The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-18
rom the London Times Of September 24ia.
Emigration from Great Britain.

What has appeared TO be the extraordinary
emigration Of the last five years, continues una.
bated, and promises--or shall we rather say
threatens Ito be the permanent drain of the
British population. The number Of immigrants
at New York alone, for the first eight months of
this year. has been 1886, against about three
fourths OF that number last year. To this must
be added the numbers that still 60 by the route
OF the st. Lawrence, and the increased emigra-
ton, OF which there are symptoms already in
the port of Lond n, To our Australian colonies.
Though it is true that many of these are Ger
mans, and that some thousands arrive at New
York every year direct from Bremen and other
continental ports, still by far the greater part
are our own people. AS for Ireland, what we
see there is absolutely WITHOUT parallel in his
tory; and there is nothing like it, even in fable,
unless it be that vast and impatient n,ul,itu..e
which Eneas is related by the poet to have be-
held on the shores of the Styx:
Guam multa in sylvis autumn frigore primo
Lapsa cadunt folia, aut ad terrain gurgite alb alto
Guam multae glomerantur ayes, ubi frigidus annus
Trans pontum fugat, ct ferris immttit apricis,
Siabant orantes print transmittere cursum,
Tendebantque manus ripe Interiors amore.
Navita sed tristis nunc hos, nunc accipit illos,
Asst altos longe slmmotos arcet arena"
Everywhere we are told the farmers are fitting
with the produce of their crops, and the laborers
with their wages for harvest work. Employers
have been forced to pay this year trile more
than heretofore: and it now appears that, so far
from this proving temptation to remain at
home, it will only increase the difficulty next
year. Though this is the most unfavorable
season of the year for emigration, the terrors Of
stormy passage and an American winter seem
to be lost on people who feel that no ocean or
soil can ever be so nhospitable as that which has
given them birth. The railways are loaded with
emigrants who, on their arrival at the port, race
to the ship as if flying for their lives Fortunate
are they who are not left on the quays, to linger
for weeks in the hope of another vessel. 1t is
not merely the bone and sinew, the rude mate
rial of industry, that is betaking itself elsewhere
Many of the vessels are freighted with superior
class, carrying often not merely their savings,
but all the qualities also that belong to their po-
sition.
When an emigration such as this has gone on
for FIVE years, it becomes a matter of great in.
terest to inquire how long tits likely to continue,
and what will be its probable effects on the
country that suffers this drain? As to the first
of these questions, it is reasonable to suppose
that so long as the United States offer the nd.
vantages they now do, so long as the transport
is so cheap and expeditions, and so long as Brit
sh labor snffers its present difficulties and mr.
dens, there will be no diminution, but rather an
increase of this wonderful movement Unless
the United States should quarrel among them
selves, or any other great calamity should b fal
them, they must every year become more and
more capable Of accommodating and employing
the stranger. Their greatest progress has hith-
erto been in chief lines of communication, and
other such works, which most contribute to flu
ture prosperity and grandeur. By means of
those lines the valley of the Mississippi and the
a. d laI-, k.o.,
York as if they were actually within sight If it;
and soil which twenty years. ago was untro3, /.
now traversed by a thoroughfare of nations. At
this day, throughout the greater part of the
United States, the cry is still for more hands;
and, production is still rapidly Increasing, il is
evident that il must be long before there are foo
many mouths. As TO the means of transport,
every year new lines of ocean steamers are pro-
jected, Of increased capacity and speed, at de-
creasing fares; so that 1t is not improbable that
before long twelve days passage will be
brought within the means of the common run of
emigrants. Meanwhile many lines of frst.class
sailing vessels are proitably employed in the
service, and every week during the present year
vessels of the largest size might bs seen In our
docks fitting up for emierants under the eye OF
the government inspectors.
If il answers the purpose Of several thous-
and Germans every year to take a passage 10 this
port, and to be at the cost of residence here
for some days or weeks, in order to avail them
selves Of our ships, il Is clear that the British
are long likely to possess the greatest facilities
for emigration In the world. As for the causes
OF home which have impaired 10 the present
emigration its melancholy character, rs fight
from personal difficulties and national ills,
whether they are likely 10 continue, or even TO
increase, is question Of great delicacy. Not
10 90 further into IL, we may reasonably doubt
whether within the next twenty years the pres
sure OF Circumstances will be so materially re-
duced to effect the calculations Of the woufd-
be emgrant or whether the avenues 10 wealth
and position will be 40 much widened and
snoothed as TO diminish the contrast supposed
to exist in this respect between British and Am
erican society. The institutions and customs OF
this country all adapted 10 the supposition OF
vast d ference If classes-a lower class. re-
dundant, necessitous, ignorant, and manageable;
an upper class, wealthy, exclusive, united and
powerful; and a middle class, struggling TO
emerge from the lower, and attach itself 10 the
upper. This supposition must long hold good,
and will probably reign rs an opinion even after
whether az a fact or "a an opinion, Il will long
exercise q repulsive fuence on the poorer, the
less fortunate, and the more struggling classes,
and will drive them 10 SEEK their fortunes where
society IL imagined 10 be clearer Of such barriers
and distinctions.
THE AMERICAN REAPisG MAcByE.-0ce
point that strikes us forci ly on a surrey Of the
last few months u, the extraordinary contrast
which the attractive and the useful features Of
the disniav nrosant IN will ha rememherad