9 2 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



its difficulties as best it could, the head of the State insisting 1 on rigid economy as the 

 only sound policy, and resolutely scouting the idea of a loan ; although the distress 

 arising from want of labour was described as ." almost incredible." The state of affairs 

 in the colony for the long period of stagnation from 1841 to 1846 may be seen in the 

 fact that during its continuance immigration was almost entirely stopped. In 1847 it 

 began to revive, and in 1851 the wonderful gold-discovery took place, which was followed 

 by a mighty rush of population from every quarter of the globe. And thus the great 

 immigration question, which for so many years had defied the efforts of legislators and 

 statesmen, was practically settled by a gold-digger. 



Among the many remarkable events which contributed to render the Administration 

 of Sir Charles Fitzroy conspicuous was the establishment of the Sydney University. 

 Although the project had been brought before the Council by Wentworth in 1849, 't 

 was not until October, 1853, that the institution itself was formally inaugurated. The 

 Committee expressed itself strongly in favour of the proposal, but at the same time 

 insisted on the necessity of making it " a truly national institution one to which all 

 classes and denominations might resort for secular education." The report was adopted 

 by the Council, and an Act to incorporate the University was shortly afterwards passed. 

 The services rendered by Wentworth, on this and other occasions, were appropriately 

 recognized by his fellow-countrymen when his statue was erected within the walls of the 

 noble institution he had founded. 



A measure of still greater importance, in the shape of a new Constitution based on 

 the principles of representative government, occupied the attention of this distinguished 

 statesman during the same period. Engaged as he had been for so many years in the 

 long and painful struggle for self-government, it naturally fell to his lot to complete the 

 structure he had so earnestly endeavoured to erect. The Home authorities had no 

 doubt acted with greater wisdom than colonial patriots were then prepared to admit, 



when they determined to extend the principle of repre- 

 sentation slowly and gradually, instead of granting it in 

 full measure at a time when the colony was not ripe 

 for it. The gradual extension of the self-governing 

 power from time to time undoubtedly did much to pre- 

 pare the colonists for the healthier and more active 

 political life which the establishment of responsible 

 government brought with it. 



The conduct of public affairs by the Council, in 

 which Wentworth was the principal figure, had been so 

 distinguished for statesman-like ability that the capacity 

 of the colonists for self-government could no longer be 

 SIR WILLIAM DKMSON. denied. But a still more potent influence had been at work. 



The great gold-discoveries, which took place in 1849, nac '> 



in \Ventworth's phrase, precipitated the colony into a nation, and the demand for free 

 institutions came upon the Home Government with a degree of force it was impossible 

 to resist. W T hen, therefore, the popular advocate of self-government obtained a Committee 

 in 1852 to prepare a new Constitution for the colony, in pursuance of the powers 



