XIV PREFACE. 



He does not conceive that a preference 

 given, by British emigrants, to the United 

 States, can prejudicially affect British interests. 

 He would rather imagine its tendency were 

 just the reverse,; as a good understanding be- 

 tween the two countries, so vitally important 

 to both, must be promoted by infusing our su- 

 perabundant population into the population of 

 the States.* 



* This was written before the writer had an opportunity 

 of seeing " Buckingham's America," in which he finds a 

 similar opinion more fully and forcibly expressed, in the 

 following passage : 



" If the surplus population of Britain, who cannot ob- 

 tain adequate remuneration for their labour at home, could 

 but be prevailed upon to transport themselves at once to 

 this country, and seek for employment where it is best 

 found on their arrival ; it is impossible to estimate, to 

 their full extent, the benefits that would result to both 

 countries, but, above all, to the parties emigrating. Here, 

 millions of acres, now lying untouched, would be brought 

 into cultivation, and the wealth of the country increased, 

 while the spread of dwellings and population, the increase 

 of towns and cities, the opening of railroads and canals, 

 would send America a century forward in all that is de- 

 sirable. 



" In England the effect would be felt, first by a rise in 



