carried. It would be difficult to predict the result of all this woe and misery, but there can be no doubt the Great Sovereign of the Universe will eventually overrule it for some good purpose. Slavery has long cried aloud for vengeance, and who knows but that America may now be undergoing the just retribution for all the wrong and oppression she has visited on these devoted people. England, too, may now be suffering the result of her complicity, in that she has derived large profits from the products of the slave's labour. It will indeed be a glorious achievement if through this struggle the poor African be freed from his long oppression, and a higher place assigned him in the scale of social existence.

But I fear I am trespassing too far upon your patience, whilst other gentlemen are waiting to address you. I would, however, join my appeal to the chairman's and earnestly invite your co-operation in the cause of charity and benevolence. These poor people do not solicit your assistance in person; they are not here to plead the cause of their distress, but their very silence is eloquent. Now I am well aware there are those amongst us who at the present time are by no means in thriving or affluent circumstances. I know, too, it is the duty of

all to be just before they are generous; but I have no hesitation in saying we may be both. The wise King of Israel has said, "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, yet it tendeth to poverty. You may not be able to imitate the munificence of your more wealthy neighbours, but there are few amongst us who cannot afford to contribute something. Those in whose behalf we may subscribe may not be able to express to us their great sense of obligation for the kindness done them; but there is a recording angel who will bless your virtuous act, and register your generous offering; and should adversity ever befall uswhich may God avert-we shall be able to console ourselves with the happy reflection that we have aided in the cause of true benevolence, and deserve the highest sympathy of our neighbours. I now beg to move the resolution:-" That this meeting, having heard of the distress of the operatives in connection with the cotton trade in England, resolves to raise a fund to assist in their relief."

SPEECH ON AGRICULTURAL

DISTRESS.

(Sydney, April 11, 1864.)

I am reluctant to believe that the people of this city are indifferent to the distress at present prevailing throughout the agricultural districts. The inhabitants of Sydney have on all former occasions, when their sympathies have been appealed to on behalf of their suffering fellow-countrymen abroad, shown such a generous and liberal spirit that I cannot think they will be insensible to the cry of distress at home.

In making an appeal of this kind, it is highly important that the public should be satisfied with clear and authentic statements not only that distress does exist, but also that it is of such a nature as to be beyond the power of local benevolence to relieve. In a letter I published a few weeks ago I endeavoured, by reference to former statistics, to show the nature and extent of the losses which the farmers of the Camden district have sustained during the past few years. No favourable crop has been reaped in that

district since the year 1859. In the Government returns collected that year the following products are enumerated:-Wheat, 154,484 bushels; maize, 444,148 bushels; barley, 5,616 bushels; oats, 1,565 bushels; hay, 1,248 tons; potatoes, 117 tons. This, valued at the then current market rates, would give about £54,000. Then there must be added the dairy and other minor produce, which would yield about £6,000, making a grand total of £60,000 as the value of the products of one year under favourable circumstances. If this statement is compared with the results of subsequent years, you will be able to obtain a pretty accurate estimate of the losses the farmers have sustained. For the two years following 1859 the district was visited by a series of most disastrous floods, which came after the crops had been cut, and rose to such an unprecedented height that stacks to an immense extent were carried away. The next year the floods did not rise so high, but all the flooded lands were covered at a time when the wheat was in blossom, and consequently upon those lands the ears did not fill. The greater part of the crops on the higher lands also was so much injured that a partial failure resulted throughout the entire district. These disasters were followed by a most

calamitous drought. It was so severe that the crops were completely annihilated, and an appeal to the Government for seed wheat became a matter of necessity. The Government at that time very readily acceded to the application, and the farmers were thus enabled to sow for another crop. That crop they were not destined to reap. The "rust," like a thief in the night, robbed them of the fruit of their industry, just when there was a prospect of abundance. If you add to these losses the value of the stock which during the interval perished through drought and disease, I believe I shall be considerably under the mark in stating the total value at £150,000. This sum is so large as to be almost incredible, considering the smallness of the district (the population, including Picton, being only 8,000), especially as nine-tenths of the population are only working farmers; it is nevertheless true. The greatest portion of the produce was grown in the Camden district, the population of which only numbered 5,000.

The figures I have enumerated indicate an aggregate amount of distress which he must be strangely prejudiced who could gainsay or contradict. Distress does exist in that district, and even hunger has been felt.