BRITISH AMERICA.

AMONGST the various serial publications of the day, the Edinburgh Cabinet Libmra is one of the best, the most instructive, and the most popular. Its volumes do not seem to be assigned to any hands upon the competition principle of cheapness ; nor is a subject embracing several divisions limited to one author, however ready or skilful he may be supposed. When " Persia" was treated of it was assigned to Mr. FRASER, whose previous studies and expe- rience evinced a familiarity with the country, as his publications were evidence of his powers as a popular writer. Subjects of English history connected with the Tenons were undertaken by Mr. TYTLEE, who had passed years in investigating the period. Three men of reputation contributed their knowledge to an account of the " Polar Seas and Regions ;" and no fewer than seven were em- ployed upon British India. When to this we add neatness of ty- pography, very considerable excellence of hydrographical illustra- tion, character and spirit in the wood-engravings, and great cheap- ness, we are not surprised at the appearance of third and fourth editions of works which derive no extrinsic aid from the amusing nature of their subjects, and which must, however excellent, partake of the character of a compilation.

The volumes that have caused these introductory remarks treat of " British America." They contain the two Canadas, the exten- sive regions lying to the North called the Fur Countries, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and the Bermudas. Varying of course with the circumstances of the case, the treatment of each colony is nearly similar: commencing with an account of its geographical features, and its history ; de- scribing its topography, agriculture, and commerce ; sketching the varieties of its inhabitants, as well as indicating their character, and winding up by a view of its present political state. A sensible and rather elaborate chapter on Emigration to the British North American Colonies is added, with a summary view of the political and other leading points which have been touched upon in the pre- vious descriptions. A general account of the geology, botany, and natural history of these countries, concludes the work.

The general character of British America will be understood when we say, it is a painstaking, careful, and impartial compilation, though the author, Mr. MeattAr, shows a Ministerial leaning. No available source of public authority, from the early voyagers and historians down to the latest Parliamentary returns, appears to have been neglected ; and much new information of a valuable kind has been obtained from private sources. The result is a work full of matter, statistical and general, embodying the most com- plete coup d'teil which has yet appeared of an interesting and very extensive subject, brought down to the latest dates. Something of a compiler's spirit, inseparable perhaps from the nature of the un- dertaking, is visible in the work. The narrative, the description, or the discussion, is indeed sustained throughout at an equable level ; but it is something like the level of still water, which would be occasionally well exchanged for the impetuosity of the torrent, the rapid rush of the stream, or the deep majestic motion of the tide.

The Canadas of course receive, as they demand, the fullest at- tention; occupying, in fact, nearly one-half of the work. Of this subject, the most important parts are those which directly or indi- rectly relate to emigration, or to the future settlement of the country. A general description of the provinces, or their history, through the excitement and romance of Indian warfare, the conquest by WoerE, the American invasions, and the civil disputes which elided in the late rebellion, are of less present interest than—What are the future prospects of the Canadas, and of those who go there ? Upon either subject, our author, or rather his fitets and opinions, are, unfortunately, not encouraging. In the main conclusions he goes with Lord DURHAM he thinks the union of the Provinces

desirable ; he is for responsibility, that is, Colonial supremacy, in all that concerns internal government. To Lord DURHAM'S logical view of the French Canadians he demurs, but on insufficient

grounds. To show the unsoundness of Lord DURHAM'S conclu- sion, he instances the absence of any "hostile sentiments be- tween the Welsh and English or the Bretons and the other French," the " harmony in which Mahomedans and Hindoos live," and the zeal of the Cossacks in the military service of Russia. But in these cases there is no collision of interests, real or imaginary ; and where the parties are brought into juxtaposition, there is no

striking difference in their circumstances, or ages have reconciled them to it. In Canada all this is reversed. The haldtan differs -widely in religion, language, dress, and manners, from the emigrant, or the emigrant-descended. Ile looks upon him with jealousy, as a inore active, enterprising, and prosperous man. He considers him

as an interloper, who has no business there, and whom he would shut out if he could—whom, in fact, he did shut out as much as he could, by legislative obstacles to immigration. The remem-

brance of former supremacy in the country, has not had time to die away from the mind of the nation Canadienne ; and the distri- bution of office and authority amongst the British, (to which cause our author attributes the outbreak,) has kept his subjection con- stantly bcfbre his eyes. One point mooted by Mr. MeartAr deserves notice, however, though we do not pass any opinion on the correctness of his data.

In speaking of the reconstitution of the Representative Assembly, he suggests a change in the qualification of an elector, from a free- hold of 408. to 10/., so as to correspond with that of the Reform Bill in England. The cheapness of land in Canada, he says, ren- ders the 40s. qualification nearly equivalent to universal suffrage; and not only will the existing class of electors return members as heretofore—factious, addicted to local jobbing, and with a low tone of political feeling—but he doubts much whether Lord DURHAM'S object, the establishment of the British interest, can be achieved with the present suffrage. By the proposed, or some equivalent change in the qualification, the French would be the chief sufferers. But under the present system, he conceives the following will be the result of the present

STATE 01, PARTIES IN CANADA.

Lord Durham calculates that out of a million in both Provinces, there ar,, 450,000 French. If, therefore, the system of election continue unaltered, they will return nine against eleven of the members of the United House of Assembly ; and such a minority, seeking not only to oppose bat to overthrow a government, would, it is manifest, prove exceedingly embarrassing. Nor h this by any means the whole evil ; for there is in Upper Canada a party of some strength decidedly Republican, who, having acteil along with the French, would probably act so again ; and these, reinforced by others who from various causes might happen to be discontented, could scarcely fail to secure a ma. jority. This is not a merely speculative conclusion ; for in the last meeting of the Assembly in the Lower Province, a healing measure proposed by Mr. A. Stuart, a :NIoderate Oppositionist, was negatived-by sixty-two to fifteen. The Loyalists in the Assembly called by Sir Francis Head in the Upper Province, were reckoned at forty-two to nineteen. Thus we have—

Government. Opposition. Lower Canada 15 62 Upper Canada 42 19 Both together 57 81 Majority against Government 24

Lord Durham, in alluding to the chance of such a result, argues that the onigration of a single year would restore the equilibrium. Such an Assembly, however, would exert every effort to prevent this influx ; and the very condi. tion into which the colony would be thereby thrown, would greatly tend to deter British settlers from proceeding thither. Besides, it has neither been customary, nor ivould it be at all convenient, to rearrange the electoral dis. tricts annually according to changes of population. The distribution once made must subsist for a considerable interval, during which the malt:content party would remain masters of the representative body. It section evident, therefore, that the proposed union can take place with no safety unless in connexion ovith some arrangement insuring an immediate and, decided majority to the British party in the Assembly. A rise in the pro- perty qualification, which has been shown on other grounds to be highly es. pedient, would in this respect have a considerable influence. The proposed new distribution of districts, in which respect is to be paid, not to the mak- tion only, but to extent anl the prospect of their being filled up by successive bodies of emigrants, will produce a similar effect, and does not seem liable to serious objection.

If this preponderance, or a close approach to party equality, is probable in Canada, Mr. TnomsoN has got his work before him. To heal a distempered state under any circumstances, is one of the most difficult tasks imposed upon a mortal ; for not only is there the original disease (when discovered) to act upon, but all the se- condary disorders which it has produced. When, however, the patient has will and power to reject the physic, what chance is there for the physician ? The Dictator and the Colonial Alinister may indeed (the Tories permitting) prescribe an act of Parliament, but the disease will still go on. And if parties are so equally balanced, it may be questioned whether the change in the qualification will do more than create a delusive smoothness Ibr a few years. The classes disfranchised will be discontented ; they will infect new comers with their discontent, and it will burst out on the finq occasion. Perhaps the only true mode of treating Canada, is to consider our dominion virtually at an cud; to take steps to give the power to the strongest, and while nominally keeping up the connexion, to let them rule themselves as they please, and declare their independence when they will. Yet, in such a nicely balanced -opposition of interests as Mr. MURRAY calculates, even this plan is difficult to bring about. The political state of the Canadas is of course an obstacle to the emigrant. Their social and moral condition, as painted by Mr. MURRAY'S authorities, is also a matter to give pause to colonists of a more respectable class. Having been originally settled for the most part by backwood Americans, or English emigrants of the lowest class—disbanded soldiers, labourers, and Irish peasants—no very high standard of morals or of manners could have been set up ; but, removed as they were from all restraint of opinion, the first colonists were enabled to give full scope to the animal and evil propensities of their nature. The system of dispersion very pro- bably added a good deal to their vices; for solitude is more likely to drive the ignorant to sensual indulgences than to reflection, whilst it induces reckless debauchery when they meet with boon companions. But we have heard that the loneliness of a bush settlement operates unfavourably on persons of a much higher class ; the males giving way to sottishness and slovenliness, the females losing all regard to the finer decorums of life.

However,

let our author .or speak for himself.

MANNERS AND MORALS Or TILE MASS IN UPPER CANADA.

The society in Upper Canada, with the exception of the small French settle.

ment at Detroit, presents a very difkrent aspect. A great majority of the inhabitants consist of emigrants recently arrived from Ireland, Scotland, and England, who have not yet made much change in their original ideas and habits. Those established at successive periods during the previous half - century, are not represented by Mr. Howison, Mr. Talbot, and other paten, under a very favourable light. The tone, especially in the Western &Ands, appears to have been in a great measure given by such Americans as canoe, not from the civilized portions of the Union, but from the backwood tracts, breathing rather the spirit of Kentucky than of New England. Disbanded soldiers and sailors were not well calculated to improve the breed ; and even the voluntary cm4,ounts were loot always composed of the respectable classes who, under the pressure of the times, have lately embraced this resource.. lime re-

moval of the ordinary restraints of society, and the alismoce of religious ordi-

nances and ministration, concurred in giving to them a reckless and unprincipled character. Intoxication, encouraged by the cheapness of spirits, is indulged.to a lamentable degree, and is often productive of general ill conduct and rain. Little regard is paid to the Sabbath and other sacred institutions ; and the ear of the stranger is wounded, not only by abusive language, but by swearing to an odious and disgusting degree. Pugilistic contests are carried on wall. a violence rivalling those of Kentucky, and have not always been unaccompanied bc the savage practice of gouging. Mr. Talbot, though he admits that lie met ICith many respectable females, chargesa large proportion of the sex with a disre- gard and even an insensibility to their first duties. Although a spry lass, as ab i e is termed, is sure of repeated offers, and s never long of being united in the bonds of matrimony, she may frequently before that event have given birth to one or two children. Our author was in company with a lady who volunteered to the company the information, that " her Betty" had been two 3-ears old at her marriage. The corrector feelings on this subject of females from the old country are contemned as ridiculous. Nay, where so little delicacy prevails, mid the children are so valuable a possession, the bringing two or three into the world in this irregular manner, instead of being a bar to marriage, proves, it is said, an additional attraction, by making the young lady a species of heiress. After marriage, she makes an active mid industrious wife, but expects from her husband much deference, and even that he should wink at occasional frailties. These faults are described by Mr. Gourlay as rapidly disappearing, though Mr. Talbot, and even Mr. Shirreff, found them still too prevalent ; but the increased means of instruction and the example of respectable immigrants, will, it may be hoped, gradually effect a thorough reform.

Mr. STEUART, in his account of New Granada, spoke very se- verely of the morals of the Spanish colonists there ; but they could scarcely go beyond this, and their polished manners at all events would tend to soften the appearance of their licence.

The natural obstacles which appear to impede the settler in the Canadas are of two kinds,—one social, and having a tendency to decrease daily ; the other irremediable, save by the exertions of the colonist, and not always to be subdued then. The first kind of impediment has arisen from the baneful dispersion system, ag- gravated in the Canadas by immense grants to individuals, or bodies, whose uncultivated "blocks" separate settlements, when' time or favourable circumstances have induced people to con- gregate. Hence, the settler is in many cases removed from mar- kets to dispose of his produce and procure the comfbrts and conve- niences of life. In the remoter or bush districts, he is almost iso- lated from the world ; the weather and the nature of the country combining to render a natural way almost impossible, and the dis- persion of the colonists having prevented the formation of artificial roads. These are social and removable evils. The first and most obvious natural obstacle is the forest, with which Canada is every- uhere covered : and the expense of clearing this averages 4/. an acre. In addition to this, no agricultural operations can be begun till the wood is cleared ; and the vicinity, whether belonging to the settler or unappropriated, is useless for the purposes of grazing. Every step the colonist takes, therefore, is one of diffi- culty and labour; and though sure of a plentiful subsistence, his prospects of attaining wealth by agriculture are remote, and he can only place out his family by the same means through which he has located himself. Nor can a location be accomplished without 'sonic capital. Mr. MunnAr, from a careful examination of all the data submitted to him, conceives that 750/. is the lowest sum: requisite to purchase, clear, and cultivate 200 acres ; which,

allowing for the addition of passage-money, living, travelling to the location, and those various expenses that cannot be foreseen, would

swell the capital required to from 800/. to 1,000/. Something less, no doubt, would serve, by allowing part of the purchase-money to remain on credit; but this is so small an item, and so bad a mode of proceeding, that we cannot recommend any one to begin by borrowing. The following is the detail of Mr. 3Iumuy's

cal- culat ions.

Price of 200 acres XISO 0 0

Lou-house and furniture on the most economical scale possible at first ; barn, cow-house, and yoke of oxen

100 0 0 Chairing, fencing, and sowing 100 acres 400

0 0 Subsistence for a year and a half, supposed in the case of a young settler during this probation to he on the most mode- rate scale, 50/. a year

75 0 0 £755 0 0

The profits from this outlay, when once faitiy settled, Mr. MURRAY estimates at 200/. a year ; and he thus sensibly remarks upon it- " Two hundred pounds a year, we presume, will, us all the necessaries of life ate extremely cheap, be reckoned about equal to three hundred in Britain. Luxuries, such as wine, tea, and coffee, are loaded indeed with somewhat heavy mercantile profits ; but having paid scarcely any duty, they are, unless in ter- ritories very completely bush, still lower than in this country. Imported clothing is higher ; but its use may be in some measure diminished by do- mestic manufacture, of which the materials are cheap ; and in a retired situa- tion the necessity for appearing in full dress will be only occasional. The wages of house-servants are high, yet not such as to reduce the settler to the necessity of dispensing with such assistance ; mid their labour may sometimes he employed for furthering the operations of the firm. ." A young man who desires to form a judgment how far such a mode of life will suit him, must be warned not to carry out the ideas of rank and dignity which are connected with the possession of land in Europe. Here, according to feudal ideas not wholly extinct, it was anciently combined with pwer o ; and still, from the large rents paid for its use, it generally confers wealth without labour, the enjoyment of splendour, and luxurious ease. But in America this species of property has never implied hereditary influence; and it yields in- come, in most instances, only by hard personal labour or an active superin- tendence. The few wealthy men of which it can boast have acquired their rides by acting as merchants and storekeepers ; and these are, on the whole, the persons of greatest consequence in the country. But Moog!' landed estate does not insure those factitious distinctions, there are important advantages of Which it can never he divested. It is attended with a degree of independence seldom enjoyed by the middling classes in Britain ; for here, limners, with a heavy burden of rent and taxes, which they must mal«, good amid many un- certainties, are always liable to come under the power of their landlords, Salaried officers, too, may be exposed to insult, anti even the loss of their situa- tions, through the caprice of employers or superiors ; whereas a proprietor in the Colonies, if he can draw a subsistence from his hinds mid keep clear of debt, is scarcely liable to any vicissitude." For what our author calls "peasant" settlers, that is to say, labour- ers squatting, the estimated capital to avoid debt or the risk of starvation is also considerable, amounting to 130/. - The obstacles interposed by the climate were referred to at length in our notice of Mr. MATTHEW'S Colonization Fields.* They consist in the length and severity, of the winter, which suspends all agricultural labours for half the year, and pre- vents the cultivation of the finer products, which must remain in the earth during the winter—wheat, clover, and the best grasses being injured, or perishing by the frost ; and in the expense and difficulty of keeping cattle on dry food. At the same time, it should be observed that in Canada no one need suffer privation in food or the coarser enjoyments, who will work.

LIVING IN 1:PrER CANADA.

No people in the world live better than the inhabitants of Upper Canada. The abundance of produce, and the low price at which it can be sold, naturally inclines them to take the full use of it. Three copious meals, often of twelve or fourteen dishes each, are daily served up, called breakfast, dinner, and supper, but consisting generally of the same component parts; among wiiich are spe- cially enumerated, green tea, fried pork, honeycomb, salted salmon, pound- cake, pickled cucumbers, stewed chickens, apple-tarts, maple-molasscs, yease- pudding, gingerbread, and sour-crout. They are not very social in their daily habits,—to which, indeed, the almost impassable state of the roads opposes great obstacles ; but they are fond. of large parties, and in a favourable season five or six families often unite, and, without any notice, drive to visit another at the distance of ten or twelve miles. Such an arrival would not always be very op- portune in an English household; but in this " land of plenty," the flour-barrel, the pork-tub, and the fowl-house, afford at all times materials for meeting such an emergency ; and the board is soon spread with a plentiful meal. The-dance is an amusement of which they arc passionately fond. No inn is considered worthy of the name unless it be provided with a spacious ball-room, which is called into requisition as often as convenience will permit.

And now as regards a cure for the drawbacks enumerated by Mr. 'MURRAY, to respectable settlers. The severity of the winter, and the obstacles of the forests which cover the land, cannot of course be remedied, though clearing and cultivation may even- tually ameliorate the climate; but a political settlement of the country is absolutely necessary, before any prudent persons pos- sessing means are likely to emigrate to Canada. Assuming this settlement to be accomplished, the most important question then to be answered is, how can emigrants be attracted thither ? And we believe the true answer Will be found in preventing that which has been one main cause of the evils we have pointed out, the dispersion system. To achieve this, a sufficient price must be put upon all unappropriated land, and rigidly adhered to ; allowing the Government to make no grants to favour- ites—which is said to have injured if not defeated the working of Lord Howicit's auction-plan. To deal with the vast grants already made, which block up the country as effectually as if they were so many chains of mountains, is no doubt an enter- prise of considerable difficulty, but surely it may be met. The resumption of grants is a constitutional doctrine ; and, after a rea-

sonable time allowed for the parties to sell or cultivate, neither constitutional nor substantial justice would be injured by the state

restuning the land. The employment of all purchase-money in the transport of labour, though liable to be less successful than in some countries, from the proximity of the United States, would tend to remove the acknowledged difficulty of respectable settlers in procuring agricultural assistants ; and they would be further aided by the prevention of squatting. Whether any benefit might accrue from grants of money in favour of emigration, is dependent upon so many circumstances, that only a minute and practical knowledge of the local condition of Canada could decide upon it. The ad- vantage of what may be termed the WAKEFIELD Fund, is, that it is self-supplying and self-checking.

In Lord DrRIIAINI.S, or rather in Mr. CHARLES BULLER'S Report, there are various suggestions for public works,—amongst others, for a railway from Halititx to Quebec. We agree with Mr. MURRAY in thinking the last premature, and that all the others require to be entered upon with great caution. It is so difficult to foresee the demands of society, and so mischievous to force them, that mere average talent cannot safely be trusted with the task—not to men- tion the profligate folly and wasteful expenditure which have attended all our public works. Nature herself points out the leading capa- bilities of a country ; and human interest instinctively follows Nature, by seeking the banks of navigable waters and the most fruitful soils. Canada, it may be said, and truly, has been brought into an unnatural state, by the peculiarities attending the early colonization that gave rise to the seigniories, and -by various causes which have since operated, the jobs of the Government not being the least. To remedy these, no doubt, is the legitimate function of Government, provided Government could be trusted to discover them and cure them. But perhaps the only safe general rule is, to supply a communication that is wanted, not one that may be. When extensive but uncultivated grants intervene between settlements, shutting them out from one another and from a common market, it is safe to connect them by a road. If a bar or a rapid impedes the navigation of a river, and an outlay, moderate in proportion to the nature of the country and its traffic, will remove the impediment, it may be properly expended. Principal towns especially when communicating with the sea, may safely have all the roads which ramify from them improved ; and new districts, if thoroughly surveyed, might also have the main way leading to them extended through them. But grand schemes will only lead to a second Caledonian Canal ; and any of the subjects we have men- tioned seem to require, as has been suggested, the guarantee of a Colonial grant before they receive any assistance from the Imperial Parliament, * Spectator, No. 549; 5th January 1839.