Page:The A. B. C. of Colonization.djvu/32

27 lating the group at twenty-five adults, and that each one on an average gets £16, a year as wages, besides an ample allowance of food. The £80. thus lent to them, would, on the principle of this Society, be refunded towards the end of two years, if not earlier, and which might in like manner and with like effect be re-lent to others time after time. Now, let those who have most experience reckon the expense at home of the same number of the like class as constitute this group. The £80. given or lent to them would but last for a short time; perhaps totally consumed in struggling to keep on,—at least but little. or no chance of having it repaid to the lenders. Viewing all thus it cannot but be considered fortunate that the enlightened feeling of the present day is in favour of Colonization, and the public through the press, says, "Let us have something national, something worthy of the name of England." The spirit of patriotism is excited, and the credit of the mother country becomes involved in the character of her children; the demand now is for a systematic colonization. The statesmen of the day are alive to the evils of emigration, they know from past history the national changes with which it is surrounded, and they are now anxious for a sound and wholesome system of Colonization. Amongst those who loudly join in this demand are a class, who, if you ask them to put their shoulder to the wheel will cry, "Oh! the parish ought to help,"—while another influential party, to gratify their own indolent apathy, will say, "It is the work of the Government." Now, Gentlemen, presumptuous as it may be in me to intrude my opinion, I hazard criticism on this momentous question, when I say, that neither the Government nor parishes can give us a sound and satisfactory system of Colonization; they may give us convict emi-