ILLINOIS AND BRITAIN. 469 



Charles : &quot; I do not regret the step which I have taken in 

 settling myself on the banks of the Mississippi, and shall be 

 stimulated to active exertion by the thought, that every tree I 

 cut down, every sod I turn, and every animal I rear, brings 

 me nearer Scotland. I have reason to believe these hopes will 

 be realized. Allowing, however, that they will not that 

 a livelihood is the most I shall obtain, and that I am compell 

 ed to spend and end my days here what of that ? at the 

 longest, life is not so very long, and when accompanied with 

 virtue, it has attractions almost any where. But I still look 

 to Scotland as containing all I truly love in this world, and 

 shall never relinquish the hope of being able to end my days 

 at home.&quot; In Britain the state of every thing at present is so 

 different from Illinois, that there is not much prospect of any 

 emigrant farmer realizing such a fortune in Illinois as will 

 enable him to return and live in Britain. The rate of interest 

 in Illinois being nearly three times more, and the price of pro 

 visions nearly three times less than in Britain, a change of 

 residence from the former to the latter would be attended with 

 an immense loss of income to the capitalist. On the other 

 hand, a change from Britain to Illinois would greatly aug 

 ment his income. Britain and Illinois cannot, however, long 

 continue so dissimilar as they are at present. The necessaries 

 of life are likely to approach nearer each other in price, by a 

 rise in the one country and a fall in the other, and ultimately 

 the youthful emigrant of the present day may be enabled to 

 return to Britain in his old age. 



Some of the opinions which I have expressed of the Cana- 

 das and Illinois, as adapted for agriculture, may be tested by 

 the standard of nature. 



From the junction of the north branch of the river Ottawa 

 with the St Lawrence below Montreal, to Goderich in the 

 west of Upper Canada, and from thence to the southern point 

 of Illinois, the eye is only relieved by two inconsiderable emi 

 nences in Lower Canada. Lakes Huron and Michigan being 

 situated in the highest parts, and only 589 feet above the level 

 of the sea, this tract of country may be considered an immense 

 valley, the Canadas running from the lakes in a north-easterly 

 direction, and Illinois running south. On a general view, 



