a most important station; the land about it is of good quality, and continues so the whole way to Swan river on the western coast, abounding with extensive plains of the finest grass, not inferior to Bathurst plains, with the additional advantage of hilly ranges, clothed with the finest timber for building, of the same species which occurs on the eastern coast, but of much finer growth. On this latter coast the settlers, in proceeding northerly, will speedily get within the tropic, and communicate with the new settlement on Melville Island on the northern coast, which we find is to be augmented by a corresponding settlement on some of the islands to the eastward of it. We are not aware whether these northern colonies are likely to answer the expectations of those (merchants trading to India, we believe) who strongly recommended them, with the view of drawing the Malays concerned in the extensive fishery of the Trepang on this coast, to exchange that article of consumption in China for British manufactures, instead of dealing, as at present, with the Dutch settlements. As the Malays are a cautious and suspicious people, it would be desirable, if possible, to induce some of them, with their families, and also of the Chinese, who mix with them freely at Singapore, to remove to the northern coast of New Holland, as the best means of securing the trade, and also of improving the new settlements on that coast.

The Australian agricultural company will, in no great length of time, give a new aspect to that part of the eastern coast on which they have received a grant of one million of acres, intersected by several fine streams falling into Port Stephens.

The fertile spot,' says the Report, on which Mr. Dawson landed, was estimated to contain about eight hundred acres, fit to grow corn of first, second, and third rate quality; surrounded by fine sheep-hills, with fresh water in abundance. In the immediate neighbourhood adjoining the shore, are beds of oyster-shells, convertible into the finest lime, both for building and agriculture, and in such inexhaustible quantity, that in one instance they are said to cover above an acre, to the depth of several feet. The whole district is bounded on the south by a harbour, into which ships of any tonnage may enter at all seasons, and anchor in safety; it abounds with numerous kinds of excellent fish, and communicates, through the medium of its rivers and creeks, with a country well qualified to form a large and important portion of the grant.

'Port Stephens is situate in latitude 32° 40', one degree north of Sydney, and appears to consist of an outer and an inner harbour, the outer entrance being a mile in width, with a depth of thirty-six feet at low water. After passing the two headlands, the harbour expands considerably; but at the distance of ten miles from the entrance, it is contracted, and divided by an island into two channels, each about four hundred yards wide, which lead into the inner harbour: the depth

of

of one of these channels is seventy-two feet, of the other ninety feet, and the minimum depth of the passage for ships through both harbours, is thirty-six feet, and extends nearly to the shore, on which the first settlement has been made.'

From the latest accounts which have been received of the proceedings of this company, it would appear that their concerns are going on as prosperously as could be desired. At no great distance from the settlement, and in addition to their original million acres, they have obtained from the government a grant of five hundred acres of the coal-fields of Newcastle, which, by means of steam-engines and proper colliers from England, already arrived there, they are about to work in a systematic manner, and from which they expect to be enabled to serve not only Sydney but the whole colony, with coals at a cheap rate. Sydney alone, it is calculated, will require an annual supply of 12,000 chaldrons, and the masters of vessels proceeding to India, Batavia, the Cape, &c. who cannot at present be supplied, from the inefficient state of the workings, will be glad to take coals, not only for their own use, but on the speculation of a market for such cargoes. The establishment of steam boats, we have little doubt, will next take place; and these will be of infinite importance in the navigation of the smooth water within the reefs, along the extensive eastern coast both to the northward and southward, at such times as the periodical winds are adverse to sailing vessels.

Mr. Dawson's account of this part of the raging to the hopes of the settlers :

country is very encou

'The country around Port Stephens is of a different character from the districts previously settled. It is chiefly hilly, and sometimes mountainous. There are few parts of England more beautiful to the On the banks of the river Karner (natives' name) which empeye. ties itself into Port Stephen's harbour, it is not much unlike, nor much inferior in point of beauty, to the banks of the Wye. The hills in the distance, and on the banks, are less elevated than those of the Wye, but the scenery is equally varied and rich, as seen from some of the reaches of the river. The harbour, too, is a very fine and safe one, and abounds with every production of nature that can make its shores a desirable residence. Fish of all kinds known in the colony, oysters both rock and mud, in the greatest abundance, as well as lobsters and turtle, are found there. In my public letter I have stated my reasons for having determined to fix the establishment at this place, where every advantage we could have asked for appears to have been united for our first essay. The hills appear to be well adapted for sheep; enough of ground can always be found, on or near the navigable rivers and creeks running into the harbour, for cultivation, should we ultimately want more than the shores of the port can produce.'-(Private Journal.)

It appears that the importation of fine wool from New South Wales has already had the effect of lowering the prices of the usual supplies of fine wool for the English market-to such a degree indeed, that it is confidently stated the prices lately obtained will not afford a remunerating profit to the growers, under the expensive artificial treatment to which, in a climate like that of Germany, they are compelled to resort, in order to produce a staple of the requisite delicacy. It is stated in the last report of the directors of the Australian Agricultural Company,' that, with regard to fine wool intended for the markets of Great Britain, it will be found that the average expenses of carriage from the farms in the interior of Germany, including freight from the ports of shipment and import duty here, are, in amount, equal to the costs of freight incurred by the longer voyage from New South Wales, and the other charges of conveyance from the occupied pastures of that country, situated generally within a moderate distance of the sea-coast.' And if this statement be literally and exactly correct, the wool-growers of Germany must unquestionably find themselves, in the long run, utterly unable to compete with these thriving colonists.

As to the attempts which the Australians have been making in manufactures, we cannot expect much progress, for some time to come, in that department; a great deal more, however, than the North Americans accomplished in thrice the time, has already been achieved. Their manufactures, as yet, consist chiefly of articles of the first necessity, such as are in daily and universal use. Coarse and second cloths, from their own wool, are manufactured at Botany Bay, but at a dearer rate than similar articles imported from England; these cloths, however, are represented to be stronger, and perhaps, therefore, cheaper in the end, than those with which they have to compete. Coarse woollens are made by the women confined at Paramatta, who likewise weave twills made of New Zealand flax. Many of the settlers tan their own leather, make their own shoes, and manufacture soap for their own consumption. In Sydney they manufacture hats, beavered with the fur of the flying squirrel, which are said to look well and to wear well, except that they become soft, and lose their shape in moist weather. Here also are carried on for sale, soap-making, tin-ware, workings in brass and iron, saddlery, harness and whip making, boot, shoe, and straw-hat making; all kinds of common pottery-ware, large jars and tubs for salting meat in, wine and water coolers, and spruce-beer bottles, are manufactured in sufficient abundance for the wants of the whole colony, and sold cheap. Carts, drays, ploughs, harrows, and other instruments of husbandry, are made of good and strong ma

terials

terials, and are sold at English prices; and colonial coasting vessels and boats are built of gum-timber, which is stated to be as durable, and every way as fit for ship-building, as Indian teak.

The progressive improvement and civilisation of the colony may further be inferred from the state of society in Sydney, where, according to our author, private carriages are kept, and few individuals, if any, who pretend to what in the slang tongue is called respectability, are without their gigs or riding-horses. Every town has its post-office, and a regular system of post-horses is established for the conveyance of letters. A four-horse stage-coach runs twice a-day, and a caravan once, between Sydney and Paramatta, and another coach thrice a-week to Liverpool, while a third proceeds from Paramatta to Windsor three times a-week also-no mean proofs of the general wealth and prosperity which this infant colony has attained. Nor while comfort and convenience are thus studied, is the improvement of the mind by any means neglected.

‘A great variety of respectable schools throughout the colony further the purposes of education; the most celebrated being the Sydney Free Grammar School under the able management of Dr. Halloran; the Caledonian Academy, founded upon the principles of the Scotch schools, under the management of the Rev. Mr. Lang, the Presbyterian clergyman; Mr. Cope's seminary; and the Naval Seminary, for instruction in seafaring matters, under the superintendance of Captain Beveridge. Various ladies' schools are to be found also, but few possessing much celebrity. Music-masters for the piano and harp take regular circuits to give lessons to the rising fair; while Mons. Giraud, and other professors of attitudes and dancing, teach them to hold their heads up, turn out their toes, and trip it along in waltzes, quadrilles, and contre-danses.' -vol. ii. pp. 124, 125.

Scholastic institutions are also endowed with a certain portion of land, and placed under the direction of the ministers of the gospel, at the head of whom is a highly-accomplished, as well as philanthropic gentleman, Mr. Archdeacon Scott. A dispensary is established to furnish medicine and advice gratis to the poor. There are several reading-rooms and libraries; and the inhabitants are further enlightened by the Sydney Gazette' and the Australian,' published twice a-week, and the Monitor,' once a-week: the two latter, we are assured by Mr. Cunningham, are conducted with an ability of which few papers out of London can boast;' he might have added, for we see them sometimes, 'with a scurrility, too, which would not disgrace Billingsgate and St. Giles's.' The Australian, we understand, is conducted by a transplanted scion of

*The term was defined by one of the witnesses on the noted trial of John Thurtell. The question was (but we quote from memory,) What sort of person was Mr. Weare? Answer. Mr. Weare was respectable. Counsel. What do you mean by respectability? Witness. He kept a gig.'

a London

a London parent, whose dull and dolorous columns are mostly employed in slandering our best and most venerable institutions. The average number of advertisements in these three are said to amount from seventy to eighty, and their average circulation to about 650, or a total of 3250 impressions weekly. The Colonial Almanac is said to contain much valuable information on farming and gardening, the periods of planting, sowing, and reaping the several productions of the soil, and many other useful matters. The colonial press is teeming with various works;-a practical treatise on the vine, another on sheep-husbandry, a journal of travels in the interior, and two volumes of poems,- one of them by our venerable laureate, Mr. Michael Robinson'-bear the stamp of colonial authorship.

Sydney boasts also of her turf-club, with its secretary, treasurer, and a select number of members, who can only be admitted by ballot. The races are held twice a-year, once at Sydney and once at Paramatta; and not less than eight horses frequently start for the governor's plate, and also for the Australian ladies' plate: in short, our author tells us, that this excellent old English sport is nowhere more highly enjoyed than in Australia.' Races, of course, beget balls and suppers, and these require suitable houses to give them in. Thus, we are told, the Australian' and Sydney' hotels in George-street, and 'Hill's tavern' close to Hyde Park, may vie with those of any English town of the same size. The more respectable part of society adopt the London fashions in dress, the moment they are imported. An active individual, by keeping a fashionable repository for ladies' dresses,' is said to have lately returned to England with a fortune of not less than 12,000l., all acquired in about six short years. Nor does it appear that neatness of dress and personal cleanliness are confined to the higher classes; they are said, on the contrary, to form a very marked feature among a great proportion of the inhabitants, even among those who move in rather an humble sphere,―an indication so far in their favour, since it leads to the presumption that they are alive to a due sense of decorum and moral feeling. As Mr. Cunningham has it, those who delight in a good exterior are seldom either sottish or depraved.'

The rapid progress thus made in the arts, the luxuries, the comforts, and, we may add, the follies of civilised life, in the short space of thirty-eight years,' and at the distance of twelve thousand miles from the country out of which the whole concern emanated, has certainly no parallel. The progressive colonization of the United States, near as they are situated to the mother-country, will bear no comparison with this. A whole century had passed away before their most flourishing colony came any thing

near