CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING EMIGRATION. 26 No. 1. Out of the 24,500 who came to Upper Canada by the Rideau and St. Lawrence, nearly UPPER CANADA. 4,000 were forwarded to Prescott and Brockville at the expense of the sanitary committees established at Quebec and Montreal, and from those ports most of them were again con- leport on Emigra- veyed at the expense of this government to Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara; and as the tion, 1834. cholera prevailed at the latter places, it became necessary to send all who were anxious to get into the country, but who were destitute of the means, to the townships they were bound to or to places where they were likely to find work by land- carriage. By the Lieutenant- governor's directions, hospitals were established at Prescott, Brockville and Kingston, and orders issued by his Excellency's authority to the agents at the ports to forward the indigent to Toronto, and to provide medical attendance and comforts of the sick ; and it is extremely gratifying to be enabled to add, that the mortality, notwithstanding the ravages committed by the Asiatic cholera?, was comparatively trifling amongst the emi- grants at these places. This in my opinion is to be attributed entirely to the prompt assist- ance which was afforded. Out of the total number of emigrants landed at Prescott and Brockville, upwards of 300 were admitted into the hospitals established by the government at these ports, but the deaths amounted to only 32, and the same proportion holds with regard to all other ports in Upper Canada from which returns have been received. It may be also proper to remark in this place, that emigrant sheds were erected during all the last season at Toronto and Hamilton, and suitable log- houses built for the reception of 79 Petworth settlers conveyed to Blandford, and for 354 sent to Sunnidale and Nottawasaga The latter number consisted of indigent emigrants who arrived late in the season, and for whom it became necessary to provide work and shelter at the public expense during the autumn and winter. It may not be improper to notice the contrast exhibited by the statements which have from time to time been furnished from the Lower Province: the government having no means at its disposal for the relief of indigent emigrants, and the Act imposing the emigrants' tax having received His Majesty's sanction at too late a date to be acted upon at Quebec last season, the indigent were cast upon private charity. It is also to be borne in mind, that a very large proportion of the inhabitants of Quebec and Montreal are of French origin, and that they are, with few exceptions, hostile to emi- gration. It is true that when disease breaks out amongst the emigrants to a degree to threaten the safety of the citizens generally, that sanitary societies are formed, and sub- scriptions to a large amount obtained ; but this assistance was withheld last year, not only until the number of destitute emigrants had been permitted to accumulate in the cities to an extent which is at all times to be guarded against, but also until the cholera had committed frightful ravages amongst them; they were then hurried off to the frontiers of this province with little or no attention to their safety or comfort; and this will invariably be the case when assistance is rendered because there is danger from withholding it, instead of being granted from motives of humanity. I am fully sensible of the very great sacrifices which have been made by gentlemen at Montreal and Quebec, and that they have not only contributed largely in money, but have given their time and risked their lives to assist their suffering fellow subjects; but the burthen imposed at such time is too great for individual charity, and it is to be hoped that means will be adopted, either by the imperial or local government, to prevent its recurrence. As his Excellency is well acquainted with all the circumstances adverted to, it is not necessary to enter into details; I beg, however, to mention one instance, to show the fatal effects which I think may be fairly attributed to unnecessary detention. Early in August last a party of 368 Scotch settlers arrived at Grosse Isle, where, although in a healthy state, they were detained for nearly a fortnight, during which time only two children and two adults left the ship from ordinary indisposition. They were again detained at Quebec for several days by their endeavours to obtain repayment of the emigrant tax, which had been exacted before they left Scotland. Early in September the party reached this city, having lost 53 of their number by cholera between Quebec and Prescott. These facts were by his Excellency's direction communicated to M r. Buchanan, accompanied by an affidavit from three of the most intelligent and respectable men belonging to the party, - with a request that he would inquire into ail the circumstances set forth ; and as Mr. Buchanan's reply was not deemed by his Excellency to be satisfactory, I was again directed on the 20th of October to acquaint him, that unless an assurance was given that emigrants would not be exposed to similar evils in future, that they would be directed to enter this province by the port of New York: to this letter I have not received an answer. Although the past season has been one of great difficulty and danger, I am happy to state that the emigrants who arrived before harvest obtained employment, and that all the reports concur in stating there are no emigrants of last year in want of work, or receiving charitable assistance. Their moral conduct is also spoken of as being highly commendable. In this city the only emigrants who have received assistance from the government or from charity during the last winter are commuted pensioners, who, from wounds or infirmities), were incapable of labour. ( signed) B. Hawke.