Volume 19: Sir Edward Macarthur letters, 1840?-21 December 1854

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16 Carlton Ho. Terrace

April 10th. 1841

My dear Brothers

Mr. Marshall came to me this Morning to request I would give his son a letter of Introduction to you, and I am induced to do so because having been in his Father's Office he can throw much light on a subject which becomes one of vital interest to the Colony.

Mr. Marshall senior informs me that the Emigration of this year will consist of at least 16,000 souls, probably of a far greater number

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and that two fifths of these will go to Port Phillip. If such be the case there will be no cause of complaint in the score of pro-portion or of numbers – But I much fear the far greater part will turn out indifferent workmen.

It has often occurred to me that there would be no insuperable difficulty in organizing a good system of German Emigration that would in great part probably consist of Proprietors of small properties on the Banks of the Rhine, who could

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the cost of passage be reduced to about one half of its present amount might be induced to sell their small allotments of Land and to commit themselves to the Tide of Emigration.

The other half of the Paassage Money might be guaranteed to the Importers of certain of the Colonists and their advances for such an object might be paid back to the Persons imported. To obviate any Proprietor having an undue advantage, the choice of said imported persons might be determined by Lot. But this is a subject you can discuss with Mr. Marshall. From

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this time forth, I much fear the Colonists will have to look to themselves and to their own Energies, unless it should happen that an absolute difficulty presents itself to this Country in making Provision for its People. Even in such Case, and that monies are voted for the Service of Emigration – there will always be an effort to saddle you with the most worthless – counteracted again by the indispo-sition to exert their Energies which refuse of the Population always feel – and therefore a difficulty in

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inducing them to leave the Country.

Were the Colonists to address themselves to the young in the Cotton Factories large numbers might be induced to depart, and of a very energetic class. The duties of a Shepherd are soon acquired.

At the reading Room of the Colonial Society I have seen a News Paper giving some account of a Public Kneeling at Sydney to petition both Houses of Parliament against the Partition of the Colony. The Excitement consequent upon a general Election is such that were the whole of Australia engulphed in the Ocean, it would create no sort of Attention at a Moment like