CO-OPERATIVE EMIGRATION. 15 



many places in the colonies where his income will go 

 much farther than in England ; he will find pleasant 

 society, a little inexpensive sport, and he will not be 

 oppressed with the riches of some of his neighbours, nor 

 tormented by the poverty of others. 



The plan of settling down shiploads of poor emigrants 

 in the wilderness has failed whenever and wherever it has 

 been tried ; the process of gradual absorption has always 

 been found to answer best. But I am inclined to think 

 that many of the difficulties which beset the path of the 

 better class of emigrant might be cleared away if these 

 people went in batches. Suppose, for instance, that a 

 dozen friends and acquaintances agree to form a settle- 

 ment. They choose a colony where improved farms can 

 be bought, and also where cheap Government land can be 

 acquired. The man with 1000?. or 2000Z. can settle down 

 comfortably at once on a made farm, while his poorer 

 friend would content himself with uncleared land. It is 

 not to be supposed that a dozen men will all grow rich 

 together ; but if even half that number remain together, 

 a pleasant society will grow up with the settlement. A 

 society like this may take England with them, and indi- 

 viduals will be spared the wrench of parting from all old 

 friends. 



There is in Canada some subtle charm which appeals 

 most strongly to the old country man to the gentleman as 

 well as to the working man. It has been said of Ireland 

 that there is something in that country which rapidly 

 converts strangers into Irishmen, " Hiberniores ipsis 

 Hiberuicis." The same may be said of Canada, with the 

 addition that the latter country possesses also the power 



