EUCALYPTUS TREES. 117 



fellow-citizens, who wished the slender means of my 

 young establishments appropriated for the ephemeral 

 glory of floral displays, and who wished to sacrifice 

 lasting progress to unproductive gaiety, yet I feel 

 assured that the fair feelings of the inhabitants of 

 Victoria in general will approve of the path of pre- 

 dominant utility which I struck out for myself, and 

 will respect the considerations which prompted me, in 

 an equitable Spirit toward town and country to attend 

 in the first instance to pressing necessities, leaving 

 the unnecessary or less useful for the exertions of a 

 later time. 



If a census of the trees, which are to furnish us 

 much seed for forest culture, could be held all over 

 the colony, perhaps my early efforts would be viewed 

 with more justice and gratitude. 



" They did of solace treat. 

 And bathe in pleasure of the joyous shade, 

 ^Uch shielded them against the broiling heat. 

 And with green bough decked the gloomy glade," 



Sfenseb. 



In passing through a demolished forest, how sad- 

 dening to us its aspect ! Whatinind, capable of high- 

 er feelings, can suppress its sympathy, when we see 

 stretched and withering on the ground a princely tree 

 which but a few hours previously was an object of our 

 admiration and a living monument of magnificence 

 and glory. Do you think it had its eiyoyment? 

 Does it send mere automatically, without animation 

 or sensibility of any kind, its crown to the sunny sky, 

 or drink joyless the pearly dew ? Do you think it 

 closes its flowers but mechanically, or unfolds them 

 again to imbibe light and genial warmth, absolutely 

 without gladness or pleasure of any kind ? What is 



