From distant climes, o'er widespread
seas we come (Though not with much éclat or beat
of drum);
True patriots all, for be it understood We left our country for our country's
good . . . And none will doubt but that our
emigration Has proved most useful to the English
nation.
In the century and a half since Convict George Barrington wrote these lines on emigrating to Australia, millions of free men have made their homes in the subcontinent Down Under. But the immigrant everywhere is normally suspect of having left his country, if not for his country's good, then out of political or economic necessity....