468 



CHARLES DARWIN 



heved; and thus ended my little excursion in the colony ot 

 New South Wales. 



Before arriving here the three things which interested me 

 most were — the state of society amongst the higher classes, 

 the condition of the convicts, and the degree of attraction 

 sufficient to induce persons to emigrate. Of course, after 

 so very short a visit, one's opinion is worth scarcely any- 

 thing; but it is as difficult not to form some opinion, as it is 

 to form a correct judgment. On the whole, from what I 

 heard, more than from what I saw, I was disappointed in the 

 state of society. The whole community is rancorously 

 divided into parties on almost every subject. Among those 

 who, from their station in life, ought to be the best, many 

 live in such, open profligacy that respectable people cannot 

 associate with them. There is much jealousy between the 

 children of the rich emancipist and the free settlers, the 

 former being pleased to consider honest men as interlopers. 

 The whole population, poor and rich, are bent on acquiring 

 wealth : amongst the higher orders, wool and sheep-grazing 

 form the constant subject of conversation. There are many 

 serious drawbacks to the comforts of a family, the chief of 

 which, perhaps, is being surrounded by convict servants. 

 How thoroughly odious to every feeling, to be waited on by 

 a man who the day before, perhaps, was flogged, from your 

 representation, for some trifling misdemeanor. The female 

 servants are of course, much worse : hence children learn the 

 vilest expressions, and it is fortunate, if not equally vile 

 ideas. 



On the other hand, the capital of a person, without any 

 trouble on his part, produces him treble interest to what it 

 will in England ; and with care he is sure to grow rich. The 

 luxuries of life are in abundance, and very little dearer than 

 in England, and most articles of food are cheaper. The 

 climate is splendid, and perfectly healthy; but to my mind 

 its charms are lost by the uninviting aspect of the country. 

 Settlers possess a great advantage in finding their sons of 

 service when very young. At the age of from sixteen to 

 twenty, they frequently take charge of distant farming sta- 

 tions. This, however, must happen at the expense of their 

 boys associating entirely with convict servants. I am not 



