and running streams; there shrubs and trees enlivened the scene, and encircled the space as far as my eye could reach. On my return, in sliding down the steep declivities, I so completely lacerated my clothes that they scarcely contained sufficient power to Cover me. I saw no other animals or reptiles during this excursion than those which are common throughout the country."

In the commencement of 1808, a new market was established on a part called the Old Parade, near to the Orphan House, and every exertion was made to expedite the building of the shops. The market days are Wednesdays and Saturdays, when a considerable number of farmers from the districts between Sydney and Paramatta, as well as from other quarters attend with the produce of their lands; they also bring poultry, vegetables, fruit, &c; and to prevent as much as possible the too frequent impositions practised; a clerk of the market has been appointed to weigh all things that may be required.

Over the south creek at Hawkesbury, a floating bridge has been erected, which has proved greatly beneficial to the public; since, previous to its completion, every person who had occasion to go to that settlement, and in many cases from one farm to another, was obliged to pass to and fro in a boat. As this bridge was constructed by an individual, (Mr. Andrew Thompson, a settler) at his own expense, the following tolls are allowed to be demanded:-For every foot passenger fourpence, or ten shillings per annum; for each horse, single or in draught, two shillings and sixpence, or two pounds ten shillings per annum; for waggons, or other four wheel carriages, with not more than half a ton lading, one shilling and sixpence, or one pound ten shillings per annum; for carts or carriages with two wheels, laden or not, each one shilling and sixpence, or one pound ten per annum; for sheep under a score, twopence each,

and by the score, two shillings and sixpence, or two pounds ten per annum; swine and goats, the same as sheep. Passengers, horses, carts, and carriages are allowed to pass during the same day, with one ticket, and a considerable income is derived from this toll.

Of late years a number of vessels have been seized and carried away by the convicts. Lately the Venus, a brig belonging to Messrs. Robert Campbell and Co., laden with a quantity of provisions and stores to supply the settlements to the southward, and a very handsome brig, called the Harrington, from Madras, were seized and taken off. The former, when she had reached the place of her destination, after coming to an anchor, and landing the master with despatches for the lieutenant-governour, was seized by some convicts who had been placed on board under confinement, aided by part of the crew, and was carried beyond the reach of recapture. The latter was cut out of Farm Cove, and was carried out to sea, before any information was received on the subject. This transaction was planned in a very secret manner: so that all the convicts

boarded her about twelve o'clock at night; and although the vessel lay in sight of some part of the town, and within the fire of two batteries, yet . nothing was discovered of the circumstance till the following morning. Upon representation being made to Col. Johnston, that officer ordered several boats to be manned immediately, and a party of the New South Wales, with a number of inhabitants who had volunteered their services, to use every means to retake the vessel, put to sea; but after rowing and sailing for several hours, they were obliged to return without ever coming in sight of the Harrington. Other means were subsequently tried for the recovery of the vessel, but all to no effect: the convicts had managed their matters with such secrecy, promptitude, and skill, as totally prevented

every endeavour to counteract their

intention.

The natives and our countrymen are now somewhat sociable, and there are not many outrages committed by either party. Some years previous to 1800, so many atrocious deeds were committed by one of the leaders of the former at Hawkesbury, that governour King found it necessary to issue an order offering a reward to any person who should kill him and bring in his head. This was soon accomplished by artifice, the man received the reward, and the head was sent to England in spirits by the Speedy. But when thus speaking of the general good understanding which exists between the Europeans and natives, I must be understood to confine my meaning to the vicinity of the principal settlements, for about the remoter coasts they are still savages.

The author goes on to relate that, just before he quitted the settlement, a complete range of store-houses was completed on the banks of the Paramatta river, and another had been commenced close by the wharf at Sydney. The necessity for some new buildings of this description had been evident for some time, as a chief part of the king's store-houses, previously erected, were too remote from the water side, which made the unlading of ships extremely burthensome and expensive. These inconveniences are now completely remedied, and the port rendered more commodious than ever. Some short time also before he left the settlement, two murders were committed by men named Brown and Kenny; the former of whom had killed many men at the southward, and was brought from thence to Port Jackson, for trial, where he was convicted, executed, and subsequently hung in chains on Pinch-gut, a small island in the centre of the harbour leading to Sydney Cove. The latter was arraigned for the murder of a woman named Smith, who, after he had perpetrated the deed, endeavoured to consume the

body of his victim, by thrusting it in the fire. He was executed and hung in chains at Paramatta.

From this gentleman's narrative it further appears that our spring is the autumn of the year in that distant quarter. He sailed for England, it appears, "at the close of the autumn of 1809," in March.

The destruction of the play-house is mentioned as a benefit to this infant colony, because, "when the inhabitants were engaged in this enjoyment, their property was left unwatched. It was also a common practice to give provisions to obtain entrance, if money was scarce; and thus many of the convicts were unable to pursue their labour with proper energy and activity." Other abuses, which also resulted from the esta blishment of the theatre, induced the governour to recal the permission given for the performances, and the play-house was soon after levelled with the ground.

Since this period, cricket, cards, water-parties, shooting, fishing, and hunting the kangaroo, have been more attended to. The officers have a private subscription billiard-room; but still, among the convicts, gaming is carried on to the most deplorable excesses. Under the head of religion and morals, it is observed that some of the Missionary Society preach at the out-settlements, but the choice of these men, and the abuses practised under the cloak of religion, are much regretted. The small number of missionaries, who are men of strict fidelity, and whose hearts are engaged in the task they have undertaken,' are far out-balanced by those of an opposite description. Among the superstitious customs still remaining with the natives, one is when a mother dies while suckling a child, the infant is then thrown alive into the grave of the parent, and the father having cast a stone upon it, the grave is filled up. After all, it is admitted that the morals of the colony are by no means so debauched as have been frequently

asserted; on the contrary, virtuous characters are not rare, and honourable principles are not less prevalent here than in other communities of equal extent and limited growth. There are many among the prisoners themselves, who are now striking examples of probity, industry, temperance, and virtue, and some have obtained a remission of their punishment in consequence of the singular and radical change in their inclinations and behaviour. Those prisoners who are guilty of theft, have latterly been transported to some remote settlement, which system of punishment has been found more efficacious than castigation, or any other corporal punishment, since they feel an unconquerable repugnance to the idea of a separation from their connexions and companions, and entertain a sensible dread of solitude.

The rocks, a part of the town of Sydney, is the general promenade for the dashing belles of the settlement; and the European women, it is observed, spare no expense in ornamenting their persons. The shops, where most of their decorations are purchased, are set out with much taste; and articles of female ornament and apparel are greedily purchased. By a very recent census, there were nine thousand three hundred and fiftysix inhabitants, in the settlement, out of which, six thousand support themselves.

As instances of the irregularities practiced by some of those in magisterial capacities, Mr. D. D. Mann, observes, "I need repeat none others than that I have known men without trial to be sentenced to transportation, by a single magistrate at his own barrack; and free men, after having been acquitted by a court of justice, to be banished to one or other of the dependent settlements. And I have heard a magistrate tell a prisoner who was then being examined for a capital offence, and had some things found upon him which were supposed to have been stolen, and for which he

would not account, that, were he not going to be hanged so soon, he (the magistrate) would be d-n-d if he would not make him say from whence he got them. Nor do I believe it not less true, that records of an examination, wherein a respectable young man was innocently engaged, have been destroyed by that same magistrate, before whom the depositions were taken."

To remedy these inconveniencies, the author wishes that gentlemen of small fortunes, and consequently of some education, might be appointed, with a respectable salary attached to their office, "so as to make their interest wholly unconnected with those pursuits which have led so many to sacrifice their principles, and to neglect their duty for the sake of pursuing the search after independ ence."

To complete and improve the legislature in the new colony, the author proposes, that the governour should be assisted by nine or ten of the principal officers in the settlement, who should form a council to assist him in all kinds of difficulties: in addition to which, he considers it essentially necessary that a barrister should be appointed to assist the governour when he is referred to in matters of a doubtful nature, which at present frequently reduces him to an unpleasant dilemma. Having no adviser, excepting the judge advocate, this officer, previously giving his opinion in the court below, cannot of course be again consulted on the same subject. The governour's opinion therefore may, or may not, be according to the laws of the mother country.

The legislative code of the colony requires a careful revisal, since the numerous residents who have arrived in the settlement, and their respectability and opulence, render such a measure necessary. That system which would suit the original establishment, composed only of two classes, the officers of government and the convicts, will scarcely be expected

to adapt itself to the wants and wishes of a community advanced in civilization. The security of property now being the principal object that should be attended to, the present system is found to be liable to much abuse, and to have drawn great complaints from the number of traders that visit the colony. And the author thinks the admission of the bankrupt laws into the colony would tend still more to the perfecting of the system of jurisprudence. A chief justice, this enlightened author still thinks, would also be requisite; and that the practice of not taking down the evidence given before magistrates there, is a very great over-sight, as this is sometimes enlarged or diminished when the business comes before a superior

court.

Instead of employing missionaries, &c, he thinks the best interests of the colony, would be greatly forwarded, if government were to select some clergymen of unequivocal piety and zeal. Much good cannot be derived from the efforts of men, who are chiefly engaged in farming and traffic, and who will sell a bottle of spirits, or oblige some of those very persons with it, to whom they have been preaching the duty of temperance. The education of youth, at present, he thinks is much neglected for want of four or five school-masters of a sufficient capacity. At present there are but very few persons who cannot afford to pay for a respectable education.

A different arrangement with respect to the grants and leases of land is much wanting. Whenever any of these deeds have been under the hand and seal of the governour, or of the colonial seal, they ought to be considered as secured to the grantee or lessee, their heirs, &c. and under no pretence whatever, except a failure of the fulfilment of the conditions, ought the governour, or any succeeding governour, to retain the power of taking that land away. The existence, and the effect of such a power,

is totally destructive of the spirit of improvement. A man, just as he has impoverished himself with the hope of reaping a future recompense, may by the sudden whims or caprice of an individual be deprived of the means of gaining future subsistence, and plundered of every thing he may have done with a view to his own benefit and the bettering of the state!

Among other causes that operate against the prosperity of the colony, the author reckons "the establishment of a most injurious monopoly amongst the inhabitants, which has tended to the ruin of fair trade. The commencement of this system is traced back to the administration of governour Philip." He observes, that

the inferior officers of the settlement, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of the regiment, have since been infected with the itch for dealing, and many of the settlers themselves have disposed of their farms, or deserted them to devote themselves to a species of dealing which never failed to turn to good account. account. The consequence of this universal inclination to one object, chiefly the sale of spirits, soon became obvious in the desertions of those farms previously tilled to so much advantage. The immense profits made by this pursuit served as a new stimulus. One dealer was known to have cleared twelve hundred pounds sterling in four weeks; and an inhabitant of the lowest order, who commenced dealing with five pounds, has been known to realize five hundred in the course of six months. It must naturally be inferred that the most base imposition must have been practised to render this business so extremely lucrative; and the article itself must have been diluted away to excessive weakness. From this traffic many of the convicts are in possession of horses, carriages and servants, with a sufficiency to secure independence for life. The author thinks that allowing a servant to enter into traffic is fraught with serious mischief, as it gables

him to become gradually independent in his feelings and opinions, and substitutes insolence of conduct for the respect which ought to mark his behaviour.

The duke of Northumberland has sent over some Teeswater sheep, and one stallion very recently to colonel Johnston, which have greatly improved the respective breeds. Some Merino sheep from the king's flock have also been taken over, which have throve well and produced very fine

wool. Several of the deer in the colony having made their escape from a park belonging to a Mr. Harris, surgeon of the regiment, are understood to be breeding and running wild in the woods.

The children born in the colony from European parents are very robust, comely, and well-made; remarkably quick of apprehension, and ready at learning. In manners and morals also, they greatly improve. W. H.

THERE are some very sensible and judicious observations in this pamphlet, upon the subject of private Mad-houses and the nature of lunacy. Its primary object seems to have been to vindicate Mr. Parkinson himself from some insinuations which had found their way in the public prints, arising from a mis-statement of his evidence on the trial which is mentioned in the title. This vindication we consider as complete: but, as he has availed himself of the opportunity to blend some remarks upon topics connected with it, we shall pay a little more attention to the pamphlet.

Insanity is one of those awful visitations of Providence, to which, as we are all exposed, we are all interested in whatever concerns its nature, progress and cure. The establishment of private houses for the reception of individuals labouring under this melancholy affliction, has been loudly censured by some, and as loudly applauded by others. Great abuses did certainly exist in them before the legislature undertook to provide, in some measure, for their regulation. Many a dark and foul transaction has

But,

taken place within the walls of a private mad-house, at whose recital our hearts would shrink within us. at the same time, they were attended with numerous advantages which have been widely felt and duly acknowledged. Their inutility cannot be argued from their abuse. Mr. Par kinson, however, thinks, and we concur with him in opinion, that the legislature might provide more effectually against all abuses connected with the state of insanity, than it has yet done. Too much, indeed, cannot be attempted to secure the liberty and comforts of those whose mental derangement prevents them from attending to either for themselves: nor can too much be attempted to counteract the fraudulent views of interested and designing individuals, who would incarcerate, without the hope, nay without the possibility of liberation, those whose absence may benefit their condition. Every facility should be afforded for the return of the unhappy lunatic to society, whenever his cure may be completed; or for making known his unlawful detention if his attack was temporary or did not exist at all.