The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-18
A VISIT TO THE ELGIN sErTLEMENT1
From the Toronto Globe.

From the Toronto Globe
In company with several friends, both male
and female, paid visit lately to the Elgin
Settlement" and although expecting much,
was not prepared to find matters in such a
flourishing condition. The readers of the Globe
are already partially acquainted with the histo-
| ry of this Settlement. At different periods, at
tempts were made to improve the physical
and social condition of the colored persons,
who, having escaped from the despotism of the
United States Republic, sought an asylum and
home on the free soil of monarchical Britain.
Settlements were formed in different localities,
but, from some cause or other, none of them
prospered long-difficulties arose, and it began
to be surmised that the black man was an in
tractable sort of being, incapable of improve
ment under any management; and especially,
that tiller of the soil he was utterly useless
Several benevolent gentlemen, having delibera.
ted over the matter, came to the conclusion that
| the experiment had not been fairly and fully
| tested; that there were peculiar circumstances
which operated prejudically in the previous
cases, and that at least another effort should be
made on proper scale, and with suitable in
| strumentalities. Accordingly, about ls4S, GER
| tain individuals in Toronto, Hamilton, and else
where, formed themselves into an "Association
for the settlement and moral improvement of
| the colored population of Canada" procured
an act of incorporation from the Legislature
| and, with the aid of the Rev. William King, set
| themselves to work out in earnest the contem
plated scheme. With this object in view, about
| nine thousand acres of land were selected in
the township of Raleigh, in the country of Kent
and on the I'D October, l849, some 1890
| acres of this block were secured from Govern
ment Since that time, additional purchases
| have been made and the Settlement is now
| six miles long by about three miles wide. The
lands were divided into lots Of fifty acres each,
| and are sold only to actual colored settlers of
approved moral character at the rate of $23
per acre. The first instalment has to be paid
| down at the time of purchase, and the balance
in nine equal annual instalments, with interest.
On the Sd December, lS49, the first settler
entered upon this land, and, from that time to
| the present, yearly additions have been made,
so that almost the whole of the land has been
occupied by actual settlers. The houses are all
erected on uniform plan, after a certain
model. They stand about 80 feet distant from
a road &C feet wide, which runs past each lot,
and are built of round logs, Is by "a feet, and
Ia feet high, with gallery running along the
| length of the front. The space between the
house and the road is tastefully laid out in grass
| plots or planted with shrubbery-the whole, to-
gether with small garden at the end of each
house, being surrounded by picket fence.
| While none may build houses inferior to the
model, all may surpass it as far as they please.
Several have availed themselves of this license,
and have constructed larger and more COM
modious dwellings,. The first house that at
tracted our attention, on entering the Settle
ment, was two-story brick one, which was
built by Alfred II. Nest, and is kept by him as
a hotel on Temperance principles. Passing
this we soon arrived at the Mission Church and
School House-small, neat buildings, somewhat
like porter lodges at the entrance of the avenue
leading up to the dwelling house of the Rev.
Mr.. King, who resides on the premises, super
intending and guiding all the affairs of the
| Settlement. Acting both in civil and eccle-
| siastical capacity, he is the moving spirit who
keeps all the parts of the machine, so to speak,
in harmonious working. He is regarded
| throughout the settlement as the King whom
all are bound to obey and, to judge from what
l witnessed, the obedience of the settlers was
no less implicit than their confidence and re-
spect were sincere and profound.
In order that education and morality might
progress pari pasSu with the physical improve
nent around, school house and church were
erected at the very commencement ofrthe Set
| Element, and both, / am glad to find, have been
| regularly and well attended throughout. Sew
| eral of the colored children, of whom $50 have
been attending school during the year, have
made very creditable progress in their studies,
and some of them can translate Latin and
Greek with considerable facility. The girls are
studying music; and to hear the notes of the
pianoforte, under such circumstances, was as
pleasing as it was unexpected. The church is
under the pastoral care of Mr.. King, who is
paid by the Free Church of Canada. The moral
condition of Buxton is good. Nothing that
intoxicates is made or sold on the lands The
Sabbath, l am informed, is generally observed
as day of rest and peace and harmony reign
throughout. The first sounds that greeted our
ears were those of prayer and praise, weekly
prayer meeting being held in the ministers
house. On these occasions, there is generally a
good attendance.
In company with Mr.. King, visited as much
of the lands as my time would permit, and with
all 1 saw l was highly gratifed. During the
past year, new steam saw and grist mill was
erected, and is in full working order. This will
prove of eminent service to the settlers. who
can now procure at hand the lumber required
for building purposes, and thus afford to make
more extensive Improvements. Besides, in the
winter season they can haul to the mill logs
enough to pay for their lumber-thus clearing
their farms, and at the same time providing
material for keeping the mill in motion. There
are some eight men employed in hauling and
Ion tIVcy lOoro .oI e lz.k L. "a