AUSTRALIA OR NEW HOLLAND. 101 



characters hate and fear the power that has chastised them ; 

 and the unfortunate, because they anticipate from a longer 

 connection a recurrence of their past adversity by an introduc- 

 tion of the same causes which had led to them in a country 

 where the unassisted poor man, if he would not die of starva- 

 tion, must plunge himself in crime. They know well that 

 when the majority is nearly on a footing with regard to wealth, 

 chances are great, that each will secure to himself a compe- 

 tency. In a community so circumstanced, the struggle is not 

 with the overwhelming advantages of the rich, but with more 

 surmountable obstacles. The road to affluence is denied to 

 none, and success is dependent on a man's own exertions. 

 He will soonest reach the goal who is most industrious and 

 enterprising. 



The town of Sydney* is in the most flourishing condition, 

 trade is extending and becoming more and more profitable, 

 and emigration flowing into the colony with an enlarging cur- 

 rent, and composed of individuals of that most useful class to 

 a young colony — artizans, agriculturists, and such like. 



The principal article of export is wool. Wheat ranks next 

 in importance ; but the crops are uncertain, owing to the long 

 and severe droughts to which the country is liable some years. 

 These, by the way, are most serious evils to the country, and 

 one of the greatest checks to its advancement, and, unfor- 

 tunately, irrigation cannot be resorted to as a substitute in 

 consequence of the scarcity of fresh-water streams. The dry 

 periods are sometimes so constant and protracted that every - 



* Sydney is the capital of New South Wales, and contains about 25,000 inhabi- 

 tants. The streets are well laid out, and are rapidly filling up with good houses 

 constructed of brick. In the eastern part of the town is a large square, upon which 

 are situated the Catholic Cathedral, the Ch-.:rch of St. James', and the offices of the 

 Colonial Government ; on the western qua ■'.er are extensive public grounds, and 

 many handsome buildings. 



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