COLONIAL POLICY. 295 



the subject ; and an individual, however humble he may be, should 

 not hesitate to submit his opinions thereupon to the judgment of his 

 countrymen. Such being my feelings, after having given the subject 

 due consideration, I only lament the inability I labour under of 

 expressing the ideas I have adopted in a clear and comprehensive 

 manner. 



By reference to the history of the early formation of new colonies, 

 few, if any, have been observed to prosper from the commencement, 

 unless founded upon military principles, or religious zeal. Witness 

 the settlements of the Puritans of New England, and that of the 

 Quakers in Pennsylvania, as well as our recent penal settlements in 

 New Holland. Whence comes it that bigotry and despotism, in an 

 inverse ratio to the general received opinion, have contributed so 

 beneficially to the prosperity of new communities ? It is easily ex- 

 plained. Under their influence each individual, voluntarily or by 

 compulsion, joins in supporting the general interest. " Union is 

 strength," as we learn in the fable of the bundle of sticks : but, 

 in the other case, the adventurers not having either of these bonds 

 to unite together, fail in their undertakings, from the want of una- 

 nimity in their councils. This, I believe, will be found the true 

 reason for the failure or tardy improvement of many former colonial 

 societies. In illustration of the beneficial effects resulting from 

 religious fervour, I may refer the reader to the history of a German 

 community, under the direction of an enthusiast of the name of 

 Rapp, that exists at the present moment in the state of Ohio. That 

 settlement is very prosperous, and its interior economy is much 

 admired. Rapp unites in himself the power and influence of priest 

 and king; he regulates and disposes of the property of his followers 

 for the general benefit; the produce of the labour of each member 

 of the society being for the interest of the community. I merely 

 mention this circumstance, to illustrate the power religion furnishes 

 to some individuals, whereby to control the proceedings of others; 

 but in no wise do I recommend it to be followed as an example. It 

 is rather to shew the necessity of some systematic plan of emigra- 

 tion being adopted, in preference to allowing it to take its own 

 course, as seems the present policy of the government. In the dis- 

 posal of the uncultivated land now in in the hands of the crown, 

 due consideration should be exercised. The object to be attained, 

 being to secure to the capitalist who emigrates, a certainty of 

 meeting with a supply of labourers, which can only be effected by 

 putting such a price upon the land, that the poorer class may be pre- 

 vented from becoming, immediately proprietors of the soil, which 

 was the case when grants of land were dealt out to every applicant. 

 The strong innate feeling to possess landed property, urged many to 

 attempt settling in the wilderness without having sufficient capital to 

 meet the first outlay, as well as being novices to the customs of the 

 people, and to the climate of the country. In many cases these 

 poor emigrants, after suffering numerous hardships and privations, 

 have given up their grants of land with disgust and disappoint- 

 ment, and found they were obliged ultimately ito hire themselves 

 out as labourers, a course prudence would have dictated to them 



