at one view the advantages in pounds, shillings, and pence.

Another good effect brought about by railways is, in conjunction with other influences, a visible breaking up of that exclusiveness, -a gradual thawing of that reserve, for which the people of Great Britain are celebrated. In former times, each class of persons had their modes of travelling. There was for the rich, the post chaise; for the country gentleman, the mail; for the tradesman, the stage coach; and for the poor, the waggon; a man's respectability was established by the mode in which he travelled. The difference between railway and stage coach travelling is nearly all the difference between civilization and barbarism. The railways will, ultimately, reverse the picture; and the rich will be brought in contact and converse with the poor, sympathies are engendered between the various classes, and the manners of the higher class descend to the lower. In the year 1843, no fewer than 25 millions of passengers were conveyed 330 millions of miles. Railways are gigantic distributors of money while in operation, to say nothing of outlay, with cost of repairs, machenery, and servants

This country has gained the start of all others by this new mode of internal conveyance, by the assistance of the gigantic power of steam; whether we look to Commerce to Agriculture or to Manufactures.

The period is fast approaching when the remotest parts of this country and the continent will be brought into easy and rapid communication; and all foreign powers will follow our example in promoting this gigantic work of peace. The evils arising out of the differences of language and soil, and climate, all vanishing before the desire of mankind for commercial intercourse. The prejudices and mistaken interests which separate one district of the same nation from another, are broken down by such noble inventions as these; and the same spirit of civilization which results from that increase of our reason, which bestowed by a beneficent Providence, will eventually render all men as brethren, and children of one great Father. It will become a check to the alarming growth of cities and towns, especially in this modern Babylon in which I write; and will there is no possible doubt, above all, spread knowledge and diffuse intelligence over towns and cities, and finally tend to "universal good."

NEW ZEALAND AND ITS CLAIMANTS.

SIR,

A PETITION signed by a number of eminent mercantile firms in the City, and emanating from the New Zealand Company, specifying its grievances and praying for redress, has just been presented to Parliament. Before granting the prayer of the petitioners, I would most respectfully suggest that the case of the unfortunate settlers who emigrated under the auspices of the Company now claiming reparation should be taken into the favourable consideration of the legislature. If any one be entitled to compensation, surely it is the sufferers, and not that party which has wrought the wrong. The painful situation of the colonists in New Zealand is well known to you, and the patience with which they have endured much unmerited suffering has not passed unheeded by the British public. But the present embarrassment of the New Zealand Company is the natural result of its own precipitancy and indiscretion. I address you, Sir, with confidence, believing that the matter on which

Parliament is now called to decide, involving a high principle and, it may be, the very existence of an interesting people, will not be narrowed to a mere pounds, shillings, and pence question.

Tasman was the first to discover, and Cook to take possession of the Islands of New Zealand; and thus, by the custom of civilized nations, the New Zealand group became the property of the British Crown. Little was heard of these islands from their discovery down to 1814, and that little served but to lower the character of their inhabitants in the estimation of the nations of Europe. Cannibalism was asserted to be practised by this people, the truth of which has subsequently been amply confirmed. The noble project of converting the aborigines to Christianity was begun in the above year by the Rev. Samuel Marsden of Sydney, a worthy labourer of the Church Missionary Society. The subsequent success of this society's operations and that of the Wesleyans has been most decided. Cannibalism has disappeared, and tatooing, the mark of a savage, is not now permitted to disfigure the countenance of the rising generation. In truth, the Northern Island may be termed a Christian land, for the majority of its inhabitants, if not actually Christians by profession, are powerfully influenced by the respect which they have for the missionary cha

racter.

Situated in the centre of the South Sea whale fishery, the New Zealand group became the resort of the vessels so employed, and at one of its ports, the Bay of Islands, a thousand seamen have on one occa