bandman, prove a curse, instead of a benefit to
the country which fosters and protects them.

"The first time that I had occasion to express
myself thus strongly on the subject, in an
official way, was less than two years after my
arrival in the District, while holding the office
of sheriff,--when, in corresponding with Mr.
Secretary Joseph, during the troubles in January,
1838, I, in a postscript to a letter in which I
expressed unwillingness to call in aid from other
quarters, while our own population were allowed to
remain inactive, was led to add the following
remarkable words: 'My vote has been equally
decided against employing the colored people,
except on a similar emergency;--in fact, though a
cordial friend to the emancipation of the poor
African, I regard the rapidly increasing
population rising round us, as destined to be a
bitter curse to the District; and do not think our
employing them as our _defenders_ at all likely to
retard the progress of such an event;'--an opinion
which all my subsequent observation and
experience, whether as a private individual, as
Sheriff of the District, as a local Magistrate, as
Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, or as an anxious
friend to pure British immigration, have only the
more strongly confirmed."

After these preliminary remarks, the Records of
Major Lachlan, proceed to the details of the
various points upon which he was required by
Government to report. Much of this, though the
whole is interesting, must be omitted in our
extracts. In speaking of the several townships to
which the colored immigration was directed, he
says of Amherstburgh:

"That place may now be regarded as the Western
rendezvous of the colored race,--being the point
to which all the idle and worthless, as well as
the well disposed, first direct their steps,
before dispersing over other parts of the
District,--a distinction of which it unfortunately
bears too evident marks in the great number of
petty crimes committed by or brought home to these
people,--to the great troub