108 



The Palatine Emigration. 



grounds did treat them with intolerance unquestionably, 

 but it was not more harsh or severe than millions have 

 submitted to without expatriating themselves. 



Although it must be admitted that they emigrated to 

 better their condition and to secure religious and political 

 freedom, yet there is no record which I have met with of 

 any especial persecution at this time. The allegations of 

 persecution in the memorials in their behalf circulated in 

 England, referred to occurrences twenty and more years 

 previous. It is therefore a surprising event that thirteen 

 thousand should come in a single summer to one country 

 where next to none had previously emigrated, and should 

 neglect neighboring countries, similar in faith and language 

 that were ready to receive them. This emigration of 1709 

 does not appear to have been succeeded for many following 

 years by any emigration of Germans equal to it in extent. 



In searching for the causes of this simultaneous move- 

 ment, if we cannot assign unbearable persecution as the 

 immediate occasion of the emigration, neither can we refer 

 it to the famine which prevailed this year in France and 

 some parts of Germany : for the plan for emigration must 

 have been commenced and carried out chiefly before there 

 could have been any experience of scarcity. 



Having perused all the contemporaneous documents to 

 which we could have access, we regard the flattering 

 suggestions made to the Palatines in their own country, by 

 the agents of land companies, who wished to secure 

 settlers for lands in the British colonies in America, and 

 thus give value to their lands, as the immediate occasion of 

 the movement. These agents could not fail to avail them- 

 selves of pictures of a brilliant contrast between freedom 

 and prosperity in the plantations, and the poverty, desola- 

 tion and oppression of their native land. 



The emigrants seemed to have a purpose or hope on 

 their arrival in England, to proceed either to the Carolinas 



