Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Other British Provinces in North America
With a Plan of National Colonization

This 1843 publication describes the society and economy of Canada as observed by the British social reformer James Silk Buckingham.

James Silk Buckingham (Author)

9781108033374, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 27 October 2011

580 pages, 7 b/w illus. 1 map
21.6 x 14 x 3.3 cm, 0.73 kg

The Cornish-born traveller and writer James Silk Buckingham (1786–1855) campaigned energetically for social reform while a Member of Parliament during the 1830s. He later spent four years in North America, and in 1839 travelled on to Canada to investigate its social and economic landscape. In this revealing account, first published in 1843, Buckingham recalls his experiences in the Eastern provinces. He found the Canadians to be civilized, hospitable, hard working and unfailingly loyal to Britain (unlike the independent Americans, who he reports they despised). He also encountered evidence of widespread poverty, and argues that in order to advance Canada's economy and, in turn, that of Britain, new emigrants needed better financial support from the British government. He concludes by calling for a new system whereby land, labour, skill and capital would be optimally utilized, in a pioneering proposal that he expected to prove controversial.

Preface
1. Departure from the United States for Canada
2. Sketch of the history of York or Toronto
3. Resemblances and differences between Canada and the United States
4. Facts connected with the recent rebellion in Upper Canada
5. Departure from Toronto
6. Visit to the Kingston Penitentiary
7. Departure from Kingston for Montreal
8. Early history of Montreal
9. Situation of Montreal
10. Municipal government
11. Monument to Lord Nelson
12. Departure from Montreal for Quebec
13. Earliest intercourse with Canada
14. Description of the city in its present state
15. Religious establishments of the French Catholics
16. Visit to the Citadel with the chief engineer
17. Commerce of Quebec
18. Visit to the Falls of Montmorenci
19. General sketch of the history of Canada
20. Departure from Quebec
21. First settlement of Nova Scotia by the French
22. General description of the Province of Nova Scotia
23. Cape Breton
24. Island of Newfoundland
25. Leave Halifax for journey to Windsor
26. History of New Brunswick and St. John
27. Departure for Fredericton
28. General view of the Province of New Brunswick
29. Capacity of our colonies to relieve the mother-country of her surplus population
30. Departure from Fredericton
31. Intended journey through Mexico, and voyage by the Pacific to China
Supplementary chapter
Postscript
Index.

Subject Areas: History of the Americas [HBJK]