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Tirji
^v
can
LETTERS
ox
POOR LAW REFORM AND EMIGRATION.
DEDICATED TO
*
THE Jm\. THOMAS CHALMERS, D. D.
ROBERT 60URLAY,
CelvnM *|«1) agent,
Bsofl faMnre to iatliaMe, thai h» MA tho fiNUidktfaa td tbte biuh»M jha
Upper Cmada, Oetober 181? ; and fen numOu aijoyed fiatteriii^ fgo-
ifflQta. tiMrtl|f4f4 by IjMidfttiTe Ckmndlkuni^^e wm. caB«d fiiv ni^ry
into 4iB ittWi of ^ P^tmaoe, md wooM- have cvried tliat importmt
mmsant »^tt oxgeady raqidred, had he not beea betrayed) deserted^ and
mbfld I7 tilieie very men. Enwrpng from unexaunpled perMcati<Hi, ha
now ttartt with renewed hope, never fcHr a nuiment having abandtmed
his <leRtgn. At onoe to eataUtah tnisineu and ou^^aoe madunations to
that liim aa inaane, he piu-posea to make the tour of the Kingdom. In
eoeo^ pwidkea he wiQ adviae Laboarers to form Emigration SeeiodeK :
in Maricet Towns converse with farmers as to aettlem«it abroad ; and,
ia ffi«at«r towns^ d<^v^ Disoonrses on fk« Frin<!lples of Foot law
Bfl^rm and EinigHftiivn, ;whi»ii^ W^U )WOTe, idiait,. leiAmt Meting
a tktgk aUOutel .tUkp^ifbifi, a ei^gte ln*(*ft*^i«; Ofj mirfwing teith pro.
jfertg, the toAjvIs igstem of tne jPtor L,MsaMi ae,t:!s''mag be df^pfnued
with in 20 ^fAfV, whiiel fft^ 'JiaiUimqipsbt «?ffl|f .*» paid off withm SO
gearM^frtm SaUrc^'Ckitarl^l Aandsi.^ « ' : -' ;
:^ebmari/Uih im. ' ' "
PROFUNB4 CSRNIT.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED BY W. HORN ESS.
1880.
325.11
APPENDIX.
SEVENTH SERIES.
POOR LAW REFORM AND EMIGRATION.
To Ihe Reverend Thomas Chalmers, D. D.
My Dear Sin — You are called upon by Government to say
whether or not Poor Laws ought to be introduced into Ireland ; and
it is fortunate thai a question so important should be put to one so
well qualified to judge, and whose authority must be paramount.
You will doubtless say no ; but what then } What is to become of
Ireland ? and can Poor Laws ever be dispensed with in England ?
On your passage to London you may reflect on these questions,
and also have leisure to peruse the following letters. The more to
engage attention, my correspondence with you shall take the lead.
No. 1.
St. Andrews, l^th February 1826.
My Dear Sir — I can assure you that I received your interesting
letter of the 6th of February with no slight emotion of kindness and
respect, having ever regarded you as one of the ablest of my fellow-
students in St. Andrews, and who, if human life had not been the
lottery which it is, would have earned by his talents, and merited by
his friendly dispositions, a place of high and honourable distinction
in society.
You may rely upon my good wishes ; but you estimate at far too
high a rate my power to be useful to my friends. I am conscious
that I have the desire, but I do not clearly see how it is that I can be
of great service to you.
I transmitted your interesting paper to Dr. Buist.
I beg to be numbered by you among the subscribers to your
volume.
I felt much interested by your description of the peace which you
enjoy amidst all the external discomforts of your situation. There is
a peace beyond the reach of outward circumstances, a peace that
passes all understanding. — Believe me^ my dear sir, very truly yours,
Thomas Chalmers.
Robert Gotirlai/, Esq.
57596
2
No. 2.
House of Corrcdion, Cold BalhFieU^,
London, March 24, 1820.
rCa" NTSr .„Vr«t'Si™l 3:.= n„ , Je u„.™ed.
Why should they not assist «ie? academic duties ;
A month hence Y^^ ^^^^^ ^Pr the course of moral philosophy,
and having then gone twice «^«^^^^i^^ T/^'-^n, on the Poor Laws,
will, I hope, have leisure ^^^^ '^'"''^^l^^'^'Xythe vr^^^'^' ^'^Y '
That is o\.t of sight the most ^---J^^f/^ "^^ ,2 hearSly wish you
and your principles ^g^^^^^g^'j^^s "nee 1 devoted myself to the
success. It is now twenty-five .«^/« ^"^^ ',j ^v from me, or rather
subject, but it seems decreed tl^f ^f ^ "^ cares while running
that I shall be eternally worried by.a th«"sanQ ^^^^ ^^
xny favourite scent The ^"f«f^^ is partly to give :j^^^^^^.^^ ^^ ^^^
xny strange eventful history, ^"\f "f y^/,; 2 n,an would be
assertion, that, under circumstances every
able to earn the pnce of half « ^J"'^^^^^^^ irown gave out a ques-
When we were at "^'^^^^"^f ^'^^ *?f f ^'e th L : How could rents and
tion which you ^^^^^ ^f'^l J^^'^ Zvntith^^ I assert that
taxes be paid if every labouring ^f "^^^^^^^J ^.^^..^^ miijht advance to
it is not only possible, but that J^^^ "^^i'^^" er, while this was
greater wealth, strength and do r^imon than ,^^^^^^^ ^^^
Realized. Lay by this letter till the end oy .^ ^^^^^ _^ ^^^^^
tr/rS-a Slir I lur^y ^..^eavou. to exp>.„.-
Yours sincerely, Robt. Gourlay.
The Rev. Thomas Chalmers, D.D.
No. 3.
House ^Cor^^^^^ath Fields,
Mv DK.n Sxn-Hcre is the J-^^day o^i^^^^^^^ aTdtxl'ltld
gave you to solve the question, ^"^ P^^f "f h^lf a bushel of wheat
be paid if a common labourer earned the price ot na ^^ ^^^
per^ day." You know that I announced this^ to the m^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^^
indrews ; and I did so to all ^^e. ^^ f ^JiS' economy, and hope
attention to the mightiest proposition m political y
you have gravely ^^"g^* ^f^f/ ^^^^a but connected with the same
There is a question ot aiiotner kiuu, uuu v
» ^c.
«».
',4-
ields,
, and
d me
s ac-
is the
sheet
jrned.
uties ;
sophy.
Laws.
; day;
sh you
to the
rather
unning
ance of
I to the
votild be
; a ques-
ents and
sert that
irance to
this was
and then
r a week,
splain. —
JRLAY.
Fields,
h which I
axes could
si of wheat
ister of St.
so to arrest
, and hope
1 the same
subject, which I am now to put, because not algebraist enough to
satisfy myself, and for five years have wished for a correct answer :
The population of Great Britain was, in 1 700, 6,523,000.
in 1801, 10,817,000.
— in 1821, 14,089,677.
Now, supposing it desirable, all things considered, that our population
should go on to double every century for several centuries to come
(and you can easily suppose that improved agriculture and economy
otherwise might admit of this, with safety and comfort to all, even
though we had no supply of food from abroad)— Supposing that, while
oar population remaining at home increased no faster, we neverthe-
less doubled by breeding every twenty-five years, and got quit of the
surplus by emigration of people between the ages of twelve and twenty
years — ^
Queri/— How many must emigrate every year from the united
kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, taking the population to start
with at twenty millions ?
Before answering with precision, several points may require consi-
deration. But I now do not wish to confuse my meaning as to the
principal point, and should willingly do mv best to explain any doubt
which may arise. Even a vague soliition at first would be acceptable, to
give opportunity for correcting mistakes or error. It will afford me great
pleasure to have a letter on the subject directed to this house, where
a good unknown pays my postages. In my forthcoming publication
there is a letter of mine which appeared first in the Morning Herald,
with an allusion to your using the word alone. I have now in a note
said, " This word is so used by other authors when onli/ or sole would
be more proper. My justly respected friand will excuse my pointing
to his much too frequent use of it thus, as it smacks of affectation,
than which nothing is more distant from the real character, admirable
for genuine sincerity."
Could I once be thought perfectly sincere, it is my hope that a
broken ship may come to land. You, I hope, think so, and will accept
my best assurance that I am very truly yours,
,„. „ ROBT. GOURLAY.
The Rev. Thomas Chalmers, D.D.
No. 4.
Glasgow, July 27, 1826.
My Dear Sin — I received your volume, and take it very kind
that you have sent it to me.
Be assured tnat if I have declined entering upon the question in
political economy which you submitted to me, it is not because I am
indifferent to any wish or request of yours ; but you know as well as
I, how the doctrines of this science hang together, and that we really
cannot do full justice to one of its topics, without taking a comprehen-
sive view of the whole.
It is ill fact far too unwieldy a subject for a literary correspondence ;
and besides, I am impressed with the feeling of a great elementary
difference betwixt us in our views of population, pauperism, the rights
of the labouring classes, SiC, and I am pretty sure that the result
of our launching together on the sea of so wide a speculation, would
just be a controversy that we should find to be interminable.
Will you forgive my haste, as at present I am very much occupied,
and believe me, my dear sir, yours very truly,
Thomas Chalmers.
Robert Gotirlay, Esq.
GLASGOW WEAVERS.
No. 1.
2, Bridge Street, Ltiih, 30/A April 1829.
Sir — I have this day read your affecting letter to Sir John Max-
well, dated 24th instant, and printed in the Glasgow Chronicle,
wherein you say, " We want no public pity — no pecuniary relief —
we are willing and able to labour."
May I beg the favour of a few lines, saying if you think the wea-
vers would listen to advice from me. Write after inquiry and reflec-
tion ; but say nothing of this letter, which keep private — Yours, &c.
ROBT. GOURLAY.
Mr. Charles M'Kay, Secretary to the
Operative Weavers, Glasgow.
No. 2.
Glasgow, May 6, 1829.
Sir — I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of date 30th April,
in which you signify a wish that it should be kept private. In answer
to this suggestion 1 have to say, that every letter addressed to me as
an official person is laid before a general body of delegates, chosen
from the operatives connected with the union, amounting to a popula-
tion of about 15,000 ; these delegates are again bound to lay the sub-
stance of the contents of said letters before their respective constituents ;
consequently your letter has not been kept in a corner. You ask me
if you think the operatives of this quarter would listen to your advice.
They will listen to every reasonable opinion ; however, I would beg
you never to mention the possibility of paying the national debt in
fifty years by the sale of colonial lands, for I am confident it would
only excite their risible faculties ; for we are convinced that although
the lands of Uritain, which are much more valuable, were sold, with
houses, mines, and canals, the proceeds arising therefrom would fall
far short of paying off the iiational debt. I, however, return you my
sincere thanks in name of my constituents for the interest you have
taken in their condition. — Yours respectfully,
Charles M'Kay.
Ttobt. Gourlay, Esq.
m
■^
9
ondence ;
ementary
the rif^hts
lie result
n, would
occupied,
1 1829.
)hn Max-
Hhronicle,
r relief —
the wea-
nd reflec-
'ours, &c.
JRLAY.
i, 1829.
)th April,
In answer
I to me as
?s, chosen
a popula-
f the sub-
stituent? ;
ou ask me
lur advice,
would beg
al debt in
it would
t although
sold, with
would fall
n you my
you have
vrKAY.
5
No. 3,
2, Bridge Street, Lcith, 'Jth May 1829.
Sin— The only reason for wishing my letter to you kept private
was, that female relations in Glasgow might hear of it, and have other
than their nsible faculties excited ; for it is difficult to manage between
women and weak men, or shall I say between weeping and lauL'hing
philosophers. The risHdc faculties of Sarah were excited when told
she was to have a child : nevertheless she had a child. Agrinna,
the heathen, might doubt when asked, « Why should it be thouKht
incredible with you that God should raise the dead ? " but now-a-davs
we must not doubt.
Should operatives listen to me, I shall not draw on their faith, but
submit to reason, as to what I have engraved on my business card. I
am neither mad, young, nor inexperienced ; have suffered more for
operatives than any man alive ; and as this, by your rules, will be laid
before l.),000 of them, I take the opportunity to say that their best
hope should rest in what you think impossible— what you beg me never
to mention, as it would excite their risible faculties viz. my asserting
that the national debt may be paid off from sales of colonial lands.
If operatives incline, I shall meet their delegates in Glasgow when-
ever they choose, first to prove this, and then to shew how every in-
dustrious man throughout the kingdom may have constant and profit-
able employment. Should my offer be accepted, you may, instead of
keeping this private, publish it in the newspapers, that all the world
may laugh me to scorn in case of failure. Otherwise, the less ex-
posure the better— Yours faithfully,
Mr. Charles M'Kay.
No. 4.
Glasgow, May 26, 1029.
Dear Sir— I am sorry that I have not had it in mv power to
answer your last communication at un earlier date than 'the above
\ou will, however, be ready to grant me your excuse for this seeming
neglect when you are in possession of my reasons. In the meantime
as I cannot enter into particulars, I will just say that since I wrote you
last I have been threatened with the strong arm of the law, and pro-
claimed through town and country because I happened to be the au-
thor of a circular letter to the operatives in the country.
I laid the contents of your last letter before my constituents, or dele-
gates appointed by my constituents ; and as they considered it rather
opposed to the proceedings in which they were engaged, they could
not give any definitive answer ; but they informed me, or rather I
should say instructed me, to say that if you would come to Glasgow
they would be happy to hear what you have to propose for their benefit •
and by giving me timeous information of your arrival, or the time you
intended to come, a respectable meeting would be convened.
Ji^^^&mmSKBKIKKP'i'im-mmmciiiiy^
6
Tliis id the sum totul of what passed. Before I conclude, however
1 niust say you seem to have been rather cut with some of the expres-
sions I used in n.y last card to you. If this is the case, I have iust to
say that men have a right to differ in their opinion ; and I can assure
you that my mind is open to conviction, and so I believe is the maioritv
of my constituents (excuse mo for saying a majority.) You sav vou
are neither youn^ nuuL nor inexperienced. This I knew before vou
expressed vourself ,n that manner. I am none of those who believe
a man mad when he ,s condemned by the money-catchin- part of the
community because he has followed the dictates of a benevolent heart.
If ever we should meet, which T earnestly hope we may, you will find
rnc both young and inexperienced. Do not think we are indifferent
to your proposal. .No: I believe you will (if you promise to come) be
nnxi.msly expected and warmly received. You ^vill therefore excuse
tins hasty .croll ; and, m the meantime, I remain vours respectfully,
Rol^i. Gourlaj/, Esg, Ch.hi.e8 M'Kav.
No. 5.
-^ ^ Leil/t, 27(h May 1829.
Dkar Sir— Yours of yesterday is received. I was not cut with
your expressions, nor cast qou ^ because of opinions. The Duke of
\Vell.ngton, to whom I had written on the same subject the week be-
fere, was as contemptuous of my opinions as your brother weavers can
be. and the chief magistrate of this place has been more so ; but I only
leave them to enjoy it. ^
I would be with you without delay, but have business on hand
here. I trouble you at present to beg your particular address-your
p ace of residence in Glasgow, as I may send you a parcel, and vvrite
at greater length, ,f sure there would be no miscarriages You can
satisfy me of t . . by return of post, without consultation. I need
scarry say, that the heart-rending accounts from manufacturing
towns touch me ; but we must be cautious in expressing feeling^
Mr. Charles M'Kay. ^^^^ ^o^^^^^'
I
No. 6.
Glasgow, June 1, 1829.
Dear hi R--I acknowledge the receipt of yours of date 2^th Mav
and on account of my having removed my former place of call, it dfd
not reach me until this day. As you want to be informed of mv
place of residence, I have to state that I live about a mile from gS
gow, at a place called Drygate Toll, and by calling at Mr John
Barne s, grocer there, you will find me ; or if you have any parcel to
send, you can djrect to the care of Mr. John MaCechnie/EIephanJ
lavern, 27, Gallowgate, Glasgow. ^«p"dnc
I do not wonder that your plans, or any plan for amelioratine the
condition of the industrious poor, should be treated with contempt by
■wi
!
^^"
""^^nWHVI
[le, however,
'the expres-
hiive just to
I can assure
the majority
if ou say you
' before you
ivho believe
part of tlie
olent heart,
ou will find
indifferent
to come) be
fore excuse
spectfuUy,
M'Kay.
Vf 1829.
t cut with
e Duke of
5 week be-
eavers can
but I only
; on hand
•ess — your
and write
You can
!■ I need
ifacturing
'ling.
URLAV.
, 1829.
''th May,
til, it did
3d of my
om Glas-
Ir. John
parcel to
Elephant
iting the
;empt by
the powers that be. However, the time is not fur distant when tliov
will he under the neccmly of imiuiring into tlve condUion, and adopt-
ing plans for the relief of suffering thousands Yours, &c.
n t, f. , ,. Charles M'Kay.
/too/. Liourloij, Lsif.
No. 7.
2, Bridge S'reel, Leilh, Alh June 182.0.
Mr. Gourlay accompanies this with pamphlets and papers to be
perused by delegates of the operative weavers, Glasgow, viz
Letter to Lord Kellie, written
Do. to Archdeacon Coxe, ...
Tracts on t';c Poor Laws, 1st and 2d
3d
4th
Address to the Labouring Poor
Do- do. do. .
Petition to Parliament, presented by Mr. Hume
Vhe United Labourer, and sundry papers connected
therewith - _ _
1808
1815
1815
1816
1817
1817
1822
ISr^'R
1828
These pamphlets and papers are not submitted from anv rc«ard to
the sentiments and projects contained in them, but to afford proof of
Mr. G.s long and steady adherence to the cause of operatives and
thTnr*''"' experience have changed his opinion in many
Mr. Gourlay conceived a high respect for Glasgow Weavers from
the appearance made before the Parliamentarv Committee on emi-
gration, i«27, by Joseph Foster and James Little, from that place •
and he rejoices that now, when grim want is exciting others to coml
mit useless acts of violence, sealing and cutting out webs, breaking
machinery, &c.. that Glasgow Weavers deport themselves manfullv
prudently, and peaceably. They may learn from the present success
of the Irish, that the toughest battles maybe won hy orfranimaTn
and perseverance. Tliay may always be assured that the people have
sufhcient strength with sufficient wisdom. Tiie operative weavers of
Glasgow have funds by which they can send delegates fiir and near
Should they incline, they may have JMr. Gourlay's advice in person'
for payment of his expenses, say a seat outside the coach going to and
returmng from Glasgow, with board and lodgings as long as thev find
him worth so much. Mr. G. dare not in prudence, even were he
able, tender his services gratis. The engraving above is his business
card. He must speak and act with the operative weavers as a nmn Tf
business; and if required, will give good reasons for all that he has
wntten as to paying the national debt from colonial land sales
He will shew how every industrious man throughout the kingdom
may be speedily and profitably employed. ^'"gaom
at fifrth?sr'^^^ ^'^ ^''^''* ^" ^"''''^' ^'^ *^'' '"^ *^^ '°''''^°^ ^'"^ J«y«
Mr. Charles M'Kay.
"-■-.^ •*• 'fWxflRKJirfllW
i
No. 8.
,., , ,,..«,/ Toll Cross, Angusl 9, IQ29.
,te to you with a P'^'^^^'' "" n^^.,^^^ ^oll : called at Turn-
., but you had rernoyed from ^^^^^^^^^^^ no one was
Mr. Charles M'Knif.
I wrote
rl^rr^lliXt^t but you we. „o. .he. )
ROBT. GOURLAY.
No. 9.
2, Br«/gT S/ree<, L.i^/., 12//. September 1829.
Mr. Gourlay is -inded of Glas^^^^ ^ZJ^I ^^^^^^
newspapers that a number of them have craveu jea ^^f ■ are
9th 1B29).
Mr. Charles M'Kay.
(no reply.)
W J
UNITED STATES.
No. 1.
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YOUK STATE.
London, January 10, 1827-
Arrx Having expressed a wish in an address to the
Fellow ^»''^--"f^^"^, ,■ L,i .,„.„„„ you last October, to be as-
people of Upper Canada publ^hedamcm you ^^^^^ .^ ^ ^^^^^ ^
iistid by them, or by Y^u, or ^Y ^^^ J want a subscription to the
subscription, ^nd now say that ^J^^ J^ a single cen? from each
amount of hve ^l^J-^ f.^Tand wt h^nfght be^obtained even be-
subscriber, in f ^.^J^J^editors of newspapers to publish this,
office, Geneva, thence to be '^J^'''^^^^ T; ^^^,,^ ^^ your part gener-
My object is ^o ^-- -^^^^^^^^^ ilniA/ f om
ally to assist me m estaWisning a ^ ^^ipable. Were five hun-
Europe to America which ^^«"^'^, ,*;"^'^^^^^^ on the strength
Toiaing meatus Xfil^:^^^-^.^^^ I would cros.
Should the P3'\°f^^PfJ,^;rround Lake Ontario; otherwise
?™'":;n-;>™-/" ?»*"■• The BOve™me„t of upper Ca„ada
-f
a-.
9
829.
ame to
; Turn-
ne was
ILAY.
1829.
ng from
and re-
ving are
August
, 1827.
;s8 to the
to Le as-
I want a
ion to the
from each
. even be-
blish this,
the Land-
»art gener-
tion, from
five hun-
le strength
isten to my
tion ; pro-
Lewiston,
iTOuld cross
; otherwise
per Canada
may hang me as legally as they imprisoned and banished me. Of that
however, I liave no fear, and but for a delay in Chancery, should have
returned to the Province in autumn 1H23,
It is now ten years since I resolved to seek an outlet for the poor
of England in America. My first intention was to sail for New York,
there to make arrangements, but chaucs carried me to Quebec, and ori-
ginated a world of misfortunes. My objects are so pure, steady, and
great, that nothing appals— nothing' makes me despair; I desire to
rescue the poor from the oppression of the rich, and regard govern-
ments with satisfaction only as they tend to liberate and humanize,
earing nothing for names and forms. Ten years of misfortune, failure,
and persecution, have rather whetted my desire to proceed in the cause
of benevolence. These years have indeed afforded experiences which
may greatly promote ultimate success; and emigration is not a momen-
tary conceni. It is not in times of distress only that this should be
thought of: the more that the world prospers in peace, the more should
emigration be regarded and encouraged.
iMy zeal for reform in Upper Canada sprung from no disloyal source :
it had no view whatever but to render that fine country a desirable
asylum from the miseries of the parent state. "With reform in Canada,
emigration from hence would have been more immediately successful,
and less resisted by our government, than emi.cration to the United
States. Now there are fewer obstructions, and prejudices are dying
away, while we have people to spare for every p:;rt of the new world
— hundreds of thousands for each succeeding year.
There is a rumour of war, but this, I trust, \. ill prove groundless ;
and could peace be maintained for twenty years, I doubt not but all
who speak the Knghsh language may again be re-united under one
government. I am told that congress proposes speedily to dispose of
the remaining unoccupied lands of the Union to individuals, for little
or nothing. Were I at New York, I would post to ^Vashington, wait
on the President, and advise that not another acre should be <lisposed
of till the subject is well understood. Pardon me ! — v<>ur government
never has rightly understood how a new country should be most pro-
fitably settled, and that is a matter of utmost consequence to humanity
and the world at large. I need not say more. If you incline tr) as-
sist me, club your cents, by tens, and hundreds, and thousands, without
delay.
_, - ^ Rob. Gourlav.
House of Corrcclion, Cold Balk Fields.
The above was pul)lished in Airerican newspapers ; and in the Colonial Advo-
cate, pul.hshetl at New York, Upper Cana<la, January 10, 1828, there was the
foUowHig article :— .
" Latest fiiomEnot-and.
^<- NewProjecL-.m.Roh^vt Gourlay has addressed a leuer to the people of
the state of New York, calhnp upon them each and all to subscribe one cent to
« nrSJl"".*" '.Ti^'f^^d. This fund to be employed in mifrratin,. the po„r
' ot England and Ireland to the United States." A Ko.,d speci.nen of edit, rial
SU11II.-S3, and ot general misconception.
U
(I
■i
10
No '2.
RK-UNIOK.
. iA i,.,«o ,^f RrUiin ' You wlio alone are in-
Listed -quer -- J rdlirtt„t- ctada ; and be not
are >nvinaUe. It ^^g ^^^^ > right-hand of fellowsh p .cross the
Tf'Z Let us be done with jealousy and war-vanity and vexa-
"^^ "i !;iri^ Let ,^ e^unite. and then you may be more than con-
tion of «P%*; ,/f ."t se^re yourselres, vou may give security to all.
nuerors. Ihus, being secure yu '^Usnthe eloben the r arms;
Lt Britons and Americans re-umte ^^d e-lasp the ^loDe
bestow enlightened laws «"/^« 3^' f ,^,,X ,^^^^^
throughout, erect a tower whose top may r«ach un
Til '"u clre^d" 7h: K^g: wl^:;.?! - wt^g ?"-Why should
t"Xo le'^e tSaid of ^r^^yj^^^^^ on.-
blinded with prejudice and P^^t^^J^^fbeTl in^l^^^t^
press to ei-ulate common sense e^ > ^^,^
tnend government L«\ "^ [^f,^^^^ f^^ J common good, to expose
f M-^l'o;rbo?h ides and it u ^ow profit by it. that our family-
Stmav be renewed and confirmed. How monstrous to suppose
compact "'^^^^^^.f "S^'„,i, ^f Lower Canada, or the rag-tag of all na-
that the «"^"f^\^^^^X provinces, should be better disposed towards
tions, scattered o^^y ^"'f^^J;^ offspring ot her patriots and statesmen-
Britain than y«"^*^Xs-herTet" and philosophers :-yo«, whose
her moralists and martyrs "'^'^ P*;^ n Wallace— Hampden and
blood ran pure from tlie veins of B^- ^^^ J^alhce ^^^^, J__,,
Sydney-Wickcliffe, W^slmrt, and ^^ ^^,^^ ^^^^^
speare, J»^^"|„^i,7aTymimthize more warmly with the benighted
people of B"tam, should sympa ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ VV^ashington.
things who hadnot ^t to^ ^^ court-appointed
nor even "ow, sense and spmt to ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^^ ,
gove^nors han you who '-^^y e ^^^^^^.^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^
'" f '"'[nilnd hws a^id sentiments are all the same : nay, when
a (1 language, f"^ /=;';'', ^i"^^ fi^^re, rightly understood, are one.
rf:^ol"SS you would be less than ever subject to
change and disunicm. . .,, , ^Ljered me when cheerless :
V ^"S\";;^» d ardo r ori^h^^^^ flame of freedom misht
know that ;' F^.^^^'',;™;, ,,_J,i„ ,„ burn forth with nnex-
X'«iS.i;s^t^".r 'n.ere was no. among you one wh»e boson,
1
"^mim
n
le are in-
ancestors ;
of power,
ember that
annoi;, un-
without it
and be not
across the
r and vexa-
} than con-
urity to all.
1 their arms;
;ir language
ven — not of
ert}'. Why
Why should
e be longer
with a free
) make or to
y years only
d, " to expose
our family-
s to suppose
tag of all na-
losed towards
statesmen —
-you, whose
lampden and
wton — Shak-
that we, the
;he benighted
VV^ashington,
art-appointed
irst gave hope
)d and spirit,
; : nay, when
tood, are one.
be one whole
The northern,
jsite interests.
I'er subject to
lien cheerless :
"reedom might
:h with unex-
e whose bosom
glowed with more generous passion, and now is the time for ac-
I knowledgment. J\ry efforts in Canada were solely to open a door of
I connexion with America for a grand system of emigration. Now it
1 IS open, and cannot bt' closed. It matters not where emigrants laud
Everywhere they will b'.come independent : it cannot be otherwise,
ihink of It : talk of it : cherish the idea iliat the world must speedily
be emancipated, if the people unite and esiiblish a grand system of
emigration. Had xve free trade, the interchange of manufactures for
tood would be immense. The profits of agriculture would draw forth
tlie industrious labourc'rs of Europe, and a million at least would an-
nually cross the Atlantic, to enjoy the blessings of your excellent in-
stitutions : not redemptionera— not paupers: but free, vigorous, and
substantial settlers — prospering, and to prosper.
I have said that vour government never has rightly understood how
a new country should be most profitably settled ; and that were I at
xNew York, I would post to Washington, wait on the President, and
advise that not another acre of national territory should be disposed of
till the subject IS well understood. Repeating this, I trust attention
may be arrested, for it is matter of importance, not to you only, but to
mankind at large. Ten years ago, travelling among you, this idea oc-
curred, and ever since I have mused npui it : indeed these ten years
iiave been mainly occupied with such contemplations ; and four of them
in prison have brightened my prospects, and ripened my plans. Owen's
plans are trifling when compared with mine. They are well enough
tor experiment, but fundamentally erroneous. Human energy can be
highly stimulated only by the love of self, property, and power—by in-
dividuality. Passions M'ere bestowed, not to be smothered, but quick-
ened ; and the question is, how to regulate— to balance man against
man, and guard against dangerous ascendancies. A community of
goods may ensure happiness ; but man was not made for bread al6ne •
he was made not only to be happy, but great. Owen has means and
coadjutors : ^ylth these I could in a few years create a stream of
emigration vvhich would be irresistible : which would refresh Europe-
strengthen America— cement the human race— weaken the dominion
ot despots, and leave the Holy Alliance to contempt.
II rr^ J- ^ ,, ^ , ^. KOBT. GOURLAY.
Jlotixe of Correction, Cold Bath Fields,
London, October 10, in27.
No. 3.
TO THE PRESIDKNT OF THE rNJTED STATES.
2, Bridge Street, Leitli, 24th December 1829.
Sir— There was a time when no one disliked you more than I did
But then halt your own nation, and all the world besides, were aeainst
you My countryman IMelish. the geographer, wrote to me in Niagara
Jail, January »1U, from Harr.sburgh, that I " was entire!' Jonl
nslothe execuhm of the two scoundrels called Arbuthnot and Art
bnslic; but antipathy to military despotism, and uncontradicted
assertions, then admitted of no reasoning. Your conduct has sinco
undergone the severest scrutiny, and the most free, most intilligent
1
12
anJ most moral people on earth have not only acquitted, but raised
v<.u to the liighest dignity. Yes, Sir, to be President of the United
States is to be more exalted than the mightiest emperor that ever
sw'ived a sceptre ; infinitely more exalted than the greatest of here-
ditary puppets. Placed where voii now are, it would be impious to
doubt your merits or puritv of heart ; and most sincerely do I say,
" whom the Lord justifieth, a-ho is he that condemneth ?"
I left home in England April 1817, on a visit to my friends and
property in Canada. Expecting to land at New York, four tracts
published by me on the poor law system were put m my trunk, as
introduction there, where I wished to establish an Emigration bociety.
Arriving at Liverpool a few hours too late lost my passage to New
York. I sailed for Quebec, and thence arose a tram of events which,
up to this hour, has marred all my projects ; but by which I am more
than ever determined to persevere, believing that every thing great
must be dearly paid for. T»r i • ,.
The annexed printed address was dispatched to Washington, in
liope that I would follow it within a year ; but here I am, stranded
and netted in by grievous perplexity. Were I free, no tinie would
be lost in sailing for America ; and arriving there, I would hasten to
confer with you, assured not only of welcome, but that with your ear,
and the concert of your constituents, my designs of nine-and-twen^
years could be accomplished. These need no secrecy, nor can they be
advanced by force. They regard directly neither politics nor govern-
ment They are purely'benevolent, and have but one object, the
.rood of our fellow men. When you see from newspapers what
wretchedness prevails in London, in Dublin, in Manchester, nay,
throughout the united kingdom; when you peruse our parliamentary
reports, and observe what pains are bestowed to search for causes, and
discover remedies ; when you reflect on the generous disposition of
the British nation, and witness the efforts made by us m the cause of
humanity ; when you mark the prevailing spirit of our rulers, aiming
continually, even in madness and errors, at what is fair and honour-
able, and'of good report ; nay, when you behold the Holy Alliance
itself bending to necessity, the dread and glorious power of awakened
civilization,— that power which the press is daily strengthening : when
you spe this leviathan drawn out with a hook, and now acting with
submission to public opinion, you must be aware that a new age is
approaching, and that man is destined, ere long, to enjoy better days ;
you must now >>e sensible that it is not so much the tyranny of govern-
ment, as the ascendancy of wealth, generated by the funding system,
and that for the time rendered omnipotent by the increase of maclii-
nery, which beggars and enslaves the mass of our population. Anien-
cans generally believe that convulsion only can cure the evil, but God
forbid. That will best be done by endurance, by peace, by time :
That may be speedily done by establishing a grand system of omigra-
tion : that may be done, sir, with your ear, and the concert ot your
Constituents. „ . , ,
As soon as free and able, I shall be off to commune ^^■lth you, and
till then, accept the assurance of my respect.
' * ROBT. GOUBLAY.
mmm
but raised
the United
that ever
st of here-
impious to
y do I say,
riends and
four tracts
J trunk, as
on Society.
ge to New
ents which,
I am more
thing great
liington, in
1, stranded
time would
d hasten to
;h your ear,
and-twenty
can they be
nor govern-
object, the
lapers Avhat
lester, nay,
irliamentary
causes, and
isposition of
the cause of
lers, aiming
and honour-
oly Alliance
af awakened
■ning : when
acting with
I new age is
better days ;
ly of govern-
ding system,
se of niaclii-
i)n. Anieii-
vil, but God
;e, by time :
II (if oniigra-
icevt of your
ith vou, and
1»
Mt. Gourlay presents his compliments to General lifacomb. I\Ir
G. received a letter from a friend in Upper Canada lately, who had
been last summer at Washington, and reported that General INIacomb
inquired kindly after him.
^}^k?' ^^'"^'^bers having spent some days in a hotel at Kingston
with i\Irs. Macomb and lier son or nephew, "summer 1817, and after-
wards crossing Lake Ontario with them in tlie steam-boat. Delighted
with the lady's conversation and manners, lAIr. G. made bold, when at
Detroit, some months afterwards, to wait on her at the governor's
house ; and remembers with much pleasure the reception met with
there. He can never forget contrasting the dreary and wretched ap-
pearance on the British side of the river to the thriving, cleanly, and
spacious streets of Detroit ; but above all, the poor shrivelled French
Canadians and the magistracy of his JMajesty, with the open counten-
ance, frank address, and full-grown manhood of General Macomb.
Mr. Gourlay had for many years before stood the brunt of persecu^
tion because of his principles, and ever since has been the victim of
remorseless vengeance. Were he at Washington he could a tale un-
fold. Now, he can only make the best use of this sheet. He begs
that General JMacomb will present it to the President ; and wishes
many a merry Christmas to the Republic.
Jamiarif 2Q, \^0.
F.h. — The above was despatched when first ^vritte^ to General
Macomb, to be presented to you by hin., and a duplicate a few days
later. Copies were also sent to Mr. Henderson, Washington ; J\Iessrs.
Webster and Skinner, Albany ; Mr. Fellows, Geneva ; Mr. Stuart]
near New York ; the Secretary of IMassachusetts Agricultural So-
ciety ; and Major Secord, Upper Canada. Thus, sir, have I at once
declared my sentiments and views, as well as made reparation for what
1 formerly published to ycm prejudice. I have further read my let-
ter to many individuals, and shall give a copy to be deposited in the
library of St. Andrew's University, my alma mater.
Your message was printed in Edinburgh, the 9th instant, and gave
universal satisfaction. We are glad you are liberally disposed to Bri-
tain : glad thpt your tariff is to be reconsidered ; glad that popular
rights are to be more and more maintained : glad that Indians are to
be kindly treated : glad that your national resources, after the liqui-
dation of debt, are to be applied to agricultural improvements the
extension of roads and canals.
Let me, sir, about to despatch this last copy of my letter directly to
yourself, repeat, with respectful consideration, what I have again and
again asserted, that " your government never has rightly understood
how a new country should be most profitably settled."
RoBT. Gourlay.
General Jackion.
Gourlay.
14
li
UPPER CANADA.
No. 1.
2, Bridge Sired, Leith, 9(h Fehruarij 1R30.
Madam— Mr. lAIetliven, writer in Cupa)-, being employed by one
of my creditors to get a settlement brought about, found it necessary
to write to you ; and you thought projjer, in return, to address a letter
to me through him, ilated 3()th October 182!), at once ridiculously
peevish, and m;.nstrously unjust. INIadam ! look to a cojiy of what
your brother wiste to me in Canada, and which never should have been
exhibited, but for his and your persevering blindness.
" York, March 23, 1818.
" INIy Dkar Gouhlay— My feelings were never so much hurt at>
-■ they were this morning, on reading a letter from INIrs. Clark to me,
recounting the shocking behaviour of herself and father to you ; I am
at piesent too much vexed to say anything more on the subject, but
sincerely hope your good sense will make you look upon this worse
than savage treatment as it deserves. I hope to see you nearly as
soon as, or shortly a.^er this will reach you ; ! wrote you the other
day by THr. Stevenson (son-in-law to Mr. AJdison.) Yours truly,
' •' " Thomas Clark."
What, Madam, did your brother do after writing this letter ? He
and air. William Dickson, had, by their violent complaints against
the executive government, drawn me into a controversy, and made me
publicly declare that there was " one thing needful, viz. a radical
chan<re of system in the government of Upper Canada." For publish-
ing thisi arid advising the people to send home a commission to pro-
cure this one thing needful, which by this time would have made his
liuided property ten times more valuable than it now is— for this
your brother, more savage than his wife, pronounced my conduct se-
ditious, and at a township meeting, uttered against me the most un-
founded calumnies. ]Madam,your brother is now in Britain, and any-
where I will meet him face to face, either in doors or out— before the
public, or before parliament, and dare him to convict me of a single
mean, cowardly, or dishonest act in the whole course of my life. More
than that, I will shew good cause for all you see in my engraved busi-
ness card which heads this letter. If he has a single spark of courage
or honesty remaining, he will repel what 1 have here said of legislative
councillors, who were no other than the Honourable Thomas Clark, and
the Honourable William Dickson— repel or make me amends. As
you transmitted your letter to me through Mr. Methven, this shall
go to you through him, while a copy shall be despatched to your
brother, and several to Upper Canada.— Yours faithfully,
ROBT. GOUHLAY.
Miss Jean Clark.
15
uarij 1830.
iloyed by one
d it necessary
Idress a letter
3 ridiculously
co])y of what
uld have been
h 23, 1818.
much hurt an
. Clark to me,
to you ; I am
e subject, but
ion this worse
you nearly as
you the other
Scours truly,
AS Clark."
1 letter? He
)laints against
, and made me
viz. a radical
For publish-
nission to pro-
have made his
vv is — for this
ay conduct se-
; the most un-
itain, and any-
)Ut — before the
me of a single
my life. More
engraved busi-
park of courage
id of legislative
)mas Clark, and
2 amends. As
iven, this shall
itched to your
r. GOUHLAY.
No. 2.
2, Britlge Street, Leilh, Feiruarij 20th, 1830.
Sir— I did not expect tliat JMr. Methven would forward my letter
to your sister, and he has not. JNIy object was to make him witness
it, and to rouse you into a just sense of your and Dickson's conduct,
in first instigating me to call for inquiry into the state of Upper
Canada, and then persecuting me to the 'death. But, sir, I am not
yet dead ; and, while you are in Britain, ask you to appear with me
before government and say what is best to be done for this and that
country, conjointly, at the present awful crisis. You always appeared
to me a good-hearted honest man, but miserably misled by Dickson.
Be led now by a sense of the wrong done to me and the cause of truth!
In your ])lacard of 23d April 1818, you characterised my writint^s as
" improper and unwarrantable." But all that I wrote in Canada
up to that date, and onward till my banishment, August 1819, can
yet be produced by me, and will prove that my object was of the pur-
est and most exalted kind. I can prove, indeed, by a series of writings
up to the present time, that no man ever adhered more pertinaciously
to a great cause than I have done for twenty-nine years : Yes, it is
twenty-nine years sincel was employed by government toniake inquiries
for bettering the condition of the poor, and it was mainly for that cause
I exerted myself in Upper Canada. Six years ago Lord Liverpool
declared that were we to go to war, there would be no want of means
to carry it on ; and on the 12th instant, the Duke of Wellington said
" the country was never in such a high state of preparation for war at
any period within my memory, as at the present moment— never in
my time was its credit higher, or its power and efficiency for foreign
war greater." But the question is, How to make these means, this
state of preparation and efficiency, redound to the honour and advan-
tage of the country during peace? and I, sir, will dare to answer it.
In June 1820, I offered to his Majesty's ministers to shew how they
could " remove 15,000 people to tlie colonies that year, and at hak
50,000 afterwards annually, with comfort to themselves and profit to
the nation — give instant stimulus to industry in every quarter draw
from the sale of colonial lands half a million by the end of five years,
and in twenty, havs an yearly income from tlie same of five millions!
while poor-rates are reduced to a trifle." 1 shall now better that offer
by saying that 100,000 may be removed this year into British Ame-
rica, and as many annually, for at least twenty years to come, with
comfort to themselves and profit to the nation : but no time should
be lost. I shall despatch copies of this to the Duke of Wellington and
Sir George Murray, besides several to Upper Canada, that all*it home
and abroad may witness what I say ; and at a day's notice from the
ministers shall set off for London to meet you before them. I shall
take with me the emigration reports, whereby to prove my points, and
demonstrate that IMr. Wilmot Horton knoMs nothing of right prin-
ciples of poor law reform and emigration, but has laboured for years
m
16
to mystifv and mislead on tliat all iniiwrtimt subject. I repeat, no
tinie'should be lost, and am your obedient servant,
IIOBT. GOURLAY.
N.B. — The above has been read to two writers in Edinburgh, one
of whom directs the letter.
EIMIGRATION— Mn. GOURLAV.
[_Extractcd from the Dundee Advertiser, March 11, 1830.]
The following are a placard, published by an individual in Canada,
from the publication of which 'Mr. Gourlay dates all his misfortunes,
and two communications addressed by ]\Ir. Gourlay to this individual,
on learning that he had arrived in Great Britain. We know little of
Mr. Gourlay's case ; but we have been induced to publish these
documents, chiefly because, on conversing with him, we think his
plans of emigration aie essentially sound and excellent. They are
founded on the assumption, that, in a country like this, where labour
is superabundant and scantily remunerated, the labourers can only
protect themselves effectually from distress, either by resisting the
natural impulse to multiply their numbers, or by finding means of
transporting themselves, before the pressure becomes great, to places
where labour is scarce and highly productive. The first remedy is
found to be impracticable in the present state of civilization ; but
there does not appear to be the same obstacles to the application of
the second. It is easy to conceive how a publication like the sub-
joined placard wouh' operate against a person like Mr. Gourlay, —
especially in a country like Canada, which is attempted to be governed
after the aristocratic notions of Great Britain. Nothing could be
more necessary than the inquiry for which Mr. Gourlay called.
Nothing in politics can be more certain than that Great Britain will
lose Canada, if it continue to be governed as it is and has been. We
say that Great Britain will lose Canada ; but we should rather have
adopted tlie vulgar phraseology, and said that she will gain a loss
by losing it. Only think of our attempting to establish a hot-bed
of aristo'.ratic fungi in the near vicinity of the United States of
America !
To Ihc Public.
It having been stated to me, by some of my friends, that the public
mind was impressed with the idea of my having participated in and
sanctioned the recent improper and unwarrantable publications of
Mr. Robert Gourlay, I conceive it a duty which I owe to the Govern-
ment, to the province, and to myself, to declare that, beyond publishing
a statistical report of this province, he had neither my approbation
nor my countenance.
In making this declaration, I trust that th^ tenor of my life
justifies my asserting that factious discontent never originated in
my breast. Having said this much in vindication of my own sen-
timents, I shall in order to prevent error in, and rescue from distress
I repeat, no
GOURLAV.
inburgli, one
1830.]
il in Canada,
, misfortunes,
is individual,
inow little of
)ublish these
^ve think his
t. They are
where labour
ers can only
resisting the
ng means of
eat, to places
rst remedy is
lization ; but
ippHcation of
ike the sub-
p. Gourlay, —
be governed
ing could be
mrlay called,
t Britain will
IS been. We
d rather have
1 GAIN a loss
ish a hot-bed
ted States of
lat the public
ipated in and
ublications of
the Govern-
ed publishing
ly approbation
>r of my life
originated in
my own sen-
from distress
i 17
the heedless proselj'tes of Mr. Gourlay's One Thing Needful-v\z
a radical change of system in the Government of Upper Canada"~l
transcnbe forther information, an extract from tVe common law
of the Bntish empire, which bears on the point of unlawful meetint^
or conventions, viz. '; The constitution of Great Britain hS
placed the representation of the nation, and the expression of M^
national vyill. in the Parliament, no other meeting or coTendnevt
exnrirr^'^ir^ " ?' ^".S^""' ^«"'d ^' a competent o"gan to
to «pS^ T" 'i",""^, '""^^'^S' °^ ^"'^^ ^ ""t^re, lending merely
Tilt r:- ri'" •^.'^".^l *''^ I^«"P^« '"*« ^" ™«gin«ry assf rtion of
Pari a Jn/ 'u ^ Y ^f'' ^^^^S**^'^ *« their representatives fn
ParLament. could only tend to introduce anarchy and confusion, and
to overturn every settled principle of government." An act of Par-
iTeZjZ'TT' "'-'-'',- the yir 1793 to prevent any fuch
ineetmgs or conventions; and a few ignorant individuals who, in
wereSrdi ^^'^'^ ^/^^^/^ ^.-emble under that title in ScotJ^nd
cS Zfh '^ T^ sentenced to transportation. I shall con-
tita;ytth:rr'"^"*^ ^" *^^^^'^^-^-^ ^t ^'^^r^"^-'^ *-
Niagara, April 18, 1818. ^"''''' ^''^"^-
Tlia™ c* • 1 Leilk, Fchniaru 24, 1830.
ADril23 IhTh 'V"""".™ published in ,h„ Niagara SpeCalor,
«ffi"h dread IZr'jV'" '"?*."' <'»"'P»"'"1 "f fclse insL«i„n
aiinst St .^d "'""r''"!'' "■'.'■ "'»* you raised the hue and cry
out WUIiam U.ckson, I doubt not, was the author; He who had
50S" SeTof S'fo'"" l^r-'r? Goverumen._he who offered"
r :rTh:;s rdt'adri;i;rj: r^e-esitr^D-s
S^hPs re?2;iT ^ T-' '''"^ ^^ '"^^'^^ ^"° that country retained
iX'^orrXllf:;^^ ^-*-^«f being disgrLedwi^h
to SmlwTvluTrp^^ V^'' 'T'^y ^^« announced, I resolved
ParliS wras:eS7%\^^^^ 'Z' -^.P-F-Ij delayed till
awaken vou and I^^. ^"^^^ "^"t*^" ^* intervals, the better to
was LtJnL'^o KhTorfepI?''* ' '" ^*^^'/- ^^^^ ^^^ letter
great and good and hLT ^^'' ""^ '""""^ *« ^'^^"'^^t objects
Kted. Yra;e in Britain a'tXC ?V'^'^"^' ^^^* y*?^-^^^ i"«ti.
one knows Canada better an^ „5\^''* *f ^ '" ^ive evidence. No
^ uua oetter , and no one can better confirm what I ^vfnt
- ^J^Mik^...,
%
18
to establish, were you properly questioned. Your insinuations agaiiwt
me were vile, and every accusation was false. Ihe sufferings I have
endured in consequence are beyond descriptiori ; but I am not untor-
triviuLr. When you visited us in Wiltshire, 1814, you saw me at the
head of an amiable family-all my affairs in order, and my farm
mana.'ed to admiration. I visited you in Canada : instigated by you
and Dickson. I called for inquiry into the state of the Province ; was
deserted, persecuted, and ruined. Sir, I repeat that I am not unfor-
tliving. Come forward instantly and volunteer your appearance with
me before Parliament or his INIajesty's jMinisters. My prime object
has all along been to establish a grand system of emigration ; and that
may be instantly set on foot, thoug;. the political state of Canada is
unchanged. I could meet you in London . ext week; ""J; before
another was at an end, make all sensible that a hundred thousand
people may be removed into British America this very year, witli
comfort to themselves and profit to the nation.
Copies of this letter shall follow the last to the Duke of Welling-
ton, and Sir George aiurray-be sent to Canada, and lodged in the
hands of respectable persons here. We are now at issue. W itliin
three weeks you may convict me of being a " vmomnj enihimasi,
or make amends for unspeakable wrong.- Your obedient servant,
ROBT. G0UKl./»y.
The Honourable Thomas Clark.
Copied at Dysart, Fchrtiary 2(5, 1830.
James Bain, wilness.
RoBT. DoBiE, rvitness.
Wm. Swan, wilness.
Seafield, Fife, February 2(3, 1830.
p s The importance of this communication is such, that I have
crossed"to Fife, that a copy might be sent to the Earl of Rosslyn (to
be laid before the Privy Council), which it now is, witnessed by his
factor Mr. Bain, INIr. Dobie, a ma;Aistrate of Dysart, and Mr. Sv -n,
iustice of the peace, Kirkaldy. This duplicate will be directed by my
daughter, and sealed with her seal, that you may think more seriously
of luivin'' ruined, not me only, but my family, by vile insinuations.
" RoBT. Gourlay.
Frierton, Fife, March 10, 1830.
You have, or you have not, come forward : His Majesty's Ministers
have, or have not, resolved to give me a hearing ; but hovvever this
may be, I shall remain steady— determined in principle, and resolute
for truth. , , ,. . • tr' i „ij
Mv last cammunication was read to a public meeting in Kirkaidy,
and shown to many persons elsewhere. You now see it m print, and
thus it will go forth to the world. Ten years ago, the editor of the
Dundee Advertiser liberally gave his paper tr make known my hor-
rible treatment in Canada: and is now to exhibit these my letters to
you, that the public may judge betwixt us. I am here on the spot,
dear to my earliest recollections, and with my oldest friend. Here,
5&i«i»<l*!*!l*'!'
tions agaiitst
rings I have
[1 not unfor-
w me at the
nd my farm
jated by you
ovince ; was
m not unfor-
earance with
prime object
m ; and that
of Canada is
and, before
•ed thousand
y year, with
of Welling-
odged in the
iue. Within
y enihusiast,"
servant,
y 2(3, 1830.
1, that I have
if Rosslyn (to
;nessed by his
nd Mr. Sv -n,
lirected by my
more seriously
nsinuations.
, GOURLAY.
h 10, 1830.
sty's Ministers
t however this
;, and resolute
in Kirkaldy,
t in print, and
e editor of the
nown my hor-
5 my letters to
e on the spot,
friend. Here,
i
I
19
where my mother's family has sojourned for a hundred years, noted
for sterling honesty ; and in this county, where my forefathers can be
reckoned back throiigh seven hundred and fifty years, without one
blot on their escutclieon, I take my stjuid against slander, and say
with you, that "Joclious (tixcovtent never originated in my hrcasl."
If ever a cause justified enl/nixiastn (nnd what great goofl is ac-
complished without such agency.?) it was that maintaitied by me in
Canada, its sole object being to render that fine country an asylum
from distress. You never had such opportunity to do good as by ad-
hering to me, whom you first instigated and then betrayed. You
cannot say no. I have yet your letter of Fela-uary 1818, bidding me
brmg to York, where you were then sitting in the Legislative Council,
some copies of the Niagara Spectator, containing my call for inquiry
into the state of the province " as it was," you said, " selling for
twelve dollars a copy." I can assert that you expressed a wish, by no
means agreeable to rae, that my brother might be refused a grant of
land, the better to manifest the infamous conduct of the Local Govern-
ment ; and you cannot deny, that only a few days before publishing
your protest against my proceedings, you sat most cordially with me
in a large company, and then paid a dollar towards sending home the
commission for inquiry.
The writings characterized by you a; " improper and unwarrant-
able" were within the last three weel submitted to a university
professor, who was so struck with their power, and the purity of my
motives, that he urged me to publish them immediately, and get my
friends. Professors Leslie and Dr. Chalmers, to back endeavours for
inquiry into my whole case.
Now, sir, knowing the confusion with which yov must read this,
I am anxious to save your blushes. You have, first and last, been
misled by a man who has not u tenth part of your sense, or a hun-
dredth part of your goodness— indeed by the most dangerous fool I
ever had the misfortune to come in contact with. Be yet undeceived.
Consider that there is a Providence in all things ; and that we are
but instruments. Should you yet do your duty, it will be easy for
me to pardon —
" Forgiveness to the injured doth belong.
They never pardon who have done the wrong."
It was not, sir, because of my being a visionary, that after two honour-
able acquittals on jury trial, I was flung into prison and ruined ; but
I novv give you opportunity to prove that I am one, repeating that
a hundred thousand people viay be reinoved to British America this
very year, with comfort to themselves and profit to the nation ; and that
merely by the force of iwq proclamations,— one addressed to the people
at home, and the other to the people abroad. I shall write these pro-
clamations as soon as required ; but no time should be lost, as they
ought to be issued this very month.
I have purposely staid from home ten days, to give time for vour
decision, and that of Government. Two days hence, I return to Leith,
mmm^ij^mm-mmMm «•».■«*"
II
^t-i
fl9
and, if called on, »l.all pro^reed immediately t« London. Well know-
?nK the .m«lne«8 of pow^r and the inveteracy of prejudice, I "« I'X "«
"tuns BanLuine ; hut beard or unheard, shall remam steady to the
Tuseof truth and benevolence, nothing envying either your wealth or
your nominal honour. ^^^^ Goublay.
The Honourable Tho>nas Clark.
BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
No. 1.
Seafield, near Kingkorn, July 1, 1828.
Sm-Some years afio I sent your predecessor, Mr. Huskisson, a
mr>e" relating to colonial policy, of vast importance, c^-iring him to
K i in a hlank covLr if thought little of. The paper was re-
[urnSl accordingly ; and thenceforth I thought little of Mr. Huskis on.
T^,w encS for your perusal a handbill (Purposes of Emigration
Societrs-Untn and^gency) of which were lately forwarded to
thTDuke of Wellington, Mr. Huskisson, Mr. Peel, and Mr. WUmot
Hort^n with duplicates for the Privy Council. 6b uld you thinK this
nf HtUe Tonsequence, return it in a blank cover along with the accom-
miv UK S and ^e shall be mutually satisfied It is, sir. in the
Tower ofThe British Government to effect all that I assert in mjr card,
jr that, " rvithout altering a single statute, changing a single institu.
i^ T interfering with properti,, the whole system ofthevoorlaws
Z'Zles Jy he dispensed with in twenty years, while the naiiona
Thtmay he laid off within Jijly years from sales of colonial lands
S:. i ho^ever,^no time to be lost ; and I ^^^^^J^^^^^l^^
servant.
Sir George Murray.
N B — Although every thing like the above should be ju^gedof by
its own merits you are welcome to consult as to me with Sir Henry
Wns, or write to your Perthshire constituent, Captam James Kerr
of East Grange, now'residing at Greenside, near Largo, Fife I re-
peat there is no time to be lost. ^' '
No. 2.
2, Bridge Street, Lcilh, i<ovember 25, 1828.
^iR— Referring you to my letter from Seafield of July Ist, I now
accomVny S wit?^ anotheJhandbill (Discourses), and you are a* all
times welcome to make advantage of your obedient ™^'^^^^^^
Sir George Murray.
■mvHP
wm
m
n
No. 3.
2, Bridge Si reel, Leith, April 19, 1029.
My Lord DuKE-While you were merely a «.ldier I thoueht Jittle
of you, seeing your greatest victories turn on a straw; and still less
when you became Premier, being yet ignorant of your real churucter.
You have now achieved a victory of the highest order. You have
conquered prejudices, even your own, and brought mankind intoch«er
union. \ on, who are fearless, have, for the sake of peace, surrendered
humanT ' ""•J^^stionably this offering of love will Imj propitious to
But, iny lord, Catholic Emancipation leaves much to be don«— much
which should be done without delay. At hor^e the greatest evil is the
poor law system ; and the colonial system is altogether wretched
You see what I have engraved above. It was engraved t<, seal opi-
nion atter my last appeal to government proved fruitless. It will be
adhered to now that I am abandoned bv the people, and will be at'-'
hered to whether this letter is acknowledi^ed or not. To prevent mis-
takes, I distinctly say that, " wil/iout altering a single statute, chang.
tnga smgie institution, or interfering with property, the whole system
oj the poor laws and rates may be dispensed with in twenty years,
cololiauZds"''^ '^^^^ ""'■^ *^ ^'''^ "ifn-i/Ain^/^ years from sale, of
Five years ago I offered Mr. Peel a plan for reforming the poor law
system, and was desired to send it to him in writing. This I could
not do,- but should your Grace so far confide as to send for n,^ : ..ive
me an hour s personal interview, to declare leading principles and^the
means to explain fully, which I could do within a month, I shall be
forthcoming immediately. I shall subjoin a copy of my last letter to
his Majesty that your Grace may, if you please, submit the whole to
the King — I have the honour to be your Grace's obedient servant,
'lU T\ 1 Pur „• . ROBT. GOUBLAY.
I he Duke of Wellington.
No. 4.
Mr. Gourlay presents respectful compliments to the Duke of Wel-
lington. Requests that this letter (a letter from Upper Canada, dated
23d February 1829, announcing that the act under colour of which
I was banished had been that day repealed) may be returned after
perusal ; and, at sametime, Mr. Gourlay's letter to his Grace of 19th
instant, if its contents are of no moment to his Majesty's Government.
2, Bridge Sired, Leith, April 24, 1829.
No. 5.
2, Bridge Street, Leith, 3d May 1820.
Sib— Two letters returned to me in the Duke of Wellington's
blank cover accompanying this will speak for themselves ; and I have
to request that you will show the whole to your brother magistrates.
'•i-^-"«*«^i^!j,ray!^iie«.-.i
22
Keiecedb, t.e ^■:^^^^ J^^^I ZS^^
,vith the countenaiice of ™8'»'^;;\^*he cllar conviction, that fa. -
able employment. . , . ■ Sunday, that my
„«?;/rr.oSr.r U: S, th^n tT* i. ian,nis.n. ana
explr-n. But if, like Ins f/^^f ' >°^ J^^^ least trouble.-I am re-
return what is now sent, so as to occasion ^^^ Goublay.
•spectfully yours,
Jnrne.i Scarlh, Esq.
Chief Magistrate of Lciih.
No. 6.
Leith, 29th May 1829.
• 1 „ +1,0 nnnprs which vou transmitted to
"^%' sTi St'^ antraptl^Kr Wng Lpt .them so long,
LTwhrclfV"rr;;u W - inconvenience.-! am,
sir, your very obedient\ervant, j^^^^ Scarth.
Mr. Robt. Gourlay.
No. 7-
2, Brit/ge 5<ree/, June 8, 1829.
S,„_You did not keep n,y Canada letter and that to Jte Duke of
WeZgton. returned by his «'-;„- ^at^^^^^^^
..xpectatlon you would respect "J f '■"'■°° ? ^'Jj j,, j^^e you as a mt-
be paid off from colonial land ».»'«!' 'f;;'7,?J'„"ser you kept the
i that governu,ent ^^''S'i::^:^-::f^:Z.%Joe. \
letter, the better wui ne youi , . „j v,e„ your acceptance
1 now come lower down, »i "'"f ' J?™^,' " s,2aV approve of
„f plans for the "7^;-™- ,f 3,'^,te X eeommendin'g the^S to the
X r;our'Llr ^^iisuate^ and n/merous friends.-I have the
honour to'be respectfully yours, ^^^^ Gouiilay.
Jatnes Scarth, Esq.
No. 8.
" EMIGRATION."
,. e- AT ft ftfPwflTt nresented a petition from the Society of Emi-
« (invernment with regard to tins subject.
23
and
" Sir George Murray said, that if any practicable plan could be de-
*' vised, his Majesty's Government would have no objections to carry
" it into effect ; but they could not agree to go to any expense." —
Morning Chronicle, 3d June, 1829.
2, Bridge Street, Leith, September 25, 1829.
Sir Georgr — I addressed to you a letter dated July 1, and No-
vember 2'), 1828, as I do this, to call attention to what is engraved
above, and I have kept the extract from the JMorning Chronicle till
this quiet time of the year, when probably you have most leisure to
reflect on the subject, and when you may compare it with what I
recorded, page 4 of the general introduction to my statistical account
of Upper Canada, under date 1820.
" I do assert that by proper management, the miseries experienced
" by emigrants going to Canada might be averted, and that even
" people destitute of means could be comfortably settled there."
I addressed the Duke of Wellington April 19, 1829, and an-
nexed my last letter to the King. Five days afterwards, I requested
to have this returned, if its contents were of no moment to his
^Majesty's government. It was returned under the Duke of Welling-
ton's frank, and then lodged with the chief magistrate of Leith for
upwards of three weeks. It shall accompany this, and you may repro-
duce it to the Premier. He has fought a dueHRvithout necessity, and
indicted a newspaper editor for calling him proud, overbearing, grasp-
ing, dishonest, and unprincipled, — all beneath the dignity of a British
Minister. His opposition to Canning's corn-bill induced me to call
him stupid, and when that opposition appeared to proceed from mere
dislike to Canning himself, I thought worse of him ; nor would aught
less than Catholic Emancipation have tempted me to submit to him
my letter to his iMajesty.
Had the Duke of Wellington remained in the army, his good for-
tune would have secured renown, and posterity would have bowed
for ever to the conqueror of Napoleon. But now, that in the pleni-
tude of his power he becomes fretful — now, when tiiousaiids of in-
dustrious people in London, Dublin, Manchester, Glasgow, nay, every
where, and even during harvest, are unemployed and starving, he is
occupied with prosecuting for libel, hew little does he appear !
Sir, tl.ere is but one way of keeping the empire entire and happy,
that is by establishing a grand system of emigration, and I can tell
how that may be done. An able writer in the Quarterly Review
of April last, has said, " No pains should be spared to teach the labour-
" ing classes to regard the colonies as the land of promise, which it
" should be their highest ambition to be able to reach."
This, sir, is most true ; and I can tell how it may be done. In-
deed, with the Duke of Wellington's power, it would be as easy as it
was for Columbus to discover America by sailing westward. VVhen I
say this, is the Duke of Wellington justified in refusing me a hearing?
No, sir ; and it was to mark my sense of his conduct that I made our
chief magistrate witness my returned letter. I assert that letter is
worthy of serious consideration ; and the Duke of Wellington would
'»in»,*iwimmm»'-
24
a„ wen .0 drop '.\H''y PXtv^nTro^'^f *et^^^
f„r »nd hear me, tvery a^e *;'• P™" P™ , t„ rf^e above it-
stalled power. It would U ""^J »' ,'r P, ,^^a ;„ liberality : at
worthy of t''^«™''"'™"SiTnrm»n tte ever existed : It thi»
'^:r&^ "nS r^eetr 'K^L th.„ is .he respond.
bility of her present rulers! improvement of Edinburgh,
I sent you yesterday plans f»^ J^e imp _^^^^^^
xnerely to shew how I ^-^^J-P^^^^^^^J ^^^^^^^^ think of ;
it would gve me pleasure to have n^orei^^^^^ ^ that may be
and should t^;^,^.t^^^^ ^„,^ „„,,,,,, yo, ^hall
ret\rfh:rtltLm ^e.-Your obedient s^rv^-,^^^^^^^^
Sir George Murray.
No. 9.
2, Bri^e Slreet, Leilh, September 30ik, 1829.
«.„ Sn little did I know of vou beyond being secretary of state,
.h'e:.\7d':i:?ng you last week, that I conceived you were head of your
family in Pertlishire. , having been con-
In like --ner yuu^^^^^^^^ l^lTand thenc'e have cast
fined in Cold Bath J^ields rrison however, that
aside -y,le"ers as mere ravmgs^ Let me rennn y^^,^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^
I referred m tha ^^ ^^^ ^^J^^lfZ^-n^eA with a letter from one
your constituents. This «haU be ac V ^^ ^^^^^ jyth Fe-
f *^^"\t2randd"ecte1 to me in the above-named prison. Dr
bruary Uiio, ana uirecieu i kindness and
respect, bnt states tnaiiw. ^'^^ on political economy, and
I soon afterwards -ot^. - ^.^ . lecture ^^ ^^P ^^ J
asserted that a cotnrnon la j ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^
"';^tndnl'^^e;in^Efto Ire than d
S^fe, Aprin826, oLing to explain, if the Doctor gave no solution
by May follou-ing. j ^^ ^^j^ t ^u, and in my letter to his
mS; Sun'e: bv the liuTe of Welli'ngton I add the above asser-
Sot and shalTprove it if the Duke will send for, and hear me-prove
it or be 'lisgff '^^; disrespect by the freedom of my language.
I Lrefflauer'^rf::, tTv'alue myself chiefly as an honest man
Mrwishwasto rouse him, and by that rousing I had proof of his
My wish ^^«\^° ;;' , ' Kina, which I could not obtain from a
having seen my letter *« ^^e K^ng^ w ^^ ^^.^^.^^ ^^^
SXTreTona^'raTrhar^^^ more reason to give the ^ory
fotlii^theniore reason to make good nseofthe peace which they
^
25
purchased by calmly considering what shonld now be done to ensure
liuppiness to mankind.
A copy of my last letter to you was transmitted to the Duke of
Wellington, as a copy of this shall be ; and all that I now beg, is to
be informed if he will send for and hear me.
You will have the goodness to return Dr. Clialmers' letter ; and if
denied a liearing, enclose it in a blank cover, to give least trouble to
yourself.— I have the honour to be, sir, yours faithfully,
„. „ ,, ROBT. GOURLAY
oir Ueorge Murray.
No. 10.
Pratis, Fifes/lire, October 2, 1829.
Sir— While you and the Duke of Wellington may be perusing my
letter of 30th ultimo, I am seated in a house, built and occupied by me
two-and-twenty years ago, wlien I was perhaps, without exceijtion, the
most fortunateman in this county. My father then stood pre-eminent for
public spirit, and as a gentleman, was without stain. I and my family
were provided for to our utmost wish, and beyond risk, as was then
thought. Out of doors I was well with all ranks'; in retirement, blessed
with the society nf a most amiable wife, and her friend, the lady of the
late Sir Henry Torrens. An accident at a county meeting touched
my feelings, and biased my fate. I left this place for England, not
because of that accident, but to follow out studies of the poor law
system, and I will dare to say, have encountered in continued succes-
sion, during the last one-and-twenty years, more vexation than any
man alive. At this moment I am deprived of all property, abandoned
by relations, unhoused, separated from my children, and can assist
them only by putting an end to my existence, which I shall not do
while reason and hope remain. At this moment, Sir, I do not despair
even of making good what is stated in my letter to the king, returned
to me in the blank cover of the Duke of Wellington. His Grace may
send for and hear me ; or, let me be examined in Edinburgh durin<'
the present month, by three university professors, who have known
me from boyhood, viz. Dr. Chalmers, Dr. James Brown, und Mr.
Leslie, with any other the Duke of Wellington may name, and I shall
answer every question they may put, either as to the assertions made,
or conduct at home and abroad. If I have injured any human beings
or offended against any law, I shall make any proper amends : if I
have erred in conduct, I shall submit to rebuke.
This letter, and a copy, shall be dispatched without cover, to you
and the Duke of Wellington, that if you refuse my offers, it may be
in your power to oblige me by returning it to me in Leith, bearing
the post-marks, that I may exhibit it to the public, and leave it as an
inheritance to my children — I have the honour to be, sir, most faith-
fully and sincerely yours,
ROBT. GOUULAV.
Sir George Murray,
J
26
No. 11.
St. Andrews, October 10, 1829.
IMv Lord— I am here, in the arms of alma mater, and every way
wellc ircumstanced for philosophical reflection. Let us then indulge.
While vou eyed your watch, counting the minutes of slaughter and
endurance, till the Prussians came up; while, too, Napoleon surveyed
the field of Waterloo, longing for Groushy,— Napoleon, who said that
he had vet thirty years to live, and would not sit on a throne without
.rlorv, was there not a superior power, a Disposer of events ? Yes,
most assuredly. All that has passed has been with the ^ylll, and by the
power of an Almighty Being, who prepared you for the battle, and
uave vou the victory. . i ^
Up to this hour, believing all for the best, honour is due to you,
not as our minister only, hut as the instrument of God. B^t while
we do you honour, should we flatter and seal up your eyes? Should
we not tell vou what we think, and should you not submit to be
arrai-niod and tried by the British people ? Should j-^u not confade m
publfc opinion, rather than in the award of a court of justice Should
vou not hear an individual, however low in your opinion, who stakes
ins all on the issue, and who can have no object but the good of hir,
fellow men ? , /-. . i v .,«.
Believe me, my Lord, with high respect, your Graces obedient
''''''''^' ROBT. GOURLAY.
The Duke of Wellington.
V B —The Duke of Wellington may shew the accompanying ;)/««
to his Majesty, and point out the situation for an equestrian statue of
the King.
No. 12.
St. Jmlrem, October 10, 1829.
Sm— This letter has no other object but to close a series. Just
now twelve years, travelling in the United States of America, I saw
the errors in the system of settling wild land, and the advantage which
might accrue to Britain from the adoption of a right system. In a
ktter addressed soon after this to Sir H. Torrens, to be laid before
Lord Batlmrst or the Duke of York, I asserted that Upper Canada
miLdit aflbrd a revenue after maintaining two regiments, repairing,
and keeping in repair the forts, &c. JMy eftbrts in that Province,
%vhich led to my ruin, chiefly went to obtain inquiry into the princi-
ples of rightly settling wild land. Since then, efforts to the same end
Lve been made year after year, but all in vain. Emigration com-
mittees have sat and reported again and again, but never have attend-
ed to this most important point. I am now about to return to Leith,
have little hope of a hearing, but .if it is granted either by the Duke
of Wellington personally, or by a commission in I^dinburgh, I shall
shew, by a regular series of documents, from the year 1817 ti" "'«
present time, how constantly I have pressed inquiry on this subject.
27
My letters to you of 25th and 30th September, with that of 2d
instant, have been read to many of my friends. Nothing is done bv me
which may not be witnessed by the whole world, and for which at
all times, I shall be happy to answer.— I have the honour to be.'sir
your most obedient servant,
r,. r- i^ir ^OB- GOURLAY.
oir ijteorge Murraif.
No. 13.
Sir George IMurray presents his compliments to Mr. Gourlay, and
begs to acknowledge the receipt of his letters of the 30th September,
2d and 10th of October.
Sir George returns the inclosure from Dr. Chalmers, which Mr.
Gourlay may probably wish to preserve.
Downing Street, 15lh October 1829.
No. 14.
2, Bridge Street, Leith, 5th May 1830.
My Dkar Sir— I heard only eight days ago, that you were called
io London to say whether or not poor-laws should be 'introduced into
Ireland, immediately resolved to publish letters which had been lying
for some time with a printer in Edinburgh, to dedicate the same to
)-ou, and the more to arrest attention, copied out a correspondence
with yourself to precede these; having first submitted to your brother,
in yoiir absence from town, whether there was any impropriety in
my doing this. I hoped all would be printed and ready for you in
Edinburgh, but the printer delayed, and you were off before I could
see you. Annexed is the title and backing of the pamplilet, and my
wish is, that you would endeavour to procure me a hearing before the
same committee which is to examine you. You may hand this to the
Chairman, and say, from personal knowledge, if you think it likely
that I may be able to give useful information on the subject This
would oblige yours very truly,
RoBT. Gourlay.
The Reverend Thomas Chalmers, D.D.
No. 15.
2, Bridge Street, Leith, 5th May 1830.
Sir — Twenty-four years ago I voted at a county meeting in favour
of Catholic Emancipation, in opposition to my father. You will
readily believe, therefore, that I feel indebted to you who won the
causa. But more MaSt; %e: dotia ;. ai>d- y.ouf. organization in Ireland is
at an end. Will ypji^Us^^ t^Vne r ^VS$'J )vi:^,r^cHt to the House
of Commons the enclosed petition, get'it'i^rinlt'dj'ant^ bring me before
the Committee no^^ <!'an§idprmg ^wiie<;liei::or :riet:pooi:-l8VV8 should be
introduced into liJoJahd". . .' ' : : •.*.*• '. .*: .**•'. . ■ '
Dr. Chalmers has been sent for to give evidence before that Com-
''^<aaimtrmmaa/tmjM^^^SiiitmsMS^^ii^^^^^^^£SS^S^
28
mitteo, and I have printed a series of letters to induce him, one of my
oldest friends, to get mc a hearing before tlie same Committee ; but
this he may not be able to eftect. A similar petition to what is en-
closed was" presented by Mr. Hume, February 1828, but he would
neither move for printing, nor say why he would not. Thus situated
you may the more oblige me.
Favour me with a few liv's after perusing the petition, and say,
1st, If you will present it ? 2d, If you Avill get it printed ? 3d, If you
will bring me before the Committee ? — Yours faithfully.
ROBT. GOUULAY.
Daniel O'Cunncll, Esq. M.P.
No. 16.
To the Honourable the Commons of the U/iiled Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled,
The PETITION of Robkrt Gouulay,
Humbly Sheweth — That your petitioner has, for twenty-nine years,
devoted attention to the correction of the poor-law system, and for the
last twelve to Emigration in connexion therewith.
That, having for many years petitioned your Honourable House for a
liearing on these subjects without avail, "he had resolved never again
to olTur services in the same way ; but since session 1827, having
perused parliamentary reports on emigration, and discovered that
M-hile there seemed to be liberal dispositions on the part of Govern-
ment towards the poor, and earnest desire for their comfortable settle-
ment abroad, there existed profound ignorance as to means and modes
of proceeding, he is induced now again to come forward.
Your petitioner asserts, without desire to be censorious, that not a
single individual examined by the select committee on emigration,
has olFered even a hint as to right principles of settlement in colonies,
or for the effectual relief at homo of the labouring ])oor. He has in
an address to his ]Miijesty, dated August 10, 1827, declared, that
" without altering a single statute, changing a single institution, or
" interfering with property, the whole system of the poor laws and
" rates may be dispensed A\'ith in twenty years, Avhile the national
'• debt may be paid off witliin fifty years, from sales of colonial
" lands." He has offered, in a letter to the colonial secretary, dated
Novendier 11), 1827, to submit " a plan by which two hundred thou-
" sand persttns may be removed f'nmi the United Kingdom next spring,
" and comfortably settled in British America, without a farthing's cost
" to Government, beyond publishing two proclamations." He now is
willing to explain to your Honourable House, how the whole of this
may be effected: and most .earnestly entxeats. that he may be examin-
ed on the subjefct-;i aisO Uial* iVls petition h\ay he printed. — And he
will cvei pray, . . ..',•.•.■ • ■ ' • ■ ' • '
... •-." -.Roex. GouRiiAY.
2, nridge Slri'd, 'JUftlA, iV«,'/:*VlfiS(). :■./,• '. ■
^i^eammt»
k^kd^l'-it^'k^n&^sL.r...
^i^ikj^itMtffl^^'^jfJ&^
Inferior animals communicate by ;«•<* ^^^^ ^^ ^^ J^^^^n to
..^«b time ^^^^;;^^--^^XZ:i t ^t-'that peri.h ;
generation '«"»"^*^« "^^ J^ "^d the candidate for immortality.
but man i. ti^e ^"-J^^^^teTne^ and surrpunded with diftculty.
His spirit, though cradled m ^«**'7~', .,,^u ^^r every ill— to enjoy
i.destin^togainthea«.ndanta.»dtetnu^h^o^-^^^^
a rational miUemum on earth, and at last to hold conve
1826, toprint them, "^^^^^ '*"^'^' ^tf^^r is a continuation : .nd
ference. What is conta^^ed r^^^^^'^^^^.^^,, however w«th.
should Ilive to havepeaceandfreedom,th«e«>
1«B by tl^emselves, and disjointed as at present, may enaoie m
. Proj-s of mightiest moment to huma^. ^^^ ^,^ ^„, ,„ „.
Evenat present »yre^»--;f;^^^^^
flection on past hfe, «^*^;™f"^" ^ p^^er ;_gives assurance that
eam^. and effects process f^mAhmgW^^^ ,^^^^^
• »- H„t,t Mid over rugged paths to tranquilhty.
^Butmyr^nu* B moment, all is for the best. I be.
o# «i/Ai« 50 years, from sales qf Colmial Land,. ^^^ qqURLAY.
3, Bridge Street, Leith, June 18W.