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expectation is entertained that it is the business of 

 capitalists and speculators to provide means for 

 these wants, as well as for all others of their posi- 

 tion. Now, if out of deference to the argument, we 

 admit the correctness of this view, and consider the 

 question as one simply of labour and capital, it can- 

 not be denied that the admitted object of Govern- 

 ment being to reclaim these wastes, it is a part of 

 its business to co-operate, at least, in transporting 

 labour to where capital, on its invitation, has been 

 accumulated for the purpose, but which, for the 

 want of it, is unemployed. Again, since it has 

 been shown that the labour of the whole of India, 

 as compared with its area, is short of the average of 

 European countries, that it would be politic to 

 endeavour to prevent the labour that is wanting in 

 India, being diverted to other countries, will I think 

 be conceded. In this view, then, were the Indian 

 Legislature to pass an Act prohibiting foreign emi- 

 gration, it would only be following a course that 

 would doubtless be adopted by most European 

 Governments under similar circumstances. But 

 such is not necessary here. Since the passing of 

 the Act of 1839, "the general law has recognized 

 it as a penal offence to contract with any native of 

 India for labour in a colony beyond Seas, or to aid 

 any native of India in emigrating for employment 

 as a labourer/ 7 And since the expenditure sanc- 

 tioned for Public Works this year reaches the enor- 

 mous sum of 12,000,000, and the Secretary of 



