OS OLIVER GOLDSMITH. 



23 



But while emigrants must always experience sorrow at leaving 

 their own native land, and their feelings must be excited at 

 parting with associations which they love and respect, still, in 

 a country where the population keeps increasing, it is an 

 evidence of wisdom and prudence to remove to places where 

 there is a greater field for exertion. Nor is it desirable that 

 only the idle and dissipated should be expatriated, when they 

 have perhaps thrown away golden opportunities, for these are 

 little likely to do credit to their country, or to gain advantage 

 for themselves in distant places. But the prudent and indus- 

 trious may frequently, when their facilities at home are 

 limited, advantageously go abroad, and carry with them 

 Civilization and Arts to places where they may be enabled to 

 develop abilities which here must have lain dormant. And 

 to this very emigration does this country owe much of its 

 greatness. For the sending forth of her sons and her 

 daughters to her colonial possessions, has opened up new 

 channels for commerce, and new markets for manufactures ; 

 while a healthy and vigorous population has been reared, who 

 are alive to the comforts, the conveniences, and the elegancies 

 of civilized existence; and the condition of all parties has 

 been improved by the operation. 



These remarks are to be understood generally : there are and 

 always must be exceptions. The constitution of society is such 

 as to furnish anomalies, — to present us with want in the midst 

 of plenty, and with sorrow while all around is rejoicing. Yet, 

 on the whole, the advantage is on the side of active exertion ; 

 and many of the calamities of life are caused by supiueness, or 

 brought on by indolence, and its consequence, dissipation. 

 For these there seems to be no effectual or absolute cure. 

 But one thing is certain, that the patient industry which feels 

 a want of adequate remuneration in one country, is generally 

 possessed of sufficient strength of mind to betake itself to 

 another, where it may meet with the due reward of its 

 exertions. 



