Page:Australia and the Empire.djvu/310

 service, and, having left their house well in order, adventured with great daring into the untried regions of "foreign policy." From this date began the long unsettled dispute with France, with regard to the récidivistes and the Western Pacific islands. Then Mr. Service set himself the Herculean task of federating Australia, his bold and gallant attempt resulting in the Sydney Convention, and the establishment of the Federal Council. Here, say his admirers, we may see the germ of the future United States of Australasia, differing, however, they hasten to add, from the Great Republic of the West, by being in political union with the mother country.

"Under the strain of all these labours, Mr. Service's health gave way, and in 1885 he began his late prolonged European tour. It was in every way fortunate that he, the foremost advocate of Australian Federation, should have been in England when the recent Colonial Conference assembled in Downing Street, and that both himself and the Agent-General of Victoria were nominated as two of the Victorian delegates. &hellip; It is well known that Mr. Service impressed the Imperial Ministers and officials by his earnestness, practicality, and thorough mastery of the subjects discussed between the representatives of Britain and the colonies. It could not be otherwise. He was one of the most