large Bustards, called here Wild Turkeys. At this place, we received a hearty welcome, from a warm-hearted Irish couple, who told us, that they had heard of our passing along the other side of the hills, on the way to Wellington, in consequence of our having given tracts to some shepherds, and had been regretting that they should not be likely to receive a visit from us. An old Irishman, who was also a sojourner in the family for the night, informed us, that he could trace many points of resemblance to the ancient Irish language, in the language of the Blacks of this Colony. There were here two black boys; one of whom, named Dickey, said he was an orphan, belonging a tribe to the southward, on the Lachlan River. They were clothed in some old garments of the stock-men; which, though they fit badly, made them more decent than usual. Dickey, who appeared to be about twelve years of age, had become useful in the house, in the work of which, his mistress instructed him with motherly kindness: she also gave him his meals in the same room with themselves, and of the same kind of victuals as themselves eat. Being thus raised to the same grade with the family, in many points, the boy was making more progress in civilization than most of

his race.

A rational attention to points of this kind, in labours to improve the condition of the Aborigines, is of more consequence than many well-intentioned Christians imagine. A line of consideration and conduct, such as Christian principles, fully carried into practice, would lead to, is of the utmost importance, in preparing the mind to receive the doctrines of the gospel. I now see more clearly than before, how much the Tasmanian Blacks on Flinders Island, were indebted to the rational, and well-directed endeavours of W. J. Darling and A. M'Lachlan, in raising them in the scale of civilization. Though neither of these men could be looked upon as religious missionaries, their labours materially advanced the Blacks toward a state, in which they might have been benefited by well-directed religious labours; not by teaching them to use forms of religion, without the power, or to go through formal repetitions

of devotional compositions; but by simply reading the Scriptures to them, and turning their attention to the convictions of the Holy Spirit upon their own minds, as the drawing of the love of their Heavenly Father, seeking to bring them to his beloved Son, in order that they may find the pardon of sin, and help to work righteousness, through him. To these exercises, devout conversations, and the reading of religious biography, and other practical works, might be usefully added, as the instructors became able to engage in such communication, and way opened for it. O, that many would give way to a right exercise of soul before the Lord! who would then raise up, both ministers and missionaries, qualified for their work to his own glory.

10th mo. 1st. We left Kangaroo Bay, accompanied by the two black boys, as guides. Soon after they left us, we missed our road, taking a sawyer's track, which was more strongly marked than the one along which we ought to have gone, a common circumstance in Australia. This lengthened our journey a few miles, and brought us across some rough hills of white quartz, covered with trees and scrub. At length we came out, upon a verdant tract, called Fredericks Valley, where a man, who was making cheese, in a solitary hut, kindly gave us some milk. This article, which is scarce in V. D. Land, is abundant in this part of N. S. Wales; and constitutes a part of the provision for the servants of many of the pastoral establishments.

From over-exertion on the 29th ult. I became affected with violent pain in one leg; and when, becoming so lame as scarcely to be able to get along, one of our acquaintance, from Newton, came up, with a spare horse ready saddled, on which he invited me to ride. This circumstance might be regarded by some as a mere casualty; but I could not but consider it, as one of the many cases, in which relief was sent by the overruling of Him, who cares for the sparrows, and much more for those who put their trust in Him, unworthy of his notice as they may feel themselves to be; and who, in his providence, often causes, circumstances, casual in appearance, so to meet, as to bring about

important ends. By this help we reached Newton in the evening; and spent a little time with comfort, among the little company of Wesleyans there.

2nd. We proceeded to Bathurst, in company with a pious man from the north of Ireland, who has known something of the power of religion for many years, and is more clear than many, in his views of the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and attentive to this guidance, in many respects. His conversation was cheering and edifying. Among many other things, he mentioned, that on asking a poor, bare-footed, Irish girl, a pupil in a Sabbath-school that he attended in his native land, to explain the meaning of love, the word having occurred in one of their Scripture lessons, she replied: "It is the union of all the powers of the mind, in one strong desire to please." This lucid and concise definition, from a child of drunken parents, greatly surprised him, but it tended to confirm him in his view of the benefits of such instruction. On arriving at Bathurst we again met a hearty welcome from John Espie and Mary Keane. Instead of the brownness of the country that existed on our first arrival in this part of the Colony, a fine verdure now covers the surface of the earth. The late, bountiful rain has caused both the people and the cattle to rejoice.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Bathurst.-Climate of N. S. Wales.-Public Worship.-Doctrine of Baptism.Settlers.-Bank.-Prisons.-Woodlands.-Geology.-O'Connell Plains.-Spiritual Worship.-Fish River.-Dogs and Snakes.-Milk.-Prisoners.-Shrubs. -Blue Mountains.-Black Heath.-Govetts Leap.-Awful Death.-Couch Grass.-Penrith. Flagellation.-Nepean.-Doctrine.-Vineyard.-Absence

of Dew.-Horses destroyed by thirst.-Nepean River.-Castlereagh.-Windsor. -Richmond.-Information of a Black.-Pitt Town and Wilberforce.-Unfaithful Professor.-Pious Persons.-TemperanceMeeting.- Jail.-Religious Meetings.—Currajong.-Country.-Maize and Wheat Crops.—Orange Orchards.— Return to Sydney.

10th mo. 3rd. THE climate of Newton and Bathurst, is much cooler than that of Wellington Valley, or of Sydney. At Newton there was hoar frost yesterday morning. At Bathurst and Newton, Apples and Gooseberries succeed, but not Grapes. At Wellington and Sydney, the heat is too great for the fruits of the cooler climates, and the winter of Wellington and Bathurst, is too cold for Oranges, and some other fruits, from the warmer parts of Europe.

4th. We had two meetings in the school-house. The Episcopal Minister being at one of the out-stations, there was no congregation in his place of worship to-day, and many of the people, usually assembling there for devotional purposes, met with the Presbyterians. I cannot but greatly esteem the privilege, of having been trained to the practice of meeting, to wait upon the Lord, independently of the intervention of a minister. The common custom, of no minister, no public worship, ill accords with the precept, "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is." Indeed, I know of no people but Friends, who, exercising faith in the Redeemer's declaration, "Wheresoever

two or three are met together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," act upon the Apostle's precept fully, by meeting when there is no preacher present. Much as I esteem Gospel Ministry as a gift of God, conferred for the edification of his church, I cannot but look upon those views of public worship, which render it dependent upon the intervention of a priest or a minister, as belonging rather to the dispensation of the law of Moses, than to the Gospel of Christ.

5th. I spent some time in the school, under the care of J. E. Keane, in which there are about thirty pupils, who are trained with much Christian care, and are diligently instructed in the Holy Scriptures. I could not, however, but lament to hear them taught such palpable error as is conveyed in the Catechism of the Episcopal Church, by which they are instructed to say, that they become members of Christ, and children of God, by baptism, clearly implying by baptism with water. I know this fallacy is attempted to be explained away, by various arguments; but it is quite in vain to try to twist the plain meaning of the words. It remains palpably untrue, that any infant, by water-baptism, becomes a member of Christ, or a child of God; and the direct tendency of such instruction, as teaches them to say that this is the case, is to deceive the young, with regard to their own religious state, and to lead them to attach to this rite, the imaginary effect of a mystical charm, and to divert their attention from the baptism of the Holy Ghost, received only through the mediation of Christ, by which alone they can become members of Christ, children of God, and heirs of eternal life.

6th. In company with J. E. Keane, we visited several of the settlers on Bathurst Plains, who generally live a mile or two from each other. Their houses are comfortable and well furnished, and more like those of England, than most we have seen in country situations, in this part of the world.

7th. A Branch Bible Association and an Auxiliary Temperance Association were organized. A number of the respectable settlers were present. These came from various