Complying with a request for an interview, Bishop Barry told a most interesting story in relation to the Church in Australia.
“The earliest British settlement in Australia,” his lordship observed, “was in 1788, when the first batch of convicts was landed there; and, strangely enough, the Government of the day had made no provision whatever for the spiritual care of either the convicts or the soldiers who guarded them. It is almost incredible, but it is true, that only just before the expedition started could Mr Wilberforce and the Bishop of London induce the Government to allow the Rev. R. Johnson—an English clergyman who volunteered for the purpose—to accompany the party, not with any official authority, but simply by permission; and to him is due, humanly speaking, under very great difficulties, and with little encouragement, the foundation of the Church of England in Australia. The work was carried on by the voluntary effort of certain English clergy (aided by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel at home); among whom may be named the Rev. Samuel Marsden, who was afterwards the apostle of New Zealand, and the Rev. William Cowper, and others. By degrees the civil authorities began to recognise and support the work, congregations were formed and churches built; and in 1829 there was an attempt made to organise the Church under Archdeacon Broughton,
