The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-13
The Aus,rallan vement.

The Australian MOvem0nus
In the hieroglyphic language Of the ancient
Egyptians, the idea of eternity expressed by
the symbol of serpent with his tail in his mouth.
Tie end was absorbed in the beginning, and the
circle was unbroken The history Of man, up to its
latest develoIements affords grand confirmation Of
the truth ard beauty of this allegory. Asia was
the cradle Of the human race, and the Of its
early greatness. Here grew the arts and sciences,
and here existed the greatest kingdoms of the earth;
but its cycle round, and its glories faded and
waned Africa became the next great link in the
circle Of mankinds devslopemen; and after countless
ages had rolled away, it, too, obeycd the inevitable
law and the grandeur of the mighty empire Of the
Pbaraohs and the Ptolemies vanished, like dream
in the night The third scene Of human greatness
enacted in Europe hut it's star has passed its
zenith, and is waning under the baleful influence Of
desIotism and superstition. Three and half CEN
,uries ago, tho fourth act in the worlds drama
was introduced, by the discoveries of the inspired
Genoese navigator, and the continent Of America
commenced the iulGlment Of the glorious destiny
which reserved for her. The fifth and last link
in that aim ghty circle seems to be that more re-
Gently produced continent in the Pacific Ocean,
which has within the present year disclosed the
golden treasures of her bosom. The inexhaustible
mineral wealth If Australia is now attracting the
thoughts and wooipg the steps Of men in svcry
quarter of the civilized world, and that continent is
giving, at this early day, promise Of riyalling
transcending the greatness Of its predecessors.
Australia will in turn, become blended with Asia.
The tail of the serpent, emblem of vitality win
be inserted into it's mouth, and the circle will be
complete and unbroken.
Let US, however. drop tho metaphor, and discuss
the subject in its plain realities. After the marvel
lous discoveries of gold in California the fame Of
its nexhaustible treasure causea the intensess ex.
ctement throughout the world that modern times
has seen, and attracted hosts Of adyenturers from
oil quarters Of the globe. Australia, which has
been the penal colony for British malefsctors fur
nished its quota of emigrapts, who were, for tho
most part, pardoned or escaped convicts, and pos
sessed all the vices and deprsyities Of which the
human mind is capable. Their conduct in Cali
! fornia was all that could be expected from such
| characters. Murders and robberies were at once
their pastime and employment, q. d their atrocities
grew to such q magnitude that ordinary law was
powerless to put them down. In this extremity,
vigilance committees were formed By the citizens,
and under the promptncss and severity Of their
operations, those depredators who escaped the gal
lows, deferred from their practices, and being
unable to carry their old course of life,
gradually withdrew from the country and re-
| turned to Australia. Some Of them, with 10
teligencc and shrewdness highly developed, in
consequence of their very lawless habits, were
struck on their return, with the similarity ia the
geological features Of Australia 10 those of the au
riferous regions Of California and soon discovered
that their colony produced the precious metal
with less labor, and even in greater profuscness,
than the gold diggings Of California. Subsequent
explorations have verified, to wonderful degree,
the truth and reality of these earlier discoveries,
and Proved besides, that the golden regions of Aus
tIalia are limited only by the shores Of the ocean
extending over the entire continent, with ts area
Of four millions Of square acres and including
the Island Of Van Diemans Land lying at its south
ern extremity.
The sensation which these discoveries have Gre
ated in Great Britain i. beyond the power Of descrp
ton. and hardly be realized by sober magma
tion. Tho excitement which prevailed in theso
States during the first epoch Of the California fever,
is far oustripped by that which now exists through
out the British islands Australia is the absorbing
idea, and threatens to extpguish all other causes Of
popular commotion. Politics and religious aninosi.
ties, and grinding despotism, and pauperism, pre-
always done; but yet they obtain only pr .sing re-
gard. The sole, strong, universal, and controlling
idea is that Of emigration to the Australian land Of
gold, ScheniDg politicians and immoral priests
Strive to gain foothod in the popular sentiment,
but without avail. The capitalists and mercantile
classes Of London and Liverpool, the manufacturer;
and mechanics Of Manchester and Birmingham, the
farmers and agricultural laborers of the rural dis
tricts, and the simple shepherds Of the Highlands
and islands ofScotland contribute their numbers 10
swell the mighty mass Of emigration which Is being
conveyed By feet of ships the two oceans TO
their destination in Australia. No less than eight
distinct lines Of omigrant ships have been organ
izod, comprising aeet Of sixty ships for the
conveyance Of passengers. These immense transit
accommodations arc independent of tho govern
mont arrangements, by which eight vessels leave
monthly, with such emgrants rs cannot dcfray
their own expenses Gone pleasing and singular
feature in the latter scheme, which we may remark
en- peasant lie, that no unmarried man is entitled 20
its benefits; and to render himself eligible, lac must
80 and take TO himself wife. This is a godsond
to many poor spinster who might have dreaded
being doomed to spgyd life Of single wretches-
moss, nnd ior it the commissioners OF emigration
are enntlcd to the thanks Of suffering old-maiden-
hood) But in addition to this foot Of sailing yes
sells, tho Cunard Company are arranging for the
establishment Of steam lioe from New York
to Aspinwal, IN conjunction with their mail
steamers between Liverpool and Now York;
and in connection with this line. The Aus
tIalia and Pacific Mail Steamship omna ~ b,s been
organized to carry Passengers from sydney - Pa
rairn. Another steamship cpmYnny-the Liver.
pool, Nicuaguo, and Austfalia-bns been r,,,,,l