426 NEW SOUTH WALES. [CHAP. xix. 



flames, volumes of smoke sweeping across the road. Before noon 

 we joined our former road, and ascended Mount Victoria. I slept 

 at the Weatherboard, and before dark took another walk to the 

 amphitheatre. On the road to Sydney I spent a very pleasant 

 evening with Captain King atDunheved; 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 dis- 

 appointed in the state of society. The whole community is ran- 

 corously 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 Eng- 

 land; 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 un- 

 inviting 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 convict servants. I am not 



