TO CIVILIZE THE NATIVES. 455 
to them seem reliefs and enjoyments from these restraints which 
civilized life entails upon them.” 
“ With regard to the mental improvement of the native chil- 
dren, we cannot say much.” 
“ As to the religious state of the pupils in the institution we 
have signs, improvements, and encouragements, which say to 
us, ‘ Go on.’ ” 
The following quotation from Count Strzelecki’s 
work only just published (1845), shews the opinion 
of that talented and intelligent traveller, after visit- 
ing various districts of New South Wales, Port 
Phillip, Van Diemen’s Land, and Flinders’ Island, 
and after a personal acquaintance with, and experi- 
ence among the Aborigines : — 
“ Thus, in New South Wales, since the time that the fate of 
the Australasian awoke the sympathies of the public, neither the 
efforts of the missionary, nor the enactments of the Government, 
and still less the Protectorate of the “ Protectors,” have effected 
any good. The attempts to civilize and christianize the Abori- 
gines, from which the preservation and elevation of their race 
was expected to result, have utteidy failed , though it is consola- 
tory, even while painful, to confess, that neither the one nor the 
other attempt has been carried into execution , with the spirit 
which accords with its principles f 
With such slight encouragement in colonies 
where the best results are supposed to have been 
obtained, and with instances of complete failure in 
others, it is surely worth while to inquire, why there 
has been such a signal want of success ? — and 
whether or not any means can be devised that may 
hold out better hopes for the future ? I cannot and 
