A Plain Statement of the Advantages Attending Emigration to Upper Canada

A Plain Statement of the Advantages Attending Emigration to Upper Canada

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The following is my transcription of:

Rubidge, Charles. A plain statement of the advantages attending emigration to Upper Canada / by Charles Rubidge. London : Simpkin, Marshall, 1838. 84 pages.

A PLAIN STATEMENT

OF THE

ADVANTAGES ATTENDING EMIGRATION

TO

UPPER CANADA

Price 1s.6d.

INTRODUCTION.

In proposing to add another to the many treatises on the subject of Emigration already before the British Public, two questions may most reasonably be asked; first, what occasion is there for such a publication? and, secondly, what claim has the Author to the confidence of those to whom it is addressed?

The body of the work itself will supply sufficient data to prove, that improvement has made such rapid strides in the Province of Upper Canada, as to call for more recent information, and that though substantially correct in their main positions, former publications convey an inadequate view of its present state.

In answer to the second point, the Author would submit two Letters, which he wrote to a friend, and which were inserted by Captain Basil Hall, in his Travels in North America, published in 1829, which are as follows:

Otonabee, April 16, 1828.

On my return home, after so long an absence, I find my own affairs so much behind hand, that I shall be unable to give the questions put by Captain Hall that consideration I wish, and which they deserve.

If a labouring man, we shall suppose with a wife and five children, arrives in Canada with L.10. in his pocket, if he possess industrious habits, and can live with great frugality, he may go at once on wild land. He will probably get to the Province in time to earn by his labours during the harvest sufficient to buy a cow, and probably some provision. He should, however, be on his own land as soon as possible, and the old settlers are never backward to make what is called a bee, or mustering of the neighbourhood for a common purpose, and thus he gets his house up. This he may make comfortable, and have also time to underbrush from three to five acres, before the winter sets in. If the snow is not very deep, he may chop, that is, cut down trees, during all the winter; but if the weather prevents him from working with the axe after the middle of January, he must take up the flail for some of his neighbours, for which service he will receive grain in payment. But the axe must be resumed as soon as the impediment of snow is removed. In chopping, great care must be taken to save all the timber that will make rails, and leaving the logs of the proper length for that purpose. He will find no difficulty in keeping a cow, or even three or four head of cattle, as the tender branches of the trees he chops down in spring, with the addition of plenty of salt, will keep them in good order.

If any of his family can assist him, he will be able to clear the whole land chopped in winter, and to crop it with potatoes, indian corn, and turnips. If he have no such aid, he will be able to clear off about two acres, by exchanging work with some other settler, to help him with his oxen to log and draw off his rail cuts to their places. When his crops are in, and his fences up, he must again go out to work for provisions for his family, and continue doing so through the harvest, in order to get a yoke of steers. He will be able, indeed, to work out longer this year than he will ever be able to do again, as his family can cut his corn and husk it. If he gets his potatoes and other crops off in time, he may sow fall, or autumn wheat; but if not, he will have a better crop by sowing in the spring. If any of his winter chopping remains, by all means he should sow fall wheat in that. From this time he may subsist with comfort by occasionally working out, taking care to make any sacrifice to continue clearing his own land. Flax he may grow at once, and sheep he may keep after three years.

I think such a family may get from most seaport towns at home, to the district of Newcastle in Upper Canada, for about L.10.; and supposing them to possess the L.10. I before mentioned, the emigrant, by following something like the plan laid down, will find himself in prosperous circumstances in the fourth or fifth year. Let it be understood, however, that I am supposing the party to be sober and industrious. A great number of the settlers round me had barely enough to defray the expenses of their passage, and have now a large clearing, and a good stock of cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry, besides many other articles of farm produce.

If any thing can be gleaned from this worth mentioning to Captain Hall, that may benefit the community, it will afford me much pleasure.

I remain,

Your most obedient Servant.

"When I was residing near Swansea in South Wales, I happened one day to be dining at the house of an esteemed friend, when the conversation commenced by some one, after dinner, speaking about the Canadas, the probable chance of mending our fortunes, providing for our families, and mode of proceeding. At the time, it appeared mere conversation. However, it made such a deep impression on us all, that from that day we never met without renewing the subject, reading every work we could procure, both on these Provinces, and the United States of America, and gaining what information we could from every person who had ever been in Canada. My brother shortly afterwards removed to Swansea, in order to accompany my friend, who had also made up his mind to emigrate; but a severe domestic loss prevented the former from going, and changed his views: but I had come to the determination to go to Canada; for I found that with a limited income of L.100 a-year, it was impossible to maintain, with proper respectability, that situation in life which my profession called for. My family consisted of a wife and three children, from seven to three years old.

"Thus having made my mind up, in the winter of 1818, I began to make preparations, by disposing of my household furniture, reserving for myself beds, bedding, carpets, and such other things as were portable and likely to be useful. I also made arrangements for borrowing the sum of L.200. Arrived at Bristol, I procured a variety of tools, implements of husbandry, clothing, &c., to the amount of L.100, and laid in a good stock of provisions, and every thing likely to make the voyage comfortable across the Atlantic.

"We sailed on the 3d of May, 1819, and after a tedious voyage to Quebec, and some detention afterwards in getting up the country, we arrived at the village of Cobourg, in the district of Newcastle, on the 19th of July. The whole of my expenses for voyage, provisions, and all other travelling charges, amounted to L.100, 8s., so that on my arrival, I had a very small sum left. However, my quarter's pay came round, I was in a cheap country, and, moreover, found a most warm and hospitable reception in the house of my old and esteemed friend. As a new township on the Rice Lake was about being surveyed, and I had not means to purchase a cleared farm near my friend, I determined to wait till the survey was finished, and try the Bush -- as the woods here are called.-- This was in the month of December of the same year. I then obtained the grant of land my rank in the naval service entitled me to. In February, 1820, I contracted with two men to put me up a log-house, 28 feet by 20; and thirteen logs, or as many feet high; to roof it with shingles, and to board up the gable ends; and to clear off one acre about the house, to prevent the trees from falling on it, for all which I paid them 100 dollars. This shell of a building had merely a doorway cut out of the middle; and when my friend and the clergyman of Hamilton drove out in a single sleigh with me, to see it, and we took our dinner at one end and our horse at the other, on a miserably cold day in the month of March, it looked wretched enough; but as it was the first but one, so it was the last in the township. Whilst the snow and ice were good, I moved all my effects, got boards sufficient to finish my house, and a six months' stock of provisions out; and on the 8th of May took my family into their pile of logs in a Canadian forest.

"I will own, for a time our situation appalled me, and to my then unformed judgment in Bush matters, it seemed a hopeless struggle; but I was out with my family, and as I did not want for energy, I set to work in earnest. To two Americans I let a job to chop four acres and a half, at six dollars an acre; and at the same time, a man whom I had occasionally employed at home, followed me out, and came to hire. During the course of the summer, he felled and chopped up three acres more: my cleared acre I planted with potatoes, a little corn, and turnips: my stock consisted of a cow and yoke of steers three years old, with the management of which I was totally unacquainted when I bought them; but if a man will give his mind to any common thing of the kind, and not think it a hardship, it is surprising what he may do, as in this case after a few days I found no difficulty.

"I was now anxious to get my house made habitable as soon as possible, and a carpenter being employed not far off, I endeavored to engage him to put in the windows and door; but finding that he wished to take advantage of my situation, I determined to do it myself, and thus was forced to learn the business of a carpenter. This I considered no hardship, as I had always been fond of the use of tools, and had, previous to my leaving England, taken several lessons in turning. During the summer, I got my house chinked, or filled the interstices between the logs with pieces of wood to make the inside flush or smooth, and to prevent the mud used as plaster on the outside from coming through. I then put in the windows and door, laid the floors, and partitioned off the lower part of the house into two good rooms, on wet days employing my man to dig a cellar under the house; in short, before the winter, I had made the log-house comfortable within, and, with the addition of some white-wash, smart without.

"In August, we cut some coarse grass in a beaver meadow close by, sprinkling salt through the little stack as we made it; after this we logged up and cleared three acres of the land I had chopped, and by the latter end of September had it sown with wheat; the logging, though heavy, I did with my hired man and steers, and before the winter, had it fenced with rails. Here, it may be remarked, I did not get much land cleared, but by doing little, and that partly with my own hands, I gained experience; and would strongly advise gentlemen settling in Canada with small means, to commence clearing slowly, and with as little expense as possible.

"In the fall, or autumn, I put up a log-kitchen, and a shed for my cattle; during the winter, I employed my man in chopping three acres more, in which I now and then assisted him, and soon became very expert in the use of the axe, felling the trees to the most advantage to assist their burning, and to save trouble in logging. With my beaver-meadow hay, and the fir tops of the fallen trees, my cattle were kept fat all the winter. In the spring, three acres more were cleared, fenced, and cropped with corn, potatoes, and turnips; and where log heaps had been burnt, the ashes were hoed off, and planted with melons and cucumbers; a small patch was fenced off for a nursery, and apple seeds sown, trees which are now ten and twelve feet high. I also put out several of the wild plum-trees of the country, which now bear abundance of fine fruit. From this time, about five acres yearly have been added to my farm, taking great care, in clearing off my land, never to destroy a log that would make rails, by which means the fence always came off the field cleared; and although they are small -- from four to six acres -- the fences are all six feet or nine rails high. Here I will remark, it is a great fault to split rails small, and error that most new settlers persist in. In the spring of 1822, my attention was turned to making a flower and kitchen garden. Round the latter I made a straight fence with cedar posts, and thirteen rails high, which is at this day stocked with every kind of fruit tree to be had in the neighborhood, which flourish beyond my expectation. My stock of animals has been gradually increasing, and to my other stock I have added horses and sheep, with poultry of all kinds.

"In the year 1825, I had repaid the money I borrowed, by leaving back a small part of my half pay every quarter, and had received a deed for 600 acres of my land, on which I had performed the settlement duty, which cost me L.30. My farm is now increased to 36 acres. I have the deed for the remaining 200 acres of my land; also deeds for town and park lots in the rapidly-settling town of Peterborough; and, as my family have increased to six, and are growing up, I am just now about building a frame-house, 36 feet by 26 in the clear, two stories high, with a commodious kitchen behind, the timber and shingles for which I have bought by disposing of a mare, after using her for five years, and breeding a pair of horses from her. With my own exertions, -- being able to do most of the carpenter's work inside, -- and about L.100, I expect to get it finished.

"Some of my first chopped land is now nearly clear of stumps. I am planting out an orchard of apple-trees, raised from the seed sown by myself; have a good barn and stable, with various other offices;-- in short, feel that I have surmounted every difficulty. A town is growing up near me, roads are improving, bridges are built; one of the best mills in the province is just finished at Peterborough, another within three miles of me. Boards, and all descriptions of lumber, and cheap -- about five dollars 1000 feet, four saw-mills being in operation. Stores, a tannery, distillery, and many other useful businesses, are established, or on the eve of being so, at Peterborough; on the road to which, through Otonabee, the Land Company, the clergy, and some private individuals, have some of the best land in the province for sale, at from 7s. 6d. to 10s. per acre. The price of land generally, except on the roads, is about 5s. per acre.

"I was the first settler in the township, and almost before a tree was cut down; now there are nearly two thousand acres cleared, and 125 families, consisting of 500 souls. On parallel lines, at the distance of three quarters of a mile apart, roads, of from 33 to 66 feed wide, are cut and cleared out by the parties owning the land all through the township, which will ultimately be of the greatest benefit, and are so now to those settlers near them. They have been much cavilled at, and found fault with, by land speculators, and persons having large grants; but I never yet heard an actual settler complain of them. One great objection urged against them was, that a second growth of trees would spring up along these cleared avenues, or roads, and be worse than that removed; but, from strict observation, I find this fallacious, as the second growth is always a different wood, generally poplar, cherry, elder, &c., with sprouts from some of the old stumps, and so thick that they cannot come to any size; while every year there is destroying, by slow but sure means, stumps that will take 20 or 30 years to get rid of.

"I have now given an indifferent sketch of my settlement in the woods, from which, I think, it will be seen, that even a person not brought up to labour, and under many disadvantageous circumstances -- such as going far back in a settlement, want of roads, bridges, mills, and society, and having a sum of money to repay -- still it will be seen that, with a good heart, and an industrious turn, a gentleman of small income may better his situation. And I certainly will say, that any person with the same means, and who will turn his hand to any thing he can that is not dishonourable, will do will to follow the same course; and I think that such will not injure their country by leaving it. For example, while in England, on half pay, nearly all my income went for food; here it nearly all goes for clothing of British manufacture. My family is supported with respectability and comfort, having abundance of all the necessaries of life within my farm, and my pay enabling me to supply all other requisites. Here we can keep the door of hospitality open, without inconvenience, and enjoy ourselves in a pleasant way, keeping a pair of good horses, sleighs, &c &c.

"Persons with families, as they have the most urgent reasons to migrate, so they will always make the best settlers. Their children can assist materially in the mode of farming pursued on wild land, and may do so without its being looked upon as a degradation. If they are well educated there is little doubt of their advancement in the professions; and if not, they will be always sure of a provision by farming, as their parents may, with a moderate outlay, acquire property for them. As British goods of almost every description are now brought down to a moderate price, gentlemen coming out will do well not to stock themselves with more than they want for their own use, as they will find their money more useful than superfluous articles of any description; and such, with an income of from L.50 to L.200 a-year, with prudence, may live in the most comfortable and respectable way here, being able, by means of a farm, to supply the table with abundance, and to enjoy themselves at their leisure in as good society as can be found in most country towns in England. Indeed, were it not for the differences of fences, occasional dissight of old stumps, or dead standing trees, and now and then 'I guess,' a person in this neighborhood can hardly fancy themselves in a foreign country.

"It is a great error, and to be lamented, that most gentlemen from the old country -- as the United Kingdom is called -- bring too much of their native prejudices with them here, by which means they often expend much money uselessly, and frequently get into difficulties; and I have known some wholly fail from such imprudence. It is from such that unfavourable accounts of this country originate. I think it should be a rule for persons coming to a new country, always first to follow the customs of that country as closely as possible, reserving their improvements till they get firmly established, and see good reason to apply them. It should generally be an object for gentlemen, if they settle in new townships, to endeavour to get near another, or others, of character already settled; as by this means they will have a good chance to be set in the right way, and thereby saved from much imposition, besides the pleasure of having at hand a friend, and society suited to their taste. As land may be bought at very easy rates and price -- seven, and even ten years allowed to pay it in -- it will be preferable for a gentleman, or any person with small means, to purchase near settlements, or on main roads, as they will thereby avoid many difficulties I had to contend with.

"Having been in the neighbourhood of the last emigrants brought out by the Honourable Peter Robinson, who deserves the highest praise for his humanity, consideration, and care in settling them, and having read some of the Reports of the Committee on Emigration, I beg leave to offer an idea that strikes me on this subject. From observation, I think the Government did too much for those already out, and still the Committee propose to do too much for any that may be sent out; they are not left to find resources from their own industry and energy. While the rations last, many of the emigrants make little exertion, and dispose of food they have not been used to, such as pork, for whisky, thereby injuring their constitutions and morals, and fixing for a time habits of idleness. Let the settlers be put on their land with a shanty up; give a family of five persons, five barrels of flour and one of pork, with two axes and two hoes, and, with this assistance, let them work their way. During the time Mr Robinson's last settlers were getting rations, labourers' wages were higher than they had ever been known except during the war. This certainly would not have been the case if they had been less lavishly supplied. An able-bodied man that is industrious, will never want for work in Upper Canada; and, if he will work, he will in a very short time get himself a cow, grain, potatoes, &c. &c.

"Although this part of the province is very rapidly improving, still it would increase in population and riches in a tenfold degree, was the water communication opened with Lake Ontario by a canal on part of the River Trent. An immense extent of country from Peterborough, on the Otonabee River, to the Bay of Quint&eacute,--which is a part of Ontario,--comprising some of the richest land in the province, would then be settled and cultivated, having a decided advantage over the front; and the flour, gain, pork, lumber, potash, and staves, that would go down, must make this district greatly superior to any other in this province. It is not to be doubted that, independent of the tolls, the inhabitants, within a range likely to benefit by so desirable an outlet, would willingly consent to pay an assessment in proportion to the quantity of land they hold. This will readily be seen, when it is known that in the article of wheat, there is 3d. or 6d. a-bushel less given for it north of the Rice Lake, and the same in proportion for other produce, with an equal loss to the settler on every kind of goods he purchases.

"That the Government are well aware of the great advantage, in a military point of view, in case of a war, of such a communication, I have no doubt; and I cannot be so presumptuous as to point out why it would be so, in stating that large quantities of produce, &c. will go down the Trent which now has to be taken by land to Lake Ontario; I will merely state, that this last winter very nearly 5000 bushels of wheat have been taken in by the store-keepers at Peterborough alone. Only three or four years ago flour was transported back there, so that no doubt can exist of the increased quantity a few years will produce. Through the goodness and paternal consideration of his Excellency Sir Peregrin Maitland, an excellent mill has been erected at Peterborough, which is the greatest blessing to the settler and the country, and will be the means of the adjacent townships filling up rapidly. In the town itself, which less than three years ago had but one solitary house in it, now may be seen frame-houses in every direction, and this summer 20 additional ones will be erected.

"Respectable yeomen, or small farmers, having sufficient to settle themselves and support their families, if they go on wild land for two years, will, with industry, always do well. Certainly, having L.100 clear when they have paid a seventh of the purchase money for 200 acres, they will, before that sum is expended, raise sufficient for their future maintenance; but in all cases, much of what is required depends on what persons have been used to, and the sacrifices they will make for a short time, to acquire property and become independent. Mechanics of all descriptions will do well, and indeed any one used to labour, or who will be industrious. Some of the best settlers in this township were at home weavers. But tradesmen, or shop-keepers of ruined fortune, if they do ill at home, will do worse here; and let all persons who will not put their hand to every thing, who feel discouraged at trifles, and who expect any thing like a life of idleness, beware how they make the trial of settling in a new country. My opinions are founded on observation and practical knowledge, and in giving them, though in a very homely and jumbled manner, still I have endeavoured to give the true statement, and, I trust, just recommendations; and I shall feed gratified and happy, if Captain Hall can cull any thing from what I have written that may benefit the public or a single individual, or be the means of doing even a small good to this happy and thriving province.

I am, Sir, &c."

Being only a matter-of-fact person, and no experienced author, it would have been much more congenial to his taste and feelings, to have communicated orally with those interested in such matters, but the time, labour, and insufficiency connected with such a plan, render it impracticable.

In 1831, and 1832, he was employed by His Excellency, Sir John Colborne (at that time Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada) as an Emigration Agent, during the former year he located nearly five hundred families in the townships near Peterborough, which were sent out by the late Marquis of Bath and others. A nineteen years residence in the Newcastle district Upper Canada, having unquestionably given him much personal experience of the difficulties to which settlers are liable, he is induced to accede to the request of several persons interested in the subject of Emigration; to lay before the public a plain statement of such facts, as are likely to be useful to individuals contemplating removal from the land of their fathers, to find a home in Canada.

ADVICE,

&c. &c.

It will be seen from the letters in the Introduction that the author's residence is near Peterborough, the intended capital of the newly constituted district of Colborne. In that immediate neighbourhood (as well as the whole Province) considerable changes, and improvements, have taken place. Towns and villages have rapidly arisen upon spots where within his remembrance was to be seen nothing but wild woodland.

Peterborough especially is an instance of this; in 1825 it contained but one miserable dwelling, now in 1838, may be seen nearly 400 houses, many of them large and handsome, inhabited by about 1500 persons; a very neat stone church, capable of accommodating 800 or 900 persons,*

* The building of this Church was undertaken by the inhabitants of Peterborough and its vicinity, belonging to the Church of England. In 1835 it was commenced, and by great exertions opened for divine worship in December, 1836. Though not altogether finished, &pound 900 was raised by voluntary contributions, not one farthing having been given by any public body to it. The gentlemen composing the building committee are responsible for the remainder due, being &pound 500. An advertisement for subscriptions to liquidate this debt has been for some weeks past inserted in a London newspaper.

a Presbyterian Church of stone, two Dissenting places of worship, and a Roman Catholic church in progress. The town has in or near it, two grist, and seven saw mills, five distilleries, two breweries, two tanneries, eighteen or twenty shops (called stores), carriage, sleigh, waggon, chair, harness, and cabinet makers, and most other useful trades. Stages run all the year, brining mails five times a week; and steam boats whilst the navigation is open; there is one good tavern (White's) and two inferior ones. Families may now find houses of any size to suit them, at moderate rents. The roads in this neighbourhood are being greatly improved. The towns of Cobourg, Port Hope, Colbourne, Grafton, Brighton, River Trent, and Beaumont, in the Newcastle District are all equally prosperous, and, like Peterborough, are surrounded by genteel families from the United Kingdom; in short, the advancement of this district is almost incredible. On the Rice Lake two steam boats, the Sir Francis Head, and the Northumberland, ply during the season. The sum of &pound 94,000 was granted in the winter of 1836, and 1837, by the Provincial Legislature, for the improvement of the navigation of the river Trent, and the works at the upper and lower section have been put in progress; thus giving reasonable expectation that in a few years that part will become one of the most important and thriving in the country.

The whole line of water communication from the Bay of Quinte to Lake Huron has been examined and surveyed by N. H. Baird, Esq., civil engineer; the plans and estimates approved of, and the work began. The whole will cost &pound 495,515, that is to say, from the Bay of Quinte to the town of Peterboro', &pound 233,447; and from thence to Lake Simcoe, &pound 262,068. The country along the entire route is settling fast, particularly the fine townships of Seymour, Otonabee, Monagan, Cavan, Douro, Smith, Perey, Asphodel, Ops, Emily, Ennismoore, Verulan, Fenelon, Bexley, Somerville, and Harvey. At Fenelon Falls, which are 16 feet high, on a smaller scale like the Horse-shoe Fall of Niagara, there is a large establishment of mills; and here, and in the townships bordering of the superb chain of lakes, forming the inland communication, and connected with the Trent and Otonabee rivers, are settled a great number of young men, sons of good families in the United Kingdom. On the River Trent, the township of Seymour also, under the able superintendence of Major David Campbell, has become one of the most respectable settlements in the district. Many other parts of the Province, particularly the Western, London, and Gore districts, give evidence of a similar state of improvement. Many public works may soon be expected to be begun, as bills to carry them into effect have passed the Legislature, and received the royal assent. The opening of the river Trent will very soon bring into notice the Marmora Iron Works, where upwards of &pound 70,000 have been expended. These works were first commenced by Mr. Hayes, under very disadvantageous circumstances, before any settlement of the country was begun; and when the expense of transporting every article for use or consumption, and his own iron ware to market, was enormous. All the buildings, with the furnaces and apparatus, many of them of stone, still remain as good as ever. The townships adjoining are now capable of supplying food and fodder at a reasonable price, labourers also may be more readily obtained. These considerations render the works at Marmora most worthy the attention of capitalists. Having gone through the two first stages of unprofitableness to the proprietors, a third person might step in; and if he combine knowledge and industry, by avoiding much of the expenses, and, not being now exposed to the difficulties of the former occupants; he might at a small outlay make them profitable. in the neighbourhood of the Iron Works, the ore of that metal is in abundance, lead and silver are there also, as well as quarries of white marble; but the following letter will give an account of the quantities in which iron ore is found in this part of the country.

To Isaac Fraser, Esq. Chairman, &c. of the commission for removing the Penitentiary to Marmora.

"The Water Power at Marmora, and its sufficiency for all Hydraulic purposes, may be better imagined than explained to you by me, from the fact, that the falls occur upon the Crow River, at the foot of untold lakes falling into Crow Lake, the deepest inland lake in the Province, and just below the junction of the Beaver river, which latter has its source in the Ottawa or Grand River, or the water flowing parallel therewith, and by the outlet at the Marmora Falls; these head waters, on the confluence with the waters of the Otonabee, and Rice Lake in Crow Bay, six miles below the works, form the great River Trent, second in importance and magnitude only to the St. Lawrence. It is sufficient for me to add, that I deem the water power at the works abundantly equal to all the purposes of machinery, and manufacture, which can for centuries be established there.

"Immediately adjoining the works there is an ore bed, from the partial development of which, and from the opinions I have received of its superior quality, it would appear to be of the purest kind of iron ore, except native iron, in the same veins with which is an admixture of red paint and yellow ochre, and in separate veins and beds at this locality, those paints occur in some quantities, several barrels of which, especially the red paint, Mr. Hayes disposed of at 25s. per barrel, at the works, and it seems probable they would become profitable articles of commerce. Here also there is a bed of purely white marble, not seemingly stratified, but in large blocks; and a quarry of superior stone for lithographic purposes, the quality of which has been tested and reported favourably upon. This ore bed would be from its situation within any wall constructed for the custody of the convicts, but from the great jumble of mineral substances, which the careless opening of those veins has occasioned, it is not possible to hazard an opinion as to the probable extent of minerals here, but from, if I may judge by appearances and from geological analogy, the few acres surrounding, it is probable they are sufficiently extensive to be an object of consideration -- several hundred tons of ore have already been taken out for the furnaces. These is at this place a well built bridge and a wharf at which the ore brought from the lake ore beds is landed, and from thence carted or wheeled up to the ore bank.

"At a distance of four miles by water, that is at the Crow Lake, in the township of Belmost, Newcastle District, the principal ore bed occurs. I may confine my observations respecting this ore bed to the qualities and varieties of the ores to be found there, and of the extent of the deposit give you an idea, by fancying my feelings when first I saw the mountain. My surprise was great, and my first conclusion was, that is would be more than sufficient to supply the world with iron for ever. The ore here is in great variety of magnetic ore, easily quarried; and in fact it can be quarried, loaded and transported to the works, roasted on the ore band, broken up into particles, and put upon the furnace, at an expense not exceeding 2s. 6d. per ton; as I observed, it is strongly magnetic, and although mixed considerably with sulphur, it is easily freed from that deleterious mineral by exposure to the atmosphere, and to the action of air and frost, and by this species of evaporation, a new and valuable commodity could be procured in great quantities, namely, the copperas of commerce.

"With a boat of 50 tons burthen -- and there is depth of water enough for a 74 gun ship from the wharf at the works to this mountain of ore -- navigated by four men, 150 tons of ore could be brought down in two days -- so readily is it quarried, and so handily put on board. Intermediate to this bed and the works, several other deposites [sic] of iron are discovered -- one of a superior quality, surpassing in magnetic power any other ore yet discovered, possessing what mineralogists call polarity; -- and near to this, meadow and bog ore, not a mile distant from the works, is to be found in great quantities. The works are to the north-north-east and eastward, surrounded by beds of ore, of which five have been tried and brought into use -- but as they are inland, and consequently more expensively procured, they merit but this passing observation, that in quantity and quality they are valuable.

"For the present I am, Sir,

"Your obedient servant,

"ENGINEER."

"Cobourg, 6th Dec. 1828."

In Cobourg in 1819 there were only six or seven wretched houses, now there are two buildings that would not disgrace any town, the Court House, and the College, or, as it is called, Seminary; besides these there are a number of other handsome brick, stone, and frame buildings. The Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches, and three Meeting-houses must not be omitted. Here, as well as at Peterborough, Port Hope, and the other towns, are flour, saw, and carding mills, good schools, stores, and shops, where most mechanical businesses are carried on. At Cobourg and Port Hope there are excellent piers, intended to form harbours at each place, which run our a great distance into the lake, and at which, steam boats, not surpassed any where for speed or accommodation, call every day, as may be seen in the Appendix, A. In 1819, only one indifferent steam boat, the Frontenac, was on Lake Ontario, there are now eighteen superior vessels. Toronto, the capital of the Province, has kept in advance of every other place. It now assumes the appearance of a handsome town, and as frequent fires occur among the old framed wooden buildings, their places are invariably filled by handsome, lofty, brick houses. The roads, for several miles, in different directions out of this city, are macadamised, and the streets are well paved, and drained; it has also an excellent and regular market. These considerations, with the noble appearance of the public buildings, the elegance of the summer and winter carriages, and the bustle of trade, have, within these two or three years, induced many persons with good incomes of from &pound 700 to &pound 1,500 a year to settle in the suburbs and vicinity.

As an Englishman, to whom old associations are dear, and yet at the same time as the adopted son of another land, around the name of which many grateful, many endearing, many hallowed thoughts revolve, the author may be allowed to make a digression upon the subject of the general feelings of its inhabitants. Loyalty to their Queen, and attachment to the Constitution of Great Britain, thoroughly pervades the whole district of Newcastle. Here he may certainly speak from personal acquaintance with the inhabitants, and he has every reason to give it as his conscientious conviction, that the same may be said generally of the whole province.

Since his arrival in England he has heard many persons who ought to have made themselves better acquainted with the real state of political feeling in Canada, say that there is a general wish for a separation from the mother country. He ventures to say, as a magistrate of his district, as the oldest inhabitant of the rear part of it, and as a person well acquainted from various circumstances with the real truth, that a more erroneous, more utterly unfounded assertion never was made. No! we desire no such thing, for setting aside the "amor patria," inevitable to all virtuous and intelligent minds, in our situation we must be greatly the losers by such a change, being undoubtedly both more free, more independent, and more happily situated, than our free and independent neighbours in the United States. To this incontrovertible truth almost every American merchant who has resided long in the Canadas can testify, as the following extracts from the declaration of American residents in the Canadas will prove.* * Toronto Patriot, 12th January, 1838.

Declaration agreed on at a meeting of Americans held at Sherbrooke, Lower Canada.

["The Committee in drawing up this document, consisted of the following gentlemen: -- C. F. H. Goodhue, Samuel Brooks, of Sherbrooke; Benjamin Promroy, of Compton; John Leborveau, of Eaton; Hollis Smith, of Lennoxville; John Adams, of Shipton; and Alexander Rea, of Hereford, Esquires, and it contained the following striking passages]:--

"1st. Resolved, That the leaders of the revolutionary party have endeavored to excite the sympathy and secure the support of the inhabitants of the United States, to their desperate enterprise, by comparing the situation of this province to that under which the old colonies sought a separation from the British Empire; and have pretended to draw a parallel, which this meeting, as well from a knowledge of the political circumstances of the two countries derived in the one case from the page of history, and in the other from personal observation, as from an experience of the mild and equitable character of the local Government, are enabled to declare totally unfounded, and perversely false.

"Moved by J. E. Mills, Esq. and seconded by Charles Gates, Esq.

"3d. Resolved, That this meeting, composed of British subjects of American birth and origin, impelled by the obligations of their allegiance, and a desire to preserve the harmony happily subsisting with the neighbouring United States, find themselves called upon to prevent, to the utmost of their power, the practice of a gross and wicked imposition upon the citizens of that country to the prejudice of this; and they accordingly now express, deliberately and solemnly, their conviction, founded on long observation and experience, that no just cause for disaffection exists in the province; but, on the contrary, its Government is calculated to secure the attachment and support of every honest man; and that the attempted revolution is to be ascribed solely to the false representations and treasonable designs of a few ambitious and unprincipled leaders.

"Moved by J. T. Barrett, Esq. and seconded by Harrison Stevens, Esq.

"4th. Resolved, That with the opinions and feelings above expressed, we will promptly and fearlessly stand forward in defence of our adopted country in the hour of need -- and we now declare our readiness, by every means in our power, by our councils, our influence, and our physical strength, to aid in enforcing obedience to the laws, and in restoring peace and good order under her Majesty's Government throughout the land."

Let a few of the advantages we derive from our connection with Great Britain suffice, without it being deemed needless digression. British manufactured goods (the best in the world) are half the price in Canada they are in America, the duty being only two and a half per cent. ad valorem. The Americans are taxed at least five times more than we are, our taxes are at the maximum, as may be seen in the Appendix B., only one penny in the pound upon all assessed property.*

* The author having a considerable farm and property, together with stock and a good house, is rated at about &pound 300. a-year, for which, as the largest sum that can be levied, he pays &pound 1. 4s. a year.

The nature of this assessment may be ascertained by the extract from the Provincial Act and Assessment Roll marked C. in the Appendix. This impost, after being fairly and equitably levied, is applied to the following purposes. To the County Members, during the time they attend their Parliamentary duties, 10s. a-day, and 6d. a mile for their travelling expenses. To build and keep in repair the Gaol and Court-House; to pay the salary of the Sheriff, and Gaoler; charges of a Doctor and Constables; to assist in certain cases to build Bridges where required in the several districts, with some others of less note. Tithes have no existence in Upper Canada, as the abstract of the Statutes in the Appendix D. will shew. With this penny-rate the only tax, and no tithes upon any improvements the settler may make on his land, what would independence of the mother country procure for us? No people can be more lightly burthened to support any State Government whatever. Every man of industry may have such a voice with his real good or substantial happiness, unless the everlasting canvass and election, which is the curse and bane of the neighboring country, can be deemed necessary for its completion. As far as the author's personal observation goes, he would say that the system which at present prevails in the United States, is deprecated by a large majority of the peaceable and respectable men of that country, as a most serious evil, of which they would rejoice to rid themselves immediately, regarding it as the source of perpetual ill-will and discord, were it not that their votes are out-numbered, and their voices overwhelmed by the clamorous multitude around them. As a plain practical man he would ask, what could the inhabitants of Upper Canada gain to place them higher as a happy and a free people, would it be obtained by sharing in the wild and outrageous bursts of democratic violence, observable in their neighbors, on our frontier, in Lynch Law, in support of Slavery, at Presidential Elections, or on any subject which the latent billows of popular will has a tendency to rouse? What could it avail the tranquil and peaceable settler to be obliged to leave the bosom of his family and the guidance of his farm, to have the privilege of joining in a tumultuous election of his chief magistrate? What can such a prospect compare with the mild and equal sway of firmly executed British laws, which secures every man in his religion, person, and property? The author's deliberate opinion must still be in favour of English habits, and English liberty, under dear England's Queen. It is not political freedom falsely so called, but population resting under the tranquil shade of will regulated and impartial justice, and capital freely and securely circulating amongst that population fearlessly and confidently, wherever enterprise dictates, it is these which are wanted to call forth the latent energies of the soil, and render Canada one of the noblest and most valuable appanages to the British Crown. The late political movements, now so happily terminated in both Upper and Lower Canada, will lead doubtless to a new era in both the provinces. Down to the present time they have been little known to the generality of persons in this kingdom. The dissensions in the Lower, and the wicked attempts of a low agitator in Upper Canada, have now brought the subject prominently before the British public.

Enquiry having been thus excited and met by satisfactory information, will induce many persons of all classes to go out, and the reports of those to their friends at home will concur in developing the beauty, the richness, the resources, and natural advantages which they possess. The issue of these wretched attempts of misguided and miserable men must convince every one of the loyal feeling, substantially prevalent in the Upper Province, and very generally diffused throughout the Lower one; the agitators, if they escape the just punishment due to their crimes must be banished for ever from the Provinces, affording a prospect to the British residents of Canada, and the Upper Province especially, of many happy years of prosperous advancement for their adopted country. Very far distant indeed, may that hour be when the base heartless atrocities designed to be realized, under the name of patriotism, but prevented by a merciful Providence, shall ever find existence or tolerance in the Canadas. Having thus lightly touched upon politics, to repudiate the idea of disloyalty on the part of the inhabitants of Upper Canada, or those of British origin in the Lower Province, a body numbering about 585,000; the author would return to his original design of giving information to persons about to become settlers.

In Letter, No. 2, in the Preface, the reader will have found the writer's own mode of procedure in his embarkation for Canada, on his arrival at his grant, and his difficulties, as an early settler, in the bush. He may, without boasting, observe that few have more thoroughly tested, by personal experience, all the drawbacks incidental to such a life; and yet, in the face of them all, and in the lively remembrance of their extent and amount, he is at this present moment more strongly impressed than ever, with the advantages which Upper Canada holds out, not only to persons of capital, but also to those of small means, who combine energy with industrious habits; -- for such persons a great field is now opened in consequence of the numerous bills for public improvements passed by the legislature in the winter of 1836-7.

The importance of these works will appear by the perusal of the following extract of a Letter from Dr. Thos. Rolph to Anthony Manahan, Esq., M.P.P.

My Dear Manahan,

It is a source of unbounded gratification to me to observe how well and faithfully the House of Assembly are performing their obligation to the country; that through their instrumentality, the waters of the beautiful and meandering Trent, will be made to bear on their bosom, the produce of the thousands of enterprising farmers who occupy the rich and fertile townships bordering on its banks, -- that Windsor Harbour, in Whitby Bay, beautifully formed by nature for a safe and capacious harbour, will be rendered a place of refuge for vessels on the Lake, and a port for the commerce of the fine back townships communicating with the Lake and River Scogog -- that the Welland Canal will afford a permanent intercourse between our majestic inland seas, a connecting water medium between the east and west -- that the great Western Rail-road will afford an expeditious land communication between the extensive territories in the Western Region with Lake Ontario and it numerous outlets -- and that last, and not the least important measure, will be the splendid outlay voted for the macadamization of the principal roads in the Province, securing by toll the payment of the interest and principal borrowed for the purpose . . . Well, sir, these great undertakings cannot be effected without men. You will have employment for 100,000 labourers in the Province next year; and surely the House will take some measure to obtain them, otherwise her legislation will be useless. The poverty amongst the labouring classes in the Mother Country can be turned to admirable account, in augmenting the wealth and greatness of this Province. The ample remuneration [sic] of labour, when fairly set forth to the people of Great Britain, will induce them to come amongst us. The full remuneration [sic] of labour is the very cornerstone of our prosperity as a Colony. Instantly, measures should be taken to influence the British people to come to Canada, instead of wending their way to the neighbouring republic."

"Ancaster, Dec. 19, 1836."

The rapid and substantial improvements of the last ten years unequivocally prove, that Canada is destined to become the comparatively rich, as well as the poor man's country; -- every comfort, and almost every luxury, may now be procured at Toronto, Kingston, Cobourg, Hamilton, Blanford, Peterboro, Goderich, Perth, Port Hope, and many other towns. At any of these places gentlemen may establish themselves for a moderate outlay; and meet as good society as they will find in most respectable country towns in the United Kingdom. They may keep their carriages, light waggons, sleighs, and horses, at a comparatively small expense; and they will find, in all such places, churches, schools, a reading-room, and very fair travelling accommodation. For those who are anxious to learn what means there are for educating their children, they will find, at Toronto and Cobourg, public institutions for the education of youth, -- the charge at King's College, in the former place, for board and education, including the classics, French, and drawing, is 32l. currency per annum. The boarding-house belonging to the establishment is conducted by a lady, under the inspection of the Governor, Principal, and masters; In Cobourg, besides the District School, there is a very large, handsome building, called a seminary, which supports a Professor, and different masters. Both boys and girls are taught in this establishment, but in separate parts of the building. The District School in the town is ably conducted, and all the branches of a liberal education taught. At Peterborough there is a Government School, which is very well conducted; the charge for board and education, including the classics, is 28l. per annum for children under thirteen years of age, and 32l. for all above it. Day Scholars are charged 10s. per quarter. The holidays do not exceed a fortnight at Christmas, and one month at Midsummer. Medical men are to be found in all parts of the Province.

The currency prices of some of the most common articles of wear and consumption are as follows: -- bearing in mind that the currency is always in favour of the settler, as will be seen in page 40.

A suit of superfine black clothes, 8l. 10s. to 10l.; charges for making a suit, if materials are found, 2l. 5s.; common walking shoes, 10s.; laced boots, 12s. 6d.; cloth boots, 17s. 6d.; Snow over boots, 8s. 9d. to 10s.; prunella, or jean boots, 10s. to 12s. 6d. per pair; children's boots and shoes in proportion. A London hat, 1l. 17s. 6d.. Linens, from 3s. to 5s. a yard; cottons and calicoes, from 8d. to 1s. 6d.; silks, 3s. 3d. to 7s.; all light haberdashery fifty per cent dearer than in England; ginghams, from 1s. 3d. to 2s. 4d.; common single width marinos, from 1s. 8d. to 3s.; double ditto, from 3s. 6d. to 9s.; cotton stockings, from 2s. to 5s. a pair; gloves, flannels, blankets, handkerchiefs, and every other article of wearing apparel, in the same proportion. Port, Madeira, and Sherry wines, very good, from 10s. to 14s. a gallon; brandy, Hollands, and Scotch or Irish whiskey, 8s. to 10s.; rum, 5s. to 5s. 6d.;*

* At Quebec wines, spirits, and groceries, are much cheaper, and settlers will do well to take up a stock with them, which can be done with little difficulty, if the parties go by way of Quebec.

Canada whiskey, 2s. to 2s. 6d.; tea, 2s. to 5s. 6d. per lb.; most sugar, 5d. to 7d.; load ditto, 6d. to 8d.; coffee, 1s. 6d.; chocolate, 1s. to 1s. 3d.; rice, 3d.; dried fruit spices, starch, blue, mustard, pepper, &c in the same ratio; candles, from 7d. to 9d. per pound; soap 4&frac12 d.; very good table ale, 10d. a gallon; flour, 10s. to 12s. 6d.; beef 22s. 6d. to 25s.; pork, 20s. to 25s. per 100 lbs; *

* Families living in or near towns, contract with a butcher to furnish them with meat all the year round, at from 3d. to 4&frac12 d. per lb.

turkeys and geese, from 2s. to 2s. 6d. each; pullets, or fowls, 7d. to 1s. 3d. a couple; eggs, 3d. to 4d. ditto; salt, 11s. to 12s. 6d. per barrel of 280lbs.; a very good horse, 25l.; a serviceable one, 10l. to 12l. 10s.; a yoke of oxen, 15l. to 17l. 10s.; a cow, 4l. to 5l. 10s. sheep, 10s. to 15s. each; pigs, when young, 5s.; a sow and pigs, 1l. 15s.; salt and smoked fish, oranges, lemons, pickles, preserves, sauces, and, in winter, oysters, and fresh cod are to be had in abundance at all the respectable grocers in the Province; as well as all kinds of drugs, patent medicines, &sect

&sect Medical men have their charges regulated by agreement among themselves; -- for a visit in the town, 2s. 6d.; any distance out of town, above two or three miles, 5s.. This is customary in the Newcastle district.

perfumery, &c. &c.; a handsome four-wheeled close carriage, good springs, stuffed and lined with fine cloth, will cost at Cobourg, at the manufactory, from 80l. to 100l.; elegant double sleighs, stuffed and lined, for a pair of horses, from 30l. to 60l.; single, from 7l. 10s. to 20l.; handsome two-horse light waggon, (much used) on springs, stuffed and lined with cloth, 30l. to 35l.; a neat poney-chaise, 25l. to 30l.; a light one-horse waggon, 12l. 10s.; a lumber waggon for two horses, 10l.; a set of double harness, strong and good, 7l. 10l. [sic]; single ditto, 4l. both common; chairs, of the Windsor pattern, painted, 4s. to 5s.; rush bottom bamboo, 8s. 9d.; cane ditto, 10s. to 12s. 6d.; very handsome ditto, of walnut, horse-hair bottoms and brass bands, 20s. to 25s..; a set of cherry wood dining tables, 6l. to 7l. 10s.; black walnut, 10l.; chest of drawers, 4l. to 4l. 10s.; circular drawing-room tables, very handsomely veneered with black walnut, mahogany, or bird's eye maple, carved pillar and claw feet, 7l. 10s. to 10l.; four-post bedstead, carved pillars, 2l. 10s.; common turned posts, 1l. 5s.; tent ditto, 1l.; bookcases, side-boards, sofas, and all kinds of furniture of modern patterns, and of the finest wood, may be procured at almost every town in Upper Canada, and as cheap, or cheaper than in England.

The best money, settlers can take with them is sovereigns, shillings, and sixpence, or letters of credit, to draw bills of exchange; the legal value of a sovereign in Upper Canada, is 24s. 5d.; a shilling, 1s. 3d.; sixpence, 7&frac12 d.; a half-crown, 3s.. A sovereign, when the author left Canada, would pass for 25s. 7&frac12 d.. Bills on England, are regulated by the rate of exchange at Montreal and New-York. If at par, 25l. sterling, is 27l. 15s. 6&frac34 d. currency. If at 5 per cent. premium, 25l. sterling is 29l. 3s. 4d. currency. If at 12 per cent. premium, which it was last October, 25l. sterling is 31l. 2s. 2&frac34 d. currency. Last summer it was as high as 23 per cent. premium, which makes 25l. sterling amount to 34l. 3s. 4d. currency. The great advantage, therefore, to persons with incomes derived from Great Britain, will be self-evident.

As every settler who goes to Canada, when there, builds himself some kind of house, he will find it to his advantage to take out locks, hinges, bolts, latches, window fastenings, finger plates, screws, &c.; he will buy his glass of all kinds, cheaper at Quebec than in England, as well as paper for rooms, which costs from 1s. 9d. to 3s. 6d. a piece of 11 yards. Crockery of all kinds is very dear.

Persons about to emigrate would do well to provide themselves with a good stock of clothing, as in London every article of the kind is, at least, one-third cheaper than in Canada, many things as cheap again. They should also take with them all their furniture that is portable, especially beds, bedding, carpets, rugs, mats, crockery, glass and iron ware (except axes), hats, caps, boots, shoes, french clogs, furs, stationery; and a better description of harness, saddles, bridles, horse cloths, brushes, combs, &c. They should have every thing prepared and packed in cases and casks, and every one numbered and legibly directed. The month of April will be a desirable time to sail from England, for either New York or Quebec. Price of passage to New York by packet, £35. including wines: by Quebec trading ships, £25., including wines. At New York, the Custom house officers are very accommodating, and give little or no trouble to persons who are travelling to Canada through the United States, provided they are convinced that their luggage is only passing on to Canada, and not intended to be improperly introduced into the State. On arriving at New York, the British Consul, Mr. Buchanan, or Dr. Bartlett, (the esteemed Editor of the Albion, and also of the Emigrant and Old Countryman, two of the best papers for the settler published in America) will be disposed to afford every requisite assistance and information. The route to Albany by steam boat, 138 miles, costs to a cabin passenger, 15s. currency, with meals. From this town there is a railroad to Utica, the charge 15s., distance upwards of eighty miles; from Utica, the canal boats convey the traveller to the town and port of Oswego, on Lake Ontario, for 10s. (without meals); here the Canadian Steam boats, the Great Britain, Captain Whitney, or the St. George, Caption Sutherland, are in readiness to convey passengers or goods to all the Canadian ports on Lake Ontario. The charge to Toronto is £1. 10s.; to Cobourg, £1.; to Kingston, 15s., meals included. Persons, without families, not having much luggage, may take the stage from Utica to Oswego, and save, at least, ten hours time, and thus reach Toronto in three days from the time of leaving New York. The author is not aware of the change for conveyance of luggage, none is made for a few trunks or port-manteaus.

Settlers having much luggage are recommended to go by Quebec, by some of the regular traders, which have superior accommodations, the Captains are experienced, know the dangers of the St Lawrence, and will generally make expeditious passages. The Toronto, Great Britain, Hampshire, and Samuel, are the first that sail from London, the agents are Carter and Bonus, 11, Leadenhall Street; and the Canada and Robertson, from Greenock. On arriving at Quebec, the settler is advised to see the chief Emigrant Agent, A. C. Buchanan, Esq., who will put him in the way of avoiding difficulty and expence, and will recommend the cheapest route to the Upper Province. From Quebec to Montreal the distance is 180 miles by stream-boat; the charge for cabin is about £1., for a deck passage it is 7s. 6d.; from Montreal to Kingston, the most advisable route is by the Rideau Canal, through the interior of the country, in decked barges, towed by steam-boats to Kingston, distance 246 miles; charge by steam-boat for deck passage, 10s., children in proportion. Each passenger is allowed 100 lbs. weight of luggage, free of change, if is exceeds that weight, 2s., 6d. per cwt. is demanded. At Kingston, the first port on Lake Ontario, and a garrison town, there is an Emigrant Agent, Anthony Manahan, Esq., who will be happy to give any advice in his power. Having come on thus far by the Rideau Canal, which is the best way to ensure safety to the settler's luggage, and is cheaper than by New York, with the additional advantage of finding, all the way up the country, persons who are willing to afford every information. Steam-boats are in readiness every day to convey passengers and their luggage to Cobourg, Port Hope, Toronto, Hamilton, or Niagara, and Agents at each of those places desirous to afford every assistance: namely, at Toronto, A. B. Hawke, Esq., Crown Lands Office; at Peterborough, Alexander McDonell, Esq. Government Agent for the whole District; at Cobourg, Robert Brown, Esq., Collector of Customs; at Port Hope, Captain Kingsmill, Collector of Customs. When the settler lands at any place in Upper Canada, if he has no friends or acquaintance, he should beware of speculators, who are always on the watch to offer him their "kind" services, which he had better decline, till he finds out who and what they are. For this end, and for general advice, he should call on some of the most respectable gentlemen in the place. Passengers sailing from Kingston in the afternoon are landed at Cobourg generally about six o'clock on the following morning; if they are desirous to proceed to Peterborough, they will find a stage laving Strong's Tavern for Rice Lake, a distance of 13 miles, every morning, Sundays excepted, at nine o'clock, fare 3s. 9d., which place it reaches at noon, where the Sir Francis Head or Northumberland steam-boats, will be in readiness to convey them on to Peterborough, distance by water, 25 miles, passing over the Rice Lake, and up the beautiful Otonabee River, the charge 3s. 9d., or, with dinner, 5s. 9d.. No coachman or waiter in Canada looks for a fee, though there is no want of attention, as on landing from a steam-boat, the instant she touches the wharf, a host of black men, with the name of the hotel in large letters on their hats, ply the passenger unmercifully to go to their houses, as the best in the town, and will have his luggage off in a trice the moment he gives assent, without any charge whatever.

It is now customary at some of the large hotels to give the man that cleans the boots, &c. a trifle every two or three days. It is usual where families remain for any time at a tavern or hotel, for the females of it to take their meals at the public table, where the utmost respect and attention is shewn them, being always placed as near to the head of it as possible; few are found to object to the custom. Families have private sitting rooms, and may, if they prefer it, board by themselves, the expense of living at a house of this kind is about 5s. currency a day; a gentleman may keep a pair of horses and carriage at Toronto for 25s. a week, and living himself at a boarding house will cost from 25s. to 30s. a week, finding his own wine and spirits.

The settler having arrived at the end of his journey, and comfortably housed his family; having applied to the parties before referred to, if he has no friends in the country, through their counsel he will be able to make up his own mind as to his future mode of life: for the sooner he fixes himself permanently the better. Settlers are strongly recommended from experience, if they have the means to do so, to buy a farm with some land cleared and fenced, but they should be sure that there remains at least from thirty to fifty acres of wood land for fuel, carefully avoiding one either very sandy or stony, or one too much broken by sharp hills, ascertaining from good authority that it is well watered. If it should have a barn on it so much the better, with regard to the house, it is not of so much consequence, as generally, if a log-house, it is old and ought to be replaced, and if a frame building, it is often slightly put together, of little value, and in bad taste. A farm of one hundred acres, with from twenty-five to thirty acres cleared and fenced, having on it a log-house, barn, and a few out-houses of small value, and being from five to ten miles from Peterborough, will cost £250. or £300. currency, or from £200. to £250. sterling; close to the town, about £4. or £5. currency, the acres, would be the cost even of wood land, for the wood is there valuable, being in great demand for fuel. The validity of a title may always be ascertained by a proper search in the Register Office, for which a small fee is charged. The author would here observe that there is an office of the kind in every County in the Upper Province, but strangers are advised to employ a lawyer if any doubts exist. To those who have made a purchase, and are desirous to build a house or a barn, it may be useful to mention for their information, what such building would cost them. A log-house 24 by 30 feet well built, with the logs flatted or hewn smooth of the inside only, with two sitting rooms below, three bed rooms over them, and a kitchen leaning to the back of the building, will cost by contract, if the party contracting to do the work find every thing, the sum of from £45. to &pound56. currency, this will be partitioned off with wood, and merely have one stone chimney built. A frame building of the same dimensions, and one story high, £120. to £150. currency, this will be lathed and plastered, and have two good fire places built, and as before the contractor will find every thing. A frame barn, 30 by 40 feet, fitted up with a stable for three horses, and a granary, will cost £50 currency. A frame stable and coach house, 25 by 30 feet, fitted up for five horses, and in other respects complete, with a large hay-loft over it, will cost £30. or £35. currency.

The author would strongly impress on gentlemen who purchase farms, to buy then as convenient to a town as possible, or else on some public road or navigable river; he has seen much misery and disappointment arise from the neglect of this consideration, and would warn every one unused to the country, against going quite into the woods for land. Small prices for land in the back country or forest, charm many persons who can never calculate the expenses in which they may be involved in making a clearing form the woods, cutting out roads, putting up buildings, &c. in doing all which, advantage is sure to be taken of their ignorance in such matters. The loss of time in going backwards and forwards to the town for provisions, groceries, implements of husbandry, and all other requisites, the delays at the tavern, the fatigue and disappointment incident to such drawbacks, the innumerable inconveniences which all must put up with, independent of the long and dreary banishment from the friendly and social circle, from the church, the school, the mills, bridges, stores, and roads, these important considerations more than outweigh the additional cost of a cleared farm, however disproportionate the one price may seem to the other. Many have lamented when too late, their having embarked in so trying an undertaking. Very few persons not used to labour, have either mental or physical strength sufficient for such an enterprize. Such persons, one out in the bush, (perhaps against the advice of old inhabitants) struggle on for years and are at last glad to exchange their airy dreams of fine estates, charming views, beautiful vistas, and aquatic excursions on some distant lake or river, for the sober reality of a moderate portion of ease and happiness in the midst of civilized life, and an established settlement -- loss, toil, and vain regret their only recompense.

At present no free grant is made by the Government to any emigrant, but land is purchased at the land sales, which take place once a month, in districts where there are vacant tracts for location; of which due notice is given in hand bills by the Emigrant Agents: the name of the township, and the numbers of the lots to be sold are mentioned in these bills, so that purchasers may inspect them or make enquiries into their quality and situation, before the day of sale. They are offered by auction at a fixed upset price, and sold to the highest bidder. All private individuals purchasing, must may down one-fourth of the sum the lands sell for, and the remaining three-fourths by yearly instalments with interest. If the first condition is not complied with, the land is again put up to sale. Officers of the Army and Navy may bid for land to a certain amount, regulated according to their rank, and the length of their service, or rather the time they have held a Commission; instead of the grant formerly made.-- The scale of amount allowed to each Officer may be found in Murray's Navy List. All have to comply with certain conditions of settlement duty, now very light, after which they receive a patent deed from the crown free from all charge. The upset price of wild land will range from 5s. to 12s. 6d. per acre, it is generally put up in lots of 200 acres each, never more. Clergy Reserves, generally consisting of 200 acres each, are leased for 21 years, and the rents are as follows, for the first seven years, £1. 15s.; second seven, £3. 10s.; third seven, £5. 5s. per annum. If sold, one-tenth only is required to be paid down, and the remaining nine-tenths with interest, at the ends of the years following. The Canada Company have scattered lots in most of the old townships, and a very extensive tract of fine land in the London district, extending along the shores of Lake Huron. The Company's terms are very liberal, their prices are generally moderate, compared with the value of their lands, they allow five years for payment, by instalments, with interest. They are exceedingly kind, and considerate to the industrious labouring classes. In and near every town, good farms may be bought for very little more than it cost to make them, taking into account the original value of the land; but poor people do not mind selling their land at the advanced value, beginning again farther back. With the money thus obtained, they can purchase at the monthly sales land sufficient for themselves and their children. Many gentlemen also have properties for sale near Cobourg, Peterborough, Colborne, and elsewhere in the Newcastle District, at a very moderate advance. Some have lands near towns, which they wish to cultivate to increase their values, but which strangers will not purchase, because they are in a state of nature covered with forest; such the old settler has no fear or objections about clearing, but he, in his turn, requires capital to do so, to build his house, offices, &c. The Newcastle District is esteemed one of the finest in the Province, the soil being excellent, and water abundant. Small rivers, brooks, or springs, are found on every farm in it. In the lakes and principal rivers, fine fish are to be procured in great abundance, such as sturgeon, salmon, salmon-trout, Niagara white-fish, lake herrings, trout, musqononge, black and yellow bass, pickerel, pike, perch, eels, besides other kinds. The number and respectability of the families settled, will always strongly recommend it as a home possessing all that a gentleman of property and intelligence can look for, or that he may reasonably expect in a new country. It is no uncommon thing to find parties of from fifty to eighty meeting in a friendly way at each others houses, or even two or three such on the same evening.

In Upper Canada the medium is taken between the exclusiveness of English society, and the levelling equality permitted in America. In the second Letter quoted from Captain Hall's work, the prices of land in the neighbourhood of Peterborough, and the quantities of grain raised in the townships north of the Rice Lake, were given correctly at that time; but the land has now risen in average price, from 5s. to 20s. the acre, and near Peterborough, it is now from 3l. to 5l. the acre; it decreases in price in proportion as it is further removed from any town. The cost of clearing and fencing land ready for the drag or harrow, is from 3l. to 4l. the acre, according to the quantity and quality of the timber growing on the spot. Cedar or swamp land costs more to clear than any other. Men servants wages vary from 2l. to 3l. a month, according to their abilities. Women servants from 15s. to 1l. 5s. a month.

The quantity of wheat sent from the country north of the Rice Lake, was formerly 5,000 bushels, it is now upwards of 150,000. Grain of all kinds taken into store by the merchants at Cobourg, and Port Hope, in the winter of 1836 and 7, was at least 1,000,000 bushels. Facts of this kind, will recommend a country more than any thing else that can be said of it. Some persons who have gone one, have wholly failed, and left the Province in disgust, ascribing their own failure, to some want of good properties in the country, but, in fact, the fault has been their own. The following may serve as a specimen of the few cases that occur. Some years ago, a gentleman landed with his family at Cobourg, proposing to settle himself in the Newcastle District. He brought a considerable sum with him, the amount of commutation for his Commission. After very prudently settling his family in comfortable lodgings, he proceeded to examine the country for a desirable farm. In a very short time he succeeded to his satisfaction. He bought one hundred and thirty acres of good land in an eligible situation, seven miles from Cobourg; fifty or sixty acres of this land was well cleared and fenced, and it had on it a tolerably good log-house, a good frame barn, and other small out-buildings. For this he gave 300l.; he had a good bargain, and thus far, had gone on like a prudent man. Unfortunately for himself, at this point, that requisite quality in every settler in a new country, perseverance, quite forsook him. His family continued in the town of Cobourg, bought all manner of expensive furniture, ornaments, and gew-gaws; sent people out to make many additions to his half worn out log-house, extended it to a length of more than fifty feet, by patching on various disjointed rooms, without any judgment; bought three miserable horses, which he kept in town at a great expense, two sleighs, and a double and single waggon, with the requisite harness, bells, &c., and might be seen, among other follies, driving about in all directions; till at last, he was obliged to sell his farm, horses, sleighs, waggons, and furniture, and with the wreck of his fortune leave the country, assigning as a reason, "that he found farming would never answer in Canada." Now had he been contented to take his family to his log-house, and put up for a short time with trifling inconveniences, residing himself upon the spot, and superintending his farm, and any improvement he might be disposed to make, he would have found Canada the best hope the man of industry, energy, and prudence, with small means has, for providing respectably for his family.

The following description of a resident settler of twenty years standing, in the same district, may serve as a contrast to the foregoing. This gentleman emigrated to Canada in 1818; his family, at that time, consisted of his wife and seven children; he had a small capital, independent of his half-pay as a Commander in the Navy. At first he purchased a farm of 110 acres, near Cobourg, for 300l., only 13 acres of it was very indifferently cleared and fenced; with the skeleton of a frame barn upon it. He at once expended about 500l. in the erection of a good frame house, and in clearing and fencing twenty acres more. IN 1819 this was all sown with wheat, and yielded about twenty-five bushels the acre. In the spring of 1820, he was convinced, that, with advantage to his family he might commence a Tannery, this was undertaken on a small scale to feel his, or rather his son's way, a few tan-pits were sunk, which by degrees were increase, and the establishment improved and enlarged, slowly and prudently, keeping pace with the advancement of the country. Some few years after this, his other sons growing up, he increased his establishment by adding a Distillery to the premises; this consumed most profitably, not only the surplus grain of his own farm, but also considerable quantities taken in, as is customary there, in payment for leather. He subsequently bought a farm joining his own, of the same size, and has now 150 acres without a stump in it, under the plough. All these businesses have been made to work together, and he is now considered, most deservedly so, one of the most prosperous settlers in the district. His eldest son has the sole possession and management of the tannery and distillery; all his family are settled about him, either on farms, in professions, or in business. Having an excellent farm servant, to whom he pays 3l. a month, his farm is worked in the best manner, and yields as many as forty bushels of wheat to the acre. For a few years past, the produce of his farm alone, after finding his house in the most abundant manner, has increased his income 300l. a year. He keeps his carriage, is unbounded in his hospitality, fills many highly honourable situations, and is beloved and respected by every one.

Let the reader now imagine what the situation of a Commander in the Navy, with a family of nine children, with double the number of grand-children, would be after twenty years residence in the cheapest part of England or Wales, even admitting he had £60. or £80. a year, in addition to his half pay: would he find the land, the stock, the houses, the tannery, the distillery, the plenty, the comfort, and the freedom from care, he has in Upper Canada? Had he sent one or more of his sons there, and given them a few hundreds to make their own way, is it probable that they would have succeeded so well, deprived of his fatherly and discreet advice? Yet this, the writer knows to have been the course pursued of late years, by many persons of great respectability, and possessing property to a moderate amount in this country. Few young men left to their own control, with money at their command, succeed well; would it not be much better when parents find it impossible to provide for their families at home, to sacrifice some part of their own comforts, for the sure establishment of their children, by going with them? Surely it would be a great gratification to their parental feelings to see them becoming respectable and prosperous members of society.

Having now given a parallel statement of the failure of one, and the success of another gentleman, and being desirous to convey general information to all classes; it may not be uninteresting to the small farmer, or industrious labourer, to give an outline of the general result, the certain success, and sure reward that attends the exertions of the frugal, persevering, poor settler. He has greatly the advantage of the gentleman, or others unused to work. Labour is his capital, which as long as health and strength last, he may draw upon without decreasing; he is at no expence to keep up an appearance, and his children will be an assistance to him when sufficiently grown up to work. In the year 1821, four families, numbering seventeen persons, went to the Newcastle District to settle. In this country, their occupations had been two-fold, partly as farmers, partly as fishermen. When they landed at Cobourg they had a very small sum of money remaining, indeed barely sufficient to buy them a cow for beef, and two barrels of flour, which they divided among them. This little store, with potatoes, (and these they had to carry on their backs a considerable distance through the woods,) was all they had to live on till the following season. They, in common with other poor settlers at that time, received a free grant of fifty acres of land, to which they went immediately on their arrival. In true Indian style encamping under the tall trees of a Canadian forest, they put up huts made of the small evergreen hemlock and balsam trees that grew thick about them, which afforded them temporary accommodation, whilst they built two comfortable log houses; into these they got before the cold set in. During the autumn and winter, each family felled three of four acres of forest, and in the May following, burnt and cleared it of the brush wood and trunks of the trees. They planted the greater portion of these fields with potatoes, and the remainder with Indian corn, in the season they sowed a few turnips. Their crops in the ground, some of their sons went out to hire, and in the harvest, the rest undertook to reap their neighbour's wheat, receiving two bushels per acre as a compensation for their labour. Thus their sons' earnings, and their own crops, greatly improved their living the following winter. By this time, the young men being more expert in the use of the axe, they undertook jobs of chopping for others; and from this time, they went on constantly improving in their circumstances, and now every one of the younger members of these families (eight in all) are married, and settled on farms of their own, of from one to three hundred acres; of which sufficient is under cultivation to enable them to live with great comfort, and to send a considerable quantity of grain, pork, and other farm produce to market.

There are three Chartered Banks; the Bank of Upper Canada, in which the Government own one-eighth of the stock; the Commercial Bank of the Midland District; and the Gore Bank. The stock in all of them is at a considerable premium, the Shareholders besides the legal interest of six per cent, have for some years received a bonus of six and even eight per cent.; this has been discontinued, since the suspension of cash payments in the United States, to form a fund to meet any emergencies. Persons with capital may invest their money with safety at six per cent. There are also several incorporated banks, one of them, an Agency or Branch of the Bank of British North America, established by a Company of Gentlemen in London, will, no doubt confer great benefit on the commercial interests of the country, as the "Farmers' Bank" has already done to the agricultural.

The Newcastle District, and the country generally, are so well described by the wife of an emigrant Officer, in a work, entitled the Backwoods of Canada, that any attempt to do so on the part of the author, would only injure this noble Province; nor would he hold out encouragement to unreasonable expectations. Canada has sufficient inducements to attract to her shores a population of industry and wealth on here own fair and undoubted merits by plain statements.

It is a source of regret to the author, himself aware from experience of the substantial advantages which the Canadas possess, to observe year after year emigrants from this country pass by land equally good, if not superior to that they seek, to settle in the far West States of America; among persons of habits and manners wholly unsuited to their own; with such society they can never amalgamate or feel happy. The only reason which can be assigned for their doing so, is a want of proper knowledge of those circumstances which are evident to almost every resident in Canada. The quality of the land in the two countries is in favour of Canada, a test of the seasons bears a like result. In America, as the Table in Appendix E. will shew, the crops periodically have fallen short, while it has been, of late years, in the power of the Upper Province, to export large quantities of grain for the supply of the American markets. In the year 1837, when the crops were very much under the average, in nearly every state of the Union, hundreds of thousands of bushels of wheat, and grain of all kind were sent there from Upper Canada, the prices ranged that season from 8s.9d. to 10s. a bushel of sixty pounds. During the nineteen years the author has resided in Canada, with the exception of Indian corn, he has never known a failure of the crops. For the last seven or eight years, the summers have been so cool that Indian corn has generally failed, and pease, which thrive well and always yield large crops, have taken the place of that fine grain. Melons and cucumbers are raised in the open air, and every kind of European vegetable. Some seeds, such as spinach, onion, lettuce, and raddish, may be sown in the autumn; the former, with asparagus, comes in in May, and all other vegetables about the same time as similar kinds in England. Most fruits grow well, and yield abundantly. In the Districts north of the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, the peach will not succeed as a standard, though at Niagara, little more than thirty miles from Toronto, they stand the winters, grow well, and are in abundance.

As persons wholly unacquainted with the character of the native tribes of Indians in the settled parts of Upper Can[a]da, may have a desire to know on what terms they live with their white neighbours, before they would venture to live near them; as a trustee for the Indian lands in Otonabee, on the Rice Lake, it is a pleasure to him to testify that there never was a more harmless or kind race of people. It would afford equal gratification to be able to state that civilization had arrested the hand of death in reducing their numbers: unfortunately this is not the case; the mortality among them may easily be accounted for; formerly, their home was the wide forest, a wigwam their habitation, and the earth, covered lightly with boughs, or a deer skin, their resting place. Their habits are still the same; that part of their time, when the weather is most trying to their constitutions, the spring and autumn, being their hunting seasons. After these seasons of exposure, they enjoy the shelter and warmth of a house, the comfort of a bed, and regular food, these necessarily unfit them for the perpetual vicissitudes of weather, which they must endure in their next hunting trip; hence many of them become afflicted with pulmonary complaints, sink under consumption and die.

There is a village built by the late Mr. Scott, an Agent of the New England Company, which consists of a log-house for the Missionary, and a school house; a house where the food for the women and children is prepared, when the Indians are absent on their hunting grounds, and twenty-two good log dwelling houses, one of which is appropriated for each family.

A missionary of the Wesleyan body, is settled among these Rice Lake Indians. To that denomination of Christians, great merit is due for their unwearied endeavours to instruct them in religion, availing themselves, at the same time, of the opportunities given, for inculcating the useful, agricultural, and domestic duties. The Missionary acts as a school-master to their children, from him they receive a plain English education. Night and morning they all attend prayers, and this habit is now so well fixed, that when they encamp in the forest for the night, the settler or the traveller may often be surprised to hear their melodious voices either in prayer, or singing a hymn to their Maker; the effect of thus hearing them chaunt a song of praise amid the deep solitude of a Canadian forest, is most sublime. A very neat chapel, that cost about 300l. raised with great difficulty, was burnt down a year ago. Their lamentations whilst it was burning, were truly pitiable; they now have to make use of their school-house as a place of worship, which is quite insufficient for their number. They frequently visit the settlers to dispose of their fish, game, venison, baskets, brooms, &c. for which they are glad to get fruit, and many little things a farmer has to dispose of.

Partridges, pigeons, quail, woodcock, snipe, and ducks of every variety are plentiful. Deer are also numerous in the Newcastle district, and generally over the whole Province, and are killed in vast numbers from January to July; the rear townships north of the Rice Lake, and river Trent, particularly abound with them. Some settlers kill from twenty to thirty in a season. There are several modes of killing them: where there are lakes or wide rivers, a very common one is for the hunter to take one or two good hounds with him into the woods nearest the water, till he finds the track of a deer; the dogs instantly go off on the scent, and follow till the animal takes to the water; here are one or two watchers in canoes or boats in readiness, some distance from the shore, who know almost to a certainty, where the creature will come in. As soon as they observe it in the water, and find it far enough from the shore, they make a dash with all their strength, come up to it, and dispatch it either with the rifle or tomahawk. It is a curious but well known fact, that in the summer, whilst the animal has the red hair on, it requires great judgment and adroitness to secure it in deep water, for it will instantly sink; to recover it a fish spear is often used. At all other times it will readily float. Deer are also taken by two modes of what is there called "still hunting." The first method is as follows; after there has been a very heavy fall of rain or wet snow, and the wind is high, a single hunter without a dog, proceeds on their track, and if an experienced one, he will get close to them; in this case they fall an easy prey. The second method is, for two persons to go off from the shore in the evening, with their canoe, having their rifles, and a dark lanthorn made with birch bark, nailed two-thirds round two circular pieces of deal board, leaving an opening like the door of a lanthorn, this is nailed to a stick four or five feet long, to raise or depress the light at pleasure. They proceed slowly along the edges of lakes or rivers, where in summer the deer come to feed on the young grass or rice, growing some little distance from the shore, also to lave themselves and allay the irritation caused by the deer fly. On approaching a place where they expect to find them, the hunter in the stern, with his paddle propels the light bark noiselessly and stealthily, the person in the bow keeping the lanthorn dark; as soon as a faint splashing is heard, the light is turned in the direction: they glide onward till assured they are near, when a shot generally brings the animal down. Last summer an Indian lad was hunting in this way at the lower part of the Rice Lake, and hearing the usual splashing, he fired; when he reached the spot, he found he had killed two wolves, that had followed a fine buck into the water, and were eating it. Accidents sometimes take place, even among the Indians, hunting in this way. A melancholy one occurred last July. An Indian and his squaw left their village to "still hunt" in the night; they proceeded in their canoe down the river Trent, and before midnight had killed a deer and were on their return up the river. The squaw had fallen asleep; suddenly the Indian heard a splashing in the water, and making sure it was a deer, he fired in the direction the noise came from, this instantly awoke the squaw, who discovered another canoe close to them: a stroke of the paddle brought them alongside, just in time to hear the last groan of a fine Indian of their own tribe, who had received eight or ten wounds from buck shot, one of which had proved mortal.

One mode of taking the fine fish abounding in the Canadian waters, as it appears a novel one, may not be uninteresting. In the winter, when the waters are bound up with ice, but the day fine and clear, an Indian proceeds to a spot where he expects to find the musquononge, (a fine fish, very much like the pike). Cutting a circular hole through the ice, about twenty inches in diameter, he erects a frame over it, of light sticks, bent in the shape of a sugar-loaf or cone; having covered this over with blankets, or anything to exclude the light, except a small hole at the top, sufficient to admit the handle of his long spear; keeping the barbs in the water, he creeps on his hands under his covering, only large enough to admit his head and arms; here laying prostrate on his stomach, with one hand he plays about in the water an artificial fish attached to a string, whilst in the other he holds the spear in readiness to strike; the bait attracts the musquononge, which comes slowly swimming round it -- in an instant the fish is transfixed on the spear, and drawn on to the ice. Whilst speaking of ice -- an important subject -- as every one in Canada has occasion to travel on it -- an efficient though laughable way of extricating any horse that breaks through, may be mentioned. Before the frost has made it quite secure, or if there be any doubt of its soundness, it is the practice to prepare the horse for a dip. A long rope is first put round his neck with a slip knot, and the other end made fast in the sleigh; next the belly-bands are unbuckled, and the reins taken out of the turrets and again buckled to the bit; thus prepared he is driven on, and if he breaks through, the traces are cut or taken off. The horse thus freed from the sleigh, the rope is then drawn sufficiently tight to stop his wind; he immediately turns on his side, floating high on the surface, and with the assistance of a board under his shoulder, may be drawn out on the ice. The knot being loosed, in a few minutes he recovers his wind, without sustaining any injury; care should be taken to dry him as much as possible, before again being put to the sleigh, this is called choaking a horse out. To prevent danger, it is the custom, when the ice is firm enough to travel on, to stick pine bushes at small distances from each other, in a line from one side of the lake to the other, and for sleighs to travel on the same track, by this means a beaten road of snow is kept up, which is visible night and day.

Persons emigrating to Canada will now feel but little of the hardships or inconveniences that the old settlers or pioneers, had to contend with, then almost every part of the Province was in a state of nature; now the appearance of the country is so rapidly improving that all essential requisites for reasonable happiness are attainable.

The subject of emigration to the colonies, is one of vital importance to Great Britain, and properly carried on, so as to avoid the errors and expenses hitherto attendant on trials of colonization by the Government, may well claim the attention of any one who commiserates the thousands of distressed though hardy laborers, which are to be met with in the Metropolis, and all over the United Kingdom. If it can be shewn that in the end, the Mother Country will derive even the smallest advantage from it, surely it ought not to be neglected. Having had great experience in the practical part of conducting the location of emigrants, the author ventures to make a few remarks on the subject; convinced that it may be so arranged as to lead to much happier results than heretofore, and at considerably less expense to all parties. Hitherto in every emigration to Upper Canada, no system has been matured, no plan adopted, or preparation made before-hand. In every instance, the emigrants have been taken or sent out without even the land being selected on which they were to be located, or any depot of provisions prepared. The consequences have been, great delay and much additional expense. In the emigration of 1825, a large sum of money might have been saved, by proper care in these respects. When settlers to the number of 2,000 arrived at Kingston, it had not even been determined to what part of the Province they were to go, and for some time they had to remain encamped on the spot at which they landed; from thence they were conveyed to Cobourg, where the same detention took place, and in the same manner at Peterborough; during this time the emigrants were acquiring idle habits, and consuming large quantities of provisions, obtained at a heavy expense to the Government. All this might have been avoided, if preparations for them had been previously made, they might have been sent immediately on their arrival, to their locations. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, or the chief Emigrant Agent should previously direct the different local Agents, to make a return of the number of families they could locate in their several Districts, (a point only to be ascertained by a personal inspection of each lot, by an active and intelligent woodsman.) These preliminaries having been arranged, it would be advisable, that when townships are quite uninhabited, those should be selected which have large blocks of good land in them, in order to concentrate operations as much as possible. We will suppose that a new township from ten to twelve miles square is made choice of. The best plan in such a case would be for the Agent to contract for the clearing off of ten acres in ten different places in the township; all of them as convenient as possible to the lands on which it is intended to place the emigrants; the selections of sites should be made with care, that bad lands, swamps or ridges might be avoided. These contracts we will suppose, let out in the autumn of 1838 or spring of 1839, to be cleared off, fenced, and fit for the drag or harrow by the autumn of 1839; which will cost £400.; before the end of May, 1840, the whole hundred acres should be planted with potatoes, this would take ten bushels of seed per acre, the cost at 2s. 6d. the bushel for 1000 bushels, £125., the planting £150. more, making the whole expense of clearing, seed, and planting, £675. By a moderate crop of 150 bushels the acre, the 100 acres would yield 15,000 bushels, and give to 300 families 50 bushels to each, or in that proportion; allowing five members to each family, but the Agent would apportion the distribution according to numbers, age, &c. Each family should be obliged to fence off his temporary allotment, and through the summer keep his crop hoed clean. It should be the duty of an overseer under the direction of the Agent, to oblige every settler to dig a hole for a cellar under his shantie, taking care to have a good drain from it; in this the settler would preserve his potatoes from the frost during the winter. The following year each family might be allowed to crop his garden or potatoe [sic] patch again, after which time, these several clearings should be at the disposal of Government. Through the summer and autumn of 1839, roads to lead to the blocks of land above mentioned, should be cut out; and 300 shanties, 10 by 15 put up. The shanties would cost £450. and the roads about £150. -- in 1840, the land would be prepared to receive three hundred families or any number on the same plan. They might be sent out to Quebec, by the Parishes or the Government, at a regulated price, by private ships, and in like manner be forwarded up the country to their destination; at all times under the superintendence of the Emigrant Agents, both in the Country and in Canada. The actual expense of getting them to the settlements will be known by those Parishes that have sent poor out.

The following extracts from a communication made to Sir John Colborne, in 1831, will point out many useful suggestions on this subject, keeping in remembrance that rations were at that time allowed either by Government, or the individuals locating them, and that, as it is proposed to supply potatoes, part of the allowance of flour would be reduced, and a heavy expense in transport saved to the Government.

"Emigrants from the first should distinctly understand what they are to expect and receive, let it be much or little. In providing food for settlers in the new Townships (if it be intended to establish them on land) it must always be regular; for most of them arrive at that season when it is extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, for them to get work or provisions in newly settled townships, the latter, except sufficient for the wants of their inhabitants, having been sold in the winter to the storekeepers. Whenever an emigrant presents himself to an Agent or Superintendent to be taken under his charge for rations and location, there should be a printed bond or agreement between the Government and the settler, signed and sealed before they receive provisions, or any thing else whatever. This will effectually prevent any unreasonable expectation on the part of the latter, and save the Agent much trouble and vexation."

"When new Townships are to be peopled, it would be proper to have a large log-house put up for a depot in the most central or eligible situation, and the winter previous to any intended settlement, a stock of provisions and axes to be lodged therein by contract; the concession lines fresh blazed, posts put up at the corners of the lots, leading roads cut out for an ox sleigh, and a remark made of each lot fit for location."

"By all means the lots, or portions of land, should be previously surveyed and divided by blazed lines, to prevent quarrels and trespasses on each other."

"The arrangements in 1831 for feeding the emigrants cannot be much improved upon, unless a small quantity of oatmeal were given in addition to the flour. The scale was as follows, a man one pound of flour, and half a pound of pork; women and children, above five years of age, one pound of flour and a quarter of a pound of pork; children under five years of ago half a pound of flour; and to each a proportion of oatmeal."

"In new Townships removed from a settlement, oxen and sleighs might be purchased by Government, to assist the emigrants moving to their locations, and be sold when no longer wanted; the great advantage of placing the settler on his land at once, ought never to be lost sight of, it saves them from sickness, and acquiring slothful habits; when persons of this class first arrive, they are so enervated from change of climate, food, and habits, together with their exposure in barges or Durham boats, that long walks in the forest to hunt for land, or put up shanties, bring on ill health, which may be averted, if placed at once on their locations."

"It is rather difficult to devise a proper and equal plan for victualing emigrants; almost every family presents a different case, but those with many and young children deserve the greatest indulgence and consideration; the agreement should oblige all female children above twelve years of age, and the grown up sons to go out into service; widows, or infirm men to be allowed to keep their eldest, or most able son at home.

"It is to be considered, that where the head of a family is compelled by a stoppage of rations to suspend his endeavours to make a home for them in the woods, and to leave them in search of work, that it breaks down his spirit; and, if he can, he will remove his family altogether; where if his rations are continued on the proposed scale till the end of July of the following year, they will then have become habituated to the woodsman's life; he will then, having used common industry, have a good crop of potatoes and corn, at least, to leave for their support, whilst he takes advantage to work out through the harvest to get a cow, and in the winter, undertakes a job of threshing to supply them with bread; from this time, if he be a steady man, all will go well with him, he will soon become independent in his circumstances; and in time a consumer of British manufacture, thereby adding strength and respectability to the Province, and to the wealth of the mother country.

"Very few settlers will arrive at the point from whence they are to be located, before the months of June or July, and most of them come after that time, so that no hope can be reasonably held out that many may be able to get a return crop from the earth that season; certainly a few of the first settlers sent to Peterborough, in the spring of 1831, from unusually quick passages, and being sent out immediately to their locations, did raise some potatoes and turnips, and had the preparations as before recommended been previously attended to, more might have been done."

APPENDIX

A

STEAM-BOAT ARRANGEMENTS -- Port of Cobourg.

Sunday, Great Britain, 6, A.M. for Oswego, Kingston, and Prescott.

Monday, William IVth., 6, A.M. for Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara.

Traveller, 5, P.M. do. do.

Tuesday, Com. Barrie, 6, A.M. do. do.

Cobourg, 6, P.M. for Kingston and Prescott.

St.George, 7, P.M. for Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara.

Wednesday, Traveller, 7, A.M. for Rochester.

Com. Barrie, 11, A.M. for Kingston.

William IVth., 7, P.M. for Prescott.

Thursday, Great Britain, 5, A.M. for Toronto and Niagara.

Traveller, 5, P.M. do. Hamilton.

Friday, Com. Barrie, 6, A.M. for Toronto.

Cobourg, 8, P.M. for Hamilton and Niagara.

Saturday, St. George, 6, A.M. for Kingston and Prescott.

Traveller, 6, P.M. Rochester.

Com. Barrie, 6, P.M. Kingston.

B

Extract from Provincial Statutes of Upper Canada.

"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the following property, real and personal, shall, after the said first Monday in January, 1820, and for every subsequent year during the continuance of this Act, be deemed rateable property throughout this Province, and shall be rated at the rate and valuation herein set forth; that is to say, every acre of arable, pasture, or meadow land, twenty shillings; every acre of uncultivated land, four shillings.

Every house build with timber squared, or hewn on two sides, of one story in height, and not two stories, with not more than two fire places, twenty pounds; for every additional fire place, four pounds; every dwelling house built of squared or flatted timber on two sides, of two stories in height, with not more than two fireplaces, thirty pounds; and for every additional fire place, eight pounds; every framed house under two stories in height, with not more than two fire places, thirty-five pounds; and for every additional fire place, five pounds; every brick or stone house, of one story in height, and not more than two fire places, forty pounds; and for every additional fire place, ten pounds; every framed, brick, or stone house, of two stories in height, and not more than two fire places, sixty pounds; every additional fire place, ten pounds." "Every horse of the age of three years and upwards, eight pounds; oxen, of the age of four years and upwards, per head, four pounds; milch cows, per head, three pounds; horned cattle, from the age of two years to four years, per head, twenty shillings; every close carriage, with four wheels, kept for pleasure, one hundred pounds; every phaeton, or other open carriage with four wheels, kept for pleasure only, twenty-five pounds; every curricle, gig, or other carriage, with two wheels, kept for pleasure only, twenty pounds; every waggon kept for pleasure, fifteen pounds."

"Provided always, that the sum levied shall in no one year exceed one penny in the pound on the sum herein specified, on the valuation at which each species of the property before mentioned shall be rated and assessed.

C

[layout changed for convenience of transcription]

Form of Assessment, for the Township of for the Year

NAMES. A. B. C. D.

No. of acres of Land.

Uncultivated. 520 150

Cultivated. 80 50

No of lot, or other designation, 12 13 30 4

(if a part, describe which it is).

No. of concessions, or other description. 11 10

No. of Males resident in the Family.

Over sixteen years of age. 5 2

Under sixteen years of age. 1 1

No. of Females resident in the Family.

Over sixteen years of age. 4 3

Under sixteen years of age. 1 2

Total number of persons resident in 11 8

each family.

Town lots, in different towns.

Houses.

Squared, or hewed timber on two sides,

one story.

Additional fire places.

Framed, under two stories.

Additional fire places.

Squared timer, two stories.

Additional fire places.

Brick, or store, of one story, with not more

than two fire places.

Additional fire places.

Frame, brick, or stone, or stone, of two 1

stories, with not more than two fire-places.

Additional fire places. 5

Mills

Wrought by water, with one pair of stones.

Additional pair of stones.

Saw Mills.

Merchant shops.

Store houses.

Stone horses.

Horses of three years old, and upwards. 4 1

Oxen of four years old, and upwards. 2

Milch cows. 6 2

Horned cattle, from two to four years old. 4 4

Close carriages with four wheels, kept for pleasure.

Phaetons, or other open carriages, kept for pleasure only, with four wheels.

Curricles, Gigs, or other carriages with two wheels, kept for pleasure.

Waggons kept for pleasure.

Rate per pound 1d.

Amount of Assessment.

&pound 1

s. 6 9

d. 2 2

Exemplification of the Assessment of A. B.'s Property.

d. s. d.

520 acres, Uncultivated Land £54 or 54 is 4 6

80 do. Cultivated Land £80 - 80 - 6 8

4 Horses £32 - 32 - 2 8

1 Frame house £60 - 60 - 5 0

5 Fire places £50 - 50 - 4 2

6 Cows £18 - 18 - 1 6

4 Young cattle £8 - 8 - 8

----------

£1. 6 2

The charges for Passage by New York Packet Ships from London and Liverpool, are as follows:--

In cabin, with sleeping berth in state room, table well found,

with wine and spirits, £35.

without, £30.

In steerage, with cabin, £7. 10s.

Ditto, without ditto , £4. 10s.

In London the Agents are Phillips and Tiplady, 3, George Yard, Lombard Street.

The Charges for Passage, by regular Traders and Timber ship, standing A.1. from London, Liverpool, Bristol, Greenock, Belfast, &c. to Quebec or Montreal, are as follows:--

In cabin from London, by first class ships well fitted up with convenient accommodations; table well found,

with wine and spirits, £25.

without, £20.

In cabin from Greenock, with the above, and wines and spirits, £22.

In cabin from the above and other ports, by making a bargain, from £10. 10s. to £17. 10s.

In the steerage, from £1. 15s. to £4. 10s.

In London the Agents of a fine line of ships, are Cater and Bonus, 11, Leadenhall Street.

Steerage passengers have to find their own provisions, and should lay in a stock for nine weeks.

For the very poorer classes, used to very hard living, biscuit, oatmeal, butter, salt fish, herrings, with a small quantity of tea and sugar, and plenty of potatoes, will be the cheapest food, and will cost for each adult, nearly, £1. 17s. 6d.

To those accustomed to different fare, such as bread, beef, pork, herrings, alt fish, butter, cheese, flour, pease, oatmeal, and potatoes, with a small quantity of beer or spirits, it will cost for an adult from £3. 10 s. to £4.

There is a tax on each emigrant landing,

at New York, £2. 10s. -- at Quebec, 5s..

Besides the tax of £2. 10s. on landing at New York, it will cost the poor emigrant to get from thence to Toronto, in Upper Canada, about £2. 10s. more - £5.

Besides the tax of 5s. on landing at Quebec, it will cost the poor emigrant to get from thence to Toronto, in Upper Canada, about £2. 5s. more - £2. 10s.

The difference of expense by New York of Quebec, to persons travelling by the best accommodation, having little or no luggage, will be very trifling, by both routes it will cost about £5. exclusive of any tax on landing.

The average price of grain for the last five years has been as follows:--

s. d.

Wheat per bushel 60 pounds, 4 9

Rye ditto ditto 3 6

Barley ditto 54 -- 2 8

Oats ditto 35 -- 1 6

Pease ditto 60 -- 3 3

D

An Act, relative to the right of Tythes within this Province.

The Royal Assent to this Bill was promulgated by Proclamation, bearing date, the 20th day of February, 1823.

Whereas notwithstanding his Majesty has been graciously pleased to reserve for the support of a Protestant Clergy in this Province, one-seventh of all lands granted therein, doubts have been suggested that the Tythe of the produce of land might still be legally demanded by the incumbent duly instituted, or rector, of any parish; which doubt it is important to the well doing of this Colony to remove; Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of the Province of Upper Canada, constituted and assembled by virtue of and under the authority of an Act passed in the Parliament of Great Britain, entitled, "An Act to repeal certain parts of an Act passed in the fourteenth year of His Majesty's reign, entitled, 'An act for making more effectual provision for the Government of the Province of Quebec, in North America, and to make further provision for the Government of the said Province,'" and by the authority of the same, That no Tythes shall be claimed, demanded, or received by an Ecclesiastical parson, rector, or vicar, of the Protestant Church within this Province, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

E

PRICE OF FLOUR -- We subjoin from the Pennsylvanian, a very interesting tabular view of the price of flour in this city, for the three first months of the year, from 1796 to the present time. It was prepared from authentic data, by a gentleman of much mercantile experience, and is to be relied on as correct. Although much suffering and excitement have arisen from the present rates at which flour is help, the consequence of short crops, which even the large importations from the wheat countries of Europe have not been able to counteract; this essential article has, at other times, brought much higher prices. In 1796, for instance, when the wages of labour were not more than half what they are now, flour was no less than 15 dollars a barrel. In 1805, the price was 13 dollars; and in 1817 it brought between 13 and 15 dollars. It was lowest in 1821, when an overflowing market reduced in to 3 dollars 75. This table to the many, who take interest in whatever relates to the "staff or life," is well worthy of being preserved and continued, as a matter of curious reference.

Prices of Flour for the three first months of the year, from 1796 to 1837 inclusive.

Years. January. February. March.

1796 dollars 12,00 13,50 15,00

1797 10,00 10,00 10,00

1798 8,50 8,50 8,50

1799 9,50 9,50 9,25

1800 } 11,50 11,25 11,50

1801 }

1802 7,00 7,00 7,00

1803 6,50 6,50 6,50

1804 7,50 7,50 7,00

1805 11,00 12,25 13,00

1806 7,50 7,50 7,00

1807 7,50 7,50 7,50

1808 (Embargo) 6,00 5,75 5,50

1809 do. 5,50 7,00 7,00

1810 In July 7,75 8,00 8,25

&amp August

this year

11 &amp 12 dl.

1811 11,00 10,50 10,50

1812 (War) 10,50 10,12&frac12 9,75

1813 do. 11,00 10,00 9,50

1814 do. 9,25 8,25 8,00

1815 do. 8,00 8,00 7,75

1816 9,00 9,00 8,00

1817 13,50 13,75 11,25

1818 10,00 10,75 10,50

1819 9,00 8,75 8,25

1820 6,00 5,50 5,50

1821 4,00 4,00 3,75

1822 6,25 6,25 6,25

1823 7,00 6,75 7,00

1824 6,00 6,00 6,12

1825 4,87 5,12 5,12

Years. January. February. March.

1826 4,75 4,62 4,50

1827 5,75 6,00 5,75

1828 5,00 4,87 4,75

1829 8,50 8,25 8,00

1830 4,62 4,50 4,50

1831 6,12 6,25 7,00

1832 5,50 5,50 5,50

1833 5,75 5,00 5,50

1834 5,25 5,00 5,87

1835 4,87 5,00 5,00

1836 6,50 6,62 6,75

1837 11,00 11,00

THE END.

G. Norman, Printer, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.

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