298 COLONIAL POLICY. 



then immediately subject to a tax, the amount of which unfortunately 

 I have forgotten, but I perfectly remember to have heard it differently 

 stated to exceed the amount of tax imposed in Upper Canada (the 

 Detroit river separating the two countries) by ten or twenty times. 

 Notwithstanding so disproportionate a difference, persons, whose 

 opinions I could rely upon, expressed themselves favourably towards 

 the United States system ; the tax raised being appropriated to making 

 improvements in the country, such as roads, bridges, &c., the result 

 was highly beneficial to the community. 



This tax has also the good effect of preventing land speculators 

 from keeping their property out of the market in a wild or unculti- 

 vated state, in hopes of ultimately receiving an exorbitant price from 

 the increased value it may acquire from the industry of the neigh- 

 bouring settlers. Serious inconvenience now exists from that cause in 

 the most valuable townships in Upper Canada. 



The proximity of our North American Colonies to the United States, 

 must have an influence in determining upon the price to be fixed 

 upon unsettled tracts belonging to the crown. That republic pos- 

 sesses many millions of acres of the richest soil, situated in every 

 clime. As I have previously mentioned, the whole is sold at five shil- 

 lings and sevenpence-halfpenny per acre; and when one reflects 

 upon the endeavours that are made by that nation to decoy the British 

 emigrants from the Canadas to her own soil, it must be apparent that 

 it would not be prudent to dispose of our lands at a higher price than 

 demanded for land equally good on the other side of the frontier line. 

 This makes it desirable to fix a price, if any thing, lower than theirs ; 

 and I imagine I shall not err much by recommending the crown lands 

 in all those colonies to be sold at five shillings sterling per acre. 



It must be borne in mind by those who have had no experience in 

 the colonies, that land of inferior quality is much enhanced in value 

 by the occupation and cultivation of the neighbouring richer soil, and 

 ultimately will sell at the same price the latter originally fetched. 

 The early emigrant will naturally look out for the best situations, and 

 who will grudge him the reward of his superior judgment and 

 enterprise? 



Persons who may consider the price of five shillings an acre as too 

 low, in order to accomplish the object I have in view, of insuring a 

 sufficient supply of labourers to the enterprising capitalist, I must beg 

 to reflect that this price being received only in ready money, no credit 

 in any case being allowed, will in reality very much increase the dif- 

 ficulty that the poorer class may have in becoming purchasers. Be- 

 sides, the labourer, before he has determined upon purchasing wild 

 uncleared land, will, no doubt, first ascertain whether his little capital 

 is sufficient to enable him to stock his farm, and subsist himself and 

 family for the first year, and until he have a return from the soil ; if 

 not, he will hesitate before he make a purchase. 



It was otherwise when the government granted land to poor emi- 

 grants ; they, irr that case, would locate themselves upon it without 

 reflection as to their means, regarding the grant as of little value, be- 

 cause, forsooth, they got it for nothing. And it is very well known 

 that capital bears a much higher interest in our colonies than at 



