262 MANNERS. [1839. 



and were it not for the presence of the convicts, the same 

 might be said of those in the penal settlements. At Sydney, 

 and other places in New South Wales, the government offi- 

 cers, and the wealthier inhabitants who have never been con- 

 victs, constitute the aristocracy, and are called exclusionists ; 

 the commonalty is composed of the liberated convicts, or eman- 

 cipationists ; and lowest in the scale, are the convicts them- 

 selves, on whom rests heavily the ban of social outlawry 

 Each class looks with contempt on that beneath it ; and each, 

 in turn, although there may be some little friendliness of 

 feeling between the emancipationists and convicts, regard 

 with hatred that which is placed above it. The aristocracy 

 are as exclusive in the bestowal of their favor and preference 

 as the lady patronesses of Almack's ; and the liberated con- 

 victs and their families are not admitted into their society, 

 even though the wealth of Croesus may be theirs, — the sins 

 of the fathers being literally visited on the children, even to 

 the third and fourth generations. The native born sons and 

 daughters of the emancipationists, too, are very reluctant to 

 associate with, or marry, liberated convicts. 



In the interior, there is, of necessity, a more intimate fusion 

 of the mixed classes composing the society, and, consequently, 

 the prejudice of caste is not so great, nor so strongly marked. 

 The Australian farmer, or grazier, resembles his prototype in 

 the old country, and grumbles as incessantly, over his glass of 

 poor gin or rum, about the bad weather, the bad crops, and the 

 bad government, as does the other, over his pot of brown stout 

 or humming ale. 



Balls, fetes, and dinner parties, are, of course, of frequent 

 occurrence at Sydney, and the other large towns. All those 

 who possess the necessary means, ape the manners of Bond 

 street ; and the fashions are mere copies, with an interval of 

 twelve months, of those of the Rue St. Honore and Picca- 

 dilly. Some articles of dress, however, are more in accord- 

 ance with tropical fashions ; and broad-leafed Panama hats, 

 and white linen jackets and trowsers, are commonly worn in 

 warm weather. 



