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It is not, my Lord, proposed to ask for Loans without Interest from the rich for two or three years, without something being done by the persons to be benefitted thereby. Desirable therefore as it may be, that the expected Loan should speedily amount to a considerable sum, it is equally the object, and comes within the designs of this plan, that the Working Classes themselves should first contribute a proportionate sum before any portion of such Loans be appropriated to Emigration.
It is to be hoped that the machinery of this plan will be found so simple, that any benevolent individual, so disposed, would be able to manage all matters connected with the local Branches of the scheme in such a way as that the arrangements might be in the hands of the parties most interested in the welfare of the people, and in whom they could place the greatest confidence. It is calculated that such a Society, (and the family group system proposed), will be found particularly applicable in affording protection and assistance to friendless and orphan females, and to young lads who may stand in need of family protection.
The number of weavers (and weavers are said to make excellent shepherds), now unemployed, would doubtless, cause numerous family groups to be formed amongst that body of persons; but as the object of this Society is to establish a National System of Colonization, it will be necessary that the Local Branches, as well as the Central Society, should all be working at the sane time.
There never was, perhaps, a more suitable time to commence such a work than the present; and, although the working of the plan is fixed upon the basis of high moral motives, nevertheless, for Colonization to go on satisfactorily and with advantage, it must also be made a matter of business. Every "twenty guineas' ship," as such are called, that leaves England full of passengers, requires, that for the wellbeing and prosperity of these individuals, two other ships should be filled with common hard-working people, or individuals whose habits would dispose them to adopt a shepherd's life, for Colonization, like an edifice, must be carried on by the due and suitable admixture of component parts.
In submitting this plan for your Lordship's consideration, and that of the Public, it may be observed, that all the aid which it may be found requisite to ask of Government, will be, the granting of the usual allowance to Surgeons and Captains of ships, for the due transmission of Emigrants, and a salary to Colonial Agents. It will also be highly desirable that a requisition should be made to the Government to appropriate a proportionate sum to that advanced by this Society on Colonization, the same being deducted from the Land Funds of the Colony, to the making of roads, building bridges, and other local improvements within these Colonies. The friends and well-wishers of this Society can hardly expect the full confidence of the Public at its commencement. It is a great moral problem yet to be solved, whether the various grades of our Working Classes can be trusted, or whether, with all our religious, moral, social, and commercial advantages, we are rearing rogues or honest men; for, if we are not doing the one, we are certainly doing the other.
The benevolence that feels a desire to help those who try to help themselves will be in favour of such a plan, and real charity will dispose many to grant Loans from the Christian motive of doing good. But confidence, in its commercial character, is a thing to be gained. There is nothing, however, discouraging in this undertaking; for, high as many of our commercial houses now stand, they all had a beginning; and, with few
