572 



delphia and Baltimore, that there was such 

 a scarcity of provision in England, that they 

 with their own eyes saw the poor dying in 

 the open streets for want, and they made 

 hundreds believe it. While I was there, 

 knowing better, I used to contradict them, 

 by saying it was impossible, as the English 

 poor are provided, by the laws of their coun- 

 try, with food and clothing : but I really 

 think the major part of the Americans 

 believe their representations to be true. 



It is one of the easiest things possible en- 

 tirely to prevent the emigration of mecha- 

 nics, as there is an act already existing for 

 that purpose : only let a clause be added, 

 obliging each mechanic to produce, to the 

 collector in every port, a certificate, signed 

 by the clergyman and officers of the parish 

 he comes from; and let this obligation 

 extend to every one that emigrates : for, 

 although they are forbidden, there are 

 greater numbers of that class of people leave 

 England than of any other, and they are 

 more distressed than other men, because 



