The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
I FEEL somewhat puzzled as to what I ought to say with regard to
emigration. As to agriculture, employment can easily be procured in the
upper province, and the wages are good; but the state of destitution in
which some of the families arrive is very distressing, and keeps them
back for a considerable time. I cannot recommend any family to come out
unless they have £9 a head for each individual. It happened to one young
man who had paid £1. 15s. for his passage to Quebec, and yet with one and
another charge he had only a few shillings left out of £12. At Kingston
I heard of a family of emigrants whose baggage was sold by auction to
enable them to find the money to proceed to the agricultural districts.
If emigrants can proceed with their baggage, and a few shillings in their
pockets, they soon feel thankful for their altered circumstances. As to
the two men and their families, I must leave it to your decision, and to
influence them as you judge best. If they come, it should be as early as
possible: leave England in February and get to Quebec in March.
TO MRS. MORTIMER.
Thornhill, Jan. 18, 1833.
As to emigration I feel at a loss what to write. There is in fact hardly
a man living but in some way or other may succeed in this fine country,
and yet there is scarcely a man who may not fail and suffer
disappointment, so that I dread recommending; but were I in the condition
of nineteen out of twenty, I would make every effort to come out. Most
have to rough it for about a year; few need do this much longer; that is,
if thoughtful, prudent, and moral: their wilderness soon begins to smile,
and comforts one after another crowd around them. I must turn to my
log-book for something to say on this score.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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