iate
city on all sides, but also the environs, including the several
divisions of the harbor. To the westward, fifteen miles away, lies
Parametta, while eastward the heaving breast of the restless Pacific
Ocean dies away in the far horizon. From this eyrie one looks down upon
the Cathedral, which is a very costly edifice, and was thirty-one years
in building,--the funds being frequently exhausted, and money for the
purpose difficult to raise. But it now stands as a fine Christian
monument of choice design, thoroughly and artistically carried out.

The Post-Office is a very large stone structure surmounted by a tall
square tower, rather out of proportion. This building extends over a
whole square, or rather fronts upon three streets, embracing ample room
for every department of the postal service, including that of the
telegraph. The whole building is surrounded on the three sides by lofty
pillars of stone, forming a corridor open to the streets, admirably
conceived so that the attendant public are at all times under shelter.

Among the other prominent public buildings are the Treasury, the Land
Office, and the Colonial Secretary's Office, each four or five stories
in height, built of stone, and situated near the shore of the harbor.
This is the immediate neighborhood of the Circular Quay at the head of
Sydney Cove. This quay has a length of over three thousand feet, and is
available for the mooring of the largest steamers that navigate the
ocean. Numerous steamships of five thousand tons and upward lay here on
the occasion of our visit.

The erection of new buildings is always an evidence of thrift and
general prosperity. Much building was observed to be in progress here,
mostly large stone edifices designed for business purposes, remarkable
for their architectural pretension and the solidity of the mason-work.
All this activity gave us the impression of being in the midst of a
prosperous, progressive people.

The contrast presented by Sunday compared with the rest of the week was
remarkable, the day being one of perfect repose so far as all outward
appearances went. The bar-rooms were all closed and every branch of
business suspended. The Public Gardens, Public Library, and Art
Gallery, however, were all open.

The tramways of Sydney are operated by steam-power, noisy,
smoke-dispensing locomotives being in constant use on the main
thoroughfares where tramways are laid. Two or more passenger-cars are
run coupled t