Company from making the Grant under consideration, upon such terms as are proposed by the Earl of Selkirk.

London, 30th May, 1811.

(Signed)

WILLIAM THWAITS.

ROBERT WHITEHEAD,

JOHN INGLIS.

JOHN FISH*.

EDWARD ELLICE.

ALEX. M'KENZIE,

No. II.

Lord Selkirk's Advertisement and Prospectus of the New Colony.

A TRACT of land, consisting of some millions of acres, and in point of soil and climate, inferior to none of equal extent in British America, is now to be disposed of, and will be sold extremely cheap, on account of its situation, which is remote from the present Establishments. If a tract of the same extent and fertility were offered for sale in Lower Canada or Nova Scotia, purchasers would be eager to obtain it at one hundred, or perhaps two hundred thousand guineas, and at that price would make an ample fortune in the course of some years, by retailing it in small lots at an advanced price to actual Settlers. The land in question, no ways different in advantages, may be purchased for about 10,000l. sterling. The title has been submitted to Lawyers of the first eminence in London, and is declared to be unexceptionable; but the situation is such, that the population of the older Settlements cannot be expected, in the natural course of things, to be spread into it for a long period of time; and till that takes place, the disadvantage of its remote situation must be an insuperable objection in the eyes of any unconnected individual who is looking out for lands to establish his family. Hence, the prospect of finding Settlers to purchase the land in small

John Fish was authorized to vote for John Hambrough, and did so.

lots is remote, and on this account the Proprietors are willing to part with it for so inconsiderable a price. But the obstacles which, to an unconnected adventurer, may be justly deemed insurmountable, may be overcome with ease by the combined efforts of many; and an adequate sum of money judiciously expended in removing the first difficulties of an infant settlement, may place this tract of land in circumstances as advantageous to the Proprietors as if it were in the immediate vicinity of populous colonies. The expences, however, would be too great for an individual: it is therefore proposed to form a Joint Stock Company, in 200 shares of 1001. each, so as to raise a sum of 20,0001. of which a moiety to be employed in the purchase of the lands in question; the remainder, in those expences which are necessary for bringing Settlers, and thereby rendering the land valuable. To those Settlers, lands will be disposed of, either in the way of sale, or lease in perpetuity, at the option of the Settler, on terms very encouraging to him, and abundantly advantageous to the Proprietors.

As there are serious objections against receiving into the proposed Settlement any Americans of the description of those who are likely to offer themselves, the Settlers must be Emigrants from Europe; and the most feasible plan seems to be, that they should be selected from those parts of the united kingdom which are most overburdened with inhabitants, viz. the Highlands of Scotland, and some parts of Ireland: a small proportion of the Emigrants who now go from these districts to the United States of America, would be more than sufficient for the object in view. Such a change of their destination could injure no part of the kingdom, and would save to the Empire, subjects who would otherwise be entirely lost to their country. To facilitate an object thus equally advantageous to the public, and to the parties concerned, it is proposed, that a preference should be allowed to Subscribers who are personally connected with these districts of the kingdom, and whose local influence may be of service in promoting the desired change in the destination of those who are determined to emigrate. The Settlement is to be formed in a territory where religion is not the ground of any disqualification, an unreserved participation in every privilege will therefore be enjoyed by Protestant and Catholic without distinction; and it is proposed, that in every parochial division, an allotment of land shall be made for the perpetual support of a Clergyman, of that persuasion which the majority of the inhabitants adhere to.

As the lands in question, possess important natural advantages over any which now remain unoccupied in Nova Scotia and the adjacent Colonies, it cannot be deemed unreasonable, if the Settlers in general are charged for their lands at the lowest rate which they would pay in these provinces. On the other hand, they will naturally expect to be conveyed to their land without incurring more expence than if they were to settle in these Maritime Colonies. The Managers of the concern, must therefore undertake to provide conveyance at moderate rates, for the Emigrants who go out under their patronage. The rate of passage money paid on board of other ships bound to America, may be taken as the criterion. These rates being always proportioned to the prices of freight and shipping at the time, no material loss can be apprehended upon the sea voyage; but as the place of Settlement is at a considerable distance from the sea, an extra expence must be incurred for the inland conveyance, which the Emigrants cannot be expected to pay, if they are to be charged for land at the rate of the Maritime Colonies; the expence which may thus fall upon the Proprietors, may be estimated at about 101. for each family of Settlers at an average. This, however, will be amply reimbursed in the price of land: the lowest price of land in the Maritime Colonies, when sold to actual Settlers, and possessing any tolerable advantages of situation, is at the rate of 10s. per acre, if sold; or if leased for a perpetuity, Is. per annum; every family of Settlers may be expected to take up at least 100 acres. They are allowed some accommodation of time for the payment, and 100 acres at the above rate, will amount to 50l., a nett advantage of 401., after reimbursing the charge of bringing in the Settlers. If he should prefer leasing, his rent will in two years repay the charges, and will remain afterwards as a clear income to the Proprietor. As the inland situation of the Settlement will preclude the Settler from some of the sources of profit which are enjoyed in maritime situations, it becomes necessary to provide substitutes. The cultivation of hemp is peculiarly calculated for inland situations, as that article is so valuable in proportion to its weight, that it can bear the expence of a considerable inland navigation. This cultivation is also a favourite national object, and the Settlement will derive benefit from the public encouragement which is held out for promoting it. A still more beneficial object ofattention, is the growth of fine wool, an article so valuable, that it would bear any expence of inland conveyance, and one for which the country is peculiarly adapted. In the vi

cinity of the proposed Settlement, there are immense open plains without wood, fine dry grass land, much of it capable of immediate cultivation, and all well fitted for pasturage, particularly sheep. This is an advantage that no other part of British America possesses by nature; and which the Colonists of the Maritime Provinces cannot obtain without the laborious and expensive operation of clearing. If to this advantage the Proprietors add that of a good breed of Spanish Merino sheep, the Settlers can never meet with any difficulty in paying the price or rent of their land. The fleeces of ten or twelve sheep will pay the rent of 100 acres, and with the produce of a very small flock, the price of a lot of land may be paid off in three or four years. With such advantages, the Settlers must thrive rapidly; and it will soon become apparent to them, that the land is worth a much higher price. At first, however, it cannot be supposed that the common Emigrants will understand, or become capable of appreciating these advantages; on the contrary, it is to be expected that they will be diffident, and afraid of venturing to a new, and (to them) an unknown country; it will therefore be necessary to give some extraordinary encouragement to a few of the first who enter into the plan. From this, and other causes, the commencement of the undertaking must be subject to expences, which will not continue permanently when the Settlement is well established; but, it is only by means of this first outlay, that we can expect to attain the ultimate advantages which are to accrue to the Proprietors. There is no room to believe, that these expences will exceed the sum which is proposed to be raised; but it must be sometime before the Settlers can he numerous enough to pay much either of rent or purchase money; ten or twelve years must therefore elapse, before the profits of the undertaking can be sufficient to afford a dividend to the Proprietors. After that period, the returns may be expected to increase rapidly, and will soon form an ample indemnification to the subscribers, for the loss of interest on the money in the meantime. The amount to which the profits may ultimately arise, seems almost to baffle imagination upon any principle of calculation which can reasonably be adopted; the result comes out so extraordinarily great, that it might appear like exaggeration to state it.

But the difference between buying land at 1d. or 2d. per acre, and selling at 8s. or 10s. is very palpable, and does not seem to require much comment. The speculation may not suit those who require an immediate income; but for

any one who is desirous to provide before-hand for a young family, such an opportunity seldom occurs.

NOTE.

It will appear from the foregoing prospectus, that some very material circumstances, relative to the situation and advantages of the proposed Settlement, are entirely suppressed, and others very artfully misrepresented in such manner, as easily to mislead persons destitute of geographical knowledge.

The advantages of soil and climate are dwelt upon, and exaggerated, while no notice is taken of the important fact, that the proposed Settlement is 2500 miles distant from any settled country in Upper Canada, and the communication practicable only by canoes; so that the Settlers will be completely insulated from the world, and incapable of finding any market for any produce, even if they should succeed in establishing the proposed Settlement.

No. III.

Admeasurement of the Distance and Stations between York Factory and Lord Selkirk's Colony; by David Thompson, Geographer to the North-West Company.

York Factory is in latitude 57° 1", longitude 92° 36" W. The rivers break up the latter end of May, or beginning of June, but the vast quantities of ice left on the shores, impede the navigation till the middle or latter end of June. The first snow comes frequently about the middle of September, and by the 20th, ice and snow are to be found along the river shores; no canoe, with any hopes of getting to the Red River, can leave York Factory later than from the 1st to the 16th of September. The canoes, or boats, &c., that navigate from York Factory to the Red River, do not go up Nelson's River, but up the river on which the Factory is settled, named Hayes' River.