Family History 4.07

Robinson history

From the diary of Joshua Robiunson

 

 

More on "Why I came to Emigrate"

 

While here [in Manchester] the Temperance or rather Total Abstinance movement began. At that time the evil of intemperance was fearfully prevalent, and drinking customs abounded, and great ignorance as to the nature and qualities of intoxicating drinks and though I never had any love for, or went to excess in the use, yet I used them, believing them to be necessary as a diet; but I saw and felt the danger and difficulty of avoiding the temptation when in company, of partaking of what was termed the social glass.

 

Young men had to be very watchful and self denying to escape the evil of excess, so general was the custom among all classes, religious or otherwise, the temptation was ever before them. Men otherwise good and useful fell before it. Some terrible cases came under my own observation.

St Giles slum district, London, eighteenth century

 

My wife and I embraced and enrolled ourselves members of this new organisation with enthusiasm and preached and practised the principle faithfully to the present day, amid much persecution for the first few months. I hold the step I took then as a direct interposition of divine providence, and thus I was forever delivered from one of the greatest obstacles to advancement morally and religiously.

 

About the year 1841 my family had increased to four, three girls and a boy. I had begun to think for them, how shall I train them and fit them to gain an honest living. These thoughts revived my desire to emigrate. I thought in a new country everything would be wanted, labour of all kinds could not be in excess of requirements, there would be no want of employment, whether I followed my trade, or went into cultivation of land.

 

I erred in one respect. I did not sufficiently consider that in order to succeed  Capital and labour must go together. A bare existence by much labour and privation might be gained, but that would be slavery. I had no capital but the desire having entered my mind I could not rid myself of it.

 

I made enquiries, read the advertisements on emigration, made it a matter of prayer to Him who has the hearts of all men in his keeping that he would make a way for me, or make it apparent that I was not to sever myself from my friends and native land.

 

About this time I was working a distance from home and having to take my meals from a coffee house. While at dinner I took up one of the daily newspapers. Almost the first thing I saw was an advertisement: 'Wanted a respectable sober man by trade a carpenter to take charge of works in New Zealand. Apply to well known broker, Cornhill, London.'

 

I quickly finished my dinner and hastened to the address, saw the agent, had a long talk, was asked and answered numerous questions. He seemed well pleased, thought if my testimonial to ability and character corresponded with my statements I would be engaged. But he was only the agent for the vessel.  I must see the principal who he was expecting. He urged me to wait.

 

He soon after arrived. He appeared to be a genial freespoken gentleman, a naval captain. He spoke of the work he wanted, the terms and probable length of service, assured me I should be independent in three years, gave me his address, one of the squares in London, made an appointment to present my testimonials and close the agreement.

 

My object in answering the advertisement was to make inquiries. I was not prepared to go until I had consulted my wife and friends, so I said, "When do you expect to sail?" He said, "I hope next week."