Star.
London, England, 1818-05-12 00:00:00

pets mold be spared, who cannot possibly now get
on for want of means, but who would be brought over
by men of capital, were confidence once established.
" The extent of calamity already occasioned by,
the system of the Poor Laws, cannot be even ima-1
gined. by strangers. They may form some idea, how-
ever. when I tell them, that last winter I saw in one
parish (Blackwell, within five miles of London) seve-
ral hundreds of able-bodied men harnessed and yok-
ed, fourteen together, in carts, hauling gravel for
the repair of the highways; each 14 men performing
just about as much work as an old horse led by a
boy could accomplish. We have heard since, that
1,500,0Q0/. has beep voted to keep the poor at work;
and perhaps the most melancholy consideration of
the whole is, that there are people who trust to such
means as a cure for the evil. While all this is true :
when the money and labour of England is-thus wast-
ed ; when thousands of our fellow-subjects are emi-
grating into the States of America ; when we even
hear of them being led off to toil with the boors of
Poland, in the cultivation of a country where the
nature of the Government must counteract the ut-
most efforts towards improvement—is it not provok-
ing that all this should go on merely from a reigning
ignorance of the superior advantages which Canada
has in store, and a thoughtlessness as to the grand
policy which might be adopted for the general ag-
grandisement of the British nation ? Some have
thought the exclusion of American citizens a great
bar to the speedy settlement of Canada ; but a liberal
system of colonization from Europe, would render
this of small importance. Before coming to a de-
cided opinion on this important subject, I took much
pains to inform myself of facts. A minute enquiry
on the spot where Government has endeavoured to
force a settlement, satisfied me as to the causes of
the too notorious failure there. It convinced me
that the fault by no means rested with the incapacity
of the settlers, but resulted from the system pursued.
I have since spent a month perambulating the Gene-
see country, for the express purpose of forming a
comparison between British and American manage-
ment. That country lies parallel, to this : it possesses
no superior advantages : its, settlement began ten
years latter ; yet I am ashamed to say, it is already
ten years before Canada in improvement. This has
been ascribed to the superior loyalty of the American
people, but most erroneously., The art of clearing
land is as well understood here as in the States :
men direct from Britain are as energetic, and, after
a little practice, sufficiently expert with the axe,
while they are more regular in their habits and more
persevering in their plans than the Americans. No
improvement has taken place in the Genesee country,
which could not be far exceeded here, under a pro-
per system. It was indeed British capital and enter-
prize which gave the first grand impetus to the im-
provement of that country : much of its improve.
ment is still proceeding under British agency ; and
one of its most flourishing townships ieviliolly occu-
pied by men who came with slender means from the
Highlands of Scotland. In the Genesee country the
Government pocketed much butforcrd nothing, and
charity there has been left without an object.
" Gentlemen—The inquiries and ,obseirations
which I have recently made on the 'object of set•
Clement, assure me that neither in these Provinces nor
in the United States, has a proper system been pur-
sued. The mere filling of the world with men, should
not be the sole object of political wisdom. This
should regard the filling of it with beings of superior
intellect and feeling, without which the desert had
better remain occupied by the beaver and the bear.
That society of a superior kind may be nursed up in
Canada, by an enlarged and liberal connection with
the mother country, I am very confident; and its
being realized is the fond hope which induces me to
come forward with my present proposals, and which,
if these proposals meet with support, will continue
the spur of my exertions to complete the work which
I have now in view. Many of you, Gentlemen, have
been bred up at home, and well know how superior,
in many respects, are the arrangements and habits of
society there, to what they are on this side the At.
lantic. Such never can be hoped for here under the
pie tent system of colonization, which brings out only
a part, and that the weakest part of society—which
places poor and destitute individuals in remote situa-
tions, with no object before them but groveling
selfishnesss—no aid—no example—no fear either of
Goo or man. Is it not possible to create such a tide
of commerce as would not only bring with it part of
society, but society complete, with all the strength
and order and refinemeist which it has now attained
in Britain, beyond all precedent ? Surely Govern-
ment would afford every facility to a commerce
which would not only enrich, but eternally bind tof
and its Provinces, by the most power-
ul sympathies of manners and taste and
affection.—
Government never can too much encourage the growth
of this colony, by a liberal system of emigration.
When we conic from home we arc not expatriated :
our feelings as British subjects grow more warm with
distance, and our greater experience teaches us the
more to venerate the principles of our native land—
the country wherein the Sciences have made the
greatest progress, and where alone are cultivated to
perfection the arts of social life. At home, we have
experienced evils : we know that influences are there,
which war against the principles of the constitution
and counteract its most benevolent designs. Here,
we arc free of such influences, we are perfectly con-
tented, and a fine field lies open to us for cultivat ng
the best fruits of civil and religious liberty. An en-
larged and liberal connection between Canada and
Britain, appears to me to promise the happiest results
to the cause of civilization. It promises a new era
in the history of our species : it promises the growth
of manners with manly spirit, modesty with acquire-
ments, and a love of truth superior to the boasting
of despicable vanity. The late war furnished the'
strongest proof of the rising spirit of this colony,
even under every disadvantage; and pity would it
be, were so noble a spirit ever again exposed to risk.
The late war chewed at once the affection which Bri-
tain bears to Canada, and the desire which Canada
has to continue under the wing of Britain. When a
connection is established between the two countries
worthy of such manifestations all risk will cease.
Britain will no longer have to expend her millions
here. This country will hot only be equal to its own
defence, but the last hope of invasion will wither be-
fore its strength. While Canada remains poor and
neglected, she can only be a burden to Britain: when
improved and wealthy she will amply repay every