THE LATE HON. JAMES CHISHOLM, M.L.C. (July 19, 1888.) By the death of Mr. Chisholm another of our old colonial landmarks has disappeared, and with him many early and pleasant memories of a past generation. His father, who was a native of Scotland, arrived here in 1790, the second year after the foundation of the colony: Captain John Macarthur, of Camden Park, was a passenger by the same fleet. He commenced business in Sydney as a wine and spirit merchant; being a man of shrewd and thrifty habits, he soon acquired a considerable property, a portion of which was recently purchased from his family by the Government, for the erection of the extensive railway workshops at Eveleigh, near Redfern. On relinquishing business he retired to his residence at Calder House, Newtown, where he died in 1837, generally esteemed for his genial and kindly disposition, and his many acts of private generosity. In his later years, after property in Sydney had in creased in value, he was wont to refer to the bargains he might have effected; and on one occasion he had actually under offer that portion of the eastern side of George Street, which extends from Hunter Street to opposite St. Andrew's Cathedral, for the price of two puncheons of rum! In those days the liquor traffic " largely prevailed, and rum was a common medium of exchange; but the consequences proved highly pernicious and demoralising, and had to be rigorously suppressed by the strong hand of Government. To such an extent did the system prevail that even public contracts were paid for in this commodity, and the building now used as our Parliamentary library was formerly known as the Rum Hospital, the builder having been so paid for his work. Mr. Chisholm was succeeded in his business by the firm of Brown and Co., who still rank amongst the principal wine merchants of the metropolis. His eldest son, who is the subject of our present notice, was born in Sydney in 1806, during the eventful rule of Governor Bligh-so that at the time of his decease he was one of the oldest natives of the colony. In 1810, four years after his birth, a census ordered by Governor Macquarie showed that the entire population of the colony was only 11,590, whilst the sheep did not number more than about 25,000. In this, our centennial year, the population of Australia exceeds 3,000,000, and the sheep of the different colonies cannot be much less than 100,000,000. The magnificent modern city of Sydney, with its palatial buildings and many other evidences of wealth and prosperity, has replaced an insignificant predecessor, and rivals in its beauty many of the cities of much older civilisations. This is surely much to be accomplished in the life-time of a single individual, and may be regarded as a bright augury of future greatness. When Mr. Chisholm was about fourteen years of age, he was sent for a trip to Calcutta with Captain Siddons, who for a number of years afterwards had the charge of the old Lighthouse at South Head. Although he was then too young to have received any very definite impressions of India and its people he occasionally referred with pleasure to some incidents connected with his voyage. In his early days. few advantages existed in the way of education; but the Rev. Dr. Halloran, the father of our much-respected poet, having opened a school (one of the first established in the colony), he was placed under his tuition, and there received his education in company with a number of others whose names have long been honourably associated with the community. The following note, now in the possession of the Hon. James Norton, to which his signature is attached with those of other pupils, may be read with interest after the lapse of many years, during which all whose names are there recorded have passed from the scene of their earthly labours: Sydney, 22nd April, 1822. DEAR SIR,-To-morrow being appointed for the celebration of King George the Fourth's Birthday, your pupils earnestly entreat that you will be pleased to allow them to be absent from their studies on that day. We are, Dear Sir, Your dutiful pupils, JOHN TERRY, JOHN PIPER, JAS. CHISHOLM, R. CAMPBELL. Addressed: TO REV. DR. HALLORAN, Sydney. After leaving school, Mr. Chisholm went for a short time into the office of the Com missiariat Department in order to obtain |