by and by, when blackfellow go away;" and then, although generally unwilling to remain in the town after dusk, Billy stopped with me till it was quite dark, so that he might have to himself the supper he had earned.

I have been informed also, that when in the bush the blacks have rules which are carefully adhered to. Those birds and animals which are most easily caught are left to the older persons of the tribes, the younger men being forbidden to touch them, and having to hunt the wilder or fleeter animals.

In some districts the blacks are very useful as servants, taking the place of that scarce Australian commodity, "domestic help." They are very clever, and will work hard when they are hungry, but will not do more labour than is necessary to provide their daily food. If they can succeed in obtaining food first, by a promise of working afterwards, not a stroke will they do, and neither coaxing nor threats can move them. They will eat the bread, coolly smoke their pipes, and then walk away to seek a dinner somewhere else.

The question has frequently been asked, Could not the labour of these aborigines be turned to account in cotton cultivation? But the answer from those best ualified to judge is, No, they cannot be depended on. They are so careless, so independent, and so lazy, that nothing short of a compulsion equal to American slavery could ever get the work out of them. Rather than this should be, we would give up cotton-growing for ever. I have met with some curious instances of

this lazy independence. The before-mentioned "Billy" was working regularly for me, coming to my house every day, doing any little jobs of rough work, and getting as much as he could eat in payment. In the course of a few weeks, having but little to do and plenty to eat, he became quite fat, and then quite lazy, so that I could scarcely prevail on him to do any work at all. One morning he presented himself, in company with another blackfellow, whom he introduced as "Jemmy," saying, "This fellow sit down with you: me want to go into bush ;" and away he went for his holiday, while I set Jemmy to work, glad enough that Billy had not left me without warning. It has seemed hitherto impossible to get the blacks to settle in one place the more comfortable it is, the sooner they become tired of it.

When admitted into a house, they need constant watching, as they are great thieves; food of any kind, and knives or other useful articles, presenting a temptation too strong to be resisted. Occasionally houses are broken into, and flour or sugar abstracted; but we remember that even in England such things are not uncommon; and, in truth, we enjoy in the country towns of Australia a security of life and property altogether unknown in police-watched London.

SUMMARY.-The natives of Australia are fast disappearing before the advance of the white men, as has been also the case in America. In some parts the tribes are almost extinct. One of the greatest difficulties in the case of their civilisation, is their nomadic or wandering habits. Another difficulty is the war which is constantly going on between the different tribes. They

communicate with the English in a strange jargon, composed of a mixture of their native language with the English. They have two good rules among them: one is, that they share whatever is given them with their companions; and another is, that the birds and animals that are most easily caught are left to the older men, while the younger have to hunt the wilder animals. The blacks sometimes act as servants to the white men, but they will only work when they are very hungry, and they are great thieves.

QUESTIONS.

What are the principal difficulties in the way of the civilisation of the natives of Australia? What good rule have they respecting what is given them? What is the rule with respect to hunting? What is their only motive for working? What great fault have they when admitted into the houses of the settlers?

BRITISH EMIGRANTS.

The will, the instincts, and appointed needs
Of Britain, do invite her to cast off

Her swarms, and in succession send them forth,
Bound to establish new communities.
On every shore whose aspect favours hope
Or bold adventure; promising to skill
And perseverance their deserved reward.
Change wide and deep, and silently performed,
This land shall witness; and, as days roll on,
Earth's universal frame shall feel the effect,
Even till the smallest habitable rock,
Beaten by lonely billows, hear the songs

Of humanized society, and bloom

With civil arts that shall breathe forth their fragrance,

A grateful tribute to all-ruling heaven.

WORDSWORTH.

AGAINST CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

BY WILLIAM COWPER.*

Cruel the persecution and the pain

That man inflicts on all inferior kinds,

Regardless of their plaints. To make him sport,

*William Cowper, a celebrated English poet, was born at Berkhampstead, in 1731. He was the son of Dr Cowper, chaplain to

To gratify the frenzy of his wrath,

Or his base gluttony, are causes good
And just in his account, why bird and beast
Should suffer torture.

Earth groans beneath the burden of a war
Waged with defenceless innocence; while he,
Not satisfied to prey on all around,

Adds tenfold bitterness to death by pangs
Needless, and first torments ere he devours.
Now happiest they that occupy the scenes
The most remote from his abhorr❜d resort.

In measure, as by force of instinct drawn,
Or by necessity constrain'd, they live
Dependent upon man; those in his fields,
These at his crib, and some beneath his roof.
They prove too often at how dear a rate
He sells protection. Witness at his foot
The spaniel dying for some veuial fault,
Under dissection of the knotted scourge;
Witness the patient ox, with stripes and yells
Driven to the slaughter, goaded as he runs
To madness; while the savage at his heels
Laughs at the frantic sufferer's fury, spent
Upon the guiltless passenger o'erthrown.
He too is witness, noblest of the train

That wait on man, the flight performing horse;

George II., and rector of Berkhampstead, in Hertfordshire. Cowper, after finishing his education, studied law, but soon gave it up for literary pursuits. He wrote many beautiful poems, both grave and gay, and numerous hymns. He died at Dereham, in Norfolk, on the 25th April 1800.