against whom he would have been effectually protected. He has to pay heavy cartage for the transportation of his baggage, for whose safety, moreover, his own vigilance will be the only guarantee. He will again be detained, on various pretences, in the taverns until his last dollar is expended, and a small debt incurred, which furnishes a pretext for seizing part or the whole of his luggage, and, thus plucked, he will again be turned heartlessly into the street, to become a charge to benevolence, instead of going directly into an independent and useful activity, as he would if he had proceeded at once from the Landing Depot to his final place of destination, without being robbed of his means and of his property by useless and fraudulent delays, caused by interested parties taking advantage of his ignorance.
It is to prevent this dangerous system of "booking in Europe," that the memorialists most respectfully ask for the assistance and co-operation of the Governments of Europe. The care which the European Governments have evinced for the protection of their individual subjects, by stringent laws regulating, superintending, or forbidding every species of business, calculated to offer scope to the swindler, inspires the memorialists with the hope that their representations will be favorably considered, and that the Governments addressed will be pleased to assist them in their efforts to protect the landing emigrants, by adopting such measures as will render it impossible for the reckless speculator upon the property of the emigrant to frustrate, in the manner indicated, the desire of the Legislature of the State of New York to extend to him, through the memorialists, a complete protection against fraud and imposition when he lands in this port?
The memorialists, being aware of the accomplished business-tact, and of the easy, insinuating, and gentlemanly address of the more prominent among the passenger agents who have gone to Europe, and are now travelling or residing there, engaged in forwarding the interests of the concerns of this city with which they are connected, would respectfully caution the Governments of Europe against the plausible statements which such men are in the habit of making to further their own ends, and would respectfully solicit a thorough investigation of the protective establishment under the charge of the memorialists, by the representatives in this country of the European Governments, envoys, ministers, consuls, or commercial agents.
Recommending their memorial to the favorable consideration of the august Governments, the undersigned have the honor to subscribe themselves most respectfully,
- New York, November, 1855.
The Board of Commissioners of Emigration,
| Gulian C. Verplanck, President, | ||
| John A. Kennedy, James Kelly, | ||
| Elijah F. Purdy, E. D. Morgan, | Commissioners | |
| John P. Cumming, | ||
| Fernando Wood, Mayor of New York. | ||
| Geo. Hall, Mayor of Brooklyn. | ||
| Andrew Carrigan, President Irish Society. | ||
| Rud. Garrigue, President German Society. |
