make their railroad, and import their population? For at present there is no population. We should say, from the reception the projected railroad to India, requiring only eight millions, and having population and commerce on the line, has met with, that there are no chances as yet, but there is no telling what time may not do. With a railway at Port Darwin, few steamers from Europe or Asia could find their way either through Torres Strait or Bass's Strait, and as a great number of rivers empty themselves into the gulf of Carpentaria, besides the Roper, there is every reason to hope that one day or other North Australia will be colonised, and a communication established between it and the other existing colonies.

THE NEW KINGDOM OF FIJI.

The islands of Fiji, some two hundred and twenty-five in number, extending nearly three hundred miles from east to west, and two hundred north to south, with a population estimated at from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty thousand, eighty of the islands being inhabited, are at present enjoying a transitory state of existence. The English government, true to its anti-colonial policy, tried to palm a protectorate upon Australia. The Australians, divided as they are into separate communities, declined the gift. There was a king called Thakau-mbau, or "Evil to Mbau," and failing support from those who could have tended a helping hand, he placed his power in a parliament of white settlers. The said parliament appears to have proceeded hitherto after a tolerably constitutional fashion, establishing a police, a large commission of peace, and reporting a budget at the latest moment of a balance of three thousand pounds. Another Thakau, the only great ruling chief of the Fijian archipelago, who had not fully submitted to the government, had also, according to the very latest intelligence, given in his adhesion, and had been appointed viceroy of Thakandrove.

So far, all couleur de rose; but the semi-barbarous population of these spice, banana, oil, sugar, cotton, and kava-growing islands have not all-notoriously the mountaineers of Viti Levu-given in their submission to the white parliament, albeit headed by a native king. The Kaicolos are in rebellion, have burnt villages, and have invited a general rising to murder the white settlers. Massacres on board ship were incessant; the last appears to have been that of two Europeans having charge of the schooner Cambria. These ships appear to have been uniformly engaged in what is called "labour voyages," or still more commonly known as

"blackbird hunting." No wonder, then, at the hostility shown to them by the natives!

Government was, in view of this state of things, preparing to raise a military force to defend the lives and property of settlers. It moreover intended to augment this force, till it was able to subjugate the mountaineers of Viti Levu and to occupy their land. The Fiji Gazette, which we may suppose to represent the feelings of the white community, if not of the government, urges the deportation of the natives upon the conquest of the last-named district as a most meritorious act. "Their deportation in small lots," it says, "as labourers to the planters, where they might be christianised and civilised, would be a work which the world would approve!"

It is difficult from the sparse notes that reach us of the condition of the islands, chiefly through Australian papers, to form a perfectly correct idea of their real social condition, but there is quite enough to show a very menacing and embarrassing state of things. To revenge the murder of a bishop, brought about by the practices of his fellow-whites, by shelling a village, is not the way to settle a difficult question like the present. To connive at manstealing under an irregular form of government is to repeat the policy observed towards the Sultan of Zanzibar. England has long ago been offered the protectorate of a kingdom which had been for years the seat of earnest and persevering missionary efforts, but the days when a proper sense of imperial honour and Christian responsibility was popular seem to have gone by for ever.

Mr. M'Arthur, it is pleasing to have to put on record, has given notice that the next session of parliament he should move a resolution that it was desirable for the government to take steps to consider the best means of establishing a British protectorate over the Fiji Islands, or of securing their annexation to the British Crown.

NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

BOSCO BEL.

A TALE OF THE YEAR 1651.*

BY WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH.

Book the Seventh.

TRENT.

I.

OF THE VENGEANCE TAKEN BY CARELESS ON THE TROOPERS.

NOT without great difficulty did Charles succeed in reaching Abbots Leigh after his perilous adventure in the gorge of the Avon. More than once he got lost in the wood, and had just resolved to lie down at the foot of a tree and wait for dawn, when he caught a glimpse of the mansion. Before they parted Pope had advised him to take refuge for a few hours in the stable, explaining how he could obtain admittance to that building even if the door should be locked; and acting upon this counsel the king proceeded thither at once, and having got inside as directed, threw himself upon a heap of clean straw, and presently fell fast asleep. About five o'clock in the morning he was roused from his slumbers by some one who shook him gently, and when he opened his eyes he beheld Pope and Careless standing near him. The latter looked haggard and worn in the grey light of morning.

* All rights reserved by the Author.

Oct.-VOL. II. NO. X.

R