the British Song Bird. 87 



adopt this as we should do ; or elevate it in our estimation to 

 anything like its proper position. I will endeavour to show 

 what I mean by one or two familiar illustrations. If any one 

 of us desired to possess a Crystal Palace, like that now glitter- 

 ing at Sydenham, the desire would be a hopeless one. Inclivi- 

 vidual effort would not supply it. Yet by combination the 

 Crystal Palace is there, and any working man may have the 

 use of it for a shilling. If any of us wanted to send a letter to 

 England within fifty days, it would cost him several thousand 

 pounds. By combination it is taken safely and rapidly for 

 sixpence. If Life and death depended upon the instantaneous 

 transmission of a message to Sydney, as an individual effort it 

 would be all but impossible. By combination it is done easily 

 for five shillings. Yet is all this combination to a great extent 

 unconscious and involuntary. The principle is not intelligently 

 systematised and made the most of. Government is a form of 

 combination, and one that I believe to be capable of very much 

 more perfect development than the world has ever yet seen. 

 But all Government is sadly apt to rim into jobbery, extrava- 

 gance and mismanagement. Could we divest it of this peculiarity 

 we should attain an organisation of a very effective character, 

 through whose agency most surprising results might be educed. 

 At present, for instance, contributing eight or ten pounds each 

 to the national revenue, the taxes press very lightly upon us all. 

 Suppose that without adding to the disposition to extravagance 

 and waste, we determined to contribute twice that amount, which 

 I believe we easily might do, what a magnificent fund woidd be 

 at our disposal, to multiply rapidly amongst us all the enjoy- 

 ments of civilised life ! With a good Government, taxation is 

 not a dram upon our individual finances, but a very economical 

 investment for the multiplication of conveniences. And for my 

 part I think it indicative of something very like stupidity, for 

 people to be contented to live in a country but half supplied 

 with the requirements of civilisation, when most of them are 

 readily enough attainable, if we choose to have them. 



But failing satisfactory Governmental combination, much may 

 be done by combination under other auspices. And in the 

 elaboration of this principle I believe that there is an undug 

 field very well worthy the attention of the inquiring mind. It 

 seems to me that the essence of effective combination is to be 

 found hi the general appreciation of its power, and the defe- 

 rential homage consequent upon that warm appreciation. Thus, 

 when asked to combine for any object, we ought generally less 

 to dwell upon the particular object itself than to indicate our 



