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years, and that they should obtain something for their improvements, even if they should not have realized sufficient in the mean time to purchase a title to their occupation. It is very unpopular to bid against these Squatters." They assume a very independent attitude, and from the produce of a single crop, it was common for them, till the late depression of prices, to obtain a fair remuneration for the labour employed in making their improvements.

The first night we lay out in the woods in Alabama, one of the points discussed by some Carolinian emigrants, who came to our fire to have a little chat before bed-time, was the eligibility of stopping on the road a year, to make and sell a crop from the public lands in their way, or of proceeding without delay to their ulterior destination in the State of Mississippi. They appeared pretty nearly decided on the former plan.

The Southern States presenting, as it appeared to me, no adequate inducement to indigent English emigrants, I turned my especial attention to the advantages offered in the western part of the State of New York, where it has been understood that many of those destined for Canada finally settle. I found it impossible to learn, with any precision, to what extent the

tide of Canadian emigration is still diverted to the State of New York; but I am disposed to believe, that fewer, in proportion, pass over into the American limits than formerly. Neither could I entirely satisfy myself as to the inducements to do so, especially as the soil is not superior in the State of New York; and it is not very uncommon for Americans to go over into Canada to settle. I believe, however, that the principal reasons are to be found in the extreme activity of the agents of the Holland Company and Sir William Pulteney's estate, (who are very solicitous to promote the rapid settlement of their respective tracts,) and in the aid which they afford the emigrant at his outset, in letting him settle on their lands free of rent for the first two or three years; assisting him, perhaps, in raising a little cabin, or lending him a little Indian corn.

These trifling services, especially to an emigrant who has no money with which to pay his fees in Canada, are not only very seducing in prospect, but essentially contribute to lessen the first and severest difficulties of a new settler.

Ultimately, however, I am disposed to think they are disadvantageous in the majority of instances; the New York settler having to begin to provide for rent and instalments,

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(which, even under the alleviated pressure of his situation, it would require both self-denial and good management to save,) at the very time when the Canadian settler is emerging from his greater difficulties, and deriving a liberal subsistence for his family from his own unburdened estate. I have been told, that very few persons under the former system ultimately maintain possession of their lands; but that, after supporting themselves and their families in greater or less abundance, they are compelled to abandon their improvements for arrears in rent or instalments, and, joining the forlorn hope on the frontiers, to repeat their laborious and interminable efforts, to convert the wilderness into a fruitful field. In passing through the State of New York, I heard a great deal of the distress which at present exists from inability, on the part of the emigrants, to pay their rents and instalments, and of the hard names which the agents had to bear for proceeding to extremities. Still, however, an active, prudent man, would, under ordinary circumstances, succeed under the system, and probably as rapidly at least as in Canada; but it would require greater self-denial to impose the necessary severities on himself in New York, than to submit to them when unavoidable in Canada. The

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general observations which I made concerning the classes to whom emigration to Canada would prove a real benefit, are equally applicable to emigration to the United States; but in a future letter, I will endeavour to give you some idea of what farmers, who bring with them a few thousand, instead of a few hundred pounds, may expect to do in different parts of the United States. I will, at the same time, tell you all I can learn respecting Mr. Birbeck's settle

- ment.

I had not intended to confine this letter to such dry statistics; but it is too late to begin on any other subject.-My servant, I believe, is disposed to think, that he is better at home than in America; except in his present capacity, in a city where his wages might be ten pounds per annum higher than in England, and where his wife's services as a dress-maker, fine washer, &c. would be productive.

Letter XXXF.

Norfolk, Virginia, 12th Dec. 1820.

As engagements of various kinds begin to thicken upon me previously to embarking, and I have little chance of any opportunity of writing to you as I wish, I must continue to snatch little intervals as they present themselves, and write to you as I can.

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You are already in possession of our personal narrative" to a late date. I will now continue my remarks, scanty and superficial as I know they are, on the subject of emigration. I do not recollect that I omitted any thing at all material which occurred to me during my hasty progress through the country, with respect to the inducements offered to the poorer classes, who are anxious to obtain a little land, from which they may derive a subsistence for their families by personal exertion. On the more difficult subject of the advantages which agriculturists, with a capital of a few thousand pounds, would derive from coming to this country, I shall enter with greater reluctance;