MORRIS BIRKBECK, ESQ. 



allured by your captivating statements, and which statements be 

 come decisive in their effects upon his mind, when they are 

 reduced to figures. This, my dear Sir, is the part of your writings, 

 which has given me most pain. You have not meant to deceive : 

 but you have first practised a deceit upon yourself, and then upon 

 others. All the disadvantages you state : but, then, you ac 

 company the statement by telling us how quickly and how easily 

 they will be overcome. Salt, Mr. HULME finds, even at ZANES- 

 VILLE, at two dollars and a half a bushel : but, you tell us, that it 

 soon will be at three quarters of a dollar. And thus it goes all 

 through. 



995. I am happy, however, that you have given us figures in 

 your account of what an English farmer may do with two thousand 

 pounds. It is alluring, it is fallacious, it tends to disappointment, 

 misery, ruin and broken hearts ; but it is open and honest in 

 intention, and it affords us the means of detecting and exposing 

 the fallacy. Many and many a family have returned to New 

 England after having emigrated to the West in search of fine 

 estates. They, able workmen, exemplary livers, have returned to 

 labour in their native States amongst their relations and old 

 neighbours ; but, what are our poor ruined countrymen to do, 

 when they become pennyless ? If I could root my country from 

 my heart, common humanity would urge me to make an humble 

 attempt to dissipate the charming delusions, which have, without 

 your perceiving it, gone forth from your sprightly and able pen, 

 and which delusions are the more dangerous on account of your 

 justly high and well-known character for understanding and 

 integrity. 



996. The statement, to which I allude, stands as follows, in 

 your tenth Letter from the Illinois. 



997. A capital of zooo/. sterling, (8,889 dollars) may be invested 

 on a section of such land, in the following manner, viz. 



Dollars. 



Purchase of the land, 640 acres, at 2 dollars peracre. . 1280 

 House and buildings, exceedingly convenient and com 

 fortable, may be built for ..... 1500 



A rail fence round the woods, 1000 rods, at 25 cents per 



rod ......... 250 



About 1800 rods of ditch and bank, to divide the arable 



land into 10 fields. ...... 600 



Planting 1800 rods of live fence . . . . 150 



Fruit trees for orchard, &c. . . * . . 100 



Horses and other live stock .... * 1500 



Implements and furniture . . . . . 1000 



Carried over . . . 6380 



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