AND PRODUCE IN ILLINOIS AND BRITAIN. 451 



excellent countrywomen who, if they could reach Illinois, 

 would cheerfully earn a farm for their fathers, husbands, or 

 lovers, by engaging in service. Perhaps in almost every case 

 individuals, on their arrival in the country, would act pru 

 dently by working for hire for the first twelve months, even if 

 they possess a little capital. By so doing, the knowledge 

 which they would obtain of the country, and the intercourse 

 of the people, would perhaps be of as much importance to 

 them as the increase of funds. In the case of a family with 

 out funds, the members might separate entirely or partially, as 

 circumstances admitted, and afterwards again unite when they 

 had obtained the means of purchasing and farming land. 



The land in Illinois to which the comparison of wages 

 refers, is of fine quality, situated in the best climate of America, 

 and, considered as a workshop, is not greatly surpassed by 

 any portion of the earth. The view which I have taken of 

 the reward of farm labourers in Illinois and Britain may 

 appear excessive, yet it will bear investigation. The British 

 labourer s reward of one-tenth of an acre would yield a mere 

 trifle annually ; but the Illinois labourer s reward of eighty 

 acres might afford sustenance for himself and family for ever. 

 The man who gives his services one year for hire in Iiliriois r 

 and invests his wages in the purchase of land, obtains the ser 

 vices of nature on a large scale in perpetuity, and by leading 

 a life of industry and economy for five or six years, he would 

 be enabled to purchase and sufficiently stock eighty acres of 

 land, which would for ever support himself and family. 



Illinois may justly be called &quot; the poor man s country,&quot; if 

 any part of the world deserves the title. The extraordinary 

 reward which the labourer receives, and the bountifulness of 

 Nature, are favourable to the poor, and no person who has 

 health and strength, and leads an industrious and a virtuous 

 life, can continue without the means of subsistence in Illinois. 



The future prospects of Illinois appear to be highly favour 

 able. Referring to what has been stated regarding the pro 

 gress of wealth at p. 400, and the channels of trade at p. 424-5,, 

 it will be found that almost all the elements of prosperity 

 exist in the country. The soil, grass-covered surface, climate, 

 internal facilities of commerce, cheapness and extent of land, 



