^6 Voyage of the Kovara. 



on her arrival in Australia, had, thanks to her marvellous 

 energy and activity, gradually been dispelled, leaving a 

 bright sunny horizon of felicity and content. 



We had but little opportunity of observing the phases of 

 political life in Sydney, our arrival being coincident with the 

 "dead season" of politics. We were just in time to be pre- 

 sent at the spectacle of tlie prorogation of Parliament. This 

 ceremonial took place in the chamber of the Legislative 

 Council, the Governor-general officiating in person. The 

 second chamber, or Legislative Assembly, was, as in England, 

 represented simply by a deputation. Punctually at noou 

 Black Rod threw open the doors and announced in grave but 

 loud tones, " His Excellency the Governor-general of New 

 South Wales," upon which Sir William Denison entered the 

 apartment with much dignity, and assumed his seat under a 

 sort of canopy. By his side stood the Ministers, his private 

 secretary, and an aide-de-camp. Before him sat the Presi- 

 dent of the Legislative Council, and other high dignitaries. 

 Sir D. Cooper, Speaker of the Assembly, — whom we scarcely 

 recognized in his strange official costume, a black silk single- 

 breasted coat, richly laced with gold, and an immense full 

 wig, — delivered a short address, to which the Governor-general 

 briefly responded, and the ceremony was over and the Parlia- 

 ment prorogued. Australia now enjoys such a free constitu- 

 tion, modelled after the English form, the administration of 

 the various colonies is so entirely autonomous, their duty to 

 the mother country so insignificant (so far as outward form 



