tion, but mere clouds of dust thrown in our eyes, then, few such deceptions have ever been practised on a bewildered and confiding nation.

Could the opponents of an Imperial policy by possibility point to a complication of occurrences so aptly illustrative of every objection they have set forth?

III.

THE ECHO OF THE ANTIPODES.1

FAS est et ab hoste doceri.

Still more permissible and profit by the experience of

appropriate must it be to our children, because still closer must be the analogy between the characters and the circumstances of those so nearly allied by blood, and probably identical in so many of their antecedents. I cannot but believe, therefore, that much interest will attach to the following contribution to some of our most imminent political and social problems, which reached me a few days ago, from one of a group of colonies which, no doubt, is destined to a future of great prosperity and power. The writer holds a position of eminence and wealth in New South Wales, has made his home in that colony, intends to live and die there, is a man of influence among his fellow-citizens, and much concerned with commercial and industrial undertakings, and, consequently, well qualified to give us reliable information on the subject in question.

"SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, 10th March, 1875.

"DEAR SIR,-If I venture to intrude myself upon you in this letter, it is that, having perused with great interest your latest

1 Contemporary Review, July 1875.

work, 'Rocks Ahead,' I considered that it might be gratifying to you to hear 'A Voice from the Antipodes' echo by an example the truth of your vaticinations. We have in New South Wales an Anglo-Saxon community, with all its energy and doggedness, with all its virtues and its prejudices; and, as far as we can judge from its wealth, its population, and its influence upon the markets of the world, one that, though still a colony, has placed its foot upon the first round of the ladder of nationality; and it is a worthy study for the philosopher to see how that nationality is shaping its future. In the year 1853 a constitution was granted to the colony, creating two Houses of Parliament-the Senate, or Upper House, nominated by the Crown, and an Assembly elected by the people. As the result of continual amendment, the qualification for election to the Assembly, being only a six months' residence in the electorate, becomes almost universal suffrage-more particularly as the franchise attaches to lodgers as well as householders. Inasmuch as the proposal that the University should return a member has been always rejected, it is fair to assume that the numerical majority have no desire that education (simply as education) should have a voice in their councils. The members of the Assembly are not chosen on account of their pre-eminent talent, or commanding wealth, or individual worth, but entirely from personal influence, or their expressed accordance with the popular cry of the day. But it would be vain for any one, however talented, influential, or wealthy, to seek to obtain a seat in the Assembly, unless he bowed down before the Juggernaut of the sovereign people, and avowed his sympathy with the 'working man;' and yet, properly so called, the working man does not exist in New South Wales. The hours of labour are but eight, and wages vary according to the skill employed, from 1s. to 2s. (occasionally 2s. 6d.) per hour. These extreme rates, in a country where bread is plentiful and cheap, meat only 4d. per lb., and clothing not dearer than in Europe, are maintained by the efforts of powerful trades-unions, with the knowledge that Parliament dare not propose any scheme of immigration, the effect of which would be to bring competition to the colony and reduce the rate of labour. It must not be imagined that the climate will not permit of more than eight hours' daily labour, for most men work on their own account after hours, and will occasionally deign to do so for their employers, under the temptation of

extra pay. Land in the suburbs being cheap, a very large proportion of the labouring classes are their own landlords, and many, by the aid of building societies, have erected neat and pretty cottages, surrounded by well-cultivated gardens. Of course a large proportion of the amount received for wages is handed over to the union, and I will venture to quote a few examples as indicative of the despotic power these associations exercise :-The owner of one of our coasting steamers will not employ men who are members of the union, and very recently when the steamer arrived into port she commenced discharging cargo at a wharf where union men were employed; very shortly after, the secretary of the union went to the wharf, and forbade the men on shore to receive cargo from the vessel. Again, the steamer Rapide being under repairs, the captain observed that one of the men employed was an habitual idler, and one day on finishing his work desired him not to return: the following morning all the rest of the men were absent, and intimated their intention of not returning until their fellow-unionist was taken on again. In the iron trade, the men, after compelling the eight hours' concession upon their employers (without diminution in the rate of wages), determined that the eight hours should be broken, one for breakfast and one for dinner, instead of having only one break as formerly. The masters being aware that the continual blowing off furnaces would entail a certain loss, declined to concede, and all the works were closed; the strike lasted about three months, and was friendly arranged by an agreement that, during six months in the year the men should have only one break in the day, and two breaks in the day during the other six months. Some time since the coal miners struck work, and the strike, it was arranged by the delegates of the union, should be terminated by all the collieries in the country (irrespective of the greater or less facilities of any one colliery) agreeing to charge the public an uniform price of 14s. per ton for screened coal, of which 5s. per ton should be paid to the coal-getter, his wages rising or falling 3d. per ton as the price of coal to the public varied by a shilling a ton. I might multiply instances innumerable to show that in the capital, where the unions exist in greatest force, all real power is in their hands, and at the last general election they returned one of their body to Parliament, and who sits as their paid delegate. It is not then extraordinary that in constituencies thus constituted, the

educated classes should as a rule (though there are many worthy exceptions) hold themselves aloof from the political arena. The result is exactly what you have predicted, that there is no party but merely a struggle between the Ins and Outs as to who shall enjoy power, and the parliamentary loaves and fishes, both sides rivals in personal abuse, but both following exactly the same policy. The State is certainly doing its utmost to place within the reach of all the advantages of education, but in consequence of religious dissensions that education is of a very elementary character, for the study of history and all cognate subjects upon which differences of opinion exist is prohibited. It is quite absurd, therefore, to consider that the colony is educating the rising generation up to the extent of its political power, for it is left in the most complete ignorance of all economic questions, which are not even attended to in the addresses of the candidates for legislative honours, for the best of all reasons, that but few understand them. As might be expected, the Assembly are exceedingly impatient at the control of the Upper House as a co-ordinate branch of the legislature; and when a measure has been rejected by the voice of the Senate, often resort to popular clamour to compel the Upper House to give way; but the innate vigour in the life of the young colony is such that it continues to advance and prosper, not aided by, but in spite of its despotic democracy. All contractors and heads of departments acknowledge that there is ample work at the present moment for at least eight thousand able-bodied men, which means an immigration of about thirty thousand souls; but notwithstanding the urgent requirements of the colony, not one member of the Assembly can be found to raise his voice in favour of immigration. The colony exports over a million tons of coal, the supply of which, appears to be absolutely inexhaustible, the best hematite iron ore, lime and clay are found in close proximity to some of the pits; copper and tin ores abound, capital is abundant, but the capitalist is afraid of investing in manufacturing industries, as he would be completely at the mercy of the men in his employ. To give an example: a shipbuilder has now a vessel on the stocks, and was offered a very handsome price for it if he would engage to complete it by a fixed date. The shipbuilder knew that the work could and would be done by the date required, but dared not make the contract, feeling sure that if it came by any chance to the ears