18 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING EMIGRATION. No. 1. LOWER CANADA. Report on Emigration. 12 Dec. 1835. employment should think of landing at Quebec with less money to pay his way to a spot where either labour may be had or settlement made than two pounds sterling, and females two pounds ten shillings ; a man and his wife and three children, under 12, should bring- six pounds, and so on in proportion. It is true that numbers have landed without a dollar° who have subsequently been independent, but such indiscretion might most frequently expose the emigrant to serious inconvenience, which might be avoided had he means to proceed at once up the country. I have been thus particular in stating the preceding facts, because much misrepresentation has been forced upon the attention of the people of England by means of spurious publica- tions, written by designing characters and others hostile to emigration and to the improve- ment of the condition of the labouring poor of the United Kingdom. The - magistrates and gentry of Norfolk are deeply interested in the cause of emigration, possessing, as that county does, so vast a population. From John Matteaux, esq., of Beachamwell Hall, and from William Masson, esq., of Lynn, I received letters on behalf of emigrants who arrived in the Shannon. The former gentleman aided some from his own estate, and very judiciously adopted the precaution of not entrust- ing the funds intended for their benefit on arrival in the Canadas to themselves or the master of the vessel, but had transmitted, subject to the consigner and control of this department, thereby insuring to the emigrants the full benefit of his munificence, free from the tempta- tion of improper expenditure on board ship at sea, and from risk of expense after arrival in the colonies. It, besides, not unfrequently happens that the master of vessels, when entrusted with money for the aid of emigrants, pays them in the currency of Canada, which, at par, is nine per cent, less than sterling, but which, at the present rate of exchange on England, would produce a difference to the emigrant of 15 or 16 per cent, less than he would receive were his money transmitted, as above stated, in British gold or banker's bill. I shall feel obliged by your causing the contents of this letter to be made as generally known throughout Norfolk and the neighbouring counties as possible. The subject concerns every portion of the kingdom, and could no doubt be readily made known and disseminated by means of newspapers. Independently of my official responsibility and duty, I have for many years felt a deep anxiety in the improvement of the condition of the labouring poor of the United Kingdom. My yearly reports to His Majesty's Government, which are submitted to Parliament, will afford you much information as regards emigration to the Canadas, particularly those of 1832 and 1834. I send herewith a few printed instructions for the use of emigrants, similar to those which I have distributed gratuitously amongst them on arrival at the quarantine station, 30 miles below Quebec. I shall be glad to hear from you, in acknowledgment of this letter; and you will be pleased to forward your communication through the Colonial Office, Downing- street. I have, & c. ( signed) A. C. Buchanan, Chief Agent. Office of His Majesty's Chief Agent for Emigration to Sir, Upper and Lower Canada, Quebec, 8 June 1835. YOUR letter of the 27th March last I had the honour to receive on the 19th ult., on the arrival of the ship Severn from Bristol, in which vessel the party of emigrants in whose favour you addressed me came passengers. These persons all landed in good health and spirits; and I gave them every advice required for their future guidance, and provided them with letters to the authorities in Upper Canada, whither they proceeded the day after arrival; and if they followed my instructions, there is no reason to doubt their ultimate success and prosperity. The demand, in every part of Canada, for agricultural labourers, and for all denominations of persons of the working classes, cannot be better; the rates of wages are very high, and, in truth, public and private improvements are much crippled for want of hands. It would be very desirable in future, should any parish labourers come from your district, that a return of their names, and the pecuniary aid intended for them on arrival in the colony, should be sent me through the Colonial Office, by which- means a check will be afforded to detect any irregularity on the part of the master of the ship, to whom, in most cases, the funds intended for the poor emigrants after arrival here are very unwisely entrusted. It will afford me, on all occasions, great satisfaction to render you every facility in my power in promoting your views in regard to benefiting such of the labouring population of England as may be disposed to come to " these fine provinces, whfere, by a steady course of industry, certain independence may be obtained by them for their families. I should be glad were these opinions more generally known throughout the United Kingdom, as great pains have lately been taken by evil- disposed persons to misrepresent these colonies, and to dissuade the labouring emigrant from coming hither, I have, & c. ( signed) A. C. Buchanan, Chief Agent.