would probably sail for the nearest port. After 1837 the officials of Boston provided for a careful inspection of vessels bringing immigrants to that port.

The table on pages 6 and 7 indicates clearly the character of the immigration prior to 1845. The only nationalities of importance are the Irish, English, and natives of the British Provinces in America. Of these the Irish have the greatest number. Since in several annual reports the number from Great Britain was not differentiated as to the several nationalities constituting the United Kingdom, the exact amount of the Irish immigration cannot be given.

During the first five years (1820-1825)the Irish immigrants increased from 125 to 252. In 1830 the number from Great Britain was 813, the greater part being Irish. By 1835, the Irish alone were 2381; in 1840 and 1844 respectively they composed the greater portion of those from Great Britain, ---namely, 2383 and 2362.

During this period the English form about one third of the immigrants coming from Great Britain. The number of alien passengers from British America steadily increase,--from 81 in 1820 to 1500 in 1844.

Alien Passangers arriving at the Port of Boston,(1)

Place of

1820-1845.

birth 1820 -21'-22'-23'-24'-25 -26 -27 -28 -29 -30 20 58 7 108 117 113 126 166 110

British

America

Great

81 81

(1) Executive Documents, 16th to 31st Congress.

signifies incomplete reports.