 For two years he was a mathematical master at Scotch College, Melbourne, and in 1877 founded Carlton College.He was an excellent schoolmaster, and the school was so successful that 15 years later he felt himself able to retire and devote himself to literature.The banking crisis of 1893, however, affected his position so much, that he was obliged to do a great deal of journalism for the "Argus" and "Australasian".