REVIEWS.D

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 115, 26 November 1858, Page 4

REVIEWS.D

Tlie Greatness of Man: a lecture delivered ; by the Rev. Isaac New, minister of Albert-street Chapel, Melbourne. W. Fairfax and Co.; p.p. 12; price 6d. Mr. New is one of the Baptist ministers recently sent out by that denomination, and was no doubt selected for his present important sphere of labour in consequence of the character and prominent position he occupied in England. The Free Church, the Indepandents, and Baptists seem now to v£ J fully, aware that only men of mark ought to be-sent to the Australian colonies, and a considerable number of able ministers of late years have arrived from the mother country. This lecture, is a very eloquent address—a choice piece of mosaic. We quote two short extracts, the first from the beginning, and the latter from the conclusion of the pamphlet, as specimens of Mr. New's style :— 44 Man is full of contradiction. He is a paradox in the universe. His life is marked by strongest contrast, and strangest inconsistencies. He exhibits the most opposite features of character. His history is a blending 6f light and shade; of magnanimity arid baseness; of perfections and, deformities; of the most brilliant splendor, and the deepest gloom. We have, to speak to you of his greatness. But we could speak of his littleness, his frivolities, his despicable foliies, and degrading vices. We could refer to his low cupidities, Ids vicious passions, and revolting selfishness—to the manner in which, from the ■most-trivial inducements, he will often perpetrate the darkest deeds and the foulest crimes, and surrender himself a willing Tictim at.the shrine, of some hideous propensity which revolts the better feelings, ana' disgusts the sight of virtue.'Look at him, and you may frequently see, instead of manliness, meanness; instead of intel-

lectual superiority, mental degeneracy; instead of virtue, vice; instead of goodness, evil; and instead of religion, the most grovelling superstition, prompting a worship offered to the image of some offensive reptile or personified demon. Such are some of the phases of his being. "But when he aims at vindicating for himself the character for which he is designed,—when he seeks to realize the acquisition of knowledge—to < bring his mind under an educational, discipline, to yield himself to the dictates of reason and the biddings of conscience—when he fixes on some noble end, adopts for himself high principles, endeavors to regulate his conduct by their control, and to form his habits beneath their influence; when he aspires after a dignified reputation for rectitude^ integrity, and honour in the transactions ol' life; when he discharges the various duties devolving upon him in the relations he sustains, 'and wins for himself the respect and confidence of all who knowbiim; when he cultivates the moral sentiments^ the more amiable feelings, the benign emotions; when he puts away far from him everything like a low, mean, vulgar, selfishness, and cherishes the benevolent affections which would distribute with no penurious hand a portion of the blessings he has received, to diminish the wretchedness of humanity, and to raise others, with a generous love, to a possession excellences and enjoyments equal to his own; and when, above all this, . he'rises in thought, and feeling, and desire to higher realities; when lie keeps this world in subservience to another and a better; when he aspires to link himself to the great Father of the Universe, and to secure for himself, on conditions which He has prescribed, His favour and guidance, His guardianship and benediction; delighting in His works, His character, His ways,, and His fellowship; then he realises for himself the noblest attainments, wins tho proudest distinction, exhibits the highest style of man, and comes into the possession of a blessedness over which Time has no power and Death will not destroy."

Project for the Establishment of a South Australian Land Bank, on principles similar to those of the " Institution dcs Credit Foncier;" on the Continent of Europe, earnestly recommended to the attention of capitalists, landowners, and the public of South Australia, by Robt. R. Torrens, author of the Real Property Act of South Australia. Adelaide, p.p. 12. .

In days far back when men got gold and silver coin they hoarded it. It was the representative of capital laid aside, and which might have been profitably employed in setting fresh sets of laborers to work, and maintaining them till they had finished their task and could repay the advance. In course of time specie was deposited in the hands of goldsmiths for safety, and they became money lenders to the trading classes. Banks sprang up afterwards, but still there were multitudes whose transactions were so trifling that no ordinary bank would open an account with them. Savings Banks were then established by which humble individuals have derived a small per centage of interest on their deposits, while these have been lent on real security, and millions of pounds that would otherwise have lain useless in pockets or heels of stockings have been economised and applied to the promotion of agriculture, manufactures, or merchandise, to the benefit of both borrower and lender. And Mr. Torrens' scheme is another organization by which a certain amount of capital now lying unproductive may be economised and advantageously employed. The Land Bank follows naturally as the complement of the Real -Property Act. The bank is only possible in countries where conveyances are cheap. It would be a failure here, where from £8 to £14 are charged for the transfer of a plot of ground a few feet square. We have urged the Tasmanian Government to provide the proper currency of the country. Mr. Torrens would do the same thing for South Australia by the issue of notes. We give the fundamental principles :— . 1. Advances to be made on landed securities under the Real Property Act exclusively. 2. Advances to be on mortgage not to exceed half the estimated value of the estate pledged. 3. Circulation restricted to an amount not exceeding two-thirds of the paid-up capital, held in reserve in coin, bullion, or South Australian Government Securities. 4. Not less than one-third part of the amount of deposits at call shall be held in reserve. 5. At least one-third of the aggregate amount of advances shall be for periods not exceeding twelve months. 6. Advances shall be made preferentially on mortgages redeemable by instalments, in terms of section 52 of the Real Property Act. "The advantages these institutions of landed credit offer to the borrower are— " First—He is enabled with great ease to borrow of the institution the sum he requires, without having recourse to the heavy expenses of agency. "Second—By borrowing of the institution there is no possibility of the borrower ever being called upon suddenly or unexpectedly to pay off his debt. He is allowed, moreover, the privilege pf paying it off at any time, on makirig arrangements accordingly. " To the lender the advantages aro reciprocal— "First—The lender has the security of a number of estates collectively, together with the certainty of his interest being paid regularly to the day, without his ever having to seek after, annoy, or dispossess any individual; the intermediary alone responsible to him is the institution.

"Second—The lender has no anxiety, 'cave, or even thought as to the character of any individual nYort_*;a_;or, or of the value of the land mortgaged.

"Third—The security, or UHre de gage, which he holds, is a marketable commodity, easily transferred from hand to hand, and without expense, so that he can convert it into money at any moment. Now the colony that has a simple and inexpensive mode of transferring land, and has a Land Bank that can be worked in the way Mr. Torrens has pointed out, must become rich far more rapidly than a country with a cumberous and costly land system, and which therefore cannot economise its resources and promote progress and improvement. John Stewart Mill says-— '" To make land as easily transferable-as stock would be one ofthe greatest economical improvements which could be bestowed On a oountry ;'■' and the Society, for the Amendment of the Law says —" It has been estimated by persons of experience and authority in such matters that a cheap simple expeditious, and accurate system of transfer of land would add five years' purchase at least—some will say ten—to the marketable value of land."— Launceston Examiner.