| Title: | Letter from John Porter, Dublin To Editor The Vindicator Belfast |
|---|---|
| ID | 2142 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Porter, John/30 |
| Year | 1845 |
| Sender | Porter, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Editor of The Vindicator |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | writes letter to newspaper about emigration |
| Source | The Vindicator, Belfast, Wednesday, March 12, 1845 |
| Archive | The Linenhall Library Belfast |
| Doc. No. | 9410226 |
| Date | 08/03/1845 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT/JW, 13:10:1994 |
| Word Count | 2801 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | The Vindicator, Belfast Wed. March 12. 1845 Emigration To the Editor of the Vindicator Sir. - In concluding a former letter, I stated my anxiety that one I intended to send you in a short time, should be read with attention. In lifting my pen to write it, I am painfully impressed by two considerations - 1st, my inability to do justice to the subject, and 2nd, a fear that anything I can say will have little or no effect. The present system of emigration is attended by many great evils, which call imperiously for a sweeping and thorough reform. Before leaving our shores, poor emigrants are exposed to the devouring jaws of the land sharks; on their voyage, there is no adequate attention shown to their comfort and accommodation, and, in many cases, they have to endure much hardship and petty tyranny; arrived at the port for which they are bound, they are beset by locust swarms of blackguards, who live by robbing them; during the journey to the interior, they are still surrounded by unexpected difficulties and temptations, and, at last, having reached their destination, they find themselves without money and without friends, alone in the depths of the forest, where sickness or a trivial accident may blast their energies, and destroy their prospects. Is it any wonder that many should fall into vice and crime - others into sickness - others into despair - and others (alas! too many) into a premature grave! Perhaps we have been criminally indifferent to the welfare of these unfortunate exiles. It is a great truth that every honest and industrious man has a right to a decent living in the land of his birth - a right which no human law can contravene, for it is antecedent to all such law, a primary object of which should be to guarantee its peacable enjoyment. - Upwards of 2,000,000 of our countrymen have not food, clothing or house accommodation fit for human beings: and not withstanding their unparalleled patience and industry, they cannot earn a comfortable subsistence. To do this many are willing to go to the ends of the earth, yet no-one comes forward to guide, cheer, and assist them in carrying out such a laudable desire! This, Sir, is not as it should be. Whatever may be the cause - on which it is not my business to offer an opinion - they are virtually denude of their birthright; whence it clearly follows, that it is the duty of those who have the means - of the public at large, to succour them in their efforts to establish themselves in more highly favoured lands. The first suggestion I shall offer is, that emigrant societies be formed in all our large towns and cities. They might be of incalculable service in a variety of ways - in diffusing information respecting the best and cheapest mode of travelling, the most advantageous localities for settling, and generally, of shielding the unsophisticated from the dangers which surround their path. Such Societies, supported mainly by voluntary individual subscriptions have been in successful operation for some time in several of the United States Atlantic cities, and have been productive, as I myself can bear witness, of unspeakable benefit to thousands. In New York the corporation have such a favourable impression of the services of the society in that city, that they annually contribute a large sum to the funds. Here is a lesson for us, we are too apt to charge the Americans with a total disregard of human rights, but before again doing so, would it not be well for us to remove the reproach to which our conduct, in this respect, lays us open? We ought, undoubtedly, to feel a deeper interest in the welfare of our countrymen than strangers; yet where in the United Kingdom is there an emigrant society? and what municipal body contributed œ100 a year to be spent in furthering the prosperity of those who are compelled to sever the ties that bind them to Fatherland? A due regard for our character should stimulate us to immediate exertion, for whether undeservedly or not I do not say, we have acquired the reputation of sending our paupers to foreign nations for support. There is one class of emigrants, in particular, whose case should awaken public sympathy, and to whom such societies as I speak of would be of infinite benefit. I allude to that of young and unprotected females, who at present, are left to shift for themselves the best way they can, and not a few of whom, owning to the sordid and cruel neglect of a merciless world, are lost. We are bound by the highest and firmest obligations, to those the strong arm of support. They should be shielded from the probability of such diabolical wrongs. When injured, the public feeling evaporates in a wild cry for vengence on the offender; but it would be more to the purpose if that feeling were directed to the organisation of means to preserve them from injury. The societies which I recommend should open a channel of communiction with those abroad; and taking these poor girls out of the hands of chance, guard them from their native village to the vessel, place them directly under the care of the captain, and provide as might easily be done employment for them in respectable families in America. I cannot pretend to mention more than a few of the ways in which such association could be of benefit; but there is one point to which, in my view, attention has not been sufficently directed in Ireland, wherein their labours would likely be of important service. With us, emigration consists of individual efforts; whereas it is obvious at a glance, that collective enterprise would be far more certain of success, besides possessing other advantages over the present system. A number of persons joining together would not be so easily cheated as separate individuals - they could purchase their store of provisions cheaper - make a better bargain for their passage - would be society in health, and solace and support in sickness - would not be so liable as to fall into the snare spread for them on the other side of the Atlantic - and in forming a settlement, how valuable the assistance each would render the other in building, tilling, and clearing the ground - in cases of sickness, accident, or death, or any of the numberless casualties in which an isolated settler would be utterly ruined! The advantages of combined emigration are better understood by other nations. Whole villages, pastor and and all, will rise up, and make an exodus from Germany to the states. The hardy and intelligent Norwegians go out in strong colonies This plan should be sirenously [sic] put before our people. A single isolated family runs more risk and endures greater hardship than one of a number about to settle together and has not as fair a prospect. This is so obviously true, that every person of intelligence would think me stupid if I were to say any more about it by way of explanation. In the United States and British America, there is ample room for the whole population of Europe to live in affluence; but, at the same time, there are some localities where it would be unwise for emigrants to plant themselves - the large cities - where they have so many temptations to remain. No adequate means have yet been devised for distribution strangers over the face of the country. There is a great want of information on this subject. Many wander about for a time, spending what little they have before settling. Few individuals have got the time, the disposition, the influence, and the funds requisite to procure correct intelligence, but a number of societies co-operating with American ones, could easily do so. I approach a delicate part of the subject,yet it is that which I have particularly in view - the accommodation provided for steerage passengers on board the liners. My opinion here is decided - I would abolish the plan in toto. People may urge on me the impossibility and the inexpediency of great change; but I reply it is not impossible, and no plea of expediency can justify the degradation of human beings below the level of brute creation. I have not a moments hesitation in saying, that more comfort has been provided for the comfort of prisoners in the new jail of Belfast than is exhibited in fitting up steerage accommodation for honest men. It is a mockery to talk either of comfort or accommodation - there is neither; and I do believe that an intelligent farrier would not allow his cattle to remain in a hole similar to that where the majority of emigrants have to pass one half their time. What kind of place is the steerage. A space, say eight feet high, between decks, lighted by a few bulls-eyes in the upper deck and two hatchways, which latter are the only means of ventilation, in general, there are four rows of berths, one at each side and two in the centre - two and often three tier in each row - and each berth made to hold two, three and sometimes four persons. In this miserable hole - dark and unventilated - from 100 to 200 persons, of all ages and conditions, and of both sexes, have to eat, dress, and sleep. Accommodation! - a box of rough deal boards. Accommodation! - a chamber where young and innocent females have to dress and undress in the presence of the other sex. Accommodation! a place as dark as night, and where you can hardly breathe from the impurity of the air. Stand over one of the hatchways at sea, and the stench ascending from below would almost suffocate you. Accommodation! - what a humbug! Is it any wonder that grossly immoral practises should be carried on in such a dog-kennel? Is it any wonder that many, when arrived at the other side of the water, and breathing the exhilarating air of transatlantic freedom, should curse the government of this country because of their treatment of the poor? I may be asked - " well, what would you do to make the steerage better?" I answer, what have you done with regard to the cabin? If there was a will there would not be the slightest difficulty in constructing in the upper deck, glass lights similar to those above the cabin, which in fine weather could be thrown open, and when a storm came on could be covered. And what is to prevent the steerage being divided into several compartments so that sexes and families might be separated? The sides of the vessel should only be fitted up with berths, and a long table placed in the centre, where people might eat their food like Christians; and some kind of fixtures should be thrown up, where boxes could be secured, so as they might not be smashed to pieces, as at present, whenever it blew a bit of a gale. I am also of the opinion that it might be a great improvement if the passengers (steerage) were victualed by the ship; instead of each individual providing for himself. This plan has been put into successful practice on board the government ships for Australia. At present, I think I may assume that each grown up person lays out an average œ3.10s for stores, including provision chest, cooking vessels, plates and soforth. Now in the Belfast workhouse, the cost per head per week does not amount to 1s. for food. This arises from the economy in purchasing and cooking largely at the one time. extend the same principle: let the ship owners purchase and cook the provisions; and I am quite sure that the result would prove, that for £1.15s (7s per week for a five weeks' passage), the passengers would have better food, prepared in a better manner, than they have now. How is it possible for, say one hundred persons, which is a small number, to prepare their food properly, at a regular time, at one small stove? They cannot do so and after pushing, jostling, and squabbling, not one in ten can get his get his breakfast, dinner, or tea as to be fit for eating. The plan I suggest would do away with all this, for three or four persons, in a caboose, could cook for two hundred easily enough. According to the present plan, every one at meals has to shift the best he can, with his plate on his knee, and the food on a box or barrel lid; but I would have tables down the centre of the vessel regularly served up, so that something like decency be preserved. By the present plan, every person has to wash, and scrape, and make ready his victual, and consequently there is a continued mess below deck; by mine, this would be all avoided. There would no longer be any necessity for each person purchasing a provision box, and an assortment of tin-ware, in many cases of no use to him after the voyage. The ship should furnish all these necessities. Now supposing 5s a head additional were charged for the passage - and that would pay for the wages of the extra cooks - would it not be better and cheaper to pay this sum than to put up with the confusion, the annoyance, the dirt and filth, the discomfort, and injury to health arising from the present plan? I cannot see for the life of me, what there is to prevent some arrangements being made by which the passengers might able to wash themselves properly. The usual allowance of water per day on board ship is half-a-gallon to each adult; and this must serve him for breakfast and tea, and every other purpose. suppose the steerage divided into four large divisions; would it be a matter of impossibility to have three wash-stands erected in each, with a tap to let in the water and a pipe to carry it off? Instead of being attended with waste, I think there would be a saving; for there must be a serious loss of this valuable article in serving out 100 half-gallons. If some thing of this kind were introduced, we should no longer see men and women go for a whole week without washing their faces. Another thing - every person now going out has to provide bed and bedding; but what the deuce are young men to do with such things when the voyage is over? Just what they do at present - give them away. Many, knowing this, do not purchase them, but lie in their clothes on the bare boards the whole voyage. Is this right? whats to hinder the ship providing at least the straw mattress and rug for each berth. Accommodation! bare boards and a dungeon. In conclusion, I think it absolutely necessary that a series of rules should be drawn up for the government of passengers, so as that they should no longer be subject to the petty tyranny of every cub of a mate or other sub-officer. It is requisite that the captain should have sovereign authority, being vested with responsibility; but, in order that every steerage passenger should know his place and to prevent the rude and impertinent interference of the subordinate officers in other people's business, I would prepare a set of regulations, read them, or give a copy to, every individual, before going on board, and make him sign them - a breach of them to be attended with a certain fixed penalty. At present, any bad character may render the whole voyage a scene of uproar and confusion; I'd put an effectual stopper on all such gentlemen at once. Having thus set the subject at some length before the public allow me to express my warmest hopes, that some of the philanthropic gentlemen in Belfast, and it can boast of many, will take it up, and urge it forward. At a trivial expense, and by a little labour, a vast amount of good might be effected. I know that some Liverpool gentlemen are fully aware of the evils depicted, and the necessity of a change. Government should put forth its energy but it will not, and therefore, let us arise, and shame the government by our patriotic exertions. The columns of the most influential journal in the empire are open to any well written communications on the subject. Throughout the country are scattered many noble-minded men, who only want the signal to unite in an efficient and well arranged scheme, and devote their energies to the procuring of a better system. - in gods name let a movement be made. Dublin 18th March 1845. John Porter. |
