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CAROLINE CHISHOLM, THE AUSTRALIAN PHILANTHROPIST.*

In taking up the life of a woman of this remarkable character, who has made for herself a fame perfectly unique, our first dread is lest the biographer should give us too much of himself and so much less of his subject; but if ever there was a biographer who can say conscientiously that he has kept himself out of sight, it is Mr. Mackenzie. It is, we suppose, because critics can never be satisfied, that we find ourselves inclined to quarrel with him on this very account. Here is a man evidently, by nature and intellectually, highly qualified to appreciate the exigence against which providence has raised up this extraordinary woman, and to pass before his readers a panorama of the desert which she found, and the comparative paradise into which she has trained it. But though he indeed does this, he has suffered the privileges of the biographer to fall from his hands; and when he begins to warm us by an eloquent passage from his own pen, modestly retires to give place to his heroine. We know not, however, but that, after all, he is right; that he has judged wisely, as men generally do when they judge unselfishly. And certainly-whether his present success should tempt him to carry out his design at some future period upon a larger scale, which it will amply bear-he has produced a volume in which the romantic and the real are delightfully combined.

Read this life of your countrywoman, gentle readers, and be prouder than ever of your country and your sex, which have produced so extraordinary a character.

Mrs. Chisholm's father was an English yeoman, Mr. Wm. Jones, a native of Wootton, Northamptonshire. Even when important matters of business were discussed by the elders of the family, the children were suffered to remain in the room, and were even at times asked their opinions on any subject of discussion when they had been observed to pay attention. One day an old soldier was introduced, and the father, calling his children, pointed out what obligations they were under to the veteran, who had fought the enemies of England amid the perils of sea and land, and sacrified his limbs, that they might live in ease, comfort, and security at home. The soldier excited the curiosity of the children by descriptions of other countries, the beauty of the scenery, the excellence of climate, the abundance of food, the advantages that would accrue by the possession of those paradises as colonies, and the fortunes the emigrant might reap.

This event and family correspondence with some American settlers, set the busy mind of the infant Caroline, the heroine of these pages, to ponder over the subject, and its effects are thus recollected and described in a letter to a friend in Sydney.

"My first attempt at colonization was carried on in a wash-hand Caroline Chisholm; her Life and Labours. By Eneas Mackenzie. Millington, and Co.

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basin, before I was seven years old. I made boats of broad beans expended all my money in touch wood dolls; removed families, located them in the bed-quilt, and sent the boats, filled with wheat, back to their friends, of which I kept a store in a thimble case. At length I upset the basin, which I judged to be a fac-simile of the sea, spoiled a new bed, got punished, and afterwards carried out my plan in a dark cellar, with a rushlight stuck upon a tin kettle; and, strange as it may seem, many of the ideas which I have since carried out first gained possession of my mind at that period; and, singular as it may appear, I had a Wesleyan minister and a Catholic priest in the same boat. Two of my dolls were very refractory, and would not be obedient; this made me name them after two persons I knew who were always quarrelling, and I spent hours in listening to their supposed debates, to try and find out how I could manage them. At length I put the two into a boat, and told them if they were not careful they would be drowned; and having landed them alive, I knelt down to pray to God to make them love each other."

An early loss of her father caused the education of the mind of the youthful Caroline to devolve upon her mother, who was left in easy circumstances, and, fortunately, being a woman possessed of surprising resolution, acute perceptions, abundant humanity, and a firm reliance on the love of God, the lessons taught ripened those extraordinary mental powers of her daughter so admirably befitting to the great works of her future destiny.

At twenty years of age our heroine married Alexander Chisholm, an officer of the British army, who has ever most ardently reciprocated all the philanthropic aspirations of his wife. In 1838-having already established in India a "Female School of Industry," which still flourishes-Mrs. Chisholm and her husband, with their infant family, left India to visit the more salubrious climes of South Australia and Van Diemen's Land, for the benefit of Captain Chisholm's health. In 1840 the Captain returned to his regiment, leaving the family at Sydney. At this time the uprotected children of poverty who landed in the colonies fell a ready prey to the laxity of morality then unhappily too prevalent.

"At the government depot in England," writes Mrs. Chisholm "we find congregated together broken-up families, young couples, without children, or single young women, perhaps perfect strangers to all around them; each party leaving behind them, in all probability, parents, brothers, sisters, &c., without almost any hope of re-union; here is a mass of human beings inwardly lamenting their separation from those most dear to them; they go on board under harrowed feelings, and the young women are placed under the care of a matron, who is viewed as a very subordinate character. These are trying situations for human nature, and a dangerous position for young women to find themselves in, for amongst these there exists no common feeling, except that of perfect indifference to each other, the innocent and the helpless stand there exposed to the wiles of the snarer. Who

has not been shocked by the frightful details we have read in the public papers, how orphan after orphan had been victimised on board emigrant's ships by men calling themselves Christians; how modest maidens have been brutalised over and insulted by those whose peculiar duty it was to protect them?"

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Upon the voyage being completed," continues Mrs. Chisholm, in her appeal to the clergy of Sydney, "one of the most serious evils I know is the practice of young women being allowed to make engagements on board ship. Some families of high respectability do engage servants in this way; but I also know that some people, of the very worst character, go there and engage servants-servants? No! They are not required as servants-they are not wanted to work. Many I have known who have been taken to houses of the worst character the first day of their arrival. Shall this evil continue? God forbid ! The latter go on board ship with impunity: how can the captain or surgeon be expected to know them. They judge from appearances. A silk dress a little talk about attending church on a Sunday, and the poor girl gets high wages-leads an idle life-visits the theatres, dresses well, and leads some of her shipmates into the same hands. Some say it is the duty of the clergy to prevent this system-others say of the ladies: that it is a duty that ought to be met few will deny."

Against this evil Mrs. Chisholm resolved at once to contend; and most heroically did she endure the many discouragements through which she had to fight her way to success. Individuals pronounced her schemes impracticable-the Governor thought her touched in the head-every aid was wanting but that inspiration which the good and great woman drew from her own heart. At length the Governor grudgingly granted an interview to the "lady labouring under amiable delusions.'

"I expected," said Sir George Gipps, when relating the story to an English friend," to have seen an old lady in a white cap and spectacles, who would have talked to me about my soul. I was amazed when my aide introduced a handsome, stately young woman who proceeded to reason the question as if she thought her reason and experience too, worth as much as mine."

At one of these interviews, after Mrs. Chisholm had explained what she wished and intended to effect by her Emigrant's Home, Sir George remarked, "I believe you have overrated the powers of your own mind, and believing so, and also in your disinterested views, I think it right to tell you.'

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Sir George at last, on receiving a guarantee against the government being put to any expense, granted the use of a government building. It consisted of a low wooden erection. The room appropriated to Mrs. Chisholm's own occupation was not more than seven feet in length and breadth, without a fire-place. She was compelled, when requiring a cup of tea, to send for water to a public boiler, in which

hundreds of kettles had been dipped. At length a prisoner, engaged in the government printing-office, brought a kettle of boiling water every morning.

Mrs. Chisholm writes, "In acknowledging this boon, I would thank Lady Gipps for her kind and generous support; she strewed few flowers in my path-I knew them by their fragrance, and thanked God she had a woman's heart! But I must take possession of my office. On closing the door, I reflected on what I had been compelled to endure for forty-nine square feet. My first feelings were those of indignation that such a trifle had been so long withheld; but better feelings followed. I determined to trust to Providence, to increase its size, and prove my usefulness. I soon observed, to do any good, I must sleep on the premises and as soon as Mr. Mereweather was aware of my determination, he gave me the best 100m vacant. I cannot say vacant, for it was used as a store-room, This was, however, cleared for my accommodation, and having been busy all day, I retired wearied to rest. My courage was put to the proof at starting. Scarce was the light out, when I fancied, from a noise I heard, that dogs must be in the room, and in some terror I got a light. What I experienced on seeing rats in all directions, I cannot describe! My first act was to throw on a cloak, and get at the door with the intent of leaving the building. My second thoughts were, if I did so, my desertion would cause much amusement, and ruin my plan. I, therefore, lighted a second candle, and, seating myself on my bed, kept there until three rats, descending from the roof, alighted on my shoulders. I felt that I was getting into a fever, and that, in fact, I should be very ill before morning; but to be out-generalled by rats was too bad. I got up with some resolution. I had two loaves and some butter (for my office, bedroom and pantry were one); I cut it into slices, placed the whole in the middle of the room, put a dish of waterconvenient, and with a light by my side, I kept a seat on the bed, reading Abercrombie,' and watching the rats until four in the morning. I at one time, counted thirteen, and never less than seven did I observe at the dish during the entire night. The following night gave them a similar treat, with the addition of arsenic; and in this manner passed my four first nights at the Home."

I

After a time four rooms of similar size were added and thrown into one for the Home, which was then named the "Female Emigrant's Home." In regulating this institution, Mrs. Chisholm had many difficulties to contend against. which required, and proved consummate tact. Gentlemen idlers would lounge about the building. Again

"Although the Home was crowded," says Mrs. Chisholm, “I could not get a girl to go into the country-I found it necessary to go first myself. A party promised to be ready, but their fears overcame their good resolutions, and I had the dray to send away empty (this I kept a secret). I had ninety-six on rations-a serious number. However, I ordered two drays the next day, and sent them off in

spirits. The inmates of the Home being most suited to rough country work, I proceeded into the interior to form committees and to establish country Homes,' taking in some cases, parties of females with me. When I commenced taking them up the country, I had to meet, in the first instance, their travelling expenses which were afterwards refunded. The inhabitants of the district cheerfully supplied them with food; the committees afforded them protection and advice. I took them to Campbell-Town, Maitland, Liverpool, Paramatta, and Port Macquarie. The first parties of young women varied from fisteen to sixteen in number. I went from farm to farm, getting them places in service. I quickly disposed of the first venture, and then returned to Sydney.

"Soon after the opening of the Sydney Home, I received sixty-four girls from ships then in harbour, and all the money they had, amounted to fourteen shillings and three-halfpence; twenty-two had no money; several twopence; others fourpence. These girls I sent into the country. The majority are married, and not one lost her character."

We are compelled, for many of the most interesting passages, and especially for the touching story of "Flora"-a romance in itself-to refer our readers to Mr. Mackenzie's book. But we must extract one passage more :—

"When the public had an opportunity of judging of the effect of my system," writes Mrs. Chisholm, "they came forward and enabled me to go on. The government contributed, in various ways, to the amount of 1501. I met with great assistance from the country committees. The squatters and settlers were always willing to give me conveyance for the people. The country people always supplied provisions. Mr. William Bradley, a native of the colony, authorised me to draw upon him for money, provisions, horses, or anything I might require, but the people met my efforts so readily that I had no necessity to draw upon him for a sixpence. At public inns the females were sheltered, and I was provisioned myself without charge. My personal expenses during my seven years service amounted to only

11. 18s. 6d.

"As numbers of the masters were afraid, if they advanced the money for the conveyance by the steamers, the parties would never reach the stations, I met the difficulty by advancing the fare, confiding in the good feeling of the man that he would keep to his agreement, and to the principle of the master that he would repay me. Although, in hundreds of cases, the masters were then strangers to me, I only lost 167. by casualties. At times I have paid as much as 407. for steamers, and, from first to last, in following out my system, I have been the means of settling 11,000 souls. The largest number that ever left Sydney under my charge, at one time, was 147, but, from accessions on the road, they increased considerably. The longest journey of this kind occupied five weeks, three weeks of which were passed on the road."

We have only to say that a pleasanter book has not come under our notice. We have one fault to find with it-it is too short.

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