348 THE MOST ENERGETIC LEAVE HOME. 



richly paid diplomacy, an Indian empire famed for 

 wealth, and of a field of enterprise such as Roman domi 

 nion never presented, would all be before the soaring 

 and adventurous spirits of the time. 



There is also another way of looking at the same 

 picture. 



It is confessedly the boldest, most spirited, and most 

 energetic of the families and neighbourhoods to which 

 they belong, who have nerve enough to break asunder 

 the ties that bind them to home, and to embark their 

 destinies upon a new country. Why should the mother 

 cast off for ever her wandering and most stirring child ? 

 Why prevent herself from ever benefiting by the 

 energy, the experience, and the mental resources of her 

 children or their offspring ? It may be said, that we have 

 never lacked talent enough for the wants of the country 

 from among those who have remained at home ; bat we 

 should at least thrive none the worse were we able, when 

 emergencies arose, to take counsel with all the talents of 

 the Empire, whether home or colonial born. Especially 

 would the latter be precious in advising as to the affairs 

 of the colonial provinces themselves. Thus the claim of 

 the colonies to a wider field for their talents and ambi 

 tion, and that of the mother country to the services of 

 those who inherit her blood and partake of her native 

 intellectual strength, point equally to a new imperial 

 adjustment of legislative and administrative power. 



Why is it that the sons of our rich men and of our 

 men of rank are not met with among the founders of the 

 new Anglo-Saxon dominions, which are springing up in 

 so many quarters of the globe ? Is it not that they have 

 there no hope of attaining to the same position, honours, 

 or social position as if they remained at home 5 that they 

 fear to be cast off and forgotten ; are almost certain that, 

 for them and for their children, as soon as the British 

 shores are forsaken, the only road to distinction is 



