Emigration Statistics. of which increase, 30,000 may be by emigra We mentioned in our last paper an idle tale tion. As "a drop in the bucket," when viewed circulated at Paris saying, that the French in relation to the whole body of the people. Not emigrants who had reached the United States missed in the countries they came from. nor did not amount to a less number than thirty felt heres except in certain small circles of the thousand; which we laughed at, and shewed community. The English charge us with boasting of what the impossibility of. It brought to recollection another story that was seriously told by "grave we shall be--they, themselves, boast of what and reverend gentlemen" in Maryland, and they are. Now, these are very natural things: intruded into every cottage, a few years ago, we are like a young man just entered upon a setting forth, that Bonaparte, about to take great and extensive business, which he sees possession of the United States, according to must and will, with common prudence and care, contract, was preparing for it by the introduc- make him independent-they may be compared tion of some forty thousand (I believe it was) to an old man that has acquired an immense forof his veterans amongst us, in the shape of tune, and with it all the influence and power barbers and dancing-masters! At the time belonging to the command of money; which, that this tale was pressed upon the people, I however, gives him excessive trouble, and is called to mind an anecdote I had heard of the continually involving him in suits at law. But credulity of a certain particular part of the as, like the young man in business, we are population of France: a fellow, to play on that anxious to get forward as fast as we can, by credulity, reported to his country neighbors an honest use of all measures possessed for it, that a tree had suddenly grown so large in the we are pleased with any thing that honorably city of Toulouse as to shove down many houses, conduces to it. The emigration of laboring and that it was fea ed the whole city would be foreigners is an item in our means--just as the laid in ruins by its yet increasing size!-The grocer, who sells a hogshead of sugar, retails tale was eagerly swallowed, and repeated, with a cent's worth of "fig-blue.' The National Intelligencer, in a late brief so many additional circumstances, that he who made it went to Toulouse to satisfy himself notice of emigration, very properly refutes the whether it was so, yea or nay. For it reallyTable of emigrants from Europe arriving, in the U appeared, as if those who got up the story about. States, for IGT WEEKS, from July 18 to Sept. 12, the "barbers" and "dancing-masters," on the 1817--collected from the news papers and shipping lists received at the office of the WEEKLY occasion alluded to, at last, partly believed it by the editor. themselves; as "every body said that it was true!" We have for several weeks designed a statistical article on emigration, as generally connected with POLITICAL ECONOMY; which, while it might serve to eradicate vulgar errors respecting it, would also serve to shew its whole force and utility. It is very certain that our population is not materially affected by it --still, the accession to our numbers by it is England important; and forms one of the tens of thouIreland sands of items of national wealth and national Scotland. Wales strength. Total FROM The average number of foreigners emigrat- Germans and Swiss ing to the United States for the last twenty France years is not greater, if so great as, ten thousand a year. But, from the result of the facts that have been collected, an opinion may be entertained that, for the present year, they may possibly amount to 30,000.* In our "Agricul REGISTER, Total. Aug. 30 to Sept. 12... Aug. 15 to Aug. 30. Aug. 1 to Aug. 15... July 18 to Aug. 1..... 649 581 519 55714422518| 134 51 826 1826 365 509 3696) SI 97 25 120 271 6485 A large majority of the above, from the British dominions, were from England-nearly one third of the whole reached the United States by way of Halifax, St. Johns', &c. tural tatistics," last week, this number was The preceding table is not given as a perfect counted upon by the addition of 5 per cent. thing. It is impossible, from the nature of the to our population to consume the crop of the materials afforded, that it should be so, though year 1817, which is greater than our usual much time and patience have been spent upon it. increase by at least a of 1 per cent. Our The emigration, for the last eight weeks, has rather population increases geometrically-i. e. the exceeded one thousand per week; which, however, will shew that, in allowing 30,000 for the year, we increase, itself, produces an increase, continu-have gone to its greatest possible extent; the presally. The whole increase of the present yearure always being in the summer and fall months. will be upwards of 400,000, at a very moderate From the opening of the navigation to the 28th calculation, on a population of nine millions; of August, it is said that 4143 "settlers" had ar rived in Canada. A half of these will probably ses tle in the United States. See note next column. false assertions of European writers, that we pound interest, is continually increasing the secretly reward masters of vessels for bringing national wealth; the latter only turns over the passengers to the United States. These asser-capital thus produced, subsisting upon the protions are wantonly false or stupidly ignorant; duct of its profits, without adding a cent to its we have neither di oits of admiralty nor secret value. We have had very few of the latter, but service money-and the report of the secre-receive the "first quality" of the former, which tary of the treasury, made in each year, shews is a subject of congratulation. Their labor may eve y item of disbursement. It is true, we be estimated as giving a new value of $1 each have a "contingent fund," as it is called---a per day, for 300 days in the year--and of They will make a small sum of about $100,000 gene: ally, at the $3,600,000 per annum. disposal of the president, by his own discre-home market" for bread-stuff's and meats (at tion; and this is all the money that can be dis-1lb. of vegetable food, and lb. of animal, for rosed of except through appropriations by law. each, per day) of the value of $753,000, and The whole amount of disbursements from this the balance, of nearly three millions, will pass fund has not been $100,000 since the organi-into the common stock of wealth, in one way or zation of the government, a period of nearly 30 another, assisting and extending the commerce years. Where then do these secret rewards" of the country in general, at home and abroad. come from? Individuals may, possibly, entice The capital thus raised may be fairly estimated or encourage other individuals, whose services to double itself every ten years, and is a clear they particularly desire to have. It is in the gain. It is thus that I view emigration-and make very nature of things that this should be so; and the English are, or have been, extensively it out to be a pretty little item of Political Ecoin the practice of it---not as individuals only, nomy; though it does not materially affect our but in their national capacity: they have openly aggregate of population and resources. profered bounties and peculiar privileges to certain descriptions of emigrants, and may not we also do it, if we please? But we offer nothing to emigrants except that, after a season of probation, they may become citizens of the United States, if they please---or let it it alone, as they like; leaving them at all times as free to depart from the country as they were to come to it. Our Fishermen. AN ORIGINAL ANECDOTE. It will be recollected that admiral Coffin, of the British navy, visited the United States a year or two since. While at Gadsby's hotel, in Baltimore, he related the following anecdote Being in the South seas, he fell in with a To return to our subject. Admit that the Nantucket whale-ship, and, desirous of seeing emigrants to the United States for the present the whole ceremony and operation of catching year will amount to 30,000. The average a whale, in true yankee style, he asked libernumber, in ships and vessels from France, is ty to go out in one of the boats for the purpose. less than 20; from the British dominions, about This was readily agreed to, provided he would 50; from Holland, Germans and Swiss, about take a station, and promise obedience to or300. The proportion of the 30,000 will be ders-no unnecessary person being permitted about as follows: 2000 French; 20,000 English, in them. He consented, and took his seat as Irish and cotch; 8000 Germans and Swiss. an oarsman. After a while, they encountered The first requiring 100 vessels; the second 400; a and the last 27. These suppositions are not adopted by chance, but are the result of expe rience derived from some months examination whale and struck him secundum artem, and away he went dragging the boat after him with such lightning-like rapidity as to make so deep a trough in the sea, that it appeared, and perof the shipping lists of the chief ports in the haps really was, several inches higher than the United States; and, though these lists are inuppermost part, or gun-wale, of the boat!competent to exhibit the whole fact desired. The man, whose place it was, stood ready they may serve to give a general idea of it, with the axe, to cut the line when necessary. which I, perhaps, have a better right to be ac-The admiral much terrified at so novei a danquainted with than any other private indivi-ger, looked at the axe-man who, perfectly coldual in the country, from my attention paid to lected and intent on his duty, was as calm as it. This shews the absurdity of the Paris if he had been reposing on a bed of roses-and story about the 30,000 Frenchmen having ar-called out, with great vehemence and agitation, Cut the rope, you .." "Not yet," rived, &c. In these 30,000 persons it may be calculated said the fisherman, very deliberately. and keepthat there is a capability to perform 12,000 ing his eye on his object--"we can't afford to lose dry's daily labor. One laborer from abroad is the yarn!" Nor did they-for they caught the worth more than an hundred shop-keepers. whale, without loss or damage. The admiral The first produces something, which, at com- declared that so great was his terror on the oc *England has not only done this, but forced the casion, that he would rather be grappled in a services of tens of thousands of acknowledged fo- frigate to a French 74, than assist in taking another whale. seigners, to man her navy. General Washington. [Communicated for the Charleston Courier.] The following is the copy of a letter from gen. Washington, to Dr. Cochran, director general of the military hospitals, during our revolutionary war. It was obtained from the son of Dr. Cochran, and its authenticity can be vouched for. It will serve to remove the reproach that has been some times cast upon the general, of his possessing a cold and unsocial temper. The style of the letter is playful and lively, and exhibits great goodness and sincerity of disposition. West-Point, August 16, 1779. Dear Doctor.-I have asked Mrs. Cochran and Mrs. Livingston to dine with me to-morrow; but ought I not to apprise them of their fare? As I hate deception, even where the imagination only is concerned, I will. No new, or difficult proofs, or unreasonable au thentication of documents, have been required tion: but as the files of this office have a special from claimants, under the beneficent laws in quesand may be subjected to legal scrutiny many years bearing upon what is technically stiled "real estate," hence, when no person who now has any share in the administration of the existing laws may be present to explain the "why" and the "wherefore" such or such documents were deemed admissibleso it is thought highly expedient that each separate file of vouchers which records an alienation of public property should be complete in itself, and not rewhatever, to attest the correctness of its admission quire a reference to any other file or document to the archives of the war department. to be generally understood) which has necessitated It is this general principle (which appears not It is needless to premise that my table is large to quarrel with, and that many others neglect a regulation that many individuals appear disposed enough to hold the ladies of this they had ocular through inadvertence, because, perhaps, the local proof yesterday. To say how it is usually covered laws of the state where they respectively reside, is rather more essential, and this shall be the pur. do not render its observance necessary in ordinary port of my letter. cases. For example: in every state of the American Since my arrival at this happy spot, we have had union, there are justices of the peace, or other maa ham, sometimes a shoulder of bacon, to grace the gistrates, authorised, by the constitution and laws head of the table-a piece of roast beef adorns the of each state, to administer oaths, to legalize de. foot, and a small dish of greens or beans (almost positions and affidavits, and to attest acknowledg imperceptible) decorates the centre. When the ments of all legal instruments of writing. In one cook has a mind to cut a figure, (and this I presume, individual state there are several hundred justices he will attempt to do to-morrow) we have two beef-of the peace: in another where this class of civil steak pies or dishes of crabs in addition, one on officers is likewise very numerons, there are also each side of the centre dish, dividing the space, four other descriptions of magistrates, who oç. and reducing the distance between dish and dish to about 6 feet, which, without them, would be casionally perform the same services for their fellow-citizens; and as the appointment of such manearly 12 a part. Of late he has had the surprising gistrates is not permanent, the succession in a few luck to discover that apples will make pies; and its years may become almost innumerable. Their re a question, if amidst the violence of his efforts, we spective qualities and signatures may possibly be do not get one of apples, instead of having both of so well known to the residents within a county, or beef. If the ladies can put up with such entertainment, and submit to partake of it on plates once tin, but now iron, (not become so by the labor of scouring) I shall be happy to see them. I am, ear sir, your most obedient servant, To Dr. John Cochran. further authentication for local purposes; but is it perhaps throughout the state, as not to need any supposable that the respective signatures of all the magistrates of those several descriptions throughout our widely extended union, can be known in this office? If by hazard such signature should be known to some one at the seat of government, that knowledge, however satisfactory it might be considered at the moment to one individual, might not appear to be a sufficient sanction for the disposal Section of Bounty Lands. of a portion of the public domain or its equivalent, WAR-DEPARTMENT, September 6th, 1817. to a collection of public men who might be specially Extract of letter to -, explanatory authorised to examine the records of this office of the principles upon which certain official docu some twenty years hence. Upon these consideraments from local authorities in the several states tions, it has long been deemed proper that one are required in support of posthumous claims to miligeneral rule should be applied to all such cases: tary bounty land, or its legal equivalent. that is, that the quality (and the signature where it Sru Several applications for "five years half pay" can be done) of the numerous classes of magistrates în lieu of bounty land, transmitted to the war de alluded to above, should be officially certified by a partment through your intervention, have recently public officer who has, or ought to have, custody been examined. After so much information on this of a general or partial authentic record of the apsubject as has been disseminated by the medium of pointment of all such magistrates, and who is aunewspapers, as well as by the many hundreds of thorised to sanction his certificate by a public seal, hand bills which have been distributed through the to counterfeit which is deemed a capital crime. The hands of members of congress and other gentlemen highest authority required in this case, is the sewho have visited the city of Washington, it gives me cretary of the state; but the "county clerk," or in pain to find that a very great portion of the docu- those states where no civil officer is generally ments transmitted to the offices of government known by that appellation, the officer whose functo support applications of this class, is so very defi. tions are equivalent thereto, is fixed upon as the cient as to defeat one of the principal views of a certifying officer; because it is believed that, in sage and paternal legislature that of conveying most of the states, a record of the justices in comprompt and effective succor to a numerous class of mission in each county is there kept: and, although the community whose present sufferings have, in a the officer, who has charge of that record should great degree, arisen from services rendered the not in every instance be able to attest the signature country. of every acting magistrate within his district, ye he can safely ascertain his quality, and sanction it, and by shewing you the decided advantages which by the proper seal of office, provided such a seal these two counties have over any other part of the exists: if not, his certificate should state that fact. United States. In doing it, I will not rely upon This circumstance sometimes occurs in the new assentions, but prove it by facts; and for this purstas and territories; but it is presumable that an pose I ask you to read and to reflect upon the stateinstance of it cannot be found in the Atlantic states. ments and observations which I am about to make. In some sections of the United States, the same I address this publication to you, because the individual is sometimes authorised to act in the emigrants from your states are generally the owners quality of both "county clerk" and "notary public;" of negroes; and of all kinds of property the negroes but he is, or dugi.t to be aware of the import-are the most valuable in Louisiana. My obserance of keeping the records of his transactions in vations will be confinded solely to Attakapas and each capacity separate and distinct, having a pub. Opelousas. lic seal appropriate to each of those offices; and yet I have more than once had occasion to notice mistakes between them, which vitiated important documents transmitted to this office. Soil and Products.-The lands are generally prairie, and a very small portion of woodland for cultiva tion. The prairies are mostly level, but sometimes waving. Nothing can surpass the soft beauty of A Notarial certificate is declaredly conclusive here, these prairies. In places for many miles, they are in certain cases;--but not as to ascertaining the as level as if they had passed under the roller, quality of other magistrates; for although the govern- and as even as if they had been cut by the shears; ment of the commonwealth to which he belongs then again they undulate, resembling the gentle may have deemed it useful and proper to com- but lofty rolling of the sea, after a storm has municate to him, as a notary public, the names of subsided. Such is the appearance of that part of the justices in commission, yet it is not among the Attakapas situated upon the bayou Fortue, and his attributes in quality of notary public that he is the river Vermillion, which has been called by a charged with the official record of other acting ma- French traveller in his history "le Paradise du gistrates; therefore, the certificate of a notary pub-Monde." These prairies resemble natural meadows, ic to the quality of any other magistrate is not re-covered with eternal verdure; they are interspersed cognized at this office as valid:-Nor can his mere here and there with clumps of trees and groves of ly adding notary public." to his signature be al-timber. The banks of the bayous and rivers which lowed any weight more than a "justice of the peace" How in every direction, are covered with woods, without affixing his official seal, even in cases where filled with the sweetest songsters of the groves. that quality would be competent. It is in these prairies, some of which are 150 miles f I must take this opportunity, likewise, to make in length, the large flocks of horses and horned a similar observation relative to another document cattle range. The soil is very rich and produces which ought always to have its appropriate seal affix-beyond any that has yet been tried, some fields ed to it, if one there be, in the office; or bear a pro having been in cultivation for forty years in sucper attestation that there is no official seal-if such cession, without any diminution of their strength; be the fact: I mean the copy of a letter of GUAR- this is owing not only to the soil but to the levelDIANSHIP meant to be received here as official;-ness of the country, which precludes all washing. often beuring a signature totally unknown at this The earth is very soft and easily worked. There office, with the designation "register" annexed to it. are no stones or pebbles in the country. The soil It is readily acknowledged that much is due to of Attakapas is black or of a dark brown, that of the meritorious services of those individuals in the Opelousas is of a lighter color and not as durable whose right these Posthumous claims are institu- as that of Attakapas. It is in these prairies that ted, and that all possible despatch ought to be the planter establishes himself, and nature has made to relieve the sufferings of their numerous done here what it takes art and hard labor years representatives:--but surely it is not blamable in to accomplish elsewhere. The fields are already cleared for cultivation, there are no forests to cut any individual, however humble a share he may have in carrying the benevolent intentions of go down before the crop can be made, no chopping, vernment into effect, to be vigilant that the public no grubbing. The planter has nothing to do, but interests receive no injury through his indifference to build his house, inclose his field and commence Once that the crop is sown, with or epicct;-nay, I am so old-fasioned in my civic-ploughing. sentiments as to think that such is his indispensa- moderate industry, the excellent quality of the land ble duty. will furnish abundant crops of sugar, rice, indigo, cotton, corn, potatoes, oats, &c. all of which are made in Attakapas in great abundance. The sta ples of Opelousas are cotton, corn, and oats. Sugar suceeds also very well in Opelousas, but the lands of Attakapas yield much more sugar than those of Opelousas, and are far superior to those upon the [Copied at the particular request of the author.] banks of the Mississippi, and immediately in the Attakapas, (Lou.) Aug. 6. neighborhood of New-Orleans. On the Mississippi I have received several letters during the last an hogshead of sugar per acre is considered as a year from gentlemen in your states, requesting me common crop, but in Attakapas a hogshead and a to give them some information relative to Louisiana, half and two hogsheads to an acre are the common and particularly of the counties of Attakapas and crops. Our sugar lands can be purchased at present Opelousas. It appears that this beautiful and in- for one third of the price they are selling for on teresting section of the United States is but little the Mississippi; and the water carriage to market known. As there are many of you, who have de at New-Orleans, is at the door of the planter. I termined to leave your native stase and to seek will annex a list of the crops made by some of our your fortunes in a distant land, I do not think that planters, which will convey a more correct idea of I can render you a greater service, than by direct-the advantages of this country, than any written ing you to Attakapas or Opelousas, in Louisiana,description can give. Views of Louisiana. FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER. 35 hands-$350 per hand, besides provisions, &c. I could name the products of many other plantations, but I think these will suffice to shew the great advantage this country has over the other 7 hands only-$593 per hand, besides provisions parts of the United States; and after knowing these in abundance for the next year. 1525 Peter Roberts-1816. 5484 lbs. of cotton 28 cts. 20,000 lbs. sugar $13 2600 200 barrels corn sold $1 25 250 4375 things, can you prefer any other part of the union? or will you prefer the rocky lands of the west or north, to the beautiful piuresque meadows of Louisiana, whose prolific soil more than amply repays the laborer for his toils; where nature smiles upon every thing, and where industry and enterprize never fail to ensure wealth and comfort in a 7 bands only-620 dollars per hand, besides pro- very few years? I leave these things to your reflec. visions, &c. Joseph Berwick-1816. 10 hhds. of sugar 130 dollars 1300 tions. This is one of the finest countries in the world for vegetables; they grow during the whole year; 2 hands only-650 dollars per hand, besides pro-and our gardens are as green in the winter as in visions, &c. Michael Gordy-1816. 25 hhds. of sugar 130 dollars 3250 the spring. I have seen the rose in full bloom, in all our gardens, in the month of January. We have the best fruit trees. The orange, the 4 hands only-812 dollars per hand, besides pro-fig, the pomegranate, the peach, plumbs of every Visions, &c. 4 hands-630 dollars per hand, besides provi-calves. Amongst the largest stock owners are sions, &c. 3 hands only-$749 per hand, besides provi- of cattle feeding and ranging in the large prairies. sions, &c. John Theall-1816. 12 hhds. sugar, 110 dollars 400 galls. molasses, at 33 1-3 cents In the time of gathering these cattle, I have seen at least 12,000 in one gang, where the owners had 1320 00 assembled them for the purpose of facilitating the 133 33 branding, as the law requires every man to have a particular brand, which is recorded. The breeds 1453 33 of these cattle are very fine; they keep fat in the provi-prairies and cost the owners nothing, except men to guard them: the largest of these stocks not dol-requiring more than six horsemen in the time of gathering, and the half that number at other times Rivers. The Teche an 1 Vermillion, in Attakapas, and the Mermentau, in Opelousas, are the only ri. vers which flow through these countries. The Vermillion and Teche take their rise in Opelousas, and How entirely through Attakapas from north to south, when they empty themselves into the sea. These two rivers are connected by the Bayon Fusilier. Both the Teche and Vermillion are navigable for large boats and vesseis, drawing not more than eight feet, 27 hands-$465 per hand, besides provisions, &c. at all times, for one hundred miles from their mouth -the Teche particularly so. It is generally slow and sluggish in its course, but at times very rapi from freshes. It is never liable to overflowings, like the Mississippi; is generally very deep, and as high up as the town of St. Martinsville, 100 miles from its mouth, is ten feet deep at all times. sides these rivers, there are many smaller ones, called bayous here, such as Ne pique Plaquemine Brule, Boeuf, Cortablau, &c. in Opelonsas and Caron Crow, 3 hands-$367 per hand, besides provisions, &c. Tortue, Salle, Cypre mort, Petitance, &c. in Attak Be |