32 EMIGRATION TO THE MIRAMICHI. 



Scenery on the Richibucto. Supposed richness of New Brunswick 

 in fossil fuel. Statements of local writers. Exaggerated expectations 

 in the province. Seam of coal on the coal branch of the Richibucto. 

 Tea-dinner at the house of an Irish settler. Eggs and potatoes. 

 Bridges in the county of Kent. Wide river-mouths and estuaries 

 along this coast. Comparative influence of the Church of England 

 clergy in the province. Importance of forming settlements chiefly 

 of one denomination of Christians. Practice of the Roman Catholic 

 French in this respect. Opening on the Richibucto for settlers 

 belonging to the Free Church of Scotland. Cost of farms in this 

 neighbourhood. 



OCTOBER 18. We had not quitted our rooms this 

 morning when Mr Kankin was already at our inn, to 

 induce us to take up our quarters at his house. We 

 availed ourselves of his pressing invitation, and spent 

 two pleasant days under his roof. 



In describing my former visit to Miramichi, I have 

 mentioned the distress occasioned by the temporary 

 failure of the lumber -trade on this river, and the 

 numerous emigrations of idle and distressed persons in 

 consequence. There is, therefore, a great wish on the 

 part of the influential inhabitants of Douglastown and 

 Chatham that a portion of the tide of immigration should 

 be directed towards this place 5 and an Immigration 

 Society has been formed to promote this object. I do 

 not myself consider the land generally so good on the 

 Miramichi as on the Restigouche River. Still, there 

 are many good tracts of land in the neighbourhood of 

 this river, and many partially cleared farms can be 

 bought at present on reasonable terms, in consequence of 

 the emigration of persons whose attention to lumbering 

 and neglect of their farms had involved them in 

 insurmountable debts and difficulties. 



Among other persons, I had a conversation to-day 

 with a very old man born in Perthshire, but who had 

 been here for thirty-six years. From his experience, he 

 said he would recommend his countrymen who meant 

 to emigrate to come to the Miramichi ; and that it was 



