Three Months ending March 31.

the amount that the noble Lord had him- | Total Emigration from the United Kingdom for self recommended. The Chairman of the Emigration Commissioners had laid before the Committee above stairs the following table proving the fact :

Years.

1846

1847

1848

...

No. of Emigrants.

14,972

38,347

38,232

...

Tax on each Emigrant

Do. after Sept. 10......
Do. after Oct. 1

Do. when vessel is

4000

8. d.

5

2000

£ s. d.

0 10 0

1 0 0
1 10 0

0 10 0
015

placed in Quarantine 10s. to 208. 2s. 6d. every 3 days, not to exceed 20s.

Do. on Emigrants considered liable to be

It is on a closer analysis that the effect of the increased charge on emigrants into our own territory is made more apparent. The emigration to the British colonies for the months of April and May, in the same

come chargeable.... Security of Security of years, stands as follows:

Thus it will be seen that these colonial imposts were more than twice the amount considered to be adequate by the Secretary of State. An extra charge, amounting to from 10s. to 20s. a head, on the number of emigrants proceeding to British North America is an enormous burden, and operates as a peculiar discouragement to emigration from Ireland. The increased charge, which a most intelligent writer (Mr. Carter) has stated to be about 11. a head, tells much more heavily on ships from Ireland than on those from London, as the rate of passage from Ireland is much lower. On the Irish emigrant it is an increase of at least 20s. on 50s. or 60s., whilst in London it is 20s. on 100s. Nor is there wanting proof that this most oppressive tax is wholly disproportioned to the necessity of the case. The United States, it may be assumed, are equally interested with our own colonies in guard-pared with 140 in the corresponding ship last ing against the dangers of dangerous or unprofitable emigration. Fever and pauperism must be equally calamitous in the city of New York and in that of Quebec. Yet the taxation imposed by the foreign State, on aliens, is much lighter than the taxation for analogous purposes imposed by a British colony on British fellow-subjects. This surely is unjust. It is unwise also. The consequence has been, that by the adoption of the plan originating in the suggestion of the noble Earl, the tide of emigration is driven from the British colonies to the United States. This fact is apparent from a comparison of the following figures :

passed in England and Canada, it is necessary to state the number of emigrants in each ship separately. The first ship this year, before the new laws took effect, carried 198 passengers, as comyear; while the three ships this year, to which the altered state of the law applied, averaged only 186, as compared with 411, by the corresponding ships in 1847."

The charge in New York, the same writer states, "has been recently reduced, whilst our own in Canada has been materially increased." Such was the effect of his noble Friend's interposition in relation to British North America; and it was not surprising, under such circumstances, that he judged it more prudent on the present occasion to eschew the subject altogether. He might here state that, in some material respects, both in the laws passed for the protection of the emigrants, and in

he had been diverted by the question of Silesian emigration. In so doing, he must, once for all, guard himself against the supposition of being disposed to re

the hospital accommodation provided at this course should have been pursued by New York, that foreign State was in ad- his noble Friend, because, in his correvance of our own colonies. Whilst thus spondence with the Governor of the Cape increasing the difficulties of the emigration of Good Hope-in reply to Sir Henry of British settlers to British colonies, he Pottinger, who had expressed wishes that must admit that the noble Lord had shown German emigrants should be encouraged to himself more generous and more liberal to proceed to the Cape-his noble Friend had foreign emigrants. He would be able to laid down the principle absolutely that all show a most extraordinary, and, in his the means of emigration at the disposal of judgment, a most indefensible, step taken Government should be exclusively reserved by the Colonial Office, in which, so far for the Queen's subjects. But he must from imposing any new burden on foreign be permitted to return to the question emigrants, colonial revenues were actually of British North America, from which applied to assist the emigration of 400 Silesian emigrants to Port Philip. This most extraordinary fact is stated in the eighth report of the Emigration Commissioners (page 9), and would be almost in- commend, or to support, any plan of emicredible except on such conclusive autho-gration which was not likely to promote rity. The Commissioners inform us that 31 applications had been made to import 119 German labourers and their families, being exclusively vine dressers, wine makers, and wine coopers; the rest of this immigration being assisted by a colonial bounty. To this measure no possible objection could be raised. With the existing prospects of a more extended cultivation of the grape, and a greatly improved manufacture of wine, this introduction of skilled labour was eminently politic. It rested likewise on the previously ascertained success of Mr. Macarthur's experiment. But the noble Lord has gone farther. The Commissioners add

“That they are also engaged in negotiating, under instructions from your Lordship, for the transmission to Port Philip of about 400 Silesian emigrants, containing a considerable portion of persons of the same classes, and on terms which we hope will prove advantageous to the colony." Now, against this misapplication of Government aid, and of colonial resources, he (Lord Monteagle) would altogether protest. The notion of seeking vine cultivators in Silesia was an absurdity. He was happy to think that the "scheme,' as it is justly called, is likely to fail. This failure-not, however, arising from the application by the Secretary of State of the obvious rule that would secure a preference to the subjects of Her Majesty over Silesians, or any other foreigners, but from the warlike propensities of that most aggressive monarch the King of Prussia, who, in order to carry on hostilities against his unoffending neighbours, had required the service of some of the intended emigrants in his newly-raised landwehr. He (Lord Monteagle) was the more astonished that

colonial as well as European interests, and
which was not in entire accordance with
colonial feelings likewise. The North
American colonists, he fully admitted,
had to endure much suffering in the last
year. But that suffering was entirely
connected with the state of disease exist-
ing in particular districts, and at that
particular time, and was not incidental
to emigration generally.
On the con-
trary, all former experience told the other
way. What was the opinion of the Com-
missioners themselves? They inform the
Secretary of State that—

"At no earlier period of five years had so many people emigrated, as in the five years ending with 1846; and yet the whole of this emigration was effected healthily and prosperously. The deaths on the voyage did not exceed per cent, or five in the 1,000; and the deaths in quarantine did not exceed 13 on every 1,000 embarked. The people found no difficulty in getting employment, and were readily absorbed in the mass of the population.

The Government, therefore, at the commencement of the year 1847 were in possession of this

fact, that in the preceding five years a greater number of persons had emigrated to North America than had ever done so before, and had emigrated under existing arrangements without sickness or serious difficulty or disaster."

And even the Canadian authorities, when suffering most severely from the fever of last year, guarded themselves carefully against the suspicion of seeking to throw any discouragement upon emigration generally. Such was the language of the legislature, of their municipal councils, and of the grand juries, who had expressed their views in the most unqualified manner. Therefore, while the Canadians condemned the ill-regulated and unsystematic emigration carried on from certain districts in Ireland, abounding in disease and pro

"We feel bound to declare to Your Majesty that, while we believe that this House and the people of the province are most desirous to welcome to this colony all those of their fellow-subjects who may think proper to emigrate from the parent country to settle among them, we are convinced that a continued emigration of a similar character to that which is now taking place, is calculated to produce a most injurious effect upon our prosperity, unless conducted upon some more systematic principle."

Nor did his noble Friend appear to differ in any respect from these opinions, for in a despatch addressed to the Earl of Elgin, he had stated his conviction that an enlarged and systematic system of emigration would greatly benefit the North American colonies, as well as the emigrants themselves. Why, then, did not the noble Lord suggest, for our adoption, some practical mode of fulfilling the duty which he thus freely admitted was one capable of being discharged, and which, as responsible to the Sovereign, to the British people, and to the colonies, with whose government he was entrusted, he was therefore bound to discharge? His noble Friend, in his despatch to Lord Elgin, of the 1st of December, 1847, stated that

It was

pagating it, they did not, even in the time | the colonies and the British public, disapof their greatest suffering, condemn emi- pointment and dismay would be the necesgration generally. On the contrary, in sary consequences. The noble Lord appearthe Address from the Parliament of Ca- ed to rely exclusively upon his Australian nada to the Queen, he found the following emigration. On this he seemed to rest his passage: claim on public confidence; and here he seemed to think that he had realised all the true principles of colonisation. far indeed from his (Lord Monteagle's) intention to speak in disparagement of our prospering Australian colonies. He was the very last person who was disposed to do so. On the contrary, whilst he rejoiced in their success, in common with all lovers of his country, he felt an additional and a personal gratification in marking their progress both in civilisation and in wealth. He could not forget that the formation of the Port Philip settlement was attributable to one of his oldest and most valued friends, a gallant officer, Sir Richard Bourke, whose salutary reforms and wise administration would long be remembered in New South Wales. And he might be permitted to add, that few acts in his own political life were more gratifying to him than having as Colonial Secretary in 1834 introduced into the House of Commons the Act which led to the settlement of South Australia. But because these colonies, as well as the Sydney province, were prospering, it would be wholly erroneous to suppose that all that was required had been done, or that much that was an impediment to colonisation was not now in mischievous activity. It is true that the noble Lord had gone greater lengths in Australia than elsewhere in applying his principles. He had even done so in a manner which to some would appear to involve startling and original doctrines. For not only did he willingly acquiesce in Sir C. Fitzroy's proposal to borrow a sum of 100,000l. for emigration purposes, but he also recommends the creation of a larger debt for similar purposes; and at last, possibly excited by the subject, he goes further, and undertakes that a national debt is in itself a national benefit. The following is an extract from the despatch of the Colonial Office of 18th December, 1847 :

"There is nothing in the situation of Canada which renders it impossible, by judicious regulations, to provide for the occupation of her vacant territory in a regular and systematic manner, instead of leaving this to be effected, as heretofore,

by the desultory, and, too often, ill-directed efforts of individuals. The saving of labour and capital which would result from such a system would cause the increase of the numbers of her inhabitants by emigration to be the means of advancing the province yet more rapidly in wealth and in

civilisation."

Were these good resolutions were all these enunciations of sound principle-to lead to nothing? Was every thing to end in empty profession? Even at the eleventh hour, and after hearing the noble Lord's careful and elaborate speech, he would ask their Lordships whether he had brought forward any practical proposition whatever? Where, he would ask, was the noble Lord's scheme for the regular and systematic emigration which he described to Lord Elgin as being practicable and necessary, and which it was therefore his duty as Colonial Minister to have submitted to Parliament? All seemed to be left a profitless blank; and both to

LORD GREY TO SIR CHARLES FITZROY.

"18th December, 1847. "When I authorised you to raise 100,000l. for defraying the expense of 5,000 adult emigrants, I was much induced to believe that a larger sum than you have had suggested might with great advantage be raised for the purposes of emigration;

and the further accounts which have since reached me as to the urgency of the want of labour in New South Wales, have removed any doubts I enter

tained, and have convinced me that in order effectually to supply this want, the expenditure you contemplated ought to be very considerably increased."

"Your Committee wish to conclude their report by reiterating their solemn conviction that the question of immigration is not one that is to be regarded as affecting the mere prospective interests of the colony, or those of a particular class. It involves the consideration of the all but imme

His noble Friend then proceeds to recommend a more extended system of borrow-diate ruin of every employer of labour, and the uling on the security of the colony; and he then proceeds to reason in a manner most consolatory to an old financier ::

"This is a practice no doubt exceedingly liable to abuse; but when the object for which money is raised is not unproductive but productive, the danger of abuse is very greatly diminished; and in the present instance there can be no reasonable doubt that an addition to the population plated, by affording an additional supply of labour which is so urgently wanted, would immediately increase the productive power and wealth of the community.

of New South Wales, of the kind which is contem

timate annihilation of those sources of profitable industry and enterprise upon the due exercise and development of which the prosperity of the colony depends. The Australian colonies contribute onethird of the whole of the wool imported into Britain. Those who now produce that commodity must cease to do so when the wages of labour exceed all profits derivable from the pursuit in which they are engaged. It may be alleged that the evil of ownership from the master to the servant, and here deprecated may only amount to a mere change that the ruin of the one will be coincident with the improved condition of the other; and that, in point of fact, such an exchange of the relative position of master and servant is already exemplified to a considerable extent. It can require no argu

"The Commissioners of Colonisation inform me, however, that the supply of really eligible emi- ment with your honourable House, and it is hoped grants is limited; and with the demand for eminone with Her Majesty's Government, to show grants which is now increasing, not only for the that such an inversion of all social relations as Australian colonies, but for the Cape of Good Hope that here depicted must be fatal to the welfare of and New Zealand, it is doubtful whether the ne-arrives, the real elements of the present as well as the community. Before, however, such a crisis cessary number can be obtainable."

His noble Friend justly remarked on the enormous increase of the wool exported from New South Wales. It was natural and most important to consider this augmenting source of wealth; but why did his noble Friend omit to mention the fact that the wool was rotting, diminished in quantity and deteriorated in quality for want of shepherds, and that between 800,000 and 900,000 sheep had been boiled down in the last year to be converted into tallow, there being no labour to enable the owners to turn them to greater profit. Thus the capital of the colony was sacrificed. What the colonies wanted was labour. It was labour with which the noble Earl should supply them. The capacity of the Australian colonies to absorb labour, and the consequences that must ensue if that labour is not supplied, have never been stated more authoritatively than in the able report made by the Select Committee of Immigration made to the Legislative Council of New South Wales, and now on the table of the

House:

"The Committee can anticipate no difficulty in the way of any number of persons that the colony may require being found willing to emigrate from different parts of the United Kingdom."

future wealth of the country will, to a great extent, be annihilated, the cattle and sheep will be and skill will be permanently withdrawn from a boiled down for their hides and tallow, and capital country where they have ceased to be profitable." The same evidence was given last year by Mr. Jackson, who had been twenty years a resident in the colony. He stated before the Committee

"2334. I believe that in one year upwards of and were readily absorbed; and looking at the 20,000 emigrants went to New South Wales alone, extent of available land, and the number of sheep and cattle, I can see no season why there should not be 30,000, 40,000, or 50,000, absorbed on a almost impossible to hazard a statement as to the well-digested scheme of emigration. Indeed it is number; but I believe if you began with 30,000 this year, the probability would be that in the next year or eighteen months the colonies would absorb 50,000 more, and the year after 100,000, because sheep increase so wonderfully fast. And in the new discoveries, much of the country is a country most eligible for agriculture."

If such are the crying wants of the colony, it may be asked what impediments exist to check emigration? He was inclined to trace those impediments (to a very considerable extent at least) to the injurious regulation adopted with regard to the sale of land. The plan of fixing the minimum price at a certain given sum, namely 20s. an acre, was indefensible. In the year Such is the statement of those who from 1840, when the price was fixed at 5s. an their position in the colony and from their acre, the sum received for lands sold was local knowledge, are entitled to speak with 324,000l. But when the price was raised authority. But Mr. Cowper's able report to 20s., the sum received in subsequent sums up the whole argument in the follow-years rapidly fell off. These facts are ing impressive language:— strikingly exemplified in the following ex

Totals 1,002,440 1 7 163,985 23,683 1 8 11,611 2 12 7,942 3 34 81,343 1,291,006 0 21 919,669 11 2

NOTE. In the year 1831 Lord Ripon's regulations for the abolition of free grants, and the sale by auction of all Crown lands, were first promulgated in the colony.

* 1839. In this year the minimum price was raised from 5s. to 12s. an acre, but did not extend to lands previously advertised at the former rate, of which there was a very large quantity at the time.

† 1841. In this year the system of sale at a fixed price of 17. per acre was introduced into the district of Port Philip. 1842.—In this year the system of sale by auction was resumed throughout the colony at a minimum upset price of 12s. per acre for country lands, with liberty to select portions not bid for at the upset price.

§ 1843.- In this year the minimum price was raised to 17. per acre by the Act of the Imperial Parliament, 5th and 6th Vict. cap. 36, with liberty to select, at the upset price, country portions put up to auction and not bid for, or on which the deposit had been forfeited.