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November 12, 1853] T H E L E APE R. 1085
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A "GENTLEMAN AT LARGE" IN AUSTRALIA. The...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Cellars .Similar To Those Before Describ...
of a great deal of manual labour . This inconvenience and expense will bo altogether obviated by the floating basins , ¦ which will at all times of the tide contain from seven to eight feet depth of water , and will therefore enable barges already unloaded to be replaced at any time by others , to be brought alongside the wharf while their cargoes are being discharged . The gates to the entrances of the tidal basins can remain open for an hour and a half or two houra before and after high tide , so that from three to four hours will be available to clear the basins of all empty craft , and replace them by
others laden . The entrances are to be thirty feet wide , to give ample room for barges to pass in and out at the same time . The floating basins are to be connected throughout the entire length , from Westminster bridge to St . Paul ' s bridge , so that the water opposite each of the wharfs will always stand at the same level , and all tidal entrances can be open at the same time and for a similar period . In addition to the advantages to bo gained which are briefly stated in the foregoing description , the storeage and wharfage room along the river will be considerably increased on both sides , where it is much required , and has
become most valuable . The design for the Surrey side ia so simple that it requires no further explanation than that already given , as it consists only of a broad road , the river lying on one side , and on the other a fine row of dwelling-houses and shops , with stores and wharfs connected therewith ; and at the same time the distribution of the property will not in any way injure the existing interests , but by means of the proposed floating basins will tend to place the present proprietors of wharfs in a far better position . "With regard to the effect these works will have on the river itself , it has been clearly proved before the several
commissioners appointed to inquire into " The Embankment of the River Thames , " that the navigation and scouring power will be materially improved , and that it will be the means of making the river maintain a more uniform depth , and prevent the formation of shoals , which are constantly making their appearance , and obstructing the free navigation of the river at low tide . Should it be found desirable to have a minimum depth of water for the entire width of the river and along the quay walls , it can easily be effected by dredging . Ample provision is made in the plan to found the quay walls , at a sufficiently low level , to admit of such a deepening of the
. The cost of the works necessary to complete these improvements has been carefull y gone into in detail , and , allowing more than ordinary prices for the different descriptions of work , the total amount of the estimate , including every contingency , is under 1 , 500 , 000 £ . The annual ground rents of shops , warehouses , wharfs , & c , with the receipts derived from the railway , on a moderate calculation , amount to 100 , 000 ? . on 1 , 500 , 000 ? . of outlay .
It is needless to say anything further at present as to the merits of . this design for the " Thames Improvement , " as it attains the object in viow , viz ., that of beautifying the river , without interfering with any vested interest , or without requiring any pecuniary aid from Government , and in addition will be the means of purifying the river , and tend considerably to improve the healthiness of a largo district of the metropolis .
November 12, 1853] T H E L E Ape R. 1085
November 12 , 1853 ] T H E L E APE R . 1085
A "Gentleman At Large" In Australia. The...
A " GENTLEMAN AT LARGE" IN AUSTRALIA . The following extracts from a private Australian letter have been placed in our hands . We print them in the belief that they convoy a striking and salutary moral to that large class of " fast" young men at home to which the much-Buffering writer himself belonged . The writer of this letter was one of the numerous victims of an artificial society and a defective education •—one of those gentlemen for whom , like Sir Harry Lester in the Game of Speculation , " society has created no employment , " who " feel themselves fitted for ovorything , and so in reality are fitted for Nothing-. "
However , our young friend hns found out his own good qualities of heart and bone on that Uroad and rugged field of pitiless competition , where the race is to the swift and tho battlo to the strong , and where a Hunter of five or six languages is ii poor match for a bullock-driver . Verily , in the working- man ' s dominions straw-coloured kid gloves and patent-leather boots are at a Had discount , and tho finu gentleman is i Horry substitute lor the niun > without the g-ontloness . Melbourne , July . ' { lnt , 1853 . Dear , I write this letter on board the » S 7 r William Ffolkes , and purpoHo having it finished ready J < H' immediate postage on landing , for I expect to have ' »» t little spare time on my hands , it being my full intention to go to work as soon as possible after my arrival . j know you will he glad to receive my scrawl ,
H <) I shall make no apology for it , disconnected , patched , and jumbled an it is . I think I may Hay that on the whole I manage to pass my time pretty agreeably , W . hoiigh a long sea voyago is necessarily very rnonotoimiiH , and although I am labouring under tlie great disadvantage of sailing in an ' ' equality" ship , that is , all ¦*''>« passengers fare the Hamo ntf to grub , although there n »« iy be a difference as to cabin accommodation . Each i ndividual has to take bin own rations to cook , and ¦ wanh up , # ; pugilistic encounters . One great source of din comfor t ih , that we have but out ) small galley ntovo to c all our meals at , tho apparatus for culinary pur » oD 0 H of 111 emlcTunta beinjj about tlw hizo of an
ordinary stove , as used in any private g-entleman s house in France . You will easily imagine the confusion attendant on such an arrangement . Our various scanty rations of flour , raisins , sugar , suet , and so forth , are dealt out to us , and as often as we can we indulge in the luxury of a cake or a shouter . pudding " , by way of varying our diet of salt junk , pork , and miserably inferior preserved meat . I am become a proficient in the culinary art , but more particularly in making bread , cakes , and puddings . Should I ever return to England , ( which I pray God I may !) I think I shall be qualified to take the situation of '' Dolly Mop , " as I am able to wash up dishes , plates , & c , make beds ,
clean boots , knives , forks , and spoons , mend clothes , wash and iron shirts , darn stockings , and go through a variety of other little accomplishments too numerous to mention . I am sorry to say there is no discipline on board our ship , either amongst sailors or passengers , consequently might makes right , and the weakest goes to the wall , for we have a terrible rough lot on board . I can give you no idea of the filthy , dirty manner in which our food is served out to us . Things are incomparably better conducted in any decent kennel or pigstye at home . Should you have any friends coming out , caution them against " equality" ships , and at the
same time against the '' Telegraph Line of Packets . " Intending emigrants should always take care to look out for a vessel whose agents are respectable men . Our accommodation generally is very bad . During rainy weather the water comes into my cabin at all parts , not only wetting me , but Totting everything in the place , bedding , clothes , & c . At times I am obliged to sleep with a Mackintosh over me , so badly is the ship's roundhouse put together . The captain refuses to have anything done , notwithstanding that I am a quarter-deck passenger , and have a right to a dry bunk ; malgre tout cela mon clier ami , my cabin is the rendezvous of all
" good fellows , on board , Here I nightly hold my levee . We smoke , chat , sing , and drink , not brandies and waters , but lime juice and water , for the Sir William Ffolkes is a teetotal ship , and there are no alcoholic beverages to be had . At the time I write this , the 4 th February , it is scorching weather , such as you have never experienced ; nevez * theless I find no inconvenience therefrom , further than a slight irritation of the skin from prickly heat . We are within ten days sail of the Cape of Good Hope , and expect to be at Port Philip ' the latter end of March . * * * * *
March 18 th . —I cannot write to you so fully as I could wish , for nearly all my time is occupied taking stores , cooking , washing , mending , & c . i would that I could have given you a detailed account of the voyage , and various little incidents connected therewith , which , although trifling in themselves , would , I know , have heen interesting to dear old , but I find it impossible . Besides , we have run down south ' ard to catch certain currents of wind , always blowing in a favourable direction , and I assure you it is no easy matter to write with a heavy sea on .
During the passage we have had but little amusement in the way of fishing or shooting . "We have seen several shark , but only succeeded in capturing one . The said animal was taken with my hook . He was not very hungry , and played with the bait , a 31 b . pioco of pork , for some time , consequently we had plenty of tin > e to examine him in his native element . He measured six feet in length . Several of us caught albatross and Malay hawks , and both these birds are good eating . Two flying fish fell in the rigging . We saw myriads of them .
Here we are within 3 . T 0 miles of Port Philip , and , to our great annoyance , becalmed . It is time , howover , we arrived , for our provisions are running short . The fresh meat , salt fish , butter , tea , and raisins , are gone from our gaze " slick entirely . " The beef , rico , flour , and biscuits are bad . 1 assure you many of us are in a half fainiahed state ! Soiimi of us carry tho signs of starvation very plainly written on our facoH . I now think I favo well , ay , sumptuously , if I have one mouldy biscuit and butter for breakfast , ditto for dinner , and rice or a piece of salt pork for . supper . Now that we are ho near the place of destination I am full of disbelief and despondency , although I am assured by
those on board who have been to , Australia , have returned to visit the old country , and are now on their way hack again to Australia , that I . shall fare badly if T do not make a fortune in five years at ; tho most . Tho bugbear continually haunting nut , in the doubt as to whether the inimoimo tide of emigration that is now sotting in will not materially change the state of things . I go , however , determined to work , and shall take any situation , or set about any kind of work by which 1 can honestly gain a living . Mo far an self is concerned I am not ambitious , but I do wish to
realize enough to enable me to return honourably to dear old England , or to bo in a position to send for those who are near and dear to me . Of my porso * vcmnco I have no doubt ; , for already I am considered by both passengers and sailors to be one of the most industrious on board . I assure you I am quite vain on thin Hcore , I have boon paid so many compliments . One old Irish gentleman Maid I should make a " fine thrasuro of n husband" for any woman , I was ho " industhrioiis . ' You cannot think , my dear friend , how I am changed . At ono time I thought lnyaelf inoupablo of any real
exertion , but circumstances have brought out the latent energy , and I feel equal to almost any undertaking . . None but those leaving the Fatherland can ever know the feelings created by meeting a vessel ' homeward bound . It was a lovely day as we floated along nearly becalmed . We were crossing the Line , and it was then we spoke a ship on her way to Liverpool . Amongst all those of an affectionate and sensitive disposition there evidently existed a most intense
excitement as we approached each other , and when we lay with , our yards laid back , broadside to broadside , I had the most painful struggle to prevent myself from openly ^ shedding tears ; indeed I never remember experiencing such a trial . Had I possessed the sole arid exclusive , right to any hole or comer I should have rushed in and cried bitterly . The remembrance of thia meeting- is and will for a long time be fresh in my memory . It is a gr ief not to be described . It must be felt to be appreciated . ....
JNow for Australia . When I was at the mines of Korong I heard a digger express his opinion that Australia is a country "damned at both ends , and cursed in the middle . " Now , although so far as I have seen I dislike the country , yet I cannot go so far as this man , for Australia , like every other country , has its good as well as bad qualities . I find there exists a very general dislike of the place , and with many a positive feeling of disgust . The cruel misrepresentations that have been told have much tended to create thia latter feeling . We have heard of people sleeping all the year round without any other covering than a single blanket . It is a well known fact here that hundreds of strong
healthy , hardy men are injured for life through this mode of living , and many die therefrom . I assure you I have felt frost here quite as intense , if not intenser , than at home , and have been rather expressive in my language when marching through the Black Forest in a storm of snow , hail , rain , arid icy wind . Here one is never safe from the bite of centipedes and scorpions , even close to the town of Melbourne , and in the bush venomous snakes abound , not to speak of lizards and guanos . This latter "love of an animal " is in shape like a lizard , only much larger , sometimes measuring four feet in length , and as large round the body as a cat .
With regard to the climate I am assured by an old resident , and indeed by many others , that the thermometer often varies thirty degrees in the course of twenty-four hours . Indeed this must be the case , for the nights are often very frosty , and the sun shines out almost intensely at noonday . As to Victoria being a healthy place , I know that the medical men of Melbourne ordered a friend of mine to leave it , and go to some spot where the air was drier , and the temperature more even . Dysentery is very prevalent here ; many die of it , and many suffer repeated attacks . The hot winds are dreadful . The flies also are a great nuisance . It is wonderful the annoyance created by
these insects ; each one seems bent upon making his way right under the eyelid to the ball of the eye . Fleas and lice abound . Ah for mosquitoes , to see the result of their bites on the physiogs of some people , you would declare'the bike to be in a bad stage of small-pox . Another pleasing appurtenance to the colony is what the " old hands" term the Brick Fields . My word , this is certainly delightful . It consists of a cloud of flinty sand , gravel , and dust blown about by fierce winds to the height of some thirty feet , and is ro dense that a man walking a yard distant from any object , Ray a bullock dray , is unable to . see either cattle or dray whilst the " brick field" is raging . At all times
tho dust is dreadful , and in summer tho heat is intense . In the province of Victoria one may journey sonu thirty miles without finding a water hole , and when found , probably the water w bad , being salt , sweet , brackish , and altogether very unpalatable . Although a good supply of water may no had from holes during winter , in consequence of excessive rains , yet in summer these are dry . It is a curious fact that hitherto it has been found useless to wink wells at this district , notwithstanding that at Sydney , Adelaide , and other places in the colony , they arts common as at home . In consequence of the scarcity of water , sheep stations , cattle stations , and townships , are necessarily far
distant . Indeed , with tins exception of tlio gold fields , Victoria seems to ho the least favoured part of Australia . At Melbourne , as at the diggings , wo are obliged to buy water , and at a very dear rate . At Korong tho price is < J . f . Oil . per biicketfull , and has to bo fetched a distance of six iiiHch . On my wiiy to and from the diggings the water I lined for tea ( tho uni vernal bush drink ) wjis generally taken from n wheel-rut , or a hole * made by the traffic of horses or bullocks , the colour of the said beverage boing a deep rich brown , the component , parts being rain water , mud , gum leaf
rotten sticks , liquid manure , strongly flavoured of cattle guano . The proportions nowtHnarily depend on tho wetness of the season and distance of encampment fVom the roads . I am not aware that any chemical analysis bas yet been made . Information on this suhjeet would bo very interesting to intending emigrants . " They say there's bread and work for all . " I know there ' s flour , at any rate if a man does not go too Jar into the bush , and lias fcho wherewithal to purchase tho same I know one party at the diggingH who lived ( from noooHHity ) on moat for throo woolen . 1 know many
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 12, 1853, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12111853/page/5/
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