"[292]
This would give us twenty per cent. of deaths up to the end of 1847; but
the mortality consequent upon the Famine-emigration did not stop short
at the end of December; it must have gone on through the remainder of
the winter and spring, so that, everything considered, twenty-five per
cent. does not seem too high a rate at which to fix it for that year.
It is, however, to be taken into account, that the mortality amongst
Irish emigrants in 1847 was exceptionally great, so, in an average for
the six years from 1846 to 1851 we must strike below it. Seventeen per
cent does not seem too high an average for those six years.
We have not such full information about those who emigrated to the
United States as we have of those who went to Canada; the Canadian
emigrants had certainly some advantages on their side; for, until the
year 1847 there was no protection for emigrants who landed at New York.
In that year the Legislature of the State of New York passed a law,
establishing a permanent Commission for the relief and protection of
emigrants, which, in due time, when it got into working order, did a
world of good. Previous to this, private hospitals were established by
the shipbrokers (the creatures of the shipowners), in the neighbourhood
of New York.
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