HOME AFFAIRS. [From the Empire's Correspondent.] London, September 7, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 784, 5 February 1853, Page 3

HOME AFFAIRS. [From the Empire's Correspondent.] London, September 7, 1852.

Tht Emigration Commissioners have issued « report, from which the following table is extracted, showing the progress of emigration daring tht last 10

42,605 And for the first six months of 1852 the numbers have been :—: — To the United States 136,204 Britiih America .... 19,453 Australia 25,810 All other places .... 1,519

Total 182,986 for the •'« mouthi, or at the rate of 365,972 per annum.

The last complete year is 1851. la that year the whole number of emigrants was 835,966, and in. the present year the number wi'l be at least 365,972, or at tbe rate of one thousand per day \ The 335,966 persona who emigrated in 1851, tbe Commissioners iv their report divide as foU lowt : — Irish emigrant!, nine<-tenths of the emigrants from Liverpool 185,414 Emigrant* direct from Ireland 62,350 Irish from Glasgow 4,811 Irish emigrants to Australia in ship! chartered by the Commiasionera 4,797 Total Irish emigrants in 1851 257,372 Leafing for England and Scotland 78,594 Total in 1851 , 335,966 Here, then, we have the remarkable fact that 257,372 persona emigrated from Ireland last year, and there is every reason to believe that that number is likely to be continued, owing to tbe large sums of money remitted from settlers in America, to enable their Iriends in Ireland to join them. For the most remarkable fact connected with Irish Emigration is, that unlike any other effort made for the improvement of the people, it is self-sustaining. The Emigration Commissioners estimate that the money remitted direct to Ireland, or expended for passages by prepay* ment on behalf of their l datives in Ireland, by Irish settlers in America, amounted to In 1843 upwards of .£460,000 1849 „ „ 540,000 1850 „ „ 957,000 1851 „ , 990,001? This is independent of small sums, of a hrge aggregate amount, which did not come through tbe ordinary channels. # In the appendix to the report tbe Commissioners furnish an estimate of tbe actual cost of emigrating 238,016 Irish, who •re supposed to have gone to tbe United States and Canada in 1850, the whole of- which for steerage passenger*, •mounts to £892,931 Or less by £100,000 than the sums actually remitted ; a part of which would no doubt be for the use of relatives remaining in Ireland. If, then, we look at the rapid increase of the remittances, and consider tbe probability that the annual great increase in the number of emigrants will lead to a proportional increase in the sums resetted, as has certainly been strikingly tbe case during the last four years, it seems almost certain that emigration will still continue to increase. Nor is it all likely to receive any important check until the condition of the Irish labourer shall bave become so much improved that he has no longer an inducement to leave his home for a more promising country. According to the Census of last year, tbe population of Ireland was 6,515,794, showing a decrease of 1,659,330 persons since 1841, of whom 1,289,133 are estimated to have emigrated. The increase of births over deaths is about 1 per cent., which would amount last year to 65,157 ptrsans, to supply a deficiency created by emigration of 257,372. We then arrive at the fact that Ireland is decreasing in population at the rate of about 200,000 persons per annum. So far for Ireland. Let us then look at tbe United Kingdom. The case is thus stated :-— " Taking the United, Kingdom as a whole, the entire emigration of. the last 20 years, ending with 1851, amounted to 2,640,848. But of that aggregate number, the proportion who emigrated in the last five years was no less than 1,422,672, leaving only 1,215, 176 as the num. ber during the first fifteen years of the period. Tbe average annual emigration in each of the first fifteen years was only 81,211, while - the average of the last five years has been 284,534. In 1851 the number was -335,966, and during tbe first six months of the present year it was 182,986, or at the rate of 365,972 ; and it is more than probable that the number in tbe second half of the year will exceed considerably that of the first half. And considering tbe great attractions which Australia and other foreign countries no .\r offer to the young and enterprising, there seems to b3 no immediate prospect of a check to the present mania. The population of Great Britain in 1851 was 20,919,531, haviug increased from 1841 by 2,263,550 persons, or at tbe rate of 226,355 annually, independent of emigration. The total emigration of the ten years from 1841 to 1851 amouuted to 1,902,266, of which the Emigration Commissioners estimate that 1,289,133 were Irish, leaving 613,133 for Great Britain. If, then, we add this number to 2,263,550, the actual increase of the population, we shall have 2,876,683 as the true increase of the population of Great Britain, inclnding those who bad emigrated, or at the rate of 287,668per annum. As nearly as possible this gives a gross increase of \\ per cent. If, then, we take the present population at 20,918,531, and calculate the same gross increase, including those who emigrate, we shall have an annual increase of births over deaths of 313,000 in Great Britain, to which, if we add tbe estimated increase in Jreland of 65,157, we obtain an annual increase of 378,157, or not more than will supply the placet of those who emigrate in the present year. Taking the United Kingdom as a whole, we have therefore arrived at this remarkable fact, that ihepopulotion has become stationary, the increast of births over deaths being no more than sufficient to sapply the current of emigration. The effect of so startling a 'fact is, however, somewhat modified when we bear in mind that of the entire number of emigrants in 1851,335,966, no fewer than 257,372 were Irish, leaving 78,594 for Great Britain. Supposing the, same proportion to obtain in the present year, then the estimated number of 365,972 would consist of 280,340 Irish, and 85,632 English and Scotch. Tht result of this apportionment' will be, that, while the population of the United Kingdom will be about stationary, that of Ireland will decrease by 215,183, and ihat of Great Britain will increase by 227,368." Tbe Economist, in taking a review of this interesting Report tays :—: — There are two very important and interesting considerations which result from the state of facts to which we have referred. The first is, that the marvellous increase in the consumption of the necessaries of life, and the luxuries of tht humbler classes, to which we have so often had occasion of late to advert, has taken place among a population almost statiouary in numbers, from which it fallout that the rondition of each it improved in the full proportion of that increase. For example, in the first, aix months of tha present year, tht consumption of sugar was about 40,000 tons greater than in tbe tame period even of 1851, when it was to Urge ; and this increased v

quantity has been distributed over the tame number of persons. So with regard to the consumption of corn, ingar, tobacco, and other articles, dnring the last four years. The second. is, the great importance which the facts, to which we have adverted, give to all the modern means of economising human labour by the ' use of mechanical contrivances. The extent to which railways economise time, and in many ways productive labour, it would be difficult to estimate. Through the whole range of industry, the creative skill of the mechanician is constantly at work to aid the human hand and even to relieve the human brain, from the iude3t operation of agiiculture to the art of diamond cattiug. Every mechanical inyeptioq is equal to a supply of so many hnman hands, and often of so many human heads, which are thus 'set at liberty to explore j tht resources of our distant possessions, to extend the British name, and to plant new markets for British industry, which is every hour increasing at a rate unknown in any former time, in spite of the extensive emigration. I am glad to see the Australian emigrants following the good example of those who went to the United States, in remitting sums of money to j their friends, to enable them to join them in a country where their social condition will be much improved. Mrs. Chisholm has published copies of the first and second remittances sent from emigrants in Australia to their friends in England. The number of persons contained in the first schedule amount to 137, who remitted £2,924, rather more than £20 ahead. The total remitted by the aecoad roll is £695 2s. 6d., or nearly £22 a head. Of these remittances, the most are destined to assist the emigration of the sender's father or mother, brothers or sisters. To carry out the wishes of thels praiseworthy persons, a farther sum of £600 will be required on loan, at the price of passages has risen to £18 and £20 per bead. An appeal has been made to the charitable to assist Mrs. Cbisholm in carrying out her philanthropic woik, which will no doubt, be readily responded to. The prospect of a. large and increasing emigration to Australia is now more certain than ever ; the numbers who have gone out this year will send home money to assist their relations to .join them.: and, as we have seen in many instances, where ten people go from a district, hundreds are induced to follow — the nucleus once formed is sure to grow into a mass ; every year will, in all probability, . add multitudes to your population, and Australia will, ere long, take her place amongst the Rations of the,ear,tb. Parliament is to meet on the 11th November ; there will be very little business done , before it breaks up again for the Christmas holidays, and the policy of the Derby Ministry will , probably not be known till the Budget is brought forward in February. Lord Derby promised to snnqmon Parliament in the autumn,, and make known bis commercial and financial policy : November js rather late in the year to be called Autumn, and it is generally felt that the Ministry have not kept faith with the nation, in thus concealing their policy for so long a time ; but they have kept their places, and that was the most important j object in their eyes. The Customs Reform Committee have already done some good by their^labours and valuable suggestions. The Custom House authorities Lave issued a notice, that when an officer makes a seizure, they are to furnish the owner with a written notice, specifying the ground of detention ; and if the owner desires it, they will appoint one o{ their commissioners to try the case in open -court, bearing evidence on both sides, and report the same for the Board's decision. This is an important step in the reform of Customs abuses ; It will be a guarantee against rash proceedings on the part of the officer, and will also check fraudulent dealers, who will be afraid of exposure in an open court. The American Fishery question is considered fettled ; it is true that no official announcement has yet been made of an amicable arrangement being concluded between the two Governments, but it is felt that such must be the end of this foolish misunderstanding, anJ the subject has ceased to cause any anxiety, and as a consequence to excite any interest. Mr. Webster, as you will have heard, is put in nomination for the Presidency, and will divide the Whig interest with General Scott. It isi thought that he may yet have a chance of success, although late in the field, but Pierce is still the favourite. Mr. Websts r has pronounced against the claim of Peru to the guano on the Lobos Islands. Several ships have left the United States to load there, and a man-of-war has been ordered to repair to that coast to protect American interests.

To the United Stttei. .842 63,852 843 28,335 844 43,660 845 58,533 846 82,239 847 142,154 848 188,233 .849 219,450 850 223,078 851 267,357 British AusNorth tralian America, colonies. 54,123 8,534 k 23,516 3,478 22,924 2,229 31,803 830 43,439 2,277 109,680 4,949 31,065 23,904 41.367 32,191 32,961 16,037 42,605 21,532 All other place*. 1,835 1,883 1,873 2,330 1,896 1,847 4,887 6,490 8,773 4,472 Total. 128,344 57,212 70,686 93,501 129,851 258,270 248,08£ 299,498 280,843 335,96£

years: The Emigration from the United Kingdom in each of the last tea years.