472 NEW SOUTH WALES chap. 



walk to the amphitheatre. On the road to Sydney I spent 

 a very pleasant evening with Captain King at Dunheved ; and 

 thus ended my little excursion in the colony of New South 

 Wales. 



Before arriving here the three things which interested me 

 most were — the state of society amongst the higher classes, the 

 condition of the convicts, and the degree of attraction sufficient 

 to induce persons to emigrate. Of course, after so very short a 

 visit, one's opinion is worth scarcely anything ; but it is as 

 difficult not to form some opinion, as it is to form a correct 

 judgment. On the whole, from what I heard, more than from 

 what I saw, I was disappointed in the state of society. The 

 whole community is rancorously divided into parties on almost 

 every subject. Among those who, from their station in life, 

 ought to be the best, many live in such open profligacy that 

 respectable people cannot associate with them. There is 

 much jealousy between the children of the rich emancipist and 

 the free settlers, the former being pleased to consider honest 

 men as interlopers. The whole population, poor and rich, 

 are bent on acquiring wealth : amongst the higher orders, wool 

 and sheep -grazing form the constant subject of conversation. 

 There are many serious drawbacks to the comforts of a family, 

 the chief of which, perhaps, is being surrounded by convict 

 servants. How thoroughly odious to every feeling, to be waited 

 on by a man who the day before, perhaps, was flogged, from 

 your representation, for some trifling misdemeanour. The 

 female servants are of course much worse : hence children 

 learn the vilest expressions, and it is fortunate if not equally 

 vile ideas. 



On the other hand, the capital of a person, without any 

 trouble on his part, produces him treble interest to what it will 

 in England ; and with care he is sure to grow rich. The 

 luxuries of life are in abundance, and very little dearer than in 

 England, and most articles of food are cheaper. The climate 

 is splendid, and perfectly healthy; but to my mind its charms 

 are lost by the uninviting aspect of the country. Settlers 

 possess a great advantage in finding their sons of service when 

 very young. At the age of from sixteen to twenty they frequently 

 take charge of distant farming stations. This, however, must 

 happen at the expense of their boys associating entirely with 



