New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-19
RRITfsH AMERICA.

The British Provinces OF North America, Wnlcn are
now engaged in a new effort to effect, or at least, to
prepare union have ogethera population OF morehan
1000 600 Of people, and would, therefore If united,
constitute in point Of population, the fourth Ameri'
can State, ranking next to the United States Mexico,
and Brazil The present, and still more the pros
pcctive rate of increase Of its population is, however
so much superior to that of the two astnamed coun
tries as to make it highly probable that ere long
united British America would be the second power Of
tho American Continent The importance which
attaches to it in this point of view begins to DO more
fully understood on both sides Of the Atlantic, and to
elicit valuable information on its natural resources
and its progress. s. o'''~~~----'-'
Among the latest publications on the subject Is an
instructive pamphlet from T. Rawlings esq, entitled
"What shall we do with tho Hudson's Bay Terri
tory Colouize the Fertile Belt, which contains
Forty Millions Of Acres" The writer-a former pro-
prietor Of The Chelienham Chroneie-after spending
many years in, the Northwestern States Of the
Union, has returned to England, and has, in this
pamphlet, published the result Of his observations
on the capabilities Of the immense tract of British
territory lying to the west of Canada and to the
northwest Of the United States. and extending to the
Rocky Mountains, and from thence to the shores Of
the Pacific This immense area, generally known as
the Hudsops Bay territory is in its southern portion
mere arid desert and in its northern portion
region Of perpetual snow; but lying between these
two extremes is the Fertile Belt" Of virgin prairie
with loamy soil four feet deep. intersected with
navgabe lakes and noble rivers, and extending over
an area 900 miles in length by 800 miles in breadth,
and containing 40, 100000 Of acres of the best soil
and climate in the whole world.
It is this tract of country which Mr.. Rawlings
brings under the notice of the British public. He
recommends that It bs ct once transferred from the
hands of the private company which is at present Its
legal owner TO tho British Crown; and he ventures
to predict that joined to Canada, it will develop with
amazing rapidity and soon become the po~efful rya
of tho United States both in extent of population and
in material prosperity.
The expectations of Mr.. Rawlings as to the rapid
growth of the Fertile Belt" in population and pros
perity are shared by nearly all who have visited that
country. Whether the growth of British America, as
long as remains British dependency, will ever be
able to rival that Of the United States we greatly
doubt; but it WILL at all events be sufficiently rapid
to exceed that of every other American country and
to clothe the relations of British America to US with
particular importance.
If, as has now become again highly probable the
British Provinces of North America should succeed
in effecting union, aud in thus laying the founda-
ton of grand empire, three ways will be open to
them as regards their future government: Annexa-
ton to the United States continuance as British
dependency, or tho establishment of Independent
North American State.
As regards annexation, we assume it as certain that
no political party in the United States will ever be
strong enough to force it upon our neghbors against
their will. They have among themselves some cham
pons of voluntary annexation, that are in 80 small
number as to make the continuing separation of the
uascent empire from the United States certainty for
many years to come
The choice of British America will, therefore, lie
between remaining British dependency aud becom-
ing On independent American State, under a
monarchical or republican form Of government. This
question, we feel confident, will soon be decided in
favor of tho American State. The more powerful,
populous and wealthy British America becomes. the