coast line from Calais to the northern fron- | the honour of being also a Member, to intier of Portugal. In Southern and Wes- quire into the best means of promoting tern Australia, and the valuable islands of emigration. The first measure of that New Zealand, entirely new and most of them thriving settlements have been formed; and in Van Diemen's Land, the population has greatly increased. The whole British population, (excluding, of course, the natives,) or, rather, the whole population of European origin, in the different Australian Colonies, now amounts to near 300,000 persons. But, while in the space of twenty years the population has increased five or six-fold, the wealth of these colonies has increased still more rapidly. The best test I can apply to ascertain the wealth of a rising colony, is the amount of its exports; we can judge less by the imports, because a considerable importation into a colony may be occasioned by a large expenditure by the Government of the mother country, whereas the exports must be created by the successful industry of the colonists. I find that in 1828, the whole amount of exports from these colonies was 185,000l.; and in 1845, the last year for which the returns are complete, the exports had risen to 2,189,000l.; being an increase of twelve-fold in seventeen years. This is a striking result; but it will be still more so if your Lordships will permit me to go a little further into particulars.

In the year 1830, when I first knew anything officially about these colonies, no facilities whatever existed for the emigration of the labouring classes to New South Wales. The ships which went there afforded accommodation only for cabin passengers, or for those who required what are now called intermediate passages. The expense of emigration to Australia, with the description of accommodation which was at that time alone provided, was much larger than could be afforded by a labouring man; so that, practically, there were no means of emigration for that class of society. In the course of the year 1830, my noble Friend, Lord Ripon, who was then Secretary of State for the Colonies, established the system of alienating the Crown lands by sale only, instead of by grants, as had previously been the practice in Australia; and at the same time the principle was laid down that the revenue realised by the sale of land should be applied in carrying out emigrants to the colonies. A Commission was appointed, over which my noble Friend the Duke of Richmond presided, and of which I had

Commission was, to endeavour to prevail
upon shipowners to furnish passages to
Australia at a cheaper rate, and with hum-
bler accommodation, suitable to the means
of the labouring class. They consented to
make this experiment, and the system then
began; but the funds applicable to emigra-
tion were at that time exceedingly small;
and for the first few years the progress of
emigration thus carried on was
so slow
that it seemed little likely to become of
much consequence. But the measure it-
self being founded on a sound principle,
its operation gradually increased, until the
results became very important. In 1837,
the extent of emigration had so far in-
creased, that my noble Friend, Lord
Glenelg, who then held the office of Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies, appointed a
separate office for the management of that
business; and hence the origin of the Land
and Emigration Commission; and in creat-
ing that board, and in the selection of
those whom he named for that important
duty, I consider that my noble Friend
adopted a measure of incalculable impor-
tance and benefit, both to this country and
to the colonies.

At that time the population of New South Wales was only 77,000l.; but in the course of ten years the population was almost doubled, emigration having added to it no less than 62,000 persons. Those persons were sent out under the superintendence of the Commissioners, and the greatest possible advantage has been the result of that course of proceeding. During the same period, the Commissioners for South Australia sent to that colony about 10,000 persons; the New Zealand Company also sent out about 7,000 persons; altogether, in the course of those ten years, there were sent between 90,000 and 100,000 emigrants, of whom no less than 80,000 were provided with a passage out of the sums derived from the sale of the colonial lands. After this statement of the general result of the working of the system, I will now advert, for a moment, to the cases of one or two individual settlements, by which the result of the system will appear still more remarkable. The importance of the district of Port Philip, in the territory still forming part of New South Wales, and the colony of South Australia, were the creation of a period not exceeding ten years. In 1836, ten years prior to the date of the

sons.

last census, there were in Port Philip only | colonies have been formed by merely one a few scattered inhabitants, estimated to class of society, or by the emigration of number between 200 and 300. In March, labourers only. So far is this from being 1846, when that census was made, the po- the case, that there are to be found setpulation of this district was found to have tled in these colonies, retired officers of increased to 32,800, including the town of the Army and Navy-gentlemen who have Melbourne, which then contained a popu- taken high degrees and honours at the lation of between 8,000 and 10,000 in- Universities, and many other persons of habitants. Thei mports into that district, education and intelligence. Indeed, both in 1845, were to the value of 205,000l.; in South Australia, and in New South and the exports to the value of 343,000l.; Wales, there is a very large population of the general revenue of the district, in 1847, men of superior education and intelligence. was no less than 68,000l.; and the terri- I must therefore say, that looking at these torial revenue, derived principally from the facts, it is impossible to admit the truth of sale of land, was 70,000l.; making alto- what has been sometimes very confidently gether a revenue of 138,000l. collected in asserted-that colonisation is a lost art. this district, which only ten or twelve years On the contrary, I believe that colonisaago had been occupied by 200 or 300 per- tion never has, in the history of the world, made such rapid progress as in the inIn South Australia the results have stances I have stated to your Lordships. been almost equally remarkable. But II would remind your Lordships of the very will not trouble your Lordships with the interesting evidence given last year by arithmetical details, as they will be found Mr. Elliot, then at the head of the Emiin the evidence taken before the Colonisa-gration Board, in which capacity I believe tion Committee, and in the papers I am most of your Lordships are aware how about to lay on the table. It is, however, valuable were his services, and who has important to observe, that in the Port now duties of still greater importance, Philip district, this now thriving commu- which he performs with equal ability, as nity, has been established without one Assistant Under Secretary of State for shilling of expense to the mother country; the Colonial Department: Mr. Elliot, in and even South Australia, although it has the evidence to which I refer, drew a had temporary difficulties to encounter, comparison between the progress made by and though unintentional errors were com- our Australian colonies, and the old colomitted in its earlier days, and it has cost, nies which now constitute the United in consequence, comparatively a consider- States of America. The comparison is able sum, yet from the time its manage- most curious, and singularly favourable to ment was taken out of the hands of the our new colonies. The rate of progress Commissioners, to whom it was originally of the Australian colonies, as compared entrusted, in order that it might be placed with that of our old American colonies, is directly under the charge of the Govern- really marvellous. ment, it has emerged from its difficulties, and has continued steadily to advance in prosperity, till a large revenue has been obtained, more than equal to its expenditure, and funds have been realised, applicable to the conveyance thither of a very considerable number of emigrants. Neither can it be said that this success of South Australia is owing to the great mineral wealth which has been discovered there; because the difficulties of the colony, which were at their height in 1840, had, in 1845, been completely overcome, and it was steadily advancing in prosperity before the mines had been opened to an extent of any importance.

My Lords, I think it is also of importance that I should remark, in order to correct a very prevalent error, that it is entirely a mistake to suppose that these

For example, I find that the population of Sydney in 1836 was 19,000; that in ten years the population had actually doubled, and in 1846 was 38,000. Comparing this with the old American colonies, I find that the population of the important town of Boston, in 1790 (170 years after its foundation), was 18,000. The population of the city of New York, in 1773 (immediately before the breaking out of the war of independence), was only 21,896, having then been founded a very much longer period than Sydney has now, but containing a population 17,000 less than Sydney does at the present day. The population of Philadelphia in 1790 was 28,528. But what is still more remarkable, is the wealth of our present colonies, and the advantage which they have been to the trade of this country, as

compared with the wealth and trade of our | America, the result becomes still more old American colonies at the time of the striking. But, great as this progress has breaking out of the war. The whole po- been, I am far from saying it is not the pulation of our old American colonies, in duty of Parliament, and of the Govern1773, was about 2,300,000; and the popu- ment, to use all such means as are in their lation of the Australian colonies in 1845, power for giving a still increased impewas only 283,873. Yet the imports of all tus to this system of emigration; and I descriptions into our old American colo- wish to show your Lordships that this has nies in 1773, amounted to something more not been overlooked. In 1845, for want than 1,000,000l. sterling: while the im- of funds, emigration to Australia was very ports into our Australian colonies in 1845, nearly suspended. But in 1846, the revamounted to 2,070,000l. The exports enues of South Australia were again in a from our old American colonies, in 1773, condition to allow of emigration to be reamounted to something short of 2,000,000l., newed; and in that year about 2,000 perwhile the exports from our Australian colo- sons were sent to that colony. Since nies, in 1845, were 2,185,000l. Or, if then, the stream of emigration to South we contrast the comparative extent of the Australia has steadily and constantly been trade of the two classes of colonies accord- flowing. Last year, the Governor of New ing to its value, per head, of their respec- South Wales reported that the debt which tive populations, it appears that the im- had been incurred for previous emigration, ports, per head, into the old American and charged upon the Crown revenues, colonies, at the breaking out of the war, was nearly paid off; and he believed that were to the amount of 8s. 9d. per head he might safely venture to recommend the of their then population; while the imports resumption of emigration to that colony of our Australian colonies are at the rate also. I had full confidence in the reasons of 71. 5s. 10d. per head. The exports assigned by Sir Charles Fitzroy in support from America, at the breaking out of the of that opinion, and I accordingly directed war, were at the rate of 16s. 8d. per head the Land and Emigration Commissioners of the population; and the exports from immediately to resume sending emigrants the Australian colonies are at the rate of to New South Wales; and towards the 71. 14s. 3d. per head. close of last year, the first ships of the renewed emigration to New South Wales were despatched. The first ship sailed about the month of October or November last. Since then successive accounts from New South Wales have arrived, showing that the funds applicable for this purpose have more than kept pace with the expectations entertained respecting them; and accordingly I have given directions, from time to time, to the Land and Emigration Commissioners, to accelerate the rate at which ships were despatched, and in pursuance of those directions the number of emigrants has been rapidly increasing in amount. By a return which I hold in my hand, of the operations of the Commissioners in each month (with the details of which I will not trouble your Lordships) it appears, that in the present year there have already sailed to New South Wales twenty-three emigrant ships, carrying 5,323 emigrants; and that there have sailed eleven emigrant ships to South Australia, carrying 2,736 emigrants, making a total of 8,059 persons sent out this year. For the remainder of this year, ships are to be despatched at the increased rate of six in every month to South Wales, and a

Such has been the extraordinary progress of these colonies; and I think your Lordships will agree with me, that these facts sufficiently refute the common notion that the art of colonisation is a lost one; that the population of this country are less enterprising and adventurous than the population of former days; and that they are less capable of carrying on such enterprises with advantage. On the contrary, if your Lordships consider the progress of these colonies-a progress almost without a check-and their steady, uniform current of prosperity, without the interruption of any great disaster, and contrast their history with the extreme difficulties and fearful calamities which, in earlier days, were experienced by the old American colonies, the result is, indeed, most remarkable-a result, I beg to repeat, which is owing entirely to the enterprising and persevering spirit of the population of this country, aided, as they have been, by all the improvements of modern science, and of modern navigation. And when, above all, your Lordships consider the length and the difficulties of the voyage to Australia, as compared with the passage to North

proportionate number to South Australia; | be satisfactory to the Commissioners, on whom so and it is calculated that the number that much responsibility is devolved. The vessels emwill be sent out from this time to the close ployed in the emigration service make quicker passages than those engaged only in the conveyof the present year will be forty ships car- ance of merchandise." rying 10,000 persons. So that since the close of the year 1847, by the measures that are now actually in progress, there will be added in the course of the present year, to the population of these two colonies, of New South Wales and South Australia, not less than 18,059 persons,

which will be an increase of between 8 and 9 per cent upon their whole previous population. In South Australia, the popula

tion at the commencement of 1846, was 22,390. There have since been already despatched to that colony by the Land and Emigration Commissioners, nearly 8,000 emigrants, or more than one-third of the then existing population. In New South Wales, according to a report dated September 1847, of a Committee of the Legislative Council, the number of hired servants throughout the colony did not exceed 30,000; but the number of emigrants to be despatched in 1848 will be nearly 13,000.

I should explain, that these quick pas-
sages are accounted for, by the fact, that
for this service; and that from the number
none but first-class vessels are taken up
of emigrants on board, the captains are
ther much longer than merchant vessels,
enabled to carry on sail in doubtful wea-
because by the assistance of the emigrants
they can reduce sail when bad weather is
coming on, more rapidly than ships which
cannot command equal strength.
report then goes on to say, that—

The

"Of those vessels which arrived in the colony during the last three months, the longest on the Voyage was 106, the shortest 89 days, making an average in the whole of 943 days. It may not be foreign to the present report here to remark, that the young unmarried females who immigrate to this colony, without friends or relations on board, are, on their arrival here, at once removed from on board the vessels in which they were brought, to a house in Adelaide, where every necessary comfort is in readiness for their reception. They are placed under the immediate control of a maSo much as to the extent to which emi-tron, and a committee of ladies have benevolently gration has been carried on. undertaken to assist them in finding suitable emI now wish ployment." to call the attention of your Lordships to the manner in which this service has been

performed by the Land and Emigration Commissioners, and to the satisfactory results which have been obtained by the zeal and ability they have shown in the discharge of their arduous duties. I hold in my hand a paper, being an inclosure in a recent despatch received from the Governor of South Australia. It is a report of the Colonial Secretary in South Australia to the Governor of that colony, with respect to the condition of the emigrants. The Secretary says

The healthy condition in which the immigrants arrived in this colony, during the past quarter, and the total absence of any complaints, either from the passengers, or on the part of those under whose direction they were placed during the voyage, are facts which of themselves speak most favourably for the arrangements made in England, in connexion with this service. The emigrants were generally well selected, and suited to the wants of this country. The superintendents appear, without exception, faithfully to have discharged the duties entrusted to them; and although some few alterations in the minor details of the arrangements have been recommended by them in their daily journals, still the circumstances abovementioned, concurring as they do to show the efficiency of the measures adopted to promote the varied interests at stake, cannot but

were landed from the several vessels which have

In the first

I will now proceed to state to your Lordships some of the measures which have been adopted for increasing and extending emigration to these colonies. place, I must remark, that the expense must be mainly provided for by the colonies themselves. The voyage is so much longer and so much more expensive than the voyage to America, that unless the colonies should pay a very large portion of

the

expense, the emigrants would in nearly all cases prefer going to America; either to our own colonies there, or to the United States. But a considerable proportion of the expense is actually paid from private sources in this country. For so long a voyage, being about three months to South Australia, and somewhat more to New South Wales, it is absolutely necessary for emigrants to have what may be considered a very expensive outfit, more pecially as they require clothes suitable both for cold and very hot weather, as they are necessarily exposed to great vicissitudes of climate, at whatever time of the year they may go. This necessary outfit is an expense of importance to a labouring

es

* Vide Parliamentary Paper, August, 1848, Emigration to the Australian Colonies, p. 78.