely fixed. We have ascertained that they attenclcd to the subject in tljese two instances, and satisfied themselves, to the best of tlleir judgment, with tlie festenings, wiiich wo do not understand to have given way. Setting aside the preceding instances, which are at any rate not of a kind diiectly to affect tlie i)«oplo's health, we find that out of the 81 ships which have as yet been heard of, there are only three in which it has been detected that there I I THE BRITISH PROVINCES IN NORTH AMERICA. iSa their other there was any defect in the quantity or quality of provisions laid in before saih'ng. One of these vessels (viz the " Sea") was despatched by a firm at Liverpool, which had long been watchcfi, and frequently prevented before from sending;- bad provisions. They escaped detection in the present instance, but their license will be opposed at the end of the year ; and it may consequently be expected that they will be removed from the trade. In another case, the vessel (the "Bloonifield ") had been driven back to Ireland, and the law, which has since been amended, did not at that time afford adequate means of com])elling tho provisions to be reidenislied. The third cawj is that of the " Magna Charta," in which we have no doubt that the quantity of the provisions on board was too small. But it would appear that some ini|>ositioii nmst have been practised before starting, as the receipts were produced for the full quantity necessary, and their sufficiency was attested by the master, who afterwards made the complaint. We may, perhaps, here explain, that a defect now and then may be expected to escape the prelimi- nary inspection in this country ; but that for that very reason it is part of the system to rely also on the check supplied by the officers at the port of arrival. Having thus specially reported on three cases in which defective provisions were mentioned, we may observe, that, with respect to the great majority of the ships, it is common to find the goodness and sufiiciency of the provisions especially noticed in the Returns. On an unfavourable remark made by Mr. Boyd, at St. Andrew's, without speci- fying instances, we have reported separately. But while, for these reasons, we would submit, that there is no ground to assume that the enforcement of the ordinary law was neglected, we may be allowed also brieily to advert to the special measures which were adopted to meet the exigen- cies of this year. The emigration estimate was at once increased by Her Majesty's Government from 10,364/. to 23,813/. Five officers were appointed at new stations in Ireland. Lieut. Hodder, at Liverpool, whose energies were to be so severely taxed by the vast multitudes who pour through that town, was reinforced by some very efficient assistants. The vote taken for relief in Canada was increased from 1,000/. to 10,000 /., or to ten times its previous amount. These measures took place before any extensive sickness had yet become prevalent here, or been reported from the colonies. And as soon as the sufferings among the emigrants became known, the Government forthwith sent large supplies of the disinfecting fluids recently invented, both to Canada and New Brunswick, and distributed them among the subsequent emigrant ships ; besides despatching Colonel Calvert to Canada, at gr^at expense, almost immediately after his experiments had been made known in Parliament. Theye has not been time to hear the result. No sooner did the emigrant ships begin to arrive in the St. Lawrence with sickness an: .mgst them, than Mr. Buchanan j)rocured the appointment of a medi- cal board, despatched large supplies of provisions to the quarantine station, and engaged a small steamer to act as a tender to the health officer, for the purpose of landing the sick, collecting provisions, and otherwise facilitating the service. Lord Elgin at once caused tents sufficient for the reception of 10,000 men to be issued from the Ordnance, which measure was immediately approved by Earl Grey. Hia Lordship also conveyed to the Governor general an intimation, which has since been repeated, that Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to api)ly to Parliamtmt to contribute an equitable proportion of the burthen thrown on tile province in consequence of the distress and the calamities prevailing hi this country. The same principle will, we understand, be also applied to New Brunswick ; and we perceive by Lord Grey's despatch of the 4th of October, that 20,000 Z. is already jdaced at the disjjosal of the provincial authorities in Canada. We have heard it imagined, that .50,000 /. had been destined to the relief of distress in Canada, which was afterwards withdrawn. This is a pure mistake. There was a project of offering loans to that extent to Canadian proprietors to assist in furnishing employment ; but this would only have applied to healthy emigrants, and had nothing whatever to do with the relief of sickness. At this Board W(> took an early ojjport unity of addressing a letter to all the emigration officers in tliis country, warning them of the momentous nature of the season which might be expected, and stating that we reckoned upon their exertions to meet the occasion adequately. One of our number repaired to Lixerpool to inspect the manner in which the service was conducted at that great port, and to consult with Lieutenant Hodder on the best means of securing an cflSeient discharge of the duty throughout the hai-assing months which were 0.3. b likely Special measures adopted in the course of the present year. Incrense by the Government of Estimate and of Officers. Disinfecting fluid. Proreedings in Canada. Further proceed- ings in this country. 6a] PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATK)N TO Grant for iliipi put back in diitrei*. Information and ihip legulations distributed. Instructions to land sick paseongeri. Tmponibilitjr, how- CTer, of dptccting the cases of incipient disease. Inqniry made as to carrying Surgeons in the ships. Question whether Special Legislation should have been tried. likely to ensue. Some additional suggcstionR nnd improvcmontR in tlio Passen- gers' Bill, which has since bcconio law, were the fruits of this visit. We were authorized to expend a moderato sum in meeting the difficulties which might be expected from vessels driven back by Aveather, a fund which, in some cases, we found of great service in alleviating distress, and enabling people to supply themselves with the requisites for a renewed voyage. A short and simple notice for the information of emigrants of the humbler classes was drawn up, and we caused several copies to be put on board every passenger ship ; and although there are no means of compelling the observance of discipline among the emigrants, we ought to mention, that the masters of all pas- senger vessels are furnished, by our desire, with certain tables of regulations recommended by authority of this Commission for the good of all on board. We have been assured that this is calculated materially to assist commanders who wish to promote cleanliness and good order. Nor did we think it necessary to confine ourselves within the powers strictly belonging to us by the Passengers' Act. We authorized the several officers to call in medical aid should they suspect the existence of fever, and to insist upon the landing of any infected passengers before the ship should sail, even though the law gave no positive right to make such a demand. We felt sure that in such an emergency no one would blame our advancing beyond mere legal powers of interference ; and, in point of fact, the course we desired was acquiesced in by all concerned, from the obvious necessity of the cose. But unfortunately the seeds of disease were so rife, that no more casual inspec- tion of large multitudes of people suddenly assembled together from a distance, and whom, by the nature of the case, it was also necessary not to detain, could avail to bring the evil to light. In several of the ships which put back fever had extensively broken out after the first day or two at sea, showing how widely spread must have been the beginnings of disease when the people started. We are convinced that in such a state of things no medical inspection could have been generally successful, unl(;ss the law and the habits of this country had been such that, the people could be detained for some time for observation, whether or not they wished it, in places free from the danger of new infection. But wo need scarcely say this would have been impracticable. At Liverpool alone more than 8,000 would often arrive and depart in the course of a week. Setting aside all other difficulties, barracks or tents would have been necessary for at least 10,000 or 12,000 persons. We anxiously inquired amongst some of the most eminent members of the medical profession whether, if the ships were prevented from sailing without sur- geons, it would be possible for owners to procure them in sufficient numbers and with sufficient promptitude not to stop the emigration. Wo have always been favourable, as Lord Grey is aware, to the measure, if it could be shown to be practicable. But we found that no one well acquainted with the circumstnncos would venture to recommend the introduction of such a rule this year. The rate at which people were proceeding was such that at least 022 surgeons would have been required in the course of the first six months. Nor would they all have been required at a few large towns where a considerable suj)ply of surgeons might more reasonably be hoped for ; but some of them must have been found, without delay, at each of the various ports and creeks of England, Ireland and Scotland from which emigrants may happen to proceed ; and in cases where the condition could not be fulfilled, the consequence would have been, that poor ])eople who had come from great distances to a strange port, and had parted with all their means, would have found the master of the ship unable to give them the passage for which they had contracted. But even su]>posing it admitted, that the existing law had not been neglected, and also that in ordinary years that law had been sufficient for its pur|)ose, it may be asked whether the Government ought not to have proposed special legislation for the extraordinary circumstances of this year. Tliis is a (jucstion which, in the main, must belong to higher authority than ours ; but we will offer a few observations. We had proposed in the winter, as will be within Lord Grey's recollection, a Consolidated Act embodying some improvements which wo thought desirable, and we afterwards selected from it, by his Lordshij)'s desire, such clauses as appeared to us to be more immediately wanted ; but we cannot for a moment say that we think that if either the longer Bill had been brought into Parliament, or the shorter one had been passed at an earlier stage of the Session than actually took place, either could have prevented the sweeping niisforturnes of this season. The THE BRITISH PROVINCES IN NORTH AMERICA. [7« Tlio fnct is, tlmt at the commencement of the year, no fever whatever having yet appeared, and the existing law having been found sufficient in the greatest seasons of emigration — a starving people being at the same time al)out to fly from famine to a land wldch promised plenty--it is hardly to be conceived that any Cloveri^ment could hove proposed, or that tlio public would ever have recoived, those stringent and almost prohibitory enactments which alone could have afforded even a chance of preventing the disoaso which oppearcd in the summer. Tlie fever, as we men- tioned before, frequently broke out almost immediately after departure, plainly showing that it depended on no faults within the ship, but that it was taken out from the place of departure. We doubt whether any measure whatever would have l)eeii efficient except some one which either directly or indirectly compelled the great majority of the emigrants altogether to relinquish their purpose. In the expectations of efficacy from public measures on this subject, it seems too often to be assumed, as is remarked before, that emigrants to North America must in some way be selected by or fall under the direct power of the Government. Complaints are expressed that so many poor people go, that so many weak people go, that they are not more effectually compelled to observe good order and cleanliness on board — all these remarks assuming some authority on the part of the Govenunent in these matters ; but no such authority exists. A large number of ships go to North America for timber and other cargo ; a great number of people having the means at their command pay the price for which t!ie masters are willing to give them a passage, and, except in so far as any broad and general rules of protection may be laid down by law, it is difficult to see how the Government could interfere with this practice. No system of passports exists in our country. It would be contrary to all its usages that any of the Queen's subjects having the means of payment in their passession, should be prohibited from passing from one part of her dominions to another. And even if the principle were conceded, it is necessary to bear in mind the immense extent of the operations which would have required to be dealt with, and the difficulty of controlling a people flying from starvation. From all parts of Ireland, during the second quarter of this year, nearly 150,000 persons were streaming towards the ])ort8 of embarkation, many of them having been for months preparing for their expedition, having thrown up any employment or lands which tliey previously had, and by an arrangement which in the main is very salutary, liaving already selected their ship, and paid for their passage. At what stage of their progress were these vast multitudes to have been arrested ? were they to have been sent back to the homes at which, if they had possessed any means of subsistence before, they must have parted with them in coming away? or, if they were to be detained at the ports for observation, could suitable buildings have been found, apart from the risk of fresh infection, to lodge 40,000 or 50,000 people month after month ? and would the public at large have undertaken to support during their detention those people, a largo part of whom had expended their last means in providing merely for the journey and the voyage ? We confess that after reflecting on these difficulties, we ore led to think, that when it had pleased Providence to ufflict Ireland with a famine, and consequent fever, which could not be subdued even on the land, it was little likely that any human contrivance could have averted tl'.e same evil from the multitudes who had made their arrangements for a long passage by sea. How far means might justifiably be adopted in the British provinces in America to endeavour to ward off great burthens or suftcringo from this source, is a different question, to which we shall advert in the sequel. Hitherto, it will be observed, w«! have only been discussing the causes of the sickness, and how far they could have been defeated by any precautions in this country. But since, even in respect of the voyage, it is commonly supposed that some of the measures adopted this year in the United States were of a very beneficial tendency, and since we believe that a good deal of misconception exists on this subject, it may be convenient that we should state, as far as we can learn, what those measuies really were. The Congress of the United States passed a law by which the number of pas- sengers' is limited to one for every 14, instead of one for every 10 superficial feet of the deck. This, we have no doubt, is conducive, so far as it goes, to the health of the people. We shall consider afterwards whether the example ought to be followed. At New York half a dollar a-head is payable as hospital money, and the master of each vessel is required either to give bond that his passengers shall not become cliuigeablo within two years, or else to pay one dollar as commutation money : 0.3. the State of thit quM- tion ut iho be- ginning of the ytw. More power of control asrribcd (o tlie Government than would be poetible. N means of (election. No patiport* in this country. No means of de- taininn and lodging sucli multitudes of emigrants. Quf»tion of Lrgislation in the Colonies reserved. Review of llie American laws on the subject. / 8fl] PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION TO Remedial measurea ill this country. Reduction of numbers. Addition to ttie ration. the master nlwnys prefers the latter. It is a miotako to Hupjioso tlint the option on tliis subject lias been withdrawn at New York. Unless we are misinfornu'd by gentlemen who are daily dispatching large ships full of iiasscngcrs to New York, the practice regularly is to pay the hospital and commutation money, which it will he observed is in substance neither more nor loss than the emigrant tax of Canada and New Brunswick. There may be a question of amount, but the principle is the same. In respect to Boston, we have had some difficulty in getting precise informa- tion. The practice used to bo simply to levy nn emigrant tax of two dollars a-head ; but we believe that this year the authorities have in some instances though not universally, put in force a new law, which empowers them to demand a bond of 1 ,000 dollars for each ]ias8ouger apparently indigent, thai he should not become cbaigeable to the state or the city for 10 years. But whenever this measure is put in force to any extent, it must simply become necessary that the ship and passengers should sail away, and go to some other country ; and this has, in fact, occurred at Boston in the course of the present season. When it is remembered that a large ship will sometimes carry 400 ])aB8engers or more, and consequently that, under such a law as this, the master of a single vessel might be called on to give security for a sum approaching half a mil'.ion o'i dollars, the oflfect will not be surprising. But in the British provinces, where it could never be contemplated, nor, we are certain, be wished to get rid of immigration alto- gether, some more measured kind of precaution could alone be available. We have nothing to add on the recent American laws. And having explained before some of the reasons why we should doubt the possibility of having intro- duced in England this year any legislative measure which would have eilcctually averted the fever, we leave that topic. Next we proceed to the subject of remedial measures. For although the evil when it raged to so fearful an extent might not have admitted of correction, wo should be most desirous not to miss any instruction which such heavy suffering may aifo'd, and to consider how far it points to any additional precaution in ordinary years against similar disasters. We by DO means overlook the caution with which it is necessary to interfere in the detail of such subjects by law. There is always the risk that such legislaiion must either be so general as to be easily evaded, or so minute as to be vexatious, and that while the sufferings caused by careless or extortioiiate dealers may never admit of being thoroughly jireventcd, the attempt to dc so may deprive more respectable or judicious persons of the opportunity of conveying poor emigrants, in safety, with the cheapness which would otherwise be pncticable. Bearing this in mind, we shall endeavour, before we conclude, to suggest one provision which shall give the dealers themselves a direct interest in bringing over the imssengers in good health. But although tlie price of conveyance will be unavoidably enhanced, yet, after the suft'erings which have occun-ed, it may probably be deemed right towards the people, and just to the British Provinces, to adopt othev ])recautions against sick- ness smd want. Should this be the view adopted by lier Majesty's Government, the following appears to us to be some of the most simple and practical meabuies that could be adopted : First, A reduction in the number carried would unquestionably tend to diminish very much the chances of sickness and mortality. It would some- what compensate for evils of defective ventilation, and in various ways would improve the condition of poor people not of very cleanly habits. We should be inclined to suggest that only one passenger bj allowed to every 12, instead of one to every 10 feet. Secondly, It was always intended, as we have exjdaintd before, that the ship should only find bread, and that jiassengers should find themselves in other kinds of food. On general principles, it seemed best to leave them as much discretion as possible, because they could probably suj)ply themselves more economically, and could also suit their own taste and habits. But experience having shown the irresistible temptation, in a year of scart-'ity, to throw themselves exclusively on the ship's allowance, we are inclined to think it necessary that this ration should, for the future, include the whole of what is necessary for their support. For this purpose, we think it might be enacted that there should be an allowance of a quantity of about one pound and three quarters of solid food per diom, of which half :>. pi und, at least, should lonsiiit of bread or biscuit, and half u pound of bee) .'/ pork, leaving the re»>t to THE BRITISH PROVINCES IN NORTH AMERICA. [9« IS to oonsiBt of such articles as the owner or broker might fix, Iceeping within the kinds enumerated in the Passengers' Act. We, for the present, o.Jy propose the total of one pound and three quarters provisionally, not having been in a position to gain the general opinion of practical persons ; but we feel little doubt that it is very nearly the right quantity. Thirdly, After the remarks made in the earlier part of the Report, we need not say how many are the doubts whether surgeons can be successfully required to be carried in every ship. But, although it may bo thought that, even if procurable, many of the practitioners obtained in such vast numbers could not reasonably bo expected to be of other than very lii uted abilities, yet we must confess, that were the measure practicable, we should feel that the people gained security, by having with them any man of even the most ordinary medical education. We have, in a former letter, suggested an inquiry from the heads of the profession as to the number of surgeons whom merchants would be likely to find availnble, and as to the amount of cost ; and upon the answer will, probably, depend Lord Grey's judgment on the present question. Fourthly, We think that so much of the value of the Passengera' Act depends upon the e^oacy of the inspection, that ns it is impossible to provide satisfactorily for this object at all the numerous small ports and creeks of the United Kingdom, it would give great additional security for the due enforcement of the law, if it were thought allowable to enumerate all the principal ports from wliicli emigration takes place, and to require that vessels should not sail from any other ports with passengers to North America. It is very possible that this may bo open to insuperable objections ; but we have felt bound to mention it as one means of guarding against the otherwii^e almost unavoidable escape of some bad vessels from places too remote and too inferior in consequence to justify the maintenance of an Emigration Officer. Thepo appear to us the simplest and most practical means which could be taken in this country for giving additional security for health. They agree with suggestions thrown out in an address from the Legislative Assembly of Canada. Almost all of them also are included in Dr. Coombe's suggestions ; and at the same time they had oiTered themfielves to our own minds as the readiest and most available measures before we had read his letter. Dr. Coombe further suggested the use of a ventilating apparatus ; but although we have often inquired into differen' proposed methods, we have never yet found any which we are satisfied could at once be required by law to be brought into universal use. Another suggestion of Dr. Coombe's is, that more order and cleanliness should be enforced on board. We wish, indeed, that this result could be attained ; but in speaking of enforcing discipline, it must be assum'id that in some quarter or other the power of coercion should be reposed, and in whom, on board of an ordinary British merchant ship, would the Legislature or the public deem it endurable to vest powers of coercing and punishing free people who had paid for their passage across the Atlantic ? From this examination of the measures of a nature to be taken in Kngland, we proceed to consider whether there are any which coull be adopted Avith advantage in the provinces. In entering on this subject, the first point which attracts attention is, the universal complaint, that so many widows, with their children, and so many old and infirm persons, have been shipped off to America. It may be doubted whether all of these were sent, as appears to be supposed in the provinces, by landlords and persons of high station, or whether, in the general disposition this year to depart from Ireland, many of these unfortunate people may not have resolved by their own means to try their fate in a new country. But whatever may be the manner in which they got away, we cannot too earnestly represent that, far froTi the colonies being a fit asylum for the. weak, an emigrant requires even more than the average of health and strength to succeed, and, con- suquently, that when they are assisted to go it is equally unjust to the British \ rovinces, aud cruel to the poor persons themselves, to send out those who are totally unable to live by their own industr)'. We have already shown, however, that it would be impossible for Government ( exercise any control over the subject in this country. The next question t'^r'.t .nay suggest itself is, whetli:;r the provincial legislature could require that son\e heavy extra payment should be made on persons likely to become chargeable tc 0.3. c tl^e Suraenni tu b« carried, if practi- cable. Limitation of ports from M'liich I'lni. grHnt i!lii|i». may Huil. Kemrdial nipii^'ircs in the pruviiitts. Question or u (lis* criminating tax on unfit emigrants. lOfl] PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION TO Propcaal of a higher emigranl Ux. Subject to increaee in caM of quaran- one. the public, To the principle of such an attempt there probably will be no objec- tion, but vre fear that it would be impossible to carry it out with fitimess. The shipowner ought to be able to know beforehand with certainty for which of his passengers he would have to pay more, and for which of them less, on arriving at their destination. This, we think, would be impracticable with such multitudes as go to Canada and New Brunswick. Ten or twelve thousand pass through Quebec in a week. It is absolutely necessary on the one hand, that they should not be delayed ; it would also be necessary, however, if a discriminating tax were established, that there should be sufficient time to admit of its being levied with equity. On the whole we are disposed to give up this idea, as not admitting of being carried into effect successfully. But we see no reason why the emigrant tax in both provinces should not be raised to two dollars, which would increase the available funds for relief, without making that difference which would do more than exclude the moot indigent and worst provided class. And beyond this it may be a question, whether, in order to give the ship- owner an interest in taking over the people in good health, and to render the vessel liable for part of the burthen which sickness casts upon the public, the Governor may not be usefully empowered by the Provincial Legislature to exact an. extra tax, if the vessel requires to be put into quarantine. Tlie lule might be, that if placed in quarantine for any other purpose than merely cleaning or observation, the Grovemor should have discretionary power to require payment of double tax, for which the shipowner should be liable, and if detained more than eight or ten days (as may be thought fit) to impose payment of treble tax. We have, &c. B. Hawes, Esq., ^"«°®*D> ^S^.^/- &c. &c. &c. ^%^ Enclosure No. 1. MoRTALmr iH Canada Emiobation. Number of DmIIu. Aroigt per Cent. YEAR. On Vojrtge. In Quinntiiie. Total. hdnilint Qnanntin*. Exelnding 1841 28,280 166 38 194 •69 •66 1842 44,692 264 64 318 •71 •69 104S 21,807 64 26 80 •37 •26 1844 20,246 66 17 103 •61 •42 1846 26,616 111 28 140 •66 •43 1846 83,026 204 68 272 •82 •62 Totals - 173,634 876 282 1,107 AVBBAGB OP TBB SiX YlARS. Deaths on the Voyage Deaths in Quarantine - 0-6 per cent 0^13 per cent A.aa r Pe' cent, on cumber ^ •'! embarked. Enclosure THE BRITISH PROVINCES IN NORTH AMERICA. [\\a bjec- ness. hich i, on auch they •ting teing not t be hout I and (hip- the blic, iture Tlie ;rely luire ined •eble Encloeure No. 2. RmiABKS on the Means of Employment found by Immignntg into Canada since 1843 inclusive, collected from the Agents' Reports, as summed up in the Commissioners' Annual Reports. lUMIOKi TION OF 1842. ALTRonaH the emigration to Canada during the year 1842 exceeded that of the pivvious year by no less than 16,288 souls, there is reason to believe that few of the industriously disposed remained at the close of the year without employment. The number ''n the two years were as follows : 1841 1842 Immigration of 1843. 28,086 44,374 This year the immigration was 21,727. It was as fortunate as remarkable a feature in the immigration of last year, that a very large proportion, about three-fourths of the whole, came out to their friends and relations; and it is gratifying to perceive, from Mr. Buchanan's annual Report, that there was no extensive distress among the immigrants. Immigration of 1844. This year the immigration was 20,142. It is satisfactory to observe, that none of the industriously disposed have remained unprovided with work ; at the same time, provisions and necessaries of all kinds are reported to be plentiful. The agent points out the advan- tages to the immigrants on their arriving early m Ihe year. Immigration of 1845. Tbb number of immigrants was 26,37S. Several of them were possessed of moderate capital, and proceeded at once to purchase partially improved properties, or to enter into trade. A lai^er portion were small fanners, with sufficient means to enable them to esta- blish themselv'cs advantageously on wild lands, but the great bulk were agricultural labour- ers, many of whom had nothing even for their immediate support. The means of employment in 1845 are described by Mr. Buchanan as very abundant. Immigration of 1846. Thx numbers this year were much larger than in any preceding year since 1842 ; they amounted to 32,153. Yet the first part of Mr. Buchanan's Report, headed "Prospects for 1847," states, that " there is little, if any, distress among the emigrants of the last year," and shows his confidence in the field which is open to enterprize and industry. He con- cludes by repealing Mr. Hawke's remark, that tne province is capable of sustaining in comfort a large annual accession of labourers, provicted they be transported to the places where their services are required. re