emigrants at the Swan River are reported to be much dissatisfied on their arrival with the Settlement, but not a word is said of the expences and disappointments they experience in this country before their setting out, caused by the vessels in which they have taken their passage not sailing at the appointed time. No mention is made of the waste of the little they have saved from the wreck of a property once sufficient to support them respectably; but which the depreciation, which has affected all kinds of property, has reduced to such an extent as to be totally insufficient to afford them support here. No mention is made of the loss of funds contributed by friends; nor of the situation of a father who has hitherto supported himself and family by honest industry but which, from feeling confident he cannot continue to do with a reduced capital in this country, he determines to emigrate, with the hope of succeeding elsewhere; and what his feelings must be on finding his little property, with which he had hoped to realize this praiseworthy expectation, rapidly decreasing by a prolonged residence in London, occasioned by the vessel, in which he has taken his passage, not sailing at the time positively announced by a public advertisement, and this delay is protracted under repeated assurances, for weeks, and, in some instances, months, until the little cash which he reserved for his expences on his landing in the Colony is exhausted by his protracted residence in town; and the labourers whom he engaged to accompany him become demoralized by their continuance in idleness and exposure to evil company, and perhaps are induced by the high wages which labourers receive in the metropolis, to abandon him at the very moment the vessel is going to sail.
At present all I can advise the emigrant to do is to find a vessel which is chartered by respectable persons, to engage berths for himself and those who are to go out with him. Then let him send all his goods on board and return home, taking the key of his berths, and never mind what the advertisements say, but as soon as he learns that the vessel has really left the docks, then, and not till then, let him and his people set out immediately and join the vessel at Gravesend or Portsmouth, or any other port where she may touch in her way. Any thing is better than to remain in London month after month in idleness and serious expence.
A person about to emigrate will make his purchases of necessaries to much more advantage in London than in the country, if the vessel in which he takes his passage, sails from that port. He will also find his advantage in having his packages made strong, and of good materials; the attempt to save a trifling sum, by putting goods into old decayed boxes and cases, often subjects the owner to loss and damage, equal to ten times the amount of saving between a good package and a bad one: not only so, but in a Settlement of very recent establishment, where a man must first build a store-house before he can secure his goods from the weather and pilferers, he will find the advantage of a good strong chest, made as near water-proof as possible, and so firmly put together, that no part of it shall offer an opportunity to a pilfering knave to introduce a wrench, and thereby abstract part of the contents.
As goods are liable to damage from salt water, or exhalations rising from it, it is worth while to have the boxes or cases lined with tin. By adopting this mode, and taking care to have all things in a thoroughly dry condition when packed, the passenger will have the satisfaction of landing them in good condition, while he who has been less careful and eager to save a trifle in the expence of his packages, will find to his dismay, all of his effects more or less injured, some totally spoiled.
It would be well for him to consider, that on his arrival in the Colony, and for some time after he may not be provided with chairs, tables, and other things, which are considered to contribute to comfort; and to obviate the inconvenience, have his packages of such a shape, as to serve as substitutes; for instance, a strong chest 6 feet by 3 feet, and any height he may consider convenient, and in which he might place his most valuable property, would serve as a temporary table, and should he not be provided with a bedstead, his chest might be made to answer that purpose. So other packages, might serve as substitutes for furniture which at first he cannot obtain. He may have his bedstead in his cabin made of a chest of drawers.