The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-17 00:00:00

NATIONAL COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held yesterday at
their rooms in Regent-street,
The Right Hon. R. W. HORTON in the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to read the resolutions,
the most material of which were to the effect, that
there existed a great excess in the numbers of the
labouring population of the United Kingdom, as
compared with the means of employment—that this
state of things was productive of vice and misery,
and a burdensome amount of taxation=that in our
extensive colonies there was.a great -scarcity of la-.
bourers, which produced very injurious effects—.-that
one of the most important objects of public :eee-
nomy was the adoption of some'sound systein •of
colonization to relieve this country from its rednn-
dant labourers, and bring thennappropriated lands
of our colonies into occupation—that the Society
invite the parishes in England, and the proprietors
of land in Scotland and Ireland, to furnish them
with information as to the condition of the poor,
and the means of colonization, in their several dis-
tricts—that information be obtained as to the best
places for emigration—and that a Committee be ap-
pointed to frame rules and regulations, and the earli-
est opportunity of explaining to the public their view
of the most expedient means of carrying the object
of the Society into effect. The Chairman proceeded
to say, that the question was not so much to what
extent colonization was to be carried into effect, as
to establish the principle of the propriety of afford-
ing our surplus population an opportunity to escape
fi om their present condition of pauperism on our colo-
nial possessions,where their labour might be profitably
exercised. He believed that the cause of coloniza-
tion was on the advance. He had yesterday pre-
sented a petition to the House of Commons from
the rate-payers of the parish of Frome, in Somerset-
shire, stating the melancholy condition of the unem-
ployed poor in that district, and calling upon Puha..
merit to adopt measures to facilitate emigration.
The petitioners expressed their willingness to take
upon themselves the expense of making the attempt
in their own parish. Frome contained 7,300 acres,
and a population of 14,000 persons. There were
2,500 individuals assessed as rate-payers, of whore%
however, 500 were themselves chargeable upon the
parish. The number of able-bodied labourers re-
ceiving parochial relief was 557, and their families
amounted to 2,475 persons. Employment could
not be found for one-third of the able-bodied la..
bourers supported by the parish, and the labour of
those who were employed was not productive.
Within the last three years a sum of 91,000/. had
been expended in the maintenance of the poor in
this parish. Taking 1,200 labourers as the number
necessary for the employment that could be afforded,
250 of the present number might be spared frame-
diately, leaving a surplus of 300 labourers more
than were usually required to answer contingencies.
The saving of the parish, if 250 individuals and,
their families were removed, would amount to 3,75f.V,
per annum, and they could be removed for five years'
purchase of the expenditure incurred annually for
their support. The Right Hon. Gentleman pro-
ceeded to refer to the details and results of an ex-
periment made in the parish of Bennington (Kent),
in the removal of paupers. In 1825 the expeose of
maintaining the poor in that parish was 2,9754, in
1826 it amounted to 2,962/. In 1827, 58
indivi-
duals were removed to the United States, at an ex-
pense of 5341.; which sum was borrowed at 4 per
cent. In that year there was spent for the relief of the
poor 2 215/ and 85/. was repaid by instalments on
account of the loan, making a total of 2,300/. In
1828, 87 persons emigrated at an expense of 6211..
The instalments in part payment of • the loans
amounted in that year to 212/., and the expenditure
for the maintenance of the poor to 2,2851.—t0tal
2,4971. In 1829 no emigration took place; there
was paid that year, on account of the loans, 317;, ;
and for the support of the poor 2,008/., mtdting
gross amount of 2,3251. In the year ending Lady-
day, 1830, there was a small emigration, which was
effected at an expence of 40/, The instalments
this year amounted to 251/., and the sum expended
in relief to 1,933/., total 2,184/. Thus the rates
had been reduced in four years from 2,9624 to
2,1841., of which sum 251/. was paid in part dis-
charge of the principal and interest of the loans.
1,197/. had been borrowed, and 866/. paid on ac-
count of principal and interest so lent. In 1825
and 1826 there were from 70 to 90 able-bodied
labourers on the parish from want of employment,
Since the latter period 56 labourer* bail emigtved
(with their families), and now there was rarely
surplus of labourers. The details of this chse proved
the advantages of emigration, and that tees surplus
hands would generally create fifteen. These indivi-
duals were sent out to the United States ; would it
not have been better if our own colonies had re-
ceived the benefit of their labour; for it was us un-
doubted fact that population constituted the wealf.tt
of colonies, and that the want of population ten-
dered ours a burden to us, The great point was
to ascertain whether the principle of colonization was
good and applicable. He was of opinion that it was,
and hoped eventually to see it adopted.,
Mr. O'BRIEN, M.P., in moving the first resolu-
tion, observed, that the simplest and most effectual
course, with a view to relieve all parties, wask tta
carry labour from the market where.it was in
cess, to that in which it was in demand,
Mr. BUCKLER seconded the resolution.
Mr. WILLES asked whether Government had
given its sanction to the S.ociety ?
The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative.
Mr. Wrfaxsi argued, that we should endeavour
to give our population employment in their native
land, before we placed before them the stern altern-
ative of starvation or expatriation., We had
15,000,000 of acres of waste lands.
Mr. POWER spoke to order, The scheme pro.
posed was not one of expatriation, but a plan for
voluntary colonization,

Mr. OwEN approved generally of the resolutions
and of the object of the Society, which should re-
ceive his support.
The resolution was put and agreed to, there being
only two dissentients.

Colonel
TORRENS movod the second resolution,
and, in doing so, took occasion strongly to recom-
mend the adoption of a plan of extended colonization.
Mr. Scar' seconded the resolution.
The third resolution was moved by Mr. W. HUTT,
who expressed his opinion as to the perfect practi-
cability of abstracting a sufficient portion of the
pauper population of this country to afford relief to
those who should be left behind,
Mr. STknA..tNrq seconded the resolution, which was
finally agreed to,

Mr, e. Bumen, M.P., moved the next resolu-
tion, nominating a Committee, which was seconded
by_lllr._.T. Hutt.

Mr. W. Horton's name was one of those contained
in the list of the Committee.—The resolution was
agreed to.

The Rev. G. V. SA3IPSON proposed the fifth re-
solution, which, having been seconded, was agreed.
to; as were the remaining resolutions, and the meet.
ing adjourned.

Ttime, with the excep-
tionof a
day
ortwo, been very •tenseasonable, the sun
he weather u
phas to
this
being seldom seen, with cold bleak winds, and much wet,
greatly preponderating; the consequence is, that the corn-
ing crops are in a very backward state in this neighbour-
hood, though the whet upon the good lands look tolerably
healthy. In muis, pasts of Northumberland, in cold and
exposed sitil4oo4s, the crops of both wheat and oats pre-
sent r‘ vsry thin and yellow appearance. Indeed, the oats,
it is, anticipated, will prove the most deficient crop expe-
rienced here for many years. The hay crop promises to
be very abundant, . In Cumberland the crops are said to
lojk well, but much in want of warmth: In Berwick-
shire, the crops of every kind are stated to have a very
prom;;;arg. appearance, with the exception of some fields of
whiCh have suffered greatly from the grab. In East
Lothian, the present season is regarded as one of the
earliest and mist abundant grass seasoss on record ;. and
with a few exceptions, the wheat crop is in a thriving
st ete; but the oats have suffered extensively from the slug
and wire-worm. In Yorkshire, the crop of grass and
corn, in heavy soils, are said to be suffering
much
- for Want
of warmth and suushine....7'une Mercury.