COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY—MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. (Hansard, 18 April 1834)

Mr. Secretary Stanley

as this was a new item of expenditure, felt it necessary to explain the circumstances under which it was proposed. In the course of last year, communications were made from the town of Liverpool setting forth the frauds which were practised on poor people who, being desirous of emigrating, were induced to come over from Ireland to that town, and take their passage in ships 964 which were represented as being about to sail immediately, but which frequently did not leave the port till several months after; and, in the mean time, the means of these poor persons being exhausted, they were left either to starve or to be supported by the parish in which they might happen to be placed. In consequence of the extent to which this grievance had been carried, he last year tried the experiment of sending an agent to Liverpool, to watch over the interests of persons desirous of emigrating, and, from all parties, from the people of Liverpool, and from emigrants themselves, he had received the most gratifying testimonies of the benefit which had resulted from that proceeding. Since the appointment of this officer no less than 15,000 persons had come under his supervision. His duties were to receive applications from emigrants, to give them advice as to the course which they should pursue, to see that no frauds were practised on them; and, if the provisions of the law were not complied with by the merchants, to direct the emigrants to the quarters in which they could obtain redress. The officer at Liverpool had, by his exertions, succeeded in putting an end to a long train of abuses, and in putting the trade on a more respectable footing than it had ever stood upon before. The officer was a lieutenant of the navy, and his salary was 100l., and 50l. for expenses. Encouraged by the success which had attended the experiment at Liverpool, he (Mr. Stanley), had sent notice to the sea-ports of the kingdom from which persons usually emigrated, that he would appoint agents if they would afford the same facilities which had been offered by Liverpool, and to all ports which acceded to that proposition agents had been sent. The ports at which emigration agents were at present established, were Liverpool, Bristol, Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Greenock. Persons desirous of emigrating had nothing to do but to write to one of these officers; and letters might be addressed to "the Government Emigration Agent," without stating the name of the officer, and every information would be furnished them with respect to the sailing of vessels, so that they need not stir from their homes until just in sufficient time to reach the port and embark. The small annual expense which the country would incur in consequence of this new establishment would be ten-thousand-fold repaid by the effect which it would have in assisting the progress of spontaneous emigration.

§ Mr. Hume

thought, that no money had been voted for the last ten years for so useful a purpose as that now asked for. He approved also of the appointment of naval officers to fill the situation of emigration agents; they were a deserving and useful class of men. He would suggest to the right hon. Gentleman, that there was no place in the kingdom where an emigration agent was more wanted than in London. Every week he received a great number of letters and applications from persons wishing to emigrate. He mentioned this, in order to show the anxiety of the public to obtain information on the subject. There could be no doubt that the Corporation of London would afford every facility to the establishment of an agent.