Emigration Fields. North America, The Cape, Australia, and New Zealand; describing these countries, and giving a comparative view of the advantages they present to British Settlers

Front matter

EMIGRATION FIELDS. PRINTED BV NEILL & CO., OLD FISHMARKET, EDINBURGH. EMIGRATION FIELDS. NORTH AMERICA, THE CAPE, AUSTRALIA, AND NEW ZEALAND, DESCRIBING THESE COUNTRIES, AND GIVING A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE ADVANTAGES THEY PRESENT TO BRITISH SETTLERS. BY PATRICK MATTHEW, AUTHOR OF "NAVAL TIMBER AND ARBORICULTURE." ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, EDINBURGH ; LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN AND LONGMANS, LONDON. 1839. This work at first consisted only of the part which relates to New Zealand. When I stated to my Publisher that I had a work in the press upon the Colonization of New Zealand, he objected to the limitation of the subject, and advised me to treat also of the neighbouring country, Australia. This led me to reflect, whether I had not such a know ledge of the subject of our colonies generally, as might be of use to my countrymen who were in clined to emigrate, and whether I could not shew how very important an element emigration might be rendered in our national economy.

After deli berating, I resolved to extend the work to colonization generally, and, in the following sheets, I have at least given an honest sketch of those fields which are open to British Emigration. What I regret is, that the first portion having been hurriedly written, while the second portion was in types, and while I was a good deal engaged with other occupa tions, it is not so full in description and reflection as VI it would have been under other circumstances ; but this may be counterbalanced in its being, in conse quence, more condensed and generalized in its views. It may be objected to this work, that too much attention has been bestowed on the political relations and prospects of our Emigration Fields. A little consideration will however convince the ob jector, that this is not the case.

The progress of colonies depends almost entirely upon their political relations ; besides, whilst I wished to afford the most correct and comprehensive account for the informa tion of Emigrants, I wished also to render the work such as the Statesman and Economist might peruse. The proposed Pacific steam-communication via the Isthmus of Darien, will soon bring New Zealand, and the fine countries on the west coast of North America, within little more than a month's voyage. In regard to New Zealand in particular, there is, I would almost say, a wilful blindness to its importance as a commercial and maritime station, and in valuable raw-material field of supply. The saga cious Franklin was aware of its importance, and drew up a plan for its colonization. Gibraltar, Malta, the Bermudas, the Mauritius, Quebec, are comparatively valueless.

Appendix

. Note A. Misery of the Working Classes, and remedy, 213 B. Radical Charity, 216 C. To the British Fair, 219 D. Land-property Right, 222 E. Hottentot adaptation to the climate of the Cape, 224 F. Tobacco Smoking, 225 G. The British Navy, 227 H, Monetary System. — That the Progress of Modern Civilization has been in a great measure owing to the depreciation of the Value of Money, consequent to working the American Mines, 229 Prospectus of a Joint Stock Company for Colonizing New Zealand, ERRATA. The first seven Chapters of this Volume having been hurriedly written, and the writer at a distance from the place of Printing, a number of errors and faults of composition have been overlooked. The writer hopes that the amount of condensed useful information will counterbalance them. The following are a few of the most pro minent errors.

Page 21, line 4, from bottom, for as read is 23, 16, for causes read cases 28, 9, for has read have 34, 7» for and read with 74, 7» for can read being able to 76, 4, for the read this 91, 17, for One read Our 109, 19, before the insert and 166, 23, for though read through 178, 5 from foot, for by the read taken by 178. bottom line, for principle read principal 187. 6 from bottom, for is read are 190, lowest line, for principle read principai 199, 3, insert comma after labour EMIGRATION FIELDS.

Chapter I. Utility Of Emigration And Colonies

Britain, at the present moment, exhibits man in a position altogether new, from the extensive appli cation of steam power and improved machinery in aid of human labour. By means of these facilities to pro duction, together with combined labour, the work of man has been rendered doubly efficient in raising food, and many times more efficient in fabricating clothing, and other human requisites. An immense available power and surplus labour supply has thus been developed, limited in the field of food production by our confined territory, restricted in the field of manufacturing production by our home food-monopoly. A great change in the relative proportion of labour and capital requisite for production has also taken place, and human labour, in part super seded by steam power and machinery, has undergone a comparative depreciation of value.

The usual ba lance of demand and supply of labour being thus A deranged, has caused occasional gluts, and it may require a time, and much further misery may ensue, risking political convulsion, before the social economy adjust itself, unassisted, to the new order of things. One of the most prominent consequences of this new order, is the great comparative increase of number of the non-producing classes (the holders of accumulated wealth — the idle recipients of income) and the unprecedented extent of their comforts and luxuries, while the condition of the working-class, instead of improving, has deteriorated — (see Appendix A). Had the free-trade system been adopted contemporaneously with this available increase of power of production, the condition of the working-class would, no doubt, have improved in nearly an equal degree, as an almost unlimited demand for our manufactures, in exchange for the food and raw produce of the Continent, would have taken place.

But as this system, however much to be desired, is awanting, and the mischievous effects of our restrictive system already in part irremediable, humanity calls upon us to endeavour to devise some other means of effecting an improvement in the condition of the working-class, but of such a nature, as not to impede the attainment of free trade. Prevented by our trade-restrictive system from ob taining a market in foreign nations for the immense surplus fabrics which this vast increase of power is capable of producing, there is only one other avail able resource, — to transplant our surplus working-population to new lands. This would not only bring about a salutary balance in our home economy, but at the same time, by raising up new and most valuable customers, would afford wide and extending fields of consumption, commensurate with the future increase of our powers of production.

In the present condition of Britain, it is even probable that a system of colonization, judiciously planned and sufficiently followed out, would eventually be equally promotive of the comfort and happiness of the working-population of Britain, as if free trade were to give full scope to the employment of the whole working-population at home, and at the same time be more influential in improving the race of man generally. Change of place within certain limits of latitude, seems to have a tendency to improve the species equally in animals as in plants, and agricultural and trading occupations are far more congenial to health and increase, than manufacturing occupations. It cannot therefore be doubted that the increase of the British race (evidently a superior race), and their extension over the world, and even the vigour of the race itself, will be more promoted by this colonizing system, than by the utmost freedom of trade without the colonizing system, and the turning of our entire energies to manufacturing industry.

This attempt to draw attention to colonization proceeds from no wish to check the present national effort to obtain free trade ! Colonial intercourse is in effect a circumscribed kind of free trade, under peculiarly favourable circumstances ; and the amazing increase, and vast extent and advantage, of our colonial trade, is the most direct proof of the advantage, not only to Britain, but to mankind, which icould result from free trade over all. Every enactment to prevent the ex change of the produce of labour between man and man, and nation and nation, if the article is not injurious to health and morals, is truly diabolic. All who have aided in these enactments ought to be held up to the detestation of mankind as repressers of industry, as promoters of misery, as ministers of evil, selfishly bent upon rendering abortive the good which a benevolent Providence has designed for man, in forming one portion of the earth more fitted for the seat of manufacturing industry and trade, and other portions for the peculiar production of various kinds of food and raw material, thus calculated, by giving rise to a reciprocity of advantageous intercourse, to promote an enlightening and friendly connection, and to diffuse science, morality, the arts of life, all that conduces to improvement and happiness, over the nations.

In the event of our own Legislature adopting the free-trade system, the introduction of the colonizing, by rendering Great Britain more independent of foreign nations, will be a means of inducing these nations also to agree to a reciprocity of free-trade ; whereas, were we soliciting the free exchange of commodities, and apparently dependent upon these nations for a market, there would be no end to the haggling of their selfish and ignorant governments. In this view, therefore, colonization is a step to the attainment of general free trade throughout the world ; at any rate, the increase of our trade and manufactures, sequent to an extensive emigration, by diffusing intelligence and wealth, must sooner bring about the free-trade system. The mind is almost overwhelmed in contemplating the prospects of improvement in the general condition of humanity, now opening through the medium of British colonization, and the consequent diffusion of the elevating and meliorating influences of British liberty, knowledge, and civilization.

One great free naval people, aided by all the discoveries of modern science, and united under the attractions of a com mon literature, and the reciproca advantage of the exchange of staple products, increasing rapidly in numbers, and ramifying extensively over numerous maritime regions, will soon overshadow continental despotisms, and render them innocuous. From the unlimited supply of new land, colonies are especially fitted for a connection with Britain. Being in the opposite extremes of condition, they are in the highest degree mutually beneficial, the former affording the raw material in exchange for the more laboured products of industry of the latter, while at the same time the colonists are by habit great consumers of British manufactures. What is required is, that the extension of colonization should go hand in hand with the extension of manufactures, thus generating new markets in proportion to the increase of fabrics.

But, at the present moment, it is as a salutary drain to our overstocked labour-market, that colo nization is so vitally necessary. To bring things to a healthy state, a vast exportation of working-population must in the first place be effected, and to keep them so, a constant great stream of emigration must be afterwards kept up. And in proportion as this efflux is properly regulated, will, at the same time, the condition of the people at home and abroad be prosperous, and the population progressive. That colonization is merely sowing the seeds of fu ture prosperity, is proved by the clearest and most di rect evidence. The perfection and extent of our manu factures — the source of our national wealth and of the value of our landed property, are manifestly owing to the demand and supply of the United States, and the other colonies which we have plant ed ; our trade to these far exceeding that to all the world besides.

Emigration to fruitful new lands, where our superabundant capital and population would be employed to the greatest advantage and most rapidly enlarged, by which our paupers would be transformed into rich customers (our greatest evil turned to our greatest good), is in policy and humanity alike our interest and our duty, as being the clear and direct road to prosperity. Under a pro perly regulated colonization, the most sanguine can scarcely form a conjecture of the extent to which our manufacturing and commercial greatness might be carried, and the comfort and happiness to which all classes might attain. Under a properly regulated colonization, to obey the common instincts of nature, " to increase and multiply," instead of being, as it too frequently has been in Britain, a curse, will become, as in the United States, a blessing.

Things have been so far misdirect ed hitherto, that the greatly increased facilities of pro duction of ichat is necessary to the comfort and pleasur able existence of man, which, under proper direction, ought to have benefited all classes, has only administer ed to the luxury of a comparatively small number, the property class.' So sensible are the working men in England of this, that they have considered facility of production their enemy, and have had recourse to the most pernicious and atrocious practices, — ma chinery-breaking, and burning of agricultural pro duce, to prevent it. The old system of English poor law (perhaps the worst that could have been invent ed) and the new amendment, are equally ineffectual to accomplish the end desired, — the prevention of human misery, — the removal of those sufferings aris ing from inadequate employment or inadequate remuneration, evils for which there can be no effectual remedy save an increased or improved field of labour ; and this, as formerly stated, is obtainable in Britain only by free trade or by extensive emigration, but, most effectually by both.

The prudential check, from which so much has been expected, is but an irksome and unnatural palliative, scarcely preferable to the natural destructive check itself. * Nothing can be more pernicious than poor-law contributions, and charitable givings, and bequests of all descriptions, at least as these matters have been conducted. It is merely a nursing of misery, — keeping up a vast num ber of unemployed people, ready at all times, should labour come a little more into demand, to compete with those in employment, and keep down wages to the lowest pitch that the animal machine can be kept working upon. Charity is not less injurious as interfering with the great law of nature, by which pain and death are the • While two-thirds of the world are lying almost waste, and the other third very imperfectly cultivated, it is yet rather premature to speak of preventive or destructive checks, — war, nun neries, infanticide, single blessedness.

The latter, recommended as preferable to colonization by political economists, may be left to their own especial practice. established penalty of ignorance, idleness, and impro vidence ; enjoyment and life the reward of knowledge, industry, and forethought. Alms or relief to the poor is clearly an interference with, or a subversion of, this natural law, and though it does not prevent the suffering sequent to the former, it destroys the advantages sequent to the latter, and only promotes general misery. It is to the purposes of colonization that the English poor-rates and other charitable be quests, now worse than uselessly consumed in nursing up the improvident poor and keeping down the indus trious, should be converted. (See Appendix B.) A sufficient emigration of the labour-classes would increase the labour-demand, and raise wages so high, that every one able and willing to work would obtain a competency for the support of a family, and even of a parent in infirm old age, in case of necessity ; thus cutting up pauperism by the roots, and leaving the bastiles, the poverty-prisons in the south of England, untenanted.

In the United States of America nearly all the marriageable people enter the marriage state and find a family advan tageous to the increase of their wealth and comfort. This arises from the favourable field for industry, and the social advantages they enjoy. Nothing hin ders Great Britain from enjoying these, and even greater advantages, but her own stupid and guilty neglect. In many respects she is equally favour ably circumstanced as America, in some much more favourably. Her climate is better, her capital be yond comparison greater, her machinery and aids of human labour and advantages of combined labour vastly superior, her new unpeopled territory more ex- UTILITY OP EMIGRATION AND COLONIES. 9 tensive and more favourably situated for trade, and equally easily reached, — it is not more difficult for a native of Britain to emigrate beyond seas to her colonies, than for an inhabitant of the Atlantic States to go to the banks of the Missouri and Texas territory.

Why, then, should the condition of the work ing population of Britain not be as favourable as that of America ? Simply because the field of labour, from our narrow home territory, dense popu lation, and restrictive trade system, is more limited in proportion to the labour supply, and that we fail to profit by our opportunities of extending it. A sufficient emigration would render it equally, if not more favourable. Let the truly charitable — those who have the welfare of their suffering countrymen really at heart, reflect that ignorance is criminal, where know ledge is within their reach. Let them hasten to devote their exertions and wealth to purposes of uti lity, and not waste them in increasing the very evils they wish to remedy. Let them promote colonization. With an overflowing capital, and a population, notwithstanding our emigration, increasing at present nearly 400,000 annually, and as things are regulated beyond the means of full subsistence and la bour-demand, Britain is placed under circumstances more favourable than ever occurred at any former period for carrying the principle of colonization into effect to its fullest, most salutary extent.

The im portance of emigration, as before stated, is proved by the immense and most advantageous trade we now oarry on with the countries we have colonized ; an al most unlimited extent of unoccupied territory is at our command ; a very extensive emigration is necessary to render a poor-law practicable in Ireland, and to assist the working of the new poor-law in Eng land (a sufficient emigration would soon render both unnecessary) ; the beautiful, I would almost say de signed, adaptation of the sale of colonial new lands, partly producing funds to carry out working emigrants is now discovered ; the economy of transporting great numbers to distant countries in health and safety is nearly perfected : — all these conspire in an almost miraculous manner to place the destinies of man at the disposal of Britain, and to render the present era the most eventful in the history of the world, — the era of colonization.

Even although 450,000 (the present total yearly increase, including the present emigration, nearly 100,000) were exported annually, the future increase, from the improved condition of the great body of the people, would extend perhaps to double this number, say 1,000,000 annually, and that of our capital in a corresponding ratio ; while at the same time the de mand for manufactured produce, caused by the wants of the exported portion of our people, would greatly improve the home labour-demand, even with this great increase of hands. Thus our numbers would go on increasing faster at home than at present, while at the same time the country would increase in power, in a ratio still more rapid from the greater prosperity of all. It is only within a few years that the immense im portance of colonization has come to be appreciated ; recently the most unfavourable prejudices existed respecting it, and the most erroneous and absurd doc trines were promulgated, to feed the popular odium. by political economists ; who, in their wisdom, could never solve the difficulty how Britain continued the richest nation of the world, while her resources were being wasted upon numberless useless colonies.

Let us contemplate the difference of results which the resources of Britain would have accomplished had they been so wasted, — had they been devoted to purposes of creation as they were to purposes of destruction during the American and French revolutionary wars. We did not then hesitate to lavish hundreds of millions in engaging in deadly feud the European and American nations. It seems hitherto to have been the principle of Government to hold any expense incurred for purposes other than rapine or destruction as a misapplication of the national resources. A change is at hand. The reign of Queen Victoria pro mises to be glorious for a victory over barbarism and human misery — Colonization is the means. A tax of ten per cent, in Britain and Ireland upon land rental would be most profitably employed in carrying out labouring emigrants, and in locating them comfortably.

This wrould be a humane and rational amendment of the English poor law, and the best poor-law for Ireland that could be intro duced. This fund, together with the proceeds of the sales of colonial lands, under judicious and eco nomical management, would in the course of a few years have a most beneficial effect upon trade, and greatly ameliorate the condition of the working population : continued for half a century it would change the face of things over a great portion of the habitable world ; and the extent of its effects, persisted in for several centuries, would be beyond even what we now can contemplate. The vast en crease of the value of land-property in Britain, which scarcely suffered a nominal reduction, by the doubling of the value of money by Peel's bill, is caused by the food monopoly.

Were the corn-laws entirely abolished, rental would not exceed one half what it now is, excepting for property in the vicinity of towns. And granting what the self-in terested assert — that a tax upon foreign grain is ne cessary to prevent Britain from being at the mercy of foreign nations for food, — that it is better to be kept constantly at the starvation point, than to have foreign supplies, although our fabrics are lying with out purchasers, our working men idle, and the grain in the Prussian warehouses consuming by weevils, — that it is more likely an equable supply will be de rived from the home-country alone, than from the home-country, with all the world to assist, a super fluity of crop in one country balancing the deficiency of crop in another ; — even granting all this, and the necessity of the food-monopoly, our landholders are clearly indebted to the community in a drawback tax equal to the increase of their rents by the foreign gfain-tax, especially as they, like the other property holders, are much less taxed in proportion to income than the working population.

The adoption of this tax of ten per cent, on land-rental cannot therefore meet with any reasonable opposition from them. Even in the event of the attainment of free trade, it would be but a very small return of what they are indebted to the community for the increased rents they have unjustly been receiving in past years.

Chapter II. Circumstances Which Modify Temperature, And Classification Of Emigrants

Having demonstrated the extreme importance of Colonies to the progressive prosperity of the Em pire, and the necessity of extensive emigration to the well-being of the labouring population ; that the wages of labour, the returns from capital, the mer cantile marine, in short, all the elements of national happiness and greatness, would be greatly increased, I shall now take an excursive glance at the different most inviting fields, where colonization is practica ble, endeavouring to point out the advantages or disadvantages which these present to intending emi grants. Before entering on this, however, I shall make a few remarks on climate, temperature, and the circumstances by which they are modified. A correct knowledge of these is necessary to a comprehensive acquaintance with the economy of colonization, and to assist the intending emigrant in making choice of a future home, and it will save future digression.

A few remarks will also be necessary on the classification of emigrants. TEMPERATURE. Circumstances which modify Temperature. 1st, Altitude. — Every one knows that the temperature diminishes as we ascend above the level of the sea. At the Equator, the line of perpetual snow is nearly three miles above the sea-level, and in Britain nearly one mile. The decrease of temperature may be taken roughly at about 300 feet of altitude for one degree (Fahrenheit) of temperature, or one de gree of latitude. This decrease, however, is very un equal at different places. High table-lands are much warmer than high mountain peaks, rising from a low level : this is caused by the sun's rays heating only opaque bodies, — the surface of the earth, and not the transparent air. Exemplifying this, we find the line of perpetual snow on the north side of the Himmaleh mountains (contrary to what we might expect from the exposure) is much higher than on the south side : this is owing to the very high level of the surface of the country to the north of these mountains, and the comparatively low level of the south.

The temperate zones, to poleward of 30 °of latitude, where malaria does not abound, are favourable to the European or Caucasian race. Within the tropics, and to the distance of 30° from the Equator, it is necessary to ascend from two to eight thousand feet to obtain a temperature fitted to that race. At a high altitude, in low latitudes, we have a nearly constant equality of mild temperature, — a perpetual spring, which might be considered exceedingly fa vourable to animal and vegetable life. But another circumstance powerfully affecting the economy of ALTITUDE. animal and vegetable life, comes into action, at least when we exceed six or eight thousand feet. The air, at these high altitudes, from the absence of pressure, is much rarer than at the level of the sea, — so rare, as to be much less fitted to excite and sus tain the energy of the vital functions ; the lungs seem too unsubstantially inflated to supply a sufficiently aerated or assimilated blood ; the working of the pulsatory mechanism of the heart is also de fective, — any kind of muscular exertion, especially the climbing of an eminence, causing the heart to palpitate to a painful degree.

There is, however, an adaptive power in nature, which gradually ac commodates the living mechanism to a change of circumstances, and the lungs of those who have so journed at these altitudes for a number of years be come, in some degree, accommodated to their un substantial fare ; and this adaptation is increased, when the individual has been born in the locality, and still more, when his progenitors have been so. Neither animals nor plants, however, attain the same vigour, size, and weight that they do at lower levels. The human system is also liable to diseases not known, or very rare, at lower levels ; and, upon the whole, excepting in the case of a few species, which seem formed peculiarly for high elevation, the condition of life is inferior, and life itself of shorter duration. Between the 30th and 40th parallel of latitude, mountains and table land, of from two to four thousand feet in altitude, are sufficiently favourable to animal and vegetable life, and especially to the White Euro pean race of men, who, on hills, at these altitudes, TEMPERATURE. from the moist and bracing atmosphere, and general absence of putrescent malaria, attain a ruddy and bright complexion, and do not yield to those at the sea-level, in strength, hardihood, or longevity.

As we advance from the 40th parallel to the polar circles, the altitudes favourable to life gradually diminish till about the 60th parallel, when only the lands immediately above the sea-level are habitable. 2d, Prevalence of land or water in the vicinity, or in the same quarter of the world ; land causing extremes of temperature ; water, especially deep water, equalizing it, excepting when frozen. 3d, Trade winds, or prevailing aerial currents. — These blow on the north temperate zone, from west and south-west ; and on the south temperate zone, from the west and north-west. Within the Tropics, and in summer, for about 10 degrees of latitude be yond them, the trade-winds blow, on the north of the Line from the east and north-east ; and on the south of the Line from the east and south-east.

These winds generally blow from eight to ten months of the year. Winds, or the motion of the air, by mixing different strata, tend generally to equalize temperature, especially that of day and night ; by giving out heat to the surface of the earth, as they brush along, they prevent it from cooling very low in the night from radiation, and thus producing hoar frost, and by taking in heat during the day, prevent it from becoming much heated by the sun's rays. 4th, Winds that come over an extent of sea, if that sea is not frozen, invariably equalize the tem perature of the country to which they blow. oth, Winds that come over an extent of land in WINDS, winter, when the surface of the country is covered with snow, cooled to a very low temperature, are ex ceedingly keen, and frequently destructive of animal life.

They are also destructive of the vegetables which are above ground in winter, when not pro tected by snow, such as wheat, rye, rape, turnips. Britain, from its insular position, is but little affect ed by these winds; but the North of Europe, and Asia and North America, north of 35° of latitude, suffer extremely. 6th, Winds that blow over an extent of land in summer, when the surface of the land is dry and heated, raise temperature. These winds, when coming from an extent of sandy desert, or parched country, are frequently warmer than the natural temperature of the human body, rising to 100° and upward of Fahrenheit. They become then extremely distressing to the human feelings ; every species of vegetation shrivels up and disappears under their blasting influence, while all descriptions of timber frame-work and machinery crack and twist, and go to pieces.