of the humblest races in the gradation of the human 
family has yielded to us the possession of the vast territory 
over which our people are now dispersed; and by an inscruta¬ 
ble regulation of Pro\'idence is waning before the access of 
civilization. By exertions, unassisted from without, cities and 
towns have sprung up, of a class and with a rapidity which 
challenge a parallel in former or contemporary history. The 
events crowded into the last three years have wrought a 
change, not merely in the actual condition, but in the imme¬ 
diate prospects of our community, which as regards our social 
and political state and the opening dawn of accelerated pro¬ 
gression, must inspire consolation, confidence and hope. The 
discovery of gold, happily postponed until our hills, plains, 
and valleys were covered with flocks and herds, and until we 
had emerged from dependence upon, to that of sisterly amity 
with a province, has brought us into direct intercourse with 
nations hitherto indifferent to, perhaps ignorant of the geo¬ 
graphical position of this countiy, the keels of whose stately 
vessels now furrow every sea to visit us ; who exchange with 
us commodities, productions of every clime; and pour forth 
their hardy sons, to reinforce our numbers, bearing udth thorn 
practised skill and restless avidity for the acquisition of wealth. 
The enterprise of our great parent state, but languidly expand¬ 
ing under pastoral occupations, has been caught up, and now 
directing itself into innumerable fresh channels gives indica¬ 
tion of highly \dtal force. Each new scientific application to 
economise labour and time is brought within our reach, 
opening new avenues to honourably earned riches, and una- 
tended by any of the inconveniences, which, in crowded 
communities occasionally arise from the substitution of ma- 
chiner)’^ for manual labour before the classes affected thereby 
have resorted to other emplojinents; and we may be well 
assured that there are amongst us many gifted men, of culti¬ 
vated minds, fervid imagination, and intrepid temperament, 
who, curbed and confined elsewhere by the pressure of sur¬ 
rounding competition, have panted for a field in which their 
talents may be allowed to expatiate, and have gladly turned 
to this young country, ready to receive them with a gracious 
welcome. 
