296 COLONIAL POLICY. 



to have pursued, in the first instance. I have invariably found 

 that the settlers who have succeeded the best in the Canadas, 

 have commenced by labouring for other settlers during the first 

 two years thereby acquiring, by degrees, a knowledge of the 

 country. A settler who pursued this plan, when Mr. Peter Robinson, 

 as agent for the government, superintended the establishment of 

 several hundred Irish paupers in the vicinity of Peterborough, 

 is now possessed of a thriving farm, well stocked, the whole 

 value of which he estimated at a thousand pounds. Some others, 

 who at once located themselves upon their grant, notwithstanding the 

 liberal encouragement afforded by the government in rations for 

 the first two years, and every necessary utensil and farming 

 implement, have become disappointed, and unable to cope with the 

 difficulties. 



This instance, amongst many others I might quote, sufficiently de- 

 monstrates that it is not advisable for the poorer class of emigrants to 

 become forthwith farmers; therefore, no injustice is done them ; on 

 the contrary, a kindness, in withholding from them the facility of 

 acquiring land.* To make emigration prosper every cless should be 

 benefitted ; and it is to arrive at this result that I have taken up 

 my peru 



Feeling confident I shall meet with little opposition to this prin- 

 ciple, from persons who have studied the subject, I will endeavour to 

 point out (from various circumstances that naturally suggest them- 

 selves) what price per acre I should recommend to be established in 

 our various colonies. Land must not be at so high a rate as to put it 

 out of the power of respectable emigrants with moderate fortunes to 

 purchase ; otherwise this valuable portion of the community would 

 be discouraged from leaving home, and the poorer emigrants would 

 not meet with employment. On the other hand, land should not be 

 at too low a rate, as it would render abortive the principle of securing 

 a supply of labourers for the encouragement of capitalists to emigrate. 

 Great care should also be taken that the price be regulated so as not 

 to deprive the labouring class of the pleasing expectation of becoming 

 in a few years, by their industry, owners of the soil. It is of impor- 

 tance that the land should be permanently sold at a fixed price ; it 

 would be equally beneficial to the government and to the emigrant, 

 as a great deal of trouble and expense would thereby be avoided. 

 The emigrant, by that means, would be enabled at once to settle upon 

 his location, instead of awaiting the period of the government auction 

 taking place. In some seasons it is of vast consequence that the set- 

 tler should proceed to his land as early as possible, in order to pre- 

 pare it for the first crop. Evidently, by the present mode of disposing 



In answer to persons who may be favourable to giving grants of land to 

 emigrants of all descriptions, who may draw their conclusions from the accounts 

 of the successful result of indigent emigrants settled in that manner in some of 

 the townships in Upper Canada, I have only to remark, that these indigent set- 

 tiers have received every necessary assistance from the government ; and conse- 

 quently, though indigent at home, found themselves accommodated with a 

 CAPITAL, to provide all their wants for the first two years. In fact, the indi- 

 gent emigrant became a capitalist. 



