(From the Sydney Herald.)
There are few situations more entitled to general sympathy and to the beneficent patronage and aid of an enlightened public, than that of the British emigrant, landing for the first time on these shores, attended by a wife and family, without money and friends, in quest of a profitable mode of employing his labour for their benefit, and disappointed in his endavours. Home with all its endearing realities of liberty, has been abandoned for ever The cords of friendly intercourse have been dissevered, The stream of patronage flowing in the various channels of private and public benefit, for one's advantage, has been diverted from its course The handicraft of the workman, which secured competence in the Mother Country, is here unknown, or uncalled for; and the emigrant sets out afresh, as in the begining of life, his frail barque ill provided for the boisterous gales of adversity, in a foreign land, and surrounded with strangers in similar circumstances, compelled to procure his daily bread by contending against a host of competitors.
All emigrants experience these feelings, to a certain extent; but probably in no country is one exposed to a greater number of temptations, or greater variety of perplexing annoyances, than in this Colony. If he has amongst us to obtain a gratuitous grant of land, he finds himself disappointed. If merchandize, or manufactures, or agriculture, the useful or the ornamental arts be his object, he finds himself already forestalled in the market which he conceived was unprovided with artizans; and he is compelled to turn his industry into some other channel to secure himself the necessaries and comforts of life. Unused to the diversified modes of living amongst us, unacquainted with our customs and local institutions, a stranger to all our petty dissensions, and parties, which embitter the pleasures of Colonial Society, the emigrant discovers to his cost, that he has every thing to learn; and that the knowledge which books had furnished is worse than useless, for it had flattered only to betray. Unskilled in the many arts of deception employed by the vicious portion of our anomalous society, to overreach the ignorant, he finds, that though removed at an immense distance from the Mother Country, we have not forgotten to transport the very worst of her practices along with us. He finds that notwithstanding the nominal cheapness of provisions, he is unemployed, in the situation of the person, who boasted that in his country, potatoes might be purchased for sixpence a hundred weight, and being asked, why he left so prolific and plenteous a country to starve in a foreign land, replied, "But alas, where was the sixpence to be found?" Not overstocked with money on his arrival, elevated with the joy of escape from misery, oppression, or degradation at home, and delighted with the prospects of the country he is about to enter, his disappointment is the greater, when he finds that in fleeing from one evil, he has fallen under the power of another. Diffident and distrustful, industrious, but unemployed, poverty behind, and dread of disappointment in front, the harassing of a humble emigrant is worthy of our deepest commiseration, and assistance. There is no situation in which a virtuous man can be placed, that stands more in want of the countenance and direction of those already established in the Country, both for the benefit of the individual, and for the advantage of the community. By a little kindness, sympathy, and benevolent exertion, on the part of others, by a few disinterested suggestions, a helping hand over the style, in this quarter, and a push foreward into the ranks of industrious on the other, the future welfare of the individual, and eventually of his children, and all their progeny, in succeeding times, may be secured, which by a different procedure may be frustrated by neglect.
Our readers are aware that His Majesty's Government have made an offer to those pensioners who may be disposed to relish the proposal, of an advance of four years pension, in lieu of their permanent claims on the British public for past services. Several hundreds of these men have accepted these terms: and have removed with their wives and families to America. Others preferring the Southern Hemisphere have been transmitted to the Australian Colonies. The wealthier classes in certain parts of the Mother Country, reduced to poverty by the pressure of poor rates, have also bestirred themselves to throw off their surplus population, and at the present moment many parishes in England are making strenuous efforts to send out individuals, under their superintendence to these shores. If the Mother country were to be relieved of her burdens by throwing the amount of their pensions on us, the hardship would be of a most intolerable character. But this is not the case; and as there is not one person, young or old, who may not be made serviceable in this Country, it becomes the common duty of all to see that they are placed in such situations, as shall enable them to earn a decent competence, and prevent at the present, or at any future period, the dreaded alternative, which in any other mode of procedure, we have reason to anticipate.
We observe in some late papers, from Van Diemen's Land, that attempts are made to throw discredit on all such importations, from a supposition, that the persons sent out are not fitted to become settlers, nor to make themselves useful. We have more than once heard the same observations made in this Country, and have sometimes led, to call in question the propriety of the measure, from an imperfect consideration of its bearings. We should coincide in the opinion, also, were the charge of transmission to be defrayed by this Colony; a subject on which we have frequaintly expressed our sentiments. But if we take into view, in our estimates, the mass of intelligence, and of successful enterprise, and labour which must be thrown into the Colony, and the tendency which every importation effects to place us in independence of prison labour, and at the same time call to mind the benefit arising from a numerous population in all pastoral and agricultural countries, we are disposed to throw out of view all such questions as depend on the expediency or policy of the measure, from a conviction of its several excellencies. We should endeavour to neutralise the evils of the system, by our strenuous exertions to turn it to good account. It appears to us that this may be the best effected by an association of respectable, benevolent, disinterested individuals, who shall take up the emigrant on his arrival, and shall not only furnish him with such information as shall be useful in directing his course, but shall enable him to find out the most profitable means of employing his mechanical agricultural knowledge to the best advantage. As many of these persons are well qualified to conduct the affairs of small farms, or to become settlers by renting land, such information shall be supplied through the medium of this society, as should at once bring master and servant, landlord and tenant into contact, by which a great portion of that time which is spent in seeking out situations might be saved to both.—The work would be one of the highest benevolence and philanthropy, and it would amply repay with conscious satisfaction of duty fulfilled, the exertions of any wellwishers of this Country, who may be disposed to embark in the patriotic undertaking.
We propose, therefore that an Emigration Society should be formed in Sydney, whose object should be to render every assistance to emigrants on their arrival, in regard to lodging, employment, transmssion to the interior, &c; and that it should render a similar service to settlers in the interior, by acting in such manner for the interest of each, as should prove conducive to their mutual benefit. Such a Society should be provided with a Secretary, paid by a small salary, for the purpose of devoting his time to the duties of his office, who shall correspond with gentlemen in the interior, who might be instrumental in procuring situations amongst settlers, for such individuals as were unable otherwise to provide themselves situations in Sydney. The expense attending such a Society would be small; and if it were productive of general good, there can be little doubt that Government, in the same manner as it exercises a laudable and liberal extension of patronage to the Benevolent Asylum, would also extend its aid to a Society so well deserving its protection, when confined to a purpose so truly philanthropic.
Such a Society has for a long time existed in Canada. The Settler, immediately on his arrival, is taken up by the Society. Accommodation, advice, and assistance are rendered with the utmost liberality, and the easiest and cheapest modes of pursuing his journey to the interior are pointed out. By this means many individuals, with a few pounds in their pocket, are placed in comparative independence, upon portions or locations of ground, and soon acquire a competency, who under a different management might have exhausted their finances in Quebec or Montreal, and become paupers, and perhaps criminals, lost to themselves, and lost to the society. What is useful in Canada would be of infinitely greater advantage in this Country, where the tone of morals is less strict, the Country less densely inhabited, and the portions of land fit for cultivation, less numerous, and productive. We think that in anticipation of the numerous drafts about to arrive, no one can hesitate in approving of the proposal. The Government of the Colony for the protection of its own interest, is bound as much as any private individual at once to promote and patronise such a proceeding, which must be effected sooner or later, if emigrants come amongst us in such numbers as render it imperative to provide them with work, or with maintenance. We regret they should come amongst us, and in any instance experience disappointment We should feel pleasure, as far as assistance can be supplied by our journal, in forwarding their views; and if a nominal list of persons and occupations is forwarded to us, of those who arrived in the last ships, or who may arrive at any future period, we shall willingly publish it, to give the Country at large a knowledge of the artizans, who may prove useful.
We shall conclude these observations by stating our opinion that if we had a Society to correspond with the Emigration Committe, it appears clear to us that more good would be effected in the way we propose, than ever can be done through a correspondence with Government. We have witnessed in the English, and particularly in the Cape Papers, errors quite unpardonable respecting this Country. By the institution of such a Society, with an active agent, the false impressions would be removed, and thousands of emigrants about to take wing, would flee to this Country, to our great benefit, in consuming our wheat and our beef, and the produce of our flocks No person will suppose that these observations are made, to throw discouragement in the way of the emigrants lately arrived, or of others now on their way to these Colonies, whether males or females. We are sure the whole Colony is glad of their accession, and only regrets that the expedient had not been in force for many years. We cannot help congratulating the Colony on the event as an important era in its history, commencing with the arrival of the Stirling Castle, and capable of being carried to an extent to which we cannot set any limits. We witness in these individuals the parents of our future Legislators, Statesmen, and heroes, As the predecessors of the moat distinguished Americins left their native country under similar circumstances, we witness in those who now arrive amongst us, the patriarchal predecesors of the Washingtons and Franklins, the Pitts and Foxes of future independance, These have left a reputation in the annals of fame, which malice or detraction cannot tarnish; and that which might have been said of the forefathers of the American people, may with equal truth be declared of those who are now flowing in to swell the amount of our industrious and virtuous population
FOR SALE
At the Stores of the undersigned.
Strong Scotch Ale, Pale Ale, and London double brown Stout in wood and bottle, Brandy, Rum, Hollands, Port, Madeira, Sherry, Claret, and other wines. Sugars, of all qualities,—Tobacco, Segars, Vinegar, Pickles, Chocolate, Raisins, Starch, Blue, Gentlemens Boots, Coats, Waistcoats, and Trowsers, Ladies Bonnets and Scarfs. Writing Paper, &c &c. &c. Masts, Topmasts, Yards, Chain Cable and Anchor for a Ship of 500 tons, the hulk of the Ship Rockingham. Also to be let, or sold, a fine boat of 12 tons, and 3 neat Cottages near the Cantonment.
- William Lamb
Fremantle January 30th. 1833.
FOR SALE
That valuable Perth Allotment L. No. 39, next to the one occupied by Mr. Mews, Apply to
- William Lamb
- Fremantle.
- William Lamb
Edited, Printed, and Published by CHARLES MACFAULL. at the Gazette Office, Perth
Terms of Subscription.
10s. 6d. per Quarter, if paid in advance, or 12s if paid at the end of the Quarter.
Single number, One Shilling.
Terms of Advertisements:—For 8 lines, 3s. 6d and 3d. per line above this numb«r.
