tone of discontent prevailing in most of the colonial newspapers, the
people who live in a land almost free from taxes, and quite exempt from
tithes and poor-rates, can without much difficulty conjure up complaints
of taxation and oppression not less piercing than those which are to be
heard in a kingdom where taxgatherers, tithe-proctors, and aristocrats,
still exist. Perhaps, there is nothing more calculated to make an
Englishman tolerably satisfied with the state of things in his own
country than the occasional perusal of the newspapers of lands so
"highly favoured" in the way of "taxation" or "liberal institutions," as
the Australian colonies and the United States of America. The christian
patriot looks down with pity upon the strife of tongues and the turmoil
of party-spirit which Satan contrives to raise in almost every country
under the sun; and while the believer can always bless God's providence
for many good things, he expects not perfection in the institutions of
mortal men; it is true that

"Worldly reformers, while they chafe and curse,
Themselves and others change from bad to worse;
While christian souls for blessings past can praise,
And mend their own and others' future ways."

[170] A glance over the two ponderous volumes of the evidence before the
Transportation Committee in 1837 and 1838 will satisfy every unprejudiced
person that our penal colonies are not yet ripe for a representative
government. It is curious enough to compare the fearful picture of these
settlements drawn by one section of the so-called Liberal party, which
wages war against transportation, with the more pleasing and flattering
description of their social condition which is given by that other
section of the same party which claims for the colonists "constitutional
rights."

[171] See Mr. Montgomery Martin's New South Wales, p. 353.

[172] See Report of Transportation Committee in 1838, p. 32.

The great instruments by which the christian statesman will aim at
reforming mankind, and making them happy, while at the same time he
will be gaining the highest of all glory to himself, both in time and
eternity, are christian instruction and religious education. A corrupted
press and incessant agitation are instruments suitable enough to
accomplish the works of darkness for which they are usually employed;
nor are churches and schools less fit means of success in the better
and more honourab