About seventy years since, a number of transports were sent to Botany Bay, which historical fact lays the foundation of a new country, one day destined to rival the nations of the Old World, and perhaps the great North American Republic itself. That country is Australia. About sixteen years ago, New Zealand, one of the most lovely and valuable islands of the southern hemisphere, became part and parcel of the British Empire; at which time a new country was founded, and fresh streams of emigration flowed to its rich soil and delightful climate. The current of emigration is now changed, and is flowing in an easterly direction.

It appears, then, that this Anglo-Saxon American race has got such a hold on the world, and is likely to go on increasing to such an extent as to make the veriest pigmies of all the other great empires of antiquity. Every right-minded Englishman endowed with common sense and common humanity, ought to feel most justly proud, that such a mighty empire as the American Union has suddenly risen to play such an important part in the world's history, and that this great race is an offshoot of Old England, whose shores have stood, for a thousand years, impregnable to the attacks of every external foe.

These reflections are calculated, I trust, to dissipate all jealousy of feeling. Let the two great races be rivals in commerce, not in such manner as to create a bad feeling which may end in cutting each others' throats, but in striving, to the utmost of their great capabilities, in knocking down the primeval forest, in subduing nature, and, above all, in standing up for the defence of the liberty of the world, which, in this remarkable period of history, stands in need of all their united efforts and best exertions. These two races have met again in the southern hemisphere, to plant their high civiliza

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tion in the Pacific. The coral insect has there raised islands to be inhabited by civilized man. Let Americans and Englishmen join hand in hand in putting the finishing stroke to the work of this beautiful insect, by planting upon their surfaces, so curiously raised above the surface of the water, their commerce, their agriculture, their arts, their arms, and, above all, their good fellowship towards each other. Among the many wonders of this remarkable age, it may be said to be the age of kingdom-making. Let us then turn to nationmaking, instead of fighting. It will pay us both much better than burning gunpowder.

I am perfectly satisfied that every Englishman who makes a visit to the United States, and who throws aside the stupid prejudices that belong to the ignorant, may calculate upon a hearty reception, and one of the most agreeable tours that can possibly be made. I experienced this in the most marked manner when amongst them, which made such a favourable impression upon me, that ever since I have always recommended travellers who have made the tour of Europe, to go and finish with the United States. I will relate an anecdote to show the good feeling of the people.

When at Washington, a gentleman, a medical man, sent in his name at I had never inn. my seen him before, or even heard of him. I presented myself. "Who have I the pleasure of addressing? Have I met you before in any part of the world?" "No, sir," was the answer. He continued, "Having heard that you were an Englishman, I have done myself the pleasure of not only presenting myself to your notice, but at the same time to beg your acceptance of a work that I have written. I thanked him; I gave him something similar in return, and told him how pleased I had been with the many rare and wonderful proofs of American

zeal, activity, and civilization, that I had witnessed, and that on my return to England, I should not forget to communicate all to my fellow countrymen, and do my best to create a permanent and good understanding between the two countries.

I paid a visit to the Mayor of Washington, accompanied by the Hon. C. Wenthrop, and was introduced as Dr. Shaw, Old Boston, Lincolnshire, England, where John Cotton resided, and where many of the original emigrants lived prior to their settling in New Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston, Massachusetts, was named by some of the early settlers, who were from the old town in Lincolnshire, out of respect to John Cotton, their late minister, whom they soon expected to follow them. Here I was introduced to the author of the history of Old Boston.

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The Mayor then presented me to his daughters, one of whom addressed me in the following manner:-"You are an Englishman, I believe." replied in the affirmative. She continued, "I am from Derbyshire, and be assured that I shall never forget that dear old country." She added, "Such is my attachment to that land, that I would rather hear what Sir Robert Peel has for dinner any day in the week, than go to Virgil's tomb."

CHAPTER XV.

Education-Wonders and Changes of the present Age Home and Foreign Education compared-An English School described-Education in Massachusetts-Penalty for not sending a Child to School-Superior Condition of our Southern Colonists-Ignorance amongst the better Classes-Rich Soil for Romanism-Admirable Lesson afforded by Scotland.

WE have seen in the last chapter a brief account of the relations which have existed between this country and the United States of America, at that important time when the great crisis of their separating from the mother country took place, and which constitutes one of the most marked epochs in the history of that country, and even a most important event in the history of the world. Some remarks were also made with respect to our present relations and prospects. In the present chapter, it is my intention to say something in reference to education.

The present period in which we live, as it stands associated with the previous sixty or seventy years, cannot fail to make a deep impression upon all individuals accustomed to reflect, and, above all, to the serious and philosophical-minded historian, in furnishing him with astonishing data by which he may venture to speculate upon the future from the past and the present. It affords materials for profound thought, to such an extent as has perhaps never been furnished at any other previous epoch in the history of the world. The age in which we live may be said to be the age of electric telegraphs and kingdom making. Witness the sudden rise of California, as well as the remarkable manner

in which the town of San Francisco has been built, part consumed by fire, and rebuilt so rapidly that it might form a chapter of romance in the Arabian Nights. Romance has been thrown into the background by what has been witnessed by the gold-digger of California. The town of Melbourne, in Australia, affords another instance of the same kind, perhaps not quite so marvellous, and I might almost say, not quite so magical in its sudden elevation to prosperity, subsequent change and adversity.

The press would appear not to have produced its full crop of knowledge, until the seeds were fertilized by the fresh showers and genial sun of the combined inventions of the steam engine and the electric telegraph. Stephenson and Wheatstone have produced a new world out of old materials. The work even of the Reformation may be said to have derived fresh impulses, and a second crop, and a more diffused and a greater extension of its principles by these remarkable inventions. It is the age of education and of travel, both equally resulting from two causes, viz., the railroad and the electric wires.

The world is going at a gallop. More newspapers are printed and circulated, more knowledge scattered over the earth's surface, more ground travelled over in a few days, than at any other previous period. To have done the same work that is now performed in a few days, would have required, at the period of the Middle Ages, the same number of years-perhaps a century. We have gained time; we have shortened space. As much may be done now in an hour, as would have occupied our greatgrandfathers a whole day. If Scott Russell succeeds in attaining the speed of twenty-five miles an hour on the ocean, we shall gallop to Australia, and fly to America. To sail round the world will become a common event.