12 



severity of the American winter, and who are able to bear 

 the greater expenses of the journey. Arrivals from Great 

 Britain who pay their own passage, on producing receipt 

 for the same, are, if of age, entitled to a grant of land, 

 viz. : — males 30 acres, females 20 acres, and children are 

 entitled to 10 acres. 



The following, written by Major- General the Hon. W. 

 Fielding, appeared in the " Nineteenth Century," Jnly, 

 1883: 



" The smallest o> the Australian Colonies is that island for- 

 merly known under the name of Van Diemen's Land, but now 

 called Tasmania. Here the climate more nearly resembles that of 

 the best parts of England, the soil is rich, there is plenty of it to 

 be bought on easy terms of payment from the G-overnment, and 

 were it not for the difficulty of obtaining a reliable supply of 

 good labour at reasonable wages, Tasmania would be a paradise 

 tor energetic young men with some small means of their own. 

 There is considerable scope just now for the well-directed and 

 energetic inauguration of a statesmanlike policy, and an educated 

 and capable young English gentleman would find here a good 

 field for a successful and useful Parliamentary career. The popu- 

 lation consists for the most part of yeomen farming their own 

 lands." 



Homes* The farmhouses, except in the special cases of Vir- 



ginia, Florida, and Nova Scotia, are usually unpretentious, 

 smaller than in England, and not adorned with gardens ; 

 the living also is generally plainer than that which young 

 men well brought up here have been accustomed to, espe- 

 cially in the mode of cooking, which is indifferent, but the 

 diet is plentiful and there is everywhere what may be 

 termed a rough abundance. A description of the farm is 

 submitted to every pupil before embarkation. 



The The people are orderly, sober, honest, energetic, and 



Farmers, steady ; and the farmers, who have been carefully selected 

 to receive the pupils, are among the best and most re- 

 spected in the community, and often fill posts in the local 

 Government or administration. They will in each case do 

 all in their power to make those they receive comfortable, 

 provided the latter are industrious, steady, and docile. 



The Pupil. Usually only one pupil will be placed on a farm, never 

 more than two ; and in every instance a separate bedroom 



