Emigration to Nova Scotia ;
In the present mania for emigration the following
despatch, from the Governor of Nova Scotia to Lord Grey, is
of much importance as showing the futility of many of the
hopes held out to emigrants :-
Government House,
Halifax, April 1.
My Lord, - There being reason to apprehend that a large
body of emigrants will be induced to seek refuge in Nova
Scotia during the present year, owing to the existing
distress in Ireland and parts of Scotland, and to the
groundless reports which as I understand, have been
industriously circulated that the proposed rail-road between
Halifax and Quebec will soon afford work and high wages to
thousands, I consider it my duty to inform your lordship that
this province is in no respect prepared for the reception of
poor people of that description, and that the landing, under
present circumstances, of even a small number in the colony,
suffering as it is under the scarcity produced by the failure
in the potato and grain crops in the last two seasons, would
be seriously injurious to the province itself; while those
resorting to it in the expectation of ameliorating their
condition would be grievously disappointed.
" I therefore earnestly request your lordships to cause
instructions to be given to the emigrant agents at the
principal ports in the United Kingdom, to discourage all
pauper emigration to Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton,
where distress is greater than elsewhere, especially among
those who within the last few years have arrived from the
Islands and highlands of Scotland, in the present year.
"There is no demand for unskilled labour in any part of
the province, and the means of remunerating agricultural
labour of any kind, are greatly diminished, the farmers in
many of the best portions of the country being forced to
purchase many of those articles they had been
accustomed in former years to sell. Extreme privation and
misery would therefore necessarily be the lot of those who
should come hither in search of any kind of employment
without the means of self-subsistence for at least two years;
nor should they rely, as the practise has been of obtaining
assistance at the outset from their friends who have
preceeded them, for they would assuredly be found as much in
need of aid as themselves.
"Since the autumn numerous representations have been made
to me of the destitution which pervades many of the more
recently settled districts; and, as the Spring advances, and
the scanty stock which, with frugality, it was hoped might
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last through the summer, becomes exhausted, appeals for
relief are constantly coming in, even from the older and more
fertile townships; so that I look with extreme anxiety for
the result of the next harvest ; for should it please the
Almighty to visit us again - and for the third time - with an
insufficient return from the soil, the destruction of Nova
Scotia will be as general and appalling as that which
prevails in Ireland.
"After this explanation, your lordship will not be
surprised at my solicitude to guard against the
disembarkation on our shores of any portion of the numerous
unhappy beings whom want at home, and the hope to better
their fortunes in America, will shortly drive across the
Atlantic.
" I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most
obedient humble servant.
J. Harvey
