325.1 Scr5e2 cop. 2 AT The person charging this material is re- sponsible for Its return to the library from which It was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilotion, and underlining of book, ore reasons for dist.plinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILIINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 7^:5 9 ?*>■ Kt 1419« L161— O-1096 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/extractsofletterOOscro \ EXTRACTS OF LETTERS POOR PERSONS WHO EMIGRATED LAST YEAR CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. PRINTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE LABOURING POOR, AND THEIR FRIENDS IN THIS COUNTRY, By G. POULETT SCROPE, Esq. F.R.S., F.G.S., &c. yL I Second Edition, with Additions. LONDON: JAMES RIDGWAY, PICCADILLY. M.DCCC.XXXIl. •,* Price Sixpence each, or Five Shillings per Dozen. •^'^' TILLINO, PRlNTEn, CHELSEA. EDITOR S PREFACE. SECOND EDITION. In printing a Second Edition of these Letters, I take the opportunity of saying a few words on the general question of Emigration. There are some persons,, 1 believe, who still treat its advocates as visionary schemers. To such I would respectfully suggest the following simple consi- derations. The population of these kingdoms is noto- riously excessive as compared with the demand for labour. The consequence is, that many an able-bodied man, anxious to support himself and his family by his industry^ is unable to obtain employment, and reduced to pauperism here, to mendicancy in Ireland; becoming a burden to his country instead of a valuable instrument of production. Large numbers of these persons are every winter on the verge of starvation, pro- tracting a life of misery on an average allowance from their parishes of 2^d. per day to each in- dividual in a family. Now, so long as there exist, within a few days* sail, parts of the British Dominions where the labour of these persons is in such demand that they could obtain by it for themselves and their families an abundance, not only of necessaries, but of comforts even, and luxuries — and to which they may be conveyed for less than the cost of keeping them in idleness and misery during one twelvemonth in this country — it does appear A 2 a 35360 lY evident that their removal to such a comparative paradise at so small a cost, should they be willing to go, (and how many of them would refuse ?) is the simplest and most eligible means for im- proving their condition. It is clear, too, that their removal in this manner would equally re- lieve their fellow-labourers who remain at home, and whom their competition in the labour-market now depresses to one common level of pauperism — would free the country from the burden of supporting a large body of unprofitable, and often criminal and turbulent, because unem- ployed and miserable, paupers — in short, would put an end to all the evils that are confessedly occasioned by the redundancy of our labouring population, and replace them by the benefits which must accrue to Britain from a rapidly in- creasing and prosperous colonial population, employed in growing food for us on the rich soils of America, and exchanging it with our home manufacturers for the produce of their labour. Whether the existing redundancy may or may not be likewise more or less removed by legislative or financial improvements, such as would diminish the burdens and stimulate the exertions of the pro- ductive industry of this countr\, is what I do not here attempt to determine. I propose Emi- gration as a sure and easy relief to redundancy, whenever and wheresoever it is found to exist, as it confessedly does at present in Britain and Ireland ; should circumstances alter, and the re- dundancy disappear, the process of Emigration may be laid aside until it is again required. But so long as the real wages of labour, that is, the quantity and quality of food and clothing which a labourer can obtain for his services, continue (as they are at p'esent) in one part of th« British dominions from ten to twenty times as much as they are in another — so long, indeed, as the difference is at all considerable — so long will the most obvious mode of improving the condition of the labourer in the latter part, be to assist him to remove to the former. The comparative rate of wages is, indeed, the true test of the advantages of Emigration, and of the expediency of giving that direction to our efforts for the relief of the poor. Let us remember that Emigration is nothing more than the simple spreading of population, as fast as it increases inconveniently in any li- mited district ; that it is the natural process by which the world has been hitherto peopled, so far as it has yet been peopled — which is to no great extent, as compared with its almost bound- less resources for the support of man ; — that it is the only way of fulfilling the Divine command, " Increase and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue the uttermost parts of it ;" and that if former generations had felt the same foolish prejudices against Emigration which many persons have lately evinced, all America would have remained abandoned to savages — ^instead of containing the thirty millions of civilized whites, who aie now settled, and rapidly increasing upon it ; — nay, that had our early forefathers, when they felt their numbers increasing beyond their means of subsistence, directed their efforts, according to the advice of the Malthusian phi- losophers, to check the increase of their numbers, what is called " prudential restraint," or any other means, instead of spreading over distant soils in search of an increase of food, the whole human race might, perhaps, at this moment, have been limited to a single patriarchal family, occu- pying a single island or valley, — while the re- gions now swarming with happy and industrious beings — beings born for immortality, and everv A 3 VI day improving in knowledge and civilization — would be a wilderness of jungle and morass, tenanted only by reptiles and brutes ! These plain considerations lead me at least to the conclusion, (a conclusion in accordance with all our conceptions of the wisdom and benevo- lence of the Creator,) that if want afflict the inhabitants of any of the older states, if their numbers at any time press injuriously on their means of providing subsistence, it is owing, not to any inherent law of Nature, (such as the antipo- pulationists have for years past paraded as a bug- bear before a too credulous public,) but only to the misdirection of their means; and, above all, to their neglecting to avail themselves of the re- source of Emigration to the fertile and yet un- cultivated wastes of the globe, whence their labour, aided by the knowledge of the arts of civilized life which they bring with them, would extract abundance ; — that nothing is easier than to cause subsistence to increase faster than can population ; that there exists no necessity for placing any restraint on the natural and provi- dential tendency of mankind to increase; but that, on the contrary, by a wise, and timely, and prudential direction of their efforts, indivi- dual and collective, the happiness of the human race may be made to increase with, and in pro- portion to, its numbers. " Spatium Natura beatis Omnibus esse dedit, sf quis cognoverit uti." G. P. S. Castle Combe, January 1, 1832. INTRODUCTION. In the beg-inning of last year (1830) a strong desire to emigrate to America, shewed itself among the labouring population of the parish of Corsley, near Warminster, in Wilts. They, like their fel- low labourers throughout the south of England, had been long suffering from want of work and low wages. It happened that a certain Joseph Silcox, the brother of a respectable farmer of that parish, had lately returned from Canada, after a residence there or two or three years ; and being a dissenting preacher, he had frequent opportu- nities of holding forth to his neighbours on the vast difference between the condition of industri- ous labourers in this country and in America^ and on the advantages they would derive from emi- grating there. He declared his own intention of returning immediately ; and a considerable num- ber of his neighbours became desirous of following his example. With this view some labourers who possessed property sold it in order to pay the expences of their voyage. Others, who had not wherewithal to do this, resorted to the parish, and begged earnestly to be assisted to remove from a place where they could not obtain a living and were a burden to their neighbours, to one where they understood that by honest industry they might maintain themselves and their families in comfort and independence. The parish officers, being thus importuned, and being also of opinion that the removal of several families who had long been, and would, most pro- A 4 bably, long continue to be, a heavy and still-in- creasing charge upon their rates, must prove as great a relief to the rate-payers as to the poor themselves, consented to give the aid that was asked of them : and for this purpose raised a sum of a few hundred pounds, partly by the sale of two houses belonging to the parish, and partly by subscription ; the Marquis of Bath, the principal landed proprietor in the parish, contributing £50. The expences of some families and single labourers were paid in full. To others partial assistance was iiiven according to their circumstances. In the wi.ole sixty-five individuals left the place, and embarked for. Canada, in a vessel which sailed from Newport, in Glamorganshire, the 7tli of April, 1830. Accounts have since been received from many of the emigrants, by letter to their friends in Corsley and the neighbourhood ; and the following are extracts from several of these, the originals of which are in the hands of respectable persons of Corsley, and may be seen by those who desire it. The reason why it has been thought advisable to publish only a selection of passages from these letters, instead of the whole, is that the greater part of them is made up of repetitions of informa- tion already given, of remembrances to friends in Englaud, and other matters of no public interest, which it would have been a useless expence to print. But there has been no concealment of un- favourable passages or accounts. Tn fact, I am assured, that no such accounts have been received at all, directly or indirectly, from any of the emi- grants. The tenor of all their communications has invariably been to the effect that, though those lolio ara foolislilif homesick, may be dispirited for the first few weeks, and those icho icill not work are not likely to be better off in that country than in any other, 0711/ labourer or mechanic^ who 9 is witling to e.vert himself, may he sure of obtain- ing full employment at high wages^ and the very best of living ; employment, not for the man only, but for every member of his family likewise, down to children of six years old ; with the prospect of purchasing- land on exceedingly cheap terms^ out of his savings, if he choose to set up as an inde- pendent farmer on his own property. It may be added that, encouraged by these favourable accounts, similar emigrations have taken place in the spring of this year, from the neig-li- bouring parishes of Westbury, Frome, and War- minster ; and the accounts that have arrived from the emigrants immediately upon their landing, are as favoural>le as could have been hoped for.* The expence of the voyage and outfit of these persons, including 20.9. or 30s. given them upon landing, to find their way farther up into the country, where work is most plentiful, amounted, on an average, to about Six Pounds a head. The voyage to ]\ew Yoi k, and other parts of the United States, may be effected something under that cost ; but common labourers are more in demand in Canada than in the United States. Mechanics of all sorts^ manufacturers^ and gardeners, however, may go out to either country, with a certainty of employment, at high wages. Unless the emi- grants have some little money at their command, it is not advisable for them to go out in the au- tumn. But by starting early in the spring, they will find the demand for labourers every where very brisk immediately on their arrival. * By accounts received by Government, it appears, that though upwards of fifty thousand emigrants landed during- the last summer at Quebec, and Montreal alone, they have all been taken into employment up the country, without even occasioning any fall in the high price of labour, which is still as much in demand as before. In fact, labourers there so soon become capitalists, and employers of labour, that the demand increases with the increase of the supply. 40 The passage is usually from three to six or eight weeks. It is best for emigrants to take but little baggage with them beyond their wearing apparel, bedding, and utensils for cooking on the passage. They should also lay in their own pro- visions. If they contract for their food with the captain of the vessel they embark in, it is not likely to be of so good a quality. The kind of stock recommended by those who have made the passage, is flour, potatoes, bacon, and, perhaps, a little salt beef, rice or oatmeal, tea, sugar, coffee, apples, or other fruit ; some or all of these things, according to the taste of the parties. The flour can be baked into fresh cakes when wanted, which are much more agreeable and wholesome than sea biscuits. Merchants at Bristol, or any other of the prin- cipal shipping ports, will contract to carry out emigrants, with parties in this country who may be willing to pay for their passage. But there is every reason to believe that the Government Com- mission, lately appointed for the purpose of assist- ing voluntary emigration, will be able to offer more advantageous and satisfactory terms than any private individuals. Those who wish to make arrangements with, or obtain information from this Commission, should address their letters, ' To the Emigration Commission, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, London.^ The following remarks upon Upper Canada, the Colony to which most of the Corsley emigrants proceeded, and which on the whole oflei*s the greatest advantages, are collected from the best and most recent authorities on the subject. Upper Canada is a British Province in North America, within a few weeks sail of this country, and subject to the same government and laws. The climate is good, and nearly the same as in England ; the summer is warmer, and the winter, n perhaps, a little colder. All the fruits, grain, and vegetables of England thrive well, with the addi- tion of some, as Indian wheat, which cannot be grown with the certainty of ripening in this coun- try. Peaches and apricots ripen on standard trees in the orchards, and the apples are remarkably fine ; melons likewise grow luxuriantly in the open air. Samples of the wheat of Canada are not inferior to the best English. The country is well adapted for farming pur- poses, the land being generally level, covered with large timber of a variety of very useful qualities, and watered by fine streams and several navigable lakes. The soil is light and easily worked, yet so rich, being a deep black mould composed of decayed vegetables, as to bear plentiful crops for many years in succession without manure. Freehold land of the best quality, and in favour- able positions is to be purchased in any quantities, large or small, at from 5s. to 20s. per acre ; one fifth of the money only being paid down^ and the remainder in small annual instalments which a settler is well able to clear out of his crops within four or five 3 ears, besides maintaining himself and family, and increasing his stock. The population of the province consists almost wholly of persons from Great Britain who have gone there to settle. The English language is universally spoken. Society is on the best footing. The utmost kindness, hospitality, and good fellow- ship, exists among neighbours, as might indeed be expected in a country overflowing with an abun- dance of the substantial blessings of life, and where there is room for every one to follow his own business without jostling or interfering with his neighbours. The taxes are very trifling, and there are no tythes or rates. There are churches and meeting-houses for all persuasions in every town, and in most villages; and service is regu- 12 larly performed in them. The wages of labourers are very high, and they are usually boarded by their masters, taking their meals at the same ta- ble with them, and eating and drinking the best of every thing. The earnings of mechanics of all descriptions are still higher in proportion, as may be seen from the table in the last page of this publication, which contains also a statement of the market prices of most articles of consumption. These are as remarkably low. It appears, indeed, extraordinary, and, at first, almost incredible, to those who are accustomed to judge of other countries by their experience in this, that wao:es should be so hig^h as thev are represented to be in America, whilst agricultural produce of all kinds sells at so low a rate as com- pared to prices here. And many will suppose that on this account, iiowever favourable such a country may be to labourers, it cannot be equally so to farmei-s. But, on the contrary, the great and increasing demand for labourers and mecha- nics proves, beyond question, that farmers do find it very profitable to employ them, even at high wages, and in spite of the seemingly low prices they obtain for their produce. The key to the riddle is the exceeding natural fertility of the soil, which needs only to be cleared from trees, scratched over by the plough, and the seed roughly thrown in, to produce crops of 5 or 6 quarters to the acre ; and this for ten years together with- out any rest or manure. Where land, such as this is to be bought in fee for a few shillings the acre, and cultivated y*reas 35. 6d. Rye 3^. Buck wheat 2.9. 6d. Indian Corn 2.9. 6rf. Oats 2^., Potatoes Is. 3^. Rum 10c?. per quart. Good Whi.skey 7^d. Brandy 9d. per quart. Port Wine 1.9. 3d. Tea 3s. Qd. per pound. We make our own sugar, our own soap, candles, and bake good light bread. Beef" and mutton 2c?. per pound, &c. Fat geese 1^9. 6c?. Best fowls 1.9. 3c?. per couple. \\ ages £3. per month and our keep. We .dine with our masters. Women 2*. 6c?. a day and ^good keep. Good apples Is. per bushel, &c. The price of land is about £1. per acre near the roads, some way back it is cheaper. No poor-rates, nor taxes of any consequence. I see in the paper great lamentations for our departure from Chapmans- lade. Alore need to rejoice.^ We three brothers have bought 200 acres of land at 12.9. Qd. per acre. We have paid £25. and have £100. to pay in five years, that is, £20. a year, between three, that is £6. 13.9. 4c?. each. It is in Nelson, District of Gore, about 5 miles from Street, with a pretty good road to our lot. Only nine miles to Lake Ontario, a good sale for all grain. A grist mill and a saw mill within 25 chain's, which is a great advantage. A good river runs right through our lot of land, and good springs rise on it. VVe shall never want for water, nor timber. We have several adjoining houses, chiefly English people. We can raise up a good house in a little while at little expence. We ha^ e thousands of tons of timber, and good * This is the Emigrant's pithy reproof of the maudlin senti- mentalities of those persons whoso pathetically deprecate the " tearing away of our peasanty from their homes — the snapping asunder the ties of country, kindred, &c.," and who wax indig- nant at what they call " the atrocious cruelty" of the advocates of Emigration. Mighty cruelty, to be sure, the assisting families whose labour will not keep them from pauperism and misery in this country, to remove to another part of the British dominions where they may command all the comforts and many of the lux- uries of life, and look forward to still higher prospects. Great cause of grief and lamentation this! ' More need to rejoice' as Thomas Hunt says. Editor. 25 stone for building. It is called the healthiest place in Upper Canada. We have no sickness since we have been here. Stouter than we was in England. Sarah wishes to see all her friends here. We expect to clear 20 acres by next har- vest. We cut the trees about 3 feet above ground, and put fire to it, and burn it root and branch. ^^ e are about 700 miles from Quebec. That is but little here. Sarah Hunt and her five children is all well ; she was confined on the river St. Lawrence. She had a very good time. She and all is very stout, never wishing to return to England, but rather all friends was here, for here is plenty of work, and plenty to eat and drink. Thank God we are here. JVe all wish that our Fathers, and mothers, and brothers^ and sisters was here, for here is plenty of room fm^ all there is in England. They that think to work may do well. But if our fathers and mothers was here, they should never be obliged to do a hard day's work, for we would keep them without work if they were not able. But if any of you should come, they must make up their minds not to be faint- hearted. You may expect rocking, but I don't fear the raging seas. For more may come as safe as we, for the God that rules the land rules the sea. There is some come this year turned back before they knew whether 'tis good or bad. But I thank my God that we are here. Thomas Hunt, James Hunt, Jeremiah Hunt. 12. Esau Prangley, (butcher, of Cm'sley) Port Talbot, U. C. Oct. \Oth, 1830. " We arrived last July, and like the country well. Clements and I have bought 100 acres of land between us. I have about 25 acres cleared on my 50, for £70. I have paid down £12. 10^. and have five years to pay the remainder in. I have a house and barn on the place ready to go into. I have sowed 4^ acres of wheat, &c.'' " Charles is doing 26 well, he is hired by the year for £12. 10s., with board and lodging. Men's wages is from 35. to 5^. per day, take the year round, with board. Clements and I cut and thrashed and winnowed in 4 days, 84 bushels of Peas, and for our wages got 21 bushels, being one quarter, and boarded into it. Wheat here sells for 35. the bushel. We have a very healthy country, &c." 13. From George Lewis, {day labourer^ ofCor- sley) Dundas, U. C. July 11th, 1830. " We are very well provided for, with regard to a situation. We have a very good house and our fire found us, and George has wages 100 dollars a year, and all his keep ; which is much better than ever I should have found in England. My master is an Englishman, and a very good master, for he makes every thing to my satisfac- tion, and I am very happy to think the Lord has provided me so well, and I have to inform you I never desire to come to England any more, for we found it a troublesome journey to that happy spot where we are now situated. I have to inform you that we need not go to bed a-cold nights for want of something to keep us warm, for we can get good liquoi-s very cheap, good rum at 5c?. per pint, whiskey 7^d. per quart, &c." 14. From William Snelgrove, [day-labourer^ qfCorsley) Dundas, U.C. Sept. 3d, 1830. '^ Dear friends. This comes with my kind love to you, hoping it will find you in good health, as it leaves us at present. Thanks be to God for it. Health is a beautiful thing ; and it depends upon God alone to give it. Was it in the hands of man, health would decline, as many other things have in England, as labour and victualling, which, if the good God give us our health, is as plentifully with us as the scarcity is with you. We have plenty of good beef, and mutton, and pork, and 27 flour, fish, fowl, and butter; and I'm happy to state that by one day's work, a man can supply himself with sufficient of all these necessaries for 3 days. You have a good many cold bellies logo to bed withy I know, or things is greatly altered from the state that it was when I was with you. But if you were with us, if you liked, for three half-pence your belly would be so warm that you would not know the way to bed. With regard to work, harvest work is one dollar a day and board, other work is three fourths of a dollar and a pint of whiskey. Wheat is from 35. 9