The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Fixed Period, by Anthony Trollope

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Title: The Fixed Period

Author: Anthony Trollope

Release Date: October 27, 2008 [eBook #27067]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FIXED PERIOD***

E-text prepared by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D., and Delphine Lettau

THE FIXED PERIOD

by

ANTHONY TROLLOPE

First published anonymously in _Blackwood's Magazine_ in 1882.

CONTENTS

VOLUME I.

I. INTRODUCTION.

II. GABRIEL CRASWELLER.

III. THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN.

IV. JACK NEVERBEND.

V. THE CRICKET-MATCH.

VI. THE COLLEGE.

VOLUME II.

VII. COLUMBUS AND GALILEO.

VIII. THE "JOHN BRIGHT."

IX. THE NEW GOVERNOR.

X. THE TOWN-HALL.

XI. FAREWELL!

XII. OUR VOYAGE TO ENGLAND.

VOLUME I.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

It may be doubted whether a brighter, more prosperous, and specially
a more orderly colony than Britannula was ever settled by British
colonists. But it had its period of separation from the mother
country, though never of rebellion,--like its elder sister New
Zealand. Indeed, in that respect it simply followed the lead given
her by the Australias, which, when they set up for themselves, did so
with the full co-operation of England. There was, no doubt, a special
cause with us which did not exist in Australia, and which was only,
in part, understood by the British Government when we Britannulists
were allowed to stand by ourselves. The great doctrine of a "Fixed
Period" was received by them at first with ridicule, and then
with dismay; but it was undoubtedly the strong faith which we of
Britannula had in that doctrine which induced our separation. Nothing
could have been more successful than our efforts to live alone during
the thirty years that we remained our own masters. We repudiated no
debt,--as have done some of our neighbours; and no attempts have
been made towards communism,--as has been the case with others.
We have been laborious, contented, and prosperous; and if we have
been reabso