New Zealand, it can only be guessed at. It appears to be very small considering the extent of country-not more than five natives to three square miles. The Rev. Mr. Williams, of the Church Missionary Society, estimated the population of the northern island at 106,000. According to Mr. Polack, who allows five persons to three square miles, and taking the whole extent of both islands at 95,000 square miles, the entire population of New Zealand will be about 158,300. HISTORY OF THE COLONIZATION OF NEW ZEALAND. The first attempt to colonize New Zealand was made in 1825, by a company under the auspices of the Earl of Durham. Two vessels were despatched to the country by this company, and some land was acquired at Herd's Point on the Hokianga river, but the idea of settling it was soon after abandoned. The missionaries have acquired considerable tracts of land in different parts of the islands, and have introduced many farming improvements, along with the religious instruction which they have bestowed upon the natives. The Church Missionary Society has ten stations in the northern island, with fifty-four schools, and scholars amounting to 1431. There are also five Wesleyan Missionary stations, where teachers are engaged instructing the people and superintending farming operations. A company, called the New Zealand Association, was started in 1837; and another, under the name of the New Zealand Colonization Company, in 1838. These companies may be said to have merged in a New Zealand Company which was established in May, 1839, and is now engaged in carrying out plans for the settlement of the country. When this company started into existence, the minds of many individuals of all orders were ripe for affording it encouragement; and to this circumstance, in some measure, we may attribute the remarkable success it met with. From the Colonization Company, merged in it, it inherited an extensive territory adjoining the Kaipara and Hokianga harbours in the northern island; which territory had been recently purchased by the Colonization Company, but not surveyed. While as yet the new company had formed no other connection whatever with New Zealand, but entirely upon the faith of being able to purchase land and effect settlements, it issued proposals to sell, to intending colonists, what it might be said as yet not to possess, namely, 990 sections of land in what was to be the principal settlement of the company, wherever that might be pitched, each section to consist of 100 acres of country land, and one acre of town land; 110 similar sections being reserved for the use of native settlers. Thus, the first principal settlement was to consist of 1100 sections in all, or 111,100 acres. Let the reader mark, these sections had as yet no geographical situation; the whole settlement was as yet, we might say, in the clouds. Nevertheless, within seven weeks from the issue of the proposals, purchasers had come forward for all the disposable sections, and the company had in its treasury, as the purchase-money, £99,990. Of this sum, however, they professed to have a right to only a fourth part. The remainder, £74,992, 10s., was reserved to be employed in carrying out labourers to the settlement, according to what we may call the Wakefield plan of colonization, already followed in South Australia. It is important to add, that priority in the choice of sections was determined by lot. soon after found it advisable to send out a lieutenantgovernor of New Zealand. The whole procedure of the company, and of those dealing with it, forms a singular and striking example of that confidence between parties which is only to be expected in even its simplest forms amidst a community considerably advanced in civilization. Not only was the ground of the first settlement paid for before it had a cognisable existence, but, before its existence was yet known in Britain, nine ships, containing 1125 emigrants, had been despatched to it. There was first the Tory, of 382 tons, which sailed on the 5th of May, 1839, with only six emigrants, but containing Colonel Wakefield, the company's principal agent for the arrangement of settlements, and a great store of articles designed to be employed in bartering for land with the native chiefs. Colonel Wakefield, it may be remarked, had distinguished himself in the Spanish service, and is brother of the author of the well-known plan of colonization followed on this occasion. On August 1st, followed the Cuba of 373 tons, with eight first-class emigrants and twenty-two labourers, and containing also the surveying staff, under Captain W. M. Smith of the royal artillery. In the middle of September, the Oriental, Aurora, and Adelaide, respectively of 506, 550, and 640 tons, proceeded on the same voyage, with a large body of emigrants of both classes. All of these were from London. On October 5th, the Duke of Roxburghe sailed from Plymouth with 167 settlers. Three other vessels, one of which was from Glasgow, and two from London, sailed before the end of the year. Besides these, there were three ships containing stores, designed to guard against the possibility of any deficiency of necessaries being felt during the early days of the settlement. The voyage of the Tory was prosperous, and uncommonly quick. In ninety-six days from Plymouth, namely, on the 16th of August, she hove in sight of Cape Farewell, the northern point of the southern island, and which forms one side of the opening, named Cook's Straits, between the two islands. She lost no time in standing through the straits, and on the 18th she anchored in Ship Cove, as nearly as possible in the same spot that Captain Cook occupied in his three visits to the island. Colonel Wakefield, in his journal, describes the southern island as forbidding in its appearance at a distance"a succession of apparently barren mountains stretching away from the coast till they reach those covered with snow in the interior." But, "on nearing the land, you find that the whole is covered to the very highest points with timber and brushwood, which not till then betray their perpetual verdure." Ship Cove, in the northern island, was a beautiful place. The water, tranquil as 66 an inland lake, has ten fathoms' depth within a ship's length of the shore, which is covered to the water's edge with an evergreen forest, consisting of every variety of indigenous tree and shrub, so thick as to be scarcely penetrable, and presenting to the eye an undulating carpet of verdure reaching to the summit of the surrounding mountains, the highest of which is from 1200 to 1500 feet. The birds, as in the time of the immortal English navigator, fill the air with their notes, the mingling of which he has aptly likened to the tinkling of small bells; and the sea teems with fish, of which we caught enough with hooks and lines for the whole ship, before we dropped anchor. These consisted of haak, cole-fish, spotted dog-fish, gurnet, flounder, and joe-fish, all of which are eatable." This company had to contend at its outset with one great difficulty. The British government refused to afford its plan of settlement any countenance, so that Colonel Wakefield found no difficulty in communino provision for maintaining order in the new colony cating with the native chiefs; but it was not so easy to could be had, besides what was afforded by a gentleman acquire lands, not owing to any disinclination of the who possessed an old commission as a justice of peace natives to sell them at a moderate price, but because it in New Zealand, derived from General Macquarrie, go-, was difficult to ascertain who were the proper owners, vernor of New South Wales. The company, never- or the owners who could convey a sound title. The theless, proceeded with their scheme, and the government general feeling of the natives is in favour of British set lements. They nave tasted the befits of civilization | this property should not be regulated by what has hitherto sufficiently, to be very anxious for increased intercourse been considered the standard of exchange in similar with the English, and for this reason they appeared to transactions." Colonel Wakefield as if they would have willingly allowed the soil to be appropriated to a large extent, without looking for any remuneration. But the company was anxious that a reasonable, and, considering the circumstances, a liberal price, should be given for lands; and the main difficulty, as just stated, was to discover the parties who were entitled to part with the soil. An immense quantity of land had already been appropriated by private persons or by the missionary societies, without much ceremony. Colonel Wakefield sent home a journal brought down to the 2d of September, and not long after he despatched another section of it, containing not less interesting intelligence. The second section of his journal commences on the 6th of September with a description of the trade carried on in Queen Charlotte's Sound and other bays connected with Cook's Straits. He describes whalers in the pay of Sydney capitalists as being the chief followers of this hazardous but profitable commerce. It is estimated that the whale-fishery produces 1200 tons of oil per annum, and that the number of British who compose "shore-parties" in Cook's Straits and the stations on Banks's Peninsula, are about 500. They are a lawless set of people, quarrelling with the natives and among themselves. There are, however, some respectable persons among them. Learning that the church missionaries were endeavouring to frustrate their views respecting Port Nicholson, a fine harbour and country in the northern island, about the centre of Cook's Straits, Colonel Wakefield now made haste thither. He met with a very hearty reception from the chiefs. "Epuri, an old chief, eagerly inquired the motives of our visit, and betrayed the most lively satisfaction at being informed that we wished to buy the place, and bring white men to it. He was followed by Warepori, his nephew, who is about thirty-five years old, and has for some years superseded the older chiefs in influence, by his prowess in war, and skill in the rude arts cultivated by these people." Colonel Wakefield ascended the principal river which falls into the bay, and was well satisfied with the capabilities of the district. The soil is a rich black loam; the timber excellent in quality and of various descriptions; and the navigation of the river, which was obstructed by heaps of stones and trees thrown across, susceptible of great improvement at slight expense. Colonel Wakefield determined to fix upon this part of the island for the first and principal settlement of the company; and he lost no time in coming to terms with the natives. He thus describes his purchase:— "I found a territory of forty or fifty miles in length by twenty-five or thirty in breadth, containing a noble harbour, accessible at all times, and in the very highway between New Holland and the Western world, and land exceeding in fertility any I have seen in these islands, and equalling that of an English garden. I found a race of people of warlike habits, and but little used to intercourse with Europeans, just emerging from their barbarism, and inclined to cultivate the arts and intimacy of Great Britain; appreciating the protection from their hostile and still savage enemies that British settlers would afford, and anxiously desiring to assist them in their first labours in a new country. Under these circumstances, and following out the spirit of my instructions, I determined to act in the most liberal manner in the transaction. Moreover, I was most anxious to distinguish this bargain from all others that have been made in New Zealand, that none of the haggling and petty trading which usually take place between Europeans and the natives of this country, should enter into any operations between the latter and the company's agents; and that the value of VOL. II.-93 The amount paid, of course, is not published; but the natives were highly pleased with their bargain, and eager to sell more of their land. The chiefs carefully examined the articles given in barter, and then signed a formal deed, alienating the land for ever. The wardance, the hoisting of the New Zealand flag, and the formal ceremony of taking possession of the territory, are vividly described. Colonel Wakefield left a person in charge of his newly-acquired territory. This important business being settled, the Tory proceeded along the coast of the northern island towards the north, and on the 16th October came to an anchor off Kapiti, near Evans's Island. A smart battle had just then taken place between the two chief tribes in those parts, the Ngatirocowas, and Ngatiawas, the latter of whom, a comparatively civilized and pacific race, had acted on the defensive, and been victorious. Colonel Wakefield had some intercourse with Raupero, a corrupt chief of the Kafia tribe, who had aided and instigated the Ngatirocowas, and with Hiho, an amiable young chief of the Ngatiawas; and after some deliberations, and one somewhat wild scene, purchased the extensive tracts of land on both sides of Cook's Straits, forming the commanding portions of the two islands." The goods given in exchange were upon the same liberal scale as in the case of Port Nicholson, and ultimately all the natives expressed themselves as quite satisfied. With regard to some portions of the ground purchased, it was known that there were other tribes, now dispossessed, who had claims upon them; but from these parties Colonel Wakefield apprehended no trouble of any consequence. In all cases he took care to have deeds of cession formally executed on the spot-a precaution the more necessary, as already speculators were sending emissaries from Sydney to buy up land in New Zealand, on a supposition of its soon acquiring a marketable value. For the next two or three weeks, Colonel Wakefield employed himself in sailing to different points in Cook's Straits, in order to buy up the claims of as many parties as possible. In concluding his survey of both sides of these straits, he gives a table of the native population of the principal districts, which he estimates as amounting in all to 6650. Colonel Wakefield now proceeded to Hokianga, a deep inlet near the farther extremity of the northern island, leaving Mr. Barrett, a whaling merchant, to arrange with the natives for the purchase of the lands more immediately to the north of Cook's Straits. He reached Hokianga on the 2d December, and entered into negotiations for the purchase of lands there and in the Bay of Islands, on the opposite or east side of the country. The natives are not here so fine a people, physically or morally, as in the south, and not so ready to cede their lands. Colonel Wakefield obtained possession of a tract at Herd's Point, being the land purchased by Captain Herd, in 1826, for the old company reserved by the natives since that time-and now scrupulously made over to their successors. This done, he left Hokianga on the 13th December for Kaipara, another important inlet, a little farther to the south. At this point, he completed his third despatch. According to subsequent despatches, the Troy struck upon a (supposed) newly-formed sand-bank in going into Kaipara bay or harbour, and, though got off in twenty-four hours, sustained such damage that Colonel Wakefield judged it prudent to leave her for repairs, and proceed with his land-buying operations. Having therefore secured all important papers, he walked across the continent to the Bay of Islands, and there chartered a small brig to go to Kaipara, to take charge of the cargo and passengers. He likewise engaged another smal 3 Q2 vessel to take him to Port Hardy in D'Urville's Island (Cook's Straits), the place of rendezvous for the emigrant ships. He reached Port Hardy on the 11th January; but finding none of the emigrant vessels arrived, he judged it best to cross the straits to Port Nicholson, which he did in a whale boat, leaving an Englishman to direct these vessels to follow him thither. Port Nicholson was the place of all others which he thought suitable for the first settlement, and he was now anxious to prepare matters as far as possible for the arrival of the settlers. These now began to arrive in the successive vessels, of which all that had been despatched in 1839 arrived before March 7, 1840. Meanwhile the government had deemed it necessary to take some step regarding the colonization of New Zealand. In August, 1839, it despatched Captain Hobson, R. N., as Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand. He arrived at the Bay of Islands on the 30th of January, and on that day issued a proclamation, intimating that the queen did not deem it expedient for the interests either of her British subjects resorting to New Zealand, or for those of the native tribes, to recognise as valid any titles to land not derived from or confirmed by her majesty; but yet, to dispel any apprehension that it was designed to dispossess the owners of land acquired on equitable conditions, and not in extent or otherwise prejudicial to the present or prospective interests of the community," declaring "that her majesty had been pleased to direct that a commission should be appointed, with certain powers to be derived from a governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales, to inquire into and to report on all claims to such lands;" and further intimating that "purchases of land in any part of New Zealand which may be made from any of the chiefs or native tribes after the date of these presents [January 30, 1840], will be considered as null and void, and will not be confirmed, or in any way recognised, by her majesty." In terms of this proclamation, it will be necessary for all who have purchased land in New Zealand to prove their rights before the commission. Captain Hobson; left the Bay of Islands on the 17th February, declaring it an unfit place to be the seat of government for New Zealand, being distant from the more fertile parts of the country, and cut off from all easy communication with the southward. He had previously had some conferences with the native chiefs relative to the acquisitions of land by the missionaries. A paralytic shock brought his measures to an abrupt conclusion, which, however, was only temporary, as he soon so far recovered as to resume his functions. Other companies besides that represented by Colonel Wakefield have in the mean time been taking steps for promoting the colonization of New Zealand. One of these, the Plymouth Company of New Zealand, advertised on the 18th July that it had secured an extensive purchase of land, and had sent out orders for the selection of a settlement. A thousand sections of town and rural land were in the way of being engaged, on the understanding that, out of the £70 of purchase-money of each section, £40 was to be expended in carrying out labourers. The New Zealand Manakou and Waitemata Company acquired valuable tracts on those harbours (in the northern island) in 1838, and sent out a clever young officer, Captain W. C. Symonds, H. M. S., to survey the same and report, before taking any further step. A report from Captain Symonds, dated in February, 1840, and of a highly favourable nature, was received in July, and the company then proceeded to receive applications for 200 sections, of 1 town-acre and 100 country acres each, at £101 each, 65 per cent. of the purchase-money to be expended in taking out labourers. In July, 1840, the Paisley New Zealand Emigration Society was formed a connection with the London Company, for the pur pose of promoting an extensive emigration of hand-loom weavers from the west of Scotland to New Zealand. While these proceedings were going on on the part of the British, a French expedition sailed for the same country, designing to appropriate land for a settlement. but chiefly to all appearance with a view to the whaiefishery. Disputes between France and England respecting the sovereignty of New Zealand, have been foreboded; but we have no fear that any thing of the kind, to an extent at all troublesome, will take place. The following has been issued by the colonial secretary, respecting the plan of government to be adopted in New Zealand : The colony is to be entirely separate from and independent of New South Wales. A local legislature, to be composed for the present of the chief officers of the local government, and some of the chief inhabitants, is to be constituted, to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the colony. With respect to all lands acquired in the colony under any other than that of grants made in the name and on behalf of her majesty, it is proposed that the titles of the claimants should be subjected to the investigation of a commission to be constituted for the purpose. The basis of that inquiry will be the assertion on the part of the crown of a title to all lands situate in New Zealand, which have heretofore been granted by the chiefs of those islands according to the customs of the country, and in return for some adequate consideration. An account of all the just and moderate expenses of the company hitherto incurred in forwarding the colonization of New Zealand to be made out, and the crown to grant the company as many acres of land as shall be equal to four times the number of pounds sterling which they shall be found to have expended in the manner stated. The lands to be taken by the company in the neighbourhood of their respective settlements at Port Nicholson and New Plymouth. The company to forego all claim to any lands purchased or acquired by them in New Zealand, other than the lands so to be granted to them, and other than any lands which they may hereafter acquire from the crown, or other persons deriving their title from the crown. It is proposed to apply to all other British subjects the rule to which the New Zealand Company will be subject in respect of the lands claimed by them within the colony. This advantage, however, will be offered only to those whose lands were acquired before the 5th day of January, 1840, the date of proclamation issued by Sir George Gipps on the subject. The governor of New Zealand will be instructed to recommend to the local legislature the enactment of a law to incorporate, as a municipal body, settlers who have, at the charge of the company, resorted to Port Nicholson, and settled themselves there or in that vicinity. For the present, her majesty's government engage that all sums of money which shall be paid by the company for the purchase of land in New Zealand, shall, whenever such money shall be paid in this country, be laid out in the removal of emigrants to New Zealand, it be ing left to the company, from time to time, to determine whether such money shall be so laid out by the Com missioners of Colonial Lands and Emigration or by the company themselves, under the superintendence and with the concurrence and sanction of those commissioners. The native reserves made by the company to be sanctioned by the crown. A charter to be granted for forty years, but to contain provisions enabling the crown to resume the charter and purchase the lands and other property of the company on just and equitable terms, in case the public interest should require such resumption and purchase. A township has been marked out on the shores of Port Nicholson, and named Wellington, which it is thought will be the capital of the colony. It is also proposed to build a town at the harbour of Hokianga, to ce called Churchill; another at the Bay of Islands, to be called Russell; and a fourth at the Frith of Thames, to be called Auckland. Up till the period we write (April, 1841), so little information of a substantial nature has been made known respecting the settlement of New Zealand, that we are unable to say distinctly how the colony is advancing, though, from floating intelligence, there is the greatest prospect of success; ships with emigrants, both capitalists and labourers, and also large stocks of provision and merchandise, are regularly sailing, and the country must soon present the spectacle of general industry and comfort. SUBJECT OF EMIGRATION CONCLUDED. In the present and preceding three sheets, we have presented, to the best of our ability, a practical view of the subject of emigration to Canada and other British American possessions, to the United States of America, to the different colonies on the mainland of Australia, and to Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand. These do not comprehend all the fields for emigration, but they are the principal, and those which seem most commonly available. The places of which we have not formally treated, are the Cape of Good Hope, the British West Indies, and Ceylon, all of which are crown colonies, and open to settlers. Ceylon, being situated within a few degrees of the line, and altogether tropical in character, is not to be mentioned as suitable for British emigrants; and the same thing may almost be said of the West Indies. The Cape of Good Hope, consisting of a large portion of South Africa, from all we can understand, is now in a thriving condition, and to many it forms a tempting field of settlement. The climate is agreeable, the government is settled and liberal in character, and there are large tracts of land open to settlers on easy terms. Farms abandoned by Dutch proprietors who have emigrated to more remote districts, can always be obtained at a cheap price; and as respects pastoral qualities, the territory is equal, if not superior, to many portions of Australia. As, however, we have no official papers on the subject before us, we pass to a general consideration of those fields of emigration which have been separately described. The readers of these sheets will have observed, that each country or district referred to possesses a certain peculiarity of character, or, as we may say, has good and bad points in a greater or lesser ratio, which it will behove the intending emigrant to consider. Canada possesses a most fertile soil, but it has very indifferent roads, is slow in improving, and labours under the drawback of a long and extremely cold winter. It seems best adapted for small capitalists who wish to pursue agricultural pursuits, or field labourers and artisans of a common kind. It has also the great advantage of being speedily and cheaply reached; yet, to a person with a few pounds to spare, such an advantage should go for nothing. In taking the step of emigration, it is of importance that it should be done well, and once for all. The United States offer a far more agreeable scene for agricultural labour, because, while the soil is equally fertile with that of Canada, the winters are shorter. Some of the fine prairie-lands of the western states possess attractions which cannot be surpassed. As it is easy to reach these districts from Canada, many spirited emigrants will push on thither if they find such a step advisable. The United States possess a prodigious superiority over Canada in one particular-the sale of lands. In Canada, the abominable plan of selling lands by auction to the highest bidder, at periodic intervals, still continues, and, by disheartening emigrants and wearing out their means, sends shoals onwards to the states, where the land pitched upon has its exact price, and a purchase can be at once effected. If emigrants to Canada, therefore, cannot buy half-cleared lots on the instant, which perhaps they will find no difficulty in doing, we recommend them to proceed immediately into Michigan, Illinois, or some other western state of the Union. They will find-so many persons on the road, that the exact route need not here be defined. Were the British government to institute a plan of colonizing Canada, on a great scale, with an humble order of settlers, and at the same time permit the free importation of corn from that part of the empire, we might expect to find the country in a state of rapid progression in ə very short period of time; but neither of these arrange ments is at present likely to be carried into effect. It is proper to mention, that although the United States possess that degree of civil and religious liberty, which leaves nothing to be wished for on that score, the country labours under a universal derangement in money matters, and we fear that the settler must lay his account with a ciumsy and unprofitable system of barter in relation to most products of his industry. Australia is much better adapted for the emigration of capitalists than any part of America. We never hear of any one making a fortune in either Canada or the United States, but many in New South Wales. It would almost appear that, whatever be the sum of mo ney a man expends on land in America, he seldom rise above the condition of a drudge-a circumstance arising from two canses, lack of cheap labour and lack of outlet for produce. Provided a course of industry and sobriety be pursued, he wil! unquestionably attain a state of com petency and tranquillity, and will see his family rising around him with the prospects of respectable settlement, but we fear that, unless some great change take place in Canadian affairs, he stands a slender chance of ever getting above the condition of a small farmer; consequently there is no temptation for persons of comparative wealth to encounter the early and annoying difficulties of settlement in that rude country. In Australia, the emigrant will also experience personal discomfort and deterioration of habits. But a time comes when he can sit down with a degree of ease, calmly reposing on the advantages he has earned-he can reasonably look forward to indul gence in refinements such as wealth purchases in Britain; and with this pleasing hope, any species of immediate toil is of trifling consideration. Besides, to the person who loves a fine climate, where on earth could a more delightful country be found than Australia? Cold seldom or never sinks to that pitch which produces snow, and the heat, also, is by no means extreme. As respects climate and natural products, we should consider some parts of New South Wales equal to Asia Minor and adjacent countries; and that British subjects are at liberty to proceed to such an agreeable field of industry, and there possess all the privileges which our laws and constitution bestow, may be held to be a boon of which we cannot be too thankful. There is one material drawback to Australia-the want of regular and frequent rains. This leads occasionally to extreme droughts, which parch the ground, and in many parts render the business of the agriculturist very precarious. On that account Australia is better fitted for pasturage than agriculture. Van Diemen's Land, and also New Zealand, on the other hand, seem to be more agricul tural than pastoral. Grain and flax, two grand staples in human affairs, will most likely become the permanent products of these fertile islands. In point of national economy, it is of no consequence what a country produces, provided it produce something which can be sold in the general market of the world. Let the mainland of Australia, therefore, attain prosperity by its wool, and perhaps its wines and fine fruits, and let Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand grow in wealth from their grain, fax, timber, and perhaps their whale-fisheries. In both New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, the sales of land are by auction, as in Canada-an evil of serious consequence, from which the Port Philip district and South Australia are fortunately exempt. It is gratifying to reflect, that every year settlement in any of the colonies is becoming less precarious, and promises a higher measure of success. Those who have gone before, instead of absorbing all that is good, are only preparers of the way for others. There is not the least chance of any one going too late, go when he will. There is ample room for all. The more who go, indeed, the greater is the likelihood of general prosperity. The fundamental evil, a lack of labourers, is daily lessening by the free and purchased passages of the young and industrious classes, and in proportion as this stream of emigration is sustained, so may we expect the various fields of emigration to be more suitable for the resort of capital and intelligent enterprise. DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITED STATES. HISTORICAL NOTICE. THE continent of America, with all its islands, and the people who originally inhabited them, were unknown to the inhabitants of Europe till the end of the fifteenth century. They were discovered in the year 1492 by Christopher Columbus, while in search of a route by sea to the East Indies; and when he first saw them, he believed that they were part of China, or Japan; so little idea had the Europeans of those days of the existence of the vast countries which have since exercised so powerful an influence on the fate of their descendants. The rude state of the native inhabitants, and the superior military knowledge of the Europeans, which they used with very little regard to right, enabled them soon to seize on all such parts of the country as they preferred, and to drive away, or reduce to subjection, the original possessors. In this way the southern part of the continent was subjugated, and partly colonized, by the Spaniards and Portuguese; while the northern portions fell into the hands of the other maritime nations of Europe the English, French, Dutch, and Swedeswho formed colonies at different points along the coast. The whole of these, however, soon fell into the possession of the English and French alone. Under these two powers, the American colonies continued to afford a refage to people of the European countries who considered themselves oppressed or aggrieved at home. During the seventeenth century, when extensive emigration first began to take place, it was not so much the want of employment, or of subsistence, which induced men to seek for a change of residence, as the wish of escaping from persecution on account of religion, or from the civil wars of the time. This was the case particularly in England, during that period when religious and political animosities greatly disturbed the country. Troubles of other kinds, and latterly the necessities of an overcrowded population, continued to afford a motive for the people resorting to America; and during great part of the eighteenth century, it is reckoned that from 5000 to 8000 persons yearly removed to these countries from Europe. unpopularity at home, the ministry of the day projected the scheme of throwing part of the burden of these upon the colonies; alleging as a reason, that the war had been undertaken for their benefit, and in order to deliver them from an enemy who continually hung on their frontiers. The first tax proposed for this purpose was a stampduty (1765); but the colonies firmly refused to submit to it, saying that they were perfectly willing to pay the expense of their own governments, but that they would not endure to be taxed by a foreign body like the British Parliament, which was situated at the distance of 3000 miles, and in whose deliberations they had no voice, while it might employ the money obtained from them for purposes hostile to their own freedom or welfare. This feeling was universal among the people of the colonies; for these being generally the descendants of men who had left Europe in disgust at some real or fancied oppression, had not those habits of deference to the commands of persons in high station, which often tend to secure obedience and quiet in other countries. In consequence of this determination on the part of the colonies, and of the obstinacy of the English ministry in adhering to their demands, a great many irritating occurrences took place. The Americans refused to import or to use British manufactures; riots took place in almost all the towns, but chiefly in Boston; and the taxed articles which were sent out were destroyed. A meeting of delegates from the several colonies or districts was held in 1765, to petition and remonstrate against what they considered an injustice. Still the British government persevered. And though there was at one time an apparent disposition to recede from some of the propositions which had caused most irritation, the right of taxing the colonies was vigorously maintained. New taxes were soon after imposed (1767) on tea, glass, and paints. The pertinacity of both parties led to frequent violence, and at length to actual demonstrations of war on the part of the Americans. This war lasted for about seven years, from 1775 to 1782, and concluded at last, as might have been anticipated, by the British being compelled to relinquish a country of which every inhabitant was their enemy. The war was conducted Some disputes arose, about 1755, between the French on the part of the Americans by General George Washand English, who were now the sole possessors of Northington, to whose talents and perseverance its speedy terAmerica; these at last led to a war, which terminated mination was greatly owing, and whose moderation in in the total destruction of the French power in that country, and in the transference to the English of all their colonies there, except some thinly peopled regions on the Mississippi. This result took place in 1763; but though it gave to Britain a large addition of new territory, and relieved her old possessions from an enemy, it left ner purdened with large debts. In order to avoid using the influence which success had given him over his countrymen, has been too seldom imitated by conquerors. The councils of the Americans, and their negotiations with other powers, were mainly directed during these transactions by Benjamin Franklin, a man who was equally distinguished as a philosopher and a lover of his country. |