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Original copies in printed paper covefB, AND FOR PROMOTIXO * THE HEALTH, WEALTH, AND niOSPEUITV OF HER IXIIADITANTS. WITH REFLECTIONS ON Tllfe PBESENT STATE OF THE IPlDTIESTAIfn' IB'illL'JS'iDIf j -* WITH A VIEW TO HARMONIZE ITS VARIOUS SECTS AND ULTIMATE- LY To'nRING TMEM INTO ONE ' POWERFUL UNITED BODY, ' v ALSO A DISSERTATION ON THE NATIONAL DEBT / OF GREAT BRITAIN, WITH A FLAN FOR ITS GRADUAL PAYMENT. . BY THE AUTHOR OF '^ THE Si'STEM OF THE CREATION OF OUR GLOBE, PLANETS AND SUN," OF WORKS ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE C ANA DAS, AND ON THE UNION OF THE CANADAS. LONDON, CANADA WEST : miNTpP FOR THE AUTHOR, BY WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, 1819. s -**f'f V. \i< "^ ^ .j»: B -.' *t '•«> 't: '# # *■'. ^4, ^. In .,r* t' ^\'.;-iy"' '-t^- . t PREFACE. • i^ ^1? ^■' * *. In presenting this Work to the Public, the Author humbly observes, thai of the Works named in the Title Page he published and sold 5000 Copies, and he is happy to say they have met with the approbation of the Canadian Public. Some years have elapsed since their first publication, but during that time the Au- thor has not been an unobserving spectator of the pohtical occurrences, and the pubhc affairs of the Province. It is the Province of his birth, and the deep interest he feels for its real and permanent welfare, will probably appear in the present work. It is probably the last he shall present to the Public, and he will therefore, with unbiassed freedom deliver his thoughts on the separate articles named in the Title Page, hoping thereby — Istly. To obtain for this United Province a valuable market for its staple produce, in re- muneration for the taking off of the Protecting Duties, by the totol repeal of the British Corn Laws said to take place in February next. 2dly. To promote the establishment of Agricultural School Farms, wherein the mod- ern scientific improvements in Agriculture IV. I ftliall 1)0 tauglitto llui Agricultural Yoiitli, with ii view to promote the increased production of the soil, as one antidote to the above named loss of the protecting duties on Canadian Wheat. 3rdly. To call the Attention of Protestant Divines of all persuasions, to the present state of the Protestant Religion, with a view to de- monstrate the necessity and high advantages of a Grand National Protestant Union of the various Sects, into one NATIONAL PRQ? TESTANT CHURCH : and 4thly. To show the practicabiHty of paying off the vast burden of the National Bebt ; and the great advantages to the Trade, Manufac- tures, Commerce, Navigation, and Public Improvements, which must ensue to Great Britain and her Colonies by this great National operation. - January, 1849. • -' .'••c ' ^^' .1 ;. , ' J j hi rv-l . %•■ *?i, * • ■ ;JV "• ■ ^.i- ■s ir -if- . r ■"> ., '1SS. '. / . *-'< i . -.- # DN THE PPJSENT CONDITION OF UNITED CANADA. Ill tlio following work wc shall take into review the various subjects thereof, in tlie order they are named in the Prospectus pubhsh^d. , And first on Agriculture. What I have published on this subject in the works named in the Prospectus, has chiefly related to the Eastern part of the Province. I shall therefore briefly recapitulate and explain the nature of the plan I therein proposed for the advance of the Agriculture of that part of the United Province, with observations in support thereof, and with arguments which I think will enforce the plan on the consideration of its Government and Legislature. I shall then proceed to consider the present state of the Agriculture of the Western part of the Province, both as to its domestic con- dition and as relating to the very important change in the^ duties on Wheat, that has been announced to take place in the Parent State in a very short period of time. As to the Agricultural state of Eastern Ca-* nada, it has long been a general opinion that r it is almost impossible to prevail on the French Canadian habitant to alter the mode of Agri- culture his forefathers pursued. This adherence to old modes of Agriculture, even when proved so greatly inferior to that of modern discovery, is by no means confined to the " Imbitans" of Eastern Canada. It is not 70 years ago since Scotland practised nearly as deficient a mode as Eastern Canada generally does at this day. It was only during the last general war in Europe, that the high prices of grain induced some wealthy intelli- gent farmers to adopt the modern improve- ments into Scottish Agriculture, and thereby to lay the foundation for its present advanced and highly productive condition. It is true, however, that notwithstanding some of the more intelligent FrenchCanadianshave endea- voured to instruct their fellow-countrymen in a more productive mode of Agricultur'^, one of which writers I will mention — Mr. Perrault, who, some years since published in Quebec, a very excellent little book, on modern Agricul- ture ; notwithstanding these attempts to re- deem their country from a mode of Agriculture now obsolete, even in France, from whence it was brought to Canada, and nofVithstanding these Canadians, by their own accounts, find their lands falling off in their yield of wheat from nigh 40 bushels per acre or arpent which their forefathers frequently obtained, to 10 or 12 bushels, yet thcy,\vith surprising tenacity resist the adoption of the modern and more productive practice. It was on account of being well aware of this tenacity, that, in the plan I had proposed in former works, I had contrived to make it not only the interest of the French Agriculturists generally, to adopt this plan but also that each individual among them should feel his interest in, and thereby reap profit from it. In order now to bring into prominent view the great advantage of an awakened zeal for Agricultural Improvements, as regards the quietude of the Eastern part of the Province, I shall here have to dijjress a little into its past and present condition. I verily believe that the almost total destruc- tion of the wheat crops by the wheat fly, which was the ease for 6 or 7 years, and just about the period of the rebelhon in 1836 and 7, was in one respect an incidental cause of that re- bellion. The French Canadian peasantry had always been in the habit of consuming a great deal of wheaten bread in their famihes. But by the wheat fly they were obliged to feed up- on the inferior grain, oats and potatoes. I have myself observed amongthem the discontent this at first occasioned, and altho' they could not blame the Government on this account, still when a man is suddenly reduced to more un- comfortable circumstances than customary, he A> I !■ N; is the more ready to receive tlie impulse ol dissatisfaction infused into bim by discontent- ed and designing demagogues, and tbeir nume- rous emissaries. Now 1 bebeve tbc introduc- tion of tbis destructive fly arose in great mea- sure from tbewant of a sound and vigorous state of Agriculture. \/c know that the use of lime is general all over England and probably in France, and we know that lime is a great des- troyer of insects. I believe there never has been (except perhaps by a few individuals am- ong the Enghsh farmers) any lime used in the 'soil of Eastern Canada. Since the memorable putting down of tliat outbreak, this part of the Province has been blessed with tranquility. The vexed and long discussed question in the Legislature of res- ponsibility, has now apparently been settled, find the British Government appears to have agreed to it, subject only, as in a Colony it must always be, to the discretion of its Gover- nor. This is shown in a late dispatch of Lord Grey's to the Governor of Nova Scotia, and this agrees exactly with the Explanation I gave of the true meaning of Lord John Russel's dis- patch of 1839, on responsibility, in my work on the past and present? condition of United Canada, published in 1840-41, Montreal. Thus the boon of Responsible Government lias been given to the Province. Sever- al persons of great practical knowledge * 'it. ''«" •*> t . !) of llic l*roviiui;il Jifliiirs, :uu\ of ionsidtM'ahlc talents, lire very dubious of the ultimate good effects of this responsibility. Reformers in general appear to be well satisfied with, and to take great pride in it. But it is vc^y remark- able that the noted Monsieur Papineau ap- pears to be one of its greatest enemies. lie Would not believe in it; but the recent tact ofthc present Governor having chosen his new min- istry from the majority of the house, may per- haps convince his unbelieving soul. This man had declared in one of his letters to his con- stituents, that he would not accept of a seat in Parliament because he did not wish to divide the Reformers. His inconsistency is therefore glaripg in this instance, but the same remark cannot be applied to his first speech in that Parliament. That appears to be per- fectly consistent with all his ideas and conduct previous to the last rebelhon. His twelve years' banishment from his native country ; the clemency of the British Government in restoring him to it, (which I hope may not turn out hereafter to have been done more in folly than in wisdom) — all this seems to have effected no change whatever in his political course. In fact, it appears to me that these ancient ideas of his mind, he cannot eradicate, although he must see that so great a change has taken place in the Government of the country ^hat they are totally inapplicable. This Mr. f? ]0 ■m J I) ■'V: hi: 1^ '^1 Papineaii is the reputed prime mover and loader of the late rebellion, at least until it came to blows, which it appears he retired from very adroitly. He is now clamouring about increasing the number of Eastern Canadian Members of Parliament- Does he not reflect that in consequence of that rebellion, the Brit- ish Government might have taken away the representative form entirely, and instituted the old Government of that part of the Province by Governor and Council, and that had it not been for the expediept of the Union of the Pro-» vinces, which he so much deplores, that mea- sure would very probably have been adopted. The public affairs of the United Province, con- taining about 1250 thousand souls, is carried on by84 representatives,while the public affairs of the population of Great Britain, amouuling with her East India Colonies, which are virtu- ally represented, to about 125 millions, is car- ried on by 658 members. The ratio for the population of United Canada would therefore be about Ql members, whereas she has 84. Now the object of endeavouring to obtain more Eastern Canadian Members is, that Mr. Papineau knows the niajority would be French members, by which rneans, as was the case in that part of the Provmce before the union,* the united Parliament would come under the sway of that French Majority ; and as I con- sider it morally impossible that the British 11 population of Eastern Canada would fiver con- sent to that sway over them again, in case ot* the union being broken up, so I consider it morally andperhaps!physically impossible that they and the population of Western Canada would ever consent to that swav in a United ^ *> ParHament. Such an occurrence would defeat the very object of the Union, which was to ob- viate the unlimited sway which the French ma- jorities had in the Eastern Canadian Parlia- ment. The numbers of Representatives are now equal for both sections of the United Pro- vinces; therefore no measure hostile to the geueral interests of the Eastern, part could take place. It is therefore to be hoped the British Government will be aware of the danger of in- troducing a measure of the kind alluded to ; and in fact if the union should be broken up, it , is possible the Eastern Province would have to be governed by a Governor 'and Council. It appears to me that Papineau's pohtical con- duct very much resembles that of Dan. O'Con- nell in Ireland. After twenty or thirty years of monster meetings and monster agitations, where has he left them ? In a state, perhaps a thousand fold worse than where he found them ; and I think the observation I have often made on his policy will equally apply to Papineau's. The observation was, that it was a thousand pities that O'Connell was not born with a zeal for the diffusion of Agricultural Science equal 12 Mil W to the vast talents he possessed. Had that been the case we should not have had our humane feehngs so shocked by the dreadful scenes of want, starvation, and misery which have so long existed in that unhappy land. So in Canada, Mr. Papineau must certainly have been many years aware of the great fal- ling-off in the products of the soil for want solely of a restorative mode of Agriculture. A few years since, I made a tour through the Townships east of Montreal. In a nearly unin- habited part of one of them, I found a French Canadian woman living with her grown up family ; on my asking her why she had left the society of her acquaintance in Three Riv*- ers, her native place ? 'Monsieur,' she replied, *les terres n'y poussent plus,' 'sir,the lands there are worn out,' and I verily believe that if the same sort of husbandry be continued many years longer in Eastern Canada, the same case will happen to many of its inhabitants as with this poor woman. " If you wish to do good to the French Agricultural population, said a virtuous French member of the United Parlia- ment, during its last Session in Kingston, teach them how to grow green crops." If then Mr, Papineau have any knowledge of the science of modern Agriculture, there is no doubt he would do infinitely more good to his country- men, by diffusing a zeal for the. practice of it among them, than by exciting their political ^ 13 ith a lia- LCh ice he T- it :al >i ' discontent. By this means, should he succeed in his efforts for this purpose of introducing the more productive system of Agriculture gene- rally, he would in some measure atone for the griefs and legal retributions he contributed to bring on them by the late revolts. But whether he chooses to exert his talents in this way or not, I feel well convinced that the most efficacious way of protecting that population from the baneful consequences ot being led astray from the path^ of peaceful industry, by the evil sug- gestions of would-be demagogues and agitators is the rendering by Government and a patrio- tic Legislature, even' encouragement to the development of plans that should be found competent to excite a zeal and a love of scien- tific Agriculture, in the minds of the Canadian Agriculturahsts. The practice of Agriculture in its rudest state is healthy, independent, and honourable. But when to that practice is added scientific knowledge, observation and perhaps the hope of discovery, it must be ex- tremely interesting, and it would then not only profitably employ the labour of the husband- man, but probably offer him abundant interest- ing matter for conversation in his leisure hours. It is true that a few Agricultural Societies have established themselves in this part of the Province. The design is meritorious, but it does not appear that they have yet produce4 ^ 14 1,1 :ii: '«■;( 1 i any material change in the mode of Agricul- ture of the habitant peasantry. The endea- vours of these societies to amend the breed of cattle and ploughing, may have been of some avail ; but with respect to these societies, I beg leave to say that in my humble opinion, what is chiefly wanted is, to encourage a greater production of wheat to the arpent or acre. If a premium were given to the farmer who should produce the greatest number of bushels to the acre; a premium sufficiently large to make it an object to him to increase the ploughing and harrowing of the soil, and to add the rotation of fertilizing green crops and the forming of manure compost heaps, he would probably do so, and having done so at first with a view to the large premium (which perhaps should not be less than £8 or £10) he would, on finding the profits of this greater yield of his land, continue this mode of Agri- culture on its own account. I shall now state the nature of the plan I had proposed in my late work for the introduc- tion of the modern system of Agriculture in the Eastern part of the Province. The great discovery of the productive ef- fects of alternate grain and green crops, which is now generally practised in all countries at all advanced in Agricultural knowledge, has never that I am aware of been adopted by the French Canadian Agriculturists. Those who V 1 ef- iich at las Ithc reside near the Towns, it is true, have oppor- tunities of seeing the advantages of this mode of Agriculture reaped by the old country farmers. But the bulk of the Agricultural population reside at considerable distances from the towns, and arc probably unacquainted with the superior yield of this mode. In order therefore to introduce a thorough knowledge of it through the entire of the French Canadian settlements ; I have proposed in the plan to hire one ' terre,' or farm, in every 6th or 7th Parish of the Eastern Province settled by French Canadians, giving the preference to the lowest offer. For each of these School Farms a person well acquainted with the practice of the modern Agriculture is to be provided, who is to engage to work the farm according to the modern system in the most economical man- ner. The owners of the farm to reside there- on, with his family, and to agree to assist in the working thereof under the direction of the aforesaid Agriculturist, the owner being paid for his labour. The farm to be hired for 5 or 7 years as an Experimental School Farm and the owner to agree, providing he finds the mode of Agriculture followed on the farm to be lore productive than the old mode, that he will adopt it when the lease of the farm is out. The hired Agriculturist to keep regular accounts of the working of the farm, ot the products and sales thereof, and to give in the N 16 ill!; il!! amount thereof annually, or oftener, to (he commissioners appointed by the government or Legislature to hire and inspect the said agri- cultural farms. By this mode it is expected that these farms will, by prudent management of the agricijlturist on each of them, be enabled nearly to pay their expences, and any extra profit remaining to go to the agriculturist as a reward for the good management of the farm. At the end of the 5 or 7 years for which the farm is hired, it would be given up to the owner, and another hired in one of the other Parishes, and worked in the above said manner, by the said agriculturist. By this plan, therefore, a knowledge of the modern system of farming may be diffused through every part of the Province ; and it is conceived the hiring of the farms in the abovcv panner will interest a great number of the habitant farmers who will tl 3reby get a fair compensation in money for the hire of their farms. But the success of the farms will also greatly depend on a due inspection, by the commissioners aforesaid, of the managing agriculturists on the farms as to their honest economical management thereof, and their agricultural skill in working theip. It would be advantageous if the agriculturist on these farms understood to speak French, but if that cannot always be, there are many French Ca- nadians who speak English and could be hire^ % 1 of Id vvorlv on the farm. W'lieii the \evy great advantages that will occur in the Province, if these Agricultural Experimental Farms can be made successful in introducing the produc- tive modern mode of Agriculture into general use among the French Agricultural population, it is hoped and believed that gentlemen will readily be found willing to act as commission- ers, for a moderate salary, to effect this great useful and honourable purpose. I shall close this subject of the Agriculture of the Eastern part of the Province with an observation addressed principally to the atten- tion of the ministers just now come into power and the Legislative Members in the House of Assembly. After having soug^it Responsible Government for'sev^ral years, they have now obtained it. The miserably low state of Agri- • culture in the Seigneuries of Eastern Canada, has long been notorious. Will it not be aj glorious thing for this Ministry if they can re- store the Agriculture of this country to a pro- ductive and prosperous state? It would, indeed, be worthy the attention of the most enhghten- ed Government,for, should the plan for restor- ing the land to fertility ^cceed, they would have the honour of conferring a greater bless- ing on their country than has ever yet been done ; and another higher blessing would pro- bably result from this event, they would pro- bably secure the tranquility and content of IS their country, and place them beyond the reach of the unhappy agitations of discontent- ed demagogues ; excite in the Agricultural po- pulation a zeal for the improved science of Agriculture. Teach them how to better their ovm. condition by its industrious and persever- ing practice, and they will look upon all at- tempts to sow dissension among them with merited scorn. In a work published in Montreal some years since, on this same subject, I stated that, respecting the plan for introducing the modern more productive system of Agriculture generally, among the French Canadian Agri- culturists in Eastern Canadaj there was no body of men more seriously interested therein than the Montreal Merchants, that the number of importing merchants in Western Canada, was increasing annually, and would continue so to do, and that, as that branch of trade wa^ slipping from their hands, it would be wise and prudent in them to use all their influence to advance the Agriculture of their part of the Province, thereby increasing the production of the soil, and placing its rural population in a position that w ould enable them to become valuable customers to those Montreal Mer- chants. The event is turning out, I believe, as I represented. The trade of Montreal is said to be greatly declining ; and numbers of the French population, being, I presume, un- ill 19 erein Tiber Lada, ' inue wa^ and to the tion nin >me der- ive, Llis Is of un- tible to gain a sufficient living, owing to the exhausted state of their lands, are emigrating from the Eastern portion of the Province. I now proceed to consider the present state of the Agriculture of Western Canada. 1 re- member when I was a boy at school in Eng- land, reading an account of Upper Canada, in Salmon's Geographical Grammar. This was abou*. the year 1785. 1 was then informed it was in a state of np.ture, rocks and woods. The French settlement in Cataraqui, and a few small settlements in the Western District, all that was nto» What then must be my sensation in travelling through this land of my birth in the present day! Several of our Govefnor^ and transient travellers have indeed given magnifi- cient descriptions of Upper Canada, but the reader may conceive the difierence of their sensations from mine. I feel a pleasure at the view of every well cultivated farm, as if it were my own ; happier still shall I be, if any sug- gestions I may make in this work for awaken- ing in the minds of WesternCanadian Agricul- turists, a zeal and love for the scientific Agri- culture of the present day shall be successful. The contemplation of the state of agriculture in Western Canada, is, thank God, far more pleasant than that of the Eastern portion. Here, we may often meet with lands yield- ing as well as in the old country, 25 to 30 bushels per acre ; on new lands generally 40 ; 1^ -^•, ■ I I!' 4i 20 and sometimes on old lands, if under the hunda ot* good farmers. The reputed average produced on the lands of all England, is stated to be 25 bushels per acre. This state- ment is from the historical register of an old date, but since that the great improvements in agricultural science of Davy, Liebig, John- ston and others, being now I believe much practised by the more intelligent farmers, the average yield of all England is probably in- creased. Of late years, indecdj I have heard that in many parts of this Province, from the effects of vi^inter killings, rusts^ dec, the aver- age yield could not be considered#more than 12 to 15 bushels per acre, and we shall in the course of this work endeavour to suggest re- medies or preventatives of the above diseases. I have, however, to premise that the present work is not to be considered as a set treatise on agriculture; I am well convinced that the established farmers in Western Canada, in general well acquainted with the general rou- tine of agricultural practice as is best suited to the climate and the nature of the soils of their respective lands. I purpose therefore merely to give a brief statement of the mode of Agri- culture generally practised; to suggest reasons for adopting such improvements as are practi- cable, and will be required by the change in our relations with Great Britain, as respects the duties on wheat imported. I shall also of- r rago i, is tatc- lold lents ohn- niich ^ 3, the y i^- leard 1 the aver- than n the St re- 3ases. esent 3atise at the a, in rou- ed to their erely Agri- isons acti- gein ects oof- 21 for suggcslioiis,aH above stated, I'ur the preven- tion of some diseases which have of late years made their appearance to the great diminution of agricultural crops. There are three hundred and twenty-six townships in Western Canada, besides numer- ous villages and settlements, according to Smith's Gazetter, pubhshed in Toronto in 184G — a work,apnarenlly of great merit and utility, and especially in the sound and just observa- tions he makes on the folly of persons quitting this part of United Canada in the vain expec- tation of finding a " Paradise" in the United States. What he says in p. 258 of his work, on the subject of settlement in Canada is especially worthy of remembrance. " The settler,unless he has been guilty of the follyof planting himself down beyond the bounds of ." civilization and of roads, may always com- c" mand a fair price, and cash for what he can " raise, he need never be beyond the reach of <" medical attendance, churches, schools ; he " can obtain as much land as he need wish to " purchase at a fair and moderate rate, he " knows that whatever property he acquires is " as secure as if he had it in England, his landed " property, if he has any, is gradually increas- " ing, and if he is only moderately careful, and *' industrious, he need have no anxiety for " ih^ riifii,.« . v„c c^«« growing up, and knowledge «( (( (( the future ; his sons as they grow, acquiring a ¥ *>o ** of the country and its custom?, and of tli« " mode of doing business in it, if steady, will "find no difficulty in succeeding in any business "they may select, or may be qualified for." In confirmation of what he says on the increas- ing value of lands, in Western Canada, I can state a fact that came to my knowledge when I followed the business of a Land Agent some years since. A person gave me about 1000 acres to sell for him at 20s. per acre, about 30 miles north of Toronto. I told him one day I was offered 15s. Cy. per acre, which he re- fused, a gentleman standing by at the time, told him he thought he was losing by refusing, as the interest of his money was constantly increasing. Sir, said he, I can show you the contrary of that, for twenty-nine years ago, I gave only Is. 3d. Cy. per acre for that land, and now I will not take less than 20s. On the sub- ject of youth being brought up as Mr. Smith says above, " steady," I will mention another anecdote which occurred to me travelling in this Western Canada. Offering my late work on the Creation, for sale to an intelligent farm- he said " Yes, sir, 1 will buy your work er if you will sell it cheap, for I believe it is a good one ; and I will tell you why I buy it : it is becEUse my opinion is, considering the pres- sent state of society and the world, that nothing will save it but the general distribution of good books among the rising generation, and I cer- 1 a s / 23 )f the y,will sincss for." creas- I can when some 1000 )ut 130 le day ho re- time, using, tantly )u the ElgO, I d, and e sub- Smith other ngin work farm- work ; is a it: it pres- thing good cer- tainly believe if in any country it is wi<;o' hi a parent to encourage in his sons a turn for thf Knowledge that good books will give him, it is in Canada, where youth not restrained by a love of useful knowledge, are in danger of seeking amusements from injurious sources." Mr. Smith states in his work, thai in 1841 there were in the Upper Province two million seven- teen thousand and 1 15 acres land u idcr culti- vation, 175,604 milch cows, 139,581 oxen and horned cattle over two years old. We now come to consider,as proposed above, the present stato of the Agriculture of this Western part of United Canada, both as to its present condition, and as relating to the very important change that has been announced is to take place in a short time, on the duties of grain exported to the parent state. The mode of Agriculture generally pursued in Western Canada, though not yet arrived at the same state of perfection as in the Mother Country, is yet much superior to that of the Eastern part of the Province, that is to say, among the French Canadian Agriculturists. There, about one half of the arable land on each farm is sown down in wheat and oats, and then cattle is turned in to graze on natural grass on the other half, which is next season sown with grain, and the cattle turned on the stubble of the last year ; by this mode all the manure the wheat and oats gets is that of a few hj}.]f iM cattle grazing on the unsown land the pre- 24 t vious year. The consequence has been that the lands, instead of producing 30 to 40 bushels of wheat per arpent (French acre) do now seldom yield an average of not mo* thanlO,and often not near so much. In Western Canada, the general mode, as I am informed, is to sow wheat on the new land for a year or sometimes two, then fallow for wheat, after that oats, or rye, and when the land begins to fall off in pro- duce it is seeded down for grass, for a few years, which is found to restore the land. Still, it is not uncommon to hear of purchases of lands being made by persons coming into the Pro- vince, which are found to be nearly worn out. Now we know that lands in the Old Country which have been under cultivation for hundreds of yearp are still kept in what is called " good heart," by a proper system of Agriculture, that is,by a proper rotation of grain and green crops by liming or bone-dusting the land after a cer- tain number of years. It appears indeed that the mode of /igricuU turein Western Canada, has been considered by its Legislature to stand in need of improve- ment, for an Act has been pansed for encourag- ing Agricultural Societies, which provides : — - " Thai when any Agricultural Society for the pur- pose of importing any valuable stock, or whatever might conduce to the improvement of Agriculture, shall be constituted in any District of Upper Canada and shall make it appear by certificate under the |]£^n4 of the Treasurer of such District Socicty^ that n that )ushels o now 10,and )anada, to sow letimes Dats, or inpro- V years, till, it is )f lands he Pro- [)rn out. ])ountry undreds '' good ire, that n crops r a cer- 'igricul- sidered iprove- iourag- ides : — the pur- rhatever Icuilure, ICaiiada ider the icty that 25 the sum of not less than £25 has been actually sub- scribed and paid to the Treasurer by the several Agricultural Societies of such District, the Presid- ent of said Society shall make application, enclos- ing the said certificate to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or person administering the government in the Province, to issue his Warrant to the Receiv- er General in favour of the Treasurer of said Society for treble the amount that shctil have been paid or subscribed in such District aforesaid. Provided always, that the annual sum to be granted to each District shall not exceed the sum of #250." These District Agricultural Societies in un- ison with the general or Provincial Society, have been, and probably will continue to be, of great use in diffusing an emulation through the Province. The improving the breeds of cattle is of great importance to its trade and coinmerce ; but 1 have here to repeat the ob- iservatipn I made in page 14, when treating on the agriculture of Eastern Canada, namely, that I consider that the growth of wheat is by far the paost important branch of agriculture- I here repeat, therefore, my opinion " that if a premium were giyen by these societies to the farmer who should produce the greatest number of bushels of wheat to the acre ; a pre- mium sufficiently large to make it an object for him to increase the number of ploughings and harrowings of the soil, and to add to this the rotation of fertilizing green crops; he >vould probably do so, r.nd having done so at ¥ 26 i- f first with a view to this large prize or premium, (which perhaps should not be less than £10 or £12) on finding the profits of this mode by the greater yield of his land, he would adopt and continue this improved mode of agriculture on its own account. It is certain that the extension of Agricultu- ral Societies through the Province, could never have come in a more opportune time than the present. Ever since this Province has been settled, the mother country has received its ftgricultural produce into her ports, on a more favourable scale of duties than she did that of foreign nations. A great portion of the popula- tion of this Province must have come out to it, land invested their capital and their enterprise, their time and their labour in it, — on the strength of these regulations of the Mother Country; but within a year or two, great changes are making in her conduct in this par- ticular, It is even stated in an Act of Parlia- ment passed for this purpose, that in a month from the present time, all these favour- able duties towards her colonies are to cease, and 'the wheat of all foreign nations is to be imported into Great Britian on equal terms with ours. If this change in the corn trade is really to take place, it is already incumbent on our agriculturists to discover means of meeting it, and perhapg there are none more likely to do so than increased production of the iiviiii; 27 er eat ar- lia- a ur- se, be ms de !nt of )re Ithe 1 soil, obtainqd by a general introduction of the modern system of agriculture. Fallow- ing the land has been a long time practised very generally in England. Of late years, how- ever, it has been found to be a fact in Agricul- ture, that instead of losing the crop on the year of fallow, a crop of esculent vegetables, such as potatoes, turnips, especially Swedish turnips, &c., might be taken from the fallow ground, not only without diminishing the yield of the grain crop of the next year, but that the crop of grain was actually increased thereby. Another great advantage of rotation or green crops is the quantity of food for sale or for rearing cattle which they produce ; and they are therefore now in general use in all great farming countries. And another advantage of these rotation crops, is derived from the greater quantity and richness of the cattle manure. Liming or bone-dusting the land is also found in the old countries to be a powerful means of increasing the products of the soil. This, I believe, is generally done ; at least as io lime, once in seven years, and the quantity of lime probably slacked is from 200 to 300 bushels per acre, equal to half the quantity of stone lime. In the Eastern States of Am- erica, where liming is now coming generally into use, the quantity per acre does not, I be- heve, exceed 40 or 50 bushels, but the use off 28 it is found so beneficial, that, as it is stated by Judge Buel in his agricultural works, lime is often carted to the farm 12 or 15 miles. Now limestone abounds in many parts of Canada, and there is not a doubt, if judiciously used according to the nature of the soil, it will be found equally advantageous as it does in tho old country, or in the states of America. There is another mode of manuring land prac- tised with great eftect in England and Scot- land. This is by means of compost heaps or as they are called in Scotland middies. These are formed by alternate layers of vegetable mould or virgin earth, dung, ashes, fresh or spent, and lime. The percolation of the rains carries the solution of the lime or ashes through the compost heap; and some of these composts, if well prepared and turned, are said to be as efficacious on the soil as cattle manure. Now Canada offers most abundant means of making these composts. Black swampy soil is com- mon on some part of almost every farm. This black earth is mostly composed of vegetable organic matter which the lime could not fail of converting into nutritive food for the crops, and by alternate layers of this black swampy soil, virgin earth, decayed branches, sweepings or rubbish of any kind, and cattle manure, always putting a sufficient quantity of iime be- tween each layer of the above, I have not a doubt that very valuable compost heap« 29 might be formed. In fact, it is possible that the use of hme in this Province might be best employed by the means of these composts, at least in those parts of it in which limestone rock is not found and lime dean Having now stated the means that I think would be very available in the present condition of oiir agri- cultural prospects in relation to Great T itain. I shall now as stated above, offer to the Agri* cultural reader some ideas on the subject of the recent disease iii the potato crops, and on some of the diseases to which our wheat crops are too subject Iii ordei" to explain the origin of my ideas on these diseases, and of the means of cure which were thereby suggested to me, I have to delate a very singular agri- cultural experiment of which I had an authentic account in my tour through the Townships east of Montreal. As stated in my account above, of^the Agriculture of Eastern Canada, a very destructive insect called the Wheat Fly, had for several years previous, and at the time of my tour through these townships, taken off almost the entire crops of wheat, some far^ mer5 losing one thirds some one half, and some all their crops* WaJking to my lodgings in one of these townships one evening, I fell in with a labourer on one of the farms on my road, and asking him whether he had grown any wheat on the farm he worked at, and what sort of a crop he had, he said he had a very V 30 i IV good crop ; and on mentioning my surprise at this, as all ^he farms I had called upon from Montreal down, had lost most of their crops. The man, who was Yorkshire, said "I can't help that, I tell you we had a very good crop." Well, said I, I am glad to hear it, will you tell me how you managed to get so much better a crop than your neighbours ? " Well," said he, ** all I can say is, my mistress ordered me when the wheat was done flowering to choose a morning when there was plenty of dew on the ears, to take a bag of fresh slacked lime on my back and to throw it over the ears of the wheat, which I did, and I tell you we had a very good crop." Next day, an old acquaintance who owned a farm in the township ffave me a cast in his gig, and on passing that lady's farm, I mentioned the conversation I had with the Yorkshireman. " The man told you the truth," said he, " that woman got 20 bushels to the acre of wheat, which considering the losses of her neighbours, was certainly a good crop." Now, as the wheat fly is said to have made its appearance in the eastern part of Western Canada, the above anecdote may be useful to its agriculturists. It appears that this lady's wheat was neither attacked by the fly or the rust, and it being by no means an expensive experiment, I re- ally consider it will be worthy of a trial against the rustj which is 6»o often very destructive to •i «;:» 31 the wheat crops in Western Canada. But it would probably be required for the purpose of getting to the stalk of the wheat, with the lime dust, that the trenches should be made nar- rower for that purpose. There are I believe, two theoi'ies of the cause of rust. One ascribes it to an insect ; the othfer to atmospheric causes, to a hot burn- ing suij after hot rains ; and this last, I am in- clined to believe, is the true cause, for I have observed that the ^ust comes on very soon after hot rains, and sudden heats ensuing them. But whichever of these be the real cause, the use of lime-dust fresh and strong is likely to be of service, for if the insect theory be correct^ lime is a great destroyer of the insect tribes, and if the wheat could be coated with lime be- fore these hot rains come on might it not pro- tect the stalk from them ? Lime is a totiic, and I conceive it would, by giving a tone to the stalk, prevent the hot sun from injuring its or- ganization. At all events it seems to me on ac* count of the great loss frequently arising from rust in Western Canada, lune-dusting is worth atrial. Again, with respect to the potato disease, that mysterious destructive scourge which within this few years has made its appearance, I beUeve in all partf. of the world where the plant grows ; which seems to defy the skill of IP^ 32 bur best agriculturists and also of the scientific philosopher. Sometimes it has been ascribed to a natural decay or destruction of the vital powers of the plant. Borrowing their argu- ments from Geology, those who maintain this opinion, tell us that fossil plants which are ^ found to have existed at one period of the earth's age have disappeared in another, and they suppose the same is to be the case with the . potato, but, if this were the case, if he vitality of the potato was over, it would be the case with all potatos, bat we know that in different parts of the same country some fields of potatoes of the Same kind as those which had perished in other places remain en- tirely uninjured. It is true, that the cause of this general disease cannot be ascribed to either soil or climate, because it is found to have taken place in every kind of soil and cli- mate* The disease has also been ascribed by some, to an insect, but, as the smallest insect can be discerned by powerful microscopes, if that cause were generally true, it would before this have been generally known and allowed. There is one observation I wish to make on this disorder of the potato* As it is found to take place at the same time almost all over the world, may it not be owing to some gene- ral change in the composition of our earth's atmosphere ; to the accession of some gase** ous matters which it did not formerly contain. 33 I have not heard that any analysis of the at- mosphere of any country where the diisease has prevailed, has been made, with a view to detect its cause ; but'considering the univers-^ ality of this disease, I should think such ana- lysis well worthy the attention of men of sci- ence, especially, when we reflect on the dread- ful effects of the loss of this plant to countries where it forms a great part of the sustenance of their inhabitants, for example, our unfortu- nate fellow subjects in Ireland and Scotland ; * for should it be possible to discover or detect any noxious gas in the atmosphere, it is also ^ possible that some decomposing antidote might also be found to render that gas innoxious. To conclude this subject of remedial mea- sures in the above diseases, in wheat and the potato, I have to state that it was on ac- count of the agricultural fact, I have above stated, I had met with in the Townships east of Montreal, that I formed an idea that the potato disease might perhaps be prevented by means of lime having observed that the disease fii of the potato, sometimes came on about the same time as the rust in wheat. I considered it might be from a similar cause as stated in a foregoing page, warm rains and then a hot sun affecting the organization of the plant, This idea I formed in the fall of 1846, and in the course of the ensuing winter I was agreeably surprised, to find it stated in an English paper 34 that tlic Surgeon of the Bank of England a gen- tleman who it appears, lectures on scientific subjects to several societies, stated that the disease of the potato was caused by an insect called the ** Vastator" ; that they might be entirely destroyed by the use of lime-dusting, which was the very idea I had formed in 1846, the only difference between us being that he stated the underside of the plant must be limed as well as the upper. This gentleman spoke of this remedy as a perfectly certain one- It has been also stated in the English papers, that a farmer had planted three separate acres with potatos, alongside of each other, two of them without lime, and one with 200 bushels of lime, harrowed into the soil, and that the two without lime were all rotted, but the acre with the lime was entirely uninjured. To prevent the Rot in the Potato, From the Patriot, 12th May, 1848. Spread a little slacked lime under the seed, and cover the seed about two inches deep, then spread more lime upon the whole surface of the field to the amount of lOObushels slacked lime per acre. What is put on the surface may be rock, but what is put under the seed must be slacked. I have tried the above for the last three successive years, and have not found one rotten potato, when the lime was applied, although my neighbours lost great 35 quantities by the rot the same years, and not only so, but on two other crops. I tried a part of the same field with lime, and another part without it, and lost the greater part of my crop by the rot, for want of lime, for though the unlimed part of the field was as productive as that which was limed, yet at the last of Nov. three-fourths of the produce was lost by rot. Future crops will be improved by the liming, for 5 or 6 years after. A farmer states in the New York Evangelists that the addition of half a pint of lime to each hill increased his crop of potatos at the rate of 100 bushels to the acre, more than those planted in a similar soil without lime. Two farmers known to the sub- scriber, who apphed lime, declare they had not one rotten potato, although the most of their neighbours lost heavily. (Signed,) JOHN MARTIN. flemingford, Eastern Totvnthipt, Canada East, \ May Ist, 1848. J Thus I have the pleasure of finding a remedy I had recommended to many farmers two summers since, is confirmed as above. I have to mak^ the saine observation on the use of lime therefore for the potato, a3 1 have above on the subject of rust in wheat, that whether it be caused by insects or the atmos- phe|«e, lime is likely to do good, either byWe- ptroying the insect, or givipg a tone apd 3tren- . 36 !| 111 ■( gth to the plant, to enable it to resist the at- mospheric cause. I now conclude this part pf the subject, hoping that some of our more intelligent and industrious farmers will give a fair trial to the foregoing suggestions for find- ing a remedy for the very destructive diseases which annually destroy a great amount of agricultural produce, and will here take the op- portunity of offering one more suggestion con- cerning another disease which often attends crops of fall wheat, namely what is called here ♦* winter killing," This often commits such ravages in fall wheat crops, that the farmers are obliged to sow spring wheat in the gpring in their room. Now I have heard many years ago, that in some parts of the Eastern States they avoid this winter killing, by ploughing in tlicir seed when sown in the fall. But whether this would answer in Western Canada, I leave for our farmers to determine, though I should concieve it ought to answer here as well as there.* * 1 wish also to gjve one observation on the Hessian Fly» and a certain grub which has lately begun to damage the ■wheat crop in Western Canada. These insects are just as likely to be destroyed by fresh slacked lime-dusting, as the wheat fly of rust above stated to be prevented thereby, and as the wheat could be much more easily got at, at the pttrlod when insects attack the plant, th« attention of far- iners is particularly called upon to this remedial experi- ment. Probably if the liipe be laid on before the insect comes it might prevent thera ; or if later it might destroy them. 37 he al- ls part • more give a r find- seases jnt of ;he op- n con- Lttends d here s suqh irmcrs gpriug that in ' avoid seed would )r our icieve I* |ian Fly, ige the I just as as the |by, and at the of far- [experi- inscct lestroy I wish also ta make another observation on tlie unavoidable necessity that will arise, (should the event I have before mentioned respecting wheat and flour, exported to Great Britain, from Canada, take place,) for th( Agriculturists of Canada to adopt a more pro- ductive system of Agriculture. This is I be- live only to be found, by the skilful use of the plough and harrow, liming the soil, green or rotation crops, abundant manuring by cattle, dung and urine by well formed compost heaps, or middies, so called in Scotland, or by the proper use of such artificial manures as have been lately discovered and now much used in the old countries, which are adapted to each particular kind of soil, as shown in late books on Agricultural Chemistry. Among the modes of fertilizing the soil, perhaps a judicious lim- ing of it is one of the most successful ; for without liming the soil, it is generally allowed, that the old country farmer could not pay his heavy rents, tithes, and taxes. But if the above named event t^ke place in the wheat trade to Great Britain a like obligation for productive agriculture will press upon the Canadians, as upon the farmer in the old country. In many parts of Canada, nature has freely offered to the agriculturists the means of fostering and restoring his soil by great formations of lime- stone. And in order to show to agriculturists of Canada, the great value of liming their soil, 38 vi^ and of rotation crops of turnif '' and potatos, 6zc.y I shall quote one of the hfghest and best authorities that modern agriculture can boast of. Professor Liebig, of the University of Giessen, in Germany, says in his 13th Fam- iliar Letter on Chemistry, in relation to Com- merce, Physiology, and Agriculture : My Dear Sir, — Having ia my last letter spoken of the genBral principles upon w^^ch the science and art of agriculture must be bafj^d, let me now direct your attention to some of those particulars which will more forcicly exhibit the connection between chemistry and agriculture, and demonstrate the im-» possibility of perfecting the important artfof rearing food for man and animals without a profound know- ledge of our science. AH plants cultivated as food require for their healthy sustenance the alkalies and alkaline eartl^s, each in a certain proportion ; and in addition to these, the ceralia do not succeed in a soil destitute of silica in a soluble condition. The combinations of this substance found as natural productions, name 'y, the silicates, differ greatly in the degree of facility with which they undergo decomposition, in consequence of the unequal resistance opposed by their integral parts to the dissolving power of the slU mospheric agencies. Thus the granite of Corsica degenerates into a powder in a time which scarcely suffices to deprive the polished granite of Heidelberg of its lustre. Some soils abound in dlicates so readily decomn posable, that in every one or two years, as much fiilicate of potash becomes soluble and iitted for as^ similaticR as is required by the leaves and straw 39 of a crop of wheat. In Hungary, extensive district > are not uncommon where wheat and tobacco have been grown alternately upon the same soil for cen turies, the land nsvcr receiving back any of those mineral elements which were withdrawn in the grain and straw. On the other hand, there are fields in which the necessary amount of soluble silicate of potash for a single crop of wheat is not separated from the insoluble masses in the soil in less than two, three, or even more years. The term /a//ot^, in agriculture, designates that period in which the soil, left to the influence of the atmosphere, becomes enriched with those soluble mineral constituents. Fallow, however, does not generally imply an ei.Mre cessation of cultivation, but only an interval in the growth of the ceralia. That store of silicates and alkalies which is the principal condition of *heir success is obtained, if potatos or turnips are grown upon the same fields in th*^ intermediate periods, since these crops do not abstract a particle of silica, and therefore leave the field equally fertile for the following crop of wheat. The preceding remarks will render it obvious to you, that the mechanical working of the soil is the simplest and cheapest method of rendering the ele- ments of nutrition contained in it accessible to plants. But if may be asked, are there not other means of decomposing the soil besides its mechanic al sub- division ? are there not substances, which by their chemical operation shall equally well or better ren- der its constituents suitable for entering into vege- table organisms ? Yes ; we certainly possess such substances, and one of them, namely, quick-lime, has been employed for the last century past in Ea- 1} j r MM liji 40 land for this purpose, and it would be difficult to find a substance better adapted to this service, as it is simple, and in almost all localities cheap and easily accessible. In order to obtain correct /iews respecting the efl'ect of quick-lime upon the soil, let me remind you of the first process employed by the chemist when he is desirous of analyzing a mineral, and for this purpose wishes to bring its elements into a soluble state. Let the mineral to be examined be, for instance, feldspar ; this substance, taken alone^ even when reduced to 'the finest powder, requires lor its solution to be treated with an acid for weeks or months ; but if we first mix it with quick-lime, and expose the mixture to a moderately strong heat, the lime enters into chemical combination with cer- tain elements of the feldspar, and its alkali (potass) is set free. And now the acid, even without heat, disiol 7es not only the lime but also so much of the ilica of the feldspar as to form a transparent jelly. The same effect which the lime in this process with the aid of heat, exerts upon the feldspar, it produces when it is mixed with the alkaline argillaceous sili- cates, and they are for a long time kept together in a moist state. Common potters' clay, or pipe-clay, diffused through water, and added to milk of lime, thickens immediately upon mixing ; and if the mixture is kept for some months, and then treated with acid, the clay becomes gelatinous, which it would not have done without the admixture with the lime. The lime, in combining with the elements of the clay liquefies it; and what is more remarkable, liberates the greater part of its alkalies. These in- teresting facts were first observed by Fuchs, at I 41 '1. _' .*■« ficult to Lce, as it 3ap and ting tho remind chemist , and for into a ined be, 1 alone, requires r weeks 3k-lime, ng heat, ^ith cer^ [potass) It heat, h of the It jelly. ss with oduoes >U8 sili- 3ther in lifTused lickens ture is acid, lid not lime, of the rkable, ese in- 5hs, at Munich : they have not only led to a more intimate knowledge of the nature and properties of the hy- draulic cements, but what is far more important, they explain the effects of caustic lime upon the soil, and guide the agriculturist in the application of an invaluable means of opening it, and setting free its alkalies — substances so important, nay, so indis- pensable to his crops. In Ifie month of October the fields of Yorkshire and Oxfordshire look as if they were covered with snowv Whole square miles are seen whitened over with quicklime, which, dn ing the moist winter months, exercises its beneficial influence upon the stiff, clayey soil of those counties. According to the humus theory, quick-lime ought to exert the most noxious influence upon the soil, « acause all organic matters contained in it are de- stroyed by it, and rendered incapable of yielding their humus to a new vegetation. The facts are indeed directly contrary to this now aibandoned theory ; the fertility of the soil is increased by the lime* . *>< The c^rali, require the alkalies and alkaline sili- cates, which the action of the lime renders fit for assimilation by the plants. If, in addition to these, there is any decaying organic matter preserU in the soil s^ippiying carbonic acid, it may facilitate their dev^! orjt:8nt ; but it is not essential to their growth. If r/v vtiish the soil with ammonia, and the phos- phates, r/hich are indispensible to the cerali with ihe alkaline silicates, we have all the conditions necessary to ensure an abundant harvest. The at- mosphere is an inexhaustible store of carbonic acid. I shall now merely add to this extract from Liebig, that although the quantity of slacked ■i. 42 lime that is generally used in England is from 200 to 300 bushels an acre ploughed in ; yet in parts of this Province where limestone for- mations are not found, and lime consequently dear> the quantity pv.r acre might be diminished to 40 or 50 bushels per acre, which is what they put on in the States, where this quantity is found by the farmers to be of great service to the crops. I now proceed to the next part stated in the Prospectus, namely, the best mode of advanc- ing the agricultural interests of the Province ^ by means of a valuable market for its product. * thereby augmenting its commerce, its resour- ces and capabil i for pubhc improvements. In my work on tiie present condition of the Canadas, published in Montreal some years since, I stated that being (when living in Hali- fax) one of the Board of Trade, we had to send to the British Colonial Government, complain- ing year after year that our trade in fish and lumber Co our West India Islands was jiearly ruined on account of* American vessels resorting in such numbers to that mar- ket, for nigh twenty years we contiuued to send home these complaints but could get no redress and it was not until we sent home documents from our Custom House that the British North American Colonies were competent to supply the full amount of fish annually consumed in the British West Indies, that we got the Am- \ 43 is from n ; yet ne for- [juently inished 3 what uantity service I in the idvanc- rovince roducfe. resour- ements. I of the e years n Hah- to send nplain- in fish Islands lerican atmar- o send edress ments North supply ed in e Am- ericans excluded from them with that article^ ahd this exclusion lasted some yeai's. On ac- count of these documents, the West Indid. Planters no longer opposed the exclusion, so I contend that on the repeal of the Corh Laws of Great Britain, which as stated iii a late act of Parliament is to take place on February 1st, 1849, Canada has. an equally strong claim On the British Government for the total sup- ply of our West India Islands with breads stuffs, flour and provisions of all kinds, when we are competent to prove by sufficient do- cuments that the Mother Country and her North American Colonies can furnish the en- tire supply of those articles to our West India Islands. The only argument I have heard against this proposition, is that it is contrary to the theory of what is called " Free Trade" But I trust to have shown in the above men- tioned work, that the trade to the West Indies will not come under that objection. That trade is merely a trade of supply. Free Trade is when goods being imported into a country^ are so imported, with a view to re-export them to some other ports when the Supply exceeds the demand. But a planter in the West Indies does not buy flour and provisions with any such view : he merely buys as much as is required for the supply of his estates in the Island. The trade is therefore one merely of supply, and providing that supply is equal to m 44 i^^ the demand, it matters not to the planters whether it is furnished by foreigners or solely by the parent state, and her North American Colonies and if the supply exceeds the demand of that Island) the cargoes are taken to another (or sale. Americans no more than other people will dispose of their property if it will not yield a fj eight to their vessels, if they can find an- other market that will do so. The case is the same, if we take into vie\v the whole of these Islands; if the SuppUes there greatly exceed the demand, they are unsaleable except at ruinous prices, therefore they are either withheld or withdrawn^ Providing therefore that the British Colonies can prove to the satisfaction of the West India Planters that they are com- petent to supply them, the Only effect of an ex*- elusion of foreign vessels from thiat Supply would be that the competition in the sale of these supplies would be between our own ship- pers thereof^ instead of being between them and American shipper^* I have one observation hoWeVer, to make on the Free Trade. In the above-named work I said it was advantageous within a certain limiti This impassible limit I stated to be, the preser- vation of our Naval power. " The defence of a nation," says Adam Smith, in his immortal work, The Wealth of Nations, is of higher importance to a nation than it? commerce. Where indeed would the commerce of Great i:. I anters solely erican emand nother people ►t yield nd an- i is the f these eed the ruinous iield or lat the ifaction •e com- 'an ex»- supply sale of n ship- them lake otl work 1 [n limit* Ipreser- fence of unortal higher imerce. Great 45 Britain soon be, if she could not defend it on the seas. We see at this moment what the feel- ings and the opinions of the ship owners of England are on this subject. I have for some time observed with astonishment the free and -easy manner with which our navigation laws have been treated, not only by some of the great apostles of free trade, but even by some of our ministers at home, who in my opinion ought to have viewed that great palladium of our liberties and perhaps of the liberties of the world, in a more solmn and serious manner. Thank God, it is probable that the unlooked for events which have now taken place in France will bring them to their senses in the « above particular. Is the present government of Great Britain prepared in this situation of her powerful neighbour to resist the voice of her commercil marine, of what may be called the soul and body of her naval prowess. If so, perhaps it would be better for them to pause and reflect, and survey the vast consequ- ences, they will probably have to encounter, unlesstherefore ministers have someregulations in view by which British vessels can carry goods as cheap as foreign nations, the naviga- tion laws cannot be done away with with safety to the nation. Whatever advantages, however may in gen- ral result from free trade when restrained with- '" tf pKP 46 ii] If l|:.'i*l 'Hi' ',11 in the above limits, its ciibcts on the sugar trade of the West Indies appear to have been fatally severe on these Islands. In downright opposition to the principles of humanity which led Great Britain to emancipate all the slaves, the British Government first liberates slave- grown sugar from extra duties, and jfinding that act is bringing down ruin on her own West India Colonies she is about to retrace her steps to prevent the disaster. There can be no doubt that if humanity requires that slavery should be abolished, it is equally required that extra duties should exist on slave-grown sugar ^ with a view to discourage and discountenance slavery in other countries. Now on the subject of free labour in the West Indies, above thirty years ago, I mentioned when in Halifax to a West India planter who arived there, that I was surprised some plan was not fallen upon to im- port free Negroes from Africa to hire for work- mg on the West India estates. After all the obstacles that have been thrown in the way of that most natural mode of working their plantations, it now appears it is likely to come into practice, and it is a right that the West Indies appear tome to have a just and positive claim to. We return now to our claim for the trade of supplies of those Islands. As I have before stated, ever since Western Canada was first settled the scale of duties on wheat and other 47 sugar 3 been mright which slaves, slave- ng that West ;r steps be no slavery ed that n sugar enance subject e thirty ix to a it 1 v^as 1 to im- r work- all the e way their 0 come West ositive rade of before LS first 1 other grain has been more favourable to that of the British Colonies, than to that of foreign nations In consequence of this, a great part of the Pro- vince has rapidly increased in settlement, and there can be no doubt that a great portion of her settlers have come out on the faith of these more favourable duties, and devoted their capital, their time, and their labour to the cul- tivation of land in it. If, therefore, from any cause whatever, the parent state intends to do away with this preference of Canadian pro- duce in her markets, the Province has undoubt- edly a claim on that parent state for remunera- tion; for the loss of property, time, and labour, which she will suffer in consequence of this change. When Great Britain determined to abolish the slave trade in her West India Colonies, tho great argument that was employed against it, was the National sin which had been for ages committed by the slave trade. Yet, notwith- standing this they allowed West India Planters 20 millions sterling as a compensation for the loss of their slaves. Now we in Canada have committed no such sin, why then have we not an equal or rather a much stronger claim on the parent state for compensation for the lossof that protective scale of duties which has induc- ed the agriculturists of Canada to invest their time and labour in settling the Province. It is, I conceive evident, that if the BritisbCorn Lavr^ ' I . / r !E III' ;'i' '!ii :!!: ;'i, ii 48 aro abrogated, wheat and flour shipped to Great Britain will not compensate our agricul- turists ; the consequence will be, and indeed it is now supposed by some as about to take place, that the American Government will re- mit the duties on wheat from Canada provided it be ground in the American Mills. The first consequence of this will probably be a very considerable damage to the mills of the Pro- vince. For it will probably induce the wheat- holders of Western Canada to send their wheat to the States ; and another consequ ence of vastly higher importance will ensue that if our agriculturists are shut out from the British Markets, and thus drawn to that of the States, England may ultimately lose her hold on their attachment. The general loyalty and attachment of this Province to the Parent State, has, op every occasion that called it forth, been proved be- yond a doubt. The causes of this have ar- isen, first, from a natural attachment of many tp the country of their birth, and secondly, from the admiration of others for the excel- lence of the British Constitution, as the best, jnost powerful, and permanent guardian ot our rights and liberties. But we cannot but refer some part of this loyalty and attachment to the great advantage which the Agricultural produce of the Colony h^s derived froip the more favourabje scale of duties over- those 40 lipped to r agricul- indeed it t to take it will re- provided The first )e a very ' the Pro- be wheat- md their consequ- rill ensue out from n to that y lose her nt of this op every roved be- have ar- of many secpndly, le excel- the best, dian ol nnot but achment .cultural roip the er^ those on foreign produce, as hitherto acted upon by Great Joritain. ' Now, independently of the attachment I my- self feel, and hope I always shall feel for the parent state— I nrmly believe that our present relation with it is the one best adapted, (and more especially in the present state of the world,) to preserve the security, and promote the welfare and advancement of United Can- ada. I believe, moreover, that by the exertion of due wisdom and energy, this United Canada is entirely competent, with its present relation to Great Britam, to stand and to thrive on its own resources without the necessity of seek-^ ing the aid of the United States or any foreign nation at all I trust to be able to prove this proposition, and that there is a good market in our own Colonies for a great part of the surplus wheat of Canada. If I prove ihat i^ the course of this work, I may fairly ask. Why run the risk of losing or at least diminishing the attachment of our ng- riculturis^3 for the parent state, by compelling them to seek a market in the States ? • Conversing lately with a respectable and ia- teUigent inhabitant of this Towp of London on this subject, he observed that there would be no necessity for our agriculturists to send their wheat to the States, for that tjie merch- ant who bought it, would have to send it for ^ market to Great Britainr It is said, however, 0 50 ii'i thai theso mci'chants often offer higher prices for our wheat than our own merchants, and a principal cause assigned for this is, that freights to Great Britain are lower from the States than from Canada to Great Britain. Now that cause, it appears to me, could be by pro- per exertion annulled. We certainly can build ships in Canada as cheap as Americans can in the States. If then the freights demanded by owners of British vessels from hence to Great Britain are found too high, the natural remedy for that would appear to be to build ships in Canada to carry our wheat or flour to Great Britain, and thus reduce the price of freights. And this building of Canadian ships would certainly answer as long as the prices of freights are found sufficient to give those vessels a suf- ficient remuneration. We- shall now proceed in our endeavour to prove the proposition we have advanced in the preceding page, namely, that by the exertion of due wisdom and energy, United Canada is entirely competent with its present relation to Great Britain to stand and to thrive on it^ own reaources, without the necessity of seeking the ^ aid of the United States, or othei* foreign na- ' tions, and that there is a good and sufficient market in the British Colonies, for a great part of the surplus wheat that Canada can spare. We shall first state the minimum and m&xinium d^j[iciency of wheat generally arising in Great 1 51 >nccs nd a ights tates Now pro- build un in d by 5reat medy ps in j^reat ights. vould lights asuf- it to nthe rtion da is ^tx to own gthe, I na- ci^nt part )are, mum reat Britain, of the quantity annually required for the consumption of her population. We shall then show tne quantities that can be procured from other nations to make good the deficiency, showing thereby the small chance of a remu- nerating market in Great Britain for the surplus wheat of Canada, if the Corn Laws are to be entirely abrogated and done away with. Being in London during the years 1829 to 1834, 1 there learnt that at that time the an- nual quantity of wheat grown in Great Britain amounted to about seventeen million of quart- ers, or 136 millions of bushels. A short time previously, Mr. Jacobs was sent by the British House 01 Commons to collect information in all the Grain Markets of the work^, as to the quantity of wheat that could be therefrom ob- tained in case the British Corn Laws should be done away with. Mr. Jacobs in his report stated that if Great Britain were to fall short of her annual produce of wheat one million of quarters she could not obtain them at that tim^ from all the world. We shall therefore estimate the minimum deficiency of her annual product of wheat at and about the above period of 1829 to 1834, at half a million of quarters, or four million of bushels, equal to eight hundred thous-- aad barrels of flour. Since the above period the potato disease has made its appearance, and I believe that from 4 to 5 million quarters of foreign wheat have annually, for the last two 52 I',.: ;< i.ii ■1 r. 'i.i 1 ■ i 'ill or three years beenlmported into Great Britain to make good the deficiency of food occasioned by that potato disease. We shall therefore estimate the maximum of the deficiency in the wheat crops of Gjeat Britain at 4 millions of quarters or 32 millions of bushels, equal to Ql million barrels of fiour, and the average annual deficiency of the above period, from 34 to 48 would be little less than 1 million quarters or 8 million bushels, equal to 1,600,000 bris.of flour. We shall now attetnpt to r,how w hat foreign nations by this average deficiency of 1 million of quarters of wheat is obtained from, which will probably present tp our view a very small chance for a market for the surplus produce of Canadian Agriculturists. In the British Colonist of May 9th 1848, there are two statements of the quantities of wheat and other grain in the various ports of Europe ready for exportation, amounting to nearly 6 uiillion quarters of which at least three and a half million quarters were wheat. Amount of Grain exported from the following countries.— From the Bkitish Colokist, May T, 1848 Kussia in the Black Sea, rDo. in the Danube, Do, in Northern Ports Egypt and Syria, 16,000,000 12,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 Russian, Pomania, & Danish ) . ^^^ ^«r. - Ports in the Baltic, J 1,000,000 Or one-eighth is 3(7,000,000 bushels. 4,625,000 quarters 53 5; ■ ■ ■■lift Table representing the quantity of wheat for ex- portation at the principal Corn Ports of Europe. Grain market. St. Petersburg, Lisbon, Odessa, Warsaw, Stockholm, Dantzic, kd ningsberg^ Steliin, i Merael, Eilsiiieur^ Hamburg, P lermoi Quarters. 192,500 30,000 150,000 380,000 1,900 315,000 65,000 250,000 5,000 125,000 538,000 250,000 2,302,400 Price per Qr. on- shipboard. 39s. Id. 43s. 7d. 26s. Od. 363. 6d. 32si 6d. 423. 6d. 42s. 6d. 403. Od. 35s. Od. 33s- Od. 40s- Od. 38s. Od. 40s.^ 9d. AveTage^ Freight to Eoglanci* 4s. 8d. 4s. Od. 10s Od. ^s. 9d. 4s. 9d. 5s. Od. 5s. Od. 4s. 6d. 4s- 3d. 4s- 3d- 3s. 9d- 3s 3d. 4s. 9d. Average. Amounts brought down 4,625,000 Quarters all Grain, and 2,302,400 Quarters Wheat. 6.927,400 Qrs. Grain & Wheat Deduct Russian and Danish Ports ill the Baltic being twice stat«d ahbv^, ©72,500 T*»; '>i^lM« ' ij; . . . 6,954,000 Qr. Grain s His- undred red and 5e that 9 taken ormed, fore af- \ie con- proba- barrels wheat P1846, rtd, six 34,747 flour; d, fite d the IS pro- anada Ind for ittakr from .meri- itreal Lon, a licago to Montreal, with 3000 barrels flour, which has passed through Canada, so that a vessel loaded with provisions, to say Flour, Biscuit, Beef, Pork, &c., from the most Western parts of Western Canada, for the West Indies and starting early in .the spring, might well make two voyages out there and heme, during the spring, summer, and autumn. This trade is then the remedy that we con- ceive will compensate in a great part for that loss of the markets of G. B. to United Canadaf in the event of the British Corn Liaws being abrogated. I have not a doubt that well as- sort«4 cargoes of provisions would meet a fair market in our West India Colonies, for con*- siderable part of the surplus wLv at of the Pro- vince, But this trade i? recommended solely on the understanding that the parent state and the British Colonie3 shall have secured to them the exclusive trade of supply of those Colonies, As has been 3tated in the forgoing pages, I certainly conceive that the North American Colonies have a fair and just claim for remu neration from the British Government for the loss of their protecting duties on flour and wheat, which have for years induced many persons to invest their capital and labour in the trade and agriculture of this Province. The West India Planters have had an im- mense remuneration allowed them for the cm- 58 i fii'l; .r ,. ,f, MC wm ancipation of their slaves, £20,000,000, stg. The agriculturist, also of Englrmd Have had some compensation allowed them in late ar- rangements of Agricultural affairs ; and if the Corn Laws be really abrogated they wiH pro^ bably receive miich more compensation. Canada hais then an equal right to put in her claim for some remuneration. If she does not claim money remuneration she has at least a fair and just claim for the supply of our West India Colonies, providing she can prove to the satisfaction of the British Government and the West India Islands that with the Parent /State and|the other British North American ColonieP| she is perfectly competent to furnish the an- nual supplies required. I have heard it suggested that there would not be a sufficient market in this Province for the return cargoes, in the event of this trade of supply being secured to us. But it is to be observed that the Markets of all the other N, A. Colonies are open to us, and that should that not be sufficient, part of the return cargoes might be shipped home or to any other market deemed most advantageous. It is true that our West India Colonies have been for some time labouring under great de- pression in their commercial concerns. Stepg however, are now being taken to remedy this. They have just had nigh £200,000 advanced them to facilitate the importation of labourers :|ii| \: K), Big. ye had ite ar- 1 if the iH prO" isation. in her DCS not least a r West I to the md the t /State )lonieP| he an- would nee for rade of to be ther N. should argoes narket shave at de- Stepi^ [y this, mnced ►ourers 59 from India, and it appears to me highly proba- ble that ere long the schedule of duties on free labour sugar will have a preference allowed over slave grown sugar. The British Govern- ment has gone to great expense to put a stop to the slave trq.de, and tli« means she has employ- ed have not been very successful. Now one would suppose that an effectual way of dis- couraging slavery, would be to charge, if not a prohibitory, a,t least a heavy duty on all slave- ^rown productions. But another means of re- lieving the West India Planters, is the impor- tation of free Negro labour from Africa. I belivj that in spite of all the opposition this has met with that it will eventually be conceded to the West India Colonies, and under judici- ous management will probably enable the W. L Islands to cope with slave-grown sugar. It is said that the present stock of emancipat- ed slaves in the Islands will work only days sufficient in the week to give them food. But if importations of free negroes were made from. Africa, the price of labour would probably de- crease, and their'necessities would oblige them them to a fair day's labour. The price of labour there, as I am informed, is high at pre- And now referring the reader to the argu- ments in the foregoing pages in support of the claim of United C^ada on the British Goyern- meftt for the boon of the trade of supply of our I I \ \i'^' 60 West India Colonies with flour and bread-stuffs and provisions, we submit the same to the in- telligence of the mercantile and agricultural community of the province. The merchants of the Eastern part of it must be aware , that if the wheat of .Upper Canada is to go to the United States for a market^ it will veiy ma- terially affect the trade and commerce of these parts of the United Province, and the merph* ants and agriculturists of Western Canada may possibly find on examination, the^ are likely to meet a much better market for their flour should the trade of supply of the West Indies be i&ecured to British America, than is likely to be found for any duration of time in the United States. It is at any rate very evident, that by this trade our mills and our canals will not be deprived of employment, but will be turned to account, and furnish labour for many valuable mechanics and >yorkmen. By this trade also, the risH will be avoided of weakening the at- tachment of our agriculturists to the parent state, a circumstance which^, from their tried loyalty, will be duly appreciated. And I trust I may conclude this part of oijr subject, with hoping that I have proved the propositions stated in a former part of this work, namely, that by the exertion of due 'wisdom land ehergy. United Canada is com^ petent in its present relation to Great Britain \o stand and to thrive oh its own resources, 61 stuffs hein- iltural hmits that if :o the r ma- these lerph* imay ely to floiur ndies ely to fnited lat by iot be led to uable also^ e at- arent tried f oyr the this due OJHr itain rces, without the necessity of seeking the aid of the United States, for that by the proposed regula- tions of our India trade, a good market will be found in our West India Colonies for a great portioii of the surplus flour of the Pro- vince. I have, therefore, with due humiiity, to offer the above considerations to the Boards of Trade and the mercantile community. It will be for lliem to determine whether the trade of supply proposed will be advantageous in the coming event of the change in the Corn Trade of Great Britain, and whether it will not be prudent and wise to appeal to the British Government for the remunerating boon proposed. Should they determine in the affirmative. I beg leave to suggest that there appear to me two modes by which this appeal may be made, the one is by a memorial from the Boards of trade direct to the Imperial Government, the other by me^- morial from these bodies to the Provincial Legislature, praying for their influence in ob- taining the boon from the home government and I should suppose that on a clear statement of the advantages this trade of supply would yield to the Province the patriotism of the Legislature would lead thepj to give their aid iij i^btaining the boon. I cannot close this part of our prospectus without a few remarks on the steps now tak- ing by the American Government or Legislature 08 M to draw the wheat trade of Canada to their ports. I have m the foregoing pages endeavor-f ed to show the evil efiects that may result from the success of these measures to this Province and its commerce and manufactures. Wheat it appears has lately brought a better price in< the States than in Canada ; I have already stated that it was probable one cause of this is, that the freights of wheat and flour to Great Britain are lower there than they are from. Canada. I wish therefore to call the attentioa of the mechanics and shipbuilders of the PrOT vince to what I have above surmised, tliat ves- sels can be built, fed and manned in Canada as cheap as in the United States, If that opinion be correctly founded, would not the building of Canadian vessels to carry home our surplus produce enable our merchants to give as high a price for fiiour and wheat as the Americans, and thus secure a very extensive branch . pf trade to the Province ? Should the building of Canadian vessels for that purpose be likely^ to pay. I should conceive there would be little difficulty (if respectable companies were form-, ed) in obtaining loans of sufficient -capita] in Great Britain for the above purpose. . , , The next article ih our Prospectus is. tnat of i: the greatly important subject of the educajtipa of our youth, and especially in the modern dis- coveries in agricultural science^ Uw '» I ! I r 1 ..'4^.,.^-i^-JiLJUlji \^il Vd^tif C3 t U oi IS- On approaching this subject I must say it i3 with a great deal oj diffidence. The numer- ous productions that have appeared on gene- ral education attest its high importance, and as the details of it have been accurately treated on by able pens, I shall only state an idea of two important purposes which our educational system ougiit to be brought in support of, but snail be more particular on that part of the ui- ;3truction of our youth in the science of mod- em Agriculture- After the patriotic mind has employed his talents in endeavouring to advance the pros- perity of its cotemporarieji it will find a most ample field for these talents in the improve- ment of edueatipp. " Train up a child in the way he i^hpuld go (says the scripture) and when he is old he will not depart from it." " 'Tis education forms the youthful mind" (says (the admirable poet Thompson) "just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined/' The experien- ced and philanthropic man therefore who extends his wishes to the well-being of future jgenerations, cannot lay a surer foundation for it than in the moral, religious and intelligent edu- .cation of the one now rising up before him. In the present state of a great part of the world in particular, when so many are led astray by the wildest and most fantastic doc^ trines, although these have been"severely tested in the crucible of experience and been found G4 ..' If totally wanting ; for example, the extravagant proceedings very lately taken place in Frftnce a country that after wading through revolutions and wars occasioned by them ^^r half a cen- tury, during which she tried a republic which involved her citizens in blood and ruin,and final- ly in despotism, settled at last on her Qwn ac- cord on a ** Citizen King/' This citizen king ruled the country for 17, years and certainly brought it during that time to a much morn quiet and respectable state among the nations thaii it had been for many previous years. He it is tnio attempted to stop the pro^gress of Reform, but that might have been in tinie overcome by the exertions of the electoral rights of the people, if they wished that reform; that is, if the people had had stabiUty enough to ^dhere to the form of government they had solemnly adopt- ed. They have now returned to a republic, and all I have to say on this subject is, that it would perhaps have been well for them, if they had looked first into their own celebrated writer on the various constitutions of the world. I mean Montesquieu in his Spirit of the Laws.*' They would then find that the basis of a republic is " virtue." Now, was not the want of that virtue during the revolu- tion that produced the first republic, the cause of the total failure of that republic ? .The first Girondins were sufficiently virtuous to main- tain a republic, but were they not brought to 65 )lu. ise Irst an- to destruction by the seNish ambition of opposite parties, and did not these parties in their turn sutler tha same fate by the same moans, and do we not see almost the very same pro* cess now going on in this repubHc of 1848? One ffreat advantage of a kingly government is that the crown being hereditary, there need be no violent agitation, convulsions and civil war for a successor. But in a country like France, where all is to be eauality, almost every man may conceive he has an equal right to rule, and where one man is to be found who would wish to rule for virtue's sake, on patroitic motives, there would probably be in that country thousands thA would be stimulated solely by self- interest fpid ambition. Led on by these pas- sions, they will take advantage of the present irih'yg idea that everything is tr be done by the popular voice to criminate and destroy the present ruling patriots. Already Lamartine, one of [the most energetic of these, has been denounced by the clubbists as a traitor, and though they are at present in a minority they will probably not cease their restless agitation- till tney succeed in misleading and inflaming th^ pbpiilace to overthrow their opponents. It 4s evident then that France has not that por- tion 6f public virtue which constitutes the in- dispensable basis of a repubUc. Now, in this third volcanic eruption which has set the rest I I 'i i G6 6r Europe in a blaze it is a grand sight to ob- serve the firm consistency Old England has maintaned. The glorious tenth of April, will strike a salutary terror into all who seek t6 over throw her institutions ; and it was in order to show the high value of the stability of a nation's mind that I have toade this digression on the late events in Europe. It was to show how important it is, to instil this stability of inind into the rising generation by means of our educational system. Let our youth be instructed fey proper histc ^ical knowledge ; let them learn the true nature of |he British Constitu- tion ; how it is competent to redress all real national grievances without convulsion, and they will acquire attachment for it, whichivill probably constitute oce of the most powerful elements of their future hap|>iness» This ikeit is one of the important purposes which as I Btated above, I conceive our educational sys- tem should be broucjht to support. The second purpose is the objects in their future lives which our youth should be instructed to pursue and to avoid. . After the usual routine of teaching, ixamely good reading, writing, arithmetic, some Latin and Greek (and not too much of either, for it is the opinion of able men that too much tinde is spent in both these,) after teaching the use of the globes and geography, some branches of mathematics, and some other sciences tnay ,• !!■ 67 W^ll be introduced, as thereby the bents of their minds may perhaps be elicited and dis- coveredi There appears to me not a doubt that na- ture has adapted various minds to the various branches of knowledge required in every society. I remember well that very early in youth I was struck with admiration of the great discoveries then lately made by Cavendish, Prestly, Laivoisier^, and others in the decompo- sition of water and the atmosphere; Ever since that, I have felt a zeal for the science of Pneu- matic Chemistry ; and I trust I have with some effect exalted that science by the display of the vast share it has had in the creation of our globe, planets, and sun, and by fair and just analogy of the other systems of the juniverse. I consider it therefore a great improvement that modern education in our schools should include that of the elementary books of the useful sciences of chemistry and geology and astronomy. But there is no doubt Siat a still more important part of education remains to be infused into the youthful mind, especially at the approach of the time of their leaving school and being launched upon the great ^Jieatre of the world, which brings us to the " second great object which education should be brought to support" namely, sound instruction on the objects of their future lives, which our youth should be taught to pursue or 'f:|t 68 i lil- if u p I c l;v.| to avoid; I am not aware Whether any of the admirable treatises on morahty and the con- duct of hfe are furnished to the schools of the present day$ but remember it was not the case in n^ own school time; We had two sermons tfevery Sunday in the church, and one was read in School every Sunday evening ; but I should think some of the^e, containing the most valu- able cddes of morality, because baised upon religion, ought to be furnished to the more ad- vanced scholars, when we consider the dangers that surround the young and depending on their own coiiduct to avoid in coming on the great theatre of life, we cannot but wish they may be impressed with the strongest cautions that may resolve th*5m to be guided by right and safe principles. There is a variety of theorists on the foundation of moralsentiment and action* One of the most eminent, I believe. Dr. Paley, considers them founded on a desire to act ac- cording to the will of God. If that be the ti*ue foundation, which it probably is, the nejtt thin^ would be to find out what is His will in each particular instance. I remember, while serving my apprenticeship t6 the chemical bui^ness in the great city of London^ having then arrived at the age of reason, I was one ^ day reflecting on my futut'e prospects, I found that! had to depend on my own exertions foi* advancemt3nt in the way of acquiring a «hafe of. "^he good things that surrounded niie. What 18 C9 of the B con- [)f the B case rmons s read jhould ; valu- upon re ad- mgers 1 their great r may IS that \\i and porists ction* aley, ct ac- the ifiejtt vill in while niical aTiiig one Tound IB ftyt If e of. hat abundance, what profusion ! But how to bo ac- quired. At that moment, the idea of justice entered into my mind, I reflected on that idea. I felt it strongly as a part of my nature, and I resolved never to swerve from its dictates. That sense of justice then, which every one ar- rived at the age of reason probably feels more or less must be according to the will of God v/ho formed man for society. Let the youth then proceed with the guidance of this leading star, and, with prudent industry, he will pro- bably obtaina comfortable and honourable living. This; however, being accomplished, leaves an- other part oi the design of nature yet unobtain- ed. This is the desire of procreation pf his species. Young men are frequently led by this part of the design to form early attach- ments for the other sex, or as it is called, tof all in love, but! can tell my young friends that love is a hazardous concern. The young are too often apt to mix ambition or the desire of fortune with their love. It is not love alone, but social friQudship, and a desireforjmarriage, they should be guided by in the formation of a connection. The desire of procreation then, and the comforts of marriage being founded in his nature, there cannot be a doubt that, when this connection is formed by a judicious choice itmust lead to happiness. And although he may fail for along time in effecting such a union let him still preserve good hopes. This will at 70 'i r i :' all events preserve him from vicious courses, and reflecting that the desire of marriage is founded in his nature, let him be convinced that it is the will of God that he should pursue it. And having thus endeavoured to point out what are the objects which youth should be in- structed by our educational system to pursue in their future lives, namely, to be guided in their pursuit of wealth and honours by the law of justice, and in the other great desire and purpose of their natures, by honourable mar- riage, it will be easy to see, what by our edu- cational system they ought to be instructed to " avoid" namely, whatever is contrary to the above mentioned honorable principles and pur- suits. I shall, before concluding these ideas on general education, make a few observations on the recent establishnient of normal schools in Toronto, and the system of education now car- ried on under the superintendence of fhe Rev. Mr. Ryerson. I remember many years since to have had s6me thoughts of taking up the profession of schoolmaster. But after making some inquiry and observations respecting that profession I came to the conclusion that there must be something very defective in it, for it appeared to me there were more, at least as many persons in it given to intoxication a in any other. I ,was therefore glad to find that government had taken steps to render this I 11 1'^ ii- age is jdthat sue it. nt out be in- )ur8ue [led in )y the re and I mar- r edu" :;ted to to the id pur-i sas on onson 3o1s in w car- Rev, since p the taking , that there for it )st as a in that this .'A 71 highly; useful profession more respectably, and to pl^ce its followers in a more comfortable and independent situation. I believe by the direction of the government, a '-espectable gentleman of acknowledged talents, and who, I believe had devoted much time previously to that profes-.i siotn, undertook a long and no doubt haz^ardous voyage over a great part of Europe, to gain in- formation on the subject. On his return to, Canada he develops his system founded on the information he had acquired. The govern- ment for the time adopts, fosters and proceeds to establish it, when all pf ii sudden to my grea,t sarprise and a-arm, we.wer^ told that it is a des potic Prussian system, which in a ifew years was to enslave the country. Unluckily, how- ever, for these alarmists, we have found a short time since, that the Prussian Governmeht, if it had been their design to forge fetters for Prussia and its youth by means of their educational sys, tem, have reckoned without their host, for it. would appear, that this very diffusion of educa* tional instruction there, has been one great cause of the revolutionary excitement which has broken out. So far then from discounte-^ nancing this system for fear it sjiould produce despptism, it ought rather to be dismissed on account of its tendency to produce revolution; but perhaps sonae of its opponents if they think this would be its tendency, would not be so vio- lent in their opposition to it,, ,,,j tiii* ♦ viiinau^ 72 ■: ■t •11 \l l! ? Now the opposition tothe new educational system appears to me not so much to arise from a disapprobation of the system itself, as it does from an opposition to the introducing of it by the Rev. Egerton Ryerson.In a pamphlet published by him, he undertook to prove that Lord Met- calfe was in the right in his difference with the ministry, now in office. Now when a man commits himself so as to interfere between two great political parties, I should suppose he be- lieves the opinions he publishes to be founded in truth, and therefore he had an undoubted right to, and indeed it was his duty to publish them. Well, the existing government conceiv- ing possibly the pamphlet to have exhibited con, siderable talents, employs him in the improve- ment of the educational system of the Province In this }\e appears to have made considerable progress, and is it just or reasonable that he is to be displaced on the accession of a new Gov- ernment ? Is it politic that the public should be deprived of the services of aman of talent and zealous activity in a most important situation for the public good, for a party difference that took place yearjs ago ? Moreover, the office of Superintendent of Educationis not a political one, and it appears by a late despatch from Lord Grey to the Gover- nor of New Brunswick that the responsible government ceded to the Province does not embrace the removal of the holders of offices! It'' ¥■'■ T3 cational rise from s it does fit by the ublished rd Met- mth the I a man een two 5 hebe- founded doubted publish jonceiv- ted con, nprove- rovince [lerable at he is V Gov- )u)d be mtand ion for t took 6nt of arsby over- nsibla !s not offices not poUticrtL In my work on the present con- dition of United Canada, published a few years since in Montreal, I sh jwed in an analysis of Lord John Russel's dispatch, of Nov. 1839, to the then Governor General that that dispatch contained the true principles of Responsible Government ; as far as it could be applied to a colony, und that the limits by which this res- ponsibility must be bounded, must be at the discretion of the Governor General, Jind I now observe in the above-stated dispatch of Lord Grey's, that the very same term is employed by him to denote those limits. It could not indeed be otherwise, than that some limits should be fixed. For instance, supposing that Mr. P^pineau should acquire a majority in the House of As- sembly, and veiiture successfully to induce the ministry to overturn the constitution of the Province, by making the Legislative Council elective, &;c. &c. — is it to be supposed that a Governor would sanction such proceedings because a majority in the House of Assembly agreed to it ? A Governor General is sent out to a colony to administer its laws and to preserve that col6ny to Great Britain, and to maintain its constitution as b^' law established. Should, therefore, such a contingency as the above take place, all that a Governor would do, would be to dismiss his ministers, dissolve the House of Assembly, and probably proclaim D H li: i. I .t \h 'i i:<, M (1-1 i . 74 to their constituents, that they must elect repre- sentatives who are wiUing to abide by the con- stitution of the Province. The principle of Responsible Government must therefore, evidently, in a colony, be limited by the disc re- tion of its Governor. The Reformers of the Province may well be proud and happy in having thus got a res- ponsible government, but they should remem- ber it may be brought into disrepute, if it be made an instrument of harshness, severity and oppression, which it may easily be. I verily believe the great body of the Canadian public is tired of the ancient feuds of tory, reformer, and radical, which have so long deformed the political state of the Province. The more en- lightened part of the public are now feeling that instead of these jarrings for place and pre- ferment, all these parties should turn more of their exertions to the advancement of the pub- lic welfare, in its agriculture, its trade and commerce, and improvements, and I believe it may be depended upon, that these views of the more enlightened parts of the constituen- encics will shortly prevail among all. Having now presented my humble concep- tions on education in general, we arrive at that part of it relating to the instruction of our agricultural youth in the modern improvements which science has introduced into agriculture. I trust to have shown, when treating on the 75 t repre- he con- jiple of re fore, disc re- ly well i a res- emem- if it be ity and verily public brmer, ed the 5re en- feeling id pre- Dre of 3 pub- e and elieve ws of ituen- icep- tthat our lents ture. the agriculture of Western Canada in the fore- going pages, that, in the expected event of the abrogation of the British Corn Laws " there will be but a very small chance for a market in Great Britain, any way remunerating to wheat growers." In this case it will be of" high importance to our agriculturists to adopt the improvements of the modern system of agriculture now generally practised in the old country ; for if by that system the soil can be made to produce a greater number of bushels to the acre, and of a better quality, which I believe it can, the extra yield will be a clear gain to the farmer, less the cost of the improve- ment. It appears that the soil in a few years falls off from its customry yield, if a judicious mode of restoring its waste, or as it is called, "keeping it in good heart" is not pursued. Some years ago, I believe the general yield of the land in Upper Canada was averaged at twenty to thirty bushels of wheat per acre, and I have lieard of 50Mjushels on some farms, but as I have been informed by some intelligent farm- ers, the average is by no means so great now. Some years are said not to liave averaged more than 12 to 15 bushels per acre. In several of the Eastern States of America the lands have been so exhausted that wheat growing is almost laid aside, (see Judge BuePs work on American agriculture.) And there is n(g a doubt that in the course of time our old cleared land in It It, V 1 i»'-' 76 Canada, unless a proper restorative agriculture is adopted, will be exhausted in the same man- ner. The introduction of agricultural societies over most parts of Canada, will no doubt have the good effect of introducing a Zealand emu- lation amoung our agriculturists for agriculture and the improvements in it. I have in the foregoing pages stated my ideas how they may effect an increase in the produce of wheat, by offering such premium for the greatest number of bushels produced on an acre, as will make it worth the while of the farmer to take the additional trouble that may be required to gain the prize. But I am much inclined to beheve that the most efficacious way of in* -oducing the modern system of agriculture genei ally through Western Canada, will be found in the estab- lishment of agricultural school farms through the Province. I have stated my plan, commencing'at page (14) of this work, lor introducing the modern system into and through Eastern Canada, and as the same plan will probably answer for the Western part, I beg leave to refer the reader to it. Although many of the agriculturists in this part of the United Province are well ac- quainted with the modern system, there must be many who are not, as some who farm here have not farmec^in the old country, and many of the poorer farmers in the various townships h'. . 71 iculture le man- ocieties ibt have id emu- culture in the ey may leat, by mmber 1 make Lke the to gain beheve ing the irough estab- rough page odern t, and )r the ader its in 1 ac- must here [lany hip8 might consider it advantageous to hire out their farms to government at a fair rent for the above purpose. The number of these experi- mental farms which it may be proper to begin with, must of course be determined on by the commissioners appointed by government. But if by the plan I have proposed, they can be made to pay their own cost of working, they can, after the first leases are expired, be given up to the owner, who is to agree to adopt the modern system if he find it the most pro- ductive,-^and other farms can be hired on the same terms and conditions in other townships ; so that, providing these farms can be made to pay their cost of working, or nearly so, the improved and more productive system may be introduced into most of the townships with very little cost. If then these agricultural school farms can be fairly established, I have not a doubt they will prove to be the n^ost palpable and efiica- cious mode of diffusing the modern system of agricultural science, and as there are many gentlemen in Western Canada of great zeal for that science, should they approte of the plan proposed, as it may be made greatly to further the views of the agricultural societies now estabhshed, I should conceive these gentlemen would willingly cpnsent to act as commission- ers to superintend the establishment of the farms, and the good conduct. and scientific 78 B !i II' 1.1 . i ,1; management of the agriculturist appointed to carry them on. * » ot »..• But another most important advantage that would arise to the province by tlie ostabhsh- ment of these schooUfarms will be, the oppor- tunities the youth of the country engaged in agriculture will have to acquire a knowledge of the improved system. It, is I believe, too often the case that our agricultural youth seek rather for employment in the towns and villages than in the avocations their parents have fol- lowed. It is probably thought by some that town employment is of a higher grade than that of a farmer ; others may conceive there is more chance of fortune-making by it. In both of these notions I conceive they are mis- taken. There is no employment in the way of busmess more honourable than that of an intelligent and able farmer ; and as to wealth, there are, I believe, very few in trade who can consider themselves nvore independent than the owner of a well cleared and cultivated and paid-for farm. But if anything be requir- ed to raise the employment of farming in the scale of elevation in society it is no doubt the infusion of some portion of scientific acquire- ment into one of the most useful of the arts, that is, agriculture. It has now indeed, become entitled to be called a science, and has been thoroughly investigated by some of the most exalted in rank in scientific knowledge, Earl 79 [ited to go tiiat lablish- oppor- iged in wledge ^e, too th seek I'^illagea Lve tol- ne that le than here is ;. In •e mis- e way of an i^ealth, locan than ivated equir- in the )t the [juire- arts, ome been most Earl DalryniplojSincluir, Sir II.Davy, Justus Licbig, and otiirrs. In order, therefore, to nftbrd a knowledge of this science to our agricultural youth, the agriculturist should be directed to allow the entrance into tiic school-farms of as manyyouth of the country whose parents wish them to be instructed in the school of modern agriculture. This may be done, cither on paying a small yearly stipend, or otherwise, without any charge. The scholars to be instructed in the modern mode of farming ; and in order to ac- quire a more impressive knoMiedge of it, they might assist occasionally in the working of the farms. Some of the most approved works on the practical and theoretic parts of the modern system of agricultural chemistry, ought to be furnished for the farm, and lectures given when^ ever an opportunity offers itself, from any gentleman sufficiently acquainted with the science, to give one. By these means a love and zeal for this most important of the sciences would probably be diflused through the youth of the country ; many of them would probably soon acquire a knowledge of the art of analyz* ing soils, by which they would be able to dis- cover their relative values, and they would also be enabled to learn what species of man- ure, artificial or natural, is required to produce a good crop of the ceraliaor other vegetablsa. i^ ri' h 'U I ) ' I J hl-'Wi, I !;-^i I 80 Thus I trust to have shown in the foregoing pages, that there will be a great necessity for an important movement to advance the agri- culture of Canada, with a view to increase the powers of production in its soil, to meet the probable change that is to take place in the Corn Laws of the Parent State. I believe that the judicious establishment of experimental school-farms properlj^superintended by patrotic and scientific gentlemen of the province, who feel that zeal for so doing that ought to ani- mate them, I beheve that these farms would be found a powerful means of diffusing the knowiodge and practice of the modern more productive system of agriculture through the country, and an equally powerful means of in- structing rising youth in that system, giving them a taste for the occupation theyare brought up to, by raising that occupation in the scale of society ; for when the mind has once acquir- ed a taste for scientific pursuits and discovery, it feels a delight therein, that is likely to pre- serve it from intemperate courses of amuse- ment. Thus may these establishments tend greatly to advance the happiness and prosperity of the rising generation. ' The next article in the Prospectus is the Trade and Commerce of the Province. It appears that there is really an intention in the British Government to rescind the restric- tions of the Navigation Laws ; not indeed to 81 egoing ity for B agri- ase the set the in the relieve mental atretic B, who to ani- would ig the L more rh the of in- giving ought scale :quir- very, ) pre- nuse- tend )erity 3 the on in tric- id to s the extent that many people believe ; for one of the chief conditions of these laws is, that three- fourths of the seakiien shall be British, which is still to be enforced ; but except the coasting trade and the fisheries, all othor branches of trade are to be free for the competition of foreign nations. Now, it is well known that Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and probably Prussia and Russia, can build and sail vessels cheaper than Great Britain. Will not British trade be in that case chiefly carried on in those foreign vessels, and if so, what advantage will be the above said regulation, that British ships are to be manned by British seamen ? And if the commercial marine of Great Britain fails, whence is to come the nurseries of seamen for our navy ? In the present anarchical state of the nations of Europe, it does appear to me strange, that the Ministers of Great Britain should run the risk of such a change, which perhaps, may be repented of when too late. I cannot conceive they have so ventured, unless tiiey are prepared to make such changes and regulations respect- ing British shipping, as may enable it to be built and manned, and sailed as cheap as those of other nations. With respect to the effect of the removal of these restrictions on United Canada, they may indeed produce the taking oflf by the American Government, of the present duty ,,, ir. i 1 fa ;■ I .1?' 82 they lay on our wheat, when shipped to the States, but I am not of of)inion they will take it off, if shipped ground into flour. The great influence of the Western States will probably resist that, and as I have stated in the fore- going pages, if shipped in wheat, the destruc- tion of our mills ancl all the branches of trade connected with them will ensue. If our wheat is to find no market in Great Britain, and our agriculturists should thereby be led to ship it to the States, an evil no less than Ulie probable separation of this Province from the Parent State may ensue. Tne cause, as I have before said, why the merchants of the United States can give a higher price for wheat than the merchants of Canada is, that freights from the States to Great Britain are lower than from Quebec or Montreal. Now as Canada can build, man, and sail ships as cheap as the United States can, to remove the navigation laws as respects Canada, will be an evident preference given to American vessels, and therefore a downright discouragement to the buikling and sailing of Canadian built ships, which would be contrary to sound and wise policy, and I am convinced will not long re- ceive the sanction of public opinion. If, therefore, by buikling Canadian vessels, we can send our wheat and Hour home as cheap as in American vessels, we shall have no oc- casion to employ them, nor to send tliut wiAcat ' 83 to the ill take 3 great Dbably e fore- 3struc- trade wheat id our shiji it obable Parent before States m the >m the 1 from a can Ls the Ration vident and to the ships, 1 wise ig re- ssels, "heap o oc- ^viieat i \ and flour to the. States, and we shall thereby avoid the danger above stated, and not deprive our mills and trades connected with them of, employment. That part of our surplus wheat and flour which is not wanted for the supply of our Islands and ports in the West Indies, can be then shipped to the mother country, in equal terms at least with a foreign nation, and this would greatly increase the trade, com- merce and navigation of the Province. It appears that a vessel called the Commerce has lately arrived at Buffalo from Montreal, in four days ; the captain of which declared that his vessel could carry 3000 barrels flour through the St. Lawrence Canals. If then our statement abe\e is correct, that compet- ent vessels can be built in Canada as cheap as in the States, the profits made by the Am- erican purchaser of our wheat or flour when shipped to that country, might be gained by this Province, and this I trust is another proof of our aforesaid proposition, "that United Canada, with the exertion of due wisdom and energy, is competent, in its present relation to Great Britain, to stand and to thrive on its own resources, without the necessity of seek- ing the aid of the United States." When the projected railroads from the Bay of Fundy to Quebec, and from Portland to Montreal, are completed, British Goods will probably be brought up as early in the Spring to Western 84 % 'K Canada, as they could from these States, and all that will then be wanted to advance the trade and commerce of the Province, will pro- bably be the construction of branch rail or plank roads through the interior of it. But there is one thing which requires im- provement for facilitating the trade of the Pro- vince, that is the circulating medium. Having been led by business to travel through many of the townships of the United province, I have found much difficulty in tran- sacting it from the great scarcity of circulating medium. This is indeed often the case with individual traders in tlie old country ; and the profound author of the Wealth of Nations, ascribes it chiefly to overtradino\ The regular dealer, he says, if I recollect right, " the man who keeps his trading within his capital, never is in want of money," and that no doubt is the case w ith overtraders in this Province ; but the generality of traders here do not over- trade ; yet, in Canada the scarcity of money is almost always a general complaint, and the cause of this I conceive to be, that the great mass of the trade of the country is performed by barter. The Dry Good Merchant, generally,^ and often the Grocer, and other trades, take wheat and produce in exchange for their goods, and consequently can transact the greater part of their trade with very little money. Now one great source of tiie perfec- * !'»' S) and ZG the 11 pro- ail or 3s im- e Pro- travel Jnited 1 tran- ilatiiig 3 with id the Ltions, 3gular 3 man never is the ; but lover- oney d the great rined lant, Dther ange isact little rfec- 85 tion of trade and commerce is, the division of labour. Our Dry Good Merchant, the Grocer and other traders, have not only to understake and manage their own branches of trade, but they have also, by this barter, to deal in articles which they are often not well acquaint- ed with ; and this perhaps is one cause why our wheat and flour have been so often ship- ped home in an improper state, and is so often landed in a damaged or sour state. " Canadian sour" is almost always quoted in the prices current. Now if a proper division of labour took place in this branch of trade, if the pur- chase and shipments of wheat and flour were carried on by a set of merchants who were confined to this branch, they would probably acquir*^ a thorough knowledge of the nature of those articles of produce, and would find means to have them shipped in such a state as to prevent their damaging or souring. The wheat and flour iS^c, would be paid for in cash by these produce shipping merchants, and the dry good dealer, the grocer, &rc., would have nothing to do but to attend to his own branch of business, and receive cash pay- ment from the farmer or country dealer for \iij> goods. Now the much greater quantity of circulating medium which would by the above plan, be required in the transaction of the business of the country, would tend also greatly to increase the hanking business t and it w 86 ii'l m m would therefore be the interest of the banks to foster and encourage this division of labour in the trade of the Province. In mentioning the article of " Health," in the Prospectus, my intention was to propose a plan for the prevention of the spread of the dreadful diseases which have of late years been introduced into it by the emigration here of great numbers of people from the old country ; and as the cholera has this year appeared there, the health of the Province is in danger. Thanks to Providence^ the greatly import- ant article of the general health of Canada needs but the common attention c»f its people to the changes of its climate for its preservation, and I have not a doubt that by due atten- tion many of the fevers which sometimes oc^ cur in various parts of it might be greatly les- sened. During the heats of summer the tone of the skin becomes relaxed. Towards, and in the fall, the mornings and evenings become cold, often damp, and consequently chilly, and before the skin has time to recover its tone, disease ensues. Yet it appears to me that by far the greater number of the people take no precaution against the changes in the weather, at least not early enough to prevent disease. The human skin is one of the most important organs of the body, as respects health. It is I believe, reckoned by eminent writers, on diet and regimen, that a very great proportion ¥:' 87 of our diseases arise from a defect in what is cal- led its insensible perspiration. Common colds unattended to, says Doctor Buchan, "kill more than the sword.'' The vitality of the skin says another, is greater than that of the whole body. Now I have lor many years im- bided an idea, and have stated it to several medical men, that if a scale of the changes in the weather, and of the particular diseases occasioned by them were formed; a great light might be thrown upon the causes, and of ^course on the prevention of disease. It is well known that these changes have a relation tto the actual state of the body. In the winter, after the skin and body had time to recover the tone they had lost in the heats of summer, I have known changes of 40 degrees to como in one night at Quebec, and no remarkable disease to occur; but had such a change oc- ., curred in the spring or summer, it would pro- bably occasion a great mortality. I therefore believe that the science of prevention of dis- ease, that is, of preserving health, will not ar- rive at its perfection until a scale is formed, something in the form of what is called, the Atomic Medical Scale : by which is sliown at one view the quantity of each element con- tained in the various kinds of medicine ; for instance, let the first column of the scale show the day of the month and year, the second .^column, the degrees of the thprmometer, at ■'( m tHi ■'1' ^}: ;' ^1 ' ) I / M' Si morning, noon and evening, the third, the barometrical scale ; the fourth column, the winds and weather ; the fifth, the prevalent diseases ; the sixth, explanatory remarks of the medical practioner. Let this sanatory scale be made public weekly, by a Board of Health, whith in my opinion ought to be formed in these times in every principal town in Canada. By the above scale the«public would learn the actual relation which certain diseases have to the changes in the weather and atmosphere, and be enabled to guafd against them. And I cannot but believe that medical men would ensure a great benefit (o the public, by the weekly publication of such a diary of the weather, and dis- eases consequent on its changes ; and they would well deserve remuneration for such service. Now to return to our article in the Prospec- tus, the preservation of the Health of the Pro- vince from the contagious diseases lately in- troduced by emigration. It appears that ^ within this few years back, that delightful and hitherto healthy article of the nourishment of = man, the potato, he has, from some unknown cause been nearly deprived of I have, in the ibregoing pages, stated what I believe would be a preventative of this potato disease and need not here repeat it. The late diseases, may, I think, be in a great part as- s 89 cribed to this disease of the potato. Famine almost to starvation, in many instances, and probably deficient nourishment in many more, added to consequent poverty and insufficient clothing, produced fevers and other diseases ; and most probably these were increased by the consumption of potatos not free from the disease. In this situation did thousands cross the Atlantic and arrive in this country ; the loss of life to several of the respectable char- acters of the province, was the consequence, men whose humanity led them to expose themselves for the cure of these unfortunate people. Now it is true that the Legislature of the Province has** dispatched strong remon- strances on this subject to the Home Govern- ment, which will no doubt have due effect, as far as good regulations can serve. But there is a duty which the Legislature owes to itself and the public superior to this representation. We are interested in encouraging a proper emigration, and we wish to treat the diseased among them with due humanity and relief, but humanity itself is to be' guided by reason, and the preservation of the public from such an in- fliction as they have endured, is a paramount duty of the Legislature. The potato disease has again occurred, and will probably produce nearly the same effects as in late years. The dreadful cholera is also in England and Scotland, and the British ■ \^ 90 I If ') w Government is now strongly urged by the public press to promote emigration, and the relief from emigration to the colonics is be- coming popular in England. It is probable therefore, tnat the Government will be con- strained to help emigration. To what colony is indeed uncertain. The south seas is power- fully recommended. To me it appears that as the Oregon question is now settled, and as it is probable that great sources of trade and commerce to the east, may arise in a few years, it would be the interest of Great Britain to people that country, and thiis preserve or create perhaps a lucrative commerce with the settlements in China and the East Indies. At least, it appears the Americans, whose sagacity in trade affairs is almost proverbial, are already talking on this subject, and expect great things from it. But as it is however probable that Canada ' will have a share in future emigration, it is highly proper and an incumbent duty on its Legislature and people, that all evil consequ- ences thereof, shall be as niuch as may be, pre- vented. In a lecture given by his honour the present Judge Sullivan, he proposed to form a settlement for his countrymen from Ireland, in some part of Canada, which, if I understood him rightly, lays somewhere between the head of Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains, for Canada be it remembered, extends over a m mmmwuf ^91 IS part of these mountains to the Pacific. ' Now allowing the country to be as Mr. Sullivan stated, well adapted for flcttlement, there are still two great objections to it ; first, that the emigrants must pass through all Canada, and thereby chance to communicate disease ; and secondly, the distance is so immense that pro- bably no markets for their produce could remu- nerate them. Now there is a tract of country in Eastern Canada which is not liable to these objections. The country up the great River Saguenay, is said to be salubrious and well adapted for settlement. It is very probable that govern- ment have lands in that direction ; but whether or not, they might probably be purchased on very easy terms. If practicable, I conceive it is due to the safety of the Province from disease that the emigrants should bo located there, and that proper and sufficirnt hospitals should be established there for those who are sickly. This reguljition should, j conceive, be in force until some more favourable change takes place in the times as regards health. Hi ji; It appears a vessel has just arrived at New York, from Ireland, in which a great number are said to have perished by the Asiatic Cholera, and it seems to be the opinion of eminent medical men, that it will find its way through Canad I. It seems to me therefore, in particular, that , ome eifective nxeans should IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I Eii|28 |25 m m m u m lio 11-25 HI 1.4 M 1 ■fl '" -^ ' w ''I SdQioes Corporation 23 WIf T MAIN STMIT W(Ellf<1«R,N.Y. 14580 ;71«) •72-4503 1 ,.«■ it fr 92 f I i;'- w^ r : ii u hi'" be adopted to prevent that fatal disease from spreading through the country, and do not believe there is any other more hkely to be ef- fective than the one I have suggested above. The next part of our Prospectus is the greatly important subject of the present state of the Protestant religion, with a view to harmonize its sects, and perhaps ultimately to bring them into one powerful united body. >jr •A My mother was a Presbyterian of the origi- nal church of Scotland, and I of course went to that church, while in my native city, old Quebec, until I went to school in England at nine years of age. All the school was regularly taken to the Church of England, and I among the rest. And when put apprentice to the chemi- cal line in London, by my worthy guardian, who had been a Commissary in Gen. Wolfe's army, it so happened that my master had a seat also in the Church of England, and sent me there regularly. I have since generally follow- ed that church, because about the time of my coming to the age ol reason, I considered that the form of its service, if well imbibed, is calcu- lated to inspire the heart and the mind with all that a sound and reasonable religion can require. I feel, however, a great regard for the persuasion followed by my mother. I have often attended that church, have heard many pious prayers in it, as well as in the Chapels of the Methodists, and other sects 5 but the quality [V m 93 of these all depends on the quality of the preachers, while the service of the Church of England does not. It stands on its own firm foundation, containing all that I believe the creature can reasonably C;sk or religiously feel towards his Creator. I have thus for many years been nurtured in the Protestant religion, which I consider as founded on the justest fe3linffs of the heart to- wards God, and the soothing hopes of a blessed future state, by the mediation of the Redeemer. And here I wish to observe, that I believe this Christian religion is designed to bring and to keep mankind in the happiest degree of ad- vancement which human society is probably capable of attaining; and this day being Trinity Sunday, I beg leave to offer an anec- dote relating to theTrinity,as the greart founda- tion-stone of this religion. Forty years ago, I was attending a meeting in Exeter Hall, in London, presided over by Lord Bexley. It was a meeting of some religious society, and a dis- cussion cam.e on respecting the choice of one of the officers who was said to be a Unitarian. Among the various speakers pro and con, a gentleman who stated himself to be an ©fficer in the Royal Navy, and a Roman Cathohc, made an observation at the close of his speech, which I considered to be a very strong and sound one. "If," said he, "it be the wish of this society > WT PI I B i .. :< 1' I ^* 94 to preserve the Christian Religion, let them hold fast by the Trinity." ( Now I never have thought that it would fall to my lot to write upon the subject of religion, and probably never should, but within these lew years the most unprecedented and to me unexpected and strange surmises have arisen on the subject of Protestantism, principally as connected with the Church of England. — The first singular occurrence of this sort that came to my knowledge, was on the perusal some eight or ten years since, of a letter or address said to be written by the late Daniel O'Connell to the people of England. It gave a statement of the great number of Roman Catholic churches and chapels that had been and were then building in England, and conclu- ded with an account of a number of converts to that rehgion^ and a warning piece of ad- vice to the people of England, that they had better do the same. This was as far as I could comprehend the meaning of what appeared to me a most absurd address. . A few years after that, however, to my still greater surprise, a great movement appeared to have arisen in the Church of England itself. The discipline of that Church had, it seems become in the co irse of years, much relaxed, and those whom it considered as its enemies were gaining ground, and probably pressing hard upon it. Some changes in the usual ft lii 95 form took place in some of the Churches, or rather a recurrence to certain forms which had not been practised for many years, and also certain sermons preached by Dr. Pusey^ and others, gave considerable alarm to many of the congregations, who conceived that these transactions showed a leaning towards the Church of Rome. 1 must say, that I myself had very uneasy feelings at these occurrences at that that time. Like all other Protestants who have from their youth heard and read so muchofthe persecutions of that church, I felt considerable alarm. Soon after this I fell in with a work published in Montreal on Puseyism by a minister of the church of Geneva, and who was of course an enemy to Puseyism. From this work I found, that so far from the design of Puseyism being to dra w or assimilate the Church of England to that of Rome, it designed to carry the Church of England SOOyears beyond, namely to the time of the Apostles. Its design was to claim an Apostolic Origin and to restore the Church to a more rigid state of discipline. — Now if this be really the sole design of this movement of the Church I must confess I not only think there can be no ground of alarm in it, but that it is one which the present state of a^great part of the world, and which the great tendency to looseness of morals and religious feeling and infidelity among many, loudly calls w 9G M. '■ }.,,; h ;|« ilU I 'Hi for. I was, therefore, much relieved to meet shortly afterwards an address from the Bishop of London to his Diocese, wherein he disclaims and disapproves of any such assimilation to the Church of Rome. I had also the satisfaction to hear the venerable Bishop of Toronto de- liver his address to the Clers^y of his Diocese containing; the same sentiments. I am also happy to hear from a Rev. Clergy- man, that the present Archbishop of Canter- bury is of the same sentiments. I must say that as a Protestant, I could not nor would not attend Divine Service in any Protestant Church if I believed its Clergyman was at heart dis- posed to Romanism. I consider the Protestant Religion as the religion of the heart. I fcclieve that it is on the foundation of this feeling that the people of England are attached to it, and I cannot but consider it would be highly im- prudent m the Church of England to run the risk of losing the affections of its people, by any movement it might consider proper to in- troduce, and that it ought by a solemn and explicit declaration, discountenance and put down any attempts of its members that might produce this lamentable effect of creating alarm and perhaps alienation in the minds of her people. The Church of Rome is certainly one of the oldest Christian Establishments, but certain causes have produced a separation of many of !". .^aM" 07 im- ithe 3, by in- and put hci- members from her ; and there are three of these causes, which unless they can be removed must ev?r prevent 'an assimilation between these Protestant Churches, and that Church of Rome. The first is, the free permission of the use of the Bible. The Bible is stated by all Christian Churches to be the Word of God, and of those who believe so, none who are at all advanced above the lowest degree of ignor- ance of mind, will be long prevented from the perusal and study of it. The Bible has receiv- ed the most profound admiration from some of the wisest and most learned men of all na- tions, and in these times when so much light- ness of mind, frivolity, and love of novelty prevails among the young and thoughtless, there is, I believe no book more competent to keep their hearts and minds right, than -the Bible. To keep the world then from'^this bread of a future life in its present state of in- telligence and advancement, would be almost as futile, as to endeavour to keep it from the bread of the present life. Another cause of prevention of assimilation of Protestants to the Chiipch of Rome is the bowing down to Jfciages. This being directly contrary to the Second Commandment; Pro- testants can never agree to it. It is true, that the Roman Qergy assert, that the images are only intended to give the people a more tangi- ble idea of the divinity, and so to carry up their «X' *: \, ' m 98 u %. I b I f4 f- J5 .r t.s ■ ,1 il^ '■' minds towards Him with more .cB*vcfViv.l>ut, notwithstanding/ this explanation of their clergy, I believe, from what I have observed myself that the lower classes have, not their minds sufficiently informed and spiritualized, to separate the image from the reality ; and the second commandment herein shows its deep insight into the nature of the human mind. ' The third cause of prevention of the assim- ilation of Protestants to the Church of Rome, is the doctrine of transubstantiation. The 28th article of religion of the Church of Eng- land " On the Lord's Supper," is as follows : " The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another ; but rather is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death; insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same the Bread which we break is a pajftaking'of the Body of Christ ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ." "Transubstantiation(dr the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, can not be proved by holy Writ ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the name of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many su- perstitions." ," ' : "The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the Supper only after an heaveMy and spiritual rhan- ner. And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith." „ " The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carriedflbout, lifted up, or worshipped."/* ; . m V* I o^, 1 [{ m 99 The v^- '.'of the chant^e of the Sacramental Bread and Wine into the actual Body and Blood of the Saviour, is in my opinion totally contrary to human reason, and havmg made this observa- tion when conversing with a gentleman on the subject, he asked me in reply, whether the idea of the Tnnity was not also contrary to reason. I told him I did not consider it so, and 1 here state my reasons for this behef. There arc several instances, even in the present state of our existence, where the heart and mind of one person may be said to acquire a double and even a treble state of identical ex- istence. In the case of a certain degree and stage of the passion of love, the heart and mind of the lover ha^ been changed to such ex- cess as almost to be entirely identified with its object. The poet Thompson describes this stage of the passion well : " She alone seen, heard and felt, flows through the nerves and boils along the brain." Even, indeed, in a more pure and reasonable degree of this pas- sion, the heart becomes almost identified with its object. I remember a story I heard some fifty years ago, when duels were far more com- mon than at present on a love account, a young gentleman became involved in one. The parties went from England to the continent to settle the affair. The young gentleman recei- ved a ball through his chest ; and so isurprised were the Physicians that attended him, that I" 100 1^ i( I ■li the bull had not passed through i*.\„?M)art, that Doctor Pitcain, an eminent London physician, ^ actually passed a sword through a dead sub- ject in the exact direction of the ball, and it ran directly through the heart, upon which the Doctor made this elegant observation to his young patient. " Young gentleman, said he, it was well for you that your heart was with your mistress." In the case again of a mar- riage for love ; may it not be said that this happiest vmion of nature makes the couple two in one, and this question I have no hesita- tion to leave to the ladies, (who are by far the best judges in these affairs,) to decide. And hav- ing I think proved, that in some, though perhaps too rare instances in human life, two separate beings may almost be said to exist as one, we will continue the case to the supposition of this happily United couple having offspring, a son for instance. Who does not know the feehrigs of a mother for her child even in general nature ? How intensely deep then are they likely to be in the case of a happy and sympathetic union above mentioned ; and how likely is it that the male parent might happen to be a mail possess- ed, as the Phrenologist would say, of largie organs of Philoprogenitiveness ; (but as I, who am no warni believer in Phrenology) would say whose heart is strongly affected with domestic feelings. How easy it is to conceive that such a man would sympathize with his wife's tenderness M i- -;■*■ 101 for her ofl>T ;ing, and thereby shew the two ob- jects itiiintificd witli the thh'd. To conclude, there are not wanting instances where the loss of a child has occasioned the defith of i)arents. If then, even in human nature, instances may be found where, by the force of the passions and the affections, three persons may be so inter- twined and assimilated as very nearly to form but one. How may we not more justly reason by analogy that such a state may exist in spirit- ual life ! It is true this is highly mysterious ; but a Trinity of three Gods in one, is it any ways fuller of mystery {o our finite minds than the mystery of one God ? When Philosophers of the most extensive and profound knowledge of Nature, in all her stages (from'the blade of grass, tRrough all the depths of the earth and ocean man can explore up to the most astonish- ingly distant objects in the heavens,) when these Philosophers perceive in all these wonders,con- vincing proofs of unity and wisdom of design, they find they have arrived at a final cause, they find that they can go no farther ; but they find also that that this final cause is indeed, " In- comprehensible." The most profound and in- telligent human mind can never conceive how a being can create itself, and that from eter- nity. It has indeed arrived at a final but incom- prehensible cause, it has also arrived at the mystery, that compels it to be satisfied, to be dilent, and to adore. 102 It J w m 14 Tlicro a|)pears tome tlicrcfore, nothing con- trary to liurnan reason, to concciVt^'tlmt the Deity may exist in Trinity. j But the idea of the transubstantiation of the Body of Christ ; that is, that the identical Lread and wine which is administered at the present day, is actually part of the Body and Blood of the Redeemer, when he existed on earth, is not only contrary to human reason, but it is contrary to the actual laws of nature formed by the Deity himself. The actual Body of the Sar iour as he existed on -earth could never have amounted in weight to the bread and wine used in the administration of the sacrament, since his death. I mean to say, that, allowing the bread and wine employed in the sacrament was part of his body at ana some time after his death, the weight of the bread and wine that has been employed in tUe sacrament since, must have greatly exceeded the weight of the Body of the Saviour at the time of his death ; therefore the bread that is employed at the present day cannot possibly be part of that body. This is an evident proof to my mind that the sense of the Scriptural account is purely symbolical and spiritual, as it is justly considered by all Protestant Christiuns. By a law of nature, it is impossible to be otherwise, and it is equally impossible to believe that Deity could intend to convey any meaning ■S- » vJ,JW) 103 contrary to tlic incvilahlo niul uiuliaii^c ablo laws lie •••il cstaMishcd. It is triio Uiat the Cliurch of Komo has of hUc adopted Bcveral reforin.s. Whether any change is to he made in the said doctrine, I am not aware, hut of this 1 feel confident that it is totally impossible that Protestants can give faith to transubstantiation. - But, liowever repugnant to Protestant religi- on may be the crec^l or practice of the Church of Rome, the followers of that Church have an undoubted right to their own feelings and con- victions, that induce them to follow the rules and disc'phne of that church; and nobody prevents nor molests fhem in. so doing. On the other hand Protestants have the same riglit to followZ/ifJiV convictions. Yet notwith- standing this plain rule of right of all to their own convictions, a scene took place very late- ly in the British House of Commons which well requires notice. A Roman Catholic mem- ber, I believe a nobleman, allowed, in a speech he delivered there, that there was an antagon- ism between the two religions, and that he believed it would never cease until the Pro- • testant religion was destroyed. Whereupon a Protestant member whose name I do not re- collect thanked the noble Lord for his candour and contrasted it with the conduct of others who carried on the same hostility to Protest- anism, but would not avow that they did so. f f ri»';' i. 1-5 , ■1: . I I I 104 lie told them also that he was well aware that that hostility did exist on the part of the Church of Rome, and that the Protestant re- ligion was ready prepared to encounter and to overcome it. We shall now proceed to develop the causes that render necessary this Protestant move- ment, with a view, as stated in the Prospectus, " to harmonize its sects, and perhaps ultimately to bring them into one powerful united body." - The causes which call upon professors of the Protestant religion* to take immediate steps towards endeavouring to form this union are manifest, and considering what^we have above stated to have taken place in a church whose congregations in all parts of the world form a very numerous portion of those profes- sors, such steps have become imperative on every true Protestant. Never did I expect I should hVe to hear any doubts or surmises on the Protestant character of the church of Eng- land, and it must be evident to all other sects of Protestanism, that were these doubts and surmises really founded on fact, and to become thereby realized, the stability of all other sects' of Prptesitants might be seriously affected. ..The above stated facts I consider then to form one prominent cause why Protestants of every denomination should wi^h to draw in closer union the bonds of Protestant prin-* ciples, and should take steps to form one unit* 105 ^ ed body, whose pow erful voice should propound and maintain those principles intact and on an immoveable basis. Before specifying the denominations of the Protestant sects I am now ad(}ressing, I will state the substance of what I published on this subject, in a httle work called "A Tour through the Eastern Townships," published in Mont- real a few years since. Observing that in some of those Townships various sects were in the habit of joining ,to enable them to build chapels, to be used alter- nately by each sect, I observed that it might be advisable for the Church of England to offer encouragement to this proceeding, as tending to beget a friendly feehng between those sects, and I remarked that in furtherance of that end if on one day in the year a general meeting of them all, during the fine summer weather, a general form of prayer could be s^r^^d on by the clergy of each sect, which form should have no%eference whatever to the peculiar doctrines of each sect ; and a sermon formed on. the same principle, it might have the effect of pro- ducing this friendly feehng, and do away with many unfounded prejudices against each other^ and 1 concluded with observing that if such an annual meeting could be agreed on, it would tend greatly to root out infidelity; and that pos- sibly nothing would be more hkely to meet the approbation of the Deity than this cordial and C3" CT"' ... - .4-.^: w ii m ' 1'--* 'm..- ■ i ' 'I i r I ir ^ lOG united adoration of all sects. A few years after the publication of the above little work, I had the satisfaction to learnthat a great union of dif- ferent Proteatantsects, and, I believe, even some Roman Catholics, had taken place in England, called the Evangelical Socitty, which appears to have had the very same design as I had proposed in the above work published in Mont- real 5 namely, the conciliation of the various sects of Christians. What the state or result of this society is, I am not well informed, but I have been told it has hitherto been partly a failure, and the more the pity. It is how- ever probable that Protestantism will now feel the necessity of a close combination to avow and sustain their religious creed. It is indeed matter of regret, that Protestanism should be wasting and frittering away its strength by the endless suMivisions that have taken place in it, while the Roman Catholic Church has ac- quired its strength chiefly by an undeviatdng persistence, and is no doubt deriving much satisfaction from these endless divisions in Protestanism. It is matter of high regret, and indeed of astonishment that the religion of the Saviour of mankind, which he intended as a source of union, of peace, of love, and unity among its followers, should really have on the contrary produced among too many of these Protestant sects a source of bitter acrimony, distrust, and jealousy. Nothing can be a stronger ;er ad it- ne d, LIS ad a 107 proof that the true design of the Christian re- ligion has been entirely mistaken, and that wc require to retrace our steps to the time of its original organization, by its Divine Author. We shall therefore now examine into these divisions, shall offer observations upon them, and continue to develop the necessity fir the Protestant movement referred to above. m* When the Roman Catholic contemplates these divisions in the Protestant sects, he natu- rally enough considers every one of them as proofs to him ofihe truth of his own. Now, wh3ther that religion be right or wrong, one truth concerning it at least is, that, since the Reformation no impoptant divisions have taken place in it, and this is probably one great cause of its power and influence ; and that church is probably observing the Protestant divisions with no little complacency, and probably views this debilitating cause as one which may here- after produce an absorption of these mutually inimical sects into her own pale. Now it does certainly appear to me, that these bickering jealouses and frequent animosi- ties of many Protestant sects, are totally un- worthy, and below the elevated character of this enlightened age. I believe that so grating are these sensations to the feelings of the pres ent times, that means will be found at no dis- tant period, finally to put an end to then\ il i 108 11; ^'^'1^1 I Vf < Pi Ir," m Some of the sects object to having Bishops and Archbishops in the Church, yet Bishops were ordained in the Apostle's times, or nearly so ; and what is a Bishop, but a clergyman of degree, and why is it not equally needful to have officers of superior degree to watch over a^d direct the conduct of the inferior ones of a great church (where they mustof necessity be numerous) as it is in every other great depart- ment of life. The success of an army in the , defence of the country it belongs to, as frequ- ently depends on the qualities and characters of its superior officers, as it does on any other cause, and when to the solemn convictions o( Christianity, which ought to form the basis of the clerical character, the prospect of dignified preferment is added, I should conceive that one of the greatest incitements to the acquisi- tion of the powerful talents required to an- nounce the truths of religion, is formed. ; Again, the actual difference in the various doctrines of the Protestant sects does not appear to be of any high importance I have occasi- onally attended most of their meetings and could not discover any such difference iii their public worship. Some sects may believe that faith, and others that good works are the more important to salvation. But all the sects beUeve in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the three cardinal points of the Christian Religion, and all the sects inculcate V » t f 109 >(.*.*.; the praace with them, and I know of no way so effectually to do this as for all Protest- anism to unite, and to ascend together to the great, organic and original construction of thai religion by its divine founder. Sublimely simple as it is, it seems impossible it should not be completely competent to produce the effect it was designed for the perfect union of all sects of all its professors. i Extracts from the RevUOharles Buck*s Theology. Article Episcopacy. — Archbishop Usher projected a plan for the reduction of Episcopacy, by which he would have brought it very near the Presbyterian Goverrjnient of the Scotch church. The weekly ' '.n J]! 113 parochial vcslry answering to tlieir church session, . the monthly synod to be held by the Chorepiscopi answering to their Presbyterians, the diocesan synod to their provincial, and the national to their general assembly. The meeting of the Dean and Chapter practised in the Church of England, is but a faint shadow of the second, the Ecclesiastical court of the third, and the convocation of the fourth. Article Methodists, Protestants. — This deno- mination was formed in the year 1729, by one Mr. Morgan, and John Wesley.. In the month of Nov., that year, the latter being a Fellow of Lincoln Col- lege, they went to spend some evenings in reading the New Testament with Mr. Charles Wesley, Stu- dent, &c. &c, ' At the time this society was formed, it was said that the whole King-dom of England was tending fast to infidelity, and there is every reason to believe the Methodists were the instruments of stemming this torrent. - The doctrines of the Wesleyan Methodists accord- ing to their own account are the same as the Church of England, as set forth in hpr Liturgy, Articles and Homilies. Respecting original sin, free will, the justifica- tion of men by good works, and works done before justification, Mr. Wesley refers us to what is said on the subject, in the former part of the ninth, tenth eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth articles of the Church of England. Considerable numbers of the Calvinist and Armen- ian Methodists approve of the discipline of the church of Ens^land, while many it is said are dissenters on principle, Mr. Wesley, and Mr. Whitfield were both brought up in, and paid peculiar respect to that church. IF 111 i t\i n Kf rio/iTr. \\ w W n ^ 1 |r Vi .t L^^ If 11' •: 'li ?':;! ■ Articlt' Prksiivtkrians. — Tlic Presbyterians be- lieve Ihal ihe anUiority of their ministers to preaeh the go.spel,io administer the sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper, and to feed the flock of Christ, is derived from the Holy Ghost by the imposition of the hands of the Presbytery, and they oppose-thc in- dependent scheme of the common rights of Christians by the same arguments which are used for that pur- ))ose by the Episcopalians. They affirm however that there is no order in the churches established by Christ and his apostles as superior to that of Presby terians, that all ministers being ambassadors of Christ are equal in iheir commission ; that Presbyter and Bishop though different orders, are of the same import, and that prelacy was gradually established upon the primitive practice of making the Modera- tor or Speaker of the Presbytery a permanent office. These positions they maintain against the Epis- copalians, by the following Scriptural arguments. They observe that the apostles planted churches by ordaining Bishops and Deacons in every city, &c, ¥r * * * * * * * Again Timothy, whom the Episcopalians allege to have been the first Bishop of Ephesus, was present when the settlement was made. Acts xx. 5, and it is surely not to be supposed that had he been their Bishop, the apostle would have devolved the whole Episcopal power upon the presbyters before his face. N. B. — To this it is replied, " But if Timothy was not Bishop of Ephesus, what, it may be asked, was his office in that city ? for that he resided there for some lime, and was by the apostle invested with authority to ordain and rebuke presbyters, are facts about which all parlies are agreed, and which indeed / • was was Ire for with fads idee(J lip cannot be controverted by an) reader of Paul's Epistles. By the above extracts it would appear then that the Methodists, having, originally sprung from the Church of England, do actually now approve and adhere to the main doctrines of the Church of England, for their founders re- fer them to the articles, and her homilies. That the Presbyterians also embrace and main- tain nearly the same doctrines, but difler as to the mode of Church government. Tii3 Independents or Congregationalists, by a Confession of Faith drawn up in London in 1658, by the principal members of their com- munity m England, entitled '^ a declaration of the Faith and order owned and practised by the Congregational churches in England, agre- ed upon and consented to by their Elders and Messengers on their meeting at the Savoy, October 12th, 1658, as well as from other writ, ings of the Independents, that they differ from the rest of the reformed in no single point of any consequence, except that of ecclesiasti- cal government, and their religious doctr nes were almost entirely the same with these adopted by the Church of Geneva. The Baptists will come nearly under the same des- cription, except as to Baptism. But in the present state of Protestanism a- rising from the causes I have above stated, in the prqaent ^tfite pf looseness of religjQus fe^J- IIG If. I' ' 11 ' I I ingina great part of mankind and in the in- creasing progress of infidelity and free think- ing ; in the advancement sougJit for by society in general, in knowledge in the zeal for scientific discovery ; in fact, in the grand march of intellect of this age, the above diflerences among the sects are trifles in my mind, light as gossamer compared with the profoundly solid advantages which a cordial union of Protestants would confer on Protcst- anism. And let its ministers look to it. The opportunity ,yet presents itself to form this grand and powerful union ; but the enemies of Protestantism and of religion are perhaps, now deeply at work. Romanism against the form- er, and infidelity against the latter. It is time that the keen and penetrating eye of true religion should open upon them aud with it8 powerful and resolute voice overthrow and confound their designs. The above sects are divided into numerous divisions. It is therefore with a view to seek for a unity of all sectsof Protestanisminthe sacred bonds of Christian peace and love ; it is with a view and in consideration of the above stated events in a great and numerous portion of that Pro- testanism whereby the recent conduct of some of its members have deeply wounded the feel- ings of many and true Protestants, that we consider all these are powerfully called upon to 117 make a united, firm and explicit declaration of; tlieir unalterable adhesion to the Protestant tUith. \ But for this great purpose it will be at first , proper to bring forward a most important pre- » liminary project, on which all sects of Christi- > ans will bo found deeply intercepted : — Ono Protestant National Church to De founded by mutual consent of all Protestant sects and their Clergy • We have seen above the vast variety of divisions that have taken place among Protest- ' ants. Now what have been the effects of this cause. The frittering away of its strength down almost to a state of powerless debility, in some : instances. When I enter a place of worship > containing a crowded congregation, I feel a . higher degree of consideration for the sect it . belongs to, than entering one with only a few hearers. The persuasion of every person of a sound mind, is worth something, and the weight and influence of a sect probablyadvatices inibmetliing like geometrical progression, as it increases in numbers. What then must be the weight and influence of Protestanism, if it could be happily blended in one socially united . body. And this i^ one of the causes of the power of the Roman Church. But the eftects of the vast division of Protestanism has been directly the reverse of what was ijitended by > t he SaviQiur of mankind. Hie religion in Gvcry > WT 118 Wi \i ,| P t 1' Si HI B -1 ■• i^r t>iatft of it, breathes nothing but the purest phil- anthropy* He intended it for a bond of un- shaken union among his followers, ^ut unhap- pily it has too often, as above observed, been changed into a vehicle of bitter acrimony and estrangement. If the causes I have above stated be allowed to prove the necessity of giving to Protestan- ism a high band of union by which her strength security and efficiency will be promoted, if in- stead of being allowed to dwindle away, by cease- less divisions, to the joy and perhaps derision ot her opponents,^she is strongly elevtited in her name and character by the powerful sanction of National Union and National Law. If the congregations of the various sects of Protest- ants, see the high advantages of this national union in fixing Protestantism on an immutably basis, their former objections may vanish into "thin air,'- and this national Protestant union be hailed as a national blessing. I shall now take into consideration some ot the objections hitherto made by many of tffe sects to the clergy being paid by the govern- ment, and their preferment, m consequence, of what iscalledihe voluntary system, of remune- ration oa their services. The Church of England being the only church hitherto paid by the state, the ministers of the other Protestant sects of necessity have receiv- ed their annual stipend from the various con« 119 urch fthe sceiv- con- gregations, and it is this peculiar circumstance relating to the church of England that has oc- casioned the long existing outcry of most of the other sects against the union of church ar. i state. If however the Union of the Protestant Churches into one National Church should bo finally adopted, this great objection will lose much of its force. It is evident that whatever stipends have been or will be ;:lIowcd to the clergy they are not awarded by the gpvern- ment, but by the law of the land. The law of the land originates from the legislature of the nation in which the nation has a powerful voice by means of its representatives in that legisla- ture. It is therefore from the people that these stipends do or will originate. If therefore on contemplation of the weakness and debility ensuing to Protestantism from the unceasing division of sects, if on contemplation of the powerful advantages to its strength and pros- perity which I have endeavoured to p^i^int out, it be agreed to by these sects that a national union would be highly desirable, if it could be brought about, it will then come to the same thing whether they pay their ministers them- selves, or whether Ihey agree to leave that to their representatives in the legislature of the nation. In both cases the payment would be voluntary, from the people's constitutional rigKt over their representatives. f 120 There is alsa another very important advan- tage which would ensue to the Protestant sects should it be found possible for them to 'uhter into union with the Church of England. The right of succession from the apostles is denied to them by that church, but if mutual modifications should be agreed on, and a union be founded, they might probably have that right conferred on and allowed them. It is therefore, in the hopes of removing this and o'ther great sources of discontent prevail- ing ainong the Protestant sects, that I now venture to call their ministers duly to tako into their consideration the purport of this appeal to them. If they conceive that protestauism is suffering by their present disunion, and cease- less divisions ; and if they conceive as I have stated above, that the present state of the worldjthe ceaseless advance of the age in know- ledge ai^d science,requi^es that a powerful union of all Protestants should arise to vindi ^ate its cause, assume its full strength, and thus to advance with equal steps ; if in fine they con- ceive with me that the reformation is still in- complete, until the design of its almighty found- er is accomplished, "Unity, peace and good will to men." I ca 1 on them as ministers of his gospel to devise the ipeans of promoting this glorii>us end. :\\ [ I now conclude ibis address, conscious indeed that it may appear as presumption in a person m 121 advan- testant em to igland. Btles is mutual L union ^e that ng this irevail- I now kc into peal to lism is cease- I have of the know- " union ite its lus to y con- ill in- bund- good of his g this ndeed )erson in my humble station to propose so important a measure. I confess myself entirely unaware of the difficulties of its accomplishment, but my zeal for what I conceive to be the end of the true religion, as designed by its divine founder has led me to propose the seeking of this great purpose. But, above all, it i^ in the hope that this attempt may elicit from some of those superior hearts and minds which I have no doubt exist both in the Church of England and in the other Protestant sects, a fair, candid, and deep consideration of the views I have Eroposed to them, and which I do vn%h due umility, and hope to meet their concurrence. Providence sometimes begins events with what may appear inadequate means; she may suggest ideas to minds thoroughly inadequate by their station in society to carry them through to the accomplishment of her designs ; but she also produces other minds endowed with all the required qualities, energies, and knowledge for that accomphshment. And I have now on this subject only to observe, that I firmly believe that to the high and superior minds who may be able to accomplish this great event, of ♦Le union of all Protestant sects, will belong and be acquired, a glory equal to that of the great founders of the Protestant Reformation. The Church of England, although, as I have above observed, she did not make the initiative to this great measure, would certainly have ; p y w 122 m> ^' I :i:*J N,|*, ■ 3* ■- ill 1" >1 - [■X ft world formerly unkiio wn to him. The waters of the ocean, and the air of the atmosphere, which he formerly considered as simple ele- ments, he can now, from the former obtai na great part of the gas required to light his cities, and from the other, oxygen to serve innumer- able chemical purposes ; and Sir H. Davy was of opinion that the time will come when water will serve as fuel. The discovery of the steam engine has enabled him in a few years, almost to annihilate time and space, and thereby to treble the facility of the combination of minds : no sooner, however, had this great event taken place than the powerful control of man over the electric fluid, rendering it subservient to his purposes, bids fair in time to vie with the power of steam, and possibly, in the end to as-- sume its place as a more safe and rapid con- veyance, and I have for many years believed that by its power man will obtain the same command over the atmosphere as he has now over the ocean, Whilethe other sciences are then advancing with uncontrollable energy, is it not apparent that the greatest of all sciences, religion — the relation of man to the author of all the wonders he beholds and feels-^should make an equal advance, that it should assume the subUme attributes designed by its founder, and become forever the solace of the multitudes ot mankind, and the admiration of the most intelligent and enlightened among them? 125 It is then, I say, devoutly to be hoped that men of powerful and enHghtened minds among the Protestant clergy ; men of a holy zeal for the advancement of religion suitable to the present advanced state of society, should de- vote their profound attention to this great ob- ject. It is certain that whether successful or not, the most powerful minds among them could riot be employed in any cause more beneficial to mankind, and consequently more illustrative of the glory of the Creator. I do therefore most devoutly hope that some of those pious, potent minds that I am con- vinced' are found in numbers among the vast body 6f the ministers of Protestanism, will consider, consult on, and agree to set on foot measures to form a general convocation of these ministers for the high purpose of forming one united national protestant church. The church of England, I do with deep humility believe, would evince the highest wisdom, by consent- ing to lead the way in this high attempt for the union bfthe Protestant Church, of which she may be, on many accounts, called the mother. Ascending then, with all its sects, to the sacred fountain of the original and organic construc- tion of the Christian religion, then promulgat- ed by the Saviour to mankind, let them throw off all former prejudicial ideas on the subject, and imbibing from that sacred fount, the pure reviving stream of that religion, may they be !'l '^k 126 I' ,11 convinced that the truly effective way of real- izing it in the minds of mankind, will be to form a national code of it immediately based on its simple, plain and sublime principles, " Peace on earth and good will to men," thus embrac- ing every Protestant sect in the potent arms of National sanction. Glorious indeed would bo the result, if such a code of National Pro- testant Religion could be unalterably fixed on by its various sects. I have said above, I do not believe the Reformation is complete with- out it ; with it, it would be perfect, and would probably effect the nearest approach to the existence of a millenium upon earth which mankind has yet seen. When however we reflect on the numerous modes of thought to be con- sulted and brought to an agreement in it, we may have reason to say that the *' Power of God the Saviour alone can do this, for as to the power of man alone to do it, it is possible, that notwithstanding, the boasted advance of the age in knowledge, in civilization, and the sciences, society may not yet have arrived at that degree of advancement, which may entitle us to hope that this great design of union can be accomplished. I have found indeed among the society of this Province, some per- sons most inveterately adverse to any church at all being sustained by the state. These however are probably actuated by their jeal- ousy of what they call a dominant church. If :.;i 127 the great union above mentioned should be formed, a great part of tliese feehngs w ould be removed. These men would then take a more comprehensive view of the subject; and would consider, that in a free representative country, these representatives being elected by the people, it is not from the state properly so called, that the ministers of the various sects would be remunerated for their services, but by the Nation itself. I have above shown the high advantages and strength the Protestant religion would receive by this union of sects. The nation itself becomes the sup- porter, and the guarantee of this religion when the sects have decided on the wisdom and powerful effects of this measure. But what- ever may be the issue of any attempt made to form this national union of the Protestant sects ; let none of them at least lay the flatter- ing unction to their souls, that no national religion will continue to be established in Great Britain. There is too much pure, deep and souud religion there, to expect that event to happen. There is on the centrary every reason to believe that the longer time man- kind becomes acquainted with the shortness and vanity of this life, they will cherish every support which may give strength and mfluence to a religion which they hope will lead them to a better. We now approach the last part of our Pros- s 4 • i| a . If UX 1 IP?'' ft * .li- m' 128 Ecctus, " The Dissertation on the National >ebt of Great Britain, with a plan proposed for its gradual extinction," but as I believe the great interests, not only of United Canada, but of all the other British North American Provinces will be greatly concerned in the successful issue of this plan, we shall therefore by a brief recapitulation of the foregoing part of our work, endeavour to bring the principle featured of it, into one view, that the reader may have a more direct insight into what we consider to be the wants of the Province. It is not, however, solely with a view to the interests of these Colonies that 1 have con- templated and proposed to make a Dissertation on the National Debt. This great subject I have deeply considered for many years. It is a subject that having first awakened my astonishment, that a nation like Great Britain, the amouut of whose real property, I have ascertained to be estimated at above four thousand million of pounds stg., should yet for so many years have continued to pay the enormous amount of interest, nearly thirty millions a year on a debt of 800. This wasthe great fact that led me to this dissertation because I have believed it practicable to pro- duce the extinction of this great burden, I have long hoped to be instrumental, thereby to reduce the distresses, promote the prosperi- ty, honour and glory of my country, by hunibly V Bi» %,_ 129 w laying my ideas on this great subject before the world, trusting that some of those power^ ful minds that exist no doubt, in numbers in Great Britain, might acquiese in this practica* bihty and the high advantages resulting to the nation, if the plan should be accomplished, and therefore that they would employ their energies for that great purpose. I now .commence the concentrated view, as stated above. We began our work with a plan proposed for the introduction of the modern system of agriculture into Eastern Canada, and any person at all acquainted with that section will agree to its urgent necessity. In my works on the past, present and future condition of the Canadas, pubhshed in Montreal some years since, I stated to the merchants of Montreal that they wouid find themselves greatly inter^ ested in promoting this plan. I called their attention to the fact? that importers of British Goods were annually increasing in Upper Canada ; that the completion of Ihe canals would probably add to the number, and that therefore as the Upper Canada trade was gradually slipping from their hands, it was their manifest interest to render Eastern Canada a fertile country, by the introduction of a more productive system of agriculture among its inhabitants. Subsequent events have realized my anticipation. Not onlydc . i i^. 130 i Pit I ;. t » *'T, y?' I Of. 1 1 ;■ ■ T'lr IV!; i If!' 18' T.i. W. C. Importnrs continue to increase, but the American government, by their regulations of trade, have drawn many of those importa- tions into their own channel, and are therefore materially affecting the trade of Montreal. The next part of the work is the Agriculture of Western Canada, and I have therein shewn the necessity that will arise for Western Canadian farmers, in case the British Corn Laws are actually done away with, to seek for compensation for the low prices of wheat that will probably ensue, by a more improved and productive mode of agriculture, and then pro- ceeded to show that the merchants and far- mers of Canada have a fair claim on the British Legislature for the supply of our British West India Colonies with bread stuffs and provisions, as we can make it appear to the satisfaction of the planters and merchants of these colonies that British North America and Great Britain are perfectly competent to furnish them with ample supplies ; and I have proposed to the merchants of Canada that they should make application on this important subject to the im perial Legislature, either directly or through the medium of the Canadian Legislature, as some remuneration foT the loss of the protec- tive duty on wheat. It is true, that the British West ludia Colonies have been for some time in a very unprosperous condition ; but from their great importance to the trade of Great *^«^ . f -»•?"»!' -IV- w 131 Britain, there cannot be a doubt that means will be adopted to restore their prosperity, and it appears there has already been a loan made to them by the British Legislature, of several hundred thousand pounds stcrlincr. But, if con- trary to the very intention of the abolition of West India Slavery, the British Government persists in its encouragement of slave-grown sugar, I have not a doubt that facilities will be afforded to the British West India Colonies, to import free labourers from Africa, in suffici- ent number to enable them to compete with that slave-growl), sugar. Now there is not a country in the world, better suited than Canada for supplying the West Indies with provisions of all kinds. Our canals are now completed so that vessels of sufficient burden can proceed to sea from iis most western parts, and I have little doubt, if we can obtuin the trade of sup- ply of our West India Colonies, a new and prosperous era of trade, manufactures and com- merce and navigation, will be opened to the Province. The next part of our work relates to Gepe^ ral Education of the Canadian Youth, on which I have offered some ideas which may perhaps be considered as original, and which I leav^ to be duly appreciated by the public. We then proceeded to show the necessity of instructing our agricultural youth in the modern improvements which science has 15' . 132 Si 11' '1- V-fS. •; m iSrr w m lately introduced into agri-nlture. If ever there was a time when the improvement of agriculture was required in this Province, it is at this moment. In February of this year, 1849, the law granting a protective duty on Colonial wheat imported into Great Britain expires. Unless the British Parliament repeals this law abrogating the Corn Laws, Canadian wheat; imported into G'-'^at Britain will be precisely on the same footing as that of foreign nations. The quantity of wheat thrown by foreign nations for the supply of the British market, will probably then be so great as to reduce the price greatly. • It will therefore be incumbent on Canadian farmers to endeavour to make up for this re^ duced price by the practice of a more produc- tive system of agriculture than has yet been followed, in the Province. But with this more productive mode many of them arc are as yet unacquainted, and of course the best and most necessary kmd of instruction they can bestow on their children, is that which would be taught in the agricultural schools, I have proposed in ^my work, and to which I therefore earnestly call the agricultural readers attention. The next subject treated on in the work, is, the General Trade and Commerce of the Pro-* vince. The movenjent that has taken plac* in the trade and commerce of Great Briain, and i. 133 m itly IS, the particularly her declared intention to abrogate the laws imposing a duty on grain imported there, has indeed occasioned a great sensation and been the cause of much alarm in this Pro- vince. And it is natural enough, that a country that has ever since its first settlement been highly favoured in respect of the duty payable on its staple article of produce, wheat, should feel sore at so sudden a deprivation of that ad- vantage. But we have to consider that we are only a part of a great empire, and if it be found that owing to a disastrous dispensation of Providence oy which millions are deprived of their food, that it has become imperative on the Parent State to take off all duties on the necessaries' of life, we^ surel}'*, who are blessed with a productive and plentiful country ought to be the last to complain. I have there- fore beeu much surprised that notwithstanding the exigencies which appear to have compelled the ImperialLogislature to this step, a demand has been made on her to repeal the Naviga- tion Laws, which have produced her prosperity strength and glory, and by which alone perhaps 3he will be enabled to maintain her independence, and perhaps the liberties of the worlu. I trust to have shown in the work that United Canada is equally competent to build and man vessels, to carry home her pro- duce, as the United States are, and that the tranquility of the Province being preserved by 134 m W pi f)roper management, she can procure ample unds from the capitalists of Great Britain for that purpose, I conceive therefore, that it would be in some degree disgraceful to resort to a foreign nation for ships to export her produce. That Great Britain may allow the Americans to pass through the canals, that are now com- pleted, through Canada to the ocean, is pro- bable. That would be an act of amity to a nation at peace with us, it would greatly add to the revenue of our canals, and it could not tend to diminish the navigation of the Parent State because the cargoes of these American vessels could otherways find their way to the ocean, by liieir own canals. But, that the nav- igation laws of Great Britain should be repeal ed, in order that Canada may get cheap freights to Great Britain, I hold there is not the least necessity for. I have conversed with many persons well acquainted with the shipping business of the Province, who all agree that sea-going vessels can be built end manned as cheap in Canada as in the United States ; the only objection made was that we had not yet a sufficient capital. That difficulty I think can be got over, in the way I have stated in^ the work ; by people of responsible character and property uniting to build these vessels, and to obtain loans of capital for that purpose from the holders of it m the Mother country. In the present dilemma then, w r» conceive the € 135 "^■"w Province should evince a proper degree of patience, until it be determined at home what changes are really to take place in the trade and Corn Laws. Perhaps that change may be more favourable than is expected. But there is something more to be said on this subject. In the impatience manifested by some people here, they have presumed to declare that annexation, as they are pleased to call it, will take place, with the United States. It would be curious to trace from whom this idea origi- nated. It is certain that Lord Cathcart, in his despatch to the British Government stated that his Council were of opinion that if that govern- ment persisted in their doing away with the pro- tective duties on Canadian wheat, &c., it might tend to create a separation of the Colony from Great Britain. For this rash and imprudent assertion, they in my opinion richly merited to lose, and in fact, they did not long afterwards retain their places, and probably the same want of energy which caused that assertion was the a vise of that loss. The idea of a separation of tiii J colony on account of some question of trade, coming from so high a quarter, must have had a great tendency to warrant and to circulate that idea among, at least, that part of the po- pulation who had formerly shown themselves no great friends to British connection. One of the Boards of Trade of the Province, also stated, in one of their addresses to the govern u l\ Jji. , * ', W t fi mi 130 ment, something like the same idea of separa- tion, which I think was justly censured by the present Governor. It is very probable then, that the idea of separation coming from such high sources may have had much influ- ence in encouraging the diffusion of it. But Canada has shown her loyalty and adherence to British connection, in worse times than the present, and I firmly believe, she will continue to do so, when the pccasion requires, and that it was a very UL-'-rran table aspersion on the province, to assert /thing to the contrary. The present government is also, it appears, applying to the British Government to rescind her navigation laws. They are also ende£|vour- ing to form an agreement with the American Government to remove all duty on wheat ship- ped to the United States from this Province, on condition of our removing all duty on that imported thence into it. Now, as I have stated in the work, I consider this as a very danger- ous experiment. I believe that if our merch* ants and agriculturists instead of, as formerly, finding customers for our produce in Groat Britain, are to look to the States for it, I think will in time produce a great diminution of the natural attachment of the Province for the Parent State and ultimataly attempts for a separation. The Government will therefore have to consider that a very great degree of it' hh^ 137 ^' m responsibility will rest upon them, if that mea- sure be actually carried into effect. And as I trust to have shown in the work that there is no real necessity for this measure, i should be happy if it could be avoided. I trust to have shown that Canada is equally compe- tent to build sea-going vessels to carry home her products as the Americans. I conceive that a valuable branch of industry would be procured for the Province, by the building of these vessels, and also a valuable nursery for seamen created and the prosperity of tbte Pro- vince produced* To conclude the subject of those gentlemen who are pleased to talk of an- exaiion as they call it, I would wish to ask whether they have forgotten that these Provinces of British North America America have been often declared in the Im- perial Parliament to be an integral part of the british Empire ? Let them not conceive that although the Imperial Parliament may wish to conciUtate and to extend great advantages to these Province^' she will be so foolish as to give up so valuable a portion of the Empire. Let them also be convinced as I am, that although the people of this Province, in the dilemma and uncertainty in which they are now placed, feel uneasy and and anxious for a settlement of the question of ita commerce yet that they have not deviated from a sincere de- sire to remain united with the Parent State on 138 I' i^' I w '.a iVilf m fair and honourable terms, and that they will maintain such connection. The next subject we have introduced in the work is, " The Present State of the Protestant Rehgion, with a view to harmonize its sects, and perhaps uhmately to bring them into one powerful united body." I trust to have fully developed the great necessity of this Protest- ant movement in the work. I conceive that after what has happened in a high branch of that church, jmd the doubts and surmises that have been the consequence of it, it has become almost imperative on all Protestant sects to unite, declare and confirm their determination to adhere to the principles of Protestanism, and to take measures, for^ forwarding a great national union of all Pro-^ testantism. I repeat, that I believe the Pro- testant R'jformation is but half completed without it ; I believe that the differences and animosities which have arisen among the sects for the want of it, are totally unworthy of the advanced and enlightened state of the present age in knowledge and science, and I believe therefore, that it is the solemn and sacred duty of all ministers of the Protestant sects to as- semble in convocation, for the purpose of effecting this national unison; thereby com- pleting the design of the Redeemer when he gave this religion to mankind, "Unity, Peace :" that this religion under the sanction of this Protestant nation may be fixed on that immut- 1 li 139 } .»> able basis which its " reasonable service" en- titles it to- We now proced to the last part of our Pro- spectus, " The Dissertation on the National Debt of Great Britain." The British Nation, has for many years been labouring under the pressure of its enormous debt ; the present generation have been accus- tomed to hear of it from their infancy, almost as part and parcel of the constitution of the country, that, with vast numbers of its people, all attempts to remove that pressure may seem nearly akin to removing the atmospheric pres- sure from our earth. An idea has even prevail- ed among many that this national debt is serviceable to the country. It has been said thlat the creditors of the State, possessing of course, considerable weight and influence in it, will be the more willing to support the reins of government and the preservation of good order and the laws, from the interest they have there- in. That idea is no doubt founded on truth, but can it be at all supposed by any intelligent man, that if the debt were paid off, as it would probably be invested in other securities in the country, employed as they would natu- rally be in the advancement of trade, manufac tures, commerce and navigation, and the pub- lic improvemt.its of the country, can it then be supposed that the holders of that capital would not have an equal or a greater interest in its 140 I ■ r I- .t peace, good government, order and security ? That argument falls then to the grouud. Tlie history of all the nations that have yet existed in the earth have never exhibited a greater source of just exultation and confidence, than would ensue, to Britain if this ^reat purpose could be effected. Now to show that this is not impossible to be done, it will appear on almost the first re- flections on this subject that Great Britain has paid more than the amount of the debt in in- terest alone. >She has paid nigh thirty milHons a-year interest on the debt for the last thirty years, making nine hundred millions of pounds sterling, being one hundred millions more than the amount of the debt. The value of the whole property of the people of Great Britain, as will be shown hereafter by estimate, amounted a few years since to within about £320,000 of four thousand mil- lions of pounds sterling, which at the present day it is no doubt equal to being five times nearly the ainount of the national debt; Yet has this great country for so long a period of time, gone on, burdening herself and distressing her poor with a tax of nigh thirty millions of pounds sterling, annually. It is true, that some persons may say, that some of the holders of hational stock might prefer leaving it in the hands of the govern* ment where their interest is secured to them } iU < 141 .1 «■ les ind [rty lat fht than in having it paid ofi'to them. That indeed may be an individual argument, but. it is not justthat the public should be compelled to pay forever that interest, when by paying off the principal the payment of thirty millions annually might be saved, and that principal might be in- vested on ample security, in advancing the trade commerce and navigation, or public works of the country. The argument above stated re- solves itself then rather into an argument, why government securities should be paid off and cease, since they prevent the investment of the vast amount of the debt in ample securities, whereby the above st?* ted important advance- ment of the trade, commerce, navigation and public undertakings of the country might be effected. , I shall therefore commence this undertaking by producing such treatises as I have met with on this great subject shall comment thereon, and endeavour to show the cause of their failure; I shall then set forth the high and permanent ad- vantages that would result to great Britain ; when the debt can be paid off, and shall then bring forward my plan for so doing. But before commencing the statement I have to make some remarks on the subject of our prospectus of this work. A person on reading the last line thereof, observed to me, that he supposed thereby that I was a Radical ; on asking him on what account he thought that f 142 m mi liil I he said, that he conceived by the word extinc- tion, I intended the debt should be wiped off', that is, not paid at all, as some Radicals are of opinion should be the case. Now there is an old saying, *' that some people measure other people's corn by their own bushel." Whether that was the case with the person referred to, I do not know. But lest others should form the same idea of my prospectus, I observe, when it is stated in the prospectus of a work of so im- portant a subject as the national debt, that apian is to be proposed toth e public, for its gradual extinction, it could n otreasonably be supposed it was intended it should not be paid at all. I do remember iris true that such an idea has been stated in print- It was often and for a long time said by the opposition party in the Parlia- nient of Great Britain, that the French war of 1 794 was neither just nor necessary. But he that remembers the revolutionary principles and"practices of the French Rulers at that time, their devices for exciting other nations to revolt, and moreover the gigantic power that was col- lected on the shores of France for the express purpose of effecting the overthrow of Great Britain in her own Island, cannot but allow, that to withstand this power her efforts were no more than were required for this purpose. The en- tire continent of Europe even with the sub- siding aid of Britain was insufficient, for by the peace of Tilsit the Russian Empire itself was MM extinc- ed off; are of eis an otfier hetlier 3d to, I m tfie hen it so iin- a plan raduaf >posed ill. I ea lias along *arJia- var of Jut he ciples time, evolt, s col- press jreat jthat more e en- sub - the was 143 dra\vn in against ns, and England had tostand the brunt herself alone, against that mighty force, and gloriously she did so. Now, though it be true that the war added 300 millions to the national debt, even that sum is a trifle to the entire amount of the property of Great Britain, which had she succumbed to the power of France would then have been jeopar- dized. But whether that war were just and necessary or not, it was determined on by the majority of the representatives of that people in Parliament assembled, and therefore the war was constitutionally judged necessary for the defence of th e liberties of the country. That the justice and honour of the country then re- quires that the debt should be acknowledged and avowed to be in course of pjiyment there can be no doubt, neither is there any, that the high character of the British nation for good faith, stability, and also her subsequent prosper!^ ty have been mainly owing to the almost sacred nature of that good faith in her engagements. JFrom Chamber* ss Information for the People, New and Im- proved Edition, Vol. 1. Edinburgh : Published by Wm, q,nd Robert Chambeirs, 1842. The National Debt formed by borrowing money at different rates of interest, to conduct the warlike operations of the country, has risen from small begin- nings towards the conclusion of the 17th century to an unparalleled amount. At the revolution of 1688 the national debt amounted to only £664,263 ; at the accession of Queen Anne, £16,394,702; of George M 144 B ¥* 'H^i. !i^.. I., £54,145,363 ; of George II., £52,092.235 ; at the end ofthe Spanish war, ill 1748, £73,293,312; at the commencement of war in 1755, £74,571,340; at conclusion of peace in 1762, £146,682,844 ; at com- mencement of American war in 1776, £135,943,051 ; at conclusion of peace in 1783, £238,434,870 ; at commencement of French Revolutionary war,£233,- 733,609; at peace of Amiens in 1811, £562,839,- 277 ; at peace of 1816, Feb, 1st, £864.822,461 ; ort 6lh Jan., 1832, £782,667,234 ; interest, £28,341,416. Since 1832 the debt has increased chiefly by the form- ing of Exchequer Bills adding floating obligations to funded stock; and in 1839 the amount was £841,- 000,000, with an interest of £29,000,000. An estimate was formed of the value of the whole property, public and private, which hasbeen created and accumulated by the people of this country, and which they now actually possess. The value when the sum is expressed by figures, is so immense, that it ekides the imagination to conceive it £2,995,000,. 000, value of productive private properly ; value of unproductive, or dead stock, £500,700,000 ; value of public property of all kinds, £103,800,000 ; total of public and private property, £3.679,500,000. The wealth of the Empire is dividedd in the following proportions between the three countries : Productive private Unproductive pri- Public property. vate property. propeity. England, £2,064,000,000 £374,000,000 £42,600,000 Scotland, 318.000,000 61,000,000 3,000,000 Ireland, 622,000,000 116,400,000 11,000,000 £2,994,000,000 £541,400,000 £56,600,00Q Gross amount, £3591,400,000. I now proceed to set forth the high and per- manent advantages that would result to .Great 145 Britain, and to all her Colonial Mnipirr, ii the national debt can be paid ofl'. The first ad- vantage I notice is, the compliance with the great principle of justice, which requires that this debt should be paid. Justice has been em- phatically called the " darling attribute of Na- ture." A great commercial mltion should steadfastly uphold this great principle. As I ob- served above, the trade, commerces, navigation, and pubhc works of Great Britain and all her Colonies are enduring great privation and in- jury by the loss of the employment of eight hundred millions of capital, which might uniRr ample security, be invested therein. And al- though some of the present holders of national stock may be content to receive their annual interest thereon, that does not diminish, but rather increases, the injury done to the public service. Justice to these great elements of public prospeiity demands therefore that the debt should be paid. We have seen above, that the entire property of Great Britain some years since amounted to £3,079,500,000 ; at the present day, it no doubt amounts to £4,000,000,000, being nigh five times the am- ount of her debt. That she is competent to pay then, is obvious, no less so than that the high principles of national justice and expediency, require that she should pay it. The question is then, only how that is to be done ? The next advantage I shall mention is, G 1 If) If that of tlie high principle of honour which re- quires this payment. When a private individual is said to be in debt there is always a stigma at- tached to the idea, how much more so, when the case applies to a great and powerful com- rneicial nation, more cspeciallj ^vhen it is proved she is competent to pay it. 1 hope shortly to show that her competence may be made available for that purpose, and that she may therefore assert this high principle of national honour. iriie next great and important advantage that would ensue to tHe country, by the final payment of this debt, is that of removing the annual taxes, producing nigh thirty millions of pounds, sterling, for the payment of the inter- est only. It is true that by apportioning this amount of taxation equally among the popula- tion of Groat Britain, say twenty-six millions of souls, it does not amount individually to much less than 24s. stg. But when we ap- portion this among families of five souls each, it amounts to six pounds each family, and the poor father of that fixmily has to pay it. Again, when we consider the imniense number of poor in Great Britain, and consequently the great numbers who consume but very little of those articles on whicn these taxes are raised,! should consider that we cannot estimate the amount of taxes raised on each family that does con- sume them at less than ten pounds sterling for ^ ». — _,. in each family. Now ten pounds sterling a-ycar, is 16s. 8d. stg. a month, or 4s. 2d. stg. a-wcek; about one-half of all that numerous families in Great Britain have to ex^st on. The present age has made astonishing dis- coveries in the physical sciences, and is ap- plying them to some of the most advantageous improvements in social life. It would seem also that the restless mind of man is advancing with railroad speed in the science of political economy, especially in that branch of it which is now called by the French economists, the rights of labour, or its organization. One of the great modern orators of France did, during his ephemeral enjoyment of popularity and pov/er, but a few months ago, make his boast that France was more highly enlightened on this subject than any other country ; for he condescendingly observed in his speeches, that France would not, as she had done in one of her previous revolutions, excite the people of other nations to revolt : but that she would merely consider, that if they did not choose to adopt the same high degree of freedom ot government and constitution that France had now adopted, she would considf;r them as not yet having arrived at that high degree of civil- ized wisdom, which she had pre-eminently at- tained. To which gasconic effusion, steady John Bull, appears by his subsequent conduct on April 10th 1818, to have responded much m i I m ill the same way as he did a long time agd when fC Frenchman boasted in his presencd that the French had invented shirt ruffleSi '' They did so," said John, " and the English invented the shirt for them. But although this Utopiari and idle Scheme of a national obligation to maintain labour in useless production, or in idleness, is totally in- consistent with the nature of things, more es- pecially in a manufacturing and commercial country ; yet the rights of the poor as respects tlje imposts on them by taxation j have an un- doubted claim on the consideration of the Legislature. It is true the laws of England have for their principle that no man shouM be suf- fered to starve ; but the poor have certainly also the right tliat an excess of taxation shall not bring them to the starving point, shall not dvjgtade them to the necessity of pauperism. It is said that Englaiid is the richest and the poorest country in the world. Is not There to be found a way to remedy this, and to remove this stigma ? Certainly, one considerable step to it would be to remove the annual tax of nigh thirty millions of pounds sterling, by the grad- ual payment of the national debt. It is said indeed that economy and retrench-* ment of the pubhc expenditure is to be the order of the day with the present government ; but the utmost they could probably retrench in the cost of the Arniy and Navy, and Civil List and 119 oilier item.s, could amount to a vory few miN lions, which divided among the population would be but of little fimount. But, if a grand national effort were made for the settlement of the debt, of the successful issud' of which I have but little doubt, tlje re- duction of nigh two-thirds of the present taxa- tion would be the happy result. I have moreover, stated in the foregoing pages what I consider an astoundmg fact, that this taxation for the interest of this debt has actually in 30 years amounted to mere than the debt itself, a powerful proof that the nation is competent to its gradual extinction. We come now to treat of the most import-^ ant and permanent advantage which would ensue to the nation by the discharge of tho enormous burden of this debt. Eight hundred and forty-one millions sterling, as shown above ^ is stated to have been this debt in 1839, with an interest of twenty-nine mil! ns annually, His Grace the Duke of Wellington, when in office, did, 1 believe, reduce it by some plan of his, one or two millions. Whether it has been since added to by the founding of Exchequer Bills I am not aware, but shall consider the amount to be£800,000,000 in round numbers, Now the productive and unproductive capital of the population oCGreat Britain, as shown above, is nigh £4,000,000,000. It is to be ob-^ served that although it be tri\e that any person 150 holding stock in the pubHc funds, who wishes to embark in trade, manufactures, navigation or any branch, may, by selhtig out, convert that stock into private capital, yet that operation adds nothing to the capital of the country, The stock bought is paid for by a part of that capital, and it is> merely a change of holders that takes place in tlie Public Funds. The same amount of interest has still to be raised by the taxation of the public. Now it appears by the above statement that the value of pro- ductive private property in Great Britain am-, ounts to two thousand nine hundred and ninety five millions stg. This item then must embrace the great manufacturing and commercial inter-^ ests of Great Britain, and its capital would re- ceive an increase (if the debt of eight hundred milhons could be paid off,) of more than one-fourth to the productive capital of the country. It would be highly interesting if a mind, thoroughly acquainted with the nature pi the trade, manufxtures, commerce and navigation of Great Britain were to trke and phow to the world a retrospect of the multitu-» dinous brjinches of those ele^^ents of prosperity which might be benefitted and extended by this great accession of capital. It has been almost an axiom in private concerns, that every man is the best manager of his own resources ; so do I beUeve, it would be found in the case of the public fund holdersj if the debt was paid off, lj\^ 151 stead of dt^pending upon the public funds for the payment of a small interest on their stock, their vigilance, sagacity, and industry would be called into action, for the discovery of means by which that capital might be invested in a more productive and equally secure employ- ment ; whereby the industry, skill and labour of their country might be engaged, and a great* er -degree of competence diffused through it. There cannot indeed be a doubt that, in the case of this immense capital being liberated to be employed in these great sources of pros- perity, an era of satisfaction, commerci?il energy and enterprise would be effected in Great Brit- ain. The intelhgence, the zeal and activity of her merchants would probably be directed to the discovery of new fieds for manufactures, trade, commerce and navigation, which being opened, fostered and protected by the goverur ment in their treaties with other nations for that purpose might lead the natipnal commerce to a higher pitch of prosperity than she h^s yet witnessed. Another source of productive emplo}anent of this increased capital arising from the liberation of the national debt would probably be found, if prudent caution be ex- erted on the subject, in the extended settlement of the colonial empire of Great Britain. Mr. Molesworth has lately, in the House of Com- mons, di:awn a very unfavourable picture of her colonial possessions : according to his estimate ■i 1 52 Uk< they do not pay llio expenses of iiiaialainini^ them. But even allowing these statements to be correct at the present day, he has shown a total ignorance of the nature of colonial pos- sessions. For instance, Canada contains at present, nigh one million and^ a half of souls. She is known to double her population in 20 to 25 years ; that is, by natural increase in- dependently of all emigration. Now, although her importations from G. B. have as yet am- ounted only to a certain sum, which may not much exceed the cost of maintenance, yet as that cost w^ill need to bo but httle increased when her population is doubled, her importa- tions from G. B. will probably be doubled also. Yet for this natural and continual increase in the value of all young countries, Mr, Moles- worth has made no allowance whatever. An- other thing he ha»s omitted in his account current. The colonies offer a most important safety valve for the redundant population of the mother country, the pressure of which re- dundance she has long felt the weight of. By transferring a part to her colonies, she still retains the fealty of her subjects, who thus become consumers of her manufactures; and another thing, and perhaps the most important of all to G. B. Mr. Molesworth has omitted, viz* the trade and navigation to her colonies and her fisheries offer a powerful source of sup-» plying the best sort of men for her navy, with^ i 111- 15.1 <5ut a siiiiremacy inVliicli, slie would soon sink in the scale ol* nations, and perhaps peril her* iiidepeiidencc. The settlement then, of the colonies of G. B. to a greater extent, must un- der judicious management present an advan- tageous and productive field for the employ- ment of capital liberated by the extinction of the national debti It has long been a Subject of remark in tlid British North American Colonies that agreatei* disposition was manifested in England among its capitalists to loan money to the people of !ho U. S. than to these colonies, and we havd seen what has been the result, in the repudiat- ing schemes of some of those states. Now, there is not a doubt that, in all young colonies^ great and frequent opportunities occur for in- vesting capital, which investments under pro- per precautions., as regards security for those loans by the exertion of sufficient vigilance and intelligence on the part of the loaning capital- ist, will be remunerative ; and respecting loans to the British Colonies, one thing is certain ; that they cannot legally form any such repudia- ting schemes in them as have appeared in the U. S. Immense tracts of land of good quahty are contained in them, which, when settled under sagacious management, would effect not only a fertile means of reheving the mother country from a redundant and therefore bur- densome population; but also, by sober in- ioi i, i: li t. V; :(■■ (Jiistry, in that redundant part, be the moans of rendering it able to accjuire ample susten- ance, and eventually to increase the prosperity of* these Colonics and the Motiicr Country. We have now to the best of our humble abilities sliown the high advantages which would result to the nation and her colonies if this enormous national debt could be paid off, and shall here state our opinion of the causes that have led to the failure of former attempts for that purpose* The illustrious mind of William Pitt formed a plan for this great purpose by means of a sinking fund, which probably would have had in time great effect had it been persevered in j but,either after his administration or his death, that fund was applied to other purposes. Sev- eral othe]: writers have advocated the payment of the debt. But the chief cause, in my humble opinion, that has produced the fail- ure of all attempts for this great end, is, that the authors of them have relied on their own proposed financial plans, whereas the true and perhaps the only certain source of any eflec- tive plan must arise from the British Nation it- self. It is on her that the vast pressure is bearing of thirty millions annual taxation, and the deprivation of eight hundred millions of capital which lays idly locked up in the funds. This immense taxation must bear hard on the national poor, must bo a chief cause of the i^r) misery that lias ul'tcii Miuiiir the hearts of all that is humane and generous in the British na- tion. It will therefore be for the nation to form its resolve. The present limes require some immediate action, some great national ellbrt, by which the distresses of the country, and the difficulties in trade and commerce would be re- stored by the national energies to their wonted prosperity. If the nation feels this convic- tion, and the necessity and wisd6m of a national eflbrt to eflfect this great purpose, I have iiot a doubt of the power of the patriotic will of England to do this ; and I shall now proceed with great diffiLlence indeed, and profound hu- mility, to lay my plans for that end before her, making first a few preliminary observations on the subject. It is true that some extensive commercial op- erations of the British nation have been unsuc- cessful. The South Sea scheme caused the ha- voc of many private fortunes. Of the recent schemes of Rail Road making it is said at this day, in the public prints, that they have occasioned more distress among private famihes than has been ever known in England. Now it is perhaps, fortunate for the plan I am to offer, that it cannot be attended with any such evil effects. The enterprising mind of England appears at present almost quiescent, but it cannot long remain unemployed. Is not then the present a proper time for the na« 156 It tion to consider whether it would not be highly advisable to endeavour by a generous and mighty effort to remove the incubus it has so long labored under, that the coast may be clenr, so to say, for the exertion of that expansive mind of England, and of those commercial energies which would doubtless be created by the removal jof the debt. The celebrated Doctor Dick, in his work, called "Mental Illumination and Moral Im- provement of mankind," says in page 325 : During the war with Buonaparte 40 millions would have been considered as a mere item in the national expenditure, amounting to little more than the war taxes of a single year. And shall it ever be said that such a sum cannot now be raised for counter- acting moral evil and human misery, and training our population to "glory and immortality?" And in page 327 he says : Besides the saving which might be made in the public expenditure, there is a still greater sum which might be saved from various items in the private establishments of wealthy individuals,which might be devoted to national improvements. The • saving of a single bottle of wine a-day, would am- mount to £50 a-year ; the discarding of an unneces- sary servant, to nearly the same sum : keeping four liorses instead of six, would be a saving of at least £60 ; and discarding a score of hounds would save more than a £100 a-ycar. There aro thousands in our country, who in this way could save £500 a-year to be devoted to rational and benevolent purposes, without feeling the least diminntion of their sensi- 157 live enjoymenls. There are liuiidrcds of thousands in the middle ranks of life who tconld save iI20 a-ycar, by discarding unnecessary luxuries, in regard to houses, furniture, food and clothing, and feel thoirisclvcs just aa coniforlable as before; and thert; are many more among the lower ranks "who could save several pounds every year, which are now wasted either in folly or intemperance, and find tliemselves richer and more comfortable at the close of the year that at any former perH)d. Let us sup- pose, what is perhaps not far from the truth, that there are 50,000 individuals, or the aJo part of the British j:)opulation, who, at an average, have incomes of £3000 per annum, and could devote £300 a-year to public purposes — some much more and some less; this would amount to fifteen millions a-year. Ther« may next be reckoned about 200,000 w^ith incomes at an average of £300 per annum, w^ho could devote a similar proportion, namely £30 per annum ; which would amount to six millions. Supposing the population of Great ^Britain to be 16,000,000, and that only one-fourth of this number, namely 4,000,- 000, have it in their power to devote a certain por- * lion of their income to the purposes alluded to, there would «till remain 3,730,000 of the lower classes, who might be iupposed, on an average, able to de- vote one guinea a-year to the same objects, which would amount to nearly four millions. So that twenty-five millions of pounds might be raised an- nually for literary, philanthropic, and. religious pur- poses, without any one feeling the loss of aaiy sensi- tive enjoyments, but, on the contrary, enjoying the purest gratification in beholding improvements going forward, and the plans of benevolence gradually accomplishing. Passing many other other consider- ations of this kind, the only other item of expendit- 158 li f- vire 1 shall notice it*, lljnt vviiitrh is spent in llie pur- i-hnso of spirituoils liquors, which are for the most (lovoted to the purposes of intemperance. Accord- ingtonn estimate made by Mr. Buckingham and the eommittce appointed by Parliament to investigate the state of intemperance, it appears, that, within the limits of Great Britain and Ireland, there is a loss sustained by the use of ardent spirits amounting to nt*arly fifty millions sterling per annum ! It is stated that, in the city of Gasgow alone, the sum expended in intoxicating drinks "is nearly equal to the whole amount expen^led on public institutions of charity and benevolence in the entireUnited King- dom." This item alone would be more than suf- licient for all the purposes of philanthropy and of universal improvement. Now, if there be any force in these argument^ when applied to the purposes of general educa- tion, they will apply with tenfold force in favor of the great purpose I am advocating. Let this enormous incubus of the national debt on the people of England be removed by the noble and energetic will of the nation ; and the worthy Doctor's plans fol* the welfare of his fellow citizens will have tenfold more chance of being accomplished. The joy, the profound exultation that must be the general result of this burden being removed from the nation w ould materially augment its desires for every humane and generous purpose. Conceiving then, that these her evident inter- ests and the crying demands of public distress will be considered by the nation as worthy of /! hVJ every pacrificc, antl considering farther that she will duly iipprcciato the wisdom of clear- ing the way for ihn powerful action in trade, commerce, nianufactnres,navigntion and public improvements to wliicii lirr people will no doubt be led by tiie payment oCthc debt, J here at once propose the plan for so doiiig. I'ho amount of this debt as above said, wo shall take at eight hundred millions of pounds sterling ; the amount ot all the property at present in the possession of the people of Great Britain is ibur thousand millions. One fifth then of this sum will pay the debt. " The National Debt, says Mr. RIgby Wesop, in his Re- vised Arithmetic, is £772,009,000 and the aggregate capital of Great Britain and Ireland is £7,750,000,000, so that ten per cant, of the capital will easily paj off the debt. It is M8 if a man with u capital of 7,7oO was indebted only to the amount of X7 7 2. Mr. W. proposes ten years as the time of paying the debt, and thinks it would b« very easy for the owners of real property to do so." — British Colon- ist, April 24, 1849. . We propose therefore that every person possessed of a property of one thousand pounds sterling, should agree to devote two hundred of it in the course of twenty years to pay oft* this debt, and any person of greater capital in pro- portion. The amount of the sum paid for one thousand pounds w ould then be only ten pounds per year, or if thg amcunt of the debt in the foregoing note is correct, five pounds will an- swer, but it would be optional witU the capital- ^ IGO PI m m ist either to pay ail ort' at once or in such in- stalments as it may best suit him. If the whole sum were to be agreed to by the nation to be paid off at once, it is to be remembered that there would be thereby an immediate cessation of the thirty milhons of taxes for the interest of the debt, and a proportional diminution according as the time of paying it off is longer or shorter. * It IS however probable that the vast sales of property which would be required in the national operation for this purpose, would pre- clude the possibility of their being accomplish- ed in less than the twenty years proposed. Now if it be true, as Doctor Dick says, that " there are hundreds of thousands of people in our country who could save £500 a-year to be devoted to national and benevolent purposes, without feeling the I ast diminution of their sensitive eujoyments, it is probable that many of the wealthy v. ould make voluntary contri- butions in their zeal to accomplish this great purpose of liberating their country from this great and enormous burden of her debt. It is however to the enlightened wisdom and to the national patriotism of the great body of the people of England to which I confess I look for the final accomplishment of this great pur- pose. At first view of the plan I have propos- ed for this payment of the ^ebt, it may appear to some lather romantic, but when reflection o 161 is made by them, on tlio actual fact, that tlio people of Great Britain are ror^Iiy paying the entire amount of this national debt in interest every thirty yenrs, it certainly cannot be de- nied that it would be wiser for the nation to give up at once even one-fifth of their property to payoff the capital of the debt in 20 years, and so not have to pay it again in inteiest in thirty years. The present age teems with great and highly ir-^eful discoveries in the physical sciences. On looking back some twenty to forty years a man is astonished at the progress society has made. Time and space in fact arc approach- ing to their annihilation. The very lightning of heav*3n is subjected to use, and in time an idea will probably be conveyed over the greatest part of the planet we inhabit with incalculable velocity. Why then should not the mind of man itself make an equal advance in the high science of wisdom and happiness equal at least to that of the other sciences. Why should not the mind rise superior to the idea that its happiness depends on a few thousands more or less. En- gland has of late shown an admirable proof of that wisdom in the calm and lirm attitude with which she resisted the late attempts for the overthrow of her nntjonal institutions, which, excited no doubt by the wild example of France and the neighbouring nations, had been raised Uffainst those institutions. 1G2 Why sliould she not proceed to show that by one vast national eflbrt she is enabled to remove the great incubus that has so long pro- ved oppressive to the nation, and which, wiien removed, will assuredly create an energy and enterprize through every stream of her vitality that will probably produce the means of em- ployment and of comfortable subsistence to her vast population of artisans and labourers, and prevent the necessity of depriving num- bers of them of their birth-right, by an unavoid- able emigration to distant countries. It is there- fore to the enlightened wisdom of the nation, to their love of justice, ®f honour, and of good faith, the true sources of high national ad^ vancement, that I look to for the accoinplish- ment of this great purpose. I now proceed to offer a few fluggestions that have occurred to me for the facilitating of the great national operations that would have to be employed in the transfer of property by sale or mortgage, in accomplishment of the plan stated above. It appears then to me, that should the British Nation determine to pay off her debt, and as I believe I have stated I al- most believe in the omnipotence of the United British people in worldly afi'airs ; it appears to me that the British Government should have a lien on the sales and mortgages of property which would have to be made for raising the sums required to pay offthe debt, holding these JC «1 jBocurilies, the government and Imperial Parlia- ment could authorize and render leg d, a pro- per and sufficient currency for facilitating these sales and mortgages. This is my idea, but I freely allow that I can lay no claim to the art ot finance. I merely beg leave to suggest the idea, that the government may, by some such mode facilitate the sales or mortgages of property for accomplishing the great purpose of the nation, should it decide on paying off the debt. In fine, although I have for many years re» fleeted on this subject, and have been much as^ tonished that so great a coijntry as Great Britain should have remained so many years under this burden, I do not presume to con- sider myself competent to enlighten the nation on the best means of effecting the sales and ^Tiortgages recjuired for the accomplishment of the plan proposed. But I do certainly hope and believe that the foregoing suggestions will meet the eye of some of those superior n^inds which exist ii^ Great Britain, some of those truly pa- triotic sQuls, whom I verily believe are yet to be found there; some of those intelligent beings who form the highest honours of their country, and if on a candid consideration Qf the above suggestions they meet with a congenial feel- ing in those superior niinds 5 should they be of the same opinioji as to the high advantages th it would result to the nation, by the payment q{ the debt, I may then at least have some right r 10 i m to liopo tliey would apply their high talents, thoir knowledge of the best practtcal modes of finance, and above all their high patriotism to aw aken and enlighten the nation for this great purpose, and to infuse that degree of zeal into it which may secure its final accomplishment. I liave now only to offer a few remarks on the most advisable mode for obtaining the flense of the nation on this subject. It is true that the nation being represented in the Im^ perial Parliament, any member of that Parlia- ment whose powerful mind should lead him so to do, might move and advocate a plan for this purpose of paying off the debt ; but so lar from this being the case, I have great reason to beiieve an idea that was stated to me on i]n$ subject by a gentleman from England, appar- ently of some intelligence, respecting it,which was "that nobody at present thinks of paying off the national debt " Now every person has a right to think wha,t he pleases, but that does not prevent any other person fi^om communicating his ideas to the pubUc, if he believes he can show good reason why the debt should be paid off,which,\vilh dye humility, I believe I have done in this vvork,and further;! believe that were the general sense of the nation obtained upon the question,it would sanction that payment, Would it not therefore, be advisable to take jncnsuves adecjuate to obtain this sense of th.^ # 165 hktion on so important a subject ? Mitrht not a national convention be legally called tor this great purpose ? The answer to this question 1 hereby leave to those superior intelligent minds 1 have above alluded to^ If they believe as I do in the load of misery which the effect- ing the purpose of this work would remove, if they believe inthe vast manufacturing and com- mercial advantages it would produce, and fur- ther if they believe, as I do, in the energy and patriotism it would excite in all ranks of the people, I have no doubt of the sanction of those great intelligent and powerful miiids,nor of their conviction that the glory of England would be raised by this national movement to a higher j)itch than even she bets yet attained. I have now only to present the work to the world, as possibly the last I shall produce. I have freely given my thoughts on what mea- sures I conceive were best to promote the wel- fare of the colonies and that of the parent state, and I leave it to a candid public to decide on its merits. Respecting this country of my birth, British North America, I believe that if the national debt of Great Britain were paid off it would produce a great rise in the value of their lands and the rapid advancement of these colo- nies. And feeling, as 1 do, a deep and earnest wish for their true happiness and welfare, I now conclude with imploring their legislatures to uphold and encourage by effective laws and ■ir 4 If! J iGd regulations, the religious, hioraj and political cliaracter of their people, infusing by their ex- ample a patient enduranee of their present adverse and critical position, and a -steady maintenance of the loyal character of the Pro- vinces, as I feel convinced.the time is not far^dist- ant when by a fair and proper regulation of the colonial system by Great Britain,these colonies, and uuited Canada in"particular, will show the world that by such regulations they are compe- tent to stand and to thrive without the aid of any foreign nation* APPENDIX. Since the writing. of the greater part of the fore, going workj a series of most disastrous events have transpired in the Province. My fond hopes that the asperities of the two parties, into which the Province is divided, were cooling down, so that finally the talents and exertions of both would be employed in advancing the real interests and good of theProvince, have been, by the late events,scattered for the present to the winds of heaven. The • mutual asperities of these parties have for years before the late events been so great as to prevent them from combining their talents for the public service; and since those late un- happy events, the credit of these Provinces must be so blasted in Great Britain, that it is doubtful whether a thousand pounds could be borrowed there for the public works of the Province, or even per- 167 haps for its commercial affairs. Something then that will restore the credit and the character of the country must be done. Now a plan as I have stat- ed before has hern proposed for a federal union of all the North American Colonics; and 1 have to make mention of a very important advance in their condi- tion,an advance which I advocated in a work publish- ed by me in Montreal, eight years since, a proposal staled in that work to obtain a representation in the Imperial House of Commons of each of the North American Colonies, b} a certain number of repre- sentatives chosen for that purpose by each colonial legislature. I had when in London, England, from 1829 to 31,recommendedin aletter to Joseph Hume, M. P., his perseverance in the plan he brought for- ward for this very purpose, at the time of the pass- ing of the Reform Bill in 1830-1. His plan was for having all the colonies of Great Britain thus repre- sented in parliament. The purpose of the plan was approved of by all parties in the Housfc of Commons, and was only postponed on account of the great pres- sure of the business of the Reform during that ses sion. Hume withdrew his motion, with an under- standing it was to be brought forward at some future time. He has not yet done so, but I have no doubt he and many other members of the house would be slill favourable to it, if brought forward. I had long con- ceived a representation of this kind would tend much to advauce the interests and welfare of these Pro- vinces, and probably prove a most efficacious means of securing their tranquility, and thereby the en- couragement and assistance of the British capi^ciiistg for the commencement and profitable prosecntioa of a well founded and enterprising spirit of commercial industry amonof their inhabitants. Considering now tiic unprecedented state of depression in 'their prea- rT.*'a- l.li • 168 « rnt state of ccmmcrcc, I am not at all surprised that a plan of this kind should be again suggested by some intelligent persons,! believe,inNew Brunswick, for had these colonies been repsesented in the Brit- ish Parliament by able persons, at the time of the passing of the change in the British Corn Laws, it is possible they would not have been allowed to be thrown into the serious slate of alarm and uncerta- inty in which they are now in. It is possible, that the able representatives of these Provinces might have procured for them some remuneration for the loss of a protection which they have had from their first settlement, foY their staple produce ; that whilst the Imperial Parliament was giving a free opening to foreign nations for their grain and bread stufl's which will probably take up the redundant produce of those nations for many years ; they might also have given up to their own B. N. A. Provinces the same remuneration I have advocated in the fore- *going work, namely, the supply of our West India colonies with provisions, provided we can prove to these West India colonies we are competent to furn- ish that supply on as good terms as any other nation. EK^ATA, 1- '.if Pcc^c A, line ^,—-For"one^^nntidott>,rcnd"anotJier.** ^ 13, ** 18, — For '^JgriculluraUsta,'^ read " JgrkuUurlst.** ' 2,— For " in" the Province, read " io." 13, — For " no,' read " not so." 21 , — For " Canada in general,'' read " Canada are in geverul." 8^ — For " the above period," read " iheperiod." 2,—:For *♦ by this averiigr." read " this average."^ 16, — For "lOs. 9d. average," read "37s. lOd. avcraf^e" << ^-'For " 41«. 9rf. average freight," read, " 37«. lOd. 17, 19, 20, 52, i( 53, « 'spipp^ r.»>