in our colonies, the reader will excuse the
brief observations thus suggested by the mention of the civil division
of Sydney into four parishes. One more remark, and that a painful one,
may be added. The expenses of the police establishment, _in the town
of Sydney alone_, cost the government, in the year 1838, the sum of
12,350_l._, whereas the cost of the ecclesiastical establishment of the
Church of England, in the same town, (including the stipend of the
bishop,) amounted only to 3,025_l._ during that year.[139] Supposing
(what is most likely) that the former sum is by no means _too much_,
how far _too little_ must the latter be!

[138] There are several other parishes in the _suburbs_ of Sydney. A
third new church is likewise mentioned, among those in progress at
Sydney, in the Bishop of Australia's Charge, delivered in 1841. See
Appendix A, p. 36.

[139] Compare p. 115 of Judge Burton's work on Education and Religion
in New South Wales, with Appendix No. 12 of the same work. It may be
noticed, that the sum mentioned applies only to stipends and allowances
of the Clergy, and does not include sums voted for building purposes.

Sydney has a very good market, which is tolerably well supplied with the
necessaries of life; but many of these, as for example, eggs, butter,
apples, &c., are very dear at present, compared with the prices usual
in the mother country; while tea, coffee, sugar, &c. are cheap in
proportion. The most expensive article of living in Sydney is
house-rent, which appears to be enormously high, so that 100_l._ a year
is considered only a moderate charge for an unfurnished house, with
ordinary conveniences; and out of the salary allowed by government to
the Bishop of Australia, upwards of one-seventh part is expended in rent
alone. The shops in the capital of New South Wales are said to be very
good, and the articles well and tastefully arranged; but the social
condition of the colony naturally tends to make the persons who keep
them very different, and a much less respectable class, speaking
generally, than the tradespeople of the mother country. The noble
harbour of Port Jackson, and the position of the capital of the colony,
unite in affording every possible encouragement to trade; and the
following account given by the Sydney Herald, last year (1842) is
about the most recent statement that has been received of the present
condition of that commerce, which is altering and increasing