but ignorance, vice, and meanness, characteristics generally found where the animal propensities predominate over the higher sentiments.  I have yet to learn that there is anything high about the T.’s.  Mr. T. is a jolly little man, and lives more like a gentleman than most of the people about the bush; but he has rather a tendency to the animal development than otherwise, which makes it probable that there may be some truth in the reports alluded to.

From what I can judge of this dear son of yours he is not likely, I think, to do anything very rashly; and as for getting married, he will not be in a position to think of that for several years; and if ever he does, I hope it will be to some one at least equal to himself in education.  Give my love to Bessy and Hannah.  I do not think it would do them any harm to write a letter sometimes.  I expect Bessy was tired long ago of the algebra you were talking so much about.

Does it ever enter your head that it would be a good thing for all of you to come out here in a few years, when the girls have finished their education?  This country is undergoing great changes for the better.  Now the rush to the diggings is over, people are beginning to live like civilized human beings.  In a few years everything will be as settled as in England, and we shall be able to live much cheaper.

Believe me ever, my dear mother,

Your affectionate son,

William J. Wills.

. . .

From a letter to myself of the 6th of June, which was rather a long one, I give only the following extracts:—­

“What you say about this world I do not quite agree with; I think it a very good world, and only requires a person to be reasonable in his expectations, and not to trust too much to others.  It appears to be almost equally divided into three principal classes—­honest fools, foolish rogues, and honest rational beings.  Some may add another class, but there are so few belonging to it—­scarcely one in ten thousand—­that I think it should be ranked amongst the phenomena of nature.  I mean, the successful rogues—­men who do things neatly, and escape being found out.  The first and second are often useful to each other; the third benefit by the first and second, inasmuch as they learn by their experience, without paying for it themselves.”  He then cautions me against certain money speculations.  Another paragraph says:  “I find I am likely to change my station, but have no instructions as yet.  I do not care if they keep me here another month.  I have first-rate neighbours, a Mr. and Mrs. M., who live just across the creek; very nice people, and no humbug.  Mr. M. resembles you in many ways.”  He then mentions a colt he had reared, called Nelly; says she goes in and out of the tent as if she had been born in it, shakes hands with any one as soon as asked, and carries Mr. M.’s little boy Willie on her back with perfect gentleness.  On his way back to Melbourne, he taught a colt of mine, in two or three days, to be equally docile, until it became the pet of the community.  It was reared by hand, and I fear I lost it through the kindly-meant attention of one of my neighbours.