CORRESPOiNDENCE RESPECTING EMIGRATION. 3 7 First class - Second ditto Third ditto - Fourth ditto Fifth ditto - Grand Total 2,105 145 219 146 169 2,784 No. 1. NEW SOUTH WALES. Letter from Edw. Foster, Esq. to R. W. Hay, Esq. 5 Dec. 1835. Of the general health on the passage a tolerably correct estimate may be formed from the following statement of the deaths on board, which, in the six ships dispatched in 1833 and 1834 ( it being obvious that no accounts of those sent out this year could, for some time yet, reach this country), and which conveyed out 1,734 souls, only 11 deaths occurred, five adults and six children. Most of these were cases of persons in indifferent health when they embarked, but who, being members of families on board, could not be separated from their connections-; and yet, under these circumstances, the aggregate average of mortality on the passage has only been about five- eighths per cent. Five of these deaths, viz. two adults and three children, occurred on board the ship Duchess of Northumberland, from Ireland, which reduces the mortality in all the other ships to less than three- eighths per cent. The Committee deem it proper to advert to this important point, as strongly illustrative of the general care taken of the emigrants during their passage to the distant land of their adop- tion, and affording a full and satisfactory answer, if any were required, to the misstatements which have from time to time been put forth on this subject. The Committee have learned, with peculiar satisfaction, that the ground of complaint which prevailed last year, of the manner in which the emigrants were received at Sydney, has been wholly removed, and are happy to advert to the excellent arrangements latterly made by the colonial government for the benefit of the females who seek to better their con- dition in Australia, and especially to the highly laudable and valuable aid afforded them by the philanthropic individuals who constitute the Ladies' Committee at Sydney. At Van Diemen's Land all seems to be done which the warmest friends of humanity can desire for the security and welfare of these strangers. The Committee beg leave, before concluding their Report, to observe, that the practical good arising from sending out a portion of moral and well- selected married persons and their families in these ships, has been confirmed by experience. Order, contentment and general harmony have been promoted on board by the influence which heads of families, who, pro perly selected, exercise over, not merely their own families, but the entire society through- out the ship, proper care being of course taken to admit those families only whose ascertained character is a guarantee for good conduct during the voyage, as well as usefulness in the colonies. The Committee regret to say, that frequent instances occur of persons of this description, who are desirous to emigrate, but who cannot possibly defray the difference between the actual expense of their passage and the family bounty of 201.; and the Com- mittee would respectfully submit to you, for the re- consideration of the Secretary of State, whether it would not be desirable to increase the family bounty on behalf of families who may be ascertained to be proper objects for it. The Committee avail themselves of this opportunity to renew the offer of their services to His Majesty's Government, and hitherto accepted, in the superintendence of the important work to which this Report relates. COPY of a LETTER from R. W. Hay, Esq. to Edward Foster, Esq.; dated Downing- street, 8 January 1830. Sir, I HAVE received and have laid before Lord Glenelg your letter of the 5th ultimo, contain- Letter from ing a report of the proceedings of the Emigration Committee during the past year, and I am R Hay, Esq. to directed by his Lordship to transmit to you the following reply. Edw. Foster, Esq. The Secretary of State desires me in the first place to repeat the assurance conveyed to 8 Jan. 1836. you by his predecessor, of the great value which is attached by His Majesty's Government _____ to the services of the gentlemen composing your committee, and to express his satisfaction at receiving a renewed offer of their services to conduct the same important objects during the year 1836. Lord Glenelg is disposed to avail himself at all times of any practicable suggestion which may be offered to him by the committee tending to improve the system of emigration ; and with that view I am directed to acquaint you, that, adverting to the representation contained in your letter, as to the beneficial influence which the presence of well- conducted married people, with their families, on board the vessels engaged for females, has had upon the emi- grants in general, his Lordship has much pleasure in sanctioning, with the concurrence of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, an increase of the aid at present granted to heads of families of this description towards providing them a passage to 301., in cases where the emi- grants shall be selected by the committee, and proceeding by the ships engaged by them for the conveyance of female emigrants. His Lordship would recommend that four ships be dispatched to the Australian Colonies during the present year, with about 250 females in each; the first to sail from London to 76. f Launceston