TORONTO PUBUC LIBRARIES REFERENCE LIBRARY / ijOu^ <'-^ N0TE8 ON CAF^i>ivv- WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACT f.-7 tiaT!''^*]4, o,J2il^' t » ';'•' •■ .•• .■■■-• A/ , REDUCING THE DUTIES ON CANADIAN WI^yAt AND^^V-tJEA FLOUR IMPOXrED INTO TilE UNITED V;^D(^M, ' ^'^ COMPni«lNG STATISTICAL KM GENERAL INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE PROVINCE, «?TATR^TEXTS FROM OFFICIAL RETURNS SHOWING THE PAST OPERATION OF THE ACT, AND OBSERVATIONS ox ITS PROBABLE FUTCRS RESL^LTS, &c. c^c. liY A MEMBER or THE ESSEX AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION SOCIETY CHEL^iSFORD: D. BURRELL, T. ARTHY. COLCHESTER: T. KNIBB.— SUDBURY : G. FULCHER. LONDON : J. OLLIVIEU, o^. Pall Mall; AND AEL OTKiR BOOKSELLERS. 1845. F A~s-4 So i I NOTES ON CANADA, S)C. S)'c. As the operation of f!iP piesent Law with respect to the nmies on Wheat jjiuI Fl()i:r iinpoited from Canada into the Unit«»r.e of plucinf^ hrfure the public, Topographical and V-lati.stical iuibrjuation collected from various sotjrces, whith may i;!isist |;orsons in forniing- a ju(lj;ment as to the prtjbaMtj future rosiilfs of the facilities given by the Act of (! — 7, Victoria, c. 2J) —for the impor- tation ol Vv'hcat and M'hcat Flour into the United Kingdom from Canada. POSITION, ARK A, & POPCLATIOX OP CANADA. Canada comprises that portion of the American Continent which is boiunlcd on tlio Kast by the Atkiutic Ocean and the Gulf of St. Liiwrrnce — on the \Vest by the country beyond Lt.ke Superior — on the North by the Hudson's Bay territory — and on tlie South by the United States and a pari of Nrw lirunswiik. The country occupies an area of about 850,000 square mile''', beiri<:f more than six times the area of Enyla'ul and Wales, atul nearly three times that of England, Wales, Scotland, and IrtUind. Lower or East Canao'a occupies 4?05,8tj;i square miles, including G'JOO miles covered by lakes and rivers, and excludinfj the surface occupied by the St, Lawrence and part of the Gulf, which cover 6'^,(^00 square miles, the whole area of land and water beinof 257, POO square miles or lG5,(13'i,3..^0 acres. Upper or West Canada comprises about 144,000 square miles or 9"2.1(J0.00O acres. At present bwt a coniparativfly small portion of the land is in cultivation. Pr. Mc Culloch gives the follow ing table for 1845. Area in Acr«. 1 '^y;;;^,-^ Uu8urveyi?d. 118.983,000 3,l»f).O00 Availablp IV/r .Settlfiiient. 5to«,000,000 3,754,000 Lower Canada 132,000,000 2.734,735 Upper Canada 6i,000.000!l,32G,313 The country is, in lenijth, tVom East to West, about 1000 miles; in breadth, from North to Sou(h. about 300 miles. la 180G the population of Upper and Lower ) ^^^ ^.g Caoada, was 3 ' 181G ditio 33:1,250 1824 ditto 580,450 1831 Lower Canada ♦ 52r>.n20 7 j,.,, o-.. Upper ditto 2J)G,544 f ••*'®'*» 1836 Lower Canada, supposed G00,000 } , ^^^ ««^ Upper Canada 400.000 5 *»"""'""" Mc Culloch makes the population to be in 1842 Lower Canada 700,000 7 , o^^ nn^ „ Upper ditto (iOO.OOO J I'^O^'OOO The Parliamentary returns state the population of Upper Canada in 1842 to be only 480,055. IMMIfillATION. The immi;;ration into the Colony from the United King- dom is considerable. In 1842 the number of Emigrants arrived at Quebec and Montreal from the United Kingdom, was as follows : — From En-land and Wales 12.216 ) Scotland (>.070 J. 43,818 Ireland 25.532) The total number arrived at Quebec from the United Kingdom in 14 vears— IS'JO to 1842, was From Kng-lan d and Wales , D(),34f) n .Scotland 42,3<)i) / Ireland 222.415 V 3G6.181 Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, &c. 4,518 1 Continental Ports 500/ It was catcuiated by Mr. Buchanan the British Govern- ment Agent at Quebec, that the 30,933 Emigrants landed at Quebec and Montreal in 1834, look into the country a capital of at least £1,000,000. xMany of these Emigrants proceed to the United States, but a large number of those who land at New York, afterwards proceed to Canada It is therefore very difficult even to approximate to the relative numbers that finally settle iu each country. CLIMATE- Canada may be said to have but two seasons — summer and winter. Winter has no looner disappeared, which • Census taken in 1831. {generally happens in llie niuldlc of April, ihan tlie wLoIb ▼egetuble creation starts into renewed life with a rapidity and vigour that leava the season of sprinjj with such doubtful limits as to he scarcely perceptible. In the fall of the year, Sepiembor and October are generally fine and summer like, and are succeeded by what is called the Tndian summer, in November, during which the genial temperature of the iitmosph<^re is extremely pleasant. In Upper Cat)ada the frost commences at the end of Noven^her, and continues tiil nrar April: sometimes it is the first week in that month heiure the navigation is open. The climate, especially of Upper Canada, is colder in winter, warmer in summer, and aluays possessing a hrii;hter, clearer, and drier atmosphere tliati that of (jreat Britain, but it is neither so much warmer in summer nor so much colder in winter as to he disagreeable. In Lower Canada, the winter is very severe, the country being covered with snow nearly half the year. In summer the highest temperattjre varies from 96 to 102 Falirenheit, but the purity of the atmosphere abates the heat that prevails in most countries where the mercury ranges so high. The spring opens and the resumption of agricultural labour takes place from six weeks to 2 months earlier at the Western extremity of Lake Ontario in Upper Canada than in the neighbourhood of Quebec. SOIL AND PRODUCE OF WHEAT. In the course of the debates in the House of Commons en the Canadian Flour Bill, it was repeatedly stated by the advocates of the measure, tliat Lower Canada did not grow enough Wheat for its own consumption, and that Upper Canada but barely supplied the deficiency. This was denied by several members. Mr. E. Ellicesaid it was new to him to hear that the Canadians— nay, that even the Lower Canadians did not grow a surplus of Corn beyond their own consumption. Mr. Ellice had engaged in large land speculations in Lower Canada, having one estate 18 miles square, near Montreal, which, some years ago, he bought for less than £10,000, and recently sold to a Company of Proprietors in England for £120,000. A large portion of the estate is under cultivation, and Mr. Buckingham calcu- lates that it may, in 20 years, be rendered worth £500,000. Colonel Rushbrooke said " That in the paper No. 218, laid on the table of the House, there was a paragraph which stated that Canada was now an exporting country, and that in a short time she would be able to supply the mother country with any quantity of corn, provided the British markets be open to her produce."* •MejDoiial of Earl Mountcashel and ihft North American Committee of th« Colonial Society in London, in 1842. Mr. Murray [in his " British America"] states, that the Agriculture of Canada, was in 1 839, most rapidly increasing, and the Province, had for many years exported Wheat and Flour into the United States. A report of the Committee of the House of Representatives gives a return of quantities 80 imporfrd : thev wpre Dubh. >VUe»t. Cwt. Flour, Dush. Wheat. Cwt. Flour. 1831 585 5 1831 1,232 20 183:2 I.1G3 3 isrjj 23G.n»4 28,483 1833 1.581 3(5 18:50 115.850 not known. The amount in value being 374.})3l) dollars. Parliampntfiry Returns give the following particulars. In 1840, Lower Canadaimported 1074 biirrels of Wheat Flour, and exported 157,2()0 bushels of Wheat, und a03,07l barrels of Flour. The total value of Corn exported was £49 1.507 sterling. The total value of imports of uil articles was £1,1303.043— of exports £l.(j;>j,(>8r). Cattermole, a gentleman, who gave Public Lectures in 1831, on the advantages of Kmigrulioii to ('aiiadu, speaking of the Upper Province, «ay« "it would bo dillicult— perhaps impossible, to find in any othor region of the globe, a tract of country of the same magnitude, with so many natural udvan- tages as that part which lies between Lakes Ontario, Krie, Huron, and the Ottawa river, nine-tenths of the whole of which are calculated for the exercise of almost every descrip- tion of agricultural labour, and with such a prospect of success as perhaps no ol'ier part of the Continent could realize. A part of this tract of country commencing in the npi<>;hbour- hood of Kingston, and running westward nearly 500 miles to the Sandwich frontier by a depth northward of about 100 miles, is of itself capable of supplying all liurope withgrhin." Mc Culloch also says "That part of Upper Canada which •tretches from Lake Sitncoe and the rivers Trent and Severn, westward to Lake Huron and the St. Ciair river, and southward to Lake Frio, and part of l^ake Ontario, has a soil of extraordinary fertility, capable ©f producing luxuria)it crops of wheat and every sort of grain. The soil is more genial for vegetation than Lower Canada." A •writer in Black wood (Vehnvdry, lb:38) observes that "The quantity of good soil in Canada is proportionate to that uf any other country of the globe. It is in some places singu- larly fprtile ; 50 bushels of wheat an acre are u frequent produce. In some instances 100 bushils have been ob- tained. The soil of Upper Canada is chielly composed of brown day and loam intermixed with marl." In the Colonial 3Iaffazinc (Mar'^h, 1840) are the following observations, "The soil, although of almost every variety, is mostly fit for agricultural purposes, being rich and deep with the spoils of the forest, acuiiniulatiiig for ueuturies. With rejjard to the effect of climate ort ug;riuu!ture, it may be Buid, that pluiighin;^ for spring crops generally comtneiices in Upper Cuiiuiia the first Meek in April, and teruiiiutes in June, although instances are not infr>)quent of ploughing and sowing in the latter end of March ; and such was the mild- ness of the season in Decembrr, lb3(}, that a great deal of laud was ploughed in that mnnth. Agricultural opr rations may be considered suspendi-d from St. Andrew's Day, (:iath November) to St. Patrick's Day, (March 17). The fall wheat is generally sown by the 10th of October, although there is a case on record in the township of Ancuster, on a farm belongiag to F. Sufer, Esq. of wheat sown on the 5th of November, and producing a beautiful satnplc of spod wheat in the following year." There can b« little doubt that, with the continual accession of enterprising emigrants iu>d their capital, together with the impetus of the Act of 18l;J, t!(e agricultural produce of Cana<1a will grtfatly and rapidly increase. In a Petition from merchants, millers, Ui^ricniltuiisis, and others of the Home District of West Canada, iti Ajuil 181'2, it was said, ••The cultivation of Wheat is undoubtedly the object to which more than any other the Canadians are destined to devote their exeitions : the climate and soil are alike favorable to its growth. It is proper to add that many parts of Canada are, front t!te pie- vaL'ncc of a destructive fly, less favourable to the growth of wheat. It is also to some extent disadvantageous that the rich and heavy land of Upper Canada, is not to be found in general upon the immediate banks of the lakes and rivers. It lies for the greater part from t'i to 20 mites inb>nd. In 1840, there were in Montreal District 4,0UU acres of Wheat, producing AO.OOO bushels, and the price at Montreal was 5s. sterling per bu>hcl. In 1842, the produce of Wheat in Upper Canada was 3,221,990^ bushels, and the price at Toronio and Montreal markets was 4s. 5d. per bushel. The Canada Company wfilch is u very prosperous one, was incorporated by Act of Paillautent and lloyal Ciiarter in 182G, for the purpose ol* purchasing, holding, improving, clearing, settling, and disposing of, waste iuid other lauds in the Province of Upper Canada; for opening, making, improving, and maintaining roads and other internal comiQUuicatious fur the benefit thereof, Slc. CURRENCY, REVENUE, &c. The paper currency in 1841 was for Lower Canada from 8 £400,000 to £r>00.000 sterlinjr. In Upper Canada the umonnt of Government Debentures outstanding was £1,232,880, iis. Id. sterling^. All the Banks issue notes for Cu, and there is no Colonial metallic currency. In Canada, accounts are kept and sales and purchases made in pounds, shiilinj^s, and pence, Halifax currency. This currency is about 20 per cent inferior to the British, though the denominations and proportions are the same. The pound currency is four Spiuiish dollars, each dollar being called 5s. But ttie avcriige value of the dollar in the London market is only 4s. 2d , hence 4s. 2d. sterling is equal to fis. currency ; or 1(h. 8d. sterling is equal t« £1 curr^^ncy ; or £100 sterling is equal to £120 currency. When exchange is really and wholly undi<^turbed, or in other words at par (£100 sterling selling for £120 currency) it is said to be at 8 per cent, per annum. The average exchange on London in ISll, was 12^ to 13 per cent, in 1842 9* to 11 per cent. It was stated in Blackwood (1808). that the British Government pidd directly more than £200,000 a year for troops and public works, but there is reason to believe that for the jast 8 or 1) years the annual expense of Canada to this country fur military and other matters, has been about £800,000 per annum. In 1831, the revenue and expenditure of Canada is thus given in the Parliamentary tables of revenue, population, &c. Revenue. Expenditure. Upper Canada, £102.289 £101.0:?5 Lower Canada, 157,134 J7ii,778 Total £259.443 £277,808 Murray makes the Revenue and Expenditure in 1834, to have been Revenue. Expenditure. Upper Canada, £108.841 £102,430 Lower Cauada, 15G.589 108,188 Total £2(55.430 £270.618 Cattermole, writing in 1831, sayi "All the taxes or assessments put together on a farm of 100 acres only amounts to a few shillings." An emigrant at Guclph, Upper Canada, about that time says •* Our taxation here is moderate : a man with 100 acres does not pay a dollar a year altogether." In August, 1844, the following particulars were given in a Parliamentary return moved for by Mr. Leader. The gross total charge on account of Canada in respect of the Armv, Navy, Ordnance, Commissariat, &c. was in 9 £. £. 183G 1(J5,8;U 1840 1.31:3,884 1837 189,048 1841 8y8,<)88 lH3h3 510,248 1842 884. {)98 1839 1,029,070 1843 806,007 Total £(;,398,077. The special grants on account of the rebellion of 1837 wero £ £. 1838 50O.(H)0 1841 108,000 1839 1,000.000 1842 108.000 1840 35l.74(> 1843 25.300 Total £2,090,04 (). In the official return of the public expenditure for the year ending 5lh January, 1843, we find au item of" Insur- rection in Canada £253,343 12s. 4d." The British Army maintained at the present moment in Canada, consists often re;^iinpnts or battalions, viz. the 14th foot, reserve battalion of 23rd foot, 43rd foot, 52nd foot, 2nd battalion GOth foot, reserve battalion 7lst foot, 81st foot, 82nd foot, 89th foot, 93rd foot. There is also u Colonial Corps — the iloval Canadian Rifle Regiment. The Militia in l«42, amounted to lG0.^30--viz. for Lower Canada 90,5G2. Upper Canada 75,208. IMPORTS, EXPORTS, MANUFACTURES, &c. In the Petition of merchants, millers, agriculturists, &,c., of West Canada, April, 1842, it was stated, that Canada, at that time, purchased a lirgcr amount of British manufac- tures, and furnished eniplovmeut to a much greater number of British ships, than several of the most populous kingdoms of Europe combined. The declared value of British and Irish produce and man- ufactures exported in 1842 from t!io United Kingdom into th« British North American Colojiies, was £2,333,525. In that sum are included. £ Apparel, slops, and haberdashery 282,551 Cotton manufactures 485,490 Hardwares and cutlery 128,181 Iron and steel wrought and unwrought 145,744 Linen manufactures 108,548 Silk manufactures 74,074 Soap and candles 50.736 Stationery 44,750 Sugar refined 55,109 Woollen manufactures 425,122 £1.806.965 10 In 1830, Canada imported of British munufactiires, in value as under (.'otton. Linen. Silk. Woollrn. Iron. £544,110 £(»7.4C8 £95.772 £:h'9,59« £111,C0S Total £1.1 18,55-i. Mc Culloch says, that in the year ISHD, the total valiio of imports into Canada from al! parts was £2,l'J7,l.i74, of exports £1.090,3:^7; the Colony in 1^41 had 4H2 ships, the tonnajre of which was 53,' 12. Tlie value of ashes, grain and timber (the most impor- tant articles of Canadian product;) exported in lS3f), was Aslips. Oniiii, lOct. Tinibrr. Totul. £142,457 £32.05'> £bS0.403 £l,U5l.f)l2. In Upper Canada there were in 1841, 'J804 mills, of which 414 were for corn. Of manufactories there were 22 iron works, 10 iron hammers, (i nail factories!, 147 distilleries, 9(i breweries, 1*61 tanneries, 1021 pot and pearl ash manufactories. Woollens for domestic pnrpose.s are munufactured throughout the province, lu iHl'i -were manufactured 433,537 yards of fulled cloth ; ICG,88'i yards of linen, cotton, and other thin cloth; 727,2^8.^ yard.^ of flannel or other woollen cloth not fulled. Wool 1,30-2,5101 per lbs. The great shippin*^ ports of Canada are Quebec and Montreal. Quebec is situated about 340 mites from the mouth of tbe St. Lawrence, and in 1842 had a population of 31,801). It is the capital of Canada and of the Kritish possessions in North America. Moj)treal is the second town of Canada, and is situated on the St. Lawrence about 180 miles from Quebec. The population in 1842 was 40,203. Vessels of (500 tons burden ascend here. Toronto, the capital of Upper Canada is near the head of Lake Ontario. IlIVERS, LAKF.S, AND CANALS. The rivers of Canada are very nnmcrotis and spread over the country like the arteries and veins of the human body, and are the channels tliroiifih which the trade of tbe country (lows. The principal rivers are the St. Lawrence, the Ottawa or Grand River, the Gatineau, the Saguenay, the St. Maurice or Three Rivers, the Champlain, the Chaudiere, the Richelieu, and the Montmorency, Of these it is unnecessary here further to notice more than two or three. The St. Lawrence is a river of magnitude scarcely to be conceived by an Englishman who has not "seen the world." In length it nearly ecpials any river on the habitable globe, and perhaps in magnificence and beaiity, surpasses every other. It rises in the great basin of Lake Superior, in Upper Canada. Its course to the sea is nearly 3000 miles, the width varying from more than that of the 11 Thames in its widest part to 80 miles. For nearly 2000 miles, including the Lakes Ontario, £rie, and Huron, it it navigable for ships of200 tons burden, and the remainder of its course for batteaux, (flat bottomed boats,) of from 10 to 20 tons burden. It docs not preserve the same name throughout its course: from the Sea to Montreal it is called the St. Lawrence ; from Montreal to Kingston the Cbtaraqui or Iroquois ; between Lakes Ontario and Erie the Niagara; between Lakes Erie and St. Clair the Detroit ; between Lakes St. Clair and Huron the St. Clair; between Lakes Huron and Superior, the Narrows or Fails of St. Mary. The first steam boat that plied on the St. Lawrence was launched in 1812; there are now many — some of large burden— employed conveying goods and passengers between Quebec and Montreal and between Quebec and Halifax in Nova Scotia. The navigation at Quebec closes by the freezing of the river at the end of November, or beginning of December, and opens in April. Below Quebec, the river is seldom frozen over, but the masses of floating ice agitated by the tide, render navi- gation impracticable. The Ottawa originates in Lake Temiscaming. more than 350 miles N.W. from its junction with the St. Lawrence, near Montreal. In 1839 a survey was made to ascertain the possibility of connecting the Ottawa with Lake Huron by navigation. Numerous smaller rivers amply supply the communication between the several districts of each province. One of the most singular rivers is the vSaguenay which falls into the St. Lawrence near Quebec. The depth at its mouth has never yet been ascertained ; it is probably the deepest of rivers, having been tried in vain with 330 fathoms of line. The height of the banks rising from 300 to 2000 feet is as extra* ordinary as the depth of the stream. The Lakes or inland seas of Canada, chiefly in the Upper Province, are innumerable ; the principal are Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. The following is a statement of the size of these magnificent " meetings of the waters." Lfngth, Width. Circumference. Depth. Lake Superior 360 miles 140 miles 1500 900 feet Huron S50 220 1000 900 Erie 270 G3 C58 200 Ontario 172 59 467 600 The Erie Canal * connects the waters of Lake Erie with those of the Hudson. Lake St. Clair, the smallest of •The great United States* Erie Channel is a vast achievement : it is 363 miles lonfr, and was eight years making, being completed in 1825, at a cost (including the Champlain Canal) of 9,000,000 dollaii : (he ex^)ense was born« chiefly by the State of New York, C 12 th» Lukes, iH oval and ralh^r less tiian 109 miles in circnin- ference. 'Vh« Bay of Quiiit« nmn parallel with Lake Ontario 80 miles, and is sepiiratt'd from it by U»p Prince Edward District. Ihe houudary, dividiiisj Canada from the United States, runs llirough the ^rreai Lakes. The British Government has expt'nded a very large sum upon the Rideati Canal, as much with the view oliinproving the military defences of Canada as of benefititi^; its com- merce, in which latter respect it has been of considerable utility. The Welland Canal bus also become a well fre- fjuented commercial channel, and is every day inrreasinu in importance. 13y means of these Canals an uuinlerrupJed line of steam communication is established between the Atlantic and Aniherstbnroh, one of the remote settlements of Upper Canada, a distance of more than 1500 miUs, which we may soor« erpect to see extended to the liead of Lake Hnron, and eventually to the Western extremity of Lake Snpeiior, about 700 miles beyond Amherstburgh, giving to Quebec aconnniitid of internal navigation inferioi ordy to that of N< w Orleans. The Ridean Canal com- mences at the ft>ot ofthe Chaudiore Falls, in the Ottawa river, and ends at Kinfjston, on Lake Ontario, and by thn.s connecting that liver with the St. Lawrence it aflords a jate, easy, and expeditious communication between Kingston and Montreal ; fiatural livers or lakes are in great part nia per cent. The cost when complete is estimated at £500,000. Twr» other very use- ful Canals have been formed — the La Chine and the Granville. The La Chine begins at Montreal, and extends up the side of the Island until it gets to the still water at the head of the rapids of La Chine : it cost about £120,000 which was defrayed by a Company of merchants, assisted by the British Government. The Canal of Grenville is aitout 40 miles from La Chine, at the rapids called Lang 13 SdtiU and Cbute of Blundeau, in the Ottawa river: It is fqnul in luagnitude to that of La Cliine, and the expense -was defrayed hy the British Government. DIVISION AND UK-UNION OF THE PROVINCES. For a coiisiJerable period the French were masters of Canada, but the invasion of the country by the English, in 1759, ended by France (in 1703) ceding" the whole of (vanadd, Nova iScofia, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, and Newfoundland to Great Britain. Much dissension r.nd many political difficulties subsequently arose out of the jarring interests and opposite views of the inhabitants of Canada, the Cpper Province haviijoru British and Protestant population, and the Lower a IVench and Uonian Catholic. Mr. Pitt thought tbtt this evil might he remedied by dividing the country into 2 Proviuccs to be called the Upper and the Lower, each haviii<; a separMe Legislature. This division took place in 1791, by what was called Lord Granville's Act. The measure appeared to answer the desired end for some years, but in the autumn of 1837 a rebellion burst forth headed by M, Papineau in Lower Canada, and by Mr. Mackenzie in the Upper Province. A host of fabricated grievances were assigned as the cause of the outbreak, but the conduct and declarations of the rebels showed that tlieir real object was, with the assistance of the United States, to throw off the sovereignty of England. Much bloodshed was the result of this revolt, but it was suppressed. Sir Uobert Peel stated in the House of Commons in May 1843, that the expense of sup- pressing the rebellion had beon little less than £3,500,000. The Canadian constitution was suspended, and the Legisla- latures dissolved; and Lord Durham was sent out, as Governor General, if possible, to restore tranquillity. The principal recommendations of his Lordship were— the re- union of the two Provinces into one, the assembling of the English and French races in one Parliament, and mingling thcni in other bodies for the transaction of public business. These recommendations were ndopted, nnd on the 23rd July, 1840, the " Act for the union of the Canadas" was passed. The Act provides, that for the United Provincef there shall be one Legislative Council and one Assembly, to be called the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada; and that all laws passed by those bodies, and assented to by her Majesty, the Queen of England, shall be binding within the Province. The Members of the Legislatira Council, (not fewer than 20 in number) are nominated by th9 Crown; and each member is entitled to hold his seat 14 for life unless forfeited by peculiar circumstances. Ho may however resign. Tiie members of lUe Assembly are elective, fiut aIthoua;h tbe Provinces are united, they are commonly designated Upper or West Canada, aud Lower or East Canada. THE CANADA CORN LAW OF 1843. We now come to the principal subject— that of the Canada Corn Law of 1843, which we will divide into 4 parts, 1. The previous state of the Corn Law affecting Canada in the articles of Wheat and Flour. 2. The passing of the Act of 1843. 3. The operation of the Act up to the present time, 4. The probable futurtj results of the Act. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE LAW. By the Act of 1815, 55 Geo. 3, c. 2(), all importation of Wheat from any of the British plantations of North America was forbidden except when the average home price was at or above 67s. per quarter, when it might be imported duty free. An Act of 1822, 3 Geo. 4. c. (50, permitted the impor- tation of Wheat and Flour from British North America, at the following duties Wlicat, per qr. Flour, ptr D«r, If under 07 12 Q 3 at 67s. but under 71 5 17 at or above 71 1 4 With an additional duty after the first three months. By an Act of 6 Geo. 4, c. 64. (1825), Wheat, the produce of any British possession in America was admitted for one year at 5s. It was enacted by the 6th Geo. 4, c, 73, that the follow- ing duties should be paid ou Wheat and Flour, not the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United Kingdom, or of any British Possession in North America, or the West Indies, or within the limits ofthe East India Company's Charter, imported into any British Possession in North America or the West Indies, viz. 8s. per quarter ou Wheat and 5s. per barrel on Flour. The Act of 1 Wm. 4, c. 24, repealed (after the 15th April, 1831) so much of the Act G Geo. 4, c. 73, and subsequent Acts as imposed any duty in any of the British Possessions in North America, on the importation of Com or Grain unground ; or on the importation of Wheat Flour into Canada. In 1828, 9 Geo. 4. c. 60, an Act was passed by which the duty on Wheat imported from British possessions in North America was fixed at 5s. per quarter, when the price 15 of British Wheat was under 67s. and 6d. when it was at or above 678. Tlie barrel of Flour of 196 ibs. was charged as 38^ gallons of Wheat. In 1842, 5 Vic. (c. 14.) an Act was passed alterio;; the Import duties on Foreign Corn. That Act provided that the following duties should be charged on Wheat and Flour the produce of and imported from any Dritish Pos- sessions in North America or elsewhere out of £uropo into the United Kingdom. s. 8. s. Wheat under 55 5 per quarter ,, at 55 and under 56 4 „ 66 .. 57 3 „ 57 .. 58 2 ,, „ 58 and upwards 1 Wheat Meal and Flour for every barrel (I96lbs.) a duty equal in amount to tbat payable on 38| gallons of Wheat. By 5—6 Vict. 1842, c. 49, s. 7 and 8. it is enacted that certain duties shall be paid on certain goods, wares, and merchandise, not being the growth, production, or nian> ufacture of the United Kingdom, or of any British possess- ions in America, or of the Muuritlas, or of any British possession within the limits of the Kast India Company's Charter, or the produce of any British Fishery, imported or brought into any British possession in America, or tbe Mauritius, by sea, or inland carriage, or navigation. Among the articles charged is Wheat Flour 24. per barrel. Corn and Grain ungrouud, Meal or Flour except Wheat Flour are exempted. If we look to the state 'of things with regard to Canada, from the year 1831 to 1843, we shall find that during the whole of that period. Wheat might be imported into Canada duty free, not only from the United States but from any other Foreign Country and after being ground into Flour in Canada, be imported into the United Kingdom at a small duty, viz. up to 1842 varying from 6d. to 5s. per quarter, and in 1842, varying from Is. tu 5s. When the United States* Wheat ground into Flour in Canada was paying here the maximum duty of 5s., Wheat coming here direct from the United States would pay a duly of 18s. But it was stated by Lord Stanley in 1843, that tbe duty paid on Colonial Wheat and Flour, had, on the average of the last 5 years, been only 2s. Id. per qr., that in 1842, it was 2s, 5d., and that in only one of the 5 years it had been so much as 4s. American Wheat unground could not be legally exported from Canada at Canadian duty inasmuch as that duty was only applicable to the produce of Canada* 16 THE PASSING OF THE ACT OF 1843. Our next consideration is the passing of the Act of 1843. Fur many years tho Canadians had sought to obtain a remission or reduction of the duty on their Wheat and Flour imported into th9 United ECingdom, but they did not attain their object until the year 1843. From Parliamentary Papers of the last Session, we gather the followinj; particulars. It appears that the Canadian Le- o-islalurc had, up to the year 1842, declined laying a duty oil the importation of Foreign Wheat. On the 21sl February, 1812, Sir C. linrrot, the Governor of Canada, forwarded to Lord Stanley, the Colonial Secretary, a Petition to the Queen and Parliament, from merchants of Montreal, and a memorial from the Board of Trade at Montreal, praying for a repeal of the duties on the importation of the produce of the soil of Canada, into the United Kingdom. In the Petition it was stated that from the great distance from which the Wheat and Flour were transported, the remunera- tion afloided to the Canadian Farmer was not sufficient to allow evej) the smallest impost — that the expense of inland transit and freight across the Atlantic was greater in pro- portion to the produce of the soil in C'anada — than were the rent and taxes paid by the Farmer for the produce of the soil in Great Britain to tlie produce of the soil thereof — and that Canada took almost exclusively British manufactures. Lord Stanley replied that the Petition would, by command of Her Majesty, he presented in the House of Peers by Earl Ripon, and in the Commons by his Lordship (Stanley.) On the 2nd March, 1842, Lord' Stanley addressed the following dis})atch to Sir Charles Bagot, which is the doc- ument so frequently referred to during the Parliamentary discussions in 1813. Lord SxANLbY to the Right Honourable Sir CharlEI Bagot, G.C.B. Sir, Do-*nin|,' Sircet, 'l\ M.iroti IS 12. In the anxious Consideration which it has been t!ie Duty of Her Majesty's Government to give to the important and com- plicated Question of the Importation of Corn into this Country, they have, of course, not overlooked the Interest which is felt in this Question by the Province of Canada, and which has been expressed in Memorials from the Legislative Body, and from other Parties, addressf d to Her Majesty and the Legisla- ture of this Country, and although, in present Circumstances, Her Majesty's Government have not felt themselves justified in recommending to Parliament a compliance with the general Request of the various Memorialists, that Canadian Corn and Flour should be imported at a nominal Duty into the United Kingdom,! trust that the Steps which we have taken, and the Grounds upon which we have declined to advance further io 17 the same direction, will convince the People of Canada that the Course which we have pursued has been dictated by no unfriendly Feeling towards the Interests of Canada, and es- pecially of Canadian Agriculture. The Steps which have been taken, so far as they go, have been decidedly in favour of those Interests. By the Law, as it has hitherto stood, Canadian Wheat and Wheat Flour have been admissible into Great Britain at a Rate of Duty estimated at 5s. per Quarter, until the Price in the lMiiiven to tbe Canadians* Manyoflbo Members denied all reollecJiun of sum a Statement, and it probably was not made in a very particular or formal manner, or when there were many Members in the House, and tliem'ore passed unnoticed amidst tbe great and excitins; discussions on tbe main question at issue. In May, 1843, Lord Stanley presented to tbe House of Commons his proposition for reduci)ilaUve Council and Lngislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, " and reserved by ilic Governor tieneral for the si^jnification of Her Majesty's " pleasure, imposing a Duly of 3s. sterling money of Great Ihitain, on each " imperiil qnurier of Wheat imported into Cii/iuiia, except from the United '• Kinjjdom d;- any of Her Majesty's possessions, and beinj; the growth and " produce thereof. And wiiereas it is recited iii the said Act that it was passed " in the confident belief and expectation, that upon the imposition of a Duty " upon Forei^M) Wheat imported into the Province, Her Majesty would be •* graciously pleased to recommend to parliament the removal or reduccion of " the Duties on Wheat and Wheat Flour imported into the said United " Kinj;domfrom Caituda. And whereas in consideration of the Duty so imposed '« by the said Act of the Legislature of Canada, it is expedient that if Her " Majesty shnll be pleased to give Hei> sanction to the said Act, the Duties " imposed by an Act (5 anil 6 Vic. c. 11.) ma:le and passed in the last " Session of Parliament, intituled An Act to amend tUe Laws for the impur- " tatiun of Corn, upon Wheat and Wheat Flour, the produce of and imported •■ fiom the Province of Canada, entered for home consumption in the United ** Kingdom, should be reduced as hereinafter mentioned," lie it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent M.ijt'sty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords s[)irilual and temporal and Commons, in this present Parliamentassembled, and by t!ie authority of the same. That from and after the 10th day of October, 1813, and thenceforth during the continuance of the Duty so imposed by the said Act of the Legislature of Canada as aforesaid, there shall be levied and paid upon all Wheat and Wheat Flour, the produce of the said Province of Canada which shall be imported thence into the United Kingdom after the said 10th day of October, and shall be entered for home con- sumption (the same having been shipped and imported with such declarationi and certificates as are required in respect thereof, in and by the said Act passed in the last Session of Parliament) in lieu of the Duties charged thereon by the said Act of Parliament, the Duties following, (namely) For every quarter of such Wheat Is. and so in proportion for a less quantity. For every barrel being 196 pound;! of such Wheal Flour, a Duty tqudl in amount to the Duty which would hereby be payable upon 38 gallons 24 *n(l a half of Wheat, fiml so in proportion for a less quantity. And thr* said Duties hereby charged shall ho levied, collected, paid and apfo',269 \ «,. ««-, iitto after ditto 194,062 3 ^^^"^"^^ 2.989,644 Wheat and Flour from all parts imported and entered for home consumption in the United Kingdom in the year, ending 5th January, 1844. 25 Quarters of Wheat 872.715; cwts. of Flour 425,098, together equal to 904,343 qrs. of \V heat. Of these quan- tities 24.81G qrs. of Wheat, and 39(1,479 cwts. of Flour (together equal to 138,095 qrs, of Wheat) were from the British Colonies, The following are the countries from which the much larger part of the Importations came. Qis. of VVlinat. Cwts. of Flour. Prussia (558,711 5,1G4 Germany r2(),105 2,298 Denmark 09,707 887 Russia 33,060 6 Ki?vpt 11.540 United States 2,383 91.317 East Indies and Ceylon ... 021 11,310 Wheat and Flour entered for home consumption from all parts, in the 11 months ending- 5lh December, 1844 812,721 qrs. of Wheat: 087,700 cwts of Flour; too-ethei equal to 1 ,009,208 qrs. of Wheat. " Wheat and Wheat Flour entered for home consumption, Mith the average rate of duty, from 29th April, 1842, to 5th January, 1844. Qrs. of Wheat. Average latc Cwts, of Flour. Average rat« ofiiuty. of duty. Foreign 3,404,018 iji 10 554.559 3 Colonial 40.210 2 3 737,311 8 From Canada, | from 10th Oct. f i.-i 4io « n r^->/^-.^- 1843, to 5th ( ^^'^12 ' ^ 220,117 4^ Jaiuiary. 1844, .• Together equal to 3,955,242 qrs. of Wheat. Colonial Wheat and Wheat Flour entered for Lome consumption, Qrs From January 1841 to December 1841 259,001 In the year up to December 1842, Qrs. Before the Act of 1842, 20,209 After the Act, 194^002 214,331 Entered for home consumption of Colonial Wheat and Wheat Flour, from the 15th July, 1828, to 29th April. J842 Wheat 597,700 qrs. Wheat Flour 1,744,591 cwt. Together equal to 1,090.154 qrs. of Wheat, of which 681,188 paid 6s. duty, and 414,906 paid 6d. duty. 26 Qrn. 01 VTIiftt. From 29th April. 1842, to 5th Jan. 1813. iiii,m> Cwts. of Flour. Ditto ditto 560,86(> Together equal to 194,061 qrs. of Wheat, of nrhich 170,703 qrs. paid Is. duty, 6,602—38. snd 16.756—68. The total quantities and average rate of Duty received on Wheat and Wheal Flour imported and entered for home consumption from the British ColonieK into the United Kingdom, from the 15th July, 1828. to the 6th January, 1843. Qrs. of Avernffe rate Wheat, of fluty paid. Whiat rioiir per cwt. Averaarft n te of duty paiil. a tk 18-28 14,908 4 7 14.214 1 8 1829 7,232 1 6 4,965 1 8 1830 46,419 10 48.132 3 1831 112,699 2 88,725 1 4 1832 163,964 4 10 105,147 I 9 1833 61.215 4 10 74,093 1 8 1834 45.631 4 U 65.212 1 8 1835 15,302 5 2 42.349 1 8 1836 18,583 5 36,656 I 8 1837 22.538 5 37,873 1 8 1838 7,740 1 11 76,381 8 1839 32 6 44.478 2 1840 4,704 4 380,668 8 1841 64,690 1 9 676.477 9 1842, to 29th Ap. under Act9,") >. 4. c. 60. 3 8.688 6 3 71 40,534 1 8 Total Ge( 594,345 1,735,904 1 Total under Act 5,^^ Vict. c. 14. from/ ^ThApriCIsiaTo^ 33,809 1 7 500.886 6 5th January, 1843.) Quantities of Wheat and Wheat Flour, the produce of Canada, imported (for home consumption) from the 10th of October, 1843, to the 5th of July, 1844. Wheat. Wheat Flour. Qrs. bus. €wts. qrs. lb«. Into Great Britain... 18,199 6 262,606 1 2 Into Ireland — 4.007 110 Total 18,199 6 266.513 2 12 Together eqiial to 94,345 qrs. of Wheat. 27 Fluctuations of duty on Coluulul WLeat, from 1838 to 184?. 1838. From 5th Xantiary to I3th July 5 O — SOih July to 28th September (J — 5th October to 2nd November 5 — 9th November to 28th December 6 1839. — 4lh January to 20lh December 6 2(jlh December , 5 1840. From 3rd January to 13th March 5 — 20th March to 25th September 6 — 2nd October to 25th December 5 1841. — 1st. January to (Jth August 5 — 13th A-ugtist to 1st October 6 — 8th October to 24th December ;. 5 1842. — 7th January to 29th April 5 — <5th May to Jrd September 1 10th September 3 From 17th Srj)? ember to 31st December ... 5 Colonial Wheat and Wheat Flour imported and entered for home con.sumptiou from 5th November, 1842, to 5th October, 1843. WHEAT. FLOUR. Month cnJiiij. 6 Nov. 1842 5 Dec. 5 Jan. 1843 5 J eb. 5 Mar. 5 Apl. 5 May t> .lune 6 July 6 Aug. 6 Sep. 6 Oct. Imj)ortf i-iuiiiitioii. i 'nn|tnitt>il. Qrn tins. Con'iimpiion. i 12 Oct. 1013. 1 11 April. 1044 tjrs. Hu*. 02 3 3 1 ^« 1001) 1 10()f> 1 18 — 4 2 ! 2(; 3178 C 8178 a 25 ; ~— 120 2 '■ 2 Xov. 1)G22 l)(V2-i 2 May — -— t> .'>H2J 6 r>»i3 4 9 — i — _ Ji »« 195) 2021 4 iO — — . 1 2:1 3240 ti 4uaj> 7 28 — ; 30 G2(U{ 2 58J8 30 — ^_ { 7 Dec. 4720 ()• 8.') 18 a .lune — M^w 14 8»1« 4 8708 13 i.ojn 3 1,151 4 21 6G77 «(>8.» 1 20 7.705 7 8.859 6 28 5at5« 1 5807 5 27 l,2:vt 1 ,853 7 4 Jan. 1814. in(>l 3 2227 2 4 Jidv 12,258 5 11,588 7 11 l(J(M 2101 7 11 19,087 20.215 4 Hi 2*>f>fJ i;)88 3 18 12,788 13,652 5 25 2712 1074 3 2.> 20,875 10,830 (J I Feb. 878 5 582 1 I August lOimi C 16.421 2 8 23;J 2 281 4 8 3,829 4.874 5 15 1I.*» 7 428 7 15 25.384 4 28,000 C 22 52 A 62 :* 22 9,8211 I 10,258 4 21» — 48 I 2;> 7.92G 1 6,009 5 7 March 1 2 1 2 5 Sept. 11,287 2 0.511 2 14 3 5 3 5 12 28,099 5 20.593 I i- 2^ — 24 « 10 3.928 5 3,(J8| 2 ill 28 10 G 10 (J 28 6,190 7 7,504 4 4 April 60 I 1813, to . 3 Oct. 3rd Oct. 1044* 9,284 0.00c Total from 12th Oct. 288,808 3 205,406 « 10 Oct. 4,098 7 3.597 6 1? 8.081 3 4,008 24 858 5 858 2 31 2.223 7 3,022 fl 7 Nov. G.803 5 4.814 7 14 3.128 4 3,887 6 21 2.874 5 2.882 28 3,558 2 2.821 3 i 5 Dec. 41 I 709 7 1 12 725 7 1,366 Total from 12th Od. 1843, to 10 19th Dec. 1844 688 4 695 . 206,154 290,047 • These 10 are the only ports which make a return to the Inspector General of exports and imports. The quantity of Wheat anil Wheat Flour from Canada imported into other places in thii country is very small. The whole imported into Ireland from 10th October, i843, to rjth July, 18 U, was but 4007 cwts. of Flour, 29 Quantities of, an? throU!;!jout Eiist and West Canada are most abundant and show the certainty of a lur;;er yield than was ever before known in our North American Colonies. The Editor of the F.umers' Majjazine, (for August) observes " The accounts from Canada generally describe the prospect in regard to the harvest as most promising and a much greater breadth than usual under Wheat." A Letter from Montreal, 0th November, says "The quantity of produce for shipment next Spring must be large ; ai present it remains principally in the hands of the farmers, who are unwilling to accept the prices now offering." When we are taking into consideration the capability of Canada for growing large quantities of Corn, we must not forget that there are circumstances which give reason to believe that the Agricultural produce of the country will rapidly increase. At a recent Meeting of the Essex Agri- cultural Protection Society at Chelmsford, Mr. Du Croz, a gentleman intimately acquainted with Cannda, in pointing out the mischievous en't;cts of the Corn Law of 1843, said, " Look at the relative position of the farmers in Canada, mid those of this country I The mother country pays the greater part of the public expenditure of the Colony : — its army, its navy, are principally paid by Great Britain. The fee simple of the best land in Canada, except in some par- ticular places, does not cost more than the rent of land in this country, and the expense of transfer is next to nothing, no stamps being necessary. There are no tithes, highway rate, poor's rate, or county rate." With respect to the sale of land, we find that from the year 1826 to 1836 the Canada company had sold 670,000 31 acres out of their purchaso of 2,481,413 acres from Govern- ntcnt. In the Huron tract, the average price was lOs. 8(i. per acre, and in other quarters 123, 4d, ; in 1838 their sales in consequence of the insurrection were but 13.299 acres, the price of which, in the Crown Reserves and the Guelph territory, (some of the best in the Province) varied from 15s. Od. to 10s. lid., and in the Huron tract from 13s. 7d. to 10s. 3d. The British American Land Company held their Annual Meeting in London, on the 28th March, 1844, and their Report stated, that duritjgf the precedinff year they h.n\ sold 34,859i^ acres in the Eastern District for £17,031 19<. 4(1., heino-about lOs. peracre. The Company still had about (353.500 acres in the Eastern District. Py an Act of the Local Legislature passed in September, 1841, it was provided that the waste lands of the Crown should be sold at a price to be fixed from time to time, by the Governor in Council. The prices fixed for the present are Upper C inada Gs. 7d. sterlino^ per acre ; Lower Canada in Ottawa County, and South of the St. Lawrence, to the West of the Kennebec road 4s. lid. and elsewhere in that division 3s. 34d. The Canada Company grant leases of their land in the Huron District to persons not havininj ready cash, for 12 years, at small annual rents, commencing one year from the datiJ of the lease, at the expiration of which lease, and the punctual payment of the yearly rents, the settler will receive a deed for the freehold of the land he occupies, without further charge. The rent for 100 acres at the end of tha first year is £2 currency, and increases yearly, until at the end of the 12th year £16 10s. is paid, making the total paid in the 12 years £110 5s. Od. Mc. Culloch in his Geographical Dictionary, 1841, gives the following statement. Acres cutlivateJ. Acres ocf npied but uncultivated. Upper Canada 1,308,307 4.394,109 Lower Canada 2,0(30.213 4,981,793 3.374,520 9,375,962 Murray makes the following statement, Lower (3anaJa Upper Canada in 1831. ill 1835. Families employed in Agriculture 50,824 Ditto Trade 2.503 Acres of Land under Cultivation 2,065,913 1,308,3074 Occupied but unimproved 3,981,713 4,394,169 A small tax, not exceeding Id. in the pound is levied both on cultivated and waste lauds, the former being valued at 20s. the acre, and the latter at 4s. Mc Culloch says that 32 the wholft amount of taxation of a farm of 100 acres in the Upper Province is about 18s. Tbe Ciinudiun Government is takinn^ active measures foi^ improvino^ utid extending the means of Kind and water carriage by I'ormino^ roads and canals. Hy an Act 5 — 6 Vict. c. 118, (1842), Great Britain guaranteed the payment of the dividend and interest ut 4 per cent, on a lean of £1,500,000 (hat mi^ht he required by the Canadian Govern- ment for public works. The 43rd cUnise of the Act for uniting^ the Provinces of Canada (3 — 4 Vict. c. 35) recites an Act passed in the 18th George III , e. 12, which decbires that the King; and Parliament of Great Britain would not impose any duty, tax, or asseiisment whatever, payable in any of His Majesty's colonies, &c., except only such duties as it might be expedient to impose for the regulation of commerce, the net produce of sneh duties to be always paid and applied to and for the use of the portion of the empire in which the isame shall be respectively levied in .such manner as other duties collected by the authority of the respective general courts or general assemblies were ordinarily paid and applied. The clause then goes on to establish these provisions — to retain in the Imperial Parliament the right to impose such duties us may be necessary for the re«nlation of navigation and commerce ; but provides that the produce of all such duties levied within the province shall be at the disposal of tbe local Legislature, by and with the assent of IJer Majesty. We shall conclude this part of our ••Notes'* with the average prices of some descriptions of Produce and Provisions, and rates of wages, as given in oflBcial returns. Lover Ciinada. Upper Cnnada. 1041. 1842. £. s. d. £. 8, d. £. 8. d. £, s. d. Horned Cat- 7 q o tolO 6 Otolo tie per yoke 3 «*«»»» « * w Hurses each 10 15 10 39 Sheep ditto 10 12 10 15 Wheatcubread, 0O8OO6OO8 6 pounds J Beef per lb. 002 00400 2J 00 4i Mutton ditto 21 4 2i 4i PorkpcrlOOlbs.l 6 o' 12 6 17 6 Tea ditto 030 040036 060 Sugar (soft) do.O 00 005007 008 Beer per gallon 000 00 10^ 00 10 010 Domestic wa- » ^ 00 1 10 00 18 170 ges per month ) Husbandry K 1 10 2 10 with board ilo. ) Ditto with ditto 2 10 4 Trades per day 4 C 4 (> « 33 Before nolicinj; tho price of Wheat in Canada, it may be useful to give ll»e followingj statement of (ho average prices of Wheat in liujjlaud utul Wales, from the vear 1828 to 1B43. S. D. 8. D. S. D. S. D. 1823 CO 6 1802 58 8 1836 48 6 1840 66 4 1829 CO 3 18J:J 52 11 1837 55 10 1841 64 4 1830 64 3 18:U 46 2 1S38 64 7 1842 57 3 1831 66 4 1835 39 4 1839 70 8 IS 13 50 Imperial averajre prices of Wheat for the last week of each month in 1844. S. D. S. D. S. D, Jnnunry 52 3 May 65 10 Sppt. 45 J> February C::j \ June 55 Oct. 46 March 5<» 6 July 52 Nov. 45 4 April 55 6 August 50 11 Dec. 45 6 Official return of th (? average prices of Wheat and Flour, the pr»t(lnce of Canad a and the LFuiled States at Moj»lrea!, in llalifax curreiuy.* CANADA. UNITED STATES. Whoat |>pr <\r. I'lonr per barrel. Wheat per qr. Flour per barrel. s. u. .S. I*. ». D. S. U. 1831 63 4 32 6 Could nut be ascertained. 1833 47 4 33 9 ditto 18:i3 47 4 28 3 30 1834 40 8 25 t; 40 26 1835 40 B 25 7 Exported to the United States. 1830 40 8 30 54 33 9 1837 56 41 4 52 35 1838 56 39 60 38 183J) 57 4 36 6 54 3(J 1840 46 29 U 50 29 6 1841 49 4 29 4 4(J -28 10 1842 46 28 1 44 27 7 1843 40 25 42 8 25 U Annual average price of Wheat per bushel at Dundas in Upper Canada. s. D. S. D. 1837 51 1| 1841 36 Oi 1838 47 7^ 1842 36 2| 1839 32 2i 1843 26 5^ 1840 29 74 • As bffore staled (pafreS)- -Halifax currency is abont 20 per cent inferior to British. Thus in 1843 the • price of Canada Wheat was 403. currency or £1 I3s. 4d, sterling. 34 la the report of a Special Cumniittee of the Le<;i.slulive Assembly of Canada in January 1H43, art* tiio ('utIovviii<; statement!^. Wheat must command 4s. (id. .sterling- per bushel, to remunerate the Canadian growers — Flour must command in Britain !33s. per harrel Co ensure the Canadian growers a remunerating* price* — If grain cainiot be exported tu England at a profit to the Canadian growers unless flour reaches 33s. per bushel, and V\ heat (JOs, to (Jls. per qr., the transit of Western Flour will be diverted through the Erie Canal, und it follows that unless prices in England steadily range from 55s. to 01s. per quarter, Canadian growers cannot benefit by the home market, and their carry- ing trade will become so uncertain that few if any will embark in it — One gentleman giving evidence before the Legislative Assembly in September 184*i, said, the averages HI England must be GOs, per quarter to ensure tlio trade by the St. Lawrence, and that when it isover that, the Americans can send their own Wheat more advantageously to England via New York.f We now come to the question of the facilities and ex- pence of transit. On this, as was said by Colonel liushbrooke, in the House of Commons, the statements are so various that it is dilBcnlt to arrive at the truth. The Editor of the Farmers' Magazine says " From Ohio, and other Western Stales' the most productive districts in the American Union, the water distance to Montreal is considerably shorter than is that to New York, and the expence of transit through the Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario, (now we may say rendered one by means of the Welland Canal) is in com- parison much cheaper than to any port of shipment within the United States. Mc Culloch, p. 42C, says the cost of im- portation from the United States to this country, is from L'3s. to I4s. per quarter for Wheat; in p. 428, he says the price of carriage and warehousing of Wheat exported from Canada to Liverpool, is 13s. In the Farmers' Magazine of Feb. 1844, is the following announcement, " By the Hibernian steam packet we learn that a ship had been actually loaded at the head of Lake Huron itself, with Wheat, and had sailed direct for London by way of the Welland Canal. Thus the Canadian Corn Bill is scarcely made public when a cargo of Wheat, most probably from Ohio, Michigan, or some other of the Western Provinces' of the United Stales, is shipped direct to London from that part of our possessions, which is nearest to those of our own Transatlantic brethren in those regions." On the other hand. Dr. Mc Culloch says, •The price of Canadian Flour in tlie London market has for some lime been only from 25s. to 28s. per barrel of 196 lbs. tin several of our pages we quote from Papers furnished by the Canadians to the British Government, but we recommend our readers to consider how the 35 "The United States' Corn imported u:jd«r t!ii.i T.;»\v [of 18 13] must be derived partly from the Wrsfcrn pi.it of the iSuUe of Nuw York hoideiiiij;' on Jiuko Ondirio, but principally no doubt from tiio NoiUurn parts of Ohio bordering on Luke Erie. The navigation thence to Montreal, partly by uatuj.d and partly by ju-tilicial cbannols is tedious, Uillicult, and expensive, and when tlie Wheat has arrived at the latter or at Quiibec. luul [ncu groiuid, the voy;ige to England is longer, the risk greater, and the rate of freight materially Iiigher tlian IVoni New York or nahimore." The Montreal papeis state \\x.d on thf "Jnd of NW)V€mber, 18-1-1, the freight of Flour iVoni tlial port to Liverpool and Iho Clyde, was from 4s. C], to in, p?r barrel. Mr. Tlnbback, n Liverpool nierehant of great experience says •• The rate of f. eight (Voni all the main shipping points on the United Statt's' jido of Luke Erie, to any one point in Canada, is generally the same nt the same tiiue; i. e. the freight on thelst J ujy fr<»m BinTnlo, Cleveland, Sandusky, or Detroit, to Kingston vs'ould be tije name, The ireight from all points on Lak*; Mii higan to uny one point in C.nuida is th heatat Cleveland 75 cents per bushel, and freii'-ht to Kinuston 10 cenls, at (.'lucajro. Wheat at the same » time will be 'uo cents, and fi\-ig!]t to k'ngsl(,n 20 cents. J The princii a! pf^v's in Caniuia to which Whea.t from the J United States'? ide is sent are ir't. Catherine's on tleV/elland I Canal (the most importanOTorcnio, Ilingt-ton. and Prcscott. j The rate cf freight from uuy port on the United .Slates' side of Lake Erie is cents. average. To St. Catlierine's 5 to 8 per bushel G to 7 • Toronto or Kingston 7 V2 f) 10 • Prcscott 10 lit 12 13 I From Chicago on Lake Michigan to St. Catharine's,' the freight ranges from 13 to 18 cents per bushel. The insurance from Lake Michigan to Lake Ontario ranges from 1 to 2 per cent according to th.o season ; from I ake Erie to St. Catherine's i to ^i per cent. The usual length of passage from Cleveland to St. Catherine's is 4 days, I from St. Catherine's to Montreal 10 or 11 days; from Chicago on Lake Michigan to St. Catherine's is very un- i certain, especially in the spriag and fall, say 15 to 80 days." In the report of the Special Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Canada, in January, 1843, it was stated that the I cost of conveying a barrel of (lour from the Welland Canal, by way of the St. Lawrence to any part of the United King- dom was 14s. 6d. — that the freight from Cleveland (Ohio) F 3(3 to fjiiko Ontario was Is. (M. — fliaf tlu* <:o!it, of transit tu> Liverpool through tlit^ Erie Ciiiial is y«. lid. less than by rli«^ way of the S;iint. Lawreiirc* In (iKMneniorial of I-larl IVIoiniloaslii!!, he. {v'\(\r pago 5) it Was stated that the lVei<;hfaf;e olti barrel ol Flour from Cleve- land to Kin;ifston, was Is. \U\i\, from Kini;sfon to Montreal 2s., other charges tip to that port 2s. bid., charges from Montreal to and in Liverpool 7s. I. Ld. ni.ikinjj a tutiil from Cleveland to Liverpool ot' i4s.(Id. In the course of the debates on tho Rill, Lord .Stardey Stated th'jt a larj^e portion of the Flour which came into this country from (>anada was not the produce; of Canada, but of the United Stales — the Ureal States of tho West — Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana. There can he little doubt that whaten-er quantity of United States' Wheat may be imported into tho United Kingdom through the nKMliiitn of Canada, tho prin(npal portion of it will be the j^rowth of the Western States : and let us rellect on what was said by Mr. Cmtis, an American, at the Manchester Corn Law Conference of Dissentini;' Ministers, in /\u;;tist. LSI!, lie said "The portion of our countrv best adapted lo the culture of Wheat, find to which I wish to call your particular attenfron, iscom- prised in the G North Western States and Territories, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michiyan, Wituonsinand Iowa: they contain more than 178,000.00!) acres ol' land, chielly arable. England contains 32,000,000 acres. That portion of their States which may be called f^ood Wheat land at 3 qrs. per acre, would produce in a year 200,000,000. (jrs. They are at present just commencing to pour the innnense amount of bread and meat they are capable of |)roduciii^- into the markets of the world. Ohio alone last year had 8,000,000 bushels of Wheat to export. Michi weeks «nirliBr in the Uiiitod Slates, than id this country. "I have seen" he says "in Virj^inia and Maryland Uirj^e fields of Wheat entirely cleared hy the lOih 1)1.1 idy. At New York and D.dlimore 1 hav(? seiMi <;ar;i<)es ot" \\ heat (at the tormer port snnui (IdO to 7<)0 ijaarlers from North Carolina and Viri^ini.'^on sale during' llie first and second weeksin Anjjnst. The nature of the American climate is so dry that by a little rare and ma!iaocs uiii;hthave l)een made fit to stand a voyage across the Athiiilic. The averaj>e passage from Anierica is (Voni 18 to 'J') days, therefore 4he Wheat mij;ht he in the I'nglish markets ut the very time when the KrioH^h farmer stood nu)st in need of protection.** " In anoth«.'r pan ot his pa\n})hlet, speaking' of the new Laws, he says — " At present so tiilling a concession is not likely to be much felt. When the States of Michigan and Illinois with the territory of Wiuconsin become more populous, the cidtivation of Wheat is certain to become much extended. The business of convertiii!) bushels of forei only equal to the consumption of England and Wales for I day and It) hours, and that the importation/zow Canada alone has, in the 12 months since the Act came into operation been equal to the consumption of England and Wales for 5 days 19 hours. The impoitation from all parts in the 11 months ending 5th December, 1844, was equal to the consumption of Fngland and Wales for 22 days. If, in the first season, there has been so large an increase we may reasonably anticipate that the stimulus given by the Act. will still further augment the importation troni Canada in succeeding years. Under the Act of 1842, Canadian Wheat and Flour €Oidd only come into the United Kingdom under the seal© 42 of prices and duties given in page 15 but now they can come in at Is. per quarter, without any reference to the prices in this country. The foljowinp: statement clearly shows that the new Act must be injurious to the British Farmer. In the year ending 28th December, 184-J, the hiiifhest weekly averai^e price of Wheat in this couijtry, wan 5()s. Gd. per quarter ; therefore if the present scale had been in operation, no Coloniid V« heat or Flour could have come in at less than os. duty. The lowest price: in the vear was 45s Id. Duly vvoiiM be s. «. alioiil. 5 weeks the price was at 5(5 and under 57 Us. per qr. 15 ditto ditto 55 „ 5(; 4s. 32 ditto ditto under 55 5s. We shall now cojicliide by referrinj:^ to only one other point: viz. the coiislructiou pat on certain words of the Act. Tn the Navi>jation Act (J 'Geo. 4, c. 10{), it is declared that "All mauuiactured -".^.r\^-»^s./>,/ --^y V *>^^v^ •-» 1 1 DUTTON, PlilNTER, CHliLMSFORD