ART. VIII. Voyage of Discovery to Baffin's Bay. P. 726—746. Prevalent information as to the object and result of this voyage-ac- count of the Esquimaux-particulars respecting the progress of this expedition-controversy about Lancaster Sound undecided-con- sideration of Capt. Ross's opinions and conduct somewhat unfa- vourable to him—his general inferences admitted, and why-what the amount of discovery stated-science little aided by this expe- dition-subject of the magnet most affected by it-Captain Sa- bine's "Remarks" greatly to the disadvantage of Captain Ross- the contents of them stated, with extracts-opinion of Maclaurin re- specting a northern passage into the Pacific quoted with approba- This Analysis may be found useful, as presenting in a small compass, the order, contents, principles and opinions of the vari- ous criticisms. It will also bear to be read by itself. It has, there- fore, something else than mere novelty to recommend it; and it has been judged preferable to a partial index, which is rarely consulted, ART. I. Letters from Illinois. By MORRIS BIRKBECK, Author ALTHOUGH it has not been the policy of the British legislature to afford any direct encouragement to emigration to our own colonies, yet the importance of removing all obstacles to it on the one hand, and, on the other, of securing emigrants as much as possible from the artifices of unprincipled speculators, has not been overlooked. The act for regulating emigration, which was passed in the year 1803, contains some effectual provisions for the attainment of these very important objects. But, as it was framed principally with a view to the prevention of the scandalous abuses which had arisen in the mode of conveying to America those thousands of the inhabitants of the Highlands, whom the total revolution in the system of that country forced to emigration as the best resource; and as the circumstances under which the subject was then brought under the consideration of Parliament, did not extend to emigration from the other parts of the kingdom,-the operation and benefits of the act have been a good deal circumscribed. But neither in its design, nor in its effects has that act operated as a check upon emigration. And VOL. I. NO. I. B as for the laws restraining artisans from settling in foreign parts, they are grounded on such a peculiar policy, that they may well be left out of view on the present occasion. The popular notion, that emigration is productive or symptomatic of national decay, is now scarcely any where entertained. All the prophecies of depopulation have been long since falsified; and even those who prognosticated, as the less but more certain evil of emigration, that it would raise the wages of labour, must be content to acknowledge their mistake. In a great manufacturing country, there are some peculiar causes which must lead to occasional emigrations. The caprices of fashion, and the accidents of war make the labours of the operative manufacturer, who is not employed in fabricating articles of constant consumption, more precarious than any other of the working classes. And when the occurrence of these chances deprives the workman of his present means of subsistence, unless, by a rare good fortune, he finds immediate employment of some other kind, emigration is the readiest resource. The spirit of enterprise rouzed by the apprehension of poverty, is in this case the actuating motive. In other cases of more rare occurrence, the same spirit, excited by avarice, leads to emigration, The next great cause, is the spirit of discontent arising from matters purely religious or political. The history of most emigrations proves how extensively these causes have operated. Their absolute controul is beyond the reach of all legislative power; and even if they were not, the exercise of such a power would produce the most calamitous results. But, among the minor causes which have been found to induce emigration, it has been alleged that there is one, of which the effects have been productive of much individual distress, namely, "the active circulation of seductive accounts of the immense advantages to be derived from going to settle in America*." This, too, is in a great degree beyond the reach of any legislative remedy; and it is to be hoped that the salutary check which the liberty of the press administers by the exposure of such abuses, will be found sufficient to prevent this one from occasioning any extensive mischief. It is, however, the obvious policy of a government, to use all proper means to direct the stream of emigration towards its own colonies. Generally speaking, this may be easily done. Unless in those cases where political discontents were the cause of emigration, there will be a disposition to remain a subject of that * See the Report of the Committee of the House of Commons relating to Emigration-June 9th, 1803. state to which allegiance is naturally due. There is scarcely any man who would not feel reluctance at an exchange of the laws and usages of his native country for those of any other, unless there were some extraordinary advantages to counterbalance it. For a long time the views of our emigrant population have been turned to North America, where the extensive tracts which are yet uncultivated, seem to afford more space for their accommodation than can be occupied for centuries to come. The vicinity of the United States their eagerness to promote the settlement of English emigrants within their territories-and the large inducements which they offer for this purpose, in addition to the natural attraction of a more southern latitude, are not unlikely to draw away many who would otherwise settle in our own colonies in that quarter: and yet we think, on a comparison of general circumstances, that an emigrant would find a settlement in these much more advantageous than within the limits, or under the government of the United States. Our opinions on this subject are strongly confirmed by the perusal of the present work. These letters are published for the avowed purpose of giving advice and information on the subject of emigrating to the United States. As the writer, from his peculiar situation, may be expected to communicate the results of his personal observations and experience, besides that degree of importance which attaches to the subject itself, this little volume derives a peculiar interest from the circumstances under which its contents have been written. Mr. Birkbeck was an English farmer, who, though he had amassed a pretty considerable fortune in his native country, became discontented with its government; and accordingly, in a disposition neither amiable nor patriotic, visited the United States in 1817, with the intention of choosing a tract of land which he might purchase, and to which he might emigrate with his family. He journeyed through various states within the Union, without finding any place to suit his views, in any situation less remote than the territory of Illinois. There he purchased a very large tract of what the United States sell under the name of public lands. He gives the following account of the localities of his new situa tion. "Our township is a square of six miles each side, or thirty-six square miles; and what may properly be called our neighbourhood, extends about six miles round this township in every direction. Six miles to the north is the boundary of surveyed lands. Six miles to the east is the Bonpas, a stream which joins the Big Wabash, about six miles south of us, where the latter river makes a bold bend to the west, approaching within six miles of the Little Wabash: this river forms our western boundary, at about the same distance up to the northern line of survey above-mentioned. The centre of this tract is our prairie, containing about 4000 acres. "There are many other prairies, or natural meadows, of various dimensions and qualities, scattered over this surface, which consists of about two hundred square miles, containing perhaps twelve human habitations, all erected, I believe, within one year of our first visit, most of them within three months.”—P. 33. The portion of this extensive waste which Mr. Birkbeck has marked out for his farming operations, consists in all of 1600 acres, being 880 acres of wood land, and 720 of prairie. To this place he has transported his family. The "Letters from Illinois" commence on 22d November, and detail his observations and operations from June preceding, to 26th March, 1818, his settlement having actually commenced about September. The term of his experience is short. But our author makes up for its deficiencies, by the tone of confidence and boldness with which he delivers his opinions. This single circumstance must produce on the mind of every reader an impression very unfavourable to the temperance, fairness, and discretion of Mr. Birkbeck. He seems to think, that in pronouncing the praises of emigration to the United States, he is quite sure of pleasing the taste of all but the short-sighted opposers of emigration in general, and the advocates of corrupt representation, government abuses, and rotten boroughs. Accordingly he keeps very bad terms with all such persons, but especially those whom he conceives to belong to the latter class. It is difficult to convey a distinct notion of the contents of this book, which consists of a collection of letters addressed to different persons, and discussing, in a loose and rambling manner, various details relating to emigration, the purchase of land from the United States, and the settlement of a family in the wilds of Illinois. But there is one thing which may be distinctly traced throughout the whole of it,—an eager desire in the author to shew that he has pursued a right course-that his situa tion as the proprietor of uncultivated lands in his adopted country, is preferable to that of the renter of the most fertile lands in the best parts of England-and therefore to induce others to follow his example. To make out this point, he insists much on the disadvantages to which the English farmer is exposed, but from which the emigrant to the United States is wholly exempt. The way in which he speaks of the abuses of the British government, and the tone of pity which he affects towards those who continue to live under it, are really curious. He classes himself among those who " did not like the way of being ruled and taxed by people who had no more right to rule and tax, than |