the throne, neither can they join the innumerable multitude of every nation and kindred and tongue and people, that have come out of great tribulation for Christ's sake, who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; neither can they ascribe unto God those praises which now they deem as inferior to their bodily comforts or temporal interests. Those that will not build the earthly temple shall never enter the Heavenly; they are as an unfit for its service, as they were indifferent to its erection; and they are as disqualified for admission into Heaven, as they were insensible to the extension of its kingdom when on earth. No selfish atheist, no denier of Jesus Christ, no breaker of sacred trust, no ungrateful sinner, no despiser of God's blessing, no defrauder of the souls of men ;-in short, no man who sums up all these characteristics in this, that he is a neglector of His Lord's work, saying continually, "The time is not yet come, the time when I should build the Lord's house," shall ever enter the new Jerusalem. On every man who enters there is written, "Holiness to the Lord"-and his watchword is "I AM THE LORD'S !"

Awake then to reflection in this important matter, important, as it regards the Glory of your Lord, the salvation of your fellow-sinners, and your own everlasting welfare! Christians, sleep not as do others, but arise, shine for your light is come and the glory of the Lord is already risen upon you! Oh recount your years that are past, for ever past! Recount your multiplied opportunities of usefulness that are now gone for ever! Recount your incessant obligations to God, that can never more be discharged! Recount your talents that were never improved for the end of existence, and are now rusted away! Recount your property which has been wasted in pure selfishness, on the world and on the flesh, never, never more to be redeemed! Recount the many channels for doing good, spiritual and eternal good to this perishing world, which are now for ever closed! Recount your convictions, resolutions, purposes, schemes, which were formed, checked and are now eternally fled! Recount the myriads of immortal souls that have passed away from this miserable and sinful land during the period of your neglect and delay-recount all these, and see and consider, whether the time is not now come, the time that the Lord's house should be built! Soon, soon, alas it may be too soon for you, your stewardship will be at an end, and you must appear before your Lord in judgment; then, what will be your thoughts in this matter? Consider, what answer you will give to your Lord, when He comes, as to the building of His house!

It is time, Christians, that we seek a revival of pure and undefiled religion in our own souls-it is time that we seek the effusion of the Holy Spirit on our churches-it is time that we arise and consecrate ourselves, and dedicate all that is ours, to the glory of the Lord of Hosts-it is time that we lead holy and self-denied lives before our unbelieving fellowsinners it is time that we do whatever our hands can find to do to shew forth the praises of the Lord, and promote the salvation of man-it is time for us to preach and to teach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, to every creature in India, according to express command-it is time for us to bring out our master's gold and silver which we have been accumulating in soul-stained treasures and fortunes-it is time for us to make restitution to this people a hundred-fold for all that we have taken from them during the century past-it is time to consider the arrears of the past, the demands of the present, the prospects of the future-it is time to fulfil the claims of the Blessed Jesus, of perishing India, of an approaching judgment, and of a never-ending eternity!

J. M. D.

SIRS,

II.-Australia*.

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

As the Australian colonies have assumed considerable importance among the dependencies of the British empire, and as the intercourse between them and British India annually increases, it may not be unacceptable to the subscribers of the Christian Observer if a paper or two in respect to them, appear in your periodical. This opinion of the writer is strengthened from the consideration, that, in India, very little is known of the real state of the colonies founded on the Coast of New Holland, and that much of the information which has been received, has been communicated by persons who from various circumstances were either incompetent, or disinclined, to furnish an impartial and particular account of them. For it is not to be expected, that during a short visit for the benefit of health the necessary information could be obtained, or that the general character, habits, and circumstances of visitors would qualify them for the work,

This paper is the first of a series on the general condition of Austra lia.-Ed.

much less that mere commercial men whose attention is confined chiefly to what is conducive to their pecuniary advantage, would have views sufficiently impartial, to render their accounts of general importance, as matter of direction to the emigrant. With these impressions on the subject I shall proceed to execute my present purpose. In the execution of this work the territory of New South Wales, claims our attention. This is the oldest, the largest, and the most flourishing of the Australian colonies. It is situated on the southeast coast of the continent of New Holland; it has existed fifty years, and the population has increased to about one hundred thousand. Here, half a century ago, a penal settlement was established at a place named by Captain Cook, Botany Bay, but it was soon afterwards abandoned for the more convenient locality of Port Jackson. The entrance to this Port is between what are called Sydney Heads, one being designated the South Head, and the other the North Head. The entrance between the Heads is, I presume, not more than half a mile; and about six miles from the entrance stands the town of Sydney. The cove forms a safe and extensive harbour for shipping, and a large number of beautiful bays, containing deep water, are formed on both the north and south sides of the cove. Sydney occupies a central position at the head of the cove, and it contains, with its environs, a population of between twenty and thirty thousand. Though the soil in the vicinity of Sydney is very rocky, there are many picturesque spots, adorned with elegant cottages and beautiful villas. The distant view of the buildings on the north and south sides of the cove scattered among the rocks, which are considerably elevated above the water, is of the most pleasing description. One of the most favourable situations for viewing the port of Sydney is from the flag-staff. Thence may be obtained a sight of the whole town, the cove, and some of the bays, the north and south shores, with country residences, interspersed, on the sides; the Heads, shipping and lighthouse. The houses occupied by the tradesmen of Sydney have an English appearance, and the private dwellings are in general neat, and sometimes elegant cottages with verandas. Sydney contains about ten streets, some of them a mile in length, running from south to north, in a parellel direction, and those are intersected at right angles, by another parellel line of streets. Till lately these streets were in a very bad state, but his late Excellency Sir Richard Bourke commenced improvements, which when completed, will supply Sydney with good macadamized roads, and stone causeways. The trade of Sydney is of no inconsiderable extent. Its principal

exports to England are Australian wool, and sperm oil, both of which articles are of first rate quality, and realize for the owners high prices. In the interior of New South Wales, there are numerous and extensive stations, where there are large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep: the breed of many of them is of a very superior kind. Horses also of various kinds are bred in considerable numbers, not merely for domestic purposes, but also for exportation. From the herds, the richer colony of Van Dieman's Land is annually supplied with large quantities of beef, and the new settlements of Port Philip and South-Australia, are furnished with sheep, horses and cattle. It is probable that during the past year, there have arrived in the Port of Sydney, from various parts of Great Britain, about seventy vessels containing prisoners, and emigrants of both sexes, and cargoes of general merchandize. Sydney maintains a regular trade also with New Zealand and Van Dieman's Land, with China and India, with the Isle of France and the United States. New Zealand supplies her with spars, flax, pork, and potatoes; Van Dieman's Land with fine wheat and potatoes of superior quality; China with tea and Chinese manufactures; the Mauritius with sugar; India with rice, and other Indian produce; and America with tobacco, fruits, furniture, and other commodities. New South Wales is not distinguished for the general fertility of its soil, for though there are some fine flats of alluvial soil on the banks of the Hawkesbury, and the Hunter, and also in the vicinity of some other rivers of more importance, yet, by far the greater part of the surface of the country is characterized by a sandy and rocky soil, extensive ridges of mountains and numerous gullies, of considerable depth. None of the rivers that have been hitherto discovered extend far into the interior of the country, and several of these are often, if not entirely, partially dry. The fall of rain in Australia is very uncertain, and the continuance of drought has been on several occasions, within the last ten years, so long, that not only the harvest has failed, but there have perished many thousand head of cattle. The grain generally cultivated in New South Wales are English wheat, and maize of a superior quality; tobacco also grows in several districts; and English vegetables have been introduced, but in many places these are an uncertain crop. The principal native fruit, which grows in great abundance is peaches. The general aspect of the country is very monotonous; the trees are not remarkable for their magnitude, their variety, or the luxuriance of their foliage. You may travel for fifty miles without seeing scarcely an object to diversify the scene. In one direction there are the

mountain ridge, and the succession of gullies; in another a disagreeable scrub, and in another an insignificant forest of gum trees. This territory is divided into districts, and the two most wealthy country districts are those of the Hunter, and Bathurst; there are also in the interior some extensive plains, the most important of these are Liverpool, Jerrys and Bathurst plains: these form the chief stations for the herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep. At some of these stations reside settlers to whom the flocks and herds belong; at others, superintendents and convict servants, the proprietors residing in Sydney, and other towns in the colony. Many of the proprietors visit their stations two or three times a year, and the object of these periodical visits is to superintend the branding of cattle, the shearing of sheep, and the washing of wool. In many districts the native grasses are so very nutritious that the horses, which are used to collect cattle, will gallop twenty miles a day for ten days in succession, by a subsistence obtained chiefly from grass.

The natural history of Australia is not destitute of interest. The feathered tribes are numerous, and are decked with the most beautiful, and varied plumage. This is pre-eminently the country for the parrot species. Some of the Australian birds have a covering as soft as satin, and others as rich as velvet. The parrots are destructive to the fruits and grain. The plains of Australia where Europeans do not reside, abound with kangaroos, which are a gregarious race, and when undisturbed graze in large flocks; but in European settlements, or even along tracts frequented by white men, they are seldom seen, some of them having been successfully hunted for food, and others having retreated farther into the interior. Australia is much infested by an animal of the canine species called the native dog, but the habits of it are so predatory, that with more propriety, it may be designated the native wolf. Its ravages extend to the poultry-yard, and the sheepfold. The fissure of the mountain ridge is chosen by it for a kennel, whence during the night, and especially when its darkness is diminished by the light of the moon, it descends to the settlement on the river's bank, and to the stations on the plain. When a body of these predacious animals, which sometimes amount to thirty in number, attack without molestation, a flock of sheep, few of them escape either destruction, or severe mutilation. The helpless prey is seized by the hind-quarter and the extremities, and a succession of bites are made till the thigh bone is laid bare and the entrails extracted. This operation is performed, while their inoffensive victim in