Series 6 > Highland destitution of 1837

PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, RESOLUTIONS AND REPORTS
223
The committee believe that it is well known to all connected with the
Highlands and Islands of Scotland that the Government, in the course of the last
summer, commenced a system of emigration to Austraha; and the committee are
rejoiced to have it in their power to report that the same facilities of emigrating are
again to be offered to the inhabitants of the distressed and over-peopled districts.
But the experience of the past has shown: T‘ That many who were willing to
emigrate to Austraha could not be taken out free of all expense because of their
advanced years; and 2nd That while thousands are anxiously imploring that they
may be removed from their present state of poverty and dependence, it appears
from the returns made by the local committees that Canada is in most instances
the place to which they would prefer going.
The committee are therefore of opinion that the remaining funds in the
hands of the several committees may be most beneficially employed, not only
in assisting some of the old people to accompany the younger members of their
family to Australia, but also in aiding a very large emigration to Canada. With
reference to the latter emigration, the committee entertain a very confident hope
that the Government may be induced to aid liberally. Farther assistance can be
given from the surplus funds of this and the other committees; the remaining
proportion, the committee are of opinion should be made up by the proprietors
whose estates are to be reheved. This burden the committee are aware must fall
very heavily on many proprietors; still the committee are of opinion that in a
matter to them of such importance, they ought to bear a share.
But the committee, having ascertained in the course of their inquiries that
the destitution in its worst form existed chiefly in those places where crofting or
a division of the land into small allotments and the formation and extension
of villages had encouraged an increase of population, think it right to express
their conviction that great evils have resulted from that system and that greater
evils may be apprehended from a continuance of it in situations where there is
little or no demand for productive employment. The committee believe that
the proprietors are fully aware of these evils and very desirous to provide a
remedy; and in proposing to contribute therefore, by means of the surplus funds
at the disposal of the committee to an object so important in all its bearings
as emigration, they feel themselves at the same time called upon to state it as
their opinion, that unless local regulations calculated to diminish the present
population in these districts and to check its future progress, be adopted and
strictly enforced, emigration or any other measure of relief which could be
devised, must prove in the end unavailing.
In conclusion, the committee trust that, having brought so far to a termination
their labours, it will be found that their efforts have been faithfully and zealously
directed to accomplish the great objects in view. The committee deem it right to
record their sense of the zealous and cordial cooperation at once of the officers
of Government, the London and Glasgow committees, the committees formed
at Aberdeen and Inverness, as well as all the local committees established in the