The mortality on board some of the emigrant ships was terrible; and,
whatever the cause, the deaths in _British ships_ enormously exceeded
those in the ships of any other country.[294] The "Erin Queen" sailed
with 493 passengers, of whom 136 died on the voyage. The scenes of
misery on board of this vessel could hardly have been surpassed in a
crowded and sickly slaver on the African coast. It appears, writes Dr.
Stratten, that the "Avon," in 552 passengers, had 246 deaths; and the
"Virginius," in 476, had 267 deaths.[295] An English gentleman,
referring to a portion of Connaught in which he was stationed at the
time, writes thus: "Hundreds, it is said, had been compelled to emigrate
by ill-usage, and in one vessel containing 600 not _one hundred_
survived!"[296]
Much sympathy was shown in Canada for the poor emigrants, and their
orphans were, to a great extent, adopted by charitable families. The
legislature of the State of New York, and many of its leading citizens,
showed a laudable desire to aid and protect emigrants, in spite of which
the most cruel and heartless villainies were practised upon the
inexperienced strangers the moment they landed; in fact, before they
landed the ship was surrounded by harpies, who seized their luggage and
partly by violence, partly by wheedling and misrepresentation, led them
where they pleased, and plundered then at will.
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