Could we have been allowed to meet again, for me to have heard her bless my dear little child and listen to her mother's story of her birth, it would have been to me a happiness greater than I can ever more expect. This, however, could not be, and there is One above, who, in His wisdom, ordered it should not be so, against whose decrees we must not rebel. May the almighty and all-merciful Being comfort and support those she has left behind in my native country. Perhaps I am never to see any of you again, but while I live I shall cling to the hope of returning to dear England. In my last letter I believe I mentioned that I had not been very fortunate lately, and I have delayed writing since with the hope of being enabled to tell you things with me were better, which I can assure you is now the case.
The circumstances of the colony are still very bad. A large mercantile house failed yesterday to the amount of £130,000. Declaration of insolvency is a matter of almost every day occurrence among the tradespeople of Sydney. Wages are very low, and employment not very plentiful in Sydney. In the country the only demand for labour is as shepherds, and for this purpose the flock-masters are striving their utmost to obtain
