Page:Australian views of England.djvu/85

  sea, has caused a sudden and decided change in all the costlier war preparations. Parliament has unanimously resolved for the speedy building of iron ships, for the steel casing of our wooden frigates, and for the substitution of floating iron castles for fortifications on shore One is fairly stunned by the inventions for destroying human life, and the horrifying results of civilization which every morning brings forth Grim geniuses meet one on every side, clamouring for the adoption of their steam rams, and cannon-balls a ton weight, which are to smash everything to eternal ruin, and sweep men away in multitudes. What will become of Fort Denison, or Pinchgut —which do you call it?—in such blazing times as these!

I mentioned in a former letter something of what is being done by a few benevolent ladies in England to better the condition of the respectable class of poor struggling women. They seem to be coming to the conclusion that emigration is the only way to afford effectual help, and their advisers among influential men and members of the press point in the same direction. British Columbia is the favourite colony at this moment, though