THE SQUATTERS' TRIBUNE 153 



He was returned at the head of the poll in 1848, in 

 recognition of the justice of the self -vindication his 

 haughty spirit had stooped to make ; but when, three 

 years later, he was precipitated to the lowest winning 

 place on the poll for the same metropolitan constituency, 

 a revulsion of feeling took place in his mind. He was 

 called on to resign, but, declaring that he would hold 

 the seat to which he had been legally elected, he inwardly 

 resolved that he would retain it only till he had carried 

 his proposed constitution through the Legislature, and 

 then he would shake the dust of the Colony from off his 

 feet. He carried his great measure, and, having been 

 sent Home to coach it in its passage through Parliament, 

 he washed his hands of Australian affairs and settled 

 down to the life of an English country gentleman. It 

 is sad to have to make this confession, but there are 

 authoritative reasons for stating that he was cut to the 

 heart by the ingratitude of his fellow-colonists for the 

 priceless services he had rendered to his native country, 

 and he was overwhelmed with disgust at seeing the 

 government of the Colony fall into hands that he deemed 

 unworthy. If he felt in this way while the country was 

 still being governed by as fine a type of statesmen as 

 have ever ruled a British Colony, what, if he were still 

 living, would he say now when a Labour Ministry has 

 just been installed in the places he once coveted in the 

 Colony he did so much to make and mould ? Still more, 

 how amazed he would be when he learnt that, in the 

 vast Commonwealth that had been reared on the 

 scaffolding of the Australian colonies, another Labour 

 Ministry was guiding the policy of all AustraUa, while 

 its chief was figuring at the inauguration of another 

 federation within the Empire ! And he would perhaps 

 have honestly recognised that both of these Ministries 

 were comporting themselves in a manner not unworthy 

 of even so great a constitution-maker. 



For seven years Wentworth remained in England, 

 taking no part in English public life, and estranged from 

 the only pubhc life that he knew. Then, like many an 



