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[No. 69.

{From Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal.} ‘GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY.’

ir was a circumstance likely to tell most significantly oa the mind of the poor immigrant at Sydney, when, as he himself said after his first morning walk along the atreets, ‘I have passed twenty-six houses, and heard the hissing of the frying-pan at seventeen.” The propor- tion of ‘ meat breakfasts’ is somewhat different at home. The emigration question is primarily a bread-and- cheese question. We are concerned to know by what means a sufficiency of the first necessaries of life may be best secured for those able and willing to work.— Emigration is advocated also as a means of diminishing certain social evils which exist in the mother country ; but here, it appears to us, that we are on less firm ground. The addition of a thousand a-day to the po- pulation, if it be an evil at all, is evidently one which could only be remedied by an efflux to the same amount ~—-which no one has ever pretended to think practicable foracontinuance. Neither has it ever been shown that, in the case of a great emigration, the missing numbers would not be replaced quite as rapidly as they were takenaway. After all, it may be gravely doubted if the present rapid increase of the population would take place (looking merely to human motives and conditions) if it really were such an evil as to demand such a reme- dy. We can believe, however, that there may be an in- creasing population not unjustified by the circumstances of the country ; and yet it may be well for many indivi- duals, and for many large classes ofthe people, to be continually draining off into other lands—where, from the greater ‘facility of raising food, and the infantine atate of competition, it is more easy for averagely-con- #tituted persons to live. Let itbe regarded as merely 4 matter of choice, whether one is to struggle on here for moderate results, and always with something of a difficulty, or to try to plant himself in a scene where nature, having fewer to supply, has more to give to each, and emigration may still be recommended as an import- ant principle in domestic economics, even though it should promise nothing like political benefits.

Emigration, after a lull of gome years, has of late come into new notice and discussion, in consequence of the temporary difficulties of the mother country. There is now some prospect, if not of the establishment ofa systematic plan under the care of government, at least of arrangements of a comprehensive nature, in which companies, and perhaps colonial governments, will be concerned, for allowing a stream of population to pass from this to other lands under the most favourable cir- cumstances. Already, through the favour of private enterprise alone, an unprecedent emigration is going on, the number who left the United Kingdom last year being 220,000; a fact which powerfully shows-the inclination of the masses to cut the Gordian knot of our many social and political questions in an entirely new field of enterprise. ‘There is no reason—there cannot for many years be any reason—why the inclination should not have free way, but rather the reverse ; for the exodus is better at once for those who go and those who remain. All that is required is, that we consider which is the best receptacle for our departing brethren, and which are the best arrangements for facilitating their depar- ture, their passage, and their new settlement.

On the first of these points there is forturiately little room for doubt; Australia presents itself as the only one of the colonies where there is now a@ positive Craving or demand for fresh population. Canada has the advan- tage of nearness, allowing of a briefand cheap passage ; but the multitudes lately propelled upon its shores— chiefly poer Irish—are stated to have been found an in- convenience, and many have never got beyond the hos- pitals and workhouses raised for their reception. We observe that measures are in the course of being taken forearrying backward and settlin Y : hereafter may land in Canada. Still, Canada cannot compete with Australia as a field for emigrants, either with regard to existing circumstances, or the absolute respective merits of the two countries. All accounts teatify to the extraordinary salubrity of the latter region, its qualities as a field for pastoral farming, and its mine- ral treasures. ‘There cannot now, we believe, be any sort of doubt that the settlers are realising excellent re- turns for their wool, of which the annual importation in- to England amounts to 21,000,000 Ibs. They led a rough, but cheerful, life, apparently little sensible to any inconvenience: but that of wanting @ sufficiency of hands to tend and manage their numerous flocks.— ‘There is something astounding in the abund food in proportion to population in Australia. South Wales, where the people nl cattle are two, and the sheep eg at the rate of thirteen head of oxen and fiity s for each perso’! Such facts recall the patriarchal times,

In New

ht millions, being

ance of

when having a large family was that which enabled a man boldly to meet his enemy in the gates. It was calculated that, in 1847, while the wool was gathered

is consumed annually by the whole mass of the work- ing-people of Scotland! Well has it been observed in a recent publication, ‘There meat is wasted—here men are wasting. Humanskeletons pine here for what fat- tened dogs reject there.’ The same writer adds—‘ Jn Ireland, a scanty meal at 2d. or 24d. per day was doled out {during the famine] to sustain life. In New South Wales, the unskilled labourer, full fed with ample ra- tions, supplied with a dwelling and garden, found in tea, sugar, milk, and tobacco, disdains to work under 2s. Gd. a-day besides.’ The common wages of sheep- shearers in Australia are, or were lately, 12s. 6d. a-day ; of reapers, 10s.: whilst shepherds and ordinary labour- ers receive from L.25 to L.30 per annum ; besides Jodg- ing and rations much above any style of living known by the same class in this country. The whole facts concur to paint Australia as the paradise of the poor immigrant.

Undoutebdly, while Australia remains ip this condi- tion, it were a pity to prefer Canada, merely forthe saving of a month or two of voyage, and of a few pounds of passage-money. The government contract price of passage to New South Wales for a grown per- son was last year L.12,10s.; while the usual passage to Canada may be about L.5. This is a difference which a fortnight’s wages inthe former country would suffice to extinguish. But merely to state the compara- tive expense of the voyage is not enough. We must remember that to land in Canada is only to accomplish a part of the migration necessary befure arriving at a field of profitable usefulness in that direction. A long journey is necessary besides, and, after all, some time may elapse before remunerative labour can be com- menced. In Australia such drawbacks exist, if at all, in a very much less degree.

We have not merely to look to the class of emigrants who propose to pay their own way, butto schemes for gratuitous emigration, which many are now regarding as important to the welfare of the mother country.— Here, emigration being in some degree under the care of enlightened intellects, itis possible to adjust it accord- ing to certain approved principles, and to give it a di- rection and a character subservient to highly important

er concern of colonisation.

ance who would make good colonists; but let care be

strictly moral, are those who should emigrate. We cannot see any reason why members of the nobility and

g such emigrants as, landed gentry, following the illustrious examples of

Raleigh, Penn, and Lord Baltimore, should not grace- fully put themselves at the head of schemes of colonisa- tion, and superintend their execution. By the personal attention of parties supetior to mean jobbing views, an ample guarantee would, be offered to individuals, even to those who give no immediate payment for their own transport, that they would be treated with humanity on their passage, and not left desolate on their arrival in

taken of them. .

le number 180,000, the

ity sheep!

being entirely left to private enterprise.

ithe ¢ and sent away, 64,000,000 Ibs. of meat would be wasted clearings and for want of mouths to eat it, being probably more than |the expenses to be defrayed by payments from the set-

body of disciplined pioneers in Canada, four thousand strong, who, while serving as a military force to protect ountry, should be statedly employed in preparing house-accommodation for immigrants;

tlers, after they should have begun to prosper. This is, we believe, the idea of the benevolent naturalist, Mr. William Spence; and when we remember what wonders General Wade performed with the soldiery in the Highlands during the last century, we feel inclined to think that even the ordinary ‘military force in Ganada might serve such a purpose withont materially inter- fering with their other duties. Mr. Spence calculates that, if government war-steamers were employed, poor families could be removed to Canada at the rate of L.9 for each person. He allows L.5 for seed and potatoes and the few articles of furniture required, and L.10 more for food to serve from spring lll the crop could be got in, and arrives at the conclusion that L.45 is the utmost that need be advanced to place a destitute family ina position to provide amply for its sapport. At three per cent., this outlay would only infer a burden of L.1, 7s. per annum onthe settler, until he should have realised enough to pay off the debt. We feel at a loss to pro-- nounce on such plans: but thotgh entertaining a gene- ra) distrust of arrangements which go so far to super- sede individual energy, we shal] quote another which the ‘Spectator,’ in publishing it, describes as suggested by ‘a gentleman of great intelligence and experience, who is practically acquainted with some of our most impor- tant colonies,’ while ‘his high position enables him to take a commanding survey, and his post is of a nature to elevate him above partial interests.’ ‘The New Sonth Wales Act (stat. 9 Geo. 1V. c. 83) authorises agreements to be entered into, in this country, with per- sons desirous to emigrate to that colony. If, then, go- vernment would empower the agent for New South Wales, by himself, or any others duly authorised by him (such authority to be evidenced by the agent’s signa- ture to the contract), to agree with those desirous to emi- grate, but who have not the means, on behalf of the Go- vernor and Legislative Council of New South Wales for the time being, to provide such persons with a pas- sage, and on their arrival with employment, at the wages say of L.25 per annum and rations, for three

;

years, on the one hand; and thatthe emigrant, on the other, should bind himself te render all due service, &c. and to permit, say L.5 in each year during the above

ends. In viewing the matter, we would point out, in| period, to be deducted from his wages, for the payment the first place, that emigration is only a step in the larg- of his passage-money; the cost of removal would be What is to be done is to/fully reimbursed, and the labourer still be in a much form a new soeiety as complete as possible in all its better position than he could have been had he remain- parts in another land. Men of capital and men of la-'ed at home, Instructions might be given by the colo- bour ought to go in just proportions. While, on the) nial minister for the issue of debentures, charged on all one hand, it were an injustice to the home country to the colonial revenues, and payable in three years (bear- drain away only the young and vigorous, it were, on the ing interest), to discharge the passage-money ; and also other, a fatal policy towards the new country to pour in forthe local legislature to enact all necessary Jaws for upon it hordes of people inferiorly constituted, and not/the employment and regulation of such emigrants, likely to adapt themselves to its rough work. Not only either in private service, or in default of it, in improving is it wrong to send a multitude of the criminal class, in-| waste lands about to be sold (and thus inereasing their suring the new society alow moral stamp, but some yalue,) or in public works. But whether the emigrant caution should be exercised regarding even those who be engaged in public service, the local government are only paupers; because it is, in the main, the feebler|should pay weekly to the emigrant his stipulated wages portion of every community who fall into that state, and (subject to a proportionate deduction for the payment of the chances are against their children being equal to his passage-money); and in ease of the emigrant being those individuals who have maintained their indepen-|jin private service, the local government should Jook to dence. It is necessary to be explicit on this point; be-' his employer for reimbursement; thus freeing the emi- cause parish authorities have been called upon for grant fromalt risk.’ Our only objection to any arrange~ draughts for workhouses to be sent to the colomies.~-|ment of this nature is, the possibility that emigrants

There must of course be many resting on parish assist-| would fail to work out their engagements,

| Seized with a fit of caprice, they might leave the colony for some

taken that such are selected. Persons of a firm, enter-' new field of enterprise, unless prevented by certain legal prising and independent character, not refined, but restrictions, which it would be difficult and unpopular

to enforce. If this practical, and, as wé think, serious impediment be got over, the plan is eminently worthy of support. :

With regard to all general organisations for emigra- tion, the public should be prepared to make allowances jor possible failures, and even for the occurrence of many cases of individual suffering. Some years ago, a benevolent body caiied the Children’s Friend Society, busied itself in tak:ng waif and destitute children off the streets, educating and reforming them, and then

sending them out to serve the colonists at the Cape of

the new country. Atpresent, the poor emigrants pro-|Giood Hope. A runaway boy came back to London, ceeding to Canada are subject to intolerable misery|and stated that he had been ill-treated by his master. — during the voyage; and when they land, it is but as a|{nstantly the newspapers raised a howel of indignation chance, and asa matter of charity, that any care is against the whole practice ofthe Society, which broke In the Australian vessels, which arejit up, and thus an admirable charity, the forerunner under the orders of government, things are better order-jof our Ragged Schools, was extinguished. This isa ed, which is an argument in favour of this business not!specimen of rash blame by no means uncommon. The

iresponsible party may have saved an immense quantity

There have been various suggestions as tothe best!of misery which formerly existed, and only failed in

means of promoting emigration on a jarge and nation#' such amounts of exception as beleng to all great rules. scale. Ithas been proposed, for instance, to have a;Those who could view the entire misery unmoved, and