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r.ENERAI. INTnonilCTION

STATISTICAL ACCOUINT

Bpptv €^ansLim,

COMPILED

WITH A VIEW TO A GRAND SYSTEM

E>nGRATIO\,

IN CONNEXION WITH A REFOpi OF THE

. I

POOR LAWS.

BY ROBERT GOURLAT.

" Thy jpirit, IiKlrpriKlpticp, let me sh«rr,
" Lord of »hi: liou-liisiil diid caglc-cyc !"

I. ' ^rf^

*^.

ILonHon:

PUBUSUED BY SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL. STATIONERS* CUUItT, MSU
J. M. KICHAaUSON, rORNHlLLi.

18-22.

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EXPLANATION

i)»

THE MX v.

Tiiii Map froiiliiif? the title-paj^o of this vohjine was
t^ii^i^ravoil ill Octuber, iH'2i), as a mere sketch, iUnstrnti*.;
of what 1 was then writiiii; on the .suhject of the Cirand
('anals of Canada. My political friptuls in the Upper
l*iovince had then been reported by newspa])ers, r.s inaking-
the jufreat majority of members returned to the new parlia-
ment; and I was sanguine, that they wouhl insist on havinj;
a cominiNsion sent home, to invite the supreme {government
to inquire into the state of public aflairs. T hoped that a
new order of things might be introduced: — management
for inis-rnle, artivity for slotli, and prosperity for wretched-
ness. 1 was disappointed: — mis-rule, sloth, and wretched-
ness continue their reign over the lovelie.st country upon
earth; and, with utmost reluctance, 1 have laid aside, for
the present, my schemes for its improvement.

To make the sketch still useful to this work, I have
now had engraved upon it the roads, names of principal
places, &c.

Sooner or later. Lakes Erie and Ontario will be con-
nected by a canal, and I may take this opportunity to
throw out a few leading hints, to engage conversation on
the subject. No plan, on a small scale, should be thought
of. The canal should be such as to admit schooners of

?)la\5

KXHI.ANATION OP THK MAP.

!'.

100 t(tns bunion, hikI steam-boats of 500;— vessels sufli-
cirMit to tarry on the whole trallic, without unloadins?, IVoni
Quehet; to the remotest shores of Lakes Michigan and
Superior. If eternal peace shall reign between the United
States and Canada (and such is my hope), the course of
the grand Niagara Canal should he nearly that by A, B,
C, 1), E. The mouth of Niag:ara River is, and probably
ever will be, the best hnrbour on the south side of Lake
Ontario; and considerable advantage is to be gained by
conducting the canal to some distance westward on Lake
Erie shore. Vessels taking^ departure from Fort lilrie and
Buffalo, not only have insuflicient room for tacking, but
must labour to av(»id the current which draws into Niagara
River ; and are often wind-bound for many weeks together.
The advantage of gaininj^ a good point of departure, con-
joins with others to decide that the junction of the lake
navigation must proceed through Canada at all events.
Should any apprehension of vvar continue, that course
marked by dotted lines would be the best Other courses
are laid down, chiefly to shew that man} are practicable ;
and that nature calls loudly for the assista )e of art.

Let not the eye be withdrawn from le spot now in
view, without serious rellection. if the? is one on earth
intended for a paradise more than anotl r, it is this. In
point of climate, soil, variety, beauty, gi ndeur, and every
convenience, I do believe it is unrivalK '■ yet we are told
by a late writer (HoAvison), that the '^depravity'" of the
inhabitants of this earthly paradise " has been conlirmed
and increased by the circumstances in which they are now
placed," — What circumstances l On the face of this map
we may observe, that the sword has been drawn lor bloody
strife in no less than eight places. What circumstances
caused this i VVliencc came these fig-htings .' — from the
depravilij of the inhabitants i 1 think not. Gentle
reader ! say rather, from the depravity of government.

;•»

' ■ /

JOSEPH HUME, ESQ. M. P.

Sin,

Lunilcn, 26//t Januarij, 1822.

You have had good opportunities,
and v\^Qi\ them well. Better opportunities
await you; and, having now gained public
confidence, much is in your power. You
may indeed immortalize your name, simply
by continuing that calm, correct, and busi-
ness-like course, Avhich happily you have
chosen. Retrenchment has hitherto been
your principal aim ; but should your attention
be directed to the state of our North Ameri-
can Colonies, you may discover a double
object: you may perceive, that while a vast
expenditure could immediately be saved in
that quarter, a considerable revenue may be
ac(j[uired merely by good management.

r<f,r.:.ffln ::.:■-

VIM

TO .lOSEPil Hl^ME, ESQ. M. l».

Should you find time to peruse these
vohimey, I would not at first desire vour
consideration to the greater and more com-
plicated schemes which are proposed in them.
Adverse circumstances have conspired lo
crush ine in every way ; and tiie completion,
even ol" necessary explanation, is not accom-
plished. A third volume was retiuired, to
elucidate my plims; and that, for the present,
is withheld.

!•

In these volumes, to wliich I now earnestly
solicit your notice, you will find, I think,
sutHcicnt matter for a beginning; and, were
incjuiry fairly begun by you; — were Parliament
once awakened to a serious consideration of
the profit and loss of North American Colonics,
I should not despair of an advance to greater
and greater good. , ;^

1 have the honor to be,

Sir, , . ,.

Your obedient Servant,

KOBRRT (lOURLAY.

ERRORS, OMISSIONS, &c.

s
I

A'ofe omitted, pago cix. — "Wagea are now reduced to 7s. per
week."

Page clxxxiii, for " this volume," read vol. 1, page 270.

Page cc, note, for " this llrtit volume," read the first volunie.

Page c, note. Reading over this note to an American gentleman,
he seemed to take alarm, lest the word ramsliackle should be
palmed on his country. I take it home willingly, as a Scot-
ticism, and one well applied, as raay be afterwards shown.

Omitted, bottom of page ccv. — In war, Captain Brant was noted
for humanity.

A' o/* omitted, page 108, vol. I. " ' ' "' • .

The British fleet consists of one ship of 110 guns, one do.
64, one frigate 50, one do. 48, one sloop of war 'i6, one do.
24, one brig 18, one do. 16, one schooner 12; amounting in
the whole to 368 guns, with two ships of the ine on the

stocks, f. - - ■' < . . ,,■ :".,! :, -,;- Ui . '

The American fleet consists of one ship of 64 guns, oiie
frigate 50, one do. 32, one do. 28, three brigs of 26 each, one
do. 18, and one schooner 6; amounting to 276 guns, with
two large ships on the stocks, each of them to carry 120
guns.
In vol. 2d, page 339, " celling of wives in a halter," is spoken
of as expressly authorized by law. This is not the case:
but should not law forbid such a bavbarow custom? In
page clxxii of this General Introduction, I have also written
carelessly as to the establishing of freeholds on waste : some
years of undisputed possession was, I understand, required

X ERRORS, OMISSIONS, (ScC.

by law J nevorlheless, the poor had formerly much freedom
in this way.
These instances of carelessness have been pointed out by intelli-
gent friends, and are noticed, to give opportunity of apolo-
gizing for a style of writing which is apt to overleap rigid
inquiry, where it has not occurred as being of importance.

The Index having been printed off before it was intended
that /Ac General Intuoduction should extend so
far as it does, the following additions are necessari/, to
make it complete.

Assembly of Upper Canada, its reply to the speech of the Lieut.-
Governor, declaring his intention of withholding the royal
grant of land from the members of the Convention, ccccxxii.
To his first speech on opening parliament, ccccxxxviii. Its
resolutions on certain parts of that pjieech, ceccxxxix.

Bill for preventing certain meetings in Upper Canada, brought in
by Mr. Jones, ccccxl. Read a third time, and passed,
ccccxli. Its enactments, ibid.

Canada, remarks on the impolicy of abandoning or selling it to
the United States, cccxlv. and note.

, Upper, proposal for the improvement of its revenue,

ccclxxxi. All duties on importation from the United States
should be abolished, ccclxxxvi. And all taxes but one, on
land, ibid. Supposed value of the province, ibid. Forma-
tion of good roads, the first step towards its improvement,
ccclxxxvii. Navigation of the St. Lawrence, a great national
object, ccclxxxviii. Plan for its improvement, and estimated
expense of this, ccclxxxix. Effects of its adoption, ccocviii.
Extent to which it should be carried, ccccxix. Its infinite
advantages, cecexx. Causes of the poverty and degradation
of the province, oecclxxvi. cccclxxviii.

(Joke, Mr. his speech on presenting a petition from the agricul-
, . turiits of Norfolk, to the House of Commons, ccccxxiii. note.
Remarks on it, ccccxxiv. note,

KRR0R9, OMISSIONS^ fkc.

Constitution of Upp«r Canada, opinions in th« English parlia-
ment on granting one, cccclxxiii. Absurdity of connparing
it with the British constitution, cccclxxiv. Not the cause
of the degradation of the prorince, cccclxxri. cccclxxvii.

Gourlay, Mr. his proposal for the collection of the revenue of
Upper Canada, by a single tax, on land, ccdxxxi. Remarks
on the errors in the present system, ccclxxxiii. Conjecture
as to their cause, ccclxxxiv. Observationa on the funding
system of England, cccciv. On the Corn Bill, ccccv. On
the new settlement of Perth, ccccx. On the taxation of wild
lund, ccccxv. Address to the people of Upper Canada, on
the iigricultural distresses of England, ccccxxiii. Extract
from his " Letter to the Earl of Kellie," ccccxxxi. note.
Address to the Canadians, on the proceedings in the last
session of their parliament, ccccxxxiii. Letter to one of his
jurymen, ibid. note. Reflections ou the conduct of the
House of Assembly and the Lieut.-Governor, in 1818,
ccccxliii. His petition to the House of Commons, ccccxiv —
ccccix. and notes. Remarks on the character of the people
of the United States, ccccxlvii. note. On an absurd statute
of the Canadian parliament, relative to tithes, ccccli. note.
On the contraband trade between the United States and
Upper Canada, cccclvi. note. Explanation of an txpression
in his petition to the House of Commons, eocclx. On moral
restraint, cccclxii. FVirther remark* on the benefits which
would arise from the settlement of the province, cocclxiii.
On the mission of the provincial attorney-general to England,
cccclxiv. Benefits which may arise from this, notwithstand-
ing the littleness of its object, ibid. His letter to the editor
of the Niagara Spectator, cccclxv. His fourth address to
the resident land-owners of Upper Canada, cccclxvii. Sketch
of the events which led to the American revolutionary war,
cccclxx. Extent of his views of reform in the province,
cccclxxvi. His answer to Captain Stuart's reply to his
fourth address, cccclxxxviii. Remarks on kingly government,
ccccxciv. Note to Sir Peregrine Maitland, dii. and diii. note:
and to the Duke of Richmond, diil. Summary account of
the cruel treatment which he has experienced, div.

t m

1 ^

l<\ [

J i:i

I! .

XII

KRROKS, OMISSIONS, &C.

Great Britain, increase of its population during the last twenty
years, cccciiv. note. ,,.,,,, j ,

Jones, Mr. extract from hia speech in the House of Assembly,
ccixxxtvi. Remarks on it, ccccxxxvii. His motion relative
to the Lieut.-Governor'a speech, ccccxxxviii. Obtains
leave to bring in a bill to prevent public meetings, ccccxl.
Which is read a third time and passed, ccccxli. Remark!*
on bis character, ccccxliii.

Ireland, means by which that country might be easily redeemed
from distress, ccccxxix.

Legislative Council of Upper Canada, Its reply to Sir Peregrine
Maitland's announcement of his intention to withhold the
royal grant of land from members of tlie Canadian Con-
vention, ccccxxi. To his first speech on opening th« pro-
vincial parliament, ccccxxxviii.

Maitland, Sir Peregrine, Lieut.-Govemor of Upper Canada, ex-
tract of his first speech to the provincial parliament,
ccccxxxvii. His speech at the close of the session, ccccxli.
Sketch of his history, ccccxciii. ►', j > ■ . ,,

Newfoundland, wretched state of that island, cccxli. and note,

Simcoe, General, remarks on his character and measures for the

improvement of Upper Canada, cccclx:^vii.
Stuart, Captain, his reply to Mr. Gourlay's fourth address to the

land-owners of Upper Canada, cccclxxix. Answer by Mr.

Qourlav, cccclxxxviii.

United States of America, statement of their finances, ccccxlix.
7ioU. Increase of population, in the last thirty years, ccccliv.
Twte. Not owing to emigration, cccclv. note.

Wild land, the chief bane of Upper Canada, ccccxiv. Estimated
quantity in the province, ccccxv. Plan for its taxation, ibid.
Benefits which would arise from this, ccccxvi. ccccxvii.
Supposed case in illustration, ibid.

GEiNKKAL INTRODUCIIOR

CIRCULAR

To MEMBERS OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

SIR,

Lo-ndon, June 10, 1820.

The following Statement^ with Do"
ctimentSi »^'rt* offered for ptthlication, last Jamuiryf
to several Newspaper Editor Sf both in Edinburgh
and London. Immediately ajlerwardsy the King's
deathf and consequent dissolution of Parliament,
delaying the principal intention, the publication was
not pressed. y\ „ > ... ,

On reviewing this Statement, after it has been
written Jive months, I see nothing material in it to
correct, and think it the best brief introduction to
the business to which I now most earnestly solicit
your attention.

The importance which I myself attach to tfiis
business may be estimated by the solemn assurance
that I crossed the Atlantic for the express purpose
of submitting it to the Prince and Parliament of
Britain, and that I am now come up to town from
Scotland solely with this view. It is not my indi-
vidual interest which has urged me thus far. I, m

-J'T'.'WW'W-

rl r

I r

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

f
1

douht^ shall be qratijied if this can he adroneed^ or
if / can have, an opportunity of rripivg o(} the stain
so crttelly cast upon my reputation; butj he/ore (wod,
I declare that these are comparatively small ohjecfs
when placed beside that n-hich aims at mainfaininy,
in my person, the abstract riyhl and honour of a
na tire-born British Subject. On this account ^ Sir^
f am free in addressiny you, and sanyuine ofhaviny
your assistance.

The Documents here produced will, J conceive,
sufficiently put you in possession of the case; but I
shall, with yladness, wait upon you any where, in
town, to converse on the subject, or receive commn-
nications thereon, addressed to me at Cooper's Hotel,
Bouverie-street.

The Sketch of a Petition to the Commons House
of Parliament is not that which I may ultimately
adopt. It is here exhibited partly for the purpose of
explaininy my views and aryuments — partly toyive
a lead to those who may be so friendly as to correct
my errors or assist my endeavours. For like pur^
poses 1 have also annexed a Sketch of a Petition to
the Kiny in Council. . , ,

You will observe in the Statement some bold asser-
tions made by me as to the capabilities of Upper
Canada ; and, althouyh I am desirous, in the first
place, to Imve my particular case discussed, 1 wish
it to be clearly understood that up to this moment 1
flinch not from any thing I fiave said, and shall be
willing, if called on, to give explatiaiiom as to the

Ci4<;Mi:il,\ h I N TROD t;CTION.

ii^i I

jtrnctivdhle fHlfihnent of m>/ assertions at the bar of
your House. . / ./ \S

From iIh- Morhiuff Chrouivlv of '2S)th April last,
/ vopff the falloniiifi comevsotion held in the House
(f Commonsy the day prerediny.

** I^ud A. Hamilton notdd suyyest an emiyratioii
to our colonies in North Ameriva, as the most ejj'eC'
tual means of mi tiyatiuy distress.

" The Chsdirellor of the Kxcheqvier saidt His
Majesty's Ministrrs were disposed tit adopt every
measure which could really contrilmte to the relief
of the distresses of the lahouriny classes. Above
5000 persons had embraced the offers of Go-
vernment, and sailed for the Cape of Good
Hope. With respect to the proposal of emi-
gratiny to North America, the Noble Lord was,
perhaps, not fully aware of the present condition of
persons who had actually yone there. So far from
findiny increased meflns of subsistence^ the last aC"
counts proved, that they had experienced a want of
employment fully equal to tJmt which existed in
the most distressed manufacturiny districts of this
country. Government were disposed to yive every
facility to any practicable scheme for mitiyatiny the
distresses of the people ; but, before they consiyned
them to a foreiyn shore, it would be prudent to ascer-
tain how far their condition was likely to be im-
proved. The North American provinces of Great
Britain had been so overloaded with emiyrants, that
the government of Canada had made the stronyest

a 2

;f !l

*. i '■

i^ 1

GENERAL TNTRODUCTION.

remonstrances to this Government on the siihjevt.
He was not prepared to stihniif onjf plan to the
HoHse^ and he repeated that l>rfvrv the proposition
of the Nohle Lord were entertained ^ it would, he wise
to wait for some account of the pror/ress of the
colony at the Cape of Good Hope.

*• Mr. Finlay said^ that hc^ as well as the Mohle
Lord^ had received applications from persons who
were extremely anxious to emiyrate, hut who were
wholly destitute of the means.'*

Now, Sir, I do assert, that BY rilOPEH
MANAGEMENT, THE MISERIES EX-
PERIENCED BY EMIGRANTS GOING
OUT TO CANADA 3IIGHT BE AVERT-
ED; AND THAT EVEN PEOPLE " DES-
TITUTE OF MEANS' COULD BE
COMFORTABLY SETTLED THERE: IN
SIIORT,^ THAT PLANS COULD BE
ADOPTED TO REALIZE EVERY BE-
NEFIT TO CANADA AND BRITAIN
WHICH YOU WILL FIND MENTIONED
BELOW, Having said thus much, it remains
for me only to subscribe myself, ^ ,

t '1

Your fellow subject and client,

ROBERT GOURLAY.

lJ»j'jiimH!Blirt**i

^"^^^^^^^^i^^^^^'-^V- ■'

T»**2 **«•«« ff

GBNfiRAl. INTRODUCTIOW.

STATEMENT.

TO TFIE EDI rORS OF BRITISH NEWS-
PAPERS.

(jentlemkn,

Craigrothle, Fifeshire, Jan. 3, 1820.

I LANDED at Liverpool, from Quebec, the 2d
December, and have since learned, that, during the
last two years, my name has frequently appeared
in your columns, connected with certain political
movements in Upper Canada. By consulting the
files of various newspapers, I have discovered that
very great mistakes have prevailed as to Canadian
affairs, and that calumnies, both false and malig-
nant, have been propagated with regard to me.

As a specimen of these, it has been published
that I was " One of the worthies who escaped
from Spa-fields ;" and attempts have been made to
impress a belief on the public mind, that my ope-
rations in Canada were connected with the schemes
of Messrs. Cobbett and Hunt in England. The
very contrary of all this is true.

In consequence of unavoidable change of fortune,
I went out to Upper Canada, where 1 had many
friends, in the summer of 1817, solely with a view
to ascertain whether it would be prudent to re-

GENERAL INmODirrTION.

f t

i I,

move my family ihitlirr. My intfMition of going
then* was auiiouiict'cl more than a year lu'loic I set
out, ami my wish was not to bv. more tiiaii six
months from home.

Though a sincere friend to parliamentary reform
in this country, 1 had repeatedly published, before
going abroad, my opinion ot the uupropriety of
holding large irregular merlings for that purposr,
and particularly reprobated th(»s»' ot Spa-fields.
No man can shew that I was ever connected in
politics with a single individual in ISritain ; and it
must be well remembered in VViltshiri', that I stood
forward in opposition to Messrs. Cobbett and
Hunt, at the county meeting held there in 1816,
when their object was to run down the property-
tax. So very decided and serious was ! on that
occasion, that I caused to Ik- stuck up in every
corner of the county a placard, declaring, that,
" bi/ a rvell modi/ied property 'ta,i\ and In/ that
alone, cotdd the country he preserved in peace."

In Upper Canada my efi'orts had no view what-
ever to a retorm of parliament. I'he people there
have a perfect representation, iind biliore long tlicy
will make abetter use of it than they have hitherto
done. Soon after my arrival in that country, [
viewed it as the most dtsirable f)laee of r« fuge for
the redundant popidation of liritain, and [ con-
ceived schemes tor promoting a grand system of
emigration. Nothing could be more palpably
innocent than my first proposals, yet ihey were,
opposi.'d, and from reflections springing out of the
nature of this opposition, I became convinced,' that

!■ • -f

v' . ' m > > .■ ■- ww » .i >ifc M ai

r * i *'t i * ^' f % f » >it i^

C4ENEIIAL INTRODl CTION.

Vll

• I)'l

without pmliaiiuntarv imjuiry into tlic state of the
Province, tvery cllort towurds libt^ral improvement
woiihl be tutih; und vain. I prolonged my stay till
the meeting ol" the Provincial parliament, timt I
might press a reference of certain matters to the
Prince and Parliament at home. A vote of in({uiry
was carried in the Commons House of Assembly ;
but immediatc'ly afterwards a dispute having arisen
between that body and the Legislative Council,
the parliament was suddenly prorogued, its business
unfmished.

At this juncture, and without the slightest idea
of evil, I advised the people to raise a subscription,
and send home Commissioners to intreat attention
from the Throne to the affairs of the I'rovincc It
was necessary to hold a meeting of Deputies for
the purpose in view, and to this meeting I inad-
vertently gave the name of Convention^ a name in
everyday use over America, and applied to all
sorts of meetings, both civil and sacred. On this
occasion, it proved to be —

' ■ " A word of fear,
Unpleasant to the guilty ear."

The Executive of Upper Canada took alarm.
In some districts, where the people had little in-
formation from newspapers, the most outrageous
opposition was set on toot by creatures in office ;
and, to cause a general panic, 1 was twice arrested,
and held to bail for appearance to answer charges
of seditious libel.

Notwithstanding all this, respectable Deputies

• " ?i Wv iii j!n i f fcw* M

Ill'

Vlll

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

n '

w-ere chosen throughout the greater part of the
Province, and they met openly in Convention at
York, the capital. By this time, the Duke of
Richmond and his son-in-law had been announced
as Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of tlie Ca-
nadas. I conceived favourable impressions of
their liberality, and judging that the agitation
excited, could not fail to impress serious notions of
the importance of inquiry ^ advised the Convention
to refer its cause to the Lieutenant-Governor and
jGeneral Assembly. After this, I stood two trialsr
and was twice honourably acquitted. The people
were now sanguine that all would go well, when,
to their astonishment, the Lieutenant-Governor
having me*^ the parliament, hinted that sedition
existed, and procured a law to prevent, in future,
meetings by deputy. The discontent created by
these measures, libelling the most loyal men, and
without any proof of necessity circumscribing ge-
neral liberty, was universal; yet, nothing more was
resolved on by the people, but to clear the House
of Assembly, at next election, of members who had
balked their expectations. Tome, who indulged
the anxious hope of being allowed to develop my
views, and point out a practicable plan, by which
many thousands of the idle poor of England could
be annually transported into Canada, with profit
to the nation, and comfort to themselves, the dis-
appointment was cruelly provoking ; but it was
far from rendering me hopeless of ultimate success.
I had resolved to establish myself in the Province
as a land-agent, &c. and was now treating lor a

-■w*<ire\*ipr«>«''^*?^:r '"" ^^. ■•"--!

* jr-^ ; P j^Hg r y T^tggyfy .

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

house in which to commence business, when, lo!
1 was nrrested by the Sheriff, carried before a party
of my most virulent political enemies, and served
with an order to quit the Province, merely because
a wretch was found base enough to swear that I
was a seditious person.

To have obeyed this order would have proved
ruinous to the business, for which, at great ex-
pense, and with much trouble, I had qualified
mvself: it would have been a tacit acknowUdo^-
ment of i::uilt, whereof I was unconscious ; it would
have l)een a surrender of the nol>lest British right :
it would have been holding light my natural alle-
giance: it would have been a declaration that he
Bill of llights was a Bill of Wrongs. I resolved
to endure any hardship rather than to submit vo-
luntarily. Although I had written home that I
meant to leave Canada for England in a few weeks,
I now acquainted my family of the cruel delay,
and stood my ground, tilt 1 was a second time ar-
rested, and forthwith committed to remain in jail
for eight months, without bail or mainprize.

The impressions made on the public by this
strange proceeding were such, that it was intimated
from various quarters, that if I chose, the jail
should be pulled down for my relief, a step which,
of course, I opposed.

My enemies, now feeling that they had gone
too far, laboured, by artful addresses to the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, to impress an opinion upon the
public mind that some of my writings were sedi-
tious; but this conduct only exposed to fuller

1 1

'TWTf?^

I i

%■ .' < ;

( !

I ;.<

/ !

X GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

view the malovoleuce by wliicli thoy were actu-
ated. All hope of convicting me of crime seemed
to die away, and after three months continement, it
was whispered that I should not be tried for sedi-
tion, but, simply, for not having obeyed the order
to quit the Province. This I could not believe
possible. In the mean time, I instituted a suit for
false imprisonment, and wrote off to various quar-
ters for legal advice. From ^Montreal — From Edin-
burgh — from London, the replies of most respecta-
ble lawyers were uniform, that my imprisonment
was illegal ; and the late Sir Arthur Piggott declared,
that not only should the Chief Justice of Upper
Canada have granted my liberty, applied for by
writ of Habeas Corpus, but that a good action lay
against the magistrates who had imprisoned me.

Among the matters which the Convention had
in view was one, to call the Rv.yal attention to a
promise held out to the Militia during war, that
grants of land should be made to them in recom-
pense for their extraordinary exertions. It had
been the policy of the United States to hold out
offers of land to their troops who invaded Canada,
— offers, without which they could not have raised
an army for that purpose, and these offers had been
punctually and liberally fulfilled, the moment that
peace was restored. On the British side, three
years had passed away without attention to a
promise which the Canadian militia kept in mind,
not only as it concerned their interest, but their
honour. While the Convention trusted the con-
sideration of inquiry to the Lieutenant-Governor

■^¥<m i '< nt^m :v

• i mi m mi * nm < tt n a m

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

and Assembly, tht'v ordered an address to be sent
home to his Uoyal Jlighui^ss the Prince Regent,
as a matter of coiirtc^sy and respect, having annexed
to it the rough sketch of an address originally in-
tended to be borne home by a commission, in which
sketch the neglect ol' giving land to the Militia was,
among other matters, pointed out. This sketch,
too, having been printed in America, found its way
into Ijritish newspapers.

In J;ine, IS 19, the Lieutenant-Governor of
Upper Canada, summoned the Asseml)ly to meet
a second time, and in his speech, uotifi(^d that he
had received an order from his Koval llighm^ss
tht' Prince Regent, to grant land to the Militia, but
that he himself should think it proper to withhold
such grant from those persous who h.ad been mem-
bers of Convention. The injustice of this measure
was instantly in the mouth of every one, and the
very Sheriff who held me in charge scru|)led not
to signify how it would go, should the province
again be invaded, while at that very moment it
was thotight by many that a war with the United
States would grow out of the aflfair of Ambristier.

The numbers of Convention had met at York,
prior to any law to prevent the meeting of dele-
gates : they had met in compliance with the de-
sire of many thousands of their fellow-subjects,
and were wholly unconscious of evil : they were
men of tried loyalty: they had' held militia com-
missions during the war : some had been wounded,
some had been taken prisoners, and all had behaved
well. Most of them owned more laiid than they

XII

GENERAL IMBODUCTION.

couUI dispose of, and any gift of land could be to
them, a mere pledge of approl)ation for duty per-
formed to their sovereign and country. Several
weeks passed away, while it was anxiously hoped
that the Assembly would mark its disapprobation
of the opening speech ; but approval was at last
carried by the speaker's vote, and the Legislative
Counoil concurred in language the most direct and
submissive.

To me, such conduct seemed subversive of
every hope that Upper Canada could be retained
to IJritain in the event of war, and to startle those
who so thoughtlessly put it in jeopardy into a
consideration of consequences, I seized my pen,
and called on God to assist my endeavours. My
writing, when published, was voted by the As-
sembly to be libel, and the Lieutenant-Governor
was solicited to order prosecutions. The editor
of the newspaper, who had had the assurance of
a magistrate, that he should not be molested while
he had the manuscripts of authors to produce, and
who was on this occasion wholly ignorant of what
was printed in his office, being 160 miles from
home, was seized in his bed during the middle of
the night, hurried to Niagara jail, and thence, next
morning, to that of York, where he was detained
many days out of the reach of friends to bail him.
After this he was led round the country nearly a
hundred miles, exposed to view as a malefactor of
the worst kind, all clearly for the purpose of work-
ing unfavourable impressions against him; and, to '
be sure, he was finally convicted on a charge,

».T?4)¥WT^ i ,. i ^i p fe> i Jv ' ii»t!JiH iili nfij

yaW ' -'. ^ «>i ' .u i .ii ! »»- t> i * i i >> »* ^' ^' . i

j w o y i MM i a^oMi wi m i i ii g

GENKRAL INTRODUCTIOV.

XllI

which, from its natmc, the author alone was com-
petent to rep(>l*.

My trfutment was still more wantonly cruel.
After two months close confinement in one of the
cells of the jail, my health had begun to suffer,
and, on complaint of this, the liberty of walking
through the passages and sitting at the door was
granted. This liberty prevented my getting worse
the four succeeding months, although I never en-
joyed a day's health, but by the power of medi-
cine. At the end of this period, I was again
locked up in the cell, cut off from all conversation

* Since the above was first published, I have observed it stated
in the newspapers, that the editor has been liberated from prison,
and is now again carrying on his business. Before his trial, I in-
treated him again and again to traverse, and let me have an oppor-
tunity of defending my own writing; but it was in vain. I then
begged of his lawyer, to defend his client on the argument used by
Mr. Erskine, in the case of Cuthell ; but all was to no purpose.
They were sanguine of success, and perhaps ambitious of appear-
ing champions of the preHS ; but a weak jury headed by a petty
magistrate, gave that away, which the people in the United States,
who have, for twenty years past, disclaimed the very notion of
political libel, would sooner have lost their right arms than have
parted with. No one would punish slander on private character
more severely than I would: men in power should always be
entitled, as well as others, to redress in a civil suit : but, to make
due reprobation of mal-administiation in public attairs criminal, ia
what I shall protest against while I have breath; and my first wish,
on returning to Upper C^nadu, shall be to obtain a trial, and give
the people of that country, by dispassionate argument, a clear
view of the truth. I hate in my poBsessiou a speech which wasj
written in expectation of being ftirly tried, and thftt speech shall
be preserved for the purjKwe.

' I

i : ■■ -

I I

XIV

GENERAL INTRODLCTIOy.

with my friends, but through a hole in the door,
while the jdiloror under sherilf watched what w«s
saiti, and tor some tiiue hoth my attorney and ma-
gistrates of my acquaint, ince were denied .ulmis-
sion to me. 'J'he quarter sessions vv»Te held soon
after this severe and uncoiistitutioual treatment
commenced, and, on tiiese occasions, it was the
custom and duly of the grand jury to perambuhde
the jail, and see that ail was right with the pri-
soners. I prepared a memorial for their consi-
deration, but, on this occasion, was not visited. I
complained to a magistrate through the door, who
promised to mention my case to the chairman of
the session ; but the chairman happened to be
brother of one of those who had signed my com-
mitment, and the court broke up without my ob-
taining: the smallest relief.

Exasperation of mind now joined to the heat of
the weather, which was excessive, rapidly wasted
my health and impaired my faculties. I felt my
memory sensibly affected, and could not connect
my ideas through any length of reasoning, but by
writing, which many days I was wholly unfitted
for by the violence of continual head-ache. Im-
mediately before the sitting of the assizes, the
weather became cool, so that I was able to apply
constantly for three days, and finish a written de-
fence, on every point likely to be questioned on
the score of seditious libel. I also prepared -^ »br-
mal protest against any verdict which migJu pass
against me, as subject to the statute, under colour
of which I was confined. - i .

•i V f U i ^l t mimrrHm i ta fiai i

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

It was tigain reported, that I slioukl he tried
only as to the tact of refusing lo leave the province.
A state of nervous irritability, of whicli I was not
then sufficiently aware, deprived my mind of the
})ower of reflection on the subject : 1 was seized
with a fit of convulsive laughter, resolved not to
defend such a suit, jtnd n'as perhaps rejoiced that
I might ho even thus set at liberty from my hor-
rible situation. On being called up for trial, the
action of the fresh air, after six weeks close con-
finement, produced the effect of intoxication. I
had no control over mv conduct, no sense of con-
sequence, nor little other feeling but of ridicule
and dissfust for the court which countenanced such
a trial. At one moment I had a desire to protest
against the whole proceeding; but, forgetting that
I had a written protest in my pocket, I struggled
in vain to call to mind the word protest, and in
another moment the whole train of ideas which
led to the wish had vanished from my mind.
When the verdict was returned, that I was guilty
of having refused to leave the province, 1 had for-
got for what 1 was tried, and affVonted a juryman
by asking if it was for sedition*.

Gentlemen, these are melancholy particulars, and

i '.I

\ I

* The jury, in this case, was notoriously packed. To guard
against the effects of this as much as possible, 1 had, in the ex-
pectation of trial for libel, obtained lists of inimical jurymen, and
had people willing to appear in court to swear that many of them
had prejudged me openly in the rancour of party dispute. These
lists were handed to m© through the door, before and during the

t',<«w..MH#afl0(*^

XVI

GENERAL INTRODrCTlON.

SO far n8 tliey coiicorn myself only, I certainly
should be inclined to conceid tliem. As they
concern the legislation and spirit of govern ins^ in
a British province, I have thought it my duty to
offer the consideration of them to the public,
prior to submitting the same to the Prince and

1} i

assizes; but all caulion and care fortiok me in the time of need.
My fate, I believe, was determined by a misconslriiction of the
judge of the word " Inhubltanty To the best of my recollection,
this was defined to mean a person who had paid taxes, or per-
formed statute labour on the roads I Will it be believed that an
Englishman started the question as to this simple word of his
mother tongue, which, in law, has no peculiar meaning, and
which, in common sense, as well an by derivation, means simply
a dweller in ? The reader will find it applied in this book to wild
beasts of Canada. The Englishman spoken of had dined with mi>
at the same table for weeks together, had lived with me in the same
village for months together, and knew perfectly well that I had
dwell ia the province more than a year before my arrest;
but every thing is sacrificed when prejudice, pique, or self-inte-
rest take the sway. This man's name stands in my lists for having
prejudged me ; yet, Judas-like, he came to the door of my cell,
and shook hands through the small aperture, a few days before
my condemnation. As to the sheriff of Niagara, he has been a
half-pay officer ever since the American war ; and though his
half-pay could be received only on oath, that he .enjoyed no
office under government, he has for a long series of years drawn
a handsome salary as his majesty's sheriff. The chief-justice
Powell enjoys posts and pay out of my count, and at tha will
of the king, (i. e. the governor j may, on the shortest notice,
be turned off the bench, and. deprived of his pay.

These truths will throw light upon my shocking trMtment, and
the state of Upper Canada.

''**'**'<?r»iiiSMf!««^^

■ ■ •■*- xVft^r^^Jyf^if'^^*^

GENERAL INTRODLCTION.

XVII

Parliament of this country, for wliich purpose 1
more especially came home. It is my wish to
return to Upper Canada, and to stand any fair
trial for alleged crime: it is my wish to promote
the settlement of that province with British sub-
jects; but what British subject of spirit would
settle in a country, where, in a moment, he may
have to bow to arbitrary power, or be turned
adrift into a foreign land, the sport of calumny,
injured in health, and ruined in the fair expectation
of doing well for his family ?

I annex a copy of the statute, under colour of
which I was imprisoned and banished, together
with the order served upon me to quit the pro-
vince, after having resided there more than a year.

When these documents are examined, in con-
nexion with the above statement, I shall ask the
public to consider whether there is not reason for

INSTANT PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY,
and if such inquiry is instituted, I PLEDGE
MYSELF TO SHEW THAT UPPER CA-
NADA, INSTEAD OF COSTING THIS
COUNTRY A LARGE SUM OF MONEY
TO MAINTAIN IT, COULD YIELD AN-
NUALLY A HANDSOxME REVENUE TO
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT: THAT IN-
STEAD OF REMAINING THE POOREST,

XVII I

GENERAL INTRODT'CTIO^.

|:f-

:! ■

I \

1 !

I I

IT MAY SPEEDILY BECOME THE RICH-
EST PART OF NORTH AMERICA: THAT
IT MAY THIS VERY YEAR GIVE EM-
PLOYMENT AND BREAD lO 50,000 OF
THE POOR INHABITANTS OF BRITAIN;
AND, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME,
AFFORD ANNUALLY A SIMILAR DRAIN
FOR REDUNDANT POPULATION: LAST-
LY, THAT IT MAY BE MADE A PERM A-
NENT AND SECURE BULWARK TO THE
BRITISH EMPIRE, INSTEAD OF BEING
A LURE TO ITS INVASION AND DOWN-
FALL.

These, Gentlemen, are bold assertions: but they
are not only bold, they are rational and sincere ;
and they proceed from a mind which has been
devoted for two years to reflections on the subject
— a mind which' has sustained itself under every
reasonable trial, and which has not yet entirely
sunk beneath the most odious persecution.

ROBERT GOURLAY.

■'. - fcKWHh kMteMhWMIa

•iMtiMMTMHanH-M^^NK'i

>Mrini t tail m<i» itVi k

<.K>KHAL INTRO 1)1 CTION.

XIX

An Act for fhfi hot tor securim/ this Province againat
ail seditions Attempts or Designs to distnrh the
Trantjuillifi/ thereof. (Passed \Uh March, l«04.^
Whereas it is neocssary to protect his Ma- Preamble,
jcsty's subjects of this Province from the insidious
attimpts or designs of evil-minded and seditious
persons; and, whereas much danger may arise to
the public tranquillity thereof, from the unre-
strained resort and residence of such persons
therein : Be it therefore enacted, by the King's
most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice
and consent of the Let;islative Council and As-
sembly of the l*rovince of Upper Canada, con-
stituted and assembled by virtue of, and under the
authority of an act passed in the Parliament of
Great Britain, intituled " An Act to repeal certain
parts of an Act passed in the fourteenth year of his
Majesty's reign, entituled, ' an Act for making more
eflbctual Provision for the Government of the Pro-
vince of Quebo^c, in North America, and to make

further Provision for the Government of the said

G over-
Province,' '* and by the authority of the same, That, nor, &c.

empower-

from and after the passing of this Act, it shall and p<' to au-
7nay he larvt'ul for the Governor , Lieutenant- Go- certain

^ persons to

vernorj or person administering the government of ^^^^^^ ^^^'

this Province, for the Members of the Legislative Jj5g'jgj,

imd Executive Councils, the Judges of h*s Majesty'u

h 2

I 'i

- I

! !

; f

XX t;ENKR.\L INTRODtrCTION.

Court of Km(/'6' Bvnvh.for the liiiw hvhuf^ resjyec-
lively i or for anj/ person or persona authorized in
that behalf, />// an instrument under the hand and
seal of the Governor, Lienlvnant-Gorernor, or per-
son administering the government for the time being,
or ant/ one or more of them, Jointlg or separately,
hg narrant or warrants, under his or their hand
and seal, or hands and seals, to arrest any person
or persons not having been an inhabitant or inha-
bitants of this Province for the space of si.v months
next preceding the date of such warrant or warrants,
or not having taken the oath of allegiance to our
Sovereign Lord the King, who by words, actions, or
other behaviour or conduct, hath or have endea-
voured, or hath or have given Just cause to suspect
that he, she, or they, is or are (dmut to endeavour to
alienate the minds of his Majesty's subjects of this
Province from his person or government, or in any
wise with a seditions intent to disturb the tranquillity
thereof, to the end that such person or persons shall
forthwith be brought before the said person or pei'-
sons so granting such warrant or warrants against
him, her, or them, or any other jyerson or persons
^^^ ^ duly authorised to (pant such warrant or warrants

Offenders '^

the **C ^^ *'*''^«« <y ''«*' «^'^>' ««f^ if such person or persons
ViH^l^^^ **^^ ^^^^K9 *«^'* inhabitant or inhabitanis as afore.
«ty, &c. ^^^^i^ ^j, ,^^^ having taken such oath of allegiance,

•''«'9W9»^'t'rf]Ket«3tft yi P i; h<l wit»Mi l'i g^

I M« J*l » « « Wfl | I |»illM' f Wtfc ■ I M

GRNI'.IUL IM HODl < TION.

XXi

ihall }Wt (f\i'€ to t/tr prison ttr persons so (/rontiiit/
*W(7(f tvarraut or warrants^ or so anihorizvd ns
a/ori'said., ln'forv whom he, she, or theij shall he.
hroufjht, full and romplefc satisf'tivtioH that his, hvr,
or their wordsj at tions, conduct, or behaviour had
no such tendencf/f or vrrv not intended to pro.^tofe
or encourof/e disajf'ecfion to his Majesties person or
*j/overmnentf it shall and may he lai'if'nlfor each or
ani/ of the said persons so (jranfinf/ such n arrant
or warrants, or so authorized as aforesaid, and he
and they is and are hereby required to deliver an
order or orders, in writiny, to such person or per-
sons not beiny such inhabitant or inhabitants as
aforesaid, or not haviny lahen such oath of alle-
yiance, requiriny of him, her, or them, to depart this
Province within a time to be limited by such order
or orders, or if it shall be deemed expedient that he,
she, or they, should be permitted to remain in this
Province, to require from him, her, or them, yood
and sufficient security, to the satisfaction of the
person or per^ms actiny under the authority hereby
yiven, for his, h^ r, or their yood behaviour, duriny
his, her, or their <ontinuance therein.

IT. And be it further enacted, by the authority r^T.""f'"'"
aforesaid. That if any person or persons not being tj,e^ p^o.

s ich inhabitant or inhabitants as aibresuid, or not be enS^

ed. '
having taken such oath of allegiance, v^ho bv any

:ii

{

It)

t :.' .i

Xxii GENERAL INT1^0I>l'rT[0?J.

order or orders so delivered to him, her, or them,
is or are required to depart this province witliin a
time limited by that ouler, should, by sickness or
other impediment, be prevented from paying due
obedience to the same, it shall and may be lavvfuJ
for the person or persons who hath or liave issued
such order or orders as aforesaid, or for any other
person or persons as aforesaid authorized by this
act so to do (the person or persons acting
under the authority hereby given, being first sa-
tisfied that such impediment by sickness, or other-
wise, ought to be admitted as a reason for such
order as aforesaid not having been obeyed), by an
indorsement in writing upon the said order or
orders, or otherwise in writing, to enlarge the time
specified in the said order, or orders, from time to
time, as occasion may require ; and if any person
or persons so having been required or ordered to
quit this Province as aforesaid, and not having ob-
tained an enlargement of such time, in manner
iJiuif*" herein before specified, shall be found at large

80(

folT'elre t^^^'J'Gin. or return thereunto, after the time limited
suspect ^y ^"y" ^^ either of such orders, without licence
from the Grovernor, Lieutenant-Governor, or per-
son administeririg the government for the time
being in that behalf, or in case anv person or per-
sons who shall have been served with any or either

ftWl TK*'HlM«W H i W W m i *| i>'»Mi ii i»i j i

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XXUl

of such order or orders as aforesaid, or who shall
have hcen permitted to remain in this Province,
upon such security as albresaid, shall by words,
actions, or otherwise, endeavour, or give just
cause to suspe(;t, that ho, she, or they, is or are
about to endeavour to alienate the minds of his
Majesty's subjects of this Province from his person
or government, or in anywise with a seditious
intent to disturb the tranquillity thereof, it shall
and may be lawful for any one or more of the said
person or persons so authorized by this act as
aforesaid ; and he and they is and are hereby re-
quired by warrant or warrants under his or their
hand and seal, or hands and seals, to commit such
person or persons so remaining at large or returning
into this Province without such licence as afore-
said, or so endeavouring or eivinfj cause to suspect ""'''*

r> o o I person to

that he, she, or they, is or are about to endeavour ^J^"™*
so to alienate the minds of his Majesty's subjects
of this Province, or in anywise with a seditious
intent to disturb the trantjuillity thereof, to the com-
mon jail, <;i to the custody of the Sheriff of the
district, in s'uch districts in which there shall be
no jail at that time, there to remain, without bail
or inainj)rize, unless delivered therefrom by special
order from the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or
person administering the government tor the time y

* l*t| w.' ' ." w« » ««", «« iiii » nimTnimi»i i iMH»»nm M| Ma i iiriiw iii.i » i i i

lit

i I

XXIT GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

being, until he, she, or they can be prosecuted for
such offence in his Majesty's Court of King's
Bench, or of Oyer and Terminer and general jail
delivery in this province, or under any special
commission of Oyer and Terminer tr, be issued by
the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or person ad-
Punish- ministering the government of this Province for the

ment if

convicted, time being ; and if such person or persons, not
being such inhabitant or inhabitants as aforesaid,
or not having taken such oath of allegiance, shall
be duly convicted of any of the offences herein-
before described, in either of the said courts respec-
tively, he, she, or they shall be adjudged by such
court forthwith to depart this Province, or to be
imprisoned in the common jail, or be delivered
over to the custody of the sheriff in such districts
in which there shall be no jail at that time, for a
time to be limited by such judgment, aiid at the
expiration of that time, to depart this Province;
and if such person or persons so convicted as
aforesaid, shall remain in this Province, or return
thereinto, after the expiration of the time to be
limited by the said judgment, without licence
from the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or person
administering the government for the time being,
in that behalf first had and obtained, such person
or persons, on being duly convicted of so remain-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ing or returning, before either o^ the said courts,
shall be defined guilty of felony, and shall suffer
death as a felon, without benefit of cler^^. 1 ro-
vided always, that if, in the execution of the
powers hereby given, any question shall arise,
touching or concerning the space of time during
which any person or persons shall have been an
inhabitant or inhabitants of this Province, previous
to any warrant or warrants having been issued
against him, her, or them, or touching or concern-
ing the fact of any person or persons having taken
such oath of allegiance, the proof shall, in all
such cases, lay on the party or parties against
whom any such warrant or warrants shall, in virtue
of the powers hereby given, have been granted or
issued.

III. And he it further enacted^ hy the authority
aforesaid. That if any person or persons, at any
time shall be sued or prosecuted for any thing by
him or them done in pursuance, or by colour of
this act, or of any matter or thing therein contained,
such action or prosecution shall be commenced
within three calendar months next after the offence
shall have been committed, and such person or
persons may plead the general issue, and give the
epecii.l matter in evidence for his, her, or their de-
fence, and if, upon trial, a verdict shall pass for the

\ir

Proof to
lay on the

Itorson
charged.

If any
person su-
inar under
colour of
this act
heoonie
non-suit-
ed, (Sec.

^^vi GENERAL I>iTU0DlT'T10N.

defendant or defendants, or the plaintiff or plain-
tiiTs shall become non-suited, or shall discontinue
his, her, <fr their suit, or prosecution, or if judgnnent
be given for the defendant or defendants, upon de-
murrer or otherwise, such defendant or defendants
Table shall have treble costs to him or them awarded,

COStsi.

against the plamtiff or plaintiffs.

1 J:'

\ b

is!

ORDER OF COMMITMENT.

Georye the Third, by the Grace of God of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
King, Difender of the Faith, 5fC. To our She-
7nff of the District of Niagara, Keeper of the
Jail therein, or to the Jailor thereof, greeting.

Where AS,by an act of the Provincial Parliament
of Upper Canada, passed in the forty-fourth year
of our reign, intituled, " An Act for the better se-
curing this Province against all seditious Attempts
or Designs to disturb the tranquillity thereof,'*
it is enacted that — \Jiere that part of the act recited
which is printed above in italics.]

And, whereas, we, William Claus and William
Dickson, each a member of our Legislntive Coun-
cil, of the said province of Upper Canada, duly
authorized in and by virtue of the said act, did, on
the information and complaint of Isaac Swayze,

lu t WiiW i<l>J i M. i iw i* »fci ai m j i' «iW#«w

i (

f't:

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

XXV 11

one of the members of the House of Assembly,
OR oath made before the said William Dickson,
that one Robert Gourlav, now in the town of
Niagara, in the County of Lincoln, in said Pro-
vince, who, the said Isaac Swayze believes to have
no particular or fixed place of residence, is an evil-
minded and seditious person, and that the public
tranquillity of said Province may be endangered by
the unrestrained residence of such a person, and
that the said Robert Gourlay, by words, actions,
writings, and other behaviour, hath endeavoured,
and is endeavouring to alienate the minds of our
subjects in this Province from our person and
government, and that the said Robert Gourlay, if
in his power, from his language, words, and writ-
ings, IS endeavouring to raise a rebellion against
our government in this Province, and that Isaac
Swavze verilv believes that the said Robert Gour-
lay has not been an inhabitant for six months pre-
ceding the date of said information, and had not,
at the time of said information, taken the oath of
allegiance to us : and, Avhereas, a warrant was grant-
ed and tested in the name of the said William Dick-
son and William Claus, dated the 19th dav of
December, now last past, and directed to the She-
riff of our district of Niagara, requiring him to
arrest the said Robert Gourlay, to the end, that he
might be brought before the said William Dickson
and William Claus, or either of them ; and, whereas,
the said Robert Gourlay was accordingly brought
up before the said William Dickson and William

¥M

XXVlll

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Clans, on the 21st day of December, now last
past, and being examined, touching the said infor-
mation, and of and concerning his words, actions,
conduct, and behaviour; he did not give full
and complete satisfaction to the said William
Dickson and the said William Claus, that his
words, actions, conduct, and behaviour had no
such tendency ; on the contrary, that these were
intended to promote disaffection to our person and
government; and having given no satisfactory
proof that he has been an inhabitant of the said
Province for the space of six months preceding the
date of such warrant, nor did he prove that he had
taken the oath of allegiance to us, as by the said
act is mentioned ; and, whereas, the Siid William
Dickson and W^illiam Claus did thereupon deem
it inexpedient, under the provisioris of the said act,
that the said Robert Gourlay should be permitted
to remain in this Province ; an ' did adjudge that
the said Robert Gourlay should depart this Pro-
vince of Upper Canada, on or before the first day of
January next ensuing thereof, and he was required
so to depart this Province, by an order in writing
to that etfect, and personally delivered to him, at
the Court House for said district, on the said 21st
day of December, now last past.

And, whereas, information hath been given,
that the said Robert Gourlay hath not departed
this Province on or before the 1st day of January
instant, the time limited in the said order in writ-
ing, but still abides and is at large therein.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

XXIX

These are, therefore, in pursuance of the said
before recited act, to autliorize and require you, if
the said Robert Gourlay shall be found at hirge in
your district, to commit him to the common jail
thereof, there to remain without bail or main-
jprize, unless delivered therefrom, as the said act
directs.

Witness, William Claus and William Dickson,
Legislative Councillors as aforesaid, under the
hand and seal of each, this fourth day of January,
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hun-
dred and nineteen, and of our reign, the fifty-
ninth.

(Signed) WILLIAM DICKSON,
WILLIAM CLAUS.

SKETCH OF A PETITION

To the. Honourable the Commons of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland^ in

PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED*.
THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY.

HUMBLY SHEWETH,

That your Petitioner is a native of the parish of

Ceres, (and) TN the county of Fife (North Britain),

IN SCOTLAND, and thence conceives himself en-

• The words printed ia capitals were added, those in small
type, and enclosed in a eircuniflex, were omitted in the real peti-
tion.

it-

*' "TjSrW ■ W'-J*^' wwrtW^^T'l'l^'

-*«M*MMiMltMiMMBH

XXX

GENERAL INTRO DtTCTIOW.

titled to all tlio constitutional privileges of a Bri-
tish subject.

That your Petitioner was born to the inheritance
of considerable landed estates, and did entertain,
till the year 1815, fair hopes of independent for-
tune: — that then, in the 'J8th yearof his age, being
married, and having five children, he found him-
self, by causes which he could neither foresee nor
prevent, sunk into a state of j)recarious depend-
ence : — that, after more than a year's reflection, he
resolved to visit Upper Canada, where he had some
Janded property and many friends, to ascertain
whether he might not, with propriety, remove his
family thither: — that, after a few months residence

in that COUntr}'', he (became enamoured of) WAS PLEAS-
ED WITH the natural excellence of its soil and
climate, — saw prospects of providing comfortably
for his family, and cherished schemes for render-
ing Upper Canada a comfortable refuge for the
redundant population of England : — that, to qualify
himself the better to represent at home the true
state of the province, he resolved to prolong his
stay, and by extended inquiry did greatly increase
his knowledge of the actual state of its affairs.

That he then discovered political restraints on
the prosperity of Upper Canada, which rendered
it altogether inferior to the United States as a place
of settlement, and such niisman<jgement on the
part of the executive government with regard
to emigrants from Britain, as blasted every Ijope,
unless (great) CONSIDERABLE changcs could be
effected.

General introduction.

XXXI

That his first intention, after being fully ap-
prized of these restraints and this mismanagement,
was to procec(! home and state the truth to the
ministers of this country ; but, doubtful of his in-
dividual representation being listened to, he recom-
mended the inhabitants to petition their parliament
for inquiry into the state of the province, and for a
commission to go home with the result to the
Prince and Parliament of Britain : — that this mea-
sure was actually moved and carried in the As-
sembly, butarjuarrel presently afterwards arising
between the different branches of the legislature,
parliament was hastily prorogued.

That, on this juncture, your Petitioner being
more and more convinced of the great necessity of
examination, addressed the inhabitants of the pro-
vince, and recommended them to raise a fund by
subscription, for the purpose of sending home a
petition to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent,
to solicit the appointment of a commission from
England for that purpose. '

That this proposal giving great ofTence to certain
persons in oftice, called down their resentment
upon your Petitioner, whom they caused to be
twice arrested, and tried upon charges of seditious
libel.

That yoi^r Petitioner, being twice honourably
acquitted, had then the fullest hope of succeeding
in his purpose, by offering to lay before the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, just arrived from England, his
View of what was essential to the prosperity of the
province, when, to his astonishmei , a party in

I i

I I

" .~ ■»i*i>^^#iwti»,HMii.KM''Wi

J I

XXXll

GENr.RAL INTRODICTION.

power not only succeeded in exciting prejudices
in the mind of the Lieutenant-Governor against,
your Petitioner, but wantonly libelled a great
portion of the inhabitants, and had a law enacted,
abridiring public liberty, equally uncalled tor, and
odious to the great body of the people.

That your Petitioner was after this on the point
of setting oft' for England when a conspiracy was
formed between three of his most notorious poli-
tical enemies to ruin his character, and prevent
his ever returning to tipper Canada. For this
purpose they pretended that your Petitioner was
subject to a provincial statute, [« copi/ of which is
hereunto «nwp.rer/,] which can only apply to aliens
and outlaws, and one of them scrupling not to
perjure himself to afford grounds for procedure,
they presented him with an order to quit the pro-
vince, upon his disobeying which they had him
arrested and committed to jail, [//<e order being
hereunto annexed^]

That your Petitioner, being thus situated, ap-
plied for liberation by writ of Habeas Corpus [the
whole process hcivg; hereunto anne.ved^; but, being
remanded to jail by the Chief Justice of the pro-
vince, was detained there for nearly eight months.

That your Petitioner in this melancholy predi-
cament, had still the hope of clearing his character
from the base imputations of his enemies by a fair
submission of their charges to the sense and feeling
of a jury ; and in the mean time having taken the
advice of Sir Arthur Piggott, and other lawyers of
eminence, as to the legality of his imprisonment.

'■i f i' m i lfMIIW m tiWilH - if»iii\MMv ^m,t^

GENERAL rXTRODTCTlOV.

XXXllI

had tlicir deriflecl opinions that it was not Iff^al —
that the (.'hicf .iusticn of Upper (Canada was wrong
in not hiving grnntt-d lihrrarion, and that those
who had caused the arrest, were subject to an
action ol' damages for false imprisonment.

That, nevertheless, the hopes of your Petitioner
were completely blasted. Before the day of trial,
his body and mind were so weakened by confine-
ment and exasperation from cruel, unnecessary,
and unconstitutional treatment in jail, that, on
being brought into the fresh air of the court, his
whole ideas ran into confusion, and he lost all
control over his conduct. A trial was brought
on, not for any crime, but merely to determine the
fact, that your Petitioner had refused to leave the
province. To such a trial, under ordinary circum-
stances, your Petitioner would, undoubtedly, have
demurred. As it happened, he, altogether insen-
sible of consequences, suffered the trial to proceed
till a sentence of banishment was pronounced
against him by the same judge who detained him
in prison.

(Your Petitioner desires to make no appeal to feeling on this
occasion : neither is there any need for investigation into conduct.
He desires that no consideration may rest on the palpable and
vile pretence that your Petitioner had not been an inhabitant of
Upper Canada for six months, v?hen it was notorious, that ho had
resided there for more than double that period ; or, that he had
not taken the oath of allegiance, while at any moment of time he
would willingly have gone through that ceremony, had he consi-
dered it essential to consilittilional protection. Your Petitioner
appeals to your Honourable House solely on the abstract question
of right, inherent in a native born Briton, to that protection with-
in his Majesty's dominions, which the British people bargained

'^1
ill

fti

'mi|

xxxiv

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

for in the claim of Rights, prior to the acceHhion of the present
family to ilio throne.

Your Honourable Iloutie, in conjunction with the other brnnches
of the Legi»latt\re, passed an Act, in tljo y»ar IT'Ji, empowering
his Majesty by and with the consent of a Legitjlative Council and
Assembly to make laws for the government of Upper Canada,
"during the continuance of tliis Act;" but your Petitioner has
no belief that it was the intention of this lemporurn Act to confer
a power on the Canadian Parliament of expatriating British sub-
jects, or, in any way to encroach on the fundamental principles
of the British Constitution.

Your Petitioner begs leave to refer your Honourable House to
the Act of the Canadian Parliament, under colour of which he
was imprisoned and banished. Your Honourable House, by
perusal of this Act, will see that its application to an untainted
British subject is by mere implication, and he trusts your Ho-
nourable House will determine, that constitutional right is not to
be overturned by such a breath. — Your Honourable House will
see that to make this Act applicable to an untainted British sub-
ject, not only must the sacred uond of natural allegiance, with all
its mutual obligations between the sovereign and subject, be con-
sidered null and void, in Upper Canada, but, that a mere infer-
ence must determine as to the ceremony of taking the oath of
allegiance within the province. Your Honourable House will see
that even a reductio ad absurdum flies in the face of such con-
struction for, were this act really applicable to British subjects,
no individual could, with safety, proceed from the mother coun-
try to the colony : that even a nevly appointed governor mi"-ht
be arrested and disgraced the moment he set his foot in Upper
Canada, or a whole army of British soldiers, destined for its de-
fence, be legally captured and imprisoned by a few perjured and
unblushing villains.

Your Petitioner trusts that your Honourable House will not
only mark such monstrous absurdity, and set aside all question as
to ridiculous inference trenching on the boast and l-irthright of
Britons, but loudly declare, that, though, by express terms, an
untainted British subject had been made liable to this Act, yet
that no such Act could be held as coosiitutional aud valid any more

■. t5i:i. jr<r«^'qi«i'i»vw'^*» ■ *—

OENEKAL INTROmCTIOX. XXXV

than a Provincial Act, to mako sale of Upper Canada to a foreign
power. Your PtMifioiu-r, thfrefore. intreats that your Honourable
HouH.. will lake this aubject into Horiou.i con8ideratiou ; and filmll
ever pray.)*

Your Petitioner has recounted these fuels and
circuiiistiiiiees, not trotu i\uy desire that your
Honounhle House should interfere in matters of
judieial process, or correct the rigour of executive
tyranny towards an individual. Your Petitioner
is now in the course of applying to his Majesty in
council, to take into consideration his particular
case, — to consult the law officers of the crown
thereupon, — to make inquiry into the cruel treat-
ment he received, and into the fact of his being
in that state which rendered him unfit to stand
up in a court of justice as his own advocate, so
that he may a^ain be suffered to return to Upper
Canada, there to support, fairly and manfully, his
character, his principles, and opinions: — Your
Petitioner comes before your Honourable House
on public grounds alone, and pleads that the mere
abstract consideration of the annexed provincial
statute, taking it as intended to apply to unattainted
British subjects, and as it has in your Petitioner's
case been applied, affords sufficient cause for in-
quiry on the part of your Honourable House into
the state of Upper Canada.

* Th« above, printed in small type, stood in the original cir-
cular as the continuation and conclusion of the first sketch
Petition. A second draught ^a$ made out with additions;
and what was struck out of that draught, is printed in small type,
so that the real Petition presented by Sir James Mackintosh to
the House of Commous 12th July, 18^0, reads from beginning to
•ud in large type.

c 2

"4viUa«MMMli

; f

!^^

XXXVl

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Your Honourable House, in conjunction with
the other branches of the legislature, passed an
Act, in the year 1791, empowering his Majesty,
by and with the consent of a legislative council
and assembly, to make laws for the government
of Upper Canada, during the continuance of this
Act ; but your Petitioner has no belief that it
was the intention of this temporary act, to confer
a power on the Canadian Parliament, of expatri-
ating British subjects, or, in any way to encroach
on the fundamental principles of the British
constitution. It was the clear intention of that
act to convey to the people of Upper Canada, as
near as circumstances would permit, the constitu-
tion of Britain both in form and spirit. The re-
corded debates of Parliament, on passing the
Quebec Bill, bear ample testimony of this ;
and General Simcoe, when he opened the first
Parliament of Upper Canada, in his capacity of
Lieutenant-Governor of that province, expressly
declared, that * the constitution then grunted, was
the very image and transcript of the British con-
stitution.^

(Let it be supposed for a moment that a Bill was brought into
your Honourable House, to enact a law by which on mere alle-
gation an^t^subject of his Majesty might be deprived of his right
of habeas corpus, imprisoned, and ultimately banished from his
native country, without a tinge of crime, what would be said?
or, were it really enacted, what might not be done? Surely there
would be an end to the constitution, and the social compact might
be broken up. But if the Imperial Parliament could not go so
far : — if by such an attempt the mass of the people would be
entitled to interfere; and reorganize the constitution, there can bi»

,' F-

CENEUAL INTRODUCTION.

XXXV U

i !|i

HO doubt that a subordinate legislature could not do so; or, if
doing so, ought immediately to bo checked by the superior
power.

Your Petitioner is atrare that in some parts of his Majesty's
dominions very arbitrary measures are resorted to by the execu-
tive, in thrusting out even British subjects without even alleged or
convicted crime; but these dominions have no free and settled
constitution, and they are held for very dilTerent purpon^s than
the Canadian provinces. They have been dedicated to special
purposes —to the use and benefit of trading companies, and to
the ensuring of monopolies deemed necessary for increasing the
store of national wealth. In these dominions the power per-
mitted and used may be compared to that which individuals
possess of excluding others from their dwelling-houses and work-
shops ; bill in his Majesty's Canadian dominions, neither neces-
sity nor policy demand such licence; nay, it is the very reverse:
there, population is the stable of the land : the settlement of
British subjects, there, constitutes the strength and value of do-
minion, and their free ingress and egress must alone insure to
his Majesty the sovertignty oi that quarter of the world.)

At the present moment, when emigration from
this country is at all hands allowed to be essential
to relieve distress, how mischievous must be even
the report that a native born British subject may
be arrested, detained long in prison, and banished
from Upper Canada without the shadow ot" crime,
the moment he sets foot on its soil; surely your
Honourable House will see the propriety of coun-
teracting the effect of buch report, to which the
undue triumph of erring power, over an individual,
has given credit and strength.

(Surely, for the public good, your Honourable House may de-
clare by resolution and address, that British emigrants are not
subject to the provincial statute in question ; — that it can aflect
only aliens and outlaws ; and, in its tenor regards local, not nu-

ill

* """" '•■'■i<'iiiii1iiifiiiiiiiia

! Is

; ; -I

I. ;

1 :l

XXXVlll

GENERAL IM RODLCTION.

tural allegiance. Such (leclart-d construction of the statute
would tree tlie provincial lfn;ihUjtiiro from the reproach of having
encroached on consiitiitiona! i)rinciple, and give confidence to
people of this nxintry, who an^ conteniplnting a removal to the
province of Upper Canada, of all His Majesty's foreign poH?cs-
sions the most capable of receiving an incr*"!i«f of inhabitants with
comfort to the individuals, and advantage to the nation. Your
Petitioner further pleads that there is urgent cause for inquiry into
the state of Upper Canada, on other giounds than those above set
forth.)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this ses-
sion told your llonourahle House, that, '♦ the
North American Provinces of Cireat Britain had
been so overloaded with emigrants, that the go-
vernment of Canada had made the strongest re-
monstrances to this government on the subject."
Your Petitioner, residing and travelling in Upper
Canada for two years, had sufficient opportunities
of observing how the country came to be over-
loaded with emigrants, and how many of the
emigrants suftered misery. It arose from misma-
nagement, want of contrivance, and, perhaps, want
of knowledge on the part of those who had the
direction of affairs. Your Petitioner states this
freely and firmly, as he feels it his duty to do;
and he is willing, at the bar of your Honourable
House, or elsewhere, to set forth practicable plans,
by which ten times the number of people who
have ever, in one year, emigrated to Canada, may
be annually transported thither, and comfortably
settled.

Your Petitioner therefore humbly entreats that
the state of Upper Canada, as it concerns emigra-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XXXIX

tion, may be taken into tlie serious consideration
of your Honourable Mouse.

And, as in duty bound, will ever pray,

ROBERT GOURLAY,

NOTE. — The following extracts from Sir Michael For^ter''s
Crown Law, are to the point, while investigating the legiil and
constitutional construction of the above provincial statute. They
will shew that the act refers to local not natural allegiance, and
therefore cannot aifect a natural born subject. P&qJ 60, 3d edi-
tion — " It is not in the power of any private subject to shake off
his allegiance and to Irayisfer it to a foreign Prince. Nor is it in
the power of any foreign Prince, by naturalizing or employing a
subject of Great Britain, to dissolve the bond of allegiance be-
tween that subject and the crown."

Page 183. "With regard to natural-born subjects there can
be no doubt. They owe allegiance to the Crown at all times and
in all places. This is what we call natural allegiance in contra-
distinction to that which is local. The duty of allegiance, whe-
ther natural or local, is founded in the relation the person standeth
in to the Crown, and in the privileges he deriveth from that rela-
tion. Local allegiance is founded in the protection a foreigner
enjoyeth for his person, his family, or effects, during his residence
here; and it ceaseth whenever he withdraweth with "^ family
and effects. Natural allegiance is founded in the relai jd every
man standeth in to the Crown, considered as the head of that
societj' whereof he is boim a member ; and on the peculiar privi-
leges he deriveth from that relation, which are, with great pro-
priety, called his birthright. This birthright nothing but his own
dement can deprive him of: it is indefeasible and perpetual ; and,
consequently, the duty of allegiance, which ariseth out of it, and
is inseparably connected with it, is, in consideration of law,
likewise unalienable and perpetual."

Page 188. " Protection and allegiance are reciprocal obHga»
tions."

I ly

« "" ■^•imHaStl

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

PROCESS TO PROCURir ENLARGE-
MENT.

To the Honourable WilUam Dnmmer Powell, Chief
Justice of the Court of Khif/s Bench of i'pfter
Canada, ami the rest of the Justices of the said
Court, or any one of them.

i:i>

THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY, Esq.

Humbly Shewetu,

That your Petitioner is now a prisoner in the
Jail of Niagara District, by virtue of a warrant of
Commitment, whereof a copy is annexed.

That your Petitioner, humbly apprehending he
is not a person of that description against whom
such warrant can legally be issued, as he believes
will fully appear from the affidavits annexed, and,
inasmuch as he has not heretofore been called upon,
or had an opportunity of shewing the fact, prays
for a writ of Habeas Corpus, and, as bound in duty,
will pray.

Dated at the Jail of Niagara, the 13th day of
January, 1819.

(Signed) Robert Gouklay.

Witness, Wm. Kerr, ^
John Moffat. )

fum^:

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

xli

AFFIDAVITS.

Districlof\ Peter Hamilton, of the township
JSiaijura,^ o{ Niagara, in t i' province of Upper
viz. 5 Canada, nriaketh Oath and saith, that
he hath seon Robert Gotjrlay, Esq. Jately in
the Jail of tliis district, and that he knew the same
person and his connexions and friends heretofore
in Britain ; and that he was there respected, es-
teemed, and taken to he a Britis > subject; and
that he is so this Deponent verily believes is no-
toriously true in this district.

(Signed) P. H. Hamilton.

Sworn before me, the 9th"

day of Jan. 1819.
Alex. Hamilton, J. P.

Niaqara\ Robert Gourlay maketh Oath and
Districts ^ii\i\\, that he is, by birth, a British sub-
viz. )ject, that he hath taken the Oath of
Allegiance to our Lord the present King of Great
Britain, and that he has been an inhabitant of the
province of Upper Canada now more than a year
preceding the date of the warrant first issued
against him by the Hon. William Dickson and
William Claus, Esq. and referred to in that,
whereof a copy is annexed.

(Signed) Robert Gourlay.
Sworn before me, this 13th;

day of Jan. 1819.
(Signed) Wm. J. Kerj

lis ISth^

1 I!

■I'll

xlii

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

District of^ Robert IlAMiLTON,ofQneenston
?iiayara, ? in said district, Esq. rnaktlh Oaili
viz. /andsaitli, that Robert (Jourlay, Esq.
who is now confined in the Jail ot this dis-
trict, has been domiciliated at Queenston, in
the province of Upper Canada, more than nine
months next preceding the date of this deposition ;
and this Deponent further maketh Oath and saith,
that he hath always understood and verily believes
the said Robert Gourlay to be a natural born sub-
ject of Great Britain.

(Signed) Robert Hamilton.

Sworn before me, this 12th day^

of Jan. 1819.
(Signed) James Kerby, J. P.

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS.

^George the Third, by the

Upper Canada^ I Grace of God, of the United

Home District^ \ Kingdom of Great Britain and

to wit. 1 Ireland, King, Defender of the

J Faith, &c.

To the keeper of our Jail of Niagara greeting. —
We command you that you have the body of
Robert Gourlay, Esq. detained in prison under your
custody as it is said under safe and secure conduct,
together with the day and cause of his being taken
and detained by whatsoever name he may be called
in the same, before the Hon. Wm. Dummer
Powell, our Chief Justice of our Province aforesaid.

Ti'i< Hw) ; ;M; « i/ ll| tfl lM WjU I »M i t'» . M, i W*M'l>> l !i*l > B I Wla» W! JJ' ' jnM> I H I >tf

GENERAL INTRODUCTION,

xliii

at his Cliami)ers, in York, in the Home District
of our said Province iniini diatcl}' after the receipt
of this Writ, to do, submit, and receive all and
siniijular those thinsrs which our Cliief Justice shall
then and there consider of him in this behalf, and
have then there this Writ. — Witness, the Hon.
DuMMKR PovvELi,, our Chief Justice aforesaid,
at York, the twentieth day of January, in the filty-
ninth year i ' ur reign.

Per statiUum Iricesimo prima Caroli Sectindi regis.

(Signed) Wm. Dummer Powell, C.J.

REMAND.

(^Indorsed on the hack of the above Writ,)

The within-named Robert Gourlaybeingbrought
before me, at my chambers, at York, required to
be admitted to bail*, as not being a person subject
to the provisions of tlie Act of his Majesty, chap.
J.; and the warrant of commitment appearing to
be regular, according to the provisions of the Act
which does not authorize bail or mainprize, the
said Robert Gourlay is hereby remanded to the
custody of the sheriff of the district of Niagara,
and the keeper of the Jail therein, conformable to
the said warrant of commitment.

(Signed) Wm. Dummer Powell, C. J.

York, 8//i Febmary, 1819.

* This is not correct. The process was managed by an at-
torney, and was, verbatim, as above. I made no request to be
admitted to bail.

xliv

GENERAL INTKODl CTIOX.

SKETCH or A PEirriON.

To His 3Iost Exvellvnt Mnjcshj OFOIWE the
Fourth, Sovereiyn of the L'nited Kiiujilom of
Great Britain and Ireland, ^'c ^c. ^'c. in
Council.

THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY, Esq.

HUMBLV ShEWETH,

That your Petiliontr is a native-born British
subject ; and did, uiore than twenty years ago,
receive from his late Miyesty a couunission to
act as captain of volunteers, the confidence in-
dicated by wiiich he never betrayed ; neither has
he ever been tainted by conviction of crime.

That, nevertheless, your Petitioner being in
Upper Canada, in the montfi of December, 1818,
was served with an Order to depart that Province,
upon refi!sing to obey which, he was committed
to jail by a second Order, issued by the same per-
sons, under colour of a statute of the Provincial
Parliament fa copt/ of which, with the Order,
being hereunto annexed J.

That your Petitioner applied to the Chief Jus-
tice of Upper Canada, by Writ of Habeas Corpus,
for enlargement, but was remanded to jail, and
detained there for nearly eight months fthe Process
being hereunto annexed): That, at the end of this
period, he was so weakened by confinement, and

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

xlv

SO exasperated by cruel tn atment, being* for some
time denied free conversation not only witli friends,
but magistrates of his acquaintance, and attorneys
employed to transact his Ihw business, that he
su tiered a trial to be brought on merely as to the
fact of his having refused to leave the Province,
which fact being established, he was banished by
the same judge who had detained hiai in prison,
and was obliged to take refuge in the United
States of America, twenty-four hours after the
sentence was pronounced.

That your Petitioner has now come home for the
express purpose of submitting his case to your
Majesty and the Imperial Parliament, trusting that
due inquiry will be instituted, and that the con-
stitutional rights of a British subject will be main-
tained.

Your Petitioner believes, that, upon inquiry,
your Majesty will find that the Provincial Statute,
under colour of which your Petitioner was im-
prisoned and banished, never was meant to apply
to untainted British subjects; but, in fact, was
framed with a view to exclude from Upper Ca^
nada certain outlawed and expatriated persons,
who fled, or were allowed to depart from Ireland^
after the rebellions of 1798 and 1803.

Your Petitioner is assured that, on the first
blush, your Majesty must be impressed with hor-
ror at the idea that an untainted British subject,
confiding in innocence, and jp'oud of his constitu-
tional privileges, should be immured in jail upon
the mere oath of an individual, and at last be

:J|

xlvi

GENERAL INTRODl'CTION.

thrust out of your Majesty's dominions into a fo-
reign land, without even the shadow of crime being
proved against him.

But your Petitioner is still more assured that,
setting aside ail regard to natural justice — all re-
gard to expediency, or any construction which
can be put on the Provincial Statute, that, that
Statute cannot possibly be applied to an untainted
British subject, without encroaching on those
sacred principles established at the revolution,
which placed your Majesty's family on the Bri-
tish throne, without weakening the sacred bond
of natural allegiance, and exposing to ridicule the
rallying words of American loyalists — " The Unity
of the Empire.**

Your Petitioner cannot avoid taking opportu-
nity, on this occasion, to protest against attempts
which have been made to make your Majesty be-
lieve that a disloyal and seditious spirit prevails
among the people of Upper Canada, Your Peti-
tioner, during a residence of nearly two years in
that Province, had better opportunities of ascer-
taining facts upon this subject, than any other
person, and most solemnly declares that he never
could perceive the slightest symptom of such a
spirit. With regard to your Petitioner, individu-
ally, who has been branded by a party in power
with the epithet of " factious," he can declare,
before God, and he does so declare, that his whole
conduct in Upper (jjtinada was guided by senti-
ments and impulses of a nature the very reverse
from sedition. He beheld, in that Province,

-jg^f^ffl^s!' ". ' i r. 's ,'

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

xlvii

public mismanagement stallcing abroad, — rendering
abortive the most abundant offerings of nature,
and trampling down the best blessings of a liberal
and free constitution, lie found weakness going
out in aid of mismanagement, and giving birth to
events which, accumulating, cannot fail to en-
danger the dominion of your Majesty in that quar-
ter of the world. He deplored this tendency. He
saw simple means by which Britain and Canada
could be indissolubly bound together for mutual
benefit. He was zealous, — he was enthusiastic in
the cause; and, though now suffering most bit-
terly from the eff'ects of injustice and persecution,
would exert his last breath in calling attention to
this subject.

He, now, therefore, most earnestly solicits that
your Majesty may be graciously pleased to order
the law officers of the crown to consult, and report
as to the liability of British subjects to be impri-
soned in and banished from Upper Canada, as your
Petitioner has been; and that your Majesty, in
council, will take into consideration the whole
state of that province.

And your Petitioner, as in duty bound,
shall ever pray.

I do not know that my book could be introduced
better than by the above circular. It comes
briskly upon the ground ; and, here, we find one
member of parliament proclaiming '< the distress

xlviii

GENERAL INTRODfTfTrON.

of fhe coHUfn/^'' and Hirim.stiiis^ as a nMiiodv, *' an
emif/rafion to our colonieii in North America;'^
while aiiotlic r statt's flow '* crtn'w^'hf an.vt')vs the
jxiopte were to cmigralo ;'' hut thai ** thetf iro.re
destitute of means.'' Tliu Ch:»ii('( lior oi' ilic h\-
cht(|iier dfclares, that " his majeshfs luiuis'ers
were disposed to adopt everif meftsnre n'h>i h f-ou/d
realhf vontnlmte to the relief of the distresses of the
labonrinif classes ;*' btit htptcs, that *' the Ao/lh
American eohnies had been so orerloarled vith end-
ij/rants, that the f/overnment of Canufla h(i»t ntade
the stronffest remonstrances on the snhject. lie ims
not prepared, to snhmit a plan^ hnl said it wotttd he
wise to wait for some acconnt of the pro(/ress of the
colony at the Cape of (rood Hope.'' I then **tep
in, and assert, that, ** hi/ proper manaf/ement^ even
people destitute of means could he conifortahh/ settled
m Upper Canada f and, hy a tuimal and solemn
declaration, in a petition presented to the House of
Cominons, undertake to *' set forth practicable
plans J 1)1/ which ten times the number of people who
have ever, in one year, emiyrated to Canada, may
be annually transported thither, and comfortably
settled'^

This is my position, and it is this which the
present work contemplates to maintain.

More than three years of my lite have heen
devoted to this subject. My fortune, my character,
my healtli, have sufttred in the cause ; and ail that
I now want is a patient hearing from the British
public. My book is not one of amusement. Bu-
siness is its aim ; and that business surely of the

•'■■•^ly'r— Trr

"^•^•■"^WVM^f^'

' -iit;tftfic ag» »fta—i

GENKRAL INTRODI CTION.

xlix

most pressing import. All paitijs allow that emi-
gration is one way by which rlistross may he miti-
gated ; but a specific plan is wanted for rendering
it practicable on a great scale, which will not put
the country to expence. My plan afiects to ac-
complish this even with n profit to the country.

As the CIRCULAR was not intended for its pre-
sent use,--as it narrates some of my proceedings,
and so far discloses my situation, hut does not^
complete what is now necessary, — as the lapse of
time has given rise to remarks and redections, — as
various occurrences have happened, but, above all,
that extraordinary one which has arrested the at-
tention of the whole world, and deafened the ear
of this country to every other subject,— -I trust the
reader will be indulgent while I bring up my nar-
rative, illustrate and explain what may be doubt-
ful, or is imperfect, and add what may be necessary
to a full and clear understanding of the nature and
object of this work.

I left Edinburgh the 2d June, trusting that my
petitions to Parliament and to the King in coun-
cil, being presented, and this volume published, I
might return to Scotland in a month at farthest.
On the 6th, being pat down at my accustomed
lodging-house, in Bouverie-street, the first words of
my landlord were *' the Queen, sir, has landed at
Dover, and is expected in town tliis evening."
A few days were wasted in anxious expectation
that the royal quarrel would be prudentially settled ;
but every day lessening the hope of this, I resolved
to economize, by taking a private room in the

\4\

}.,m m *itf'*mt'ifr%'-^^>-»^f^*>-t ^ ip»»'!r ^•^•-^>\.ff-r'-^'V'n'^rr^^^f'^

•vwuaflmt

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

i I

suburbs, and sit down with patience, till the issue
of the mighty contest. Four months having gone
by, 1 still sit in patience ; for why should any one
fret, when the whole nation is subjected to the same
calamity? Calamity! No: let us think better ot the
ways of Providence, under which, if we resolutely
strive to do our parts well, good will invariably
follow. My persecutions — my trials — my most
grievous fate, never would have called attention to
the cruel, the filthy, the unrelenting conduct ot
wicked ministry, — to the horrid system of combi-
nation, falsehood, treachery, which old established
power has generated, — to the sickening, heart-rend-
ing, humiliating degradation of humanity, had not
common sense, prudence, decency, feeling, justice,
honour, religion, been all sacrificed for vengeance
against the queen of England! Oh my country!
Oh my countrymen ! how blessed will be the
event, if cautious, peaceful, manly conduct takes
advantage of present experience — of present union
— of present superiority over power, and influence
more potent than power ! — if the respectable
people of this country hold together, and with one
voice call for inquiry, not merely into the mis-
management of a province, but into that of the

empire

nearly

* These two pages have, by accident, stood a month in typo,
and were written immediately after the witnesses, who had sworn
to the most filthy slanders against the Queen, were proved wholly
unworthy of credit, — when one important witness for her excul-
pation was let slip from Cotton-Garden, and others, stiJI more es-

" ''^*?*S^^^<ftip(^^(iPi?i^

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

During the last week of June, a copy of
the CIRCULAR was sent to every member of the
House of Commons, to a few newspaper editors,
and some friends. Not a single soul took notice
of it; not even Sir James Mackintosh, to whom I
had written a note, requesting to know if he would
present my petition to the house. On writing to
Sir ,)ames a second time, whose good offices I was
anxious to secure, from having long considered him
ourgreatestconstitutional lawyer, and, from his being

9en*.ial, were prevented, by the influences of a foreign court, from
making their appearance. He who could be unmoved by such
foul play, or he who rould vote against the Queen, thus clearly
the victim of audacious conspiracy, is surely not to be envied ; and
that there were upwards of a hundred British pters who did so,
is a fact ivhich will stand on the page of hiptory, a striking proof
of human weakness, and of the power ol an overgrown crown in-
fluence. Where shall we tind better men than Lords Liverpool
and Eldon ? Probably no where. It is not the men, but the sys-
tem — the blinding, infatuating system, which we should tliink of,
and strive to amend. But what are our politicians and reformers
going about? — their long accustomed drivelling for a cAong'c of
ministers, and getting up petitions for parliament to reform itself! ! !
all, too, without order, without method, without understanding!

I hope the reader will excuse these bursts of feeling. It is
nearly six months since I left Scotland, for a serious hearing oa
a serious business ; but this day parliament is prorogued for two
iponths ; and ministers seem determined to persevere* in the per-
secution of a poor woman, to whom nothing but persecution,
would have gained notice, and whose frailties, though they had
been as flagrant as her enemies would have them, never could
Ijave aflected a single one of us. With opportunity, I could not
resist the desire to make a register of passing reflections on the
boding events of the day— the awful signa of the times.

,^— i^»Bv^,,.^tjyjn^iT«Fr*^ip',f '"'**rr^*;

Ti3T^f r-g . -^ ^ i' -g ^^y

^«m

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

well versed in colonial affairs, peculiarly qualified
for the business in question. He informed rae
that my first letter had not reached him*, and
readily complied with my desire. On a personal
interview, I told Sir James that it was only for
form's sake that I then wished the petition pre-
sented ; and, that this done, the business might be
seriously taken up at a future day. I further men-
tioned that the inquiry sought for into the state of
Upper Canada did not so much regard any change
in the provincial constitution of government, as
into the state of property, and system of managing
it. The petition was presented to the Commons

* Not knowing that letters to members of parliament were
equally free of postage at 5 miles distance as 500, I put mine
into the General Post-office. About 50 of them were returned,
marked " refused to pay the postage.** These I immediately re-
dispatched under covet, paidt through the Twopenny Post-office,
with an apology for my error. Fifteen were returned with a me-
morandum that the members could not be found. These I put
under a fresh cover, and carried to the office in the Houye of Com-
mons appointed to receive the letters of members. The keeper
made a charge of 15s. ; but on my refusal to pay, said he would
take 123.: i\m, of course, I also refused, and then dispatched
them, paid, as the before-mentioned parcel through the Twopenny
Post-office, directed to the House of Commons. I presume this
discloses a practice which should not be, and may lead us to
guess how it happened that Sir James Mackintosh did not receive
my first letter. If office-keepers can make a shilling by ensuring
the delivery of a letter, no doubt they have an interest in inter-
cepting such as come into their hands without a bribe. Perhaps
even the ietto*-:, which I post-paid, and directed, for Members, to
the House of Commons, may have been intercepted, for the pur-
pose of coalirming the importance of underhand agency.

GENERAL TNTRODTTCTION.

1111

on the 11th July. As I observed, in the news*
paper reports of its presentation, expressions,
which, coming from such high authority as Sir
James Mackintosh, might not only give a wrong
impression to the public, but injure both my cause
in another quarter, and that of the public in this
question, I resolved to write to Sir James, and
know the truth, which happily proved very differ-
ent from the newspaper reports. That of St.
James's Chronicle, 12th July, appearing as correct
as any other, I chose it to lay before Sir James.
It run as follows:

" Sir James Macintosh said, he held in his hand the
petition of R. Gourlay, a Scotch gentleman, who had gone
to Canada with a view of establishing himself there. The
substance of the petition was twofold : it contained a com-
plaint which was personal, and it described a public griev-
ance. It appeared that there was a provincial statute in
Upper Canada, which went somewhat further than the
Alien Bill, now in its progress through that House, and
upon the merits of which he certainly did not then mean to
enter. By this statute, every person, not already settled,
whether natural born or foreigner, was liable to be sent
out of the province, and was subject to penalties. The
petitioner stated, that from some injurious and calumnious
misrepresentations of his character, he had been brought
before the high court, and had sustained very serious
oppression. He (Sir J. Macintosh) did not think the
House competent, under such circumstances, to interfere
on the petitioner's behalf; and the only question was, whe-
ther tlie law itself did not deserve the attention of parlia-
ment. The petition likewise stated that there were
various laws in the colony, especially with regard to
landed property, which operated very disadvantageously,

ii f.

'■
■ ■1 ■
' I ■

[i^^;^

Sip; i

'. '

':'! ; {

lir

GENERAL INTRODUCTTOW.

and rendered the colony very unfit to bo what it was con-
sidered it ought to be — an asyhiin for emigrants from the
mother country. He ^ould not pledge hiinseU' to the task,
but he thought it highly prdbahle that he should (;all the
attention of the House to this subject in next session of
parliament.

The petition was then brought up, read, and ordered to
lie on the table.

Sir J. Macintosh Ihen rose to move, that the petition
of Sir Henry Dorrington, presented by an honourable
friend of iiis on the lOlh May last, [)e printed."

Sir,

litJi Augvsf 1820.
Ever since the report of your presenting my
petition to parliament appeared in the newspapers, 1 have
intended to write to you; but have waited till this moment,
when I hope your leisure can best spare attention to the
subject.

I havp enclosed a newspaper report, which I conceive
to be correct. Some newspapers reported that my petition
was ordered to be printed, but this, 1 presume, was a
mistake, from confounding my petition with that of Sir
Henry Dorrington, spoken of immediately after.

What I am anxious to be informed of is, whether the
words, " By this statute every person .i<»» already settled,
whether nalund born sul.jei i or fureigner, was liable to be
sent out uf the proviijre," expressed ycjr serious opinion
that the provincial st itute was competeul so to act against
a native born Jiiitisli suliject, or only that the decision
against me had ijiven it that aspect.

Should you lav«.ur me with a reply, have the goodness to
return the slip of newspaper.

With much respect. Sir,

Your obedient servant,

RuBT. GOURLAY,

Sir Jatnes Mackinlosh.

■ ^ ' W >f « W« lWi |W''i<W w ! ra w y 'l»-WW'<a^''r?y^i«=<r'-q?'!rt-7tc.---''.-T^

■«■

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Mardocks, near Ware, Hertt,

IhLk Aug. 1820.

Sir J. Mackintosh's compliments to Mr. Gourlay ; has
received Mr. Gourluy's letter of the 14th, at this place,
this morning.

Sir J. did procure the petition to be printed. He gave
no opinion about the construction of the Cuaadian statute;
but merely stated the case as it stood on the allegations of
the government of Upper Canada.

This is perfectly satisfactory, and should do away
the impression which may have been made by the
newspaper reports. As stated above, the petition
was presented only for form's sake ; and, as I trust,
the subject will, at a proper season, be seriously
agitated, it is gratifying to know that the step of
printing the petition was taken, and that, as yet,
the question rests wholly clear of prejudice.

Besides this petition to the Commons, which
was neatly engrossed on a sheet of vellum, by a
law-stationer, and to which a copy of the Canadian
Sedition Act was attached by a binding of silk,
handsomely printed on a similar sheet ; another,
only differing in its address, was prepared for the
House of Lords ; and 1 corresponded with Lord
Holland, as the peer most likely, in my opinion,
to do it justice on presentation.

Lord Holland obligingly offered to present the
petition ; but informed me that it must be pasted,
and not stitched together, to be received by the
House of Lords ; and expressed his doubts whether
printed papers annexed are admitted.

The delay thus occasioaed, tiie aanouuced ad-

: I

* H

. i

Ivi

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

journment of the House, and some hints from his
lordship, made me defer my purpose, which, how-
ever, when the Queen's business is settled, shall
be followed out.

Lord Holland has informed mc that ♦* any inter-
ference, real or supposed, with the rights of a
British subject, by the laws of Upper Canada, is
certainly a ftiir subject of petition to parliament ;
as is also any act you can conceive to be oppressive
and unjust, and against which you have no other
means of redress. But the House will not enter-
tain any complaint from an individual, for which,
in the common course of law, he may seek re-
dress.''

The reader will observe, that, in my petition,
though I describe my treatment, &c. I waive all
consideration on my own account ; and merely
pray '* that the state of Upper Canada, as it con-
cerns emigration, may he taken into serious con-
sideration.'*

With regard to my personal grievance, I have
employed a respectable solicitor to lay a memorial
before the King in council, and shall follow out
" the common course of law'^ before I trouble par-
liament on that head. My solicitor gives me hope
that I may obtain a new trial, or otherwi.je be
relieved i but still there is doubt, and should I,
after seeking redress, in the common course of law,
noi find it, 1 hope my case will be " a fair subject
of petition to parliament," and that Lord Holland
will support me in the House of Lords.

On coming up to town, I consulted a friend of

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Ivii

high respectability at the bar, as to my proceeding.
He said I would have no ohance of being heard,
unless a member of parliament could be found to
take a personal interest in the cause; but I hope
that both Lord Holland and Sir James Mackintosh
may, after the present dread question about the
Queen is over, be disposed seriously to enter on
the subject upon pure abstract principles of duty,
whether it is for me as an individual, or the public.
In conversation, I quoted the trite maxim, that,
constitutionally, *" every wrong fmd its remedy;'^
but, said my learned friend, " if there is no remedy,
there is no wrong'' Now, holding, as I do, a just
respect for my friend*s judgment, I must boldly
set my face against such dogma, and shall think
my case peculiarly well calculated, should matters
come to an extreme, to lay the foundation for a
stout argument between the imperfection of law
process, and the invincible fortress of abstract truth
and justice. The nation does not contain other
two men equally pledged to stand by this fortress
as Lord Holland and Sir James Mackintosh — the
successor of Fox, and the autlior of Yindicioi
Gallic€D.

It has been too much our misfortune in times
past, that Parliament has shrunk from abstract and
constitutional questions ; but it is to be hoped that
times approach when the most rugged and deep
may be investigated ; nor can there be presented one
more inviting, more serious, and at the same time,
more simple, than that which springs from the
application of the Canadian Sedition Act to a

I %

1'^

''•.

' it

Iviii

GENEBAL INTRODUCTION.

British subject. Jn speculation it is interesting :
in practice it calls loudly for discussion and de-
cision. .^

Respecting the great public question to which
I have solicited the notice of parliament — the
question of inquiry into the state of Upper Canada,
as it concerns emigration, — that which should come
home to the business and bosom of every benevolent
member of society who desires to contribute to the
relief of present distress ;•— respecting this, the la|^se
of time has afforded me no small encouragement to
persevere; and I hope that others will, from de-
termined events, be inclined to attach to my endea-
vours an increasing portion of importance.

Though I should have petitioned parliament
to take the state of Upper Canada into considera-
tion, merely to satisfy my own mind, that no duty
on my part, was neglected to so grand a cause, and
in conformity with a declaration made to the people
of the province, that I would so act on my return
home, I certainly would not have been sanguine
of success, but from my hope that these endea-
vours would be backed by a commission from
Canada. Last April 1 sent out copies of my
STATEMEKT, to be published in that country; and
1 also sent out copies of my circular for the
vsame end, with. a. short address to the people, in-
forming them that I was steady to their cause; but
that littk could be expected till their representar
tives made a point of sending home a commission
for inquiry. On my leaving the province I had
full hope that by the ensuing parliamentary elec-

GENERAL fNTRODUCTlON.

lilK

tion, the wretched creatures who constituted last
assembly would he sent adrift ; and since this
volume was put to press, London newspapers
(Statesmnn and Knulishmaii) of the 6th and 10th
Sept«Mnl>er, have published an extract from Quebec
and American prints, which will best satisfy my
readers, as to th^^ true position of political strength
and opinion in Upper Candida, wl»ich will best con-
tradict a gross falsehood, which, among many others,
has been published in this country, as I have been
credibly informed, under the authority of the Lieu-
tenant Cjovernor and Attorney General of the
province, thit " the numbir of his (my) followers
are reduced to a very few persons."

*' Canadian Affairs: — We learn that the
" late election for Members of Parliament for
" Upper Lanadtty has terminated in the almost una-
** nimous choice of persons who are the polilicat
it friends of Mr. Gonrlay. It wowkl appear from
** thisy that the popular voice is against the admi-
•* nistration.'^

'i'his document should add some weight to the
importance of my present endeavours, — give addi-
tional interest to my book, — and satisfy F^ord Hol-
land, and Sir James Mackintosh, that I have not
been trifling with their valuable time.

Although I am very confident that my friends,
now constituting the great majority in the Cana-
dian parliament, will not neglect my advice, yet
with their best efforts they may not be able im-
mediately to send home the much desired commis-
sion. They have the power of withholding sup-

1 mi

■i

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

plies for public service, but they cannot raiso any
without the concurrence ol the Lieutenant Gover-
nor and Legislative Council; and their predecessors,
monstrous brutes ! took from the people their
natural right of meeting, to raise a subscription
for sending home a petition to the throne.

By private correspondence, 1 have been inform-
ed of the desperate struggle made by the executive,
to prevail over my friends at the late election,
and they succeeded in some of the more benighted
districts, so as to get seven lawyers returned*;
who no doubt will confound reason, and retard
the progress of common sense with all their might:
still, sooner or later, the imperial parliament must
be consulted ; and I am sure it will serve no good
purpose whatever, for oufc home ministry either
to aid procrastination, or to oppose a full and fair
investigation. This book, I trust, will clear the
way, and sufficiently demonstrate not only the
need for investigation, but give a view of the
blessed consequences which may result from it.

Grossly and falsely as my proceedmgs in Upper
Canada have been misrepresented, no candid reader
will, I am sure, attribute bad motives to me, if he
patiently peruses the following pages. As to the
people of Upper Canada, they are loyal in the
extreme, and their desire to continue in connexion
with Britain, was verified by the free offering of
their properties and lives. If they choose, they

* The Upper Canada Assembly of Represent ativeu now con-
gists of 40.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Ixi

cannot be held for a moment in trammels. They
are not circumstanced as wc are at home. Why
then should any thing like wanton contradiction
be opposed to their wishes? — why should minis-
ters provoke to passion, when reason dictates for-
bearance, when necessity phjads for mild and libe-
ral measures, and when the right hand of fellow-
ship is held forth, — when nothing more is wanted
but inquiry, and nothing but the good of both
countries could result from it?

Sir James Mackintosh has not pledged himself
to call the attention of parliament to the afi'airs of
Upper Cvmada, but he has said that it is highly pro-
bable he will, and he may depend upon it, that
my^local experience, and whatever else opportunity
has furnished me with, shall be at his service for
the occasion. He may depend upon it that the
■lulyect has treasured within it a rich reward for
that man, whose love of doing good shall equal
a sufficiency of talent to unfold and advance it to
notice. Fifty years ago, when the first misunder-
standing between Britain and her American co-
lonies began to grow serious, what a world of
mischief might have been prevented by timely
notice, and by thorough investigation ! — seven years
war! — the loss of our fairest possession in the
west ! — the disgrace of our arms ! — the engendering
of an age of rancour! Surely, if the conqueror in
war merits a triumph, benediction is due to the
peace-maker, — to him who prevents animosity, and
establishes a basis for harmony and Christian love.
As this volume proceeds, the reader, I am con-

1 ■:■,!:

■*-^i»^"(* ? y »« -j wM g n ^'' tyj y'^

Ixii

c;CNERAL INTRODl'CTION.

fidcnt, will be moroand more satisfieri, that no wan-
ton or mi8('lii('V()ii8 pnliticaj int rri-nnc*', — iio little,
selfish interest ban had sniv roncrrn with ni\ pro-
ceedinLfS in Upper Canadii. Me will find thai I had
before ine a vast scheme of practicable benevoh nee,
and that 1 have substantial grounds tor luy zeal, —
that my scheme, with the countenance of govern-
ment, may easily, effectually, and speedily be put
in execution, — that it would make good all that
I have said above, — that it would for ever bind
together Britain and her colonies.

My popular influence in l^pper Canada could,
were I willing, be so directed as to give even un-
necessary trouble but every principle which
guides iny conduct — every feeling which Hows
from my heart, wo*'' be in arms against anything
of the kind. I cat not a farthing for popular in-
fluence ; nay, by itself, I despise it, but as it may
invigorate the progress of virtue and civilization.
Saving a desire of having opportunity to maintain
my fionour, which a vile conspiracy unfairly
deprived me of, and saving a wish to force on, by
every lionest endeavour, my scheme of benevolence,
I have little care about Canada. Indeed 1 repeat-
edly signified to the people there, that my chief
efforts were made, neither for them nor myself,
but for the poor of England ; and should govern-
ment adopt my plans, or what part of them the
liberal public shall approve, 1 am ready to stay
at home, or go abroad, as they may choose— to be
active or passive, just as may be required for the
general good.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Ixiii

It grieves me exccedincly, thtit the stron^»' and
luckless sitUHtion iii wliich 1 have been plnced,
lias made it necessary to interlard my accounts
of Uppir Canada, and strictun-s on its political
state, with any thing personal, as to myself or
others, but there is no help for it. A mass of
filth has been flung in my way, and I must, in
duty, tread it down. However forced to digress,
however irri-'guinr my progress may appear, the
reader will still be able lo perceive that iny main
object is never left behind.

Sir James Mackintosh has questioned whethe.
the Canadian sedition act was not of itself an ob-
ject of parliamentary attention; and, I suggested
this to Sir James. 1 said, that tl)e mere view of
that act, — of its monstrous features, afforded suffi-
cient ground for inquiry int ' state of the pro-
vince, hs mere existence speaks volumes, as to
the spirit which has hitherto been at the bottom
of Canadian policy, and though it may now be
repealed, as I have heard it is, the very shade of
its departed villany is worthy of study, that the
future destinies of Upper Canada may be directed
for good.

Jt is worth while to inquire into the circum-
stances which produced such an act; — what spirit
could so long sustain it in existence, and what
more vile spirit could apply it, contrary to every
constitutional principle, to a British subject?

Can it be supposed that when such an act was
passed, there was a single Canadian representative
alive to hia duty, or fitted for his post ? No; not

Ixiv

GENERAL INTRODUCTION*

one. Had there been a single man among them
with eyes, or brains, or heart, at liberty, he would
have proclaimed to the country its hazard of
coming to disgrace by such enactment, even as
applicable to aliens. Though we know that pub-
lic spirit never would have permitted such filthy
legislation to be recorded at home, we have suffi-
cient evidence at the present time, of the dire
spiiit of our ministry ; and there can be no doubt
but the provincial statute before us was framed in
the cabinet of London, an*.! sent abroad to be
palmed on the poor sycophantish witlings of the
province, by some pawkie, well paid-politician, per-
haps trebly installed in power, with a seat in the
executive council, a seat in the legislative coun-
cil, and on the bench. Yes, yes, a provincial
judge pang-full of ministerial influence, and knoW'
iiig in the secrets of his calling, was equal to such
a task ; and another, when occasion required,
could, easily, with the instrument of tyranny pre-
pared for him, with the aid of an unprincipled,
callous-hearted sheriff', and having the advantage of
packet, ignorant and spiritless juries, consummate
any degree of wickedness,— could ruin, by it, any
liege subject of the King, and put in disarray the
proudest boast of our constitution.

Had the Canadian representatives been simply
fools, —simply blind and heartless, they would not
have enacted such a law ; but they were stupid,
and blind, and unfeeling, from their whole thoughts
being, under the system which controlled them,
intent only on self; and what else is it which, at
this very time, is moving on our ablest statesmen,

our bi
judges

of itlfj:

before
of En^
such a\
at the <
ness ! r
exclain
tious,
tage of
li ear ted
by coiKv
other, e
govern ni
with go
be vexe
doubt tl
ment is
We k
and cou
by circu
above te
that noti
ledge, ce
For tv
and civili
gained sc
soniethini
thing vf i
gave mot
advanced

GENERAL INTUODl CTfON. IxV

our brightest orators, our noble peers, our grave
judges, and our right reverend bishops, in a course
ol' infatuation and madness, vvliich no age ever
I)efore witnessed ? Tliank (jod, tlie prevaihng spirit
of English tuen, has revolted at the experience of
such awful proceedings, and uiinisterial power has,
at the climax of its fury, broken down in weak-
ness! may we hope, in despair? Oh! let me again
excLiim, how blessed will be the event, if cau-
tious, peaceful, manly conduct takes advan-
tage of present experience,- -if the most generous
hearted pe^ople upon eartii hold together, — if they,
by conceit, moderation, and charity towards eacli
other, ensure a thorough change of system in the
government of our country, ^\'hat do we want
with government but utility? Why should we
be vexed with non-esseutials ? Why should we
doubt that the desideratum for perfect govern-
ment is CHEAPNESS aud SIMPLICITY ?

We know that human nature is, in every age
and country, the same, ruled and diversified only
by circumstances. We have no proof of its being
above temptation ; and edl experience demonstrates
that nothing but general interest, aided by know-
ledge, can hold down individual selfishness.

For two hundred years advances to freedom
aud civilization have been sure, though slow. We
gained something at the reformation: we gained
something at the revolution: antl we have some-
thing yet to gain. The progress of British liberty
gave motion to liberty all over the world. It has
advanced throughout Europe : it has prevailed in

I 1

■ \

I ' ;'

Ixvi

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

America; but here we may c<»i»rK''Mji)v hone for
its fiticst display ; for here sii|»' r!'»r kiiouliidge aiul
refinement ean give lustre to ni-. I'Muin ti ht. I he
counlrv, which i-< the snhj. ct o! liiis work, has af-
forded striking proof of the weakness ol mere in-
stitiilion. Ejuhosomed in the United States — in
the very arms of independence, it has become
degraded and enslaved;— it has become contempt-
ible by the contemptible conduct of the people's
representatives.

The boon which Britain gave to Canada, in her
constitutional act, was pure and efficient ; but the
influence of undue [)atronage and power in the ex-
ecutive government were forgotten, or winked at,
in the midst of poverty and ignorance. The people
of Upper Canada, with a perfect representation,
had all that could be desired, had their representa-
tives been wise men, and proof against temptation.
They were neither. They not only allowed the
act before us to be recorded on their statute book,
but several others of the most nauseous character ;
and, latterly, while I was among them — when the
utmost servility to the governor was aided by
personal pique towards me, were guilty of mean-
ness and treachery altogether beyond example.
They not only sanctioned a permanent law for pre-
venting the most peaceable description of meetings,
without even a green bag apology ; but justified
the governor in sending home, to the foot of the
throne, documents libelling the great mass of
their constituents, and impressing a belief that they
only " waited for the moment of their strength as

OENERAI. iNTRODtTCTION.

Ixvii

the moment of revolt.'* I ropcat, with all due
sense of delicacy and decorum— what brutes ! nay,
they are even more vile than the beasts of the field,
who make barter of publir liberty.

Before going out to Canada, no one was more
heartily sick of boroughmongers than I ; but since
my experience of crown influence among a be-
nighted people, 1 feel inclined, with a sort of
instinctive yearning, like tiiat of the dog to his
vomit, to throw myself, not only with hope, but
transport, into tiie arms of our dear boroughmon-
gers. Knavery itself has charms, when bedecked
with talent, and graced with gentlemanly manners ;
but when low-bred storekeepers, pettyfo^jging
lawyers, and stupid clodhoppers, enter into con-
spiracy against truth, common sense, and modesty,
no man should boast of temper and patience, for
that species of oppression is generated, which,
Scripture tells us, '* makes a wise man mad."

The more to attract attenticn to the Canadian
Sedition Act, ! have caused it to be printed con-
spicuously, and I would have ihe reader again to
peruse and study it, that he may have a just
sense of the narrow-minded, weak, and abominable
poli(*y which has hitherto guided our provincial
government.

The act commences with setting forth its object,
viz.: the protection of his Majesty's subjects from
the insidious attempts and designs of evil-minded
and seditious persons ; giving, by-the-bye, in the
very distinction of terms, no small proof that it was
never meant to make his Majesty's subjects liable

e 2

i , ''

''"mm

■ *ktt^\,t£j»,.

Ixviii

GKNERAL INTRODUCTION.

to its controul. The local situation of Upper
Canada exposes it to the inroad of aliens of all
nations, vvho^ having no lie of allegiance or affec-
tion to Britain, may thence be suspected of evil
designs ; and for that reasoij terrors may hi held
out to ktep iheni at a distanet;; hut for British
subjects to be suspecteit^ an<l made liable to junal-
ties on meresusj>icion, is contrary nt once to iia^Mire,
and the spirit of our constitution. It is more es-
pecially absurd, vvhc-n w*; consider that the law
was expressly made for thar protection ; and that
for their benelit, generally, the province received
its consiiiution.

But, liovv shocking is it that any man, even an
alien, should be exposed to slander and arrest, at
the mere capricious uill of others ? " Just cause'*
of suspicion is, indeed, alluded to; but no rule is
laid down bv whicli the justness of the cause can
be ascertained. An individual is scandalized, he
is arrested, and a process goes on which, in spite of
the utmos*^ purity and innocence, consigns him to
ruin. Think, for instance, of my aggravated case.
It clearly appeared at my trial, that William Dick-
son had a consultation with Swayze the day prior
to that wretch making oath that I was a seditious
person ; and Dickson's spite towards me was noto-
rious. Swayze is so thoroughly ignorant (he can
scarcely write his name) that, of his own accord,
he never would have thought that tlie law in cpies-
tion could, by help of his swearing, be made an
instrument to my hurt ; and I hold in my posses-
sion a printed paper, which was manitestly publish-

ed as a
the fare
entraj) n
son, my
accessar
a large c
was a m;
nothing
particuhi
ments, i
Only thi
decency,
Canada
honoural
of pul)lis
had gooc
himsell^
subject
man, ai
plete sat
and beh;
courag'e
mouth,
ing wit
hand th
and the
that ten

But
add insi
condem
thought
main in

I I

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Ixix

ed as a lead to the perjury. Now, only think of
the farce; after all this studicMl coiirrivance to
entra|) me, of my being brought Itefore Wni. Dick-
son, my inveterate personal tnemy. who had been
acce^ssary to accusation, and who had not only told
a large company present, that •' in his opinion, I
was a man of desperate fortune, and would stick at
nothing to raise insurrection;*' but had some of his
particular friends ready to declare similar senti-
ments, upon his formally putting the fjuestion.
Only think of the monstrous insult to reason and
decency, that 1, after having resided in Upper
Canada for more than a year, — after being twice
honourably acquitted from most wanton charges
of publishing seditious libel, the first of which 1
had good reason to believe originated in Dickson
himself,— that 1, well known to be a native-born
subject of Britain, should be brought before this
man, and be obliged to give liim "• full and com-
plete satisfaction that my words, actions, conduct,
and behaviour were not. intended to proniote or en-
courage disaffection."' Before I can open my
mouth, the stomach of this mv judge is overflow-
ing with gall and bitterness. He holds in his
hand the aflTidavit of his own insidious intrigue,
and then bids me prove a negative, when he knows
that ten thousand negatives would go for nothing!
But mark how this odious statute proceeds to
add insult to iujury. After its victim has sufTered
condemnation under it, he may be "permitted^'' if
thought expedient by the tyrant executor, to re-
main in the province, good and sufncierit security

Ixx

GENERAL INTRODUCTIONT.

being required to the satisfaction of the said tyrant
for the good behaviour of the condemned; but
after this security is given, shoiild the envy, the
jealousy, or the caprice of the tyrant revive, all se-
curity to the condenujed goes for nothing. ITe is
still subject to be scandalized, arrested, sent out of
the province, or imprisoned, without benefkof bail,
only for the purpose of being subjected to a mock
trial.

Having thus far commented on the Canadian
statute, I shall present to tlie reader the British
Alien Act, which vSir James iVlackintosh is reported
to have broui^ht into comparison with it, saying
that the Canadian statute " uerit somewhat fur-
tlur'^ The British act became law lOth June,
IBIS, with continuance till 25th March, 1819.
It was thence continued, by bill, til) 25lh June,
1820, and tljen again renewed until 2oth March,
18i^2. It stands thus among the statutes at large:

58 Geo. TIL Cap. 07.

An Act to prevent Aliens, until the 2oih Day of March,
1819, from hecomincf naturalized, or being made or he-
coming naturalized, or being made or becoming denizens,
except in certain ceases. lOlh June, 1818.

WiiKREAS it is expedient that for a time to be limited,
Aliens should not be, or become naturalized, or be made
or become denizens, except as hereinafter is provided :
Be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent
Majesty, by and with tlje advice and consent of the
Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons in this pre-
sent parliament assembled, and by the authoritv of th«^

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Ixxi

same, that from and after the passin*^ of this Act, until
the 25th day of March, 1819, no Alion shall become a na-
turalized subject, or be made or become denizens, or be-
come entitled to the privilej^es of a nutuializ(!d subject or
denizen, in any other manner, or by any other authority
than by any act which may hereafler be passed by the
parliament of the united kingdom of (jreal Hritain and
Ireland, or by letters of denization, hereafter to be granted
by his Majesty, his heirs and successors, any law, cust<mi,
or usage to the contrary notwitlistandin'^' : provided always
that nothing iierein contained shall extend or be construed
to extend to affect in any manner such right to naturaliza-
tion or to denization as any person, in case this act had not
passed, might accpiire or would have acquired, by virtue of
any act or acts of parliament, made for encouraging sea-
men to enter into his Majesty's service, or for naturalizing
sueh foreign Protestants as shall settle in any of his Ma-
jesty's colonies in America, or for naturalizing such foreign
Protestants as shall have served, or shall serve in his Ma-
jesty's forces, and for the encouragement of the fisheries.

As Sir James Mackintosh presented my peti-
tion merely for form's s.tke, there cotild be little
harm in his comparing the above Alien Act with
the one in question ; and 1 shall make advantage
of it to infer that his doing so proceeded from
a conviction that both acts were alien acts. I
hope that Sir James, by another day, will not only
be convinced of this, but maintain the fact before
parliament, with his admirable powers of reason-
ing, and all the patriotism displayed in 1791.
Saving this ground for comparison, that both the
British and Canadian acts were applicable only to
aliens, there is as much for comparmg an angel of

I !

,' : i'

Ixxii

G r.N FIIA L 1 NT HO DTICTIOX.

liuavfin to lU'Izcbul). The Hritisli statute contains
not a word, far less a sentinu-nl, that is improptir or
ott'tnsive; but we can s{^areely reati u line of the
ntiier without conteniiit, (hsGjust, or iiuli^natic)n.
To distinguish the mighty ditlerence, let us take
the words of Sir James Maekintosh, and ini})rove
upt)n them, — let us sotnewhat furl/ur stretch com-
parison. The British act civilly inl<)rins aliens,
that, for a few months, it is expeditmt to forego
our accustomed liberality of admitting them to na-
turalization, ft does nothing more; and the dis-
like of doing this is manifested by the short periods
to which, from time to time, the act is limited.
Our le<rislators seem ashamed of being untjenerous

to strangers for any length of time; but proviiicial
legislators bar the door of good will ami hosj)itality
for ever ; nor can the Canadiati people re-open it,
but at the pleasure of a lieutenant-governor, and
legislative councillors of his appointment.

7\n unsusj)ecting stranger may find his way to
Upper Canada: he may roam delighted on the
banks of the St. Lawrence : he may recline at ease
on the shores of Ontario, and hav? every care
lulled to rest, while his eye is intent on the charm-
ing exjianse of its still and pellucid element: he
may be wrapt in extacy of bliss, gazing on the
most sublime arid beautiful of nature's scenes — the
rapids and falls of Niagara: he may be saying,
" hither shall I bring my wife and fannly -to this
paradise shall 1 invite all my friends — in this fine
and abundant country shall we take up our abode
— When, lo ! snakes spring from the grass — rattle-

»»

(iENEUAL INTROnrrTlON.

Ixxiii

snakrs ami iulders. Dicksoti, Chuis, and Svvayze,
liave eyed his a^cstiircs — have oiivied tin- raptures
othis soul — have resolved to blast his toosaiiguiue
expectations. Tiie fu-nds seize upon the happy
mail — ihe stranger: they slander his eharacter ;
they mock, they imprison, and banish him: his
U'ood name is gone tor ever, and tlie remainder of
his liJ'e must pass heavdy away in sadness and
sorrov/. This is *' so mew hut further y'' witli a ven-
geanee.

Should Sir James Mackintosh honour these
pages with perusal, 1 tiunk he will smile with
reflection on the comparison unwittingly made by
him, and that he will most heartily endeavour,
next session, to assist me somewhat further.

It ij my solemn beliei', that in him and Lord
IJoIldr»d, I have chosen the very fittest men of
their "respective Mouses, to bring on investigation
concerning our colonial policy. Every borly knows
that it is horrible, not in Upper Canada only, but
over the whole glolx.' ; while there is not the
slightest necessity for its being so. Mai" kind do
not require cruel and tyrannical laws to govern
them. Let but their interests be studie^d, and they
may sail.'ly be held in subjection with a thread.
Of all places in the world, Upper Canada should
be the last for the exercise of illiberal and severe
policy. That country can never be guarded by
penal laws, nor rendered st^cure by oppression.
Freedom, and finally ind<^pendence, must be its
■lot; and, with liberal institutions, the devil may

Ixxiv

GENERAL INTUODrCTfON.

be .allowed to vvnlk to and fro in it, with perfect
safety to government.

There are too many who content themselves
with the belief that rehgion is the soh^ hope of
man's improvement, and so it is, rii;htly under-
stood ; but we find those to wiiom I allude using
the word religion, for the indulgence ov indolence,
or, still worse, for inculcating tiirough its [)erver-
sion, passive submission to established wrong. It
is my o[)inion that activity is essential to religioti,
and that those who are its real friends will exert
themselves to render law conlbrmable to its max-
ims, esjjecially to that which inculcates charity.
If law carries in its front a glaring contradiction
of this: — if it fosters malignant passion*, coun-
tenances wickedness, and affords protection to the
perpetrators of crime, how vain to preach up mo-
rality as d'lty, and ftith as our oidy liope ! Were
law tiie pure offspring of religion — the simple
corrective of natural infirmity, how admirably
would it consort with religion, and establish good
will among nun! How soon would obedience to
duty become our fust principle of action, and faith
the guiding star of every movement! Charity
and love are the genuine supports of religion ; but
in all its declaraiions, in all its sentiments, in
all its provisions, and in all its consequences, how
grievously does the Canadian statute counteract
and destroy these Christian virtues! No true
Christian could have had a hand in framing such
a law, — no spirit but malevolence could have

subjec

its ope

the ris

villan>

it cont

mv str

incffcc

and m

exertio

indiguf

give pr

percept

sacrific

perienc

does n

purity

nor th;

I a ted n

cheern

mistir)rtJ

luckleJ

for reni

the ab(i

Thef

statute

one vvt|

in the

I was

of Upj

that tH

I was!

(tVf^ »!<?,♦«*•) '^■'^?*«*"«^».r^»«PTi.-r-"4«»M

GENERAL INTRODUCTTOK.

Ixxf

1 )

: 1 1

aubjoctod inc to its operation ; and, subjr^'tpd to
its operation, it is scarcely possible to keep down
the risings of malevolence.

W In n I lo(<k npon this law, and think of the
villany which must have concocted it, the evil
it contemplates, and has realized, 1 must confess
my strnf^gl(;s to suppress unchristian feelings arc
inetrectual : my animal spirits boil within me,
and my nerves become relaxed with excess of
exertion. I am no longer myself: I am at once
indignant and impotent ; and perhaps these pages
give proof of it. The reader can have no adccjuate
perccptioti of such feelings: he knows not the
sacrifices 1 have made: he has not had my ex-
perience: he has not shared my afflictions: he
does not know, and cannot conceive, the perfect
purity which has ever actuated my public conduct,
nor the extent of benevolent design which stimu-
lated my exertions in Upper Canada. One only
cheering hope sustains me, that, in the end, my
misfortunes may assist in calling attention to that
luckless country, and to the plans I have formed
for rendering it at once an asylum for distress, and
the abode of peace and prosperity.

The most execrable feature of the execrable
statute before us, is deceit. It openly brandishes
one weapon, but hides another to suit convenience
in the attack of an unsuspecting victim. When
1 was arrested and ordered to depart the province
of Upper Canada, I never for a moment suspected
that the offence charged, was not that for which
I was to be tried at the assizes, after enduring

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Ixxri

GENERAL INTRODUrTIOX.

imprisonment. Having long before made np my
mind, and heard it acknowledged, tljat a British
subject could not lawfully be afll'ected by the act*,
I never thought of critically examining its letter,
far less of searching in it for (juibble. 1 had been
accustomed to regard with reverence all written
law, so far as good intention was concerned, and
never for a moment doubted it. I sufl'ered myself
to be imprisoned, in the full hope that 1 was to
have opportunity of pleading against some speci-
fic charge, constituting the ground of Swa^ze^s
oath ; and an alien might, from a similar impres-
sion, have resisted an order to depart. Under
all circumstances, and with such impressions, it
was not only prudent, but incumbent on me to

* Sir James Mackintosh enquired of me if the act bad ever
before been put in force against a British subject, and certainly
it never was, thongh often resorted to for the purpose of frighten-
ing alien Americans out of the province. The distinction of
right, between aliens and British subjects, in Canada, is strongly
marked. An ahen, for instance, cannot open a shop without
first having the oalh of allegiance to the king administered to
him, and many have left the province, because of this being re-
fused. A tkitish subject, on the contrary, may not onlycommence
business, but be elected as a member of the Canadian parliament,
by right of birih, and natural allegiance, provided lie holds landed
properly in the province, to the extent of 400 acres. He must
take an oath, prior to taking his seat, as members of the Imperial
Parliament do ; but this in no way affects his general claims. la
the same way, a British subject must go through the ceremony of
taking the outh of allegiance, prior to receiving a grant of land.
A British soldier takes the oath of allegiance ; but is equally
before and utter entitled to all coostitutioual protection. . . «

GENERAL INTRODLTTIOX.

Ixxvii

submit, rather tliim to leave the province in dis-
grace ; and 1 still thought so, even utter being
refused liberty on my suit of habeas corpus. I
was not indeed sanguine of success in tliis way,
believing that the con-spiracy against uie had been
formed with the connivance and will of the higher
powers of the province, and vvitli a view of mak-
ing me stoop to the governor. However false,
however infamous the charges against me were,
still they were olFicial : they were made before the
public, with all the parade of form, after 1 had
been arrested by the sheritV, and forcibly carri-^d
before my enemies. There was no alternative for
me but to suffer imprisonment, in the sure hope
of a third honourable acquittal ; or to give up all
my fond hopes of settling in the province. The
nature of tlie business which I was to follow (land
agency), was such, that the mere acknowledg-
ment that I had obeyed the order to go away,
would have been a bar to its practice : for under
such acknowledgment, 1 could not invite a single
individual to emigrate from Britain to Canada.
My hope of a trial, for alleged crime, was so
thoroughly riveted, that 1 declare before God,
when the course which was ultimately adopted,
was first spoken of, some months after I had been
imprisoned, my mind so revolted at the idea, that
I never was able to reflect on the subject ; nor
did I know the verbal quibble upon which my
indictment was founded, till six weeks after trial,
it was pointed out to me by a gentleman of Men-
treai, on my way home. It was then, for the first

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Ixxviii

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

time, that 1 loarnecl tliat the word " offence,*' used
in the statute, could, at will, he apjjhed either to
an act of sedition, or to th»; mere refusal to obev
an order.

As 1 do, and shall continue to protest against
the whole proceedinjj^, so do 1 maintain that *ome-
wUeir. I. ought to have redress. As a British sub-
ject I never was t'airly liable to the operation of
the Canadian statute. Every step taken against
me was illegal and unconstitutional — my arrest — my
imprisonment — my trial. It is absurd to suppose
that 1 should fjuietly suffer myself to be imprison-
ed, with any view but that of having my cha-
racter cleared from aspersion ; and as to consenting
to trial, it is what J never should have done in
health, and with my mind untroubled.

iSuch a case as mine can never be subject to
ordinary rules. The common course of law pro-
cess can never in justice be regarded, if that
course has in the first |)lace been grossly misused,
if my right of freedom, on application by habeas
corpus, has been denied, if all was illegal and un-
constitutional, and if undue rigour was used, so
as to cut off the hope even of a formal protest
being taken against the proceedings of the court.
And, here again, is a difficulty attached to a strict
adherence to the course of law, for I know not if
the most regular protest could have availed. What
would it avail for a murderer to protest against his
trial ? When an indictment is found, the trial must
proceed, and the jury has only to declare as to the
fact alleged. It is impossible, I think, that Lord

GI2XERAL INTUODtCTION.

Ixxix

Jfoiland, should he take inv case into serious con-
sideration, will still j;iveme no hope, luit in " the
common course of law." lie must consider it as
one every way erjtitled to parliamentary interfer-
ence; and this interference 1 shall petition for, if
1 am deni d redress by the King in Council. The
redress which 1 want, is to l)rin2: me no sure bene-
fit: it is to give me the liberty of returning to
Upper Canada, with a declaration of the law offi-
cers of the crown, or parliament, that 1 was not
subject to the Canadian sedition act : it is only
to give me what is fair, an opportunity of challeng-
ing trial, and of prosecuting those who have mal-
treated me. This 1 shall have, or consider myself
no longer bound by allegiance, or in any way
pledged to perform public duties, otherwise in-
cumbent upon me. The British parliament can
undoubtedly control the errors of the Canadian
parliament. They made the law under which it
is held : they can amend or repeal it : they can
declare the principles of that law where there is
doubt, or undo what is done contrary to such
principles.

Having set forth the extreme wickedness and
deceit of the precious morsel of legislation before
us, towards the objects of its wrath, it is worth
while to note how carefully it has guarded its
executors from harm. In British statutes we find
a similar clause to that which, in the Canadian
statute, awards treble costs to be paid by a plain-
tiff, suing against an executor of law ; but in these
there is no difficulty thrown in the way of prose-

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Ixxx

GENERAL INTHOD tXTION.

cution, nor any prrplcxity as to the point of law ;
while it is v«ry rii;ht to punish severely, wanton
opposition to the clearly expressed duties of exe-
cutive authority. By the Canadian statute, a
person must hasten out of the province, or be im-
prisoned before he can complain of injury: he
must commence his suit in prison, or banishnitmt ;
and he cannot commence it with corlainty, that it
is commenced within the limited jjeriod of three
months; for thi- on'ence charged, may, at the will
of the deftMidant, be t?ither that of refusal to leave
the province, or some other ofl'ence ('ommitted,
more than three months j)rior to laying the<'iiarge:
it may be an ollenee too, such as lihel, merely
depending upon oj)inion. If the plaintitf has
comnunced prosecution for false imprisonment
within the limited time, and the opinion of the
jury on tlie libel process goes against him, then to
banishment, he must add the payment of treble
costs: or his trial may not come on to ac(]uit him
from a groundless charge, till after the time limited
for his prosecuting for damages is expired, during
which, unceitainty may have rendered it prudent
to abstain from commencement.

Knowing, as we do, the violence of human
passion, we often fmd excuse for crimes of the
most {lao;rant nature ; but w hen we survey the
act of parliament in question, and consider that
passion had no concern in its fabrication : that it
was the result of cool and slow determination :
that it should have emanated from a pure mind,
and have breathed the true spirit of our religion

ORNERAL INTRODUCTION'.

Ixxxi

otid coijstilution, wiih what horror do we mark)
almost ill (vtry liiu', something unchristian, un*
co^istitutional, wicked, deceitful, atrocious !

If it is necessary to guard any country against
seditious attempts, if it is necessary to give extra-
ordinary powers to executive authority, why have
recourse to false swearing ? why have any form of
trial, as to undenied fact ? why suffer even an alien
or outlaw to be wantonly assailed with unproved
charges of crime ? why not have a simple law, em-
powering magistrates to take suspected persons at
once into custody, and fling them, like so much
dirt, out of the country ? Such a law, clearly pro-
claimed, would be honest; and they who came
within its reach would have themselves to blame ;
but here is a law which muffles itself up in ambi-
guity, and which has dived into hell for snares to
entrap the innocent and unwary ; which has arrayed
its hypocrisy in pretensive forms — provisions for
the safety of its executors, and mock provisions for
redress to its victims. I say that the mere view
of such a law, even though it may now be repealed,
is quite sufficient to induce inquiry into the causes
which produced it, and kept it staring from the
statute book of Upper Canada for fourteen years.
Its mere remembrance is sufficient to prove the
vicious policy by which the province has been
ruled, and was ruled up to the period of my
quitting it. >

Weakness is the almost uniform concomitant of
vice; and most glaringly does this appear in the
Canadian statute, whether we consider what it con-

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Ixxxii

GENERAL INTRODrCTION.

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templates, or has efTectod. How easily could thoti-
8ands of aliens, or others, having seditious designs,
steal into the province, and, by renting tenements
for six months, unknown to government, yet be-
yond the action of this law, and free of the bond
of allegiance, remain to design and attempt what
they choose. As to removing me, what has been
gained by it ? Even without licence from govern-
ment, I can yet take my stand at Montreal or Que-
bec, and cautiously conduct more deadly machi-
nations against colonial administration than I have
yet done: nay, were I an enemy to Hritish rule,
circumstanced as I now am, and robbed of that
protection to which natural allegiance entitled me,
I might, without the guilt of treason, place myself
on any part of America, opposite the Canadian
frontier, wage a war of words, in time of peace,
against British interests; or advance, in the event
of war with the United States, into the provinces,
and have the indisputable right of assailing them
with fire and sword. What good has the zeal of
Messrs. Dickson and Co. done to Upper Canada ?
Has it increased the value, or strengthened the se-
curity of property ? has it rendered the people
more contented or happy ? has it tended to attract
to the province wealthy and respectable emigrants ?
Quite the reverse ; nay, even to themselves it has
laid up no enviable store of consolation. One ad-
vantage to the public has been gained by it; and it
is this, that we are now assured that no law can be so
villanous as not to tind villains for its execution.

OP.NBRAL fNTROnUCTlON. IXXXiii

/'' The printinff of this Ornprai introdnclion was
suddenly broken «// ike hef/inniu" nf JieremheVt
1820, hi/ a melancholy occurrence^ of which an ac-
count will he yiven below, li is recommenced
this I>iy, the ^%d of September, \%)l\J

Having discussed a subject of the most odious
kind, but which could not be passed over either in
duty to myself or the public, I shall now proceed
to develop the principal design of this work, and
must entreat the reader's indulgence, while I re-
count some circumstances of my own history,
which led to the conception of it.

Through life, I have been enthusiastic in my
pursuits ; and for the last twenty years my mind
has had a leading regard to the greatest evil which
overshadows the fate of Fngland — the system of
the poor laws. When a young man, having time
and money at command, I travelled over England
for fifteen months together as an agriculturist, and
during that time becair acquainted with the late
secretary to the Board . Agriculture, Mr. Arthur
Young. One day, in conversation with him, we
hit upon a subject to which each of us had devoted
peculiar attention. My father, and indeed my
grandfather, had been in the habit of letting out
small portions of land on a kind of perpetual lease,
called in Scotland a /cm, to labouring people,
whereon each man might build a dwelling-houso,
and enjoy the convenience of a garden. I had
marked the wonderful influence which the pos-
session of such a little projierty had upon the

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Ixxxiv

fiKNFRAL INTHODirCTIOPf.

rliaracters ol the pcofik', .i^ivini; them a superior
degree of considoralion ainoiijj their neighbours,
more steady habits^ and more persevering industrx .
I liad noticed with wliat ''orene dehght a hibourer,
especially of t\\r sedentary class, woidd occupy
himself in his garden at hours not ilevoted to ins
trade, and I hatl calculated what an addition, as
well to individual as to national wealth and hap-
piness, such economical arrangements, generally
adopted, might produce. Speaking of this to Mr.
Young, he mentioned to me a scheme he had in
view, to provide the people at large with a little
Uind, and descanted on the great advantages which
the poor in some parts of England derived from the
occupation of such a portion as enabled them to
keep cows. A general inclosure bill was then in
contemplation, and Mr. Young was anxious to
have his views so far realized, by introducing into
the bill a clause by which a portion of land suffi-
cient to keep a cow should be secured to each man
in lieu of his ancient common right of pasturage,
&e. To establish the fact that labourers really
derived benefit from keeping cows, and that those
who had the benefit, required little or no assistance
from parish funds, he asked me to make a journey
into the counties of Rutland and Lincoln, where
the practice prevailed of letting the poor have land
and cows. I went, but after a little inquiry and
reflection, being ashamed of plodding about merely
to prove a truism, retraced my steps, and expressed
a desire to relinquish the undertaking. Mr. Young,
however, was now inort? k<>en than ever that 1

f:PN15RAr INTROnirrTFON,

Ixxw

slioultl <roin|>U!te his deaigii. Nothing else, he said,
wns wanted to make good his jjoint but the au-
thority of names, and certain simple facts well
mithcnticated. 1 complied, and spent two months
much to my own satisfaction, having access, by a
giMieral introduction, to all, from the pauper to the
peer; but obtained nothing for the Hoard of Agii-
culture which could do me credit, or strengthen
any hope of success for the grand and benevolent
purpose of the secretary.

As to the claim of poor people to a suitable por-
tion of land, or other equivalent on the inclosure of
a common, whereon they or their fathers had en-
joyed rights of pasturage, &c. timeout of mind, it
was positive and clear, independent of any special
benefit which they derived from these; and to
liavc passed a general inclosu're bill without a pro-
vision in lieu of such ancient rights, would have
lieen a dangerous experiment.

With respect to the introduction generally through
the kingdom of Mr. Young's scheme, there were
obstacles which I was assured would never be
overcome by the nerveless faculties of the Board
of Agriculture, even though the scheme were of
itself unobjectionable, which it was not.

Although I collected for Mr. Young abundant
evidence to substantiate his simple position, and
so arranged it, as, at one glance, to exhibit satis-
factory results, my anticipations of what would bo
done, were too truly verified. The general inclo-
sure bill was indeed brought before parliament by.
Lord Carrington. the president, but this bill speed-

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Ixxxvi

r.ENRRAL INTRODUCTION.

ily went down to rise no more; am] jwrliaps the
dread of bringing into public discussion any (jues-
tion as to the common rights of the poor bad no
small weight in sinking it. Since that period the
process of inclosurc has gone on by bills for indi-
vidual parishes and commons. Year attex year,
multitudes of these have been inclosed, without
regard to the claims and complaints of the poor,
who have been robbed of tlicir rights, and who,
from various causes, have been sinking gradually
into a state of abject dependence on parish aid,
deprived of property, and finally careless of its
enjoyment. Year after year, and at this place
and that, the poor, seeing themselves unjustly de-
prived of advantages which they had inherited
from time immemorial, grumbled, rioted, and were
put down. The process stealing gradually on, the
strength of the mass was subdued piece-meal ;
and, finally, a change was effected, in the condition
of English labourers, through a variety and suc-
cession of causes, but little reflected on or noticed
by political economists and writers on the poor
laws.

While I despaired of seeing any thing effectual
accomplished by the Board of Agriculture, and
was justified in my opinion by results, impressions
as to the necessity of changing somehow the sys-
tem of the poor laws became mor^ and more ri-
veted in my mind. My experience in Lincoln-
shire and Rutland — my conversations with the
poor themselves — with the farmers and land-owners
every wh«re throughout England my inspection

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GENERAL INTROOITCTIOK. IXXXVJii

uf parish records ; and obHorvations made on the
liahils and manners of the peopU^, altogether con-
sidered un<l put \i\ contrast with what I knew of
these inScothuid, induced reHections, which though
tliey could then reach no satisfactory conchiiion,
d' termincd me to follow out a study of such infi*
nite importance; and I actually resolved to Hl^npe
the course of my life for this express end. I ro
solved, after a few years' residence as a practi-
cal farmer in Scotland, to remove into England for
a term of years, deliberately to study the causes of
difference so very great and manifest between the
lower orders in the one, and the other country.
In the one, labourers were independent and im-
proving their condition, even in the face of growing
taxation: in the other they were verging to ex-
treme poverty and degradation, while all was flou-
rishing around them. In Scotland it was more
generally the custom to accommodate farm la-
bourers with cows than in England, but this was
very iar from constituting the difference which ex-
isted between the people of the sister kingdoms.
It had, in fact, little to do with the matter, and was
rather a consequence than acau^e.

Untoward circumstances disturbed the order and
harmony of my plans, but still 1 followed them
out. I settled in Scotland for six years, occupy-
ing oiic of my father's farms, then removed into
England, and never lost sight of the great object
on which I had fixed my eye.

The year after I returned from my tour in the
South (IS02), and after the general inclosurp bill

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IxjLXViii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

« ♦

was hid aside, Mr. Young, still musing on his
schenie of providing land for the poor, published^
in his Annals of Agriculture, some undigested
notes, which I had furnished him with : intro-
duced them with a narrative, and attached my
name, ^ if the whole had been written and pre-
pared by me for publication. After doing this, he
despatched to m«, in Scotland, a manuscript sent
him by a third party, controverting the validity of
my proofs ; and I, resenting alike the sophistry of
my opponent and the unfair liberty which Mr.
Young had taken with my name, made reply,
sparing neither him, his correspondent, nor the
Board of Agriculture; and, to make the matter
worse, this was also published in the Annals, with
words altered, and sentences withheld. It was
every way provoking to me, and much as I ad-
mired Mr. Young in m ny respects, obliged me
to drop his acquaintance.

I had hoped that the iwkward display in the
Annals would be little lOticed ; but here atgain I
was disappointed. Mr Malthus soon after pub*
lished that edition of is Essay on Population,
which attracted such general notice, and in this he
referred to the publication in the Annals of Agri-
culture, to which Mr. Young had set my name ;
and which, as it stood, made me appear as an
advocate of his system of providing for the poor,
which I never was *.

**' In Mr* Wakefield's Statistical Account of Iruluiid^ Vol, 2,

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Ixxxix

Mr. Malthus has very properly pointed out the
insufficiency of Mr. Young*s proposal as a gene-
ral remedy for the evil of poor laws ; and, besides
this, it is palpably impracticable, as a scheme that
could be legally enforced throughout. The quan-
tity of land requisite to keep a row varies, accord-
ing to soil and situation, from two to twenty acres,
or more. In some parts of the country adapted to
pasturage, the practice could easily be adopted ;
and so it is in Lincolnshire and Rutland. In
other parts it is very different. To afford every
individual land sufficient to keep a cow is indeed
out of the question. It would neither be econo-
mical for the nation, nor beneficial to individuals,
in proportion to the waste. Milk is but one of
many articles in housekeeping; and several others
are equally necessary, and more essential. Were
law to provide for each man an independence, as
to the supply of milk, why not ensure the same
of bread — of flesh — of raiment — of fuel? Why

p. 812, there is the following note, manifesting the wrong ira-
prei^ions which had been made by Mr. Young*s publication.

" Note. This was written after I had read Mr. Gourlay's
account of the cow system in some parishes in Lincolnshire, see
Annals of Agriculture, Vol. 37, p. 164. From my personal
knowledge of that gentleman, I am inclined to pay very great
attention to his opinion, for few have seea so much of England ijx
a practical way as this intelligent North Briton ; but 1 am not
convinced of the benefit of the system, and did the nature of my
work allow me, I should readily give my reasons for dissenting
from his upiuion." * , #

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GfiNEDAL INTRODUCTION.

not introihice agrarian law, the most liigliltVil of
all political exp»?dients? — Ikit it is more than law
can accomplish ; and it' law cannot prevail, it is
needless to preach up advice to land-owners, to
make gratuitous offerings of laud and cows, when
circumstances admit of it.

Clear as this may appear, it is a curious fact
that Mr. Young, a man who at one time gave
evidence of the soundest faculties, should have
got lost in confused reverie. Till the day of his
death, he seems to have brooded over the scheme
of making public provision of land and cows for
the poor, as practised in Lincolnshire and Rut-
land. In the book entitled, ** Agui cultural
State of the Kingdom," printed by the
Board of Agriculture in 1816, suppressed, and
then brought before the public by a surreptitious
edition, of which, no doubt, Mr. Young was the
compiler, a chapter is dedicated to the subject
of land and cows, and the result of my inquiries
in 1801 are brought forward by way of proof. In
the Farmer's Journal, too, of l6th September,
18 U), there appeared an article written by Mr.
Young, calling attention to the same subject.
These publications are curious, as marHing the
continued bent of Mr. Young's mind — a mind
♦vhich at one time was powerful, lively, and com-
prehensive; which saw that something was want-
ing for the comfort of the poor; but never could
strike with decision upon any scheme, at once
jiracticable and efficient, which could be gene-
rally introduced under the authorij:y of law. It is

UfiNBRAli INTRODUCTION.

XCI

worth while to keep on record the sentiments an<l
wishes of such a man as Mr. Young, for tlieir own
sake; and as they may impress on the minds of
my readers a stronger disposition to attend to my
own schemes for the relief of the poor, 1 shall copy
out, below, the articles I have alluded to*.

i i

* "In the year 1800 the Secretary of the Board wa»
directed to employ the summer in examining the effect of
a great numher of parliamentary enclosures, na well in
respect to the interest of cottagers, as to those general
beneficial results well known to How from the measure of
enclosing; and as it appeared upon that inquiry that many
cottngers were deprived of the benefit of cows without any
necessity for such deprivation ; the Board, in order the
better to understand the ([uestion, despatched a person in
1801 for the express purpose of fully ascertaining it in U»e
two counties of Rutland and Lincoln : the report of that
journey was dne of the most interesting memoirs ever laid
before the public, and proved unquestionably the immense
advantages resulting from the system, to the landlord, the
farmer, the cottager, and the public."

See page 8th of ** Agricultural State of the
Kingdom," published by Sherwood, Neely, and Jones;
181G : and again in page 12th. .

" The person employed by the Board, and who ex-
amined above forty parishes minutely, gives the following
general result :

" Seven hundred and lifty-three cottagers have among
them 111)4 cows, or, on an average, 1^ and ^V cow each.
Not onb of tmbm rkceivbm any thing from the
parish! even in the present scarcity. The system is as
much approved of by the farmers as it is by the poor
people themselves. They are declared to be the<lmost

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XCll

GENBRAL INTHODtCTlOM.

Mr. Malthus, who so ably rcfiitcs nil tlie silly
oh.icctions to his theory of the principle of popu-
lation, and shews the inconsistency of Mr. Young's
writings on the question of giving land and cows to
the poor, says, ** I have indeed myself ventured

t I

hard-working, diligent, sober, and iiulustriuus labourers
who have had land and cows, and a numerous meeting of
farmers signed their entire approbation of the system. In
the abovementioned parishes, rates are, on an average,
174 d. per pound; and but for exceptions of some families
who have not land, imd of certain cases and exponces
foreign to the inquiry, they would not be one penny in the
pound.

'• In nine parishes, where the proportion of the poor
having cows amounts to rather more tlian half the whole,
poor-rates are 3|d. in the pound.

" In twelve parishes, where the proportion is less than
half, but not one-tliird, poor-rates are ft^d. in the pound.

'* In ten parishes, where the proportion is something
under a fourth, poor-rates are Is. Gd. in the pound.

'• In se\en parishes, where the proportion is but nearly
one-sixth, poor-rates are 4s. Ijd. in the pound.

«* And in thirteen parishes, where few or none have
cows, poor-rates are 5s. lid. in the pound.

*• The poor in this considerable district being idde to
maintain themselves without parish assistance, by means of
land and live stock, and to do it at the same time so much
by their industry and sobriety, and consistently with an
honest conduct, clearly marked by Ike entire approhaiion
of the system hy the farmers, Ssc. their neighbours, is a
circumstance which, well considered, does away a multi-
tude of those objections and prejudices which wc so oftea
hcar%i conversation."

CSKIVERAL INTRODHrTION.

xcin

lo recoinniGiul a geiiGiul improvement of cottages,
and even the cow svslcm on a limited scale; and

Farmer's Journal, IGtii Suptkmbkr, 181(>.

Sir,

Oh ilie Stale of the labouring Poor.

Bradficld Hall, Sept. 2«1, 181G.

Thf.re never was a period in which the condition of
tlie lal)oiirinjj poor in atf^riculture demanded more particu-
lar attention than the present. The difficnlty of finding-
employment with farmers who can scarce pay their rents,
and among whom there are many who cannot pay it at all,
is such, that the distress is not only great, but general:
much has been spoken and written upon this subject;
many ideas suggested and plans proposed for relief, which
are either impracticable in themselves, or too difltcult to
be adopted : probably the truth is, that no plan whatever is
well calculated to meet the evil under all its aspects: every
variety of situation may demand a variety in the means
of relief, and therefore the more numerous the proposals
the greater th« probability of their being applicable in
specific cases. It is astonishing to me that in the various
publications which have issued from the press on the sub-
ject of agricultural distress, irone of their authors appear
to have searched for cases exempt from the common cala-
mity :--are any such to be found? Now, Sir, it is with
great pleasure I have to inform you that such cases do
exist at present, have existed for many years past, and
stood the test of the two scarcities. A most minute de-
scription of them was published in the Annals of Agricul-
ture (vol. 37, page 514), by a gentleman employed by the
Board of Agriculture, expressly for the purpose of ex-
aiuiuiug minutely into every circumstance atteiuliug such

!' !

5*
111

XCIV

r.ENKRAl. INTHODICTIOX.

perhaps with proprr precnntions a rntaiii portion
ofhuid might he i^iveii to a coiisiderabje body ot"

civses, iuiti who Iruvcllod through an extent of nearly one
hnn<lreil miles of country, abounding with a great number
(»f instances, upon the whole suffici.'.jt fully to ascertain the
cflects of the plan pursued. In the counties of Rutland
and Lincoln tlie practice is to attach land to cottages, suili-
cient to support that number of cows which the cottager is
able to purchase. They arc tenants to the chief landlords
and not sub-tenants to farmers ; yet these latter are very
generolly friends to tbe system : well they may be so, for
the poor-rates are next to nothing when compared with
such as are found in parishes wherein this admirable sys-
tem is not estabhshed.

In tlie late minute inquiries made by the Board of Agri-
culture into tlie state of the labouring poor throughout
the kingdom, many persdns were written to who reside in
the districts where this system is common, and it was found
by their replies that the practice stands the test of the
present distress as well as it supported tbe opposite diffi-
culties of extreme scarcitj'. It is much to be regretted
that so admirable an example is not copied in every part
of the kingdom ; and should a committee of the House of
Commons meet in the next session, pursuant to the notice
given by Mr. Curwen, it will be strange indeed if they do
not call before them the persons residing in those districts,
who are most able to give them full information relative to
a system which has stood the test of such long experience,
and encountered the difficulties of the most opposite ten-
dencies^ In those counties where no such practice is met
with, it is very rare indeed to meet with a labourer who
has saved any money : their reliance is entirely on the
parisli; and their present earnings dissipated in the ale-
house : n<»t so in Lincoh>shirc. The man who wishes to
I

CRNEhAL INTRODrmON.

XCV

the labouring claasos. If the law which ontitlos
the poor to support were rrpeaird, 1 should most

marry saves his money to buy cows ; and pfirls wlm desij^n
to have husbands take tiie same means to procure them :
sobriety, indiislry, and economy, are thus secnred; mid
children are trained trom their infanry to the culture of a
giirden, an<l altendin}^ cattle, instead of starving- with un-
employed spinninj; wheels.

No object can better d(;serve the attention of men of con-
siderable landed property: if some change of majiagement,
ilecisive in its nature, does not take place, poor-rates will
continue to increase till tliey will absorb the whole landed
revenu(! of the kingdom. At the present moment they are
rising in a manner that ought to alarm every proprietor of
land : and this not to assist or support such objects as were
described in the 4JM of Elizabeth, but hearty, strong men,
in the full vigour of life, which must be considered as so
absolute an abuse of the system, that not one session of
Parliament ought to pass without some effective remedy
being applied. It is a question whether Mr. Curwen's
proposed parochial committees can answer the grt^at end
which every one ought to have in view: to transfer those
debates upon questions really pohtical, from the House of
Conim«)ns, to pari^^h Committees, composed of men, on the one
side, soLictious only to pay as little as possible, and on the
other, to receive as much as possible, may be productive of
continued discord ; but does not promise any beneficial set-
tlement of that variety of questions which must necessarily
come before them. I cannot but be much inclined to think
that an act of Parliament for limiting the demands for
parish assistance might be framed, which would be far
more effective. It might, for instance, be proper to cut 'off
at one stroke every possible demand arising from bastardy,

I ;

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xcvi

iiENERAL INTRODUCTION.

highly approve of any plan which would tend to
render such repeal more palatable on its first pro-
mulgation ; and in this way some kind of compact
with the poor might be desirable/* See Appendix,
vol. iii. p. 365, of the last (5th) Edition of the Essay
on Population. To have thus much granted by
Mr. Malthus, is no small matter, and should not be
lost sight of. It opens a door of reconciliation
with the man who too unguardedly asserted that
there was no cure lor the evil of the poor laws but
to declare, and act upon the declaration, that the
poor had no right to public relief in the mainten-
ance of their children.

which has been so fertile a source of parochial burdens.
Might not all assistance be denied to men and women in
the possession of health and strength, and who have only a
limited number of young children i Might not the same
refusal be giveij in cases of distress ensuing after a certain
number of years of health and strength in which no saving-
had been invested in saving banks? These, and a variety
of other cases which might be named for limiting the ap-
plication of poor-rates, would cause very considerable re-
duction in this increasing burthen. But it most be ad-
mitted that a proper opportunity should be taken for any
decisive regulations, and such an opportunity can be found
only in a period not abounding w ith general distress ; and
the misfortune is that when the time of difficulty is past, it
would not be an easy business to fix the attention of Parlia-
Jnenl to questions not immediately pressing for notice.

I am, Sir,

Your's, &c.
(Signed) AUTHUll YOUNG.

GENERAL INTRODCCTIOX.

XCVIl

Notliing can be more clear than the abstract rea-
soning of Mr. Malthus, on the prijiciple of popu-

r. ftl<lli

Before turniuj,^ tlm |paf over tlio name of Arthur Younjj^,
I must make u few brief remarks on his cliaracttr, nnd
most willinv;!)' would olfor a tribute of respect to his
memory. He was an enthusiast, and of euurse honest:
he was well educated, aiul a genthmian. In all his volu-
minous writings a mean sentiment is not to be fonnd,
if is habit of making' free witli people's names, and takinjy
Ii!)eiiies with their writinjifs, arose from an uncontrollable
ardotir in the cause of improvement. I felt sore with
what he did in this way towards myself, and others did so;
but he meant not to iiyure. After he got entangled m itlk
the Hoard of Agriculture, ho did no good to tlie worhl.
His inclination to accumulate crude and undigested infor-
mation, sufliciently evinced in some of his tours, had then
full scope: he then lost himself, and bewildered others, in
the confusion of detail. I question if he ever had the
power of correct abstract reasoning. His imagination
was too l)usy for it: his eye was too ravenous, devouring*
all within its reach. Had he become blind when in fho
vigour of youth, and never associated with the old women
of the Board of Agriculture, Arthur Young- mrght have
proved a benefactor to the human race.

Writing of him in 1801), I said, ** the gold of govern-
ment fell like a mildew on the genius of Young." I was
wrong. From these words, it nmy be inferred, that he was
eornipfed by the gold of government, which I am con-
vinced he was not. There are inlluences which all'cct
people, situated as he was, which ha\e nothing* to do with
pecuniary considerations. The spirit of Young- is onewliich
T desire to meet with in Elysium ; and I make this little ac-
kiiowledgment, to clear the Wiiy. His Tour in France

«>•

y 'f

\\^

XCVIII

ORNEIUL INTRODICTION.

lation ; and of all hiK disci pies, no one, 1 believe,
ever eujoved greater satisfaction than i did on the
first perusal of his hook. 1 had for years been em-
barrassed in my stndies, on the sul)ject of perfecti-
bility, and could not reconcile results in nature
with the attribute of perfect goodness in the Divi-
nity. The theory of Mr. Malthus dissipated all my
doubts ; and though a few pages made clear what
had puzzled mc, such is the nature of truth, that
I can, again and again, read over the illustrations
of the important one, established by the Essay on
Population, with renewed pleasure. 1 can go back
with Mr. Malthus into ancient times : 1 can ac-
company him over the globe, from Britain to China,
or from the frozen north to the torrid zone, de-
lighted to find that the law of nature is just and
invariable ; requiring of man only virtue to roach
the highest degree of sublunary bliss, and making
misery as surely the concomitant of vice. Balmy,
indeed, are such truths ; but how strangely have
some been led astray into reflections of the most
opposite kind, from the perusal of the Essay on
Population ! Mow strange, that the man who has
earned the immortal honour of having happily illus-
trated a principle so essential to individual peace,
and so admirably fitted to be a corner-stone for the
erection of a sound and liberal system of political

should b^ pj pserved for ever, to give just conceptions not
only of the commencement of the French lievolution, but of
the great nee J for it.

GIIKERAT. INTRODUCTION.

XCiX

economy, should have become the butt of acri-
mniiioiis censure — should have been accused of
desi^njs utterly at variance with the whole scope
and ttmdency of his reasoning ! Can we suppose
that Mr. Young, Mr. Godwin, and a swarm of
inferior note, who have been the virulent and blind
opposers of Mr. Malthus, were urged on by mere
petulance or spite, — were wanting in liberality ?
Certainly not. Both Young and Godwin were be-
nevolent men ; but they caught up a wrong scent,
?wid gave tongue to an erring pursuit *.

♦ The above was written in September, 18'JO, and flhortly
afterwards Mr. llodwin's last work appeiired on tbo subjty;! of
Population. I immediately perused it, und conld iK)t help
exciaiiiiing, Alas ! poor Godwin. Such a compound of weakness
was certainly never presented to the public ; hut strange to say, the
public entertamed for it respect. I hai prtrpared an expose. Th«
Edinburgh Re iew bos saved me the trouble of producing it.
One of Mr. Godwin's animadversions on Mr. Malthus is correct}
that which regards tho rapid increa3<i of people in the weitern
statcH of America. Mr. M. has not adverted sufficiently to th«
increase in that quarter from emigration, a.s Mr. Godwin o^iserves.
The westorn states have a constant stream of settlers flowing ifirfO
them from the old settlements. The snpply afforded in this way
by New England is beyond belief ; and yet New England
somewhat increases in population, notwithstanding the drain. I
made inquiries as to this, when travelling through that country.
Mr. Malthus had no need of pointing to the western states, to
prove that population increases rapidly in America. His position
was tenable, without any overstretch. Mankind, I have no doubt,
might double their number ervery fifteen years, under favourable
circumstances. Circumstances are favourable in America, and th«
consequence is obvious. In 1800 the Census of the State of New
York, gave 587,084. That of 1810 gave 960,034, and that of

g 2

/ i

e •/ CKNEIIAL INTHOIH CTIOI*.

the cloctiine ot Mr. Multhuu htartcd^ I tliiiik we

<i*nl ,»J

;; »r

M*.

IH'20, about I, ll)0,00()iii!)ahltnntH, 1 rt'ter to this State, Iwcniise oiiu
halft)f it torisiMiH oFold, and ono half of new country. New York,
Arbnny, and Schenectiidy, arc among tlio oldt^st towns in
America*, and, so far, tlie country was setllud iit a very uarly
period. Before the revolution, ngritMillnral settlcMnont liad i.dvaneed
only iMUtially lo IJtica and Uuuie, Ihi^i called Forth Scluiyli.T
and Stanwix. In 17i)'2 tlicrc was nothinp like a road — nvthiiig
hut Indian patlis west of Whitestown, a vilhigo situated botween
Uliea rind Rome. The Oenessee rountry rontnined in 175Ki only
960 souls, ineludinir travellers and surveyors, with their attendants.
Seventeen counties are now lurnied out of the we.stern part of iNew
York Htate, which in V/DO was a vvilderneas. In 1800, thcKe
counties contiuued, 0^/209, in 1810, '1%'^M'^i **"lI ip 1820,

inhabitants. • ' ! . '^' * • ■■ ' , ^ '' ^

The inass of AmerienQ8 are fanners, depending chiefly on their
own manual labour for nubsistence, which subsistence can be pro-
cured for two or three hours laboiir per day. The niomont that ttie
son of an American larmer is free from his father's controul, which
he is at 21 years of age, he can have a farm of his own. A wife is
part of the ueceHsary slock ; and it is needless to waste time witli
saying more. 1 1 must be self-evidcijt to ail, thnt the increase is great-
Population, I am convinced, however, in'..-rease3 faster in New
England than it does in Indiana and. Illinois. The art of
settlenunt has never yet been understood, and the wasteful way in
which wild lands have been dis^posed of, lias contributed <;;reatly to
check that degree of comfort, and ea.s<', which is favt)ur;il)ie lo
breeding and nursing. Jn the woods of Ameri<'a, young wives arc
often injured in their health by the hardslups incident to the fu'St
yt^ars of settlement. A young fellow, of New Eng and, takes to
himself a wife, and having a hpan, (pair) of horses, furniture for a log
house, and a few barrels of flour, pork, &c. packs his all in a
raynshucJde waggon, and sets out on a journey of live hundred miles
to make a vilch in the woods. The poor woman is scarcely aj

■i>< ? i «int ^i Tn tf m >ii

IIK.VKKAI. INTROniCTION

may <li«f*<'rii \\licnr('! Inn nrisni llh' |»lil«'gni <)M»[».
position. ]\Ir. Miiltluis pushes Immho liis al)s<iarl
rr:is<)ninu foo sloiciiHv- I l(f <l\v( IIh loo liincli on
irlooiny nsults: he uttrlluitL's tluvu; retsnits loo
inuc'li to tlic. iiiuntc weakness of Inimnnity : In* iv-
jBfiirds toojitti*; the consrqucnces c>r virions insti-
tntions : \w tJinost seuius t(» dout on the idea that
xUr condition ot nuui is hopt>l(.'S9 : lie cliecrs us too
little witli tlic view ot iniprovcinent ; and lie is too
rash, ill asserlinu' that tlie poor should be dvprivod
ot their rh//U ot niaiiiteiiance tor children, — a right
which eiieuMisfaiices have riealed and time (•on-
firmed, — without duepreparation and t"airr(|nivalent.
W'hi'n Mr. ISlalthus speaks of denying to the poor
their rii'ht to public suj)port, he reflects not a mo-
ment oil rights, both natural and acquired, which
liave been gradually filched from them, and in li( u
of which the rirjlit which they now enjoy is the
wretched substitute. If Mr. Malthus will make a
fair Ijargain with the poor, not only for what has
been stolen I'rom tlienjj but which the progress ol'

lioine when she is conlin^d — not in the straw : for till tluj second
yi-ar nothing so comfurtabU; as straw cau be procure d :-- she ia
confined on a misfrabli' stump bed, most scmtily furnisheil, while
an ill-made earthen floor is damp from morn to night ; whilu
muskitoes are buzzing in every direction ; and a!) the noighbour-
liood is infected with an aguish efTluvia, ^drawii forth by the sun's
heat, acting for the first time on the crude vegetable matter of the
new cleared land. Such situations are not the best nurseries. It
is the old settlements which produce and rear most children, and
Old England, if all was right, could fulfil Ofni's romuiands — could
multiply and replenish the earth as fast as \ew Eoj^land does.

ill

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7^iIiW.^''^WMiW*'^^" "''

■ > ' iii* ' »)m^ti'M^f . !i^ l l^M t fM ' ^^ ^ ^

GENERAL IXTRODUCTION.

civilization has shewn to be necessary and proper
for them to possess, I, for one, shall admit the
sternest adoption of his proposal. I would cut off
their claim of right to public support, both root
and branch : I would not only do this, but enact
a law, by which charitable foundations should be
erased, and erring benevolence kept in check : I
would suffer no societies to be formed for relieving
distress ; nay, were the streets strewed with the
victims of vice and misery, I would say, *' let the
dead bury the dead*."

* At once to shew that I have been long a steady disciple of
Mr. Malthus, and that my eye has not been suddenly bent, either
on a narrow, or too rigid reform of the poor laws, I shall here
quote two passages out of a book, published by me in 1809.
** Last winter I was delighted with the perusal of Malthas on
Population. That work lias set tied all my doubts, after eight years'
search for the boundary of human hope ; and if, under the grand
law of virtuous restraint, I can say that I am perfectly contented lo
live ; — if, under this law, I feel my dignity as a man more
complete ; — if, from its most thorough elucidation, I find myself
quite at ease, both in my political and religious principles, I trust
that Mr. Malthus will consider it no flattery in me to declare my
opinion, that he is worthy of the highest honour of his country." —
Page 20. Again, '* If the people of England are not educated,
misery and the poor-rates must continue to increase among them ;
and Mr. Malthus's recipe for bringing back the people to industry,
will be vain ; for the people of England, I am certain, would not
allow Parliament to declare the right of relief void. That right is
one, not founded by law only, but by nature. Every society is
bound, in honor, to take care of certain unfortunates: it is the
business of society to reduce these in number as nmch as possible
by fair nieaua : whatever happens iu the woild, the abstract virtue

GENFRAL INTRODUCTION.

There are two grand principles wliich rouse men
to action, necessity oncl ambition; and in ii truly
civilized age, when all men shall have fair udvau-
taj^es, these will be found sutticient of themselves
to admit of all public charities, and of every thing
like poor-laws, being set aside. The public chari-
ties and poor-laws of England have, indeed, been
its greatest curse. They have weakened the efforts
of nature: they have blunted the spur of neces-
sity, and taken from ambition its lure.

It is impossible for any man fully to conceive
the mischief which has arisen from the poor-laws
of England, without having put in comparison the
condition of the labourers in that country with
that of those in the sister kingdom. It was from
ample practical experience in both countries that
I made up my mind as to the causes of difference,
— the causes which have brought on England a
worse than useless expenditure of eight millions a
year; — causes which must be removed before any
great advance can be made in the improvement,
moral or physical, of this country. The expendi-
ture of eight millions annually by no means indi-
cates the amount of evil generated by the system
of the poor-laws. While that sum is squandered,

of this law must remain the same." Pages 123 and l'2t. This
last quotation will take the edge from the stern declaration in the
text : nor does it contradict so much as it may at first seem to do,
the principle on which that declaration rests. Mankind have
claims upon each other, of dulij as well as nghl; and this may give
a text for discussioa upon wiothur occasion. ,, > , • .

f !^

-■iiiftlMMMi ii

CIV

^KSERAL INTRODICTION.

double that is lost by its degrading the people, and
lessening their exertions. Having travelled far
and wide, both in EngU.nd and Scotland, since my
return from America, 1 have had occasion to notice
a striking difference in the respective countries
under the present agricultural distress. In Eng-
land- this is felt far beyond what it is in Scotland.
Petitions for relief pour into Parliament from all
pnrt^ of England, while few or none have appeared
from Scotland. This srreater uraencv in a great
measure springs from the growing evil of the poor-
laws. Markets are equally bad every where; but
in Scotland the exertions of labourers increase,
with the pressure. There, the labourers share with
the farmer his distress. They become more obe-

6.' '

dient to his will: they enable him to do more
with smaller meuus ; and their wages fall*. In
England it is all the reverse. Here there is no
spring for industry. In hard times the poor have
no increased stimulus to toil; but tall heavier and
heavier as a load on their employers, while their
employers become less and less able to support
hem.

Farming in England, from 1809 till IS 17, I
could hire an English ploughman for .iM 2 and his
victuals, while the current rate in Scotland was
from c£l8 to ctSO; and such was the superiority of,
the Scotch in point of sobriety, steadiness, and
fidelity, that I could atford to bring them from the

* Ploughmen's wages have fallen in Scotland from £iH and
£20 per annum to £9 and ^10 since the peace.

m/^< f *mimmti0ii*^h¥

GENERAL INTRODICTION.

«(fi

north, and pay tliera even upwards of £^20 per
annum : nor would I have limited my number of im-
ported hibourers, but for the necessity of em ploy in,^ '
parish poor, who, whethe*; employed or not, 1 was
bound tomaintain*. Thisdifferenceclearlyarose from
the ditferent circumstances in which the lal)ourer.s
of the respective countries had been trained up.
In the one country they received education, were
inspired with feelings of independence, and cne-
rislied hope of gettin.? on in the world. In the other,
without education or laudable ambition, they
jiad no inclination to exert themselves either for
character or gain. To better their condition, one
only shift was left them — to marry, and procreate
children, in proportion to the number of whom their
proportion of parish-pay was increased. While I
marked the real diflerence in point of economy,
which sprung from the mere training of labourers:
while 1 observed the effects of this better trainiiijr
in improviusj: the moral qualities, the enjoyment,
and respectability of the Scotch, I had the fullest
conviction from experience, that the natural dispo-
sitions of the English were superior to those of my
countrymen; and I more and more deprecated the
infernal system of perversion and debasement.
What such a damning system would ultimately
come to, has been ionj>- evident; but only now
begins to be impressive, from its consequences ;

* I have heard it stilted as a fact, tliat four out of tivo non-com-
missioued officers in the army are Scotcli. It cau readily be
ascertained; and is truly worthy of r^Hection,

>l\ C' - .>ii

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CVl

GENERAL INTRODUOTION.

!;* i

and well will it be, if present consequences force
on a remedy, while worse h.rvo not ensued.

The grand question is, How can the system of
the poor-laws be chanu:edP Mr. Malthus having
made good his abstract po;- :tion, — having allowed
that " the St/stem of ike poor-larva is an evil, in com"
parison of which the national debt, with all its
terrors, is of little moment^'* and being alarmed
v/ith " the prospect of a monstrous deformity in
society,** proposes a law, by which the children of
the poor should cease to be relieved ; and that to
render this law palatable, a sermon should be
preached on the subject at the solemnization of
marriages. How strange, that a man should have
a head so clear for abstract reasoning, and eyes so
dim to the consequences which would certainly
ensue tipon the very first attempt to put such a
law in execution! As well might Mr. Malthus,
after a train of abstract deductions, propose to do
away, by mere law and ceremony, with kings,
whom the madness of the people, superstition, ty-
ranny, habits, and prejudices, have confirmed on their
thrones. Most certainly, civil war and bloodshed
would be the consequence of any such attempt, as
well in the one case as in the other. The poor of
England might not have had an inherent right to
maintenance for children ; and if a clear under-
standing had been held in bar of such right, un-
doubtedly it would have been well to have main-
tained it ; but now, that both law and practice
have made good this right ; — now, that circum-
stances have rendered it necessary, the case is en-

■ .M ))w , ii> i i / i» n ' #-iii i >* i h' wjt ii wOiH i i i Mn ii'

gb;nkiiajl introduction.

evil

tirely changed. The right of the poor for main-
tenance can no longer be done away with by mere
words. Substantial have been taken from the
poor, and substantials must be returned, if further
sacrifices are to be required of them; nor can even
this change be effected without cautious prepara-
tion and liberal treatment.

Though my main pursuit in removing from Scot-
land to England, was to examine into the causes,
and contrive remedies for the evils of the poor-law
system, it w^as several years before I could make
up my mind on any point. For two years I inter-
fered little in parochial management ; keeping,
however, a watchful eye over those who did in-
terfere. The third year I became one of the over-
seers, and gave minute attention to every particular.
In Wiltshire, and some counties round, a system
of regulating the wages of labour, was completely
matured and acted upon. Nine shillings per week
was declared to be the pay of a labourer in Wilt-
shire, though in Fifeshire, from whence I had come,
twelve shillings per week, and often more, was the
customary rate. As nine shillings per week could
not maintain a man with a family, the rule was to
allow him to apply to the overseer, when he had
more than two children, for additional |yay, which
was thus regulated. First, the man's wages were
set down, viz. : . . . . 9s. Od.

Then a value was put on the labour

of his wife, say . . . .30

I ; ; j ,1. . . - " Carried over l:?s. Od, .

CViii GENERAL INTKODUCTION.

-r.iiuu 1 w ■.^"'a MJt h? Rrought over
Then an inquiry was made, as to how
much eacli child, above seven vears
of age, earned, and tliat was set
down ; say .'3,v. for one, '2s. for another,
and \s. per week, for a rhird — in nJI

12a.

Orf.

) /V":UC>I

". ,"■

!jr;//

xs;.

.')lK''i

r:'*«il

.;').'..

■ I ■!■•.. i » ,r. i

13 ■

i .;*; ;)^ /,•

!'l -ll! tj.,

Then the whole family was nujnhcred;'
say man, wife, three children above
seven years old, and three under
that aoe, — in all eight persons j for
each of whom the selling- price of a
{gallon loaf, with 3d. in addition, was
allowed. If the gallon loaf was 3s.*
then there was to.be reckoned 24s. ^ .•^iivM.ji
for loaves, and the 3d. to each of '■'•''•'^■«- ''
eight persons, 2s. making '^'.'/ in all 26

From which sum the earninsfs of the '^•^''-•■'' "^
family were deducted, leaving a ba-'^' ' ""••"^"•'
lance to be paid by the Overseer, ■'^' 8

The glaring error in this part of the system was
setting the wages of the labourer too low. In
England the habits of labourers were not so eco-
nomical as in Scotland: in England, labourers
really required more money to maintain them;
but here in England they had greatly less: here a
nominal price was set upon labour, 3s. per week
below what it was naturally N^^r^ii in Scotland.

* With the aboye example, the rule will be sufficiently iridf r-
stood. The gallon loaf fnllinfif to 2s. 6d. or 2y,, lowered parish
pay in proportion.

■"•ir*"

! \

lif'lNEUAL INTRODUCTION.

CIX

There was no difficulty in corrcctinjj^ this error.
As soon as 1 got to be oversecif of tiie poor, I
reckoned tlie hibour of every ahle-bodied man at
i^s. ; and thus, at a single stroke, not only h;ssen-
ed pariah pay and poor-rates, hut tlid infinite good
otherwise. The poor themselves were quite pleas- •
ed with this change: not so the farmers; who
as t-oon as I was out of olHce reduced wages to i^A*.
per week. Tiie farmers had a reason for thjs;
but it was founded on ignorance; and to ignorance
and had reasoning we niay safely ascribe a full half
of all this world's misery. By holding down the
nominal wages of uiarrled men witli more than
two children, the iarmcrs had chiefly in view to
hold down the real wages of single men, and those
who had less 'than three children; and they really
made good their point,, to the great injury both of
themselves and labourers. Thus, while statute-
laws have been framed to .prevent manufacturing
labourers from combining to raise their pay, a most
powerful combination, ratified by the magistracy of
England, was at work to keep down husbandry
labour below its proper level ; and tlins it was that
1 could hire an English ploughman for £\'2 per
annum, while 1 could not hire a Scotch ploughman
of the same aj)pearance at less than £I8. It will
naturally be asked, why shoulil an unincumbered
English ploughman submit to this? And the,
question must be solved by looking to a variety of
points; and gathering causes from all of them.
The whole of the south of England was subjected to
the cursed, artificial system of which apart now

ii;

i i i

OKNRWAL INTRODFOTION,

appears. A spirited young man might travel a
hundred miles before he could get beyond the limit
of the agricultural combination ; and there were
few spirited young men in a country where the
mass of the people could not read and write. The
want of mental energy, consequent on the want of
education, aided by attachment to the place of
birth, relations, friends, and still more to habits of
indolence, caught from what they saw around
them, all conspired to enslave labourers, and to
enable farmers to trinmph over them in » most
pernicious victory. With a few sensible people
1 could prevail by reasoning, avid obtain confession,
that keeping down wages by artifice, was wrong
and unthrifty; but there was no getting any body
of farmers to act in the face of established practice.
While in Scotland, I was in the habit of adverti-
sing for labourers when pushed by extraordinary
need. By the simple means of a dozen or two
printed notices, stuck up at public places, 1 have
had a hundred reapers come immtidiately to my
aid ; and, by such timely aid, I have repeatedly
saved my crop from destruction, and harvested it
at the very best moment of time. In England,
being in want of an extraordinary number of hay-
makers, after a tract of wet weather, 1 wrote out a
few advertisements, and had them stuck up in the
neighbouring villages ; but what ensued ? — My
advertisements were pulled down by the farmers :
they were exhibited next market-day, in order to
disgrace me ; and some men, whose ignorance was
backed by bad temper, were actually sulky. Here

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CXI

is scope tor useful reflection. English labourers,
I have siiici, have, nalurally, better dispositions
than my countrymen. 1 found the same of Enp^iish ,
farmers, where not immured in the mud of bad
practices, or accustomed to lord it over the poor.
.Just in proportion, indeed, as men of all sorts are
independent of eaeh other, so much more will they
be well disposed and kindly to each other. In
Wiltshire, the farmers, in many respects, were ex-
cellent men. 1 remember them with the warmest
regard, and have the felicity to know, that I am
not forgotten as a friend in that county ; but I must
say that, to the poor, some, even of the best of
them, were totally without feelmg. How ditfe-
rent did 1 find it in Lincolnshire twenty years ago.
There, farmers were, for their labourers, the warm-
est advocates. I shall never forget the occasion
alluded to page xcii, where it is said, "a numerous
meeting of farmers signed their entire approbation
of the system.**

While dining with a large party at Brigg, I made
known my errand into Lincolnshire. 1 said that
Government had in view to make arrangements
throughout England, for providing every poor man
with the means of keeping a cow, and that I had
been sent to inquire whether the practice in Lin-
colnshire and Rutland had been attended with good
effects. 1 shall never forget the burst of approba-
tion which instantly proceeded from all present,
and think I yet see the kindly flashes which were
darted from eye to eye. Being loth to lose so good
an opportunity of giving satisfaction to my em-

i<l i l l L1llJI ' <1lX l >Wll'H !l " " J'l i !!i i . ' H? W l* >.l ' ■' ?l ' . ' . i « '«' ' i "> ^ i' »> , i)«' -^" \ii ' H i P

A..^^

k..dd

cxn

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ployers of the Bonrd of Agriculture, I ciillid for
pen, ink, and paper, and wrote out a eertififvite,
which was instantly signed by every man present ;
and which I shall here produce. .,,.,• , ;. m.jIj.j

' ■ • Brifjg, Lincolnshire, H)tl' Feb. li^Ol. ■
We, the undorsigiHid, farmers in the luiguhourhootl (•!"
this place, where it is very common to allow Cottaj^tMs land
for the keep of a cow, &.c. give it as our opinion that,
enabling such [)eople to keen one cow, &o. is a measure
fraught %vith excellent ellocts. To the families of tliH
cottiiijers it udds ninoh comfort : lo the country, contented
people ; and to ourselves, better imd mure contented
labourers...!! ...

Rob. Holgale
T. (ronlton
Wm. Sarffeant
lioh. Smith
John Nicholson
John Firth
John Jiroiv/t
J. Lawrence
Thos. Marres
Wm, Bennard

■fi'.j

Theo. Kirk
Jos, Dudding
Geo. Soivderh/
Wm. Ihilter
Geo. Maw
Wm. Richardson
Wm. BotieriU
Thos. Brooks
Jos. Atkinson
J, Parkinson

Thomson Citrtwright
Math. Mate
John jV'irshall
Rich. Roadie y ,
John Upplehy
Wm. liar grave
Win. Brown
Thos. West
Martin Prankish

I hope the greater part of these worthy men are
still alive, and I doubt not, would be still, and
equally, willing to speak in favour of the poor.

Looking back to the parish rtekoning for the
pay of labour, it may be observed, that while 9s.
per week was the nominal pay, labour was in fact
high. A Scotch labourer got 12s. and was left to
his shifts, whatever was the number of his children.
Supposing his wife and children only earned to

r; V. K R n \ r. I NT R 01> I ' OT ION.

CXIM

liirn as much as tlid those of the English pauper,
he would have 6s. less to hve upon, or .5.s\ would
be saved to the public directly; but this visible
and direct saving to the public of .5a\ was very far
from being the actual saving. While the Scotch
labourer was paid a fair price for his labour, being
a freeman, he did more for that 12,9. than the Eng-
lish labourer did for 9s. in proportion; and every
memluT of his family, left to thems<>lves, were
more profitably employed than those of the Eng-
lish [Xiuper, who had not the slightest interest in
the quantity or quality of the work they performed.
The wife and children of the Scotch labourers
would fully make up, by their greater labour, the
amount of 8.s., paid out of poor-rates ; and
thus it may be seen, that by a pitifuiyc/c/i, to make
wages ap]K^ar low in England, for the base purpose
of diminishing the wages of those not entitled to
parish aid, the price of labour was actually increas-
ed, and every farthing of the parish pay — the Ss. was
merely wasted, while the Scotch labourer had 1 2s.
])er week, the English labourer would have required
14*. owing to his less thrifty modes of living ; and
I know, that if they had been allowed to draw in
this much, they would not only have made no
complaint to the parish ; but every man, woman
and child, left free to earn subsistence in proportion
to exertion, would have been not only contented,
but have done more for themselves, and more for
others. In the parish of Wily, under the factitious
system there established, it was truly disgusting to
sec consequences. One family, with a weak and

f :■■'

CXJV

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

good-t'or-iiothiri'^^ croaturc at thchmul ot it, not vvortli
45. per week, yet valued at 9s. and rendered as

)rtahl(

his li

th<

d best

conitortaDie in nis iivin|T; as me strongest
man, whose labour was worth 14."*. Tlje ditJerenoe
between the natural and factitious system was best
proved in cases where piece-work could l)e agreed
tor. In doing piece-work 1 had linglish labourers,
who surpassed any Scotchmen I ever employed in
the same way. In this piece-work the labourer
was paid according to his exertion, and then, in-
deed, he did exert himself. My English mowers
did their work belter and cheaper than Scotchmen
could do, and they earned more for themselves at
the same time. An industrious Englishman, left
to himself, will work harder than a Scotchman, for
this reason, that he desires to live better ; but as a
pauper, all that stimulates to toil is set aside ; and'
the heads of families impoverished and dispirited,
communicate to all below them a greater and a
greater degree of hopelessness, indifference, and las-
situde. Besides raising <he rate of men's wages, •
I had recourse to methods for making the most of
the women and children, for whom the parish had
to provide. For the first two months, much oppo-
sition was made to all my measures ; but, as they
were sanctioned by magisterial authority, all was
established ; and there was not another word of
dispute, either with the poor, or their masters,
during the remainder of my term of public service.
To have thoroughly rooted out the evil in a single
insulated parish, was out of the question ; but
ther« were, clearly, modes of procedure, which, ge«

GPNKRAL INTRODUCTION.

rxv

ncrsilly adopted and enforced, would have got quit
of much mi«(!hicr.

I have said, that as soon as I was out ot office,
9v. was substituted lor li?*. in reckoning tlic earn-
ings of hihour; and not oidy was this miserable
jchangc effected, but every regulation, which I had
made to set l)oujids to arbitrary power, was set
aside bv my successor: while the same mai^is-
trates who had .sanctione<! my acts, coiifirmed
what was done by him!!!

It thus became vain to look tor permanent im-
provement, unless the magistrates themselves were
overruled ; and to be sure, a case soon occurred,
to shew how much need there was for this, and
how far oppression could proceed under the pre-
vailing system. Merely because a certain poor
woman preferred my service to that of my neigh-
bours, she was neglected, deprived of her fair
allowance of parish pay, and nearly famished. As
soon as I heard of what was going on, 1 espoused
the woman's cause: I afforded her opportunity of
laying her case before the magistrates; but here
she found no redress. There was but one course
left, and that was to extort, by shame, what could
not be obtained by reason and law. I had the poor
woman examined before the clergyman of the
parish, and printed the following simple statement
of her case.

h ^

i!!

V- - ■r -. iiiiiii i i i 'n » ni i 1- | -n i r ii l1 i li ifliii l'-lT I T ■ ! Tr -"r rf ( " ■ ° ' I'll ' I •"■ ■I'l"-*—"'" ! ''""' '!"'. ""

CXVl

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

TYRANNY OF POOR LAWS,

EXEMPLIFIED.

englishmen! 'tis your mttle all!*

A WILTSHIRE Jnsti. of 5o//je fame has written as
if he knew nothing; off

GRINDING THE FACE OF THE POOR,

and perhaps they who have been born in darkness may be
excused for not knowing it from light ; but such obscurity
who would not wish to disperse? — Behold a present proof
in the case of poor Bet Bentiam.

She is well known in the parish of Wily, as being a
sober-minded, inoffensive, and industrious woman. Bet
was lately seen crying by herself, which excited attention;
for she had never, in all her troubles, been known to cry
beibre, being remarkable for patient endurance. She was
crying from mere weakness. The report of this, drew to
her some little attentions, and afforded her an opportunity
of disclosing her situation. She had been alllicled witli a
disease incident to women, which she had concealed till
the last pitch of endurance.

* These words were meant to attract notioo, and thuir expo-
aition was simply this, — that the poor of England after being
reduced to a gallon loaf and three-pence per week, had need to
look sharp even after that. I know that thero are people who
deal re to see the poor fed solely on potatoes.

+ See Mr. Benett's Letter u: the Salisbury Journal, 23d of
January, 1815.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CXVll

Her case will be best known, and more readily be-
lieved, from the following declaration, made and written
down l)ofore the Clergyman of the j)arish.

Bet Bennam, examined before the Rev. Mr, Ball, de-
clares, that she was taken ill before harvest, and Las not
been altogether well since. That, when unwell, having no
bed clothes, sh(5 applied to the overseer for a blanket, but
lie refused to give her any. She tlien threatened to go
to Salisbury and make a complaint, and he said he would
go too, and soon tire her of going. He came, howevei*,
next day, and promised he would give her one. About
a month after, she wiis told it was come by the carrier,
and that she might go and fetch it. x\fter she had the
blanket about an hour, she was sent to bring it back, and
it was then torn in two, and she had the half given to her.
She declares that she did not in ordinary make two
shillings per week, which was not the ordinary parish
allowance; but that she did not like to apply, for they
always made so many words. About Christmas, however,
during the snow, she and Mary Bacon applied together,
on pay Sunday, The Overseer tiien told them, they
should rather pay him some money, for he was entitled to
all they made above two shillings per week.

Bet Bennam declared she had made but one shilling
for the last fortnight, and after pressing him, he gave her
one shilling, and the other woman the same. That after
this, she did not apply at church for a month, finding it so
disagreeable, although she did not make the parish allow-
ance. She happened to have a few potatoes, which
helped her to live. She grew worse and worse in her
health, and found herself necessitated to apply on the
29th of January. Nanny Smith was then with her, and
each of them had earned two shillings during the last fort-
night. Nanny Smith was much more able to work than
she, yet the Overseer gave her two sliillings, and Bet
Bennam only one shilling: she ihQn held the shilling out

;

utf

^uUjjt

cxvin

GENERAL IT^RODUtTION.

in her hand, and complained that she had not her
allowance; but he refused to give her any more. The
week after this, she was entirely unable to do any
thing, and she got one shilling and six-pence from
the parish. On the 12th of February, she had two
shillings and six-pence, aud on the 26th four shillings.
When she had the -xbove one shilling and six-pence,
viz. on Monday, the (3th of Tebruary, she asked the
Overseer to let her have the Parish Doctor; but he
told her to wait till Sunday next. She then applied
again, but he would not allow the Doctor to see her,
saying that she would do better when the warm weather
came. On Thursday, the 16th, she called on Mr. Gour-
lay, and had a letter from him to the Overseer, re-
questing him to give her a certificate to appear on
Saturday at Salisbury Hospital, to get in there, where
she might be taken care of. She went immediately
with this letter to the Overseer, and had his promise
that he would give her a paper next day, and of this
she returned to inform Mr. G. In the afternoon of Friday,
she went for Uie certificate, but was then told that the
parish subscription was not paid, and besides that she
could not get to the hospital, till she had been examined
by the parish-surgeon.

About a week after this, she was sent for by Mr.
G. who after examining her as to all this treatment,
desired her to get a summons for the Overseer, and said
that he would give her a cart to carry her to Salisbury.
This was accordingly done : but after going there she had
to return without any relief — the Magistrate refusing to
hear any statement of the case, further than what he
obtained by asking her what she hud on tlie two hist
occasions of application.

This declaration made before me by the said Bet

Bennam,

(Signed) JOHN BALL,

Curate of Wily.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CXIX

I have "^en the blanket weighed which Bet Bennani
received from the Overseer of Wily; it weighed neat,
twenty ounces: she had no other bed-clothes besides it;
and is lodged in a most miserable hovel with three other
females.

(Signed) JOHN BALL,

Curate of the Parish of Wily.

Mrs. G. was first acquainted with her situation the 11th of
February, and advised her to apply for medical aid; but it
was the shuflling conduct of the Overseer, as above-recited,
which first excited our most lively feelings : yet what was
to be (lone to prevent such recurrence?

I had endeavoured to establish clear law as to the
poor, before the Salisbury Bench. I had endeavoured
amendment ; but it was of no avail. What was said to-
day was denied to-morrow ; and soured with arbitrary
proceedings, I had despaired of ever getting substantial
justice there. It so happened, hovk^ever, that by perfect
accident, I heard Lord Folkstone now sat on the bench;
and in the hope of change, I resolved, after examining the
poor woman as to her general treatment in the parish, to
fetch a summons for the Overseer. — Let " the gay licen-
tious crowd" consider that this poor woman had lived
njiwards of four months on the sum of one pound, eight
shillings and eight pence — and say, if it should be so in
a country, which once boasted the wealthiest, happiest
peasantry of the world.

Her account, when every farthing was scrupu-
lously reckoned, stood thus:

^ u« (Z»

Earned in my service ... 12 8

otherwise at sundries 6

Had from the parish 10

In all JCl 8 8

ill

■•■^ i i«|i | W j i i W'^ll|i< WH ii W»»JW 'l M» WI» . <i»W M 'i! ! 'i* T '' » it l < Mi ' " 'l»»l>' '» W"* :>>J*» »i '»" ' 'W^ ^

^^fll

cxx

OKM!:KA|i INTliUftUCTlON.

■■

cousitlorabljf under the bare allowance which the district
regulation has api-ointed for the minimum of misery — viz.
a {gallon loaf, and three-pence j>er week.

Mr. Dyke, a truly worthy Magistrate, was alone on
tiie l)ench at Salisiuurv, when Bet Beunam appeared.
IIo patiently heard her case, and was on the point of or-
dering- Uer relief, when two reverend Justices anivod.
The first asked at cncc of Mr. D. if there was any thin<;j
dne, which he answered in the anirmativo. The other,
however, Mr. Marshy immediately assumed the M'h(»le au-
thority. I assured him it was a petuhar case, and required
explanation : that I had explained matters to Mr. Dyke ;
and if he wonld permit me, I should again give hiin the
particulars. The Rev. Mr. Marsh was much too dictato-
rial for this: he would settle it himself by interrogatories.
How much did you get last occasion from the Overseer'
and how much the time before when \ou applied I and you
made no complaint of what you got? then, if you did not,
there is no relief for you. Sir, said f, will you but allow
me to speak for the poor woman : will you let me state her
case? No. Will you not allow me to state her peculiar
case? No. Then, Sir, we are at issue. — And thus poor
Bet Bennam had her coming for her going to Salisi>L! riY.
Englishmen! You are making a mighty bustle about
bread, but there is more than bread wanted : we live not
for bread alone. If the loaf were at six-pence, it would
make no difference to the labourers of England, while
the poor laws remain as now, and are thus administered.
You do not know the iniquity which has reduced the king-
dom to pauperism; — which has stolen upon you, like a
thief in the night. It is not your magistrates that are to
blame so much as yourselves, who have tacitly confirmed
the acts of your magistrates. It is not the laws so much
as arbitrary power, which you have permitted to grow up
and Overshadow the views of benevolence, and the sub-
stantial ends of justice.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CXXl

Perhaps you would be displeased were you loused from
your slumbers. Perhaps you would disdain to hear of the
conspiracy, which has risen up ayainst independence,
under your L/\NDE]) OLIGARCHY.

Perhaps you would be jeuhuis of a witness born on the
opposite side of Ihe river from yourselves. Kut, English-
men! you nuist either learn, or be tauj;ht by dire expe-
rience ; for out of your present system of parochial juris-
diction can come nothing but ruin. -

I will be bold to say this, if you will give me your con-
fidence, that peaceable arrangements might be formed,
by which this system might be entirely done away : by
^vhich in ten years your poor-rates would not be even
a tentli of their present reduced amount: by which pau-
perism would be annidled ; and by which England would
return to its ancient prosperity — return to prosperity, and
outmatch the world in the greatness of its virtues.

If you deign to bestow on me this coniidence, these
arrangements shall be submitted to your judgment.

ROBERT GOURLAY.

Dep/ford Farm, WiLj, Wills,
March a, IHlo,

1 1

1 'I

The above little expose was only but printed,
when a thought struck me, that it should have a
wider range, that it should be published beyond the
limits of Wiltshire; and 1 resolved to send a copy
to every English peer and member of the Commons
House of Parliainent. This requiring a second edi-
tion, I flung together some thoughts with regard to
the education of the poor, a subject which had all
along engaged much of my attention. Among the
regulalions which I wished to have established, was

CXXll

GENERAL INTROPUCTION.

this, that during winter months, all children under
twelve years of age, should be excused from la-
bour, provided they were sent to school. It will
scarcely be credited, yet, nevertheless, is true, that
this regulation was not only abandoned, but all
children, above seven years of age, were sent out
to labour, for no purpose whaiever but to pre-
vent their getting to school *. To attract notice to
a practice so very abominable, and to excite addi-
tional interest to the subject of poor laws, I accom-
panied the above sad story of oppression with the
following address.

THE LABOURING POOR OF WILA' PARISH.

My poor Neighbours,

I HAVE now lived among you upwards of five years;
and my heart has often bled for the wretchedness of your
situation: but, alas! what can a single individual do to
alleviate general calamity ? Tlie purse even of the wealth-
iest couiJ comparatively do nothing- tor the poor people of
England. They however are most welcome to what my
pen may effect.

Fourteen years ago, I was employed for some months by
a branth of government, to inipiire into the state of the

* The poor people of Wily were always anxious to have
dieir children educated ; and with great pleasure I record a striking
proof of it. J^ast April (1S21), while on a visit to Wiltshire, I
had scarcely saluted one of my old servants (Sltiphen fVhite) when
he hastened to tell me that ho and Thomas Wickhavi, another of
my old servants, had established a school for the poor children, in
spite of opposition from the farmers. Good God I should such
people not Le aided by Governniout ?

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

cxxiii

poor ; and a celebrated character, (Mr. Young), who had
suggested the inquiry, in order to stimulate me then to ex-
tend my ideas on the subject, flattered me by saying, that
1 had more knowledge of the j)oor of England than any
man bi it.

Had the sclieme proposed been practicable, or even
hopeful, I should have required no flattery to have lent
it mv best aid. As it was, certain ideas were then fixed
in my breast, which 1 have cherished ever since. They
concern the greatest subject which can engage the atten-
tion of Englishmen, — the reform of their parochial
economy.

After travelling, chiefly on foot, for many months over
England, and having the best opportunities of knowing
the real situation of the labouring poor, I returned to
Scotland, and was eight years there M'ithout losing sight
of my object : often brooding on the mighty contrast
•which the two kingdoms afforded, — the contrast of gene-
ral happiness and general misery : and all too the result
of a few simple regulations ; for the poor laws of Scot-
land and England are fundamentallv the same.

It was always my intention to settle some time in Eng-
land, to mature my knowledge and forward my views on
this great subject. At the time 1 did come among you,
my health also had rendered a change of climate neces-
sary ; and I promised myself much from the patronage
which might result from connexion with a great man,
seemingly so patriotic as the noble duke, who desired to
improve English husbandry.

My mistake and consequent sufferings are known to you
all. Though they have, in some respects, interrupted and
retarded my prospects, they have taught me, more and
more, to feel for others, who labour under tyranny ; and
»iv case mav shew you that this is an evil to be expected
by all those who are under the power oi" others. The de-
sire to tyrannize indeed is the master passion of the human

^ili

^1i

CXXIV

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

S™.

breast, nud it is tliat which g^ood laws should lubonr most
to restrain. Riches will always bestow power and foster
tyranny, but there is a degree of independence in this
country, which wouhli cannot ellbct.

You, poor lahourers of England, have lost much of this
degree of independence, and of course you are subject to
tyranny, and to misciries greatly multiplied. To recover
for you independence, shall be my objtjct ; but this can
only be eflected gradually.

Even with every aid, it might take ten years, as above
mentioned, to rescue you entirely from your present de-
plorable situation.

Instead of being confnied to particular parishes, ns yon
now are : instead of ha^ ing your wages kept down by
rule, and having to apply at church for part of that pay,
as if it were charity, and not the hard earning of your in-
dustry: instead of poor infirm women, like Bet Beunam,
having to put up with misery itself, rather than bear the
scowl of an overseer; or having to travel twenty-two miles
for but a slender chance of redress : instead of old men
who have wasted their days in hard labour, having to crawl
at last into some cold, damp and dreary habitation, with
scarcely a blanket to protect them from Ihe piercing wind
of winter, an<l with oidy a gallon loaf and three-pence per
week for clotiiing, food, and fire: instead of all this,
would it not be better that you could choose your work and
your masters over the whole country : that you could ob-
tain the highest price for your labour, and never be put to
the necessity of begging it from any one : that you had
comfortable homes which you could call your own, and
such plenty in store, that neither age nor iiiiirmity could
reduce you to beggary? Would not all this be desir-
able? But you may think, and you may be told, that it
is Trnpossible. I tell you the contrary. It is so in Scotland,
and may be so here; for human nature is every where the
same.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CXXV

Rut how is it ti) be done, or wlio will do itf It must be
dojio by yourselves, using lawful nud ptnueable means : not
expecting too much at first; but patiently following up
your desires and purposes. Y ou bear, at this time, nmch
about petitioning Parliament. Perhaps nobody has told
you that you may do this as well as others, and that you
have as good a right.

When the parish gave you a dinner last sunnner, be-
cause of peace, as it was thought, [ could not join, as I
saw fresh causes for war in the very public acts of the mo-
ment. I sent an olVer of what I could spare, to be em-
ph)yed in another way ; and 1 requested the parish to join
me in petitioning against the slave trade, the continuance
of which was a strong symptom that the causes of war were
not laid aside. At the very moment, however, that all
indulged in the idea of peace and plenty for themselves,
they would not even take the trouble to write down their
names, for the happiness of thousands of their fellow
creatures.

Reflect on this, my poor neighbours, not with a view to
censure, but to guard yourselves against sellishness, and
against too much dependence on others. Petitioning for
the poor Africans could have hurt nobody, and would have
been a benevolent exercise of your most valuable right;
a right, wliich, if you would join in exercising discreetly,
would certainly obtain for you, every rational demand,

liut many above you, will discourage your first attempt,
from tlie invidious, tyrannical spirit, which is continually
on the watch against the advancement of independence.
This you must disregard, it you would do good to your-
selves and your children. You must say, that by doing
80, y«)u hurt, nor wish to hurt nobody ; lliat you wish to
do only what is right.

Whence is it, do you think, that not one in ten of you
has been taught to read or write ; and that while hundredsi
of millions are *' lown away on bloody wai* by Government,

* i

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CXXVl

GENERAL 'NTRODITTIOW.

» single million would bo grutlg«Ml, wliir^ would give your
children so great u blessing f Yes, a single million would
educate all Kiigland. Whence t but because men in power
wish not good tor others so much as greatness tor them
selves: and because they think, by your ignorance they
can ujore eusily maintain their command over you.

They pretend, very falsely, that you would be worse sub-
jects with education. While I have lived among you, have
you seen that the al)ility to read and write has made my
Scotch servants worse members of society ; idle, drunken,
or deceitful^ Far from it. Their education, and their edu-
cation alone, has made them both better subjects and in-
dependent men. They may go all over the island, and
need not thank any individual for the money they earn, or
the happiness they enjoy. 'J'his is generally the case with
all Scotchmen. Why should it not be so with Knglishmen ?
AVhy, but because they are not educated ; and ignorance
has subjectetl them to parish laws.

Why is it that the labouring people in Scotland are not
called the poor, as they are in England if Why is it that they
are better fed, better housed, and better clothed than in
England I Why are wages higher in Scotland than here i*
The same answer is suflicient for idl these cjuestions. The
Scotch are educated, and can take care of themselves,
while the poor English know nothing, and must submit to
the care of others, which is generally no care at all : no,
not so much as the care of the reverend Mr. Marsh ; but
the care, perhaps, of a selfish, hard -hearted overseer, who
has a direct interest in making them his slaves ; — slaves,
worse conditioned than those of the West India planter,
for they are absolute property, and men will take good care
of their property. Men are seldom wanting in the care of

* For the last seven y,ear8, the average yearly Avages of a
ploughman in Scotland has been £'iO and hh victuals ; in tbi»
country, not exceeding £ 12 and his victuals. •

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CXXVll

their horses and sheep ; bnt the care of uii overseer may bo
only to p^et bis own labour cheaply perl'orinecl, and as much
as possible at the expence ol' others. When his labour is
done, all that he ran save from the poor enriches him ;
and the sooner that the infirm die, by so much is his profit
increased.

To fi^et above all this, your first attempt must be to have
your children educated ; and 1 think the means of doing
this would be granted you were you only to ask it. I have
very simple means in view, which would cost the country
nothing; and were this boun, which would cost nothing,
granted by the Government, then it might be proper for
me to comnuinicate with you further.

At present 1 confine myself to the subject of education ;
and the proc(;eding on this point, will serve not only as a
test for your good conduct, but for tlie liberality of Govern-
ment towards you. '

The more simple that any scheme is, so much the better.
Having thought much about Parish Schools for England,
f find it necessary, from many considerations, that sim-
plicity should be mainly studied ; and the scheme that I
have held chiefly in view, for some years past, is almost
as simple as possible. ' ' .

You know that by the regulation of the Justices your
children are liable to be called to work by the overseer, at
seven years old and upwards ; and you know that many of
the poor chddren, while yet only eight or nine years of age,
are dragged out through all the winter months, for no pur-
pose on earth but for the exercise of authority. Now I
have long thought this not only cruel, but altogether pro-
fitless ; and in order to prove it, I put a challenge in the
Salisbury Journal some months ago, offering twenty guineas
to do as much work witliout the children as with them*.
Nobody would take me up ; and the farmers publicly ac-

III

* See p. vii of ** Explanation of tuk Map," vol. II.

5 i

rxwiii

GENERAL INTllonrOTlON.

knowlrtlcfcd n1 Salisbury Murkct ('ross. that llio cliiMroii
wt'ro of no use whrttrvcr ilurinjjj Iho winter inontlis.

1 <li(l i\ll fliis to ripon my |»ros<'nt piirposf, ami I wrote
n lottor to Mr. Whithread, oiu? of tin* ali!t?st nicinlHTN of
I'virliaiinMil, who forinrrly ontleavounMl to j^pt the j»t'4>plo
of I'itif^'iaud <Mlurat(Hl, appri/in^; liitn, that 1 should Iriuddo
liim this SeHsion of Pnrlianu-nt nith the euro of my pro-
posal *. [t would 1)0 HJmply this, to ohtain an Act of l*ar-
liameiit, to prevent the ovt^rseers from havinj;" the power to
cull out the <hihlr<'n under twelwi y<'rtrs of a^o t(» work,
diirinfi' the winter half y<^ar, while the parents put them to
school durin<; that time, and agreed that they should att<Mnl
Sunday S( hools all the year round.

1 have asked several of you, if you would be willing to
iigree to this ; and, without ex<epti<ni, you have assured me
that you would thankfully. It is my serious opinion that
this simple regulation, wouhl {\o all that is wanted for you
in the way of education. In .Scotland, though every parish
has an established school, as re<»ularly as an established
church, with un endowment out of the tithes f, yt^t these
schools are not free schools, as is giMuu'ally imagined in
England. Kvery scholar has to pay foes to the teacher,
and these ft;t!S are as high as in i'^ugland. Nor indeed do
the schools of tlui (\stablishm(Mit educate all the childimi.
Perhaps the full half are educated at the schools of
disseutery untl others.

♦ I wroto threo letters to Mr. Whilbroad, dated 25Ui Nov.
1814,28th March, iHl5, and 30th May, 1815; but had not
in return even an acknowledgment. He left as soon niter. Ho
flung aside the school-bill, and built a play-hotiso !

+ This was not literally correct. Paiish schools in Scotland
ave supported by an assessment on land, raised by act ot par-
liament. The landed interest, however, had previously made
spoil of tithes. Tlioy sloley/i'<;, anil returued <w< .

(iKNKRAL INTRODrCTION.

rxxix

It 'i», tliord'ore. 'not so much from the want of pariMh
schools, tin from thu opprea.sion, and the unnecessary
oppression of the poor laws, that the people of England are
withheld from the must essential blessing of education.

What I have here said will be suHlcient for your
understanding at present. Tn a few weeks hence I shall
draw out a petition for you to Parliament, and, I trust, by
that time, that you will have so weighted the matter in ques-
tion, that you will sign the petition, in the good hope of
obtaining a great, though cheap, gift for your cliildren and
children's children.

I am, sincerely, your friend,

March 13, 1815. ROBERT GOURLAY.

In return for 700 copies of the above, despatch-
ed to members of parliament, I received thanks
only from two, — Lord King and the late most
amiable statesman, Francis Horner, Esq. ; with
both of whom I exchanged a few letters on the
subject of the poor-laws.

The petition spoken of was soon after drawn
out, signed by upwards of a hundred inhabitants
of Wily parish, and presented to both houses: to
the Commons, by Mr. Methuen, member for Wilts,
the 31st day of May, 1815, and to the Peers by
Lord King, a few days later. It run as follows:

,1
1

To TUB Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual
AND Temporal of Great Biutain in Parlia-
ment ASSEMBLED.

The humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of the
Parish of Wily, County of Wilts;

Shtweth — Tliat it is notorious that the labotiring people

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cxxx

CKNERAL INTRODUCTIOX.

of England are not so well, {generally, in point of worldly
circnnistances, as they were in former times.

That, in the remenihrance of many of your Petitioners,
those who required relief from the parish were few,
consisting- only of such persons as were old, or otherwise
impotent. '

That now it is impossihle for the best spirited and ablest
bodied man to bring- up a family from the earnings of his
labour ; and that, of late, to remedy this, it has become a
standing regulation with magistrates to allow to all
la))ourers having a certain number of children, the right of
demanding- assistance from parish ofiicers, to such an ex-
tent as shall, with actual earnings, amount to a certain sum
for each individual member of their families respectively;
and consequent to the action of this regulation, other
regulations have been formed and acted upon.

That your petitioners, however much they deplm*e that
this factitious system should have grown up, (a system
which has not only lessened the comforts but cramped the
liberty and independence of a vast portion of Britisli
subjects) would not wish to attribute its origin or its
progress to design ; but would rather look to it as a result of
chance, and mistaken notions of policy.

That, thus impressed, they have ever viewed this
unhappy system with dispositions peaceable and resigned ;
but trust, that as far as it can be ameliorated, or virtuous
means pointed out, whereby its grievances may be lessened
or removed, that the legislature M-ill be ever ready and
willing- to afford its countenance and aid.
• That, in the opinion of your petitioners, it would
contribute much to the amelioration of the system, were all
regulations regarding it absolutely fixed, and publicly
declared by Act of Parliament, so as to leave as little as
possible depending on the will and discretion of individuals.

That your petitioners are assured, that the regulations
do admit, in practice, of such settlement ; and that this

GENERAL INTRODirCTirON.

CXXXI

would tend generally to the comfort of all parlies— of
magistrates— of parish officers — of contributors to parish
funds, as well as of persons who draw the whole, or part,
of their niaiiilenaiice from the same.

That it can only be the just practical end of such
regalat.ion.s, as they aflect people claiming parochial
aid, to guard against idleness, or the neglect of means
whertby such persons may support themselves. That it
never should be the spirit of these to act tyrannically, or to
operate as a check upon the liberty or improvement of the
people.

That, nevertheless, as nuilters now stand, many regu-
lations are so formed, or so arbitrary, as to subject
the people receiving parish assistance to unnecessary
grievances, and to place them, more tliaa needful, under
the caprice of magistrates and overseers.

That one regulation, in particular, has this tendeucy, in
a very flagrant degree, must be obvious, on tlie mere
statement of the same : it is that, authorized by magistrates,
which permits the overseer to call out the children of those
having parish assistance, to labour, from the period of their
arriving at seven years of age. It must be manifest, that,
at no season of tlie year, can t^ie labour of children of this
tender age, be of any material consequence ; and that,
even the labour of those five years older, viz. those of
twelve years of age, can be little, during tlie winter season;
and certainly not in proportion to the waste of health anji
strength, incurred by exposure to premature toil and
inclement weather.

That ywir petitioners conceive, that, witli a view merely
to the ultimate economy of labour, such a regulation is
greatly too severe. That overstraining the tender years of
youth, only serves to contract the frame, to weaken the
constitution, and to entail such a degree ©f imbecility upon
after-life, as greatly to outweigh in the end, even to <tbe
public, the paltry savings of childish drudgery. But thttre

! .M

CXXXll

GENERAL IXTROPUCTION.

•V i

is a higher consideration, which your petitioners beg leave
to submit to your honourable House, — a consideration,
equally important for the community, as for individuals,
viz. that which regards this regulation as a complete bar to
the mental improvement of the children of those who receive
parochial aid. Although the period of life, from seven to
twelve years of age. may be little valuable for labour, it is
that in which tlie mind is most susceptible of improvement,
and when it is adequate to receive, with best ell'ect, the
impressions of education.

That, however men may differ, as to the policy of esta-
blishing a national institution, for the education of youth,
or be aware of the dilliculty of doing this to general satis-
faction, in a country where religious liberty has created
such variety of opinions, as to fundamental principles ;
yet still, no reasonable or liberal-minded person will say,
that parish laws, or any other, should wantonly oppose the
inclination of parents or guardians to have their children
instructed in the rudiments of education, and to be made
capable of searching the Scriptures of religion, or the writ-
ten laws of their country.

Your petitioners, upon these grounds, humbly pray, that
your honourable House will take tiiese matters generally
into your serious consideration; but more immediately and
particularly, that you will enact that, from Michaelmas to
Lady-day, no overseer, or any other person, shall have
power to call out children, under twelve years of age, to
labour, or to withdraw any stated allowance from the pa-
rents or guardians of such children, because of their not
labouring ; at least, if such parents or guardians do put such
children tu school during the said period of each year.

And your petitioners shall ever pray.

(Signed by John Ball, Curate, Robert Gourlay, and
upwards of a hundred more of the inhabitants of the
parish of Wily.)

■3

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CXXXUl

To gain attention to this petition, when pre-
sented, I sent coj>ies to several members of parlia-
ment; and the following letter, which I received
from Mr. Horner, may, I hope, still assist in fixing
attention to it ; for, still, it may he looked to as of
importance, and as setting forth one simple mean
of granting relief to the poor of England.

Sir,

" Lincoln's Inn, May 27, 1815.

*' I am very much obliged to yon for sending me a copy
of the Petition, which is intended lo be presented to the
House of Commons, on the part of the inhabitants of your
j)arish. The paper is drawn with much ability and propriety,
and makes a very forcible and faithful exposure of what I
have long thought the greatest practical evil m the system
ofEnglishinstitutions, though one of very recent introduction.
To remove it altogether, or, even, to check its progress (for
it is the very nature of the evil, if not stopped, to go ori
increasing), will be found an undertaking of vast difficulty ;
not merely because many prejudices, and some corrupt
interests, stand in the way ; for these may be surmounted
by persevering discussion; but because the correction of this
fatal error, must, I am a .id, be attended with some tempo-
rary injury to th< • immediate comforts and enjoyments of the
very people whose happiness and moral improvement it is
our object to secure. This consideration, at least, has
always deterred me when I thought of calling the attention
of Parliament to the subject : for in all our late discussions
about the artificial state of our monev, as well as about th ;
regulation of the corn trade, I have insisted, that one of t'le
worst consequences of this factitious condition of things was
the modern practice among our English farmers, of
paying part of the wages of labour out of the poor's rates ;
and if 1 could have satisfied myself, that a practical

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CXXXIV

a DSVAWJ. I N TKODUCTION.

rorroc.tivo might he devised, that would not impair, for a
moment, the livelihood of the labourer, I should, h)ng since,
have proposed it to the House as a subject of special
incjuiry. It [is with very great satisfaction I see it cast
upon the atteriti(Mi of parliament, by a call from the
country : (he interest that belongs to such an incpiiry will
insure it a very patient and fair attention ; and it is to bo
hoped, that by bringing the miuds of many dillerent persons
to the examination, and giving thein the aid of others who
arc practically informed, some plan may be struck ont,
wbi<'h the legislature might adopt with a reasonable chance
of success. If you happen to know, therefore, when the
Petition is likely to be presented in our House, I will thank
you to give me notice of it; for though nothing more can be
done this session than to announce it as a proper object of
investigation for the next, it may be of great advantage to
direct the previous attention of men, both in and out of
I*arliament, to the subject."

* * * * (Continued on another subject J. =* * * *

** I have the honour to be,
Hit,

Your obedient humble servant,

F. HOlliSEK.'

Mr. Whitbread proposed to have the poor of
England educated, but he failed. Mr. Brougham
has now espoused the cause: will he succeed } —
t say he will succeed tor good, only by making his
plan part of one for the abolition of poor laws.
He has corresponded with lo,000 parsons on the
subject : will 500 of them lend honest assistance,
and admit of liberal measures ?

Mr, Brougham has eyed " the Lion of the Ex-

OENEUAL INTJIODUCTION,

CXXXV

Kxchcqucr, '*(hia speech on tlie Education Bill,)*
as if lie would growl at thr cost ; but I am afraid
we have much more to dread than mere niggard-
liness of expenditure. Parish schools were esta-
Idisljed in Scotland during the seventeenth cen-
tury, when the poverty of the nation was extreme;
and the reader will see in this volume how liberal
Canadian legislators have been to this first essen-
tial for the improvement of society, the strength-
ening of moral restraint, and the bracing of every
virtuous energy: he will see that £23 per annum
is allowed lor a school-master's salary, wherever
twenty scholars can be collected togetherf, \yere

* It must be observed that the above was wrilleii in September,
1820. Since then Mr. Brougham's Bills for educiiting thepoor,&c.
have beea brought into the House of Commons ; and I have
given the heads of one of them in vol. II. page 378, It was
said that Mr. Brougham had relinquished his undertaking. I am
now most happy to liear that he lias not. He will be the greatest
of benefactors to England if he succeeds ; and simplicity only is
wanted in the plan. For mnplicity^ see vol. If. page 277.

+ While travelling in the United States, I conversed ',vith a lady
on the subject of education, and told her that it was at so low aa
ebb in England, that in the adjoining parish to where J resided,
there were only three persons who could read and write; the
'Squire, the parish olpvk, and another (there was no resident
parson). Her astonishment 1 shall never forget. She said she
would begin a subscription among American ladies, for odticating
the English poor. Since this note was fu'st written, the lady alluded
to has been named in Miss Wright's Tour through the United States
and Canada ; and 1 may therefore take the liberty of naming her,
whirhjl do with the highest respect; Mrs. Wadsworth of Gencseo.
Every child in America is educated— can read and write.

;:if

n^n i M l 'i lB> Wj ' W il!i A'WWI»' l « i'>y ii'" P|iH''

cxxxri

CiKNEIlAL INTRODUCTION.

\ i

h i

the cost of education the sole difficulty in the way,
such liheral provision from the taxation of the
poorest people in America, should shame into libe-
rality our wealthy borough-mongers j but I repeat,
we have much greater obstacles to contend with
than niggardliness, and the thraldom of poor laws
is among them. I am convinced, indeed, that the
abolition of the poor laws, and the education of
the poor, should be jointly considered. They
should make part of a vast scheme of national re-
generation, in which the more simultaneous every
operation proceeds, so much the better. We are
arrived at that crisis, when the gravest members of
society seriously anticipate revolution, and when
public attention has been fluttering over specifics,
for the prevention of such an awful catastrophe,
till it has become almost careless of its object —
almost distracted and hopeless. I have been called
a reformer, a radical, and a radical reformer ; and,
provided my notions of reform are rightly under-
stood, have no objection to any one of these ap-
pellations. From those who would bring about
any change by violence, I certainly stand as dis-
tant as possible; and for this reason, more espe-
cially, that I believe simple and peaceable mea-
sures may be made effectual for procuring any
rational change. Twelve years have gone by since
my mind was made up as to the mode, by which
the people should proceed to obtain any great na-
tional end, It was, and is, by systematic petition-
-by every parish petitioning the king or par-
timcnt for a specific and well-defined object ; by

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CXX\Vli

keeping registers of parishes and names : by caus-
ing respect tlirough consistency of purpose and
perseverance. The presentation of the above peti-
tion, which records the strange predicament, in
which the poor of England have been placed, and
whereby the hope of their receiving the benefit of
education rests entirely on the caprice of others
who have dominion over them, was meant not
only to record so strange a fact, but to lead on the
poor to speak for themselves on my plan of sys-
tematic petitioning It is with great pleasure I can
produce such testimony in behalf of my petition,
as that of Mr. Horner, whom every Member of
Parliament must remember with esteem and admi-
ration ; but i was not so sanguine of gaining at-
tention to the cause as he. I complied with his
wish, and sent him notice of the day on which the
petition was to be presented ; but nothing was
done. The vis inertia:, the selfishness, the per-
versity of mankind are all against simple and truly
virtuous proposals. I wrote no less than three
letters to Mr. Whitbread before this petition was
presented to Parliament on the subject of edu-
cation, and enclosed him a copy of my petition,
without even being honoured with the slightest
notice. These things I take quite coolly. Poor
Whitbread had, by this time, laid aside thoughts
of educating the poor, which might have embalmed
his memorv for ever in the affections of mankind :
he had laid aside such virtuous thoughts, and
devoted his greatest efforts to the erection of a
play-house. Alas! within three months of the date

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CXXXVIU GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

1 ■'
]

v|.

of mv last letter to him, he left us ! — It has amused
me to observe, that Mr. Malthus, in the filth edi-
tion of his Essay on Population, has comphniented
Mr. Owen for petitionino^ Parliament in favour of
poor mauufactuiing children, as I did for all poor
children. Mr. Owen's petition was got up, after
I had served seven hundred members of Parliament
with a copy of my little tract on tiic Tyranny of
Poor-Laws, wherein the intention of presenting
my petition was announced ; and, to the best of
my recollection, Mr. Malthus had a copy of that
tract sent to him. Perhaj>s, from that tract it
was known that '* the poor laws of Scotland are
not materially different from those of Englatul* .''

Shortly before my departure for Canada, 1 had
a second petition presented to the House of Com-
mons, to record what was farther required for the
relief of the poor from oppression ; and to give
them practice in the only peaceable mode of pro-
ceeding for that end. Th/e following is a copy oi'
the second Petition, , . '^

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament aasemhled,
The humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of
the Parish of Wily, in the County of Wiliy>, {the 6th
of February, IS17.) '■

Shkweth,

THAT on the 31st of May, 1815, a Petition from this
parish to your honourable House, was presented by Paul

■' I

* See page cxxiii of this Introduction, and page 120, Vol, 11.
of Muahus's 5th Edition of the Essay on Population ; ^Iso

pag9 274 of th« same volume.
2

GENEKAL INTRODUCTrON.

CXXXIX

Methuen, Es(j. member for tliis county, on the subject of
the poor laws, to which your Petitioners beg leave agaia to
call the attention of your honourabU; House.

That your Petitioners undtrstood, that, at the close of
the last S^'ssiou of Parliament, your honourable liouse had
appointed a committee, to take into consi<leration this most
impoitant subject, and your Petitioners would have looked
with conlidence towards the result of such consideration,
had not a proposal been set forth, by the mover of this
measure, not only subversive of hope, but indicative of an
intention and spirit absolutely abhorrent to the minds of
your Petitioners.

It was proposed in your honourable House, — not to
better the condition of the poor, — not to lighten the
overburthened wheels of industry, — not to rekindle the
s})irit of independence, nor to recruit the wasted strength of
the labourers of England :— it was proposed to oblioe them
to pay four- pence out of every ten shilhngs of their
earnings, tliat they who have hitherto paid poor rates, may
be eased of their burden ! When such a proposal has been
made, and patuntly listened to*, in the British Senate,
under such circumstances as the present^ it must be high
time for every one, even llie lowest, to think for himself, —
to doubt if sellishness has lelt, in the human breast, one
spark of benevolence, or, if any thing like reason is to
dictate in the arrangements of civil society.

Your Petitioners were taught to bi "ieve, that after the
struggle of war was at an end, plenty would come hand in
hand with peace, to refresh the people, who had, with un-
paralleled fortitude and submission, for upwards of twenty
years of war, supported the measures of their Government:
your Petitioners have been disappointed, — most grievously

■ 1^

[ I;.

* These words, in italic^, were erased bdfore ti»e PetitLon was
pM«ented. The " proposaV^ was made by Mr. Curwen. u- ^■

'. rr

*i»'l

cxl

GENKRAL INTRODUCTION.

\ ''

disappointed. War bad its horrors, but the present peace
is more horrible than war; — the people in thuiibunds stand
every where idle, ramishod, dejected, and desperate.

At such a period of disappointment and gloom, your
Petitioners would bridle in every inclination to reproach
those who have been the more immediate instruments of
bringing down upon the country its load of calamity.
Looking- backward they recognise the people at every step,
identifying their will with that of the Government; fostering
its ambition; cheering its victories; sharing its plunder.
Your Petitioners wish to bury in oblivion the follies and
the crimes that are passed : they wish, now, that most
urgent necessity proclaims that something must be done,
that that may be done, which may not only be safe and
honourable for the British Government, but efficient to the
comfort and prosperity of the people.

Your Petitioners conceive that there exists no mystery,
ns to the grand cause of the present distress. Excessive
taxation, for a long period of years, has not only wasted
the productions of industry, but the funding system has
registered the price of these wasted productions, as a debt
to be discharged by industry, while industry, deprived of the
excitements which extraordinary circumstances afforded,
has ceased to be able for such a discharge. Under these
changed circumstances, your Petitioners have marked, for
the last three years, a fatal blindness to consequences, and
have beheld with sorrow, principles assumed and acted
upon, with a design to remedy impending evils, not only of
a narrow and selfish character, but palpably inadequate to
the end in view. Your Petitioners conceive that the first
step which should have been taken, after peace deprived
this country of its monopoly of trade, and the peculiar
incitements to industry, created by war and extraordinary
circumstances, was, to have withdrawn those taxes which
most directly bear upon the necessaries and comforts of life,
and to have substituted in their place^ taxes upon idl«

' f

(iKNF.RAI. INTRODlTCTfON.

C'xii

property and preat incomes accruing- from the same. Such
measures wouJfl not only liavt; huen politic anil just among
individuals, but their adoption would at once have cmabled
onr industry to cope with that of other nations, and would
have upheld that due degree of confulence in substantial
stock, which was clearly wanted to maintain a balance
against the dangerous inlluence of funded property, whose
immediate security does not rest on the success of trade
and industry, but in the power of taxation, and whos€>
pressure increases as the strength to bear it is diuiinished.
Your Petitioners hoped that time and approaching ruin
would not only have opened the eyes of all to the real
situation of aifairs, but have made it thti first duty of
ministers, to have declared the truth, and to have quieted
the public mind, by an assurance of instantly altering the
scheme of taxation. With utmost dread, however, have
they now heard the Royal speech proclaiming, that the
evils, which assail the country, spring from temporary
causes, and from the transition from war to peace. Your
Petitioners deem it their most sacred duty to oppose such
sentiments, to deprecate su(;h advice to Royalty, and to
declare it to be the very extreme of infatuation to rest
under such impressions for a moment. Your Petitioners,
being mostly labourers and poor men, have comparatively
little interest in the fate of property ; but as sincere friends
to peace and good order, they wish to see that which
regulates all the commercial transactions of men, and which
is necessary to give excitement to industry, kept in its pro-
per place : — tliey wish no longer to see real property swal-
lowed up and endangered by a bubble, whose increase,
under existing circumstances, must rapidly tend to explo-
sion, and whose explosion can leave nothing behind, but
wretchedness and woe. With a change iii the scheme of
taxation, your Petitioners have persuaded themselves, that
certain proposals, if adopted, would co-operate imme-
diately to revive the industry of the country, and, in a .short

i i

t \

(111

cxiii

GKNTllAT. TXTRODTTrTTON.

tim**, do away all necessity, both for poor law» and poor

Thpsp proposals aro :

\st. Thai in wen/ parish twt rnmprcheiiiUd ///, nnr
tvntaimnf:; a ttmii of morr than one ihousaml inhahitunti,
Cnwernmnit shall lake posxexsion of one hundred anrn of
land, hcins^ the nearest clear land to the resp<ctirr. parish
churches^ and olhermse best suitinij^ the purposes in view.

9.d. That Government shall pay to the owners of such
land its fair estimated value ^ raisins: one half of the whole
means for (his purpose, In/ a rate similar t<t a poor rate, onlj/
that owners of property/ shall be assessed instead of tenants,
these latter beinp^rbligcd to pat/ le<]^al inh rtst to the former,
durini:; the eurrenei/ of existing; leases, upon the amount of
assessment raised from their respective holdiniys : the other
half of the whole means to be obtained b>/ loan, so calculated^
as to be liquidated brj rents and purchase-mona/, mentionea
below.

3d. That eaeh hundred acres sh,ill be divided into tvo
equal parts, as to extent, and in such a manner, as shall b^\st
suit purposes in viera

4th, That one of these parts, in each parish, shall be en-
closed, and otherxdse in the best manner improved, for the
purpose of a common pasture, to remain so for ever.

5ih. That the other half shall be divided into half-acre
allotments^ 7nakins^- one hundred allotments in eaeh parish.

6th. That the present inhabitants, male parishioners,
of such parishes, shall be allowed immedialeh/ to occupy the
allotments, one each; the choice of ' allotments to proceed by
senioritj/. ^

7th. That where the present inhabitants of parishes are
not snffidenth/ numerous tooecup/j all the allotments of their
respective parishes, oth^er persons shall have a choice, senioritf/
and proximity friving a preference, while any allotment re-
mains unoccupied.

Bth. That each person, when he takes possession of an

•* mimjv ^ if>y . f < w # "i!y'

Ca:NKIlAL INTKOnVCTION.

cxliii

allnfnirnt, "hall (hi'rrht/ hind hiiuulf to pm/ /br/y shilfings
II f/ear,ns rent for the same ,- tinrl <U all tinifx to keep it in
frond s^aiden rnltitrr. A person, thus pnt/ing rent, shall he
sti/leil a pniish' holder.

9th. That as lons^ rtv these conditions are fulfdted, no
parish-holder shall he dislnrhril in, tior turned out of his
allotment; and at his death, his son inaij oeenpi/ in his stead,
if twenft/'One years of a^e : an eldtr son having aprioritt/
of choice to a i/ounger son ,• anil f ailing sons, the choice of
oecuprtuo/ shall proceed to the nearest male relation, he/ore
it fulls to the puhlic. '

10///. That ns soon as am/ parish-holder shall have paid
into n savings btink, to be for that purpose estahlished hy
Government, the. sum of otic hundred pounds, he shall have
a cotla<ie huilt on his allotment to that value : he havim: the
choice of a varittjy of plans for the construction of the said
cotfaicC' • . . • ,

11///. That neither the money deposited in the hank for
the above purpose^ nor the property of the cottage when
built, shall be attachable for debt ; nor shall thct/ affect any
claim of parnrhial relief duchy existing lares. A person
nhen possessed of a cottage in this manner ^ shall be styled a
cottage-holder. At his death, his cottage-hold shall go to
the nearest heir-male, as in the case of the parish-hold, rvith
this difference, that the heir who lakes possession shall pay to
relations, equally near of kin with himself to the deceased,
male and female, or to the nearest of kin female relation or
relations, if such there he, nearer than himself, (a the exclu-
sion of others, a certain value for the cottage; and in case
no heir takes possession to fulfil these terms, then they
may be faljilled by other persons who may desire possessionj
and zchosc claim, to possess, shall be regulated by proximity
and seniority : but if '^either relations nor others shall claim
possession, then the cottage hold shall revert to Government,
from whom heirs shall receivethe value of the cot^^j-e, and

the cottage-hold shall he open to public purchasr

'if:fie

^S^-

1
i

j| ;; !

? i? i

: J

cxlir

GENKRIL INTRODUCTIOX.

-1 .

\2th. That as soon as a cottage- holder shall have had no
relief from the parish, for the space of two t/ears, he shall
be entitled to a vote in the parish, and have a right to pas-
ture a cow on the common. He shall be staled a freeman.

I3th. That if a freeman shall throw himself for relief on
the parish, he shall lose that designation, his right to vote, and
pasture; nor shall he recover these^ till he has lived five i/ears
without parochial aid.

lAth. That as soon as a freeman has paid into the bank
the sum of sixtt/ pounds, the same shall be received by
Government as purchase-money for his allotment, shall free
him from the yearly payment of rent, and make him eligible
into parish offices. He shall be styled a parish freeholder.
Succession to be regulated as above.

15th. That all sales aw J exchanges shall be made through
public medium; and at once to facilitate and regulate these,
there shall be corresponding registries ; parochial, district,
county, and national.

l6th. That no person whatever shall possess either in
one or more parishes, more than one holding, and no person
shall have a choice, nor be allowed to purchase, under twenty-
one years of age; but an heir male shall be allowed, while a
minor, to hold possession, although he shall have no vote, nor
be eligible to offices, till he come of age : provided always,
that none of the relations, entitled as above to a share of the
valued property, become chargeable to the parish, while their
share is unpaid, nor the heir himself, for in such cases the
holding shall revert to public possession, and the residue only,
if any, of the value of the cottage and freehold, be paid to
the heir or heirs, after the parish charges for mainiena/^ce
have been deducted.

Altliough your Petitioners ti ankly submit these Proposals to
the consideration of your honourable House, they do not press
their adoption in the letter. Your honourable House may
see fit to modify the scheme. The common pasture may
be dispensed with, and the number of allotmentiii may b»

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

cxlv

increased, diminished, or reflated, as circumstances may
require. Vour Petitioners chiefly insist that it is essential
to the abolition of Pauperism in England, that an opportu-
nity be afforded, for the labouring people to acquire pro-
perty and personal freedom; both which they have lost
through the operation of the poor laws, and which they can
never regain under existing circumstances. To afford
half an acre of land to all who would require it, would not
occupy a hundredth part of tlie national territorj : and
when it is considered that the poor once possessed many
houses and gardens in every parish, and enjoyed over all
England extensive common rights, of which, in many cases,
they have been unjustly deprived, such restitution must
seem far from extravagant or unreasonable.

Your Petitioners would desire your honourable House
to consider, what universal contentment would instantly
ensue from the adoption of these proposals, or even of a
modification of them : what a fund of employment would
be created: how universally this would be diffused; and
how long it would continue. Even the early production of
provisions to eke out the supply, before next harvest, would
be no small advantage, in the present year of scarcity, and
would certainly be obtained by affording to the poor, gar-
den allotments of land, for individual cultivation and conve-
nience. Your Petitioners deny what has been asserted by
some, that such arrangements in rural economy, would stir
up in the minds of the people a desire for any thing like a
general Agrarian law, or that their obtaining votes, would
in any way endanger property. Your Petitioners refer to
America, where, in many parts, the right of vote is equally
shared among the rich and the poor, without havin{!^ caused
the least encroachment on property.

Your Petitioners, though they most eaniestly desire
to sec a wise reform of Parliament, do not wish the parish
vote to qualify directly for parliamentary election, and
they positively disclaim and renounce what is commonly

■ }

r ,

[ ■ Ma'i i tfwftWi i ( .' 11 1 t m^ ii* ' i i ' i.i> i i«.» 't* " ' '**"

iliXfl'

cxlvi

GENERAL TNTRODUf TlOX,

unilerstood by universal siiUVnge. They feel tlitit tlte mass
of the people never could be competent, sufliciently
to estimate the comparative merits of persons aspiring
to a seat in parliament; a'lthough they could well judge,
which of their felloAV parishioners were most wortliy of
oliices and trust within their respective parishes, and which
of them might be liest qualitied to act as parish deputies,
at district or county meetings, whether assembled for
parliamentary election or other business. ■ .i

Your Petitioners therefore most earn<.'stlv entreat that
your honourable House will immediately withdraw all taxes
on malt, svdt, soap, candles, leather, bricks, and tiles ;
contract no more debt ; pay all national chiuges unprovided
for, by an assessment on rents and interest of money,
increasing the ratio of assessment upon great incomes
derived from the same: — That, having done tli^s, your
honourable House will take into most serious consideration
the above proposals ; and parti(jularly that you will so
enact, that every British subject, grown to man's estate,
shall have an opportunity of occupying half aa acre of
land for its value^ whereon he may establish his fret>-
hold : and your petitioners shall ever pray. .. ,, .

(Subscribed by Robert Gourlay, and niuety-seven others,
of Wily parish.)

This Petition had so much to struggle with, be-
fore it was presented to the House of Commons,
that I published an account of its struggles. (Poor
Laws, No, 4.) Seven weeks before it was pre-
sented, I sent to every Member of Parliament a
circular containing that part printed in italics; stat-
ing, at the same time, that such was to make the
ground of a petition to the House of Commons a*

"S\

ill

GRNEUAL INTRODUCTION.

cxlvil

soort as it assembled. Application was made to
both the county members of Wilts, to present the
petition ; but neither of them ^ifoing to town im-
iiiediately on the sitting of Parliament, it was
olFered to three popular men : Sir Francis Burdett,
Loril Cochrane, and Lord Foikstone. Sir Francis
curried it to the House, read it there, seemingly
with great care, and then returned it to me by the
hands of his brother, saying, " he liad not time to
read it." Lord Cochrane objected to the language,
as ** too strong," and Lord F'olkstone spurned it as
being *' an act of legislation.*' After this, it was
put into tne hands of Mr. Methuen, member for
Wiltshire, presented, read, and ordered to be laid
on the table of the House of Commons, the 28th
February, 1817. > ^

Now, that nearly four years have gone by since
this Petition was presented to Parliament, I hope
the reader will grant me indulgence in giving a
little explanation as to it.

F'rom the moment that our courtiers took for
granted, that public distress arose out of a mere
*' transition from war to peace,'* and that our
landed interest relied on a Corn Hill to uphold
their rents: — from that moment it seemed well for
every one to enter his protest against such mad-
ness, were it only to enable him, by a future day,
to exclaim, " Thou canst not say that 1 did it." —
F>om that moment, it was clear as day, that we
were doomed to distress, if not to destruction. The
crisis has not yet arrived ; but what thinking man
is free from the impression, that we are now every

< ■

M^-t^co— wi . «<iA-i.¥wn»,imftr^ r ".it.r -^^ >*<!'•?•» S||(f'*»»rtj(IN*oi

,»p^,**^.,^*i^«*W^*SM#^1^^'«^^

cxlviii

i i!

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

moment in jeopardy? Schemes multiply tor deli-
verance. One would debase the coin : another
would at once sweep oft' national debt, by a ge-
neral levy of 16 per cent, on every species of pro-
perty : a third would lower the rate of interest ;
and a fourth has no hope but in the spomje.
I maintain, that a well-regulated tax on Rents ^\u\
Interest, would be preferable toevery other scheme.
Whigs object to a property-tax, in the dread of
its enabling mmisters to go on in profusion ; but
let those who enjoy rents and interest, see to that.
The main point is to unburden capital in the hands
of its employers, to give excitement to industry,
and spirit to adventure. The cravings of my 1 etition
admit of compromise. Disband /jO,000 soldiers,
and the tax on salt might continue: put to the
hammer the reversion of useless public property,
which would bring upwards of one hundred mil-
lions, and the tax on malt might rest where it is:
abolish sinecures, and economize in all the depart-
ments of state, and the tax oh hops would not be
complained of. To go still further beyond the
record, make u law, by which farmers may pay the
rents of existing leases, on a scale of reduction,
calculated from the market-price of wheat : com-
mute tithes: get (^uit of all corn laws; and gra-
dually throw open our ports to free commerce.
These are sweeping proposals ; but they are mode-
rate, when looked to as guards against the horrors
of revolution. They are more fair than debasing
the coin : more safe than making a great seizure
of property: more creditable than lowering of in-

fc» W*j «.»iHfc.-*»«w. tmrnr^ftpytm

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

cxiix

}

torest; un I every way to be preferred to the
sponge. . . .. , , ,

Some people begin to regard revolution with
coniplacency, since armies have, of late, accom-
plished this with ease and safety ; but these people
little retlect iipoii circumstances, which render our
situation diift^rent from that of every other nation.
No country has such a multitude of degraded pau-
pers as England ; men, who remember better times,
and have experienced the most odious reverse: no
country has such a swarm of idlers existing on
fictitious wealth: the people of no country have
stronger feelings ; nor is there any where so much
talent to inflame passion. This, in short, is my
conviction, that revolution in England would cer-
tainly have a bloody beginning and a doubtful end.

Those who expect good from revolution, rest
expectation chiefly on relief from taxation and na-
tional debt. I. by no means, think that such re-
lief, even were it obtained without violence, would
secure to us the greatest good. So far as taxation
stimulates to industry, and so far as national debt
affords a place of safe deposit for its surplus gains^
both are desirable. The desideratum is to make
secure the place of deposit, by keeping taxation
within bounds, while industry is siimulatcd t'j the
utmost. Our national debt is national capital ; aiid
could its interest be fairly paid out of the surplus
earnings of skill and industry, it should not be re-i
duced a farthing : nay, instead of being eight huii-
dred millions, I should be glad to see it doAible
that, treble, or ten times that. As our debt m-

I ■

■:1 I

GENERAL INTUODUCTION.

creases, without diminisliing the fair profits of in-
dustry and skill, it. indicates increasing powers of
production, and affords greater facilities to the ac-
conaplishment of grand national projects. With
proper management, national debt need never be
ruinous. It is all among ourselves, and the grand
point is to watch its bearings upon production. If
taxes overburden the wheels of industry, then it
is time to reduce them, or make rents and interest
bear a greater share of the burden. Rents and in-
terest are the overflowings of production ; and with
power to regulate these overflowings, national debt
cannot be extravagant in amount. With good ar-
rangiement, rents and interest may be flung into
the sea, and industry go on producing ; but the
enjoyment of rents and interest— of affluence and
ease, is enviable. It excites desires in those who
produce, rendering them more and more productive.
Rents and interest are thus remotely beneficial ;
but they are not of the first consequence: they are
not absolutely necessary ; and, when the neces-
sities of society require it, they should be first sa-
crificed.

The misfortune is, that the receivers of rents
and interest are our legislators ; and, till hard pres-
sed themselves, remain heedless of consequences
— even of impending, ruin. Our great landlords
are, at a push, our directors-in-chief. They could
carry the Corn Bill against the will of nine-tenths
of the people: they could behold it powerless, and
for five years look with small concern on the
pining away of their tenantry; ihcy could see the

n i >-n .. ^. . ^*-f.. ,. i|.,, ^ ,..i„„

<<*■■««••»»-» V" 'rt'-t

Ill

GENKRAl. INTRODICTIOM.

eli

moiiicd interest rising on their ruin; and while
they can still purcliasc ease by mortgage, or hy
<levoiiriug the farmer's capital, they will remain in
a[)atliy ; or, worse than apathy, go about amending
their Corn Bill : when every succeeding rent-day
^ives stronger and stronger proof that economy
should be studied, they will go on voting away
millions for the support of soldiers in time of
peace!! Well! if the last cord of feudal power
is to be snapped by its own straining, it may be
-all for the best.

But let us indulge a moment longer in theoretic
'discussion, and 1 shall say, that were the hand of
wisdom itself to regulate and determine a scheme
of taxation, rciits and interest would be the true
sources of supply in a country like this. They
are most easily come at. Their amount precisely
determines national capability, and by pressing
upon them, every moral good, whicli may be con-
seqnent on the direct taxation of luxuries, may be
obtained. How monstrous to tax soap, candk,
leather, bricks and tiles! How monstrously un-
principled was the war property-tax ! at once
thriftless and oppressive; exacting from farmers
often in the inverse ratio of their means .o pay ;
searching the books of merchants; and making the
income tax begin at £,60 a year, and reach its acme
of increase at £\50l Oppose to all this a well
regulated property-tax on rents and interest; and
duly consider, not only the difference in point of
justice, but economy. Lay a tax of ten per cent,
on all rents and interest whatever, and a quarter

i i

I ;

' . '' * ' i iiii r < t i Ji > *!' i i l i i i ^iii ( i n 1 1 1

n^W^yi m i i»t <imimvt» ■ W a^ v ^^ ^w iinHnW ' .H Ii U W W «I« . ' 'l u l Na MtWi K WfT •-

clii

GENERAL INTRODUCTION-

i I

i '
\
r

per cent, additional on every £1,000 a year above
one thousand pounds of income, out of rents and
interest; and the budget would bloom debght-
fully. Who would suffer by such a tax ? Would
the man of J20,000 a year be stinted in luxury
by giving up l^ per cent.? the man of ^40,000
a year, 20 percent.; or the man of ^100,000 a
year, ii6 percent.? Certainly not? They would
only have to dispense with a few pleasure horses
and lap-dogs, footmen, and fiddlers. But there is
no hope of getting this etlected peaceably, but by
systematic petitioning. t; ,■* ir ., ^. .' c.-i

Having so far touched on the out-works of my
Petition, I would now draw attention to its middle
part — that printed in italics; and to this I would
particularly call the attention of Mr, Malthus, as-
serting that it will be impossible to get quit of the
" evil in compai'ison of which the national debt,
nith all its terrors, is of little mome7tt,*^ without
some such plan as here set forth. I assert that
there is rnore than education and relief from ta<a-
tici) required to shut out *' the prospect of a mon-
strous deformitif in society." I assert that objects
of ambition should be set before the poor of Elng-
land, to stimulate exertion, and draw them forth
from the abyss of misery and degradation in which
they are now plunged: that opportunity should
be now given them, not only to acquire property,
but civd rights, by the sweat of the face ; and I
assert that, by liberal measures, they may be made
in ten years not only to unburthen the country of
poor-rates, but to add greatly to its cU'ective

GENERAL INTllODTJCTION.

liii

strength :- — that a weak unci profitless population
may be got quit of, while a strong and healthy
one would he substituted: finally, that .moral
restraint may be so strengthened, that we should
never stand in need of war, pestilence, or laniine,
to carry off redundant popidation. • . .;

Mr. Malthus has ventured to recommend " a
(/eneral improvement ofcoUayes^"' and even ** the cow
system on a limited scaUy' thinking that '* with
proper precautions, a certain portion of land mif/hi
be yiven to a considerable body of the labouriny
classes." INIy mind was made up as to all these
points, when I drew up the foregoing Petition,
and after sixteen years reflection on the subject,
with better opportunities of judging than any
other individual whatever. I have since crossed
the Atlantic, never losing sight of my plan for the
deliverance of the English poor from oppression :
I have become more and more convinced of the
necessity of something being done ; and am more
and more assured that no half measure — no pid-
dling plan can avail. The time is now at hand
when something must be done, and the sooner the
better; for now we may have salvation, by and
by despair. The execution of my plan would ex-
hibit a scene unlike to any thing which the world
has yet witnessed; perfectly safe, and every way
effective. It disclaims all connexion with Spen-
cean doctrines, and still more with the monstrous
absurdity of spade husbandry. It proposes no de-
rangement in the frame of society, nor any dan-
gerous interference with private property. A hun-

cliv

GRNIOMAL INTUODrCTIOiV.

I (

V t

dreclth part of the island would ans'ver its fullost
demands; and that would ])o paid for most libe-
rally*. It will be observed, from the Petition, that
I was not rigid as to the quantity oFland, and that
1 admitted of tuodification as circuujstaiiees shoidd
re(]uire. I wished to s(;t forth the greatest ciuaii-
timi required, to shew that even that was nothing
before the mighty object aimed at ; the rooting out
of poor-laws, and improving the eharacter and
condition of tlK: people. The half acre of land is
condescended upon as being sueh a quantity as any
poor man could make the most of at his spare hours,
and from which he could raise sutficient food for
a cow, along with his liberty of pasturage on the
common ; but there are reasons which would make
it politic and right to diminish both the extent of
the common and the garden plot.' A quarter of
an acre is the proper size for a garden, and *25
instead of ,30 acres of con)nion would be quite
sullicieut. . ■ -

A rood of land, under good garden culture, will
yield great abundance of every kind of vegetable for
a family, besides a little for a cow and pig. If there is
aground on which a cow can range for part of a day,
she can be kept in high condition for milk, upon
artic^les of food, which can always be purchased ;
straw, hay, grains, &c, ; and, on introducing a general
system, the less bounds in which that can be

* There are in Great Britain ,')4,r)OiJ,360 acres.

Then, SOacres set aside in oacli of 10,000> . _„ ,, ,„-
parishes, gives . . , , J '

ii" ^ '

The quotient h not a Imudrccllh part . , 109

OENEKAL INTRODUCTION.

ncconn)lishc(l, 90 much the better. It is not the
intention to mai<e labourers professional gardeners or
laruiers ! it is intended to confine them to bare
conveni* nee. The bad elleets ol' giving too much
land to labourers was discovered more than thirty
years ago, in the lowlands of Scotland. What
were called the Cottar ricfs (Cottager's ridges) are
now every where done away with, and to the
benefit of both masters and servants. The b;ul
effects of the little potaloe farms in Ireland, are
well known; and nothing but dirt and misery is
witnessed among the (Jrnflcrs of the highlands of
Scotland*. A tidy garden, with the right of
turning out a cow in a small well-improved and
well-fenced field, would produce effects of a very

* Formerly, in Scotland, every largo farnj, or baroriy, had its col^
ler loon (coUnger's town), that was, a hamlet, or small village, round
which a portion of land was laid out in ridges ; and each cottor
had one, two, ox more of these ridgos, on which he grew a littlfc
oats for meal, a little flax for domestic manufacture, a sufliciency
of j)otatoe9 (after that root was introduced), a litthr grass for hisi
cow, &c. The farmer or laird (landlord) under whom tho
cotter3 rented their houses and land, lent aid to plough tho ridges,
cm'ry in the crop, i&c. ; and the cotters were bound to work to
him, when required. The system was wretched. The land was
but half cultivated : its stinted produce increased the cares ai\d
avarice of the occupier ; but added little to his comfort. I'o
better the condition of the cow, and to add to the suiall
in-gutherings of harvest, tho cotter was led to help himself by little
and little out of his master's iields and barns ; and habits of
pilfering grew up with the cow-herd and spinster. 1 am just old
enough to have remembrance of the expiring system, and the im-
pressions left oil my uiiad, make uie rejojcc that it is now no more.

i ■)

rivi

GENr.RAL INTRODUrTION.

(liflVrcnt kind indeed: would, at once, insiini con-
tentment, couitort, and a world of ronvenletice*.
Independent of the advantage which would accrue
to t^KJ inhabitants ot a villaufe, in the wnv of
row-keepinn, from a sniall coninion or park, th<T(^
is need of sucli a spot for various other purposes:
the bleachiua: of Jinen; the g:and)()ls ot tlie young ;
and the sober sauntering- of th(^ old ; exercise and
air; the feeling of independence and social union.
()bje(ttion has been started to the scheme, that
its benefits could not be extended to people in
towns; but it may as i)roperly be said, that.

Many years ago I have explored tlu> interior ot" ihi; highlands of
Scotland; hut till the Hpringof 1820 was not 30 far north uHGlengiiry
and Lochalwr. There I witnensod the wrctchednosH of the crofters ;
and wished, most heartily, that govcrnineut might allow me, or
some one else, to remove every one of them to Upper ('anuda, that
their room in the bighlandw niight be occupied entirely by
-shepherds, and they themselves rescued from filth. I cannot yet
call to mind the turf hoveU, with smoke spewing out from every
pore, without feeling itchy all over. These people would, most of
them, willingly emigrate. At least a full half of those I talked
with, were keen Icr it ; but, for want of union and nrrttngement,
few can move.

* While composing this Gkneuai, Introduction, September,
1820, and studyin* the above subject, I began to consider what
would bo the consequence if there was no restraint put upon the
l^'OAtitioning of cottage allotments; and I wrote to Fifeshire, to
ascertain how it had actiudly turned out with the /Vus upon my
father's estates in the parish of Ceres. I sent a /'orm under which
to range the information required; and have now to present a
table, from which the j)olitical economist may draw more than one
conclusion. The table was filled up by Mr. Martin, land surveyor
in Craigrolhie, a man of great accuracy. • •

■ •"";»i'»(*^l'-^ii'V^Pil>ipii(i|'j|('.' "-

-i )i>i| W M >i "

C.RNK.UAI. rN'rnODl/CTfOX.

civil

because; vv<; oamiot reach tbc North poU;, \vc
should uDt venture ro far as Grccnhuicl. Were

STATE of I he FKt S nn Ihr EnnHg of BaUilli/, Seotitarvtt, and
Craiffiolhit;, in lite I'arUh vf Ccrm, t'mtnly of Fife.

. NAMKS nr OKUaNAI.

CRorr DvKt;, flALTiixv.

Alex. M'Lacldiin.

.lAmo* DonalcUnu
Wm. Mite hit 11 ...

Kxtdit

of
(Jriiiiiiil

ll'Udcl.

A. K.F

Utie nf

•Ion.

AuArew Dotnlre.

M .

ClMNCBlNW, 8<K)TSTAR-
VKT.

Jobit Loiilc

I 'it

nsa

175&
ITS*

Jnmc-H Ixmio 9 'i

Alex. M*Keiizi« 6 ■iM

.Tohn liOuie . . .
Wni. Stracbnn.
Jobii Jvonle .. .

JiintCR Dlnrwiill

(^nAionoTiiiE.
J««. Balfour

1 to

1 2 (1

»H i ■!»

1780

1790

1190
179*
111)4

ITJT

oia

I
11

KF.M) <)(•< III'IPRH or
UWKI.LINO.IIOUitlil,

Win. Ailamiou ., .
Miirpi. UiidKer. .. .
(lirUtiiiii llodgiir .

Mn. <J>i|,l

Win. HiiTnoii

IV III. Mafoii

Unit. VVallHCti ...

.Iri. Tiiriii«

Win. Tliaw ,

David OUuk ....
HcUmi Thaw .. . . ,
Juini-^i noiialiUou
.Fnii. F«'rg:ii!fiia.. .. ,
Uiiv'ul OoniUiUiiii
Wm. Mitclii.ll....

Jiiliii MUcUell

Mary Urnid ....
W 111. Diiiinlilioii..
Wm. WhI-iOU ....
KUz. Piicuirii ....
Kbeii. Tur|>lo ,. . .
.lotin LawNOit ....
Kiipli. Sandemnn

Win. I'oat

Afrnls Wllkid

.Ian. llnnDo

Jan. Allan

I
I

AU>x. Cuiiutiiglinm

Katli. I.oiii«

Win. lloiiilMrHoii .

,K)bli HiKlpf;

.lohn Scolt

John M'Konzin .. .
John Fm-renter .. .

Tho«i. Mitchell

Wm. Briinton

Alex. M'K.eiizlc ...

Andrew Scoil

David Nairni;

Oco. Brown

Andrtiw Scott

Wm. Strachau . . .

Chas. nirrfil

JaH. He an

Andrew DiMf<;waU .

Auiv Dewar

iiabfl M'ljirejyor
Jame*) Hiilfuur ..

John Blyth

May Clark

Jail. Reekie .,,..,

^TJ

?• ii «

A.ILF.

i
7
6
I

181

() i 10

4 IH

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1 17

I 17

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6 I lit

1 2

18 4 «S

I i

Iviii

GENERAL INTKOUUC TION.

ten thousand country parishes acconimodated with
fifty acres each, no inhabitant of a town need be in

N\Mrs OF ORKilNAt
IFIJEKS.

)'.\ICIlt

(iroiind
leirRcl,

Joliu Marshall

A.K.F

IS ■> ■iH
'J V

David lUc H I

Wm. MarsUaU | o 1 15

David Seth I 10

Aiiilrew Spears
■lobnGourliiy .. ,

John 0(Mir)a.v ••■■

Jainca VVat^im.. ..

Wm. Watson . . , ,
Watiev AdninNoii

Tbos. A damson. . ,,
John Yiml

Win. Adanisoii.. .,

David Alarl.iii ,. ..
Wm. ("uiiiiiiijrluini

Jaun Urylirouph
David Wallace

liite of

Ifi

1 •)

»7.?n

noft

iTr.

.'4

!i»i

Wm. Mai-tin ...
Wm. A damson.

.Tohii Adnmsoii

• ■<•■

31
M

I .ih

I 1 I!)

(> .'jy

Alex. Hodpe
Alex. Olipliiint

Win. Mnlthfw (»

JohnYi'd .,

3 H

1 il

'li

1 16

..'0

ic, i
86

O 2 .il

I7IJ
Old

1770

ISIO

1798

ISOO

1703

1708

1S<)3
18IJ

IS12

isia

1HI3

■i

1
1
I
1

iir.AM ocnipiURs of

l>WF.I,UN(,.||0I)5tS.

Wm. Marsliiill .. .
I David M.uslmll ...

! Rol)t. MarsliHll

U'-incaii Adainsou ..
.las. Mori.son ......

Uolcii t'orliet

.Iiiliii Ailam<«)n ....

.Jdltii Moiiri)

,)as. .Si>tli

Bi'tty Hrabeiier

.fas, Allan

.(aiiet Tiawsou

W in. Loudeu

.las. Blyth

Jas. Webs'.er

.4iin MCulldoh

Ku|)li.-in Ireland .. ..

I't'ter Maxiui

Ann Airtiu't

F.I.S(>ct.lj Carstiwell..

.lolui M.irsliall

David Wall.ici:

.liilin Ctoiirl.i V

KIspeth Uall

.ToUn Hlyth

Jdliii Mason

David Sinrlair ,. . .
(j(<o. Arlainson ....
Walter Adninsou ,.
Tlios. Adani.scm .. ..

Mary Siinson

John Colvill

Oliver MatUicu'Hun

Davi<) (lark

David Bruwn

.Ins. Dalryiniilo ....
David Hebster ....

Win. Sline '

Kacliol M'Nab

Daviil Martin ,

Barbara .Swan

Win. dtniiirigbam .. ,

VV 111. Muirie

.loliii Drybrougli ...

Th.is. Melvill

David VViiUaco

Thos. Wallace

Win. niartiu

(ieo. PtUrlr

KNiieth M'CuIIocli...

.loliu Attam^nn

Kobt. Jloiieyinnn ...

Al< X. OlipliHul

\t'ui. Matt.Uew

Jobn\oo!,.

1 81

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101}

(» I

GRNERAL INTRODI CTION.

cHx

wiint : and if inhabitants ot towns were tempted
out of them, to have the enjoyment of a garden and
common right in the country, so much the better.

It nmst be observed thai iho hind measure in the above tabic
is' Scotch, which is oiie-fifth part hirgcr than Kiigliah measure.
F stands for fall, c([n\vn\cut to pole ; 40 of these making a
rood. Feus, not built upon, have beon omitted.

Thirty-six original feuors aj)poar to have among them '26 acvea,
2 roods; or about 2 roods, 37 A falls each: O/nd U)6 sub-feuer.-*
and li;i jUts luivo exactly 1 roo<l oadi. Some families have no
gar<h'ii ground, and in some houses are two families. Had the
land been equally divided^ the gardens would have beea of a pro-
per size : the greater part of them are much too small. Families
do not average 4 each ; but there are 14 persons living single,
•which should not count as families. A considerable number of
theso people ket?p cows and })igs ; and almost every head of a
family would have one cow, witli the privilege of grazing one on
a common. One common, well improved, and divided into four
well fenced fields, so as to be grji/.ed in succession, each iield one.
week at a time, would be quite sufficient for such a number of
people as appear in the table. Ancient commons were rendered
of little service to the public for wunt of fencing, improvement,
and regulation, as to the quantity of grazing s(ock, shifting and
proportioning this, &c. A few simple regulations would not
only make the common yield the utmost profit and convenience,
but rnako the busineas of cow-keeping altogether simple;. A
little hay, straw, grains, turnips, and the like^ all of which could
be readily purchased in every part of the kingdoivii, would In; all
the want; and the manure produced by the consumption of these
articles would be just sutFicient to supply the gardens. There
would be no confus'on, little care, great economy, and a world of
comfort and convenipuce. Beavers, and bees, and auts, have the
best possible arrangements determiiled for them ; but man is left
to his own contrivance. How simple is that now proposed ; but,
alus ! tht! perversity of our nature ! !

i i\

clx

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Great towns, in many respects, arc l>ad. They are
unfavenrable to morals, to healtli, to national eco-
nomy. In villages of from fifly to one hundred fami-
lies every good of combination can be obtained. I n
sue!) villages every species of manufactory could
find suilicient hands for supplying labour in all its
divisions. ' " • c - • ,

I am at a loss to understand what Mr. Malthus
means, by the " improvement of cottages." If he
means the improvement of dwelling-houses, there is
a rule to be attended to, and it is this; that,
every house, to contain a family with decency and
comfort, should have a kitchen, parlour, and three
sleeping apartments: one for the parent pair:
one for male ; and one for female children. The
plan and elevation of a Jog cottage, introduced
page — *, has this much accommodation ; and is one,
in the contrivance of which, I have bestowed
considerable thought. Such a one, finished plainly,
and furnished with every wooden convenience,
could be aftbrded in the wilds of Canada for £30.
In England, a cottage, built of brick or stone, and
finished as I would wish to see it, substantially
and elegantly, would cost .£S0 now; and four years
ago would have cost £lOO. Requiring such a
cottage to be erected by an individual, before he
couUi claim the rights of a cottage-holder, is
proper, on various accounts. The difficulty of

* The reference is to a plate alivady engnivwd ; and which
will iippear m vol. iii.

GENERAL INTRODUf^riON.

c\x\

acquiring privileges would make these privileges
be more esteemed, and would bring into the
possession of them, superior merit-, while the
after-enjoyment of a handsome plaee of residence
would, in no small degree, assist in \jpholding
laiklaiiie pride and self-respect. It may be thought,
that a common labourer could never accumulate,
out of bis wa;^es, the sum requisite for the erection
of such cottaue ; but he certainly could, if the rate
of wages was fair. It has already been stated, that
before the peace, a Scotch ploughman had £20 and
his victuals : the half of this could, with eco-
nomy, keep him in clothes, and the other half,
regularly deposited in a savings bank, might
amount to ,tIO() by his 96ih year.

Although I have an absolute abhorrence of the
spade husbandry, as proposed by the benevolent
Mr. Owen, I perfectly agree w^ith him, that moral
training may greatly improve the human character.
Before AT '. Owen came before the public as an au-
thor, 1 hac' publislied my opinion, that " circwm-
slances and siluaiion" could mould this ; and in
America I have seen it so far verified. Man, in-
deed, is a ductile animal, and a good one, when
not crossed with tyranny, or ruined from bad ex-
ample, lie is more hopeful than Mr. Malt bus
would have us believe ; but his training must
couuuence before the wedding-day, — it must com-
mence from the cradle.

As to the "• Cow si/stem,** there is no possibility
of introducing it, generally; but so far as a com-
m()u adjoining every village would admit ; antl i

•I

oikii

«'KNE R AT. 1 N ril(>T)UO'i I ON',

trust that my plan Ik at once economical, sate, an<l
practicahle. I am perfcdtly aware of tlio ditticiilty
•of gcttinj^ our rulers, and, indeed, the great body
'o( the wealthy classes, to give a liberal hearing to
stich a proposal. They have a dread that any ad-
mission of the people to the enjoyment of eivi!
rights would lead to un^vasonalde demantls : l)Ut
it is iirouudless and unchristian As to the land
refjuired, the poor have a po<>itive right to it,
looking back to these last 30 years of spoil, under
acts of enclosure. The land, unjustly taken from
them, uUder these acts, has amounted to more
than would bo required to establish the Village
system allover the island. Yes! much more than
500,000 acres have been thus unfairly taken from
the poor; and, in another way, they have -also
been gradually and ruinously deprived of their
property. Ry prevailing regulations, no person is
entitled to parish-relief while he has any real
property, li^ he is put to it, he must, swear that
he is' poor ; — that he has neither cottage nor gar-
den, cow nor calf; that he has nothing but house-
hold furniture and wearing apparel. What has
ensued from this kw ? Why, that not one in a
hundred of English labourers has now a sheltering
place which he can call his own. Almost univer-
sal!} the poor have been obhged to part with their
'cottages and gardens.. The infernal poor-law sys-
tem forced them to make this sacrifice. The stout-
est, most active, and most willing labourer, could
not inaintain his familv, after the combination to
keep down wages was formed. There was a posi-

■ ■.»HI&* fc i»**' ^ |

GENERAL INTIlODrCTlON.

Ixiii

tivc necessit^'^.for his applying to tlio parish for
relietjund this rehef lie could not have till rot-
tage, garden, and all was surrendered. For many
years sore struggles were made to maintain inde-
pendence, and keep possession of th<' little spots
which, since England, was, had descended by in-
heritance from father to son ; but it would not do:
indeed, it was foolishness to hold out ; and it be-
came a common saying, that '• a coUage and (jar-
den was the icorst thing a poor man could haue"
Let the reader pause, and reflect upon this: let
him think ol' consequences, — heart-sickenin<^-,
appalling, ruinous consequences. What is pro-
perty good for.^ for what has God created it?
what, but a desire to possess property, can spur on
the mass of mankind to exertion ? what would
we be but for this desire ? yet liere are millions
of til ^ English people in whom that desire h^s
become extinct,' — who must pass through life, ani^l
never enjoy ^he delight of having a home which
they can call ineir own.

VV hat does Mr. Malthus say, to this ? Is there a
single word on the subject in his whole book on
population ? When we look to the index of that
book, and run over iiie many heads, under which
the poor and poor-laws are spoken of, dp we find
a sin file word retiarding this? Do we find anv
thing of this in the chapter which treats of " /he
only effectmd mode of impromng the condUion (^'
the poor P*"^ No: not a word — not a syllabj. ; yet,
ii) this, is the grand secret; \n this is the germ of
hope; in this is the one tbiny uetdful. Let but

clxiv

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

f I

the poor have a little property to befj:ia with — m
little stock ill trade; let them have a home, which
they can call their own, with the hope of indepencf-
ence, and all will go well. God instituted property,
and clearly tells us that, by the proper use of it,
we can rise to excellence ; but without proi)erty or,
the chance of acrpiiring it, no good can be expect-
ed of us.

I have rapturously expressed my joy in accom-
panying Mr. Maltlius from eai-lier t'> later times:
from north to south, and from west to east; anon,
musing on the abstract truth, that, in proportion as
men are virtuous, so are they happy: but am I
to dream only of this abstriict truth ? When J
have obtained full information as to " Ihe checks
to papula tion^ in the lowest stage of society," —
" among American Indians," — " in the islands of
the South Sea," — '' among the ancient inhabi-
tants of the North of Europe,*^ — " among modern
pastoral nations,'* — " in different parts of Atrica,^'
— " in Siberia, north and south," — *' in the Turk-
ish dominions and Persia,'* — " in Indostan and
Tibet, ^^ — •' in China and Japan," — " among the
Greeks,*' — " among the llomans," — " in Norway,'*
— " in Svve(^en,'' — " in Russia," — *' in the middle
parts of Europe,*' — "in Switzerland,'' — ''in
Fran.'e,"- -" in England,"^ — '" in Scotland and Ire-
land,'' — when 1 have obtained full intbrmation as
to the checks to population, in all these countries,
ancient and modern, and in every stage of society,
am 1 to fall asleep, and give up all inquiry as to
th(^ means 1)V which moral restraint may l)e l)racefP

CGNEUAL INTIIODUCTFON,

Ixv

Ara 1 to make a jumble of crude ideas, and satis-
fy myself only of this bare abstract proposition,
tliat all checks to population are "resolvable into

moral restraint, vice, and mis<.

'!>>

Am I to rest

satisiied with the belief, that the ])auperH of Eng-
land may be exalted in character and conduct bv a

»d th<

mere sermon ; and ttiat, too, on their wedding-
day ? What! lecture a young couple on that day,
against intemperance during the honey-moon ! !
Really, Mr. Malthus, there is no wonder that you
have stirred up indignation. Nature should not
be so provoked — so wantonly outraged. With
all my admiration of the theory of population,
I must hold your practice in derision. You
make me think of an astronomer fixing his eye so
intently on the milky-way, to discover its specks,
that he forgets that there are stars of the first mag-
nitude in the firmament.

That " population must always be kept down to
thelevel of subsistence," — that "^vhen unchecked,"
it may " increase in a geometrical ratio," that ** po-
pulation, could it be supplied with food, would go
on with unexhausted vigour;" and that " the in-
crease of one period would furnish a greater incr\}i;;»e
to the next, and this without any limit," &c. ui-
all truisms, which any child may understand, 1
am convinced, with Mr. Malthus, that a nation's^
strength does not consist in the mere multitude ol'
its people ; but in the moral and phy&ical strength
of the individuals who compose the multitude; and,
most assuredly, there is great room for improve-
ment in this vvav. Bred to farming, I clear! v conj.

clxvi

OI-IXl^.RAr. INTttODtJCTrOX.

preheiid Mr. Malthus, when he speaks of having
good stock, instead Of bad' stock, oi>a"farm; but
the example which I have given, from experience,
of the ditTerencji between Scotch and En£:lish la-
bourers, one earning ^20, while another earned
but .£12, renders all resort to figurative comparison
unnecessary : ii is direct to the point. And when
it clearly appears by what means an English pauper
may be madq as good a man as any Scotchman
whatever, why should he hesitate in resorting to
the means for delivering one-half of the nation from
misery, and another from the burden of poor-
rates ? The simple means is to give the Englisli
poor a chance of acquiring property, a ho])e of- in-
dependence ; and see the effects. Do but this : edu-
cate the young, and free the old from vassalage.
Only I.5O years ago the Scotch tvere very brutes —
the basest rabble on earth; but the institution of
parish schools wrought a miracle : I may, indeed,
quote my own words on this subject, written, in
1815: *'The Scotch, in one centiify, were the
most unprincipled and desperate ma^raudtrs ; in the
next, they were examples of sobriety and peace*."
As soon as the poor rascally Scotch got the rudi-
ments of education^ they began to work their way
to independence ; and th(3y sought for it all the
world over. Let ♦he Englisli have the same ad-

* Hifiirr TO Church Property secured, page 2i. Who-
ever ■wishes to see a true picture of the Scotch, prior to the Refor-
mation, should look into Limdsay of Pittbc^ttib's IIistouy of
that time; The chanfje of cluiractef siiice is truly stfikiiig.

(;ENUKAL INTllODtCTlOX.

clxv i,i

:iM

vaut.igc, and they, in like manner, will prolit by
it Hut I have said, that '* snbstantials liave l)een
taken tVoni the poor (of England), and that su'o-
stantials must be returned." Even with education^
the poor of England cannot hdya suck a chauce as
the Scotch had ; and that, because of the existing
state of property. 1 do not know il' there is a siiiglc
parish in Scotland, where the labouring classes do
not ])ossess considerable property in houses and
land ; or, where they cannot find plenty of cottages
and gai dens to purchase, or take on lease, in Eng-
land, it is all otherwise. \ cj[.uestion if the poor of
Wiltshire, were they emancipated to-morrow from
parish bondage, and in the way of making money,
could, in one parish out of teq, get land to pur-
chiise in small lots, op even have cottages for rent ;
aiRl that veady accommodation, in this way, should
liC furnished them, is of the first importance. I
have said that at least ^500,000 acres have been
unjustly taken from the poor within the last thirty
years; and that in this time, too, they have been
obliged to surrender their cottages and gardens.
However unjustly and impolitically all this has
come about, no restitution can be made of the very
commons, — the very cottages and gardens, that
have been taken from the poor ; nor is it desirable
that this should be attempted. Assuredly, how-
ever, the general right — the abi>tifuct right, to resti-
tution, is good. WiW Mr. Malthus deny it? VV ill
he deny the propriety, .justice, aud good policy of
restitution ? or can he find fault with my lUode of
icstitution—my plan fur execution ? J^auded pru-

clxviii (i£Nb;UAL INTUOUtCTlON.

perty is often seized upon, paid for, and applied
to public purposes, under acts of parliament ; and,
if a hundrodth part of each parish was so taken for
the accommodation of the poor, it would he no
great encroachment on the rights of private; pro-
perty. Some seven or eight years ago, the Jiath
Society gave a gold medal to the write r of an essay
for proposing to purchase up land all over the king-
dom, to be given to the clergy in lieu of tithes.
This proposal was monstrous in a variety of views,
but still it shows that people can bear with such a
proposal. On the enclosure of commons, it has
been customary to set aside one-seventh for the
tithe-claimant, and, if we suppose tithe-claimants,
throughout, to be entitled to half as much, here
would be afourtetnth of the whole kingdom to be
purchased up, and appropriated, for the mainte-
nance of 1.5,000 parsons; not more than a thou-
sand of whom are effective in the vineyard ; — if we
can listen to such a proposal with patience, how
readily may my proposal be entertained of purchas-
ing up a hundredth part of the kingdom, for the
accommodation of a million of families; and for the
removal of*' an evil, in comparison ofivhich^ the na-
tional debt, with all its terrors^ is of little moment,*^
It is of no avail for Mr. Malthus to be sending into
the world edition after edition of his Essay on the
Principle of Population,*and gradually entrenching
himself for more than twenty years within fast-
nesses of logic, if he does not come to some point:
It is of no avail to be arguing nice points in poli-
tical economy, or registering truisms, if no prac-

nUhli i«

C';1i:m:k.\i. introdictioin.

l\ix

tlral issue is reachV*! : it is of no avail to l)c vpn-
turiuf; *' to recommend a t;cn«^rnl im[)rovem<*Mt of
cottages, and even the cow-system, on a limited
scale," if nothin<; is dune. Mr. Malthns has said,
diat lie ** should most highly approve of any phm
which would tend to render audi repeal (the ri![)eal
of the law for public maintenance to the poor)
more palatable on its first promulgation." Well
then, I submit my plan, and challenge Mr. Mal-
thus to find fault with it. My plan was laid on
the table of the House of Commons, before Mr.
Malthiis published the 5th edition of his Essay on
Population ; and 1 do not suppose he was igno-
rant of it ; yet not a word is said of it. Now it
will bv better known : and now I challenge not
only Mr. Malthus, but the whole world, to say in
what it is wrong ; or to state what ditliculty lies in
the way of its adoption. Mr. Malthus hints at
building cottages and leltiruj them to the poor ;
but this would be a mighty expensive and com-
plicated matter, vi'hile it would produce no grand
efFect. He also speaks of Mr. Estcourt's plan of
providing for the poor, — of letting land to the
poor, at Long Newton, in Gloucestershire, (North
Wiltshire) ; but this is all trifling. 1 have repeat-
edly been at Long Newton, seen Mr, Estcourt's
provision for the poor, and inquired into his plan.
It is nothing more than a second edition of the
cottpr-rigs Of old Scotland; and its continuance
rests with Mr. Estcourt's will and pleasure. Mr.
Estcourt can deprive his poor tenants of the ridges
now let to them; on which they grow a little

■ ij«i«'^miiipi<iMri^a»^v»,

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>^<?'
V

oIkx

GBNiaUAJb INTROlHiGTlON.

*♦(

grain, beaiis, potatoes, and so forth. Tlie poor
must be made indepewleni of all caprice : they
must have something which they can call thuir
own. They must have the power of loco-motitHi :
they must have a chance of acquiring a freehold,
— aTi opportunity of rising from out the mud in
which they are now stuck. The poor of Jt^incolu-
shire are placed beyond the caprice of their imme-
diate masters, the finrmers. They rei^t their cot-
tages and cow pastures from the chiei" landlords,
(see page xciv) aaiti ais they never disturb them in
possession, it is so far well; but it would be so
much better if these cotta<?ers (rould call their cot-
tages their castles, as all Knglishmen should be-
enabled to do. The little feuers of Ceres parish
ran do this. There, after they liave obtained a
feuf they arc as independent as he that has granted
it. The feuer can build to any extent on his laud
with safety: he can keep, sell, or divide at plea-
sure; and the foregoing Table shews how things
go. The practice of thus accqmnwdating the la-
bouring class with land is infinite. There is no
want of homes in Scotland; whether for sale, tak-
ing by lease, or exchange. In the parish of Ceres
there are, perhaps, four times as many small pro-
perties as those exhibited in the table; and all
over Scotland there arc abundance. How was it
in Wily parish and the country round? There,
nothing of the kind was to be seen. lu every
parish there were a few cottages, generally in most
ruinous condition, which had, formerly, had their
little indep^ideut occupiers, but now were held

GENERAL INTROnrCTION.

clxxi

by parish officers as public property. There were
a few also attached to the farms ; but not a place
of refuge remained for the poor man who had
spirit to wish for a home of his own; and what
said a parish-officer of Wily, when he wanted to
get quit of some of the j)oor. lie said, "Ac wmild
jmt them so close that they would he obliged to
swarm;** moaning, that he would drive them from
the parish, where they had a legal right of mainte-
nance, by discomfort.

Whoever bestows serious reflection on this
jfpeech, Cannot be longer insensible to the necessity
which exists for a thorough change being made in
favour of the poor of England, — the necessity of
restoring to them some landed property m every
parish, to ensure independence and the jiower of
locowiotion.

Tho aneient commons, though in many respects
nCfisances, were, in this way^ of vast importance.
Almost every parish in England used to have its
common or cow-down j and every highway was
skirted with waste land, on which the people could
at will erect freeholds. There Was not then in
England a man to whom such a speech ns the
above could be appalling. Till within the last
thirty years, that commons and wastes have been
so generally enclosed, without regard to the rights
of the poor, and till all the cottages awl gardens
were taken out of their hands, they could not be
made to ^* swarm,*' from over-crowding in alms-
houses, or parish hovels. The moment that a
poor man was oppressed, by farmer, priest, or

. M

clxxii

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

I '. K! I'

^squire, under whom he lived, he coiild find for
himself a place of refuge. Jle had only to ask the
assistance of a few friends. In a single uif^^ht they
could erect a hut, on the common or waste, and
before day-light the boiling pot proclaimed him a
freeholder; nor could the king himself drive out
the poorest of his subjects from such a tenement.
This, I say, was a mighty atfair for the poor — a
mighty stay for independence.

Ky the enclosure of commons, England has be-
come greatly more productive: many millions a
year have been added to rent-rolls ; but by the
regardless manner in which the change has been
effected, millions of the poor have been deprived
of their most valuable rights — have been enslaved.

Surely, 1 have said enough ; nor must I forget
that 1 am not writing a book, but an introduction
to a book. To the theory of Mr. Malthus I shall
most faithfully adhere; and most happy should I be
to see so able a writer seconding my plans. If Mr.
Young flattered me twenty years ago, by saying,
that I *' knew more of the poor of England than
any man in it," it may not be taken amiss if I
merely state what has happened since. At no
momentr since then, have 1 lost sight of the cause
for which, twenty years ago, 1 shaped the course of
my life ; — neither in Scotland, nor England, nor
Canada, — neither by land nor by sea, — neither in
prosperity nor in adversity,- — neither free nor in
jail, — neither supported by friends nor deserted by
all : — surely, then, I must be a fool indeed, if this
cause is worthless, or my schemes to advance it,
arc good for nokhing.

(ilSNERAL INTKODUrTION. clxxiii

Sooner or later we must have reform of parlia-
ment; and a peaceable reform we cannot have too
soon. Looking to my plan for reforming and abo-
lishing the poor-laws as ,\ step towards this, I ask
the whole world if any thing so safe, so rational, so
fraught with every good, has by any one else been
proposed. Thirteen years ago I was even too zeal-
ous for reform of parliament. I was not wrong
in principle, but I was not then aware of that
degree of degradation to which poor-laws had
reduced the great mass of the English poor. My
residence in England gave me opportunities of
seeing how deeply evil had been rooted, and
made me think of means by which the poor could
gradually be fitted for the enjoyment of civil rights,
which every human being must enjoy before we
can see society improved as it may be — as it ought
to be in this advanced age of the world. Edu-
cation, the power of locomotion, the possession
of houses and land, mai/ all be cnjoycid by a people
without civil rights, but without them there can
be no security : and, more than that, without civil
rights, the character — the dignity of man, never
can be truly elevated.

Here again is a most importani point to which
Mr. Malthus has never turned, his eye. He has
ridiculed the notion that taxation is the sole causa
of distress, and exclaims, " O monstrous absur-
dity, that the poor should be taught vhat the only
reason why the American labourer earns a dollar a
day, and the English labourer earns two shillings,
is that the English labourer pays a greater part of

*'i

'■■ i

rlxxiv

GISNCRAL INTRODFCTtON. '

these two shillings in taxes;" and I too will
exclaim, O nioustrous absurdity, if we are to con-
fine the question within certain narrow limits. I
will even allow that though *' parliaments were
eleotivc, suftrage universal, wars, taxes, and cxp
penscs unknown, and the civil list Ji^lOyOOO h year,
the great body of the community might still be ^
collection of paupers." 1 will allow it, because
nothing is impossible, but for no other reason
which I can see at present. Were we once \\i
.these happy circumstances, we should, among
other good things, have free trade. Wheat would
.not only be five shillings per bushel, but foreign
wheat paid for by the manufactured goods of this
country, would go on increasing the demand for
such goods for centqries. Some of our land
might be thrown out of tillage : that is to say,
we would give up an unprofitable struggle, and
have more land in grass, which would rise in
its comparative value from rents <\f convenience,.
at same time that the stock pf food in the coun-
try would always be greater, and of a kind le?s
subject to vacillation in quantity or price*.
Till Mr. Malthus became the advocate of the Corn
Bill, 1 never questioned his logic. I was so charmed
with his theory of population — with what was right
'. in his book, that I never thought of scrutinizing
other Aiaitt,crs, I (}i/J.pot discover what was wro^ig.

", (

* This was apoint never properly looked to by tha Coin Com-
mittees and writers on the corn. laws. A country I'mll ©f live eitopk,
is ie.ss, subject to (amine ,than anc depending on, crops of coui. -

CMINBHAiL INTRODUCTION.

clxxv

His writings on the Corn Laws, and still more,
his Essay on Political L^cononiy, l»as awakened me
iVoni delusion, and convinced mc tliat all along
Mr. JMulthus ha« been d<,'huliug himself! I acquit
iiim ot all bad intention. I am convinced that he
wisheB well to mankind ; though he is miserably
narrow in his notions as to the means of accom-
plishing good. In the very first piige of his book
on Popnlrition,— in the preface to the second
edition, we may, note a grand error, under which he
«ets out, and under which ho labours to the end.
Hk? speaks of "ithe reiterated failures in the eHbrts
of I the higher class, to relieve them" (the lower
classes). He takes it for granted, that the rich
have m^de efforts to relieve the poor, 1 deny that
the rich ever did a single act of this nature
gratuitously. TheJr constant and uniform efforts

'have been to oppress. What said Sir James
Mackintosh, 30 years ago, in his Vindici^

'Galltc;e? " Property alone can stimulate to
labour; and labour, if it were not accessary to the
existence, would be indispensable to the happiness

>;of man. But though it be necessary, yet, in its

*excess,iit is. the great malaily of civil society. The
*«ceumulation»f^hat power, which is conjivmed pi/
wealth in the hmvds of the fetv, is the perpetual

' sotirce of oppression and neglect lo the mass of

^mankind. The power of the wealthy is further
concentrated by their tendency to combination,

'IfVom which numbers, dispersion, indigence, and
ignorance, equally preclude the poor:" and again,
he says, ** There never was, or will be, iir civi-

■ in

clxxti

UGNERAL INTRODUCTION.

lizcd society, hut two grand intereytts^ that of the
Rich, and that of the Poor." If Mr. Malthus is
** 51 Christian indeed:" if he is an impartial philan-
thropist, he will start from such premises as these,
on his pursuit after truth and happiness ; and not
suffer himself to be biassed in his career, beggared
in his con<!eptions, and confined in his schemes of
improvement. He will admit of balancing the in-
terests of the rich and the poor ; he will allow the
poor to have civil rights, and then go on to argue ;
then go on to mark consequences. In tracing, with
Mr. Malthus, the checks to population from the
lowest stage of society, and upwards, I am conti-
nually kept in rapture, with a clear view of the
cauaes, which operate in making the earth a wil-
derness, and the practicability of removing these
causes increases, as I go on perusing chapter after
chapter, till I come to study the causes which
operate in my own dear native country of Scotland,
when I am most of all convinced of the one thing
needful, viz. the possession of civil rights by the
people. Up to the year 1816, the condition of la-
bourers, in Scotland, improved with increasing
taxation, while the condition of English labourers
was, year after year, sinking to its lowest ebb.
The cause of this was obvious. The Scotch
were educated, could move about the world,
make a good bargain with their employers, or be
off. Their dress, their dwellings, their language,
^ their manners, their morals, all improved, up
to this time. Good living did make population
incrcise rapidly, notwithstanding the waste of war

r.EN£RAL INTRODI ( TIOX. Hxxvii

nnd constant emigration ; lnjt it did not make the
people foolisii in contracting early marriages. [
know it had a contrary (^jfect. I know that it
made them more prudent in this way. It made
them hiy in store for the provision of children,
before they were begotten. I never knew a
Scotch ploughman do an unbecoming act in this
way ; but it is well known that in England, pauper
lads have been known to marry, and then make
application to the parish for a bed to lie down
upon. Well, but what has happened to the labourers
of Scotland since the year 1816? In that year I
visited ScotlarKi, and found the people still living
well, though employment had become scarce, and
wages were falling. In 1820, when I next visited
Scotland, the change was complete. With all the
good morals, good habits, education and all, I
then found misery throughout, from Ayr to Inver-
ness. I found thousands of manufacturers in every
quarter, who had been accustomed to earn 20s. per
week, earning only 4s. 6(\. : 1 found ploughmen's
wages fallen to half, ■ ile nothing which they
consumed had materially sunk in price, but provi-
sion; and that made no difference to them, to
whom this was allowed, whether dear or cheap, in
equal quantity, as part wages. Under these circuni*
stances, I found Scotch labourers behind in the
payment of house rent: many had pawned furni- ,
ture, for food : many were in rags. I found these
very people, who, five years before, were the most
exemplary, most cheerful, and contented, now
become gloomy, dissatisfied, and desponding, I \

'is!

4 m

clxxviii GENF.RAL INTRODICTION.

; ? 1

i f

f»

found thousands ready for revolt*. Would it have
bet'U so, iuid they enjoyed civil rights? Would it
ever be so again under tiiis enjoyment cautiously
conferred? I can sv(^ no .ea8on that it should;
and have none to distrust providence, for " Wis-
dom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her
P'^tljs are peace." Seven years have gone by since
Mr. Mahhus wrote on the cOrr laws ; and two
most miserable years, since he published the 5th
Edition of his Kssay on Population. Can he say,
that wisdom has guided our councils during these
years ? — can he fail to discover what has checked
population ? — can he be blind to the causes of
vice and misery ? I do not say, that taxation is
the ** sole cause of distress ;" on the contrary, I
know that taxation may be made the meajis of
raising us, as a nation, from adversity to prospe-
rity. The sole cause of distress rests in the mimp^
plication of our immense treasures ; in taxation,
imposed without the people's consent — imposed
by an oligarchy, which can fill four seats out of
five in pur House of Commcns, at pleasure ; men,
who have no feeling for the poor, or even for those

' ♦ In 1,808 1 visited the coast of Kent, and found Martello towers
erected along every part, ancesuble from the sea, to defend us
against French invasion. These towers were of no use in war ;
but now, they are absolutely required to defend ua against
smuggler*. In October last, I travelled round that coast, and
found the Martello towers manned with prevention vien ; nor could
I walk out on the clifft, but I found people armed with swords,
and pistols, and spy-glasses ; gloomy, taciturn people, who would
not answer civil questions, lest I should be a smuggler, "m^' - ^ '
.. in

fSRNERAt TNTROni^rTION.

txxix

in Aiiddle rank ; men wlio nre hceffffss of every
thing like virtue; who tiix u-^, only to sfjuander
awny the immense resources of the empire, to
support thon^Hf'lvcs niid their friends in hixury and
idleness. Yes, Sir .Tames Mackintosli was per-
fectly correct in saying, ♦« f/rr? accumulation of that
power which is confirmed by wcallh^ in the hands of
thefenu «« the perpetual source of oppression and
ncfrleel to the mass of mankind " Can Mr. Malthus
deny it? No, no, no. It is a law of nature; and
we should contrive means to correct its evil ten-
dencies. The poor require every assistance : the
rich should ever be eyed with suspicion; and hap-
pily their own excesses are likely soon to undo
them. FreedotTi of trade will become absolutely
necessary; and our landed oligarchy will be un-
done. If the corn of America CO vild be exchanged
for the manufactures of Britain, the consequences
would be glorious. Every hand in this country
would find employment; every rational desire
would be satisfied ; every murmur would be stilled.
Population would go on anon increasing. All those
checks, registered by Mr. Malthus ; — the' checks of
savage life, tyranny, ignorance, degradation, war,
pestilence, and famine, would all disappear. Civi-
lized' man would rapidly spread over the earth, and
replenish it. Mr. Malthus, strange to say, after
years of study to discover checks to population, ia
blind to the great ones existing at, home. He tells
us, that emigration should be allon^ed, but cannot
find in his heart to encourat^e it. He talks of edu-
cating the poor, but nothing is done. He justifies
^ m 2 . '

• I

•nf

■

;|XX&

liKNLKAL INiUOliLCnOX.

the Corn Bill, and writes a book on Politu-al I'.co-
nomy, which, even with a summary, only adds
confusion to confusion; while uur Ministers laugh
in their sleeves at the very name of economy. Full
of protestations in the cause of benevolence, in all
his pcactical views Mr. Malthus is at fault — incon-
sistent and narrow-minded. Jealous of nature, he
binds lier hand and foot with a too fastidious phi-
losophy : he proves to d«;inonstration that, with
abundance oi' food, we can double our numbers
in every twenty-five years, yet hn will not let us
have food at the lowest price ; and though (JodV
first command was to increase and multiply, and
replenish the earth, he, a divine, is not willini:^ to
allow that emigration should be encouraged and
assisted by Government; he is not willing to for-,
ward the express mandate of heaven ! !

Suppose reform of parliament was to proceed
upon the principle of every holder of a village lot
having a vote ii( the choice of deputies (and aftev
travelling in the United States, and studying their
various constitutions, I still prefer deputed elec-
tion] after his house was built, and his land paid
for, what excellent eftects would attend the pro-
gress of Reform ! Every man with a spare hun-
dred pounds would immediately set about build-
ding a cottage to qualify him to vote at the next
general election ; and for many years to come there
would not be an idle hand in the country. Full
employment to the poor would raise the price of.
labour : good wages would cause consumption :
consumption would raise the price of corn : fai-

tJKMtRAL fNTUOni.C TION.

rlxxxi

m«r8 would again liave luoney ; and iiionoy vvonid
a^airi briskly circulati!. The ridi would firMt build
their cottages ; atnJ by tlio profits of building for
the rich, labourers would in course go on to build
for themselves. The desideratum at pnsent is to
find employment for the people; and here it is.
With full employment, who doubts but taxes coidd
be paid, oppressive as they seem to be at present,
when all is stagnation ?

How easily could Government cause fifty ncn?s
of land (or even Iwanhf-Jive acres would do), to Im*
pitched out within a mile of every parish church
in the kingdom; and say to the people : here you
may go to work : here you, who have means,
may instantly give employment to the poor: here
<?very man may rear for himself a castle of inde-
pendence : here, it may be said to the poor, is
part of tlie price for which all future claims for
parish aid are to be given up. What would fol-
low from such » noble proclamation? Most assu-
redly all would he delighted. There would be an
instant cheer among the rich to expend : there
would be an instant rush, on the part of the poor,
to exertion and toil : all would be life and acti-
vity ; two hours would be added to the day ;
and the very dunghill cocks wouhl crow earlier
in the morning. To increase the bustle, it would
be well to see Mr. Hrougham erecting a school-
house in the centre of each village, while the
" Lion of the Exchequer" was kept at bay by a
acrmon from Mr. Mai thus. ■

Mankind iiave never yet witnessed the wondersS

i «

; If

which may be worked by coiifidencc, and union,
and brotherly love. They have been held back
from feasting their eyes on such heavenly scenes
by all that is little, and mean, and miserable, in
government : by all that is sejfish and cruel in
governors: by the spirit of villany, which un-
satiated wiih twenty years of vengeance against
public liberty, will continue to thrust its venom-
ous darts into the bosom of a woman.

But it may now be asked, what has Canada to
do \vith this scheme for abolishing poor-laws, re-
forming parliament, and relieving distress at home?
In reply, it must be observed, iliat, though the
scheme were actually set on foot to-morrow, giving
employment to the poor and education to their
children, such have been the habits established by
poor-laws, that, for years to come, we should have
a weak and redundant p( .)ulation, which it would
be desirable tp thin. It v )uld be desirable, while
so great a change was i king place as that pro-
posed for putting a stop ' y law to the claims of the
poor for public maintf ance, to sooth them in
every possible way. It vould be desirable to have
it to say to every discontented individual, *' Sir, if
you are not pleased with the country and its laws,
you m^y leave it with a blessing.'* Yes! and were
the wild lands of Canada put under economical
management, they would enable government to
hold out this liberal offer. They would pat/ for the
transport and settlement of every soul whom Eng-
land could spare for at least ten years to comej and
to prove this, is the grand object of my work. «,

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. clxxxiii

The petition which I have exhibited with my
scheme for getting quit of poor-laws, ai»d for intro-
lUicing a new order of things, was presented to par-
liament about two months before 1 sailed for Ca-
nada ; and it is a fact, that even then I had in con-
templation what 1 now propose. I saw that to relieve
this country of its redundant population, would be-
come a necessary, grand, and benevolent measure.
I had had the best opportunities, for years before
going abroad, to know the great capabilities of Ca-
nada for improvement, and its fitness to receive a
vast increase of inhabitants ; and on my voyage out,
while I had little or no idea of settling there, pre-
pared the queries which will be found in this vo-
lume, to collect information for the people and go^
vernment of Britain, with a view to the completion

Ol my plan. r.- .nitjj -mit .jr.'i.) jJivm-i r.y.-j *^ ly SJ»

■■- The political turmoil in which I got embroiled,
was a misfortune which I deplored above all things,
as it created impressions of my views, utterly at
variance with the tfuth. From beginning to end,
all that was enthusiastic in my conduct, arose from
my mind getting more and more enraptured with
the idea of stirring up public notice to my scheme
of emigration, and to its making part of that which
I had proposed for the upfooting of poor laws, and
the relief otherwise of our unemployed people. »j f
"iWhat created our debt? the waste pf war: but
whence the supply for waste? — from activity — Irom
excitement. Let us then be up and be doing— be
active, consume, and excite. The British Empire
IS a world within itself, and alfoids abundant scope

I \^

ill

111

[li

Clxxxiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

i '

I !

1
i

i i

for transaction, — for exchange,— for the accumula-
tion of wealth or the extinction of debt, by
whatever name it may be called. All that we
want is activity. Our credit is unbounded : our
means, well employed, unexhaustible. Let then
the poor have work, and a hope of independence and
enjoyment. Let our transports, now rotting in the
harbours, be refitted : let them carry out emigrants
to Canada — to the Cape — to Van Diemen's land:
only let proper plans be laid down, and all will
pay. Breeding itself will pay : I say it in full
consideration of all the reasoning of Mr. Malthus. ^
Let us no longer, then, be backward in obeying
the first great command, '* increase and multiply,
and replenish the earth.*' Is it not a shame that
three-fourths of the globe should yet be unpeopled,
after 6000 years have fled, and that mankind should
be led on to butcher each other at the nod of a
holy alliance ? Away with the idea that breeding
is the cause of vice and misery. Kings and priests
caused these, themselves in the first place being
caused by the ignorance of mankind. Let us
liberally interpret the lav;s of nature: let us duly
appreciate the qualities of the human mind as sus-
ceptible of infinite improvement: let us not con-
found causes with effects; but patiently trace out
the windings of the " mighty maze.'* Now that
we are in possession of the art of printing, let us
persevere in putting down ignorance, and all its
brood. Let us be assured that vice and misery
may be eradicated from the earth : that it may be
thickly and quickly |xeopled ; and that moral re-

:.-■%.•-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. clxXXV

straint alone is sufiicient to give consistency to the
law divine.

) i:

; H|f >.,

l''-i ';)/^"

1 1)1 i>

I mM , oi INTRODUCTION

' .' • - TO ' ■ • '

SKETCHES AND TOWNSHIP REPORTS

->;<©':•.

',!:

i\-

lir';,< .'•) « I

.n;;m UPPER CANADA. >> J r luu

U n]

(•■.<>11

•" -).Hi: ^4^,iiit:>'r;)l(?'

The Sketches were prepared for publication in
1811, but laid aside in consequence of the war
which broke out in 1812. _^ -^cf, ,j, ,A ■. f. ,, ^

On the re-establishment of peace, the writer
revised his Sketches, and inserted accounts of
battles, &c. of which he had the best opportuni-
ties of being- correctly informed, again intending to
publish, but, for reasons not communicated to me,
that intention was relinquished. In 18 hS the
manuscript was offered to me, as a fund of ma-
terials for my Statistical Account, and I had a writ-
ten order to receive it from a printer in the United
States on my way to England.

When shut up in Niagara jail, it occurred to me,
that I might beguile some dreary hours by pub-
hshing in Upper Canada the Township Reports,
with a general Account of the Province, from my
own knowledge, so as to have the whole improved
on the spot, by additions and observations of
the inhabitants, for rendering the publication in
4 ^

■ is

■ill ^ll

ill

clxXXvi GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

England more complete. I took steps towards
this, and had the Sketches sent to me; but they
did not arrive till after 1 had t'ourid it impossible to
accomplish my purpose, and I did not give them
an attentive reading till my return home. Here I
found the work so perfect, the style so good, ami
the statements so candid and impartial, that I
judged it wrong to pull it to pieces. 1 conceived
that as a whole, it was better than any general ac-
count [ could draw up, and would be more pecu-
liarly interesting, as coming from the pen of a na-
tive American, and one who had been long resi-
dent in the province of Upper Canada. tu *

To assist the writer's description of the falls of
Niagara, I have introduced a ground sketch, which,
together with the vignettes in the title-pages, will,
I hope, be serviceable; but uo description, however
assisted, can convey an adequate idea of nature's
most splendid scene.

. The Township Reports need no other intro-
duction than the following Address, which called
them forth, n ^w ^^tvj tt u*j: ijn* *f..?' Uwr>r;uuh?*«

.'•ff

Thk Kksiuknt jLANn-OwNMHs Qv Ui'PJiH Canaua.

^^jiKjil,r'a-.rtf»

fpr

Queenslon, Ocioher, 1817,

■. -1

Gentlemen,

1 am a British Airraer, and liave visited this province to
ascertain what advantages it possesses in an ugriciiltural
point of view. After three months residence I am con-
vinced that these are great, — far superior indeed io what

GKNKHAJL INTUODtCTlON. cUxXVii

■■|i

the motiicr cuautr^ hus €VLr hold out, either as Ibey cuu-
com speculative purchase, ur tiie proiits of preseut oci!u-
putiun. '.,...).', t.. .,.^.

; Under such impressions, it is my purpose, as soon as
fircumstances will permit, to becouie a settler ; and iu thr;
meantijue, wonld \vilJin<^ly do what lieat in lU) power to
beuuiit the country ot" my cht)ice. ,.i, ^, jr .«^i^

\Micii I speiik in this isauguiue manner of the capabilities
of Canada, I take it for granted that certain political
restraintjs to impiovemont will be speedily removed. (»ro\v-
inj^ necessity, and the opinion of every sensible man with
whom I have conversed on tl\e subie<;t, gives assurance of
this. My present Address, tlierefore, waves all re-jard to
political arrangements : it has in view, simply to o[>en a
correspondence between you and your fellow- subjects at
homo, where the utmost ignorauc e prevails with respoct to
the natural resources cf this line country. .^^ ,

Travellers have published passing remarks, — they have
told wonderful stories, and amusyd the idle of England
with descriptions of the beantiful an<l grand scenery which
nature has herQ displayed ; but no authentic account has
yet been allbrded to men of capital, to m(!n of ent<irprise
and skill, of tJiose important facts which are essential to
Imj known, before such ra«.;n will launch into foreigr*. specu-
lation, or venture with their families, in ^luest of better
fortune across the Atlantic, ., ,. , , ., ,, i ,v»im*-o .,...;
I In this state of ignorance, you have hitherto had for
settlers chioUy poor men driven from home by despair,
These men, ill-informed and lost in the novelties which
surround them, make at lirst but a feeble coinmtjncoment,
and ultimately, form a society, crude, unambitious, and
weak. In your newspapers 1 have frequently obswved
hints towards bettering the condition of those poor »set-
tlers, wid for ensuring their resilience in the proviuces.
Suck hints evidently spring from beuevolent feelings ; they
are well meant, and nuxy l««d to alleviate imiividual dijj-

■. I

1;;

1 ;!'

V'i
i >

lUl

I I

i \

V '■'

clxXXViii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

tress, but can produce no important good to the country.
Canada is worthy of something better than a mere guidance
to it of the blind and the lame : it has attractions to stimu-
late desire and place its colonization above the aids of ne-
cessity.

Hands no doubt are necessary, but, next to good laws,
the grand requisite for the improvement of any country is
capital. Could a flow of ca[)itul be once directed into this
quarter, hands would not be wanting, nor would these
hands l>c so chilled with poverty as to need the patronage
of charitable institutions.

At this moment British capital is overflowing; trade is

yielding it up: the funds cannot profitably absorb it: land

mortgages are gorged ; and it is streaming to waste in the

six per cents, of America. W^hy should not this stream he

diverted into the woods of Canada, where it would find

a still higher rate of interest, witli the most substiintial se-
curitv^ -'3'i.iW-« w^^'^^-^-y iyi■^<a^■:iu^ m-uA Ki-m'^-i in i

Gentlemen! The moment is most auspicious to your
interests, and you should take advantage of it. You
should make known the state of this country ; you should
advertise the excellence of the raw material which Nature
has lavishly spread before you ; you should inspire confi-
dence, and tempt able adventurers from home. At this
time there are thousands of British farmers sickened Avith
disappointed hopes, who would readily come to Canada,
did they but know the tmth: many of these could still
command a few thousand pounds to begin with here; while
others, less able in means, have yv^t preserved their cha-
racter for skill and probity, to entitle them to the confi-
dence of capitalists at home, for whom they could act as
agents in adventure. Under the wing of such men, the
redundant population of Britain would emigrate with
cheerfulness, and be planted here with hearts unbroken.
'• ' We hear of four or five thousand settlers arrived from
borne this season: and it is talked of as a great accession

Gi;jNBRAL INTKODUCTlUN,

IXXXITL

to tlie population of tlie provinces. It is* a mere drop from
the bucket. £nglan(l alone could spare fifty thousand
people annually, whiln she would bo refreshed and strengtli-
ened by the discharge. In war, England sent abroad an-
nually more than twenty thousand of her youthful sous to
be slain, and more than twenty thousand of her daughters
shot after them the last hope of honourable love. In these
l^wenty-fivc years of war the population of England rapidly
increased: what is it to do now, when war is at an end,
when love and opportunity are no longer to be foiled, aud
the poor-laws have provided sustenance for children inde-
pendent of the parent's care?

Under existing circumstanqes, it is absolutely necessary
even for the domestic comfort of England, that a vent
should be immediately opened for her increasing popula-
tion, and the colonization of Canada, if once begun, upon
a liberal footing, would afibrd this vent.

The present emigration from England affords no relief
whatever to the calamity occasioned by the i)Oor-laws.
Thousands and tens of thousands of paupers could be
spared, who cannot possibly now get off for want of means,
but who would be brought over by men of capital, were con-
fidence for adver ture here once established.

The extent of calamity already occasioned by the system
of the poor-laws, cannot be even imagined by strangers.
They may form some idea, however, when I tell them, that
last winter I saw in one parish (Blackwall, within five miles
of Loudon), several hundreds of able-bodied men, har-
nessed and yoked, fourteen together, in carts, hauling
gravel foi? the repair of the highways; -each fourteen men
performing just about as much work as an old horse led by
a boy could accomplish^. We have heard since that

* \m%t .#*• 1 i\ f T' /t

* The above melancholy picture need not stand alone as illus- '
trative of the conditioa of the labouring; classes in England ; nor

III

IMII

cxc

OENRRAL INTROnumOV.

ii! i

t S I

; i
1"

.€1,6()0,00() liaa been voted to keep the pwr at work ; and
perhaps the most melancholy consideration of the whole is,
that there are people who trust to such means as u euro Cor
the evil. ,

While all this is tme; when the nionej' and labour of
England is thus wasted; when thousands of oar fellow-
subjects are emigratinjcr into the States of America ; when
we even hear of them being led oil' to mix with the boors
of Poland, in the cultivation of a country where the na- <
ture of the government nmst counteract the utmost efforts
towards improvement,— is it not provoking that all this
siiould go on merely from a reigning ignorance of the su-
perior advantages which Canada has in store, and a
thoughtlessness as to the grand policy which might be
adopted for the general aggrandizement of the British
nation ?

Some have thought the exclusion of AmerH'an dtizens
a great bar to the speedy settlement of Canada; bnl a
liberal system of colonization from Europe, would render
this of small* importance. Before coming to a decided
opinion on this important subject, '' took much pains to in-
form myself of facts. A minute inquiry on the spot where

' ll!ii .

was it only in the year 1817 that misery was extreme. 1 copy tlio
following piece of intelligence from the Salisbury Journal of 9th
April, 1821.

" Many of the poor frame-workers of Nottingham are out of
employ, and teams of men, and even women, are dragging coals,
&c., in waggons and ca'rts, about the streets, to excite the compas-
sion of the inhab ants." t .ksffir tki;a;*^iltf.)u»; * . f a M'i>i^;rvt.

* Mr. Home, the Editor of the Upper Canada Gazette, w^1en
he was first setting up the types of this Address, wished me to
substitute the word no for small, which I would not consent to.
Mr. Home, I dare say, will recoUwt this; and, I h«ve reasons
for keeping it in mind. .*i>''^'t(,i ■♦ b V^^ ,;u'^■■:^<^■i■^ !*iJ> 1' jcv'n

GKNERAL INTRODUCTION.

CXCl

government has end«»avoured to foroo h settlement, satis-
tied 1110 as to the CHHses of the too notorious faiiare there.
It convinced me that the fault by no means rested v^itii the
incapacity of the settlers, but resulted from the system pur-
sued. I have since spent a month perambulating the Genesee
country*, for the express purpose of forming a compari-
son between British and American management. That
country lies parallel to this : it possesses no superior ad-
vantages : its scttiemont began ten years later ; yet I am
iuhamed to say, it is already ten years before Canada, in
improvement. This lias been ascribed to the superiutr doK-
terity of the American people, bat most en-oneously. The
art of clearing land is as well understood here as in the
States : men direct from Britain are as energetic, and after
a little practice, sufficiently expert with the axe, while they
are more regular in their habits and more persevering in
Iheir plans tJmn the Americans. >^'i'{«'^ .'«i •' u/i jrj« i,«t?.
No improvement has taken place in flie Genesee conn-
try, which could not be far exceeded here, under a proper
system. It was indeed British capital and enterprise
which gave the first grand impetus to the improvement of
that country: much of its improvement is still proceeding
under British agency; and one of its most flourishing
townships is wholly occupied by men, who came, with
slender means, from the Highlands of Scotland. In the
Genesee country, the government pocketed mach, but
forced nothing, and charity, there, has been left without
an object.

ii'l
•ii

i«t< I. ;*u f -4xt ,it.t>>i

• i.*H*f^lt \i \",\. *w»pt il UJ.,-^I.f

♦ The Genesee country^ contQining near five "millions of acres,
extends eastward from Niagara river about 100 miles : is bound- ^
cd, on tho north, by Luke Ontario, and on the south, by Pennsyl-
vania. The river Genesee nms through the middle of it ; and
that word, which is Indian, means in English, pkasavX mUey. , ^„

6 Jh= '.» fc* -., 4 »*

»■- .---.f i-tUf Hi-

I |J.:|

I il

CXCII

t;RNKRAf. INTRODtrTfO.N.

GentlbMEN, — The iuquiries nud observations wbich I
\m\e recently made on the Rubject of settlement, assnre me,
that neither in tliose Provinces nor in tho United States,
has a proper system heen pursued. The mere iiliinjir iff tlm
world with men, should not be the sole object of political
wisdom. This should regard the filling of it with beings of
superior intellect and feeling, without which the desert
had better remain occupied by the beaver and the bear.
That society of a superior kind may be nursed up in Ca*
nada, by an enlarged and liberal connexion witii the mother
country, I am very confident; and its being realized is the
fond hope which induces me to come forward with my pre-
sent proposals, and which, if these proposals meet with sup<
port, will continue the spur of my exertions to complete the
work which I have now in view.

Many of you. Gentlemen, have been bred up at home,
and well know how superior, in many respects, are the
arrangements and habits of society there, to what they are
on this side the Atlantic. Such never can be hoped f(»r
here under the present system of colonization, which brings
out only a part, and that the weakest part of society —
which places poor and destitute individuals in remote
situations, with no object before them but groveling selfish-
ness — no aid — no example — no fear either of God or man.
Is it not possible to create such a tide of commerce as
would not only bring with it part of society, but society
complete, witJi all the strength and order and refinement
which it has now attained in Britain, beyond all precedent i
Surely government would afford every facility to a com-
merce which would not only enrich, but eternally bind to-
gether Britain and her Provinces, by the most powerful
sympathies of manners and taste and affection. '-'■•^

Government never can too much encourage the growth
of this colony, by a liberal system of emigration. When
we come from home, we are not expatriated ; our feelings
as British subjects grow more warm with distance, and our

GENERAL TNTUonrmoif.

rxcm

greater experienoo toaclios ns thr inf»r« to vonernte the
principles of our native l.uid — the country wheroin the
scit^nctjs hrtv€' in.ule the grimtest progress, and where ulono
are cultivated to perfection the arts of social life. At
home, we have experienced evils: we know that inHnenccs
nro there, which war against the principles of the constitu«
tion, and counteract its most benevolent desists. J (ere,
we are free of such influences, we are perfectly contented,
and u Hue field lies open to us for cultivating the best fruits
of civil and religious liberty, hihtk^ uair iwt nf'*n' •»i|Oftt

An enlarged and liberal connexion between Canada and
Britaii*, appears to me to promise the happiest results to
tho cause of civilization. It promises a new jera in the
history of our species : it promises the growth of manners
with manly spirit, modesty with acquirements, and a lovo
of truth superior to the boasting of despicable vanity, {u r
J The late war furnished the strongest proof of the rising
spirit of this colony, oven under every disadvantage; and
pity it would be, were so noble a spirit ever again exposed
to risk. The late war showed at once the aftection which
Britain bears to Canada, and the desire which Canada has
to continue under the wing of Britain. When a connexion
is established between the two countries worthy of such ma*
iiifestutions, all risk will cease. Britain will no longer have
to expend her millions here. This country will not only be
equal to its own defence, but the last hope of invasion will
wither before its strength. While Canada remains poor
and neglected she can only be a burthen to Britain : when
improved and wealthy she will amply repay every debt, and
become the powerful friend of the parent state. : •

What I conceive to be the lirst requisite for opening a
suitable communication with the mother country, is the
drawing out and publishing a well-authenticated statistical
account of Upper Canada. This cannot be ellectcd by a
single hand: it must be the work, and have the autiiority of

* •

■wvl

.|» <I W H » m^.l. .:*^J*»i^>

{ 1

txcir

GRNRItAl. INTRODICTION.

.'■; (

1 i

I", f

'i I

Humv. To H:ivii it voinmcncenuHit, I Nuiiniit tor your t-oii-
siderfttion the auiioxed qanriOH; wui cuuld tUc-so be n^iilicd
to, from livery township in thu Provincti, tlm work woiiUi
be tar tulvttnc«*d. Thtv^t; ({uericH havo lie<^n shewn to
many of the moiit reHpectMlde individutilM in the |>f<»vint:e,
and the Hcheine of coUoctin^ omterialM in this way, lor u
statiHtictU account, hiiA, by every one, been upprovid.
Some have doubtetl wb^her there e\i.4t!i Huflirient energy
and public spirit in the remote townships tu reply to them.
I hope there is; and certainly no urji^iiiiiod townihip i.s
destitulo of individuals quaUiied for the tusk, y Uiey wUl
but lake so much trouble, » *«» <*'«< •?•« ^v--^**''.. m^Uul

Some |«t nilenien have mot my ideas so cordially as \o
offer to c;(dU'Ct information, not only for their own, Imt, for
other townships. Correct informatio:!,. however, is not tlie
only requisite: autliority is aUo wanted of that Kpecics
viilikth will not only oarry weight with it to a distance, but
remain answerable on the spot for wluit is advanced. The
desirable point, therefore, is to obtain replies ttepdnttety
from eueh township, and to have these attested by the sig-
nature M' as many of the I'espectable inhabitants as possi-
ble. To nocom))Msh this in the speediest and moHt elfectual
manner, a meotinfv might bii bdd in each township, anJ
in the spacie of on honr or two the basiness might l)e
perfected. Hjw yitif.Kfi miH'' .■iKi #»fu:'iH«u i-Sat h**->HA'i ».»

The Queries have been drawn out as simply aH possible,
with a view to the practicability of having them answered
in this general way. They embrace oidy such matters as
it must be in the power o<' every intelligent farmer to
apeak to, and the information to be obtained by them will
be suflicieut to assure farmers and othei-s at home who have
money to engage in adventure, that adventure here, will
ttot only be rational and safe, but that they themHelves tnay
sit down in Canada with comfort and independence, n^ <

Although, to prevent confusion in the general fulfilment
■ ■ ■ 'i : . < II • . ■• • .' . •

ORNRRAL 1WTIU>I>1;GTI<W.

fXtf

of the K<!ili«ln«, I Uvkre oonffnAH the raiigpn of QucH«n, il
would Htill b« very duaurable if ii><f4l«(^t)nl individa«l« would
uonNii«nicat« tliifir •oMtiineoti witlt lef^ard to My inf iiMir«
of iinprovomuDt wliirh uco«ri» Ut tlimm, or Miy n^maT^ahl**
fact or olMMirvHtJoii tlit>y iimv liHTit niMde oonovruing- ttte i-)i-
mutt>, noil, or cu4livuUoii ol'Uie province.

8iiould uuy correiipondi;ut dislike my iisiiip^ Mn nuiM
pnblioly, ho need oiily give a cantiou, and it slmll h*> ob*
siiivod *.

If tiie Qume.H obtain ntilice, and suflicicut documontH
aro forwarded to me, 1 shall arrange and publish thtnu in
England, "whither I am soon to return. Had this tank re-
quired superior ability, .such an ofter wtmld be prontimp-
tion. 1 think it requires industry alouu, and that I Mhall
contribute nio.st willingly.

Whouvor thinks well of the scheme, and feels a desire to
promote it, let him not hesitate or delay : prompt assist-
ance ^ill be every thing; and, as to trouble, let individuals
compare their's to mine.

Though I gnituitously Tm\k« offer of my time, I must he
relieviad of ex|)eDse as uuoli ai poiutible, and bUmH »xfact
vUl commuLiucativus to be pu«t pa^d. No pertion, I thiiMd
who intti^-e&tti hit^sclf at 4fU in the waiter, will jgr^^a hia^
item in this way. Divided amongst many, such charges
will be trilling, but accumulated upon one, tl.cy would be

senous.

^* 4a-A 'H*^ .. •v^t'vi.V-'^ !ftV»>\ ♦Ai '. • 'iVK-t.^'i i»V' -i,* * "^

* These lines were thrown in at the suggestion of the printer
at York, who thought few people would choose to give their
names, as authority. So very different was the issue, tjiat I
have received only one communication out of nearly a hundred,
with a feigned signature. I mention this to the honour of the
people of Upper Canada, while I express my regret for admitting
of a supposition that any one would hei*itate or withhold hi^ name
ill support of the information required.

'\ \

I p

1 1

'■I

-. i i

CXCVl

GENERAL INTRODICTION.

Should the work sdcceed to my wish, I would propose
not only publishing- it in the English, but German language.
It is well known that the people of that nation are most
desirable sottlers, and it is a fact that many of them have
not the means of conuuunicating- to their friends the very
superior advantages of this country. One of them, who
has been in Canada 13 years, lately told n)e, that *' ton-
" sands and tousands would come over, did they but know
*' how good a country it is for poor peoples." , ^ n^ tv^<

i.:>uf.;.|. i, ; ,, :r.; ROBERT GOURLAY.

N. B. Address all communications for me, to the Post
Office, Queension.

'It, 'V 5 J-.i^! t

'','.j-i-' ■ wU ';l

J2. G-

[See Queries, page 270.] ""

»•' .'fi'...; .>.■•■,( j.>t iM,<L% /»■

I if.' '-'Uid-.t-i 'i*-i !',-i'i-. vi

The Upper Canada Gazette, in which the above
was first published, having a very limited circula-
tion, and the President, Colonel Smith, having
approved of the Address, 700 copies were thrown
off as a Circular, and sent by post to the public
officers of each township, with the following note :

" The within Address, S^c, appeared in the Upper
Cuinada Gazette of the 30th October ; but lest that paper
should not fall into i/our hands^ this is sent to you ; and it
is earnestly requested that you will endeavour to procure a
meeting of your respectable neighbours, as soon as possible,
and otherzmse forward the object in view, which would be
of the greatest service to the Province, i2. (?."

*;;'• ta. • vo.ji^'iJ crij Cj -'.t r.fy.i

•j.ii^t.-i -^i

*•■! ytf'H f'.iy.' f i't'i,i;:« ii ' C

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CXCVll

'^ff'tfjii:'!' 'iJ*

1 'i

An'^i

(It has been .mid, pa^o Ixxxiii, that the printing of

this General Introduction was broken off, De-

' cemher, 1820. It was then thus far prepared

'-' for the press ; and the causes of a year's delay
in ptdtlishinfj, <S'C- ^c- shall now be stated in the

■ followiruj Address. J - :, . ..^ . -.

" V V, ? ' 1' ''

;f r;'T*«'>' .?. a ^. v: ;;

'v'-'

TO THE PEOPLE OF UPPER CANADA,

'r IS';

.. ^

(^Among whom m^ myfurioiis Foes andfneble Friends.)

Iriiui » .>'? >''!. ?:> ^ •»•>'*<- ;

■■. Canadians, ■' " '■

Had this book appeared twelve months ago, as
it might, but for accidents, my intention was to
have dedicated it to you, in the hope that your
representatives would do nothing in parliament till
a commission of inquiry was sent home. Your
representatives have played the tool; but, of this,
elsewhere. "^rKsi tv» "V!;'; "t.i'r .L'»i^'i;i<i)iffi 'i^.vf.-t

*" As I have all along considered myself pledged
to publish in England the information concerning
Upper Canada, which you oomraunicatod to me
for that purpose, I sball have recourse to narrative
to set forth by what causes I have been so late in
redeeming my pledge, and at the same time shall
recount what has occurred to me in connexion
with the subject of this publicfation. '' : fj? * -i u ♦'
' ■ In my statement of 3d January, 1820, (page v)
I have noted my landing at Liverpool, the 2d De-

) i;u

1 r

<Mi m i, j , ji >nmV* ^ i - '-^^f*

t«^|fM»**^ < "< n' f»> J ^

Ill

I!:

I' f

CXCVIll

GRNKHAL INTROBCt'TION

ccmber, 181<). Arriving at Kdinhurgh theotliofthc
same uioath, I heard, tbr the first time, that my
lather had breathed hiz last, and proceeding to
Fifeshire, devoted a month to sympathy and con-
dolence with my afflicted mother. Towards the
middle of January I returned to Edinburjfh, and im-
mediately waited on an eminent bookseller, to ofl'er
him for publication, *' A Statistical Ace 3U«t
OF Upper Canada, written by Tiifc Inoa-
ui.TANTS." He informed me that he had bad
lying by him for some weeks a Statistical Account
of Upper Canada wr>ttei> by Dr. Strachan of that
province, which had been sent home recommended
for publication by Sir Peregrine Maitland and the
Attorney General : that he had, vvithiw the last
two days, returned tbi$ to Abt^rdecn, refusing to
l)e its pubUsber; i..jd, hftving refused Dr. Stracban's
work, he could not, Uesi«id,in{>ropriety publish any
tbing of tine same kind for me. I theu entered .into
tireiily with another bookseller, aiid flattered my-
self that I might not o»ly ^et the Statistical Ac>-
count published, but have petitions presented to
tht: Prince and Parliameot lespectiwg my treatment
at Niagara^ sa as to- sail for Quebec by the spring
ships. At this moment^ the Kind's death, and
cotise(iu^nt dissolution of Parliament^ dissipated
these sanguine expcctatio»s, a ad made me thiek ot'
dedicating some time, now of less coiwjequence, to
the restosation of my health, which was indeed
wretched ; to th€ pleasure of viisiti»g Hay friends ;
and th« cjijoynient of viewing, once again, the
varitjd and charming scei^ery of my nativ*' laud.

Mi-.i..'.,. tr.^^

<.»£NFiltAL INTMOplJCilON.

CXCIX

On such errands I made u pedestrian excursion ; first
westward, through Lanark, Renfrew, and Ayrshire 5
and then to the north so tar as Peterhead, Inver-
ness, and Fort William ; having the additional ob-
jects, in these quarters, of inquiring into the situa-
tion of the Highlanders, and ol their inclination to
emigrate; as well as of inspecting the Caledonian
Canal, that I might the better make up my mind
ns to that of the St. Lawrence.

It was the beginning of May before I got back
to Edinbura:h from this second tour ; and here I
found Dr. Strachan's book advertised under the
title of "A V'isir to Upper Canada, by James
Strachan,'* a brother of the said Doctor ; the adver-
tisement setting forth that the book <;ontained
" A brief account of Mr, Gonrlay^s proceedings as
a reformer in Upper Canada : the whole being care-
fully drawn up from materials furnished by the
author's brother y who has been twenty yean in the
country f and « member of' the Government."

Although I never heard of Strachan till 1 was in
Upper Canada, I had no difficulty in getting a
correct history of him.

"About the year 179.3 this, now, Honourable and
lleverend personage strolled south from Aberdeen,
where he had received a little college learning, and
was for a white preceptor to the children of a
farmer in Angusshire. Aftclf this he got to be
schoolmaster, first in Duninno, and then in Kettle,
parishes in Fifes hi re, attending St. Andrew's Col-
lege at the same time, as an irregular student. ..-.

The Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of Gladsmuir, in East

JHl

|ii:|

■

i >

GKNKRAL INTRODUOTION.

Lothian, my \vife'» undo, Imvinu; a commission
from a friend in Upper Canada to send out to him
a person qualified lor a family tutor, offered £.30
a year to procure one ; and Strachan agreed to go
out. Ife went ; and after teaching privately for
some time, became again a schoolmaster. In this
situation he married a widow with some money
and good connexions: got orders to officiate as a
minister of the church of England : was appointed
to tlse rectory of York, the capital of Upper Ca-
nada ; and, finally, became, in addition, honorary
member of the executive council of tho province*.
All this was certainly creditable; but our Dominie
would not rest with the performance of his many
duties of schoolmaster, parson, and councillor.
He was not contented wrth ^whipping children ;
but attacked an ex-president of the United States,
in a virulent newspaper article, to which he set his
name as " Rector of York," and published a
pamphlet abusing the late Lord Selkirk for his at-

i !i

* Since the above wus wrluen, I have seen it announced in a
newspaper, thai " the Mono.irable, and Reverend, and Doctor
Strachan is appointed MomVier ol'tho Legislative Coundl," and I
doubt not wo may, by and by, hear of his being BJHhop of Upper
Canada: so my hero i? not a little man in every respect. The
roj>der will fiud in thia firat volume repeated allusions to him, made
-while I yet. intended to withhold hia name. My changed plan of
publishing has brought it forth in this place: has introduced it in
tlie Appendix ; and most conspicuously in the Explvnation of
TiiK Map prefixed to volume II. which the reader nould do well
to p<?rube before he goes further. .. ,,:-^j_ ..yj . < .

M^y

^^ -.f MH ti t t m-V W .I. - II I ^I W I I"' !

-* ■ - ■

• '

GKNKIIAL INTUODUCTION.

CCI

tenij)t to establish a colony in the Iiu(lson*s Bay
territory i 1 was the next object of his wrath ;
ami for what ? — for pul)lishing my first Achlress to
the Resident Land-Owners of Upper Canada,
which has appeared above.

Upon getting hold of the " Visit to Upper Ca-
N A D A," 1 readily perceived why the Edinburgh book-
seller had refused to be its publisher. From begiiining
to end it exhibited one contmued tissue of weak-
ness and abomination, with a whole chapter de-
voted to personal abuse of me : indeed, I have no
doubt, that, but for this magnanin^ous object, James
Strachan would have made no Visit to Upper
(^anada. Its general merits may be well conceived,
from the following article, which appeared in the
Scotsman newspaper of May, 1820. ,.,,., ., , , ,

•» !•;.{

.■.■', h

:-■ »■■

LITERATURE. - H .' < -

VISIT TO THE PROVINCE OF UPPER CANADA,

■-'•'■■ ■' •■ '" ■. IN 1819, '•'■■' • ■ ' •-'

BY JAMES STRACHAN.

This is one of the most miserable utleiupis at travel-
writing Ave have ever seen. A book written for the use of
emigrants may dispense with profound thinking-, and
sj)lendid description, and seems to reipiire nothing more
than the power ol collecting and relating- facts and circum-
stances of a very obvious kind. But simple as the task ap-
pears, this work may convince any one that there are individu-
als as incapable of executing it, as of deciphering the hiero-
glyphics of Deudera. Though we must suppose that Mr.

; «

- J

rrii

fifixfiiiAl iHTRonrfTroN.

* :

■I'

I.'!

! f

r
i

•t

•SlnwUnn kiid th<' bcmofit of hi« brotliet's infornuitioii, who
liMH been ubovo twenty year? in (be country, and tlion^li
tUvrv cHii be iiltlc iloubi thut \\w. two huVe cbibbmi ibcii'
tulent.s i'or tiio enterprise, wt) nuiHt my that the book i(»n-
hiins nothing- to repay the tronbh; of reading' three pages.
Any l;ut8 to be lonnil in it worth notice, have been
borrowed iit sec«mtl or thir<f hand from books already
known ; and in the borrowint!^, wo fear, they Ijave h».vt the
accnniry which rtnders* them of any value. When the
nnthor ftttei'iiptu any remarks in bis own person, he is
uiituTftbly out, li*om the want »>l' tlie imjst eomnion «pecie«
uf information ; and what is still worse, the handful of idea:)
he bus, iure buried under a niuuutain luad of prejudiooi).
Indeed, the only thing' new in the book is the superlative
ignorance that runs tJuough it — an ignorance wliic-h charity
might luive overlooked, had it not been acconipaiiietl by
n<) small share of [)resumption. Mr. Strachan has been
niove<l to publish by si motive no less iu)h\c thnn a zeal to
demolish a host of errors which have betm sulTert^d to
reign till this champion of truth anti knowleilge took the
Held, lie aniu)uncos, cottlidtmtly, thnt his book will be
found to contain every thing- essential for an emigrant to
know; and ho anticipates that it will entirely divert the
sinnun of emigration from tin? tJnited Stut»?s to Onnndo. ^
We have no doubt that our author really jnoant to ac-
complish this, if he had known how to set about it. But
whatever advantages Canada possesses have lieen much
l)efter told already by every person who has pretended to
describe them ; and as for the comparative disadvantages
of the United States, we fejir his accounts will have but
little authority with those who know that he was never in
the country ; and that, as he has pror ^ 'limself incapable
of describing what fell under his own observation, hi? tes-
timony cannot be of mnth value a?* to objects a thousand

miles off - •••■ji r 'n .s- r,j-^ ,,. ,-, i • « >;*<>. j Ml M»iJ.>r» 'vjii rtt f »*^

Though the reader will not learn (unless hy inference)

f;KNKRAL INTRODUCTION.

fCIII

that llio rigour of the rliniuto MUispend.H the oportitton« of
litiftbiindry, Jiearly iivw morttJH of tlw yoar, in I' ppor, and
nix months, in Lower Ciinadii ; or, Ihut the whole ctmntry
is roniirnMl inuicoitisi!)Ie lor ul>o>it on<' hall" of the year, by
sea, iVoiri \\\v, ice : ami llloll^il he will look in vain lor other
I'autJ 1)1' iu iniiiih in)|>f>rtanco, we »ro iar from xayin^ that
he wUl find notiiin^ in it wlticii he Ikvi .seen before. On Iho
<untntiy, hewjll liad from a iiK^Uxxolo^ieul lublo, what ixa-
Irody suspected, that the c.xtrenit' cold of Upper Canada,
in Jannary, is plus 27 of r'ahrenheit; he will find that the
Canadas have a more fertile soil, and a greater extent of
.sen-coast than the iJaltic ; that a.s we advance from Lower
to llppi^r Canada, the soil andclinnitcperceplil>ly intprove;
but Ihi.s improvement forlnnntoly slopK at the boundary-
lino; rthd If we ftdvance. a little farfher In flw; same direc-
tion into tho I'liitcd ytaten, natajr«> kladly revorse.i tlic
coursti of thin^4, and hetufcu fruvfntt upon democrats and
luvellerH, in a Htiarilki sod vuid pe»tiloiitial atmotiphere. Hi-
th(Tto it hu.s beiui suppiiiied, that Canada had it» shore of
niavsh fever.s, because it has its shm*e of the hot summers
and .stagnant waters that produce them ; but this, our
auUior says, is a mistfike, and these causes ol' disea.so
oj)eratb only in the United Sfates, and su.spend their ui-
flu(;nce in favour of the loyal Canadians. So perversely Ig-
norant, however, are emigrants, that fla^ enc(»unter all
these evils, and pay a. high pri<;e for worse lands in the
United States, than they could gel in Canada for lujthing.
ft had been often stated, that a [)oor man might better his
<,irc,umstauces by going to thi>» c<^ony ; but it was reserved
for Mr. Strachan to discover^ that tlwue is no place in the
world equal to Canada for men of large capitids; and
anu)ng other advantages, by which he allurt.s tlw^m t4> Icftve
Britain, he says, they will b^ able lo tnUmate their ohil-
dn-n.: though be did oot (ind the colony in a stale; of fusur-
jifection, as he expected, he found i1 ha<i been <Ji»tuvbed
ihy deiavcrrjits and levollers ; and ihens, as at hmm% the

'«'•

I f

i r *iWiit:. ' iJi^ »ii ( w y wt>iWr«pwrti'< i mift i ! | i>i- ' . jp '

■

.il

■ i

% ■ I

CCIV

CENERAL INTRODUCTION.

principal menibers of opposition were unworthy in private
life. But "we have said more than enough of so poor a pub-
lication, whose absurdities will be a sufllicient correction to
its errors.

:-• >' » /'ti,

-'..., U

" The reader must not forget, that the hook here
spoken of, was '* wrilten by Dr. Slrachan^ and sent
home., recommended for publication by Sir Pere-
grine Maitland and the Attorney General.^* This
makes it of consequence : this stamps it as a docu-
ment — an expose of church and state; and because
of this, I have considered it worthy of notice.

After perusing the twelve pages of scandal, in-
tended to injure me, I had the curiosity to read
over these pages a second time, to note with my
pencil the falsehoods, untruths, and misrepresent-
ations, therein contained : and how many does the
record make of them? " Thirty-ticio falsehoodst
thirty-eight untruthst besides misrepresentations
throughout.'' So much, at present, for the work
of the Honourable^ and Reverend, and Doctor
Strachan*.

.■H;\.iiJ?ii"A.\ } )ii'/ ,^i

M \U yfiA »U .*if'*-''>^tl'i

* Although twelve pages of the Visit to Upper CANAPiV are
devoted to abuse of me, I am not the sole object of its .scandal.
" A Montreal auctioneer" is attacked in the management of his
private affairs ; a man who had sinned publicly, by manly con-
duct in the Lower Canada Parliament. He is known to me only
by some of his speeches, published in newspapers, which ap-
peared very good indeed. Then, again, the feelings of the
family of Capt. Brant, the celebrated Indian Chi(!f, are wantonly
and cruelly injured. Capt. Brant is spoken of as a *' miseriible
man," of " savage ferocity," — " puffed up with his own im-
portance," as having " frequently discovered a want of gratitude
to the British goverameut," and ao forth. I never heard Capt.

. ^ '* fe » J W» ^ l Knrt »l lW■ '> v W 'liMiJBii n >i Hiii i ni i i t*i g * a » ite »^itMiiiaiiw > fi i *w

'^^ ^lun i fa I m u I I I miMnvmn ' KW j

OKNERAL INTRODUCTION.

ccv

' The first parliament of the new reign beinj^
now met, I was anxious to get to London to pre-

Bmnt spokon of in Upper Cnnadabvit in tenns of respect ; and on
visitin<^ his son uiul (lauglitor, rosiiliMit at Wc'llinj^ton Sijuaro, in
the district of Gore, had the sati-ifactlon of fiiulint!; them in inai»-
nersi, conversation, and conduct, equal to the best bred people of
our own nation. I record the fact with peculiar pleasure, ns a
proof that North American Indians require only education and
good habits, to elevate them from the savage state; and that thero
is nothing in the breed (though wo may bo partial to our own)
to prevent their being civilized. In the sequel it will be found,
that I distinguish these people by difToront appellations. Some
distinction was necessary. Those residing within surveyed bounds
I call l.idians; those still ranging the wilderness, navage^. I do
Tiot wi?h the word savage, however, to be taken in the bad sense.
The poet, who sayp , , , -

'* When wild in woods the noble savage ran,"
did any thing but mean, that this hv'xng was brutal, cruel, and
remorseless; and, in fact, the North American aborigines were
noted as being brave rind generous. I deprecate every attempt
to alter the condition of the Indian, as long an he itt a hunter. In
that state he should be left alone: in that state he is happy and
useful in bis vocation. The middle state — that of half-hunter,
half-cultivator, is the worst ; and I have recommended that Go-
vernment should instantly make an effort to advance those Indians,
who are surrounded by settlements of white people, by education
and training to industry. The half-hunter, half-cultivator, is uni-
formly lazy, mean, dirty, and altogether a worthless memb?r of

society. . ^ ^, _ , >2.t. 4 -*W( J--, i-i.^^i'^r , 4^5, < •■

But to return to CJapt. Brant : it Is worthy of record, that he
was not oven present at the destruction of Wyoming, as fancied
by Mr. Campbell, in his beautiful poem of Gertuude of
Wyoming. Several respectable persons are .still alive, in Upper
Canada, who can testify as to this; and it would be well if Mr.
Camjbell, iii his ne.\t edition, would note this, to correct wrong
impreisions, which his poetical licence, in speaking of " the
monster Brandt," may create. The name is Branl, not Brandt.

( '

'I i

iii

■ T ; i i ' »!< g ! !;i!#^i!i J ,Wi ' | ! f^* y iB!i«g ''

CCVI

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

I':

sent to it a petition, witli regard to the state of
Upper Canada ; and also to proceed with my pub-
lication. I was unexpectedly detained in Scot-
land a few weeks, owing to the death of u family
connexion, and only got to town by the ^»th June,
as mentioned above, page xlix.

On the 2tith July this volume was put to press ;
Jind soon afterwards was advertised for publica-
tion. I told the publishers that it would be ready
for dcliverv in a few weeks ; but was little aware
of the delay which might be occasioned by the
preparation of plates. Three, then in the hands of
the engravers were not ready till tbo. 1st of Novem-
l>er ; and three more, found necrs^ary for illus-
tration, were still unfinished the 2d of December.
On that day I received a letter from my wife, in-
forming me tliat she was taken ill ; and her con-
cluding page too clearly indicated tbe progress of
decay. For three day^ I remained in London
powerless with solicitude : a letter from my daugh-
ter inspired hope and resolution : I departed for
Edinburgh ; but arrived there only in time to beai-
the mortal poxt of my dearest frie«d to the grave.

Ever since my horrible treatment at Niagara, I
have l>een the victim of nervous malady. 1 had
so far conquered this before coming to London,
by extraordinary efforts; but my great and unex-
pected affliction now thrust me down, and sub-
jected me to the most deplorable weakness.
During three months' stay in Scotland I was
wholly unable to go on with the work of publica-
tion. I invited a gentleman, well gualified, to

iT'-"ilii-iriii>;i»»l»*»«

, Hl |iii i<r i =l l lf ^,i tf ii < . rfa^'y Ke p ff t M 'i iii^Ti.- 1 A /, . i !:!^ 'K*^r.t^.---^f^.'^^~,^^- ■

OKNICriAL INTRODUCTION.

CCIll

assist in finishing this fii-st volume, then nearly
conjpleted, that part oi the edition might l>e sent
out forthwith to Canada; l)nt after sitting with
him Tor some hours, I found myself wholly unahle
to direct his endeavours, [ could not then, in-
deed, sum up four tigur<!s together. Trusting; that
ehange of scene might lighten my spirits and ro^
store to me some degree of energy, I sailed for
TiOndon the *2d of March ; but, after a miserable
voyage of twelve days, was landed still more re-
duced in strength ; and every day became worse
and worse. Afraid of sinking into absolute imbe-
cility, I conferred witli a friend as to some objtxt
which might rouse my dormant faculties, and dis-
j)el the cloud of surrounding gloom. ' • ^'' .„>.!,? i »
lie suggested that I should oiler to accompany
Sir R. Wilson to Naplcjs, in the cause of independ-
ence. I was a sincere friend to the cause ; but
Sir U. Wilson had disgusted mo with his book on
Egypt ; and thence I had believed a story (which
1 now discredit), of his having played the eaves-
dropper, by attending a conference between the
Emperor Alexander and Buonaparte, disguised as
a livery servant. What I said of him, under this
belief, required explanation. I spoke of it to my
friend, and it was resolved that I should communi-
cate my intention, aud explain afterwards. Upon
this, I addressed two lines to Sir Robert the
24th March; but in two days more it was an-
nounced thai the Neapolitan people had shrunk
from their enterprise. They were, indeed, betray-

•iH

■i

1 •:\ !

CCVlll

GRNRRAI. INTRODUrTIOPf.

e<l by their leaders. I wns now again in the misery
of indecision ; but determined to mareli into tlu;
west of Kngland, and visit my old friends thrre.
As no rej)Iy was received from Sir 11. Wilson to
my note of the Vlth March, I asked my friend, on
leaving town, to (ind him out (in which he was
unsuccessful), and explain under what tnrcum-
stanccs I had taken the liberty of addressing him.
The fact is, I had acted contrary to my own prin-
ciples, and was somewhat ashamed of it. Though
any thing is better than imbecility and sloth,
mv ambition inclines least of all to that of a sol-
dier;>and giving in to be one, at a time of absolute
feebleness, has led me to confirm the declaration of
Ciibbon, the historian, that ** the courage of a sol-
dier is the cheapest commodity in nature.'*

1 started ot!*, westward, the "3d of Ap^il; but on
the second day's march was knocked up; and had
to reach Devizes by coach. Here a worthy old
friend readily accommodated me with a pony. 1
visited Bath, Warminster, Salisbury, and returned
to Devizes; shaking hands, as I journeyed on, with
dozens of my brother farmers and other friends ;
not forgetting the poor ones of Wily parish. Not
only the people, but the very soil of Wiltshire, re-
mains dear to my remembrance, — its bournes and
its downs. Seven years of ray life were spent in
Wiltshire ; — most interesting years of isunshine
and cloud. Wiltshire gave birth to five of my
children; — to one of them a grave, — a grave over
which the niggard church refused to perform its

QCNr.R.VL INTRODUCTION.

rcix

rites, — rites which f liohl nt nought biit for np*
pearances ui' dfccncy ; ami ilwsv arc set aside
Hhere superstition iuis coittroul • ! !

Cheltenham watcrH restored mc to licalth six
years ago. 1 rode to Cheltenliain, and tried the wa-
ters a second time, without avail. I then returned
to Devizes, delivered up the pony to my friend; and
niarcheil to London, now somewhat strengthened
in body, but still unfit for any continued mental
eftbrt : I had, in fact, lost the power of eombiuiuii-
my thoughts, and iiad to rest under such grievous
affliction. '^ -'!^ '^''J ■'' • ."'^ ; • i

On the 7th of May an article appeared in the
Morning Chronicle, seemingly prepared to draw
attention to the true principle of reforming th?
poor-laws, for which Mr. Scarlett had given notice
that he intended to brin^; a Bill into parliament.
In this article authority was quoted from my little
publication on tlie subiect, Thk Tyranny of
Poor-Laws, in oppositio!i to the sentiments of
Mr. Cobbett, and, on the 8th, Mr:. Scarlett's Poor
Relief Bill was- brought into the House. This
could not fail to be highly interesting to me; and
it proved electric : it had considerable effect in
rousing my still feeble mind to action. It was in-

} i

* I had a poor baby which died suddenly, during her third
night, while unchrislened ; and, because of the ceremony being
thus accidentally neglected, the parson had to obey the Ilubrir,
and deny his presence and prayers at the fifneral. I woulit
write black over such Rulrric.

. ^y'vif

1 1

; t

i: i

'I ■'

'I »
I ^

! .

■■ ■ i '
' ft

ii ^

1' I

ccx

GFiNRHAt INTRODIXTION.

deed curious that my little tract, which, six years
before, had been presented to 700 Peers and Com-
moners of Parliament, and obtained for me thanks
only from two, should, at so eventful a mon^ent,
be thrust forward by an unknown hand to mv aid.
This little incident, together with a hope that .i
commission would, before the end of the session,
arrive from Upper Canada, to call for inquiry into
the state of the province, made me every day more
and more anxious to recommence my work of pub-
lishing the statistical account; and after the second
notice of Mr. Scarlett's FJill, on the 94th May, I at
last resolved to be up and doing. 1 had doubted, from
the bt^ginning, if one volume could contain the mat-
ter jjrepared for it. My hope of gaining increased
public attention, because of INIr. Scarlett's motion,
added to the expectation that a commission tor Jn«
quiry might immediately be expected home from
Canada, gave me courage to put a second volume io
press, and to lay the foundation for a complete deve-
lopment of colonial affairs. The parliamentary de-
bate on the Constitution of Canada, in 1791, seemed
peculiarly worthy of being brought into view, upon
the occasion ; aiid the prmtiQg of it requiring no
eflbrt from me, i, thereby, made a beginning. Be-
fore that and llochefoucault's account of Simcoe*s
government were printed off, I became afraid of
being unable tQ make necessary coiHiments ; but was
fortuna^te in getting a friend ^o- carry me to Jirighto«„
where, for a week, in the beg^inaiiog^of July, beinef
refreshed with air and exercise, 1 made out to-
write, as it is, the Review which follows these

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CCXI

transcripts, in Vol. II. and whicli, I trust, m^>'
assist my endeavours, however imperfect the pei-
formance, got up by feebh?, feverish ♦ and dis-
tracted cogitations. During August and Sep-
tember, my health was such, that I became wholly
unfit for the work on hand, which was now inter-
rupted for weeks together. To>yards October f
found it necessary, a third time, to fly fVom town
for relief. I spent a week nt Margate for the be-
nefit of sea-bathing: made an excursion round the
coast of Kent ; and but that I was now assailed in
London and Edinburgh, with infernal torments
in the courts of law, should have been vigorous.
Thank God, I have, at this moment, been able to.
set at rest every care ; and, at this moment, am
better in health than I have been since the day on
which I was illegally arrested, and confined within
Niagara jail.

, This narrative must not be taken ami^s. It U
necessary for my protection against calumny to re*
gister all my movements — where i have been, and
how employed. You will remember that when in
Upper Canada, 1 was accused, in consequence of
an infamous elander, piubiished by the London
Courier, of having been engaged in the riotous
meetings of England, and of beih^ a promoter of
insurrection: you will remember ot a poor mad*
man declaring before a public company, in Little
York, that / and Hunt had been accessary to the
death of Cashmanj and, very probably, you would
learu from the Albany and New York nevcspapei^,
that, after leaving you, I visited Mr. Cobbett.

i\y.

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ecxu

GENERAL INTROl5tJCTrONr.

Perhaps Stories are now circulated among you, that
I \Tas at. the bottom of the Cato Street conspiracy :
headed the rebels at Uony Mnrr ; or am now plotting-
-insurrection with thvj radicals of London. My good
friends, England does not contain a more rosoliitefoe
to riot than myself; or a |>erson so completely alone
in political concerns. Hefore I had connection wiiii
you, I had, in inany publications at home, deprecated
such meetings as those countenanced by Messrs-.
Cobbett and Hunt ; and there is not, of the thou-
sands in this country who have been acquainted
\i^ith me, a single one, who would not laugh at the
verynsound of tny being a participator in confusion
and nvurder. I frankly confessed to you in Canada,
that i was acquainted with Messrs. Cobbett and
tJurvt: that in many things I admired the former;
and that 1 had seen the latter most shamefully mal-
treated at a public meeting (at Devizes], only a
fewlweeks before I left home for America. All this
was qurite true ; but my acquaintance was slight
and accidental J and still I was opposed • to their
piiWic measures for obtaining reform: indeed; at
this.day^,! think they have greatly injured the
cauae; It: was quite true, th?tti I visited -Mr.
Cobbett att New York. I went from Albany to
Nf?w'r¥iork,, because of ii: report that my brother
was^ther©,;' andi remained there five days in search
oft hihi; : During that time I read Cobbett's
Year's Residence, in which Mr. Morris Birk-
bv?ck is so severely dealt with. Mr« Birkbeck
was, for several years before he emigrated to Ame-
rica, my most intimate friend: he was " a friend
indeed." When misfortune came upon me in

GENRRAr. INTRODUCTION^.

CCXIU

England, am my all was in jeopardy^ Mr. Birk-
beck (who, by the, by, is called by the villain
Strachan, '' a bad man") ofVt- red to carry me ^nd
my family to America : ofl'ered to give me a farm
there: to stock it; and supply money, till I
could find it convenient fo repay him. Was, thi&
the act of " u bad man ?" It was such an act as
1 shall feel grateful for while I have existence^i

(r.".f) 1

■f /'

irk-
3ck

* Few men have boon more scandaloualy misrepresented ar.di
.ibused than Mr. Bifkbeck. When he crossed the Atlantic to
America, he performed what he had contemplated for years; and
what he conceived to be a duty to his family — liis most amiable
family. He was sanguine in his expectations, and he wrote as he'
felt. It was natural for him to wish many emigrants to follow
him, altogether independent of pecuniary gain. The idea, that,
lie was chieily actuated by this, in giving favourable accounts of.
Illinois, is absurd. The very first flight of emigrants, who foU
lowed him, could soon expose delusion, or stai to others theic
disappointment; and nobody, who got there with money, could
be under any necessity to purchabe land from him, while millions-
of acres were for sale at the pul)lic land offices. Other people,
who have gone to Illinois, besides Mr. Birkbeck, have been high-
ly pleased with the choice they made ; although, for my own
part, I should wish to settle further to the nortli. I have con-
versed, since I came home, with an Euglishman, who Imd settled,
in lUinois, and found him quite delighted with that country ; and
I have heard the same from the correspondence of others; besides,
liaving a series of letters, all in unvaried strain, from my friend.

Mr. Birkbeck was bred a quaker; but, by an' by, rose above,
the rigid. discipline, which requires attention to non-esseutials of
religion, and left the Society ; though certainly not its good ,
moral habits. I never, indeed, knew, a man more; correct as to,
these, — more pure in conduct and conversation ; and of this, the .
Society, 1 beUeve^ is sensible. One of the most rigid of thie So-'

i .!

CCXIT

AiKTHHRAh INTRODUCTION.

Ahhougb, by the failure of my father, I, was de-
prived of my stock in business, 1 had still annuities
and provisions for my wife and children, I was
not altogether deprived of the means of living.
My wife was delicate: my children were young;
and upon the whole, it was advisable not to accept
of tiie kind offer of my friend. When I read Mr.
Cobbett's attack upon Mr, Birkbeck, it was impos-
sible for me not to feel pain ; and a passage con-
cerning Ellenborough and Gibbs filled me with
horror. I called upon Mr. Cobbett, to remonstrate
against such writings; but Mr. Cobbett, by this
time, despised every thing which stood in the way
of destroying the boroughmongering system of Eng-
land. Emigratioii to America had, I conceive,
appeared to him a lessening of that pressure which,
at home, might tend to his favourite object; and
therefore nothing which could check emigration
seemed to him sin. Ou this subject there was i^o
reasoning; and we talked of other matters. The

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tilETV OF Friends, speaking to me of Mr. Birkbeclc, weed these
words, •* We are sorry for him, but love him still,*' -' •• t- - .
One bad habit Mr. Birkbeck got into, which was, using the
word religion, when he spoke of and meant hjjjocristf; and in
hk Letters prom Iu.isoi«!, he has stirred up prejudices, owing
to the too careless use of this word. In one of my letters to him,
I expressed my regret for this, and bo thus wrote to me, in reply,
nnder date the 1 1th March, 1819: " I have been ready to wisk I
had not written just as I did ; or, rather, that I had expressed
my reverence (that reverence which I cherish in my heart), for
Religion itself, when I spoke lightly of sfmn religion."'

t^BNfittAL iNTKODtTCtlON.

CCXV

Manchester massacre had recently been heard o^.
Nobody reprobates that transaction of our magis-
tracy more than I. Mr. Cobbett felt as 1 did: he
extolled the bravery of his friend Hunt: he talked
most warmly in favour of England and its comforts ;
the beauty of its hills and dales; the excellence
of its people. I told him how I had been treated
in Canada. He magnified to himself, a dozen
times over, all that I said of provincial villany.
He got into an agony of wrath against despotism ;
and finally, though I had gone to rebuke, I shook
hands with Mr. Cobbett at departure. He asked
me to sail with him to England; and, but that I
had made previous arrangements for coming home
by Montreal and Quebec, 1 should certainly have
availed myself of so good an opportunity of getting
better acquainted with an extraordinary man — a
man with whom I never in all things agreed, and
to whose principles I would now, less than ever,
subscribe; but whom I, as assuredly, "adiwire in
many things

# if

( ^'.Jivi r

p * The reader wiU excuse tliis digression about Mr. Cobbett,
when 1 have stated, tliat, ray frankly acknowledging that I knew him
constituted the leading charge for which Mr. Wrn. Dickson had
xne arrested, ordered out of the province, and committed to jail.
His questions and my anavers, when brought under arrest into
hid presence, were these; " Do you know Mr. Cobbett?" —
" Yes." — " Do you know Mr. Hunt'i"—" Yes."—" Were you
at Spa Fields met'tiug?" — " Yea." — *' Were you ever in Ire-
land?" — " Yes." — " Were you lately in the Lower Province?"
^" Y«8."— •< \V?re you lately in the United Stales .'"— " Yes."

i1 i«>i('i( ii i I ' l i rfiu n mn [ii<i,iH ii in * .» >«i iiii-W '|i . * i iM . ' .v6^ « * m \m:j«<Wit ififn^i^

ft XVI

GENEHA L INTRODIKJTIOK.

I never had a conversation in my life with Mr.
Cobbett but one, before I saw him at ^tiw York.

— " Was it you that wrpto the nrticlu in tho Spectator, headed,
• CJuggtd, gaggod, by jingo ?"'—j" Oh, to bo sure it was!"

*• UentlptntMi," said Dickson, looking very groat, (" his mighty
peers were ranged around — ") " it is my opinion tljat Mr. Gour-
Iny is a man of desperate fortune, and would «lick at nothing to
raise insurreclion ir this province:" then, having got Mr. Tho-
mas Clark, and Mr. William Claus, Legislative Councillors ; Mr.
Alexander M'Donell, brother-in-law to the late President Smith;
and a Doctor Muirhead, to back him in his false, infamous, and
;no9t groundless opinion, he ordered me first into close confinement,
in one of the cells of Niagara jail, and, after about an hour, had
me brought back to receive his written order to depart thej)rovince.
The affair began with tho base report of the London Courier of
the 8th July, 1818, that 1 luid " escaped after the disgraceful pro-
ceedings of Sjia Fields:" was marked, in its progress, by the mad-
man's declaration above spoken of; and this was the issue; a sor-
rowful one, indeed, for me, as it, at last, turned out. That 1 was
at Spa Fields meeung, the Courier could know from a pamphlet
of mine, published in England, before I went out to Canada. Be-
ing in London, waiting on law busirass, while tho Spa Fields
meetings were held, I attended, to mark the character of these
meetings. In my pamphlet 1 pronounced upon this character, and
stated my disapprobation of such meetings. This the villanous
Courier totally reversed the meaning of, insinuating that 1 was an
actor in and approver of such meetings, and said that I " es-
caped! ! r* Let the Courier know that it is not fear that restrains
me from burning his house about his ears. The mischief that
that infernal tool of the Ministry bus produced by lies and base
insinuations is beyond all reckoning. It was, no doubt, the Cou-
rier's false report which worked up the frenzy of the poor mad-
man at York ; and such was the silliness of many other people,
that they also gave rredit to it. To outstare the audacious false-
hood, I published in the Niagara Spectator the fact thul I had

iiwti^iiimim ■ fkmutmMi ^^M^mi»

iiiiriir^rtriT"'''' 1'

m0if>.

■»>il W»!* )f* "( Tr' 'h 'r '

GENF.RAL INTHODIJCTION.

CO XV 11

In the years l^l4 and 181.5, Cobbctt's Uogistor,
which .1 always read, untV still read, seemed to be

been at Spa Fieldd mcf^iing — that I hiew Mr. Cobbett, and " ad-
mired liim in many things," — that I also linew Mr. Hunt; and
had seen him very ill usod at a Wiltshire county mooting, a few
woeks borore 1 left England for Canada, Good God! for these
frank acknowledgments wan 1 cast into jail; detained thero till
both my body and mind were a wreck; cast out into a foreign
land, 40tX) miles from homo ; to come home, and liad tho sad
consequences to be, that my whole aftaira had got into confusion,
from my detention in Canada, and that I was too late to have u
parting conversation with my aged parent, which of all things
I desired. 1 was a couple of days in Ireland, during tho
rebnllion of 1798. Mr. David Melville, now writer to the
rtignet in Edinburgh, then a boy, was my companion. Wo
vvero travelling together through Wigtoushiro, when, urged by
curiosity, 1 proposed crossing to Ireland, and we Imd passports
from the conunander of the forciis to proceed to Blaris camp, and
view the ground where a battlt; had just before been fought — tho
battle of Antrim : so much for my being in Ireland. After I
was honourably acquitted a second time, on a trial in Upper
Canada for false charges of sedition, I hurried olF through Lower
Canada to New York, to dispatch intelligence of my deliverance
to my wife, and to make arrangements for a longer stay in
Canada, having written polite and conlidmg letters to tho
Duke of Richmond and Sir Peregrine, Maitland, thinking my-
self sure of civil treatment from them on my return to
Canada. I dispatched my business at New York, and forth-
with returned to his majesty's dominions j but, in<jtead of ci-
vility from tho Lieutenant Governor, I found myyelf apr' friends
libelled in his opening speech to Parliament, and the Parliament
ready to justify and support him in every act, ho\vever absurd.
The ParliaiTQent did, indeed, pass a law to prevent, in all time
coming, meetings by deputy ; and every Aveak creature of govern-
munt was in arms against me. On lirst reading the Bill for the;

fm 4 ,mi i» :'ti,^iftl» ^mi^»il <i i >its ii,ii ^ ■ '

l\ \

' \

CCXVIIl

GENERAL INTIIODUCTION.

falling very low, and, indeed, had become unplen-
sant from interterences with religious feeling. Re-
ligious feeling, I conceive, should never be nuul-
dled with. Religion is a matter between every
individual and his God : a matter quite distinct
from politics, and with which politics should
never clash. Paine had just credit for writing his
KiGHTS OF Man: he received just condemnation
for his Age of Reason; wherein he makes
mockery of what was sacred to the feelings of the
million. The publications of Hone and Carlilc
are objectionable in the same way, and they are
injurious to the great cause of reform. Thoy dis-
gust many of its well wishers : they involve weak
men in vain disputatious: they generate rancorous
feelings: they stir up animosities. They ought ne-
vertheless to be leftto free circulation. In the United
States, where there is perfect freedom in this way,
I never saw any thing like those rank publications,
which it is the oVyect of the despicable and

suppi-ession of meetings by deputy, I excUiimed, " Gagged, gag-
ged, by jingo,'* and wrote down some doggrel, jingling to these
words, to sustain good humour on bo melancholy an occasion.
A magiBtrate, to whom I read the doggrel lines, laughed heartily ;
and, as a French comic author (MoHere) ti«ed to let his wit go io
the public, provided it made his old housekeeper smile on the first
rehearsal, so in making some remarks on the gagging act of Upper
Canada, I headed these remarks with my doggrel rhyme of
"gagged, gagged, by jingo;" vulgar enough, I acknowledge;
but, really and truly intended to keep the Canadians somewhat in
humour with chains clenched by their own representatives' in par-
liament: so much for being in the " Lower Province," and '* the
United States ;" and so much for, " gagged, gagged, by jingo ! !"

CF.NRRAJ. INTRODUCTION.

CCXIX

Left

senselesH Bridfi^e Street Gang to hunt down,
to themselves, they speedily disappear.

Mr. Cobbett occasionally attended the Wiltshire
county meetings. In 1815, I called upon him, in
Salisbury, while attending one of these meetings,
to remonstrate against the admission of articles in
his Political Register, which were offensive to
religious feeling; and, I hope, he felt the propriety
of my remarks. Towards parting, I expressed,
Vehemently, my abhorrence of the cruel treatment
he had received (fine and imprisonment) because of
a mere exclamation of feeling for British soldiers,
Jashed under the guard of German hirelings. Mr.
Cobbett felt the sincerity of my declared abhorrence,
and most warmly did he advance to shake me by the
hand. It is well known, that men of the first
rank once coveted the company of Mr. Cobbett ;
and men of the first-rate respectability, intimately
acquainted with him, have told me that they never
knew a more pleasant man, nor a better father of a
family. A strong sense of the corruption of go-
vernment, great knowledge of the selfishness and
sycophancy of mankind, and dear-bought expe-
rience, from persecution, have tended, perhaps, to
harden his feelings, to render him regardless of
ordinary rules of conduct, and to make him vain
of himself ;-*-.nor is his right to be vain small. He
is a remarkable character; and his name will be as
lasting as English history: if not as a great man,
at least, as a curiosity.

Since coming from America, I have never seen
Mr. Cobbett. On ^^e 7th of October last, I passed

It!

II!

i '

! i

\ i

ccxx

CiENKRAL. INTRDDUCTION.

through Kensington, and having just before read
(Joubett's Cottage Kconoaiy, No. J, in
which he announced iiis intention to write upon the
** keeping of cotvs^*' I called upon Mr. Cohbett to
converse on this subject ; but, being unwell, he
could not see me; and 1 left a note, saying that I
should call again, which I shall do, to present to
hiin my plan of eow-keepiny ^ for comparison with
his, which 1 have not yet seen. On my note, left
at Mr. Cobbett's, I wrote the word, " /)Wf«/(?," Tor
this reason, that my merely calling on him, if
publicly known before explanation was given,
would tend to my hurt ; and ten days ago I had a
striking proof of the need for such caution. A
person wishing, to have cause of quarrel, thus
accosted me: *' You are a friend of Cobbett and
Benbow : 1 was told about a week ago that you
^vtere in the habit of frequenting Benbow's shop,
and, sitting down there to read Cobbett's writings/'
Now it was a truth, that in the month- of June,
1890, on coming up to London, I did call at Ben-
bow's shop, where Gobbett's Register was sold,
and asked for the file that I might glance qyer the
heads of subjects treated of, to ascertain whether
Mr. Cobbett had taken notice of my statement of
the 3d of January, a copy of which had been de-
livered to him, as well as to the editors of the
Courier, Times, and Morning Chronicle, the files
of all of which I examined with the same view.
As to Benbow I should not know him if now be-
fore me. The curious fact is, that I had been dogged
by some busy-body or spy, and that this very wor-

• — fl > |JM iW II< ii' H -* *r* ^ '' -

HI ji

GRNERAL fNTROniU'TlOM.

CCXXl

thy character had, after sixtoon months possession
of his secret, taken advantage of it for a malicious
purpose. He rjuite succeeded: the person to whom
the information uas conveyed, worked himself into
a passion with the thought of my associating
with Benbow ; and he may call upon the busy-
body to assist him out of his passion beforo I take
furtlKT trouble about the matter.

About a" mo)ith after I landed in England, from
Quebec, a Glasgow mmisterial newspaper, (the
Herald) which was regularly received by my mo-
ther at Craigrothie, contained an article copied
from a New York paper, which had been copied
from one of Albany, published by Messrs. Web-
ster and Skinner, stating that I had called on Mr.
Cobbett, and that I had found him so and so ;
which was not correct. Having occasion last year
to write to Messrs. Webster and Skinner, in Al-
bany, I mentioned the circumstance; and, in a
letter from these gentlemen, dated 5th February,
182 1, they say, " It never entered our thoughts
that a little gossip article in the Albany Gazette,
should have been seen across the water, or in the
least affected our worthy friend Mr. G. ;*' now it
did affect me. Messrs. W. and S. meant me no in-
jury ; but, probably, the Glasgow newsmonger did.
Just about the same time, the Edinburgh Courant,
which my mother also received regularly, gave
publication to an article still more evidently in-
tended to injure my reputation ; and you, Cana-
dians, will be best able to judge of it. The Edin-
burgh Courant stated, that by a letter from their

< I

CCXXll

GUNF.AAL IMTaODUCTIOX.

n ^i:

f i

private correspondent^ they Imd learnetl that *' tlip
radicals of Upper Canada had been all quiet since
Gourlay had left that country.'* Now, niy Cana-
dian ftiends, you will rememher that when 1 left
you, the term *' radical" was not even known in
Canada as au appellative ; and till 1 landed at
Liverpool from Quebec, I never knew of its bjing
used to distinguish a political partisan. 1 am
(juite a radical : but I am one of my own sort ;
and up to this day, am not connected with a single
individual in Great Britain in any political party.
I am known both in England and Scotland, be-
cause of my peculiar opinions^ and these opinions
are by many misunderstood. In the fcMregoinj;
pages you have had an opportunity of observing
some of them ; and you may there see that my
eiforts to maintain thase opinions have been sin«
gular — have been such as I am proud of. No in-
dividual can produce more creditable testimonials
of consistency ;.nd perseverance, in so good a cause,
as that to which I have been devoted nearly for
twenty-one years ; and if I live twenty-one years
more, I shall not de^iert it. In the year 1808,
I was first driven — most cruelly driven, to defend
my principles in politics. 1 then declared in print
that I " would be happy to make it appear, that
au indiindttal ma^ act independent of party '^ ;^^
and most assuretily up to this time 1 have stuck to
my text* Since 1808 I have written and pub-

.i,'luv;

tV)X'

ijuii ; jiciiwi^v;

,i:;-i'i. -1^ t Jv^r^)

* Ldtei to the Earl of Kellie, pHge 10.

GENERAL INTHODUC'TION.

CCXXIII

lislicd more than a do/rn of pamphlets ; and many
dozens ot newspaper articles, all dattnl and signed
with my name, making loa:eiher a complete and
aiitiientic history of my opinions and conduct
since; and on these 1 shall rejoice to be fair hf
tried, either east or weat of the Atlantic. With
regard to the radicals of Upper Canada being '* all
quiet," it is with special satisfaction that I hid you
call to mind, how very quiel and orderly I was,
from first to last. You will remember that brutish
magistrates, madmen, and creatures in the pay of
government, endeavoured, by insult and otherwise,
to lead me into brawls : you will remember that
1 was twice actually attacked by armed ruffians
countenanced by magistrates; and while I had not
the least means of defending myself: you will
remember that I kept my temper in every case,
and that at all your meetings I enjoined order and
peace. And, a-propos of your convention; how
did I behave there ? The young man who forgot
himself an that occasion has repeatedly met me
since then ; and the instant that it was told to me
that he was sorry for what had happened, and
wished to be frieiuUy with me; — that moment I de-
clared myself willing to take him by the hand ;
and we did shake hands. The greatest enemy I
ever had on earth, I would shake hands with and
forgive in the same way ; even William Dickson,
whose conduct to me was diabohcal. I never yet
met with a perfect man : I am any thing but per-
fect myself; aud shall never be backward in
making allowances for human frailty. As to the

'I' ■ 1 1

CCXxiv ^KNERAL INTRODUCTION.

young man alluded to, I never was so much as
angry with him. I believed that he was blinded
and set on by the villains of Little York ; and I
was only vexed with the convention for suffering
the annoyance. The very first day of meeting, the
convention should have taken the young man to
task, and the second, should have proceeded to the
extremity .- When they neglected this and suffered
one annoyance to succeed another, where all should
have been submission and solemnity, I gave up hope
of my intended measures, and was glad to, wind up
matters in the best way I could. I saw that your
representatives in convention, though as good as
the country could afford and perfectly loyal, were
fit for nothing. I saw that I " could not make a
silk purse out of a sow's ear.*' But for being
bound to appear at your assizes, under a penalty of
.€l,«500, in case of absence, and hut for clearing
my honour from false and infamous charge;?, laid
against me by that poor creature your Attorney
General, I should have turned my back on your
convention the very second day of its sitting,
and left it to get out of the mud of Little York by
its own shifts. I, to the last, kept my humour
among you ; never was severe from any low per-
sonal feeling; and, even when driven to delirium
with disgust and cruel treatment, laughed at the
miserable scoundrels, who, alike ignorant of the
laws of their country and hard-hearted, threw me
into jail, /or not having the province ! ! !

The influence which 1 gained in Upper Canada,
by two months writing in your newspaper, is alto-

': A\

GENERAL fNfnODXrCTlON.

CCXXV

getlier unparallelled. The organization which I
formed was perfect. The meetings and conven-
tion were not only legal, hut prafse-worthy ; and
when all is; looked back upon some years hence,
the poor creatures who lent aid to your Governor
to scandalize and suppress such meetings, will be
glad to crawl into the earth, out of the view of
contempt. Meetings by Deputy get quit of mob-
bing. They characterize human from brute action.
They are the genuine means, by which knowledge
can be concentrated, union obtained, and lasting
peace established. They are the means which must
naturally occur to every well-ordered mind. In
the winter of 181 i- — lo, \ circulated a paper all ove^
Great Britain, to lead on the farmers to choose
Deputies, and hold conventions in London aqd
Edinburgh, with a view. of getting something sub-
stituted in the place of the Corn Bill, then pro-
posed, as a palliative against approaching distress.
The farmers were heedless of my call ; but it is no
small boast for me to iiave my paper still to pro-
duce, as evidence of mv sfood endeavours for their
salvation. Had they met in Convention, i should
have proposed to have petitioned Parliament for a
law to make rents payable according to the average
price of wheat, to remove from industry the load
of taxation, and fix it on rents and interest^ and,
also, that an ad valorem duty should be imposed on
imported corn, gradually to be withdrawn, to in-
troduce, at last, free trade. This would have kept
every tiling in its* proper place; and for ruin, we
should, at this moment, have had prosperity. This

.iw i i M > HM i n i» i . j « i i*i a,i »ii^''<»M>iiit'

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CCXXVl

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

i I

i t

( ■ '

would have saved to the farming interest of Britain
at least one hundred millions, of poun.is sterling.
The farLiers were regardless, and they are ruined, or
nearly so. With good conduct on the part of your
Convention, 1 could have carried my points also for
you ; and, at this moment, not only should your
losses, sustained in war, have been reimbursed*, but

* On the 26th of June, 1821, Mr. Ellice rose in the House of
Commons, when I was present, and made certain statements, with
regard to Canadian claims; but nothing decisive was done. Mr.
Ellice said, that 2884 claims had been put in, amounting, in the
^g&''*^g^to> *o ^400,000, of which 600 had been rejected, whose
amount was j£'171,(XX), and that there were allowed ^229,000.
In page 406 of vol. II. I have still set down Canadian claims
at nearly ^^400,000, and protest against the above deduction.
Mr. Ellice observed, that "supplies furnished to the troops, should
be considered as a valid debt." The Chancellor of the Exchequer
said, ** that such claims as were authenticated, should be satisfied."
Now, I wish to apprise Mr. Ellice, or any other Member of Par-
liament, who may take part in the consideration of Canadian af-
fairs, the ensuing Session, that, fundamentally, there was irre-
gularity in ascertaining the validity of claims for losses sustained
by the people of Upper Canada during the war. If Mr. Ellice had
a claim against Government, or any other party, he would not, I
presume, relinquish that claim upon the ipse dixit of a person or
persons appointed, without his consent, to examine into the vali-
dity of his claim. He wou\d have a right to appeal to an open
court of justice; and the validity of the Canadian claims should
have been ascertained by jury trials, immediately after the war.
I gay this on behalf of the poor people of Canada, who have been
gulled and trifled with now for six years. On the part of the peo-
ple of England I say, that not one penny should be paid out of
their taxes, to make good losses sustained by Canadians in war,
while it is a fad, that, with managcynent, these losses can be paid
out of the mIb of wild lands in Up'per Canada, Ltl Mr. Ellice,
*"d others, mark this. >•

GENERAL INTRODUCTIOW.

ccxxrii

Upper Canada might have been (as 1 said the 2d of
April, 1818, vol, II. page .587) ^^ the most flou-
rishing mid secure spot on the habitable glooe."

Below I shall copy in my scheme for organizing
British farmers j and you will find that it proceeds
on the same principle as that which I resorted to in
Upper Canada, for jour organization, which was
at once legal and effectual, had it been duly fol-
lowed up*.

— < — — — . , . < — . •■ ■ .

* INSTITUTION ■:-c .-u. =:r,
For the Benefit and Proteclion of the Farming Interest,

Tho progress of society, and the peculiar emergency of the times,
conspire to render proper and necessary, union and effort among
the cultivators of Britain, for their important common interests.

With this view it is proposed, that they arrange therasejves
throughout, with such order and regularity as may create respect,
and se(Mire permanent co-operation.

It is proposed, that every market town, where ten individuals
shall embody themselves and remain steadily to conform to the
general arrangement, shall be considered a district, within which
certain transactions may be matured, and others have commence-
ment. •■ • , ' ■ ■■ -. ,.,... v .:; ( . •

It is proposed, that the follow ; towns shall be 'die heads of
respective provincial divisions, where representatives from districts,
viz, one for every ten members, shall meet quarterly for dispatch
of business: ' ,. , r ,- , ,

Exete}\ /t;.' ; Gloucester, Newark on Trent, Kelso,
Sidisfjuri), Carnarvon, York, ... ^.^ Dumfries,

Guildford, Shrewsburt/, Manchester, Perth, ^^ , ,

Buiij St. Edmunds, Northampton, Appleby^ ,., , Ri frew,

. ^ Inverness.

It is proposed, that these provincial meetings shall choose re-
presentatives, one for every ten of their numbers, to meet onca a,^
year at London and Edinburgh. Those from the first •l«T«n» at

J. ' '

; i

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1
.' f

', i

! i

!i I

i f

c^tirni OfiNARAL t^thoduction.

Canadians! the Christian religion enjoins ** clia-
rity above aU things;" and says, that " with faith

the former, and those from tho six oUiera, at lh« latter plaoo, — lo
coTrrmutticato with each olhor when necessary ; and upon extra-
ordinary occasions to coabsco, by niouna of comaussioners for-
mally appointed and qualified. , ,.,. , , .. ., ,, , , . - ,

It is deemed needless to dilate on the vaat cortsequence of su'cli
an association ; benevolence, patriotism, property, right, indepen-
dence—all are in view.

No class of men has been, or ever can be, more loyal or useful
than tho cultivators of thi^J inland. No class employs such a
weight of capital, or such a multitude of produciivo labourers.
No class of men can boast a higher character for integrity, or
clflim a stronger right to independence; yet no class enjoya so
little political privilege, or has so weak a voice aihdng thei public
interests of the empire. ' P*^' '' '^'' ^^ .a /r.-rii! '1 1 '::r ;i.vitv-s ;•«?

The causes ard obvions; — their scattered tesidence, tmd a re-
Hance on great landlords. Systematic arrangement may overco!tt&
the first: experience should dissipate the sdconcl. '*'' i s :;:"•• tm:.

The ititerest of the great landlord has ever been too remote for
delicate fbeling; hence he suffi^red the Work Horse Tax, the Sugar
Distillation, and the Farmers' Income Tax, of all impositions the
most unfair and degrading. The great landlord, having his family
portioned from the spoils of war and taxation, could sport v^ith
the immediate interests of his terr?tnts, the fee of his estate, fahd
the real welfdrd of the nation. Fllessed, indeed, shall be oiir pre-
sent flebessiti«?B, if they rout from its fitrong hold the last cohort of
feudal power.

Till cultivators have combined their genuine strength, it is iv-
commterided not to commit themselves by signing petition!^. Trt
the present dilemma, which involves and threatens their dearest
intere8t«!, and with these, thr p;osperity of Britain, tlje utmost
caution i9 requisite. Partial efforts will produce nothing but
discrepancy, weakness, and detbat. Wisdom must first gather
from the multitude of fcounsellors, and then go forth in the
»trength'"of' unity. ffiO't i»^cri"i f4^^^K:>■■b'i ,1.!:- .vt, ..;.< oJ tir^w,'

GENERAL INTRODVCTION.

CCXXIX

wc may remove mountains/' I could have done all
I promised among you, had your taith and chanty
been sufficient ; but iliere was lack of both : there
was neither faith nor charity to be .depended upoQ
in Upper Canada. ,, , .^ ,^ ,,, ^,.,, . .,,,j,,jf.

"u . nv .ri M! , f I ; Deceniber IMh, 1821,,^
^,, Bince the above was written aud set in type, I
have had the curiosity to purchase and peruse
CoBBETx's Cottage QIconomy, Nos. 4 and
5 ; and the subjects there spoken of are so intip
mately connected with what is my chief tim, that
I cannot forbear enlarging on the character, con-
duct, and sentiments of the writer. Although,

'. ' It is proposed, that a moetinn; be held as soon us poseible, at the
CjiowN ANP Anchor, Sdranu, London, to give the tirat iorm and
i^\petu^ to this 3c:hemai to conaujt of those wJiose principal busi-
ness 18 farming ; who do not occupy less ,thHn to the value of
^100 per annum; and who do not let off more than one-third
in proportion to what they occupy.

This limitation iVill ensure rospeot?^bility and freedom. It will
distinguish the Farminfr from the Landtd IntereM. The forraeir
^illujm at immediate advantage ; the lattar can have no just ground
of jealousy ; for every gain will be its inheritance, and the nation's
aggrandizement.

Individuals desirous to promote this Association, mny enter
their names in a book, now lying at the bar of the above tavern,
personally, or by meana of tlu.i friends in town. And it is
hoped, tliat a respectable number, tjuHlciimtly zeaious to take the
lead in trouble, will got together immedmtely, so as to fix and
advertise the first day of General Meeting. '

V. ' ■ ' RGFDWFOPF. "^

Whiokf Iteifig interpreted, means Robert Gourlay, Farmer, Dept^
ford, PViUs, fornwrlif of PraliSf Fifeshire, _ ^^ ^

■ KW w Hw i JMW i WM M majiMiii -

- ■ ii {.i. ' V# j^iya' «>»jrv 'i»!#«*<^iv-»»j*^' r i t}>m 'i >** !' i^

ccxxx

GENERAL INTIIODCCTION.

j'f

" I admire Mr. Cobbett in many things,'^ I, as
assuredly, in many things condemn him. Many
people dislilce Mr. Cobbett, because of his coarse
and cutting language, and because of his person-
alities ; but in these respects, as long as he con-
fines himself to public men and public affairs, he
has acquittal from me. No language can be too
severe, coarse, or even vulgar, which presents to
us a true picture of vice: no language can excite
too much disgust in our minds of wicked minis-
ters: no language- can be too cutting, when used
against tyranny. Tyranny makes use of bayonets;
why then should its enemies be restricted in the
use of words? What words could sufficiently
characterize the late transactions against the Queen ?
The dictionary does not afford any commen-
surate with the deserts of the mean, filthy,
persecuting, and remorseless conduct of ministers
on that occasion. In the former part of this Gene-
ral Introduction, printed more than a year ago, I
have given way to feelings excited by this horrible
conduct, and you will find me throughout my work
repeatedly giving vent to such feelings. What
were they on the last occasion, when the poor per-
secuted Queen, who arrived in London to claim a
fair trial, the same day that I did, bent on a similar
errand ! — what were my feelings, when this poor
persecuted woman became heart-broken, and ex-
pired, worn out with never-ending insult ! Good
Heavens! and when wrath was not satisfied even
then; but would go on to insult her earthly re-
mains^ — when the supplications of the people of

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CCXXX-I

this proud metropolis, to have the funeral proceed
by the best and nearest road, were disregarded, that
the body might be dragged through narrow, dirty,
and round-about ways!!

It is peculiarly essential for you, Canadians, to
reflect upon these things, and to mark the iniqui-
ties of arbitrary power. It was the fell spirit of
arbitrary power which for seven years of war denied
to America the most palpable of rights — the right
of the people to tax themselves: — it was this fell
spirit which split off a noble limb from the British
empire, while some of you, silly Caradians, lent
aid to despotism ; and it is the same obstinate, un-
blushing, and demoniac spirit which, till this day,
holds Canada in a state of corruption, weakness,
and woe. The conduct of the English ministry,
towards the Queen, has placed in the strongest light
the ruthless madness of men in power; and I trust
it will in times to come steel us, in the formation
of governments, against putting the slightest trust
in any one. For long I was anxious to believe
that one at least among our ministers would, in the
end, give in to a charitable course. While it was
possible, I hoped that Lord Liverpool would
escape from among the band of assassins; but I
was sadly mistaken. It fell to the lot of this very
man to consummate iniquity — to evince the most
hardened, most wanton, and most unchristian con-
duct of all.

No, my good Canadians, words cannot be too
keen, or coarse, or vulgar, or vile, to mark the ac-
tionsofmen holding" arbitrary sway. And pity it

■ '

.■f.wwfc«.J«^..AM*a>*a-'^" »■<■'*' *^'«

CCXXXIl

G£NE1UL INTRODUCTION.

r ,

J. i.!;

is that impressions made by them are but too vola-
tile.

Cobbett's deience of the Queen was excellent.

'III. ^*'

His expressions of disgust with her treatment; his
strictures on the conduct of her advisers, aiid the
speeches of her lawyers; his contempt for the co-
ronation scenes which succeeded ; his singular
mode of public mourning; and his minute descrip-
tion of the last scene of all, the funeral procession
to Hanover, are valuable rot^ords; and mark the
man of keen feeling, just observation, lively de-
scription, and strong reasoning powers. It is im-
possible to deny all this to Cobbett: and our chief
look-out should be to guard against him as a man
of power; for power he has over a multitude in
this country — a multitude too apt to be led astray ;
and which it is possible may yet have the guidance
of our destinies. * ' , -

In this book I have used harsh words, and some-
times contemptuous ones; but I have uniformly
been rulec^ by principle in tlie choice of these.
You would observ^i above, that I spoke of the men
who could fabricate your sedition law, and en-
slave you as a nation, by depriving you of the
power of meeting by deputy, as brute'''. You
would observe that I guarded the second applica-
tion of that word (page xvii), by saying that I re-
peated it, "with all due sense of delicucy and de-
corum;'* I did so : I looked not to the men with
unchristian rancour ; Ilooked to their deeds which
it was duty strongly to pourtray, tor the sake of
good; and I had iScripture authority for my Ian-

CJBNEKAL INTRODUCTION.

CCXXXUl

guago. IS^cbuchadnezzar, wbo speut his time in
feasting, wliile the children of Israel, under his cruel
bondage, dropt their unavailing tears in Uabers
stream, was not only mentally a brute, but by the
figurative langaage of the sacred historian, he is
actually represented to us as one bodily, that a due
sense ot his wicked deeds may be more strongly
impressed on our imagination and memory : and in
the same way, Jesus Christ called llerod, the pro-
vincial Governor, a Fox. You will remember
when that poor weak man, Captain Stuart of
Amherstburgh, attacked me in jail, for speaking of
your Lieutenant-Governor as a " hahe" (meaning
thereby an innocent weakling), how I referred
to this Scripture authority; and my reasoning upon
that occasion, may here be fitly extracted from the
Niagara Spectator of July S, 1319.

.. *' When Mr. Stuart would blind us with making it ap-
pear, that a provincial Governor has the special counte-
nance of God, and would abash tlie freedom of speech to-
wakA& him, he forgets what language was used by Jesus
Christ towards Herod, a more poweiful Governor than
Sir Peregrine Maitland. When told to depart out of the
couTitry, lest Herod should kill him, " Go ye," said he,
*' and tell that fax, behold, I cast out devils, and I do
outfes to*day, and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be
perfected," (Luke, Chap. 13,) In this speech llorod is
Ukened to u brute, noted for being cruel, ciiuning, and
thievish: — a brute, whicli prowls about, under the cjond of
niglit, to break into sheep-folds, and commit depredations
on the property of man, even to his very threshold. How
admirably does the similitude apply to the general disposi-
tions and habits of provincial Governors, who, in all ages,
have proved the most deceitful, crueh and rapacious ty-

I 4

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:.l|j

CCXXXIV OENERAL INTUODUCTTON.

■J 5

:{ >

it-

rants ! This speech could not be the ebullition of passion ;
neither will Mr. Stuart dare to pronounce it as proceeding
from " the tongue of insolence." It is a s|)eech made and
handed down to us for edilication and example ; and when
provincial Governors give way to wicked iuiaginalioufi ;
when they cunnin<;ly darken counsel, and hind on more
firm the nuisk of initpiity ; — when they threaten the inno-
cent, and abuse discretion; such example sliould be fol-
lowed as a Christian duty, and nothing should daunt us in
the performance : neither imprisonment, nor death.'*

Not only the bitterest words, but the most di-
rect and pointed personalities, are justifiable in the
exposure of public crime. I once said, that "re-
form should be the people's watch-word, and per-
sonality, their creed :*' and I was perfectly correct.
Meddling with the private aflairs of our fellow-
men, and wantonly injuring feeling, is detestable:
pointing to public delinquency, and exposing its
aiders and abettors, is quite the reverse, — is the
most sacred duty; and while we only do this, and
adhere to good principle, we shall never be weighed
and found wanting. Mr. Cobbett, I conceive, has
sinned in both these respects. In his attack upon
my friend, Mr. Birkbeck, he departs from matters
of public interest, and throws out insinuations
on a subject, with which the public had no con-
cern ; nay, while he could not give proof that his
insinuations rested on truth, he resorted to italics
to inflame scandal. Can Mr. Cobbett answer this?
— I call him to answer it in behalf of my friend,
5000 miles removed. Some one, last summer, sent
to the Morning Chronicle, an extract from a letter
of Mr. Birkbeck, saying *' that Mr. Cobbett is

•n

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

<;cx\xv

known to he wholly indifferent to truth.'' Mr. Cob-
bett was offended with this, and in his Register of
July 7, 1821, addressed a letter to Mr. Birkbeck,
and asked, " by what rule known among men, are
you justified in imputing to me an attack upon
you ? What do you call an attack ?" 1 answer for
my friend, if ever there was an ""attack" Mr. Cob-
bett's letters to Mr. Birkbeck, dated the 10th and
l^th of December, 1818, are of that character;
and Mr, Cobbett himself will not say, that if f^uch
letters had been addressed to him in Mr. Birk-
beck*s situation, he would not have felt sore. No
man could be addressed " Dear Sir," and " My
Dear Sir," as Mr. Birkbeck is addressed in these
letters, and not feel that insult was added to in-
jury. It is of no use to dwell upon contradictory as-
sertions, as to the produce and profit of land, build-
ing expences, and the like, while d distance of
.6000 miles lies between the disputants, and years
must be wasted to come at precise facts ; but I
would throw down Mr. Cobbett's letters to Mr.
Birkbeck, before any dozen honest men, and call
upon them to say, if, upon the face of these, there
is not proof of their being unfriendly and unfair,
while, for myself, I would maintain that they were
scandalous. I say this, writing within six miles of
Mr. Cobbett, from calm conviction ; and I say it
in behalf of my much injured friend. Mr. Cobbett
lias been often accused of inconsistency, and never
did he afford better proof of it, than in his letters
to Mr. Birkbeck. These letters not only con-
tain contradictions, but clearly show that the

I' ■

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,,Bt. »' .i.i " I f i »m u.

CCJCXXVI

GRVKRAL INTJiODIJCTlON.

; k

I ';

i ■
■ I *

H :

i»

III

writer in unfriendly aud untair to him to whom
they are addressed. Jm the letter, dated the 4th of
July, 1821, it is said, *' Uui alUick was not written
to be circulated in Europe, uo that you might have
no chance of answering, till it had produced its
eifects. It was written in America." It was ahuost
instantly piihlished at New York, aud 1 remained in
Long Island for nearly a twelvemonth afterwards."
Now, what is this to the ptir|X)se in the way of
apology ; or, rather, how completely does it militate
against Mr. Cohbett r The " atluck," at leas,t the
first letter to Mr. J3irkbeck, was dispatched as soon
as written to England, as we find from the second
letter, which commences with these words," being,
when 1 wrote my first letter to you, in great haste to
conclude, in order that my son William might take
it to England." Now that letter, which in a preface
Mr. Cobbett says, was *' intended principally for
the perusal of Englisluuen," could not be replied to
in England, by Mr. Birkbeck, for many mouths
after itss publication here. His reply was not, in-
deed, published in London, till the latter eiid of
18J19, aud about a year after the date of Mr. Cob-
belt's attack, by which time much injury was
done to the reputation of Mr. Birkbeck in England,
where, chiefly, it was important for him, that his
reputation should be sustained. How, then, after
getting forth, that the letter wius intended princi-
pally tor the perusal of Englishmen ; and that he
was '* in great haste to conclude,, in order tijat|his
son William might take it to Enghmd," could Mr.
Cobbett tell us, that " it was not written tor circu-

nr^NEnAf/ tNTRoniTrTiON. roxxxvii

lalioii in Kurope," or pretend, that Mr. Birkbetk
had a fair ohanct* of answering- it. O, ficf Mr.
Cohbrtt; you never, in »o littlo a space, and for
HO iiltlenn ol)jt!Ct, betrayed yourf^eUso palpably. But
of all thingH, how very ridiculous is your saying to
Mr. Hirklteck, in your Intter to liiin of tho Vth of
July, 1891, "I never would have given such an
niYront U) iicuerahtpinion.'* '* Merey on us! who
ever aff'ronU'd ffrmral opinion so much as Mr.
(■(►bbctt! Go, Cobbett, and .vm no more; go, and
bo true to the great cause of reform, by rigidly ad-
hering to truth: go, and be charitable ; and I shall
still " admire you in mavy things.*' Having said
this, I shall leave my excellent friend Mr. liirk-
bck^k to be honourably acquitted, at h'ast, by every
reader of this book. - m • . .. j ,'■.* i. .: • * .;j; ?;.>
' Mr. Cobbett's letters to Mr. Birkbeck were not
only injurious to him, but to thousands. The^e
letters, and '* Fearon's falsehoods," to use the
words of Mr. Cobbett^ were instrumental in stem-
ming the tide of emigration, which was begiruiing
to flow from Britain to America, and which would
have been highly beneficial, at once to the emi-
grants and the world at large. There is a prevail-
ing vulgar and nan\>w-minded notion, that emigra-
tion from this country is hurtful to it: but there
cannot be a greater mistake. Emigration never
can take place but from pressure, and the sooner
that such pressure operates in throwing off redun-
dant population, or in relieving distress, so much

• See Cobbett's Rejistor, July 7th, 1851, Vi>l. SB, Page s'S',':

i *i

n e w fw w ii

|i i > w i Wy, w «WPiWJ%iWf « *>i*K»<< l |ifr^

p ^? ■•

CfXXXVllI

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

the better. Three j'ears ago, tlicre- were many
thousands of farmers who had capital remaining
which might have settled them comfortably in
America, but who have not now a sufficiency to
carry them across the Atlantic. What has be-
come of that capital ? Can we find its solid worth
in the funds, or in the coffers of landlords? — Does
it exist in any substantial form? — No, it has dis-
solved in thin air: it is gone for ever, while its
late owners remain only as useless dross in the
crucible; a mere burden on the land, which they
once cultivated to profit. Had a sufficiency of
farmers emigrated three years ago, they would have
saved themselves and families from ruin, and
brought their leaden-hearted landlords sooner into
life and action. Mr. Cobbett's publicaitions, aiding
Fearon's falsehoods, checked the natural flow of
emigration, and did infinite harm.

Why should Mr. Cobbett be surprised with Mr.
Birkbeck's declaration as to his being " wholly in-
diflerent to truth,'^ when he writes such contra-
dictions as I have pointed out; or, still more, af-
ter standing out against the plea of Wright ? His
assertions written in America, and pubhshed in
England, respecting Wright, I could have passed
over as words of heat. Mr. Cobbett appears to
me to write sometimes under the influence of pa-
roxysms of feeling; and feelings stung with the
exposure of a private letter, touching those of a
female, should have had my utmost indulgence ;
but persisting to hold out after mature considera-
tion, and to the still greater exposure of what

'^*f» r'*»''<' it >'*«#1Hi > 1t* i ) iiii,>>i, ,j

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CCXXXIX

should have been hid, merits no excuse, and
makes it widely heUeued^ ii not ** known, that
Mr. Cobbett is indifferent to truth."

A professor of the most northern college told me
that he never could endure Cobbett after his attack
upon potatoes. I relished that attack exceed-
ingly. It was an innocent display of fervour in
the cause of the poor. The writer could bear no
malice to a vegetable root ; but he saw that the
borough-mongers were reducing the poor to the
*' minimum of misery," — were beating them down
to subsist on potatoes alone; and not a few have
indulged the thought that the poor should be en-
slaved for ever by such Machiaveiism.

Cobbett's attack on Shakspeare and Milton I
accounted for, somewhat in the same wav. I
looked upon these as ebullitions- of feeling, because
of sense being sacrificed to sound, and nonsens
being substituted for reason. 1 hope Mr. Cobbett
(who has been said to have an antipathy to music)
had no grudge against the departed spirit of
our great dramatist, because of these oft quoted
lines: • .

" The man who hath no music in his soul
** Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and crimes :
„" Let no such man be trusted."

Mr. Cobbett's famous proposal for " hlowing up"
the paper-money system, by sowing forged notes,
was published in the Niagara Spectator, while I
was in durance vile; and, but for an accident, I
should have written a burlesque, to shew how,

i*!

I . Mi i«*i i «ii M lii l> iM T>H »

1 , 1

2 I

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ccxl

GENERAL TNT KODrCTTON.

without any " long arm," I could blow up the
system merely with the aid of nineteen trusty
tailors. 1 meant to shew that I could do this by
dispatching my trusty tailors, provided with a
dozen phosphoric matches each, to J^ineteen of the
largest towns in the United Kingdom, while I re-
mained in London, with a sufficiency of ammuni-
tion ; and, that, by all hands using due diligence
in and out of the metropolis, half the real property
of the nation could be consumed in a single night,
while paper-money would fall to no price: nor do T
see, barring principle^ and coiild nineteen trust?/
tailors he got, what difficulty thefe would be in
executing such a scheme — a scheme sufficiently
modest to be set beside that of Mr, Cobbett ; sim-
pler in execution, and much more certain of prov-
ing effectual. Such schemes, so long as they can
be laughed at, or are fabricated only to outmatch
extravagance, do very well; but when we find
that the world contains Wretches sufficiently weak
to be urged on to such plots as that of Cato
Street, others so wicked as to lead such wretches
on, with the knowledge of ministers of state, and
Mr. Cobbett, asking his son, if Ings, the assassin,
was " an immoral and impious man,'' (Cobbett's Re-
gister, May 6, 1820), there is enough to make us
be cautious with sporting even unprincipled pro-
posals.

Mr. Cobbett, in his second tetter' to Mr. Birk-
beck, says, " I am happy to tell you that JSllai-
horongh and Gihhs have retired! Ill health is the
pretence. I never yet knew ill health induce

K.W-ri.«J*>;^» i .< > ,' j l<>'<ll*l* -

)ro-
rk-

ice

QENKHAL INTRODUCTION.

ccx ii

such fellows to loosen their grasp of the public
purse. But be it so: then I felt pleasure on that
account. To all the other pangs of body and
mind, let them add that of knowing that William
Cobbett, whom they thought they had put down
for ever, if not killed, lives to rejoice at their
pains and their death, to trample on their graves,
and hand down their names for the just judgment
of posterity. What! Are these feelings wrong?
Are they sinful? What defence have we, then,
against tyranny? ^ . ^ , ■,.. ., ^ .. .

*' If the oppressor be not to experience the re-
sentment of the oppressed, let us, at once, ac-
knowledge the divine right of tyranny; for what
has tyranny else to fear? Who has it to fear but
those whom it has injured? It is the aggregate
of individual injury that makes up national injury:
it is the aggregate of individual resentment that
makes up national resentment. National resent-
ment is absolutely necessary to the producing of
redress for oppression ; and therefore, to say that
individual resentment is wrong, is to say, that
there ought to be no redress for oppression : it is,
in short, to pass a sentence of never-ending slavery
on all mankind*."

Mr. Cobbett is here serious, lie thinks that
" these feelings'* are neither wrong nor sinful, 6e-
cause they defend us from tyranny. 1 think them
wrong and sinful, independent of every considera-

."■•i

* SceCobbett's Year's Residence in America., ^^^l

J.'

Ill

•m-mm '^^ ' »M «iii » i"ii »i »^'^'''*'>« J '' « t *« > * l«!^''^*'''*'*''***'

*'! I

^) -' I

' I.

ccxlii

ttENERAL INTRODUCTION.

against

tion ; and 1 think we have cjet'ence
tyranny, indep*?ndent of " these feelings." The
best defence against tyranny is a strict adherence
to Christian morality; and when that becomes
general, tyranny must fall without a stroke or a
struggle.

Mr. Cobbett looks back to what has been and
what is. I would look forward, and put trust in
peaceful change, to be expected from increasing
knowledge. ^ ' • - *

I would not only appeal to acknowledged prin-
ciples of morality, but would point to practice, as
it has been successful, on several occasions, with
various religious sects. The Quakers, it is well
known, made good points of high importance by
nou-resistance. They endured^ till government it-
self had to give up persecution — had to set aside
some of its sternest laws for their accommodation ;
and it is a fact, that this same sect never had their
early settlements in Pennsylvania disturbed by the
Indians, merely from their adherence to peaceful
maxims. Here, then, we discover that Mr. Cob-
bett*s premises are groundless : we discover that
we Iwve defence against tyranny, without giving
way to feelijjgs which make us shudder, even be-
fore they are tested by argument. Yes, to rejoice
in the pains and the death of fellow creatures, and
to trample with pleasure on their graves, is abhor-
rent to all that is good — is, most assuredly, sinful.
Although ** it is the aggregate of individual injury
that makes up national injury,^' and although " it
is the aggregate of individual resentment thai

. *

GENERAL INTRODlJfJTfON.

rcxiiit

makes up natioh<i' resentment/* it does not foHow,
that fin iiidrvidnal may influl*e in resentniprrt with-
out sin, llesentment is .sinful of itseJf, wfiether
nurtured in the henrt of one or of a thousand ; —
whether indulged by an individual or a nation.
If individuals would cease to foster resentment,
national resentnnent would of course cease ; but
when we think of the variety of tempers,
and the innumerable causes which at!ect these
tempers, we cannot expect that this will be the
order of improvement. National resentments
must first be subdued, and many generations
will not pass away before this is accomplished.
Scotchmen and Englishmen were nationally inve-
terate foes within these last two hundred years.
They, are now friends. Within the last hundred
years, every Highland clan kept alive resentments
against other clans, and lost no opportunity of
gratifying; malice and revenge. Now, family re-
sentments have ceased, and, so far, there is dimi-
nution of vice and misery. Reasoning from ana-
logy, it is fair to suppose that national resentments
may, by and by, cease within a wider and wider
circuit. The spread of knowledge must etlect
this. Knowledge has rapidly increased and spread
since the invention of printing; and there is not
the slightest doubt that it will go on to increase
and spread, so that we may safely infer that, at no
distant day, national resentments will be extinct,
and that universal benevolence will be substituted
for the narrower principle of patriotism. Were
national resentments extinct, innumerable causes

I
»

}: !

!;■!

>^|^(|i'|l«Wf^^ffW i1*'^"T

'■^■'#*ifcf.vt*'-^*^'"»'' '-"■** ^^^^'•^?■*■^V■'^■tl^^>» ■■•*,• ,tm.»i" h'--,^ • i..>- y.'-j

ccxliv

QEN£RAL INTRODUCTION. <

of individual resentment would die away ; while
peace and happiness would proceed with less and
less interruption and alloy, I should be glad if
Mr. Cobbett would peruse this simple train of
reasoning with a serious mind : acknowledge his
error, and publicly make atonement for an outrage
on truth and decency : — that he would cease to
disgust those who might otherwise be inclined to
*' admire him in many things/' . ,. , , ^. ' .; .

Sir James Mackintosh has said, in his Vin-
dicio! GalliccB, " No important political im-
provement was ever obtained in a period of
tranquillity. The corrupt interest of the Gover-
nors is so strong, and the cry of the people so
feeble, that it were vain to expect it. If the efl'er-
vescence of the popular mind is suffered to pass
away without effect, it would be absurd to expect
from languor what enthusiasm has not obtained.
If radical reform is not at such a moment procured,
all partial changes are evaded and defeated in the
tranquillity which succeeds ;" and again, " What-
ever excellence, whatever freedom is discoverable
in governments, has been infused into them by
the shock of a revolution, and their subsequent
progress has only been the progress of abuse. It
is hence that the most ei, lightened politicians
b-^ve recognised the necessity of frequently recall"
ing governments to their first principles. '* »-

He afterwards sayvS, that " all the governments
that now exist in the world, except the United
States of Anienca, have been fortuitously formed.''
H«re are undeniable truths and sentinjents very

GENt.RAL INTRODUCTION.

xiv

clearly expressed ; but, nevertheless, let us pause
and reflect. The moment that any one admits
that nothingbut force can bring about revolution, and
that nothing but the shock of a revolution can pro-
cure excellence or freedom in government, that
moment he resigns the hope which our religion in-
spires-; and that moment, the man who can sto-
mach the principles of a professional soldier, has
free range. Did I give up that hope, and could 1
sell my free will, and my chiefest honour — could
I submit to ffo forth and kill, 1 shall forbear to sav
murder, at the nod of a superior, I would at once
subscribe to Mr. Cobbett's record of his wrath
against EUenborough and Gibbs. I would scruple
not to sow forged notes, nay, my highest ambition
should be to give command, and set example, to
my troop of trusty tailors. Rather would I be an
active devil than a passive agent of death. I
shall not, with Sir James Mackintosh, yet think
it *' vaiii" to expect " important political im-
provement in a period of tranquillity." If there
is " languor'^ on the part of Sir James, there
shall yet be " enthusiasm" on mine ; and even
next session, I shall hope for the " i^adical re-
form" of Upper Canada. Sir James did not
"pledge himself" to move for it last session ; but
the third session is at hand, since I left myself
pledged to do my utmost in the cause ; and J shall
not yet despair, even with my " feeble cry," that
** the most enlightened of politicians will recognise
the necessity of recalling our colonial governments
to their first principles.*' By and by I shall have

\ 1

; \

ll'l

?ii

I .1

^i \^

cc<1vi

QKfiKiiAL INTRODUCTION.

occasioii to remark on the practice as well as
theory of Sir James: but let uic now proceed with
Mr. Cobhott.

\i\ the spring of 181J, Mr. Cobbett published
in his Register that, though he and oSl indivi-
duals, had required of the Sheriff of Hampshire,
to call a county meeting, the requisition was not
complied with ; for which reason Mr. Cobbett an-
nounced, that a meeting should be held for public
business, at Botley, where he resided, on the 95 di
March, 181J. Curious to know what would be
done at Mr. Cobbett^s meeting, and willing to ad-
vise as to tl)e effectual course for the people to
pursue, 1 wrote to Mr. Cobbett, and dispatched a
Bervant with my letter to Botley, forty miles dis-
tant. I wrote to Mr. Cobbett that, *' I believed,
without systematic petilioning^ all expectation of
good would be nugatory j but, with which^ 1 sin-
cerely believed, all good might be obtained. I
3aid that 1 should have every parish registered, with
the number of its inhabitants — each parish ranged
in itp proper hundred, and each hundred in its pro-
per county ; and when petitioning was on foot,
every name should appear in its proper place,
alphabetically arranged ; and that in this form very
little expeuv e would exhibit the whole in print,"
&c. — My servant, on his return, told me that he
saw nothing like a pubhc meeting at Botley; but
he brought me a very polite and even flattering
letter from Mr. Cobbett ; tVom which, as it con-
cerns public business, I m&y here give an extract :
"After tormenting myself for many years, in vain,

' 1|.i ^

UBNBKAL INTRODUCTION. CCXlvii

I find it the wisest course to l«»ave reformation to
the force of events. We are unable to urge along
the public mind. Il must imve its time; and if
the people do, in the end, and for ever, really
choose the present system, as the French people
chose that of Napoleon, why, we must acquiesce,
and let them have what they choose. — It is with
this sort of feeling that I look on yo\ir proposition
for petitioning ; very good ; very simple ; very
fair ; but demanding, toset it on foot, more time and
trouble than an individual like me can bestow. I
really think, while I honour your zeal, your ta-
lents, and your motives, that you are taking more
trouble than you are, by any means, bound to
take under circumstances.-—! wish most sincerely
for the good of the country, and tl^ie stability of
the King's throne ; but I have grown less warm,
and less disposed to make sacrifices than I formerly
was," Now, let me call to mind what Mr. Cob-
bett has done since writing the above. In these
last six years he has, certainly, not grown less
warm, and less disposed to make sacrifices than for-
merly :\ he has not left reformation to the foroe
of events. In these last six years Mr. Cobbett has
boasted of doing more for reform than any other
man, and he has certainly been truly active. Un-
fortunately he has not acted wisely. He and Lord
Cochrane got 'up a great mob meeting, on Ports-
down hill, and got some thousands of the people
to sign their names to a petition in the course of
an hour or two, by means of tables set out in order,
with paper, pen, and ink, all regularly disposed.

ill

];■

ill

''.II

ccxlviii

OKKEUAL INTHODICTIOX.

I was in the House of Commons wher the peti-
tion was presented hy Lord Cochrane, and wit-
nessed the contempt with whicli it was received ;
nor did it deserve any thing but contempt — a peti-
tion signed by thousands, without any reference to
their places of abode, by which their idem it}' could
be proved. — How pitiful!!! The meeting at
Fortsdown was to send up cheers to answer cheers
from the meetmg at Spa-fields ! ! Could Mr. Cob-
bett countenance such proceedings withouta blush !l
— Mr. Cobbett also attended a convention of de-
puties, in London, for purposes of reform. These
deputies were chosen by irregular rabbles, in dif-
ferent parts of the country, without order, or even
the appearance of itj and only Mr. Cobbett, Mr.
Hunt, and a few more, were privy to the organ-
ization of this general convention!! I never heard
of it till it was over; and, surely, Mr. Cobbett
will not deny, that it was an absolute " affront to
(jeneral opinion .**' Mr. Cobbett has now announced
that he will meet two persons from each county,
next January, in London, and expects that this
will be called " Corbett's Parltamisnt" ! ! ! —
Let Mr. Cobbett only read the above extract from
his letter to me ; think upon his doings since, his
boastings, and his present project, and blush.
For my part, the thought of all of it makes me
melancholy ; and now, despairing of any good
from Mr. Cobbett, I shall give up my intention
of calling upon him at Kensington. If I had
hope, I would call upon him with pleasure ; but
Cobbett's Parliament extinguishes every

, I

GENERAL INTKODIJCTION.

ccxlix

spark. In the 4lh and 5th Numbers of Cobbett's
Cottage (Economy, I have read some sensible re-
marks. I seldom peruse any thing of Mr. Cob-
bett's without reaping some pleasure, if not profit.
In one of these numbers I have reaped pain. Mr.
Cobbett, like Franklin, grudges that Sunday
should be set apart from labour. Me would, at
least, have cottagers employ that day in dressing
their gardens. 1 am no bigot. Though I was, for
many years of my youth, brought up under the
eye of a Presbyterian clergyman, and taught
strictly to keep the Sabbath-day holy, I am not
rigid in this respect. I can see it employed as a
day of recreation under the Church of England,
or as a day of solemn devotion under the Kirk,
with equal regard. 1 am equally averse to connect
religion with levity and austerity: I would wish
to see men cheerfully religious every day of the
week : I would wish to see every day employed
for the glory of God; but Sunday, I would hold
especially sacred to the poor labourer. I would,
on no account, allow him to dig his garden on that
day. An enemy to too much legislation, 1 would,
in this, be a pertinacious law-giver. If the poor
once habituate themselves to cultivate their gar-
dens on Sunday, most assuredly the rich will, in
course of time, have them, labouring in the fi'elds
on that day also ; and Sabbath and Saturday may
become alike devoted to toil

' It has been noted, page cxcvii, that the General
Introduction was so tar prepared for the press,
December 1820. Two amendments, however,

I I •-!

< (:'{

I ■ I

III

ccl

OENKRAL IWTRODIXTION.

WLTC made aftcT the printing wus resumed itj Sep-
tember last. The reference nuule to my little tnict,
of the Tyranny of Poor Laws, in tho Morn-
ing* Chronicle, induced mc to proitiice it, and from
rtiading Coiiuett's Cottage (Kconomy, No. 3,
1 came to be more decided as to limitincf the ex-
tent of a cottage hold, to a quailer instead of
half an aere^ ahont which 1 was in suspense. I
make liiis acknowledgment, to induce Mr. Cobbett
to come out with all he thinks on the subject.
He evidently thinks that ever) man would be the
better of a garden; but he says nothing of the
means by which this good is to be obtained. I
would ask him if there is any chance of its being
obtained by any other peaceable means but that of
syslenuUiv petitioning }* In locating ground for
cottage hol(J[s, 1 would not be pertinacious as to
having them all in a cluster to make a village;
though that, with a common adjoining, would be
most desirable. I would insist only on the neces-
sity of having a liberty grarited, that claims for
cottage allotments should be g(X)d to a certaiq ex-
tent and proportion in every parish throughout the
kiiigdom; and 1 am certain poor-laws cannot be
abolished withoui this. Dividing the kingdom into
10,0()0 parishes, the average e3i;tent of each would
be 64:04< acres. Parishes of this extent would then
have to furnish neat iJ5 acres, or 60, if a common
was allowed, and so, less or more, as the parish was
of greater or less extent. In Scotland, where
there are abundance of cottages and gardens, I
should not expect that many allotments would

Ui^NllKAL INTRODVCTION.

c'cli

be demanded out oC the i)ublic provision at i\w
high rate 1. have set upon the huid: viz. £\. per
acre rent, and £['20 purchase-money. Tne grand
point is to secure a sufficiency of free possessions,
that labourer.^ may h.»ve the power of locomotion —
and the chance of independence froai their in-
dustry.

Mr. Cobbett gave out that if lie was elected
member for Coventry, he would do (;ven/ thing
for the country that was required; but why not
publish his .scheme? let him be frank, and make
specific proposals, and I shall,' if 1 like them,
endeavour to get a seat even in " CobbciCspariia'
mentf'* to support him. •■ > »• « '

Having said this, I shall take leave of Mr.
Cobbett ; to whom, indetMj, too mucli of my
paper has been devoted. If, however, 1 have
cleared a friend from scandal ; if I have proved to
you, Canadians, that though [ have *' admired
Mr. Cobbett in many things," I am not his humble
admirer in all things; and if I have, at the same
time, brought my readers to reflect on the monstrous
iniquity of my being imprisoned and ruined, merely
because of a frank acknowledgment that 1 knew
Mr. Cobbett,&c. the paper may not be misused. To
prevent further rambling in a hmited field, I shall
now lay out the remaining work of this General In-
troduction, under distinctheads, and confine myself
to as brief narration as possible. I shall speak of the
Poor-laws; Correspondence with the Colonial De-
partment ; Publications on Canada ; my Appeal ;
my Pause; my Scheme of Colonial Govunment :
make a few observations, and be done. - . ■' '

J !

'i' \

I Mijiij/ii t!"irf":'T

cclii

GENERAL ^NTRODLCTlOlV.

POOR-LAWS.

:) I

The reform of the Poor-laws being a principal
object of this work, I shall h'^^re transcribe from
the Morning Chronicle, the dt ites on that sub-
ject, during last Session, and shall follow these
with a few rennprks of my own. A more impor-
tant question never was before Parliament.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 8, 1821.

Mr. Scarlett said, he should state the grounds of the
bill which he intended to introduce to amend the poor-laws,
as shortly as possible. He was aware of the great magni-
tude of the subject. No subject, indeed > could call for
more deliberate consideration. Any measure, on a subject
so important, was certainly deserving the support of a libe*
ral and enlightened Government, and he was not with-
out apprehension in bringing forward the present bill,
without previous sanction or countenance of Ministers. If
he had thought that the measure, or an^' thing like it, would
have been brought forward under the sanction of Govern-
ment, he would not have obtruded it on the House. The evil
was one of the most alarming kind; an evU which ParUa-
meut would be anxious to remove, unless in removing it
the country should be exposed to still greater danger.
The evil consisted in an unlimited provision for the poor :
the obvious remedy was to limit that provision. The lirst
measure, therefore, which he would wish to sulnnit to the
House, was to declare a maximum : the rates of the last
year, though not the Inghest, were nearly so; and it was,
perha()s, the best period to select, because the nominal

\ i

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ccliii

value of money had more nesirly approaclied its real value
than iu the })receding years. He would therefore pro-
pose to fix as a tnaxiiiiuui the rates of the year ending the
2Sth March, 1821, and accordingly to declare it to be un-
lawful CO pay any larger sum for poor's-rate than was as-
sessed ofl' the land for the year ending-- tiie 25th March,
1821. The next question was, the propriety of en-
forcing a difl'erent system in administering relief. It
never was the inteuticju of the Parliament, that passed the
statute of Elizabeth, to relieve persons who v'ere able to
wori<;, and who preferred a life of idl jness. The object
of the statut was to relieve those who by age and in-
firmities were unable to labour. That wise and hu-
mane principle was departed from in modern times, and
incalculable mischief wa.s the consequence. At the pre-
sent moment, persons who were married, and had large fa-
milies depending in some degree on parish relief, could not
be fairly deprived of that relief. Time shviuld be allowed to
enable those persons to recover themselves; but the evil
had been carried to so great an extent, that persons marry-
ing-, look(!d forward, as a matter of cours;^ to have their
second child supported by the parish. He would be glad
to know, why such persons ought not to practise those in-
dustrious and economical habits which all other persons in
society were compelled to practise. It was for the pur-
pose of stopping the progress of this evil, that he proposed,
as the second part of the bill, that, after passing' of the
bill, no parish oflicer or justice of the peace should be au-
thorized to give relief to any person who, at the time
of passing of the act, should be unmarried, either for him-
self or for any member of his family, t dest, tuch person
should be afflicted with infirmity of body, or old age. The
poor and industritjus man was now obliged to provide for the
idle, and the natural otfect was, that he was inclined also
to become one of the idle class, whom he saw often better
provided for than himself. His third measure was one,

!Cl

rciiv

GKNERAL INTROOtCTlON.

i .1
I i

' • ■ t

1 !

respecting' wliirli there was likely io be a great difference
of opinion, though he had "iven it go much consideration,
that he did not think his own mind conhl he shaken
respecting; it. It was to i-epeal the laws, authorizing
the removal of persons charg'eable or likely to become
chargeable to a j)urish. (flear!) The present system ori-
irinat.ed with the l;ith and 14lh Charles II. the effect of
which was to restrict the free circulation of labour, and
subjected the lahonrer, if he could not, from any tempo-
rary cause, find bread in the parish where he resided, to
be removed to the parish where he was born, or where his
father or grandfather was born, though, perhaps, there
was a certainty that he could not find employment there,
and that he must remain a pauper all the days of bis life.
A more oppressive law was not to be found in any code in
Europe. (Hear! hear!) It, in fact, made poverty a crime.
If a law was now proposed, specifically and avowedly
subjecting a man to be banished from one place to another,
because he could not get enoogh to feed his fnmily, from
the dearness of provision, the man would be deemed not
only mad, but inhuman. (Hear!) Yes, this, in reality, wast
the law, as it existed under another name. (Hear ! ) This
law had been found so oppressive, tliat many attempts
had been made to modify it by exceptions — as, for instance,
when a man bad been hired for a year in a parish, or rented
a tenement of jg*10., or paid parish rates, or served parish
offices, ft was said by Dr, Burn, that there were more
decisions on this Act, than, on any law in the Statute Book.
The Doctor might have said — more litigation. (Hear!)
there was, probably, more litigation created by this law,
than by all the laws, from Magna Charta downwards. An
artificial, absurd, and oppressive system had been created,
and it became half the business of society to execwte it.
He (Mr. lS.), therefore, proposed to make a |)Tovision,
that it should not be lawful to remove any man from the
parish in which he resided, on the ground of his being
1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

cclv

chargeable, or likely to be me cbargcable. He expected
that the manufacturing tovas would (bject to this, as they
had done to the provision for making two years' residence
a settlement. Under the present system, when there was
any cessation of employment in a manufacturing town,
the labourers were scattered all over England. From
Manchester, for iustanc.% he had seen loads sent to Lon-
don by the coach, and some even to the west of Enjifland^
The effect on that town was that the rates we''e less in
Manchester than in any agricultural parish in England,
&c. &-C.

Ixft'd Londonderry gave hia thanks to the honourable
and learned gentleman, for bringing the subject before
Parliament; and hoped that, because he (Lord L.) now ab-
stained from giving a decided opinion, it would not be
thought that be wanted zeal on the subject. The House
would be better able to form a judgment, when the mea-
sures were before them in the shape of a Bill, which, he
hoped, the honourable and learned gentleman would bring in.
Sir R. Wilson said, that though he must acknowledge
the good intention of his honourable and learned friend,
he must deprecate my proposition to take Irom the unem-
ployed industrious ^ioor a subsistence, to which they had
just the same »*ight iis every gentleman had to his estate.
If they wished to red'ace pauperism, they should reduce
taxation.

Mr. Caicraft thanked his honourable and learned friend
for having brought the subject forward, though he did not
agree with his views in all respects. The tirst proposition
of his honourable and learned friend was to lix a maximuvi
of rates. This had been tried in local bills, and failed,
Sec. &<5.

Mr. Bourne congratulated the House, that the subject
had been taken up by hands so able as those of the honour
able and learned gentleman. As to the proposition of a m«a,i-
mvm, It had been tried in the Isle of Wight : yet they had

i- \

cclri

GENERAL INTROBUCTIOX.

been obliged to apply to Parliauieut, to remove or alter the
vKixinmm, &c. &c. . ■'

Mr. Monck said, the poor-laws, if they went on as they
had of late, woukl, in fact, establish an agrarian or Spen-
cean system, making the landholders merely nominal pro-
prietors; but, previous to any reatriction on the right of
'demanding relief, the taxes which pressed upon the poor,
as the malt and salt taxes, should lie repealed, as well as
the corn law, &c. &c.

Mr, Mansfield disapproved (as we understood him) the
proposal for a maximum,

Mr. PhilUps observed that, although there were some
pai'ts of hig learned friend's bill to which he should object,
if taken separately, yet to the whole united, he had no ob-
jection whatever. On the contrary, he augured great good
from its adoption, and thought it right to take this occasion
of bearing testimony to the salutary effects of the Act
passed upon the proposition of the Right Honourable
Member for Christchurch, some years ago, especially in
those districts of Lancashire, with which he was more im-
mediately acquainted. • •

Mr, Ricardo expressed his surprise that any apprehen-
sion should be entertained of the tendency of his learned
friend's bill, to create any embarrassment in the law of set-
tlement, as the great object of that bill was to remove all
difliculty and litigation with respect to this law. It had
been observed that labour, instead of being paid in wages
by employers, had been paid out of the poors-rates; and if
so, why then should not the amount of such payment be de-
ducted in fairness from those rates I This was one of the
objects of his learned friend's bill, because that bill pro-
posed to have the labour paid in just wages by his employ-
er, instead of having him transferred to the poor's-raie.
The effect, indeed, of his learned friend's measure would be
to regulate the price of labour by the demand, and that was
the end peculiarly desired. With respect to the pressure

:f I

r,fiNERAT. TNTRODITOTTON.

cciva

of the taxes and the national debt iipon tho pot>r, that pres-
sure could not he di.sput(>d, especially as it took away from
the rich the means of employing- the poor; hnt he had no
doubt that if the supply of labour were reduced below the
<lemand, whiih was the purpose of his learned fritfnd's
measure, the public debt and taxes would bear exclusively
upon the rich, and the poor would be juost materially bene-
fited.

Mr. M. A. Taylor highly eulogized the principle and
tendency of his learned friend's proposition, which he had
no doubt would be productive of great good.

Leave was given to bring in the bill, which Mr. S. ac-
cordingly brought in. Read a first time, and ordered to be
read a second time on the 24th, and to be printed.

May 24.

Mr. Uirch presented a petition from the cliurchwardens
and inhabitants of the parish of St. Mary's, Birmingham,
against the Poor-Relifif Bill.

On the petition being brought up,

Mr. Scarlett (in reply to a question of Mr. Bernal) said
he had no hesitation in stating, that if he fomid the general
disposition of Parliament jn his favour, he would press the
enactment of the bill. At the same time, he had no inten-
tion of hurrying it through the House. He confessed that
the approval of the measure was much more general than
he at lirst had reason to expect. Perhaps it would be sa-
tisfactory to those honourable members who concurred with
him on this uiensure to know that of the mullitude of com-
muni'^atiouj which he had received from dilfejent places,
the greater mass of them were decidedly in its favour.
(Hear! heai!) This undoubfedly encouraged him to pro-
ceed : he would not, therefore, delay the bill, though he by
no means meant to push it forward. He would take that
opportui ity of stating, for the information of many gentle-
men then present, thflt as the second reading 8tood for that

1 1

"imTllr.r-< f T ••- ^t— rnma^-^jaaiaa^-^^^-

cclvi

111

C.ENERAL INTRODUCTION.

night, he would, if llie other business allowed him to do so,
bring' on the discussion in u short time; if hot, he would
move, that the bill be road a second time pro forma, post-
poning the discussion to a future j)eriod.

Mr. Jenkinson observed that the thanks of the House and
the country were <hie to the honourable and learned Meni-
bw (Mr. Scarlett) lor having introduced this bill. The
poor-rates had got to such a pitch at present, that it was
impossible to go on much longer with the present system.
The bill had his decided support, and ho should be glad to
contribute all in his power to support it.

Mr. Calcraft said, that the honourable and learned
Member (Mr. Scarlett) deceived himseli, if he thought
the bill met with general concurrence out of doors. It
was expected, in several great towns with which he was
acquainted, that the bill would not be pressed this session,
and, therefore it was, that the inhabitants of those places
did not express their sentiments wiiii respect to the mea-
sure. If his honourable and learned friend should press
the bill, he (Mr. Calcraig would certainly feel it his duty
to state the objections, which appeared to him to be
agaitist it. He would suggest to his honourable friend to
let the clauses of the bill be printed and circulated through
tlie countiy. The country v/ould then express their opi-
nions, and his honourable- and learned friend would have
an opportunity of makiog those amendments, without which
he did not think the measure could be carried.

Mr. Lnwli'y said, that in the county (Warwick) which he
represented, great disapprobation existed against several
clauses of the bill.

Mr. Lockhart said, that he wished to know whether it
was the intention of the honourable Member to press thf
bill during the present session. He contended, that un-
der the present system, the poor'«-rates could not be ell'ec-
tuaily corrected.

Mr. D. Broimte said, that the amouint of the poor's-rutes

)ress
duty
to be
iiid to
rough
opi-
liave
which

!lher it
ess th*.'
Hat uii-
h etVec-

ts-rutes

CiENBRAL INTIM>T)Ur!TIOX.

(H'

\\X

wtu Uulv alanniug. They amomiied to a sum U8 grumt tii
was necessary for carrying on the purposes of the British
Government on tiie accession of the h\t6 King, He
feared, that unless something was done to stop the evil,
that the entire property of the country would ultimately ha
taken out of the hands of the ancient proprietors*

Mr. F. Palmer contended that in several ingtanooti
the poor's-rate, during the present year, had been lowered
in some places four shillings, in other places live shiilinga
in tlie pound *. VAlien he had been lately in the coimtry,
he did not meet with a single person who was not dis-
posed to support the principle of the bill, though they did
not wish that it should be pressed during the present
session.

Mr. ScarleU said, that if the subject had not fre(|uently
been brought under tlie consideration of Parliament and
the public, he would, no doubt, have been more ready to
acxjede to the wish of some of his friends, to postpone
the bill. But as the principle of the bill had frequently
been discussed in that House, if he found the House
disposed to accelerate the measure, he could see no rest-
son for postponing it. With respect to the objections
from great towns, he was prepared to hear objections,
though he thought they were founded in i3rror: it weu»,
however, his intention to introduce a clause in the bill,
for the purpose of providing u remedy against the posr.
sible and prospective inconvenience apprehended by great
towns. As to the country, and tiie agricultural classes,
his object certainly wa« not so much to lower the rates
as to improve the moral condition of the poor: that,
above all others, was his great object. If the bill should

* This is a delusion. Rites have fallen nominally. l>ec!msft the
gallon loaf has fallen; but the evil han incrras**/!, and is in-

«r«as»ing;. ' . , ^Y-,

r *>

t..ifc-Mifci w " .*y^w-' •w'-nwii

.1 « H .» M ...I' * »f«'t^»*yW>'-

orrix

GENERAL INTRODl <rnON.

be postponed to the next session, he had no douhl hut
that those who had an interest in keeping- up existing
abuses^ would ivtten)[)t to raise an opposition to tin' hill.
He did not tear that opposition ; but he certuialy di«l not
wish to covet it. W hen it wan considto-ed that the suiu of
X'''WK>,000 a year, was, on ateount of the poor-rates, ex-
pended in litigation alone, the llonse would n«»t he at a
loss to see, tiiat a multitude of perions had a personal
interesl in or nosinj; the bill.

The petition was then bron«;h1 up, and ordered to be
printed.

Mr. ScurkU rose lo move the second reading;- of the
Poor- Relief Bill, lie said he did not intend to accom-
pany the measure in lliat slaj^e with any matter of detail;
but he had, in presenting- the bill in its simpler state, re-
served to himself the oj>portunity of olfering- certain
clauses, to obviate objections some U(mourable iVIembers
entertained towards it, leaving it to the House to in.sert
the clauses in the bill, or form them into a separate one.
There were great evils and various calamities, attendant on
the consideration of the poor-laws, and he found them to
consist in three principles. The fust was the compulsory
and unlimited provision for the poor: the second, the dis-
tribution of that provision was not reserved as a reward for
g-ood conduct, and an alleviation of the miseries of sick-
ness, old age, and inlirmiiy, but by administering to those
who preferred to live by the charity of others, although
capable of obtaining- sul)sistence by their own exertions.
The third, was the principal sonrce of the evils of which
he complained, and that vo'* the restraint which now ex-
isted on the free ci.culation of labour. (Hear!) The far-
mer, finding- that he was called on to pay heavy poor-rates,
resorted to the practice of diminishing- the wages of la-
bour. They thought it best to pay only to men who had
families which must receive a certain sum from the parish ;
and allowed them such wages as would barely allow them

GF.NKRAl. INTIIODUCTION.

cclxi

to exist. 'Vim tanner said, it the [)ariHli pay 5.s'., and ho
could get liis work do)ic lor J)a„ why should he give more
than l).v. i The unmairie<l man was tousequentJy reduced
t»> this {undition, tiiat ho imist enter into eoniprtitioii with
the other, and iinist go williont employmenl unless he
worked lor the same wages. Thus the |)oor man who was
working- ahiiost his bU<od out, had (»nly hetore him the ino-
huicholy |)vt)spect oi" terminating his iile in a workhouse —
lie had no refuge. Itow diU'erent was such a u»an, in poini.
.d' nuiral existence and aflinity to the state, trom Idm who
w^tts enahUnl to make some acf|uisitious of property by bis
own labour, and to lay up for his old age an independent
provision. In every point of view, moral, political, and
religious, the man who hoped to lay by something from his
own earnings, was more valu'able to society, and to him-
self, tliau he who was dcxmied to present hd)our, and pro-
spective wretchedness, without any hope wliatever, &c. &c.

tSir R. Wihon 3aid, he felt it an anxious and painful
duty to oppose his honourable and learned Iriend. He be-
lieved that, like himself, he consulted the interests and
rights of the poor ; but though they both had a common
object, they differed, as to the means. He then said, that
he could not agree to abrogate the statute of Queen Eli-
zabeth, lie considered thai statute the Magna €harta of
the poor. (Hear ! hear !) .1 ustice Blackstone had declared
that it was founded on the first principles of society. He
deprecated strongly the notion of tliscountenancing mar-
riages among the poor, as likely to be productive of vice
and immorality; and he declared, in conclusion, that he
would not vote for the reduction of the funds for the poor,
until evt!ry unnecessary <;harge in the public expenditure
was removed.

Mr. F. Levm could not refrain from saying a few words
on that part of the gallant General's speech, in which he
seemed to consider the Statute* of 4iid Elizabeth aM the
-Magna Cbarta ot llie poor; and »hc ; dladium ni' their

-w'

I li K iip M i nmnmnimtfmtm

y \

<*clxii

eUNKIRAL INTU(>Dr<'T10N.

rights. Thut ho utterly denied. He denitid thut (he
Hoaite oujt^hl to consider thatorany other law on tht'snbject,
as one which they were not perfecly justified in amending,
according; to the demand oi" the time, or their altered view
of the circumstances of the case.— The basis of the con-
Mtitntion was tiie Kecurity which it gave to alt persons, in
the enjoynient of whatever ^ roperty they had acquired, or
honestly come by. It was utterly in vain to set up any
other principle as one of rio^ht. If it could be shewn that
the principle of the poor-laws was subversive «»f that by
which property was protected, then it would be evident
that such an antagonist principle ought not to be allowed to
prevail. Th<' meaning of the Statute 43d Klizabeth, was
to intlict compulsory labour, by way of punishment, not to
afford labour for the mere purpose of maintenance. ItwaH
any thing but in the nature of giving the poor persomU
property.

Mr. Bennett observed, that the greatest evil of the poor-
laws was, that it i-endered the poor man dependent on hi8
superior, and made him an abject wretch, that had no
olyect i« acquiring property, or maintaining a character in
smjiety. But although that was a great evil, yet, by its
removal, there would be danger of inflicting a still greater
eru^ty on the poor. There cuuid l>e Utile doubt, that if
the existing poor-laws were suddenly re|>ealed, tlie elFect
woidd be g'jneral starvation, &c. &c.

Mr. Courlenay thought it desirable, that the bill should
go to a committee, and receive the ntoditications which
the honuurable and learned Gentleman proposed, to intro-
t4uce into it, with an understanding, that when it should
come o«l of the committee, it should be discussed by the
House, &c.

Lord Milton entertained, 1^ the bill generally, tlie most
friendly feeling. The most important part of it — ^that
which went tt> repeal the l*w of settierat«t, had his warm-
fbt support. At :9ame time, he could by no meatis itgiee

iSRKRKAL INTKCDUCTION.

cclxiii

with the {Mjbilion of the Honourable iVT^Mnber, that the
basis uf the Cunstitutidn wa^ Ihc protection ol the eiijoy-
me»t of pr<)pt'rty. The busis of the (.'oustifntion was (hi;
protbctioii of rights. a>iitl tiic rights uf tlie pour ought to
be protected as well as those of the rich, &c. :. ' . . I *^.

The MarqiUH of Londonderry repeated his grulitude to
the hono\ual)U^ and leurufjd Gentleman, for having be-
stowed so nuuh of liii> time and attention, in bringing this
important subject uuder the consideration of Parliament.

Mr. ScarleU said, ho should have no objection to go
inlu the Cooiinittee Instanlcr; but a,s he was not prepared
with aJi thie clauses, he hoped the House would consent to
read the bill a second time thai night ; and to euter into
the C'oiiimit.tee oa Monday. \V ith respect to the iuiluence
otf the present system upon marriages, he would mention
the case of a young- person under twenty, who paid for a
licence to be married in one of the counties, and went the
next day and demanded relief and residence from the ma*
gistrute. -, .-<-: ■.< >• >.■ :■■ ■■■ ■ ,/- ■ .■• ^ •• i',,,, , , , ^
i Tiie Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed ou Monday. , , ■ ,

1; ,. , ^ ._ .. ,■. :.. ■ V , Maj/28.

I Mr' Scarlett moved foj the committal of the Poor-Relief
Amendment Bill, with a view to propose the clauses which
he had mentioned upon the last consideration of tlus
measure. , -

< Mr. Mansfield expressed a hope that the learned CJentle-
nian would not press the adoption of this bill within the
present session.

The clauses proposed by Mr. Scarlett were adoi)ted.

, Jutie 6,

Mr. Scarlett preseaitod petitions in favour of tJie Poor-
Relief Araeodment Bill, from the parishes of St. Fancras,
Middlesex, and Northiara, in Su««cx.

! !

■— — --jf-V - ■ ' ■■i-.*rt.i*.*'«»j^''

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

1^128 |25

■so ■^" mi
■^ lii 122

2.0

I.I

L25 11 U I .6

Sdences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.r. MSSO

(716) S72-4503

cdxiv

C;HNnRAL INTKODUCTION'.

The further consideration of the Report of the Poor-
Relief Amendment Bill, was fixed for Thursday, Itith June.

June 7.

Mr. Curteis presented a Petition from the parish of
Robertsbridge, Sussex, in favour of the Poor-Relief Amend-
ment Bill.

Mr. Ifobhouse presented a Petition, from some indivi-
duals in Liverpool, ngainst the Poor-Relief Amendment
Bill. The petitioners, ho stated, objeclfnl to all the
clauses, except that regulating the law of settlement. Mr.
Hobhouse said he feared he should be obliged to vote
agaiinst the bill, his opposition to which, should rest on
the ground that forms the present state of the laws against
the poor, against emigration, against combination, and
against begging : a compulsory provision for the poor was
rendered necessary. ' "• - """ " -' •'^'''^' ■'"^'

Mr. Brougham concurred in opinion with the Honour-
able Member for Westminster, to a certain extent, and
he was willing lo say, that if such a measure as the bill
before the House, or any thing like it, was passed, a great
alteration would be necessary in all the laws concerning
the poor. The subject was attended with great, though
not with insurmountable difficulty. The system could not
begin and end with the bill intro<luced by his honourable
and learned friend ; but there mu?t be a corresponding-
change in all the laws affecting the poor. There was an-
other difficulty with which the bill was attended, which
was, that it would create two classes of poor; for, if the
principle of Mr. Malthus was carried into effect, the chil-
dren of marriages contracted at one time would be entitled
to relief, while the children of marriages contracted at
another time would not be entitled to it, li the principle
of the bill was admitted, it would be most tyrannical lo
retain the laws against emigration, combination, and beg-
ging. The present system of the poor-laws was cs[)eciull,v

■; ;

)le
Id

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

cclxv

built on'tho prohibitiun to be^. Hr. threw ont these ob-
servations, to show how inai<y difTiculties the subject wa*
attended with. There ou^^ht, too, if the bill was passed,
to be measures oi' precaution taken, to make the execution
of the bill safe, as well for the police as the poor. It
was needless for him further to enter into this topic; but
he particularly referred to the question^; of emigration and
colonization. On the latter subject, he referred to a pam-
phlet of Mr. Herbert Saunder-*, which <ontained much
valuable practical information on experinumts that had
been made in Holland and Ireland. '^'^ • .> * »' •'-' ; -•' >

M}\ S. Jiourne (;oncurred in the observations of the
honourable and learned Gentleman. lie dtumied it a
great oversight, that by a clause at the end of the Poor-
Relief Bill, the vagrancy laws were left untouched.
When the funtis were limited, as they would bo by the
bill, it would be impossible to leave them subject to the
nnlimited demands of magistrates.

Mr. Ilarhord observed, that the doctrine on which the
alteration of the poor-laws was proposed, was chiefly that
of Mr. Malthas, according to which, a certain quantity ot
vice anil misery was necessary as a check upon population.
This doctrine had been,, in the opinion uf many people
well qtialified to form an opinion on the subject, shaken
by the elaborate work lately published by Mr. Godwin.
Mr. Malthus's theory was founded on the supposition of
vapid ratio of increase of population, which Mr. Godwin
had, in the opinion of many, disproved*. . .. , . ., .,

After a few words from Mr. Brougham,

Mr. Maxwell observed, that in every part of Scotland,
where machinery was introduced, a compulsory provision
4iad been found necessary, and he believed such a provi-
sion would be found necessary, till machinery was taxed f.

* Thr thhoratc u-nrk lately published by Mr, Godwin ! ! !

t Macbiucrvtttxed: ! ! - . ' -- ■* - - ' "■ '^

■MM**-

i'l

fclxvi

«EKERAL II^TRODIJCTION.

Th« Pettiioa wat ordered to be printed.

rings'

,■--"■ >' ' • ^' ^ jk I.: JuneS.

Sir U. Wilson presented u petition from the freeholders
and leypayers of the township of Hag-get, (we bedieve) in
JjancaKhire, ogainst tJve Poor-Helief Bill. Sir R. Wilsoa
siroii^ly touinettded the langim^e und arguments of the
petition* which he recapituluted ; and icoUjcUided by observ-
ing, that as there wm »o much alarm at over-population, he
sliould re(;oiiimenil (e the notice of utembers an elaborate
treatise of a very learned, thoug-h he could not say, grave,
divin£« he luueaut the " modeist profKtsiai" of Dean Swift.
(rLear !) •"•'' '•'* ■ »•• -V .ri,it ^ w*i.,..v Mtu '■•k -i'- •i^^*-
The petition was read, i . ' * •;.. .*4. . .»^ <

< Mr. Br^n^hwn fiakl, he bad hoped that Members would
have abstained from the introduction of topics, which conid
do no possible good to tlie poor. (Hear!) The objections to
the bill, contained in the |»etitioo, proceeded upon a
mistake very fatal to o dispatant, tlie total misapprehension
of the argument to which they were opposed. No one had
over sud, that tbepoorJaws operated as an incentive to mar-
riages, but that they removed the check to improvident mar-
riages, which would be otlierwise supplied by the fear of abso-
lute want. (Hear !) He thoughtit unwise too, for the sake of
die poor them.selves, to be continually holding- out to them
the doctiine, that they were mortgagees upon the land, nay
preferable mortgagees ; for though, as the law stood, this was
perhaps true, it necessarily had an operation injurious to the
poor themselves. The ope.ratiQn of such a system, it
jaeeded no speculatist, ai Mr. Malthus was represented to
Imb, thoagh, on these objects, no one was more plain and
prtkotical (hear !) to shew. The doctrine of Mr. MalthuEi
was, that nothing 'was more prejudicial to the oommunity,
and to the iudividuaU themselves, than that persons, without
kno^ledg« Jhow ka maintain a faouly, shauldput tliemseives
in a situation, in which they were sure (o prodiu^eaiamily*

OJKMERAL INTRODUCTION. Ctixvii

(Hear!) There was, surely, nothing itbNtruse or apeculative
in this; when, out of such a fund as the poor' s-rates, they
were sure of being supplied with support, without reference
.*o the state of the country, to the times, and almost, he
might say, according to the present administration of the
poor-laws, Wthout any reference to the disposition of the
individual to work. (Hear! hear!) The proper restraint on
marriage was fiiken away, at the moment when it should
operate. The poor were prevented from thinking twice,
when they had to decide on the question, whether they
flhould marry or not. It should be impressed upon them,
that to put themselves in the situation to get a family,
without the means of mainudniiig it, was as bad as to go
into a shop and buy goods without having means of paying
for them. (Heiir ! hear 1) Mr. Malthus had very properly
said, that itshould be impressed on the people, that to rush,
into marriage under sucli circumstances, was neither
honest nor politic.

CoionM Wood said, that the honourable and lentrned
Member s bill had not had fair play ; for, though he (Col.
Wood) agreed iu wiiai had faliea from the Honourable
Gentleman who had spoken last<Mr. Broughafm),he thought
Hiat the great good p-oposed by the bill «if the Honourable
Member for Peterlaoroug)), was to free the poor from the
present degraded state of vassalage, in which they wene
k«tpt by the «e1.tlemewt feiws.

Sir J. Graham stated, mat he had recrjived communi-
<nilti©ns fronj the <'onntn» , wiiich satisfied him thwt ninety -"nine
out of a hundred of the tpeople were decidedly iu favour of
thetoUreiferred to. f

Mr, Marn^ld said, that from the communications made
to him from that quarter of the oountiy, with which he wa«
ooimected, he could undertake to «ayiiinety-nine out of one
hundred of the people were decidedly against this bill.
(Hear! hear! hear!)
Mr. Birch corroborated Ihe atettemcnt of the last speaker,

I i

i »

<««WM^ ^-

cclxviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

as to that part uC the t-onntry which ho had the hoiionr tu
represent.

Mr. Scarlett declared his unwiilingiios.s to enter into any
premature discussion on (hi.*, measure, \c. ike.
' The |>etition was ordered to lie on the table. ^* '

' Sir Robert yVilsoii depretated any deg;rce of haste in the
progress of this measure, M'hatever might he, as he knew,
the expeditionary powers ol" the Jiouse. lor it was a mea-
sure re<|uirin<>' the most deliherati? lonsiderutioii. As to
the remark of his learned friend (Mr. Brou^-hani). tJiat no
poor man shoidd marry, unless he were able to support a
family, he agreed in the principle of that remark ; but it
was to bo considered, laat a poor man might be able to
support a family at the time he married, while ii the very
next year he might be deprived of that ability, through a
new Corn Bill, or some further taxatioji, eidiancing the
materials of subsistence. (Hear! hear! hear !) The gallant
officer forcibly commented upon the exceptionable cha-
racter of the bill in various points of view, and especially
in compelling a poor man to travel about in search of em-
ployment, while, if he failed in his search, he was liable to
punishment under the Vagrant Act. h^J . ' ? ufm«ttt 4^
"»• Mr. Gurney thought it his particular duty to oppose this
measure, and that the passing of it would be u llagraiit act
of insanity*. I'i^-"* wi -'«'<wjW:r,v* ^o -*'«iH' ?' ■i'»<.'*A -4?^ 3*t««^*st^-
Mr. Scarlett agreed, that if a measure were untit for
di.scussion, it was unfit to be brought forward. But he
fibjected to unlbimded observations or prejudiced state-
ments. He wouhl not have the iniuciple or provisions
of the bill misrepresented to the country. Uis gallant
frienrt was quite in error with respect to the character of
this measure ; but he would not condescend to correct
that error further than to sav, that the bill touched not at

JIM- itiift i«^;

■t-^'h

t 'f\(i'» «?^ ;<■"**-» V

».r4^ <«, If'swffBtfW

^t')^^''!Ki* tt*t ■iiiil'Oim* Heal I hear !

«; .'^

f;i:NER/\L ixTKoniK Tio:*.

cclxix

all on tlio Vugriiut Act, in {\\v manner which his learned
friend appeared to think, lie must, arid also, that, before a
gentleman undertook to aiiiniiulvtMt upon any measure, he
should endeavour to iindeistaiid its principled.

Mr. Monck expressed his disapprohHtiou of this mea-
sure, whieh he thought a mere temporizing- expedient. If
the Corn Bill wt^e re|)ealed, together with the duties upon
beer, salt, malt, heather, and other articles in common use,
the poor could allord to pay for their own support without
resortinjj^ to the poor rat e.«. and the poor-laws woultl die
almost of themselves. But while th«^ poor wtinj to be bur-
dened and distressed as they were at present, he could not
endure the idea of subjecting them to any harsh or re-
strictive regulations.

Mr. F. Palmer said, that when this measure should
be brouijht into ilisc ussion, he would be prepared to shew
that the agricultural labourers had never received sujlicient
wages to maintain themsehes without resorting- to the
poor's rates.

Sir 6'. Seabriyht observed, that the poor's-rate formed
the cause of the low wages allowed to agricultural la-
bourers.

Lord Londonderry AevX^veA, that he could not see the
necessity or the utility of prosecuting- this discussion.

The petition y> aa ordered to be printed.

J line V^.

A. petition against the Poor Laws Amendment Bill, was
presented from Stockport, which was ordered to lie on the
table; a« were petitions to the same efl'ect from liceds,
Hudderslield, and St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
The last petition contained a statement, that persons being
induced to come to that parish, as well as to other parishes
in the vicinity of the metropolis, under the idea of getting
employment with advanced wages, these parishes would
be subjected to considerable incumbrances, should the pro-
posed bill be allowed to pass into a law.

1 ■

■

cclxx

GBNGRAL INTRODUCTION.

\\l

This petitiou was orUere^l to be printed.
i; Mr. Curleix pretented a petition in favour of this bill,
from the select vustry of the parish of Burwash. in Sussex.
The petitioners, with whom the Hunourubio Member said
that he fully concurred, further prayed that personid pro-
perty might be subjected to the payment of poor's-rate*
as well as property in land or houses. i^ ,j t i.< .< ,

Ordered to bo printed. ., n , - ;

June 20.

Mr, Scarlett moved the farther consideration of the Poor-
Relief Bill.

Mr. Calcraft thought it would bo desirable tliat the de->
bate on this important subject shoold not be gone into
without a chance of contludinr^ it.

Mr. Scarlett did not wish to press on the debate against
the pleasure of the House.

Lord Londonderry said a few words in favour of tiie con-
tinuance of the discussion.

Mr. Calcraft saw the necessity of some measure for t!ic
amendment of the poor-laws; but he did not therefore think
himself bound to support one, which, he was convinced,
would not be salutary and useful. He should attempt here^
after to show, that the evils, and even the burdens of the
poor-laws had betsu considerably exaggerated *; though he
owned they were evils, and though he felt the weight of the
burdens : as to the rt^medy now proposed, he was a friend
to the principle of the poor-laws, which was that of unre-
stricted compulsory provision for the relief of the indigent.
His learned friend would cut up this principle. He ftxed
a maximum, which, under no circumstances, should be
exceeded. This, at least, was the oniginal enactment of
this Bill: he had now modified it by exceptions, which
woold entirely take away its etl'ect. This would show the

* They Tipver wpf* oxn^^eratM) : th*y are fncdcHlable. v

t„ . n t T |, - . ti ^f , a . ■ ... I . . . Hm ^Li iH T^^ M4f , ^i i ^tB u p H> *»IW«*i>>^>*

UUNIfiRAL INTRODUCTION.

ccltxi

House bow cautiously iUey should proc^d, wfacm ti gen-
tlonmn of m much kiiuwlcdjri* as his Irarned friend, after
only H ftiw days' exptMicinc of a iiunwurt! \w had proposed,
Uioufjht It necessary entirely to chai»jj;e it, &c.. &o. *

Xir H. WiLson moved that the Houso do now adjourn.
Mr. Nolan seconded the motion for adjournment. Mr.
Scarlett had no ohjei tion to tliu |>ropo.sition of his honour-
able and g'allant. friend, fur it wai his interest as well M
his anxious wish, that the ipiestiun iihouid receive aU poc*
sible discussion. .

July 2.
Mr. Scarlett rose, not,, he said, at tlio close of the ses-
sion, to press any discussion on the bill: indeed, from the
outset, he did not express a hope that the bill wotdd be
carried through tlie ilouse that session. He would not
enter at present into any discussion whatever, but v?o . '
reserve himself lor a further opportunity to answer the -
gumenLs that had been urged against the bill. It would,
in particular, be necessary for him to brush up his law, in
order to meet the opposition of his honourable and gallant
friend (Sir R. Wilson). Whether they would meet in
private contest, or otherwise, he hoped his honourable
and gallant friend would not prove more fortunate than he
ought to be. He (3^ , Scarlett) was aware that mnoh had
been written in ore. to inflame the public mind on this
subject: for himself, he would say, that his attention had
been directed to the state of the poor-laws for the last
thirty years, and he always was of opinion that they were
aw» most ii:yurious to the community, and most oppres-
sive to the poor. He thought they were lawB which went
to degrade the lower classes. He withdrew the bill for
the present; but be proposed next session to renew the
measure. He would not pledge himself to words, but in

* Very just, UMl««d ! i if'i*'i h. iri; nv-i^

ill

•

rclxxii

GUNRRAL INTRODUCTION.

principle it would be 8ubstantially the same. If iiu filiould
meet the samo .sort of Hupport which hn had received, he
would propose another hill lor greater discrimination be-
tween the moral claiins of persons Meeking for relief, and
for the purpose of ( liecking- (he expenditure, which was
now a subject of general complaint, lie should also pro-
pose, that the fathers of families should he n(» longer bal-
loted for the militia, but that single m«!tt should be com-
pelled to serve. — « r ■-'— -

Sir R. Wil'Son said, that when the nieasnre should be
brought forward, he w ouhl o^)pose il ca ery inch. In order
to qualify himself to meet the threatened contest with his
honourable and learne<l friend, he would sit down to study
black letter during the summer. (A. laugh.)

Mr. H. Ourneif said, he hoped the honourable and
learned gentleman would duly consider the state of the
poor-lawi before he attempted to interfere with them. He
could not help thinking that the principle of the bill wag
absurd and injurious. The object of the bill was to pre-
vent marriages : it went on the vicious principle laid down
by Mr. Malthus — a principle which was against the laws of
nature, and which, if acted on, would not leave au Eng-
lishman to till the ground which maintained his i'orefathers*.
He hoped that the House would not be insulted by any of
Mr. Malthiis's friends attempting to force upon them the
adoption of his system. A violent attempt to .subvert the
poor-laws, was nu)re worthy of a raving madman than a
legislator.

Dr. Lushintfton said, that if he thought the bill went to
interfere with the real comforts of the poor, he would not
give it his support ; but he looked upon the bill a? a inea-
sure likely to remove the causes of their degradation, and

* Hear! henr! again. How melancholy is it to think of a
Member of Parliament speaking ihu? !

GENERAL INTRODI'CTION. crlxxiii

to pnunoto t.h«Mr rosil iiulfpt'udence. Tin- honoiirahlo
Meiiiher had suid tliut the hill was a inoasuir to prrvont
inarriajfu.s : it was no such thiii}; : it was a hill to take awuy
undue oncouragiMut'iit to improvident iuarriuge«.

Mr, F. Palmer rose, wIkmi

Mr. Scarlett said, that ln^ had avoided all argument on
the measure, and he tliought it unfair, after iu' had waved
his right, for honourahle ;;entl«'men to open u dehate,
and \u misrepresent the principles and ohjects of the hill.
He might be assimilated to a nnidman, hut the lionour-
uhle Gentleman himself was an abhurrer, and an ubhurrer
could not reason.

Mr. Gurney assured the iiunourablo and learned Gentle-
man that he did not mean to betray, even in appearance,
a want of courtesy to him.

Mr. F. Palmer considered the poor-laws as the char-
tered rights of the poor, and hoped the House would
pause before it consented to touch them, and inquire seri'
ously into the condition of the labouring classes.

Here we have before lis the collective wisdom
of Parliament, upon the most important question
which Parliament can discuss and decide; and this
wisdom, now collected together, does not amount
to much. The record, nevertheless, is valuable.
It might furnish matter for a volume of reflection ;
but in making remarks, I shall be brief, and my
desire for brevity has already induced me to dis-
pose of part of the wisdom by means of foot-
notes.

May I ask if any one of the al)Ove speakers ever
served the office of overseer of the poor, or ever
regularly attended vestry meetings for the ad-
justment of parish business? I suspert, there

< i;

I I

■ I

Cclxxiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

is a want of practical knowledge „in this way.
Most of them, no doubt, have sat on the bench,
and attended circuit courts, so as to have abun-
dant knowledge of poor-law litigation; and of this
Mr. Scarlett has produced an edifying estimate.
He has, in this way, it would seem, studied the
poor-laws for ;30 years ; but a tenth part of that
time, farming in Wiltshire (where the system is
most complete, and the poor most enslaved), and
being obliged to do parish duties, would have pro-
bably given him still more valuable experience —
much more insight into the nature of the system,
and better lessons for improving or abolishing it.

But let us adhere to what is before us ; and let
mc ask if there was ever any thing so monstrous
of its kind as Mr. Scarlett's leading proposal to fix
a maximum of rates. It is an insult to common
sense, and all that concerns principle. Had Mr.
Gurney alluded solely to this, there would have
been no great impropriety in his language. It is
more than monstrous ; it is indeed akin to raving
madness, in as much as it was totally uncalled for.
The Bill is termed the Poor-Relief Bill ; and if
there is relief, it must flow out of the poor being
freed from that necessity which creates enormous
poor-rates. Nobody, I think, buta lawyer could
have had the face to make such a proposal. When
i spoke of the " minimum of misery,^* — the gallon
loaf, and threepence a week ; — and wished Eng-
lish labourers to look sharp, lest that should be
frittered down, I little thought that the minimum
might be sunk by means of a maximum: but we

d be
t we

OiENRRAL IXTRODIM^TION.

ocWicv

may now let the proposal drop, ns it met iuHtant
and successive rcprohaiion.

Mr. Scarlett's second proposal is rational eiioiiph,
bating all consideration of tho one thinp need-
ful — the education of the. poor, and an opportuniti/
for their acffuirifn/ proper li/ and civil rights. Mr.
Scarlett would take from the poor their premium
for idleness, and give them nothing in return.
The poor are now cpiit of all care : war or peace;
— plenty or scarcity, are the same to them; and
in this changeful world, it is no small blessing to
be free from cares dependent upon these. The poor
are now independent thus far; and the land is im-
questionably mortgaged for their support — for the
continuance of their blessings. I, of all men,
reprobate the system: nobody has more steadily
kept it in view as a national curse; but the landed
interest is bound to pay its charges, and they
should be glad indeed to get rid of the obligation
on liberal terms.

Mr. Scarlett would have the landed interest
reap advantage gratis, and this too is the wish of
Mr. Malthus. No, say I : six millions a year,
which you are bound to pay out for the support of
idleness, may be purchased, out and out, for mere
liberality ; and, without liberality, you shall not get
clear. Two millions a year, the remaining part of
the whole amount of poor-rates, might be made
quite sufficient, before the end of five years, to
defray all costs in supporting the impotent and
old, besides educating the children of the poor.
Be liberal, only, and this charm shnll be wrought.

s 9

f \

s. ■

\ ^:

ctUxvi C^ENEHAL INTRODUCTIOCr.

My plan of t\irinsliiiig land to the poor, oitluT
to the full extent with commons, or to half the
extent with gardens only, would pay its way : it
would cost nothing but tiie expenses of the act of
parliament which gave it being, and authority to
proceed. VVitn this plan adopted, all minor mat-
ters would bo easily settled: the word maximum
would then be forj;otten, even as a rejiroach to
Mr. ScarK^tt; and the mightiest evil which he
complains of, the law of settlement, would, of
itselt^ disappear. i ,; .lu i-r. li>ir. < ;U . ,.>;

Mr. Brougham seems to eye Mr. Scarlett's Hill
with contempt; and any child is entitled to do
so; but Mr. Brougham, 1 suspect, would blink
the one thing needful: lie does indeed raise a reek
about matters of no importance comparatively.
He speaks of the subject being " attended with
yreat r/i/^!c«%," uid points to *' the laws against
emigration, coml nation, and begging ;" but
what would all t' ese be, W(!re the people edu-
cated, and had tl? y a chance of gaining property
and civil rights Every difficulty would dis-
appear before tl ^•^ benefits granted to the poor;
and if these are not granted. Parliament may
debate till doomsday without removing the great-
est national evil, — the wretched system of Eng-
lish poor-laws, i, . . i < :../ if.i ^' »

Mr. Scarlett speaks of the '* intention" of the
43d of Elizabeth ; and Sir Robert Wilson calls that
statute the Magna Charta of the poor!! The
Mid of Elizabeth laid the foundation for all the
present mischief, etpially the curse of poor and

the

that

TFie

the

and

fiRNKIlAl. INTKOI)li(?TION. rclxxvii

ricli. TIk; 4. id of KlizalxMh was fniinrd in nil iin-
liirky hour, and from false notions of policy.
After the sup[)ressi()n of monasteries, and the
seizure of church property, which had for a^es fed
multitudes of poor, and was, indeed, by law, in
great part expressly intended for that [lurpose,
swarms of indigent and idle persons spread them-
selves over the country, and induced legislators to
provide for them by this statute. Great as the
necessities of the poor were under circumstances,
ut that time, much better would it have been to
have left nature to cure the evil. The act of Eli-
zabeth provided work for the industrious, and pri-
sons for the idle; but all should have been left to
their shifts, save the old and impotent; there is no
cure so good as hunger for idleness.

Similar causes, soon after, introduced poor-laws
into Scotland. By an act of James VI. indigent
children were bound to work for masters till past
thirty years of age, and afterwards this law was ra-
tified with additions by the Scotch Parliament in
the reign of Charles II. empowering masters of
manufactories, with the advice of magistrates, to
seize vagabonds and idle poor persons, to employ
thein in their works, and exact of parishes sums
of money to assist in their training and mainte-
nance for three years, and after that to retain them
seven years in service for meat and clothes.

It was also enacted, by the Scotch Parliament,
that overseers of the poor should be appointed by
justices of the peace; and that poor children, and
vagabonds, and idlers, should be taken hold of, and

I I

i ':

ill

111

CcixXViii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

instructed to fine and mix wool, spin worsted, and
knit stockings. In Scotland all this officious le-
gislation did little harm, for education was intro-
duced, and completely did away the necessity for
its operation. In the year 1616, an Act of Council
first established schools, and this was afterwards rati-
fied and improved by the first Scotch Parliament of
Charles I. It is truly worthy to mark this.
The Scotch became enlightened, and got out of
the bondage of their poor-laws. The English were
kept in ignorance, and at last fell victims to un-
thrifty benevolence and mistaken notions of policy.
For any thing I can see in the debates before us,
there seems a strange confusion of ideas with re-
gard to the riifhts of the poor ; and I question if
Sir Robert Wilson, who has set himself forward as
the champion of these rights, has very clear no-
tions of the prize for which he is to contend. His
calling of the 43d of Elizabeth the Magna Charta
of the poor, justifies suspicion. The effect of tax-
ation too, is, I suspect, but indifferently under-
stood by some of the orators, particularly as it af-
fects the poor of England. Were taxation reduced
to-morrow, 1 know of no change for the better that
it would make in the condition of the poor labourers
of England, subjected to slavery by the system
of the poor-laws. That taxation is now out of
hounds, and that the evil is greatly aggravated by
the wretched policy pursued by our present minis-
ters, is too obvious. The distress of the labouring
classes of Scotland is too good proof of that, though
we had no other; but to the poor of England it

CENKRAL INTRODUCTION. OclXxix

makes no ditrereiice whatever. Mr. Cobbett, who
launched forth into verv free remarks on these de-
bates on the poor-laws, and sees through the whole
system as clear as any body, has continually bawled
out against taxes und paper-money beings the sole
cause of misery. I entirely differ with him in this.
1 am not only a friend to paper-money, as a refine-
ment of commerce, and as it is the grand bond for
confidence in adventure,— indeed, the only means
of extensive dealings among men ; but the holding
it on at the present time, I do consider a matter of
sacred importance to the interests of the poor of
England, in procuring for them a gradual, genuine,
and valuable deliverance from their present state
of degradation. - «.

Mr. Cobbett somewhere asks, '* what rational
man expects reform without a blowing-up of
paper-money?" 1 am certain that Mr. Cobbett is
not more keen for reform than myself. I have
rationally weighed the question of paper-money,
and these are my opinions. If the blowing-up
of paper-money would blow up borough-mongering
alone, much should 1 rejoice to see the explosion ;
but if such blowing-up would set loose the poor
of England from all restraint before their present
habits were improved, and before the rancour
which has been generated between them and
their masters was allayed and forgotten, God pre-
vent every thing like such blowing-up. It has
for many years been my decided opinion, that a
well-modified property-tax would at once secure
to us all the advantage of paper-money, and rid us

1 ■;;

: ^ '

|{'

»' ,■

8' '

f :

f ,',

<«IXXX . CSRNRKAL INTIIODUCTION.

of every disqnietiKlo as to its proving our ruin.
W^ilhout recurrence to this, our risks arc great
indeed.

Mr. Scarlett has declared it to be his wish •* to im-
prove the^noral condition of the poor." This is the
grand point for the poor and for the nation, lie is
to resume his endeavours next session; and 1 have
to hope that, hy that time, he will give attention to
themc^anjrof attaining his object. His ** attention,*'
he says, " has been dijrected to the state of the poor-
laws for the last thirty years, and he always was of
opinion that they were laws most injurious to the
community and most oppressive to the poor.'* 1
have devoted unceasing attention to the poor-laws
for twenty-one years. 1 have not only saidf but
done J and 1 am as sure as that 1 am in existence,
from much experience and practical knowledge,
that if Mr. Scarlett does not greatly improve upon
his principle of last session — greatly enlarge his
views of the subject ho has on han<l, we can
expect nothing but failure. With liberal and en-
larged views, and by attending to the one thing
needful, he may immortalize his name.

My hope of a Commission of Encjuiry arriving
from Upper Canada becoming less and less every
day after the beginning of June; and anxious, as
well to keep alive some notice to thi.t subject, as to
continue the train of mv representations to Parlia-
ment vvitli

?gard

poor-

following Petition, and had it presented to the
House iif Commons by Sir. lames Mackintosh the

GUNKUAL INTH(»J>UCTION. (X'lxxxi

27th June; and as Sir Jlobert Wilson had spoken
up for the rifthts of the poor, I sent him a copy,
that he might understand my notions of what was
required to establish their rights*.

* 35, Abchurch Lane, ^Ist Juno, 1821.

jge

his
can
ea-
sing

ing
ry

is to
lia-
the
the
the

Sir,

In March Inst, while oxpoctation wuh high roj^iirding NaploH,
I nddressoil to you a lew linens + on th(! suggestion of n friend,
and afterwards thinking that I had made too free, my friond
sought you tt) give explanation, but you had changed your place
of retiidence : I had gone to the country, and, before my return,
the game was up. > .

I You have asserted, on the question of tlm poor-lawa, that the
poor have rights which others deny, and in the abstract there may
be doubt. I handed to Sir James Mackintosh, t'other day, a Pe-
tition, wherein I assort, that real and substantial righls have been
taken from tlic poor, and that thi^y ought to have compensation.
An (he subject is now indiscuHsion, and as I observe you continue
to keep it in nund, I take the liberty to accompany this with a copy
i)f my Petition, which I hoiu; Sir Junjes Mackintosh will this day
present. Should you honour it with perusal, I flutter myself you
may find nuilter for serious and important considttration. Trust-
ing that you will excuse this liberty. I have the honour to be,

Your's, &c.
Sir llobtrl PViUon.

I 1 i

.1 ■>,'

t Liiiidon, 2llh March, 1821.

SiK,

HftvinR hoard that you aro to proci-nl to Italy, in aid of Ncapolilaii
initopnidenre, and having; 8om»' inclinaiioii to ffo Miithi-r, on ihr bjihic
errand, I shonld be huppy to havr thi' honour of ronvorHing with you on
thesMbject. Should yon admit of thin, you will havr, the «;oodne8a to nay,
when and where I may aec you. • .

1 am, your's, Hiv.

ROBERT (iOURLAY.

ZHf Abchurck Lane.

Sit Robert Wxlioit,

' i.k.

I i

I I

;

ill

CclxXXii GKNRRAL INTRODUCTION.

To the Honourable t/te Commons of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in
Parliament assembled.

THE PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY.

m ^

i-i

"■: SHEWRTH,

That your Petitioner had presented to your Uonoura-
blo House on the 11th day of July, 1820, a Petition pro
format the object of which was to call attention to the
state of Upper Canada, as it concerned emigration.

That your Petitioner would again and seriously have
moveil in this business at an earlier period of the present
session, but for an expectation that a Commission might
come home from the Province to strengthen his suit.

That this expectation having now vanished, yonr Peti-
tioner begs leave to state to your Honourable House, more
particularly what was his prime object in soliciting
attention to the subject of emigration.

Tliat with this view your Petitioner has to say that
for more than twenty years he has made the subject of
the English poor-laws a peculiar study.

That his attention was first riveted to this study, from
being employed by the Board of Agriculture in the years
1800 and 1801, to make inquiry in certain parts of England,
as to the condition of the labouring poor, and into a prac-
tice which prevailed of giving them land for the keep of
cows, by which they could live without parish aid.

That the inquiries oi' yonr Petitioner completely esta-
blished the fact in question, according to the shewing of
the Board of Agriculture itself, published in 1816, under
the title of «' Agricultural State of thk King-
dom."

That the object of the Honourable Board, in ascertain-
ing this fact, was to have introduced into a bill, for th«

OBNKRAL INTRODUCTION. cclxxxiii

general enclosure of commons and waste lands, a clause, by
which all poor people, who had rights of pasture, &c. upon
such commons and wastes, should each have secured to
him a portion of land, whereon he might keep a cow, and
thereby be enabled to subsist without public relief.

That this general Enclosure Bill was laid aside ; and
*.hat since then many hundreds of commons have been en-
closed by local bills, without any attention to the claims of
tho poor; many thousands of whom have been ai\justly
deprived of their ancient rights of pasturage, 8cc. ; and
that this, among other causes, has contributed to the pre-
sent dependence of English labourers on parish aid.

That your Petitioner, though he did not coincide in
opinion with his employers, in 1800 and 1801, as to the
particular mode of proceeding then proposed, for the bene-
fit of labourers and tlie keeping down of poor-rates, was
so much struck with the necessity of making great changes,
to avert the evils springing out of the EngUsh system of
poor-laws, that he resolved to shape the course of his life,
so as to have opportunity fully to investigate the subject;
and, in order to gain practical experience, did remove
from Scotland, his native country, into England, chiefly
with that view, and in the hope of being able to devise
some remedy for tho greatest of national evils. This he
did in 1809, and for upwards of seven years devoted much
attention to the subject.

That after due consideration, your Petitioner became
assured that the first essential for a radical reform of the
poor-laws . was the education of the rising generation.

liliat however necessary this was, your Petitioner found
that the system of the poor-laws had already completely
formed a bar against the possibility of its being accom-
plished without the special interference of the legislature.

That your Petiticmer, to gain attention to tltis sabject,
had a petition presented to the Honourable the House of
Commons the 30th May, 1815. "

cclxxxiv r.RNRRAL INTRODUCTION.

ill

"■J

\
i

That your Petitioner t'urttier (iiscovercd, that throiigii
the action of poor-laws, labourers had been (le[)rived ui
all property in house:* and land ; and being thereby render-
ed incapable of locomotion, were completely subjected
to the will and caprice of farmers, overseers, and others.

That your Petitioner, in order to attract notice to this
part of thu business, and to other matters essential for the
cure of the greatest of national maladies, had a Petition
presented to the Honourable House uf Commons the
28th February, 1817.

That your Petitioner still saw, that though all his pro-
posals were adopted, that sometliing more might be required,
safely and effectually to accomplish the grand object of
abolishing the system of the poor-laws, and that an artifi-
cial vent would be required for redundant population,
during a series of years, while the process of reform was
proceeding. * , r *' < ... •

That at this very time an unexpected and extraordinary
change of fortune drove your Petitioner abroad to Upper
Canada, to look out for a place of refuge for himself
and family. • ^ • ' > ■ , .^. ; *

That your Petitioner, being in Upper Canada, disco-
vered that that country could afford the vent required
for the redundant population of England, and upwards
of three years ago he did send home u communication,
to be laid before Lord Bathurst, intimating what he had
then in contemplation. . .'

• That a singularly unfortunate train of events detained
your Petitioner in Upper Canada, involved him in political
discussions, exposed him to the most groundless scandal,
subjected him to the most cruel persecutions, finally ending
in imprisonment and banishment from the province ; nut
only unmerited, but palpably illegal and unconstitutional.

That your Petitioner, notwithstanding that his health
has suffered beyond all hope of repair, from ungracious
treatment abroad, and that bis spirits have been sunk witli

iO-

red

lad

led
leal
lal,

lUil

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CclxXXV

file most muuriit'ul culamitieH wi luimo, \\m devoted all the
eflbrts of a weakened mind, up to the present time, to ad-
vance the vast object at which he has been so long aiming,
and still aims. ,..•.«

That your Petitioner has become more and more solici-
tous lor attention to iiis proposal and schemes fur the
reform of English poor-laws, and the giving vent to redun-
dant population, since he has seen a bill introduced into
your Honourable House, clearly drawn up without prac-
tical knowledge of the system of the poor-laws, or a due
consideration of circumstances.

That your Petitioner has long considered the principle
of population, as laid down by Mr. Malthus, and on which
Mr. Scarlett's Bill seems to be founded, to be sound in the
abstract: that he has long wished to see all need for
poor-laws done away; and believes it perfectly possible
that they may be entirely done away, with advantage as
well to the poor as to the rich. Yet, as circumstances
stand, he is still more assured that substantial benefits
must be granted to the poor; — that they must have oppor-
tunity given them to acquire property and civil rights, be-
fore their present rights of applying for public relief, are
encroached upon, or taken away: — he is assured, that
Mr. Scarlett's Bill, as it now stands, would at once be
inefficient and dangerous in execution: that it would
certainly, if made into law, engender discontent, and lead
on to general insurrection.

Your Petitioner most seriously entertaining this belief,
filled with anxiety and alarm from the aspect of public
affairs, and conscious that wise and liberal measures may
not only retrieve the country from jeopardy, but lay a
foundation for its glorious security, in the improved morals
and better worldly circumstances of tlie lower orders of
society, does humbly and earnestly entreat your Honour-
able House to pause, and reflect well on the subject of the
poor-laws.

Your Petitioner is willing to be called to the bar of

I !•■

^('

IE i y

CclxXXti ORNERAL INTKODUCTION.

yoar Hononrable House, or before any Committee, to sab-
stantiate what he has set forth, and to enter into any
required explanation of his pretensions, principles, and
proposals.

He would more particularly entreat, that the state of
Upper Canada may be immediately taken into consider-
ation, that preparations may, this year, be made to admit
of a grand system of emigration being commenced by the
following spring, in unison with a plan for reforming the

poor-laws. -■' • ■ j

And your Petitioner will ever pray,

June 16, 1821. . ROBERT GOURLAY.

It will be observed, that I conclude my Petition
with entreating, ** that preparations may , this year f
be made to admit of a grand system of Emigration^
being commenced by the following springs in unison
with a plan for reforming the Poor^LawsS* In
summer, I8S0, when communicating with Sir
James Mackintosh, as to the objects I had in view,
for strengthening the connexion between this
country and Upper Canada, I informed him of my
wish to prove what might be done, by a practical
experiment, in settlement. When I put this last
Petition into his hands, I again called attention to
this subject ; and, for some days, I am afraid, must
have teased him with my written notes on the
subject. My anxiety to have the matter spoken of
before the House, when Sir James presented the
Petition, was excessive ; but not a word, I believe,
was said. My anxiety could not rest; and, how-
ever little chance there was for a liberal hearing,
from the Colonial Department, I, at last, resolved
to address myself to Lord Bathurst; and the
following correspondence ensued. ,

GSNBRAL INTRODUCTION. CclxXXVii

CORRESPONDENCE

WITH THE COLONIAL OEPARTMENT.

London, September 9d, 1821«
My Lord,

Having a purpose to collect together a
number of people willing to emigrate to Canada, aud to
proceed to that colony for settlement, under the best cir-
cumstances for the comfort of all, it becomes desirable to
know, upon what terms government will grant land in aid
of such purpose.

It would therefore be obliging, were your Lordship to
order information to be communicated to me on the
subject.

I have the honour to be,

Your Lordship's obedient servant,

Robert Govhlay.
Earl Bathurst.

Letters find me, addressed to the care of ' . '-ii . ■

35, Abchurch Lane.

Sir,

Downing Street, Colonial Department ,
5th September, 1821.

In reply to your letter, dated the third in-
stant, I am directed by Lord Bathurst to acquaint you that
his Majesty's government no longer give encouragement to
persons proceeding as settlers to his Majesty's possessions
in North America, beyond a grant of land which they will
receive on applying to the governor of the province, propor-
tioned to the means of cultivation, which they may possess,
on their arrival in the colony.

Passages are not granted by Government.

• > ^ (. V, I 9Lm, Sir, your most obedient servant,

Henry Goulburn.
Mr. Robert Gourlay.

I li

ii^l

I \

rdxXXviii <iKN'KRAL introdi/ction.

' •' ) IjOutioH, September 1th, 1821.

Mv Lord,

Mr. Coiilburn lius acquuiiiteU me, in pur-
suiiiico of your ilirectioii, by letter, tinted 5tli September,
1821, that " lii.s JVlujeHty's guveriiment no longer give
eucourngeineiit to persons proceeding as settlers to his
Majesty's possessions in North America, beyond a
grant of hind, which they will receive on applying to the
governor of the province, proportioned to the means of
cultivation, which they may possess, on their arrival in
the colony." * ". ' * '

The important point for persons intending to emigrate
is, to be certain as to the <piantity of land which they
will receive for certain means; and that, before they
leave home. Crossing the Atlantic is a serious mutter,
and disappointment, after having crossed it, is still more
80. My brother went out to Upper Canada in 1817,
applied regularly by petition for land : took the oath of
allegiance, and paid fees ; but had nothing save insolence
in return. He remained in the province eleven months,
and then left it for want of employment and object.

The terms upon which land is granted are changed
from time to time, and the fees, which in 181G were
very trifling, are now raised, for large grants, to a serious
sum, nearly equal to the price at which the best wild
land in the United States can be purchased*. Were

♦ The fees, originally, were 37| dollars per each lot of 200
acres. In 1817, they were raised to 4l| dollars ; and the highest
grant, viz. of 1200 acres, cost a little more than ^52.

In the Upper Canada Gazette of January 7th, 1819, the
following ofHcial order was published.

Executive Council Cfffice, York, 5th Jan. 1819.

It is this day ordered by his Excellency the Lieutenant-

(Jovernor in Council, that, in consideration of the increased value

200

thfi

lt».
lant-
lalue

UENERAL INTKODUCTION. CctlXtix

neUlcr.H to Muil noxt s\\x\\\% in expoctatiou that on their
srrivul in the colony, " they would receive, on applying

of land, {\LanA had been falling in pnce, for three year$, and
vuiUinuen to full, vp to tlu present time, 18*21,) th« (ca on tli«
putont on all ordrra for grantn uf land, pruiiouncud aftor thin date,
•hall be according to the fulluwing table. ,. •-

, il<r/i«f.

£ .. d.
Ono hundred nrrcs ........ 614 I

Two hundred acres 16 17 6

Three hundred acres 24 1 1 7

Four hundred aoren 32 6 8

Five hundred acres 39 10 9

Six hundred aeroH 47 18 10

Seven hundred acres 55 7 11

Eight hundred aurcs ....... 63 2

Nine hundred acres 70 16 1

One thousand acres 78 10 2

Eleven hundred acres . 86 4 3

Twelve hundred acres 03 18 4

J. SMALL,

CUc. Ex. Conn,

In the Upper Canada CJazctto of Jan. 6, 1820, the following
official order appeared :

Execviive Council O^ce^ York, I4th Dec. \B\9t
Whereas it is desirable to alleviate the situation of the poorei'
classes of settlers, by an exemption from any charge on the
patent-deed, and also to remove all obstacles from the more free
accommodation of others, with larger grants than have been
usually made, his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor in Council
has been pleased to order, that the first-mentioned class of settlers
may receive a gratuitous grant of fifty acres, under exclusion, be it
understood, from any further grant from the Crowo^ but with
liberty to lease the reserves.

i m

ccxc

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

to the governor, a grant of land in proportion to tb«
means of cultivation ;" upon the same rule that was fol-
lowed this year, their expectations might be blasted by

To meet the above gratuity and increased burdens, attending
the purchase and distribution of lands, &c. it is ordered, that the
scale of demands on the grant of one hundred acres, and upwards,
shall be regulated according to the annexed table, to take effect
from the 1st Jan. 1820.

It is further ordered, that the restriction from sale for three
years be abolished ; and that deeds may issue, on proper
certificates of the performance of settling duties being produced.
The grantee will be required to clear one half of the road in front
of each lot, and the depth of two and one half chains, from the
road, the whole length of every lot, and erect a dwelling house.

FEES.

Upon all grants of land, issuing under orders in Council, bearing

date subsequent to 1st January, 1820, the following sums will be

paid by the patentee:

tterling.

£ a. d.

On grants of 50 acres

On grants of 100 acres 13

On grants of 200 acres 30

On grants of 300 acres 60

On grants of 400 acres 75

On grants of 500 acres ...... 125

On grants of 600 acres 150

On grants of 700 acres 175

On grants of 800 acres 200

On grants of 900 acres S25

On grants of 1000 acres 250

On grants of 1100 acres 375

On grants of 1200 acres 300

In three equal instalments. The first, on the receipt of the

location ticket ; the second, on certificate signed of settlement ;

the third, on receipt of the fiat for the patent.

i . >[W fli l <. <tM^W»«W|1'> l iiilil'Wi > il M «lr y * » 4»- >« l* Wll M»>f«. .

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ccxci

rf.

of the
lement ;

a change of rule. It may be, by next year, determined to
grant no more land, or to grant it on such terms as to
render it not worth the fees, or price put upon it.

By correspondence with various parts of the country,
I am assured that I could get a large body of people
to go with me by next spring, and it is now time to ba
making arrangements for an undertaking so arduous and
decisive of fate and fortune. Your Lordship, no doubts
has controul over all rules for granting land in Canada,
and can therefore assure me upon the subject of my .
inquiries.

May I therefore beg the favour that your Lordship
will take matters into serious consideration, and in an-
other communication give me those assurances which are
requisite for my plans being carried into execution, with-
out risk of such disappointment as I have above sup-
posed possible.

I have in view to settle towards the higher part of
Lower Canada, and should wish a grant of land out of
that still in possession of the Crown, which lies nearest
to Montreal. It may be in your Lordship's power to
determine as to the location in this country, and the
comfort which settlers would have, from such determina-
tion, would be very g^eat indeed. It would enable them
to have preparations made on the granted land before they
got out to take possession of it, very essential both for
comfort and economy.

I am, your Lordship's obedient servant,

Robert Gourlav.
Earl Bathurstr
Address as before mentioned.

No Petition can be entertained, unless accompanied by a
written character, or a satisfactory reason shewn for such not
being produced.

JOHN SMALL,
Qk.En.Com,
tS

-'A 'l

CCXCIl

Sir,

gbnc:ral introduction.

Downing Street, September l^lh, 1821.

In reply to your letter of the 7th instant,
addressed to Lord Bathurst, I am directed by his Lord-
ship to acquaint you, that it is impossible to give you any
more definite answer than what you have already received,
respecting grants of land to individuals proceeding to the
North American Colonies, the local government being the
only fit judges of the means which a party may possess for
cultivating lands in the province, and of the extent which
it may be proper to assign to them.

I am. Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,

Henry Goulburn.
Mr. Robert Gourlay.

Margate, 2d October, 1821.
My Lord,

Mr. Goulburn's letter of 15th ultimo, in
reply to mine of the 7th, addressed to your Lordship, reach-
ed me in course ; but ill health, which has induced me to
come to this place for recovery, has caused me to delay
again troubling your Lordship on the subject of emigration.
I have, indeed, hesitated a little, whether I should continue
this correspondence, being very unwilling to make unavail-
ing trouble. On mature reflection, however, I feel that 1
should not be satisfied with myself, without more particu-
larly communicating my views ; 'dnd your Lordship will, I
trust, listen to explanation, whatever be the result.

Mr. Goulburn says, in his last letter to me, ** It is im-
possible to give you any more definite answer, than what
you have already received, respecting grants of land to in-
dividuals, proceeding to North American colonies." Now,
what I wish to treat about, does not concern me as an in-
dividual only. As an individual, I could readily procure,
on going either to Canadn, or to the Unived States of

•« *■

. ^.... < — .f-.^^....^^..^^.

LH«MliMlll*itliiMI

ill, I

9 m-
ow,
in-
ure,

s of

GENKKAL INTRODUCTION. CCXciii

America, more la)id than 1 could myself cultivate. It is
now four years since I first proposed to conduct to Canada
a large party of settlers, and, indeed, to mak* a continued
business of promoting emigration. I studied the subject in
( 'anada, found that my scheme could be put in practice, at
once to my own and the public benefit, and took every
means to qualify myself for the undertaking. I sent home
three letters, to be presented to your Lordship, all witli one
uniform and settled determination ; and, as I have more
and more retlected on what I had, and still have in view,
the more am I inclined to proceed. The letters alluded to,
were dated 3d November, 1817; February 7th, 1818; and
24th March, 1818; and, no doubt, were shown to your
Lordship, through the medium of Sir Henry Torrens *.
In these letters, I spoke of a contract, which I was desirous
to make with Government, for the settlement of Canada
with British subjects ; and it is this contract which I would
still willingly engage with. Under this contract, I could
pay to Government a considerable sum of money for the
land, and greatly promote the comfort and prosperity of
settlers. Although the value of land has, of late years,
greatly fallen in America, I could afford to pay Govern-
ment one dollar per acre ; say, for one million of acres to
begin with, by three instalments, at the end of five, six,
and seven years, and so on for an indefinite term, re-
ceiving more and more land from Government, to settle as
the process went on, and payments were made good.
Could your Lordship come to a resolution to promote a
liberal scheme of this sort, within the present month of
October, 1 could go out to Canada, have arrangements
made for settlement, and be back before April next, to
<'onduct settlers to their destination. Nothing more would
be required than your Lordship's countenance, to enable
every thing to be managed to the best advantage. This

* See thtiSG Letters, page 450, vol. II.

CCXCIV

GENERAL INTHODUCTION.

coantry coald spare 50,000 people annually, to be thus
conducted abroad; and I should have no difficulty to pro-
cure 10,000 to go out in one body by April next. When
your Lordship has entered into a thorough investigation of
the subject, these numbers will not appear at all extra-
vagant to reckon upon, nor will there seem any difficulty
in managing the concern. The distress throughout the
country, for want of work, is general; and, after the en-
suing term of Michaelmas, will be greatly increased. No
rise in the price of corn will enable farmers to employ la-
bourers so liberally this winter ensuing as they did last
winter, and curtailing employment in Government works,
as is now done by throwing labourers idle one day out of
six, will, I am afraid, greatly aggravate misfortune. Emi-
gration to the fullest extent would not much abate this dis-
tress, as it proceeds from extraordinary causes, which re-
quire special remedies; but a timely disposition on the
part of Government to promote any species or degree of
relief, would assist in lessening discontent. My hope of
establishing a liberal system of emigration, does not rest on
the present emergency, nor any temporary distress. Emi-
gration could be carried to greatest extent, and with best
effect, were the country flourishing. In the mean time,
public calamity ought certainly to plead for its encourage-
ment, and I hope yjur Lordship may still take serious
thought of the subject. Your Lordship must, no doubt,
have the fullest information from every quarter, as to the
state of the country, and can need none from me. Hav-
ing viewed both England and Scotland, however, all over
from north to south, and from east to west, with my own
eyes, within the last two years, and, having from time to
time, information from intelligent correspondents in va-
rious quarters, I cannot resist expressing anxiety and
dread of consequences. On the subject of emigration, I
shall here beg leave to transcribe part of a letter from one
of my friends, dated 23d August, 1821, ♦• You may get

GENERAL INTRODfTCTION.

CCXCV

as miiny people as you please, to go from

with you to Canada. More than half of tlie farmers

have been thrown out in the late bad times, and will not
require much persuasion to emigrate. There is one family
tliat I have spoke to, (I mean one of the sons) that will
gladly go, and, as he was bred to the dairy system, he
might make a figure in that capacity. He would soon get
a dairy-woman with him for a wife. They rented a firm

within a mile of at £617 of rent, on

which tliey had thirty-eight as fine cows as were in the
country. They failed, and were turned out with great
severity. Their stock sold at less tlian half-price^ and the
farm is now let at £200. They paid rent five years, (I set
them the land myself) and lost at least £1000 by the con-
cern : of this £500 by the harsh roup (sale by auction) of
their stock."

'* Every season great ship-loads of people emigrate from
Greenock to Canada. There is a cargo of 600 or 800 mak-
ing up just now by a Greenock vessel, but loading at Fort
William. But from Greenock itself every ship carries out
emigrants, chiefly country people from the counties of
Renfrew and Ayr. Were I twenty years younger, I would
go myself."

How noble and generous would it be, my Lord, to set
about arranging plans, by which such poor distressed
people as those above spoken of, could have something like
certainty and comfort to look forward to in the colonies,
whither they are desirous to proceed. Emigrants now go
out to Canada, only upon a chance of getting land worth
acceptance. A thousand doubts torment them: a thousand
difficulties and disappointments wait upon their movements.
From their native country, and the society of friends, they
have to enter into gloomy solitude : they have to cut out
the road before them into the wilderness : they have there
to take up their abode, while yet unskilled in the art of
settlenieut, and unprepared by experience, to guard against

i *■■

^ i

CCXCYl

G£NKBAL INTRODUf TIOX.

numerous and frightful accidents : they have uften to strive,
at once^ against poverty and sickness. Xot one in ten of
those who go out to Canada, have, within themselves,
the means of making comfortable commencement; and
not t})e half of these can put even suflicient means
to speedy and economical account, for want of plan
and arrangement. Public arrangements for emigrants
were miserable, when I was abroad. They are yet alto-
gether defective, and every account sent home gives proof
of consequent misery. All this can be prevented by
your Lordship's endeavours, if seriously and strenuously
applied. It was reported to me, on coming home, that
your Lordship had said, on hearing some representation
which I had made, as to the distress of emigrants, that " I
should take care of myself," and, no doubt, it would be well,
could I do so. Could I do tliis, and benefit tens of
thousands of my fellow creatures, surely it would still be
better. I have suifered mure disappointment than, perhaps,
any man alive, and hold no enviable situation at present ;
yet, my Lord, such is the consolation from good intention,
that the balance of enjoyment may not, after all, be greatly
against me. It is in your Lordship's power to set on foot a
scheme of benevolence, beyond any thing yet witnessed by
tlie world: it is my delight to reflect even upon the
possibility of such being realized. There is not a man who
is desirous of quitting ihe country, that it is not politic for
government to aid in his getting out of it ; at least if he is
willing to settle in a British Colony. There he can be so
placed as to reimburse every charge incurred by his
removal from home. It would be wrong in me to attempt
going into any detail for your Lordship's information, as to
plans of settlement, on this O'^- i,>lon; but, I shall, at all
times, be ready to wait upjn your Lordship with every
particular, if required. Last year the Chancellor of the
Exchequer said, that " His Majesty's Ministers were
disposed to adopt every measure which could really

CiKNEKAL INTRODUCTION.

CCXCVll

very

the

fere

iallv

contribute to the relief uf the labouring classes," and that
"Government were disposed to give every facility to any
practical scheme, for mitigating the distresses of the labour-
ing classes*." Now, my Lord, I declare myself ready to lay
before you a practical scheme for mitigating distress, by
emigration, with reflection on the above quotation. Your
Lordship must be sensible, that more than the labouring
classes want relief, " more than half the farmers have been
thrown out in the late bud times, and will not require much
persuasion to emigrate." These are the words of my
friend, a man oi" the lirst-rate intelligence upon such a
subject. These words should seriously be considered by
your Lordship, and they may be submitted to the Chancellor
ofthe Exchequer, with my offer of a scheme for mitigating
distress. His Majesty's Ministers can determine imme-
diately as to granting land in Canada ; and all that would
be required at present, would be an assurance that, as
ramiy people as were willing, by April next, should be
allowel to settle down so compactly together as best to
promote the general good. Your Lordship must know,
that one-seventh of all the wild land in Canada, when it
comes to be surveyed forsettlemei\t, must be set aside, and
approj)riated for the maintenance of a protestant clergy ;
aAd, this being settled by law, cannot be altered but by the
interference of the Imperial Parliament : my plan could
proceed without any alteration in this law; but were it
shewn that it would be for general good that the law should
be changed, this, I doubt not, could readily be accomplished
during next session of Parliament, in time to let settlement
in Canada proceed free of all obstruction. I have not
supposed, that your Lordship is ignorant of my peculiar
situation, connected with Upper Canada. Did your Lord-
ship labour under any prejudice, or inisappr^^hension as
to this, it would still be wrong to allow any thing of the

* Soc page in.

■!^ ;■

CCXCVlll

GENEBAL INTRODUCTION.

kind to intercept schemes of public beneficence. If my
schemes can be shewn to be angelic, your Lordship is
welcome to believe me diabolical. My schemes can be
executed very well, even without my personal engagement
in the performance of them. I have spoken of going out to
Canada forthwith, to prepare the way for emigrants ; but
any other person might go in my place. I have spoken of
it, rather to shew my zeal for public good, than with any
particular relish for winter voyages ; and more than a year
ago, I told Sir James Mackintosh, that I should submit to
go out in chains, rather than that the cause of well*
conducted emigration should fail. If a million of acres
seem too many at once to contract for, or to ^alk about, a
township of 64,000 acres would give room sufficient to
make an experiment in. To arrange for the settlement of
a single township, I should go out to Canada, if required
by government without a farthing of emolument, and merely
upon payment uf my expenses. The important point is to
have matters determined on within the present month of
October. I shall be again in town by the end of this week*
and shall be happy to have a definite reply to my suggestions
by Monday or Tuesday n^t, addressed to me as before.
I am^ your Lordship's obedient servant,

ROBT. GOURLAY.

Earl Bathurst.

Sir,

Downing Street, 11th Oct. 1821.

I am directed by Lord Bathurst to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 2d instant, stating, in reply to
my former communication, that it is not your object to
settle individually in Canada, but that you are anxious to
enter into ^ome contract with Government, for conducting
emigrants to that colony, on a very large scale; and to
acquaint you, in reply, that from what is stated in your
jutter, Lord Bathurst cannot encourage any expectation of

(21.

Ithe
to
to
to

)ur

GKNKRAL INTRODUCTION.

CCXCIX

i i I

hi8 giving his sanction to the measure which you have in

contemplation.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

HENRY GOULBURN.
Mr. Robt. Gourlay.

Although the above correspondence has proved
of no avail either to me or the public, it is never-
theless valuable for record. It shews how com-
pletely indiiferent Lord Bathurst is to the duties
of his office — how callous to distress at home — how
regardless of the interests of Upper Canada. I
asked him for no favour : 1 made a proposal advan-
tageous for the public: I offered to effect what
Ministers have pretended that they wished to be
effected. While for many years, under his admi-
nistration, the land of Upper Canada has been
thrown away for nothing, and worse than nothing,
to beget misery to the actual settler, and no good
to the favoured drone — to reward sloth and iniquity,
I offered him for it a dollar an acre, and this to be
put into the British treasury; nor should I require
any thing but the patronage of Government to make
good the contract proposed to any extent. I
offered to contract, or merely to assist in doing
good ; but the Minister disdains every proposal.
He will neither do nor let do. Like the dog in the
manger, his sole object is to prevent enjoyment.
What does such a man get enormous salaries for,
out of the taxation of England? But every body
knows ; and it were pity to lose time with useless
inquiry.

\ I

< 3
\ I

' 1 1.

ITC

CJKNKRAL INTRODlTTIOr.

Since the end of the war, Ministers hiivo prated
over and over again about relieving distress, by
promoting emigration. They have squandered
considerable sums of public money, to make show
of their good will to emigration ; but their words
have been deceitful, antl their schtnics and efforts
alike delusive — mere pretences of hypocrisy, in the
garb of charity and benevolence.

In April, 1890, " Lord Archibald Hamilton sug-
gested emigration to our colonies in North America,
as the most eflfectual means of mitigating distress,"
(see page iii) and he had a tuivate conference with
Ministers on the subject. The result was, that
money was privately allowed to assist emigration
from the west of Scotland. Nothing like a plan
was laid down for the economical application of
this money : no clear idea was formed regarding
the art of settlemetti in the wilderness, which is the
grand desideratum, and which should be understood
before a penny more of public money is wasted.
It is by my knowledge of that art, or shall I call it
a science, after studying it in all its bearings, its
practical process, and its results, for more than four
years, that I could, with the mere patronage of Go-
vernment, fulfil a contract like that above proposed ;
and it is by that knowledge I speak with confi-
dence. I suspected that the trifling suggestions of
Lord Archibald Hamilton, privately listened to by
Ministers, and carried into etfect in an underhand
and partial way, would come to nothing. I in-
quired into its progress, and could hear no good of
it, either here or in (panada ; nay, in Canada, I
kjiovv that it was productive ol misti y ; and iiov\

,i ij^ ) H (i»iiy w »'.'f "rii4 ' • i^» : »we!»**^***« ' i>' i> i-«' n *¥ ' '(ii*y**

(a^NEKAL INTRODi;CTI(». CCCi

we see the schomo U ahandonrd, from an article
which has just appeared in most of the I^ondon
newspapers, extracted from an lUlinburgh paper: —

"EMIGRATION TO CANADA ' ^
" We learn, that notwithstanding the earnest and reiter-
ated entreaties of the gentlemen of Renfrew and Lanark-
jihire, avIio promoted the recent emigration to Canada, that
Government have decidedly refused giving future emigrants
tlie pecuniary bomity of\€10 to each, which has been en-
joyed by those who went out during this and the preceding
year. Grants of hmd will be given to settlers as before;
and they will be gratuitously furnished with husbandry im-
plements, but nothing further."

Here we see the policy of (Jovenmient tip to
the last moment of time, and two months after I
ofiered to give my advice and assistance, by which
any number of people might be settled in the North
American colonies, not at a loss even of '•* hus-
bandry implements," but to a very great joro/?^ for
the country ; not with miser}/, but comforl to the
emigrants ; not on a small scale, which can effect
no good, but on a large one, which would be every
way advantageous to individuals and thi' nation.

PUBLICATIONS ON CANADA!

Since I first proposed in Canada to publish a
Statistical Account of the Province, and had that
proposal made known to Lord Bathurst, through
direct communication, and to the British public,
through newspapers here, no less than seven pro-
ductions have issued from the press, regarding Up-
per Canada, and chieflv with a view to promote

ii 1

.i':

■ 1

• ' -%

' ■^•

■.-»fH-«»

Cecil

GENEIUL INTRODUCTION.

\ . i

emigration thither. Not one of these has given
any thing approaching to a true statement of what
they affect to discuss; and upon the whole, they
have done any thing but good to the province, or
the nation at large. Several of these abound in
such misrepresentations, as no child could fail to
detect; extolling the government of Canada, ut-
tering execrations against that of the United States,
and slandering all who have connexion with, or
regard for, that country ! ! Nay, making a river
the boundary between a healthy and pestilent at-
mosphere — a rich and a sterile soil ! Had such
stufi'been published only by the Honourable, and
Reverend, and Doctor Strachan, whose weakness
is so well exposed in the above extract from the
Scotsman, it would have been less worthy of no-
tice ; but we have a series of these trashy per-
formances, obviously cherished with the counte-
nance of government ; and for this reason it will be
of consequence to glance at the whole of them in
order of their dates.

The first was the production of " Charles
E. GiiECE, Member of the Montreal and Quebec
Agricultural Societies, and Author of Essays on
Husbandry, addressed to the Canadian Farmers."
This person seems to have come home from the
vicinity of Montreal {where he appears to have a
farm), a few months after the arrival of the Duke of
Richmond in Canada as Governor-in-Chief ; and
one might suspect that he had received a com-
mission to eulogize a man who never, to my know-
ledge, either did good in the province, or knew

■■iii^Mmwumiwu ' Wj 'i ii.o i-

f-ffV.

.ES

dec
on

rs."

tlie
a
of
Ind
Im-
|w-

CP.NRRAL INTRODirrTION. CCciil

how to do it. lie (Udicates his book to the Go-
vernor-in-Chief, with these, among other fulsome
compliments : " Tiw justice and humanity of your
administration, and the fostering care and zeal for
the welfare of these provinces, which you have ever
manifested since you wert; fust appointed to thtt
high office which you now hold, are the strongest
characteristics of true greatness." The " true
greatness'* had by this time shewn itself no where,
that I ever heard of, hut in the tennis-court, on the
turf, or elsewhere. And *' the justice and huma-
nity,'' was then suffering me, a native-born British
subject, to remain in prison, contrary to that con-
stitution, which it was the special business of the
Governor-in-Chief to have understood and main-
tained: but, all this, a sycophant can pass over,
and try to shut his eyes against, by such words as
these, *' My confidence is increased by the per-
suasion that your liberal and comprehensive mind
will duly appreciate the motives that have led to
its publication," and " indeed the chief honour to
which he aspires, as the author of this work, is,
that he may secure your Grace's approbation, and
have the privilege of subscribing himself,

Your Grace's most obedient,

And most devoted humble Servant,

Charles E.Grece.
Xomfon, March 25, 1819."

The main part of Mr. Grece's book, seems to
have little else in view, but tx^ scandalize Mr. Birk-
beck and the Illinois territory; and I would almost

[•!!

•:!l

rcciv

OENERi^L INTRODUCTION.

1 i

: 1

suspect, was written for him in London. It greatly
resembles the virulent stuff which appeared in the
Quarterly Review, intended at once to throw a
damp on the spirit of emigration, and to scandalize
Mr. }3irkbeck. Mr.Grece is ashamed of Mr. Coh-
bett ; but cannot resist to borrow his darts for
the destruction of my friend. Mr. Grece says,
*' venemous reptiles are found in the States, though
not in Canada ! ! ! — nor are the Canadians disturbed
by that worst kind of venemous reptile, so com-
mon in the States of the Union, a rancorous spirit
of party. It is true, a feeble attempt has recently
been made to introduce among us the spirit of
reform^ which is only another phrase for a spirit of
anarchy and misery.*'

The chief part of the book being thus empM^ed,
an Appendix is added, to give it more the air of
being a farmer's book, made up of various disjoint-
ed materials; among which Mr.Grece seems to
pride himself for having, under the patronage of
societies, attempted to grow hemp in Canada ! ! He
says, " unfortunately political events obstructed
that effort.^' Now, what obstructed that effort
was simply this, that hemp can be raised in Russia
at a fifth part of the expense that it can in Canada,
from the difference in the price of labour: but I
am impatient to have done with a stupid man.

*' The Emigrant's Guide to the British Set-
tlements in Upper Canada," followed the work of
Mr. Grece. The editor (for this was a compilation)
speaks of '* the excellent letter of Mr. Gourlay to
the Gentlemen of Canada,'* meaning my first ad-

iM i umm i t>ir» « » : ^m m*. ' *.! < i rrt' ^ 1^.

cccv

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

dress to the resident land-owners ; and then intro-
duces it, shorn of its most excellent part, which
affirms, that " England alone could spare 50,000
people annually, while she would be refreshed and
strengthened by the discharge, &c.*' The com-
piler leaves out this passage in the address, and
fritters down my assertion in his title-page, where
I am made to say, that *' England could spare
5000 people annually,*' and there, too, the com-
piler thinks proper to quote from another author,
and makes his sentiment appear to be mine; viz.
that " the only ties which ought to bind men to
their country, are the benefits they receive from it,
and this is the on\y genuine and ra^wmi/ patriotism."
This book was printed for T. Keys, Coleman-
street, Bank, (London), 1820, and edited by a farm-
er, settled in the London District of Upper Canada,
or his friend.

After this Guide, came Torth "The Emi-
grant's Guide to Upper Canada, by C.
Stuart, Captain of the Honourable East Indiu
Company's service, and one of his Majesty's Jus-
tices of the Peace for the Western District of Up-
per Canada." The Captain is one of the evange-
lical, and, many a time over has recourse to the
words grace, mercy, and providence, to get him out
of difficulties. He cannot decide whether Dur-
ham or Canadian boats are best; but, "under
mercy,'* determines that the one kind is as safe for
the navigation of the St. Lawrence rapids as the
other. The Captain inveighs heartily against
clergy reserves, and is for "throwing open tosettle-

' ii

i N

CCCV!

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ment the deeded lands," without having the
slightest conception of what he would be at. The
Captain says of these lands, that " like rocks in the
ocean they glare in the forest unproductive them-
selves, and a beaco*^ of evil to those who approach
them." As the Captain's motto is " deliberate,
decide, and dare,'* perliaps by this time he has
made an assault on " the deeded lands,*' and, in
that case, we may expect to hear that his success
has been somewhat similar to that of Don Quixote
when he assailed the windmills. The, poor
Captain, in fact, does not know the drift of his
own ravings. He wrote the first part of his book
on the voyage home, and at landing, hearing for
the first time of the term " Radical," gets into
agony, and proceeds : . ' , ■ ■ - »-. . . .

" Thus far had I written before I reached England.
On my journey to the sea from the Upper Province, I
heard, with alarm and aftliction, of the disorders at home,
and ray steps were hastened, and my heart throbbed for
my country, and my arm (little as it was) longed to be
raised in defence of her august authorities. But the
term " radical" had not yet reached my eai', and a happy
veil was spread over ray eyes."

The Captain, still in agony, goes through six
pages, and by and by, doubting if the term " radi-
cal'^ may not be a very good one, says, " I hail the
term as a badge of the brightest honor, and blush
only that I so little merit it." This poor creature,
after getting, as it was said, a slice of the *' deeded
land,'' on which his <* little arm" will never let in

ll SIX

radi-
lil the
blush
iture,
pedtd
et in

GKXIIRAL INTJIODUCTION. CCCVii

a ray of light, was suflered to attack mc when shut
up in Niagara jail, cut oft' from all communication
with the press, by tht; most virulent nrticiea in th<i
newspapers; and this loo, he did, after having
rorrrsponded with the Convention, and having re-
ceived a letter of thanks from it, dictated by me.

" May the sliame fix' the gear and tlie blatnrie o' it;'* '

In the midst of his wildest ravings, the Captain
never forgot to flatter the governor abroad ; and in
his book speaks of the late Governor-in-Chief being
" of an enlarged and liberal mind, active, public
spirited, and benevolent:" also, of the "bene-
ficent administration of the present Lieutenant-
Governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland/' „ , ^

The work of the Hon. and Rev. and Doctor
Strachan made its appearance soon after the Emi-
grant's (juide, by C. Stuart, Captain, and Justice
of the Peace ; and the most important point is,
that these three publications, Grcce's, Stuart's,
and Strachan's, which for spleen, cant, and silliness*
have no match, were treated with seeming i jspect
by the Quarterly Review of OctolxT, 1820. The
Reviewer is not pleased with Captain Stuarts ap-
probation of the Yankee Methodists; but it is,
nevertheless, a fact, that Yankees and Methodists
are the most exemplary and well behaved people
in the province. One erriuid of 'he Captain po
England was to collect money for religious pur-
poses. I dare say he did not get much ; and f.^

^B<.\ •* Quotocioti from the Captain's qaotfitioo.'.v;^^ *

U*2

■ !

.' H

cccvni

GENERAL INTRODUCTION*

may take this opportunity of apprizing those who
are inclined to forward religion in Canada, that the
less money they give in a random way the better.
The mere idea of advancing religion in this way,
draws off attention from the grand causes which
obstruct its advancement — the mal-adminiMtration
of public atTairs, and the wretched state of pro-
perty. If the money expended in Upper Canada by
the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge,
the Bible Society, &c. was applied to procure in-
quiry into the state of the provinces, they would
soon be able to provide for themselves bibles and
preachers. I am a sincere well wisher to religion ;
and having seen into the deplorable condition of our
North American colonies, in respect to it, would
earnestly intreat the Quarterly Review, and every
other into whose hand this work may come, to
impress what I say on the public mind.

The next publication after Strachan's Visit to
Upper Canada, was "A few plain Dikec-
TiONS to persons intending to proceed as Settlers
to his Majesty's Province of Upper Canada, by
AN English Farmer." This was better than
the preceding, in as much as it was accompanied
with a map of the settlements. It speaks, how-
ever, of the '* b/essings and privileges of the e.rcel/eiH
constitution*'' of the Provinces, as giving advantage
over the United States, and its " FJysian prairies**
for settlement — of the valuable work of Mr. C.
Grece!! &c. : otherwise the directions are not
amiss.

" Sketches of Upper Canada, bv John

•MMMMMtMhOUa

GKNERAt. INTRODtJCTlON.

C'CCIX

how-
iclkni
[ntage
nries**
|r. C.
not

OHN

llowisoN, Esq. were next otJered to the public.
You, Canadians, will remember that Doctor
Howison, assuming the n;mie of " the Traveller,''
while he was advertising Tor employment among
you as a jiractitioner of physic, assisted me for
some time with his " rcbounih,^' in rousing your
attention to the iniijuities of the government, and
th(> pollutions of Little York. You will remember
thai he was thought friendly to inquiry, and at-
tended one of the first meetings; that he after-
wards, when all was going on in the most orderly
and peaceable manner, deserted the cause, and
distracted attention from the one thing needful^
by keeping up a silly correspondence with the
major, who is now made sheriff of Niagara dis-
trict, no doubt, as a reward for his zeal against the
cause of inquiry. You will remember that Dr.
Howison said that I had *' disgraced*' myself, and
that your chief failing was " false pride." Let us
see what he says now, speaking of the farmers
between Queenston and the head of Lake Ontario.

** They are still the same untutored, incorrigible beings
that they probably were, when, the ruffian remnant of a
disbanded regiment, or the outlawed refuse of some Eu-
ropean nation, they sought refuge in the wilds of Upper
Canada, aware that they would neither find means of sub-
sistence, nor be countenanced in any civilized country.
Their original dopra^ ity has been confirmed and increased
by the circumstances in which they are now placed."

After hearing that Dr. Howison had come home,
and was to publish Sketches of Upper Canada, I
sent him my compliments, through a merchant of

K '■ 1

'Mil

'I >

c. «

cccx

GRNft^RAL INTKOOrCTiON.

Niagnra district, now lit-re on business, wishing
to forget the disappointments which ho had pro-
dnced in (.'anada; but since the Skctclies have
appeared, I am glad that my compliments were not
delivered. The above quotation is too biul. It is
not true: it is not lair: it is not discreet. The
first settlers of Upper Canada, in my own opinion,
were wrong-headed men as to politics; but they
were far from being bad-hearted men, and any
thing but " the ruitian remnant of u disbanded
regiment." They were soldiers who hud done
their duty: who had regarded with reverence their
oath of allegiance: who had risked their lives a
hundred times over in support of their principles:
who had sacrificed all which the world in uenerul
holds dear, to maintain their loyalty and honour.
They were any thing but " the outlawed refuse
of some European nation :" they adhered to the
laws of Britain; and for the laws of Britain they
bled. They did not " seek refuge in the wilds of
Upper Carjada, aware tlmt they would neither find
means of subsistence, nor be countenanced in any
civilized country." It is a libel on the British
government to say that they sought refuge; and a
libel on common sense to say that men, who re-
solved to earn their bread by labour, under the
worst circumstances in the wilds, could not find
means of subsistence any where else. The whole
passage is uh^rue — is shameful ; and Dr. Howison
should apologize for it in the public prints of this
country. These very farmers whom he scandalizes
so cruelly, stood up i'or British goverument most

" W I ' ' 4ga i g?s .'!.' iiyaiuiinjM t »i'«»i ii i > i i * i ..

CiKNEHAL INTRODUCTION.

CCCXl

liing

pro-
luive
e not

It is

nioii,
they
I auv
iinded
done
i their
ives VI
?,iplcs:
;eucral
oiiouc.
refuse
to the
I thev
ilds of
lor find
in anv
Jritisli
and a
ho rc-
er the
t find
whole
vvison
f this

hzes

It most

nohly during the hite war. Many of them lost
their all at that time; and to many of them the
British government is now deeply indehted. Their
claims, well authenticated, were laid hefore the
home government, at least five yeara ago; and not
a penny has been paid to them. V7hat now have
these men to say lo Dr. Howison, wiio hiis slan-
dered their character, and injured their credit at
hoaie? What have the farmers of Niagara dis-
trict to support their loyalty, should another in-
vasion of the province ensue? Their treatment is
indeed a reproach to British government. The
mass of first settlers in Upper Canada were *' true
men," and to this day there is a peculiar cast of
goodness in their natures, which distinguishes
them from their neighbours in the United States.
There were among them rufiians of the very worst
description ; and Isaac Swayze stands forth as a
specimen. His Majesty's ministers needed spies,
and horse stealers, and liars, and perjured villains;
and America furnished such characters, just as
England can furnish an Oliver and an Edwards.
Why should a vdiole people be slandered, because
of a few? The Canadians have indeed degenerated
from the date of their first settlement. They have
been debased by provincial government : they
have been polluted by a mixture of bad fellows
from all quarters, taking refuge among them ; and
to use the words of Dr. Howison, " depravity has
been conjirmea by the circumstances in which they
are now placed," Still the great mass of them are
well meaning, honest, sober, and industrious men ;

rcTXii

oenkhal introduction.

and it will bo the fault of the Ikitish government
it' tliey are lost to this country as loyal subjects.
Simplicity is the prevailing characteristic of Ca-
nadian farmers ; and this springs from ignorance.
It is not the farmers who are the depraved of
Canada. It is the councillors, the priests, the
magistrates, and all who depend on government;
and among these men there is depravity of the
most odious kind, it was to root out this de-
pravity that made me enthusiastic, when writing
in Canada, on public aflairs. Before I began to
rouse public attention to the causes oilabomination
in that country, I had privately communicated to
Dr. Howison the speech of a magistrate, which
should have sunk deep into his reflection — a
speech so horrible, that it cannot be repeated.
From this, and other speeches, and conduct of
the higher classes (if I may, for distinction sake,
make use of the term) there was no hope of mo-
rality gaining ground in the province among the
lower classes. Some of those who set themselves up
for the respectables — the (jentlemcn of the country,
were, in fact, the most ignorant, mean, disgusting,
and infamous characters that ever came under
my observation. I saw into the seat of disease ;
and as a surgeon thinks it no disgrace to foul his
fingers with cutting out a cancer, so 1 thought it
duty to expose the gentlemen of Upper Canada,
while Dr. Howison was trifling with a creature
who had not sense to be a gentleman even in
appearance. Dr. Howison wrote in Canada only
to trifle; and now wc see the consummation.

l lU l l l l ^ uJ_Mu^ l!l M^^ ll l» l ■Jltll|WluJ^[^ « l^ l l l ft l|l ll l ^ll »^^ ^P'M ^||«l »>'^ « ^ll l i l^^ l l iril l ^ l | l m ^» ^

GKNERAL INTRODUCTION.

cccxm

;ase ;
I his
:ht it
lada,
it lire
n in
only
tion.

Wf sec a book very well written ; very readable as
a romance — the tale of a sentimental weak man ;
but, as it afl'ects men and their serious affairs,
worse than trifling — scandalous. To say all the
ill he could of Canada, and no good of it, is unfair,
— is deceitful. To speak as he has done of the
people of Niagara district, who were favourably
disposed towards him, and from whom he expe-
rienced many civilities, is indiscreet, is ungenerous,
IS ungrateful.

Dr. Howison accompanies his Sketches with
*' practical details for the information of Emigrants
of every class ;" but, after reading his book, who
would be inclined to emigrate to V'pper Canada?
who would choose to associate with a " mffiaH rem-
nant,** and '* outlaws," whose " dtprai)ity' has
been " confirmed and increased'^ ? Who would not
laugh at his parting exclamation about the " happy
shores of Upper C'anada" ?

Scandalous as Dr. Howison's book is, I have yet
hope that it may do some good. It is well written,
and will be read with some degree of relish, which
none of the other works spoken of have been, or
can be. If it does not make the people at home
in love with you, Canadians, it may yet excite
a desire in their bosoms to better your condition.

The seventh, and latest publication, is a very
slender affair of twenty-five pages, intitled,
" Sketches of a plan for settling in Up-
per Canada, by a Settler." It takes up my
notion of connecting emigration with the reduction
of poor rates: but it is manifest that *' the Set-

il-li

CCCXiV

GKNEUAL INTKOOIIC'TION.

tlkr'* has not very deeply 8tudied the sii1)ject
of settling ** an ahuost unJimited number of the
unemployed labourers of England." He must
study hard, and a great deal more to be ready to
start with advantage by " the 1st of February,
1822." Let it be the 2d of April, (for 1 would
have none go oiV for Canada till after tool's day)
and perhaps i may go with him and assist. But
I forget; Lord Bathurst would not patronize me.
Perhaps he is going to make a shew of doing some-
thing for *• the settler,^' and we must only watch
that it may be no humbug; — nothing like that of
the Perth Settlement in Upper Canada, or the
more expensive experiment at the Cape of Good
Hope! The subject of settlement is one of vast
importance. It never has been understood ; and
it is pity that it should be trifled with. It is now
upwards of four years j,ince I was convinced that
the Americans themselves, who have been the
greatest settlers in the world, did not understand
the art. It will be observed, that 1 said so in my
first Address to the Resident Land-owners of Upper
Canada (page cxcii) ; I have, since the date of that
Address, devoted to the subject my days and nights ;
and if I shall be so fortunate as to gain public at-
tention, it shall be my greatest joy to make known
my plans. Hitherto the settlement of the wilder-
ness has uniformly been accompanied with a low-
ering of human character. I contemplate, at once,
the improvement of man and the land, which the
Creator of all meant that he should occupy and

improve.

^..f»

It r

:>■?'?! 1t?»rx-'f

GKNEllAI. INTUODUCTION.

CCCXV

I havp now, under tliis head, to say a little of
my own work. My first proposal to publish a
Statistical Account ot Upper Canada, was con-
nected with my immediate private interest. It
would have assisted greatly my project of establish-
ing a land agency. C'anada oOtred peculiar"
advantages m this project. I could recruit for
emigrants to Canada all over the United Kingdom,
which I could not do to the United States,
because of our emigration laws*; and the
publication of a Statistical Account, well au-
thenticated, was the best and simplest mode of
making Canada known. The opposition of a priest,
to this simple proposal, should never be forgotten ;
but it was not his opposition which had any thing
to do with my change of measures. Tt»e discovery
that your Governors neither understood nor paid
respect to the laws, whereby property had value,
induced me to pause ; and greater experience gave
assurance that it was right to do so. 1 could not
honestly invite settlers to a country, while gross
mismanagement subsisted in the Government; and
now, 1 believe, vou are all sensible of the mischief
which has ensued. We should never repine at the
events of life; we should improve upon them ; and
this 1 shall say, that after tl>e gayest visions, which

! I
i

* Some years ago, a pewoa was arreHtcd for enticing away
people iVom the Highlands of Scotland to America, and impri-
soned for inonth.s. Orders have, of late years, been issued to
suspend tbo rigour of law; but still there is no certainty of froe-
doia to isniigrants. Emigiation laws should be abolibhed. ^^

fCCXVl

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

first prosontt'd tliemselves to my mind, of settlinj^
ill Canada, fled : after ill siu'ceeded ill ; and, np to
this hour, misfortune seems to have no end; still 1
am hopeful that all is tor the best. * * '"

My political warfare in Canada brought out se-
crets, and displayed characters which it was of
utmost consei|Ucnce to have <x posed : indeed, what
could mark the iniquity of your Government so
well, as the sutferings to which 1 was subjected.
The whole, 1 hope, has laid the ground-work of
thorough reform. If health and strength fail not,
1 shall not fail ; and, circumstances every day
unite to aid my endeavours. My work is now no
longer a call to emigrants to go out to Canada: it
is a call for inquiry into corruption, mismanage-
ment, and mis-rule. The book has swelled on
my hands; but it is full of valuable documents.
It exhibits both things and men : it traces pro-
vincial policy from its root upwards to its can-
kered branch and its fading leaf. It is now di-
vested of all little selfish considerations : it now
contemplates only great and benevolent objects.
li these are made good, emigration will indeed be-
come a glorious theme, and Canada will flourish.
If these objects are not carried, all Guides to
Upper Canada must be guides to wretchedness, as
they have hitlierto been ; and all comparisons
which go to make the British provinces appear su-
perior to the United States for settlement, must
be false, and deulsive, and treacherous. No man
ever regarded Upper Canada with fonder eyes than
myself: no man ever devoted so much of his life

' » C lW i ' V ' W> i |«V'l < .'>'»q| l !! <> i>WWi>iM » iWll»M > fwft W li «» / iti N W«iii> | i W^^^ ^ ^

"--f—— — - — -

GENERAL FN VRODUCTION. OCCXVli

to do it lasting good : no nv.in mshes better to it,
even up to this hour, than me; hut I must not,
and shall not, prefer C'auada to truth. , o

i 'I-

'•'f ;

APPEAL.

In the outset of tliis General Introiluctiou, I
have exhibited my case as a banished HritiHJi sub-
ject : produced documents : stated what course I
was pursuing, and about to pursue for redress. In
the body of my work, I have completed my reason-
ing on your monstrous sedition law, and proved to
demonstration, that that law never could, and
ne* er was meant, to apply to a British subject ;
and never slould have been applied, as it was, to
me. While in Scotland last winter, I wrote to the
gentleman in town, who has charge of my appeal
business, to procure, if necessary, the assistance
of counsel, to draw up my petition to the King in
council. He laid my printed Circular before Mr.
Adam, an eminent counsellor ; but Mr. Adam
entirely mistook the object which I had in view.
Looking back to the first part of this Introduction,
printed more than a year ago, you will observe
that I never trusted to redress by the ordinary
course of law. My complaint is not only that I
was illegally imprisoned in Canada; but, that by
cruel treatment, I was deprived of my natural
powers of defence ;— that I was incapable of it ;
and, indeed, had the court which tried me put me
to death, instead of mocking me with a trial, cir-

CCCXVlll

GENERAL INTBODUCTION.

cumstanced as I was, its conduct would not hnve
been a more fit subject for parliamentary inquiry.
My appeal is, and always has been, against vio-
lence ; and violence of such a nature as cannot be
taken cognizance of by the usual forms of law. J
have been willing to follow out every course of
law, and to leave no stone unturned within the
precincts of ceremony and form; but, from the
beginning, I had no hope, save in extrajudicial in-
quiry. It was conviction of this which induced
me to write to Sir James Mackintosh, as to the
newspaper report of his speech, (page liii), to pro-
cure from him a contradiction of that report ; and
the opinion of Mr. Adam makes it still more ne-
cessary for me to guard myself from error. I shall
here produce that opinion, with its sentences
numbered for clearer reference.

1st. I have read Mr. Gourlay's statements, and tlie act
of the Legislature of Upper Canada, with the greatest
attention, and tlie only remedy that is open to him, if the
conduct he complains of is illegal, is, in my opinion, (o
brinji- an action in the courts of Upper Canada, or in this
country, (if any of the persons who acted in or contributed
to his imprisonment, are to be found in the country), to
recover damages for the imprisonment he undei*went, and
his forcible removal from the Province, supposing he has
sustained any injury, and that the conduct of those who
have so injured him, was not justifiable by tlie local law.
3d. Mr. Gourlay has a <'-lear and distinct remedy by ac-
tion ; but tlie King in Council can aflbrd him no rehef for
the personal wrongs he has sustained ; nor can he hope for
any compensation by petitioning; the House of Commons.
i)d. It is, undoubtedly, open to Mr. (ifoiirlay U) petition
2

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CCCXIX

the

this

uted

and

has

who

iiw.

ac~

for

■ans.

ion

the King- and tlie Parliament, either on the score c^ his
individual grievances, or the general ill government of the
Province ; but, it is quite hopeless to expect any personal
remedy, except by pursuing the only course the law points
out, an action in a court of law. 4tli. With respect to the
legality of the proceeding- against Mr, Gouvlay, in Upper
Canada, it must not be overlooked, that the statute con-
tains a clause, (now become not unconmion), by which the
burthen of proving- that a person accused is not in the situ-
ation pointed out by the statute, is thrown upon him — a
severe provision, and in direct opposition to the general
rule of law, Avhich imposes tlie necessity of proving; the
whole case upon those who allege the lact. 5th. It seems
cleai* Mr. Gourlay did not do so, nor does it appear that
he offered to do so, either before the magistrate, or on his
trial. 6th. Indeed I had collected from \>agc6, (Petition to
the House of Commons), that he had not taken the oath of
allegiance before his commitment. 7th. It is true that it
appears from his affidavit, 13th January, 1819, that he had
taken the oath on or before tliat day. 8th. But it does not
state when ; nor does it appear that that affidavit was ever
used judicially. 9th. 1 apprehend, therefore, that it must
be taken, that Mr. G. was amenable to the act.

W.G.ADAM,

_ . Lincoln's Inn, 24th Feb. 1821.

-ii^^'^'i^'r'

-f .

Before making remark on the above opinion, let
uie again state, that 1 only wanted the assistance
of counsel to dram up my petition. Writing to
my solicitor, from Fifeshire, 7th February, 1821,
I said, '• Lest assistance of counsel should be re-
quired to draw up the petition, I beg leave to in-
close a bill on London, per £lO, to account.*' I
had not only got the opinion of Sir Arthur Pi^gott

)

-li

!il

cccxx

6BNERAL INTRODUCTION.

I 1 I

specially, and that of other lawyers, generally,
that my confinement was illegal ; but I had made
myself thoroughly acquainted with the subject;
and I defy all contradiction to the facts and rea-
sonings thereon, which I have in this work pro-
duced, to shew that the Canadian sedition law is
not applicable to a British subject. I wanted no
opinion as to this ; but behold here is an opinion,
and one which decides that I was " amenable to
the act" ! ! ! Such an opinion having come into
my hands, it is necessary to expose and criticise
it; and, without wishing to be personally disre-
spectful to Mr. Adam, merely for my own salva-
tion, and to maintain my great and valuable right
as a British subject, I shall not scruple to be free.
The opinion before us is an excellent specimen of
the misconception, shallowness, confusion of ideas,
and bad reasoning, which constitutes " the glo-
rious uncertainty of the law," and by which law-
yers ** take away the key of knowledge." I shall
examine it in regular order. Mr. Adam sets out
with saying that he has read my statement and the
act " with the greatest attention :** and yet he
passes over the chief thing complains d of — the se-
verity of my treatment, which rendered me unfit
for trial, and which. ought to annul the whole pro-
ceeding, whether I was subject to the act or not.
The act itself does not justify undue harshness,
even to an alien ; and had even an alien been
treated as 1 was, it might have been becoming in
the British Parliamei»t to have taken his part, and
to have addressed the King on the subject, not

GENERAL INTRODUCTFOX.

rrcxxi

only to make amends to the suffering individual,
but to maintain national honour. Harsh treatment
to any one in a jail is criminal j and upon proof of
it, most assuredly, the sheriff, or whoever else has
been criminally concerned, may be punished : but
to proceed. The whole of the three first sentences
only lead to confusion and mistake, I never could
have doubted, for a moment, as to my remedy by-
action, against those who imprisoned and mal-
treated me in prison. If all had been regular ; if
I had been able to orotest against the trial, or keep
up to the forms of lav/, and have appealed to a
higher court under an arrest of judgment, or bill
of exceptions, all might have been managed suc-
cessfully. In the course of law my sentence
might have been reversed, and then in the course
of law I could have prosecuted for damages; but
under sever iti/ of treatment I lost these advantages,
and till this severity of treatment is inquired into,
and the unjust consequences removed, al! hope of
my obtaining redress must be small. It is, indeed,
perfectly astonishing to me how Mr. Adam couid
think for a moment on iie subject, and suppose
any doubt existed as to «,his. I mean yet to peti-
tion both Houses of Parliament, besides the King
in Council, but expect no " personal relief," as
Mr. Adam expresses it, directly from them. I
expect them to determine that the act was not ap-
plicable to British subjects, and they can easily do
so; and I expect them further to listen to evi-
dence that I was, by severity of treatment, ren-
dered unfit for fair trial. This done, I expect that.

iill

CCCXXii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

they will address the King to interfere and restore
me to my just rights — to have the sentence of the
court annulled, and a liberty granted me to com-
mence and carry on prosecution against the par-
ties by whom 1 was imprisoned and mal-treated
in jail. 1 may not succeed : my expectations may
,be blasted. The Queen of England was wronged :
her enemies failed in their persecution ; but still
she was denied her rights ; and mine will have
much less strength to support them : nevertheless,
I think it duty to persevere ; and, while 1 have life,
I shall do so.

In his fourth sentence, Mr. Adam comes to con-
sider the legality of my imprisonment, and instantly
gets within the body of the statute, to make out
omens from its entrails. How perfectly absurd !
The statute either is or is not applicable to British
subjects, altogether inc'epeudent of its garbage.
Blind to this great truth, Mr. Adam, in his fifth,
sixth, and seventh sentences, runs on to question
matters of no importance whatever; and from
these comes to a conclusion ! Mr. Adam rests im-
portance on my not having taken the oath of alle-
giance as prescribed by the Act, when it was not
necessary for me to take the oath of allegiance at
all. My natural allegiance was protection enough.
I never thought any thing more was required for
procuring my enlargement, but the fact that I was
a native-born British subject; and onl}^ allowed
the attorney, who conducted the process, to take
what other steps he chose, as they could not injure
my plea, and seemed to give less excuse for my

l-_

GENrRAL INTRODUCTION'.

rrrxxin

detention in jail. The fact that I was a native-born
British subject was notorious ; Dickson knew this
well : Chief Justice Powell never pretended igno-
rance of it; and upon the knowledge of this alone
he was bound to vset me free.

Canadians ! [ wish you to understand that any
delay of my return to the province, after all the
forms of appeal are gone through, will not proceed
from want of success. When it suits my conve-
nience, I shall tread again on the soil of Upper
Canada, even in the face of imprisonment and
death. I put this whole affair on record, not as it
concerns myself as a private individual, but as it
concerns the most sacred right of a British subject.

>ugh.

V\ for

was

)wed

take

hjure

Ir mv

PAUSE.

It has been stated (page ccx) that I put a second
volume to press, in the hope that a commission
would come home from Canada last summer. I
was not only disappointed in this; but in much
more than this. On the 10th September a packet
reached me, containing the Report of a Parliamentary
Committee, and a Gazette of Upper Canada. I
had been previously prepared to hear that my
friends in your Assembly were foiled iu attempts
to procure inquiry — that they were ou t- voted ; or
that the measure had been thwarted by the Legis-
lative Council or the Governor ; but what was my
astonishment to find that not one of them had
moved in the matter, and' that a Parliamentary

^*»mt m m» » mt[m i m:mv ) m»- ' mi'r' ' 'm»'*''^'* '^' ^^ ' ^'*^

npiLwiijinii ^«m*

n '

CCCXXIV

GENERAL INTRODUCTION,

Committee had been sitting only to excite coij*
tempt, with a pensioner of Government in the
chair, prating about things which should be left to
themselves, reflecting on the corn laws of England,
yet fostering corn laws in the province, and desiring
the adoption of them by Lower Canada ! ! Holding
talk about a grand navigation, and appointing Com-
nnissioners, without thinking for a moment as to
the means of execution ; in short, trifling with
every thing, and wholly neglecting what was most
needful — a submission of your whole public atfairs
to the consideration of the Imperial Parliament.
The moment that I read the Gazette and Committee
report, every sanguine hope vanished. 1 felt dis-
gusted : expressed my disgust; and soon after
resolved to make a complete pause in my operations
here, which I had trusted would be profitably
brought to a close, by at least some encouragement
and countenance from Canada. Finding that uot*
one of your representatives had done you service,
and that from the gross ignorance which prevailed
hi your Parliament, that any thing but good could
be expected from its endeavours, I flung aside my
plans for settlement in the wilderness: 1 relinquish-
ed my sanguine hope of seeing the grand canals of
the St. Lawrence and Niagara executed through
provincial wisdom : I resolved to narrow my views,
at least for a time, and rest my remaining hope with
the people of England, who have so long been put
to enormous expense in nursing up a colony,
only for disgrace and degradation. About two
months after this resolution was taken, the people

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXXV

of England had a sample of what soured me with
your parliamentary representatives served up to
them. u. . , f

:^ ...r. ':

Mornhuj Post, Novemher 15, 1821.
- f)u the 28th September last, a meeting was held by the
inhabitants of the county ot Ualton, in the Gore district of
Upper Canada. The chair was filled by James Crooks,
Esq. M. P., and the following resolutions were adopted : —
1. That it is tlie opinion of this meeting, that the re-
strictions and regulations at prcvsent existing in Great
Britain, with respect to the importation of grain and ftour
from these provinces, are such as amount alnost to a pro-
hibition ; and that to their operation is to be attributed, in
a great measure, the present distress of our agriculture and
comraerce ; and unless means he devised for our speedy
and effectual relief, the certain ruin and bankmptcy of the
entire farming and c-ommercial interests must ensue.

2. That though a nominal market for grain and flour,
the produce of these colonies, is supposed to exist in the
southern parts of Europe, yet such are the systems pursued
in those countries, and so great the disadvantages under
which we labour, from the competition and rivalship of othejr
countries more favourably situated, and who, from prox-
imity of situation, are in possession of greater facilities, that
our efforts to obtain relief therefrom must be totally una-
vailing. So evident indeed are these advantages, that it is
not known that a single shipment has been made to any of
them the past or present years.

3. That notwithstanding the apparent advantages of a
trade with the West Indies, it has been found, on close
inspection, and indeed from actual experience, that they
are but few in number, and doubtful in effect. The indi-
rect trade encouraged between them and the United States,
tuider the autliority of tlie Free Port Act, and the in-

CCC.WTl UKNKUAL IMHOiiUCTlON.

creased expense of bringing our produce to market, in con-
sequence of our remote situation and the difficulties occa-
sioned by the obstruction of our navigation in winter, ren-
dering it impossible for us to enter these markets with any
thing like a fair competition, or reasonable chance of
success.

4. That the interests of the two provinces of Upper
and Lower ('unuda are so mutually interwoven, that it were
to be wished some measure could bi' devised (in concert) to
remove existing obstacles, and facilitate new arrvmgements,
more likely to contribute to the general welfare.

5. That the existing regulations in Lower Cauudu, which
admit the importation of Americun produce, to be there
consumed, without any duty being imposed upon it, are
directly in tlu' face of that reciprocity which ought to exist
between the two provinces in their commercial inter-
course with each other, as it not only tends to depress the
price of Upper Canada produce, but renders nugatory the
laws thereon existing for its protection.

6. That the want of on outlet for our gnvu, and the con-
sequent depression of prices, has an immediate tendency
to encourage its conversion into spirits, the increasing con-
sumption of which is destructive alike to tbe moraU ijiud
industry of the inhabitants.

7. Tbnt a great proportion of the wants of the inhabit-
ants of this country has been hitherto supplied from Great
Britain, by way of barter ; that such trade must entirely
cease, from the impossibility of making payments, unless
our grain and Hour be admitted there Tor consumption.

8. That altiiough our distresses have been piogressive,
yet their approach has been so steady and uuremitteil, as to
have overwhelmed the inhabitan s with consequences the
most ruinous, and with a rapidity which no caution or fore-
sight could guard against. In these appalling circum-
stances, we see but little prospect of relief, unless by a
direct application, by petition, to the justice and generosity

GBNKRAL INTHODrrTION.

rjxxxvii

of his Miuesty's Government, and the Imperial Par-
liament>

9. That with this view a Committee, consisting: of twelve
persons, be appointed to prepare and forward such petitions
ys may he deemed necessary to [)romote ihe objects recom-
mended in the fore<joing- resoUitions.

10. That Ihe Committee consist of J. Crooks, Ksq. M. P.,
Mannel Ovenfield, Williani Chishohii, Daniel C. Hedy,
Walter Nichol, Titns G. 8inimon-, Vbsalom Shade, John
Krb, Alexander Brown, Robert Murray, JIames M' Bride,
and James Biggar, Escjuires.

11. That this Meeting recojnraend it as a measure of
vital import to the Canadas, that similar meetings bo held
ia the several counties througluait the provinces. '

I ;

iive,

s to
the

The opinions entertained of the above, you will
be able to judge of from the following extracts : —

** Mornitiff Chronicle, Noveitiher 17, 1821.
" That these poor people (remarking upon the above) are
grievously distressed, and have long been so, is a matter of
notoriety ; but they are rather unfortunate in tlie selection
of remedies, which appear in these resolutions. They wish
the repeal of the Corn Bill. They wish the. monopoly of
tlie supply of the West Indies. They wish a ('orn Bill for
Lower Canada. Why do they wish us to repeal the Corn
Bill, and to grant them the monopoly of the West India
market t We gain nothing by Upper Canada : the inha-
bitants pay no taxes : an immeiliate sum of money is raised
by taxation from the people of this country, and spent in
that province. Why should we levy a tax on the West
Indies, in the shape of the additional price occasioned by
a monopoly, for their relief T'

■ ' "rrai^fkr, Xnvemhey 17, ISn.
** Upper Canada is the most fertile paitof the North Amc-

1 1

! : 1

•15 H

'! l'

CCCXXVlii dENEUAL. INTRODUCTION.

rican continent, blessed with a most delightful cliinutc, with
iinexunipled means of internal navigation, with the privilege
of importing lis wheat into Clreat Britain when our market
price is CTs. (instead of being excluded, like other coun-
tries, till the price is 8()s.) ; the charge of its army is paid
by Great Britain ; yet, with all these advantages, the inha-
bitants are languishing, not in ubsoiute want (for in such a
situation no man can want food), but in the lowest condition
to which well-fod animals can be reduced. On the oppo-
site side of the rivers and lakes, in the territory of the
United States (much of which has been settled more re-
cently than Canada), there is the most striking dill'erence.
The country is full of the most flourishing villages ; and it
is remarkable, that while in the United States there is now
not the smallest village without a steeple (while scarcely
such a thing is to be seen in Canada), or at least a place of
worship. This fact, among others, a tour recently publish-
ed by Mr. Howison, evidently without any political par-
tiality, bears testimony to. It is to be remarked, in addi-
tion, that our Government always gives away its land (fees
of course excepted), while the lowest price obtained by the
American Government for their's is two dollars per acre*.
That there is mismanagement the mere results shew ; but
the details of the jobbing which produces them, and the
policy which has sent so many wretched settlers to the
coast of Africa, while almost a boundless quantity of the
best land might have been obtained for them so much nearer

* My last letter from the United States (dated 18th September,
1821) gives me the following as the current prices of land in that
country : — Credit sales in the Genesee country, near Lake Ontario,
five dollars per acre ; and south towards Pennsylvania, two to five
dollars. Cash sales, few or rather ?ione. United States land in
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, one and a quarter dolUu,
«««/« all down. ,

(;ENEKAL IXTUODirTION,

CCCXXIX

home, will be wHl worthy of the attention of those who wish
to sec how the U-ast good can Ihj done lit the jj^oatest ex-
pense."

" Times, Novmiher 2:5, 1821.
" Qutdiec Gazettes of the I9th October arrived yester-
day. They present a doplui.ibl'^; picture of agricultural
distress in both tlie Canadas. The absence of all demand
for wheat had compelled several farmers in the district of
Montreal to send hay, oats, and vegetables, in boats, down
the river for the chance of a market at Quebec, In some
i>f tlie |)arislies of Montreal, which formerly sold great
(|uantities of wheat for exportation, farms partly cleared,
with a log-house and barn, had been .s<dd at Sherifts' sales
for less than \\w usual law expences incurred to etfect the
sale. One immediate consequence of this distress was ex-
pected to be the compelling the farmers to resort to family
nnmufactures for their supply of clothing, as they must soon
otherwise be without the means of protecting their bodies
against the inclemency of the seasons."

** Scotsman, November 24, 1821.
**The same distress in which the British farmers are in-
volved seems to liave extended to the farmers of Upper
Canada, who are holding meetings, and voting resolutions,
condemnatory of that clause in the late corn law, which pre-
vents the importation of Canadian wheat into this country,
until the h(une price reaches G7s. a quarter. But while
they are loud in their cry against the monopoly established
in favour of the British farmers, they are themselves stre-
nuously denouncing the impolicy of those regulations
" which permit the importation of American produce into
Lower Canada, without any duty heinj imposed upon it " !
Full liberty to export their produce to England would not
satisfy these gentlemen. They must besides have a mono-

■^ ].i i'i m t nha itm M»m ■>

—r^^

Ct'CXXX

nrNKRAL INTRODfirTION.

]H)ly erected in tlieir favour, nnd he invcstmJ with the ex-
clusive eoinmunil uf the iniirkt;( o( thoir noighhuurit ! A
modest demand, truly ; but (|uite in tlw tuste of thr practi-
cal Statesman of tlic JJoard of Trade."

*^ I*.

Here you see, Canadians, what the people of
pjigiand think of your Township Resolutions,
countenanced by James Crooks, Esq. M. P. Tlie
extracts, here produced, are from newspapers of the
very first respectability, and all of them noted for
their hostility to the Corii fiUvvs of England. They
ai'e the very new8paj>crs which most heartily would
have taken you by the hand, had yon come home
with liberal demands; but you se(i how they pity
and despise you, when on the same paper you
exhibit impertinent comments on English legis-
lation, rnd the most grasping selfishness. It was
this, and more than this, which turned my sto-
mach the tenth of September., one thousand, ci()ht
hundred, and ttventy-one years ; (see vol. 11. page
5()0) and 1 am, indeed, hapjjy to shew you that
similar causes have produced a similar eifect upon
the minds of men of tlie first-rate talents and
respectability, in this country. Of all men, you
had least reason or right, to complain of the Eng-
lish Corn Act. To you it is most liberal. Al-
lowing your wheat to be sold in England, when
prices rise here to 67s., was a mighty favour; and
of that you complain ! ! No man was more op-
posed to the Corn Bill of England than myself.
I posted the Bath Society, in 1815, as infi\mous,
for proposing that bill to parliament; declaring

I l i.t-Li il UMl i l l liMI "IN. I M.IW1 II' •

(iUNIuUAL IMKODt'CTIOV. ilCXXxi

tlie measure to he •* seljishy futile, and impolitic;^*
but in your place I should have said nothing
against it. Your prosint distresses may be traced
toother causes than the Corn Laws of F.ngland.
This is not the place to enlarge upon these, but
a glance at one ot thciu will be sutlicient for my
purpose.

The Ilaiton petition speaks of the ** certain ruin
and hankruplcy of the entire farming and com-
mercial interests;'' but the "justice and generosity
of his Majesty's government" cannot now liolpthat,
and be otherwise consistent and fiur. Your debts,
contracted when wheat sold readily among you at
8s. per bushel, cannot be soon paid when the
price is two shillings; far less when there is no
price at all. But why did you contract debts?
It did not follow, because money was made plenty
and cheap by the immense issue of government
during the war, that you were to be more and
more extravagant. Let any one of you look back
for ten years, and say if he might not at this mo-
ment have been clear of debt, had he taken ad-
vantage of the precious opportunities which have
now fled. You were extravagant: you went on
contracting debts when you might have paid them
off; and now you are unable to pay. Your plan,
now, is to become bankrupt at once, and bid adieu
to ruin. There is no dishonour, under certain
circumstances, in becoming bankrupt; and justice,
as well as prudence, often plead for it. A Cana-
dian farmer has not much to fear in bankruptcy.
He can support himself and family with four hours

cccxxxu

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

labour a day ; and with eight hours labour he may
have luxuries and fine clothes, all from the growth
of his own farm, and by domestic industry. With
so fine a country as you possess, and the right of tax-
i ng yourselves, it is even impious to be sending home
petitions like that before us. You may be happy
and contented without foreign trade, and though the
mouth of the St. Lawrence were frozen up for ever.
What, think you, became of A dam and Eve after be-
ing turned out of Paradise, without a soul to trade
with ! ! You are slothful, and, of course, poor.
You are grossly ignorant : and Mr. James Crooks
does not blush to subscribe to it! Dr. Howison
tells us in his Sketches that nobody can prevail
with you without '•* flattering your vanity,** I
never did and never shall flatter your vanity; for
out of vanity nothing can be expected but vexation
of spirit. It was for very different objects that
I wished your parliamentary representatives to send
home a commission from those which appear on the
face of the Halton petition. I wished to see
glaring obstructions to improvement removed :
I wished to see your just claims on government
satisfied out of means well used in the province :
I wished to see a liberal system of government
introduced, the pride of power humbled, and
business attended to: I wished to see Canada
become profitable to England, instead of hanging
upon her as a burthen : I wished to see you throw
aside all taxes, but one, upon land, by which you
might in time correct the wretched state of pro-
perty now existing, which smothers you up

llli'f.iiili.riritWlin

■Mk^M

tH rlMi K M Ii

»fl ilH i M »»i u >i » iii iiH i fl>l> i > ii W ii» i iiiiil» M l i> i i t>i m i »M iiiii« m ii n ii " n ii m iw u ri i i i i i

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

occxxxni

among reserves, and unoccupied grants of drones
and absentees. I wished to see you obtain a loan
from England for the execution of great public
works, on the security of such a tax. 1 wished
to see dOjOOO emigrants annually settled on the
waste lands of the crown. My ideas were great,
and good, and practicable ; but ignorance and
vanit}-^ have, for the present, blasted thorn.

There is not a single clause of the Halton Resolu-
tions that does not contain. something foolish or
offensive. The second and third expose the natural
disadvantages of Upper Canada, while her manifold
natural advantages are forgotten, — advantages
which, if improved by good government, would
quite outbalance the disadvantages so peevishly
dwelt on by the inhabitants of Halton. Upper
Canada cannot meet the United States of America
in West India markets, not because of her " remote
situation, and the difficulties occasioned by the
obstruction of navigation in winter," hut because of
the inferiority of government ; and because of the
bad state of property above spoken of, which renders
it impossible for the Canadian farmer to cultivate
^vith economy and profit ; which indeed retards all

>.\

* People from the United States even supply vegetables to
Kingston market; and newspapers are half the price in the States
that they are in Canada — all from the bad stale of property.
Upper Canada contains about seven people to the square mile:
the State of New York thirty people. Here is a simple cause,
and in the course of this work I have again and again pointed
to it.

! I

I i

}\ ■

crcXXXlV GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

improvement, and makes every thing dear*, —
which beastifies society, and insults us at home
with the publication of the Halton Resolutions!
The expense of sending produce to Quebec, and
thence to the West Indies, is a mere bagatelle, to
the expense and waste sustained by bad manage-
ment within the province of Upper Canada,

The ()th -lause of the resolutions cants about
injury to the " morals and industry of the inhabit-
ants," from distillation in the province; while it is
a fact, that the province has all along stunk from
end to end, with West India rum ! !

In the 8th clause, little prospect of relief is seen,
" unless by a direct application, by petition, to the
justice and generosity of his Majesty's Government
and the Imperial Parliament ;" and this application,
forsooth, must be made through such a medium as
a County Meeting, w^ith a Member of Parliament
ill the chair, who had neither the ingenuousness to
countenance the Convention of friends to inquiry,
nor manly resolution to stand up in his place in
Parliament last session, and insist on a commission
being sent home!! It is quite sickening : my pa-
tience is exhausted with such a display of ignorance
and vanity. I had reflections to make on the
general perversity of mankind: I had designed to
cast my eye back on the foregoing pages, and make
some remarks on the conduct of my Lord Holland,
Sir James Mackintosh, Sir Robert Wilson, &c. :
besides having once more at Mr. Cobbett, the
cleverest fellow of them all; but really, my good
Canadians, the rcsohitions of James Crooks, Esq.

•>> T M-v««p>fft*t a w"-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

rccxxxv

M. P. and his neighbours of Ilalton, have quite
cloyed my desire for criticism and censure upon
the conduct of any man, woman, or thing on this
side the Atlantic. — Adieu. ■

COLONIAL GOVERNMENT, ^^'-h

On this subject T shall address myself

To the People of England.

Since the United States made good their inde-
pendence by the sword, North American Colonies
must have cost us little less than fifty millions of
pounds sterling; and 1 question if they have
returned so many farthings for our governmental
care. Till of late the annual charge could not be
much less than half a million ; and this fact I shall
maintain, that instead of throwing away money on
these colonies, we may draw from them a con-
siderable revenue, merely by the economical dis-
posal of waste lands. At the present time, when
the bonds of society are ready to burst with over-
strained taxation, surely, such a consideration
ought not to be thought a trifling one.

Our North American colonies are not yet ripe
for independence, or that should be granted them ; —
not independence of the crown, but of ministers.
The colonies stand in need of kind nursing for ten
years to come ; at the end of which period they
might be allowed to meet in Convention, and

l>B WW> » » >f JI | l » *l ' «V ' 'y ' ^H» l ' »l . fi|>! «l#"- * ■ « ' «''' " ' - ' I »*< ' "*' '

i
4

CCCXXXVl GENERATE INTRODUCTION'*

choose a government for themselves. It is their
interest to remain for ever connected with this
country, and there is not tlie slightest reason to
suppose that they would ever harbour a wish to
throw off its sovereignty, or deny us the right of
disposing of waste lands to the best advantage.
Set free from the wretched controul of haughty,
ignorant, and capricious governors, they would
most assuredly cherish a pride in their affinity to
the parent state : they would remain for ever our
friends, and fellow-subjects. Were a liberal sys-
tem oi" government established in the Colonies, li-
beral minded men would spring up there; and,
thither, liberal-minded men would emigrate from
Britain, [t is from liberality alone, that Britain
can retain and derive benefit from her colonies.
Let us then at once have liberality.

Looking back to the history of America, how
simple do the means appear by which we might
have retained the United States, Good heavens!
what madness was it to drive free-born Americans
to rebellion, by denying them the rights of men !
What folly to imagine that we, islanders, could
coerce the people of a continent, 3,000 miles re-
moved ! Had Americans been permitted, in due
time, to govern themselves, they never would
have denied to this country the right of disposing
of waste land ; and by the judicious disposal of
that we could not only have drawn home a consi-
derable revenue, but have planted the new world
with a superior race of men. Surely we may now
be taught by experience; — surely, in this more

51-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXXXVii

enlightenerl age, we may learn how to turn to pro-
fit the immense territory which we yet possess on
the continent of America. Let the eye only
glance over the map, from the Atlantic to the Pa-
cific, and from the St. Lawrence to the Pole; and,
then let me a^sk, if it may not be for the ho-
nour of England, holding profit apart, to consider
by what means so vast a region may be tenanted
ivith civilized men — with happy souls and loyal
subjects. Four years ago the charming possibility
of this being realized dawned upon my mind ; and
I said that " England could spare .50,000 people
annually, and be refreshed with the discharge."
The truth has grown more and more obvious, and
I now repeat it with perfect confidence. The
vision of quickly and thickly peopling the earth
with our species, brightens in my imagination day
after day ; and most earnestly would 1 intreat every
benevolent mind to give serious attention to the
subject. The idea may be easily realized. It re-
quires but systematic arrangement, and the judi-
cious application of capital which we have in abund-
ance. It will pay : it may be resorted to, not only
for the performance of the first great command to
multiply and replenish ; but for our individual ad-
vantage and our national aggrandizement : it r ay
be looked forward to as the peaceful means of
establishing a new and a better order of things in
the world. Hitherto men's chief employment has
been to butcher their kind. They have gone on
from age to age, destroying and depopulating : they
have striven to give aid to vice and misery. Why

ill

t u

'Vi- .'■,(* ..f;\- .4, .

wPijT- 4f^l!

rCCXXXVin <3KNKRAI. INTUOnrCTlON.

should it be so? Merciful God! What cause
have we to quarrel with the people of the United
States; or these p)eople with their neighbours in Ca-
nada!* la there not room lor us all, and should we not
first consider how that room may be filled up ? One
i\nd all of us may, for centuries to come, have po-
sitive and great advantage in settling the wastes of
nature to their remotest verge. Engl md alone
could, in prosperity, rasili/ supply /j(),l)()() recruits
annually, for emigration and settlement ; and the
United Kingdom 100,000. Yes! by the simplest
arithmetic it can be j)roved, if proof is called for.

Our North American Provinces should be con-
federated. They should hold congress in the month
of June, at Quebec, Lower Canada: Upper Ca-
nada: New Brunswick, having Gasp/^ and Prince
Edward's Island laid to it : Nova Scotia, having
Cape Breton laid to it; and Newfoundland,
might constitute five independent, but confede-
rated provinces. Labrador: East, South, West,
and North Hudson, might fall into the confederacy
as they became civilized and sufficiently populous;
and, in the course of time, those parts of the
United States, whose waters issue by Quebec,
(never to be gained over by conquest), would, 1
doubt not, join the Northern Confederacy, r \
swell the Government of the St. Lawrence, to its
natural size.

The best Constitution for a North American
Province, while at nurse, would, in my opinion,
be this : to consist of an Assembly chosen by the
people, as in Canada; a Governor and Council.

GRXKR/\L INTIIODIJCTION. CCCXXxix

r - I

the
iicil.

The Ciovernor might he a military man, and have
the commissioninu: of militia oflictirs, while lie and
the Council appointed judges, uuigistratus, &e.,
who should he suhjtot to removal on the applica-
tion of a certain lart;e portion, say four-fifths of
the people, among whom they were appointed to
act. The Council might consist of ten memhers
or more ; one hali" to he chosen by tlie people eli-
gible to hit in Assembly ; the other half to be real
men of busmeKs, sent from Kngland on salaries for
service. These men, besides doing duty in the
(vonncil, as advisers and legislators, might form
a land-board, altogether independent of the Pro-
vincial Cjovernors or Government, and be subser-
vient, in that capacity, to a grand land-board at
liome. The grand national land-board, with its
branches in the several Provinces, might dispose
of waste lands on strict business principles ; and
bv system, every way defined and adjusted, ma-
nage in the best possible manner for public good.
Accurate surveys and maps might be made, and ex-
hibited both at home and abroad, for theexpediting
of business, either in purchase or exchange ; and
under the auspices of the land-board and its
branches, a grand system of emigration might be
organized and maintained in (;onR*ant operation.
There is nothing in mere magnitude which should
frighten vvs. Magnitude in generid may be made
to contribute to success; and with systematic ar-
rangement, and adecjuate means, may be turned to
its utmost account, without diiiiculty, cor>fHsion,
or faihice. 1 avoid partioulars. The subject ©f

y '^

.1 i

.imt^-m(tm*f'

cccxl

GENERAL INJUODUCTTOy.

profitable emigration and settlement, is one to
which I have devoted part of my third volumey
and should the public happily conceive favourable
opinions of schemes now hinted at, it shall be my
utmost ambition to go on to practical rllustration
and detail. A few words on the fundamental
principle may not be thrown away : they may
assist in arresting attention. Land is valuable, ac-
cording to the degree of convenience attached to
it; and other things being equal, increases in value
as the density of population increases. A single
family planted down on a square mile, as is the
case in Upper Canada, can have no convenience —
no sufficient strength to make head against obsta-
cles to improvement; and while the settler is held
in misery, little value is added to the land he oc-
cupies. Plant down two families, twelve, twenty,
or more, on the same extent of ground, and each
addition, up to a certain proportion, insures
greater and greater comfort and convenience to the
whole, while an instant and great value is given
to the soil. One solitary family, settled on a
square mile, must pine for years, become poor,
dispirited, beggarly, and brutal, while twenty fa-
milies wi'I not only retain their strength, theii
spirit, Mid their manners, but instantly flourish,
feel consented, feel happy, and be more and
more ambitious to excel in activity and skill.
England has thousands of people to spare ; and for
her thousands of people she has millions of acres
to settle and improve. She is the greatest land-
owner on the globe, and she has the greatest com-

OENERAL INTIIODI'CTION.

cccxli

fa-
theii
risli,
laud
ikiil.

for
Icres
md-

>m-

vnand of capital. That capital is now running to
waste; or worse than waste, it is running on to
iiKTcase pauperism and idleness ; idleness botti
among the rich and the poor. While this capital
fs yet at command, Kngiand may do vi'onders, by
sotting in motion a vast mac^hinery at home and
abroad ; but let this capital waste itself, as it is
now doing, and a little time only uiU see its end,
— a woful end !

Newfoundland now contains 70,000 permanent
inhabitants. They are sending home petitions, to
obtain a free and regular constitution of govern-
ment. Let experiment be made there. Refore
the chartered constitutions of Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick, or those of Canada, framed by
Act of Parliament, are pulled to pieces, let New-
foundland have one framed without delay ; and
when that is found perfect, the older constitutions
may be new-modelled, to correspond with it.
Aji immediate experiment may also be made in
rightly laying out and disposing of land in New-
tbundland. In general, that country is unfavour-
able to cuUivation ; but still it contains immense
tracts, which, under good management, may be
brought to value, and be occupied at once to the
advantage of individuals, and the nation. At pre-
sent, the people oi' Newfc undland are not allowed
sufficient land, even for potatoe gardens. How
monstrous * ! And this too, because of an absurd,

* While the above was printing, the following article appared
in Thk Times newspaper, 28th January, 1822. It will shew the

i i
I

cccxlii . GENERAL IN ruouucvrioN.

antiquated notion, that the cultivation of llie soil
there, would injure the fishurios. It would assist
the fisheries: it would enable us to cope wiili the
people of the United States, in that trade, along
the North American shores, where they are striv-
ing to rival, and, by all accounts, only require
time to go beyond us, notwithstanding tliat our
natural advantages are superior. But colonial po-
licy is every where at war with nature. The peo-
ple of Newfoundland would, no doubt,- be willing
to give a fair price for land, to suit their conveni-
ence ; and a judicious mode of laying* out, and
disposing of land, as it came to be wanted, is of
the utmost consequence to insure that convenience,
and make it valuable. The North American Pro-
vinces might choose three or more members each,
to attend congress at Quebec ; and one of these
for each Province, might be allowed to come home,

result of preventing the inhabitants of a country from cultivating

*' We are sorry to learn that advices are in town from Nmv-
foundland, which describe that colony to be in a state of extreme
distress. Among the lower ord.Ms, it is said, tliero are few able to
support themselves; and the members of the opulent part of the
community are so small, (hat relief was impracticable. Many, it
was feared, must perish from want. Meetings of the inhabitant-
had been held, for the purpose of raising subscriptions, and tlu?
Governor had inumated to thern, that a sum tHjual to the whole
raised by the colonists would bo contributed by the government.
Memorials have been sent to England, to claim the interpo.^ition
of the legislature. The advices are to the 6th instant, the vessel
which brought them to Liverpool having performed the voyage in
the short space of sevenleeu days."

i >*> J|i > l i itJl''»!lJ I' W.W!l.« ll l i > l «ii i'i ilwWIM < ». a«>^.'

Vmv-

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the

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ft" in

CJUNKliAL INTltODtCTIOW. CCCXliil

and have a seat in the British Parliament, with
liberty to speak, but not to vote. These members
might, lioni the Congres.s being held in June, an-
nually visit England, and return to perform their
duties at Quebee ; and thus a direct, social, lively,
and watchTul intelligence might be manitained be-
tween the home and the colonial governments : all
would be simple a«id efficacious; friendly and in-
dependent; active and harmonious. If desired
by the provincials, one of our l^rinces might reside
at Quebec, as Viceroy, to be directed by ministers,
subject to impeachment ; and to the Viceroy might
be given a power, much wanted abroad, to par-
don offences of" every kind : indeed, saving ac-
knowledgment to the Sovereign of England, the
Viceroy might be clothed with every royal prero-
gative. At Quebec, too, a supreme Judicial tri-
bunal might be established, to supersede the ne-
cessity of appealing to the King in Council at
home; — a palpable bar to justice. The mere
skeleton of provincial government is sutlicient now
to have exhibited. It is now onlv meant to attract
notice to the subject, and to lay the foundation for
mature discussion. Never did necessity call more
loudly for investigation into colonial policy, than
now. We cannot, indeed, afford longer to trifle
with this most important subject. Our colonial
policy over the whole world is abominable ; but in
iNorth America it ought most speedily to be seen
to; for there it cannot be much longer endured,
even though our Ministers had still means to riot
in folly diid extravagance, in holding colonies only

\]\\t

ccoxli?

GENERAL INTRODUf TION.

for the portionintf of th«3ir friends and relatioiiH.
Bickerings between provincial assemblies and their
governors arc now conti:>ually heard of; and even
the little island of Berm ida has for years been in a
state of distraction and discontent, from arbitrary
proceedings*. The cause is obvious. Colonial Go-
vernors are all of tlioin armed with too much power,
which, almost to a man, they abuse. They are
blinded by the sycophants who surround them ;
and invariably become cither stupid or mad. Our
North American colonies alford, in their history, not
a single trace of common sense, discretion, or eco-
nomy. Mismanagement and misrule have prevail-
ed, and are prevailing. Not only do they yield no
revenue, but, as consumers of British manufactures,
the inhabitants are not half so advantageous to us
as any like number of people in the United States ;
for this clear reason, that colonial policy has kept
them spiritless and poverty-stricken. By the sim-
plest and safest measures, all may be changed for
the better. We may speedily lessen our expendi-
ture, and, from improved management alone, we
may at once have a direct revenue and flourishing
people to deal with in trade.

My pen mast not be laid down without noticing
the opposite sentiments of politicians in and out of
power. Ministers seem to have no idea of holding

* " The littlf island of Bermuda ia now involved in the Very
lompest, torrent, and whirhvind of contention, between the Gover-
nor and the governed ; between the Legislature and the inhabit-
«ut9 of the colony.''— Englishman Newspaper, I'Uh Oct. 1821.

GENERAL INTUODUCTION. (Ccxiv

Cnnada, but by eufcebliiig the people; ruling over
them by a wretched system of patronage and fa-
vouritism; and guarding certain pointsby ships, and
fortifieations. Most ixpensive works have, within
the last two years, been commenced at Quebec and
Isle-au-Noix, for military defence, while neither the
one nor the other post could have a thousandth
share in maintaining the provinces to Britain, in the
event of invasion. In fact, all that is wanted for
this, is the good will of the people to defend them-
selves, and witli liberal treatment, that would never
be wanting. . • . -.

Our Opposition men run to another extreme.
They are for abandoning Canada, or selling
it' to the United States. This is worse and
worse. 1 can answer for the loyalty of the Cana-
dians : it abounds; and their desire to be inde-
pendent of the United States is strong, from one
end of the country to the other*. All that they

mg
of

lery
|i>r-
iit-

* Perhaps I r-annot do better than quote, upon this sub-
ject, an article which appeared in a Canada Newspaper,
M'hen I was residing in the Upper Province.

Quebec Gazette, Feb. 1818.

" The following extract from Bell's Weekly MesstMiger, a pa-
per of very extensive circulation, pijb'ishecl in London, appeared
in several papers in this province. I subjoin an extract from the
EdivJmrirh Review of Augtist last, a Literary Journal of the
greatest merit and most extensive circulation in Great Britain, as
a suitable accompaniment.

Extract from JieWs London Messenger. :

" Our reUtioiis with America hava become so important, or,

■ '.

) .

cccxlvi

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

want to continue and ensure this forever is, the pro-
mise of independence now, and the reality after a

at least in a progress of becoming so, that we shall defer our consi-
deration of them to an opportunity when we can discuss them by
themselves. — Mr,. Monroe is a man of great talent and activity,
and his movements are not withoiit an object. We think the
point of difference will be, the affairs of Spanish independence.
We conceive that we feel aa strongly as any one, for the true
glory of this country; but it always has been our opinion, and
we know it personally to be that of one of the greatest statesmen
this country ever produced, that Halifax, Canada, &c. are not
worth what they would eventually cost England ; and the true
point of wisdom would be to make the best bargain we could for
them to the United States. Go they must ; and it is better to let
them go, before another debt of eight Ivun ^d millions be added
to this country."

From the Edinburirh Reviev.. of August, 1817.

*' When discoursing, iu 1778, of the terms on which England
should make peace with the Colonies, he [Frauklin] recommends
at once giving up Canada, not merely aa a measure of concilia-
tion, but as the best means of removing a bone of contention, and
a fertile cause of future wars. Unpopular as the suggestion may
now appear, we suspect many years will not elapse befonj we see
reason to Avish that this course had been pursued. Already we
have sacrificed largely to Canadian interests, by commercial losses
in other quarters j we shall, in all likelihood, sustain a long con-
test for that unprofitable colony, and end by losing it, after add-
ing many a milliou to our debt, in attempting to ]ioep it. The
experience of the American war vvill prove to have been thrown
away upon us; and we shall lose the opportunity of honourably
terminating the political connexion between the colony and the
mother country, and substituting for it one of mutual conimercial
advantage, until our pride gets up ; and being attacked, wo feel
it impuasible, with honor, to yield before we are beaten."

.' Wni« i)ii n>ij i i u iiii il > ii m i|i! H] H I « w ;| » i | i I >|i[ |iLi| ii m i |H| »..

c i<j w (| . iii xyi i i i i i i i ; III i j i'i j l i 'i / i » " ■ ' ", 1 i"' '

■^>'»*»,*,»*

GENERAL INTKODUCTION.

cccxlvii

given period of years. To attract notice to this most
essential point, I have twice repeated the word in my

" The politics of the Messenger are sometimes one thing, some-
times another, but, generally leaning to the side of power. The
Edinburgh Review is decidedly in the opi)Osition. In its political
articles, a party bias is frequently discernible. With respect to
America, it often shews a want of information which could
hardly be expected in a work of such acknowledged merit. Its
articles relating to this country have been vinpardonably incor-
rect

" That two British publications like the Messenger and Re-
view, should agree in the doctrine, that the British possessions in
North America should be given up to the United States, is unac-
countable. Is the state of the public mind in Great Britain, pre-
pared to receive such a proposition ? Are the high-minded people
of England prepared to retrograde in the path of power and em-
pire? Then "farewell, along farewell to all their greatness."
In the language of their favourite bard, they may " doff the
Lion's hide, and hang a Calf's skin on their recreant limbs."
Their wealth will not long survive their power. It will only aug-
ment, for their subjugation.

" England has many brave and loyal subjects in her Americaji
provinces, who pride themselves in being British subjects, and
glory in their connexion with the country of their forefathers; men,
who envy neither the boasted liberties of the American Uniou, nor
the frothy honors of its rising reputation. — To be haudeU over to
the United States, like so many Russian serfs or German boors,
is an insult for which they were not prepared, so soon after la-
vishing their property, and exposiiig their persons in the cause of
Britain against these very U. S. Was At :o heighten the puce at
which they were i be sold, that they were called upon to meet
the enemies of England in battle t No ; the proposition of the
Messenger and the Edinburgh Review can have few partisans
among the p».'ople of England. They have their origin in tluJ
brain of some miserable stockholder, trembling for the loss of his

, i

cccxlviii

GENERAL JNTITODIJCTION.

ergraved title-pages ; and, by accident, the sun lias
been made toshiue from the north, to emblazon it.
The moment that the promise of independence is
granted, that moment all chance of discord and war
between the United States and British America
will cease, and England may forthwith begin to
reduce her military and naval establishments in
that quarter of the world. At Kingston and
Sackett's harbour immense ships of war are upheld,
reproaching at once humanity and common sense.
In a very few years these ships will be rotten, and
why should not each nation, while the materials
are yet fresh, have them disposed of for useflil pur-
poses? These and the Govenmient stores, at

ill-golten wealth, from an increase of the national debt ; or they
are the offspring of a mind adulterated by a factious oppoHitioa to
Government, to the extent of losing sight of ihe honour of the
fairest and most powerful empire in the world.

" But, leaving every other topic out of the question, let us see
what would be the political consequences to Great Britain of
handing over the North American colonies to the United States.
Wounded feelings are never healed. A loyal population, basely
delivered up to those they had so recently met in the field, would
ever after be the bitterest enemies of Britain. She boasts, and
justly boasts, of a navy ; but could she thmk of protecting with
her navy her Newfoundland fisheries, if the St. Lawrence and the
coasts of Nova Scotia were the safe resorts of American privateers ?
With the main land she must abandon the islands ; with the islands,
the coasts and the banks. She must abandon one of the best nur-
series for her seamen, an extensive emj)loyment for her shipping ;
she must abandon the essential supply of fish for the West India
Islands. With the whole coast of America, from Davis's
Straits, (I beg pardon, the Messenger and Review, perhaps, in-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCXUx

Kingston and elsewhere, would go far to make good
the navigation of the St. Lawrence ; and nothing
more can be required to have these safely disposed
of, but a plain agreement with the United States,
that the breaking up shall be mutual and simul-
taneous.

The late invasion of Canada by the people of ihe
United States, was a burst of madness, of which
these people are now ashamed, and which never
would be repeated, were Canada independent of
British Ministry. All of us rejoice in the inde-
pendence of South America, now secured by years
of civil war; and with that country there is now
every reason to believe we shall cultivate a most
friendly and profitable intercourse. How glorious
would it be for Britain, while opportunity yet re-

tend to keep possession of Hudson's Bay), — with the whole coast
then from Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico, in the possessicn of
an enemy, she might as wtU abandon at once the West India
Islands and he whole trade to Terra Firuia, north of Cape Roque.
Perhaps the iloqueul writers of the Edaiburgh Review will be
able to persuade Russia to suiFer her to trade to the Baltic.
Franco and Holland will not annoy her coasts ; and Spain, Italy,
and Turkey, particularly after Russia gets a free pasjsage through
the Dardanelles, may allow her to go to the Mediterranean, As
to the trade to India, America will be able to look to that, once
thai she has possession of the West India Islands.

" But go they must," says the magnanimous writer of the Messen-
ger : "let us make the best bargain.'* Go it must then, your national
honour, your national security. Make the best bargain with your
conquerors, with a world that envies and hates you, and take good

secunties.

" A. B."

-i

.i.l

cccl

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

mains, to grant independence to North American
colonies ! how glorious for her to enjoy the immor-
lal honour ot' being the first nation upon earth to do
justice to her progeny, — the first truly entitled to
the endearing appellation oi' parent State!

.' .( ;

:'. li

; POSTSCRIPT,

(Chiefly for after litfertnce and Discussion.)

t
f

=asr

-i HERE is sometliing in the foggy atmosphere,
the monotony, or, 1 know not what, of London,
uncongenial to one who has been accustomed to
a country life — to air and exercise in the fields.
Since the day on which i was made prisoner at
Niagara, my health has not been so good as in
November last. In December it declined, and by
the middle of that month, beset with vexations,
such as I ho))e no other individual has experience
of, I became totally unfit for business, and could
have no relief but in a fourth flight to the country.
My plan was to devote a week to this, and Wilt-
shire presented objects of attraction. I have still
a farm there, which, in duty to others, I must look
after: there my acquaintance is extensive; and
there, the interests of the poor recur to my recol-
lection, as connected with the chief destiny of
my life. At Salisbury, Devizes, and Warminster,
on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, I calculated
on conversing with the farmers, and seeing how it
went with them. I could inform myself as to the
situation of the poor of Wily on Sunday.; and re-
turn to London within the week ; leaving behind

mtf^

wKimn wmw

'^^ t

I M

ccclii

GENERAL INTUODUCTION.

ine an Address to the people of Wiltshire for pub-
lication in the Salisbury Journal, respecting my
character and conduct, during a residence of seven
years among them, that notoriety might aid me in
petitioning for inquiry, as to my treatment abroad,
and for my return to Upper Canada. Thus 1 had
contrived ; and all seemed well contrived for di-
verting the mind from unprofitable cares. After
a week's delay, from incessant rains, I set off on
Christmas eve. An accident arrested my course:
laid me up by the way ; stiffened me with rheu-
matism: deranged all my plans; and detained me
three weeks, instead of one, in the country. Thus,
to use the words of our Scottish bard :

" The best laid schemes o' mice and men
•' Gang aft a-gly."

The prolonged time was not, however, entirely
lost. Perhaps it was all for the best ; and that is
a maxim which unfortunate man should continually
recur to. With more time I saw more, and con-
versed more ; and thought more of what 1 saw and
conversed about. Alas, the farmers ! How many
of them, even in Wiltshire, where they are most
substantial; with great farms, and great flocks,
and great ricks, and great barns ; even in Wiitsliire,
how many of them pant with the dread of losing
their all : how many, indeed, have already lost
every thing ; and now only hang on the mercy of
landlords, themselves hanging by a thread — amort-
gage foreclosing!! Rents behind: trade'sman's
bills unpaid : a bad sample to go to market with ;

GHNERAL INTUODUCTION.

cccliii

and even with the best, the market had. These
are now auhjects of retlectioii for the English far-
mer, while he lavs himself down to rest, and can
find none. How infinitely more to he pitied is he,
than the Canadian farmer! He eannot rise from
ruin by mere mannal labour: down once, and
down for ever: this day lording it over the poor;
to-morrow a pan per. But who were so regardless
in times of prosperity, as English farmers? who
Iiad so little public spirit, or feeling? and even now
the mass of them only despond ; or worse than de-
spondency, at thesuggestion ofstupid landlords, sign
irregular petitions for increased duties on imported
corn ! 1 saw this actually going on at Warminster.
1 saw a good sort of a man runjii ng about among
the market tables with a great parchment, soliciting
signatures. Imported corn has not affected our
markets for years; but no matter for that. Corn
Bills must be amended!! While part of our far-
mers sign petitions for duties, others are for no
taxation whatever!! One Lord (Chichester), bids
farmers trust to individual exertion on their farms ! !
Another (Fitzwilliam), lets down his rents 35 per
cent.*! I While Mr. Cobbett enjoys the madness a; id

'* On the subject of renis^ the following letter, which I
h»d published in March, 1815; will speak for ine:

To the Editor of the i^alisbury Journal.

SIR,

111 your last Journal, aa article under the head Corn Bill

. ■ *. fl|'lfy t M fff^iB W w '■ y j iiX . 11 ^ i^ _ i y |hi|^M W i ^ www' H

"".A">v-vtr!'fe";'*.iV'-

.'•'^i.ftf^t^^ri'tw: HAiair^-^-s.*' I

cccliv

GBNr.RAL INTRODUCTION.

confusion : in Sussex to-day : in Norfolk to-mor-
row; and next day in Huntingdon. To be sure,

appears, as setting forth your own opinions and arguiuenU ;
and in the same paper Mr. IJleek favours ns vviili lii'-i.

Botli of you, I coneeive, are fundamentally wrong. Botii,
however, have written in that ^erious and argumentative style,
which, while it entitles you to respect, demands investigation
and exposure the more.

You do not want the Corn Bill anjended : neither do I :
but the reasoning is very different upon which wc rest our
opinions. Both of you treat the question as if it lay between
individuals, I'he mere sinking of rent, you think competent
to relieve the country. This is a very dangerous error; and
the more so, as it inveigles the passions of a numerous body
of men. TJiose in possession of money naturally think this
money will be greatly increased in value with the lowernig
of bread; and this will certainly be the case, so far, with
money sccuicd on land mortgage. Not so that capital which
is invested in the funds ; and which is out of sight the greater
proportion. The security of this vast capital must rest on
the present factitious state of things; and rv.nt is part of
the material which maintains this state. The partial fall of
rent would weaken this security : and a great fall would
occasion a convulsion, which might blow up the very foun-
dation of funded property. Rent is a substantial prtiperty ;
not optional, or relying on credit. Uemove all the machi-
nery which draws from land so much wealth to the public-
remove the tenantj his stock and labourers, still a handsome
rent or increase may remain to the landlord. In many cases,
even while markets were high, landlords found more protit
from their lands in grass than they could obtain by the inter-
ference of a tenants skill, capital, and industry.

The public, therefore, may be greatly mistaken if they take

■T

GKNF.H M. INTRODUCTION'.

crciv

imachi-
)ublic :
idsome
cases,
I? piorit
p inter-

tuke

the ensuinj^ session must aUbrd ua a lively scene
of conflicting interests. The landed interest at

it for giaiitod that rent is subject tj such lowciiug, as to
reUevu the general pressure; or, that lamIIt)ril>J uuiy be
driven to b<'at under, for the aggrandjzoincnt of others.
They may for a time not reaKue their accustonuxl incomes ;
but landed pioperly will over remain valuable, even ainid.-it
the wreck of every other; and would bound, perha[)s, above
its present pitch, if any convulsion should throw off iho
national debt.

The grand practical question, I conceive, for all who
would not look with an envious eye on the pro})erty of others,
nor desire to see the bonds of society broken up, nor public
faith violated, is to consider lu)w the causes may be removed
which have accumulated our burdens, and repressed our
industry. In my opinion, we have here such scope, that the
people want but virtuous resolution to put all to rights.
Down with all taxes wdiich affect industry, ami let them rest
on rents and idle capital : conunu'ic tithes ; and devise
measures, which may be very simple, for the abolition of
pauperism.

These would be virtuous and eflicieut efforts ; and I shall
ever be ready to assist you and Mr, 13. in bringing them to
bear. So far from our national debt disheartening us, we
shoidd look to it as the pledge of what our national industry
can effect; for not one farthing of it was created but through
the means of industry ; and the same industry, continued
and husbanded, may discharge it honourably at no distant

'hiy*

Why then run foul of each other? Why talk of levels, while

an inguUing surge unfairly beats us down f Why look back

to form odious comparisons between* landed and funded

projierty ? ,

Iliul not every one a constant c'iioice in the investmetit

z 2

:^ \^

\ '

ccclvi

OENKKAI. IN I'HOIUCTION.

death's door, coming alive, and getting turiotis.
The mouied men still conlidont; and nrmisters at

i 1

^ I

of his property ? The question is for the futuiu time, aiul
prompt liecisioii is the very soul of our delivery. A maim-
facturer turns the ^later from his mill wheel, and in one in-
stant his motion is r ^t : he discharges \m hands, and each
has a parish to turn to : he balances his books ; putj his
capital to interest, and retires to politics, and olium cunt
dignUale. Different, indeed, is the farmer. His capital is
aunk in the soil, and upon stock which must remain for years
to reproduce it ; and if he failw at a single term, his landlord
may take advantage of embarrassment, and reap the harve&t
which he did not sow. He cannot profitably withdraw. He
cannot safely proceed, '^ and half a tillage stints the sntiling
plain,"

For God*s sake, let no one think that agriculture can be
sported with. A year's ruin among farmers may derange the
ecoHomy of many after it ; ami lay the foundation of a
thousand troubles. If all the wealth, which it has afforded the
nation of late years, has been extorted by taxation, and Hung
to waste, that should not beget prfjudice against agricul-
turists. The devouring fiend sliould be slain, but the indus-
trious producer protected and cherished.

The blow up of the nefarious Warminster meeting, gave,
I believe, general satisfaction even among farmers ; and as
1 was absent from the county, at that time, I seized the
earliest opportunity, after my return, to thank Mr. 1?. for his
well-timed aid in the public cause. I also enjoyed his first
letter. His second does not coincide with my ideas. Had
I the farm he instances, which by fajlen prices may not] now
be worth half the rent I had agreed to pay for it, I should
contract my cultivation, or, perhaps lay the farm entirely
down to grass, so that if 1 did lose upon the rent, my loss
should not be increased by voluntary labour, vvhich could

r.ENF.iiAL iNTRoniJCTioN. crclvii

9. non-plus, 01 only putting oH the ovil cJay with
follow expedients. How like to the time spokeu

not be balanced by ailditioiial produce. This is very dif-
tc'ient from " lnUiiig it lay waste, prodiioing only docks and
lliistley." I am sorry ho should havo said any thing about
^rtiticial scarcity having arisen out oi' increased capital, and
thrashing rnai hitiea. My opinion is quite the reverse. Had
it not been for the. increased capital of late years applied
to agriculture, and the facility of meeting, by thrashing ma-
chines, the sudden demands of a Mar time, prices would have
been higher than tliey were. Notwithstanding the increase
of capital^ it never yet has been sufficient to do the general
business of the country, as it oitght to be done; and the
dispatch which machines gave to farmers in bringing their
<x)rn U) market immediately after harvest, had the double
effect of lowering prices, and encouraging farmers to advance
into speculation with too slender capitals. Farmers, ge-
nerally, never can be monopolists, and it must always be for
the country's good when they are enabled to keep on a full
istock. The misfortune both for farmers and the country,
of late vears, has been the small stock on hand. Whde the
taxes of late years, have kept down the farmers' profits,
even in the midst of monstrous prices, the vast idle popu-
lation maintained by these taxes, has devoured the plenty
which his increased skill and industry were continually ch-
deavouring to create. It is our taxes which impoverish all ,
which devour alL Why then should we turn our eyes from
the taxes, and have them wander among delusive arguments ?
Let us leave off arguing, where all is notoriety. Let us
leave off envyings in this land of freedom. Let us leave off
strife, where there is but one cause. Let us all go up as
friends to Salisbury next Wednesday, and with peaceable

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

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ccclviii

GRNEUAL INTRODUCTION.

of by Mr. Hume, in his Essay, on Public Credit,
when " Necessity calls, fear urges, reason exhorts,
compassion alone exclaims ;" and yet how easily
could all be held in pence and security, were reason
alone consulted. We want employment for the
idle: we want consumption : wo want money and
enterprise ; and we may have them all. We want
retrenchment in wasteful expenditure; but expen-
diture increased to the utmost on profitable objects:
we want "better soils to cultivate*:" we want
rents reduced by the market price of wheat : we
want industry relieved by withdrawing taxes from
necessaries : we want our national credit sustained
by upholding a due balance between substantial
and fictitious stock, by taxing rents and interest:
we want the way prepared for unbounded freedom
of trade : we want tithes commuted ; and a reform of

dispositions, but determined voice, proclaim — no taxes on
iudusUy — no corn bill.

This, Sir, is my luiiguage before the public ; but let not
the public misconstrue it. Let them mark its order; for
there rests the safety of all. If the public oppose the corn
bill, and do nothing more, they bring ruin on the country : —
they

" Rob us of that which not enriches them,
J " And makes us poor indeed."

Robert Gouhlav.
Deptford Farm, March 3, 1815.

* This, 1 think, is said by Col. Torreus, the most impartial,
ingenuous, and argumentative of the half-hundred writers on Com
Laws. '-'" '>t '-^^

GENERAL INTRODUCTION,

:Cclix

the poor-laws, connected with a grand system pf
emigration.

What I said above as to English farmers holding
out in tliese trying times worse than Scotch far-
mers, I lind confnincd. What lias been reported
in newspapers about poor-rates diminishuig, 1 can
again say, with greater conlidence, ia a wretched
delusion. The burdeu is every day increasing.
It cannot be otherwise. The paupers are breeding
amain, and so it must be while the premium is
continued for the breeding of paupers. Salisbury,
containing less than 9,000 people, has i2,000 poor
maintained by a rate of 125. in the pound. The
whole of the Hannel weavers once kept busy by sup-
plying the Spanish market, are now entirely out of
work: to be sure, because Spaniards are now
siraking oft' incumbrances, which repressed their
own industry ; — priests and a world of abomination.
With Lord Bathurst's good will, I could relieve
Salisbury of its burden, and make independent men
of the flannel weavers. I could remove them to
Upper Canada, and make them llourish there ; but
what will rouse Lord IJathurst to any thought of
benevolence ! how shall we get the camel through
the needle's eye !

I attended a vestry meeting at Wily, and saw
the poor have their fortnight's dole. Mercy on
us! what a group of poor creatures! It is greatly
worse with them now than five years ago, when I
resided in Wiltshire. Before gorng out to Canada,
1 spoke lo my friend Wilkie about making " Pay-
ing iHJi I'ooR OF WiLY,'^ » subject for his

iikitiMimammmttiimm^mimittiiltmmKiimKiff

jcclx

(GENERAL IM'UODUCTION.

pencil. I thought of thus getting attention to the
t'fi'ect of the poor-laws, in degrading our species,
in diminishing the stature, and worsting the ap-
pearance of God's iinnge. Were the system of
poor-laws to continue thirty years longer, the la-
bourers of Wiltshire would scarcely have the ap-
pearance of men : they would bo shrunk to no-
thing: they would not only grow up, as now,
without calves to their legs, but they would be dis-
torted — diseased — downcast. Perhaps they would
prove Lord Monboddo's hypothesis to be sound*.
If the writer on poor laws in last Edinburgh JRe-
viewy did but see the progress of the evil as I do,
he would not coolly admit of a poor relief bill
being put off for years. An effort must be made
for deliverance from this frightful evil, and the
sooner the better.

I have found Mr. Scarlett's proposal for a max-
imum every where scouted ; and the assertion of
my petition (page cc'xxxv), that refusing relief
for children without making up to the poor some
substantial advantage in lieu of it, woidd certainly
lead on to insurrection. 1 have found, what 1 am
glad of, that there are, even Wiltshire farmers, who
now approve of my plan of granting a little land
to the poor. They are yet, however, opposed to
education. In Wily, there is a school with twenty

♦ Lord Monbodilo, a Scotcli jiidgo, maintained that men had
improved from monkeys: that they had once t.uls; and said that
on« of his own doniestita still had a btuaip itMnaining.

■■|f««t « |>l »M » |>lHII%ji ' "" lii , i tl . W*

en had
id that

fJENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ccdxi

children ; but thoiii^h the farmers were willing to
let poor children attend, many of the parents are
unable to pay the charge of 6d. a week. The in-
formation which I '•eceived in April last (see note,
page cxxii), as to the school established in Wily
by labourers, I have now got corrected. Stephen
White, Joseph White, Philip liennet, labourers;
with the assistance of Mr. Brandis, schoolmaster,
and a person from another parish, have the merit
of upholding- this school, in spite of opposition.
It is a Sunday's school. Nearly 100 children
attend regularly, and receive great benefit. I again
ask, " Should such people not be assisted by go-
vernment?*'

.Select vestries have been established in a good
many parishes in Wilts, under the act of 59 Geo.
III. chap. 11, 12. There is one at Wily. The farmers
find them convenient. To be sure they are now
made judges in their own can "^ ; and there is no
summoning of overseers. Convenient, indeed !
The tyranny ol the poor-laws has been strengthened
by it; but better is the absolute power of the
farmer over the poor thaii the wretched vacillating-
will of magistrates, especially reverend ones, which
used to decide in petty sessions.

A /i7//c improvement on the f/reni badst/slem^ has
been made since I was resident in Wily parish, by
paying the poor by what is called " the scale.'' In-
stead of each member ol a family getting a gallon
loaf and threepence: a man is allowed the loaf and
sixpence: a woman, and children above twelve
years of age, the loaf and fourpencc : children from

' '1

■ I

mmtrnhM t p ' ^ w m I <mi0 t I

I H iiOIM K ti r aiU n i i , i B iia wn II

ccclxii

GENERAL INTRODUCTION,

! i

4 if

'( I

eight to twelve years of age, the loaf and twopence;
and children under eight years of age, the loaf
alone. This certainly is an improvement on the
artificial system ; but the desideratum is to get quit
of artifice. This scale suggests a gradual raising of
men's wages and diminution of the children's al-
lowance, and it would be well thus gradually to
proceed till the artificial practice was extinct.
Let Mr. Scarlett notice this, and \ shall tell him
more when willing to listen. / . .^^

The Lord of the Manor of Wily, who used never
to concern himself about the parish poor, has now
taken a little thought on the subject. He has re-
peatedly visited the parish ; and tried to collect
pennies from the poor labourers to put into a
savings bank for clothing them ! Notwithstanding
this ffreat effort, it is very palpable to my observa-
tion, that the poor of Wily are now even more
ragged than they used to be. When the poor re-
ceive the fair and natural price of their labour, di-
rectly from their employers, savings-banks may be
rendered of infinite consequence: till then, and
while parish regulations equalize the pay of weak
and strong ; — when nothing but the minimum of
misery is allowed, relief by savings-banks is but
mockery.

My prolonged stay in Wiltshire afforded me op-
portunity of conversing with Mr. John Combes of
Fovant, who with a party visited Mr. Birkbeck, in
Illinois, September, 1818. I had seen an account
of this visit, published in American newspapers,
from the Observer London paper, of 17th January,

GENEBAl. INTRODUCTION.

ccclxiii

1819, wherein it was insinuated tliat Mr. Birkbeck
had been inattentive to his visitors. I was very
sure that the account was incorrect, and so I found
it to be from my conversation with Mr. Com!)es ;
who said that it was " harsh.'* Mr. H. had no
means of acconmiodating visitors. Mr. C. ad-
mired the country; but found it unhealthy, which
all new countries are at first clearing, south of la-
titude 45". north, getting more and more so, as we
proceed southward. Mr. C. does not doubt of Mr.
J], succeeding, and told me he would make a for-
tune if a certain public road was conducted through
his estate. Mr. C. decidedly i)rcfers the western to
the eastern states for settlement.

I had the following Address inserted in the
Salisbury Journal of January 14th, 1822.

To the People of Wiltshire. ^

Having visited this County, partly on business and partly
(HI the recovery of health, I have taken occasion to post
hand*bills in the several towns of ^Vulmins:er, Salisbury,
and Devizes, printed for me in March, 18 iG, by Messrs.
Brodie and Dowding, and setting forth, that, " a properly
tax on RENTS and interest is that, and that alone, bj/
which the country can be preserved in peace."

This act, taken by itself, may be considered frivolous :
taken in connexion with circumstances, 1 hope it may be
viewed quite otherwise. Permit me to explain. In the
spring of 4816, having a company dining with me at the
Antelope, in Salisbury, a person introduced himself, and
asked us to subseribe a requisition for a county meeting to
petition against the continuance of the property tax. The
requisition was already signed by Wm. Gobbett and Henry

ffi

?! :

i ;

f\'

flxiv

GENERAL INTRODrCTlOK.

Hunt; and it was indeed Mr. Hunt who had employed (he
person to solicit our names. I said^ that if a county meet-
ing \va8 called, 1 .should oppose the Requi&itiunistS; and vote
for a well modified property lax. The meeting was held :
Messrs, Cohbett and Hunt carried all before them; and
ilunisands of poor men, who never Mere affected by any
kind of properly tax, and to whom a rousing tax on rents and
interest would have been the greatest blessing, cheered,
with their utmost breath, the resolutions of the day ! ! 1 was
quite aware how it would go ; but having very deeply con-
sidered the subject, was desirous to register my opinion lor
after reference. A natural defect disqualitits me for public
speaking, and fur that reason 1 had the bill in question
printed off while the people were assembling, to give it
into their hands from the hustings. The resolutions of the
county meeting were most irregularly and unbecomingly
opposed by a counter petition to parliament, and, in con-
sequence of this, I wrote an article, which was published in
the Salisbury Journal of 1st Apiil, 1816.

JJeing in Upper Canada in 1818, f found that country, by
nature the finest ii' America, completely ruined, in ray
opinion, by mal-administration, and advised the people to
send home a commission to entreat the government to cor-
rect existing evils. This proposal brought upon me the
wrath of men in power, and on false allegations they had
me arrested in two different districts. I was twice tried,
twice pleaded for myself, and twice honourably acquitted.
Soon after this, the London Courier of the 8th July, 1818,
arrived in the province, setting forth that I ** was one of
the worthies who escaped after the disgraceful proceedings
of Spa-helds." This mosit infamous falseiiood was instantly
seized upon by my enemies as the ground-work of fresh per-
secution. The UK st atrocious calumnies were fabricated
to injure my character, and it was publicly declared that
" / and Huni had the death of Cashman to answer for."
1 was now again arrested, under colour of a statute, applica-

•WW*

ORNKRAL INTROnUrTION.

ccclxv

ble only to aliens; and, the leading charges being, ihat I
knew Messrs. Cobbett and Hunt, and had been at Spa-
fields meeting, I was ordered to leave the province. In my
right as a British subject, I refused to obey, and was then
committed to jail, \\here I remained without benefit of bail,
for nearly eight months. During the last six weeks of this
period, being closely shut up in a cell, while the weather was
intolerably hot, cut off from all communication with the
press, and for sonie time denied free conversation N\ilh law
counsel, and even magistrates of my acquaintance, my health
declined, and my mental energies became altogether weak.
At the assizes I was brou^^ht up for trial, but the fresh air
proved too much for me. I forgot that 1 had a protest ui
my pocket against trial, under the alien law, consented to
trial in a state approaching to delirium, and was banished,
not for any crime, but merely because of my refusal to leave
the province. ^ '

While yet in expectation of a fair trial on some specific
charge for crime, I sent to England for a copy of the Salts-
bury Journal of the 1st of i\pril, l£lf), to prove how
very opposite I was in political opinion to Messrs. Cobbett
and Hunt ; but though this arrived in time, and I had with
me a pamphlet published in England, wherein I deprecated
such great irregular meetings ns those Spa-fields, all
went for nothing. Before my ^ ^ I was desirous to an-
nounce to the public my receipt c the Salisbury Journal
of 1st April, IBI6, together with the opinion of Sir Arthur
Piggott, that I was illegally imprisoned; but though appli-
cation was made to the Sheriff for this liberty, it was refused,
and on my trial a feeble effort to produce the newspaper
was immediately resisted by the Attorney-General : su( h
was the dread of my enemies at once to prevent my reputa»
tion from being maintained, and their own wickedness, in
holding me in jail for a mock trial, being made known.

I wish not to be invidiously distinguished from any
man or set of men in politics : not even from Messrs. Cob-

' i

■it

:«;

ccclxvi

GENF.UAL INTRODUCTION.

bctt and Hunt. I am as zealous for parliamentary reform
as they, and have long been so ; but it ^o happe iis that
there is not in I^ngland an individuul more hostile to their
means of bringing about reform than myself. I wish it ac-
complished without the intervention o. passion or force; — by
peaceful, orderly, and manly nu;usurcs ou die part of those
M'ho desire it.

Having by no means givt n up hopes of getting inquiry
instituted into the state of Upper Canada : having views of
still holding connexion with that country; and being bound
in duty to myself and family to uphold my character both
at home and abroad^ the object ui this Address, to wiuch the
posting of the bills was merely intended as an introduction,
is to challenge scrutiny and exposure in this county, where
I resided for upwards of seven years, regarding my conduct
or connexions — my private and my public life ; and 1 do
challenge my bitterest enemy to say aught to my discredit.

I came to Wiltshire, not as a common farmer in search
of a livelihood, for I was then independent of all professional
exertion, and my ujliniate failure arose from no fault of
mine. I came to reside iu Wiltshire iu the year 1809^
chiefly with a view practically to study the system of the
Poor Laws, a subject to which 1 became devoted in 1801,
in consequence of being then employed by the Board of
Agriculture to inquire into means for bettering the condi-
tion of the poor ; and it is also a fact, that my efforts in
Upper Canada were stimulated by a desire to have that
delightful country thrown open to a grand system of emi-
gration, in connexion with a plan for the reform of the
Poor Laws. - » - ^< ;■•

It is two years since 1 returned irom America, and during
these two years I have struggled under miserable health and
accumulating distress of every kind, to reach a great and
a good end, altogether distinct from that of any other po-
litical projector: my opinions are altogether peculiar to
myself j nor had 1 ever in Britain a single associate iu

GRNERAh INTROnUC TION.

ccclxvii

polilics. 1 iiiive now in tli«: pre'^s, and nearly reaily for pub-
lication, tintc volinncii ie<;aiiiing lippur Canuilu and the
Poor Laws of Enulund, which will go some length to
Hpcak, nut only for the purity, but coiisisiency unti niagni-
tmie, of my views. Sorry 1 am, that worn out with sicicen-
ing cares umi adversity, my powers of execution have fallen
short of their oliject, tind have become too feebh; for the
mighty cuuhc which I desire to plead, — the cause of llu^
lM)gli>li poor, and of a benighted province of tlie British
Empire. . '

Since my return home I have twice petitioned Parliament
on these joi'it subjects, and during the ensuing Session
shall resume my suit, besides mukiiig appeal as to my in-
dividual sufterings in Upper Canada, which has been delayed
for want of witnesses, now happily within reech. In such
cases, before a British Pailiament, an individual can have
little chance of hearing without the aid of public notoriety
and fervor iu his behalf, ?»nd I shall not hide my anxious
desire to be thus assisted. In Wiltshire I am sure there
arc many who wish me well. A suitor at once in r ^reat
public cause, and for my birth- right, as a native Briton,
perhaps I may even take advantage of an incident, which
otherwise, so far as I was concerned, might have rested in
silence, — an incident which will testify that I can feel for
another as well as for myself — that 1 am not destitute oi
sincerity. Coming hither from London on the night of the
24th ult. in the Old Salisbury Coach, a poor man was found
drowning in the flood near Stuines. I hastened to hi.>i! relief,
and plunging thrice to the neck, rescued him from a watery
grave*. May I hope, from this incident, to strengthen belief,

* The accident alluded to, page ccclii. — About two miles
from Staines, a gravel pit runs for some distance alongside of
the high way, unguarded with post and rail. This was tilled
with water, and overflowed to sodic dititunce round by the flood

in 11

MMlMMMr*'

rccixviii

(;enkral introduction.

when I declare, that for twcnty-oiie years I have been de-
voted to the cause of the poor ut England; and that in

then rwiiig, which in u few days afterwardH inundated the wliole
country in that (junrlor, to a degree unprect'dj'ntcd. A London
pORtbuy, lost in the «lark, hnd drove liis currinpf o(Vth<' road, and
overturned it in tht'prnvel pit. Part of two wlioelnonly were vi»i-
ble above tho water's Hurface, nnd the poor iniin, upheld by the pole
or horses, beneath him, stood immersed to th»' lipa, and had mo
ntood for about half un hour, roaring out most piteously. Our
coach drawing up, I hastened out of it to get to the man ; but
linking into tho pit beyond my depth, and beiug no owimmcr,
I escaped with difllculty ; thou secured from fatal consequences
by the coacit traces tied together, and round my body, I suc-
ceeded in dragging the man ashore. Hearing that the Road
Commiasionera had often been unavaiiingly complaiuedof for their
neglect in leaving so dangerous a place unguarded, I wrote to
a friend in town an account of th^ alTair, calculated to uttraet
notice to this neglect, bidding him give it for insertion in the
Newspaper, but withholding names. The account appeared in
the Morning Chronicle of 29th December, and beim* itnme-
diately copied into other papers, had the desired effect. On re>
turning to town, I found the following letter published in the
Statesman of 3d January, 1822.

Sir,

To the Editor of (he Statesman.

Having observed in your paper of last night, an account
of an accident to a carriage and horses, and the driver, which hap-
pened near Staines on Christmas t vej I beg leave, as proprietor
of that equipage, to return, through your means, my most grateful
acknowledgments to your correspondent, the gentleman passen-
ger by the Salisbury coach, to whose humane, prompt, and per-
severing endeavours, I am indebted for the recovery of the car-
riage and one of the horses; and my servant, the driver, for his
rescue from the perilous situation into which he was thrown, by
the shameful neglect of the Commissioners of Roads, of that

r.RNRKAL INTROnrrTION.

rcclxix

Upper Ciiitadn I nevrr cntcrtaiiu'H u dcKirr cither diMlnyu I
or in uny way iiupurc— ihai my every effort there wns bent

le nnoeii<

on making tliut country u profitable und honourubl

dage to the parent State, instead of a burden and reproach,

which, hitherto, most asiturodly it has been.

ROBIUtr GOURLAY.

Wily, Wills, \)th J anutn'j/,\Q^<i.

The article ahovc spokcui of, as piiMishrd in tlie
Salisbury .louriial of 1st April, 1&16, was this.

To the Editor of the ixiUshury ami Winchester Juurnal.
hiR,

Your last Journal contains the Resolutions of a
meeting of thin county, regularly caiUid togeUier by the
sheriir, and countenanced by his presince. It also contains
a petition of individuals affecting to be noblemen, ekrgyuien,
gentlemen, and freeholders of Wilts.

district. I think it proper to add, that my sense of ilit; duty I

owe to the public at lar{;<.', has induced ihh to direct iii) Solicitor

to make apjdication, in il)«' proper qunricr, for redres^t, and hope

it may be the moans of preveniing the recurrence of nimitur ae*

cidents in future.

1 ain, very resptt^lfully,

Sir, your obedient servant,

CHARLES GATES.

Adam Street, fVest, Bryanstone Square.
Sunday, December 30, 18? I,

Though I have not yet quite recovered from the efleeta of my
cold bath, the satisfaction of having saved the life of a fellow
creature, is quite equivalent to my damage ; and at a gloomy mo-
ment of existence, such satisfaction I prize the more. But for
the coincidence, that I was on a journey to Wiltshire, to up|>eal
to the public as to uprightness of principle and conduct, the
aifair should certainly not have been repeated widi my HigUiiltire.

a a

\ u,

■ II IMl Wl l l| »L «li W*« l|i H) i 'Wi ' »W -

I I-

','■^

ccclxx

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

' The resolnt'ons of the meeting, set forth certain opinions,
in language |j. aited and strong. The petition disavows the
principles of these resolutions, and stigmatizes the supporters
of them as factious men. ••^f wi '

Having, at the county meeting, openly expressed my dis-
approbation of part of its resolutions, 1 conceive that my
right of animadverting on this petition, to which they have
given rise, is so nmch the better; and I do not hesitate to
say, in the face of all who may have signed it, noblemen,
clergymen, gentlemen, and freeholders, that if the county
resolutions were in any thing wrong, this petition is infinitely
more censurable.

1 am not one who have either much relish for county
meetings, or much hope of good from them ; yet, as they
are constitutional, and have for ages afforded the chief op-
portunity for the expression of public opinion, 1 must say
it omens ill, to see individuals, whoever they may be, running
from these meetings fo arrogate to themselves superior
virtues, and presuming not only 'o throw discredit and ob-
loquy on the combined sentimen j of their follow subjects,
but loading deserving characters v^ h insidious and reproach-
ful languagf.

Who, 1 would ask, is entitled ' fix the standard of sen-
timent ? Or rather, who are facti' is men ? They who attend
to the call of the sheriff, and e )ress, under his auspices,
their opinions ? Or they who f to all the corners of the
county to fin<l strength for scanOanzing, in parliament, the
result of regular proceedings t

The universal excuse is, that Hunt and Cobbett should
not be countenanced ; and a more wretched plea cannot
possibly be set up.

Almost in every quarter of the kingdom meetings were
held to oppose the propetty tax. In Wiltshire there was no
movement towards this, till Mr. Hunt came forward, and
procured a meeting. If it was right elsewhere to hold
meetings, it was right here. If it was virtuous in other

'^'• e^v! V f * M ' mw> i »mi0mr!i! t n' 'fi m

■■ '* ' <i |Wj ili K>W ii H Mui n l ii K i ii i»«i i i ]» ■

GICNKRAI. INTUODLCTION. Cccixxi

individuals to call for the expression of public opinion, it
was so in Mr. Hunt. If the public duties of a county are
neglected by those who should be foremost to perform them,
surely such persons should be the last to complain wheu
these duties are peifornitd by others.

What is it that makes Mr. Hunt popular in Wiltshire, but
the advantage he liuds in neglected duty i He and Mr. Cob-
be.tt do not deny this. The latter declared at the meeting-,
that he would not trouble himself in this quarter if the
gentlemen would do their duty. Have they done their
duty ? Are they now doing it by vamping up this counter
petition ? Quite the reverse. If they had aoy public opinion,
the county meeting aflorded tlie genuine opportunity for the
expression of such opinion; and, after neglecting tJie fair
opportunity, all opposition is clearly unbecoming and fac-
tious.

The county meeting was open to all : whoever set it on
foot, whoever attended it, made no diiVercnce, — it was still
the county meeting ; and wheu past, its dcttrmiiiation re-
mains that of >he county, and as such should be reapectod.

If the gentlemen of Wilts wish to oppose the opinions of
Mr. Cobbett or Mr. Hunt, why should they be afraid to
come forward r If they had done bo upon this occasion,
most assuredly the present resolutions would have been
negatived, or at least gicaiiy modified, and a cluick would
have been given to the sway of Mr. Cobb«^tt and Mr, Hunt.
How has it been in Hampshire ? There tliey have icipeatedly
made their appearance, but they have been opposed — con-
stitutionally and successfully opposed. Jn VVilUshire they
carry all before tbem; and for their opponents m political
opinion, there seems no consolation but in ibe prostrations
of a passive spirit to one party, and the disgorging of spleen
towards another. ' '

These frank declarations may give ofFence; biU I speak
for myself only, and wish to command no coovictioD but
what reason and reflection can approve.

a a £

a I >

(II :

i .

f s ,

ccclxxii

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

I do not hesitate to say, that in many things I cordially
agree with Mr. Cobbett : in some I would oppose him with
all my might. He cannot wish more than 1 do for par-
liamentary reform ; he cannot express too strongly for my
taste an abhorrence for military despotism; hut when he
comes forward with a scheme for relieving the pecuniary
embarrassments of the nation, which is to take a retrospec'
live view of transactions, and call for the refunding of pro-
perty out of the peculation and waste of times that are gone,
not only my faith in his sincerity is lessened, but my blood
runs cold with the imagination of such dangerous fallacy.
While his scheme would be inefticient for the end in view,
it would subject thousands of the innocent to misery : it
would introduce a reign of terror.

. Mr. Cobbett has, for months past, in his Political Re-
gister, engaged the attention of his readers with the subject
of national remedies; and here he has displayed his usual
acuteness and penetration in exposing the errors of others.
When it conies to this his own wii's-end on the subject, with
w!>at niclancholy sensations of every kind must we be in>-
pressed ? '

Mr. Cobbett's idea of refunding is not of recent date,
though only now formally declared. He has hinted at it for
years ; and it is truly astonishing, that a mind so superior
could have so long harboured a thought so delusive. No
man knows better than he does the vast resources of this
country ; and how easily the burdens of the people could
be lightened without any retrospective law, merely by just
and economical arrangement. He knows that the very ex-
ister."'* of our enormous debt is the best pledge that we have
resources for paying i! off; and he cannot be ignorant that,
with stable credit, price would rise to equalize so far the
present ruinous disproportion between real and fictitious
property. ; ' V : c*'^'

•' My notions as to the remedy for national distress have
been long stationary. Last year, in a printed letter^ I con-

;- ..

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCclXXlH

densed them wiihiii this short sentence: " Down with aU
taKes which affect industry, and let them rest on rents and
idle capital; coininute tithes; and devise measures, whick
may be very simple, for the abolition of pauperism." This
year, I read at the late meeting, from a printed hand-bill, the
following scheme, which, as something very extraordinary
must soon be done, is as practicable as any other equally
efficient: —

" A property and income tax is that and that alone by
which the country can be preserved in peace. While it is
withdrawn from the fields of industry, let it remain on the
\va8tes of idlene«8>-~let it atFect only rents and interest, and
let incomes proceeding from these be further taxed, in the
ratio of their ii.c-nase. Lei such incomes at 1,000^. per
annum be charged with one per cent. ; at 2,000/. wilii two
per cent.; and so upwards to UX>,000l. per annum, where
the ratio of increase may safelj/ terminate. This scheme
would admit of all taxes on malt, salt, soap, candles, leather,
bricks, tiles, Sec. &c. being withdrawn. It would sustain
the national credit, check immorality, give spirit to industry,
and make the poor man's face bean» with joy."

ROBERT GOURLAY.

Deptford Farm, March 28, 1816.

ss have
I con-

One reason for my here inserting these news-
paper extracts is, that my Canadian friends (for
such I boast of having, notwithstanding my seve-
rities to them as politicians) may read the simple
document which an illiberal, up-setting Attor-
ney-General would nol suffer to be read iu
court; and see that I r:an challenge scrutiny here
at home ; but my chief object is to draw attention
to these words, '■'• price would rise." To point
to these words now that price has fiUlen, aud

!i I

CCclxxiv G£NEIl4fi INTRODUCTION.

Mr. Cobbett, with Lord Fitzwilliam and others,
have made up their minds that it will fall still
lower, may seem wanton folly; but I shall stick to my
text, and if no malignant star, to borrow a provino
from Mr. Francis Moore, comes in the way, shall
prophesy that they will even rise. There was no
person more thoroughly convinced than I was for
many years before the peace, that price would not
keep up so high as it had been ; but I am as
thoroughly convinced that at this moment it might
have been kept up much higher than it now is;
and the question is vit-ally important. Price de-
pends much upon demand, and demand upon con-
sumption. The price of an article too, is often re-
gulated by the strength to hold. A needy man
can never obtain so high a price for his goods as a
man at ease in his circumstances. Well do I know
it. What has made the price of a farm in Canada
with a log-house, as spoken of above, in the extract
from the Times newspaper, '* less than the usual
law expenses incurred to aflect the sale ^* ? That is
not the natural price, and cannot continue as it is.
The absolute pbverty of the holder has gone so far
to produce the effect; and want of demand, from
stagnation of trade and general poverty, has summed
lip the poor account. Ever since the funding sys-
tem and paper money had existence, theni has, I
presume, been stagnation, and the price of land
and its produce has fallen at the terniination of
war. This happened to a great extent after the
American revolutionary war, and now to a gteater
degree, clearly from a too sudden stop being put to

.^^)!tl^^

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ccclxxv

activity. 1 would have the reader pause, and fix
this very word, octimtt/, in his mind, as important.
The activity of war has destruction tor its main
object: yet in spite of this destruction, — this waste,
such is the virtue of activity that a surplus of gain
may be secured by it. At the end of wars, ac-
tivity, stimulated by the violent passions which
make and maintain them, is too hastily checked.
It is checked from the subsiding of passion, when
it should be excited more and more, only having
its direction changed from destruction and waste to
profitable production. The fall of price was great-
ly owing to the lessening of Government transac-
tions with peace, and the consequent diminished
issue of Government paper. Suppose Government
had continued transactions and expenditure to the
full extent in peace as in war ; only with this dif-
ference, that those to whom they paid out money,
had been employed profitably instead of wastefuUy
— had been industrious farmers and mechanics, in-
stead of soldiers, and officers of soldiers, what now
would have been the issue? Certainly, among
other effects, price would have been kept high, and
all would have been prosi)crous. Every thing, on
the contrary, has l>een done to lower price: trans-
action and excitement have been lessened; con-
sumption has decreased ; industry has pined :

\ " '^^ ''■ '■' ' ■ - •' « It is icUesse all ; '

' i " Knight, and Page, and household Si^uire,"
' • ■ " Loiter I" loiter! loiter!

We may keep up an immense army in peace; we
may pay away forty miUions of interest of debt, to

, i f^

1,1

i.H

; il"

■I •

■

ecclxxvi GENERAL INTAODUCTION.

maintain idlers ; but we cannot do it by idleness ;
and now more than halt' the people of England arc
idle ! Price has increased in modern times, not
merely from the issue of Government paper, but
from the trade of banking. That trade will im-
prove ; and as confidence gets established, will more
and more furnish means for rational and well-digest-
ed adventure. Though taxation and Government
were put down together, and for ever, paper money
would circulate and circulate more and more freely,
as men became more and more worlhv of confi-
dence, by greater intelligence, and more steady
habits. Paper money has not caused the present
distress; but the cessation of that activity which
kept it afloat. This is truly worthy of attention,
and yet it has been entirely kept out of view, or
never thought of. Let profitable employment be
found for all that are willing to work : let Govern-
ment again issue its paper in every direction, where
it can yield a certain return, and, undoubtedly,
mankind may flourish in peace, as well as in war:
undoubtedly we may keep faith, and fulfil our
engagements with public creditors.

When confined in Niagara jail, I addressed the
Representatives of the people of Upper Canada,
about to meet in Parliament, with a view to attract
notice to the principle which 1 ht;re but poorly do
justice to. I shall, now that the British Parliament
is about to meet, copy in my Address, as it was
printed in the Niagara Spectator newspaper, and let
it be exposed to scrutiny, in a country where there
is no want of mental discernment, and at a time

the

jnada,

[tract

lly do

Imeiit

was
id let
It he re
I time

CENfiRAL INTRODUCTION. fcclxxvii

wheii the s\t'iT\t oi' activUi/ should he roused, even
for the salvation of the empire. 1 purposely let my
ideas go loosely before the public. I have full con-
fidence in my fundamental principles, and when I
am attacked, I shall be ready to defend. I have
written below the title posTScaiiT, ^^ chiejlt/ for
after reference and discussion" and I have done so,
inviting challenge. .

NIAGARA SPECTATOR, .JUNE 10, I819.

TO TllJi PARLIAMENTAUY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
PEOPLE OF UPPER CAXAJ)A.

Niagara Jail, 7th June, 18 19.
Gentlemen,
It is a lanicntubie fact, that men will isonietiines continue
to hate those wlioni they have injured, for no other reason,
but because they themselves have already done so much
wrong. Having n)ade this remark, I shall not apply it to any
particular case, but wish that all of us, for the fifture, may be
guarded against a propensity so very dgtestable, and ruinous
to human felicity.

You are this day meeting together, to legislate for your
country •, and I, driving from my memory all past occur-
rences, looking anxiously to the eventful moment, and keep-
ing only one object in view, viz. the general good, have con-
sidered by what means, and lo what end, your labours may
be most beneficially directed. With a mind thus abstracted
and serious, knowing that you are not prepared to go so far as
cs^juld be wished, it seems prudent to confine myself to that
which is most likely of being accomplished. - *

in my earliest reflections upon the political condition of
this province, I saw restraints which greatly retarded its im-
provement, and which seemed so obvious, that 1 could not
doubt ihey would be speedily removed. The greatest im-

■

II' I

CCcUxviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

mediate restraint seemed to arise out of tiie state of property,
to which there appeared a simple and eft'ectual remedy in the
adoption of anew system of taxatiun. To this subject my
attention has been very often directed; and to this I would
now beg leave to call paiticular notice.

It is not vanity to sny that I have, for many years, devoted
much reflection to the subject of taxation, generally. It is
merely stating n fiict ; and liberal minds will admit of my
frankly comminiicating some of the results, without being
moved by this or any other passion.

My reflections have led me to believe, that the chief per-
fection of Government is to Lc looked for in the adoption of
a correct and just system of taxation. This, I am convinced,
may be so regulated, as not only to contribute sufficiently to
every public enterprise, but to connnand the destinies of
pow' :• and property, every way to good.

Mankind have looked with astonishment to the mighty
achievements of England. I'hey have seen her, single-
handed, contending with Europe, — nay, almost with the world
besides; and they have seen her rising in strength as effort
was required; — they have seen her unexpectedly ]iicvail over
innumerable difficulties. Whence has she derived her
strength ? Erom her system of taxation.

In former ages, the energies of our species have been called
forth to war, as furiously as we in our day have, witnessed.
In former ages, we have seen those energies sometimes elicited
by superior genius, and sometimes impelle<l by the influence
of accumulated treasure ; but, till this age, never did the
evanescent skill of the financier fully display its powers ;
never did human policy so completely excite and control
human exertion ; never did waste, to such a degree, induce
excitement; nor excitement so completely supply the de-
vouring jaws of waste.

Often have I wandered in my fields at home, ruminating
on the principle which upheld our national greatness : often
have I indulged the blissful reverie, that it was possible to

ORNERAL INTRODirCTION. CCcIxxix

make tlie snnie principle- operate in time of peace, to the in-
crease jmd enjoyment of our kind, as, in war, it had been bent
on destruction and misery. But where— where, I would soy,
is there room for action ? This littlo island already uverflows
with people : every spot is cultivated — every art driven to
perfection. Arrived in Canada, sarveying its boundless fo-
rests and its noble river, there were at once before me scenes
of action, objects of eniployment, and incitements to exer-
tion. What niore is wanted here, but to give the first
inmetus to motion? And what n»ay not motion effect —
what may not be its wonderful increase i* — But before coming
to the point of action for Canada, let me glance at some of
those circumstances which have enabled England to display
such miglity power. Her system of taxation is not one which
could primarily have bee!', brought into full play; neither
could it at all have been practicable in every country. Eng-
land, happy in her local situation, contains willim herself
more natural advantages than any other spot of equal extent ;
and her population, sufticiently great and dense, is pent up
and secure by the surrounding ocean. In England, honour
and shame are made to toil together. There ambition has
the highest range, and necessity the direst spur : — there, from
poverty to extreme wealth, we behold a highway, but it is
crowded, and only he who labours hard can get on. He
looks behind, and is terrified with want: he casts his eye
before him, and longs for the glittering prize. Competitors
pant by his side : there is health, there is vigour, there is joy
hi the race. Where, in the wide world, do we see mankind
so busy, by night and by day, as in England i In England,
at all events, there must be action, and in action there is gain.
It was from the extraordinary increase of this action, arising
from a variety of causes, that the means were created which
sustained the late war. The Government sent abroad its
armies, and tens of thousands were annually slain ; yet the
waste of life was inferior to the suppiv, and population conti-
nued to increase. The Government squandered its hundreds

.. H >^»WI * «WI— * '*-^'r-r-

4 I

l.'i

1 ■

CCCIXXX GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

of tniiliuiis, but the moiiied means bvcaiiie more and mure
ready at command. In all this, there was no miracle. A lull
inspection of the materinis and luacliinery, is suflicient to ac<
count for the wonderful results.

Mere population, however great, will do nothing without
excitement; nur will wealth alone continuully suatuin exer-
tion. China swurnis with luiman bvings ; but they are things
without passion, — feeble, and tame — loiterers in the paths of
improvement. Spain had her treasury long rcplenisiied from
^lexico and Peru; but her wealth served, ultimately, only to
enervate; and her body politic, as well as her people, be-
came plethoric and dull. England has wealth, directly pour-
ed into her from the West and East indies, besides the gene-
ral profits of trade ; but this wculth Hows not iinmediatoly
into the Treasury. Its course is belter directed. It first
spreads out anion^ the people ; gives pleasure to the rich, au
aim to the ambitious, and employment to the poor. An in-
ward flow of wealth so very great, would be ruinous to so-
ciety, had it no vent : it would tend to repletion, and reple-
tion would induce disease. The war afforded vent to llie
vast surplus of Knglish wealth, as well as for her spare po-
pulation. In one sense, it created health and vigour. The
cessation of war has, in some respects, already produced lan-
guor and disease : it has diminished consumption, and
.slopped up the ducts of beneficial waste. War and waste
were, of themselves, to be deplored ; but so far their effects
w ere good. The desideratum now is, seeing that such agents
have promoted beneticial action and production, to draw
forth activity, and thence have production by peaceful means,
and for peaceful ends.

I have not lauded, and shall not laud, the English system of
taxation, as one which I approve, or should wish to see imi-
tated. It has rested on oppression, and has begotten oppressors.
1 have spoken of it only as it has displayed the wonderful
efforts which mankind ci n make, with sufficicuit excitement.
The English system of taxation would never have been made

OENKHAL INTItOnrCTION. CCclxXxi

so productive, but by a corr«j>t roprcscntntion of the people.
With the people, Boroughnioii^ers have no coninioo feeling :
nay, their interests run counter ; nnd, ns touls of the Minister,
they are altogether perfect. They arc the handspikes >vhich
squeeze from the gra'.)e the wine which itself would not yield.
No system of this kind can be established h«'re. The people,
fairly represented, will not endure that degree of pressure
which is required, to put industry to its full stretch ; and
while there is not sufficient necessity to goad, there is a
want of ambition to lead on. Still, however, nature presents
here most inviting objects for exertion, and when the course
is fairly open^*^, the race may not be slack.

In cor.uiving the system of taxation which now lia«, place
in this province, no thought, I am convinced, was bestowed
on the effects which might be produced from one system more
than another. It was only considered how the required
means, for Government purposes, C(Mdd bo most directly pro-
cured. At first, money was only seen in shops and taverns ;
and a licence upon these was adequate, for a time, to afford
the little wanted. By and by, the farmers' stock increased,
and the principle of tLxiucr property, according to its value,
was adopted. As a burden, taxes are here trifling; and it is
a saying, that without challenge, all is well. The wild lands
of absentees being untaxed, first gave rise to complaint. To
tax the lands of absentees, has been the object of repeated
motions in Parliament ; and a Bill, fortius purpose, got so
far as to be printed. The order of the day now is, that they
must, at least, be made to contribute to the improvement of
roads. I am to propose that they shall do more. In fact, I
mean to strike at the root of the present system of taxation,
and exhibit an entire new one for adoption. I shall first
briefly sketch out my scheme, then pull down the old one ;
and, lastly, set forth what effects may be produced by the
other, when substituted in its place.

My proposal then is to have but one tax for the collec-
tion of revenue in this province — a general land tax, making

'i '

:! J

(

III

J Pf r .5 !

CCClxXXli GENKRAL INTHODIJCTION,

no diitinctioii whatever between wild and cultivated land,
public or private prupt;rty, timt of renideiitH or absvDleus ;
the lule of csliinaling value to be ^^tveriied by one cousi-
deration, the rate of population of the towntthip in w hicli the
land IN situated, taken in conjunction wilh that of the neigh-
bourhood. A few examples will bctt illustrate wiiat 1 mean.

Let us take it for granted that the average value of land
throughout the province is ^Oji. per ucre, and the average
rate of population, 1,000 souls to a township of ()(),(XK) acres.
Say that township A has this prccibe population and extent,
is bounded niue nulcs by the lake or river, of which no ac-
count shall be takiMi, nine miles hy Tuw iisiiip li, containing
1,600 souls, nine miles by Township C, containiu};!; 1,500
souls, and nine miles by Township D, uninhabited, or, by
unsurveyed.laud. Township A being within itself ut pur,
and, thus bounded, remains at par, viz. £0s. per acre.

Say again, that Township E, of equal extent as Town-
ship A, contains 1,600 souls, is bounded nine miles by b,
contahiing 1,000 souls, nine miles by (i, conlaiiiing 8(X) souls,
nine uiiles by 11, containing 1,B00 souls, and nine miles by
I, containing 2,000 souls. Thus situated, the land of E
shall be reckoned worth '28s. 4?^^,

Again, say that Township U, of equal extent as the above,
contains no inhubilant», and is bounded by Townships S,
T, W, and X, containing, respectively, 500, 4(X), SOO, and
200 souls. This will make the land of R worth fjs. 7\d.

Again, say that Township W contains 500 souls ; and is
bounded by Y lor nine miles, contaming 1,(X)0 souls, and
on the other three sides by uninhabited land. This will
make the land of W worth 6s. per acre.

These examples sufliciently shew the principle upon
which I would have the value of laud estimated. A Town-
sliip may contain more or less than 60,000 acres, or it may
be bounded by more than four townships, and perhaps
irregularly. In such cases a little more calculation only is
wanted to give an equally fair result. The ide» of raising all

nENRRAL rNTRonrnTiON. ocdxxxiii

taxes from laiiil, is not new. It ti:i> often been the subject
of political discussion; und oltcu have I mused upon it
before my acquuiutnuto with thii country. In im old coun-
try, many objections start up against its adoption; here 1
know of none. 'I'hioughout the whole province nature has
uonderfully equnlized the value of land. What is better in
point of qualit), is i^cuerally worse in point of local si-
tuation ; and, at this early stage of settlement, minute dif-
ferences in this respect are of very little conseciuence. 'J'he
sim[>Iicity of such a scheme — the economy and ease of
management are highly to be prized. If the owner of land
is out of the country, or tardy in paying his assessment, an
entry of debt can forthwith be made against him, his account
to become chargeable witli compound interest, a half per
cent, above the ordinary rate; the law declaring this d«'bt
inseparable from the laud, and prefeiable to every other,
while it gave a power of sale for recovery, at the termina-
tion of a given number of years, say 10, 15, or 50. The
perfection of a land tax, in a new country, is obvious, so far
as specidators must either settle, sell, or pay for their profits.
Having said thus much of what 1 propose for adoption,
let me briefly state wherein the present system of taxation is
erroneous and impolitic. ' ■

In the first place, rating all wild land at the same value of
4s. per acre, is glaringly wrong. Some wild land in remote
situations being worth less than even 4*., while other wild
land is worth ten times as much. In the second place, it
is very unfair to rate a lot of wild land one farthing less than
a It of cultivated land, to which it is immediately adjoin-
ing. The wild land rises in value merely from the labour
bestowed on that which is cultivated, and, in strict justice,
ought rather to be rated higher, from the coiisid«;iation of its
being a nuisance. The revenue from Town lots is a baga-
telle, which should be left to the controul of the inhabitants
of the towns respectively, for their immediate comfort and
convenience. Taxing houses, and their fire-places, in a new

■t' ': i

CCf'.lxXXiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

country, is a sin against nature : good houses should rather
have a preniiuui. Taxing mills is damnable : taxing shops
and storehouses is nearly as bad ; but, when we get among
the taxed horses, the taxed milch cows, and the taxed horned
cattle, what can we do but laugh at the monstrous absurdity,
and think that the whole scheme was contrived by an ass ?
Suppose a mechanic, whose daily bread is earned by his ten
lingers, has a certain weight continually to bear about with
him, I should think that, if he could not distribute the burden
equally over his body, that somewhere between the shoulders
njight be an appropriate situation for the mass of it ; but
certainly, not a single grain shoiihl be allovve<l to entangle
the fingers, or even the parts adjoining. Husbandry stock,
shops, and mills, are the very fingers of industry, an J ouglil,
at all events, to go clear of incumbrance. (Sec the I'abic of
Assessment, vol. 11. page 353.)

When we see any thitig very far wrong, and but feeble
eti'orts employed for amendment, we may with some reason
suspect that there is a snake in the grass. To excuse the
ass above-mentioned, 1 have occasionally thought that the
present system of tayition had been introduced by some
law-bel'?agnreu judge from England, partly perhaps under
instructions iVojv the landed oligarchy, or partly besotted
with the notion tnat Mr. Pitt's practice was correct, of run-
ning into every comer to tax the middling and poorer classes
of society, while his friends of the higher order went com-
paratively ire^ ; but then lookinf^ across Niagara river, and
finding that a system son)ewhat of the same kind obtains
among our neighbours, my investigation into the cause is
still restless — I am still disposed to make further conjecture.
The majority of those who legislate in all countries, rank
with the wealthier class of society, and selfishness will in-
variably have its bias. Let us first consider the private
ciicumstances of our legislative councillors of Upper Ca-
nada. Say that one holds ]00,0(X) acres of land; another
80,(XX); a third (jO,000; a fourth 40,000; and the remain-
ing five so nmch as to bring the average of each councillor's

■ -iTtri''i'fTWflw(tirtr i H|ii'« i #iw i iiw i i»i)i i ir i iaiifci ri M ^ i ii mi

« iAi . iW *t ' Vt ti' iMioi ^mii ti tfi ^^^ ;.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCClxXXV

landed estate to 20,000 acres. This being the case, W9
cannot wonder much that these genllemeu have hitherto
stood in the way of fairly taxing wild lands. Now, further,
among yourselves, most honourable representatives of the
people of Upper Canada, we shall say that there is one
who possesses 50,0(X) acres of land ; another 25,000; a
third 15,0(X); and the rest of you such extent, as to make •
out, on the whole, an average possession of 5,000 acres of
land, which possession, though it will not operate so power-
fully as a seltish bias against the due taxation of wild land,
as the greater average possession of legislative councillors,
will still make you tardy, as you really have been; it will
still make you in some degree not so frank as in duty you
ought to be, for promoting the interests of your constituents,
who on an average do not possess above 400 acres of land, •
of which a Afth part is under tillage ; while out of your
5,000 acres, not more than a 25th is cultivated, nor, out of
the average possession of legislative councillors, not a 50th.
Being myself a holder of little more than 400 acres of land,
I, of course, sympathize most purely with my brother far- ,
mers ; but, Gentlemen, were I a holder of 40,000 acres of
land, such is my assurance that the principle of taxation now
proposed by me, would be infinitely for the advantage of all,
that I would push the adoption of it with so much the
greater zeal. Land in America is the very lubber-fiend
Mhich checks its own improvement. Could nine-tenths of it be
sunk in the sea, and afterwards emerge by tenths, gradually,
as it became absolutely necessary for the wants of mankind, .
there would be iniinite gain in every way. The people of
the States are wasting their strength by spreading too rapidly
over their wide domains : nor is the dropsical condition of .
that country likely to have a speedy cure. Here, in Canada,
circumscribed by narrower bounds, the disease may be easier
checked, and the fullest advantage obtained from compact

settlement.

)T«f1.>; ^i' • ^.K/L^ Kf.}

;o .sw

■t*?*, -ir.e-

Before proceeding to consider the use and effect to be

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■ . f*r<3^\lmA;m m*M U U* „

!> - ;

ccehnxri gicneral introductioic.

made and produced by condensing all taxes into one upon
land, let me sweep down the remaining lumber of the old
system. There are all the trashy duties upon importations
from the United States, which should fall by the lump, not
excepting that upon salt, imposed by the wisdom of
your very last session. To go to the cheapest market,
wherever it may be, is economy : to punish ourselves, that
others may suffer, is wretched policy : to give scope to free
trade is noble: to beggar custom-houses is delightful ; and,
looking to moral improvement, there is more hope in the
end of smuggling than in the beginning of preaching. The
tax upon whiikey stills is merely a premium upon rum, a less
wholesome beverage, and a drawback Arom the profits of the
CauacUan farmer, in favour of the West India planter. To
tax billiiu'd tables, which might give exercise in bad weather
to idle gentlemen, and perhaps draw them off from drinking
" One bottle nsore/' is a foolish conceit, especially when
dice may be rattled at will, and a dirty pack of cards makes
part of the furniture of every cobbler's stool. Lastly, and
here I shall have opposition from every bench of worshipful
magistrates, there should not even be a tax upon taverns.
All — alt should be free of taxation but land* To tax taverns
as m palliative against debaucliery is delusive : to tax them in
order to make advantage of travellers is ungenerous and un-
wise : to tax them, at the discretion of magistrates, is giving
an inlet to favouritism aud arbitrary power: to tax them
merely as a source of revenue, is altogether unnecessary.
Off- — off, with all taxes but one upon land; and then, the
heavier that is made by large and Judicious expenditure on
public workij, so much the better : — then, indeed, Gatiada
shall flourinh. >■

:\i.-L'V- vJ»V-*'

i ^,^'l w lj.~ ttA> » 1

Let us take it for granted that the province contains one
hundred townships of (30)000 acres each, on an average, va>
lued at 20s. per acre, thus giving a total value of £6,000,00(^:
one per cent, on wliich, viz. jg60,000, we shall a^jsurae as
tht fir^t required annual n^venuo. How simple and fair

le upon
the old
Drtationa
rap, not
idoin of
market,
ves, that
ic to free
Ful; and,
pe m the
ig. The
ira, a less
its of tbe
Iter. To
i weather
I drinking
]ly when
dar makes
istly, and
roTshipfiU
[1 taverns.
ix taverns
X them in
I and uu<
is giving
tax them
lecessary.
then, the
iditure on
, Gauada

tains one
;rage, va-

lXX),000f:
ssumfr as
and fair

GEiNERAL INTR01>UCTT6N. CCCh«»Vii

becomes the business ryf voting the yettr\y supply in futttre.
An estimate is made out of whart is reqnifed ; and ^afci^ei*
it is, double, treble, a half, a fourth, or a sixteenth, more ol*
less, becomes the sole consideration. Out of this 9fip)^y P
should propose to defray every public charge whatever: ihe*
charges of the civil list—of making and repairing roa*>«,
canals, 8lc. As to roads, they should rank under three'
descriptions. Provincial, being those great leading roads
which connect together the remotest points, and which'
should draw from the public fund an absolute sufficiency'
for their being made and kept perfect. Secondly, district roads,
being those connecting less distant points, and which' should'
have support proportionate to the assessed value of die
districts through which they pass; and lastly, township! roads,
which shduld have their proportion aft'ordied on the sante*
principle.

It ought to be allowted, al all hands, that good foaids-ai^e
of the first consequence in the ittiprovement of any eo«l»'
ti'y; and it is cle*** that if a fair principle' is once fixed' updtV
(6t the making and suppoirt of these, the haitd' to extort'
means to such ends may- be at once rellendess and just ; fdf,
the' greatei^ the expenditure, the greater, ceitaiuly, will' be'
the gain. But, Gentlemen^ T now proceed to the gmtid'
pUfpofses- which tarxation, oivthe proposed plarty w4ii<ki oiite*
ad>opted, and put iw spirited action, rtay accc^mplilh— ^
ineiaffi its appticaftoil' to the improvement of thte' St lja#-'
retlce ntFvigati6kl ; aiAi ifs beihg miade a bohd of coiHIbKio^
betweert C^nadJt' and England— a bond by whicfh bb#
coUtttrtfes' may reap infinite advantage". Let md first, hoi^.'
6^ety rid ilWyself of a M\e hH^t contetttpt, by laugMng
otetright at the grave resolutfons of your last session, to-
apply to His Royjil Bi^httess the Prince Regenf fof d
kundftd thntsaiid aires of kind, to be intrusted to a c(f&i^
mmte for executing this great wdi% out of tJite sales ^&h^fi
Grod h^elp^^us!' v^hat will dhesale of such a quantity of lanfd^
fetch> 89 thin^v ai« now managed'? 'TtvAy, perhaps 9!i rtSodk

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Mfc »^ . ««W*t i «»»>IM»*<.*»M *

i »| i>i !) l» i'T' ii ' IS W > i 'i * ''' 1 i<i' " i* ' ''i*W' "' ''''*'l' l* * > > » ' > ^'i * ' '

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CCclxXXviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

an, added to the pittance (jga,000) voted out of the taxes of
the province for defraying the expenses of a survey, might
complete that object respectably with plans and estimates.
Very truly, my clodhopping brothers —most august legislators,
1 am ashamed of you : so do be so good as wipe oft this
nonsensical concern along with the ^'gging act, that we
may all be friends again ; and, in the issue, recover some
little claim to the possession of common sense. You can-
not think how anxious 1 am to get home to England, and
report you all in a sane state of mind, after the damnable
alarm you have given to John Bull. — Well, hoping the best,
let us proceed. .;, »r,.,. >!>» -...; ^.-..u ■^i-s.-.-^r.v. . *u -i/'vc s^'
Gentlemen, the St. Lawrence navigation should be looked
to as a great national object ; this province affording security
for the repayment of all charges, and Britain promoting
the work vjith a loan of money, and the supply of hands.
Was the affair properly represented to the imperial par-
liament, there would neither be difficulty nor delay in the
accomplishment. Permit me to give you a slight sketch
of ways and means, for the sake of illustration. Now
that there is peace, Britain could spare out of her popu*
lation, annually, 100,000 souls with advantage ; but they
who would willingly emigrate, have not the means of trans-
port. My very first fancy towards Upper Canada, burned
forth from a desire to effect the vast object of finding a vent
for these poor people, with whose circumstances I have
been peculiarly well acquainted /or near twenty years ; but,
here I am, for my zeal in the cause. Under the wing of
wealthy farmers, many thousands of them might before now
have been comfortably lodged in the province, had all gone
well; and by next summer many thousands may still be
at work on the St. Lawrence navigation. I have taken the
present value of the settled part of the province to be
6,000,000/. Suppose a navigation for vessels of 200 tons
could be opened from Montreal to Lake Ontario, in the
course of live years from the present time, and that duiing

KCS of

might
mates,
lators,
ft' this
tat we
r some
lu can-
id, and
inuable
te best,

looked
security
imoting
' hands,
ial par-
in the
sketch
Now
popu*
ut they
f trans-
burned
Ig a vent
I have
|rs; but,
wing of
re now
U gone
still be
ken the
to be
00 tons
in the
duiing

UENKRAL INTRODUCTION. CCCIxXXix

the same time there was an influx of 20,000 souls annually
into the province, pray, may we not fairly calculate that
from 6,000,000^. value, the territory settled by the end of
that period, would be fully Morth three times as much;
and that an expenditure of 2,0(X),00()/. might very easily be
repaid out of the taxation of the province before the end of
ten years ? , , .

Let us exhibit a jotting of how things might go on;
5,000 able-bodied mer could be transported from Britain,
at the rate of 10/. each*, and be at work on the canal by
the 1 St of June, 1820 - - - . jg 50,000

Transport of 10,000 women and children, sup-
posed to accompany the men ... 50,000
Pay of 5,000 men at work, from Ist .Tune, till

1st December, 1820 — six months - - 100,000

Ditto, till Ist April, 1821, four months - - 30,000
Ditto, till 1st December, 182 1, eight months • 130,000
T'^nsport of 5,000 men, with 10,(XK) women and

children, 18tl 100,000

Pay of these second year's men, from 1st June, till

Ist December, 1821 - - - - - 100,000
Interest and contingencies - - . - 40,000

(500,000
At this period discharge the first year's men, who
refund their transport, and have in pocket \0L
per man - 100,000

Total expenditure up to 1st December, 1821

500,000

* By personal inquiries made at the ports of Glasgow, Leith,
and Aberdeen, spring, 1820, I found ^7. was the common charge
for a man. On contract, and after a grand system ol emigration

was set 00 foot, the charge would b« greatly lowered.

i . iiilii i|»iwiftw» lj <i 'i

r^ !

^ ' ii

<;c€XC

G«NJSRAl. INTROBl/cTION.

Brought forward 400,000

■Pay of second year's men, from 1st December,

18S1, till 1st April, imi ....
Ditto, ttU 1st I>ecember, 1B22, eight months
Transport of third year's men, with women and

children ----.-

Pay of these men from Isl June, till Isl December,

1822, six mouths - - » - -

Interest and contiugeocies . . ^ -

30,000
130,000

100,000

100,000
40,000

'k\ \^r'i ''

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.ft',>'»l

! ,^w

^ . ^ ''■'-''* ' » 900,000

D«duct, refunded by the second year's men, now •» »

discharged - - , - . - 100,000

Total expenditure up to 1st December, 182£ - 800,000

r M t.rx-.

It would serve no purpose to go farther with such a
sketch. M.y meaning is abeady clear; and the practicabi-
lity of the proceeding is obvious. I suppose the men to
contract at home only for the labour of two seasons ; and
titicy are above represented as entirely qnit of the work at
iht end of the second season. One half however may be
Mipposed to return, and make engagements for labour, the
third, or even fourth summer, so as to give any required
acceleration to the business. To employ the hands during
the four months of their first winter, wouhl require a little
arrangement ; but with this, jobs sufficient could be foynd
wbiie so great an undertaking was on foot. It will be ob*
served, that there are never more than 5,000 men to be
thus provided for ; and being free by the commencement
of the second winter, witli a sufficiency of cash for present
wants, they ujight either spread themselves "vm the country,
in itifi service of others, or they might umlte a b<^nning
in clearing land for thet^selves. By this jtiiuC) not only
reconciled to tlie novelty of their situation, but pretty weJl
informed as to the various modes of n)anagement, and taught

M i mt l t<^i i»> mW ll »* itiiill ' II I I'll

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CCCXCl

to handle the axe, they would be free of all that gloom
and awkwardneM, which is so heart- breaking to old country
people, when they have to go directly into tlie woods after
their first arrival in this country. .,,

Gentlemen, could I be assured that there was to be ii
s;>eedy end- to all illiberal and triHing proceedingii, how joy<
fully should [ continue to write on this glorious theme.

ROBEH.T GOURLAY.

■ Irfi! Vi.c

I ->l.

In the same Newspaper, there appeared a report
of proceedings in the British Parliament, re-
specting distresses in Ireland. I shall here copy in
part of this alluded to in my next week's commu-
nication.

r :v

HOUSE or COMMONS,

. ... , Tvesdai/, Aprii 6i \H19'

Sir John Newport rose, to call tlie attention of the House
to the state of disease in Ireland, and to move for the revival
of the Committee of last Session, with a view to make further
uiquiries upon this subject. It would be recollected, that in
consequence of the Report of the Committee of last Session,
« legislative measure was adopted; and one of the objects of
the proposed Committee would be, to inquire into the eftect
and operation of that measure, whethsr it had served, and in
what degree, to mitigate the disease which had so long afflicted
Ireland. That the measure alluded to had done good, he. was
ready and happy to admit ; but, unfortunately, the ravages of
disease still continued. Its rage was indeed such, in the district
with which he was more particularly connected, that, within the
last twelve months, bq less than 3,500 patients were admitted
into the fever hospitals of that district. But the want and
misery which prevailed among the poor, and which promoted
the violence i4 the l«ver| wa» really such, that the uufortuiiiatf

Vinr

f !

i i

CCCXCll

«ENEHAL INTRODUCTION.

sufferers were better off, even in the hospitals, than else-
where ; for out of doors they were condemned to endure the
aggravated distress which too often drove them back again, to
seek relief, in thehonpitals, from that disease which distress main-
ly engendered. Of the spread and violence of that disease, the
House might judge from this fact, that in the counties of
Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Walerford, no less than 43,000
patients had been admitted into the fever hospitals, within a
period of fifteen months. After stating this melancholy fact,
he hoped the House would not think he asked too much, in
calling for the appointment of a Committee, to consider the
means of providing some remedy or mitigation for such an
alarming evil. If the House should agree with him, in think-
ing that this Committee should be appointed, it was his inten-
tion to move an instruction for that Committee to inquire, not
only as to the state of disease in Ireland, and the means best
calculated for its remo« i\ or mitigation, but as to the state of
the labouring poor, and the means of enabling individuals to
provide employment for them. Upon this last point, he
hoped the Committee would exercise the most diligent inves-
tigation. It was not his object to propose that the people
should look for the means of employment from the public
purse, but that private individuals, or associations of indivi-
duals, should not have any obstacles in their way, towards
providing employment for the labouring class. He trusted
the House would feel that, where such obstacles existed, they
should be immediately removed, and that whatever could be
effected by general regulation, towards facilitating the em-
ployment of the poor, ought to be promptly 'adopted. It was
known that, according to the opinion of the Commissioners
for surveying bogs and marshes of Ireland, there were no less
than 2,063,000 acres, wl.ich might be converted to purposes
of agriculture. One million of these acres had indeed been
already surveyed, levelled, and reported upon by the Com-
missioners. What scope, then, did such an extent of land
afford for the employment of the labouring poor I But the

-. .:t— .-^..-....ii— y. jx.-x-.i.i

-•«MM«Mtt-«i«|lirfta

GKNKRAL INTRODUCTION.

CCCXCIII

fnct WHS, that tliis property was so intermixed, and belonging
to such a number of persons, that it was found impracticable
to render it so available as could be wished. To provide a
remedy, then, for this deHcicncy, and to enable individuals, or
associations of individuals, to furnish employment to the
poor, was one of the great objects to which it was proposed
to direct the attention of the Committee, who would naturally
be led, in the progress of their inquiry, into a consideration of
the means by which the labour of the Commissioners, to
whom he had alluded, might be rendered most productive to
the country. As far as the census now in progress had pro-
ceeded, it was found that out of a population of 3,840,000,
in certain districts in Ireland, the proportion employed in
agriculture, compared to that engaged in manufactures and
mechanical professions, was as 488,000 to 164,000. Such
a comparison, then, clearly demonstrated the necessity of
providing every possible employment for the labourers in
agriculture, especially as it was found, that without such em-
ployment, the labouring poor must be destitute of the com-
mon means of support. Without additional employ-
ment, indeed, a great mass of the labouring poor must be
reduced to absolute beggary. There was no district in
Ireland in which the population, employed in agriculture,
were not considerably more than those engaged as manufac-
turers and handicraftsmen. This was the case even in the
principal manufacturing counties of Antrim, Down, Armagh,
and Derry, where the proportion of agriculturists to manu-
facturers and handicraftsmen, was as 288 to 83. Hence,
then, it was obvious that nothing should be left undone which
promised, in any degree, to augment the means of employ-
ment for the labourers in agriculture ; and hence ht. was in-
duced to think the point to which he had adverted, as of vital
importance to the interests of Ireland. Therefore he hoped
and trusted it would engage the most serious consideration of
the proposed Committee. ^ ^^-'^ '^ . ; : .- *uir-
"* The Motion being read by the Speaker,

'ifliftt!

U I

CXJCXCl?

OMJSmUJJL INTBODUCTION.

Mr. C» Grant rose to second Uie motion, whicb lie did, ke
declared, with peculiar ttfttiifaction. He lamented that, upon
iiie discussipn of such an important subject, the House should
happen to be so thin, because he wished that tlu: people of Ire-
land should be impressed with u high opinion of the interest
which Parliament felt in their conceiuii, and also tlmt the peo-
ple of England should be fully apprized of the 8utlurings \v!iich
their Irish felloW'Subjects had underguiie fur some years back ;
^coniirms what had been said by Sir J. Newport, as to the
severity of sufierings, though they were dii^iiniahiug, &c. but
still an advocate for the motion, &,c.) In the melancholy
pnsvalcnce of disease, in the years 181G and 1817, notoriously
owing to the scarcity which atHicted Ireland within that pe-
riod, the poor suffered especially from want of food and fuel :
they were indeed so much distressed for food, timt numbers
were absolutely obliged to feed upon such esculent plants as
they could find, such as potatoe tops^ turuip tops, and cab-
bages. The depression of spirits and debility of body wh'^^h
must be the consequence, naturally extended the ravages of
the fever ; but numbers of the poor were the victims of those
very amiable qualities which so p.irticularly characterized
their country — that hospitality Jwhich always opened their
doors to distress, and that affection for the dead, which dis-
tinguishes them in a peculiar degree, served to spread the
cont;^gion, by exposing tiie poor to its influence. £ut it was
to be hoped that some advantages would be found to result
lu^reafter, from the experience which the lower Irish had,
duri^ this melanpholy period — tliat they would be again more
prepared to guard against the extension of such calamity —
that they would take the precaution of being more cleanly in
their domestic habits— ^of fumigating their houses, of sepa-
rating the healdiy from the sick, of changing their bedding
and their clQthes, In these respects they had been heretofore
lamentably negligent, and hence the general suffering had
been more severe. The sufferings of the poor had, indeed,
been most severe, and nothing could, perhaps, be nigi'e ad-

- ' -%&^^Mi^:iiS**i^

iSia.^.i. r-^-^M&-^EL%Ui»»^1;flWMil»'rBtt'H.ft^ .,:^.^.»-.-i..Mii.~^.^ rStlrtH^jA, l

liKNJ^aAI. INTAOJ^UCT^ON.

cooxcv

miraljle than the piitieucc with which they tiufi'ei¥tl-"(ilflary
hoar, hvar !)->-for, ulthough pJAced m sach a slate o/desp&>
rate dislresit, »h, uccurdiog to a great hietoriau iu hu coininent«
upon similar misery in uncicut AthtniH, might be suppoaed tQ
relax the morals of men, or render lliem iudignant to thf
obligations ot law^ or to Uie ilJHtiiictioiiH oi' right and wrong,
the Irish poor were peoceabie and ordii«rly> Tlus meritorious
peopUi were, iiuiecd, uuMt reli^ovuly resigned to Uial fati?,
which, however, all that were ^ich and benevolent fought tQ
mitigate by uU the memta in tbeii po>vcr. JSothing was, in
I'aict, left undone tjiat couid^erve to relieve dislie»«, or mitigate
disease ; and the uftiicted were unbounded in the cordial ex-
pression of gratitude to their kind benefactors. Thoie bene-
factors jc.omprehended every class of persons in tlie country.
One iujpulse directed ».ii. The l^lergy, of ^11 persuasions,
took the lead in that work of charity, which they so diligiently
preached — (instances of benevolence noticed.) JLs to the
plans of relief for the poor, proposed by the Riglit Hon.
Baronet, he was gUd tp find nothing ty coMuteoaucie the i4ea,
tjbiat any legisliuive measure was contemplated in that House
for extendujg to Ireland that system of Poor JUw^, the prpisr
cure of which was so generally, so loudly, pnd so JHstly cofii-
plained of in this country — (Hear I) — He spoke thus emph^v
tically, because 8j*ch w ide» was held ^Vt)» by some indivi-
duals, who h^d, of course, but imperfectly cpM^jdered the
subjecjl. As tp aMy legislative interposition, fur providing
ewtp'loymenit for the l»bpurii»g poor, l}c coujd only be fayour-
«ble to such measunes 98 serv/sd to remove any ohstiicles to
that eniployment. if thp Hon, jB^oucit had that renioyal puly
in view- — if it y/crti Uis object iporely to facilitate the appji*
cation of capital through the operation, he sluouid, of coufpe,
he res^dy ip co-9per?t;e vyith him. The ilight Hon, Gentle-
man, after apologizing for having so long occupied the at-
tention of the House, sat down amidst loud and universal
cheering, ' a:.- i a

jii M n ;u^ii!

# « s

The Ho»). Mr. Huichmou wd, iherp was a subject to

l» f t n i• tm '^^^^f^ ^ ,, ^ yf(J^,^ ^■y ^^ t .^ • ,^^m^^^ ff p^ ^ m l l•fm iK m»^' M bi. ^ ><*«ii .i wt i '>r^i y* '«< W '*

•-^■^--t-.-

CCCXOTl

OENKRAL INTROnrCTION.

which he b«Kged to call particular attention, as one upon
which much real good might be done for Ireland: he meant
that of ab^ienteefl. If some measures were adopted by which,
at least, some part of the suuim which abuentec landlordH drew
from their tenants were spent upon their estates, it would
ail'ord employment and food to a great majority oi poor.
' Sir John Stuart rejoiced that the interests of Ireland were
committed to an individual at once so able and so well
informed. He was of opinion, that the fever originated in
general impoverishment, from the want of food, raiment, and
fuel, in the hard winters. The great evil was, in his view, a
superabundant population. • ►> • - *' ••

Mr. Blake observed, that the disease was produced by dis^
tress, and the distress arose from the want of work. Govern-
ment would, therefore, do well to afford every encouragement
to the improvement of estates in Ireland, by extending the
grant from the consolidated fund, applicable to that pur-
pose.

Mr. Alderman Wood said he found, in his visits to Ireland,
that the great cause of its distress consisted in want of capital.
He had himself, in the course of last session, introduced a
Bill, the object of which was to encourage the introduction
of English capital into that country.

Sir John Newport replied briefly, and expressed a hope that
the stamp duties on advertisements for charitable purposes
might be taken oflf, as they operated materially to reduce tlie
amount of collections. In his own city (Waterford) the charges
for printing and stationary amounted to £B4, out of which ^60
went for advertisements alone. He concluded with a com-
pliment to the Society of Friends, for their charitable ex-
ertions in the cause.

The Motion was then agreed to, and a Committee appoint-
ed accordingly.

By a gentleman who left York yesterday morn-
ing, we (the Editor of the Niagara Spectator) have

■>'I JW li WW i W W toMmW1liWCT >il l WII I I(l l »l lrililM i yiiMiiiUu'M

GKNBRAL INTRODUCTION.

CCCXCVII

been politely favoured with a manuscript copy of
his Excellency the LieuttMiant-Ciovcmor's speech,
at the openinp; of the Provincial Parliament, which
met on Monday, the 7th instant.

'#.^. t

Honourabie Gentlemen of the Legislative Council^ and
Gentlemen of the House of Assembly ^

Many considerationa having determined me to call you to-
gether before the close of the year, 1 decided on the present
season as probably more convenient to you than a later
period.

Since you were last assembled in this place, little alteration
appears to have taken place in the .state of his Majesty's in-
disposition.

In that interval, his august consort, the Queen of the
United Kingdom, has closed a long life, illustrious for the
exemplary discharge of every public and private duty.

His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in behalf of his
Majesty, has authorized the Governors of both Canadas to
bestow lands on certa'ui of the provincial navy and the militia,
which served during the late war. Recent purchases from
the natives have been so far effected, as will enable me to set
apart adequate tracts in the several districts, to accommodate
Mich of their respective inhabitants, as arc within the limits of
^ Royal instruction.

i do not con8idkk myself juitiiied in extend-
inc thii mark of approbation to any of thk
Individuals who composed the late Convention
OF Delkoates, the proceedings of which were

PROPERLY THK SUBJECT OF YOUR VERY SEVERE ANI-
MADVERSION.

The Royal Assent has been given to the Bill for the esta-
bhshment of a provincial Bank, but, from some delay, it did
not arrive in time for promulgation, within the period limited

J; I!

ccexevia

GBNEHAI. INTRODUCTION.

1 I

i I

J- '*■■ '
• I'.

by law V the form of an enactment' will, therefore, be neces-
sary, to render it available. »'r r * >,'

At the termination of the last session, it was recommended
you to bestow your attention on an amendment of the Road
Law ; at present, after a nearer acquaintance with the state
of the country, I am more deeply impressed with the import-
ance of thaf subject. It is painful to O'bserve, how serious
an evil the neglected grants, of an eiiriy date, are presenting
to the actual inhabitants of the province. The exemption
of any land, belonging to individuals, from the operation of
the Assessment Law, is found to be detrimental : a new
Bill, so modified as to protect the land ' on) sale by distress,
until due notice can be given to the proprietors, will receive
his Majesty's Assent.

Gentlemen of the House of Assemblj/,
I iiliall direct the proper ofikers to lay before you the pub-
lic account of Receipt and Expenditure, with JE<stiikiateB of
the service of the ensiling year.

Nonmtrabie Gentlemen, and Gefifletneit, *

The ^owth of the province in population and' weahh, jn^-
tifte^ ^ reasonable expectation, that the measures adopted to
encourage it will receive your fullest support ; and I mu^t
suggest, for your consideration, the expediency of aflTordirig
the new settlers, unavoidably situated more rem^Otfe from thb
great lakes and' rivers, an easy approach to market.

Your attention will, doubtless, be given to such larivs ali^air'e'
about to expire, as may require to be continued.

Some parts of the province, not accessible by lind, it h
my purpose to visit, during the present season for navigation,
that I msky become personally acquaintett with eviery part of
the population committed to my care.

York, 7thJunt, 1819.

'V>!' '■■ i

I here beg of the reader to pause for a little^ and

GENKRAt INTRODUCTION.

CCCXCIX

reflect on the words printed above in capitals. It
was these words which were alluded to in this Gerte-
ral Introduction, page xi. ; and I ask, had Sir Pere-
grine Maitland the right to use them ? Had he the
right to interpose his will between that of the
Prince and some of his most loyal subjects ? Was
it expedient? Was it prudent? Many of these
individuals, who were members of the Convention,
are now Members of the Commons House of Par-
liament. By and by, I shall lay before thereasder
the whole record of the Convention, which brought
down upon them the malediction of their fellow-
subjects, representing them in Parliament, and cut
them out of the token of their Sovereign's favour,
for three years' faithful service in war. At present,
let the question be judged of from what is here dis-
played. Hoping that the Parliament then in
session would not give countenance to the Gover-
iK)r's purpose, I again addressed myself

ijt.iiii ■■\ }f.

SPECTATOR, JUNE 17, ISIQ.

TO THE PAHLIAMBNTAKY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
,J,:j PEOPLE OF UPPER CANADA. •

I^iagara Jaily 14/ A Jime, 1819.! i
Gentlemen,

It was a remarkable coincidence that my communication of
last week, setting forth how easy it would be for the redun-
dant population of Britain to be transported into this coun-
try witlb profit to themselves and the nation, should be ac-
companied witli a report, in the same newspaper, of proceed-
ings in the luiperial Parliament, exhibiting the dreadful con-
dition of the Irish poor since the termination of the war, —

.'1

^ I

CCCC !/

GENERAL INTRODUCTIOX.

diseased and dying by thousands, and stating that " without
additional employment a great mass nf the labouring poor
must be reduced to absolute beggary."

Genliemen, I have again and again informed the public of
this country, that my opportunities of know ing tlie history
and condition of the poor at home had been very peculiar ^
that I had not only been employed Ly government to make
inquiries on this subject ; but for many years had made it
my favourite study. I have over and again given assurance
that my first zeal to make Canada known in England, arose
from a conviction that it couhl be made a place of refuge
for millions in distress ; but, alas ! the more 1 have urged to
great and rational measures, the more 1 have been persecuted
and abused by ignorant and narrow-minded men ; the more
I have been held back from getting accomplished the
grandest scheme of benevoltnce that can possibly be con-
ceived. . ''-'■• ^•- Y*'''" >''*.Si'H .lay-^i'^j.^i' V ■

I ask if Britain and Ireland can spare ] 00,000 souls an-
nually, and be better of the discharge i — if such a multitude
can be transported annually into British America, not only
with comfort to the individuals but advantage to the nation,
if the scheme for accomplishing this is not worthy a thought i
1 ask you if by such a scheme the value of this province
could be increased ten times in as many years, and be made
the envy of the world, if yon, as representatives of the
people of Upper Canada, are not bound to take steps for its
accomplishment; and, [ shall stake my existence that if you
shake yourselves clear of delusions^ and send home a com-
mission to gain due attention to the business, that it shall be
put in execution. Many of you put on at least the outward
garb of religion ; and the Lieutenant-Governor has gone forth
in the streets, sounding the trumpet of faith before him; but let
us have liberal proceedings for a testimony, and faith shown to
us by works that are charitable : let us be done with '^ indig-
nation," and severe " a>iimadversions," which never can be
" proper" without cause. , •• i - •

a EN F;R A L I N T R OD JJ C T I ON .

CCCCl

oithout
g poor

iblic of
history
culiar ;
o make
made it
gurance
d, arose
f refuge
jrged to
secuted
le more
thed the
be coii-

louls an-
tuUitude
not only
! nation,
hought i
rovinc*
>e made
of the
s for itf
it if you
a corn-
shall be
loutward
me forth
; but let
hown to
I" indig-
can be

I have already given you a sketch of what may be done
with less than a uiillion money ; llie commencement of a
great public work, which would certainly pay well for the
charge of exectition, and the introduction of 45,000 settler*
into the provn\ce in the course of three years. I was pur-
posely moderate in this fust expose, not to startle redcction
too much at first ; but on the same principle, twice this num-
ber of people could be brought over in a single year, and
twice the advantage gained.

So much am I an enemy to war, that I would wish eteti
its name blotted out from memory, were it not to illus-
trate what may be performed in times of peace by the skill
and activity of mankind ; and never did the conduct of any
war afford such excellent data for reasoning as that lately
carried on by England. 1 have already glanced at the pe-
culiar circumstances of England, the influx of foreign wcahh,
as well as the direction ami effect of this on domestic indus-
try. I have shewn that it was necessary to draw oft the spare
produce of action so highly stimulated, under these circum-
stances, and that the power of taxation being absolute, en-
abled the minister to do this, and waste such produce on war.
What was wasted on the late wars from the commencement
in 179^, was perhaps double the amount of thtj existing na-
tional debt; but let us say that it was only eight hundred mil-
lions, and stand amazed at the power of production ! Aftei'
our wonder hi's hud sullicicnt rest, let us ask what wottld
have been Uie arjiount of production if, instead of throwing
away this vast sum on war ; if, instead of maintaining mil-
lions, of men, for the sole purpose of murdering other men, it
had been employed in cheiishing the arts of peace, in clearing
away the wooils of America, and gaining more and more
food, to sustain more and more artisans and cultivators; what,
in tlmt case, might not now have been witnessed ? Why,
nothing more than may still be witnessed by ihe end of the
next twenty-five years, by adopting rational plans, and
creating excitement to industry. England J!^ a« p6wer-

( c

? ■;

;l;

4 '■

, '*:■

^ - 1
<

T-

''' ,

mm^iimif^mtmtHlfmmimm

w wmw. i!ipiiiii»ii r i -•

ccGen

DRNERAL INTR01>rCTI0N.

M-

1 1

'i;i

1 ■.

! *

It i

i. 1

jfi:

»-^

fill now as ever, was her vast machinery again put in nio-
tlon ; and were it pnt in motion for pcaccl'nl and productive
purposes instead of war and waste, liow delightful it vvojdd
be ! There is nothing in war itself inviting to the mass of in-
dividuals employed in it. A few monsters, perhaps, lind a
pleasure in bloodshed and carnage, but these are few indeed :
not one, it is to be hoped, cut of a thonsaiul. The sailors of
a man-of-war would almost invariably prefer the merchant ser-
vice : the soldiers of an arn)y would be more happy at the loom
or the plough, than loitering about in tedious idleness ; while
all employed in furnishing these men with anmiunition,
clothing, and food, would be equally willing to supply their
M'ants, were they engaged in peaceful professions. They all
look to the immediate n)eans of living, and the profits of their
calling ; not to the remote object.

Good heavens ! how the mind sinks down in sorrow with
reflection on the past, and how it might bound aloft, could
the hope of futurity be brought to rest on the decisions of
wisdom. To the millions who look back over twenty
years of war, and have still to mourn the bloody deaths of
their nearest friends, what poor consolation is it that a Bour-
bon is re-established on the throne of France, and that the be-
loved Ferdinand holds dominion in Spain ! for this is the
amount — this is the gain to Europeans : — a gain, which Uie
accident of a moment may wipe out, and perhaps, happily,
for ever.

But if there is such a thing as necessary war, and such
there was to the loyal inhabitants of Upper Canada, what a
glorious aim is it to endeavour to remove, for the future,
every chance of such necessity. This blessed end, Gentle-
men, could be accomplished by a little exertion on your
parts ; for who would dare to invade Canada, were it com-
pactly settled ? Look back to the efliorts made by England
for the protection of this province from conquest : reflect on
the lavish expenditure on your little war, not less than fifteen
or twenty millions of money, and say why England should

GCNBRAL INTIlODlCTIOvr.

cccnn

11) mo-
xluctive
X would
IS of iii-
I, tiitd M
indeed :
lailors of
hant sei -
the loom
9 ; while
imnitioii,
ply iheir
They all
ts of their

row with
:)ft, could
cisions of
twenty
deaths of
a Bour-
at the be-
is is the
,vhich the
happily,

and such
a, what a
le future,
, Gentle-
on your
e it corn-
England
eflect on
tan fifteen
id should

Uolbe viilling to aftV.rd what is wanted now, to be speedily
it'paid, in order that all tuture war and wa^te may coase in
this quarliir of ilic world- -why you should not, at least, send
home a commission, to ask such assistance, and huve every
obstacle removed.

It was desirable that Fiance shuuld repay the charges of
the Allied Sovereigns for placing Louis iho XVIlllli on the
throne. A London bunktr attended, and immediately ad-
vanced the reqmred sum. The banker considered only the
goodness of the secuiity; aiul if yon will pass an act, during
the present session, and gel it con(irnied by tlie royal assent,
giving security on a land-tax of the province, twenty London
bankers will be ready with cash for your purposes. JDo, my
good friends, get over prejudices, and try the experiment.
Vour constituents will thank you, when returned home, for
voting five thousand pounds of their money to defray the
charges of a commission to England. You know I pro-
posed ten thousand dollars for the Convention Commission;
but double the sum would do better. Surely you need not
be envious of a little ciedit accruing to me, from the success
of the experiment. It will require not a /ittie credit to make
up for what I have lost by your holding me up to the world
as the " One factious individual," and by these months of igno-
minious imprisonment: indeed, I think you will make me u
present of the *' hundred tlunisand acres of landy'' with
consent of his lioyid Highness the Prince Regent, when you
have got jQ'2,000,000 lent you, for nnproving the navigation.
At all events, do, I beseech you, send home the Commission-

You will observe, from the debate in the Imperial Parlia-
ment, that Sir John Newport, Mr. Ciraut, and othois, pro-
poseil to relieve the poor of Ireland, by finding work for them
in the bogs, and by taking olf the duties on advertisements
for charitabh^ purposes. Alas ! alas ! how cold is charity^
and how blind are they who idll not sec. The landed gentle-
men of England and Ireland have been going into commit-
tees, and making most feeling speeches, for years^ u\\ lh«

c (• <2

;:'

• I. ■

ccceiv

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

question of relieving the poor; but the things needful they v.ill
not do, though both they and tlie poor should together be
brought to starvation.

I have yet said nothing of the funding system of England,
an ally to that of taxation ; but these parliamentary speeches
lead me to notice it. The system of borrowing money for
government purposes and funding was first introduced, I
think, by King William the Hid. and the practice gradually
increased till it reached perfection under the administration.
of Mr. Pitt. Long befo*" ' his time some of the wisest of men,
and among them tlume, the historian, predicted that this
system would ultimately tend toconfusiou and ruin. 1 hope
that no such conseqnence will ensue ; and certainly it need,
not.

The funding system, by generating a fictitious capital,
strongly secured, yields advantages not only to government,,
but to individuals. It economises every process of Icidiug,
and exchange : it gives latitude and ease to adventure : it
moderates the swing of political violence; and atFords
strength and security to executive power. So far it is well ;
and when a nation ir Tairly represented, 1 cannot conceive
how danger should result from it. In England, where this
fictitious capital has swollen up till it exceeds in amount,
the value of the land, and the substantial stock of the in-
dustrious is seized at will, to make good the dividends of ar.
over proportion of idlers ; then, indeed, there may be risk.
At the end of the late war, two things required attention,
the employment of the multitudes, whom war had kept in a
state of action, and some alteration in the system of taxation.
Had government looked out over the wide range of
British dominion, for great objects upon which industry
could be bestowed to profit, such as improving the St,
Lawrence navigation, and the like, not a man might have
pined at home in idleness, and continued action might greatly
have assisted in keeping at once distended and secure, tlie
bubble of fictitiousi wealth; but with every such precaution,

»««**^***IM(H«|fc-*:i-.iPSi;-. w.„

• i<iiHiM«i»il«milwili<

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

CCCCV

this, of itself, required Irimiiiiiig for a peace establishment.
Years before the war, it had swollen to undue bulk, and was
stiHing that industry to which it owed its existence. From
the year 1813, the most vuhiabUi stock of the country — the
agricultural stock, began to suffer diminution, and to be-
come unequal to the enormous burdens imposed upon it.
But the farmers of Britain have no voice in political con-
cerns, and the evil, not immediately fell by their landlords,
was allowed to go on for two years, without even an attempt
towards a remedy. The termination of war shewed, at last,
that something should be done : but what did the landlords
do? They trusted to keep up their rents by a Corn Bill, and
by their political inHuence they carried that into a law,
against the will of nine-tenths of the nation. Never was
seltishness more blind; and miserable, indeed, have been
the consequences. To this hour land and farming stock
have continued to fall, while the funds are kept up by a
system of taxation, absolute and relentless. On this subject
I can speak at once feelingly and correctly. Only a few
weeks ago 1 had accounts of the final sales of my father's
estate. Five years ago this uould have readily brought, at
the hammer, upwards of £[80,000, and now it has netted
only £95,500,while in the same period of years, funded pro-
perty has risen more than 10 per cent. Let the difference
between the fall of substantial stock, and the rise of fictitious
capital be taken only at 40 per cent. ; and think what a dread-
ful convulsion such chang« must have effected in society,
simply considered ! but if it is taken into account, that the loss
has been deducted out of that which held the machinery of
production in motion, and the gain added to that which is idle
and unproductive, what then must we conceive to be the sum
of accumulated mischief! The national expenditure is, no
doubt, greatly lessened since the cessation of. war : say 40
or 50 millions a year ; but the interest of the national debt
is still 40 millions, while the substantial stock, out of which
it is taken, is sunk more than a third ; and that part of this

, >

:f;f

rccoi

caiNI^KAl. INTUODl <;TI()\.

stock really onpaged in pioiluction, more lliuii u half; and
what is worst', the profits of the siime stock nr»; greatly
lessiMud, merely from the eircmnstaiiec of \\h (JiDiiniition :
for, who does not know the diftVrenc*; in irailc, which results
from n powerful capital, and a capital feeble and insiifHcient i
Itesides providiuj;; employment for the hands whom the
cessation of war threw out of employment, had a few taxe»
which bore innnediately on the agriculturists, been taken off,
and the property-tax continued on land rents, and the inten jt
of money in the I'unds, and otherwise, Mngland might have
stood the change from war to peace with the greatest ease :
real and fictitious property woidd have retained a fair relative
proportioik to each other, and the nation would have started
before all the world in renewed and enlarged efforts of in-
dustry and commerce. What do we experience now but
the very reverse r' What do we hear of but another proposal
in England, to raise the price of corn by legislative enact-
ment; and what do we see in these fnie speetlies of the
Iniperial Parliament, but strained nieasures to improve the
bogs of Inland, after farming capital is extinguished; and
a magnanimous resolution to relieve distress, by taking ort'
the stamp duties on advertisements for charitable purposes!!!
Gentlemen, the miserable policy pmsued by England since
the peace, has created evils beyond all conception; — evils not
only to the people at home, but to all. It is this, nniinly,
which has clogged the wheels of industry, and deranged all
the transactions of comujerce ; — which has shaken the credit
of the world, and with universal peace introduced universal
poverty. At the bottom of all this calamity was the landed
interest of England. The Duke of Devilry, my I,ord
Lubber, and Sir John Sinecure, at the end of the war called
a council of Uicir land stewards, and found that exisimg rents
could not bc.paid under rxistmg eircumstances, except the
price of wheat was kept up to 10^. per bushel. '* Rents must
be kept up," said the Trio: "that's flat; and nothing but a
^'gin l^ill can do for us," Willi all the aid of raised duties,

..«M ••••-w«M*-H«io<*.-*.-»r*'-w^— «M«'«kMMi4«y«4t;4ii«*MHVw. »A«AiMM».* -.>«Ato4» i^

(JKNKH \l. INTKOIII f TION,

C«CCV1I

t>i) iiiipoiUil grain, rents wore not !>ii<)(aiiie(i ; but llu; great
iiiiMlIord.s felt litlle |)crMv)nul incoiivt iiienco. The duke had
only t<» reduce his estahhshnteiit from 4i?8(),<KK) of expendi-
ture to £M),()(){). The Kjrd, from J[;,S(),(XK) to jC^O/KM).
Ai'»l the knight niorlgui^ed, for u pre.seut supply, part c" hi»
estate to his brother, a banker and fiindhohier in the city.
\iy this ohis5i of men no great iinniediute inconvenience lias
yet been felt; but it has been dilVerent indeed with all be-
low. The further down, the greater is the misery ; but the
further down, the le»9 is that political influence, which can
guard iiguinst upproaching ruin, and the uu>re removed are
indivninaU fiom the syn)puthy of those who have it to wield.
'I'he first question in political econoiiiy i^hould be, can the
iTiUHs of the people live comfortably under this or that ar-
rangement? but this most necessary question was forgotten,
and many of thi; people have perished. In the; commercial
world the consequence of raising, by forced means, the price
of grain in England, is obvious. America cannot pay for
the manufactures of Kngland but in produce; and when
England luyi^ duties on the importation of grain, the
natural consequence is, that tratle must he diminislied, even
though America did not lay countervailing duties on Eng-
lish goods; and we now see two nations, whie.h ought to b«
reciprocal customcrvS and friends, become nuitual destroyers
of each other s gain. y\meriea retires within herhclf, and calls
bands to the anvil and the loom, who, otherwise, would be
better employed with the axe and the {;lc»ugh. England
yokes her weavers in gravel-cart harness, and Ireland con-
trives work for her ruined farmers in the bogs, when wheat
19 10.?. per bushel — the bogs! which did not Icmpt cultivation
when the average price was 15s.

Far generations, nay, for centuries yet to come, the
crowded population of the old world must naturally make
Ubour cheaper there than in America; and there goods will
b ; manufactured upon easier terms than on Uiis side of the
.itiarita, Heie, again, fioin the cheapness of laud, food will

I ' i

■■V '

., I
'i 1

■i i

(•J: t

n !

CCC('.¥II1

1;|s:NKRAL INTlKlDK '|'|<)\,

be mure rt'iulily obtatiiod. Intercourse ainoiig iiini \» ile~
Nirable, of itself; but bow Mtrongly iIouh uatiire tliiii eiicoii-
lagt! it ; (ind wiiat pity is it ibat tiu! ^bghte^l ubstucle nbould
bo lliruvvii in the wuy. In fuiniitbiug goods to Aiiieiica
iluriiig tbu latu vnuls, England bad udvantugeM which «*h<; is
not bki'ly agtiin to posseM^. The people of tbu ICuiopean
coiitiuent, vtbo can uironl labour even cheaper than the peo-
ple of England, were tiiou held back from competition.
They will now qnickly engage in the arts, have the same
advantages from machinery as the people of England; and,
rid of many of their old feudal restraints, may soon be up*
sides with our fellow subjects in the production of every ar-
ticle now re(|uired by Ameiica.

When the landed interest of England were aelbshly de-
voted to their fuvomite policy, to raise artificially the price of
grain, they ovei looked one beautiful principle, which, with a
little forbearance ut first, would soou have come to their
relief. IJadthey allowed provisions to be cheap, the popu»
lution of the island would rapidly have increased, and the
value of land being always greatly ruled by local situation,
they would have gained from convenience more than they will
obtain, in the end, by checking the natural growth of popu*
lation.

Gentlemen, my last communication was abruptly termi»
uated; but ilhad Hutiicienlly displayed the ease and rutionalily
of the sclieme for inlroilucing settlers, and improving the
navigation of the St. Lawrence. Let me now call your at-
tention to the ejects upon industry and improvement, gene-
rally, which would ensue from the adoption of such a scheme.
The farmeiii of Upper Canada have, for the two last years,
had but a sorry market for produce ; and when that con*
tinues bad, their efforts get, of course relaxed. Were lliey as-
sured by your conduct this session, that the St. Jjawrence
navigation was to be set about next summer, and that 16,()00
consumers were to be imported, besides the usual inHux of set-
tlers, wliatu spur woiild be giveu to exertion! This very autumn

(iUNIIHAL INTUODIICTION.

CGCCIX

tli'JUiiuiuls of addiliunul acres would bis sown widj wht^ut, in
the ct-rlainty of a riiiiij; uiHiict, and the hope of better tiiiicH
would iiispiru every one with coidldciice. Coididcmt! would
beget credit, credit wouhl begot tuouey ; and iiiouey would
begot more. The dischmge of I5,()()0 8ouU atiuually, or
J00,0()(), if you wdl, out of the hos)|iitals of Ireluud, und out
of tile poor liou.'ies uud gravel-cart Iiurneti8 of Miij<;latid,
would aiford no uinall ease to the»u countries. The poor
emigrants would soon be able to replace tlieir rags with good
raiment; and increa-^ing orders from Montreal would re*
double the advanta<{e to England. Doch it not warm your
hearts to think oi" such a glorioub scheme of charity i' Does
it not extinguish every groveling idea when you fcnow that
you can bring it to bear r" Does it not awaken you to duty
and to honour? If it does not, then bow atill lower to your
idol; give prai»e to him whose first breath itt the province wuk
tainted with ''indignation/' and whose. revenge, at the end
of eight nionthd, cannot rest in his bosom without acts of
injustice, without extolling tlu; rash and unwarranted ex-
pressions, wljich, you well know, gave oflence to nine-tenths
of your constituents. Be assured that the landed oligarchy
of Jilnglaud have but little cure for the farmers of Canada,
when they sutfer their own tenants to be ruined, and their
ju)or labourers to be starved. Be assured that while gover-
nors are scut out from among this class of men, and more
particularly if their stomachs have been charged with mili-
tajy hauteur, it is your duly, as representatives of the people
of Upper Canada, to be steeled against slavish dread — to be
guarded against puling language, and, as Brilisli subjects, to
cause to be loudly proclaimed iu Britain, wh:)t beiits the
interests of this province, instead of trusting to the court
whisperings of a governor and ids imps. I tell you once for
all, that the lauded interest of England is hostile to Canada,
not the sovereign and the people ; and 1 tell you that there
are evils wluch nothing but the open and dignified front of u
commissiou will get removed at home. Il is not mere vice

' :

fi:f

H^f

I 4- ;

<fc<;x

r.l^NEHAL JNTRODirCTION.

that ^ou have to contuiid with: it is not the seltiMhiiess of
Knghsh laniilords, taking thcin iiuiividuHlly. The world
scarcely coiitainH such a body of c;enerou8 and noble hearted
individual.s; but in their public cures, and collectively, nil is
ignorance, ttifling, and indilUrcncc. The prosperity of
England never was indebted to them a farthing. It has
forced its way in spite of them, through the wonderful activi-
ty <jf the people — through the enterprise and spirit of mer-
chants — the dexterous skill of manufacturers, and the plod-
ding perseverance of farmers. The activity of the people
will, even yet, overcome every dilHculty : half may be ruined
or starved, but the other half will hold on, and finally, the
country will prosper. After all, even the natiotial debt may
be speedily paid off, were it desirable. To those who cherish
liope, this debt may be looked to only as an evidence of past
exertion, and an index of what may again he performed.

Gentlemen, you have never sufficiently appreciated the vast
advantages which might accrue to this province, were the
connexion with ti>e mother country duly cultivated. You
have a relation stored with every thing you want for pros-
perity; but, by a sheepish bashfulness, you hold back from
a frank and open comnmnication : you trifle away your time
with governors, while you should be shaking hands with the
sovereign and people of England.

It is now precisely two years since I set my tirst foot on
the soil of this province. Two years before that, British
newspapers had been filled with proclamations, for the en-
couragement of those who should incline to come out here as
settlers, upon very liberal terms. Anxious to know what
had been the issue of this scheme^ i made it my first business
to repair to the new settlement of Perth, in the Johnstown
District, where I staid several days. Of the Scotch settle-
ment I took a most particular account, visiting the house
of every individual, and getting from each a narrative of ail
that had occurred since his leaving home, Re. 1 further
^-utered in a table, prepared fur the purpose, the following

c; !•: N r, u \ l i n r iio d i ( ti o n .

cccixi

s» of
ivorld
iarted
all is
ty of
t has
ictivi-
roer-
plod-
>eoplc
ruined
y, the
t)t may
:heri8h
)f past
d.

he vast

re the

You

pros-

frora

ir time

ith the

particulars: 1st. Srttler's original profession; 2d. sister or
wife; 3d. sons; 4lh. dauj^hters; 5th. from what county;
f)th. from what pari-sh; 7th. date of leaving home; 8lh. date
of embarkation; (J\.\\. date of disembarkation; lOlh. date of
taking possession; 1 Ith. buildings ereetcd; I'^llh. number of
acres chopped ; l.'Uh. nund)er of acres cleared ; 14U1. num-
ber of acres in wheat ; 15th. number of acres in oats ; Kith,
number of acres in potatoes, garden, &c.; 17lh. number of
pounds of maple sugar made; 18lh, number of cows and
horses. When each man had furnished me wiUi these par-
ticulars, he sitjned his name, attesting the correctness of the
statement, and declaring that he was '^wcllsatisjitd,'' meaning
with the country and his farm. This table, together with an
explanatory letter, I sent home to be published in the news-
papers. The letter I shall here transcribe; and extract out
of the table as much of those columns, relating to the depar-
ture from home, embarkation, disembarkation, and getting
possession of the land in Canada, as wdl demonstrate the
strange mismanagement of this concern. 1 have, in my for-
mer comnninication, stated, that men could be transported
from home, and placed at their labour on the St. Lawrence
navigation, by the 1st of June each year, for £*20 per man,
with wife and chiKI, which charge could be refunded from
the profits of labour, at the end of the second season. The
Perth settlers were kept idle a whole year, at an enormous
cost to government; to say nothing of ihe vexation and
anxiety to the people themselves. Only mark the difference :
1) ark the wide difference between management and misma-
nagement.

(Here w'as inserted the letter and table which appear in
vol. i. page 5'22, and onward.)

There are about fifty settlers thus entered in the table, but
the above extract is suflicient for the present purpose. About
six months after I sent home my account of the Perth Set-
tlement for publication, I read here an extract from the
English newspapers staling, that the Government plan ot

,'i

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II !■

I?':

' v|

ccccxn

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

promoting the settlement of Canada having failed, no more
encouragement was to be given to emigration. Novi', 1 ask
if any means could have been contrived more eiFectual, for
throwing cold water on the spirit of emigration, than this
clumsy and expensive phui, especially when followed up with
a provincial act, to restrain public liberty. Truly those nar-
row-minded oligarchs, who would rather see the poor reduced
to beggary at home, than permit them to have a safe conduct
to America, find in such plans and acts most charming assist-
ants.

Let me make this concluding remark, that at the end of
the war, there were some people at home who had good
wishes to the Settlement of Canada, and that the Prince was
quite propitious to the scheme, however ill digested ; but
that there are other people altogether adverse, and who turn a
deaf ear to every correction of error, and every rational pro-
posal of encouraging emigration on great and liberal princi-
ples. Those whom I propose as settlers, are farmers with
capital, and the real labouring poor of England; but I know
not if a single individual, of these classes, has yet seen the
province. The farmers will not come to be gagged or impri-
soned; and much will their landlords rejoice in their being
held back. The real labourers again cannot move for want
of means. Those who were brought over in 1815 had to de-
posit £u6. per man at home, for their passage, Sec. to be
repaid at the end of two years ; and all who have yet arrived,
are people of the same description — people who have been
little accustomed to hard work, but who have carried them-
selves from home with the poor remains of a reduced capital
in trade.

I trust that by this time some of you have bestowed a little
rertection on the proposal of substituting an equalized land
tax, in the room of every other. Permit me to say a little
more on that subject.

Mankind, besides being creatures of imitation and habit,
in extemiil acts, are so even in their mental prejudices. Uudei

GBNERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCCXiii

the despotic Governments of the old world, taxation kasbeen
mainly imposed to support the ambition of rulers, and to add
to the trappings of state : it has hitherto only been considered
as an engine of oppression ; and thence the very name has
become odious. To conduct only the necessary aiiiiirs of a
Government, really virtuous, very little uideed is required;
but there is, beyond this, a use to be made of taxation, which
might redound greatly to the advantage of all. This province
is peculiarly adapted to illustrate what I mean, and to receive
benelit from a liberal system of taxation. Its internal navs-
gation is the most invithig object for speculative improvement
which nature presents. Take up the map of the world, and
you will not find upon its whole surface aiiy thing to com-
pare, in point of interest and grandeur, to the waters of the
St. Lawrence, whether you consider the millions whom the
genial sun and fertile soil of their borders 'nust speedily rear
up, to hold communication with each other, or the more ex-
tended idea of these waters being united to those of the west,
and forming a highway for commerce between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. Other rivers, subject to the mutiny of
inundation, rushing through the valleys of a mountainous
country, or discharging themselves into the unhealthy regions
of the torrid zone, frighlen, or mock, or enfeeble every desire
to improve tlicni, for the purposes of man ; but in the regular
majesty of their tlow through plains stretching between a
happy temperature, the waters of the St. Lawrence speak
confidence to adventure, and give security to the figures of
the most sanguine calculation.

NIAGARA SPECTATOR, 24tii June, 1819.

IContinued from our last, j

Had 1 capital suftkientto improve the St. Lawrence navi-
gation, and competent authorities would say — " Take it into
your own hands, and from henceforth have the benefit of a
toll froni those who choose to prefer your canal to the present

' »1

1 I

I = !
I I I

Hkk.MAHiBNyMiMWV'^MMl

i» t i i iiiii » > > iP i.']n. i ii i J i n i ' i ji i . i n.'.uu' i iW i WM Illli*^"

'] I

CCCCXIV

GENERAL INTRODUCTION,

i \

course of navigation," certainly I slioulcl think it a fin«.i ciianc«
of laying out my money to atlvantagc, and not sparingly should
I lay it out. The more completely llie vo k was done, so
much the better should I expect to be repaid. But were I
made proprietor, not only of this navigation right, but of the
province, with how much greater conlidenoe should I proceed !
Estimating my landed estate at -jpO,000,0()(), should I stickle
at borrowing two millions, to improve its value three times
over in five years, which most certainly would be done with
proper management. On the same principle, and with equal
confidence, as an individual would proceed, so n>ay a conn-
munity, and the individuals of a whole nation may yield as
cheerfully to taxation, for promoting the general interest, as
any company of traders contribute shares to the common
stock. The chief consideration, as to taxation, rests with the
principle upon which the means are to be exacted, and 1
maintain, that what has been chalked out by me is perfectly
fair; nay, not only fair, but such as holds out the highest in-
ducements for its being liberally and resolutely put in action.
Such is the peculiar situation of landed property in this pro-
vince, tliat I am fully convinced, were £'200,000 or £300,000
raised annually, by taxation, on the principle proposed by
me, and thrown into Lake Ontario, it would tend to good.
Though at first it would be pinching, by and by it would be
less felt, the effect being to force on settlement and cultiva-
tion, by rendering wild land less, comparatively, profitable to
hold than cultivated land ; and, through this effect, the tax, iu
the end, wouhl bo drawn out of such an increased value iu the
aggregate, as scarcely to incommode individuals iu the least
degree. It never should be forgotten, that wild land is the
chief bane of this country, and no fair means should be left
unemployed to lessen it. In my former communication, I
stated at random that farmers, your constituents, possessed,
on an average, 400 acres of land, and that a fifth part of that,
80 acres, might be in cultivation. I have since had the cu-
riosity to examine an Assessment roll, and find that frtrmers.

--:'^<at^;!ji:<aBfeJii rf fe . iiiai3;^iiia4.U

;tion.
pro-
|,(X)0
^d by
;ood.
lid be
lUiva-
)le to
ax, in
in the
least
s the
e left
on, I
jssed,
that,
,e cu-
imerB,

GENERAL INTRODI CTION.

CCCCXV

on an average, possess only 2.')7 acres, ontof wliich only S8
acres are cnltivated.

Their average assest^inent stands thus : —

Wild land - - - '3s. Sid.

Cultivated land

Assessntents on sundries

•n

1 formerly supposed, at random, that the province contain-
ed one hundred townships, averaging in extent 60,000 acres,
and containing 1,000 souls each. The province contains
probably, within the surveyed limits, double this number of
acres, and a greater number of inhab'^ants ; but, for simpli-
city of calculation, let us adhere to the first assumed extent
and population, viz. 0,0(^0,000 of acres, and 100,000 souls.
Further, let it be supposed that every tenth person i:^ a
farmer, and possesses, at an average, the same exteiit of wild
and cultivated land, as those farmers actually do in the
Assessment roll above- quoted from, with the same propor-
tion of other taxable property, then 10,000 farmers possess

Acres. £. s. d.

Of wild land - ) ,990,( K)0, taxed at 1 ,658 6 8

cultivated land <■ .S80,000 - - 1,583 6 8

other property ------- 2,156 5

Then if farmers possess *i,370,000, and pay 5,397 IB
The possessions and^^

payments of others, 1 3,630,(K)0, and 8,204 7

should be - -J

r.?.

Totals - 6,000,000 acres, £13,662 5 9|
An equalized land-tax, at 1 1^. per acre,^

would bring
Or, bringing it up to 205. per acre, and

Id. per pound, as cultivated land .. .

now rated - - - - ■)
And at Is. per pound, or 5 per cent.) 3Q(y^QQ ,, ^

on the fee -simple - ~ -3

i 13,

re, and \
land is \ '2.5,

750 O
,000

r;;

•

i I

i H

CCCCXVl

OENKRAL ITVTROlirfJTION.

Here we are at the utmost sum wiiich I have proposed to be
thrown into Lake Ontario; and pray, who would be greatly
hurt by it;* It would only be £11. 17;?. to each farnicr; anil
I am very sure that Canadian rarnursdonow, <m the average,
throw away more in idle lime and drink ino;, without increas-
ing the value of their property. Nay, don't contradict nie;
I am very sure of k ; but rather keep your eye steadily on the
holders of wild land, and see how they can bear it. Mark,
for instance, old Mr. Landlubber, of Little York, who does
nothing all day but sit in his elbow chair, lie has 10,000
acres of wild land ; but eaters on the Assessment roll only
5,(KX), well knowing that nobody will take the trouble to de-
tect the cheat, and so he now gets clear for the yearly pay-
ment of £4. 3s. 4(1. But, under my system, there shall be
a Land Register, open to the iikspection of the public, shew-
ing who are the holders of land ; and from which Assessment
rolls shall be correctly drawn out, and through which means
neither Landlubber, of York, nor Mortgager, of Montreal;
no, nor the King (meaning thereby the King's servants), nor
even the Clergy; who are most likely, shall be allowed to
cheat the revenue a single farthing. By this means, and at
the rate of five per cent., Landlubber must pay £500 per
annum of tax. Now, at first sight, we may be disposed to
pity Landlubber; but, in fact, he requires none. He may
still sit easy in his chair, and become richer and rither, even
while he sees his nioney cast into the Lake. It will 5e re-
membered, that if individuals are not ready with the payment
of their lax, down it goes to nccoui.t ; but Landlubber has a
clear income of £800. per annum, independent of his wild
land ; being knowing, he lets no del)ts of this kind go to book ;
and being thrifty, he resolves to reduce his expense of living
to £300.

Ail this, however, is only brought in, for the sake of illustra-
tion ; and, with the same view, let us advance a stf p further.
Suppose the same sum of jt?300,000, raised by taxation, was,
instead of being thrown into Luke Ontario, employed in

to be

•; ami
aerugo,
icrcas-
:t «ie;
on the
Mark,
lo does
10,000
oil only
e to tle-
ily pay-
shall be
:, sliew-
icssment
h means
jonlreat ;
Ills), nor
owed to
, and at
500 per
osed to
le may
ler, even
111 be re-
f>a\nient
cr has a
lis wild
o book ;
lof living

lillustra-
further.
)n, was,

loyed in

GEN Kit AL INtRODlJOTION.

(•cccxvii

brin<2;ing poor people out of I'.ngland, where there are
3,000,000, who have not one shilling in the world to rub on
another. Snpj>ose that these people were kept two years
enii)loyed in mere idleness, say heaping up stones one day^
and casting them abroad the next ; by this policy, nnich more
would be gained to the province, than by throwing the cash
into the Lake. It vvouhi create a market for produce, give
circulation to money, and stinudate the industry of farmers and
others ; besides all which, it would add greatly to the strength
and value of the province by the increase of aettlers. But
if by the raising, and thus foolishly squandering away so much
money, so many advantages are to be produced, what w ould be
the mighty triumph of economy, when the money and labour
was expended on useful public works ; above all, on improv-
ing the St. Lawrence navigation, which I have already said
presents the noblest object for speculation within the wide
compass of nature. Oh ! it is delightful to muse upon the conse-
quences of such a scheme being put in execution : to think of
the profit! — the utility! — the sum of relief to the poor
of England! — the security to Canada! — the gh)ry to
the nation! — 15,000 souls annually rescued from distress,
and fairly (established in the high way of vigour and
enjoyment ! ! ! But when it has been a few years in action,
let me visit Little York: — let me inquire for our old friend
Jyand-lubber. He was for the first year of the tax, really
disagreeable ; sulky to a degree, and from time lo time wouhl
bellow out, '• Damn that wretch Gourlay*, who first proposed
this cursed coercion act." By the second year, Land-lubber
could not help, in the course of nature, being better tem-
pered, as the thrifty scheme of living had considerably less-
ened the dropsical swelling in his ancles, and he had not
half so many twitches of the gout. The third year I^and-

* Language of an assonihly-muu n< |);ivliamoiiu

■1!

i .)

i ^ I:

CCCCXVUI

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

lubber walked out daily, and inquired as to the price of land,
which had nov risen I'roni two to four dollars an acre.
The fourth year it was really pleasant to see him: clean in
the shank ; and with a face full of glee, it was hard to say
whether he or his cane would win the race, as he bustled
about asking the news — the progress of the navigation — the
arrival of emigrants — the price of land, the price of land!

One day, as I stood at Forest's hotel door, he could not
help, in the joy of his heart, bursting the fetters of an old
grudge, and made up to me. " Well, Sir, the weather is
very fine indeed : have you heard any news to day f" " It is
just reported, Mr. Land-lubber, that the Grand Canal will
be finished next month, and that the good ship Britannia, of
300 tons, is fitting out in style at Quebec, to bring up his
Excellency the Governor-in-Chief to make the first debut
on Lake Ontario, by the canal : land has risen another dollar
an acre this last month ; and 10,000 emigrants of respectability
are now on their way from Europe, to make purchases here,
and become settlers." *' Mr. G. that is really excellent news
— glorious news I Will you dine with me to-day ? I hope we
shall all be good friends again." " Indeed, Mr. Land-lubber,
I never was your enemy: only a plain-speaking counsellor,
and a little impatient, at times, with those who would not
look forward to the rising grandeur of the province ; who
soured every hope with unfounded suspicions, and low
jealousies." " Well, well, it is all over now : all's well that
ends well: you must certainly dine with me, and give nie
some more news about lands and emigrants. Oh, charming
weather! Oh, fine times I Our rising grandeur ! Our rising gran-
deur! ! !" " 1 shall dine with you most willingly, Mr. L., but you
must now promise to assist me in blowing up Little York."
** Oh I certainly, my friend : I swear I shall have a torch ready
for you at command. These narrow streets, and miserable,
dirty, unpainted clap-boarded huts, will never suit our rising
grandeur : even that groat gawky-looking brick house must
come down : aye, garrison and all must be blown up. Well,

UENERAL INTRODITTIOV.

cocrxix

•, r

laud,

acre.
Dan in
,0 say
uslled
1 — the

,ld not

an old

ther 13

" It is

nal will

nnia, of
up his

St debut

:r dollar

ctability

les here,

int news

lope we
lubber,
nselior,
uld not
e ; who
ud low
.veil that
give me
harming
ng gran-
1, but you
York."
ch ready
iserablc,
ur rising
se n)ust
Well,

we shall talk more of it after dinner ; so good bye— good bye.
Ha! ha! ha! I.atid up I Houra! Our rising grandeur!
Our rising grandeur! ! !"

The execution of such a work as iho St. Lawrence navi-
gation, hy the scheme proposed, settles the question of ex-
pense as one of no consequence. I spoke of a scale to
admit vessels of 200 tons burden ; and in doing so I con-
sidere'^ Soth as to what woidd brave the ocean, and what
wouj.; » .)t be iiu;onvenientiy large for internal navigation.
Should it be deemed advisable to have larger vessels in the
trade, any additional expense should never for a moment be
thought of, as an objection. The La Chine canal is to
admit only of boats. This may suit the merchant of Mont-
real, but will not do for Upper Canada. Indeed I am
doubtful if our great navigation should at all touch Montreal ;
and rather think it should be carried to the northward.
Here, however, I am without personal knowledge. As to
the line within llie province, my mind is made up, not only
from inquiries commenced on my first arrival here, but from
considerable personal inspection of the ground, as well be-
tween Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, as below. My opinion
is, that the navigation ought to be taken out of the river St.
Lawrence, near the village of Johnstown, in Edwardsburgh,
and let into the Ottawa, somewhere below the Haukesbury
rapids : probably in that part of the river called the Lake of
the two Mountains. Hy a bold cut of a few miles at the
first-mentioned {)Iace, the waters of the St. Lawrence might
be conducted to a comnrand of level, which would make the
rest of the way practicable, with very ordinary exertion.
The idea which has been started by some, of raising the
navigation by two stages, first into Lake St. Francis, and
thence to the higher level, may do for boat navigation ; but
for vessels of a larger scale, it is greatly objectionable. Any
benefit to be gained from the lake, considered as part of the
canal already forme<l, would be quite overbalanced by the
w ant of a good towing path. A boat navigation may, I think,

d il 2

■•ffVftr^tn-'^iT'rn-^*' ii|«*V« . ri;. f rfy--

i ''•iMIl^

ccccxx

OENF.WAL INTHODIICTION.

with benefit to llio parts adjoining, be bionglit np so far as
JVIillrush, through Lake St. I''rancis, ami thence be VAcn
into the line of llie graiul canal. The advantages to Upper
Canada from a navigation on a large scale, vvoiil<l be infinite.
Only think of the difi'erence of having goods brought here
from England, in the same bottoms to which they were first
connnitted, instead of being unshipped at Quebec, unboatcd
and warehoused at Montreal, carted to the ditch canal, anil
there parcelled out among petty craft for forwarding to
Kingston. I'hen again at Kingston tumbled about for
transport across Lake Ontario ; and again, if Amherstburgh
is the destination, a third time boated, unboated, and re-
shipped. Think of the difference in point of comfort and
convenience to the merchants here. Think of the greater
dispatch. Think of the saving of trouble and risk ! Think of
being unburdened of intermediate commissions and profits !
Think of the closer connexion which it would form between
this province and England ! Think of the greater comfort it
would afford to emigrants, and how much it would facilitate
and encourage emigration ! With navigation on a largo
scale, ship building would become an object of great im-
portance here, and new vessels might be ready loaded with
produce to depart with the first opening in the spring.
There are but a few vessels trading irom England to Que-
bec, which make two voyages in a season, a.id then it is
with increase of risk that die second voyage is performed.
Every vessel could leave England, proceed to the extremities
of Lakes Michigan or Superior, and get back with ease iu
a season ; or every vessel could leave Lakes Erie or On-
tario in the spring, proceed to England, get back here, and
again take home a second cargo of produce.

In time of war what security would such a scale of navi-
gation yield ! In fact it would put all competition on the
lakes out of question. Upper Canada would then possess a
vast body of thorough-bred seamen antl ship-carpenters, with
abundance of vessels fit to mount guns, not only for their

GKNFllAT. INTIlOniTrTTON.

crccxxi

[spring.
Qiie-
fii it is
|oinu!cl,
leiiutics
lease iu
»r On-
|ie, ami

If navi-

lon llic

Isbc'ss a

|s, wilU

)r llieii-

own iniliviilual dt Icikm , hut to constitute a navy at a ino-
incnt's notice. In connnercial competition, loo, thii great
western canal of tlie States wonltl be quite ontrivalled by
such a .superior navigation. The line of the States' canai
nuist be for ever juihjcici to nearly 400 miles of tt»wing,
besides having many counteractin;' locks : here from Lake
Mrie downwards, tlti.re would not be more than 100 miles
of towinif, and not a single counteracting lock. Upwards,
except at the falls of St. Mary's, where a very short canal
woidd give a free passage, navigation is clear for more than a
thousand miles; and when population lliickens on the wide ex-
tended shores of the Up[)er Lakes, only think ln»w ihc import-
ance increases of having the transport of goods and produce un-
interrupted by handling and shifting from one class of vessels
to another, eight or ten times over. Oh ! it is «juite ele-
valiug to look forward to such a noble work ; so let us have
nothing to do with piddling concerns.

ROBERT GOURLAY.

1)1 tlic same newspaper of June a^th, 18 li), ap-
j)earetl the replies of the 1 legislative Ccvtncil and
Assembly to the Lieutenant-governor's speeeh,
uiven above. Two clauses extracted from each, 1
shall here copy in, to mark tlie spirit of these
aiujusi bodies.

" May it please your Excellency,

" We, his Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legisla-
tive Council of the province of Upper Canada, in parliament
assembled, beg leave to return our thanks for your Ex-
cellency's speech at the opening of this session.

** We are gratified to learn that his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, on behalf of his Majesty, has authorized
grants of land to certain of the provincial navy and the
.uiihlia who served during Uie late wai, aud wc feci the pro-

I I

CaTXxil GLNLRAJ. INTUODUCTION.

pricty of vithliolding this mark of approbation from the
individuals who composed llie late convention of delegates.
" VVm. l)uMMi:ii Powell, Speaker."
Legislative Council Chamber,
lOth June, IB 19.

" May it pieas:: your Exckllf.ncy,

" \Vc, his filajesty's duliful and loyal subjects, the Com-
mons of Upper Canada, in provincial parliament assembled,
beg leave to offer to jour Excellency our most humble and
liearty thanks for your gracious speech from the throne, at
the opening of the present session.

" We are gratefully impressed with the gracious inten-
tions of his lioyal Highness the Prince llegent, in autho-
rizing the Governors of both Canadas to bestow laud on
certain of the provincial navy aT)d militia, who served during
the late war ; and with your Excellency's considerate atten-
tion in setting apart adequate tracts in the several districts,
for the accommodation of such of their respective inhabi-
tants as are within the limit of the Royal instructions ; and
we lament that any portion of his Majesty's subjects should
have forfeited their claims upon the bounty of their govern-
ment.

"Allan ]\PLean, Speaker."
Commons House of Asscyiihh/,
9th June, IHI9.

Underneath the word Postscript, which heads
this part of the work, is written, " chiejiyfor after
reference and discussion;" and here it is only ne-
cessary to state, that the fate of Upper Canada, as
a British province, never was affected more than by
these fulsome and shameless replies to the Lieute-
nant-governor's opening speech.

CONCLUSION.

TO THE PEOPLK OF UPPER CANADA.

atteii-

beads
r after
ily ne-
ada, as
ban by
Uieute-

Fehmanj 11, 1825.

Can A Di ANs,

It is this day two months since tlie date of my
last Address to you. 1 was then fenble; and had
shortly alter to abandon part of my plan ; to throw
aside my pen, and tly to the country. That nlove-
nient set afloat new icipas ; and my Address to the
People of Willshire led me first to produce somo
extracts from Salisbury newspapers, and then to
exhibit others out of the Niagara Spectator, which
you will find link well together, and manifest
at least consistency in opinion and principle.

During- these two months most eventful occur-
rences have taken place ; and up to this hour the
landed and farming interests have been getting into
greater and greater trepidation* : have been holding
meetings in every direction; and coming forth with

* House of Commons, Feb. 1822.

Mr. Coke rose to present a petition from the owners and occu-
piers of land in the lountv of Norfolk. The petition prayed for
economy and reform : it prayed for the reduction of taxes, and
particularly of those which were imposed upon malt, salt, leather,
candles, and other necessary articles of consumption, which would
afford (he country relief to the amount of five millions, without
any real injury to the revenue. How astonished must the country
be to hear the declaration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
that the removal of any tax would be an aggravation of the ex-
isting distress. Gracious God! at a time -when the people, from
one end of the country to the other, wore complaining of distress,
with the proofs of which the table of that House would soon be
groaning — at such a time were they to be told, by a hard-hearted
and callous government, on tiie first day of the session too, that

^ i

t
|i

tirf<tl»KM'AW.i»Wwi-;iiBMw« ■aftg itflM WII M^AB EaiBfe'. IC

t I
( I

ll'<U'X\iv (jRNFJtAI. INTKOIIIU I ION.

H|K'rcli«'S alt(>C!:<'tl)(T riidiciiJ, led on l»y udMc L«ir»N.
J\iili;niu'iil is now luot ; iiiiil \\v arr all ii|)on lip-t<)<^

tlii'V WiMC to iiu'i'l no icli(>r, iind that llu'ir romplainls Wttiild !»«'
iliHrr;'jai»lfil ! Ill' dill niil mi])|hi'i' llial llic priilioiit ol ihc |ii'ii|iUi
woiilil 1)0 iilti'tiilnl to liy tlial lluiist , hut In- rrrlMinly <Hil not
I'xpocl to licar llial ilorliiiM- mo opi'iity avowi'il. Tlirri' hail l)n'ii
noi^otis who looKril up to that IIoiiho us a land ol liopi>, rornipl as
It was, prollit^nK.' a- it was (loiul ciios of " ( )idi«f"). It v\a«
)<nowi( to be .so (fries ol " Order,*' and " (!iiair").

The Slpnihrr rosr, and idistMVcd that hi' shoidd he ihn last
person to intorlerc with the i'\prt"ssioi\ ol the •^rnlniinits ol" n
liii'iuhrr ol that llo\isi', did he not leel liimsell" I'alled upon to do
hv an iniporioiis dutv. He was eonviuct'd th.'il a uu>nient'H

relli'tilioii would shew the hunoiirablo ineiiilur lliat hi' hail trans-
gnv^sed llie litnils ol lair di'b.ite.

il/r. Co/.-c apolo';;i/.ed lor liavin^ said what was lonsidered im-
proper. Ho knew ihal lie was warm, and it was natural that he
sliould be so. It was iindeistoinl, however, ihat ihe pelilionern
it hkely to oblain redress from that House (lu'ar, hear),
tilion would perhaps better explain ihtr view whiel; he

were m

Iti Ml

perlui}

rntertaiiK'd with ri'jjjard to the coiistitnlioM ol' that Houso than hu
fould iiiniM'ir. It slated that retreuchnient would do mueli l<>-
Ward.s (lie relief ol' all elas:iis ol the coinnuiuity ; and lie must
remind tlieni, that allhoU{i;li an hon. uiendur of that House (Mr.
Hume) had shewn last session Ihat there was no hraneli ol" thu
expendiliiio, either loreii^n or dinuestie, in wliiih reduction luij'hl
not be made, yet. laii^e majorities had always bceu round to rejcrt
hirt propositions. " Therefore," saiil the petitioners, " it is our
ileeided lonvieiion, that the rorriipt and del'eelive stale ol' tlio
vepresenlatiiMi, is the true seuiret> of the prevailiu;^; distres-i, and
lliat until the people shall be fairly re])ivseiiled in parliament, no

relief is to be uxpeeteil." T/u Tiinca, Htli h\h. IS'2'i.

Mr.Vi^ki'.. \\'aslli(>e(Uintry to be told by a liaid-liearti;d and callous
government (hat no relief would bo jL!;iaiiteil '. Not that he haii
deceived his constituonta by .sayin^^ that he hoped their ptdition
would be attended to. He had not told them any such thiiiji; ; for,
constituted as tlu) House was — corrupt as it was — profligate as it

was

(ord

er, on

lor).

The Speaker said that tho hon. member in\ist bo ^^ensiblo that
those expressions wore hi{j;hly disorderly and improper (hear,
hoar).

Mr. Cofis. It is known to bo so (order, order).

The Courier, Vcbrmrii 8, 'iSI'i.

Canadians! "Toll it not iit Hath:" Yoti must ho all very
fionsible how improper Avas the above language of Mr. Coke; but
I would druw your allcnlion to the oxtroujc fully of pelilioninfij

(iKNKKAf. INTIiODI CTION

rcvrxxv

ti) It '.irn wliat is (o he doiH

r. AIiiuHtns, it im siiid,
!irr ahoiif lo hoirow liv*- millions l(» lend to land.

lord^

aiK

I I

imicis,

to I

vt'cp pL>!tc:«< 111 ih'm IS

iliiiid;

wliilf |)(iiid laws and niililary torn' is applied lor to
furt' distiiil»anc('.s in Inland!!! Mr. Cobhrtl
liavinn raised a ery al)ont INcl's Itill, (a most ex-
<U'll(nt IhII) thinks, I picsninc, thai he may trust
to that lor a wliile with more hope than lo '* ('ol>-
luMt's parliament," wliich is put oil, situ (lie:
s(», alter .ill, oiir late is left ^Mo I In* force ot <!venls,''
ami \\v know not what a day may hring forth.

Newsj).ij)(;rs have inionnt'd us that your [>roviti-
<'ial parliament mel on tlu; .iOth of Xovemher : that
it was t;xpeeled ih it the session would he short
and lran<|uil ; also, that llu^ <piesti<jn oi yonr far-
famed sedition law was aiiilaled. I am sorry Ibr
It has lessened my exp(!e(ation of a eoiii.

IIS.

mission coming home immediately ; hut [ shall
not yet despair. The sole <luty ol yonr ri^pn^sen-
latives should w.st in rcfusiiiL; sii|)pHes till a com-
mission is appointed: Ijut the siUiness of last
session makes \\\v. snspeet that silliness may still
])r(n'ail. It is rejjorted that the (jOvernor-in-C'hief
has ask«'d th<^ parliament of LowiT Canada to
••rant the civil list duriuL^ tin; life of the sovcrcion.

r^ o o

Snnly they will not be fools enough to comply.

jtiiiliainuni to reform itself. I't-litious for reform of j)iirliamont
should !)(> presented to tlie King alone; and tliey wliould Ix! sys-
lematio. 'I'liey hIiouUI pray for boniethiiig specific ; for instance,
that every houHcholder «ho<ild havo a vote in the (;hoiee of mem-
bers of parliament. Tliey sliould be short and uniform. Every
parish in the kingdom should prcisent one to the King; and Mr,
CoI<(!, than wl.onj aa lionester man is not periiaps in England,
could easily iiuvo one presented from every parish of Norfolk,

I! i

■■tfa»i « t*i Mj)WWW i > ii il l!if <mM*W Wi

rcCCXXVl GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Though 1 am a friend to free trade witli all the
world, and wish to see that brought about as
speedily as possible, had your representatives sent
home a connnission last year, instead of trifling
away time, by appointing a select committee (see
page ()()6, Vol. II.) only to exhibit ignorance and
vanity, 1 should have been happy to have seen the
timber trade continued for a few years in favour of
Canada, with notice that tlie favour should be
gradually withdrawn. This would have given
opportunity to people in the trade to have wound
up their business economically, and to have dis-
posed of or worn out their machinery (saw-mills,
&c.) to some profit. Should a commission come
home this session, I should on the same principle
be happy to see our North American i>rovinces
favoured for a few years in the corn trade. I
should \\\bh to see vour corn and flour admitted
for sale here at all times on a certain duty, to be
diminished year after year, till the trade was free
to you ; and, after being free to you, for some time,
to be made free to all the world. An ad valorem
duty would be the thing; but for illustration, say
that vour wheat should this year be admitted to
sale, on paying a duty of 3*. per bushel, next year
9s. 6d., and so on, diminishing 6d. every year
till the duty was extinct. The Halton petition,
and your parliamentary proceedings of last year,
plainly manifest your wish to bar out your neigh-
bours in the United States from trading through
Quebec with England on equal terms with your-
selves. This is a selfish and narrow-minded no-

.-trr-T-v— ..f^^r-r

"W'fl^ j"f. A>7*- •■.-■ ^ ^^^•^^■■■■.-^"■WiiifTU'ryyr^w-^TyfV^r

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCCXXvii

I tllC

lit as
} sent
i fling
I (see
) unci
■n the
3ur of
Id be
given
I'ound
e dis-
-mills,
come
ncii)lc
vinccs
le. I
nit ted
to be
s free
tim<?,
1 1 or em
jU, say
Ited to
;t year
year
Itition,
year,
jneigh-
i rough
vour-

jd no-

tion, on your part, and it would not suit England,
even though you were to be gainers. It is besides
impracticable. Whenever provincial duties are
imposed to any great amount on produce of the
United States, and vent is found for it at Quebec,
the extent of unguarded boundary line between
the Canadas and the States will atlbrd such op-
l)ortunities to smuggling, as effectually to blast
your illiberal policy, and I rejoice in this truth.
In the event of the St. Lawrence navigation being
effected on my plan, I had a scheme to propose
for making American produce pay towards that;
but at present there is no occasion for enlarging on
the subject. It is the interest of Britain to trade
with Americans through the port of Quebec, as
freely as with you, (Canadians, though her ship])ing
interest only was taken into consideration ; and
were an act immediately passed, admitting corn
and flour to be imported from our North Ameri-
can colonies, and sold here at all times on a duty,
as above proposed, the benefit would be instant
and great both to England and the colonies. If
your commission would come home, and propose
this simple measure, without any invidious, grasp-
ing, and illiberal view towards your neighbours, I
doubt not but it would be admitted; and perhaps
you might yet get to rights without becoming
bankrupt. Half the farmers of Halton probably
have their names standing on the lx)oks of James
Crooks, Esc[. M. P. for goods furnished to them
when prices were high. He again is perhaps in-
debted to merchants in Montreal ; and they to

I m li

CCCCXXVlil GENERAL INTIIODUCTION.

niorcliants in London. In the course of time,
trade miarht assist in adjustini]r these accounts.
I spoke lightly of a general bankruptcy among you,
keeping my eye bent on the infinitely greater dis-
tress which general bankruptcy among British
farmers would produce. Youi distress would be
comparatively nothing to their's ; and their's would
not only be to themselves ruinous, but it would
spread death and destruction around to millions:
yes, were the public credit of England once vitally
touched, and a general breaking down among the
farmers would certainly so touch it, not less than
two millions of human beings would be swept from
existence — paupers, annuitants, and fundliolders;
young, old, and infirm ! 1 have said above, and
I say again, that no nation on earth was ever
situated as we are, from the factitious state into
which we have been brought by the Pitt system of
finance, as it is called, in conjunction with the
greatest of all evils — the evil of the poor-laws,

I have already said, and this too 1 repeat, that
were reason to regulate our atiairs, all danger could
be avoided: even the Pitt system could with dis-
cretion be followed up in time of peace to infinite
advantage; and taxation itself could be turned to
profit. Reason, however, I am afraid, will never
be consulted while we are ruled by boroughmon-
gers : while ministers study only their own interest,
and are totally regardless of public good. How
mad are all their measures ! Let us look ff)r an
example of it to Ireland, at the present moment.
That unhappy country could be cheai)ly redeemed

GENERAL INTUODUCTION. CCCCXxix

from distro:>L>i. Emancipate the catholics: let not
one-fit'th of tiic nation lord it over Ibur-fit'ths. If
clergy arc to he paid by government, let catholic
clergy be paid as well as protestant clergy, on con-
dition of their allowing the people to be educated:
let tithes be commuted; and let emigration beassisted.
All this would be reasonable ; but ministers are
etjuipping an army to make war against the poor,
ignorant, distracted, starving Irish; and Lord
lloden has just told us in parliament, that the great
evil is to be traced to " the non-residence of gentry
and landowners" ! ! !

In England we have much to gain by mere legis-
lation. Tithes could be commuted by an act of
the simplest kind, merely to make them payable at
a fixed rate, depending on the price of grain. This
would instantly ensure peace and harmony between
tithe-holders and farmers : it would instantly give
the rein to the spirit of improvement ; and it would
free the clergy from a world of reproach. But the
clergy, who, of all others, would be most benefited,
who would indeed secure to themselves, as a bodv,
a chance of lengthened possession of church pro-
perty ; — the clergy set their faces against this ! ! !

In five years, five millions of annual expendi-
ture on the poor coidd be saved to England by re-
forming the poor-laws; and at least five millions
more would be added to national wt^alth by greater
industry and better conduct on the part of the poor
themselves ; but, will the poor-laws be reformed ?
This session they could be reformed, as well as in
any other session ; but the last Edin])urgh Review

ccccxxx

GBXEUAL INTRODUCTION.

is for delaying that most necessary of all reforms
for several years! ! !

Since autumn, 1813, farming has been unpro-
fitable (since then I calculate that 200 millions of
money have been lost to the farming interest) ; and
though the present low prices could have been
guarded against, it was clear that war prices could
not be kept up : it was clear that something should
have been done to tjive farmers relief from contracts
formed when prices were high, which could not
possibly be fulfilled when prices were low :
it was clear that an act of parliament, to allow them
to pay rents according to the price of grain, would
have })rotected them from ruin better than a corn-
bill ; but their landlords could not think in time of
lowering rents; and they now do it partially, only
to increase mischief! ! !

Had landlords, who rule this nation, — the landed
oligarchy, seen, and they might have seen, had they
opened their eyes ; — had they seen that rents could
not be paid in peace which were contracted for in
war; — had they seen that even the Pitt systenij^M-
diciouslt/ aciGd upon in time of peace, could not
uphold war prices, after our monopoly of trade was
at an end, after other nations enjoyed domestic
peace, and could supply themselves ; after they
were freed from ancient encumbrances; and, with
'* cheap labour and removed absurdity, could afford
the productions of the soil at one-third of our
price* :'* had our oligarchy seen all this,

* I have quoted these words I'rom my Lktter to the Earl op
Kelue, published in 1808, to give opportunity of further proving

e was

jnestic

I* they

with

la fiord

>f oiir

this,

kRL or

hroving^

-
■«

CENEUAI. INTRODUCTION. CCCOXXxi

and it was quite visible ;- had they seen this, and
liberally proposed lowering their rents according
to the fall of corn prices ; — had they thus lowered
rents, and insisted at the same time, which in the
omnipotence of their power tliey could have done,
that fnndholders should be paiij in the same ])ro-

my long-osta])lished opinion as to what would happen after the-
war. The Lktteji was written, to expose the indifference of
landlords at that time to the interests of their tenants, and to show
how unprincipled was the farmer:?' property-tax : I shall here give
an extended quotation : " In the property-tax bill, what class of
men is so strangely, so unfairly used ? (aluiding to the farmers.)
One paying a moderate rent, fairly setUed in his possession, and
able to spare from his profit?, assessed in a moderate proportion :
another, who has just got s\ifficient stock, adventures (perhaps he
liad closed his bargain immediately before the act was passed)
with a farm at a very high rent, which for several years, if he be
a spirited cultivator, positively will not pay the expence ; and by
tlio end of which period peace and cheap markets ensue : this
man, at a time when all is outgoing, from the price of everything
being raised by the war, is greater than ordinary ; this man has to
pay at the rate of 30 or 40 per cent, of the interest of his capital,
sunk for years, and which may rise in limes when reduced prices
will only give it breath to see its end widi the termination of his

lease This is no fancy : it may yet be practically evinced.

The farmers, good souls ! have of late yeart* found they could
not go wrong in taking land ; and if their purses were able to pay,
y. did not matter to them what injustice reigned above, or how
their dignity as a body was affected. If the experience of several
years has settled them into a purring contentment and confidence,
it would be a pity that they should open their eyes and disturb
their quiet by'looking to the markets on the continent, where, not-
withstanding the ravages of war and unsetUed credit, cheap labour
and removed absurdity can afford the productions of the soil at
ono-third of our price." — Lltteh to riiE Earl of Kei.lib, p. 58,

,! (

If ■

It;
I' I

' i\

ill

fiS

CCCCXXXll GENERAL INTRODlJCTrON.

portion ; that ali government ofiiccrs should he
paidin the same proportion, &c. &c. : — then, incited,
with peace we should have had plenty and pros-
perity. What is to prevent this to he done now:*
What is to prevent a general arrangement througii-
out his Majesty's dominions, that all contracts may
be paid on a certain scale of reduction ? Suppose
your august parliament, Canadians, was to enact
that all contracts were to be coinj)onnded for at a
certain low rate, which would save vou from uni-
versal bankruptcy among yourselves ; which would
enable the inhabitants of 1 lalton to get out of the
books of James Crooks, Esq. M. P. Your pro-
vincial law could not let him out of the books of
the merchant in Montreal ; nor could an enactment
of the Lower Province let the Montreal merchant
out of the books of the London merchant; but if
the British Parliament were to set about the work; —
if the supreme government were to admit of debts
being extinguished at dO,or 40, or 50 per cent, dis-
count at home, and our governments abroad were
to act in unison, we should be ali able to start
afresh, hale, sound, and unincumbered ; and with
the dire experience of what has happened, avoid
in future such scrapes as those in which we are in-
volved. All this could be easily efiected, had
reason the controul ; but I must confess, that my
hope of reason guiding our destinies is not very
saiisjuine. Again, aaieu.

" ^?*''' -" ' . * ' 1''t^ ' . '**'efi? w * ^^MV-^ ^'wi n in >^ypi» ).mj' <ti'i'ir>w

<ff*» f iiwi a w ni

grnbral introduction. ccccxxxvu

Canadians! , , , / ,

The above was post-dated fonr days, to make up
the month, trom the date of my former Address
to you, and it was just written when the Ob-
SERVER Newspaper, publislicd at York, in Up-
per Canada, the 24th December, 1821, was put
into my hands. This paper was brought over by
a merchant * of Niagara, who crossed the river at

* This merchaut is the *' hiigliskman,^* spoken of, pago xvi.
On hearing of his arrival in town, I congratulated myself on the
opportunity wliich now occurred, of letting him know what had
been said before this book went abroad. I spoke of my inten-
tion to mutual friends, and soon after another joined us, who ac-
quainted me with the purpose of Mr. H., the Englishman, to
call upon me ; and, from what was said, my mind was instantly
set at rest from all suspicion of his having, as a juryman, acted
from any prejudice towards me — any bad inlenlion. Next morn-
ing I called upon my informant, with a copy of this book, and the
following letter, which he was so good as to deliver to Mr, II.

13, Clifton'Street, Finshury, Feb. 10, 1822.
Dear Sir,
A few days ago, I was informed of your arrival from Canada ; and
although I had an unpleasant affair, upon which to comnuniicate
with you, I was glad that an opportunity occurred. You were, ou
my jury at Niagara. It was, I believe, owing to you, that I was
banished ; and this banishment has ruined me in family, fortune, and
reputation. This being the case, you may readily imagine, that if
«^y circumstances led to a belief that you had acted under unjust
bias against me, my feelings- might be wounded not a little. BetVe
my trial, lists were liande . mc of persons nominated as jurymen,
who were unfriendly to me ; and your name was in one of these lists.
Had I been collected and sound in mind, when brought up for trial,
1 should certainly never have admitted of such a trial as I was sub-
jected to ; but, on a fair trial, most assuredly shoald have cast you
off the list, having a person ready to swear that you had prejudg'ed

e e

I !

CCCCXXXIV GENERAL INTRODUCTIOX.

Queenston, on the ice, the 2cl January, sailed from
New York on the lOth, and was landed at Liver-
pool, the 1st of this month : The Ouserver has

me, and tlecbred openly, bt^tbrc my trial, timt I " should be punished."
This, it would appear, was your opinion, before 1 liad oppttrtunity
of defending my ronduct It was an opinion wliich I conld not
have expected from you : still you had a right to that opinion ; and I,
as assuredly, could have cast you for the expression of it. Some days
before ray trial you came and shook hands with me at the door of my
oell, which was scarcely consistent with yonr declaiatirni, tlial [ was a
culprit. Even had I been in good health, this might have deceived me,
and led me fo forego the advantage of easling you out of the list of
jurymen. Now, with certain impressions springing from tliese facts
and occurrences, 1 have in my book, about to be pnlilisiieit, sixiken of
the affair without mentioning your name, yet in s\ich a way as will
probably make you feel sore. The moment I heard of your arrival,
f resolved to let you know what I had written, and offer you satisfac-
tion in any way you chose, if you felt yourself injured. Last night
Mr. S accidentally met me, toM me that you had proposed to

call upon me, and thence my mind has been made up oa the dis-
agreeable affair. I have banished every thought of your having been
biassed on trial against me, and shall be happy to see you, and shake
hands. The book I shall leave with Mr. S for your in-

spection beforehand, and shall yet have opportunity to soften tlie
words used in it. I am, Ike.

ROBERT GOURLAY."

" J H- , Esq."

Since the above was written, I have met Mr. H , shook

hands with him, and am perfe' dy convinced that there was nothing
on his part unfair to me. The whole, however, calls more and
more lor reflection on he infamous statute of Upper Canada,
which was still more infa uously resorted to, for my destnic.ion ;
a statute which, after being heard of with execration by all the
world, is still retained on the Canadian code by the Legislative
Council ! ! !

I am far from saying that bad government is the only cause of
misery to mankind. We see much springing out of causes with
which gOTernment has nothing to do ; but, in the amendment of
government, we have reason to expect great amelioration of our
condition.

led from
t Liver-
^ER has

punished.^'
:)p|H)rtxujity
<ouId not
iuii ; aiu'i 1,
Some tiays
door of my
:liat I was a
cceivtid mc,
the list uf
I these facts
), spoken of
way as will
^our arrival,
oil satisfac-
Last niglit
proposed to
on the Ois-
havin*;;' beeu
I, and !?l)ake
your in-
soften the

RLAY."

— , shook
vas nothing

more and
er Canada,
estriicaon ;

by all the
Legislative

ily cause of
■aiiscs with
iidinent of
lion of our

r;KNKKAL IiNTROnUCTrON,

t'crrxxxv

ten columns stuflfod with dchates of your Parha-
ment, on tlie 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 1 i;h of
December, — debates very considerably worse than
nothing, in which the lawyers have nine shares
out of ten. I was very sure, when 1 first learned
that seven lawyers were returned to Parliament,
that they would delay inquiry, and increase con-
fusion ; and so it appears, from the shewing of the
Observer.

The Observer contains this curious paragraph :

" We fear our Parliament will cuutinue longer than we
expected. A Bill came down from the Upper House,
which goes to vest a power in the judges, to tax litigious
characters."

Judge Powell will have it all his own way, by-
and-by. A bill to tax litigious characters ! ! !

The good people of Pittsfield, in Massachu-
setts, whose attentions to me I shall never forget,
have, we are just now informed by American
newspapers, agreed among themselves, to settle
all disputes by arbitration, without troubling either
lawyers on the bench or at the bar. This is excel-
lent. It anticipates a project of my own, which,
as soon as I obtain a seat in the Canadian Parlia-
ment, 1 mean to bring forward : its object being to
dispense both with lawyers and priests. Under
good government this is quite practicable* and,
established in practice, how happy shcuhl we all
be, even in this sublunary world!! The Ob-
server proceeds :

" During the discussion of the Confirmation Marriage
Bill, on Saturday, a clause was introduced by Col. Nichol,
and, to our astonishment, carried. It legalizes the children

e e 2

! rt

' I 'I

CCCCXXXvi GENERAL INTRODtJCTION.

of certain marriages ; but males tlicir motlirrs what we do
not wihIi to nuniu."

It will he nmusing to \hc. tinglisli loader, to have :\
spccirneu of Canadian oratory, and tluj OnsERVKU
furnishes a good one.

Ue (Mr. Jones) would tell that Gentleman that ho was as
much devoted to the causn of Royat^tv * as any man iii ihe
country ; but that devotion to support his Sovereign, slioulil
be on honourable grounds, and Oion ho shouUI support inM
with his life — with his pro]»erty ; but not by slavish ohseqiiious-
ness (the applause that burnt forth sfiook the building to i/s
base). Mr. Jones said that he wanted that sum restored lo
the people, wiiich was improvidontly given by a iornier Parlia-
ment. The granting or widiholding of money was the con-
stitutional check of the democratic upon the other branches
of the legislature, and it was for the purpose of preserving
inviolable that check, that this bill was introduced. Where,
he would ask, was the use of their coming to that House,
if they were tamely to surrender this great privilege ? This
House has only within these few years been called upon to
vote money, for the support of the administration of the
civil Government; and in proportion to their utility, thus to
vote monies, was their consequence and importance in-
creased. It was not the opinion of their constituents: it
•was not the opinion of the country : it was not the wisli of
their Sovereign, that they should comply with ihe arbitrary
suggestions of the honourable member from Kingston. (Hear,
hear, hear, and bravo, in the gallery.)

And bravo! say I, in London. Bravo! Jonas

* On my passage from Leith to Loudon, last spring, 1 had
for a fellow voyager, an ofllcer who had recently come home,
from being some years in Upper Canada. He w as stalion(!d near
to where Jones resides, and it would he edifying to tell his opi-
nion of the royalty of the Member of Parliament, was there
ryom for it.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCrXXXVIl

k we do
have a

ERVKK

ic was as
[in ill llic
I, shoiiM
►ort niM

:C(JltioKS-'

}ig to ils
slcnoil ll>
vr Pallia-
lilt! con-
branches
nescrviug
Where,
t House,
? 'Hiis
upon to
n of the
, thus to
aiice Jii-
uents: it
! wish of
arbitrary
. (Hear,

Jonas

ig, 1 had
ne home,
oiujd near
his opi-
kvas there

Jones, of Brockville, lawyiir, M.P. and Ksquin*.
You've " screwrd," at last, " your courage to
the stickiug-placc." 1 hope you won't vote a far-
thing for the existing civil Government, and, I
hope, not one farthing will be voted this year*, to-
wards it, in the British Parliament. Then, of
necessity, the governors, themselves, will cry out
for inquiry.

This Irljow, Jones, (T am intitled to spoak plain;
this /t7/ow; was reported, hy word, to have used
the languiig'e noted in pagi^ eeccxvii, and I have writ-
ten evidence of |)art of it, see Vol. ii. page ()65),
you will remember, had the chief hand in gagging
you, and I shall give the following extracts from
the Upper Canada Gazette, to refresh your me-
mory, respecting the pretty proceedings of your As-
sembly, and the spirit with which your present
Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland, be-
gan his reign. The following clause made part of
Ids speech, on the 1 2th October, 1818 — hh maiden
speech when opening Parliament.

** In the course of your investigation, you will, I doubt
not, feel a just indignation at the attempts which have been
made to excite discontent, and to organize sedition. Should
it appear to you, that a convention of delegates cannot exist
without danger to th^ constitution, in framing a law of pre-
vention, your dispassi(jnate wisdom will be careful ihat it
shall not unwarily trespass on that sacred right of the sub-
ject, to seek a redress of his grievances by petition."

To this the Legislative Council replied on the
14th October, in these words :

* Upwards of ^7,000 was voted last session of the British
Parliament to the civil hst of Upper Canada, and upwardtt of
j^lOjOQO the sessiofl before— altogether abaurd.

''4

CCCCXXXVni GENUKAL IN rKOJJltTlDN.

" VVf .shall, at all times, feci a just indirii-.ition at every
attempt which may excite diseoiitejit, or organize sedi-
tion; and if it shall appear to tis, that a convention of dele-
gates cannot exist without danger to the conhtttution, in
framing a law of prevenliun; we will be careful that it »hail
not miwarily trespass on the sacred right t)f the subject) to
«eek by petition a redress of giicvances."

On Monday, the 19th October, a Committee
of the House of Assembly presented an Address
with the following clause :

** We feel a just indignation at the systematic attempts
that have been made to excite discontent, and organize sedi-
tion, in this happy colony, while the usual and constitutional
appeal, for real or supposed grievances, has ever been open
to the people of this Province, never refused or even ap-
pealed to ; and deeply lament, that the designs of one fac*
tious individual (me) should have succeeded in drawing into the
support of his vile machinations, so many honest men, and
loyal subjects to his Majesty. We remember that this fa-
Toured land was assigned to our fathers, as a retreat for suf-
fering loyalty, and not a sanctuary for sedition. In the
course of our investigation, should it appear to this House,
that a convention of delegates cannot exist without danger
to the constitution, in framing a law of prevention, we will
carefully distinguish between i.<uch conventions and the lawful
act of the subject, in petitioni.ig for a redress of real or ima-
ginary grievances ; — -that sacredi right of every British subject,
which we will ever hold hiviolable."

HOUSE Ol- ASSEMBLY, WEDNESUAT, OCTOBER Slst.

Mr. Jones moved that the House do now resolve itself
into a Committee of the whole, to take into consideration
that part of his Excellency's speech, at the opening of the
present session, which relates to the meeting of Delegates in
Convention. — Carried.

t every
e )«edi-
•f dele-
tion, in
it 8hall
ject, to

m it tee
ddress

ittempts
ize sedi"
itutional
icn open
:ven ap-
one fac-
pntolhe
len, and
this fa-
for suf-
Iii the
House,
danger
we will
le lawful
or iuia-
subject.

21st.

ve itself
deration
; of the
jgates in

r.ENtuvi, iNTHODrcTioN. ccccxxxix

THl RSDAY, OCTOnrit 2^2(1.

The House weut into Comntitlee, to take iiil(. consiiier-
iitiou that part of his Kxcclleucv'8 speech, at the upeninj? of
tlie present si-ssion, which relates to the nueting of Dele-
gates 111 (^onvtiiitiou.

Mr. Hurr.hiim repornd, that the Coniniillee had agreed to
some resolutions, which he was directed to submit for the
adoption of the House, which were received and adopted,
7tein. con. as follows : —

1st. Kr:soLVEO.--Thal the rights of the people of this
province, individually or collectively, to petition pur gracious
sovereign for a redress of any public or private grievance, is
their birthright, as British subjects, preserved to them by
that free constitution which they have received, and which,
by the generous exertions of our mother country, has, through
an arduous contest, been unimpaired.

Ud. Resolved. — That the Commons House of As-
sembly are tire only representatives of the people of this
province.

3d. Keiolveo. — That the electing, assembling, sitting,
and proceedings of certain persons, culling themselves Re-
presentatives or Delegates from the ditFerenl districts of this
province, and met in General Convention at York, for the
purpose of deliberating upon matters of public concern, is
highly derogatory and repugnant to the spirit of the consti-
tution of this province, and tends greatly to disturb the
public tranquillity.

4lh. Resolved. — That while this Comnultee regret that
some subjects of His Majesty, whose allegiance and tidelity
are above suspicion, have been deluded by the unwearied
and persevering attempts of the factious, to lend their counte-
nance to measures so disgraceful, they cannot admit that
their example should give a sanction to proceedings manii-
festly dangerous to the peace and security of the province,
proceedings, which it is painful and humiliating to observe,
have drawn upon this loyal province the attention of other

ccccxl

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

countries, and of our sister'-province, and even of our parent
state, as to a colony impatient of its allegiance, and ungrate-
ful for the fostering care that hr.s cherished its infancy ;
looking anxiously to the period of its strength as the moment
of its revolt.

5th. Resolved.— That to repel at once so foul an
imputation, to undeceive the misguided, to stiifle the hopes
of the disturbers of public peace, and to give to our parent
state .'nd to the world the best grounded assurance that the
inhabitaiils of this province know how to prize their happiness
in belonging to the most exalted nation upon earth, and desire
no more than the secure possession of that just liberty which
her own more immediate children enjoy, it is the opinion of
this Committee, that some such legislative provision should
be enacted as the wisdom of the ln)perial Parliament has
found it proper to provide to meet similar occasions, which
may hereafter put it out of the power of any designing
persons to organize discontent, and degrade the character of
the province.

fJth. Resolved. — That these jResolutions be communi-
cated to the Honourable the Legislative Council.

Present, — Messrs. liurwell, Mc. Martin, Van Koughnett,
Cameron, Durand, Chrysler, Nelles, Howard, Hatt, Jones,
Cotter, Svvayzc, Burtiham. — 13,

Wednesdat/, October ^IQth,
Mr. Jones obtained leave to bring in a bill to prevent cer-
tain meetings in this province, which was read the tirst linic.

Saiurda?/^ October Slst^
The Bill to prevent certain meetings in this province being
read the third time,— t

Mr. Van Kow^hnett moved, that it do now pass, and
ittial it be entitled, " Afi Act to prevent 'certain Meetings within
this Province," Upon which the Ho«se divided, eitld the Ye«s
and Nays Were takeli as follows : — Yeas, Messrs, Swayze,
Fruscr, Cotter, Clench, Hatt, Van Kottghnett, Dnrdnd,
Hnrnham, (Jameron, Robinson, Howard, Jorti»,Nelle8~l%

GENERAL INT UO DICTION.

ccccxii

Nn^s, Mr. Casey. Carried ia the affirnjative, by a majority
of twelve, and the Bill signed.

An Act for preventing certain Meetings uoithin this Province.

" Whereas the election or appointment of assemblies,
purporting to represent the people, or any description of the
people, under pretence of deliberating on matters of public
concern, or, of preparing or presenting petitions, com-
plahits, remonstrances, and declarations, and other addresses
to the King, or to both or either Houses of Parliament, for
alteration of matters established by law, or redress of alleged
grievances, in church or state, may be made use of to serve
the end of factious and sediiious persons, to the violation of
the public peace, and manifest encouragement of riot, tumult,
and disorder.

'* Jt is hereby enacted, That all such Assemblies, Com-
mittees, or other bodies of persons elected or otherwise con-
stituted, or appointed, shall be held and taken to be
unlawful Assemblies ; and that all persons giving or pub-
lishing notice of the election to be made of such persons or
Delegate', or attending, voting, or acting therein by any
means, are guilty of a high misdemeanor.

** Provided always^ That nothiiig in this Act contained,
shall impede the just exercise of the undoubted right of His
Majesty's subjects to petition the King or Parliament for re-
dress of any public or private grievances."

Yorky Nov. 27, 1818.

At three o'clock this day, his Excellency, the Lieutenant-
Governor, proceeded in state to the Legislative Council
Chamber, where, the House of Assembly having been
summoned to attend, his Excellency gave the royal i^.sent
to the Bills mentioned below, and closed the session with
the following speech : —

Honour able Gentlemen of the Legislative Council f and
GeiAlemen of the Home of Asscmhhj,
it does not appear that any alterution has occurred m the
state of His Majesty's indisposition,

■■' 'c-

CCCCXlii GENERAL INTKODUC TIOX.

You have afforded seasonable aid to the constiliilion by
your Bill, entitled, " j4n Act for preventing certain Meet-
ings within this Province.'^ It is a subject for deep regret,
that the constitution shouM have stood in need of such aid ;
but let us hope that the good disposition of His Majesty's
subjects will put an early period to this unhappy necessity.

If any portion of the people of this province be indeed
aggrieved, they are well aware that a dutiful petition, pro-
ceeding from themselves, would find easy access to the foot
of His Majesty's throne.

Gentlemen of the House of Assembli/,

1 thank you, in the name of His Majesty, for the supplies
you have granted for the service of the current and the en-
suing year.

In future, I hope to relieve you from the annual demand for
the support of the Surveyor-General's department.

You have added to the character of the province, by the
unanimous expression of sentiments, which are highly worthy
of the enlightened representatives of a free and generous
people. I could not refuse myself the pleasure of trans-
mitting your Resolutions to His Majesty's government, well
convinced that they would prove grateful to the royal per-
«onage who presides over it; and confident that they will be
received with affectionate approbation by every description of
your fellow-subjects in the mother-country.

Honourable Gentlemen and Gentlemen,

There are a few objects of general importance, w hich, had
the public mind been tranquil, I should have brought before
you early in the session. Of these I shall mention one,
which appears to me to require, iu a peculiar degree, your
calm and deliberate consideration : I mean the providing a
remedy for the unequal pressure of the lioad Laws. By of-
fering at present this subject to your notice, I hope to benefit
by the attention you will be pleased to bestow upon it during
the recess.

5 !

GENKRAL INTUODrCTlON. CCCCXliii

After wliich the llonoiirahlo the Spraker of the Legisla-
tive Council, announced that the Parliament was prorogued
to the '2(1 of January next.

Cariculiaiis! Reflection on the above extracts
may still bo of use to you. The convention which
I had asscuibled, not only was lawful, but did any
tiling but what was seditious. It referred its cause
to the Lieutenant-Governor and Assembly, and this
was it treated ! ! Your liberty of meeting Ijy deputy
was no sooner taken away by your own represen-
tatives, than I was committed to jail, and deprived
of liberation, on application by writ of habeas cor-
pus!/ Thus tyranny goes on from worse to worse ;
but tyranny could not exist in any country were
the people virtuous: and you may think of that till
we meet. The foregoing pages will tell you not only
what 1 have been doing since my arrival tVom Que-
bec, butyou will be able to judge of my sentiments
and pursuits for more t lan 20 years back, from the
various extracts I have produced of publications at
different times ; and I do challenge the world to
present proofs of any one being more constant to
j)rinciple, more peaceable, or more consistent; yet
1 am the man whom your parliament denounced as
the '* one factious individual." The poor creature,
who is above reported as tiMAk'in^ the building shake
to its very base with applause^ never had, and has
not, a conception of the good which you might have
experienced, had a commission come home four
years ago, when I first recommended that measure.
Your civil list, your claims upon government, could
all have been paid before now, by good management,
out of the rich stores which nature has provided in

CCCCxIiv GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

the province ; but these must lay hid till common
sense ajul manly conduct take the place of ignorance
and vanity. I am told, that since your parliament
met,Sir Peregrine Maitland has sent homea message
respecting the dispute with the lower province, no
doubt, to be laid at the foot of the throne*, where
such messages, and many of the trashy addresses
of your parliament have been laid again and again,
without ever having been heard of in this country.
1 am told that your Assembly has resolved not to
grant supplies this year till the alien act is repealed.
It is all wretched trifling. The province will con-
tinue a sink of corruption, sycophancy, and mean-
ness, till the Imperial Parliament takes its state
into consideration; and I have now drawn up, to
be presented to the House of Commons, by Mr.
Hume, the following petition, written since I read
of the building being shaken to its base with the
oratory of Jonas Jones, of Brockville, lawyer,
M. P. and Esq.

• Since the above was written, a Now York paper, of the 8th
of Februaxy, has arrived, containing tlie following article:

" Upper and Lower Canada.
" Difficulties have for some time existed between the two Pro-
vinces, on the subject of duties received at the port of Quebec.
Last year, Committees from both Provinces met ut Montreal, in
order to settle this business, but adjourned without olfecting any
thing. We now find, by the York (U. C.) Ouskrveh, that the
Attorney General of the Province is to proceed forthwith to
England, as a Commissioner to present the Addresses of both
Houses of (he Provincial Parliament, upon the subject, to the
King. The lura of 3000 dollars has been appropriated for his

ecrviqss

■»

GENERAL INTRODl < TION. CCCCXiv

To THE Honourable the Commons or the United
Kingdom of Giikat Britain and Ireland in
Parliament assembled.

THR

PETITION OF ROBERT GOURLAY,
Humbly sheweth,
That, your petitioner has had presented to your honour-
able House two petitions, caHinj,^ attention to the state of
Upper Canada as it concerns emigration. I'hat these pe-
titions were received and ordered to be printed : one, on the
11th ,TuIy, 18G0; tlie other on the 27th June, 1821 ; and to
these your petitioner would still refer*.

Tliat, your petldoner uow presents himself before your

* On first scrawling out the above petition, I allowed myself
to enlarge on several points beyond what the nature and limits of
a petition could properly admit : several passages were accord-
inj5ly thrown out ; but it may be well to quote some of these
now, for the sake of illnstration. They shall he numbered, to dis-
tinguish them from other notes.

No. 1. " That by perusal of the former of these prtitions, your
honourable House will lind that your petitioner was niort cruelly
iipeatetl, in Upper Canada, under colour of a provincial statute, ap-
plicable only to aliens and outlaws : — that he was cast into jail, and
deprived of his right of liberation, on application, by writ of balieas
corpus, altlioug'h it was expressly declared, by Mr. I'ilt, in his Ma-
jesty's name, ou the 4th March, 1791, when the Royal Message was
read to the House of Commons, desiring- a constitution to be given
to Canada, that ' the habeas corpus act was already law, by an ordi-
nance of the Province, and this invaluable right was to be continued
as a fundamental principle of the Constitution.' (See vol. ii. p. 4.)

" That your petitioner conceives this single violation of consti-
tutional right — this flagrant disregard of law and [>rinriple. is suffi-
cient to cause inquiry to be made by yo\u' honourable House, into
the state of (. pper Canada ; but be asserts tliat not only this act of
violation has lieen « ommittrd in iln; IVevince, but others, by svhicli
■fcoth person an4 ptxjperty have been rcudcred iusecuie.'

ccccxivi

GENERAL INTIlODUrTlON".

honourable House on broader grounds. He would now call
attention not only to the state of Upper Canada, but to that
of our North American colonies in general ; colonies, which,
since the revolutionary war of America, liave been main*
tained at an enormous expense to this country, without yield-
ing it a farthing of prolit.

That, at the present crisis, when it is allowed by all that
economy und retrenchment are essential to the salvation of
the empire, the mere saving of expense must be deemed
matter of in»poitance ; but, your petitioner asserts that, not
only may all expense in governing North American colonies
be saved, but that these colonies may, if properly governed,
yield a considerable revenue to Britain.

Thatj your petitioner's opinions on the subject have been
formed, not only from personal observation during a resi-
dence in Upper Canada, but from a continued correspon-
dence, since then, with that part of the world ; a constant
attention to occurrences connected with the colonies ; and
much reflection on the constitution thereof; the state of
property, and state of society therein.

That, your petitioner assumes it as an almost self-evident
proposition, that North American colonics cannot be retained
to Britain for juany years, on principles less free and inde-
pendent than those which govern the adjoining country. He
is assured, that before many years go by, these colonies must
either be dechued independent, and be held in conn(>xion
with iirilain by liberal treatment and the interchange of fa-
vours ; or, ihey must fall into the arms of the United States,
and become part of that already too extensive and aspiring
republic.

That, your petitionee is most positivel) assured, that the
latter alternative would not be agreeable to the wishes of the
colonists ; that the former, on every account, would be pre-
ferred, and 18 therefore worthy of countenance from the Im-
perial Parliament ; as the result equally concerns the honour
and the interest of the nation.

Thai your petitioner is aware that the colonies are not yet

. i juv t vn n u t sxn vn 'r^- iT-rrr *ft ' ii i-ii ii i|(r "^"-"Ti'>TT'~ — '-^----

GENERAL INTllODUf TION.

ccc cxlri

ripe for independence, — that they are yet d<'ficient both in
physical strength and mental ability; but, were the mere
promise of independence, at the end of ten years, granted to
them, he is assured, that all chance of war would cease in that
quarter of the world ; and were certain nnangenients niade
with the government ot the United Stales, an inunodiate and
great reduction of our niilitary and naval establishments
might take place, while a vast quantity o( warlike stores
might be spared for other useful purposes*.

* 2. " That in a moral point of view, it in groady to be de-
sired, that our North American colonies should be reared up into

Th«

a nation apart from, and independent of, the United Status.
people of theie States have not evinced that pure and mtnlv spUit
which might have been expected from them, enjoying so many
blessings. Their shallowness has betrayed itself: their vanity has
bitcome proverbial : they have idolized military glory : they have
sanctioned the deeds ot a murderer : they have blighted the hopes
of liberty : they have sullied the fair page on which uhe had
written her name, sanguine of an asylum in the west. The his-
tory of the world has told us, and the system of nature seems to
require, that mankind must be truly virtuous before all come into
union ; — 'that nations must remain apart, while the finger of scorn
can point with effect to each other's crimes, — till the adoption of
sound principles is complete, and uniform good conduct has left
no occasion for a blush."

This will not please Americans, but I cannot help that No
man ever crossed the Atlantic with better feelings towards them
than I. After travelling in the United States, I saw reason to
check some of my fondest hopes, and, till the approval of Am-
bristei's murder (it should go by no other name) is erased from
the Journals of the American Congress, I shall be sorry, indeed,
to see the slightest addition made to the power of the great
western republic. America will, probably, divide into several
governments : that of the Sea Board, the St. Lawrence, the
Mississippi, &c., as common interests require. The most doubt-
ful point, for speculative opinion, respects the slave states. The
Convention which has lately sat, for altering *he constitution ol

,»

CCCGxlviil GENERAL INTRODUCITfON.

Tliat, tliere are two great objects wliich demand uttentiuiif
— objects quite sufticieiit to form the cement of a laiitii'g con-
nexion betwcen'jBritain and her North American c >lonies,
M'ithont intert'ercuce on the part of British MiuiHters with
their internal government. The first regards the disposal of
pubhc and unappropriated laud ; the .second the regulation
of connnerce.

That, the first of these objects, viz, the disposal of land, is,
of all things, perhaps, most worthy of attention from your
honourable House. It is an object which never before has
been brought fairly into public view; but which, when duly
considered, must appear of great importance, not only as it
may tend to national aggrandizement, but also be instru-
mental in advancing the limits of civilization, and in improving
the condition of man.

That, hitherto, public land has been disposed of in a way
which has at once sunk its value, and prevented its improve-
ment. No consideration has yet been bestowed on a most
important principle, which not only rules the value of landed
property, but which may be studied to advantage, for the
comfort and prosperity of those who are to occupy and cul-
tivate. In Canada large portions of land are set aside for the
future purposes of government : large portions are set aside
for the maintenance of a dominant church, which has not
even a chance of being established ; and large portions are
given away hi favour and for fees of office, to individuals who
never think of cultivating, but who depend on sales at a re-

tne state of New York, has allowed of Blacks participatiug in
civil righto. This will not soon be concede* iu the slave states:
nor W43uld it be proper, without previous preparation. That, it ie
to bo hoped, will speedily be set about- The approval of Ara-
brister's murder must not be ascribed to the nature of the Go-
vernment of America, but to the low character of the people.
It was their representatives iu Cougress who approved. • The
Senate, compos-ed of better educated Andividuals, disapprovod ; this
is matter for imporlaiit roUecliyu ; it is 4ihccring.
2

I »

CJENKUAL INTUODlCTiOX.

C(:c<

:xlix

htftte.s ;
it, it ie
f A ra-
pe Go-

The
Id ; tlus

mole period of time, while actual sttliois are, in con-
seqiience, removed so far apart, tlist it is iinpossiblc for
them to cultivate with ecouoniy and profit. The bad effects
of thus disposint; of land is clearly evniccd by contrasting
Canada with the contiguous parts of the United Statesu
'I'hese have been settled many years later than Canada, but
already they are three times more populous, and land there
is four times more valuable. These results have mainly
sprung from the different modes of disposing of public
lands. In the States it is exposed to free sale, at the rate of
one dollar and a quarter per acre ; and, by the official returns
of last year, produced a revenue of one million and bix
hundred thousand dollars*. In Canada, the very process of
disposing of land by GoveniracHt, i« attended wuh loss tu
the public.

* The above is c|uoled from an article iu the Traveller, of
January, 1829, which is altogether w«ill woithy of a place here;

" The Report of the Secretary of the United Slates Treasury
to the House of Repn.sentatives, has reached this couiUry. The
following is the account of American iinaiicea, under ilie heads of
receipt and expenditure.

IlECEIPT.

Customs —

Saleki of land —
Other receipts —

HOLLARS. ' IXPENDITUBE.

14,000,000

1,600,000

510,000

16,110,000

Debt

Army —

Navy -

Civil (ixpenrtes

DOLLARS.

6,72'2,857
3,108,097
'2,4d'i,4l0
1,664,297

14,947,661
Balance 1,162,3^3

16,110,000

Converted into sterling money, the United States income amounts
to £3,624,750, and its LApenditure to X'3,363,221. The ex-
penditure of the Umled Slate;., including the iaterwt of the debt,

f f

4CCL'

i;it:Nli:KAL INTUUUUCTIOfC.

That, llie most melancholy cft'ect of ilie unlhilfty (li«-
posal of land in Upper Canada, is that of degrading ihe peo-
ple. Scattered over the province at the rate of seven lu tlie
square mile, they have not only been unable to co-o[ierate
m rural economy, but have retrograded in civilization and
moral worth. The British I'arliament liberally conferred
on the people of Upper Canada a free constitution- -liberty
to make laws for themselves, and to upltold the purest prin-
ciples of freedom ; but in ignorance * and degradation they

is thus about onc'thirdoi tho charge iti Gruat Britain for the army
including tho military part of the onlnaiice) a'oue. Excluaivo
of the charges of the dobl, the whole civil and military expense of
tho United Slato3 is about ^£,^'2,075, 579, nearly ilie sum which is
frittered away in this country in what are called MisceUaneouti ser-
vices, that is to bay, expenses exclusive of the chaige for the army,
navy, and ordnance, the allowance to the royal family, and tho
expenses of iho admiiiislratiou of justice. The civil expenses of
the United States are ,j(;^370,000: those of England, which come
under the head of Miscellaneous Services, and charges on liio
consolidated fund, generally amount to four millions.

* Since the above petition was presented to the House of
Commons, a notable proof of the ignorance of the legislators of
Upper Conada has been laid before the House of Peers, Let it
first be read as extracted from the Times jNewspa})er of March
J St, 1822 ; and then 1 shall make remarks.

" HotsjE OK LtiRDs, FhriHi \i<^ 28111.

Ul'l'Un. CvNAD.A.

" Karl IJatliurst laiti on the tabic, an Act of the Lt>i;ilative \ss(iin«
biy of Tppcr Canada. Ue understood tlit- Noble Earl, who spoke
in a very low tone of voice, to state that this was done in conse-
quence of an Act of Parbament, according to whidi, when a JJill,
uuder ceitain circumstances, passed the Assembly of Upper Canada,
it was necessary, beibre it received tbe royal assent, to lay a copy
on the table of both Houses of Parliamrnt \i\pv lying^ on the
table thirty dajs, without any objection biiing^niade by either House,

GENU lUJL (NTHO I) L CTlOf .

eoocli

have ubuMcd ihrse incntimablo privileges : lliey Iinvc sutfcred
ihe best of laws lo be counteracted by lliC arbitrary power of

I 1

Asscin-

k(» spoke

conse-

a J?ill,

Jaiifula,
a copy
on tilt-

[House,

his Majesty would then giv«! the UiU the effect of a liiw, imh>ss ho
slioiih) think iit to vvitlihoht his asticnt. Thn pruscMit h-^islutivc inea>
sure of tlie AHSCinMy of Tpper Canada, has rcfcHMice to a foimer
«ot of that Assemhiy, by which oni-stvi-nth of tlie hinds, in «'very
tounship Avas appiopiiated to th«' nso of thf Protostnnt. rhiirch-
This portion of hind uus intended fur th« uiaintenanr*? of the church;
hut notvvjthNtun<linn^ t\uH appropriation, doubts had since ariHcn as to
whether the n.tnainins' six-soTenlhs of the land, were not liable to the
payment of tithes. The object of the IJill, which he now laid on the
table, was to nmove these doubts, by declarin<f tliat ihc bix-sevenths
wore not liable."

In a letter daie«l February 19, 1818, addres-scd to me by a
member of tbo Upper Canada purliainont, then in London, it is
written, ** I am ."^orry to say, that a bill, which was pai5scd two year*
ago, for doing away the right of tithes in Upper Canada, has
neyor, in eonl'ormity to the constitutional act, been submitted to
the Imperial Parliament ;'* and, in consequence of this neglect,
the wise legislators of Upper Canada, sUll dreading tlllies, passed
a second Bill (see vol. 2, p. G8'2.) which ii* that now laid on the
tabic of our House of Lordi. Lord j»reserve us from foolish le-
gislators ! In my second volume, the reader will find a curious
a~itique on the Upper Canada Statutes at largo; and I hope it may
prove generally useful in making people consider the absurdity of
too much law. In the course of thirty years the poor bodies of
tapper Canada have absolutely bog'd themselves in thetr own
folly and filth of legislation. — But to the instance before us. The
dread of tithes in Upper Canada sprung out of the first statute
vvhii'h was enacted there, .idopting the Avhole law of England,
«ave that which regarded bankrupts and the poor (see vol. 2,
p. 113). It was argued, after this statute was passed, that, as
tithes were lawfully drawn in England, e/go, they might be
drawn in Upper Canada. The fallacy was, and is, that th« lav?
of England subjected land gentraliii lo tithes, instead of only
protecting the property in tithes upon certain lands; and

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WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0

(716)872-4503

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lii

raiNKUAL INTRODICTtOM.

(iicir governors ; uiid tlivy tiuve fabricuteil n code absohitclj
disgraceful to modern times. Neither person nor property,
indeed, can now be held secure in the province.

That, Upper Canada, by nature the finest part of Ame-
rica, is chiolly valuable to Britain, an it may be made an
asylum for her redundant population ; but this greatest good
cannot be realized from the wretched statt; of property, and
still more wretched jurisprudence which there exists. Igno-
rant and poor emigrants only, settle in Upper Canada, while
ail who have wealth and intelligence betake themselves to
the United States.

That, were public institutions equally good and equally
wtU observed in the province as iu the States of America, not
a nnin would emigrate from the United Kingdom to the lat-
ter country unless attracted by some peculiar object : that
the commercial advantages which Britain can an«l does con-
fer on her colonies ; the con)fort of adhering to natural al-
legiance ; the love of country and kindred ; the numerous

jt would have been equally nitional to hnvc supjiosed, that, hy
adoj)tiiig the laws of Kiigliuul, all land in Ujipcr ('anada was sub-
ject to pay the load tax f)f Englaiul, and what not. Here, how-
ever, we have a twice-passt'd liill of Upper Canada, lying on the
table of the House nf TiOnls ! ! waiting lor th»; royal assent!!!
Will ih<* king give his assent to this silly eonrcrn, and quiet the
groundless fears of his liogo subjects of Upper ('anada ; or con-
sult his own dignity in rofusing /

If this Bill receives tlio royal assent, it is possible that thu
moon-rakers of I'pper Canada may take alarni, and send hoint!
another Bill, to get il solennnly deelnred, that the moon is not
made of green j'heese, and never con be devoured by ehureh-mice.

But, before the Bill lias been thirty days before Parliament, for
approval of Lords and Commons, would it not bo Well for
them to interfere, and prevent trouble to his Majesty? nay, may
we iiot hope th.it this very display of provincial silliness niny
assist in obtaining Inquiry into the state of Upper (.'anada?

CENKRU. IMTHODUcrtON.

cccoliii

1 1 1

hat thu
ll hoint;
h is not
■h-micc,
L?nt, for
Ull for
jiy. may
fss may

benefit!) wliicli Hriliuli lulijcotH nrv ciilitiod to at homo and
nbronii ; llio pride, the glory, the honour of remaining; in
coiinuxion with the greatest iiution upon earth, — all roii-
spire to niukc lla; British eniigraut prefer tlie colonies to au
alien land ; but with heavy heart, he who thinks at all, must
rclinquiiili these for mlvantagcs Htill more valuable and
substantial.

That, your petitioner observed with n gret the monstrous
niisnianagciiu lit in Upper Canada, and sent home <"oiiununi-
calions to be laid before Lord Balhurst on the subject, but
^vilhout avail; — that he has, within the last six months, cor-
resj)onded with the colonial <lepaitment: has otfercd to
submit improved plans of settlement: has tendered his ser-
vices at home or abroad without emolument : has oflered to
contract for the Mettlemeiit of land in (Canada, and pay for it
at the rate of one dollar per acre, which, with government
patronage, he could easily do; but all to no purpose: and
he now states these facts to your honourable Mouse, as
matter wordiy of public notice and investigation. Thou-
sands of pour emigrants are annually shipped o(Tto the
colonics : thousands are engulfed in misery wlien they get
there, and all for the want of arrangement, which might at
once secure comfort to individuals, and admit of profit to
the nation.

That, giving independence to the colonics, and witlidraw-
ing from all interference in their domestic government, is
quite compatible with our retaining the right of disposing of
unappropriated land, and drawing a revenue from thence ;
quite compatible with the colonists remaining under Bri-
tish sovereignty. This country has the power of directing
the current of ea.-oralion to any of her colonies ; and all
|>ro|>crly must improve in value as population becomes more
dense, and where judicious settlement is made. Hence there
is scope for mutual benefits. Colonies may grow strong
from au increase of people ; and the mother country may go

ccccliv

GENEDAL INT^IODUCTTON.

on for ages reaping profit from the land she settles out of
her redundant population.

That, it would be vain for your petitioner to enter at pre-
sent into any detail as to his plans of emigration and settle*
ment, a subject to which he has devoted his attention for
several years. He reff rs to the fact now more and more the
subject of conversation ; the great increase of population
consequent on good living and peaceful pursuits*. He points

* The increase of population in Great Britain ^vill nppear from
the following table :

1801.

1811.

1821.

£ngland «...••

Wales

Scotland

Army, Navy, &c.
Totals

8,331,434

641.546

1,599,068

9,538,827

611,788

1,805,688

11,260,555

7 17,1 OS'

2,092,014

10,472,048
.470,598

11,956,303
640,500

12,596,803

1
14,069,677

310,0001

10,942,646

14,379,6771

Increase of population in tha United States.

1790.

i - ■- .<

1800.

1810.

1820.

3,929,326

6,309,758

7,239,903

9,625,734

In my last letter from the United States, dated November 10th,
1821, replying to queries concerning population, &c. it is said,
" The four years immediately after the lata war with Great Bri-
tain, brought us about 100,000 from Europe, or 25,000 person*

GKNP.RAL INTRODI'C TION.

cccclv

lo the vast expan»(> of unoccupied land over which it has
pleased Providence that the British sceptre should sway.
He points to Ireland overflowing with a wretched popula-
tion: to England getting more and more crowded with
paupers ; and to Scotland whose moral energies have sent
forth her mil lions of industrious and respectable people to
replenish the earth ; he asserts, that our whole redun-^
dant population may be disposed of to individual as well as
to public advantage : — that IJritain may combine the etTorts
of her children, and direct a mighty and constant stream of
emigration into her colonies: that she may set on foot a
scheme of benevolence heretofore unparalleled : that a new
source of wealth and happiness may be laid open — a source
at once pure and abundant.

That, the second great object soliciting attention from
your honourable House, viz. the regulation of commerce,
M'ould go hand in hand with a grand system of emigration ;
mid might be established on principles equally simple, natu-
ral, and permanent.

Tliat, your petitioner holds in his possession official docu-
ments sent home from Upper Canada, by which it appears,
that legislators of that country aim at imposing provincial
duties throughout both the Canadas, on grain, &c. produced
in the United States ; and a similar desire has been evinced
in resolutions of a county meeting of Upper Canada. That
this disposition of the legislators of Upper Canada betrays
equal ignorance of the policy which should be pursued, and
of the impracticability of executing their wishes, seeing that

annually. Some years since, the emigration would probably fall
short of 10,000."

During the last thirty years America has not probably recaired
from Europe 8,000 emigrants annually. How absurd, then, are
Godwins assertions about America owing its rapid increus* of
population to tmigration.

rccelvi

OKNKRAL INTRODirCTIO!<r.

along a boundary of upwards of a tliousand miles, which
separates the inhabited parts of the United States from Bri-
tish America, there is no possibility of guardui|i^ against contran-
band trade: nay, from ihiu very iniposaibiiity, Britain possesses
the power of supplying the people of the United Sutes with
her manufactures free of those heavy duties which arc now
kviedon them in the ports of the Kej>ublic *.

1 1!

If:

• On thist subject the following nrlicle appeared in the Tra-
veller, 24tu January, 182'i.

'• A regular file of American papers havp. been received this morn-
ing, to the. yist December, from wbich we copy tlie following' :

Kingston, Dec. 2, 18'21.

" Our reacTers will rcrollect, that in tlie abstract we lately made of
(he evidence taken before the Itrilish Parliament last winter, relative
to the timber trade, it was stated that certificates of orit^in would be
required ou sbipnients froi a the colonies, and that all timber thus
shipped, if not proved to be tSie jfrowth of his Majesty's colonies,
would be subject to the duties exacted on timber imported dii-cclly
from a foreign state.

" Though this regulation has been in force only diiring tlie |)rr-
sent season, we understand that schemes have been already devised
to introduce timber from the United States into the lower province,
and to export it from thence to England, with certificates declaring it
to be the growth of Canada. To check tliis species of fraud, which,
if unmolested, would rapidly increase, it is in contemplation to form
an association for the purpose of employing several trusty individuals
along the frontier and elsewhere, whose business it will be to watch
the introduction of American timber into the province, and to detect
and punish every person who may endeavour, by perjury, to procure
certificates that it is of Canadian origin. This association i.s, wc un-
derstand, already numerous ; and it will, doubtless, prove beneficial
in guarding the British revenue."

The nssociation will have full and worse than idle employment
in my opinion. There is one place where tlie timber, coming:
from the United States, can be guarded out or taxed ; that i*',
where tlie boundary line crosses Lake Champlain ; and, from that

I k

GENKRAT, INTRODI'rTION.

ccrrlvii

That, the be.si policy of Uiitain, is to receiv«; land produce,
tit Quebec mid otlier Biitisli American ports, in exchange lor
our nianut'uctuies, viihout qucslion as to origin. Tlie gram!
benefit to be deriveil IVom possission of these ports, rests
in securin<^ a monopoly of trade, and, m ith liberal h'gislution,
this may be carried to an extent, hillurto neither experienced
nor contemplated, By libi ral measures, the port of Quebec
may speedily becon\e the jjjieatest in America, if n(»t in the
world — a port where we may i^'ve and receive to an unlimited
extent — a port iiolding out to us the power of reaping the
utmost advantage Iroin American frade, without any ofticious
meddling with the domestic politics of that country, — a port
through which the parent state would be for ever able to
nourish her progeny and supply her customers, — where the
people of Britain and America would meet in the enjoyment
of reciprocal accommodation.

That, the late change in the law, which regulates the tim-
ber trade, renders it more immediately necessary to attend
to our colonial and shipping interests. Were liberal prin-
ciples admitted ; were the corn law amended, and free sale
of grain and t^our coming from our colonies, allowed in this
country, on payment of a tixed duty, an instant revival of
trade would be experienced ; and by and by we should wit-

iake there used to be very large quautities of timber sent to Quo-
bee. At a thousand other places it can be hauled across <he line,
or floated down the water boundaries, without the possibility of
detection, when people on each side of the boundaries have ,in in-
terest in playing into each other's hands. While the attempt to
restrain importation of this bulkiest article will be in great nea-
sure nugatory, tlie attempt to restrain importation of grain into Ca-
nada will 1)0 quite so. TIio importation of tea, &c, from vhe
United States, is forbidden, but it is altogether farcical. I have
been told by respectable merchants of Upper Canada, that nine-
tenths of such goods consumed in Canada, come from the United
States, leaving the fair trader no chance. Why then keep up a
restrictive system only to beget roguery '♦

<*Ci'<

Iviii

(.'UNUHAL IXTUODUCTION,

ness most beneficial consequences ; — increased consumption
and demand : riho of price both at home and abroad : we
should see confidence restored, and plenty goin^ hund-in-
hand with peace.

Thai, however necessary it was, under circumstances, to
secure Uritish farmers from ruin, ut the termination of war,
it is now too certain, that the existing corn law must be
modified or repealed. Looking forward to change, and
supposing it necessary, that a factitious state of things must
be adhered to, your petitioner humbly begs leave to submit
his opinion, that no change could carry with it such bene-
ficial results, as the ))ermission of free trade with our colo-
nies, on the payment of fixed duties, it would at once give
a monopoly to our shipping ; yield us a direct revenue ; and
secure and increase the value of our foreign possessions.

That, your {tetitioncr has in his hands, documents, signed
by many hundreds of the resident land-owners of Upper
Canada, from which it may be proved, that wheat can now
be grown in that country for 3s. per bushel ; and he could
shew, that with certain changes in the state of property, in
the power of the Imperial Parliament to make, wheat could
be grown for 2s, per bushel.

That, now, and for three years back, the cost of bringing
wheat from Upper Canada to England, has not exceeded
2s. per bushel ; and that thus it may be afforded in Bri-
tish ports for 4s. per bushel. That a duty of 1^., 2s., 3s., or
whatever sum may be found necessary to equalize the price
with that which wheat grown at home must sell for, to ad-
mit of present taxes being paid, would be fair and reason-
able; and in proportion as the amount of duties increased.
Government might free the British farmer of part of his load
of taxation. The American farmer would, from the sale of
his producve at home, be enabled to purchase British manu-
factures. British manufactures would thence multiply, and,,
by increased consumption, would render the foreign supply
of food not only safe, but necessary. Nor could the supply

fJKVKRAL IN'I'Iloni't Tl()\.

cccr

\\\

coining from British roloiiies be ever withlicld. In war, i\s
in peace, its flow towards us would be constant and secure *.
What, indeed, has Britain to fear from famine, if she is
liberal to her colonies, — if she suffers corn to be imported
from British America, from the I'ape of Good Hope, from
JNew Holland, and from Van Diemen's Land, subject to
equalizing duties ? It is a well known fact, that, hitherto,
the supply of grain and tlotir, from America, has never been
great, in proportion to the amount of home growth ; and ,
ut no time, has importation from tiience, been disadvan-
tageous to this country, but the reverse. Indeed, all well-
regulated trade with America, nuist leave us a profit,
inasmuch as it gives opportunity for our cheaper labour,
and our superior industry and skill, to exert itself, and earn
its fair and natural reward.

ngmg

eeded

Bri-

s. , or

price

ad-

lason-

ased,

load

e of

anu-

and^

pply

3. " Your petitioner, bred to fanning, would in this place re-
mark, that parliamentary Comn^ittees have been too fastidious oti
the question of this island growing its own bread-corn. It would
be better, in the humble opinion of your petitioner, if less land
was cultivated, and more was set apart for the keep of live stock.
An abundance of live stock would not only bo a belter guard
against famine than the prec.jrMius supplies of harvest ; but would
insure a bettor average ret*. T am a limited tillage. British far-
mers have generally erred in ploughing too much ; and, at the pre-
sent time, they are ploughing to excess, from necessity. They are
exhausting their lands, while their live stock is unprotitably dimi-
nished. It 13 not by driving the plough to hill-tops, by toiling
upon barren muirs, or wasting health and stnmgth in unprofitable
bogs, that the farmer increases national wealth. It is by bestow-
ing his best attention on the best soils, and leaving the worst to
chance and futurity. If the British nation possesses, in every
quarter of the globe, abundance of fertile land, why should her
legislators confine exertion to a mere speck of the empire .' Why
should the extremities bo chilled, if, by free circulatioD, the heart
can be strengthened ? "

rrrcK

<;KNRK.\L INTRODlTfTlON.

if:

That, tlierc ure now, in England, Horne of lUo mo»t re*
specUblc land-owners of Uppii Canada, boili of tliu Hn-
tibli and Indian nulionx, wIjo luay be tailed to tlie bvr of
vour honourable llou.sc, or before any conunitteo, along
with your petilionir, who will substantiate the trnth of what
has been .'^aid above, and couriiin the opinions of your pe-
titioner.

lie therefore earnestly intreals, that your honourable
House will tak(! the \vlu)le into consider'Uion, and institutt;
inquiry into the state of Upper Canada, and other rolonie.s
of Britain,

And he shall ever pray.

ROBiaiT (iOLHLAY.

Febiuui'i/ iGth, 1822.

Mmr/i y/A.
This petition was presented, and ordered to be
printed, the 27th February. It was previously
shewn to ail my Canadian t'ri<i:nds in town, and
highly approved of by them. Mr. Hume, liim-
seir, went over it twice before it was ingrossed,
and obliged ina by correcting it as often with his
own hand. lie spoke to Mr. Brougham on the
subject, who advised delay till the home business
was further advanced ; but 1 pressed the presenta-
tion, by way of laying the ground-work for an after-
motion, as well as that the printed petition might
be perused by the committee appointed to revise
the corn law ; and I have no doubt, that it will
be taken into serious consideration by that com-
mittee.

There are but these words which require expla-
nation, *' supposing it necessary that a factitious
state of things must be adhered to ;" I wish it
clearly understood, that I do not think it neces-

ca:NEiiAi. iNTRf)DUrTroN.

cccclxi

itious
ish it
eces-

»i

sary, that a rarlllioiis state of tilings should br
kept up for any great length of time. Free trade
with all thf; world is my darlini; wish. With
free trade, mankind would speedily come to know,
and agree with earh other, in political opinion.
They wouhl disrover that very little of govirn-
niei»t int<'rrercnr(« wan HMjuired, for the proteetiori
of person and property : that these eould he pro-
teeted at small exjiense; and that the mass of an-
tiquated law might he flung aside, with all its
trinn|K'ry expounders and executors. The j)lan
suggested of receiving all land produce at Quebec,
without (picstion as to its origin, would most as-
suredly give us a vast monopoly of trade, and
tend much to confound the restrictive system of
the United States; but would British subjects ul-
timately, and in general, benefit by this? 1 say,
no: the Americans are willing to take otF their
duties on British goods, as soon as Britain chooses
to admit of fre«^ trade. Free trade, — free importa-
tion of corn into this country would not only give
us al)undance of cheap food, at all times, but en-
rich us with the vast demand for manufactures.
Population would then increase faster, in Britain,
than it has yet done in America; but it would
create no misery ; for the connexion with America
would become so great and harmonious, that na-
tural emigration would increase beyond all prece-
dent. The motiient a man found himself not fully
mployed in manufacturing goods for exportation

to America, he would be olf to that country, to
cultivate land, to continue the abundance of bread,
at home, and give better employment to thowse left

nrdxii CiKNCKAI. INTRODUCTION.

behind him. In tlie mean time, peoph*, on hoth
sides of the Athmlic, would be j;ctting better and
better educated — more and more liberal in then* ideas
— more and more correct in their conduct and man-
ners; and hope nn«;ht be indulged, that betore the
continent of America was thickly peopled to the
shores of the I'acific, virtuous restraint woidd be
quite sufficient to keep the increase of j)opnIalion
williin due bounds : that no physical means would
bere<piired to check it, as pro[)osed by Mr. Place*;
and that it would no longer be a cause of vice and
misery, as insisted on by Mr. Mai thus. The sen-
sual passion can be governed. Example, habit,
sentiment, refrainuig from gross conversation, keep-
ing in check the imagination, giving both mijid
and body proper exercise : — these are sufficient to
raise us superior to beastly desire ; and the point
should not be given up. What is it that maintains
purity between brothers and sisters, but correct sen-
timents, never suffered ibra moment to stray ? What
is so delightful as chaste converse with the sex !
Unluckily, it is the fashion of the world to laugh
at beastly indulgence, — to excuse it in others, that
we may find excuse for ourselves; but, is there,
upon carlli, a rake, who docs not inwardly rebuke
himself for bis folly — who has not cause, sooner or
later, to repent of every departure from rigid virtue ?
i'or myself, with sufficient experience, I say, no.
'• 1 wave the quantum o' the sin,

The hazard of coiiceaUug ;
But, och ! it hardens a' witliin,

.\nd petrified the feeling."

In a well written, seu&ible book, Just published.

Tour l^urns ! witli thy goiiius ami thm natmal
dispositions, how loiitr, how resptttahly, how liap-
pily niii;ht you liav«« h\fd, but lor giving way to
vicious indulgences! !

Canadians! My only wish to sec a factitious
state oi things kept up, wouhl hv to adnut of our
getting out of the nuscrirs in which a lactilious
state has involve*! us. In ten years this coulil he
acooiuplished. After ten years we could salely open
our j)orts to all the world. In these ten years,
were my scheme of abolishing poor laws (see j)age
cxlii) put in execution, together with a grand sys-
tem of emigration, every dilliculty might be got
over, every danger avoided, every evil corrected.
For such a period only would euiigration require
assistance. You will see on my large map, lines
of canals, roads, &c. These wire meant to illus-
trate my |)lans of settlement, had I finished this
work, or obtained the cou.itonance of Government.
They run ovrr about ten millions ot acres, and
there is there room to settle a million of people,
who might be profitably removed from England
and Ireland, while poor laws were in the course of
being abolished, and the mass of the people pre-
pared by education to take care of themselves in
future* Were Ciovernment to charter a company
for the settlement of these ten millions of acres, a
dollar an acre could hti paid for the land, and, at
least, double that sum made by the com!)anv in
less than twenty years. I may here observe, that
the principle on which these improvements and
settlements would proceed, has nothing to do with
that on which the St. Lawrence navigation could

CCCclxiv GENERAL INTROBUCTION.

be executed, as proposed in my addresses iVoin
Niagara jail, page ccclxxvii. The St. Lawrence
navigation can only be executed on a grand scale,
by the imposition of a huid-tax, which would, at
same time, speedily amend the bad state of pro-
perty now existing: but that must rest with your
Parliament; and your Parliament does not seem
to have brains for the comprehension of the sim-
plest rules of political economy. We have just
heard that it was prorogued on the 17th January,
after 3,000 dollars were allowed to pay the ex-
penses of the Attorney General, on a mission to
this country, to get settled, your quarrel with the
lower Province, about duties ! ! ! There ought to be
no duties to quarrel about ; but I have no patience
with this consummation of trifling. With these
3,000 dollars, three of our Members of Assem-
bly might have been he 2 before now, to back my
petition, — to have insur \ instant attention to the
one thing needful — inc mry into the state
OF THE Province.

However puny is t' 3 object for which the At-
torney General is com' ^ home, it is well that he
is coming. The King will now real/i/ be spoken
to about Canadian affairs: he must consult Parlia-
ment; and Parliament thus formally consulted,
Mr. Hume, and others, will have opportunity to
advance the more important questions : this book
will be more generally read ; and, in this book,
with all its faults and imperfections, the great prin-
ciples upon which Canada should be governed,
will be found.

;s from
iwrence
i scale,
)uld, at
of pro-
th your
)t seem
Lhe sim-
ave just
January,
the ex-
ssion to
vith the
ht to be
patience
th these
Assem-
)ack my
to the

STATE

the At-

that he

spoken

Parlia-

Insulted,

inity to

lis book

book,

[at prin-

Iverned,

SUPPLEMENT.

>>nii,i: ii) Upper Canada I published four Ad-
dresses to the Resident Landholders. My first
has appeared above, page clxxxvi, iny seeond and
third will be found in vol. 11, pages 471, and 581.
To complete the set, I shall here produce the fourth
and last, and add a reply and liirply as a specimen
of the political warfare vvhicli I had to wage in the
Province. These extracts may give rise to some
useful ideas now, and shall be afterwards referred
to.

NIAGARA SPECTATOR, May 27, I8iy.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAGAllA SriiCTATOH.

Niagara Jail, Mai/ 22, 1819.
Sir,
In your paper of 17th December last, I announced my
intention of being at St. Catherine's on the 2Gth of that
month, there to consult with those who should honour me
with a meeting on the subject of Instructions to be put
into the hands of Parliamentary Representatives, prior to the
sitting of their next session, intending to take my departure
forthwith, for England. In the mean time, being arrested
and served with an order to quit the province, it became
necessary, in defence of my honour, to delay departure;
and I informed the people who met at St. Catiierine*«,

\ 1

CCCdxvi CiENKRAL INTROniTCTION.

that it might be better, under changed circumstances, to del:iy
entering on the subject of Instkuciions, and that I shouKl
iirst deliver my sentiments through the medium of the news-
papers, in a series of communications on the consiitution
and political circumstances of Upper Canada. Shortly
after this, being arrested and committed to jail, I judged it
proper to allow some time for the public mind to retlecl on
that extraordinary occurrence. Oidy a few weeks luul
elapsed when the whole magistracy of the district appeared
w arms against me ; and in the number, many of those who
had shewn the greatest zeal in the cause of inquiry, prior to
the arrival of Sir Peregrine Maitland in the province. It was
impossible not to feel damped with such experience ; and
1 must confess, that for some time a degree of melancholy
rested on my spirits. Truly, it may be said, " If the salt
hath lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted r"

Seeing that parliament is now summoned to meet on a
very early day, my pledge to the people of St. Catherine's
has been called to mind, and 1 have set about an attempt to
redeem it. 1 have addressed a communication to the Resident
Landowners of Upper Canada (herewith sent you for pub-
lication) and would fain continue it ; but, in resuming my
pen, I find my health so much impaired with conlinement,
that there is a want of energy to do justice to the subject,
and I am doubtful of being f.ble to complete my wish.

Tlie whole drift of my endeavours, tirst and last, has been
to induce inquirt/ into the slate of the province, and to have
a commissien sent home, thai the whole may he openlj/ and
fairly submitted to discussion in the British Parliament.
V/hat 1 would now ask of those, who ever were sincere in
support of my measures, is this, that they should immediately
meet in their several townships, and address a letter to their
respective representatives in parliament, expressing a wish
that the subject of inquiry should be the tirst consideration
of the ensuing session of parliament, after the iiifaniou»

■ m' n y.V ' W K "!

"f'^^il^fyrfHtrK'-'

CENKRAL INTUODUf'TIOV.

rccclxvii

resolulions sent home to the foot of the iliioue, are erased
from the journals, and tlie gagging act repealed.

ROBERT GOURLAY.

:ll I

TO THE Kl SIDENT LANDOWNERS OF UPPER CANADA-

Niagara Jail, May 20, 18 19.

GisNTLEMEN,

I have thrice before now addressed }oii : always in sin-
cerity, and never without considerable efVect. My first
Address was so simple, and in its purpose, so palpably
Lent ficial to the province, that it must remain to excite sur-
prise, hov.' -* siiiule ^dce could b« raised in opposition. My
second Address was urged by in)perious duty, on becoming
better ac((uainted with the political state of affairs. The
object of tiiat Address was to advise parliamentary in-
quiry into the slate of the province, and the appointnumt of
a comniis-Dion to carry home the result. My third Address,
holding the same object in view, spiung from a momentary
impulse, occasioned by the sudden anil extraordinary break-
ing up of parliament. Wherever the light of information
reached, this Address was electric, and thousands of the
most loyal hastened to conform to its dicta. Horrible to
relate, there were found among your own representatives,
men, who, belying every preconceived notion of character
and conduct, shewed thenjselves, in brutal opposition to the
quiet and peaceable exercise of couiititulional right, and
who have finally, in their public capacity, made party
against the cause of truth and liberty; who, losing sight of
that dignity which should ennoble them as statesmen, have
stooped tu the abuse <>f individual character, soiled the par-
liamentary journal's with the record of untruUis, and bereaved
their constituents of the most valuable privilege— that of
employing rational means for carrying a petition to the foot
of the imperial throne.

gg2

■

;«

;

Wl l\

CCCclxviii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Gentlemen ! by the acts of your own representatives, you
can DO longer boast of freedom : you aie, in fact, ihis nio»
mcnt slaves. Alas', am not 1 myself a striking uitness ol
this truth r a prisoner, without trial, after two honourable
acquittals ! — a prisoner, locked up at the capriciotis mandate
of my personal enemies ; as which of you may not be ' And
is there now an honest and independent man among you who
would raise his voice agaujst inquiry, who would prefer dark-
ness to light, who would sit in ignominious silence while such
things are? Was it to be enslaved that you came from the
States of America, from Britarn, and frotn Germany ? Was
it to be enslaved, that you here supi)lanted the native Indians,
noble and free.'' Was it to sow the seeds of despotism, that
you lifted the axe to clear away these woods: Was it for
the growth of tyranny and oppression, that you let in the
solar rays to warm and fertilize the teeming earth ? Forbid
it, Heaven ! Deny it, grateful man ! Why was America
reserved to modern days for settlement ? Why were thou-
sands of years suftered to elapse, and yet half the world un-
known — unoccupied? O! it was most consistent with the
designs of a Providence, ever benignant and kind — a Provi-
dence, who zcills to give a secoiid chance to virtuous liberty.
These thousands of years were clearly meant to prove
how vain are the struggles of man against the power of
despotism, when once contirmed. Look to the old world :
look back on the pages of history, and say what has there
been exhibited — what is there recorded, but one continued
tissue of misery from priests and kings, and superstition and
tyranny? What! are we in this »-eserved and unpolluted
land, to make no advantage of lessons so costly, and of
experience j^o dear? Are we to shut our eyes to (he so
glorious designs of Providence? Are we to give way to
natural weakness, and n»ake no eflort, while yet it may so
easily be made to brace up the cause of reason and of truth —
to smite in the bud the earliest germ of despotism? Are we
to suffer our own children to grow up in rebellioD, and our

I t

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

cccclxix

es, you
his mo-
nesH ol
lourable
luuidate
f? And
you who
er tlark-
lilc such
loni the
- ? Was
Indians,
ism, that
k^as it for
ct in the
Forbid
America
ere ihou-
vorUl un-
with the
■a Provi-
s liberty.
o prove
lower of
Id world :
as there
lontinued
tiou and
polluted
and of
the so
way to
may so
truth —
Are we
and our

own servants to bind us about, unresisting, with chains?
No, even I, a prisoner, >vill protest against it: a prisoner,
deserted, betraye<l, and trodden down ; still will I call, though
with a feeble voice, a'^ninst acts disgr;icefid to British rule,
killing to this infant colony, and sickening to every true
feeling of geuerons loyalty. Gentlemen, tliough it is im-
possiijle to speak on Ujis subject without giving some vent
to passion, I shall endeavour to moderate njy language, and,
with what calmness I can, enter into a discussion conccining
the political state of circumstances of this province; which
I trust may open the eyes of some, and correct the vision of
others. Narrow, seltish interests have, no doubt, taken the
Jljad against my measures ; but in their train they have borne
along nuich pervi.rsity of mere temper — much prejudice —
much ignorance. I liuve not been publicly accused of folly.
The charges of my enemies are all of a criminal CAnt. They
fancy some deep conspiracy, some horrid wickedness : they
conjure up treason, bloodshed, aiul death. VV ere it not for
a feeling of real sorrow that there are imaginations so foul
as to conceive such thoughts, I should laugh outright at
every criminal charge. It is now eighteen months since [
became the subject of public animadveision, and from
nothing that could breed suspicion, and blacken character,
have 1 escaped. Has any e\il been proved? No: neither
will it, ihouuh r should remain here as manv years, and
slander shoidi! cross and recross llic Atlantic with every tide.
In prosperity, in adversity, I have through life been uniformly
the same : enliuisiastic and sincere in every public under-
taking : often iujpiudent: sometimes foolish; but never
for a moment have I harboured criminal design.

Gentlemen, your parliament is again about to meet, and
the intelligence has roused me ; — that parliament is about to
meet, which thrice before assembled, only to sink the country
in disgrace, deeper, and deeper, and deeper, J -et every eye
be turned towards the silting of this parliament, that shame
and compuiution may at least work a miracle, and good be

*:»

wiMiw»»ia»mi ir* Wft .gMl«. »f-' ;"?.'"'^'W? g'r'Tff^^*^'^"

cctclxx

UKNKUAL INTRODUCTION.

1 I

forthcoming of evil. I am, myself, in hope, and again scIa*
the quill, to call for INQUIRY, AND A COMMISSION
TO GO HOME. 1 despair not of the old broouu The
proverb says, that " New brooms sweep clean ;" but when
a parliament is worn to the stumps, it will do you most ser-
vice. The mass of dirt too, which at present needs rcnu)val,
calls rather for stumps than spray. Let the haidened and
dirty stumps grub up the thick of it, and a new parliament
will come in appropriately for the more thorough cleansing
of your apartments*.

There is but one thnig concerning myself, which I wish
seriously to be considered by your honourable Representatives
— their conduct towards me last session. It was shameful,
and wholly without excuse. If any little stomach is again
charged with bile, let it not be forgotten, that with all the
boast of privilege, the most honourable course is, to let com-
plaint have a regular hearing in u court of justice. I am
now paying dear for a fair chance of defending my conduct ;
and if a fair chance '}s allowed, I dread not being able to
satisfy the country, that so far from being blameable, my
conduct has all along been founded on principles of duty
and honor, never was, and never could be productive of hi.rm.
But let us proceed : let me give light to the operations of
the old broom.

To have a right conception of the true policy which should
be followed, to secure a lasting connexion between Britain
and her colonies, it is necessary to glance back to that period
of history, which details the rise and progress of the revolu-
tion which separated the Un::ed States from the mother

• When I was first shut up in jail, a man confined there was
employed making Indian brooms. 1 asked him to t«ach me to
make these, and said I should advertise my brooms for sweepinii;
tile province. The joke went round, and then 1 gave it a turn by
saying, I must firit provide slwvels,

«jr:Nr,UAL intkodtction. cccclxxi

coimlrv. It may first bo remarked, that tlie iuliabitants of
America, btfore the i evolution, were, both by the intercourse
of trade and blood rclalionsliip, more closely connected with
the English people, than you of this province; and many
documents prove how very anxious they were to maintain
the connexion. It was broken by the infatuation and obsti-
nacy of the British ministry. That ministry would persist
in a principle which the constitution did not warrant, and
which the American people nobly and successfully resisted.
The cause of the Americans was espoused at home, not
only by the majority of the people, but by the most eminent
statesmen ; — by Chatham, and Burke, and Fox ; and that it
was a good cause, the very men who opposed it, many of
whom are still alive in tb s province, would not now for a
moment deny. They themselves would now rebel against
Britain, should any attempt be made, by the ministers of that
country, to tax them without their own consent.

But though the right of taxing themselves was the great
and immediate object which induced the American people
to resist the nefarious designs of the British ministry, there
had been for many years before that crisis, causes which
tended to retard the prosperity of the provinces, and alienate
the affections of colonists from the mother country. How-
ever pure may be the principles of any government, — how-
ever flattering may be the language of slate, there are invaria-
bly at work, underhand and beguiling interests, counteracting
these interests and belying this language. The proclamations
of Britain may breathe the kindest endearment towards her
provinces, and, in the heart of the sovereign every subject
njay have an equal share of royal affection ; but beneath the
sovereign care, a thousand petty interests are continually at
work, and a thousand passions seek to be gratihed. Charity
begins at home, and unless the people of a colony look out
sharply for their own intt rests, they will undoubtedly be sa-
crificed to the pride and profit of the parent state. As the
population of America uicreased, — as her natural resources

1 •

1^^

CCCclxxii GENERAL INTRODUCTION,

came to be developed, and the genius of the people found
scope for enterprise, a competition in oonunerre and nrannlac-
tures excited the jealousy of merchants and manufacturers at
home. These left no effort untried to check the ititrease of
American shipping, or to palsy the arm of the colonial
craftsman : " We must not" (said a British minister, taking
the part of these narrow-minded interests), " suffer the Ameri-
cans to make so much as a hob-nail." How ridiculous !—
how vain !- -how impolitic and profitless ! Was it to he sup-
posed, that the enlightene«l people of a continent could long
be governed, and thus he held down by the sway of islanders
three thousand miles apart? Mo: and while independent
America, wiUi her commerce free, and tradesmen unshackled,
has flourished b<?yond exanipic, has she not, at the same time,
yielded tenfold nioie weulth to England than she could ever
have done as a colony damned with counteracting influences ?
How easily coukl England have retained the sovereignty of
America! How glorious woidd it have been, had she surren-
dered in time all that was reasonable and proper to htr oti-
spring ! How happy would it have been for the human race ?
How much bloodshed would have been saved ! What rancor-
ous feelings would have been stifled! Good God! for what
reason should we and the people across Niagara river, even at
this day, be held in enmity? How comes it that these people
go 80 far beyond us in every undertaking ? How is it that
Americans are free, and Canadians slaves? Aye, the most
abject of slaves, subject, by their own enactments, to arbitrary
imprisonmetit. Why do people here shrink fron> inquiry ?
•~Why so jealous of the liberty of the press? — Why do they
love darkness rather than light? — Why? because their deeds
are evil: because there are yet in this part of America seen ».
and vicious intiuenccs at work : because the interests aid
passions of men in oflice are yet at variance with justicj and
truth.

When the question of giving a conslitution to Canada was
before the British Parliament, not only had experience proved

it that

c. most

biliary

iquiry ?
o they

r (lee(ls

sccr*'c

its 111(1

C'j and

ia was

)rovcd

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxxili

how vain it would be to withhold from people in this quiirtcrof
the world the rii^lit of laxiii}; themselves, but there was a clear
necessity for being liberal in every respect, both from view-
ing the local .situation of this country and the spirit of the
times. The indepenciciice of America was already manifest-
ing its glorious consc(ineiu;cs, and the French nation was
then in the very act of burstisig the bonds of feudal oppres-
sion. Mr. Burke, who already foresaw the horrors likely to
arise from the French revolution, did not hesitate to say, that
the people of Canada should be presented with such a con-
stitution as would leave them nothing to envy, when they
surveyed those in the states of Auieiica, One noble Lord
(Sheffield) objected to the policy of at all cherishing the set-
tlement of Upper Canada. " ^Vhy," said he, " shoidd we
rear up a nation of larmers in the heait of America who will
only become rivals to our tenants at home— "'h.) will onlv pro-
duce what it is our interest to have produced on our own
iields ?" His idea, though miserably srlrish, deserved, never-
theless, cedit lor open avowal ; and, should be treasured up by
yon, the resident landowners of Upper Canada. Lord Sheffield
said he would only encourage settlements along the sea coasts,
where the people might be raised to man the British navy,
and yield wealth tp F^ngland from their industry in tishing ;
as in the case of Newfoundland, where this villanous princi-
ple is carried so far as to delay the culture of the earth :
the earth given by God for tillage, is there kept altogether
unproductive, that the landed oligarchy of England may
better afford to sustain their riot and their rank with enor-
mous land rents !

One proposal made in the British Parliament was, that the
people of Upper Canada should choose a constitution for
themselves ; but it was very properly suggested, that they
Mere then too few and too unskilled in such matters to be able
rightly to estimate what was best for their advantage; and fi-
nally, it was agreed, that nothing could exceed, as a boon, the
offer oi the British model. How to form a House of Peers was

n i l H I 'j iii n ir n i w ai' i i i i i i n mt l ' c w Miw.ywo i aM i jw

rccelxxiv (;knkual intuoduction.

W I \

i >

' ... I . •

L1'

I ,

tlic ditKciilty ; and lioiicNt Ciiarles Fox could not help laugh-
ing, when he thought of the hrood of nobility which was to
be hatched in the wilderness. His opinion was, that the
Upper House should be elective, as are the senates of Ame-
rica; but Mr, Pitt iiud it settled, that the nomination of legis-
lative councillors should be hi the crown, while the propriety
of breeding nobility might rest as a matter of discretion in
the same power.

The fact is, that all comparison between the British Con>
stitution and that of this Province, is absurd ; or, at best, it
is a comparison uiudogous to what may be made between a
man and a lump of clay, having two legs uud a head : your
lump of clay being, in some respects, the preferable commo-
dity ; for, if it should be found to stand more erect upon one
leg than two, the spare leg may be cut oft' without danger or
bloodshed.

What comparison is there between a king, or prince, living
at home in the midst of his people — born there, and to die
there: — what comparison is there between a person who
can do no xtroug^ and who has no object in life but the pure
enjoyment of seeing himself elevated by the virtues of his
people — a person who is responsible for no act of govern-
ment, but whose ministers are most strictly watched, and
must answer with their heads for executive crime, — a person
whose very conscience is in the keeping of another : — what
comparison is there between this pure and exalted personage,
and a provincial governor ? — a man appointed through court
intrigue, and who goes abroad for the express purpose of
bettering his fortune; here to-day and gone to-morrow;
certainly without local experience or knowledge ; probably
without talents, and most probably without principle ; placed
in the very threshold of temptation, and surrounded with
sycophants ; yes, with sycophants, who at his slightest nod
will debase themsei 'es and enslave their country; yes, were
an ass, a real corporeal ass, sent out to govern a province,
1 do believe he would iind worshippers ; and it would be

ORNKKAL iNiKonrc rioN. orcrlxxv

cnllc*! lilx'l to piiblnli ilu« most iioloriouH trulli, that liis ears
were long. Wliat diil I say was tlie opinion of Mr. Burke ?
IJnrke! the luminary of Ins ajj;o, and whose oracular truths
still rise and brighten from the tomb. Was it his opinion
that we in Canada should see nothing to envy in the United
States ? And must wc shut our eyes to the splendour of
Clinton and Monroe r Must wc throw aside llivir speeches,
rharged with the balmy and invij^orating light of truth and
civilization, breathing patriotism, and blazing with elo(|uenee,
to bedim our eyes with staring on the blank and lieart-.nck-
onin^ iccords of provincial weaku'jss.? () God! compari-
sons are odious.

All things must be judged of in coniuixion with circnni-
stauces. The JJritish constitution is to be admired as n
bappy cotnpromise for the general good between great
contending parties, which through many ages had struggled
in violent opposition : the King, the Nobles, the Priests,
and the People. When we read the history of the world, and
trace the fate of nations, callous indeed must be the heart
which swells not \,il!i gratitude, when the revolution of 1688
bursts upon view ; — when we behold, for the first time, monar-
chical power rendered innocuous, the pride of aristocracy
humbled, priestly arrogance laid low, and the people free.
Well indeed may the British nation triumph in having first
established such a compromise : justly are they entitled to
boast of the glorious revolution; and, cautious ought they
to be, at hotne, in venturing on further change.

Here in Canada, the case is altogether ditVerent: here re-
straints are few, and the jeopardy of change is comparatively
nothing : here no tyrant ever swayed a sceptre : here no
feudal lord ever looked down contemptuous on humble serf:
here no priest has yet bent the human mind beneath super-
stitious fear : here the people want but discretion and firm-
ness to establish the happiest freedom for themselves and pos-
terity : here indeed tlu y had it in virgin purity, but it is already
gone ; yes, even already have the people's own jeprescnlalivcs

.. ) i ,.iTiti.«. j iiM t ti|r»l»( >< i*>w« ^ *< j »*< w » , ' » ^ T 'i^'ft* ^<' *'> » ' » y » *ft' w w w—

rrcrlxwi oenkral iNTRontTTiox.

(It Howered the darling iiiingt*, and bartered it nwav ! A Bii-
tisli iiidiject ill U|)|Kr C^aiiadu no longer trcadx Innoatii tlu;
proifcling privilege of habeas corpus, nor dure the people
choose a tonnuission to carry home a petition to the 'I'hronc ! !
The degrmlation of this colony does not originate in the
iVainc of its constitution. In tlio deniocrutic branch of their
i:onstitution, the Canadian people are favoured beyond the
lot of their fellow subjects at home. These have but a sha-
dow of representation in parliament, those a reality. In
Cannila, tlie purse strings are truly in the iiands of the people :
in England they arc held by a wretched knot of Borough-
mongers ; but two causes have operated in C'anaila to render
of no avail the ()mni{«)tent power of the |)eople — simplicity
and igiiorancc on one .side, and the enormous patroiiag«^ pos-
sessed by the executive on the oilier. Thus circumstanced,
Upper Canada liad better to the present day have never hud
an Assembly. No mere Uovornor and Council would have
had the ellVoniery to issue edicts so disgraceful to civilized
times, as arc many of the acts of the Provincial Parliament.
(Jentlemen, 1 juw into the liorrible state of your public
afiairs at an cai ly period : 1 saw many of the causes which
held this Province in povei ty, and have been steady to my
purpose of cflecting a change. At lirst I had uo view what-
ever to any change in the frame of your government ; 1
thought only of correcting abuses in its internal management ;
but hesitate not to say, now my cxjierience is enlarged, that it
would be well if change, in every respect, was accomplished.
My eye was, at an early puiod, caught with the monstrous
influence in the hands of the executive; greater than is to be
found in any other colony, and inrinitely greater than any
thing of the kind at home. 1 saw that the Governor had not
only the disposal of every civil ofllicc, of every civil and mili-
tary commission, but of land to boundless extent : I knew
this influence had been misapplied, and witnessed the lament-
able eflects : 1 saw public duty neglected, and the whole face
of the country pining wiih disease: I saw nature every

UKNKU.VL IX IHODK TION. (•«•('« IxxmI

sorrow oivi-

xvhcrc strug^lin*,' wiili h.imuIc ; nml licluld wiili
]i/:ltirin ilM'lf (III tlic (l*>( litx.-.

'I'lic tunslitiilioiial st.itule i-xliibits no chii«.c for llic rxist-
nice oJ" tlii.3i! evils ; nor was any HppiclKndetl l»y llu' virtuous
nuinbei-, ol" the Ikilisjli Kniiauitiii wliiii this ua«i umlt;r
Loiisidtialioii. To }>;ivc to (.'aiiada llio Urilis.h Coiislituiimi,
— tlu; i^loiioui liiiiish Constilutioii, sttinorl all iii ail; and
" litre it i.s," t'Mliiiuicd ilic j^fiu-rous spirit urSinicoe, to the
lirst ('aiiadiaii AssiMiibly : •• iicrc- it U, the vnj/ iiuage uiui
transcript." (luiieral Simcoc was, I bt licvo, a truly siuglt;-
lieaitt'il iiKU), and IkkI but one view, liial of pcopluig the
rounlry. \iu lined out j>;t« at roads, and be-jran to open tliein
by actual settlenienl aloii}; the tiaels: he issued prodanui-
tions, iuvitin«5 .settlers to come in : he olVered whole town-
ships on liberal terms to euttrprisiiij:; men ; and enterprising
men were instantly at hand with axes and o\ chains, |)l(iu^hs
and harrows, to tuKil his design. IJut what then ? Why,
the landed oligarchy of Englaiul conceived that " the nation
of farmers" was likely to pri)sper too wtll in the heart of
America, that they were likely to pirtdute such abundance of
grain as to cheapen that article in the home market, that their
own tenants, in thai case, would find it hard to pay their rents ;
and hearing perhaps how well their brother farmers in Cana-
da got on, might take a longing to emigiate, and so more and
more reduce the land rents of KnglanH. Such consequences
were appalling to little selfish minds; and the landhjids of Eng-
land took the alarm. They had not sufficiently studied the doc-
trine of Lord Sheffield when the Canadian Bill was digested ;
but they had abundant interest in the cabinet, and could yet
so order matters as to mar all the fine effects of the boasted
constitution. Simcoe must be recalled: his plan of road
making must be given up : his offer of tow nships must be
quashed ; no more encouragement must be held out to en-
terprising men : only lots of two hundred acres must be
allowed to poor settlers, and these men must be kept down
in poverty, by blocking them up and holding them apart with

ccrclxxviii general introdifction,

large grants to non-residents, lialf-pay oflicers, and llio liki*.
Then it will be easy to t'orni a Ltgislativii Council wliicli
shall bo altogether subservient, and a majority of the pcopU;'H
njpresentatives being constantly held in check by donationn
of land, places, or pensions, the beauty of the constitution
can quickly be transforni'^d, its bulwarks levelled to the
ground, and the prosperity of the piovince completely
blasted.

Gentlemen, I sincerely believi' that such inlhienccs have
been in operation, and such trains laid, to produce theeilectH
so visible in every quarter of Upper ('anada. Up to the
present time they have completely shut you out from the
substantial benelits of the constitution, and from havinp;
v.ealthy emigrants from home; nor will such ever be in-
duced to come into the province, while things rest as they
are. Those who emigrate from England will, in preference,
go to the States ; but thousands would start from home for
Canada, were things as they should be, who will not, at all,
move to resiile under an alien government.

The sclieme which I set on foot by my fust Address, was
the best possible for making this cijuntry known to the far-
mers of England. That Address was sent home by me, alto-
gether vviiliuut suspicion, to be presented to Lord Jialliurst,
and published in the newspapers. So early as February '2B,
1818, it was stated in the Montreal Herald, that " fron»
recent intelligence, Mr. Cionrhiy's plan will not be comite-
nanced by his Majesty's ministers, aItiion;;h it would, in our
opinion, be difficult to assign just motives for such conduct."
i\s soon as this article appeared, 1 began to guess at the
inotivei. His Majesty's ministers did not, I was convinced,
choose that farmers, with capital, should be withdrawn from
home; and besides, I believe, there is a jealousy, that if an
independent and enterprising class of men should get into
Canada, the ))rovince would be less easily kept in subjec-
tion to the mother country. Now, I am assured, that the
selfish dread of ministers; as it concerns the emigration of

CiENKRAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxxix

Wealthy fannois, would ncvrr go to such extent as to lower
the land rents of England, although it would mightily assist
Canada in a variety of ways ; and 1 am still more assured
that Canada woidd he longer retained in connexion with
Britain by a liberal than narr<»w-mii\ded policy.

Centlcnicn, should health permit, 1 shall resume this sub-
ject. J wish, for my own credit, to throw upon it the great-
est possible light; but nothing can be expected of conse-
quence to the welfare of this country, till the j>eople bestir
themselves ; and urge on their representatives to serious
exertion. 'I'his Parliament will do as well as another, if
pressed from all sides to the great measure of inquiry, and
to submit the whole alTairs of the province to the inspection
and review of the Parliament at home.

ROBERT GOURLAY.

was

NIAGARA SPECTATOR, July 1, 1819.

To the Editor of the Niagara Spectator.

Silt,

In your paper of the 27lh ultimo, I find an Address from
Mr. Robert Gourlay to the Resident Landowners of Upper
Canada, dated Niagara Jail, 20lh May, 1819, and as a
resident landowner, I wish to offer some observations in
reply.

In doing so, 1 do not address myself to Mr. Robert Gour-
lay. I know him not personally, and I mean nothing per-
sonal to him. 1 grieve for his present situation, and would
rejoice could 1 alleviate it. Placed at a distance from the
immediate facts which have led to his confinement, 1 have
lamented it, because, on such information us 1 have, it ap-
pears to me that the common course of the laws was abqii-
dantly sufficient for the public good, and that the extreme
resort, therefore, to which recourse has been had against
hill), was equally haish and injudicious ; but with all these

v^\

M i

i., ',
I !

oroclxXX GENERAl. INTRODUCTION.

iindisguifscd sentiments of regret on public grounds, ami ol
unfeigned comnuseration for the personal suft'erings of the
individual, 1 most uneiiuivocal'y assent to the lawful power
legalJ)' and essentially vested in the united branches of the
Government for establishing such a resort (wofuliy liable as
it is, from the universal guilt of our nature, to abuse) when-
ever requisite. 1 assert, that without such a resent, no
well-constituted society could exist; and regarding Mr,
Gourlay as in the hands of the laws, and a? secure in their
progress of as fair a result as the general experience of hu-
man nature in any state would warrant him to expect, I com-
mit him to them; as, in such circumstances, I would myself
wish to be conuiiitled.

But it appears essential to me, that the false and perni-
cious impressions which I think his Address calculated to ex-
cite, should be controverted. Into his motives 1 desire not
to penetrate : to them, in what I propose saying, 1 have no
allusion. 1 know, for the history of human nature supplies
the proof, and 1 myself have most mournfully witnessed it,
how cgregiously the conscience of man can deceive itself.
I know, for the disgusting fact has been forced upon my
knowledge, that a self-applauding idea of rectitude may
exist, even wl.ere, with all the bitterness of malice and
ungoverned passion, the most dear and sacred duties and
affections are sacrificed and spurned. 1 know that this
question, as it relates to Mr. Gourlay, is one between God
and his own soul ; and that all human interpretation of it,
must be at the risk of that censoriousness and arrogance
under which our nature is so willing to screen its own
wrathful tempers, and the direct tendency of which is
(except in extreme cases) to scatter bitterness and discord.

The diffuse style (according to my judgment) of Mr.
Gourlay's compositions, as fur as 1 have witnessed them, com-
prising a straggling meaning under a mass of declamatory
words, renders it difficult to meet him at all points with
effect. This cotuse must be .-ibau»k>iK;(l : in which cast

GKNERAL INTRODUCTION. t'CCclxxxi

Some of his matter may appear unanswered, or, a similar
progress must be followed, and a similar indistinctness may
probably be the result. This is an evil more or less expe-
rienced in every argument; and I sulyect myself, no doubt,
to a share of the same defect. I offer this remark, to ac-
count for the degree in which 1 may fail. I ihull, howevef,
proceed with ihe same freedom which he uses, with an
intention, which I profess to be as honest and disinterested
as he asserts his to be ; with a direct denial of the remotest
degree of any thing like personality, and, I trust, in more tem-
perate langn-age (and as far as may be judged by language,
with more temperate dispositions), to i)fler to my brethren,
the resident landowners of Upper Canada, the free opinions
of anolhs'r of their members.

Mr. Gourlay tells us, we are at this moment slaves ! I abhor
the idea, probably as much as he does. I have an arm and
a heart to resist tyranny as deliberately, as actively, as fir.iily,
and as constantly, probably, as he. I am not willing to sup-
pose n)).seU a syrfipliant more than he; and I do not be-
lieve a seiiish or private interest would warp me more fiom
the strictest path of duty than it would him ; but I can per-
ceive no gromids for such an assertion, esccpt tempers, which
probably deceive themselves, as much as their tendency is to
exasperate and betray others.

He thinks we are slaves, because he is in prison, or
at least that this is an evidence of our slavorv. 1 think not
(though I liir.ient his being in prison), because he is there
in the regular and legal (though extraordinary) couri>e of the
laws; and because he must thence be relieved in the due
course of law, unless lawful cause, on open inquiiy, prevent
it. To the inconvenience which he at present suifers, every
member of society, in extreme cases, must be liable, "^rhis
is one of the penalties which we must pay, in return for the
security and conveniences of society ; and that security
and those conveniences, are well worth every such liability
Mhich th«y may require. In every well-regulated slate, I

h h

i : \

! ■'

^1. ?

! I

CCCClxXXii GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

repeat, a final constitutional resort must be established, (and, I
believe, no happier resort could be established, than that
which exists in our Government) for the extraordinary de-
mands of the public welfare; and to call the constitutional
exercise of this indispensable prerogative, despotism, is to
belie language, and to breathe sedition *.

In one sense, all rulers are servants of the state : it is the
light in which they ought to regard themselves : it is the light
in which the voice of familiar affection ought to address them.
But the tongue of insolence betrays itself, when in the vein
of its abuse, it presumes to call those so whom God luis
placed over it. That unhappy tongue requires to learn that
its rulers are those to whom God expressly commands it
to use deference, respect, and obedience: — that they are
those, to whom the sword has been connnitted, both for
protection and correction; and that such language, turned
towards an upright, enlightened, and pious Governor, though
it may breed confusion, or obscure for a time the truth, is
but infamy and evil to him who uses it.

Mr. Gourlay goes on to say, (oh, it is a disgusting con-
trast!) " How is it that Americans are free ^ and Canadians
slaves f* And is this a voice to be sounded in Canadian
ears ? I wish not to do the Americans wrong : in the little
scale of human nature they are a great and a growing people.
in many things 1 admire them ; and in the people of Ca-
nada many things may be found to condemn ; but compare
their state with our's, (exoipt in its wealth and- power) and
Canadians may well blush at the comparison. Would he
make us subjects of that Government, which has so recently

* One reason for exhibiting this letter is, that I think it a cu-
nosity. It is a singular example, not only of weak reasoning,
but how far such reasoning can go in hood- winking, confusino;,
and misleading the weak mind from which it emanates. Lot the
reader think of this before he goes further, or r^ads my reply.

■ ■"'*T?*'tr:«mMWM,-

•* m m \ * ' MM ■'M MW M W* -!'" ■

, (and, I
lau that
nary dc-
jtutional

nj, IS to

it is the
1 the light
ess them.
I the vein
God has
earn that
unands it
they are
both for
;e, turned
ir, though
J truth, is

iting con-
\mad'ian$
iCanadiau
the little
Ig people.
le of Ca-
comparc
»wer) and
ould he
recently

Ik it a cu-

[easoninij,
l-onfusing;,
Let tlie
bply.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxXxiil

sanctioned the murder of two of our fellow-citizens ? Would
he make us the soldiers of a Jackson; a military despot,
whose hairs are whitening for the grave, but whose eye ex-
ults in blood f Would he introduce us into a state of so-
ciety, abhorrf it to those manners, on which many of the
proprieties and decencies of social life depend ? Would he
have us blinded by the odious comparison which has ranked
Monroe and Clinton above the pure and elevated mind with
M'hich the gracious providence of God has blessed us?— a
mind grieved, no doubt, by insult; harassed, perhaps, by
clamour ; but still pursuing an active and beneficent course of
pohcy, and controlling, with dignity and composure, the
factious tendency of such writings as those to which I now
reply. If these be his views, he acts consistently; — his
means are in some measure adapted to their end; but this I
will not suppose ; and I mourn over the delusion, which
thus hurries an active and apparently dauntless, and profess-
edly honest mind, into declamations, as unsound and as per-
nicious as the spirit of anarchy and discord, abusing and
falsifying tlie truth on which they rest, (but deriving a dan-
gerous colouring iVom that truth, though falsified) can, with
such materials, and such talents, make them.

A British subject, in Upper Canada, Mr. Gourlay says,
no longer treads firm beneath the protecting privilege of
habeas corpus !" What does he mean? Did he not apply
for and obtain a writ of habeas corpus P Was he not taken to
York, and, upon lawful inquiry and decision, remanded to pri-
son, to take his trial at the first subsequent court of competent
authority ? And, if so, what more does he want ? Would he
have the term gifted with some charm, by which a person
accused, in the eye of the law, may evade the regular course
of law, and erect himself into a licentious member, of scat-
tering, without controul, around him, the ebullitions of in-
temperance, abuse, and confusion i If so, an assembly of
delegates, exulting over the ruins of the constitution, might

h h 2

i 1 s
X f !

t t
^ I

^ I

11 ■?

tCCclxXxiv UENERAJL lNTROI)l'( TIOK.

suit him ; but we, at present, nre ineiciinlly preserved (mm
such.

The people, he says, dare not choose a conniiission to
carry home a petition to the foot of tlu; throne : that is, they
cannot choose it in his way and in h\s words. But other-
wise, why dare they not do so ? I know of no in»pediment !
On the contrary, the very Act which put down Convcnlionsy
(that most dreadful and dangerous implement of aniuchy —
an act which mus* be hailed by every lover of order, as a
new bulwark to our liberties and happintss) that very act
unequivocally asserts the undoubted right of tree pttilion.
There is no impediment to our acting, in this respect, as we
please, as long as our conduct is consistent with the public
safety and happiness ; and whoever, beyond this sacred boun-
dary, would advocate, or encourage, any pretence to such a
right, can be but an enemy to those soleuni interests which
he may suppose it is his wish to advance.

As one of those landowners, whom Mr. Gourlay ad-
dresses, I thus publicly declare, that I see no grounil for
any such commission or petition. 1 know that abuses and
evils exist every ^vhere, aud that it is lunacy, not wisdom,
vihich expects to escape them. I know that the existing evils
of a stale cannot be rectified at once, aud that it is anarchy,
not order, which calls for the knife, instead of the balm, to
remove them. I know that a beneficent spifit of improve-
ment exists, for I witness its operations ; and, I am per^
suaded that this system has been as little produced, or aided
by the light, which, in some respects, Mr, Gourlay 's pro-
ceedings have thrown on those evils, as it has been impeded
by the insulting, anarchical, and delusive nature of his pub-
lications. Under these convictions, with respect to the evils
which do exist, I am silent: their cor--. ( li.-n is in the hands
of the organized and lawful authorities of the state. If the
voice of the people speak not loud enough, througb their
present representatives, the period is fast approaching, when,

tiRMiUAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxXXV

l»y a new clioico, tliey may speak more openly. Meanwiiile,
casting my ryes ovtr the world, and viewing the states which
I have St « n, 1 hesitate not to dechire that I know of no
peoph', who, in evt ly temporal coticern, have such abundant
causes for giatilufie, and such lively sources of hope, as the
inhabitants of Upper Canada; and that to this, no effort,
no view, no voic, no change, no improvement whatever, is
necessary, beyond the estahlislied resorts of the existing
Cnnsliti.iion of the Province in subordination to the parent
state. The disinterested and cultivated iniml which preside*
over us, is a guarantee beyond all general experience and
hope ; and I can think of no other dispensation of Provi-
dence, in the common course of things, by which our hap-
piness, and all our wise and lawful desires could so well
have been consulted, as by the invaluable gift to us, of audi
a niind.

In one point of his inforniation, 1 can positively correct
Mr. Gourlay. He says, the offer of townships is quashed,
and no njore encouragement held out to enterprising men.
Though totally devoid of interest with Government, and un-
known to public life on this side of the world, when I was
in London, a lillle more than two years ago, I was credibly
informed, that I could have obtained a township, had it
been in my power to have brought out an adequate number
of settlers. 1 have every reason to believe that this power
still exists in the Secretary of Slate's office. Priest M*,Do-
uald, of Glengary, was my audiority. Mr. Gourlay adds,
only two bundled acres must be allowed to poor settlers.
If he means by this, that poor men, who have not means,
perhaps, to improve fifty acres, cannot obtain more than
two hundred, every candid mind must allow the Govern-
ment credit for its wisdom, instead of reviling its folly ; but,
if he mean that settlers cannot, in this Province, obtain
more than two hundred acres, he errs ; for a power exists
and is in operation in the local Government, for granting to
tlie amount of twelve hundred acres, according to the meant

\ 1;

■•B!(|V«eiMfl^.)pr^»H'»((A»-ir«r-fTf»"7'fl*W*t«^"

■ --■r B ft yjwy. 'yi | i!|i ^jj|u^iW|tJ <<yi< twi !l Mif i -

CCCcI:«tXVi GENERAL INTRODCCTIOlf.

of cultivation ; ami the gift to tl\at amount is only rcstraiiud,
either by the want of those means, or by other lawful and
reasonable disabilities.

But admit all this stir of discontent and reviling, shall we
forget that there are such things as candour, patriotism, and
loyalty? or shall we be blinded to believe that ihey exist in
the power of convening lawless assemblies, and of turning
liberty into licentiousness ?

Mr. Gourlay seems to wish on this subject, above all
things, to constitute a commission to carry a petition from
this province to the fool of the throne. Docs he forget that
majesty commonly nets through ministers ; and that he has
been reviling those ministers P imputing to them (whether
truly or unjustly) principles of selfishness and baseness,
which is by no means calculated to propitiate their good-
will? And could his wish be eft'ecied, what, couched in
such language as v e have seen him almost invariably using,
would be the result , — what but the indignant rejection
which an importunate and insulting intrusion w ould merit ?
And then, whither in consequence would he lead us ? to
brood with shame and contrition over our rash and dis-
contented efforts ? Or to plunge into the ocean of such
a patriotism, as his writings seem to advocate ; and on a
treacherous and destructive principle of political justice, to
set all early associations of gratitude and tenderness and ge-
nuine truth at defiance, and revive the principle which
created ruin in France, and sent the myriads of her madmen
over Europe.

But no : patriotism is a widely different principle. Its
law is founded upon gratitude and disinterested affection ;
not upon the proud and disorganizing principle of licentious
independence! Its fruit is liberty, not anarchy: its guide is
law, not passion : the Holy Scriptures are its ground-work
and its rule ; and it thence learns the beauteous and humble
and constant spirit of faithftd but of dauntless loyalty ; a
principle which remembers and watches over, and is hum-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CCCclxXXvii

•f<

LIcil under a souse of its own evils : a priiicipic which knows
and acknowledges the abundant evils of the happiest state on
earth, and is not blinded by the lunatic presumption of
escaping them through intemperate and insulting measures;
a principle which ardently desires improvement, and to
which happiness is as dear as to any ulhor, but which blend-
ing the meekness with the steadiness of wisdom, pursues them
in a lawful, peaceful, and persevering course, without dis-
content and without bitterness; a principle, which flowing
from the same source as its sister principle of Christian love,
sufl'ers long, and is kind, and can be extinguished only by
such an established and ruinous system of falsehood, guilt,
and tyranny, as seldom indeed exists; such as led to the
revolution under the second James, but such as bears no
more relation to oui' present condition than the railings of
a demagogue to the sweet and balmy voice of Hope, and
Truth, and Peace.

If in these lines Mr. Gourlay, or any other man, should
fmd aught to offend him, I again distinctly and solemnly
declare, that every such idea is abhorrent to my feelings. I
write as a fellow-subject, kindly; as a member of a free
state, openly •, as a lover of order, most [seriously ; as a
subscriber to the press, on those generalizing principles
which disclaim every thing personal; and profess to have
110 object in view but the public good. On these grounds,
I am ever ready to meet him, or any other man ; and from
these grounds 1 am aware of no power which could force
me, but that personal violence and insult which would
compel me, in self-preservation, and in a lawful manner, to
confute and resist the malica or falsehood which might madly

struggle to brand me.

C. STUART.

Near Amherstbtirgk,
Western Didridf V.C. iOtIt June, \Sl\).

CCCClxXXtiii UENIiRAL INTUODl'f'TION.

NIAGARA SPECTATOU, July B, I8I9.

TO THE EDITOR OF TUB NIAGARA 8PKCTATOK.

Niagara Jail, July 5, 18U).

Sir,

I have read in your last iicwspaper the letL>r signed C.
Stuart; and thinking that an cxposun; of its delusions and
t'lTois nniy tend to conrnni and foi tit'y the publit: mind, shall
iioNV heslow upon it part ol" my iiih; timi;.

This Mr. Stuart, I havi; been told, was in the East India
service, and has of hile been studying divinity, lie was in
the lower part of the province when the Lieutenant-Go-
vernor first arrived; and, I conceive, 1I that time he might
be making interest for a church living : jut in these matters
Mr. Stuart can correct nie, if mistaken o'" s^nsinformed.

Last snn-.mer he wiote a letter on (he subject of ad-
dressing the Prince Uegcnt, for the consideration of the
Convention. It vas very well written; and imp.essed me
Avith an opinion that he was a man of amiable ili^positions.
We could make no use of Mr. Stuart's assistance for im-
proving the published Addicss to the Prince Regent, as our
plans had, by that time, been changed, on account of my
prosecution, and the violent opposition set on f<.>ot by petted
members of Assembly: but I moved a vote of thanks to Mr.
Stuart, for the kindly good will he had shewn to the cause
of Inquiry.

Mr. Stuart says, " I do not address myself to Mr. Robert
Gourlay." This, as a declaration of the fact, was totally
unnecessary, for the letter is unequivocally and substantially
addressed to you: but this declaration served to introduce
another, viz. that Mr. S. was " not acquainted with me, per-
sonally," which was not essential to his " meaning nothing
personal." It occurs that he was induced to make the two
first declarations, lest Sir P. Maitland (the grand object of
his adoration) should suspect, from seeing in the printed

(5ENKUAL INTnODlTTIOV. C'CCclxXXix

transactions of llic Convention, tliiil I hud moved liini tlmnks,
lli;U we were personally inlinialr, a circumstance uliich
might tend to inj\uc his views of favonr. No doubt there
was ««o:nc reason ; and if Mr. Stuart can otherwise explain
why he threw in a declaration, cf itself altogether useles.s, he
may do so. It is a case, which juslilles a surmise as to
motives, which shoiild nevi r he (piestioned without good
cause. Mr. S. " desin.s not t(i p«;nelrate into ujy motives;"
but 1 challenge the whole world io give oven so much evidence
of my motives being mean, as the above, which leads me to
suspect tiiose of JSlr. Stuart. IVly motives have often been
so clearly stated, and as so chaste and great, that no honest
mincl can pret»;nd ignorance of them for an instant.

Mr. Stuart makes many liberal professions, but as con-
stantly reiitlcMs iliem of no avail, ile lluee or foi/r times
protests against personality, and as often slides intoreriections
and expressions as obviously directed against me, as if he
had made the charge direct. This is much worse than any
kind of personality. Sunmion me to trial by name, and let
facts be the grouml work. If any thing about my person,
or connected with my history and writings, can substantiate
these facts, let all be told out. Set me up at once, and eye
me all over. If I am accused of theft or mmder, look me hard
in the face to sec if my countenance belokens guilt. Or
search my pockets for stolen goods and the bloody knife;
but be not so rude as to take the slighiosl liberty till there
is some fact to proceed upon, or palpable ground of sus«
picioH.

In the midst of Mr. Stuart's palaver (he will excuse me
for throwing myself within a circumflex, as he so often does to
apologize for a vulgar worti) he admits that my conduct must
be tried between " God and his (my) own conscience ;" yet
he surrounds the question with such hideous pictures, that it
is clearly his intention that these should seem retlected from
my image, so that men may think that my *' conscience
6gregiously deceives me' —that with " an applauding idea

1 i

ccccxc

GENKRAL INTUOnirCTION.

I /

of rectitude," 1 uiii cliokc lull of " nialicu nml uiigovt rued
pussioii :" that I " sacrifice and spurn the moat dear and
uacrcd duties and airectioiis." Then again, " all human
interpretations of it must be at the risk of that censorious-
noss and arrogance, under which our nature is so willing to
screen its own wrathful tempers, and scatter bitterness and
discord."

Pray, what did Mr. S. undertake ? Was it not to oft'er
some observations in reply to my Address of '20lh May ?
Then what is all this preaching (it me for ? The matter of
my address warrants no such preamble ; and when we come
to Mr. Stuart's actual charges and criticism, we find them
altogether pithless and absurd. One would think that he
raises a mighty smoke to frighten me, before coming to the
real attack, conscious of his own weakness : but, Mr.
Editor, your readers arc pretty well assured that mere powder
will not put me to the rout: so let us advance to the
charge.

Mr. Stuart fnst disputes my assertion, that *^ we are this
moment slaves :" and he thinks my imprisonment no proof
of it \ because 1 am in prison by regular course of law. I
won't be driven in this way from my position. There is no
person whatever in this province who may not be imprisoned
as I have been, whenever two or three persons choose to
sacrifice truth and decency to malice and party spleen \, and
it is quite correct to call people slaves who are subject to
such treatment, whether in the course of law or not. The
inquisition in Spain has the authority of law, but the people
subject to it may well be called slaves : nay, the slavery of
the poor negros in the West Indies, and Southern States
of America is countenanced by law. The shameful con-
sideration attending my imprisonment is, that it is notoriously
false and illegal ; for the law never was hitended to be
applied as it now has been. In my case the law has been
most scandalously abused ; and this, in due time, I trust to
be able to shew, to the smart of those who have imprisoned

CiCNKIlAL INTKODICTION.

CCCCXCI

mc. So much boing said, look back to Mr. Stuart'H second
para^rapli. Tlitro, hu first cornniiicrales my ailuution, ami
then plrads for the law n*t tiuc without which " no well con-
Htitutrd society couUl txiHt." This law, like to which there
is nothing to he compared in any other country ! so being
satisfied that all is well, he coolly tomm'Us me ; " a.i in huch
circumstances he, would wish to be coiuniilled" ! !

]\ly opinion has all along been made up, that the atrocity
of the proceedings against me, would in the abstract justify
jmy degree of violent opposition; and so strong wa;j the
feeling among the country people, that I was called upon
by several, from various (piarlers, soon alter my confmcment,
who told mo that if I inclined, the prison should be pulled
down to let me out. J said in reply, that 1 should shake
hands with those who entertained such generous sentiments ;
but on no account would wish to see them acted upon. 1
resigned myself to a most cruel fate, in defence of my own
lionour, and with a hope that n»y case would be the best
proof of the necessity uf what had so constantly been urged
by me, viz. of inrjitirj/ into the state of the province ,• and all
the language I have used, has been to keep the people steady
to that object. I hare called them slates, not to aifront
them, but to urge them to the recovery of their freedom ; and
not merely for their own sakes, but that the province may
not continue to be scandalized with laws and measures which
must withhold from it respectable settlers.

Mr. Stuart is disgusted with my question, " fiow is it that
Americans are free and Canadians slaves t^" and asks if this
is a voice to be sounded in Canadian ears ? To be sure it is.
Canadian ears should ring with it constantly, till the dis-
gusting truth is removed by the people here being made as
free as Americans ; — not restrained as to holding meetings,
and not subject to arbitrary imprisonment. Mr. Stuart
seems to think Canadians not yet ripe for freedom. I think
their loyalty so firmly lixed, that they may safely enjoy the
utntost measure of liberty, i think nothing can shake their

ccccxcu

fJENERAL INTRODUCTION.

loyalty, if not grossly insulted and abused by the ministers
of covernniont.

Mr. Stuart auks if I would make the people here soldiers
of a Jackson — a nulllary despot: but he will see from the
same paper which contains his letter, that before it was pe-
rused by me, I liad declared myself as strongly as he had
against Jackson's conduct; and I have steadily done so ever
since that unhappy aft'air was heaid of, both here and in the
States.

The question as to being " introduced into a state of
society abiiorrent to those manners on which many of the
proprieties and decencies of so* lal life dej)end," must be
further explained by Mr. S. before an answer can be given,
for, at present, it is incomprehensible.

As to ranking Monroe and Clinton above " the pure and
elevated mind with which the gracious providence of God
has blessed us ;" I did nothing of the kind. 1 conipared the
speeches which we read in the newspapers of Monroe and
Clinton, with those of provincial governors ; and it is but too
notorious how infinitely superior the former are to the latter.
I drew the comparison, to rouse our Governors to think of
the difl'erence, and to make better speeches, both for llieir
own credit, and thai of the people they govern. I have
since compared the conduct of Sir Percgrme Maitland and
General Jackson in the same way, without having any view
to contrast, or expose the individuals, but to shew how a
departure from jirst principles, m hich should never be lost
sight of, leads to error and to evil.

If Mr. Stuart would make believe that Providence has
more to do in the appointment of our Governors than those
of die United States, he sports an idea which deserves the
most severe reprobation. If there is a scene upon earth on
which the eye of Providence beams with peculiar love and
approbation, it must be that where a free people are as-
sembled together for the purpose of raising to honour him
Tvhose individual merit has won their regard and confidence.

OENKUAL INTK01>UCTlOxV, CCCCXCllt

If, again, there is a scene wherein the devil makes himself
particularly busy, I should think it lay within the purlieus of
a court when every sclliish and filthy desire could be insti-
gated to the utmost, in making interest for the appointment
of a provincial governor.

Mr. Stuart would raise our ideas of Sir P. Maitland's in-
dividual excellencies, lie speaks of hin) as *' the pure and
elevated mind." Pray, upon what does he rest this extrava-
gant compliment to a mere man ? 1 myself entertained hope
of Sir P. Maitland being of a noble and generous disposition,
when I iirst heard of his being one of Wellington's generals ;
and when I understood he was son-in-law to the Duke of
Richmond, I most unhappily conceived that this duke was
the great man who once stood at the head of reform in
England. Under this impression, I recommended the Con-
vention to place confidence in Sir P. Maitland, which led
to all our misfortunes. About three weeks afterwards it was
reported, that the present i3uke of Richmond was not the
man we had taken him to be ; but it was nearly two months
before I was assured of this, and knew all the truth. I heard
that this duke had wever signalized himself as a lover of
freedom; — that he was very poor ; and i,hence needed a
provincial Government to improve his fortune; — that Sir
Peregrine Maitland had run away with the Duke's daughter
in Trance, and thus got himself elevated; that the Duke
of Wellington had interceded for him with his father-in-law,
so as to reconcile hint to the clandestine marriage, and thus
Sir Peregrine was made pure. Let Mr. Stuart contradict
these facts if he can, and then establish our confidence in
*' the pure and elevated mind" upon proofs, not upon ful-
some cofnplinients. When Sir Peregrine Maitland passed
through Kingston, 1 was abiding my trial at the assizes there,
and addressed a respectful note to him. 1 again wrote him
from New York, in the fullest confid'nce that after two
honourable acquittals from charges of sedition, that he would
then consider me pure, and, at least, worthy of a civil reply.

ccocxciv

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

I had not returned to Up|>er Canada three da^s when the
Gazelle announced the existence of sedition, and blasted the
purest hopes of good. At no moment could passion have
so operated upon me, yet I resisted passion, and followed
the resolute and calm course of my duty. Both at Kingston
and onward to York, while I was pressing the people to
protest against the existence of" sedition, I uniformly ad-
vised them to look to the Lieutenant-Governor only as an
ill-advised man, and still to treat him with respect. 1
spoke publicly to many thousands, and not one can say they
heard a disrespectful word How from niy mouth towards the
Lieutenant-Governor. At York 1 found he had wilfully
offended against constitutional right — agaujst *' enlightened
manners, and tlie beneficent influence of religion." I found
that he was worshipped as an idol, and from that moment
considered it my duty to lessen such mischievous adoration.

No one but Mr. Stuart has explicitly avowed the principle
on which adoration should be paid to Sir P. Maitland. lie
sets him up as a person especially placed over us by God.
He speaks of our Rulers as those " to whom God expressly
commands the tongue to use deference, respect, and
obedience.'* Now, 1 do most earnestly intreat attention to
this subject, for it is one upon which the clearest light
should be thrown : it is a subject which should be thoroughly
understood by every well wisher to good government.

God, no doubt, directs every event; but J deny that
Rulers have more his favour than the least creature in ex-
istence. As long as Rulers virtuously dischfirge their duties
to those whom they rule over, they deserve deference, respect,
and obedience ; but no longer. It was for many ages
insisted on by the king? of the earth, that they reigned over
the people by a divine right, and under this plea the world
was subjected to the grossest tyrannies. Soon after the
Bible became known to the people, by the art of printing,
they read in it that the first king was granted to the Lsraelitcs
on their own request, proceeding from their own filthy lusts,
which tempted them to prefer a king, as a ruler, instead of

in ex-

dutics
[ispect,
ages

\d over
world
r tlic

lilting,

lelites

lusts,

)ad of

GENERAL INTI{ODi;rTION. CCCCKCV

(fod himself, who had hitherto directed their aflairs, throu.'h
the medium o: judges; and who now granted Uieir
request, that therein tluy might be punished, ordering a
protest, however, to be lh.si made to Oicin, agai.ist their folly
and wickedness, in desiring a king. (1 Samuel, Chap, iii.)

The world groaned for thousands of years under the rei<Mi
of kings, who pretended, in direct contradietion of truth, that
they had the peculiar countenance of God, and were ap-
pointed for a blessing, not ft)r a curse, as the Scripture most
explicitly declares. The truUi at last being known, the
J^ritish nation first prevailed over this wicked assumption,
and they drove the Stuart family from the throne, because of
their continuing to act upon a light, which ihey, in their
l)rido and bigotry, would still insist was derived from God.
At the glorious Kcvolution many of the people of Britain
thought they coidd do without a king; but as many others
were prejudiced in favour of having one, they agreed to
elect a foreigner, viz. King William ; but they so bound him
down, as to possess no arbitrary power. They gave him
the right of declaring w ar, but they kept the purse in their
own hands, wiUiout which, the King could not procure a
sword, either to destroy his own subjects or others. Further,
that he might, at all events, be blameless, they declared that
he could do no wrong; and that his servants were to be
liable to puniphment for every error comnutted in his name.
By tlds contrivance it is, that we can render to the king the
most constant and perfect love : but as we respect him, it is
our duty to be watchful over his servants ; and by the custom
of England, the people do take greater liberties in censuring
the conduct of the king's ministers than they do, or would
be allowed to do, towards other men. A laxity of this
[)ractice in provinces has been one cause h w Governors
have become so very licentious and overbearing ; and it is
only fdthy idolatry which would check an exercise so con-
stitutional and necessary. As to myself, I declare before
God, that I have never wantonly made light of Sir Peregrine

,,...,,,.,,. f.,-! ,^fr; '^ itr-c'iT-1"^ T'.'.vv ■

CCCCXCVI fiENEUAL INTRODt.'CTION'.

Maitland. 1 have done so on the strict '^princlple of ditty ^
and for the sole purpose of lessening the abominable
idolatry which is observed towards him, ami which bereaves
men of all sense of propriety, shame, feeling, and honour.
I do it at an expense of comfort to myself; for politeness
and courtesy are, for their own sakes, truly dear to nie.

When Mr. Stuar' would blind us (see page ccxxxiii)
* * * * Jesus Christ was under the law, and the lawyers laid
snares to inveigle him w ithin its penalties ; but though he
would not deny the right of CfPsar, they could take no holtl
of his language towards the Governor of CjEsar's proviu:;e.
After there was "no fault found in him," Herod only " mock-
ed him, and set him at nought;" Herod! who afterwards was
struck dead on his throne .while the people extolled him as
a God! (Ads, chapter 12.)

When Paul proatlied at Ephesus, no doubt he made free
in putting to scorn the image of Diana, which the people
worshipped instead of the God of Truth. The people seem
to have been willing to hear him; but the craftsmen who
profited by upholding the imrigo, drowned his voice with in-
cessant clamour, and by hallooing oi.r " Cheat is Diana of the
Ephesiaus ! great is Diana of the Kphesiaus !"

Mr. Stuart does not know what I mean by saying that
'^ a British subject no longor treads tirni beneath the pro-
tecting privilege of habeas corpus:' C) ! Idolatry ! Idolatry !
to what wilful bhndness canst thou reduce nu\nkind !

He knows of no impediment to prevent the people from
choosing a commission to cany home a petition to the foot of
the throne. Let him give us the plan, and we shall be satis-
fied. Would it do to assume the beautiful, the orderly, and
peaceable mode which I shall ever boast of having organized,
merely changing the word Conveniion intt» Congress, and
Friends to Inquiri/ into Ilohj AlUaticc ? So soon as his
plan is shewn to be safe and efficient, 1 shall propose the re-
call of Sir Peregrine Maitlaud as the subject of our firat
petition. ]

CICNFUAL iNTflODUCTtOV. CCCPtt'Vli

Mr. Stuart rants against conventions tliis summer, though
last summer he nided the convention; and though he thon
gave a sketch for improvin-r the petition to the Prince Hc-
genl, he now says, « I thus publicly declare that I see no
ground for any such Conunission or Petition!" What ! Sir
Peregrine, have you really made him sure of a Church, or
granted him a well situated Reserve ?

The only other controverted point, concerns mv havin^ laiil
that Simcoe's "otfer of To\vnshi[»s was quashed ;" Mr. Stuart
says " on this point 1 can positively correct Mr. (iourlav."
Now there is here such uoblushmg ignorance and presmnption
as passes all comprehension. In many parts of the Province
there are people now alive who catne as settlers upon Sim-
coe's ofter of Townships, but who had to put up with 12("K)
acres in lieu thereof, upon the offer being quashed. These
people, to this day, complaiti of the breach of faith, and others
who came well prepared to take advantage of the offer, re-
turned to the States in disgust. Mr. Sluart says, " I could
have obtained a township, had it been in my power to have
brought out an adequate number of sculers. I have every
reason to believe this power still exists in the Secretary of
State's office." He means, no doubt, that the power of
granting townships exists in the Secretary of State's office ;
and I am quite willing to think so, on the authority of Prif st
M* Donald. What 1 want is to see the power taken out of
these offices at London and York ; to have it placed in pro-
per hands, and the land under proper regulations disposed of
for the national advantage, after the whole colonial policy
has been fully discussed by the Prince and Imperial Parlia-
ment.

Did any body ever know of a Township heing gr'iutcd on
fair business principles; or is any body so weak as to beli<'ve
that if the ministry w ould hold out liberal terms at home for
the settlement of Canada, that there are not capitalii^ts in Eng-
land who would come out here and engage for whole Town-
ships ? Pray, why Si.ould FJrirish f;wmeis be now p\ircUas-

i i

OCCCXCVIU GENERAL TNTROHUCTION.

ing large tracts in the States, and be proceedingevensofar inland
as the Illinoio territory, with large bodies of people and abund-
ant capital, if their own government would deal liberally with
theni ? Seventeen ntonthii ago, I otTered, if government would
give me the nianageinent of the public lauds of Upper Canada
for 30 years, that 1 would maintain, during that time, two regi-
ments for his Majesty, repair, and keep in repair, ul I the forts, and
for the last twenty years of the term, pay an annual rent to Bri-
tain of a hundred thousand pounds sterling. This oiler I pub-
lished, to attract notice to the value of Canada, and, bating an
adequate sum for the mischief done by Sir Peregrine Mait-
land, I should really still engage with it. This was called
" my GREAT OFFER," and was reported all over the States
and Britain. I shall now gratify Mr. Stuart with an exhi-
bition of a little offer, which I actually made as an emigrating
British farmer soon after my arrival iu the Province (see
letter to Sir John Sherbroke and reply, page5c^7, vol. yd.)

Observe here the miserable decrepid system of proceeding
laid down in this letter of Col. Myers. What farmer of
capital would engage with separate lots of 100 acres, or be
dependent for an increase of bounds to the caprice uf in-
specting officers *' from time to time ?" After this, I peti-
tioned at York, to know what quantity of land I should nave,
in the event of my actually coining to settle iu Canada. The
answer was, that ** a location would be made, in proportion
to the opinion then formed, of my means to become a useful
settler." All this is childish in the extreme, or worsi; than
childish ; it shows a determination to avoid all liberal and re-
gular commercial proceeding.

The fact is simply this, the Executive neither wisiies to
encourage farmers to come from home with capital, nor to
see enterprising men in thia Province, They wish to see it
settled with poor ignorant people, who may quietly submit to
be domineered over by the arbitrary will of governors, priests,
and legislative councillors. Nor will the resident landown-
ers of Upper Canada ever break up the illiberal, narrow-

fSENERAL INTKODrC'TION. OCCCXCIX

niinded and base system, which liaN bo long held down the
value of their property, till they get the whole subject of
Canadian policy fairly and openly brought before the Impe-
rial parliament. How often, good God, how often should 1
have to repeat this truth, and press this measure, so consti-
tutional, so safe, and etfective ? Is it not the truest loyalty to
put coniidence in the Piiuce and Parliament, at home ?

Mr. Stuart asks, if 1 forget that Majesty commonly acts
throuj^h its ministers ; and seems to think it odd, that I should
revile those ministers who will thence indignantly rtject us.
To be sure the ministers will : but my proposal, all along,
has beeji to get beyond the ministers ; to get into the royal
presence, and on the lloor of the 15ritiah parliamcjit to prove
that the blame and reviling was just and necessary. The nums-
ters are great landholders in England, who have a direct selfish
interest against that of the landholders of Canada ; but the
Prince has no such interest against this country. He would
glory, and have increased glory, in seeing it flourish. In the
British parliament too there are some noble independent
spirits, men who would have sense to see that the prosperity
of Canada is not incompatible with that of the parent state;
that the selfishness of English landlords ought not to stand
in the way of national good ; and by their manly and liberal
discussions, they would interest tlie great mass of the people
in their favour. Reviling of nnnisters is a constitutional right
of Englishmen. It is a practice which all parties at home
allow to be essentially necessary to keep down the tyrannical
disposition which all men in power are prone to, and to keep
alive the watchfulness of the people. The late Mr. Pitt
was, I believe, in private life, a most amiable man, and no-
body would have spoken harshly of him in that capacity ; but
as a minister he was reviled, grossly reviled, by as amiable
men as ever stepped. This kind of reviling does not proceed
in wratli from the heart, but from the understanding, as a
constitutional duty.

Mr. S. proceeds to lecture on patriotism, and says many

ii2

1 t ■

i ' - '-■;

f I

CKNKltAl. INTnODlICTION.

tluiigs vliicli would sound weW from a pulpit; but li« for-
gf'lM that neither the words patriotism nor hijnlty arc to b«
fomiil in the sacred Scriptures, (at least so far as I can re-
nieniber) and that at present he has thrust himself forward
into political controversy.

His doctrine is passive obedience; and towards God, I
isliull be as meek as himself. In politics I hold myself as
having to do with men ; and lo guard against their tyrannical
dispositions, consider it to be my sacred duty, continually to
■watch and resist, if re(|uired. The Scriptures inculcate cha-
rity, and tell us that it " thinketh no evil;" but the Scrip-
hues also tell us, to " be wise as serpents, and innocent as
doves." This expression clearly indicates that mere inno-
cence is not enough, at least, here on earth. We must not
be uncharitable or suspicious ; but neither must we forget
that we are here surrounded with evil. To angels in hea-
ven, at least now that the devil is driven out of it, 1 think
no caution would be necessary to be as wise as serpents,
Mr. Stuart works up his definition of patriotism, to suit his
doctrine of passive obedience, and gives it for a ground- work,
the Holy Scriptures, wherein it has neither root nor branch.
The Holy Scriptures inculcate universal benevolence, which
is at variance with patriotism. Patriotism was a feeling as
strong before the Christian era as since ; perhaps stronger :
for I know not if any event in modern times, has given
proof of it cqiuil to the conduct of the Sj>artans, who died
for their country, at Thermopylie; but the drift of Mr.
Stuart, is to cement patriotism with loyalty, through the n)e-
dium of the Scriptines, and he thus deludes himself more
an<i more : 1 say, himself, for I cannot think his wretched
sophistry will impose upon any rel .acting nuud. Patriotism
has always been strongest in republics. The Romans gav«
strong proofs of patriotism before they became subject to
the emperors. After that, their patriotism dwindled down
j)ito loyalty and passive obedience, ' '' '

fa: \ Lin A I. ixthoduction.

True Urilisli loyalty is far above passive obediencf. his
foiiiuk'vl upon roasou, and is not " humbled under a sense of
its otai evils," as Mr. Stuart wouUI have the principle of
loyalty to bo. To (joil it xs lunnble ; but not to man. Bri-
tish loyalty entertains unfeigned love to the King ; but it
does not regard the King only. It regards the whole body
and soul of the constitution; and it acts most firmly when
it best understands the spirit of the constitution. The se-
cond James was so bigoted that he could not comprehend
this spirit. He would dictate, in defiance of Parliament,
from an idea that he had a divine right to the throne, and
that his subjects oweil him passive obedience; but his sub-
jects taught hitn a lesson uhicli kings should never forget.
They taught him that they could drive him from the throne,
and place in it another, who should be passively obedient to
rcaisou a>id the laws. ■

Mr. C Stuart resembles, so strongly, the second Juines,
that I cannot help thinking him a lineal descendant.

It is truly worthy of remark, as characteristic of human
weakness, how this man, while he is preaching up what he
thinks (^diristian doctrine, is evidently frying with passions to
which the spirit of Christianity is most expressly opposed.
1 ask the readers of the Spectator to study his letter over
and over again. They will more and more perceive, that
,while he is bowing to, and flattering Sir P. Mailland, his
soul is bursting with wrath and nncharitableness towards uie
and my opinions. I say, bursting, because the passion
seems to be beyond his controul. He makes shew of the
cup of charity. He says, that he grieves for my situation,
and commiserates my sufterings ; he pretends not to pene-
trate into my motives : he protests against personality ; while
unkindness, cold-hearted indiflerence, and accusations most
pointed, accusations distorted with misrepresentation, and
blackened with the tints of a distempered imagination, burst
forth at every pore. 1 hope he will yet be conscious of the
«vil spirit which moves within him; and, in the mean time, bid
3

flii

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

him take back, in his coiichidiiig words, '^ the malice and
falsehood which madly struggles to brand me.'*

HOBERT GOURLAY.

N. B. On looking over my papers, I have found copies
of two notes, addressed to Sir Poiegrinc Maitland, and the
Duke of Richmond, on their iirst arrival in the Province,
whicli may not be altogether nnwurihy of notice, to shew
how very little suspicious 1 was, at that time, of being re-
garded as a seditious person.

To Sin P. Maiti.and, StC. Si,c. Sfc,

Kingston, Aug. lOth, 1818.
Sir,

Laying, as I do at present, under a charge of libelling
the Government of this country, it would be unbecoming in
me, at present, to present myself before your Excellency ;
and, at any rate, it is little my disposition to be obtruding.

As, however, circumstances have brought my name into
notoriety, in connexion with the political concerns of the
province, I beg leave to say, that should your Excellency
have any desire to have an interview with me at a future
period, I shall be happy to have that honour, and shall be
most willing to reply to any question which, after more than
a year's research in the province, you may suppose me ca-
pable of answering to satisfaction.

Most anxiously desiring the welfare of Upper Canada,
and that a liberal policy may yet bind it more and more
close to the parent state, I shall sincerely rejoice if these
great objects can be effected, under the auspices of your
.Excellency. And, with all due respect, I am, Sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient Servant,

ROBERT GOURLAY.

0<KNERAL INTRUDUCTION.

diii

To His Grace the Dukf, of Richmond, ^-c. ^-c. Sfc.

Cvrnwall, September id^ 1818.

Mr. Gourlay passing through Cornwall, has heard that his
Excellency, the Govern(>r in Chief, is to be here to-day :
Mr. C embraces the opportujiity of offerinj^ his sincere
congratulations, on the arrival in Upper Canada, of a per-
sonage who has before hin» the ftnest field iu the world, of
improving human happiness, and extending in reality the
bounds of the British empire.

Mr. G. takes the liberty of presenting the Duke of Rich-
mond with four pamphlets, connected with the present poli-
tical state of the province, which his Grace may, on his
journey, perhaps, have time to peruse.

NoTK. — Four days after the above was published, I was shut
up a close prisoner, and not allowed to oommunicate with the
press. My friends, even magistrates, aiui counsel, were for some
tiine denied access to me, and, till the 20th August, when called
up for trial, T was not allowed to step across the threshold of my
cell. I was tried, and honourably acquitted, at Kingston, on the
Iftth August, five days after the date of the above letter to Sir
Peregrine Maitland. I was tried, and honourably acquitted, at
Brockville, on the 30th August ; and two days afterwards wrote
the above to the Duke of Riclimond, oa my way to New York,
where I was to determine, by letters waiting me there from Eng-
land, whether I could remain longer in America. My letters en-
couraged me to remain, and I addressed the following.

TO SIR I'F.HEOIUNE MATTLANO, K. C. B., &C. &C.

iNVw York, September 18, 1SI8.

Sir,

You would receive from me, on your way throufrh Kingston, a
note, intimating, that, laying, as I then did, under a criminal charge,
I could not with propriety preM'nt myself before your Excellency.
From that charge I was acquitted, as well as from another of the
same kind, at the Johnstown Assises.

My detention in Canada, in consequence of these prosecutions, had
deranged all my plans, and I had to hurry off to this place to receir*

* :il

r-A

■1 >

i]\

<nv

CCINERIL I^TTIlODCjrTfON.

It'Ucr* wbich hail \nnji lain for nw. ; to hare the luttst iiitolli;^nicff
from my frii'iids n1 hr»m«' ; aii<l to quiet thoir anxiPtios, hy oauiiniini •
ruting' the issue of the nnpli'nsntit occuirruccs, whi«;h hutl l)i«ik»ii
ihi' fliuiii of oorits|K)mlon«'<', nixl iltlaynl my return to Knjyiiiml.

Ilavin(r set nt rest these privatt! ooiicerns, 1 reHirn t'tirllmith to
(aiiaila, to su|i|iort tlie |itihlic iiieasiiros whiih I have there advisctl ;
and I liojte tliat yoiir Kxeellenev will, in ninny ihiiiys, see jfottd
reason to countenance a full and fair intjniry on tltc siihjeet: should
this be the ease, nothin<f would {jive me greater pleasure than let retiew
the .Slatistieal inrjuiries whii'h I heyfan nearly a year iijfo ; and with
liberal patronai^'e from your Kxoellency, rucIi a work mijfht, 1 trust,
be made irenerally useful. In comph'ttnjr it I should rctpiire no in-
ionnation »hich ou;;ht to he con<ealt(l ; and all that has come, or may
come, to me from the people of the province, shoiiM he open to your
jierusal. \o one ever started a i»roject with better intentions, or had to
change his plan with ijfreater chaoriu.

As to the political controversy which has taken place, I have no wish
here to influence your Kxcellency in my favour. It is difficult l(»
contend with nhomiuations without being* defiled. Hecent publica-
tions in the newspapers must have met your eye; and IIm-v are the
most loathsome. That your K\cellency may have opporiunity to
trace matters from the beginninif, I .shall take the liberty of order-
ing a collection of extracts from the Niajjara Spectator, to be for-
warded to your Kxcellency.

Should the jTp.neral impressions made upon your mind, g'enerate
suspicions that I am unworthy of confidence, the mere acknowledg-
ment of the receipt of this letter, by one addressed to me, at Queens-
ton, will he sufficient. If otherwise, and you should incline to have
a conference on the subject, I shall willinjjly proceed to York, an(f
wait upon your Kxcellency. I am, with duo respect,

Your lixcelUncy's obedient Servant.

lt()!iEUTG0liRL.4V.

I arrived at Kingston, from the United Sfate-t, on the I7lh Oc-
tober, and on the 20lh, the Upp^r Caiiad.i CTiizctte of the 1 ijth
reached that place, confainiiig the Liieutenant-(invornor'.s speech
at the opening of Parliament, on the 12th of October, with the
replies, from which extracts have been given above, page ccccvii.

Here then is the summing up; after two honourable acquittals,
and after addre.-^sing my.self to the (iuveruor and Lieutenant-Go-
vernor, in tlie fullest confidence of at leas^t being civilly treated,
my conduct called forth " indignation" in the opening speech :
I wa.s dc^ignated " a factious individual" by the Assembly ; and
finally, without tlie slightest proofs of guilt, imprisoned and kiu-
nishtd I : ! . . . . • .

iijtolli>friiri»
y° coiuiiniiii
had l)i-ok(!ii
iit^'liniii.
iirtliMitli to
re advisciJ ;
I, stfc ^-ochI
«;t; shoiilJ
lan to rt'iifw
; and with
It, I trust,
II ire no iti-
iie, or ina^
(Oil to your
<, or had to

ve no wish
difllfult to
t piiblk'd-
<'V mo tlie
nunity to
oi" order-
to be for-

INDEX.

jreiieiatfr
iiowledg-

Queenis-
le to have
'ork, and

It.

[7lh Or-
the 15 th
3 spoeoh
vith the
ccccvii.
quittals,
am-Go-
tre.ited,
speech :
y ; and
nui bu-

•''S W^t!LW I giM ' p iii >ir ii > i» i iii 8i l l M * i »i iii »» > .« « i . » <<M

'J f« -^^' «

(i f. i

1 N D E X.

Abolition of slavery, provinclnl statute for gmduully effect-
ing this, i. 'i40.

Acts of the British Parliament, relative to the naturalization
of foreign settlers in the American (Colonies, ii. 429, 434.

Adam, Mr. his opinioa on Mr. Gourlay's case, Gen. Int. cccxix.
Kemarka on it, cccxx.

Address, draught of a proposed* to the Prince Regent, sub-
mitted to the people of Upper Canada by Mr, Gourlay, i,
571. Of the inhabitants of York to Governor Gore, on his
departure for England, ii. 440. Of the Legislative Council
and Assembly to the Prince Regent, 442.

Advantages which the Scotch labourer possesses over the English,
and causes of this, Gen, Int. civ. cv.

Adolphus Town, i. 131, Township report of, 485.

Affidavits as to Mr. Gourlay being a British subject, Gen, InU
x\\. xlii.

Agriculture and commerce inseparably connected, i.224.

Agricultural distress, the present, more severely fell in England
than in Scotland, Gen. Int, civ. Reason of this, ibid.

Aldborough, township roport of, i. 349.

AUegiancPj distinction between natural, and local, ii. 628. This
point ought to be settled by an express law, 538,

Ameliasburgh, township of, i. 131.

Auiericu, circumstauces favourable to the increase of population
in, Gen. Ini. xcix. note. .

American prisoners massacred by the Indians, i. 49.

Americans who adhered to the royai cause in the revulution-

I ^

i rt

A INDEX.

ary war, emigrate to Canada, i. 10. Lands granted lo them
by the British government, 11. Distinguiuhed as U. E.
loyalists, and lands bestowed on their children, on attaining
the age of 21 years, 13. ^

Americans from the United States, impohcy of preventing their
emigration to Canada, ii, 416. Further remarks on this sub-
ject, 421—482.

Amherstburgh, the safest and most commodious harbour in that
part of the province, i. 46. The rallying point for the
British forces in the early part of the war, 47. Abandoned
by General Proctor, ibid. Restored to the English govern-
ment at the peace, and re-established as a military post, ibid.

Amherst island, township of, i. 130. Township report of, 482.

Ancaster, township report of, i. 388.

Animals of the forest, i. 157,

Anstruther, Mr. ii. 26, 'i8.

Antelope, i. 164.

Appendix to Sketches of Upper Canada, i. 257.

— — — — to the second volume, No. I. British statutes regarding
Canada, iii. No. II. Resolutions, Addresses, &c. of ths
Assembly and Legislative Council, and the Minutes of a
By-stander during the last session of Parliament, (1818)»
with the Civil List and Church of Upper Canada, 1. No. IIL
Extracts from the Niagara Spectator, on various subjects, ci.

Apples, the principal fruit of Upper Canada, i. 153.

Apprenticeship, the British statute on this subject not in force in
Upper Canada, i. 236, 2,17, and mte^.

Ardent spirits, free use of, formerly, in the province, i. 261. Lew
frequent now, 2. 52.

Argenteuil, seigniory of, i. 602.

Army bills, as a medium of circulation, adopted during the w*r,
i. 228. ,

Assembly of Upper Canada, vote for inquiry into the state of the
province, Gen. Int. vii. Prorogued in consequence of a
dispute with the Legislative Council, ibid. Again sumvnoncd
to meet, xi. Carry an approval of the Lieut-Govemor'a de-
claration of his intention to withhold tho royal grant of land
from thosi personi who had b«on merabers of th« convention.

by a 8ingl« vote, xii. Declare Mr. Gourlay'j adtJies* libel-
lous, and solicit the Licut.-Governor to order prosecutions,
ibid. Character of its members, Ixiv. Ixvi. Re~olvo that
Genfcral de Rottenburgh'>J procUmatioii of martial law was
unconstitutional, i. 16. Constituted by tho act of 31 Geo.
III. 190. Number of its membera, lfi'2. Their qualifica-
tions, 196. Its duration, 200. Speaker elected by th«
members, and approved by the Governor, '201. Its n'o-hts
and powers, in general, analogous to those of the British
House of Commons, ibid. Debate and resolutions on th»
claim of the Legislative Council to alter money bills, ii.
670.
Assessment, form of. ii. 355. • . - ^

Altorney-G«uerai, the, ii 71. . ^

Baker, Mr. ii. 4K '

Bauk, one established at Kingston, and two at Montreal, i 427,

note.
Bankrupt law, none in the province, i. <i39,
Barclay, Commodore, defeated and taken prisoner by Commodora

Perry, i. .53. His gratitude for the kindness with which ho

was treated, 54.
Barnard, Mr. ii. 104.
Barristers in Upper Canada alio'.*.' to have four appti-ntiaH op

clerks each, i. 235.
Barton, township report of, i. 394.
Bass, a lake fish, threo j?pecies of it, i. 179.
Bastard, township report of, i. 518.
Battle near the Moravian towns, i. 42,

in the Long Woods, i. 44.

at Maguaga, i, 46.

of Chippawa, i, 62,

..__-.., of Lundy's lane, i, 73.

of Chrysler's field, i. 125.

Btyham, townihip rsport of, i. 33«.

i n

<^. !'•«.«■ 4*- f*«"r-''~«i«

J 3:

IN DFX.

Bear, the Canadian, larger than the European, i. 161,

Beasts, ordinary time of turning thenj out to pasture, and of
taking them home, i. 278, 282, 287, 292, SOS, 310, 359,
366, 408, 410, 413, 418, 445, 468, 474, 499, 505, 519,
561,621,

Beaver, the, caught in great numbers in the wildernes3, i, 165.

Bees, both wild and domestic, found in Upper Canada, i. 188.

Bennani, Bet, a poor woman of Wily, Wiltshire, statement of her
case, exemplifying the tyranny of tlie poor laws, (-icn. Int.'
cxvi.

Bennet, Mr. Gen, hit. cclxii.

Bertie, township report of, i. 409.

Bererly, township report of, i. 371,

Bill fish, the tyrant of the lakes, i. 181.

Bills, on certain subjects, passed in the Provincial Parliament, re-
quired to be reserved, and laid before the British Parliamenl,
previously to r«t:eiviug the royal assent, i. 202,

Bills of the Bank of England seldom seen in the province, i.
228. Those of the United States not in common circula-
tion, ibid.

Birch, Mr. Gen. Int. cclvii. cclxvii.

Birds, a general list of the Canadian, i. 171. Most of them resort
to warmer climates in the autumn, and return in tlie spring,
175.

Birkbeck, Mr, defended against the abuse and misrepresentations*
of various persons, Gen. Int. ccxiii, note, ccdxii.

Biison, a very large animal of the cow kind, i. 157.

Black lead found on the shores of tlie Gananoqui lake, and in other
places, i. 160.

Black Rock, an Amwiean military station, taken and burnt by
General Riall, i. 60. Ferry at, sublime prospect from, 61.

Blake, Mr. Ge?i. Jnf. cccxcvi. « -

Blenheim, and first concession of Burford, township report of, i,
310. ' •

Board of examiners appointed by a provincial statute, for licens-
ing medical practitioner*, i. 235. Act repealed from a wsrtit
of competent examiners, 236. A new licensing board since
established, ibid. .

INDEX.

an<L of
10, 359,
05, 519,

165.
, 188.

pnl! ofhov
Gen. Int.

iment, re-
•arliamenl,

irovince, 5.
in circula-

lem resort
tlie spring;,

tsentationa

[d in oilier

burnt by
fom, 61.

)ort of, i.

If»r licens-
|>m a vfft^i
)Axd since

Boersler, Col. surrenders to an inferior British ant! Indian force,

under a false impression of their numbers, i. 84.
Boiindaries of Upper Canada, i. 17.
Bourne, Mr. Gen.Int,cc\v. cclxv.

Boyd, Gen. defeated by the British under ('oloriel Morrison, i. 125.
Brant, Capt. the Indian Chief, wantonly attacked in Dr. Strachan'*
Visit to Upper Canada, Gen, Int. cciv, note. Injustice done
to him by Mr. Campbell in his poem of Gertrude of Wyom-
ing, ccv. note.
Bricks smaller in Canada than in England, i. ^71.
Bricks, price of, i. 277, 281, 286, 292, 333, 467, .50-1, 512, 5(50.
Bridgewater Mills burnt by the American troops, i. 65. A burn-
ing spring on the site of one of them, ibid.
British Alien Act, Gen. Int. Ixx. Difference between it and th«

Canadian Sedition Act, Ixxii.
British impost duties, collected at Quebec, i. 218. Appropriated

to his Majesty's use, ibid.
British naval force on Lake Erio captured by the American squa-
dron under Commodore Perry, i. 53.
Brock, Major-Gen. Sir Isaac, president of Upper Canada, i. 15.
Pursues Gen. Hull to Detroit, and forces hinn to surrender
that place and the whole of the Michigan territory, 45. Killed
at the battle of Queenston, 78. Statutes pnssed during his
administration, ii. 251 — 254.
Brockvilie, i. 126. Account of, 500.
Brougham, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxiv. cclxvi.

Brown, Gen. takes Fort Erie, i. 56. Makes a sortie at the h«ad
of 2000 men, and destroys the British batteries and entrench-
ments, 58. Dismantles the fortifications after the retreat pf
Gen. Drummond, ib.. Wounded at the battle of Lundy'a
- Lane, 74. Commands the American troops at Socket's Har-
" bour, 105. Defeats the attempt of the British oa Ogd^ns-
burgh, 112.
Browne, Mr. D. Gen, Int. cclviii.
Brownstown, a detachment of American militia defeated ther« by

a party of Indians in thf British service, >. 48.
Buckingham, township of, i. 606.

,1 ^-ra i

fct«.«»««.-ij'*nw*'.n i»"*Lr»n --;

.■•■flfBWUfr**'

."«rfvyi*»i»s4Mi^*-«rt|M!ii|^^id*u#«Ai|-*Sf^-

INDKX.

': o

tak«^ti and burnt

Buffalo, villago of, state Ci{ New y<

Riall, i. 60. 8po«diIy rebuilt, ibid.

•— >— -^ -, an animal moru common than the bison, ii. 1A8. '

Building, style of, less elegant m Upper Canada than in the United
States, i. 261-

BusJding stones, quality and cost of, i. 276, 281, 280, 303, 312,
315, 320, 322, 326, 333, 341, 358, 366, 368, 370, 372.
382, 389, 394, 398, 407, 410, 418, 422, 427, 442, 449,
473,483,486,498,504,512,518,560. .,

Burdett, Sir F. refuses to present the petition of the inhabitant!) of
Wily on the subject of the Poor-laws, Gen. Int. cxlvii.

Burford,- township report of, i. 311. i •• . . •'

Burlington Bay and the surrounding country, a very romantic
aituation, i. 88.

Heights fortified during the war, i. 88.

Burke, Mr. his speeches during the debate on the Constituting Act
of Upper Canada, ii. 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31, 32, 39, 56,
67, 73, 88, 100. Remarks on his character, 293» noU. Ob-
servations on his speeches on the Quebec Bill, 306 — 309.

Butter and Cheese, price of, i. 279, 282, 287, 293, 328, 334,
348, 398, 468, 506, 512, 519, 562,

Caistor, township report of, i. 462. , ^ ■■'■

Calcraft, Mr. G«7i. J«<. cclv. cclviii. cclxx,
Camden, township of, i. 130. Township report of, 291,
Canada discovered by Jacques Cartier in 1534, i. 2. Colooizedl
by Champlain in 1608, 3. Surrendered to England in 1629,
and restored in 1632, ibid. Conquered by the English, 8.
Limits and form of government prescribed by a royal pro-
clamation, ibid. Limits extended, 9. Divided into Upper
and Lower, 14.

" ■ " •-) Upper,, settled by American loyalists, and a few British

.and German ioldiers, i. 10, 11, 12. Divided into four dis-
tricts, 116. Thair naroe;< altered, ibid. Agaio divided into
eight, and .Hubntquantly ioto ten district*, ibi4. »nd 121, Hot<.

INDEX.

if^lrfitch of the

progresa and preaont state of tlie nettloments,
124. Popalation, 139. Climate, Ac. 140. Water, 146.
Soil, stones, mineralH, Sec. 147. Production3, natural and
cultivated, 150. One contiiiuod forest previously to 1784,
ibid. Fruit-trees, 15.1. Medicinal rootH, ibid. Grasseit, 154.
Various kinds of grain, ibid. Vegolables and rootH, 156.
Noxious weeds, ibid. Animals of the forest, 1 57. Domes-
tic an. mals, 169, Birds, 171. Fishob, 175. Amphibious
animals, reptiles, and insects, 183. Constitution, 1S9. Pro-
vincial Parliunient, 190. Executive (jovernment, 204. Ju-
diciary, ^05. Money, 215. Uevonuo and taxes, 217. Com-
merce, 224. Militia, 229. Ileligiou and ecclesiastic institu-
tions, 231. Profession and practice of law, 2.14. Physic
and surgery, 236. Trades «-\nd apprenticeships, 230. Im-
prisonment for debt, &c. 238. Gradual abolition of slavery,
^40. Price of land, and encouragement to settlers, 241.
State of learning, 244. Character, manners, and customs of
the infiabitants, 247. Township reports of, 269. Ita in-
finite advantages over every other British colony, as to emi-
gration, 548. ■ A V .* .. t ii^w . » : - . T,
Canada, Lower, account of, i. 584. How dividerl, ibid. Selguio-

riea, ibid. Townships, 604.
Canadia.nfl, when enlightened, will he free, ii. 301,
Canadian School Act, i. 245. li. 277—283. Its excellence, 376,
385.

i>(ions, Ixvii. Remarks on its wickedness and deceit, IxxiV.
Ixxv. Ixxx. Care with which it protectB its axeculors, Ixxix.
Ease with which it might be eluded, Ixxxu. iu 452, 463.

— porcupine, ii. 166.

hare, i. 168. ;: ■ v t. ,..; . ■..

hogs, of good si/e and quality, i. 171. ' ■'•'-'

. robin, i. 173. ' « ■ f - *

cuckoo, i. 174. "^ • "'

dog-fish, » 180. .: ^ r '■ > »» :». . <S ^ ^ '

Canal, intended., betwec:n Kingston and MontPrtil, i. 267. Tha

idea abandoned, 631. » .'» >m i ».^ « »** vs- «r
Canborough, township report of, i. 45*. <* ;♦" - t:< * -"i"

-. "nt iiaiiinn

«ll .i l i i >lir WW' | l i (i < « l»» l l ''»i#< l*lrt l >' .W ' l | ' '< »" >N'> W ''?

9 ♦

INDWX.

Cape of Good Hope, emigration to, unfortunate results of it, i.
643. Two letters on this subject, 544, 546. Contrast in th«
uentimonts of the writers, and thoae of the settlers in Upper
Canada, 646.

Cape Vincent, or GraveHy Point, stores and buildingfi at, burnt
during the war, i. 100.

Carlton Inland evacuated by the British, in consequence of iho
treaty of 1794, i. 24.

Carp, two species of, in Lake Superior, i. 180. •

C/'arriages, very few in Upper (/anada, i. 250.

Cartier, Jacquet^, discovers Canada, i. 2. Explores a part of the
River St. Lawrence, 3.

Cit-fish, i. 179.

Catamount, or tiger cat, i. 162.

Catholic religion legalized in Canada, i. 9.

Cham[)lain forms the first French settlement at Quebec, i. 3.

Chancery, court of, not yet established in Upper Canada, i. 200,

Charlottenburg, i. 125. Township report of, 659.

Charlotteville, township report of, i. 323. ,

Chatham, (L. C.) township of, i. G04.

j(U. C.) township report of, i. 291.

Chauncey, Commodore, makes a successful attack, in conjunction
with Gen. Dearborn, on Fort George, i. 81. And on York,
89. Takes York a secoild time, and burns the barracks and
public sto.ehouses, 93. Chases the Koyal George into King-
ston Harbour, 08.

Cheapness and simplicity the desideratum for perfect goternment.
Gen. Int. Ixv. .,

Chereverreeing, a singular custom in Upper Canada, i. 264. A
similar custom in some parts of England, 266, noL,

Chrysler's Field, battle of, i. 125. .. ,

Church of Upper and Lower Canada, ii, xcvii.

Churches or meeting-houses, and professional prer ".hers, number
of, i. 275,281,285, 294, 303, 314, 328, 332, 338, 366, 371,
382, 385, 389, 397, 409, 412,417, 422, 467, 471, 482, 486,
488, 490, 494, 498, 603, 610, 569.

Circulating specie of Upper Canada mostly gold, i« 228, »*

Civil list of Upper Canada (1818), ii. Ixxxix. , ,..

INDKX.

Clans, Hon. Williiim, legislative ronncillor, Gen, Int. xxvi. Ixtiii.

and ii. 487.
Clay orvario\»«i kiiida found in the province, i, !19.
Clark, Hon. Thomas, legialative councillor, ii. 468, 470, 504,
508, 574. FIh addrena to the public against Mr. Gourlay, 588.
Clearing and fencing wood land, cost of, i. 577, 'iSt, 287, 29?,
310, 319, 326, SCJfi, 350, 386. 413, 418, 42.1, 447,453,
467, 474, 486, 499, 504, 518, 561.
Clergy of Upper Cunadii, of the Church of England, one-seventh
of all lands reserved for thpir support, i. 332. Six in Upper
Canada, ibid. Their salaries, 233.
Clergy Reserves, i. 231. Leased by government, 232. Impo-
licy of them, 555 — 558, &c.
Climate, Sec. of Upper Canada, i. 140. Favourable to health and

longevity, 144, and note.
Cobbett, Mr. visited by Mr. Gourlay at New York, Gen. ItU.
ccxii. Occasion of this visit, ccxiv. Remarks on his charac-
ter and writings, ccxviii, ccxxix — ccxxxii. Censure of his
attack on Mr. Birkbeck, ccxxxiv— ccxxxviii. His proposal
for " blowing up," the paper-money system ridiculed, ccxxxix.
F'urther remarks on his writings, ccxi. His " Parliament,"
ccxlviii.
(^'ochrane, Lord, declines presenting the petition from the parish

of Wily, Gen. Int. cxlvii.
Coins, current in the province, their value, i. 215.
Cold, 1«S3 severe in Upper Canada than in corresponding districts

of the United States, i. 143.
College, none in the province, i. 244. Any effort to found one at

present would be abortive, ii. 388.
Commerce of the Province, i. 224.

Conjmissions of Assize and Nisi Prius annually issued, i. 206.
Common Schools, an act passed for the establishment and en-
couragement of, i. 258. Its provisions, ibid.
Commons, the ancient, in England, cf great importance in pro-
moting the independence of the poor, Gen. Int. clxxi.
Concessions and lots, how formed, i. 122.
Conditions of settlement, i. 241.
Constituting Act, a legislative charter, i. 189.

INDEX.

Con8titulio)i of Upper ('anada derived from acts of th* Brhiih
Parliament, i. 189. Dobated and settled in the House of
Commons, ii. 1 — 109.
Contracts for personal service limited to a period of nine years,

i. 240.

Convention of Upper Canada, its numbars, ii. 570. Its pro-
ceedings, 579.
Corn, this word in Upper Canada always means Indian corn or

maize, >. '■■195, note.
Corn Bill, observations on, Cen. hiL cxlvii. cl. cU. , -

Cornwall, a flourishuig town» i. 124.
Cotter rigs, a kind of tenure in Scotland formerly, explained, Gen.

Int. civ.
Counties, Upper Canada divided into nineteen, and subsequently

into twenty-three, i. 116. Their importanct* almost annihi-
;"? lated by the formation of districts, 1'21. , .. , * ,.,
Court ol Appeals, its powers, i. '206,.

of Probate, i. 208.

Couits of Requests, i. 207. Their jurisdiction extended, 267.

Courtenay, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxii.

Cow, price of a good one, i. 277, 282,287, 292, 468, 499, 50i,

561.

. system cannot be generally introduced. Gen. Int. clxi.

Cradling, meaning of the word, i. 273.

Cramahe, township of, i. 132.

Croghan, Major, successfully defends Fort Sandusky against the

British army under General Proctor, i, 50.
Cropping, ordinary course of, on new lands, aud afterwards, i.

279, 282, 287, 303, 309, 310, 312, 316, 319, 321, .123, 326.

328, 330, 334, 339, 341, 343, 345, 348, 350, 359, 366, 370,

372, 386, 390, 395, 398, 408, 410, 414, 419, 423, 427, 442,

449, 453, 474, 483, 485, 487, 488, 491, 506, 562. .
Crosby, Soxith, township report of, i. 518.
Crowland, township report of, i. 446.
Currency of Halifax and the two Canadas, the same, i. 216.
of the state of New York in general use through th»

southern and western parts of the province, i. $17,
Curt»>i3, Mr. Gen. ht, crrlxiv. cclxx.

INDEX

Dace, the, larger in the lakes thnn \n the brooks, i, 180.

Dairies, large, not frequent in the province, i. 170.

Dairy produce, quantity and quality of, \, 278, 308, 310, 314,
321, 323, 334, 330, 343, 345, 348, 349, 36fi, 3d8, 308, 410,
413, 419, 423, 427,474, 478, 483, 505, 562.

Damages suatained by the Canadians during the war, ii. 406.
Shameful neglect of compensation for these, ibid. Address
to the Legislative Council and A.ssembly on th»'s\)bj«ct, 407,
The Lieut.-Governor's answer, 408. Remarks, 409.

Dancing, a favourite umuHemcnt, i. 250.

Date of the first settlement of each township, i. 275, 281, 285, 291,
332, 347, 349, 375, 385, 412, 417, 455, 4fi7, 471, 49tJ, 494,
499, 603, 509, 512. 513, 516, 520, 659, 580.

Dearborn, General, assisted by Commodore Chauocey, taketi Fort
George, i. 81. And York, 89. His kind treatment of th«
inhabitants acknowledged by Chief Justice Scott, 92.

Debtor's land liable to execution, if his personal estate be insuffi-
cient, i. 239.

Declaration of several farmers of Brigg, in Lincolnshire, on the
advantage of allowing land to the poor for the keep of a cow,
Gen. Int. cxii.

Deer, the forests of Upper Canada abound with them, i. 163.

Delaware, township report of, i. 302.

Deputies chosen by the people of Upper Canada, meet in Conven-
tion at York, Gen, Int. viii. Advised by Mr, Gourlay to
refer their cause to the Iiieutenant-Governor and Assembly,
ibid. Order an address to be sent home to the Prinze Regent,
xi. The royal grant of land withheld from them by the
Lieutenant-Governor, ibid.

De Rotteuburg, Major-General Francis, president of Upper Ca-
nada, i. 15. Issues a proclamation, declaring the province
under martial law, ibid,

Detroit, evacuated by the English after the treaty of 1794, ». 24.

I I

INDEX.

^r [ i

Surrendered to (it>aerul Broik, 45. Uciakeii by tite Anittii*
Tiins, ibid.
Dickson, Hon. W. legislativ*) councillor, (Itn. Inf. xwi. Iwiii.
Ixxii. ccxv. note. The first prompter io Mr. (Jourluy's pro-
uecution, 577. H'm charactur, ii. 297, 4U2. Auecduteti oi
him, 317, 467, 468, 470, 4«4, 487, 4y4, 573, 674, cv.
' note, '

*' Directions (u few pUin) to Sottlcra in Up)ior Cuuada," account
of, Gen, Int. cccviii, i^ ,

Dispute between the Legislative Council and llouao of AHsembly,
„ on altering money bills, ii. ;)67. Resolutions proposed by
Mr. Dickson on the subject, ibid.

DiHsenteri of all denominations tolerated and protected by law,
i. 233. Those called Calviuists exercisie the power of mar-
riage, ibid. The most numerous are tha Methodists, ibid.

JJistresses in Ireland, debate on, Cc.n. Int. cccxci.

Districts, how many L'pper Canada is divided into, i. 116, and
131, noie. Have almost annihilated the importance of coun-
ties, 141.

District, the Eastern, i. 116. ...

■■ " ' of JobnbtowQ, I. 117. Meeting of representatives, u.
636.

, the Midland, i. 118. , ,- .- ,, .

• - ■- of Newcastle, i. 118.

, the Home, i. 11 9.

' — of Niagara, i. 119* How first settled, 135. Meeting

of representatives, ii. 609. • , . .

of London, i. 120. How first settled, 135.

.jthe Western, i. 120. Meeting of representatives, ii.

62L

of Gore, i. 121, note. Formed from the Niagara and

Home Districts, 267. Meeting of representatives, ii. 623.

of Ottawa, i. 121. note. Composed of the northern part

of the Eastern District, 257.
' courts, i. 207.
——— judges, their poweid, i. 207. . .
« taxes, i, 222.

Ixviii.
I^A pro-
lolea of
74, cv.

account

isembly,
oaed by

by law,
of mar-
, ibid.

lie, and
of coun-

bitives, ii>

Meeting

iLives, 11,

lura anil
j. 623.
Iieru part

INDEX.

1.^

District schools, i. 445. If well managed, might produce much

good, ii. S87. Plan for their improvftmiit, ibid.
Dorchesti-r, lownahip rrport of, i. 3(W,

Dover, village of, burnt by n party of American militia, without
* • orders from their government, i. 62.
— ^-, East and West, township report of, i. <191.
Drumniond, Ijeuloniint-tienerHl Sir O. prt.sidenl of Upper (Ca-
nada, i. 15. llevokos (leneral Do Rottenburg's proclamn-
tion of martial Inw, ibid. Appointed HtlminiKtrator of the
two provinces, Ifi. Besieges I'Virt Kric, .'ifl. Attempts, ini-
auccesifuUy, to curry it by artsanll. iind. Heliiuniishes tho
siege, 58. Wounded at the battle of Limdy'H Lane, 7-4.
Burns the barracka at Fort Oawcgo, 102. Statutes pasHod
during his administration, ii. 269 — 2f)fi.
Dudley, (volonel, defeated and killed in an atlempl to relieve Ge-
neral Hurri^on, i. 60.
Dumfries, town«hip report of, i. .'J83.

Duncombe, Mr. ii, 106. r

DuDdas, Mr. ii. 104, 100.
Dunwich, township report of, i. 346.

Durand, Mr. ii. 631. Ordered by the Mouse of Assembly robe
committed to York gaol, for a libel, 644. Extract from his
publication, 647. Expelled from the House, 66T. Re-
elected by his constituents, ^58. Hia subsequent history,
661, 662.
Duties, British import, collected at Quebec, i. 218.

--, coUtKJted by Lower Canada oa goods consumed in Upper
Canada, i. 318.

collected in Upper Canada on goods imported fronj thu

United States, i. 219.
Dwelling-house?, plan for, and cost of erecting suitable ones for
poor families, den. Ini. clx.

£«

Eardley, township of, i. 608,
Eastern District, i. 116.

iiii t ji»i »< »a »Mn w>

INDEX

Education formerly neglected in Upper (-'aaada, and wby, i, 245,
IndjcatioiiK ot a favourabl« change, 246. Pltu for an
improvement in the present system, ii. 317.
_>_——. of the poor, Geii. Int. cxxi. Petition to the Lord? on
this subject, from the parish of Wily, cxxii. Observ«tion»
on Mr. Brougham's bill, cxxxiv. &c. »Siriking effccti of •du-
ration on the character of the Scotch, clxvi. i
Eel pout, a singularly shaped fish, i. 179. > ., • ,,,,
Elections, mode of proceeding at, i. 199,

contested, how decided, i. 199.

Electors of members of the House of Ausembly, their qualifica-
tions, and disqualifications, i. 192.
Elizabeth Town, i. 126. Township Report of, 507.
Elk, the largest animal of the deer kind, i. 158.
Emigrant's Guide to the British Settlemeats in Upper Canada,

account of, ccciv. . r

Emigrants from Great Britain, the neglect which they experience
from the land-granting department at York, ii, 418. Instanc*
of this in the treatment of Mr. Gourlay's brother, 419. j •
Encouragement to settlers, i. 241. By Government, 628-
Episcopal church supported by Government, i. 231. One-seventh

of all lands granted, reserved for its maintenance, ibid.
Equipages, no splendid ones in Upper Canada, i, 250.
Ermine, or white weasel, i. 168.

Ernest Town, harbour of, i. 96. Township of, 129. Academy
there, 246. Deetroyetl during the war, and not since
revived, ibid. note. Township report of, i. 482.
Executive Council, appointed by the crown, to adviae the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, i. 203.
Executive government of Upper Canada, i. 204.
Exhorters, or teachers, although laymen, not admitted to a »ot&t m

the HousR of A»s<;mbly, i. 197.
Exports from the province, i, 225.

Extracts from Forster's Crown Law, on tiie subject of allegiance.
Gen. Int. xxxix.

. — from Wakefield's Statistical Account of Ireland, Gen. Int.

Ixxxix. note.

I I

»y, I. 245.
lU for «u

I Lordf? ou
>ierv»tion»

cti of •dtt-

r qualifi

ca-

)er Canada,

f experienc«
J. Instance
14\9.

ne-sevcnth
ibid*

\cademy
not since

je the Lieu-

to a wet '"

allegiance,
id, Gen. Int-

INDEX.

Extracts from the " Agricultural State of the Kingdom," Gen,
Int. xci. note,

' — from the Upper Canada Gazette, detailing the close of
the session, 1821, including acts of the Provincial Parlia-

*>"* ment, regulating the coramercial intercourse between the
• ' province and the United States, making provision for the
improvement of internal navigation, and constituting several
new townships ; regulations of the Assembly as to the dutios
on imports ; addresses to the Lieutenant-gov>.'ruor, &c.ii,68l
—704.

Falls of Niagara, description of, i. 64 — 73.

Farmers in Upper Canada kaep too many horses in proportion to

their oxen, i. 170.
Farmers of England, dreadful situation of, at the present period.

Gen. Inf. ccclii.
Farm-house, melancholy picture of one, on th« road from York

to Kingston, i. 462.
Fees of office, on granting lots to settlers, i, 241. Gen. Int,

cclxxxviii.
First Report of the Select Committee of the House of Assembly,

on the internal resources of the province, ii. 666 — 680.
Fisher, or black Fox, i. 165.
Fishes, tlie Canadian, i, 175.
Fishing, a common amusement, i. 251,
Fita-Gibbon, Lieut, commanding a small party of regulars and

Indians, captures a superior force of Americans, by deceiv-
ing them as to his numbers, i. 84.
Flamborough, East, township report of, i. 369.
— — — — — , West, townsiiip report of, i. 371.
. 'ax, the soil of the province adapted to the cultivation of it, i.

155.
Folkstone, Lord, refuses to present a petition from the inhabitanta

of Wily, Gen. Int. cxlvii.
Forest trees and shrubs of Upper Canada, i. 160.
Forgery of bills on banks in the United States, not punishable in

Canada l>elore 1810, i. 228.

■i

III i>iMi|--|illlilft ■

1^ INDEX.

Fort Frontennc built by tlie French colonists to wjcure thcitiseWes
againfet tho Iroquois Indians, i. 4.

Meigs besieged by Oenenil Proctor, i. 49. Tho aiege raised,

60.

NiHf^ara, evncuated by the British, conformably to the treaty

of 1704, i. 24. Takeu by storm, and teluiued by the
Engliuh till tbe coucluaion of tbo war, 83.

Saudusky besieged by Qotiaral Proctor, without succesH,

i. 60,
Erie, abandoned by tho Briti«li, and occiipiod by the Ame-
ricans, i. ftf). UeocL-npiod by the Britinh, 5(5. Snrrendora
to General Brown, ibid. Bc8iefi;od by Uoncrul Drununond,
ibid. Disniuntled by General Brown, alter tho rtlreat ol" tho
British, bH. ., .
— — - Eric, village of, nearly destroynd during the war, i. 59.

Schlossor surprised by u party of the Canadian militia, i. ()2.

George, attacked and taken by the American military and

naval forces, i. 81. Invested by the British troops under
General do Ilotlenburgh, 82. Abandoned by the Aiueri-
caus, ibid.
Fox, three spoeies found in the province, i. 164.
Fox, Mr. his ttpoocbeH in the doba o on the bill for granting a
Constitution to Upper Canada, ii. 5, 6, 22, 28, 32, S3, 4S,
63, 66, 70, 73, 77, 79, 96, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 106,
107, 108.
Francis, Mr. ii. 76.
Fredericksburg, township of, i. 130.
Free schools, none in the province, i. 244.

Freedom of trade, absolutely necessary to the prosperity of Eng-
land, Gen. Int. clxxix, Benelits which would result from
it, ibid.
Freestone, a quarry oi; on the bank of tbe Thames, i. 148.
French colonists of Canada, in 1022 consist of only fifty per-
■ons, i. 3. Impvudoutly engage in the wars of the Indians,
4. Build Forts Frontenae, Ni<vgara, &c. ibid. Obliged to
retire down the river by the Irotjuois, ibid. Character of
the' Canadian settlers, contrasted witii tiaut ot the Americaiin,
by Volncy, 6.

nseWea

raised,

ii treaty
by the

success,

ic Amc-
rn^ndora
iinmond,
it ul' the

.59.

lia, i. 62.
ilary and
ps uuder
I Aineri-

ranting a
, 33, 48,
06, 106,

i)t" Erig-
sult trom

fifty per-
ludians,.
)bliged to
laracter of

INDEX.

French town, dolcat orOoneral Winchester thero, i. 49.

Frog, tlu> (Jfinadian, i. 187.

Fruit trees of various kinds, i. 15J. '

•H

«;

fJannnoqiii river and town, i. 110. Its barraclks and public stores
hurni early ill the war, 111. The river might easily bo
tendered useful ha a water communication, 550.

General snnimary of population, &c. t. (i\%

Godwin, Mr. remarks on his work on Population, Gen. Int. xcii,
note.

Gore, Hon. Francis, liieut.-Governor of Upper Canada, i. 15.
Statutes passed during his government, ii. 234—250, 267 —
286. Prorogtiea the parliament Ruddenly, 287. His speech
on that occasion, 288. Addrons to him from the inhabitants
of York, on his departure for England, 440.

Goulburn, Mr. lettern from him to Mr. Oourlny, on the subject
of emigration, Gan. Int. cclxxvii. ccxcii, ccxcviii.

Gourlay, Mr. his Circular to Members of the Imperial Parliament,
Gen. [nt. i. Statement of his case, v. Goes to Upper Canada,
ibid. Conceives a scheme for a grand system of cmigratioa
(o that country, vi. Recommends a subscTiption for sending
home commissioners to intreat inquiry into the state of th«
province, vii. Is twice arrested on charges of sedition, ibid.
Advises the Convention to refer its cause to the Lientenant-
Oovernor and general Assembly, viir. Is twice hononrably
acquitted, ibid. Is arrested, and ordered to quit the pro-
vince, ix. Is again arrested, and committed to jtril for eight
months, ibid. Institutes an action for false impTisoftmant, x.
Is cruelly treated in prison, xiii. When bToaght ap for
trial, is wholly incapable of defending himself, from weak-
ness occasioned by his close confinement, xv. Found guilty
of having refused to leave the province, ibid. Pledge* him-
self to show that Upper Canada, instead of costing England
a large sum of money, could yield annually a handsome '*•-
veime, xvii. Order for liis commitment to jail, xxv''- *»••

B 2

30 INDEX.

petition to the House of Commons, xxix. To Chief Justice
Powell, for a writ of habeas corpus, xl. Affidavits of his
being a British subject, xli. His petition to the king, xliv.
Reflections on the cruelty and illegality of his treatment,
Ixviii. Ixxv — Ixxviii. and ii. 393. His design in the pre-
sent work, Ixxxiii. Recounts some circumstances of his
own history, ibid. Makes a journey into the counties
of Rutland and Lincoln, to ascertain the advantages of
granting a portion of land to the poor, Ixxxiv. Con-
vinced of the necessity of changing the system of poor-laws,
Ixxxvi. Resolves to devote his life to ihis end, Ixxxvii. A
steady disciple of Mr. Mallhus, with certain modifications of
his system, cii. note. Becomes overseer of tho parish of
Wily, in Wiltshire, and employs himself in correcting errors
respecting the wages of the poor, cvii, cix. Account of his
reception by a party of farmers, at Brigg, in Lincolnshire,
cxi. His pamphlet, entitled, Tyranny of Poor Laws ex-
emplified, cxvi. His address to the labouring poor of Wily
parish, cxxii. Petition to the Houses of Lords and Com-
mons, on tho poor laws, education of children, &c, cxxix.
Second petition on t)ie same subject, including proposals for
supplying thp poor with land, and thus obviating the ne-
cessity for poor rates, cxxxviii. Explanation of its object,
cxlvii. Ease with which tliis might be accomplished, and
benefiits which would arise from it, clir. Remarks on Mr.
Malthus's Essay on Population, dxiii. Mr. Gourlay's con-
stancy in the course which he has adopted, clxxii. Con-
nexion of his plan for abolishing poor-laws, with emigration
to Canada, clxxxii. His first address to the resident land-
owners of Upper Canada, clxxxvi. His address to tlw
people of Upper Canada, stating the reasons for delay in the
publication of the work, cxcvii. Makes a pedestrian ex-
cursion through the Highlands of Scotland, cxcix. Returns
to London, but prevented, by unfortunate occurrences, from
proceeding with the publication, ccvi. Sinks into a state of
despondency and gloom, to arouse himself from which he
offers to accompany Sir R. Wilson to Naples, in the cau«e of
independence, ccvii. Prevented by the submission of tho
I^*»Dolitans, ibid. Makes an excursion to the west of Eng-

INBF.X.

land, ccviii. Resolves \o commence a second volume, ccx.
Apology for narrating his proceedings, ccxi. Refutation of
the infamous slanders propagated againathim by the Coorier,
ccxii. Account of his examination by the Hon. W. Dickson
ccxv. note. Defence of his political conduct and opinions,
ccxxii. Circulates proposals for a meeting of deputies from
the farmers in every nr.rt of the United Kingdom, ccxxr.
Benefits which would have arisen from the adoption of this
proposition, ibid. Extract from hi.s letter in the Niagara
Spectator, ccxxxiii. His remarks on the debate on Mr.
Scarlett's Poor Relief Bill, cclxxiii— cclxxx. His letters to
Sir Robert Wilson, cclxxxi. note. His petition to the House
of Commons relative to the poor laws, cclxxxii. His cor-
respondence with Earl Bathurst, on the subject of emigration
to Upper Canada, cclxxxvii. Object and nature of his
" Statistical Account of Upper Canada," cccxv. His ap-
peals, cccxvii. His remarks on Mr. Adam's opinion on his
case, cccxx. His disappointment as to a commission of Ca-
nadians to solicit inquiry into the state of the province,
cccxxiii. Observations on the resolutions of a meeting of
the inhabitants of the county of Halton, cccxxx. On colo-
nial government, cccxxxiii— cccxlii. On the policy of grant-
ing independence to Canada, cccxlii — cccl. His journey to
Wiltshire, ccclxii. Address to the people of Wiltshire,
ccclxiii. Letter to the Editor of the Salisbury Jour-
nal, ccclxix. Reason for reprinting these documents,
ccclxxiii. Address to the palrliamentary representatives of
the people of Upper Canada, ccclxxvii. Second address,
cccxcix. His queries to the inhabitants of Upper Canada, i.
270. P]xplanatory notes, 271. Remarks on the state of the
Home District, 458. His letter to the editors of British
newspapers respecting the settlement at Perth, 522. His
remarks on the encouragement held out by government to
emigrants in 1816, 539. Arts of his enemies to prejudice
the people against him, 653. Draught of a proposed address
to the Prince Regent, 671. His review of the contents of
this work, ii. 292. Observations on the character of Mr.
Burke, 293, note; and on the absurdity of giving to
Canada the British coB8tiiution,294, 299. Remarks on th«

ii I

TNDEX.

debasement of the people of Upper Canada, 303. Various
niodee in which their represeutatives aro corrupted by tho
governor, 305. Observations on the statutes of Upper
Canada, 336. His treatment in Niagara gaol, 393. Letter
on the situation of the felons con6ned there, 397. Letters to
Sir Henry and Lady Torrens, 459 — 466, note. Address to
the resident land-owners of Upper Canada, 471. Reflections
on the cruelty and injustice of liis treatment, 491. Addi-
tion to his address to the resident land-owners, 554. His
letter to Governor Sherbrooke, 567. Causes which delayed
his departure froir Canada, 665. His third address to the
resident land-owners, 581. Extract of his letter relative to
the proceedings of the Canadian convention, 598. His pro-
posal to publish a newspaper in Upper Canada, 613. Letter
to the editor of the Niagara Spectator, cii. Second letter to
the same, cxxvi.

Graham, Sir J, Gen, Int. cclxvii.

Granti the Hon. A. president of Upper Canada, i. 15. St^itutes
passed during hia administration, ii. 231 — 233> , ,

, Mr. C, Gen. Int. cccxciv. -. ,. , . ,;,,

— — , Mr. W. ii. 72. ^i^v - .. ,^ -,.i,.,i, ^ .. ,

Grantham, township report of, i. 421. -> ,' - r; - .••

Grasses of Upper Canada, i. 154. . > , • , . '. k.

Great Britain, reflections on its present situation, Gen. IiU. cxivii.
Variety of schemes proposed for its deliverance, cxlviii. Me-
thods by which thi^ object may be effected, cxlviii. No
benefit to be expected from a revoluion, cxlix.

Qrece, Mr. acgount pf his work on Upper Canada, Gen. Int. cccii.

Qrenville, township of, i. 605* .,. , ,<,

Gwy, Mr. ii. 29, 30, 32, 46.

Qrimsby, township report of, i. 429, Second Report, 430.

Qfinding, rate of, i. 271.

Quvney, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxviii. cclxxii. cdxxiii.

Qutbne*a Geographical Grammar, extraordinary mis-statement in
that work, as to the ¥?olve^ of Uppet Canadi^ uoti<;^d and
refutttd, i. 160. -

Qypsmjj vbt^MftQU ia, Ifirge <i^aftWlleft in the township of Dumfries,

m^^

KWPMPPMIMi

INDI5X.

r-i »<'aji-

'-ift'-iS Jin.

Haldimuiid, township of, Newcastle district, i. 132. Township
report of, 4()7.

, Oore district, township report of, 1, 384.

Hallo well, township oi; i. 131. Townahip report of, 487.
Hamilton, township of, i. 132.

, Mr. ii. 580, 689, 597.

Harbord, Mr, Gen, Int. cclxv.

Harrison, General, takes possession of Sandwich, i. 46. Lands
at Araherstburgh without opposition, 47. Besieged by Gen.
Proctor in Fort Moigs, 49. .
Harwich, and the adjoining townships, report of, i. 291. Sup-
plement to the report, 294. Additional information by Mr.
Dencke, 296.
Hemp, the cultivation of, encouraged by the legislature, i. 155.
Heron, the, boars a great afiinity to the crane, i. 174.
Hobhouse, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxiv.

Holidays and festivals observed in tlie province, i. 255,
Hollaad, liord, offers to present Mr. Gourlay's petition to the

House of Lords, Gen. Int. Iv.
Home District, i. 119. Not a single report received from thence,

458. Causes of this, ibid.
Hope, township of, i. 132.

Horner, Mr. his letter to Mr. Gourlay, Gen. Inl. cxxxiii.
Horise, three kinds in Upper Canada, 1G9. Price of, 277, 282,

287, 292, 4G8, 499, 506, 519, 561. ,.,. . J

Howard, township report of, i. 291. : , j ,

Howison, Dr. account of Iiis " Sketched of Upper Canada,"

Gen. Int. cocviii. Misrepresentations and unfair character

of that publication, cccxU ,,',.,

Hudson's Bay Company, when incorporated, i. 34. Extent of

the country granted to them, ibid.
Hull, General, invades Upper Canada, i. 45. Issues a proclama-
tion, and is joined by many inhabitants of the province, ibid.
Returns to Detroit, followed by General Brock, 4G.

'^"•"l^lW.J-VWi^,;.^,^

INDEX.

Hull, township of, i. 607. ^

Humberslon, township report of, i. 407.

Hunter, General, appointed Lieut.-Governor of Upper Canada, i.
Id. Statutes passed during his government, ii. 215 — 230.
Hussey, Mr. ii. 5, 66, 77,
HutcbinsoD, Hon. Mr. Gen, Int. cccxct.

I. J.

Juckson, Mr. his pamphlet on the political state of Upper Ca-
nada, declared libellous by the ILmse of Assembly, ii. 317.
Extracts from it, 318 — 327. Address of the Assembly to
Governor Gore on the subject, 329. Remarks, 330 — 335.

Jenkinson, Mr. Gen. Jn<. cclviii.

Imports to the province, i. 224.

Imprisonment for debt, not allowed for a less sum than forty
shilling?, and where thefd is an apparent intention to avoid
payment, i. 238. Oath of the creditor previously required,
ibid.

Improvement, opinions as to what retards or would ^iromote it, i.
280, 283, 289, 293, 304, 309, 311, 313, 317, 319, 321,
323, 327, 329, 332, 334, 340, 341, 343, 346, 348, 350,
361, 361, 367, 369, 370, 373, 378, 382, 383, 387, 391,
396, 409, 411, 416, 420, 424, 428, 430, 448, 461, 464,
476, 478, 485, 489, 492, 500, 602, 606, 563, 623. Re-
marks on these;, ii. 402.

Inclosure bill, a general one, brooght before parliament by Lord
Carrington, without success, Gen. Int. Ixxxv.

Incumbents presrated to livings by the Lieutenant-gcJVernor, sub-
ject to the Bishop's right of institution, i. 232.

Indians in theM-^ravian villages, account of, i. 296

can no logger be looked to by Canada, as allies in war,

ii, 390, The object of government ought to bt; their im-
provement in morals and education, ibid. How this might
be accomplished, 391.

In4uiry into the present state of Upper Canada, imperatively
called for, ii. 499

INDKX.

Industry the general ch»racteri8tic of the people, i. ibO.
Inhabitant, singular definition of the meaning of this word by

Chief Justice Powell, Gen. Int. xvi. note.
Insolvent debtor entitled to be discharged or maintained in prison

by the creditor, i. 238. Other provisions in hit favour, 239.
Instances of national civility between Upper Canada and tlie

United States, i. 266.
Interest, the lawful rate of, in Upper Canada, i. 227.
Introduction to Sketches and Township Reports, Gen, Int.

clxxxv.
Johnstown District, i. 117. Meeting of roprosentntives, ii. 626.
— — — — , calculated for a mercantile depot, but has experienced

a comparative decline, i. 126. ,,.

Jones, Mr., his character, ii. 663.
Iron ore found in some parts of the province, i. 150, Letter on

this subject, 324, note.
Iroquois, or Five Nations, formidable enemies of the first French

colonists of Canada, i. 4. Oblige them to retire down the

river, ibid.
Isle Perrot, seigniory of, i. 692. . "

Isle Jesus, seigniory of, i. 598. • ' ;.

Judiciary government of Upper Canada, i. 205. No Court of
' Chancery yet established, 206. Superior court styled the

King's Bench, ibid. ' . /^ ■ .'

Justices of the peace, their powers, i. 207.

■

King, the, a constituent branch of the legislature of the province,
i. 204. Solely vested with the supreme executive power,
ibid.

King's Bench, court of, the superioi court of the province, i.
206. Has powers similar to those of the King's Bench,
Common Pleas, and in matters of revenue, the Exchequer
of England, ibid. A.n appeal lies from its decisions to the
Governor and Executive Council, ibid.

Kingston, great road from, to York, i. 97. Town and harbour,

isHawAMMMIiaitlMd

INDBX.

nn a

ibid. Fortifications, barracks, ice. 08. Its advantages
harbour, compared with those of other placea on both sides
of Inko Ontario, 09. Doscription of the tOTvo, 1%7. Bank
o-i. ofltablished at, 237, note. Provision made for regulating its
'»' '; police, 6ic. 1(i7. Townahip report of, 470. Second re-
port, 477. ,
Kitley, township report of, i. 517. .■<'*■"'■ .»«;ijHh. i

liabourerB, in all cases, have their board and lodging allowed, iii
addition to their wages, i, 271. • •

Lac des deux Montagnes, seigniory of, i. 600. ' •'

Lake Superior, its magnitude, i. 39. Contains many large islands,
ibid. Tts waters freeze in some places to the distance of se-
venty miles from its shores, 87.

— — Huron, its size, i. 41. Thw, and T^ake Michigan, frozen
more than Lake Erie, during winter, 87. •

Michigan, i. 41. t 'v"

Sinclair, i. 42.

Erie, i. 48. Very little frozen during the winter. 87.

Situation of its islands, ibid.

Ontario, i. 85. Depth of its waters, ibid. Lcum covering

its surface, near the shores, in June, ibid. Its water un-
pleasantly warm during the summer, 86. Never closed
with ice, except in certain parts, 87, Situation of its
islands, ibid. Its navigation more important than that of
any of the other lakes, 107. Balance of naval force on it,
in favour of the British, 108. • «* . ,>f .^-.vr <f

Salmon, resemble the salmon of the sea, i. 176,

Chub, superior to the dace, i. 180.

Herring, different from the, European, i. 182. ^

Lakes, a general decrease in their waters, i. 1 14. Something
like irregular tides perceptible in them, ibid. Fish found in
them, 176. Various modes of taking the fish, 182. ,

Lamprey, too insipid for food, i. 181.

Land let on chares, extent of, and terma on which let, i. 279,

INDUX. tl

283, 'i88, WS, 304, 309, 310, 312, 315, 319, :W1, 323.

327, 328, 330, 334, 339, 341, 343, 300, 306, 372, 382,

^,,386, 390, 395, 399, 408, 411, 414, 419, 423, 427,429,

,,,. 443, 447, 408, 475, 484, 485, 488, 491, [M), 506, 619,

fi02, 622. , . , ,,.i,

Land, wild, price of at the first settlement, and at present, i.
279, 283, 288, 293, 304, 310, :^16, 327, 334, 373, 377,
387, 390, 395, 399, 408, 440, 443, 408, 475, 478, 484,
486, 487, 494, 500, 50f5, 512, 514, 662.

partly cleared, with buildings erected, price of, i. 279, 283,

293, 309, 310, 310, 31«J, 327, 3;JU, 334, 339, 360,367,
370, 373, 390, 396, 400, 414, 419, 423, 427, 425, 4 i5,
447, 463, 468, 475, 484, 489, 491, 513, 662, 622.

, quantity for sale, i. 279, 288, 293, 304, 309, 311, 313,

316, 319, 321, 323, 327, 328, 334, 339, 341, 343, 34.^
348, 350, 360, 3()7, 370, 373, 387, 390, 400,408,411,
414, 419, 424, 427, 429, 440, 443, 447, 450, 453, 476,
478, 484, 491, 506, 503. . , ; . , ,... , • :

board, i. 208. ■. ^. .- •

crab, i. 184. .; •

La petite Nation, seigniory of, i. 603.

Landsdown, township report of, i. 502, 513.

Law society of Upper Canada established, i. 234. Its rules a»

to the admission of practitioners, 235.
Lawley, Mr. Gen. int. cclviii.
Learning, state of, in the province, i. 244.
Leeds, township report of, i. 516.

Legislative Council of Upper Canada concur in the Lieutenant-
Governor's intention of withholding the royal grant of land
from those persons who had been members of the Conven-
tion, Gen. Int. xii. Constituted by the Act of 31 George
JIL, i. 190. Qualifications of its members, ibid. Ap-
pointed by the King, ibid. Tenure of their appointment,
191. The Speaker appointable and removeable by the Go-
vernor, ibid. Not vested wuh judicial authority, ibid. Its
present character, ii. 296, 299. Its resolulion.j on the sub-
ject of its claim to alter money bills, 671.
Lewis, Mr, F. Gcfi. hu, ccUi.

INDKX.

Licenced rctnilcra and pcdinrs, number of thorn in tho province,
in 1810, i. <aO.

Lieutenant-Governor, the perion j'dmini^tering the go?ernment of
Upper CunadH, usually so caih'd, i. ^O'i. Hi« powers, ibid.
Iteceives \m nppointn^unt frc.ti tho crown, ^05, Huh a
council to adviwrt him in ihe cxcrutive department of the go-
vernment, ibid Empowered to eieet und endow parr^ouagcs
or rectories in the several townships, 2;i'2.

r.ime, price of, i. 277, ^81, 3S3, 467, 51'i, 618, 3f)0.

lii/.ardH not n»imerou« in the province, i. 185. " ' *

Loclmber, township of, i. 603. *

Lockhart, Mr. Gen. bit, cclviii.

London District, i. 120.

— — — , town of, intended by Oenend Simcoc for the future
capital of the province, i. 138.

Londonderry, Marquis of. Gen, Int. c(;lv. cclxiii. cclix. cclxx.

Longue Sault, a difficult rapid in the St. Lawrence, i. 11 X

Longueil, New, seigniory of, i. 584.

Loon, the, a water fowl, i. 173. '

Loughborough, township of, i. 128.

Louisiana purchased by the United States, i. 20.

Louth, township report of, i. 426.

Lushington, Dr. Oen. /ni!. cclxxii.

Luxury, small progress of, in Upper Canada, i. 250.

Macdouell, Mr, ii. i69.

Mackenzie, Mr. mainer in whicli he performed his tours of dis-
covery, i. 33.

Mackintosh, Sir .lames, pre^'nts Mr. Gourlay\s petition to the
House of Commons, Gen. Int. Hi. Newspa^w?! report of
his speech on the occasion, liii. Letter from Mr. Gouriay to
him, liv. His answer, Iv. Quotation from his Vindiciae
Gallicae, clxxv.

Magistratftfi of Upper Canada, ranked under four denominations,
ii. 509. Efil consequences of placing the whole power of

INDEX. m

making aud unmaking them ia im ImuU of the Governor,
513
Maguagu, British and Indian forco dofeaU'd at, i. 140,
Maitland, Sir IVegrine, Lit'utenant-Governor of Upper Canada,
in hii^ speech on opening fho seMJon o( 1819, doclaros his
intention of withholding tho royal giaui of land from those
persons who had lieim irifinbors of the Convention, Hen. Jut.
xl. Hin speech at length, cccxtvii. Uemarks on it,
cccxcviii.
Mnlab'de, township report of, i. S40.
Maldon, township roport of, i. 281.

Maltlius, Mr. poinb out the iosuJHciency of Mr. Young's plan of

providing for the poor, (ien. int. Ixxxix. Uec ommends a

. general improvement of cottages, and the cow aysteni on ii

limited scale, xciii. Eulogium on his Essay on Population,

XCT. Too stoical in his reasoning, ci. Oversights aud

errors in his work pointed out, clxiii. clxxiii. clxxix.

Manchester burnt hy tho British troops, i, 62.

Manitou or Manitoulin Islands, in Lake Huron, considered by

the Indians as the residence of spirits, i. 41.
Mansfield, Mr. (Jen. Int. cclvi. cclxiii. cclxvii.
Manure, for what crops applied, and when, i. 279, 288, 293,
312, 316, 319, 321, S23, 326, .<28, 360, 366,372, 390,
395, 399, 408, 411, 419, 423, 447, 453, 476, 483, 485,
487, 489, 491, 600, 606, 662.
Marl, abundant in every district of the province, i. 149.
Martin, an animal highly valued for its fur, i. 165.

, Mr. ii. 24, 101, 104.

Marysburg, township of, i. 131.

Maxwell, Mr. Gen. Int. cclxv.

Medicinal springs, two in the township of Scarborough, i. 145.

. roots, i. 153.

Meetings by deputy the genuine means by which great jpublic be-
nefits may be obtained, Gen. Int. ccxxv.
Medical practitioners, number of, i. 276, 281, 285, 291, 314,

332, 397, 435, 498, 659. .,^

Methodists, the moat numerous class of dissenters in the province,
i. 233.

■. r ... ^rt»MnHty i ( ii ^>rjrrf«rrtrfi-iT i rftW ii ri1' i lt i n l -f i "" frr '"trt ^ 'II I* | i | pf ^F I '''f^ fr f " ' " 'f ^T" >' ** " "* "

INDEX.

Metionistsi, conditionally exempted from serving in the miiitfe, i.
234, 619, 7iole. * '"

Michigan, territory of, surrendered to the British by General
Hull, i. 45.

Miehilimackinac, given up by England to the United States, i.
24. Captured by the British troops, 25. Unsuccessfully
attacked by the Americans, 26.

Middleton, township report of, i. 329.

Midland District, i, 118. General report, 492. Meetings of
represenuitives, ii. G17, 618.

Military settlements rarely succeed, i. 530.

Militia of Upper Canada, grants of land promised to them during
the war, but neglec^.d on the restoration of peace, Gen. InL
X. Composed of the male inhabitants between certain ages,
i. 229. Formed into regiments and battalions, ibid. Their
officers, ibid. Annually reviewed, and trained, ibid. Nu-
merous in proportion to the inhabitants, 230. Pensions
allowed to those disabled during the war, and to the widow*
and orphans of those killed, ibid.

MA\e Islesi, seigniory of, i. 600.

Mills of various descriptions, and charge for grinding, sawing,
carding wool, &c. i. 276, 281, 286, 291, 295, 312, 315,
322, 333, 342, 347, 371, 382, 385, 389, 407, 409, 417,
422, 426, 429, 441, 445, 452, 467, 472, 482, 486, 488,
490, 493, 498, 503, 511, 513, 517, 518, 559, 580, 622.

Milton, Lord, Gen. Int. cclx.ii.

Minerals and mineral springs discovered or indicated, i. 276, 286,
295j 303, 308, 310, 312, 315, 318, 320, 322, 324, 330,
333, 338, 341, 342, 347, 349, 358, 372, 382,, 383, 386,
389, 394, 397, 407, 410, 413, 418, 422, 426, 435, 442,
447, 449, 453, 473, 483, 488, 490, 493, 498, 509, 511,
613, 516, 518, 660.

Mink, a small amphibious animal, i. 165.

Mistake, a curious one, as to the boundary between the United
States and I^ower Canada, i. 23.

Mocking bird, or brown thrasher, i. 174.

Mohawk land, i. 132.

Money of the province, i. 215^ Value of current coins, ibid.

INDEX.

Monck« Mr. Gen. Int. cclvi. cclxix.

Montreal, first settlement of, by the French, «. 3. Taken by
General Amherst, 8. Two banks established at, 227, note,

, seigniory of, i, 592.

Moose deer, i. 159. ■ j

Moravian towns, battle fought there, J. 42.

Mosquenonge, a rare lake fish, i. 176.

Motise, I 169. Field mice more numeroue in Upper Canada
than in the United States, ibid.

Mowing, reaping, and cradling, price of, i. 277, 282, 286, 292;
319, 320, 368, 370, 398, 413, 418, 427, 429, 438, 442,
447, 449, 453, 4f<9, 504, 561, 622,,

Mullet, the, not plentiful in the lakes, i. 180.

Murray, L.eutenant-General Sir G., Provincial Lieutenant-Go-
vernor, i. 16.

Musk rat, or mas^uasb, i. 165.

■■

■

I
1

United

bid.

National character, principally Anglo-American, i. 247.
National debt, means prqiosed for its extinction, Gen. Int. cxlviii.

Not an evil in certain circumstances, cxiix.
Nelson, township of, i. 134. Township report of, 365.
Newcastle District, i. 118.
Newport, Sir John, Gen. Int. cccxci. cccxcvi.
Newton, townahip of, i. 6G9.
New York, state of, fnrnishe.s a fair example for Upper Canada,

of the advantagef'. of emigration and settlement, i. 243,
Niagara river, account of, i. 60.,

, falls of, described, i. 64—73.

, town of, taken by the Americans, i, 81. Burnt by Gen.

M'Clure, of the New York militia, 82.
. .- District, i. 119. Completely organizrxl under Mr.

Gourlay's plan, ii. 5/ J>. Meetings of the representatives of
its several townshijts, 609.
Nichyl, township report of, i, 375.

INDEX.

I ,■

! f

Nichol, Mr. proposes certain resolutions in the House of Assem-
bly, ii. 287. Cornea to England to submit documents on
the state of the province to ministers, 485. Sketch of his
proceedings, 628. Procures the committal of Mr, Durand
to prison, for a libel, 644. Remarks on hia conduct on
that occasion, 646. His history, 662.

North-west Company, account of the, i. 31. Produce of their
trade for one year, 33. Manner in which their business is
conducted, ibid.

Norwich, township report of, i. 331.

Notes, explanatory of Mr. Gourlay 'a queries, i. 271, 300.

Ogdensburgh xnisuccessfuUy attacked by the British, i. 111.
Again attacked, and taken, 112.

Onslow, township of, i. 609,

Order in Council relative to the commercial intercourse with the
United Stales, i. 259. ScJiedule of duties to be received
under it, 261.

___„ — — .~ to lessen the tonnage duty imposed by a for-

mer order, i. 265.

Orford, township report of, i. 291.

Oswego, its situation, i. 101. Taken by the French in 1756, ibid.
Retaken by General Amherst in 1760, ibid. Given up to
the United States after the treaty of 1794, 102. Cannon-
aded without much effect by a British squadron, ibid. Tha
barracks burnt by General Drummond, ibid.

Ottawa, or Grand River, i. 114. An inland navigation might
easily be effected between this river and the St. Lawrtaco^
by locks and canals, 127,

Otter, not properly an amphibious animal, i. 164.

Owen, Mr. Gen» hit. cxxxviii. clxi.

Ox, pnca of a good one, i 277, 282, 287, 292, 468, 499, 505,
561.

a for-

TTiight

9, 505,

tNDEX. 83

Oxen and cows, oTa good stock, i. 170.

Oxford, (ownsliip of, i. 136. Township report of, 308.

Palmer, Mr. F. (Im. Int. cclix. »dxix. cclxxiii.

Parliament House at York, burnt by a party of American sailors,
i. 90.

Parliament and the People, ii. 5.39 — 704.

Partridge, the, called in Pennsylvania, the pheasant, i. 173.

Pasture, quality of, and what an ox of four years old will gain by
a summer's run, i. 178, 282, 287, 29.3, SO."!?, 308, 310, 312,
319, 321, 323, 326, 328, 334, 339, .343, 34.5, .348, 349,
359, 372, 394, 398, 408, 410, 413, 418, 423, 449, 433,
478, 483, 48G, 490, 500, 505, 362.

Pelham, township report of, i. 441.

People and inhabited houses, number of. In each township, i. 275,
281, 285, 291, 385,467, 471, 482,493, 498, .503, 510, 559,
580.

Perch, a finh common and easily caught, i. 179.

Perry, Commot'ore, captures the British naval force on Lake
Erie, i. 53. Treats his unfortunate rival with the most deli-
cate attention, 64.

Phillips, Mr. Gen. Int. ccl 'i.

Phipps, Colonel, ii. 26,28, 31.

Pickerel, a species of pike, i, 178.

Pike, the Canadian, i. 178.

Pitt, Right Hon. W. Ch.;ncellor of the Exchequer, introduces the
act granting a constitution to Upper Canada, in 1791, ii. 1.
His speeches on that subject, 2, 13, 30, 31, 33, 59, 65, 66,
69, 76, 77, 78, 84, 102, 103, 105, 108, 109.

Places of worship generally plain, i. 255. Indecorous practice in
some, ibid and note. Not so i umerous as might be wished,
but increasing, 25f>.
Plain, signification of this word in Upper Canada, i. 273.
Ploughing, usual time of commencing, i. 278, 282, 287, 308, 310,
359, 360, 408, 410, 468,474, 499, .505, 561, 621,

i I

1 i

1 I

(i>*«ienM>:ikt»(i«a<!fllE r

INDEX.

Politics very little attended to in the province, i. 249. Not pro-
ductive of so much private animosity as in the United States,
ii. 316.

Poor law3, the present system of, tlio greatest evil which over-
shadows the fate of England, Gen. Int. Ixxxiii. Incon-
ceivable miofhief which has arisen from this sourci^, ciii — cv.
cxiii. cxv. Petitions ou this subjtH't frou the inhabitants of
Wily, cxxix. cxxxviii. Debate on Mr. Scarlett's bill for the
amendment of them, cclii — c;lx\iii. Remarks on the do-
bate, cclxxiii. Rise and prog'css of the poor laws, cclxxvi.
Introduced in England by the 43d of Elizabetii, ibid ; and
in Scotland by an act of James VI. cclxxvii. Their miis-
chievous effects prevented in the latter country by the estab-
lishment of schools, cclxxviii.

Poor of England, dreadful situation to which they have been re-
duced by poor-lawa and enclosure bills, Gen. Int. dxiu
ccclix.

Popular diversions, i. '250.

Population of Upper Canada, i. 139, G12.

Portland, township of, i. 128.

Ports of entry and clearance, i. 225.

Postscript, Gen. Inl. cccli.

Poultry, i. 171.

Powell, Chief Justice, his misconstruction of the word " Inhabit-
ant," (ten. Int. xvi. note. Mr. Ciourlay's petition to him for
a writ of habeas corpus, xl. Remands him to pri?oi), xliii.
His character, ii. 5 16 —'522.

Powis, Mr. ii. tJj, 67, 78, 101, 107.

Presbyterians appear to be increasing in numbers and respecta-
bility in the province, i. 234.

Presque Isle, or Newcastle, harbour, i. 94.

Prescott, a rising settlement on the St. Lawrence, i. 112, 126.

Prevost, Sir George, makes an unsuccessful attack on Sack-^t's
harbour, i„ 104.

Price of laud, i. 241.

Principal officers of provincial government paid by the crown, i.
219. Amount voted for that purpose by the British Par-
liament, m 1820j 220, note.

-*>*^.

y/..
-j^.

INDEX.

iot pro-
states,

;U over-
Incon-
ciii — cv.
)itants of
U lor the
the do-
, cclxxvi.
bid ; and
'heir mis-
the estab-

e been ro-
Inl. cIku.

Jl*rinci[)lt»s and proooediiigs of tlio inhubitanls of Niagara District,

ii. 51!).
Proctor, General, abandons Ainherstburgli, i. 47. liesieges (Jerj.

Harrison in Fort Meigs, 49. Raises thu siege, unil wifh-

druws hi.s army towards Detroit, 50, Atteni[)ts to take Fort

Sandusky, but is repulsed, ibid.
Profession and practice of law, i. 234.
Progress of political discontent in Upper Canada, ii. 313.
Provincial Parliament, how constituted, i. 90. Sep Les^islaliv^

Council and Aase.mhly.
Provincial revenue, amount and sources of, i. 220.
Publications on Canada, account of, (Un. Int. ccci.
Pugilism onco considerablv provalcut in the province, l)iif uow

declining, i. 2.viJ.

Inhabit-
Ito him for
li>on, xliii.

respect e

L, 126.

In SacV:"t'<i

crown, 1.
ritish Par-

Qiuiil, the, named in Pennsylvania, the partridge, i. 17.'J.
Quakers not admitted to a seat in the House of Assembly, '. 19B.

Conditionally exempted from militia duties, 234.
Qualifications of Members of the Legislative ("ouncil, i. 190.

. — — House of Assembly, i. 19f).

electors for members of the House of Assembly,

i. 192.
Quebec, first French settlement in Canada formed at, i. 3. Taken

by the English under General Wolfe, S.
— — act, inserted by the American Congres? in their list of

])arliamentary grievances, i. 9.
Queenston heif.^htp, beautiful prospect from, i. 7(). Attacked by

tiu; Americans without success, 78.

, village of, in a flourishing state, i. 79.

Q)uer".es addressed to the inhabitants of Upper Canada, by Afr.

Gourlay, i. 270.
Quinte, bay of, its situation and extent, i. 94. Heccives the

waters of the Rice lake, 9.).

8«

INDEX.

Racoon, an animal resembling the beaver, but smaller, i. 166.

Radical, thw term not known in Upper Canada as a party dis-
tinction, (ten. Int. Citxxii.

Hainham, township repor' of, i. 320.

Raleigli, township report of, i. 284.

Rat, not found in Upper Canada till the late war, i. 169.

Rattle-snake, two species of, in the province, i. 185.

Reform of parliament must take place sooner or later, Gen. Inf,
clxxiii. Excellent efllects which would attend its progress,
clxxx.

Rensselair, Goneral, attacks the Queenston heighta, but is defeated
by General Sheaffe, i. 78, 79.

Rents and interest, the true sources of supply for taxation, (len. Int.
cl. cli, clii. Mr. Gourlay's letter on, cccliii. uofe.

Reports of judiciary decisions much wanted, in the province, i,
*i08. Advantages derivable from them, 210.

Resoluiions of a meeting of the inhabitants of the county of Hal-
ton, on the agricuiti d distresses of the province, Gen. Int.
cccxxv. Remarks on them in several British newspapers^
cccxxvii — cccxxx. Observations by Mr, Gourlay, cccxxx —
cccxxii.

of the House of Assembly on the admission of emi-
grants from the United States, ii. 289.

Revenue, amount of the provincial, in 1810, i. 220. Much in-
creased since that period, 266.

Review of the contents of this work, ii. 292 — 538.

Riall, General, takes and burn."? the village of Buffalo, i. 59. And
of Black Rock, 60. Wounded and taken prisoner in the
baUle of Lundy's Lane, 74*

Ricardo, Mr. Gen. Int. cclvi.

Rice growing wild in marshes, and on the borders of lakes, i. 155.
Indian method of gathering it, ibid.

Roads arf^ advancing to a more perfect state, i. 251. Libera!
grants made by the Legislature for th»ir improvement, 2ri6,

INDEX.

166.

party dis-

r, Gen. Jnf,
its progress,

t is defeated

)n, Gen, Int,

province, i,

imty of Hal-
•e, Gen. Int.
newspapers^
y, cccxxx—

lion of cmi-

Much in-

li, 69. And

lisoner in the

liikes, i. 165.

Liberal
i'emsntj^dS.

Vreseni stale of, 179, 'i83, ^288, 293, S04, 309, 311, 313,
316, 319, 3*21, 327, 3'28, 331, 334, 339, 341,343,346,
348, 360, 360, 367, 369, 370, 373, 377, 382, 387, 391,
396, 400, 408, 411, 414, 419, 424, 427, 430.413,447,
460, 463, 476, 478, 484,485,487, 489, 491, 500, 506,
511, 614, 518, 663.

Rochot'oucault Liaucourt, Duke de la, extract from his Travels,
describing the ^itate of Upper Caaada under the government of
General Simcoe, ii. 127 — 202. His slatementH correct, aad
his observations good, 389.

Romau Catholics, comparatively few in Upper Canada, i. 234.

Russell, the Hon. Peter, president of Upper Canada, i. 16,
Statutes passed during his administration, ii. 203—214.

Ryder, Mr. ii. 106-

Sabbath, observance of the, i. 266.

Sacket's harbour blockaded by Commodore Yeo, i. 103. Unsuc-
cessfully attacked by Sir (j. Prevost, 104.

St. David's, village of, the head-quarters of the British army in
1813, and of the American army in 1814, i. 79. Many
buildings burnt there by order of an American officer, who is
dismissed from the service by General Brown, ibid.

St. John, Mr. ii. 24, 32.

St. Joseph, island of, the most western post inaintRined by Great
Britain, before the commencement ot the late war, i. 26.
Taken by the Americans, 26.

St. Lawrence, Bay of, discovered and so named by Jacques Car-
ticr, i. 'i^ River of, not at first called so, higher than the
island 00 Montreal, ibid. Now commonly known by that
name m its whole extent, from the gulf to the ouUet of On-
tario, ibid. Afterwards receives various appellations, 3.
Generally frozen over in winter, 87. Its width, and extent
of navigation, 109.

Salmon trout, i. 177.

iNDi:x.

Salt, tho upper tlistricls of the province prini-ipully buppliud willi

this article Iroin the United States, i. 146.
Salt springs, i. 1-46.
Sallfleet, township report of, i. 396.

Sandwich, taken by General Hull, and evacualfd after a
month'ti possession, i. 45. Again entered, and retained
during the war by the An\eri(;ans, 46, Township report
of, '275.
Savvyer, or whetsaw, i. 174.

Scalp found in the Parliament House at York, einj)loyed by "onic
American sailors as a pretext for burning that edifice, i. 00,
and no<e. Explanation of the circumstance, 01.
Scarlett, Mr. his Poor Relief Bill brought into the House of Com-
mons, Gen. Lit. ccix. His speech oji that occasion, cclii. On
the second reading, cclvii, cclix. cclx. cclxiii. cclxviii. cclxx,
cclxxi, cclxxiii.
Schools, number of, and the fees por quarter, i. 27fi, 281, 285,
291, 314, 321, 332, 407, 434,467, 471, 482, 504, 498, 503,
559.
School Act, not popular, and why, i. 245. '

Scotch labourers, their superiority over the English, in various re-
spects. Gen. Int. civ. clxxvii. clxxvii.
Seabright, Sir S. Gtn. Int. oclxix.
Selkirk, Lord, comuienfjod a settlement on Lake Sinclair, which

suffered during the war, i. 137.
Serpent, one of unusual magnitude said to have been seen in liuke

Ontario, i. 186.
Svittlers, actual, lots of 2(X) acrcs of land, granted to them on
payment of office fees, and performance of settling duties, i
241.
Sheaffe, Mjijor-General Sir R. H. president of Upper Canada, i.
15. Defeats ihe Americans at Queeuston, 79. Statutes pasged
during hia presidency, ii. ^zj5 — 268.
Sheep, price of, i. 277, 282, 287, 292, 339, 368, 468, 499, 505,

561.
Shelfield, Lord, ii. 32, 69, 108.
Sherbrooke, Sir J. governor-iu-chief of tiie Canadas, extract of hia

iNi)i':x.

xpeech to the Parliament of the lower province, 11. 65fi. Re-
marks on it, 558.

Sheridan, IMr. ii. 30, 31, 78, 108.

Short hills, i. 77, and note.

Silver I'd, a dolicious fi:<l», i. 181.

Sinicoi!, CSeneral, appointed tho luKt Lioiitenant-governor of Uppor
Canada, i. 14. His favourite object to promote tlie soitle-
nient of tho province, ibid. Su|)po;tcd to havo contt'iiiplatod
London as the future capital of the province, K<8. Uih
speeches on the Quobec BiH, in t.lie British House of C'om-
mons, ii. 101, 107. His speech to the Legislative Council
and House of Asseml)ly of Upper Canada, on the opening oi
the first session of the Provincial Parliament, 1 10. And on
closing thf! session, 111. Statutes passed during his admini-
stration, 113 — 126. Interesting account of his government,
mannera, &c. by the Duko de la Hochefoucault Liancourl,
127 — 202. Remarks on hio character, 309. His schemes jjluin-
doned, and his engagements violated, on his recal, 310. His
proclamation inviting settlers to Upper Canada, 445, noli::.

Sinclair, Sir John, ii, 78.

Six Nations, Indians, a valuable tract of land assigned to them in
compensation of their services during the revolutionary -vvar,
i. 135. Their mode of letting their land, 130.

Sketches of Upper Canada, i. 1. Sketch L History, 1. Sketch
IL Boundaries, Ifi. Sketch HL Natural divisions of the
country, 27, Sketch IV. Lakes, rivers, cataracts, bays and
harbours, 37. Sketch V. Civil divisions, 116. Sketch VL
Settlements, 124. Sketch 'VIL Population, 139. Sketch
VHI. Ciinate, winds, &c. 140. Sketch IX. Water, 145.
Sketch X. Soil, stones, minerals, &c. 147. Sketch XL
Productions, natural and cultivated, 150. Sketch Xll. Ani-
mals of the forest, I 57. Sketch XHI. Domestic animals,
169. Sketch XIV. Birds, 171. Sketch XV. Fishes, 175.
Sketch XVI. Amphibious animals, reptiles and insects, 183.
Sketch XVII. Constitution, 189. Sketch XVIII. Provin-
cial Parliament, 190. Sketch XIX. Executive Government,
204. Sketch XX. Judiciary, 205. Sketch XXL Money,
«15. Sketch XXIL Revenue and taxes, 217. Sketch

INDRX.

XXIIl, Conimenv, 'i'i4. Sketch XXIV. Militiu. '2V.).
Skt'tcli XXV. llt'ligion and ecclesiastic institution!*, '2:^1,
Skotch XXVI, ProlVrtsion and practice ot" law, 234. ykcdli
XXVir. Pliysic-ind surgery, 23.'). Sketch XXVIII. Trades
nnd apprenticeships, 21Uj. Skt'tcli XXIX. lniprisoiim->nt
for (h.'bt, insolvi-nt hiws, nnd liability of land for debt, 238.
Sketch XXX. Ciradual abolition of slavery, 240. Sketch
XXXI. Price of land, and eacourngement to settlers, 241,
Sketch XXXIl. State of "aiming, 244. Sketch XXXIII.
Character, manners and customs of the inhabitants, 247.
Appendix to the Sketches, 257. Introduction, (leu. Int.
clxxxv.

Sketches of a plan for settling in Upper Canada, account of, Gen.
IrU. cccxiii.

Skunk, a species of pole-cat, i, ld7.

Skylark, not found in Upper Canada, i. 174.

Slaves, the number of them in the province very small, i. 241.

Sleighing parties, i. 250.

Sleighing eeason, i. 273. Its ordinary enlurancc, 278, 282, 287,
292, 308, 310, 359, 36G, 408,410, 408, 474, 499, 505,,5iy,
561, 021.

Smart, Mr. a missionary, his letter to Mr. Gourlay, containing ac-
.' counla of various townships, i. 507. His excellent character,
558. Mr. Goiirlay's visit to him, ibid.

Smith, Colonel, president of Upper Canada, ii. 540. Lonely
situation of his house, 541. His speech on closing the ses-
sion of parliament, 545. Remarks on it, 540.

Smoking, a very common habit aitiong all clas'-cs in the province,
i. 251.

Snakes, not numerous in the province, i. 186. A double-headed
one, 187.

Sodus, village of, burnt by the British under Sir J. Yeo, i. 100.

Soil of the province, component parts of, i. 147. Not so favour-
able to grass as to grain, 154. Adapted to flax and hemp,
155.

Soil, general character of the, i. 276, 281, 280, 291, 303, 308,
310, 312, 315, 318, .320, 322, 324, J28, 330, 333, 338, 341,
342, 344, 347, 349, 358, 366, 368, 370, 371, 377, 382, 383,

iNDiti^X.

lie ses-

Ivince,

leaded

100,
livour-
hfiup,

308,
[,341,
I, 383,

380, 389, 394, 397, 407, 40y,4l2, 417, n% 426, 429, 441,
445, 4 If), 449, 452, 4(57, 472, 482. 485, 4H6, 487, 490, 493,
498, 503, 500, 513, ibid. Slfi, 517, 518. ibid. .WO.
Sopliiu.sburg, townsliip of, i. 131. Township report of, 48ft.
Suul.iiigc, stiiguiory of, i. 58G.
Hoiithwold, township roport of, i. 344.

Speaker of th(; Legislative Council, appointed, and may be re-
moved, by the governor, i. 191.
Squirrel, four species found in the province, i. 168.

, the flying, a rare species, i. Ifih.

Stamford, township report of, i. 4l6.i

Statistical tables, i. 306, 336, 352, 354, 402, 404, 45^5, 624, 526,

610.
Statute labour on the highways, i. 223. Extended in the session

of 1816, 266.
Statutes passed in the first session of the first Provincial Parlia-
ineiit of Upper Canada, ii. 113. In the second session, 117.
In the third session, 120. In the fourth session, 122. In
the fii'st session of the second parliament, 125. In the
second session, 203. In the third session, 211. In the
fourth session, 213. In the first session of the third parlia-
ment, 215. In the second session, 218. In the third ses-
sion, 220. In the fourth session, 221, 224. In the first ses-
.sion of the fourth parliament, 228. In the second session,
231. In the third session, 234. In the fourth session, 237.
In the first .session of the fifth parliament, 241. In the second
session, 244. In the third session, 247. In the fourth ses-
sion, 251. In the second session of the sixth parliament,
255. In the third session. 259. In the fourth session, 262.
In the fifth session, 267. In the first session of the seventh
parliament, 284. Review of the statutes, 336. A new
and improved edition of them proposed, 337.
Steam-boats on the lakes, i. 108.
Stones, a scarcity of them for common uses, in several parts of tho

province, i. 148.
Store, synonymous with shop in Upper Canada, i. 271.
Stores, number of, i. 276, 281, 286, 291, 314, 333, 409, 467,
472, 493, 498, 503, 510, 517, 518, 559.

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J !

Straclian, Ilev. Dr. account of his life, Gen. Int. cxcix. Autlior
of a " Visit to Upper Canada," published by his brother, cciv.

, Mr. publishes a ♦* Visit to Upper Canada," (len. Int.

cxcix. Infamous character of that ivork, cci. cciv. Cri-
tique on it, from the Scotsman^ cci.

Street, Mr. ii. 504, 506, 507.

Stuart, Ciiptain C. account of his " Emigrant's Guide to Upper
Canada," CScn. Int. cccv.

, Sir John, Gen. Int. cccxcvi.

Sturgeon, the largest fish of '.he lakes, i. 175.

Sucker, two species of this fish found in tlie lakes, i, 180,

Sugar, maple, common in every district, i. 151.

Summary of population, &c. in the Western district, i. 298.
London District, 356. Core District, 405. Niagara Dis-
trict, 454. Newcastle District, 468. Midland District, 41)5.
Johnstown District, 520. Eastern District, 565.

Summer heat, sometimes intolerable in Canada, ii. 393. The
evenings in summer delightful, 401.

Sun-fish, i. 182.

Surrogate Court, i. 208.

Swan, the, a rare bird in Upper Canada, i. 174.

Swayze, Isaac, member of assembly, Gen. Int. xxvi. Ixviii. Ixxiii.
His character and employments, ii. 297, 498.

Systematic petitioning, the mode by which any great national end
may be obtained, Gen. Int. cxxxvi.

Taverns, number of, i. 276, 281, 286, 291, 315, 333,467, 472,
498, 503, 559.

Taxation, all power of as to Upper Canada, solenuily and ex-
pressly renounced by the British Parliament, i. 203. A
general spirit of contentment and satisfaction on this subject
in the province, 204.

— . -., not an evil, so far as it stimulates to industry, Gen. Int.

cxlix.

Tuxes, no direct provincial, except the diblrict tax, i. 222.

INDKX.

l7, 47'2,

Ind ex-
Li. A
|subjcct

en. InL

I. 222.

Aniomit of this for one yeiir, ibid. No \vhere less burden-
some, 223.
Taylor, Mr. M. A. his speech on Mr. Scarlett's Poor Relief Bill,

Cen. Int. cclvii. On the Quebec Bill, ii. 23, 87.
Tecumseh, the Indian chief, slain in the battle near the Moravian
towns, i. 43. His body treated with indignity by the Ame-
rican soldiers, 44.
Tcnipleton, township of, i. 6Ufi.
Terrebonne, seigniory of, i. 598.
Thistle, two kinds of, known in the province, i. li)6.
Thorold, township report of, i. 445.
Thurlovv, township of, i. 132. Township report of, 489.
Thorpe, Mr. Justice, persecuted by Governor Gore, ii. 322. His

subsequent treatment, 335.
Timber, kinds produced, i. 270, '281, 286, 291, 303, 308, 310,
315, 318, 3iO, 322, 324, 328, 330, 333, 338, 341, 342, 344,
347, 349, 358, 366, 368, 370, 371, 377, 382, 383, 386, 38!>,
394, 397, 407, 409, 412, 417, 422, 426, 429, 442, 445,446,
449, 452, 467, 472, 482, 485, 486, 4h8, 490, 493, 498, 504,
509, 514, 517, 518, 560, 620.
Toronto, township of, i. 134.

'J'ortoise, fresh water, or turtle, three species of, i. 183.
Townsend, township report of, i. 318.

Townships, I'pper Cailadp originally divided into 158, i. 110,
'J'heir number since increased, 121. Their extent, and the
manner in which they were laid out, 122.
Township meetuigs, ii. 587, 591, 594, 695, 590, 602, 603, 604,
605, 600, 608, 615, 616, 620, 622, 623, 624, 625.

reports, i. 269. Some withheld and others withdrawn

by interested persons, 567.
Trade of the province, much of it a species of indirect barter, i. 226.
' and apprenticeships, i. 236.

Trafalgar, township of, i. 134. Township report of, 358.
Travelling accommodations, very indiflerent, i. 250.
Tree toad, or frog, i. 187.

Trees, the Canadian do not exactly resemble the same species in
Britain, i. 465. r ,,c v ,

M INDEX.

Trolling, a favourite manner of fishing in the lake«, i. 182.

Trout, the common brook, i. 177.

Tunkcrs, enjoy a conditional exemption from militia duties, i.

234, 619, note. ^

Tyranny of Poor Laws exemplified, a pamphlet by &Ir. Gourlay,

Gen, Int. cxvi.

U. V.

U. E. loyalists, persons adhering to tlio royal cause la the Ame-
rican war, rewarded with land to themselves, and to their
children on attaining the age of twenty-one years, i. 13.
Their rights violated by the government of the province, ii.
466, note.

Vaudreuil, seigniory of, i. 589.

Vincent, General, attempts to prevent the landing of the Ame-
" rican troops at Fort George, i. 81. Is compelled to retreat,
82. Retires to Burlington on the arrival of a part of Ge-
neral Harrison's army, ibid. Surprises the American army
in their camp during the night, and takes Generals Winder
and Chandler prisoners, 84.

Wages of blacksmiths, masons, and carpenters, i. 277, 281,
286, 292, 312, 318, 326, 330, 333, 338, 341, 343, 345,
368, 366, 370, 376, 398, 410, 423, 442, 447, 453, 467,
473, 483, 490, 499, 504, 512, 560, 622.

of c jmmon labourers, and of women servants, i. 277, 282,

286, 292, 368, 370, 372, 390, 413, 439, 447,449, 463,
467, 493, 499, 504, 518, 560. • *-' -t^hi^. ■ > — ^

Wainfleet, township report of, i. 449.

Wakefield, Mr. Extract from his Statistical Account of Ireland,

Gen. Inl. Ixxxix. note, >< •■ ■ ; ' *"

Walpole, township report of, i. 320.
Walsingham, township report of, i. 327.

INDBX.

4r*

Waler of the provinct generally impregnatgd in a slight degree

with limestone, i. 145.
Water conveyance, I. 280, 283, 288, 293, 304, 309, 311, 321,
328, 334, 339, 345, 348, 350, 360, 367, 373, 377, 382,
387, 401, 408, 411, 414, 419, 424, 427, 435, 448,450,
454, 476, 484, 486, 487, 489, 492, 600, 601, 503, 681.
Waterloo, township report of, i. 382.
Wutscu, Mr. Alderman, ii. 73, 109.
Wea.sel, i. 168.
Wellington Square, part of the townBhip of Nelson, report of, i.

368.
Wentworth, township of, i. 605.

Western District, i. 120. Meeting of representatives, ii. 621.
Westminster, township report of, i. 302. Statistical table, shew-
ing the commencement of improvement in this settlcmeaty
306.
Wheat, the staple of the province, i. 154. Should be sown,
early, ibid.

, ordinary season of sowing and reaping, i. 278, 282,

287, 292, 308, 310, 359, 366, 408, 410, 468, 474, 493,
499, 505, 619, 661, 621. T

-, tpantity required to sow an acre, and the average crop,

i. 278, 282, 287, 292, 315, 372, 390, 394, 413, 429,
468, 493, 499, 505, 561, 622.
Whipper-Will, or Whip-poor- Will, i. 174.
Whitbread, Mr. proposes to have the poor of England educated,

but fails, Gen. Int. cxxxiv.
White fish, i. 177.
Wilberforce, Mr. ii. 101.
Wild cat, or Canadian lynx, i. 162.
— — turkeys, i. 172.

geese, i. 172.

ducks, i. 172.

Wilkes, John, sketch of his history, ii. 652, cxxx.

Willcocks, Mr. persecuted because of his political principles, ii.

315. Account of his case, 665—662, note.
WilliamEburgh, beautifully situated, i. 126. Battle of, or Chry»-
ler's Field, ibid.

fNDKX.

f ; ■ f

Willoiighljy, townnhip roport of, i. 412.

Wilson, Sir R. (ien. InL cclv. cclxi. cclxvi. cclxviii. cclxxi.
cclxxii. Letters to liim from Mr. Qourlay, cclxxxi. note.

Wiltshire, mfthod of regulating the wages of labour in this ami
the adjoining counties, Gen. Int. cvii. Great error of tliis
system, cviii.

Wily parish, in Wiltshire, metliod of regulating the wages of
labour there, (ien. Int. cvii. Petition from thence to the
Houses of Lords and Commons, cxxix. Second petition,
cxxxTiii. DilficuUies with which it had to struggle before
being presented to the House of Commons, cxlvi. cxlvii.
Explanation of its object, cxlvii. Sunday school established
there by the labourers, ccclxi.

Windham, township report of, i. 314.

Winds, the most prevalent, of Upper Canada, i. 141.

Wolf, a very common animal in the province, i. 1(50. An extra-
ordinary niis-statement on this subject in Guthrie's Geogra-
phical Grammar, refuted, ibid.

Wolford, townt?hip report of, i. 498. Additional Report, 601.

Wolverene, or carcajou, i. 162.

Wood, Colonel, Cen. Int. cclxvii.

, Mr. Alderman, (iin. Int. cccxcvi.

Woodchuck, or ground hog, i. 166.

Woodhouse, township report of, i. 322.

Wool, average quantity yielded by a sheep, and its price per
pound, i. 278, 282, 287, 292, 382, 468, 499, 50.5, .061.

Worsley, Lieut, captures two American schooners, by stratagem,
i. 26.

,,*■ *

r^ -SSf'-% —

Yarmouth, township report of, i. 342,

Yellow ochre, i. 150.

Yeo, Sir J. L. burns the village of Sodus, i. 102. Raises the
blockade of Sacket's harbour, after the defeat of an expedi-
tion up Sandy Creek, 103.

Yonge Street, a military way, laid ont by General Simcoe,
•- i 93. Its great advantages in facilitating the comtnuaiontion

INDRX.

«..l. ,W „„r,l,.„„,, ibid. ,M„onc, of „pi„i„„ „, ,^ ,„

iron, y.|. iownslup report of, 512.

» orli, i|i„ sent of tlie provincial government i R<| I, ■

Ihi.i /• ■ ,. . '""«^m, I. HS. lis ,111,11, 1

iM. Garrtson and harbour, 89. Taken b, ll,o A,„
■'"<•• The paHi„.„„, bon,e, *c. bnrn. by V r.^ H"'"'
n<:an,ail„r,, go. Again ,.ke„ by Co.nLdor?.; "

ana Colonel S™.., „,. Desoriptio!: of .hoTotT.^^'T
-crab e ...,e „f .„„ ,„rrou„ding conntry, «». si-ppo,,^ ,^'
I'ulai.on of (ho town, 483 '^^ '^

Youn,, Mr. Arthur, hi, .hon.e for providing .h. poor „i.b .
portton of and. Cc„. l,u. U..W. Publisher „J„„jil^!
0.0, o .Mr. Oonria,'., without hi, c„n..„, l^^iii."^:
y attach, to h„ ,,cho,no of giving land to .ho poor, ,c "

J. (.. UAKNARD,
•7. Skitinrr sirtei, Luiidoit.