peace of the Mother Country and the Colony,” were suspended by those melancholy events which darkened the termination of his successor's reign; and although, since that period, Colonization has proceeded with more or less activity, and never been wholly interrupted, yet it is only within the last quarter of a century that it has become a consideration of general interest to the Legislature and People of this country.

In the present day, your Lordship is clearly designated,—no less by official position than by personal experience, vigour of intellect, and purity of purpose, as the person best qualified to promote and reduce into a system the principles of Colonization. If, therefore, I can throw any new light upon this great subject, or revive any neglected truths that bear upon it, and, having done so, can succeed in engaging the attention of your Lordship, I feel that my labour will not be altogether useless.

The British American Association was organized in 1841 and 1842, to give practical effect to the views and efforts of all, on both sides of the Atlantic, who consider systematic Emigration and Colonization to

be the most efficacious mode of extending the industry, increasing the wealth, and preserving the integrity, of the Empire. It sunk, however, beneath a series of casualties no less extraneous than deplorable; and I have felt it to be my duty, both on public and private grounds, to compile this volume, hoping that it may prove instrumental in the organizing of some public Association for the same great national ends.

Under the circumstances of extreme hardship set forth in a Petition recently presented to the House of Commons on behalf of the Executive Officers of the late British American Association, and now more amply detailed in this publication, allow me to express my earnest hope, that your Lordship will deem it your duty to extend, on behalf of the Government, that encouragement and aid which would inspire confidence in an undertaking much more likely to promote public than private good, and therefore the more entitled to the fostering care of Her Majesty's Ministers and the Imperial Parliament.

I might, my Lord, dwell upon the severe losses which I myself have sustained in this cause, and the

efforts which I have devoted to its advancement, as an apology for an appeal to your Lordship's patriotism in this matter; but that I may induce your Lordship to adopt a course of policy which would render your tenure of office alike memorable for the wisdom by which it was marked, and the Colonial, as well as national prosperity which flowed from it, I need only refer you to the concurrent opinions of the many enlightened witnesses in favour of the systematic Colonization of our North American possessions, both in this country and in Canada, whose testimony for the first time is brought together in the following pages.

I have the honour to remain,

My Lord,

With the highest respect,

Your most obedient servant,

THOMAS ROLPH.

Shefford, Bedfordshire,

June 1, 1844.