Sovereigns are the best money to carry out; Spanish dollars, at 2s. 2d. or 2s. 2½d. each, the next; the first generally bearing a premium of eight or ten per cent, or are worth about four and 34 dollars here.  A friend of mine, on coming out last season, was persuaded by the money-changers, to purchase doubloons, at 21. 12s., instead of sovereigns; the consequence was, he with great difficulty made his money again; while had he brought out sovereigns or dollars, they would have more than paid all his expenses, by the premium.  Another emigrant, who came out with me, had been supplied with pistareens, or French shillings, for quarter-dollar pieces, by one Galinda, a money-changer, the latter being 25 cents each, and the other only 16 cents!

I wish here to correct an erroneous opinion I formed in my previous voyage, respecting the cause of the sparkling appearance of the sea-water at night; as since I have had the opportunity of ascertaining the real cause.  It arises from an unctuous phosphorical kind of slime, or sperm, ejected by an animal of a transparent, greenish, and, in some instances, bluish, colour; of various sizes, from a small egg to the size of a turnip.  Its substance is of the consistence and appearance of frog-spawn.  I caught several, in a calm; and on putting them into water in the evening, and stirring them sharply, the slime was ejected, and the luminous sparks appeared.  By rubbing the matter on the finger, it was evidently poisonously corrosive, by the smarting it caused.

By my recent experience I find the following a preferable INVENTORY OF PROVISIONS FOR EACH ADULT:—

10 lbs. best biscuit kept dry.

4 lbs. toasted bread kept dry.

14 lbs. flour.—Flour is better than much biscuit, as pudding and fresh baked cakes can be eaten when the other is not palatable through sickness.

7 lbs. rice, for puddings.

4 lbs. oatmeal, for thick and thin gruel.

7 lbs. sugar, and 5 lbs. butter.

4 lbs. raisins and currants (half each).

2 lbs. cheese.

12 lbs. ham.

½ lb. tea, ½ lb. coffee, of best quality, or it cannot be used in sickness, and often then it is disagreeable.

4 lbs. dry fat bacon, to fry pancakes, and with eggs.

3 or 4 lbs. beef, roasted well on shore, to begin with.

2 or 3 lbs. lean beef, chopped fine, with pepper, &c. potted close—a spoonful in boiling water, with bit of onion, &c., makes good broth.

1½ doz. best Dutch herrings.

2 doz. eggs—packed in salt, small ends down.

Boiled milk or cream, put 2 lbs. of loaf sugar into it when half cooled, and then bottle it; if put in boiling, it will curdle it.

Vinegar, &c., &c., as before; porter as before;—for "preserved lemons," it should have been preserves and lemons.  Potatoes as before.  Every thing should be of the best quality; and other things as before.*  I have not stated price, not thinking it necessary.

Each family should have frying-pan, two tin baking-dishes, tea kettle, large or small pot, and other necessary cooking and eating utensils—if young children, a lanthorn will be necessary.  Some opening medicine ought to be taken, such as aloetic pills, rhubarb, &c.; for fever, nitre, &c.  Clothes, beds, and bedding, should be brought with families, but no household furniture, or heavy articles will answer, except a clock.

I have thus given all that occurs to my mind, at present, worth noticing; and I remain, Sir,

Yours respectfully,

JOSEPH PICKERING.

P.S.—When in Liverpool last spring, coming out, I saw several farmers, who came down with emigrants, to ship them off on the parish account.  Some supplied them liberally, and allowed them 41.; others 3 l. ahead after landing, which is little enough; others again, hardly allowed them a shilling, which is disgraceful, as on landing they become less or more, according to health or sickness, dependent on charity, and a heavy tax on the inhabitants at Quebec.  In New York they will not let them land, if they have not money sufficient to carry them tip into the country.

Letters to Canada, it appears, require a period of three months before they reach the parties; but an answer reaches England in six or eight weeks.

* See estimate, page 192

THE AUTHOR'S DIRECTIONS TO A FRIEND ABOUT TO JOIN HIM IN CANADA.

After referring him to the printed directions for his guidance, he tells him,—

'On arriving at Liverpool, to come by way of New York; as ships bound for that port are less crowded, and the passage is more pleasant.  From New York, to take steamboat for Albany: the fare, one dollar each, children half-price.  If a number should be going at the same time, three quarters of a dollar each, and sometimes even less; but in such case be sure to have a written agreement.  From Albany take a canal line-boat, and choose either the Pilot, Hudson, Washington, or Erie lines, which are the most respectable.  If you stop a night or two at Albany, go to Mr. Van Horn's grocery-store, about the third door on the pier; but as boats are going every morning, it is unnecessary to stop at all.  Along the canal, to Lockport, 266 miles, at one cent each per mile; the passage takes five or six days.  They will sometimes ask more, but often take less—however, every one must look well to themselves in all these matters, from the moment they leave home.  Provisions can be had on board these boats, at about nine pence sterling per meal, or eighteen cents, but families can purchase food any where along the canal, and cook it themselves on board, which is more economical.  From Lockport by Young's-town, opposite to Niagara, or Lake Ontario, is twenty-one miles; the hire of a waggon for women, children, and luggage, is three dollars.  Then cross the Niagara river, and the Canada steamboat comes daily to York passage one dollar each.  If two or three families come out together, for a few shillings extra they can generally get a second cabin, partitioned off from the steerage, which is much more comfortable.'