Ill 



Want of information is a complaint which has been 

 brought against treatises on emigration, and the 

 charge in all probability arises from diversity of human 

 character; one mind being incapable of furnishing all 

 requisite information to another, without previously 

 knowing what is required. The first part of this pub 

 lication is intended to show the opportunities which I 

 had of seeing the country, and the second part to aid 

 in forming an opinion of the different places of settle 

 ment. I have aimed only to impress the understanding 

 of the reader, and should any of my representations 

 and conclusions be found to differ from reality, I shall 

 regret having written a word on the subject 



The common currency of the United States and the 

 Canadas consists of dollars, expressed by the character S, 

 and worth about four shillings and threepence sterling. 

 The dollar is divided into one hundred cents, of about 

 the value of a British halfpenny each. In the State 

 of New York and Upper Canada the dollar is divided 

 into eight shillings, or sixteen sixpences currency. In 

 Lower Canada the dollar consists of five shillings 

 currency. The dollar of Illinois is divided as in 

 the State of New York, but the shilling is often called 

 a &quot; bit&quot; and the sixpence a &quot; piccayune&quot; 



I was not aware of any circumstance which could 

 possibly influence my judgment in favour of one por 

 tion of America more than another, until I heard that 

 my brother Charles had fixed on Illinois as his place 



