burthen of its periods-glowing promise breathes through every word, and yet it is merely a recapitulation of the details of blue books, governmental reports, and official correspondence for the information of the Colonial Secretary. But one great proof of the truth of the relation is found in the rapid increase of population in the territory. Sixteen years ago the entire population of Queensland was 2,257 souls. These people were resident in the Moreton bay district, and there were only two townships in existence in the land. In ten years afterwards it was found that there were 17,082 persons in Queensland, according to the actual returns-a circumstance upon which the Registrar-General, in his report, comments. He states that "the very high average of the increase in population in the Moreton bay districts is attributable to no gold discovery, but solely to the inherent richness of their resources, and to the high spirit of enterprise for which the occupants and explorers of those districts have been so remarkable." Besides, it must be remembered, as a testimony of additional value, that at the time Queensland was a portion of the province of New South Wales, and the natural policy of the local government of that province led it to induce concentration of people as concentration of capital and industry nearer to the seat of authority, rather than in the remote neighbourhood of Queensland, where population would, as it has actually done, scarce create rivalry in progress and the race for wealth. From 1856 to 1861 this increase was the more remarkable, as the census showed in the latter year that the population had increased to thirty thousand, or nearly donbled within five years. No argument, and no evidence could be so strong as this in proof of the estimate in which its resources are held, or the great promise which Queensland affords of fortune to those who colonize its soil. Still, however, what a solitude it must be, having only thirty thousand inhabitants to possess its extent. Three times as large as France, with her thirty millions of inhabitants, and ten times as large as England and Wales, how long must be the time until it is peopled to its content. Ages must have swept away Persons who are disposed to hire as shepherds, or general servants, in the interior, may obtain much higher wages than those above-mentioned. over the world, and many a generation of the earth gone down to the grave numerous "as leaves in Vallombrosa." It would hardly be within the limits of our space to follow up the details of this land of promise further than to indicate the class of persons by whom its advantages would be calculated to be obtained.* In a young country, the first settlers are most successful in agricultural pursuits. It is always the tiller of the soil who lays the foundation of an empire. Before Rome had her cities she had her farms, before her statesmen and merchants, her generals and princes burst upon the dazzled sight of a wondering world, she had her ploughmen and her shepherds. The order of society never changes. In our daily progress we go back to primeval forms. In the far south, then, it is the herdsman and the peasant who will be sure of rapid independence. We do not mean to say that there is not a field for artizans in this growing country. In the settlements where towns have sprung up, they can find a fair field before them. Those whose cunning of trade is in the most necessary occupations are sure of success. Workers in iron and in wood, such as suit a growing community for the supply of its necessities. The smith, with his brawny arms and veined hands, the mason, the carpenter, are those whom such a community most requires, and are those about whose fortune and prosperity there can be no doubt. There is a fair field for others, too, but Queensland is no place for a discontented idler, or thriftless "ne'er-do well." Popinjays with nice manners, good education, fine clothing, and no money, no profession, no trade; characters whose tout ensemble is best described by negatives, are much better off in Europe than in a new country like this. But the man of strong arm, brave heart, and industry, can lift himself beyond the frowns of adversity or the It may be well, as we have before given the rate of wages in Queensland, to give also the prices of commodities generally; this we do in the following : AVERAGE PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND FARMING STOCK : Wheat, per bushel, 9s. Bananas, per dozen, Sd. to Is. Pines, per dozen, from 2s. to £1. Cotton, per lb., 10d. to 2s. 9d.. A good Milch cow, £6. American plough, £5 to £7 103. PRICES OF PROVISIONS AND CLOTHING. Fresh beef, per lb., 4d. Cheese (Colonial), per lb., 1s. Best fresh mutton, per lb., 4d. Salt beef, per lb., 3d. Tea, per lb., 28. to 3s. Bacon, per lb., ls. 2d. to 2s. 6d. Salt butter (best), per lb., Is. 4d. to 2s. Fresh do., 2s. to 2s. 6d. Milk (new), per quart, 6d. Cheese (English), per lb., 1s. 6d. Eggs, per dozen, Is. 61. to 2. Bread (best wheaten 2 lb loaf), Cd. Flour (best), per cwt., 23s. Flour (2nd), per cwt., 19s. Candles (composition), per lb., Is. 8d. The price of Clothing is about one-fourth more than in England. 22 MADELINE. [July, fear of fate. Well remunerated for his labour, there is no dread of his coming to want. Living under a bright sky, and in the prospect of the land before him, he may indulge the hope of sitting under his own vine and fig-tree, and going down the vale of years, whilst a nation lifts itself into maturity around him, prosperous and happy. For us there is no more to say of this great country. If the time ever comes, when Europe grows effete, as Asia has become, one of the seats of future empire, must be this southern land. Its climate indicates its favourable influence to the human constitution, its position pro mises all the advantages of commerce. Enjoying a free constitution, it has the advantage of connection with the wealthiest nation on the earth to guard its infancy. A home legislature bestows the pride of independence, and the germ of lasting prosperity in its foste. ing care, and all it needs for its development is a people. May it soon possess this. MADELINE. FAWN-EYED, rose-lipped, raven-haired, Dropped on an alabaster throat,- I saw her satin vestments float; Down by the terrace, to the sea That babbled to the marble brim Of cool white steps, descending slow, With shadowy sweeps across their breadth, As winds a morning melody— A purple gust from purple heath- And sat amid the sand and shells- Some laced with dragon's blood-some blue Prankt like a rain-streak 't violet. Shell, sand, and shard around her shine, Bright-haired weeds lay fringed and close, A winking bloom along her arm; That damasked half her pure checks' charm- Or in dark gardens, statued, cool, And steeped in golden silences, (Save when the bird's throat bubbled low,) And wreathing her mouth, beautiful With smiles, the blossoms of sweet wit,- Yet I have seen her fairer still, When death knocked at her sister's door, O then in weeds and wimples dim, To-day, within the arbour's gloom, The sunshine trickles on her head, And drops a glory from her ear. As with a gorgeous atmosphere. 23 Go with her, heaven; on roofs and eaves, The moon looks through the mezereon, And lights a lamp in yonder fount. And dreams of one love paramount. C. THE CLASSIC MAHOGANY. THE gentlemen who think it worth their while to devote scores of pages of the Quarterly Review to grave and profound considerations on the art of dining, are not so sensually ridiculous as the ascetics would have them. The dinner bell has been called "the tocsin of the soul;" for its sound has been dear to the ears of man for ages of generations. Callous, indeed, . must that wretch be who can listen to its "tintinabulation" without a sense of deep and mystical delight-a delicious yearning springing from the highest reason and necessity, to be satiated in the replenishment of all good things. I envy Charles Lamb the condition of gastronomic coma, which must have inspired the succulent, spicy revelation of the origin of roast pig. The odour of the glowing animal must have been in his nose in more senses than one-must have penetrated his intellect like a steam drawn out of subtlest essences, kindled his fancies and enriched his wit. Posterity will yet find that the apotheosis of roast pig is the foundation of his fame; may we lay bases as plump and juicy before we die. Happy, too, must John Keats have felt in the conception of that miraculous banquet, which lies in the midst of Lamia, as a smoking, gravy-exuding sirloin doth repose itself amongst the smaller and less noble adjuncts of a pleasant spread. How he dwells with a divine misery that he cannot enjoy them on the censers fed with myrrh and spiced wood, giving up their "fifty wreaths" of incense; the "twelve sphered tables" alcoved in rosy silk, and resting on libbards' paws; and on the sponging and anointing of the ante-chamber, where the guests were robed in white by ministering slaves! A pagan could not have flung himself into the idealisation of a superb feed with more luscious enthusiasm. To understand the æsthetic side of dining, we must first regard it as a science holding an important and well-deserved place in the luminous aggregate of positive speculations. We may dispense with craniology, phrenology, botany, and the still more sublime astronomy; but without dining none of these can be. A judiciously-provisioned stomach underlies all greatness of character. The finest wit, eloquence, or imagination is but the distilled essence of a given quantity of gastric |