MORRIS BIRKBECK, ESQ. 



and executed by men who have property enough to carry them 

 back : but, to invite men to go to the Illinois with a few score of 

 pounds in their pockets, and to tell them, that they can become 

 farmers with those pounds, appears to me to admit of no other 

 apology than an unequivocal acknowledgment, that the inviter 

 is mad. Yet your fifteenth Letter from the Illinois really contains 

 such an invitation. This letter is manifestly addressed to an 

 imaginary person. It is clear that the correspondent is a feigned, 

 or supposed, being. The letter is, I am sorry to say, I think, a 

 mere trap to catch poor creatures with a few pounds in their 

 pockets. I will here take the libeity to insert the whole of this 

 letter ; and will then endeavour to show the misery which it is 

 calculated to produce, not only amongst English people, but 

 amongst Americans who may chance to read it, and who are now 

 living happily in the Atlantic States. The letter is dated, 24th 

 of February &amp;gt; 1818, and the following are its words : 



1 02 1. &quot; Dear Sir, When a man gives advice to his friends, 

 on affairs of great importance to their interest, he takes on him 

 self a load of responsibility, from which I have always shrunk, 

 and generally withdrawn. My example is very much at their 

 service, either for imitation or warning, as the case may be. I 

 must, however, in writing to you, step a little over this line of 

 caution, having more than once been instrumental in helping 

 you, not out of your difficulties, but from one scene of perplexity 

 to another ; I cannot help advising you to make an effort more, 

 and extricate yourself and family completely, by removing into 

 this country. When I last saw you, twelve months ago, I did 

 not think favourably of your prospects : if things have turned out 

 better, I shall be rejoiced to hear it, and you will not need the 

 advice I am preparing for you. But, if vexation and disappoint 

 ments have assailed you, as I feared, and you can honourably 

 make your escape, with the means of transmitting yourself 

 hither, and one hundred pounds sterling to spare don t 

 hesitate. In six months after I shall have welcomed you, 

 barring accidents, you shall discover that you are become rich, 

 for you shall feel that you are independent : and I think that 

 will be the most delightful sensation you ever experienced ; 

 for, you will receive it multiplied, as it were, by the number 

 of your family as your troubles now are. It is not, however, 

 a sort of independence that will excuse you from labour, or 

 afford you many luxuries, that is, costly luxuries. I will state 

 to you what I have learned, from a good deal of observation and 

 inquiry, and a little experience ; then you will form your own 

 judgment. In the first place, the voyage. That will cost you, 

 to Baltimore or Philadelphia, provided you take it, as no doubt 

 you would, in the cheapest way, twelve guineas each, for a birth, 

 fire, and water, for yourself and wife, and half price, or less, for 

 your children, besides provisions, which you will furnish. 

 Then the journey. Over the mountains to Pittsburgh, down 



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