fluence of the unseen genius of the place in which he spoke("hear," and a laugh,") and suppose that he believed it would be out of keeping in a theatre to appeal to men's passions otherwise than by a fiction. He only desired the further carrying out of principles already recognized, and necessary preliminary inquiry into some points not yet fully settled, such as, 'what is a "sufficient price" for land in the several Colonies?' 'should the whole, or only a part of the proceeds of the land sales be appropriated to emigration;' 'whether the system could not be applied to Canada, and the Cape of Good Hope;' and' whether it might not be advisable, for immediate use, to raise a loan on the security of the future sale of lands?' But he left the consideration of those matters to Government; not, however, as a question to be discussed by one particular department as mere matter of detail, or as a mere Colonial question, but as one of general import to the condition of England. He concluded by moving: "That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will take into her most gracious consideration the means by which extensive and systematic colonization may be most effectually rendered available for augmenting the resources of her Majesty's empire, giving additional employment to capital and labour, both in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies, and thereby bettering the condition of her people."

Lord Ashley seconded the motion.

Mr. Sharman Crawford totally objected to "the transportation of the people;" advocating instead,

possession of land at home by means of small holdings, which had proved very successful in the North of Ireland. There were 15,000,000 acres in the United Kingdom on which to employ the people. He also advocated the repeal of the Corn-laws, and reduction of the sugar duties, reduced expenditure, and reduced taxation. Selecting young persons for emigration was but taking away the life-blood of the country; and when Mr. Buller talked of the emigrant's sending home a surplus, where was he to get it, when he was expressly made dependent for support on any terms that he could get? Mr. Crawford moved as an amendment, "That the resources derivable from the lands, manufactures, and commerce, of the United Kingdom, if fully brought into action, are adequate to afford the means of giving employment and supplying food to the whole population; and that, therefore, before any measures be adopted for removing to foreign lands any portion of that population, it is the first duty of this House to take into consideration the measures necessary for the better application of these resources to the employment and support of the people.'

Mr. John Fielden seconded the amendment.

Mr. Gally Knight supported Mr. Buller's motion; backing his arguments with quotations from Colonel Torrens and Mr. Wakefield, to show that an extended scheme of colonization could only be conducted under Government superintendence. Contrary to Mr. Buller's opinion, however, he could see no strong objection to the employment of poor-rates in paying

Lord Stanley professed entire concurrence in the principles and sentiments of Mr. Buller's speech; but the motion if it were adopted, he said, would have the effect of raising delusive hopes, and exaggerated expectations that never could be realized; and he undertook to establish that an efficient system of colonization and emigration was at that moment in operation, and had been for years under the direct and immediate control and superintendence of Her Majesty's Government. Briefly remarking that to Mr. Crawford's motion he could not assent, though he did not dispute that the great landed proprietors of the country could improve the condition of the labouring classes, Lord Stanley proceeded to describe the manner in which by means of agents in every quarter, Government superintendence was actually extended to every emigrant in North America, even from Connaught until he reached his friends in the most distant wilds of Canada; 34,000 emigrants having been landed at the Government agency office in Quebec during the past year. The total number of persons who emigrated under similar protection during the last two years was 246,936. Emigration to Canada had progressively increased from 7,439 in 1839, to 44,374 in 1842. At what expense had those tens of thousands been transferred from their native land to a distant Colony? the total cost amounted to only 12,3881. or 5s. 8d. a head. If the expectation were held out of very extensive emigration in the hands of Government, would equal good be effected at as small an expense as Government had incurred in that instance? Were they quite certain that direct Go

vernment aid would have the effect of increasing the amount of emigration? And, assuming that it must have that effect, then he would ask the House whether they felt thoroughly assured that it would be quite right, by such a process, to disturb the relations now subsisting between the demand for labour and the supply? They were bound first to ask themselves would the proposed plan increase emigration? and, if so, would the adoption of such a scheme prove favourable to the parties going out; and again, would it be favourable to parties going out to try their own voluntary labour? Was it, also, not a plan calculated to paralyze the exertions of those who, at their own expense, were preparing to transfer their wives and families from the new to the old country? Would it not have the effect of raising the freight and expenses of sending out emigrants? Would it not likewise expose all those who had exhausted their means in going out to colonies to all the evils of undue competition competition which they could not have expected, for which they could not be prepared, and with which, therefore, it was impossible that they could successfully contend? The question of competition was a very serious one, and he trusted that no honourable member then present could for a moment suppose that it was a matter which might be despised. It was with great truth he said, that the competition in Canada was of a very serious kind-perhaps as great there as elsewhere. There was not only the competition for labour amongst the old settlers, but amongst the people coming both from this country

a

and from the United States, the inhabitants from which were every day and every hour pouring into Canada. The hon. and learned Gentleman said there was no distress in Canada-happily there was not; but perhaps he was not aware of the great public works which had been proceeded with in Canada during the past year. But, even supposing that extensive public works went on, would that afford a certainty that complete and immediate employment must be the necessary consequence? All public works must be executed by contract, and the contractor would naturally and necessarily give a preference to the old and skilful labourers. Those he would find in the greatest numbers amongst the natives of the United States, who were coming unceasingly into Canada, the prevalence of commercial difficulties in their own country rendering employment a matter almost impossible to be obtained. He need scarcely remind the House that the people of the United States would very readily transfer themselves from their country to our colony. They had no ocean to cross; they had no new institutions to encounterno new language to learn no fresh habits to acquire.

They

would go, as it were, amongst another section of their own countrymen. For these reasous, then, he did not hesitate to say that the market in Canada had been already forestalled. From New York alone 6,000 citizens went in the course of the last year to Canada, and 9,500 persons re-emigrated to this country. He remarked that, by the terms of the motion, one would suppose that the intention was,

those who would be likely to prove the most acceptable, but those whom we could best spare, the sweepings and refuse of the manufacturing districts, the old, the impotent, the feeble, the sick of the towns. He went on to ridicule a pamphlet of Mr. Buckingham, in which it was proposed to expend 5,000,000l. in carrying out a million of emigrants, and to lend them implements of labour, seed, and stock, to be repaid from their earnings. To him it appeared that nothing could be more inexpedient than that Government should enter into an extended plan of pauper emigration. All facilities should be given for the introduction of capital into Canada? but it should, at the same time be remembered that the means at the disposal of Government were exceedingly limited. They could do little more than give every facility for the acquisition of titles to land, and provide that no obstacles should arise in the Surveyor - General's department, and great improvements had taken place since Mr. Buller had presented a report on the subject to the late Lord Durham: almost all his recommendations had been adopted. With respect to Canada, the danger always was, lest the labourers seeking for employment should outrun the means of occupation which the Colony possessed. Even in the United States the work of settling waste lands, though no voyage was needed for the emigrants, who merely passed from East to West, had been over done; for the proceeds of land sales fell progressively from 25,167,000 dollars in 1836, to 1,024,000 dollars in 1841. The case in our Australian Colonies

and the system to be observed wholly dissimilar. The danger there was lest capital should exceed the supply of labour; and the distance was so great that the poor man could not afford to emigrate; therefore an artificial system must be applied to those colonies; and that plan, recommended in 1831, and founded upon the suggestions of Mr. Gibbon Wakefield, had generally been found to work beneficially, and had accomplished its objects. Lord Stanley gave some statistical details showing an amazing progress in the colony of New South Wales since 1832; the population had increased from 50,000 souls to 149,669 in 1841; the imports, from 604,620., to 2,527,9887.; the exports from 384,3441. to 1,023,3971. the revenue (excluding land revenue) from 24,2681. to 549,2881. He did not attribute that prosperity wholly to the system of landsales, but undoubtedly a great portion of it was owing to that system. It was a system he should be very sorry to see interfered with, or the principle departed from. But when Mr. Buller objected that more had not been done, was he aware, that more than the whole amount received from the proceeds of the land-sales had been applied to the purposes of immigration within the last ten years? The gross proceeds arising from the sale of lands during that period was 1,090,5831., while the sum actually paid for immigration was 951,2411.; and, taking into consideration the expense of the surveys of the land, and the sums expended upon the aborigines, the whole expenditure amounted to 1,200,000l. He objected to disturbing the Act of last year, for

New Zealand, as tending to unsettle the interests of the Colonists. He expended much pains in defending the system of selling land by auction, confirmed by that Act; without which, 893,4907. would have been lost upon the sale of 60,220 acres in Port Philip alone, and he read long extracts from a despatch by Sir George Gipps, the Governor of New South Wales, to show that a recent falling-off in the sale of lands was not to be ascribed to the high prices of auction sales, but to reaction after a mania for speculation in all kinds of trades.

Lord Stanley concluded by saying, that he should first negative Mr. Sharman Crawford's Amendment, and then move the previous question on Mr. Buller's Motion.

He

Lord Howick found fault with Lord Stanley's unqualified approval of what had recently been done. He thought that we had begun to go on the right track, but we had made but little progress. pointed to the vast extent of fertile but uncultivated land in Canada, with capital waiting here for employment, as proof that if there was danger of an over-supply of labour, there must be something wrong in the system. The great success which had attended the acting upon Mr. Wakefield's principle, made it the duty of the House and the Government to see that there was a progressive advance in the improvement of the system of emigration, founded upon that principle. One great advan tage which he looked for from emigration was political-its finding a vent for those persons, of great talent, energy, and activity, for whom this country could not find

Sir Robert Inglis remarked, that Lord Stanley's speech treated merely of emigration, and not of colonization, and he proceeded to advocate the sending out of colonies, with all the complete framework of society, even to its Church Establishment.

Mr. Hume pronounced Lord Stanley's Speech" sound through out." The way to make Colonies prosperous, and to promote emigration was, to give them a good government, and to let them have a share in it.

Lord Francis Egerton expressed the greatest satisfaction at the discussion, and thanked Mr. Buller for a speech which would convey so much sound information to the country.

Lord J. Russell could not give his vote in favour of the Motion, unless he saw more clearly the means by which the great benefits promised could be attained; and while so much was being done under existing laws, the House should be cautious how it had recourse to new legislation. If the resolution were adopted, would it not be inferred that they did not concur in those means which had been already taken; and that they had some great plan in contemplation by which the existing evils

and the distresses of the people were to be removed? He thought it of importance, however, that Government should diffuse throughout the country the utmost amount of information on the subject. For the present, the House had better leave the matter in the hands of Government; and he looked to the signs of the times with a confident hope that the country was overcoming its difficulties.

Sir Howard Douglas ascribed the prevailing distress to foreign competition with British labour; and though he had never listened to an oration with greater pleasure than to Mr. Buller's, he did not entirely agree with it.

Mr. Stuart Wortley also partially supported Mr. Buller's views, but was for leaving the matter to Government.

Mr. Buller briefly replied, remarking that Lord Stanley had made out no case against inquiry. After what had taken place, it was contrary to any object he had in view to divide the House; and therefore he begged to withdraw the Motion.

Mr. Sharman Crawford assented to that course, and withdrew his Amendment.