J. Giles Powell

“ He sees his country's banner—he exultingly remembers it displayed its triumphant defiance to the world:—he hears the spirit-stirring march and the national anthem—his breast once more kindles with patriotism—it is warmed with the pure flame of loyalty again, and he feels that, though years have elapsed since he left Great Britain, his heart is English still. ”

“ It is not generally known, that although every stranger in America receives the protection of its Government, let his crimes in the country he has fled from be ever so atrocious, still he cannot be naturalized till after the expiration of a four years' residence in it; and if, in the mean time, a War should break out between his own country and the United States, he will be considered as an alien ”

“ That the climate is singularly healthy will not be denied, but a foreign language, difficult to learn, is spoken in the country, and the hatred of the Poles to the Government of Russia renders it more than probable that, as soon as an opportunity occurs, they will endeavour to throw off that yoke which they consider so galling and degrading;—and then—in the miseries and commotions of civil war, agriculture cannot flourish, nor the property of individuals remain secure ”

“ With respect to the Cape of Good Hope, it cannot be denied that it holds forth many advantages to the settler from England, for it is under a British Government, and has a considerable English population. At the Cape, also, commerce flourishes, and a free and frequent intercourse is carried on with all parts of the world. But though the tradesman and merchant may here successfully invest their capital, and apply their experience in business, the farmer would be out of his element. ”

“ We do, indeed, sometimes hear of the exorbitant wages which some persons obtain, but we must remember, in most cases, these wages are great, in consequence of the currency of the district, for there are, I understand, some parts of the United States in which the dollar passes for more than its coined value; but then, if a labourer is paid at a very high nominal rate, there is reason to believe that articles of provision, and other necessaries, must be selling at high prices also. ”

“ Admitting, for the moment, that the soil is most grateful to the husbandman, and the climate congenial to a native of England, still it cannot be denied that laws and regulations may exist, so irksome in their nature and so partial in their probable consequences, as not to be counterbalanced by fertility of soil or salubrity of atmosphere. ”

“ It has been stated that little or no taxation is imposed upon the inhabitants of the United States; but those among them who are possessed of property can prove that is contrary to the fact. It is too commonly supposed that taxation in the United States is little more than nominal, when compared with those of other governments ”

“ It will likewise be a matter of no small consideration to notice, that the article of clothing is not the least difficulty which a settler has to surmount; for, unless he bring his mind to wear the cotton cloth of the country, the high ad valorem duty imposed upon all articles of British manufacture makes wearing apparel of every description extravagantly dear. True it is that great wages are offered to the English mechanic and artizan, to supply the markets of America with articles of native manufacture ”

“ Greatly, indeed, as the colonies of North British America abound with temporal and spiritual advantages, it is submitted that they are, in the former case, greatly inferior, and, in the latter case, not superior to the settlement in Western Australia. Let it not be forgotten, that the Winter in our North American Colonies is very severe, and though that season is by no means unhealthy, the labours of the agriculturist are for several months altogether impeded by frost and snow. ”

“ It is presumed that enough has been written to prove, that there are many more disadvantages attendant upon an emigration to the United States than is commonly supposed. What is contained in these pages does not originate from any ill feeling towards that country, but solely from a wish to prevent the ignorant and unsuspecting from deluding themselves to their ruin by false hopes and expectations—from being drawn away by the artful representations of the enemies to England, who represent this country as a scene of tyranny, injustice, taxation, and distress ”

“ And how consoling it must be to the pious man, whom circumstances have compelled to leave his own village for ever, and to take a last and sad farewell of his relatives and friends, and to place the ocean between him and his native land—how cheering it must be to him in moments of sorrow or despondency, to hear the duties of patience and resignation enforced by a minister of that Church in which he was dedicated to God by his parents in infancy ”

“ But, if a person can willingly submit to those restrictions upon his liberty, I would most seriously ask him, whether, either as a religious or moral man, he can wish to reside in a country, where marriage is by many considered as the signal and passport for adultery—where infidelity is avowed without a blush, and true religion is scarcely known? ”

“ My poor-rates last year amounted to ten dollars, although this township and the adjoining one have a workhouse, with a farm of 200 acres and more for the employment and support of the paupers. This, considering the high rate of wages, the. cheapness of food, and full employment for every one, is higher than any poor-rates in England. There are sometimes from 1200 to 1500 persons in the workhouse at Philadelphia, and as many in that of New York. They cost in Philadelphia 100,000 dollars per annum, and the whole system is miserably conducted. ”

“ Should a war break out, experience proves that no previous habits and long residence—no rights of citizenship, can naturalize an Englishman in their estimation. "A drop of tar will always be found at the bottom of the bucket, and a brush at hand to apply it." In the year 1806, when the British ship Leopard fired into the American frigate, "Chesapeake," and brought her to, to search for deserters, the United States was convulsed from one end to the other ”

“ Many of the disadvantages which have 'been represented as existing in other countries, and their polities do not exist here. The inhabitants of North British America have the happiness of being under that mild and paternal government which rules over us at home: they have the advantage of regular and frequent communication with the mother country, with which a very considerable export and import trade is carried on. A liberal encouragement is here afforded to the settler by the official regulations ”

“ It is a prevalent notion that, in the United States, land can be purchased at a nominal price, and that labourers and mechanics are anxiously sought for at very high prices, while provisions are obtained at a third of what they cost here. ”

“ In consequence of the warmth of the climate in the interior, and the dryness of the soil, corn cannot be cultivated with success, except on those small spots on the banks of streams which have the benefit of irrigation; so that few situations can be found, in which the husbandman can grow more corn than what is required for the subsistence of his family. ”

“ Yes, reader, notwithstanding what the disaffected in this country may urge to the contrary, and those who are willingly blinded by false statements and reports may believo, unhappily for that country, the state of pauperism is very great; but honored be the government of America and its laws, for instituting such a system of humanity and Christian charity. ”

“ An investment of property in France for agricultural pursuits, has been very warmly recommended by some, who, it is more than probable, have never lived in that country, and are strangers to its manners, its views, and its laws; for it is unlikely that an Englishman can be pleased with the effeminate manners which so peculiarly distinguish a native of France, or that he who properly estimates his rights, his privileges, and his liberty, can, even in imagination, consent to live in a country, where he cannot travel from one town to another without a passport. ”

“ So here we find no opportunity for the farmer to acquire land, which British experience and capital can drain or improve—no rich pastures, in which the Herefords and Leicesters may supply the shipping at the port and the clothier at home. Land is not to be obtained on such easy terms as is usually supposed in the neighbourhood of the Cape ”

“ And may this charity never be so perverted and defrauded as is too frequently the case in this country, to the support of the idle and the extravagant, who when fed, clothed and comfortably lodged, instead of being grateful to God and man for the maintenance they receive, spurn at the hand which feeds them, and sinfully and violently exclaim, that they are an oppressed people, and none so hardly used as themselves. ”

“ The Editor is not in possession of any satisfactory information relative to South Spanish Amemerica, and, consequently, he will not presume to form a judgment of the advantages which that exclusive country offers to the English emigrant, but he begs to remind the reader, that its various governments are in a very precarious and fluctuating state; that the country itself has not yet recovered from the ravages of a protracted and sanguinary war, in which all the evil passions of mankind were indulged without restraint. ”

“ The land is covered with a coarse, dry grass upon which the sheep and cattle of the country are depastured in great numbers under the care of shepherds, as in the days of the Patriarchs of old; but these cattle are profitable only for their skins, for which they are usually killed. ”

“ There have been many •who, from an idea of the cheapness of living, have for a while taken up their abode there; but what must be their distress, when, in the unstable state of that country, revolutions suddenly spring up?—and fresh commotions are daily expected. ”

“ Birkbeck, as well as many others, can easily vouch for the truth of this assertion. The labourer or mechanic will be wofully disappointed, if he expects that, as soon as he lands in New York, he can readily obtain employment without a moment's delay ”

“ Their laws provide effectually for the comfortable maintenance of the poor, who are inhabitants so long as they remain with them—of poor strangers in whatever country they were born, and when they are sick supply them with physicians, nurses and attendants."—Sadler's Ireland. ”