INTRODUCTION. 53 



to constitute them the most miserable race of beings under the 

 sun ? Encourage, by all means, the immigration of these poor 

 creatures to a land of freedom and Christianity. Evidently the 

 British Government cannot demur to the emigration of these 

 people ; for, allowing that even 2,000,000 should leave Hindostan 

 for our shores, can it be said that the country would suffer thereby ? 

 Certainly not. And, on the other hand, hundreds of thousands 

 who periodically perish through the joint agencies of hardship and 

 famine, would thus be saved. 



The only difficulty in the way of Indian immigration is our 

 remoteness from Hindostan, and the consequent expenses attend- 

 ing the conveyance of emigrants. Mauritius, which is much 

 nearer to the peninsula, has already received an accession of 

 110,000 coolies to the advantage of the emigrants themselves, 

 to the benefit of the colony, and, I dare say, to that of the com- 

 merce of Great Britain likewise. 



Several plans might be suggested for obtaining labour in 

 these islands. A general fund might be appropriated by each 

 colony, or capitalists and companies might undertake their intro- 

 duction, under certain conditional arrangements. 



Immigration carried on wholly at the public cost, I consider 

 as unwise, and, to a certain extent, hazardous to the finances of 

 the colonies ; but a special fund might be provided, by making 

 those who require labourers, and also the immigrants themselves, 

 contribute to its raising. The safest plan, however, would be in 

 this as in other matters to encourage private enterprise, by 

 affording governmental security to those who might wish to en- 

 gage in the undertaking. 



" I have been led to doubt," says Lord Harris, " whether it 

 be possible that immigration can be advantageously carried on as 

 a public enterprise, at the general expense. 



" But if private individuals are permitted to provide immi- 

 grants for themselves, at their own risk and expense, there is a 

 certainty that the attempt will be made only by some men of 

 capital, who possess the means of supporting and paying them 

 whose interest it will be to take the very best care of them, and 

 whose employment of numbers of labourers is likely to prove of 

 benefit to the community generally." 



The following scheme has been suggested : subscription lists 

 could be opened in the different colonies, on which the planters 

 and others would inscribe their names for the number of labourers 

 they respectively require ; the mere fact of signature to be a 

 pledge that the passage-money would be paid by the party apply- 

 ing for immigrants. Individuals or companies would then con- 

 tract to import the labourers at so much per head ; these should 

 be engaged by the subscribers from the vessel, immediately on 

 her arrival, for a number of years corresponding to the amount 



