moved at our expense? We might make the tillage of waste lands had been carmoney by such a measure; and in these ried to the utmost extent that could be days of economy such a consideration profitable. If the hon. member could inought not to be neglected. The poor troduce a higher degree of cultivation, it wretches themselves would not suffer more would only tend to the increase of the in being sold to the colonies, than they evil. He entirely agreed with what had would in being banished from their native fallen from the hon. baronet, the member land. He had an objection to allowing for Westminster, and only regretted that the overseers to superintend the emigra- | his speech was not heard in a more tion from their respective parishes, as he crowded House. He perfectly coincided conceived that much oppression and dis- with him that there was no question, not tress would result from such a plan. By excepting the Catholic question, or that voluntary emigration they would get rid of of free trade, equal in importance to the the valuable and enterprising members of one now under discussion.

He agreed society, and the evil which was said to that it was as much an English as an Irish afflict this country and Ireland would re- question. In bringing it forward, the main undiminished. The want of em- most persevering attention and indefatigaployment was the great evil, and that ble industry had been manifested by his could be best remedied by removing the right hon. friend. During the last session obstacles which stood in the way of the he had been incessantly engaged in labours employment of the poor, instead of resort- connected with it, and he had succeeded ing to this comparatively useless measure in eliciting a most important body of eviof emigration. From time to time there dence, which it would be well for hon. was an immense number of men sentenced members to weigh thoroughly before they to seven years transportation. These approached the consideration of the quesmen were confined for three or four years tion at large. He considered the proon board the hulks, and then, after their posed plan perfectly practicable as far as education has been perfected, they were it regarded England, and was convinced again let loose upon the public. Why not that it would be highly advantageous to send these men abroad at once for seven the lower orders. The mal-administration years? He, as a magistrate, was well of the poor-laws in some parts of the aware of the evil created by allowing country had reduced the price of labour them to return back to society: they to a level degrading to humanity. He generally resorted to their old habits, and would mention a fact illustrative of the when next taken were hanged. By get- degraded state to which the poor had been tirg rid of that class of persons a real thus reduced. It occurred in the parish good would be effected. They would of Harrow. The peasantry in that part of leave a land where their character was the country were actually put up to forfeited for ever, and would be intro- auction. A single man generally fetched duced to a new country, where they might 58. a week; a married man, with his wife, in time become worthy, members of so- brought 7s.; and for a married man with ciety. He was for getting rid of the bad, a family something higher was given, and for keeping the good. He should be This auction took place regularly every glad to see the hon. member's plan con- week, and the labourers were knocked fined to an emigration of those individuals. down to the highest bidders. The prac

Colonel Wood said, there were more tice had been abolished through the exerdifficulties opposed to the plan recom- tions of the magistrates, but it afforded a mended by the hon. member for. Wiltshire, strong proof of the degraded condition to than to that introduced by his right hon. which the poor-laws had reduced the friend. If the corn-laws, the currency, English peasantry. Emigration would

, , and all those other difficulties, were dis- relieve the country in a great degree, as posed of, then they might think of culti- its immediate effect would be a rise in the vating the waste lands of Ireland, in price of labour. order to give employment to the lower Mr. John Smith, as a member of the orders. It was, however, the opinion of Emigration-committee, felt it to be his many, and especially of those who were duty to bear testimony to the assiduity advocates for ihe principles of free trade, and zeal displayed by the right hon. gen. that too much land was already under thé tleman. Certain calculations connected plough; and sure he was, that in England with the right hon. gentleman's plan might not be accurate, but he considered the , mode on earth by which they could imprinciple of the plan admirable, and he prove the condition of the poor of that believed it was the only one calculated to country. So long as emancipation should assist the poor of this country and of be denied, so long would the population Ireland. Reference had been made to of Ireland continue wretched and dehimself, as he had taken a share in the graded. So long as it was refused, her distribution of the money subscribed for peasantry would come over in shoals, and the relief of the manufacturers who had crowd our shores with misery and wretchbeen involved in great distress; and he edness, being assured that they could not would therefore allude to a circumstance, encounter greater hardships here than as bearing upon the question. The com- they already endured at home. For himmittee had been solicited to send relief for self, he approved of the principle of emia thousand families in Glasgow, and it gration. The plan proposed by the right was distinctly proved before them, that hon. gentleman was well worthy of their the whole amount of food consumed in serious attention. In a part of the counone year by any one of those distressed try where he resided, there were eightyindividuals, was not worth more in money four labourers in one parish, not one of than from 25s. to 28s. It was distinctly whom was not paid a portion of his subproved that such was the miserable sus-sistence out of the parish funds. An extenance furnished to a human being in cellent Quaker gentleman, Mr. W. Allen, the course of the twelve months. He with whom he was acquainted, having would leave the House to imagine what visited that parish, described it, to use must be the condition of the poor in the his own expression, as in a state of western parts of this country, where the spiritual darkness,” and added, that it

, emigration of the Irish was incessant. had no regular clergyman. Indeed, the The Irish, who came over in shoals, had inhabitants laboured under all kinds of been accustomed at home to subsist

upon destitution. Mr. Allen established a a very small quantity of food: they of school there, and at his request, he (Mr. fered their labour at the lowest possible J. Smith) took a farm in the parish, and price, and they thus threw the Scotch built upon it seven cottages, to each of and English labourers out of the market. which he annexed an acre and a quarter Some attempt should be made to put a of land. The cottages were erected at stop to this excessive nuisance. There convenient distances, and the tenant were few counties in England exempt holding the cottage was to pay for the from its operation. It was even felt in ground attached to it. He had not had Sussex, a county the most distant from to complain of a single defaulting tenant Ireland, and where it might be supposed amongst them. . He might be accused of these poor wretches would not find their encouraging, in this instance, the further way. The only mode of preventing this increase of the already too great popuemigration from Ireland was, to find em- lation of the country. Such was not the ployment for the peasantry at home. case. The moral and industrious habits

, That was the only mode of putting an which enabled these men to cultivate this end to the irruptions of the Irish peasan- small quantity of land would also induce try. English capital would not go to them to prevent their children from Ireland, though, to his certain knowledge, marrying at seventeen or eighteen, and six per cent had been offered for it. There thus perpetuating in them that misery were large quantities unemployed at which had been before entailed upon present, and yet no man would lend themselves. He was confident that his money at six per cent upon land in Ire- tenants would not permit them to marry land, because he was afraid that the prin- unless they could reckon upon a sufcipal, not to mention the interest, would ficiency for their support. If other gennever be repaid. He had not the least tlemen were to try the experiment, they doubt but if Ireland were pacified by the would find it productive of considerable restoration of her rights, that three benefit. months would not elapse after the pass- Mr. W. Whitmore said, there could be ing of the measure, before English capi- no doubt but it would be a great advantal would find its way into that country, tage to send the unemployed Irish to the and sufficient employment be afforded to colonies. At the same time he could not. the population. There was no other / help thinking that insuperable difficulties

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opposed the carrying the measure of emi- | If individuals were encouraged to emigration into effect : the first lay in pre-grate, they should be enabled to employ venting the filling up of the vacuum oc- themselves profitably in the new countries casioned by the abstraction of the emi- to which they were sent; and the capital grants: the next consisted in the large at present lying idle in this country might sums of money that would be required to probably be advantageously put in requicarry into effect any extensive plan of sition for that purpose. emigration. He should be glad to see The motion was agreed to. those difficulties overcome; but at present they appeared to him insuperable.

Passage Vessels Regulation Bill.) Sir I. Graham asked the Secretary for Mr. W. Horton moved for leave to bring the Colonies, whether it really was the in a bill “ to regulate the conveyance of intention of government to re-introduce Passengers in Merchant Vessels to Foreign the Passengers' act, after the report of the Parts." last session?

Mr. Hume said, that after a full deliMr. Secretary Huskisson said, he felt, beration the Emigration Committee had in common with his right hon. friend, recommended the repeal of the act which that no matter required earlier attention it was now proposed to revive, on the than the revival of certain provisions of ground that it had prevented the emigrathe Passengers' act. If the hon. baronettion of thousands to America. It increased had seen all the reports from New Bruns- the expense, and added to the difficulty of wick and the other colonies, to which conveying passengers thither. Before the there was a considerable emigration last repeal of this act for the regulation of pasyear, he would be satisfied of the pro- sage vessels, disease as contagious and priety of such a course. Those who ar- distress as great, were wafted to the shores rived brought with them contagious dis- of America, as subsequently. These facts orders of the worst description: the gaol would be found detailed in the report of fever devastated whole townships, to the the Emigration committee. He saw no destruction, in some instances, of not less reason why this act should be revived ; than one-tenth of the population. The but if it was the intention of government interests of humanity loudly demanded to introduce a bill, as this certainly would that immediate measures should be taken be, in contradiction to the recommendation to secure for the passengers in those ves of the Emigration committee, he trusted sels a sufficient space, and a due atten- time would be allowed to examine into tion to their comforts and accommodation. and consider the measure. There were many provisions in the old Mr. Secretary Huskisson confessed he act of an objectionable nature, and which was unable to understand the nature of government did not propose to revive; but those pure abstract principles which were no time should be lost in reviving the to prevent them from interfering where the material provisions of the act, as the interests of humanity were at stake. He season was fast approaching when vessels could not conceive the meaning of those with passengers would be clearing for the general principles which vere never to Colonies and North America. He would bend to circumstances. During the short not enter then upon the discussion of the time that he had been in his present office, subject immediately before the House, a variety of documents had reached him nor examine whether there existed an upon the matter, and amongst others a excess of population beyond that_for letter from sir J. Kempt, who commanded which employinent could be found. But, on the Halifax station. He wrote, that although that was an evil in itself, there during the last season the ship“ James” were other evils and other considerations arrived there from Ireland, with emigrants. which should be attended to. One of the She sailed with a hundred and sixty on greatest of these—an evil not impossible board, of whom five died on the passage, in any country, and not improbable in and thirty-five were left at Newfoundland, this-was, that there might exist a great being unable to proceed. The remaining emigration from amongst the population one hundred and twenty, with the crew, arwithout a corresponding emigration of rived at Halifax, labouring under typhus capital; and thus they would be only fever. The population of Halifax amounted transferring a portion of the riischief to seven thousand, and in the lapse of ten existing to other quarters of the world. I months eight hundred had fallen victims VOL. XVIII.

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to the contagion. Care ought to be taken who speculated in passage vessels. To to prevent the crowding of these poor peo- illustrate that necessity, he would ask why ple into a smaller space than was compati- there should be regulations with respect to ble with their health and comfort. All he luggage and passengers in and upon asked for was, not that unnecessary regu- stage-coaches? Such regulations were lations should be introduced, which must, rendered necessary for the safety and comnecessarily, have the effect of throwing fort of those who travelled. Now, if it obstacles in the way of the improvement was deemed proper to have regulations of of the colony, but that care should be a restrictive nature with respect to stagetaken to provide sufficient quarters and coaches, which travelled every day, how sufficient diet, so as to prevent the intro- much more necessary was it to apply some duction of those dangerous fevers which settled rules to the mode of taking out were often fatal to the parties themselves, emigrants. The ships selected for this to those employed in navigating ships purpose were old vessels, specially taken carrying emigrants, and to the persons up for the occasion, and never used again. amongst whom the emigrants went to re- They were crammed with human beings, side. This might be avoided by adopt- badly provided with necessaries, and the ing precautions; and he might be permit consequences were disease and death. ted to observe that regulations were en- The persons who carried on this system forced in various of the British colonies were left to play the game over and over that were much more strict than any that again, with new victims. He remembered this law would impose. With respect to in one of the letters an expression of a the way in which those poor people were gallant officer, who said that, though he sent out of Ireland, it was in many in- had seen many slave ships on their arrival, stances most lamentable. The law had no with their human cargoes, he had never power to interfere, and the consequences seen any so loathsome and disgusting as were horrible. The passengers, in a state one of these passage vessels which he had of despair, took possession of the vessel, seen arrive from Ireland. From reflection, and a melancholy shipwreck was the con- and the perusal of these papers, he must sequence. He, therefore, thought it ne- retract the opinion he had formed upon cessary to introduce some measure to rec- this subject; and though he remained a tify this evil. Let a bill be introduced as warm advocate of the general principles of soon as possible, and when printed, if any free trade, he thought a special case of superfluous regulations appeared in it, exception had been made out in this inlet them be withdrawn; but some new regulations were absolutely indispensable. Mr. Warburton said, he had no wish to

Mr. Stanley said, that if he had not oppose this measure, if sufficient time were been one of those who recommended the given for obtaining information from Irerepeal of these regulations, he would not land, and from other parts interested in have addressed the House. Certainly, on the question. He considered it very unthe evidence before the committee, they wise that they should legislate without had resolved to do away with all regula- having the requisite information to proceed tions respecting passengers. He was wil- upon. Certainly, if emigration was good ling to take his share of the responsibility for any thing, it should be made as cheap of having been a party to this rather hasty as possible. If emigration from Ireland decision; but, at the same time, on the to England could be effected at 10s. a evidence before the committee, he did not head, he must contend, that the rate should see how they could avoid the conclusion be reduced from those countries to other to which they had come. If great practi parts of the world. With respect to the cal evils, however, were found to result prevalence of disease, the right hon. genfrom the removal of the regulations, he had tlemen opposite had proved nothing in no objection to the introduction of a modi- what they had said ; because typhus fever, fied bill for their revival. He had lately in its incipient state, though one person had an opportunity of seeing the corre- only had the seeds of it w his system, spondence to which his right hon. friend might spread the infection throughout a had alluded. Having attentively read large crew. through these details, he was satisfied that Mr. Robinson said, that, from his consome restrictions were necessary to restrain nexion with the colonies, such a multitude the excessive cupidity of the adventurers, of papers had come under his observation,

a

stance,

a

with reference to this subject, that he had the committee that had recommended the no doubt as to the mischievous conse- abolition of the Restriction act. They had quences of allowing passengers to go from acted correctly, on the evidence that was Ireland and Scotland without restrictions. laid before them. As, however, the right It seemed to him absolutely necessary to hon. Secretary had declared, that there repeal the act of last session. However were grounds for thinking the proposed desirable it might be to encourage emigra- measure expedient, he would recommend tion from Ireland and Scotland, he was the hon. member for Aberdeen to withdraw convinced that the act of last session was his opposition. productive of consequences appalling to Leave was given to bring in the bill. humanity, and mischievous to the people amongst whom the emigrants went to East RETFORD DISFRANCHISEMENT settle. He would read an extract from a Bill.) Mr. Tennyson liaving moved the colonial paper, containing a case of a very order of the day for going again into the distressing nature. The paper was pub. committee on this bill, lished at St. John's, Newfoundland, on the Samuel Buxton was called in, and 30th of August last :“We happened, on examined, Wednesday last, to go on board a vessel By Mr. Tennyson, and others. - Had with emigrants from the west of Ireland, been a burgess of East Retford for thirty bound to Halifax; it contained one hun- years. Had witnessed many elections. dred and sixty-four passengers. The cap- At some of the elections did not receive a tain stated, that they had had no sickness farthing. Could not say any thing about on board but what arose from hunger, and any one else. Received no money at the the peculiar situation of one or two of the election when Mr. Osbaldiston and Mr. people. The passengers found provisions Marsh were candidates, because they for themselves, and by the time they had would not give him any. He was prohalf finished the voyage, their stock was mised money by an attorney (Mr. Hannearly exhausted. It then became ne- nam); but he forgot to give him the money. cessary to draw on the stores of the ship, Mr. Hannam told him to call upon him and indications followed of a very alarming and he would give him ten guineas; but character. A short time before the ship he did not perform his promise. Hard as made land, such was the desperation to this was upon him, he was obliged to bear which these wretched people were driven, it. At the election in 1818, he received that they absolutely insisted upon having twenty pounds or guineas. He would bread or blood.” Now, was there any speak the truth ; but he could not tell who black slavery equal to this; and could it gave it him. It was sent to me as a prebe a matter of surprise, if, under such sent, in a letter. He had some conversacircumstances, pestilence and famine puttion with Mr. Foljambe. Mr. Foljambe an end to the existence of those unfortu- came in and sat down by him, and said, nate people ? But such were the conse- “all should be right." Did not know quences of not extending that useful act, what Mr. Foljambe meant by it. Had which had been frequently alluded to, to often heard the expression used at Retford, all the colonies, which would prevent the but never knew what it meant. Had said recurrence of such wretchedness. He upon the committee, “ If they win, they could vouch for it, that such was the expect the same as a labouring man that ignorance of those unfortunate individuals goes to his day's work, and that the pracwho were stimulated to leave their native tice had been continued for twenty years." country, in consequence of that heart- Might have said before the committee that rending distress, of which the House had the voters seldom got any thing but blackheard so much, that they knew not how, looks, if they were on the losing side ; and when going out, to provide for themselves; that the meaning of a burgess at Retford and they were left at the mercy, and sub-“having lost his election,” was, that he jected to the cupidity of the owners of had got nought for voting. vessels, who extorted the largest freight Mr. William Grant was called in, and they possibly could from those wretched examined creatures. He, therefore, implored the By Mr. Tennyson.—Was a burgess of House to give their support to the measure Retford. Had received money at elections. recommended to them.

Could say that no candidate never gave Sir J. Graham defended the conduct of him a half-penny, nor he never promised