30 On the Emigration of Gardeners 



to America, though still proud of my English ancestors) to 

 make any statement that would not be realised by every per- 

 son emigrating here, I hope ever to remember, with grati- 

 tude and respect, the many acts of kindness which myself and 

 family received while among you ; and shall always endeavour 

 to promote the wishes of all who visit this country, either for 

 a short period or a permanent residence. Numerous enquiries 

 were made of us, while in Europe, as to the class of people 

 most benefited by emigration ; and those enquiries often pro- 

 ceeded from persons who, like yourself, had no wish to emi- 

 grate themselves, but who are devoted to the welfare of the 

 whole communit}', and desirous of imparting facts to such as 

 have not the means of obtaining them by personal observation. 

 To these enquiries my reply was always the same. To those 

 who have a competent income to live in England, and no 

 desire to inci-ease the property intended for their heirs. Remain 

 >where you are ; but to those wishing to increase their property, 

 America opens a wide field in any branch of industry. Should 

 they not wish to attend to any description of business, an 

 opportunity is here presented of investing capital in stocks of 

 various descriptions, or on bond and on mortgages of real 

 estates ; by which 6 per cent interest can always be obtained, 

 and oftentimes 7 and 8, and sometimes 12 per cent per an- 

 num. To all who labour for a livelihood, and particularly if 

 they have families, I say, Come without fail ; and, should you 

 meet with every obstacle imagination could picture, and you 

 should, in fact, enjoy less of the comforts of life than in 

 England, you would have the satisfaction of seeing your 

 children educated, however poor you may be ; and to know 

 that the highest offices of honour or profit that a numerous 

 and free people can bestow are within their reach ; and, also, 

 that they are in a country where the standard of morality is 

 higher, although no religious sect has a preference by law, 

 than in any other portion of the world. Most of your readers 

 know the currency of the United States is dollars and cents; 

 100 cents making one dollar, and 444- cents the par value of 

 the pound sterling. Of course, one shilling sterling is a frac- 

 tion more than 22 cents. Multiply 22 cents by 7 (the num- 

 ber of days in a week), and it makes 154 cents; for which 

 sum, I say (and, from my own personal knowledge, without 

 fear of contradiction), board, lodging, and washing can be ob- 

 tained in any farming section of the twenty-four United States. 

 I have been in twenty-two of the twenty-four, and, always 

 feeling an interest in agriculture, am certain I am not deceived. 

 I never intended to convey the idea that board could be ob- 

 tained in our cities and their immediate vicinity at that price; 



