*7.

M.

L343”

»

nianAnusonscorLa w " amintedjo inquire into the} Population of the Islands and High- ingo the Practicabilityof af- ' “ y means of Emigration, 0 report their observations use, have agreed to the

~ Condition of t landsof Scotland, a, ,fordir‘i‘g the People and who were empo , from time to time to 1 following Reporti—zi? 1. Your committee,

into the subject referred

fell, wing important facts

The Select coughing

,

ofthe House. They have (livid two branches; first, distress which was the country; and, secondly, as qflbrding relief by means ofernig

Krgyll, Iuyerness and Ross. as

80,000 souls. ‘

2. Your committee were informed that the famine and destitution in the years 1836 and l837 was so ex- tensive, that many thousands would have died of starva- tion had it not been for the assistance which they re- ceived from Government and, the public; that the sum “£70,000 was collected and distributed at that period in the shape of food and clothing, and all the witnesses were ofopinion that this district of the country were

have been,“ evi once which they have collect ,

said at exist '

ration.

av' g concluded their inquiry to them, beg to state, that the ,tablished by the g the information 6 air inquiry into as to the origin and extent of the certain districts of to the practicability of It was estab- lished by the evidence before your' committee, that an

excess of populationtexisted beyond that for which the

country could atlordthe means of subsistence, or fun

. nish adequate employment, along that part of the.wes~ tern coast which includes portions of tmunties of

ngst the

islands; and this excess of population, who are for the most part for a period of every year in a state of great destitution, was variously calculated at from 45,000 to

well as

liable to similar visitations in succeeding years.

3. Your committee are of opinion that the origin of this excess of population must be traced back as far as prior to the year 1745; that it originated in the feudal

- system which existed at that time, when the proprietors were accustomed to value their estates according to the amount of their population, and the number of men whom they could bring into the field; this led to the mi- nute subdivision of lands, and to the croft system, which was maintained up to a- late period in those dis- tricts, by the full employment which the people received from the manufacture of kelp, as Well as by an occa- sionally abundant herring fishery, which the coast at one time afforded, and for the encouragement of which considerable bounties were awarded by Parliament.

Most of those reisources have now

4. This excess ofpopulation was further maintained, and its tendency to increase confirmed, by the practice of the Government, of raising large bodies of volunteers and feucibles, and by the consolidation of farms in the interior of the country, which had the efi‘ect of remo- , where they subsistence, either by

ring the people from the gleus to found it more easy to obtain a

fishing or in the manufacture of k

5. Your committee also find it stated that the defi- ciency ofeducarion has tended to perpetuate this evil as want of knowledge of the he ignorance of the people in made them unable to estimate the advan- tage it would be to them to seek for employment where they might find a better market for their labour. The want of roads, also, in some districts ofthe country, by which the people are prevented from reaching a better market for their produce, has been stated as a further

of excessive population, English language, and t other respects,

v.

unseat the general distress. 6. Your committee hav

gration, in order to relieve tion, and as preparatory to

importance; and they now beg seems to them impossible to carry

.so extensive a scale as would be nece without aid and assistance from theG panied by such regulations as Parli to prevent a recurrence of similar evils.

7. It has been stated to the committee, that the Pro- vince of Upper Canada alone, without reference to other portions of our North American colonies, might , implying an emigra- tion of 50.000 souls; that 36,000 actually arrived in at least one-half of which number were absolutely destitute; and, although no extraordi- they have all found employ- ated to be to the advau

annually absorb 10,000 labourers

Canada last year,

nary means were taken, merit. It was further st emigrants, even with small capital, the first two years as labourers, be located upon land.

8. To give effect, however, emigration to these colonies Her Majesty’s Government Colonial Governments what

,might be disposed to afford to

the country absorbed. 9. It has appeared in evidence t

where their labour we

fully aware ofthe impossibility of finding adequate sub- sistence at home, are now most a and your committee have considered to call the attention of the Governme

from the concurrent testimony ing them to believe that the

to a return ofsuch a visitation as in the years'1886 and 1837, but i things, it tnust room} that the

ofa

can oppose, and without any cor

in the natural productiveness an country.

May 24th, 184].

It will scarcely hedenied that, B noblestcolonies which ever b and it becomes an object of an ceru to ascertain the manage heavy incumbrance. ry, strengthpsnd e that Colonies may the parental stock, ple of Spain and its conduct toward them by the most jealous selfish as has been done by consequences to both, or it rna

, aolicitude, like that fabled of the (hate! them with its streams of lit imanlikeé. enlarged and the effects like those of t and flourishing, shall gratefully and

xious merit

have the most d

0653

pe

country is not only liable

‘ U ' population is still rapidly increasing, in spite of any checks which the landlords

anmsn commits.

elonged to any country;

shall render them a source ofglo- molument to the parent state; for

has been amply proved by the "exam~ Portugal. ‘ The parent state may, in 5 its colonies, attempt to sacrifice

Spain with the most pernicious y with an affectionate

e or, equitable pol

he Indian fig tree taking root,

failed them.

the coast

elp.

e already reported to the House their opinion that a well-arranged system ofemi- the present state of destitu-

any measures calculated to revent it return of similar distress, would

he of primer leav suc

ament m

tage o

to be employed for‘ rather than at once to

to an enlarged system of , it would be desirable that should ascertain from the assistance, if any, they . _ emigrants arriving in the colonies, either by employing them in public works, or by undertaking to convey them to those districts of

old be most readily

h

at the people, being

nxious to emigrate; it to be their duty nt to the subject, ll the witnesses lead-

that which occurred hat, in the nature of

responding increase d resources of the

v

ritain possesses the

and paramount cou- which, instead of a

ebilitating efi‘ect on

for its own interest,

licau, extravaga‘ntly lastly, by states- Icy, contrive that

e to add, that it h a system, upon ssary, into effect, overnment, accom- ay impose,

-. cos comma

£18130

strength, nourishment, and splendour derived from the first stock. This last has been the, exalted and Wise course pursued by the Romans and by this countryt and we now find a violent and reckless effort about to be

the community, to breach, overthrow, and dissrpatethts noble structure, by a flood of crude, untried, and vrsron- ary theories. In regarding our colonies are Should look to a market for our‘own produce, a source of stea- dy and fair supply; for such these colonies yield a nu'r- 597? rm 0'" navy, and employment for our seamen in

need; such as ive received from India in our operatiOnS agaiusrthe French in Egypt. As friends and fellow- subjects we naturally and justly expect that the Canal- dians and other inhabitants of British North America, the East and West Indians, and the Australians, shall give cur manufactures and products the preference to those of other powers; nor are our fair expectations In this respect disappointed. Our North American Colo~ nies, with a hundred part ofthe population, and we may add, the wealth ofthose states whose commerce finds an outlet through the Baltic, takes from us a quantity very little less than they do in our West Indian Colonies; oftrifliug extent and ofa population less than a million. they find a market for our goods greater and more profit- able than that afi'orded by the illimitable extent, and nu- merous population of South America. With such facts before their eyes, these infatuated men propose to sacri-

Russia, Prussia, and Sweden, and the interests ofthe su- gar growers of the West Indies to those of Brazrl, Columbia, and ofthe Spanish, French, and Dutch colo- nies, who, it must be borne in mind, would as soon yield us their life’s blood as, in the slightest degree, relax in our favour the griping illiberality oftheir fiscal system. We unfortunately have, front time to time, had too much reason to complain of the avowed views, the undisguised feelings, and the actual conduct ofthe United States, and it is ofthe utmost importance to retain the inhabitants ofour North American colonies in a state of cheerful alle- giance, and to have the military force there so disen- gaged, that we could at any time march our conquering army into the heart ofthe territory of our aspiring and encroaching neighbours. How then do our ministers propose to effect this desirable consummation by loading timber, the staple, and in fact the only produce oftheso Provinces with an additional tat: of 105., or just 10s. per cem- increase on "If" at present levied, whilst. the duty 0“ Baltic llmbel‘ is to be favoured with a reductioti of5s. Now it should be remarked that this must ultimately act as an absolute prohibition on the importation of Ameri- can timber, as it is obvious that the importation of so bulky an article, transported three thousand miles across the Atlantic, can never be brought into successful com- petition with that which has only to be conveyed seven or eight hundred miles across the German Ocean. Far- ther, no trade of the same amount employs so many ships and so great a number of sailors. Twelve Initi- dred ships, and nearly twenty thousand men, employ- ed in this trade, form a truly important element in our nautical strength, and. such seamen, not educated or practised in any pedlar coasting trade, but ever busy in bufi'eting the stormy waves of the Atlantic. Yet it is certain that ifministers carry this their rickety project, the capitalists engaged in the timber trade of North America are doomed to inevitable bankruptcy; their ships to rot in our havens, or be broken up its lumber, and nearly twenty thousand sailors, in their proper de- partment, the glory and strength ofBritain, to be thrown out ofcmployment, a helpless and pitiable burthen on the over-loaded resources oftheir country. Such must be the inevitable result, as the carrying trade of the Baltic timber must inevitably fall into the hands of the Prussians and neighbouring powers, since it is notorious that, from the cheapness of timber, the abundance and excellence of their iron and copper, and the low price of labour, they can build and navigate ships at a for lower rate than the British—London Colonial Observer.

Y

(From the London Times.)

We now come to the speech of Mr. Roebuck, suspect, will be a much more important person in House ofCommons than he has ever been before. man of talent and energy—one who does not adopt a revo- lutionary cry for party purposes, or for the sake of salary and place, but who advocates revolution upon principle. If, as may be anticipated, the \Vhigs in opposition should find that they have no chance of regaining power except by becoming Radicals, this is the man who, at no distant period, will become their leader. Once embarked in the same course of politics, John Arthur Roebuck will twist Lord John Russell round his little finger: and as tbr Lord Pal- merston, Heaven help him! he will have to go to school again, and learn his political alphabet. Mr. Roebuck knows what he is about, and where he is going to, which the Whigs do not. The first thing we have to do, in criticizing this speech, is an act of justice-namely, to state that Mr. Roebuck dis- avost the placard Lupon which we have commented more than once) in whic he was represented as offering to relieve the people frotn the national debt by the summary process of the sponge. Mr. Roebuck disuvows, not only the placard, but its principle. It is, of course, unnecessary for us to state, that our information concerning this placard Was derived from a source which we supposed to be credible ; no: Were we aware that it had been contradicted till we read Mr. Roebuck’s speech in a Government paper on Thursday last. There is nothing in the hon. gentleman’s political creed which could have led us to regard his adoption of such a placard as at all improbable or inconsistent.

Mr. Roebuck’s view ofthe present position of Ministers is worthy ofgrcat attention. He considers them its having abandoned the doctrine offinulity, and determined to enter- upon acourse of (what he would call) progressive reform : in fact, as having come round, in principle, to his own opi- nlons.

“They were now,” he said, “turning their faces toward the people, in whose fiivour they had proposed two or three measures as an earnest only of what they would (lo—as a small commencement of the great work which they had undertaken, fiir tfflwy stayed there, they could not hope to bring back the people to them. Under the banners of the ilinistry the people would fight against their enemies—the Tories; but they must be steadily, completely, heartily, the people’s friends.” He then proceeded to chalk out the line of opposition which it would, in hisjudgment, be necessary to adopt after the accession of Sir Robert Peel to power, and the leadino measures which the Whigs must advocate, in the following‘ remarkable passages :——- ° “He asked of those who were now th Crown, and who might not be so two mo with him while he pointed out to them they mut pursue if they wished to gai They must go on in the path which they Tories must be put down everywhere—n not by any pretended fear of them, for mice of the people, and as such must be put down.” 4‘ The church was theirs, for they made it. It was their servant fin- bad purposes ; but it must be made a national Church, and not a church fir any sec! or, party.” “ They must unite all the sects of the country, not into one belief, for that could not be, but under one aw, equally good for all. They must then, turn

who, we the new He isn

f

e Ministers of the nths hence, to bear the course which n buck the people. took in 1830. The or by 11an measures, they‘Wei-e the ene-

( i

copiously repay the

their attention ‘to civil liberty. They must not blink any,

made, by a numerous, restless, and audacious portion of

the carrying trade both ways, and assistance in time Of

fice the timber trade ofNorlh America to the welfare of

no human being was ever know and second sible. ropes to cast over, by which it drawn over by running cords.

culty, performed, and the em

attempted, and the boat ters stood when we were obli

by the smoke of his fire. a succeeded in making a. landin . been sent him. ' g nearly fifty yards, and brought of: His name is Allen, son’s, and resides at the

question, bin they must learn to putcgnfiden It was that want of confidence, who 6 but they mustlnow throw themselves at one ,

into the ranks of the people.

and generouS—

‘ ' ' ~ ' is dis- mttat beno sectarian, no peculiar princqnw, no aristocrat

- - n r I tmgtiblisare the terms hpon whifih 1:011; Arltjhurmggillipcjg 7 ' t o ers is the newly elected member for a ,‘ ' fthe church ' ' ‘ he destruction 0 . a the Whigs. He stipulates for _t I I ldistimfions. W)“ and for the abolition of all aristocratica D W tr k they ' hese terms . e mi _ they accept his support .on t h he ives them cred“ will. He judges them .rtghtly, w on g. f l‘ce ‘ ' " ~ "lirnuforthesakeo pa foradisposmon to sacrifice cveiyt a. W ‘ H “e be Tories. Hrs co eag , and salary, and to “keep out t of more Radically Lord Duncan, is not, that we. are aware , _ -_ to his ' ' Inns ' yet, alter delivering _ disposed than most other W b , a Whicb he nus- t'tuents a common-place liar-angina, I ibebvk [biniri exposition of principles, he wound up by saying that— ' ' ' forward “ 0 these rinciples it was that he had come _ ‘ with his hon. gland, Mr. Roebuck; and if he had rimming; faction which was greater than another, it was, thug in struggle [to had been associated with‘that gentleman.

Extract of a letter from Corfu, in the Malta Times:

“Corfu, June, 23.—Sir Howard Douglas took his de- parture in the Ionian steamer on the 16th. The day before he left Iwent to takelenve ofliirn, and on entering tlhe pr). ace I found it.crowded to suffocation wrtli people, a]. 1ng tenig, and so eager were they to get a last sight of Sn £2:ng , that I had difficulty in coming near enough to shake an s, and when I did so Sir Howard spoke very feelmgly to_me, and was deeply affected at seeing such strong demonstrattogs ofregret amongst the people. There were crowds octet e the palace, who, when he left the palace, followed him to the waterside, and there he was gratified With nvery pretty sight;there Was a beautiful barge waiting to convey him to the steamer, manned by eighteen officers of _the garrison in sailors’ uniform, each having an ear, and Sir G. Bei'ke- ley o'fiiciated as coxswain. As Sir Howard stepped mm the barge, the citadel fired the usual salute, and on leavmg the steamer the officers gave three cheers. Inever saw 'a multitude show such unfeigned grief user: the day Sn' Howard departed. Captain and Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Duck- wortb, and Lieutenant Forbes, Sir Howard’s aide-de—camp, accompanied him. They will join Lady and Miss Dogglas at Trieste, and thence proceed to the baths at Carlsbad.

(From the Government Gazette of June 12.) On deliver-trig the Government into the hands of his Excellency the Right Hon. J. A. Stewart Mackenzie, Sir Howard Douglas thus ad- dressed hint :— _

“ In placing in your hands the' oflice of Lord High Com- missioner, iii the presence ofthe noble Senate and its pre- sident,I wish you all success, and trust that your Adminis- tration will be prosperous in every respect, honorable alike to your country and yourself; and advantageous to the m- habitants ofthese states; and I sincerely hope that your re- sidencein these islands will be as agreeable to your family and yourself as it has been to my family and myself”

To which his Excellency the Right HonJ. A. Stewart Mac- kenzie repliedz— _

“ Allow me, Sir Howard Douglas, to express my most an- cere thanks for the anxiety you have so kindly manifested relative to the prosperity of my government, and the admi- nistration which I ant about to assume. It will, indeed, give me great satisfaction if, at the end, my administration shall obtain that prosperity and good success of which you have to boast, which has signalized the progress and distinguished the close of your long and arduous career in these States, whose interest and perminant well-being you have promoted with so much ability, so as to secure to you the high satis- faction nnd approval of the protecting soverign of your mea- sures, as well as the general voice ofa grateful people.

“I thank you likewise fbl‘ the kind expressions which you have used towards me and my family.”

’ UNITED STATES. LYNCH Lawn—The Cincinnati Gazette publishes a letter, dated ut Willinmstou, Kentucky, June 11, which states that on the preceding day Liman Couch and Smith Maytbe, who were in jail on the charge of cutting the throat of a man named Uriel-back, were forcibly taken fi'om the jail by a mob offi'om four to seven hundred men, at12 o’clock, conveyed to the place where Utterback was found, and at 4 or 5 o’clock they were hanged, and subsequently buried on the spot. The following letter, from an eye witness, is published by the Cincinnati Chronicle:

“The citizens of this country, with a few exceptions, took no part. I, myself, took none ; only 1 endeavoured to save Couch; but the mob were deufto all entrcatics, as they re- fused to hear anything that might be said either to the sanc- tity ofthe law, or anything that could be said in favour of giving the culprits any further- time to prepare for that cruel deaths. Both of the robbers confessed the crime of robbing Utterback and having cut his throat; but made no further confessions. Couch declared under the gallows that this crime was the only one he had ever committed, and called God to witness the truth of what he said. Maytlie said that all he had stolen would not amount to more than $250, and called on his maker to witness the same. They were attended to the place ofexecution by a minister of the Gos- pel, who performed his duty in a very solemn manner by sup- plicating the Throne of Grace in their behalf Couch ap- peared much affected, and talked of his wife anti children in u very affectionate manner, and then prayed to his maker to give him forgiveness for all his crimes, and said he was pre- pared to meet the fate that awaited him. Maythe said that he was not prepared, and earnestly requested further time to prepare himself, as he belived there was ajust God that would punish his creatures for all their crimes, and prayed the mob to give“ him until Monday, to prepare his mind for the fate that awaited him, but they refused. The mob then took them to the gallows, and after May the and Couch‘shook hands, saying they hoped to meet in a better world, they were banged up. Couch suffered but a short time but Maythe suffered very much. ’