During the temporary suspension of the Navigation Laws in 1847, twenty-two ships arrived from Bremen at the port of Montreal laden with emigrants intended for the United States, that route being chosen as easier and cheaper. These ships on their return took cargoes for the United Kingdom; and it was evident that, if the same facilities were continued, the great German emigration to the United States would to some extent pass through Canada. This was but one instance of many which might be reasonably expected, if foreign vessels could resort to the Canadian ports. These ships were well fitted for the carriage of wheat and flour; and the competition produced by their presence would not only tend to reduce the freight from Canada to an equality with those from the States, but the good condition of the cargoes delivered would be assured; the shippers would, in this way, be saved from the use of inferior vessels, the damage caused by which was thought not to be over-estimated at an average of five per cent. on such shipments. [Sidenote: Navigation of the St. Lawrence.] Again: the American merchants of the West were anxious to avail themselves of the facilities afforded by the River St. Lawrence. Thus, if their vessels were permitted to come down to Montreal and Quebec, there to meet American or foreign ships to take their cargoes on freight to Europe or elsewhere, it was naturally thought that an extensive and profitable commerce through Canada would immediately follow; the lower ports, by these means, at once assuming the position, as commercial depôts, to which their geographical position on that great river outlet of Northern America seemed to entitle them. [Sidenote: Free-trade with the United States desired by the farmers of Canada.]