The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he had to propose a grant for the purpose of enabling his majesty's government to assist unemployed workmen of this country in removing to one of our colonies. It had been the wish of his majesty's government first to try an experiment on a small scale, how far it might be possible to employ the surplus population of this country in one of our colonies, in such a-manner as might be advantageous to the people removed, and beneficial to the country. From the satisfactory result of this experiment, it was, that government were now desirous of trying the experiment on a larger scale. The colony selected was that of the Cape of Good Hope. The greater part of the persons disposed to emigrate from this country rather wished to go to the United States of North America, where government could give them no direct encouragement, or to the British colonies of North America. But with respect to the latter, his majesty's government—considering the inconvenience to which these persons would be subjected on their arrival in America, had selected the Cape of Good Hope as the colony to which emigration might be most advantageously directed. From the mildness of the climate and the fertility of the soil in some parts, a rapid and abundant return might reasonably be expected. That colony was also highly favourable to the multiplication of stock. The particular part of the colony selected was the south-eastern coast of Africa. It was at some distance from Cape Town. A small town was already built there. It was proposed to pay the expense of the passage, and at the same time to secure to the settler the means of employing his industry to advantage on his landing at the destined spot. But a small advance of money would be required from each settler before embarking, to be repaid 1550 him in necessaries at the Cape, by which means, and by the assistance given him by government, he would have sufficient to procure him a comfortable subsistence till he got in his crops, which in that climate were of rapid growth. The Cape was suited to most of the productions both of temperate and warm climates—to the olive, the mulberry, the vine, as well as most sorts of culmiferous and leguminous plants. The persons emigrating to this settlement would soon find themselves comfortable. The right hon. gentleman concluded with moving the grant of a sum not exceeding 50,000l. to be issued from time to time, for the purpose of enabling government to assist persons disposed to settle in his majesty's colony of the Cape of Good Hope.
§ Mr. Humesaid, he was sorry ministers had not gone farther. Parishes having able-bodied men willing to work, chargeable on them, ought to be called on to subscribe sums towards removing a part of them to this or some other settlement, where their industry might provide them with a comfortable subsistence. He thought that if men under such circumstances were unwilling to emigrate, it might even be advisable to transport them without their consent. If the parishes would but contribute the money they were forced to pay to these persons for one or two years, from the excellent climate of the Cape, and the fertility of the soil, the greatest advantages could not fail to be the result.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, it was a part of the plan that parishes should have the power of sending out persons who might be desirous of emigrating; but there ought to be nothing compulsory. When the parishes and the individuals chargeable on them were desirous, an opportunity would be afforded.
Mr. Alderman Woodwas surprised that labourers should be removed from this country, when there was so much waste land in it that might be cultivated to advantage. There were about 80,000 acres of waste land, on which both corn and flax might be grown.
Mr. Hutchinsonapproved of the grant. The right hon. gentleman had said, that persons wishing to settle in the colony must make a deposit in this country; he wished to ask him, if such people as the distressed manufacturers and labourers of Cork, who had not the means of making any deposit, might not be exempted from 1551 this regulation? If government would give a loan to such persons, and afford them protection till they came to the colony, there could be little doubt, from the glowing language in which the right hon. gentleman had described that country, that they would soon be able to repay the sums advanced.
Mr. Williamswas convinced that this country possessed within itself the means of employment for all its inhabitants, and that nothing more was necessary than to cultivate those lands which at present were waste.
§ The motion was agreed to.