for you to do. We often think of you when we are going to meals, whether you have anything to eat or not. I have killed a fat calf just before I finished this letter; we wish some of you were here to sit down along with us to-morrow, for we think it is but little veal that any of you get in old England; but do let us beg of you to come out; here is plenty of everything the heart can wish for, both temporal and spiritual. Do not think that we live in a heathen land, for the Lord is found here as well as there; if we seek him from our heart we are sure to find him wherever we are;—so no more at present-and if we never meet again in this world let us hope to meet in the next; so good bye-God bless you all-amen, amen!"*

Port Phillip. From a Herefordshire Labourer.

"I and my companion engaged to go into the bush about fifteen miles from Melbourne; a neighbour of our new master undertook to

convey us on his bullock-team. This man emigrated from England about eight years since, and now rents about five hundred acres of pasture. He is a carpenter, and occasionally works at his trade; he sometimes drives his bullock-team into town himself with timber and other things; he keeps milking-cows and sheep; his house has the appearance of peace and plenty.

"The general appearance of the country is truly delightful: here is no complaint of want of work or want of food, and work is well paid for here. I wish to persuade you and Jane to come out here; the voyage is a mere nothing. Provisions are cheap; the only dear article is butter. My companion gets £26 a year, besides rations, because he can undertake sowing. There were married persons with large families on board, upwards of sixty years of age, who had to pay £9 to £14 each for their passage; but that is soon made up in a colony. Our employers have no pride although they are worth a deal of money. The major will sometimes come out and work an hour or so at a time; servants are so scarce that his wife and daughters do the work of the house."

In all these letters, although the prevailing topic is the increase of physical comfort, it is impossible not to be gratified with the improved moral tone, which is the result of independence and hope. It is not the mere wages, it is the great opening to a superior grade of society that changes the very nature of the most torpid English peasant, if he has sufficient education or natural undeveloped energy not to be content with mere beef and bread.

*The writer emigrated in 1841 without means.

THOSE WHO WANT WORK.

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But they are not all prize labourers who meet the golden stores of Australia (doubly golden in golden sands and golden fleece). We have some graphic pictures of the idleness of conceit and the indolence of pauperism in Mrs. Chisholm's pictures of some of the objects, male and female, who came under her hands while managing the Registry Office and Immigrant Home in Sydney, in 1842-5, when the bounty system was in full force.

The first are what she calls "the black-riband gentry," whose stock consists of a yard and a half of black riband with an eyeglass or silvertopped dressing-case key round their necks, a good suit of clothes, with perhaps a pound or two. Some of these know nothing, but set up for clerks or tutors; others, accustomed to hard work and hard fare all their lives, think that transplantation entitles them to set up at once for idle gentlemen. One of these, in answer to the question, "What situation do you want?" "Oh, m-a-am, I'm in no particular hurry; I have some very good letters; I have one for the attorney-general, and I expect he will offer me clerkship of the Bench; I am told it is a very fair thing to begin with." Another told me he expected to be made a "country magistrate."

"These people seem to be manufactured on board ship: by a deal of impudence and blarney, they push themselves into a little consequence. Finger-rings are much worn by this class, and if they can meet a cheap signet-ring they are delighted.

The wife of one of these told me that her heart was nearly broken by her husband's crank ways; that at home he was obliged to work hard for 9s. a week, and keep his family out of the same. "He can plough, ma'am, and delve, and do all kinds of work, but he seems to think the government will make him something out of the common way. I know, ma'am, he'd be the death of me if he knew I told you he was a poor man at home."

The following morning I sent for him, and told him that I had a situation to suit him,- "An overseer at a bachelor's station; you will have £25 a year, and full rations for yourself, wife, and three children.” "What should I have to do?"

"Work; there are sixty cows and two men on the station-these you must look after—and there is a small farm and garden; as the latter is near a township the vegetables sell well; you are allowed what you require for your own family; your principal work will be in the garden and on the farm; you can plough, I should say; judging by your hands, you have worked hard, and will find this place easy."

"Yes, ma'am, I can p-l-o-ug-h, but I don't intend in this country:

I don't think I would mind taking a situation as head superintendent.

"The settlers seldom engage for that a newly-arrived immigrant— they require a man of colonial experience, whom they raise from their working overseers."

"Do you intend to take the situation?"

"Certainly not."

This man had received about £3 a few days before he left home for some election services, and a passenger had presented him with a cast-off suit of clothing: the fine clothes and the money did him harm. It is almost impossible to serve such a man if he has two shillings in his pocket.

Next after these fine gentlemen come the confirmed paupers, just the class we always find parishes and country gentlemen so anxious to get rid of at public or colonial expense, and, if that can't be done, even willing to pay part of the passage-money.

But

These are the hard bargains of unions. We never yet found guardians or parish officers willing to part with a good man. even paupers,-confirmed paupers,-may be turned to account if they can be pushed out where there is no chance between famine and work.

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Paupers.-Here is a specimen of one of your bad bargains, who, having been a burden on the parish all his life, had been fortunate enough to have his passage paid to give him an opportunity of eating government rations.

"He never appeared in the office until he had been three months in the colony; nor would he then, but that he was struck off rations, and turned out of the tents; he then came to me, looking as idle, miserable, and wretched as he could make himself:

"Pauper. If you please, ma'am, I want relief.

'Myself. What relief?

"P. I am turned out, and I have four children, and nothing to eat.

"M. Where are you going to stay?

"P. With a shipmate.

"M. Come to me every morning at seven, and I will give you rations for your family until you get work.

"P. Oh, ma'am, I can't get work!

"M. I will find you work in two days.

"P. Thank you! Heaven bless you! but I am not well enough to work. I was thinking of going to the hospital; but I am a little afraid of the doctors here not understanding my complaint.

"M. What is it?

"P. It's called a compleracation.

"M. Dr. Harnett would cure you in a week.

"P. Would he though, really? you see, ma'am, I am very weak.

"M. Very?

"P. Very; I require something strength'ing.

A PAUPER OBLIGED TO WORK.

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“M. Dr. H. has great faith in blisters; they are said to be the best things in your complaint.

"P. Ah! but I could not bear them: you see, ma'am, they would throw me into a fever that is the worst of my complaint, what does me good one way, does me harm another.

"M. But with low diet there would be no fear of a fever. I will write you a note to Dr.

"P. Why, no, ma'am ; I will wait a day or two, thank you. Are there any parishes in this town?

"M. Several.

"P. Will you please to tell me where the parish officer lives?

"M. There are no parish officers.

"P. Do you say so, ma'am?

(A long pause.) Where is there a vestry?

for you see, ma'am, I'll never be able to do without a little relief. Have you a benevolent society here?

"M. Yes.

"P. Do they give relief?

"M. Yes.

"P. Will you please to give me an order?

"M. You are not old enough by twenty years.

"P. Oh, ma'am, cannot you do something for me? Do you not know any kind people who will help me with a trifle?

"After trying his patience for some time longer, I gave him two days' provision for his family, and told him I would try and find an easy place for him. A few days after he came, and renewed his demands in the following manner :

"P. If you would only give me six shillings for a pair of shoes.

"M. I will the day you are engaged. Now, here is a little coffee for you, and here is a needle, cotton, and thimble for your wife, to mend your coat; you must come to me to-morrow, at nine, and I will give you a waistcoat and shirt.

"I then spoke to him about a shepherd's life; told him of the flocks that belonged to men who came here without a sixpence. I gave him a sheet of paper and pencil, and told him to go home and calculate what he could save in five years. I was glad to observe his step was quickened: the following morning he was punctual. I had a new loaf, quite hot, some tea, sugar, a beefsteak, a few pounds of potatoes-these were in a basket,

"M. That's fine beef, John-it is for your breakfast.

"P. Do you say so, ma'am? Well, I am lucky.

"M. You will get a good place to-day. Now, here is sixpence; go and get shaved and your hair cut; and here is twopence—you are obliged to buy water here; and, as soon as you come back, you can take the basket, for I have something else for you yet.

"In less than half an hour he returned, quite another man; and, as I reminded him of my promise to give him the six shillings, he went off in high spirits; and at half-past ten John Baldwin sat in the office as a candidate for work. Though the improvement was very great, still he had an idle look: I therefore sent to Thorp's for one of their cheap neckerchiefs, and I must confess I never laid out one shilling and three pence better. The office was crowded, when Number Five entered; in a loud voice he talked of the dreadful times; cheap labour; still he wanted a few shepherds; but he was on the look out for

a bargain—a cheap bargain. I could perceive John view him attentively, and then cast a wistful eye at the money that lay on the office desk. At last, Number Five praised John for his apparent anxiety for work: he blushed at the compliment; and, as I saw it was likely to be a bargain, I went into my room(whether it was that I felt guilty of using a little starch, or my dread of the ridiculous, that made me retreat to where I could see and hear without being observed). My success pleased me, for I was certain Number Five would make John earn his wages; and I, at the same time, knew he had half a lawyer to deal with. I returned to the office, entered the agreement at £18 per annum-a man and his wife for £18! I could see Number Five was delighted; so was I, for methought what a change, what a blessing for his family, that he has come to a country where we have no home for the idle: what an advantage to his children! This man has been now some months with his master, and if he turns out well I shall be bound to acknowledge that, even grinders may do good. I may also remark, with reference to these idlers, that when the men in barracks were ordered by the immigration agent to work in the domain, nine came to me very sick-Would I give them a ticket to Mr. M'Lean, to say they were unable to work? No; but I will to the doctor.'

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"They were not quite ill enough for that, and went accordingly to work."

Even harder than men it is to deal with the silly women, who, either having or pretending to have pretensions to gentility, venture out to colonies where they are not needed unless they are prepared to wash or iron, or act as servants, and wait for a good time coming.

From the before quoted records (published in Sydney only) which apply equally to all colonies we take the following effective extract :

"I had one very beautiful girl; she could read and write well, was of an amiable temper, and willing to take advice: I provided her with a situation; she was returned to me solely on account of her good looks. I was at a loss what to do with her; I was afraid to allow her to go out for exercise, and was obliged to limit her to church on a Sunday. She was the daughter of a lieu. tenant who had spent twenty-four years in the service of his country: having a large family and limited means, he sent one of his treasures here: Providence, however, provided for her in an unexpected manner. A very respectable woman, a settler's wife, waited on me for advice; she was one of those sensible, shrewd women that help to keep a home together. She told me she had five boys and a girl, none of whom could read or write, and that she wanted a teacher. My eldest boy, Jack, ma'am, is as fine a young man as you would wish to see, only he is too wild: he is past learning; but the others are willing enough.' At this time I had three of these helpless creatures I wished to provide for; I told the worthy woman that was so good-tempered that

she would suit her best, if she did not mind her being handsome. Has she any bounce about her?' 'None.' I went into the room with her; as her eye rested on there was a look of satisfaction, followed directly by one of deep thought and reflection. There was something so intelligent in her countenance I became curious; she left the room; returned to the office, when she said, 'I'll see you again at five o'clock, ma'am; but don't let the girl engage, any how: a thought has come into my head, I must think over.' At five she came. Now,