30'2 COLONIAL 1'OHCY. 



fact, it is a real grievance to the colonists, and should be altered as 

 speedily as possible. The crown and clergy, in this manner, place 

 themselves in the situation of the private land speculator, whom I 

 have already described is so much to be guarded against. 



In new countries, land being so easily attained, every person ia 

 desirous of cultivating his own property ; it would be therefore diffi- 

 cult to find tenants for the occupation of these reserves ; at any rate, 

 very long leases would be required, which, perhaps, would render it 

 preferable for the crown to dispose of them for ready money. 



In Prince Edward's Island, the usual leases given are for 999 years, 

 and many instances occur of legal disputes between the landlord and 

 tenant. The system of granting leases should be particularly avoided 

 when the landlord is represented by the crown and clergy. 



I think I have said enough to prove the impolicy of the system of 

 reserves now in operation; and, at the same time, to show the neces- 

 sity of equally guarding against the private speculator. At the future 

 formation of a colony, it will be very easy to adopt a different line of 

 policy ; but to alter the system now in force to the one I propose, 

 requires caution. May I suggest that the reserves in the old-esta- 

 blished townships be valued ; and, without much difficulty and ex- 

 pense, I think that may be accomplished at the seat of government, 

 from the plans in the Surveyor-General's office. As soon as the 

 governor in council has satisfied himself that the valuation is a correct 

 one, those lots should be open for purchase, at ready money terms, 

 in the same manner as the other lands are disposed of. 



It is needless to observe more upon the subject of the clerical pro- 

 perty, than that one- seventh of the, general annual receipts might be 

 applied to the church establishment, which would have one good 

 effect it would deprive that portion of the community hostile to the 

 established church of an every-day grievance, which, being constantly 

 before their eyes, tends to inflame the minds of the colonists against 

 an institution of which they, otherwise, might be zealous supporters.* 



With respect to the wild land now in the possession of private 

 persons, I suggest that, if the annual tax of threepence per acre be 

 twelve months due, that the land shall be taken out of the proprietor's 

 hands, valued, and sold by the government, for the benefit of the pro- 

 prietors, under which arrangement the land should be exempt from 

 tax until disposed of; and many would be induced, voluntarily, I am 

 sure, to submit to such an arrangement, to whom the amount of taxa- 



* Perhaps it would be advisable to establish a tithe upon all lands, for the 

 support of religion, upon the same principle as that instituted amongst the 

 Roman Catholic population of Lower Canada, which amounts to one twenty- 

 sixth upon all produce, obliging every individual so tithed to support one of the 

 three most prevalent religions, namely the Episcopalian, the Scotch Presby- 

 terian, or the R >man Catholic. There are so many of the two last persuasions 

 in the North American Colonies, that it would be but justice to afford them every 

 facility, to enable them to follow their own mode of worship, and, by that 

 means, it is presumed, that the other dissenting sects would be deterred from 

 raising any opposition to the Episcopalian churcn establishment. To attempt 

 to uphold the Episcopalian church exclusively, to the prejudice of all o'her 

 denominations of Christians, in a colony contiguous to the United States, 

 would be both d;;uy;crovis and impolitic. 



