4 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING EMIGRATION. V No. 1. LOWER CANADA. Report on Emigration. J 2 Dec. 1835. assistance of his Excellency Sir John Colborne, were paid over on their arrival in Upper Canada, agreeably to the wishes of their benefactors, free of any expense ; indeed the sym pathy and anxiety manifested by the magistrates and gentry of the United Kingdom, who have in so many instances interested themselves in aiding their unemployed labourers and tradesmen to emigrate, are truly gratifying. Your Lordship, on reference to the Appendix, will find many extracts and copies of cor- respondence on the foregoing subject, with my answers. I respectfully solicit particular notice to my letter addressed to Mr. Gurney of Norfolk, ( see p. 17, in the Appendix,) as it contains in substance opinions which I have generally expressed, in answer to all similar communications. Mr. Matteaux of Beachamwell Hall, Norfolk, also aided some of his tenantry very liberally. The letter from Mr. Gray, of the West Kirk workhouse, Edin- burgh, as also that from the London Children's Friend Society, will inform your Lordship of the wishes of those institutions to find an outlet for their children in the Canadas. The boys and girls forwarded last season have been well disposed of in Upper Canada. The benevolent Earl of Egremont continues his munificence and sympathy towards per- sons of the working classes of good character on his estates in Sussex and the adjoining counties, by aiding them to emigrate. A considerable number arrived in the ship Shannon in good health. They are all well settled in the Upper Province, principally to the west of Lake Ontario. These facts sufficiently prove that the interest taken by the gentry of Eng- land in favour of aiding their unemployed labouring population to transfer their industry and labour to these fine provinces, where they are in such demand, is on the increase. From Ireland also I find exertions are making to devise some regular system to assist the unemployed labouring population, and to extend to them the benefits of emigration to, Canada. The condition and wants of these provinces were never more favourable for the reception of a large number of labouring persons than at the present moment. I anticipate no diffi- culty in being able next summer to find immediate employment for 15,000 or 20,000 per- sons of the working class at the numerous public works now in progress, and on numerous improvements to be commenced early in the ensuing season, particularly in Upper Canada. In Lower Canada a number of labourers will also be required in the eastern townships and other settlements; while the. improvements making by the New Land Company will afford employment and settlement to many. I beg to refer your Lordship to a correspondence which I have had with the Honourable Mr. Moffatt and the Honourable Mr. M. Gill, in relation to the preceding subject. The Report of Mr. Robinson of this department, which will be found in the Appendix, p. 13, respecting the emplovment of labourers at the St. Lawrence Canal, near Cornwall, and the regulations adopted for forwarding them thither, will inform your Lordship of the importance of having so extensive a field near Montreal to which I can direct those immigrants who do not possess means to pay their way further into the country. The facilities for absorbing an immigrant population in Canada annually in- crease, arising from the vast improvements going on in every direction, and the extension of steam navigation 011 the many lakes, canals and rivers. The instructions which I have caused to be printed from time to time, and which have been freely distributed to immigrants 011 their first landing, contain general information for their guidance 011 all material points. In addition to which, personal advice and assistance is afforded from this office to all who may require it. The Government agents along the route to Upper Canada in connexion with this department are always ready to afford prompt assistance to immigrants, and to provide suitable accommodation for the sick and indigent, ( see p. 22, in the Appendix). Upper Canada has been and is likely to continue for some time the favourite province to which emigrants will proceed. The great zeal in favour of the settlement of that rising province, and of voluntary emigration, which has been and continues to be manifested by his Excellency Sir John Colborne, has contributed greatly to encourage settlers to proceed thither. 1 feel a deep sense of gratitude to his Ex- cellency for the cordial support which I have experienced at his hands, particularly during the past years of vast emigration. In the year 1829 and 1830, a very considerable settlement of immigrants from the United Kingdom took place in Lower Canada ; and employment has since been afforded to a great number of persons in and about the cities of Quebec and Montreal. The extensive settle- ments in the township of Inverness and Leeds in the county of Megantick, which were com- menced in 1829, under my immediate superintendence, have made considerable progress ; although the bad state of the public roads, in addition to other disappointments, has materi- ally damped the spirits of the original settlers. I regret exceedingly that I had it not in my power to render them such assistance in this and other respects as it would have been desirable to have given them. My thanks are due to the provincial parliament, which was pleased to grant, on my memorial in 1829 and 1830, a sum of money to commence the opening of a new road through these settlements in Inverness to join the Shipton road. It had been ascertained that this route would become in every respect highly important, in affording a more direct and easy communication from Quebec to Sherbrooke, and the eastern townships, and in opening an extensive and fine country for the settlement of an immigrant population, as . well as in furnishing employment to such as were disposed to locate themselves there, but who required partial assistance to enable them to effect settle- ment. Your Excellency's predecessor, Lord Aylmer, manifested a strong desire to see this route opened, and I trust your Lordship may consider the subject worthy of consideration. Other desirable situations in Lower Canada may be pointed out, adapted not only to the extension of settlement by the native population, but also for the introduction of any num- • ber of emigrants from the United Kingdom. I sincerely