The Archbishop of Canterbury has addressed a circular letter to
the clergy and laity of England, suggesting that it ought to be a matter of interest to the Church to assist the great stream of British emigrants, who, to the number of about 200,000, yearly leave the ports of Great Britain for the United States or British colonies. He suggests an organised effort to give every parish clergyman the means of telling intending emigrants in his parish what the most suit- able fields of emigration are, what are the special advantages of each, and of helping them when they really emigrate. The idea is an admirable one, especially if the clergy and laity who accept it will but tell the whole truth, and give proposing emigrants the advantage of knowing all they may as to the United States, no less than British colonies. What we should rather fear would be a clerical tendency to try and bias emigration towards British possessions, and away from the United States, and this would not be fair to the emigrant. He should know all that was to be said for every English-speaking community where there is still large breathing-room, and there is no doubt that the United States have some of the heaviest advantages in their favour.
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