Page:My Life in Two Hemispheres, volume 2.djvu/167

 venture freely into reforms, to a greater extent than you might possibly have benefited her during a long lifetime spent amongst the more unwieldy elements of political existence of an old, stubborn, and established country. Never mourn then over ' exile,' but turn it to the best possible account. That is the part of the true patriot.—I am, my dear sir, yours very truly,

The accompanying paper contained six- and- twenty projects, of which many got afterwards accomplished. These were half-a-dozen of them:—

1. Justice to the Aborigines. This should be one of the first acts of our free Parliament. Provision for them should be the first charge upon the land fund. Hitherto we have behaved to them like cowards, tyrants, and swindlers, selling millions' worth of their land, and refusing them the most miserable pittance. We should now give them food, shelter, protection, clothing, and medical attendance, while any of them remain.

2. Agriculture ought to be made a department of the State, recognising it in the most distinguished manner, and placing it upon the most enlightened footing.

3. A properly appointed Board of Audit of Accounts, securing good value for moneys expended. A Government audit does not provide this. Money may not be actually misappropriated, but it may be grievously misspent.

4. Establishment of a mint.

5. Introduction of the ballot into municipal elections.

6. Leasing Corn Lands for cultivation; the tenants to have the right of ultimate purchase. This system is approved by Mill, and might have a fair trial here, superseding to a great extent all other taxation.

Other suggestions were an amendment of the Criminal Law, improvement of the paid and unpaid magistracy, the better regulation of public-houses, and other social reforms, and, finally, the employment of the military on public works, an experiment which was afterwards made without either economy or advantage of any sort.

I took chambers in Temple Court, the lawyers' quarters, and sat down determined to work at my profession. Business