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of land, for what it will cost him to go to the Illinois, at the most favourable season of the year. But in the winter, when the Ohio river is frozen, to get a family and furniture from Pittsburg to Illinois, is, I conceive, beyond the power of any British emigrant.

The cost of a voyage from New-Orleans up the Mississippi and Ohio, to Illinois, is three times that of a voyage from England to the United States. The following are the rates charged from New Orleans to Illinois: for a grown person twenty-eight pounds, two shillings and sixpence; children from two to ten years old, half price; those under two, one fourth; servants half price; way passengers, sixpence a mile.

In travelling by land to Pittsburg, and then descending the Ohio, to reach the Western Country, the emigrant must make his calculations for the expenses of a delay which may take place at Pittsburg, by want of water in the river. The family of a Mr. G, who lately removed thither from Philadelphia, was detained one month at Pittsburg, and another month was spent on the water before they arrived at Shawanoe town.

To the traveller who is detained at Pittsburg, it is no slight alleviation to reflect, that he is at the very abode of hospitality; but to most of the emigrants, this "availeth little," in comparison with the consequences of an expensive journey.

I have marked many places for your observation

in Mr. B.'s work, which I send you. I shall also transmit an extract from the Village Record, a very ably conducted newspaper, published at West Chester, near Philadelphia, by Mr. Miner, lately a member of the Legislature of this Commonwealth.

CONCLUSION.

IN the preceding statement, I have endeavoured to guard my expressions in such a way, that they should not raise extravagant expectations of the country in which we have placed our settlement. I believe it will answer your wishes; for I think our opinions on this subject will agree, as they do in most others. But I wish every one who reads the description which I have given, to consider it with the same deliberation with which it has been written. I believe I see, very clearly, the difficulties which every person has to encounter, who settles in a new country; for they are before my eyes, wherever I turn: but I see that where industry is applied, first competency, and then abundance follows. An Englishman, by coming here, may shake from his heavily laden shoulders, the immense burthen of his taxes; but he must not expect to lay aside his industrious habits, and to indulge in indolence, unless he brings a fortune with him. This I wish to impress upon the mind of every one. You who are happily blessed with a competency, will find a pleasure in looking over the improvements

of your farm, or amusing yourself in rural sports. It will be better for many Englishmen, to purchase an improvement, than to begin in the woods, as the phrase is, for a commencing improvement. This will enable him immediately to keep his cattle, and he may add such quantity of land as his circumstances shall render proper, and extend his clearing and improvements according to his industry or his purse. All his clearings, if he is careful, will doubly repay the toil and expense of making. Still, however, at first, he must not expect to see the smooth surface of his native island, where the cheapness and abundance of labour enables the farmer to till his fields with more care than is used here in a garden. Here are the materials of beauty, as well as happiness; but they must be fashioned and shaped into order and symmetry.— He who has not exertion to do this, had better stop, and slumber at home. The idle should not come here; but to the industrious man, every thing necessary for his comfort is offered. With pure air, and excellent water, he may count upon health. With a fertile soil, and good markets, and the blessings of Providence, which usually follows the use of proper means, he may calculate on prosperity; while, to crown and preserve all, he is blessed with

Kind, equal rule, the government of laws,
And all protecting FREEDOM, which alone
Sustains the name and dignity of man."

It just occurs to me to add that no female can be arrested or imprisoned for debt, in this commonwealth.

In order that you may be able to judge for yourself of the excellence of the government of which we are invited to become citizens, I shall transmit along with these sheets, the constitution of the United States, and of the state of Pennsylvania, which is among the most powerful of the the Union in wealth and resources. I shall add also an abstract of the laws respecting naturalization, and the act to enable aliens to hold lands in this commonwealth.

I remain, my dear friend, with many wishes for the happy arrival of yourself and the rest of our party, &c.

C. B. JOHNSON.

From the Village Recorder of 18th Nov. 1818.

NOTICE OF MR. BIRKBECK'S LETTERS

We have before noticed Mr. Birkbeck's letters from Illinois. His calculations, showing the rapidity with which independence may be obtained, and even wealth accumulated, are well contrived to lead the sanguine in flocks to his neighbourhood. Whether all who go will realize the happiness and prosperity which their fancies have pictured, our deliberate judgment leads us much to question. That the prairies of which he speaks are rich in soil, and will be prolific of produce, we entertain no, doubt: but fine land and good crops are not the only considerations which a prudent man will take into the account, when he is about to remove his family, and to settle in a new situation. Health is better than riches; and the finest prairie in Illinois would poorly compensate for the sacrifice of half his family, and the reduction of the rest to debility and disease.

New countries are generally healthy. When they are not so, when diseases make their appearance with the first settlers, the climate must be radically bad, and the situation extremely insalubrious. These observations have arisen from an impression left upon my mind by Mr. Birkbeck's book. In letter fourth, he speaks of burials-it is right enough, deaths take place every where-but when he adds, "These simple monuments of mortality, [graves over which trees have been felled] "are not unfrequent in the woods," it strikes me as quite unusual, and indicates a sickliness of climate justly alarming. To this, when it is added that he

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