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AN EMIGRANT'S HOME LETTERS

of a mere capricious love of change. They will not take anybody who has a young and helpless family, except such mechanics as carpenters^ masons, smiths, shoemakers, etc., etc., who will be sure to earn enough to provide for them when they get there. Agricultural labourers cannot earn so much, therefore they are scrupulous at taking such of this class as emigrants as have families, and they will endeavour to ascertain whether you can pay for your passage yourself before they will agree to take you. Mr. Marshall told me, when I was speaking about James, that he must pay for his boy himself; if it is so, the child's passage will cost £8, but I hope they will yet agree to take him free. We shall see when they have the certificates. My plan is, if I get tools again to take out with me, to get a job at farm work or anything else that offers itself till I can save money enough to begin to work on my own account, unless something better should turn out for me. If I cannot take tools with me I must wait till I can obtain them from England, as I do not expect they can be procured nearer, which will be a monstrous calamity. It is said that a few turners might work profitably on their own account at Sydney. Still, however, I think it