But little advice can be tendered to clergymen of the established church on the subject of emigration to New South Wales. The chaplaincies in the colony are poor, but sufficient to maintain a wife and family, though they are not adequate to any expensive education of the latter. A curate wishing to marry, who yet has no other income than his salary, and possesses no prospect of preferment in the church at home, or another who has a small capital, which he finds he is compelled to draw upon in aid of his insufficient income, would do well to accept a chaplaincy, as the former would be enabled to marry, and the latter not only to save his capital, but to add to it by the accumulation of the interest at a high rate. To the merchant and shopkeeper nothing need be said; the speculation of their emigration in pursuit of business, and the course of proceeding they must adopt being too well known to require comment. To the humbler classes, however, the clerk, the domestic servant, and the labourer, a few words may with advantage be addressed. Previous to leaving Port Phillip, I made inquiries for a situation in some solicitor's office for a young man who had acted as my clerk in England, and had accompanied me to Melbourne, and I was informed that, notwithstanding the main articles of food might be purchased at the low prices formerly mentioned, yet the salaries of copying clerks then varied from 120l. to 150l. a year. Domestic servants would not generally improve their circumstances by emigration at the present time to New South Wales. Situations may be obtained without much difficulty, by cooks, nurses, housemaids, and maids of all work, at higher wages than are generally given in the United Kingdom; but the service I should imagine to be less comfortable and agreeable, and from the frequent change of masters does not lead to a pension or assistance in old age, which is so often given in this country as a reward for long and faithful service. The separation, too, from relations and friends is amongst this class of much longer duration, and more complete than amongst persons of higher station. If not for life, it is nearly so; and from the inability of themselves or their friends to write, or the loss of each other's address, by a change of service or other accident, all communication is frequently at an end. It is not long, however, since domestic servants even of very bad character could command almost any wages, and should these times occur again, a prudent and temperate servant may soon acquire such an independence as a life of continual saving at home could alone accomplish. The labouring man can emigrate to much greater advantage. He is sure of employment, and whilst he is provided at the expense of his master with a hut, and as much meat as he can eat, and liberal rations of flour, tea, sugar, &c., his wages are from 201. to 30%. a year, out of which he has nothing else to purchase than a few clothes. A prudent labourer may, undoubtedly, in New South Wales, very soon lay by a little fortune, and in the mean time live extremely well, daily enjoying as much meat as he desires; but who will deny that in England, to say nothing of poor Ireland, the pocket of the labourer is ever empty, whilst he scarcely knows what it is to have a full and satisfying meal; or, if he can occasionally command one, such extraordinary times serve only to mark more painfully the deficiency on other days. In conclusion, I would earnestly caution every one against emigrating from the mere love of change. A certain good here should never be relinquished for an uncertain advantage in the colonies. Before you decide upon the step, weigh well your present circumstances and future prospects in this country. “Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" all the information you can possibly obtain in reference to the country to which you propose to emigrate; examine closely your own character, temper, disposition, habits, and mental and manual abilities; be satisfied that you have strength of mind and body sufficient to enable you to go through with what you purpose; do not magnify present evils, and imagine that others would not spring up with any change of circumstances; dismiss all bias from your mind, and let your judgment be ultimately formed on a dispassionate and comprehensive view. But when once you have decided upon emigration, follow up your resolution steadily and fearlessly, though cautiously; a wavering and divided mind is an unhappy one, and cannot prosecute emigration to advantage. Satisfied that you have acted without rashness, and from no improper motive, leave the result to that Almighty Being in whose hands are the issues of life and death. If He should think fit to prosper your ways forget Him not, nor imagine you are indebted to yourself only for success. But if misfortune should fall upon you, and the clouds of adversity gather round you, be not dismayed," Are not even the very hairs of your head all numbered ?" It is human nature to mourn, but it is Christianity to accept the invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!" "One adequate support For the calamities of mortal life APPENDIX. THE ROUTE HOME FROM NEW SOUTH WALES VIA INDIA, EGYPT, &c. In the event of this book meeting with any sale in New South Wales, it may be well to mention, in a summary manner, the route by which I returned to England, and the expense which it entailed, in order that the homeward bound may be assisted in making their choice between the direct sea voyage to England and the extended and interesting course open to them by way of India, &c. I sailed from Sydney to Singapore in the Isabella, a barque of nearly 600 tons, paying 507. for one of the side poop cabins, a price not ordinarily exacted. The voyage was of longer duration than usual, occupying nine weeks. The course the ship made was through Torres Straits, by the outer passage; then south of Timor, through the Straits of Allas, south of the Islands of Kangelang and Urk, and a succession of others; through the channel between Galion and Pondy Islands, into the Java Sea by Madura to Batavia, where the ship remained at anchor in the roads four days; then by numberless |