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

debt, and become the powerful friend of the parent
state. What I conceive to be the first requisite for
opening a suitable communication with the mother
country, is the drawing out and publishing a well-
authenticated statistical account of Upper Canada.
This cannot be effected by a single hand : it mast be'
the work and have the authority of many. To give
it commencement, I submit to your consideration the
annexed queries ; and, could these be replied to from
every township in the Province, the Work would be
far advanced. These queries have been shewn to
many of the most respectable individuals in this Pro-
vince, and the scheme of collecting materials in this
way, for a statistical account, has, by every one,
been approved. Some have doubted whether there
exists sufficient energy and public spirit in the remote
townships to reply to them. I hope there is ; apd
certainly no organized township is destitute of indi-
viduals qualified for the task, if they will but take
so much trouble. Some Gentlemen have met my
ideas so cordially as to offer to collect information,
not only for their own, but for other townships. Cor-
rect information, however, is not the only requisite :
authority is also wanted of that species which will
not only carry weight with it to a distance, but re-
main answerable on the spot for whatever is advan-
ced.. The desirable point, therefore, is to obtain re-
plies separately from each township, and to have
these attested by the signature of as many of the re-
spectable inhabitants as possible. To accomplish this
in the speediest and most effectual manner, a meet-
ing might be held in each township, and in. the space
of an hour or two the business might be perfected.—
The queries have been drawn out as simply as possi-
ble, with a view to the practicability of having them
answered in this general way. They embrace only
such matters as it must be in the power of every in-
telligent farmer to speak to, and .the information to
be obtained by them will be sufficient to assure far-
mers
and others at home who have money to engage
in adventure, that adventure here will not only be ra-
tional and safe, but that they themselves may sit
down in Canada with comfort and independence.
Although to prevent confusion in the general fulfil-
ment of the scheme, I have confined the range of
queries, it would still be very desirable if intelligent
individuals would communicate their sentiments with
regard to any measure of improvement which occurs
to them. or any remarkable fact or observation they
have made concerning the climate, soil, or cultiva-
tion of the Province. Should any correspondent dis-
like my using his name publicly, he need only give
a caution, and it shall be observed.
" If the queries obtain notice, and sufficient docu-
ments are forwarded to me, I shall arrange them and
publish them in England, whither I am soon to re-
turn. Had this task required superior ability,.such
an offer would be presumption. I think it requires
industry alone, and that I shall contribute most wil-
lingly. Whoever thinks well of this scheme and feels
a desire to promote it, let him not hesitate or delay ;
prompt assistance ss ill be every thing ; and as to trou-
ble, let individuals compare theirs to mine.
.• Though I gratuitously make offer of my time,
I must be relieved of expense as much as possible.
and shall expect all communications to be post paid.
No person, I think, who interests himself at all in the
matter will grudge his item in this way. Divided
among many, such charges will be trifling, but accu-
mulated upon one, they would be serious.
" Should the work succeed to my wish, I would
propose not only publishing it in the English but
German language. It is well known that the people
of that nation are most desirable settlers, and it is a
fact, that many of them have not the means of com-
municating to their friends the very superior advan-
tages of this country. One of them, who has been
in Canada thirteen years, lately told me, that " tou-
sands and tousands would come over, did they but
know how good a country it is for poor peoples."
(signed) " EMMERT GOURLAY.
4, N.B. Address all communications for me to the
Post Office, Queenston, R.G."